June 29, 2012
HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?
Volume 36, number 26
Exercise Saber Strike 2012 comes to a close by Capt. Greg Jones 21st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs
A
fter two weeks of intense training, about 2,000 troops from eight nations began to pack up and head home from five locations spread across Estonia and Latvia as exercise Saber Strike 2012 came to an official close following ceremonies in Tapa, Estonia and Adazi, Latvia. The troops left having made new friends, learned new techniques and developed the confidence needed to better operate together in upcoming deployments to Afghanistan. “Saber Strike 2012 has been a tremendous success strategically, operationally and tactically,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Hendrix, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army’s 21st Theater Sustainment Command and acting exercise co-director, during closing comments in Adazi, Latvia.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Taylor
Soldiers representing eight nations stand in formation for the Tapa Estonia closing ceremony for Saber Strike 2012. The exercise, led by U.S. Army Europe, is designed to enhance joint and combined interoperability between the U.S. Army and partner nations, and will help prepare participants to operate successfully in a joint, multinational, interagency, integrated environment.
“We have improved our interoperability, refined our tactics, techniques and procedures, and most of all, prepared those of you who will soon go into harm’s way.” Saber Strike 2012 is a multinational, tactical field training exercise that involves personnel from the U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, the 4th U.S. Marine Division, the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian armed forces, with contingents from Canada, Finland, France and the U.K. The exercise, led by U.S. Army Europe, was designed to enhance joint and combined interoperability between the U.S. Army and partner nations and helped prepare participants to operate successfully in a joint, multinational, interagency, See EXERCISE, Page 3
86th CS implements new PIN program
T
he 86th Communications Squadron will soon begin implementing a personal identification number program for all government telephones in the KMC. “A PIN is like a debit card PIN, only you use it to make a phone call,” said Capt. Erica Juchter, 86th CS deputy operations flight commander. Telephone users will be given a seven-digit PIN they will dial before being allowed to make off-base calls from a
military phone. “This should only add two seconds to a phone call,” said Lt. Col. John Zapata, 86th CS commander. Once a person receives and signs for their PIN, it’s theirs until they PCS. When the PIN program has been fully implemented, phones within the KMC will only be able to dial defense switch network numbers. If a phone call needs to be made to an off-base number, a PIN will be required. This PIN can be used on any phone in the KMC. “A person can visit Kapaun Air Station for a day and use
TIP OF THE WEEK It’s vacation time. Get enough sleep before a trip. Check vehicle fluid levels, headlights, brakes, warning signals, belts, hoses, and tire pressure and condition. For more details, see Page 2.
their PIN on any phone there,” Zapata said. “There is no limit on the number of times a PIN can be used.” The PIN program is mandatory per Air Force instruction and is also fiscally smart, Zapata said. “Everyone in the Air Force has been asked to look at how we can reduce our budget and it’s important to target the things we can control,” he said. “This PIN program is one way we can do that.” The PIN program is an efficient way to track the use of government phones and control See PIN, Page 3
Remember to pick up a copy of next week‘s KA
NEWS
by Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Warrior Day wraps up Wingman Week, Pages 20-21
SPECIAL SUMMER EDITION.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux
312
As of June 26
The 86th Communications Squadron will soon begin implementing a personal identification number program for all government telephones in the KMC. The PIN program is an efficient way to track the use of government phones and control the yearly phone bill.
541