Volume 4, Issue 6 December 2021 “127th Wing

SELFRIDGE FLYER

Volume 4, Issue 6

December 2021

“127

Wing — Your Hometown Air Force”

With Gratitude for our

U. S. Servicemen and Wo men

who Sacrice for our Freedoms

Macomb CountySchoolsStudents andStaff

For moreinformation about Macomb County Schools, please visit

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THE MACOMB DAILY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021

SELFRIDGE

FLYER

Volume 4, Issue 6

SELFRIDGE BASE

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Presidents

Drema Isaac (Current)

Fred Sherrerd (Future)

The Selfridge Base Community Council’s

mission is to continue improving out-

standing relationships between both the

civilian and military-service communities

centered at Selfridge Air National Guard

Base.

Wing Commander

Brig. Gen. Rolf E. Mammen

Vice Wing Commander

Col. Alice Clark

Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sgt. Richard Gordon

127TH WING PUBLIC

AFFAIRS STAFF

Chief of Public Affairs

C. Phillip Ulmer

Public Affairs Officer

Capt. Cammy Alberts

Base Visual Information Manager

Staff Sgt. Andrew Schumann

Public Affairs Staff

Master Sgt. Dan Heaton

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea E. FitzPatrick

Tech Sgt. Samara Taylor

Airman 1st Class Nathan Wingate

Mr. Terry Atwell

Mr. Munnaf Joarder

PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

The Selfridge Flyer is a publication of

the Selfridge Base Community Council

and is not an official publication of the

Department of Defense. Contents of

the Selfridge Flyer are not necessarily

the official views of, or endorsed by,

the U.S. Government, the DoD, or Digital

First Media.

Published by MediaNews Group, a

private firm in no way connected with

the U.S. Air Force.

On the cover: 1st Lt. Shane Bilek,

a pilot assigned to the 107th Fighter

Squadron helps Korbyn Chinevere, 6,

clear pilots for approach at Selfridge Air

National Guard Base. Korbyn, who was

diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma (bone

cancer) December 24, 2020, wanted to

experience what it would be like to meet

people in the military. With the help of

Make-A-Wish Michigan, Korbyn visited

Selfridge and was made an honorary

pilot for the day, toured the KC-135

Stratotanker and A-10 Thunderbolt

II jets, and was able to ride in a WWII

Sherman tank. (U.S. Air National Guard

photo by Terry L. Atwell)

Senior Master Sgt. Matthew

Brewer

127th Wing First Sergeant

When examining a successful

team it is almost a guarantee that

you will ﬁnd that the members of the

team all understand the importance

of being a good follower. The great-

est leaders in the world will attest to

the fact that without good followers

they could not be successful leaders.

Leaders build leaders. Through

their actions and behavior, they cul-

tivate a new generation of great-

ness and they create followership.

Followers do the work of a leader

so that the goals of the team can be

achieved.

When it comes to followership as

it relates to leadership, the tradi-

tional view of leadership assumes

that leaders are responsible to moti-

vate and push their subordinates to

the level where they excel because

without that, the subordinates would

not do so on their own.

This idea could not be farther

from the truth in most cases. Gener-

ally speaking, subordinates will not

need to be motivated to succeed but

they will need to be directed as to

what the goal or mission is. Once a

speciﬁc goal or mission has been es-

tablished, the subordinates can be-

gin to accomplish their individual

tasks.

So how do you become a good fol-

lower? Ask yourself one question…

Am I someone that I would follow? If

you cannot answer that with a solid

yes, then it is time to do some self-re-

ﬂection and make some changes.

If you want to be the leader that

you need or needed in your life, then

become the follower that you would

want on your team. It all starts with

you and recognizing that you may

have to make some changes. Being a

good follower today will make you a

better leader tomorrow.

EDITORIAL

The importance of followership in leadership

Senior Master Sgt.

Matthew Brewer

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. TRISTAN D. VIGLIANCO

Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of Michigan’s Department of Military and Veteran’s Aairs, addresses the crowd during

a leadership conference at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Nov. 6, 2021. The participants discussed a variety of issues and developed strategy

for the organization going forward.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 THE MACOMB DAILY

SPECIAL SECTION

By Tech. Sgt. Samara Taylor

127th Wing Public Aairs

Meet Korbyn Chinevere, the

127th Wing’s newest pilot. He is

a kindergartener who became a

pilot for the day here at Selfridge.

