The Key West Citizen

Visiting Reserve Officers Speak To Local AF Squadron

A record attendance marked the meeting last Wednesday evening at Key West High School of Flight "A" (Conch) of the 9968th Air Reserve Squadron. Visiting Reserve officers from Miami—Colonel R. Frazier Potts, commander, and Lt. Col. Jack Ballard, Executive Officer of the 9187th Air Reserve Group—made the evening a gala one for local Reservists.

Attending were Flight members Lt. Col. Harold C. Campbell, commander of the Key West Flight; Lt. Col. William R. Warren, Executive Officer; Maj. Louise V. White, Information Services Officer; Maj. Merris R. Warfield, Hospitality Officer; Capt. Arthur W. Cade, Jr., Training Officer; First Lt. Charles Leaver, Recruiting Officer; First Lt. Archie R. Potter, Assistant Recruiting Officer; First Lt. Laurence Dion, Supply Officer; First Lt. Arthur R. Lujan, Legal Officer; Tech. Sergeant Edison Mora; Airman First Class Delio Perez; Airman First Class Gus Perez; Airman First Class Al Albertus, and Airman First Class Frank Perez.

Colonel Campbell was in charge of the lesson exercise which was Chapter 18 of Vol. 2 of "Air Force Administration and Management." The lesson was titled "Air Force Career Concept." Major White and Captain Cade were Evaluators for the lesson.

During and following the two-hour session which began promptly at 7:30, Colonel Potts, Colonel Ballard, and Colonel Campbell addressed the Flight extemporaneously. Colonel Campbell had recently returned from his annual two-week tour of duty in the Air Force Matching Merge Program. He had spent two weeks in the Personnel Department at Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral and had much to tell of his assignment.

Colonel Potts took up the subject of promotions for Airmen. "The opportunities today for promotions for Airmen," he said, "couldn't be better. The sky's the limit. You can climb as high as you can go. The ladder's there. All you have to do is climb it. You must serve six months in your unit for a promotion; you must comply with the regulations for Airmen Promotions, and you must take the Proficiency Exams after you have gone to school for your promotion."

Colonel Potts stated that the Key West Flight stood high in attendance and performance; and he commended Colonel Campbell and Colonel Warren for their high type of leadership of the Flight.

Colonel Ballard told the Flight: "All of you are fortunate to have a man like Colonel Campbell. I wish I could get down more often to hear his lectures." Continuing Colonel Potts' conversation regarding promotions, Colonel Ballard stated, "If you don't get promotions, look at yourself and see if your job here can't be done better."

In closing the meeting, Colonel Potts gave an overall view of the Miami Air Reserve Center to which the Key West Flight belongs. There are 933 such centers in the 14th Air Force of this country. The Miami Center has in its headquarters at present 600 Reservists and the aim is to build the Center up to over 1,000. All units are commanded by Reservists. The 9187th Air Reserve Group has six squadrons; and four of these have headquarters in Dade County.

Flight "A" assembles tomorrow evening for its regular training meeting at Key West High School on Flagler Avenue. The time is 7:30 to 9:30. All members are urged to be present promptly. Lesson No. 19 will be studied. Air Force and other service veterans interested in joining the Flight are invited; and those desiring to join up immediately and start on pay status Wednesday evening should bring their Discharge papers along.