Nellis Air Ground School names new boss

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002 | 8:56 a.m.

A veteran of Enduring Freedom operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan has taken command of the Air Ground Operations School at Nellis Air Force Base. Col. David Neuenswander served as commander of an A-10 close air support detachment in Pakistan and an air expeditionary group in Afghanistan during operations in the spring, including Operation Anaconda, intended to root out Taliban and terrorist remnants in the Tora Bora region.

The mission of the Air Ground Operations School is to oversee exercises and training that deal with supporting military forces on the ground. The school is the parent organization for the Air Warrior I and II exercises, which provide close-air support for Army exercises and trains air crew and ground personnel on close air support procedures in a realistic simulated combat environment.

"Neuenswander's expertise in close air support and combat search and rescue make him the perfect choice for the Air Ground Operations School, the center of excellence for close air support," said Gen. Daniel Darnell, 57th Wing commander, during an assumption of command ceremonies at the base last week.

Military voters

With the general election not far behind next week's primaries, Federal Voting Assistance Program officials are sponsoring Armed Forces Voters Week, Sept. 1-7. The week is designed for military installations worldwide to highlight voting issues.

"The objective is to create awareness of the electoral process and to motivate military members to participate in the upcoming general election," said Polli Brunelli, federal voting program director. "We want to encourage our military members, their dependents, our federal employees overseas and our overseas citizens to be aware of the elections and to exercise their right to vote."

The program works with state officials to ease absentee ballot processes for military members.

For example, Brunelli said, program officials asked state officials to allow service members deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to receive voting materials by fax and to be able to fax in completed ballots. The agency urges military personnel to contact installation voting assistance officers to learn about what they must do to vote.

All units with more than 25 people also have voting assistance officers. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz signed a memo to the military postal service to ensure that all voting materials are postmarked and canceled for all deployed vessels and personnel. Further, military postal service employees will look for voting materials to ensure they are moved expeditiously.

In brief

Szalay, the son of Patricia Cook of Las Vegas and Joseph Szalay of Mesquite, received training in heavy equipment mechanics following basic training. His unit will conduct combat area security patrol, detainee operations, police intelligence operations and maintain law and order in and around the Kandahar area.

Minoski and Cadile were introduced to academy life through a regimen of academics, physical training, intramural sports, sailing and seamanship as well as leadership training and social activities.