While here, he had the opportu-

nity to visit the A-10 Thunderbolt

II, the KC-135 Stratotanker and

ride in a WWII Sherman tank.

Korbyn was diagnosed with

bone cancer last year, and he is

nearing the end of his treatment

journey. He wished for the ex-

perience of riding in a tank and

meeting military personnel. With

the collaboration of Make-A-Wish

Michigan and Michigan Air Na-

tional Guard, his wish was made

possible.

Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen, 127th

Wing Commander, became aware

of Korbyn’s wish and wanted to

support him.

“This day was all about Kor-

byn,” said Mammen. “We wanted

to make it a special day for him,

and our extended Selfridge com-

munity came forward and did

just that.”

To be a pilot, one must dress

appropriately for the job. To be-

gin his day, Korbyn was pre-

sented with a ﬂight suit by the

Michigan Air Force Association.

Without his wing patches, a pi-

lot is considered out of uniform.

Korbyn was presented patches

from both the 171st Air Refueling

Squadron and the 107th Fighter

Squadron.

He began his pilot training

with the 171st Air Refueling

Squadron and toured the KC-135

Stratotanker.

1st Lt. Shane Bilek, an A-10 pi-

lot with the 107th Fighter Squad-

ron, was one of Korbyn’s ﬂight

instructors for the day. Bilek

trained him on how to commu-

nicate with pilots using the radio.

Korbyn watched the A-10s from

the ground as his fellow 107th

Fighter Squadron pilots ﬂew over

the runway. Korbyn cleared his

co-pilots for their approach and

landing at Selfridge.

After a brief lunch, Korbyn’s

adventure continued with a visit

to the Selfridge Military Air Mu-

seum to ride in a Sherman Tank.

Before climbing into the tank,

his grandma, Theresa Williams,

asked Korbyn whether he was

ready to go for a ride. “Oh yeah!”

he replied with enthusiasm.

The event ended at STARBASE,

where he and his family were pre-

sented with souvenirs and keep-

sakes to commemorate the occa-

sion. Korbyn’s mother, Toni Mc-

Cowen, expressed how strong he

has been. He is nearing the end

of his chemotherapy treatments.

“He just ﬁnished his cancer

treatment last week,” his mother

explained. “Today is a great mo-

ment to see him smile and to take

a break from all that he has gone

through.”

Make-A-Wish Michigan has

granted the wishes of more than

364 children to date. Thanks

to the support of Selfridge and

other community partners, in-

cluding the Base Community

Council and the Air Force Soci-

ety, this event was a success for

everyone involved and Korbyn’s

smile proved it.

“We want to provide hope to

children who are suering seri-

ous diseases at a time when they

are most in need of it.” said Sherri

Collins, Make-A-Wish Michigan,

vice president of Marketing and

Brand Advancement.” Today was

a shining example of the commu-

nity of love and support that sur-

rounds our wish kids.”

COMMUNITY

PILOT FOR A DAY

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY TERRY ATWELL

Korbyn Chinevere, 6, sits in the cockpit of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Korbyn, who was diagnosed

with Ewing sarcoma (bone cancer) December 24, 2020 visited Selfridge with the help of Make-A-Wish Michigan. While learning what it’s like to

serve in the Michigan National Guard, Korbyn was made an honorary pilot for the day, toured the KC-135 Stratotanker and A-10 Thunderbolt II jets,

and was able to ride in a WWII Sherman tank.

Right: Korbyn Chinevere, 6, was

diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma

(bone cancer) December 24,

2020. Through Make-A-Wish

Michigan, Korbyn visited Selfridge

Air National Guard Base to

experience what it would be like to

meet people in the military.

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY MUNNAF

JOARDER

SPECIAL SECTION

THE MACOMB DAILY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY TERRY L. ATWELL

Korbyn Chinevere, a kindergartner, poses with his mother, Toni McCowen, and mem-

bers of the 171st Air Refueling Squadron aer receiving his personalized military hel-

met bag and a tour of the KC-135 Stratotanker. Korbyn, diagnosed with bone cancer

last year, wanted to experience what it would be like to meet people in the military.

