The White Falcon - 16.04.1999, Side 1

White Falcon
Vol. 58 No. 15 Nowonlineatwww.nctskef.navy.mil/IDF April 16, 1999
Hawaiians ensuring defense of Iceland’s skies
An F-15A from the 199th taxis out of its shelter just before
launching for an operation in Iceland airspace.
Story and photo by
J02 Christopher E. Tticker
On April 5, the 199th Fighter
Squadron of the 154th Wing from
Hickarn AFB, Hawaii arrived in
Iceland to assume the role of the
NATO Base’s defenders of the sky.
The 199th brought six F-15A
Eagles and 58 maintenance and
support personnel.
The squadron is made up of
Hawaiian Air National Guardsmen,
deployed to Iceland for 45 days.
“This is an opportunity for us to
apply our skills away from home,”
said Tech. Sgt. Rocky Bruhn, the
deployed first sergeant. “It’s also a
chance for us to spread the aloha spirit. We
represent the state of Hawaii and we want
people to know we’re friendly.”
This is the squadron’s first deployment to
Iceland, but members of the 154th are no
strangers to deploying overseas.
Recently, the wing has been operating in
France, Turkey and Kuwait. For the 154th,
and the entire Air National Guard, the days
are gone when the primary mission was the
defense of their home state. Tech. Sgt.
Richard Costa, a weapons ordinance systems
craftsman, has been in the Guard for 13 years
and has seen the operational tempo go from
deploying once a year to “three or more
times a year.”
Of course, the overwhelming dif-
ference between the squadron
working in Hawaii and Iceland is
the weather.
“You have to dress warmer,” said
Tech. Sgt. Michael Crail, jet engine
mechanic. “Normally, we work in
our T-shirts.”
“It’s actually different working
with gloves on,” Costa noted.
“We’re not used to working with
gloves, so it presents a challenge.”
Most of the guardsmen deployed
with the 199th will be relieved on
Monday by another group from the
154th Wing.
“The bulk of our force serves
part-time, so we like to give as
many people as possible the opportunity to
deploy,” said Maj. Bill Petti, maintenance
officer. “This is where they get the experi-
ence.”
Bruhn added that while their active duty
counterparts may not have had a chance to
See F-15s on page 2
Construction begins on MWR roller rink
By J03 Mike C. Jones
The grassy field behind Craftech may not look like the ideal set-
ting for a good day of roller-skating. In a few months however, that’s
where base residents will be able to enjoy one of America’s beloved
recreations.
Ground was broken this week at the Craftech field as construction
officially began on the much-anticipated roller rink.
MWR Director Misty Orlove said this project has been in the
works for quite some time. “It’s been something people have talked
about wanting since I’ve been here. When I first arrived in Keflavik
in 1993 as MWR Clubs Coordinator, that was one of the first things
I heard people say they wished was available - a roller rink. When I
became MWR Director, one of the first things I did was put out a sur-
vey to the community to see what the people wanted for the base, and
near the top of the list was, again, a roller rink.”
After assessing cost and location requirements to build a new facil-
ity on base, Orlove said the stage was set to make the facility a real-
ity. “The driving force has always been ‘what the customer wants.’
It’s been about four years of active pushing to do this, and there has
been a lot of support from everyone involved.”
Scheduled to open around Christmas, the NAS Roller Rink will
offer many features for the customers, she added. “The floor space
will be comparable to that of the Base Gym maybe even a little larg-
er. It’s going to be nice.”
Seabees began the excavation yesterday for the roller rink con-
struction project. (Photo by J02 Christopher E. Tucker)
Enhancing quality of life for families stationed on base has been
the reason for MWR programs and projects like the roller rink,
Orlove emphasized. “The more family recreation we can come up
with, the better. That’s what MWR is trying to do - take their dollars
and spend them where the majority of the base can get something out
of it - something that will serve the purpose for hundreds of people,
families, teens and single and unaccompanied. We try to give the
customers what they ask for.”
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