Hilltop Times – Hill Air Force Base Weekly Newspaper Since 1948

In 1952 President Dwight D. Eisenhower and members of Congress established the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. On Feb. 14, Hill AFB will hold a National Prayer Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., in keeping with the long established tradition under the new name change which occurred in 1970 to better reflect the character of the event.

Col. Kathryn Kolbe assumed command of the 75th Air Base Wing on Jan. 11 in a ceremony officiated by Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, Air Force Sustainment Center commander, in Hanger 37.

The ceremony followed a historic year of change as the air base wing saw the Air Force Materiel CommandSSRqs reorganization of 12 centers to five amid budget restrictions and other business-as-usual mission requirements, under the command of Col. Sarah Zabel.

As I wrap up command of the 75th Air Base Wing, I want to thank the men and women of Team Hill for their incredible teamwork, professionalism and dedication to duty. I have been continually amazed and impressed at what you accomplish every day.

The Hilltop Times and the Standard-Examiner sat down with Col. Sarah Zabel, 75th Air Base Wing commander, for a series of questions Jan. 3, before the Change of Command ceremony to be held next week (Jan. 11).

You are moving on?

I am moving on. The change of command is Jan. 11.

Will you be around after that?

Not for long. The timing of this change of command is because I'm going on to a class that all new generals go to. About the time it winds up I'm expecting to move into another job.

A memorandum was issued by Col. Sarah Zabel, 75th Air Base Wing commander, dated Dec. 21, that reported only two samples of water showed copper levels similar to those initially collected in July and reported in September. These findings in December, she cautions, do not mean the status has changed because the initial findings came as a result of pipe corrosion. Everyone is urged to follow the same basic recommendations as given initially.

A new commander will take charge of the 75th Air Base Wing (ABW) during a formal change of command ceremony at Hill Air Force Base at 9 a.m. Jan. 11.

Col. Kathryn L. Kolbe will assume command of the 75th ABW from Col. Sarah E. Zabel.

The holidays are a time for traditions, and Hill AFB carried out one of its own by giving back to the people who give so much all year round. The annual Team Hill Airmen's Cookie Drive once again provided people with a delicious taste of home they might not get to experience with their own families.

Maj. Mikel Gregory, AFROTC Detachment 855 (BYU) Education Flight commander, brought approximately 67 Air Force ROTC cadets and their spouses with him to Hill AFB on Dec. 7. At the conclusion of the tour he reported they now have a better idea what they are getting into now that they have seen a base. "On top of that their eyes are opened up to other options," he said. "Maybe they had thought they might want to be a pilot or an intelligence officer, but there are a lot of career fields that make up the whole."

The 75th Air Base Wing has established Jan. 1 as the final date in which the Individual Video Imaging System (IVIS) contractor badge, the IVIS Long Term Visitor's badge, the IVIS DV badge and the AFMC Form 354 (blue in color) civilian dependent ID or retired civilian ID will be accepted for entry to the base.

Individuals who are currently using these forms of ID will be notified by the sentry at the installation gate of the need to get replacement ID.

Chief Master Sgt. Jason France, 75th Air Base Wing command chief, is excited about the advances he has seen in the Air Force over the course of his career. The third-generation military serviceman sat down recently with the Hilltop Times to introduce himself to Team Hill and answer a few questions. His grandfather served in the Army during World War II and his father served in the Navy during the Vietnam Conflict. He grew up on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. and joined the Air Force when he made his choice of military services.