COMMANDER’S CORNER: TAKING CARE OF FAMILIES - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, February 2, 2017
The spider building: A not-so-spooky look into Peterson’s History
Vol. 61 No. 5
By Philip Carter 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Airmen stationed at Peterson Air Force Base before 2010 might remember an odd shaped building right across the street from the 21st Space Wing, now just an empty lot. Because of building 880’s unusual shape, it was nicknamed the spider building. This year is the 75th anniversary of Peterson AFB and building 880 was here for most of it, housing a variety of tenants with quite a few unique missions from 1942 until 2010. Building 880 was part of the initial building of the base in 1942 and was completed in 1943. The spider building was built for a very specialized unit called the 6th Photographic Squadron. This squadron used aerial photography to produce accurate charts and detailed maps of uncharted areas for the military. Some included maps of landing beaches and areas held by enemy forces during World War II. See History page 12
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Building 880 housed the 6th Photographic Squadron when it was newly completed in 1942.
(Courtesy photo from Peterson Air and Space Museum)
Hiring Freeze: How does this affect Team Pete By Airman 1st Class Dennis Hoffman 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — President Donald J. Trump has signed an executive order mandating a hiring freeze for all federal civilian positions, with a few exceptions, for any position vacant as of 12 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2017. Currently there are 2,658 Appropriated Fund and 324 Nonappropriated Fund civilians working on Peterson Air Force Base. Further guidance came out stating that any candidate who received a firm job offer by 12 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2017, could still proceed with their appointment to federal service as long as the effective date is before Feb. 22, 2017. Peterson AFB is still awaiting Air Force guidance on how to proceed. There is still uncertainty concerning the effects this will have on the 21st Space Wing and Team Pete, said Sharon Rae Bowman, 21st Force Support Squadron affirmative employment chief.
“Our policy is to continue with business as usual, that is, forwarding personnel actions as we receive them until we are told not to,” said Bowman. “Although we are aware that Air Force Personnel Center is on a strategic pause, we want to stay ahead of the game and ensure our vacancies are identified and ready for filling as soon as possible.” In accordance with the executive order, the Office of Management and Budget director, in consultation with the Office of Personnel director, will recommend a long term plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government’s workforce through attrition within 90 days of the date of the order and the hiring freeze shall expire upon implementation of the OMB plan. This indicates the hiring freeze will be in effect for a minimum of 90 days. “As we have seen in the past with other hiring freeze orders, as well as manpower reductions, our team of professionals on Peterson AFB will ensure the mission gets accomplished regardless of any obstacles,” said Bowman.
INSIDE News Briefs Crossword Classifieds
1-18 8 20 21
No excuses! Page 5
See the Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Hiring Freeze on page 16
Chief retires after decades of service Page 9
BSC week: specialties set them apart Page 17