U.S. AIR FORCE TO CONDUCT BASE-WIDE Y2K TEST

The U. S. Air Force will conduct its primary installation-wide test for Year 2000 repairs at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. next week. In an effort to answer the question, "Is the Air Force ready for Y2K?", Keesler will push the clock forward from 7 a.m., May 11 until 10 a.m., May 12, to test systems for the entire Air Force.

The test schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, May 11

7 a.m.	Set Keesler to Sept. 8, 1999 at 11 p.m.
8 a.m.	Rollover to Sept. 9, 1999 ( This tests systems on 9/9/99 date.)
9 a.m.	Set Keesler to Sept 30, 1999 at 11 p.m.
10 a.m.	Rollover to Oct. 1, 1999 (This tests systems for fiscal year changes.)
11 a.m.	Set Keesler to Dec. 31, 1999 at 11 p.m.

Midnight Rollover to Jan. 1, 2000

Wednesday, May 12

8 a.m.	Set Keesler to Feb. 28, 2000 at 11 p.m.
9 a.m.	Rollover to Feb. 29, 2000 (This tests systems for the leap year.)
10 a.m.	Set Keesler back to May 12, 1999 at 10 a.m.

This series of end-to-end tests will feature systems common to military installations. Among the equipment tested will be radios, phone switches, fire and security alarms, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, the core automated maintenance system, personnel systems, the security police automated system, the military justice management system, and dental and health care systems. In addition, the base contracting automated system, base local area networks, and the base supply system are also some of the dozens of tests to be run.

According to Maj. Paul Henning, 81st Communications Squadron commander, Keesler was chosen as the Air Force base test site for a variety of reasons. "We're the computer technical training center for the Air Force and we have the largest inventory of applicable items in Air Education and Training Command," he explained.

The 81st Training Wing has at least 20,000 items that could be affected by Y2K. When test time comes, "essentially, we'll roll the clocks forward as if it were Jan. 1, 2000, and see what happens," Henning explained. "It's going to be a great opportunity for us to test the effectiveness of our Y2K compliance.

"The lessons learned at Keesler during the test will be very valuable to other bases," the major added. "What happens here will probably happen at other bases, so we can share our knowledge and our experiences with them."

Air Force Communications Agency (AFCA), from Scott AFB, Ill., is working with the base to coordinate this test.

Media interested in covering the Air Force's Y2K End-to-End Test at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., should call (228) 377-2783 by May 7, 1999.