Hilltop Times – Hill Air Force Base Weekly Newspaper Since 1948

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. — Last week, I went to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and their professional staff to talk about the impacts of sequestration. I wanted to make sure they fully understood the impacts to our workforce, our mission and the communities. During the last several weeks, I have received notes and comments about the impacts a 20 percent pay reduction will have on the majority of our workforce. The information you provided was very useful in articulating the real pain that will happen if the furlough goes into effect.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta notified Congress recently that should sequestration occur, the Department of Defense will initiate furlough for its 800,000-plus civilian employees. Congressional notification is required at least 45 days from a planned furlough, with implementation anticipated for late April, Air Force officials said.

Whether service members are here at Hill, on exercise or deployed, they can expect to find the same or very similar prices at Army & Air Force Exchange Service facilities worldwide.

The practice is known as pricing parity and the prices for products available around the world are established centrally.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed more than 500 men and women on the final day of the Air Force Association’s 29th Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition Feb. 22.

During his address, Donley spoke about several issues that are on the Air Force’s radar, including budget and planning challenges, and of particular interest, the looming sequestration.

“During over three decades now in Washington, I don’t believe I’ve ever witnessed a budget process that is as dysfunctional as is the one we’re experiencing today,” Donley said.

WASHINGTON — Sequestration would leave the Air Force with untrained people, a lack of equipment and be “devastating” to the service, officials said Feb. 7.

The warning echoes what Department of Defense officials have stated for months about across-the-board defense cuts, in addition to an ongoing continuing resolution.

“Now that we’re staring at that possibility in less than a month, I can tell you, they were right,” said Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. Larry Spencer, during a media roundtable at the Pentagon.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Throughout December and January, Air Force Materiel Command will be promoting the "Do You Know Your Numbers" wellness campaign. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of knowing your numbers to help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Since the 9/11 attacks, the Department of Defense has spent millions of dollars hardening facilities and upgrading detection equipment to prevent unauthorized entry onto military installations both inside and outside the continental U.S.

Team AFMC,

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- In the past three and a half years, he's overseen the reorganization of the Air Force's most complex and diverse command, managed some of the most drastic budget reductions in the service's history and been a champion of energy conservation.

Gen. Donald Hoffman's tenure as commander of Air Force Materiel Command has been anything but normal, if there is a norm for someone who leads a worldwide organization of 83,000 people.

AFMC Professionals ... I use this term with deliberate significance. Whether you are an officer, enlisted or civilian, we have an oath that defines our purpose as a member of the Air Force. The duties you swore to perform had an implied element of professionalism. Our business can involve the lethal application of force and that requires the ultimate in professionalism, not only for those that aim and fire, but for all of us who train, equip and otherwise enable the shooters.