Commander's Corner

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DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Commander's Corner is a forum for the Dyess community to make suggestions or voice concerns about Dyess directly to Col. Glen VanHerck, 7th Bomb Wing commander. Each week the Dyess Public Affairs office solicits questions via the official Dyess Facebook page, offering people an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers directly from the wing commander.

QUESTION

Hey Glen! Just let me know when you're ready to take me out for a joy ride on a B-1B or any other outstanding USAF jet!
Col. Glen VanHerck
Col. Glen VanHerck		   RESPONSE

Vince - Good to hear from you! I'm sure you've been keeping up with the news and the impacts of sequestration on our Government, Department of Defense, and in turn the Air Force. I'd love to be able to give you, and everyone else a ride on one of our B-1s, the Air Force's premier bomber, but I'm simply not allowed. I'm sure you're aware that we must optimize our available resources, concentrating our flight hours on the aircrew members preparing to deploy and those who are assigned to our formal training unit, becoming B-1 pilots and weapons system officer's. Keep following us on Facebook and check out our Dyess webpage at www.dyess.af.mil. Thanks for the note and your continued support!
 
QUESTION

A couple months back, there were a few plane crashes all with a couple of weeks. I noticed on FB and other social media that people (SMs and spouses) were posting links to articles about these crashes literally minutes after happening. Obviously, this isn't enough time for the DOD to identify the victims and notify family in the proper ways. From a spouse perspective, I would be so upset if that's how I heard my husband was down. Is there a good way to keep this sort of communication down? I feel like it's becoming a big issue and people are being (unknowingly) reckless by doing this. Thank you!
Col. Glen VanHerck
Col. Glen VanHerck		   RESPONSE

Thank-you for your question. I wholeheartedly agree with you; releasing information about an incident or accident, especially when there are casualties, before the family has been notified through proper channels is inappropriate and reckless. I believe people are our most important resource, and violating a family's trust in their time in need is unacceptable and irresponsible. When an aircraft mishap or any incident such as you described occurs, there are rules in place to help prevent such communications from happening. In fact, all service members are bound by Department of Defense Instruction 1300.18, which directs them not to release the names or personal information of deceased or injured military personnel to the media or the general public through any means until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified. Service members are briefed on this requirement by home-station Public Affairs and Safety representatives prior to their departure for a deployment, and again once they arrive at their deployed location. Embedded media who travel with military personnel are also held to the same standard as part of their agreement to be embedded with the unit. Unfortunately, not everybody adheres to this guidance. Also, I can't force or hold accountable those who are not in the Armed Forces to follow these rules. The First Amendment affords them this protection and right, however frustrating it can be when it results in the dissemination of information prematurely and irresponsibly. As a spouse, you can help by educating those you see or hear communicating improper information that the information can be harmful to the loved ones who have to deal with the tragedy of losing their family member. Social media has done some amazing things for our deployed members such as allowing us to keep in touch with friends and family at home. We have to remember that as powerful as social media can be to help aid in communication; in can be just a powerful in a negative manner. Educating one another about the consequences of using social media irresponsibly, and more importantly, respecting each other in times of crisis and personal need, is a step in the right direction.
 
QUESTION

Will the base begin spraying for mosquitoes again? There's an abundant amount out already which causes great concern.
Col. Glen VanHerck
Col. Glen VanHerck		   RESPONSE

Theresa Lane Gaunche - My family and I have love living in the Big Country, but we could certainly do without those pesky mosquitoes! Our Airmen who work in Public Health (PH) and Civil Engineering (CE) are ready to tackle this problem. The Dyess Public Health office has only caught a few mosquitoes in the traps they have set up around the installation, including those located in base housing, which were checked just this past week. Public Health has explained that in order for the spray to be warranted and more importantly effective, they would have to find between 20 and 25 mosquitoes in the traps they put out. However, I understand that just because they haven't trapped a lot of mosquitoes in those spots doesn't necessarily mean it isn't a problem in your neck of the woods. If you believe there is an area on base experiencing a high number of mosquitoes, please call Public Health at 696-5478, they will attempt to trap as close to the problem spot as possible. If they hit that threshold of 20-25 mosquitoes, PH will get in touch with CE pest management to spray those areas; and, of course, Public Affairs will alert the base populace of the time and place CE plans to spray. Thank-you for your question.