2008 – Another year in the books

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Carbajal
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Arctic Warriors have a lot to look back on as 2008 comes to an end and the new year begins. 

The year began with the 3rd Medical Group Arctic Medics deploying to Hawaii to build a fully-functional hospital during exercise Pacific Lifeline. This hospital came complete with an emergency room, intensive care unit, operating room, two wards, a pharmacy and a laboratory. This was a part of the Pacific Air Forces first-ever total force humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise. 

In February, the 3rd MDG was named the best hospital in the Air Force by the Air Force Surgeon General. 

Additionally, Elmendorf's F-22 squadrons tag teamed with the 477th Fighter Group during a deployment to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. for Combat Archer. Eight aircraft and more than 130 Airmen supported this Total Force Integration deployment. 

In early April, the Air Force Board visited Elmendorf during their major command tour of the Pacific Air Forces. 

The next week, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley visited Elmendorf during his tour of PACAF. Chief McKinley visited Elmendorf's Professional Education Center during his stay. 

At a banquet in April, Staff Sgt. Wayne Zuiderhof, 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, was selected by the Department of Defense as the 2007 AIM-9X Cutting Edge Award winner. Sergeant Zuiderhof earned this munitions maintenance award for his significant contributions to the sustainment, beddown and operational capability of AIM-9X for the 3rd Wing. 

In May, the largest military training exercise in Alaska, Northern Edge 2008, began with roughly 5,000 active-duty servicemembers participating. NE08 was a tactical exercise providing a joint environment to train warfighters for real-world missions. This exercise involved more than 120 aircraft from all branches of DOD. 

Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins replaced Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Fraser as the Commander of Alaskan Command, 11th Air Force, Alaskan NORAD Region and Joint Task Force-Alaska during a ceremony here May 9. 

Also in May, Elmendorf crews and a C-17 Globemaster III from the 517th Airlift Squadron took part in humanitarian efforts to help deliver 200,000 pounds of relief supplies in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck the People's Republic of China May 12. The earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, killed more than 10,000 people. 

Construction officially began on the new 477th Fighter Group Headquarters Training Facility during a ground-breaking ceremony here May 19. Leadership from the Air Force Reserve Command, 3rd Wing and 477th FG were on hand for the event to start construction on the $10.4 million facility. It is expected to be completed in September 2009. 

Shortly after that, Chief Master Sgt. Gerard Cappello replaced Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Carroll as the 3rd Wing Command Chief. Chief Carroll retired in June 2008. 

As many of the wing's members prepared for Arctic Thunder, crews from the 3rd Operations Support Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron, and the 517th Airlift Squadron planned the first C-17 dirt landing in Alaska. This historic landing took place June 18 at Donnelly, an area used for RED FLAG-Alaska exercises just south of Fort Greely near Fairbanks. 

After months of preparation, the base hosted more than 175,000 people during Arctic Thunder 2008, the air show and open house held June 28 and 29. The show featured dozens of aerial and ground demonstrations including performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. In addition, more than 10,000 people attended a Wynonna Judd concert June 27 in Hangar 2, the official kick off to "We're In" weekend, celebrating Alaska's 50 years of statehood. 

The Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing held a historic ground-breaking ceremony June 30 on Elmendorf AFB signifying the move of Air National Guard assets from Kulis Air National Guard Base to Elmendorf by 2011. The Base Realignment and Closure move is estimated to save the DOD $146.7 million over the next 20 years. 

In July, Elmendorf congratulated one of its own for his selection as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen for 2008. Out of 33 nominees, Tech. Sgt. Jason Hughes, 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was selected by an Air Force board based on his leadership, job performance and personal achievements. 

Six F-22 Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron at deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, July 18 to Aug. 2. The F-22s, along with associated maintenance and support personnel, participated in the Jungle Shield exercise and conducted Cope Thaw training. 

Then late in July the wing suffered a great loss. Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley, commander of the 3rd Wing, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his on-base residence July 27. General Tinsley had been wing commander since May 2007. He was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery Sept. 10. 

Col. Thomas Bergeson took command of the 3rd Wing in a ceremony Aug. 18. 

Special events were held Sept. 5 to celebrate the Initial Operating Capability for Elmendorf's C-17 and F-22 units. Elmendorf's 3rd Wing, Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing and Air Force Reserve's 477th Fighter Group all declared IOC for their respective airframes. The IOC celebration was held to recognize the first attainment of the capability to employ effectively a weapon, item of equipment, or system of approved specific characteristics that is manned or operated by an adequately trained, equipped and supported military unit. 

Also in September, the wing announced the 732nd Aircraft Mobility Squadron was recognized as the top maintenance unit for the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Falling under the Air Mobility Command, the tenant unit earned the maintenance effectiveness award for the first time in 14 years beating out five other en-route squadrons within the Pacific area of responsibility. This honor is awarded to the unit's management of resources and its contributions to the mission in both peace and wartime. 

After celebrating its 50th anniversary Aug. 5, the Alaskan NORAD Region was named NORAD's outstanding unit for 2007. At a September commander's conference, the organization accepted the Partridge-Slemon Award, which recognizes the outstanding directorate, region, sector, Air Force Space Command warning unit or other contributing unit in support of the NORAD air defense mission. 

In October, the Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Team completed their inspection of the 3rd Maintenance Group and 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron with MXG earning an overall 89.34 percent pass rating and LRS earning a 97.6 percent pass rating. The 3rd MXG passed 928 out of 1,016 overall inspections by the LSET team. Of the 100 MXG personal evaluations, the group passed 97 percent of the inspections. 

In November, Fort Richardson's 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division partnered with the 517th Airlift Squadron and members of Hickam and McCord AFB, Wash., practiced aerial jumps prior to the Soldiers' deployment. Roughly 1,300 4-25 Soldiers jumped out of C-17 Globemaster IIIs during the week. This event also marked the first C-17 six-ship formation.