Andrews gazette 092713

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Jazz saxophonist plays for JBA patrons

DCMILITARY.COM

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JBA Airmen carry on POW/MIA remembrance

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD.

AF Honor Guard mission captured in video

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 | VOL. 2 NO. 37

Nelson Mandela statue unveiled at South African Embassy in D.C. BY BOBBY JONES

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Embassy Row was all abuzz as international dignitaries, leading civil rights activists and congressional members gathered Sept. 21 in the courtyard of the newly renovated South African Embassy on Massachusetts Ave. in Northwest D.C. for the unveiling of a statue of Nelson Mandela. The atmosphere was transformed by the heartbeat of drums vigorously tapped by a South African drummer, performances by the U.S. Army Brass Quartet, and audience members wearing traditional, colorful South African dresses. Felecia Mabza-Suttle, “Conversations with Felicia” talk show host and ceremony greeter, urged the crowd to dance to the music and celebrate the momentous occasion, to frequent, high-pitched cheers from the crowd. South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool recognized South Africa’s most prominent living statesman’s significant contributions to Africa and the world and the symbolism of joining other prominent peacemakers in statuary in the nation’s capital. “Mahatma Gandhi statue is further down the road, Martin Luther King Memorial on the Mall and today we add Nelson Mandela outside the embassy on Massachusetts,” Rasool said. Among the other distinguished guests were Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.); Zindzi Mandela; Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, chairwoman of the African Union; Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator; Randall Robinson, founder and former

see STATUE, page 9

Emergency awareness leads to Air Force preparedness BY COL. DEAN H. HARTMAN

COMMANDER, 11TH MISSION SUPPORT GROUP

September is National Preparedness Month, during which emergency management officials increase community awareness. It is a time to prepare our community for unexpected emergencies. Media reminds us emergencies happen unexpectedly. Naturally occurring, human-made, or technological emergencies threaten our personnel and jeopardize our mission. Emergency preparedness is every person’s responsibility. A collective approach ensures crisis preparedness. Every member of our community must learn about potential local hazards, put together an emergency kit, make an emergency plan, and join local efforts to become a partner in preparedness. The Air Force “Be Ready” Awareness Campaign strengthens community resiliency by providing knowledge needed to prepare, respond, and recover from any emergency. In addition to the “Be Ready” Campaign, Joint Base Andrews has an Emergency Management Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/jba.em. I promote this campaign and encourage every leadership level to include emergency preparedness information in meetings and commander’s calls. The 11th Readiness & Emergency Management Flight, 301-9813026, has campaign products available to support your efforts. Our end goal is a culture of preparedness.

PHOTO BY BOBBY JONES

Robert Griffin III greets youth at the Salute to Play 60 Military Challenge kickoff.

Salute to Play 60 Military Challenge kicks off at JBA BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER

The Washington Redskins may be having a rough season at FedEx field, but on Joint Base Andrews they still manage to inspire. Redskins Adam Gettis, Robert Griffin III, Bryan Kehl, Josh Morgan, Alfred Morris, Jerome Murphy, Logan Paulsen, John Potter, Darryl Tapp, Nick Williams, Josh Wilson and Darrel Young joined former ‘Skins Doug Dockery and Tony Spinosa to kick off the “Salute to Play 60 Military Challenge” Sept. 24 at JBA. The event, part of the National Football League’s broader “Play 60” campaign aimed at getting young people to be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day, launched a fourweek competition among area military youth. More than 500 children of local military families will track their

daily physical activity, hoping to win recognition at a Redskins game later in the season. “The winning boy and girl from each installation will be in the tunnel with their parents when the team runs out,” said JBA Director of Youth Programs Vincent Eure. Players, cheerleaders and Redskins Executive Vice President and General Manager Bruce Allen served as “celebrity trainers,” putting 500 military children from across the National Capital Region through a mini-combine including agility ladders, relay races, throwing and catching drills and a timed, 40-yard dash. Co-sponsor the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association provided nutrition information and a milk toast led by 2013 Maryland Dairy Princess Carol DeBaugh of Boonesboro, Md. “It’s a good event, to be on the Air

Force base. It’s an off day, and I’m happy to be here doing community service. A lot of the kids have parents overseas, fighting the war, and just to make them happy, see them smile even for a moment makes it worthwhile, said running back Alfred Morris before taking the field to lead his assigned group of children through on-field exercises. Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation spokesman Tony Wyllie said that this was the organization’s first ever “Salute to Play 60” kickoff to be held on a military installation. “It’s great that it’s close to our stadium, and having all four branches of the military here. What better kids to do it, than with military kids? We asked players with a military tie to come on their day off and they’re happy to do it,” said Wyllie. “But there’s

see REDSKINS, page 6

459TH ARW LIBERATORS RETURN HOME FROM DEPLOYMENT BY BOBBY JONES

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Approximately 50 members assigned to the 459th Air Refueling Wing returned Sept. 23 to Joint Base Andrews via three KC-135 Stratotankers after a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. See more photos on page 7.

Memo prepares DoD employees for government shutdown BY JIM GARAMONE

AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Although Defense Department officials believe a government shutdown can be avoided when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1, they want DOD employees to be prepared for the possibility, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a memo issued to the workforce Sept. 23. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30, and Congress has not passed a budget. If Congress does not approve a budget or pass a continuing resolution, the portions of the government funded via appropriated funds will be forced to close. “The department remains hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted,” Carter

see SHUTDOWN, page 3

Family members wave to their loved ones as they prepare to exit the aircraft.

Liberators from the 459th Air Refueling Wing receive cheers.


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