The White Falcon - 04.02.1977, Side 1
C White Falcoip
Volume XXXIII Number 5_Keflavik, Iceland February 4, 1977
Vice President Mondale visits Keflavik during refueling
Vice President Walter Mondale visited
briefly with Icelandic and U.S. offi-
cials Saturday evening (Jan. 29) during
a refueling stopover at the Keflavik In-
ternational Airport.
On hand to greet the Vice President
when he stepped off Air Force Two were
Iceland's Prime Minister Geir Hall-
grimsson; U.S. Ambassador to Iceland
James J. Blake; Rear Admiral Karl J.
Bernstein, Commander Iceland Defense
Force/Coramander Fleet Air Keflavik and
other distinguished officials.
After greeting the officials at the
foot of the plane steps, Vice President
Mondale was escorted to a special lounge
within the airport terminal. He talked
with his hosts for about 20 minutes and
then stopped for a short press confer-
ence with the Icelandic press.
The Vice President was asked about
his discussion with the Prime Minister.
He stated that he primarily wanted to
reenforce President Jimmy Carter's vows
to maintain a strong and lasting rela-
tionship with the United States' NATO
allies.
Vice President Mondale also expressed
a strong desire to return to Iceland and
have more time to visit the countryside
which he had been reading about.
The Vice President arrived in Iceland
after talks with French President Valery
Giscard D'Estaing. He was enroute, over
the Polar route, to Japan which was the
last stop of his 10-day tour of Western
Europe and Japan.
Vice President Mondale is now back in
the nation's capitol and it has been re-
ported that he and the President are
more than satisfied with the results of
the whirlwind tour and visits with some
of Europe's leaders.
Vice President Mondale and his staff
were in Iceland for a little more than
an hour. Air Force Two took off at ap-
proximately 8:30 p.m.
VIP VISIT--Vice President Mondale dis-
cusses the results of his conference
with members of Iceland's press corps.
He reaffirmed the U.S. desire to main-
tain a strong relationship with Iceland,
our NATO ally, (photo by J01 Jim Miller)
PLEASANT VISIT--Vice President Mondale talks with Prime Minister Geir Hall -
grimsson (right) while enroute to the press holding area. Ambassador Blake
(center) was also present during the conference, (photo by J01 Jim Miller)
Blackie Lewis retires -
A special retirement/awards ceremony
last week honored Mr. Roland J. Lewis
for his nearly 45 years of government
service -- 12 of which were spent in
Iceland.
Captain Jack T. Weir, Commander Naval
Forces Iceland/Commanding Officer, U.S.
Naval Station, hosted the ceremonies
Jon Jan. 20. The captain presented the
45 years in government
Navy Superior Civilian Service Award to
Mr. Lewis, who is better known by his
nickname "Blackie".
Mr. Lewis was also awarded a Naval
Station Sustained Superior Service Award
that was accompanied by a cash award of
$300.
Blackie Lewis arrived at the naval
station in November 1964. After four
years, he was promoted to a Fuels Divi-
sion Director.
The citation accompanying the Superi-
or Civilian Service Award stated that
Mr. Lewis' "...extraordinary devotion to
duty has earned several outstanding per-
formance ratings. His dedication, ini-
tiative and inventiveness combined with
very strong personality traits have kept
him in the forefront of his occupational
{roup over a lifetime career of almost
45 years with the U.S. Government.
"During his service...Mr. Lewis has
contributed significantly toward improv-
ing the image of the Naval Station...the
Iceland Defense Force and the U.S. Gov-
ernment in Iceland. He has earned re-
spect and fostered good will in the Ice-
landic community which will benefit Na-
val Station, Keflavik, for many years
after his departure."
The award was presented on behalf of
Admiral I.C. Kidd Jr., Commander in
Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
Blackie Lewis departed Keflavik on
Jan. 21 to begin his retirement in
Springfield, VA with his daughter. He
will then head south to a "warmer" cli-
mate.
Security Dept, issues vehicle waiver
According to the Naval Security De-
partment, vehicle owners may waive and
abandon all right, title and interest to
any private motor vehicle.
This action has been effected to e-
liminate the problems of abandoned ve-
hicles.
No waiver is required, however, for a
private vehicle which is intended for
shipment or transfer to another Defense
Force member provided that the Security
Department is notified of its continued
presence beyond the owner's departure.
The Security Department may require
evidence of the above intention or other
proof of ownership by either power of
attorney or proper shipping documents.
AFI holds NCO course;
relates to promotions
Who says that the Air Force members
stationed in Iceland are too far remov-
ed from the "real" Air Force? Certain-
ly not the senior non-commissioned of-
ficers assigned to Air Forces Iceland
who voluntarily pooled their talents to
instruct a newly required Air Force NCO
orientation course.
Effective with promotions on or af-
ter June 1, 1976, all enlisted Air Force
.members promoted to E-4/senior airman,
must complete the course within 12
months of their promotion date to qual-
ify for subsequent appointment to NCO
status (E-4/Sgt).
The first class graduated recently
in ceremonies conducted by Colonel
William E. Lindeman, Air Forces Ice-
land Commander.
According to an AFI spokesman, or-
ganizing the 18 hour course was not an
easy endeavor; however, several ^senior
NCOs volunteered their time and tal-
ents to get the course off the ground.
Their experience and background were
significant factors towards guarantee-
ing success.
The course covers such areas as the
role and responsibility of the NCO; Air
Force organization and mission; manage-
ment; leadership; communication as well
as other facets concerning Air Force
NCOs .
The course is designed to help the
new Senior Airmen develop and enhance
their capabilities as future NCOs .
With the example, talent and leader-
ship of the senior NCO instructors, the
phase I, NCO orientation course being
conducted at Air Forces Iceland should
be a resounding success, the spokesman
added.
VP-45 chief receives associate's degree
Chief Anti-Submarine Warfare Techni-
cion Raymond Chute became Patrol Squad-
ron FORTY-FIVE's newest college gradu-
ate with the presentation of his diploma
by Commander Stephen F. Loftus, VP-45
Commanding Officer. Chief Chute earned
his associate of arts degree in general
education from the Pensacola Junior Col-
lege.
He began his off duty studies several
years ago while stationed at the Naval
Air Rework Facility in Pensacola, FL.
Chief Chute, while pursuing his college
studies, applied for and was subsequent-
ly selected for the former Associate De-
gree Completion Program (ADCOP). This
program would have provided orders for
him to attend college. Unfortunately,
the program was cancelled before Chief
Chute received his orders.
Undaunted, he continued with his off
duty studies. To earn his associate of
arts degree, the Chief needed a minimum
of 60 credit hours, distributed in the
areas of biological science, physical
science, social science, humanities, ma-
thematics and English. The Navy Campus
for Achievement (NCFA) helped Chief
Chute by arranging all administrative
procedures as well as tuition aid. The
Navy paid for 75 percent of the tuition
cost and fees for Chief Chute's degree.
Chief Chute recommends highly the
services provided by the NCFA and will
be glad to pass the word to anyone on
how the program has grown and improved
over the years. The NCFA is a manage-
ment system for all off-duty education
programs. Through a network of profes-
sional education advisors at various
naval installations, the NCFA assists
naval personnel in identifying and at-
taining their educational and vocational
goals. At Keflavik, the NCFA offers
several collegiate programs which in-
clude Servicemen's Opportunity College,
Contract for Degree and Defense Activity
for Non-Traditional Educational Support.
Contact the Naval Station Keflavik Edu-
cational Services Office at 7795, Bldg.
752 for further details.
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