Through Make-A-Wish, Michigan Korbyn visited Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

He was made an honorary pilot for the day, toured the KC-135 Stratotanker and A-10

Thunderbolt II aircras and rode in a WWII Sherman tank.

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY TERRY L. ATWELL

ABOVE: Steven Mrozek, Selfridge Military Air Museum Executive

Director, presents Korbyn with a World War II Sherman Tank toy

model as Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen looks on, at Selfridge. Korbyn and

his family were presented with souvenirs and keepsakes to com-

memorate the occasion.

LEFT: An excited Korbyn gives a thumbs up from inside a World War

II Sherman Tank at Selfridge, courtesy of the Selfridge Military Air

Museum. SMAM volunteers made it possible for Korbyn and his mom

to ride around Selfridge in the tank.

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY MUNAF JOARDER

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 THE MACOMB DAILY

SPECIAL SECTION

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY TECH. SGT. SAMARA TAYLOR

Senior Airman Jasmine Lee, services specialist, 127th Force Support Squadron, pre-

pares Thanksgiving style menu for members of the 127th Wing at the dining facility

at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Nov. 6, 2021. These experts provide exceptional

service in a variety of tasks to support their fellow Airmen.

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY TECH. SGT. SAMARA TAYLOR

Members of the 127th Wing attended an annual Suicide Prevention seminar on Octo-

ber 2, 2021 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Marsha Candela LMSW, the 127th

Wing Director of Psychological Health, led a discussion of suicide prevention. She

discussed coping strategies to combat tough situations with the Airmen. “No one de-

serves to be here more than you; stay connected and reach out,” Candela said. “If you

know someone who is going through a dicult situation, show them that you care.”

If you need assistance with suicide prevention call the National Suicide Prevention

Lifeline 1-800-273- TALK (8255).

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY MUNNAF H. JOARDER

Members from the 191st Aircra Maintenance Squadron de-icing crew blast ice from

the surface of KC-135 during the rst deep freeze of 2021 last week here at Selfridge

Air National Guard Base. 127th Wing maintainers work in inclement weather provid-

ing a vital link in keeping Selfridge aircra mission-ready.

SEEN AROUND SELFRIDGE

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY TERRY L. ATWELL

(Le to right) Mike Viternia, President of the Selfridge Museum Board of Directors,

Roger Krings, Selfridge Museum Director of Operations, Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen,

127th Wing Commander, Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive, and Steve Mrozek,

Executive Director of the Selfridge Museum break ground in a ceremony today

marking the addition of a new Aviation Education Center at the Selfridge Military Air

Museum. The aviation education center will make extensive use of historical arti-

facts and will incorporate hands-on, interactive learning. This is one of only a few

education centers like this in the state and the only one in Macomb County.

SPECIAL SECTION

THE MACOMB DAILY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021

By Rose Spaulding

EHH Correspondent

The Enlisted Heritage

House 2nd Annual Trunk

or Treat was held on Oct.

23, 2021, in the old housing

area located on Selfridge Air

National Guard Base. The

event was open to the mil-

itary community and DoD

civilians.

Over 200 trick or treat-

ers participated and gath-

ered treats from 35 festively

decorated trunks. Each trick

or treater was given tickets

at check-in to vote on their

favorite display with prizes

being awarded to best mili-

tary and best civilian trunk.

The EHH Military Hal-

loween Trunk First Place

Trophy, $200 gift card, and

one-year bragging rights

went to Coast Guard Air

Station Detroit. A terrifying

display, for those who dared

to enter, was created by Lt.

Cmdr. Adam Morehouse, Sr.

Chief Dace Coombes, and

Chief Trevor Sly.

“This event is a great op-

portunity for military and

civilian families to come

together and have a great

time,” said Lt. Commander

Adam Morehouse.

The First Place Civil-

ian EHH Halloween Trunk

Award went to Greg Polcyn.

