On-final goes paperless

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zach Jacobs
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE. Oklahoma --  It's the end of an era, but also the beginning of an "e-" era.

After 31 years of publication, the On-final has become a paper less publication.

The On-final, the official newspaper for the 507th Air Refueling Wing and 513th Air Control Group, launched its initial issue in 1980 following a previous wing newspaper called the Thunderchief.

The 507th was established at Tinker Air Force Base in 1972 and flew the F-105 Thunderchief aircraft. When the wing transitioned from the F-105 to the F-4D Phantom, officials opted to rename the paper so it would not to reflect the weapons system flown but to give it a more general name. Otherwise, the paper would have needed to be renamed several times over the following years.

The factors driving the decision to cease printed versions included recent Air Force instructions prohibiting the use of non-appropriated funding for printing newspapers, as well as the recently released DoD Efficiencies Report, which outlines the need to reduce expenses wherever possible.

"We knew this day would eventually arrive; we just couldn't predict when," said Lt. Col. Richard Curry, chief of public affairs for the 507th ARW. Curry said that he has been involved with publishing the On-final for 30 of the past 31 years.

"Because we knew this day would come we tried to provide for a transition, producing both an electronic version and the print version of the On-final over the past few years."

Reservists receive a message monthly with a hyperlink to the electronic version.

"We hope the On-final has proven itself as a valuable communications tool to both commanders and reservists," said Curry. He added that the newsletter also provided additional value as a wing outreach tool.

"We regularly mailed out the paper to local chambers of commerce, state elected officials, Oklahoma congressional representatives and their staff and to former members and retirees who simply wanted to stay connected," Curry said.

Across the Air Force, other wings have already ceased newspaper production and instead produce electronic versions, or have simply gone to a completely web-based method of communicating their wing news to the general public, said Curry.

"We're moving toward a leaner Air Force and have to accomplish our mission with fewer people," said Curry. "So we may also have to go to a completely web-based system one day."

"That means we wouldn't produce the electronic version anymore."

Curry added, "However, for now the transition to digital may provide our office the opportunity to explore new digital innovations, such as imbedded video on On-final pages and page-turn tools to give you the 'feel' of holding a paper copy."

The On-final will still be published monthly on the 507th ARW's official website, www.507arw.afrc.af.mil, and digital copies will still be emailed each month to all members of the wing and the 513th Air Control Group.

"For now, we're going to keep the On-final going as long as we can," Curry said.