Polcyn entertained trick or

treaters with his juggling

skills and took home a $100

gift card. Greg works for

PdM SKOT at TACOM. “Per-

forming for the kids sur-

rounded by the old Selfridge

neighborhood was the best

experience,” said Polcyn.

The Macomb County

Young Marines volunteered

to help with the event and

assisted with traffic and

distributed cider and do-

nuts at the Enlisted Heri-

tage House.

“The event was a huge

success,” said EHH Event

Trustee Maria Shibbish.

“It was wonderful to see

so many families, military

units, and organizations

from the military commu-

nity come together and have

a great time.”

COMMUNITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF ENLISTED HERITAGE HOUSE

Over 200 trick or treaters participated in the second annual

Enlisted Heritage House Trunk or Treat event, held Oct. 23

at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

By Staff Sgt. Drew Schumann

127th Wing Public Aairs

Air Force medics and administra-

tors from the 127th Medical Group,

at Selfridge Air National Guard Base,

and the 110th Medical Group, at Bat-

tle Creek, Mich., recently took part

in Medical Facilities Annual Training

at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy.

“Training at an active duty hospi-

tal sharpens skills that medics are

not normally exposed to; such as pe-

diatric care, geriatric care, and treat-

ing members of the local population,”

said Captain Tandi Bailey, medical

administrator for the 110th Medi-

cal Group. “This training is impor-

tant because it not only gets our clin-

ical and medical teams the exposure

of an active duty hospital operations

tempo, but also maintains our clini-

cal currency, through medical train-

ing and readiness.”

Clinical experience of this na-

ture can only be achieved through

o-site training. Michigan Air Na-

tional Guard facilities have ambula-

tory medical facilities, which provide

medical and dental examinations,

vaccine distribution, flight physi-

cals, and other non-urgent care ser-

vices for its members. Like many ac-

tive-duty military facilities, NAS Sig-

onella hosts a hospital with advanced

services providing care for active ser-

vice members, and their families.

For many of the Airmen who at-

tended the MFAT, the hospital expo-

sure they received was a ﬁrst for their

career, and could only be obtained

while working alongside medical col-

leagues from the Navy and Marine

Corp, as well as NATO allies from It-

aly.

“It has been great reviewing skills

that I haven’t done in a while, such as

administering IVs (Intravenous ad-

ministration,) and mechanical ven-

tilation,” said Senior Airman Kim-

berly Lai, Aerospace Medical Tech-

nician with the 127th Medical Group.

“I am hoping to bring back what I

learn, and provide it at Selfridge, to

continue being an asset to the Med-

ical Group.”

The training mission was 14 days

in total, and allowed for eight days

of in-hospital training. This not only

served as the two-week annual ser-

vice requirement for guardsmen, but

also provided ample time to accom-

plish training tasks that are neces-

sary for readiness.

“Completion of our medic’s train-

ing requirements is our goal,” said

Major Kathleen Wilbourn, Registered

Nurse and Team Chief, at the 127th

Medical Group. “Aerospace Medi-

cal Technicians need forty hours of

training in a hospital with emergency

room, and intensive care unit capabil-

ities, in order to be fully qualiﬁed in

their training requirements.”

Combining the roles of Licensed

Practical Nurse, Emergency Medi-

cal Technician and specialty techni-

cian (such as optometry, or dental,)

Aerospace Medical Service techni-

cians for the U.S. Air Force are spe-

cially trained, and highly adaptable,

to meet the critical needs of mili-

tary medical service and readiness.

Whether their career leads them to

work in a hospital, aboard a ship, on

an aeromedical evacuation aircraft or

at a deployed location, training such

as MFAT allows for Air Force medics

to be indispensable in providing high

levels of medical care.

READINESS

Military community,

her

for Enlisted Heritage

unk

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. DREW SCHUMANN

NAS SIGONELLA, Italy- Airman First Class Stephen Conklin, Aerospace Medical Technician for the 127th Wing Medical

Group, remove stitches from a child at the temporary housing facility on NAS Sigonella, Italy, during Operation Allies

Refuge.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 THE MACOMB DAILY

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ProudMember Of The

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Stephen Saph Jr. -s[email protected]

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