Puzzled airman shares craft

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amy Christopher
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
What can be very addictive but can also inspire people’s creativity? At the same time, what can be really frustrating? What contains “colorful” clues, but are just black and white?

Give up? They are crossword puzzles -- and thanks to an airman here, they will now be available through the Air Force News Agency in San Antonio for use by Air Force public affairs offices worldwide.

In fact, it may just be the newest addition in many base newspapers.

First Lt. Tony Wickman, deputy chief of public affairs for Alaskan Command, began creating military-themed crossword puzzles at his previous base as an experiment. He is now producing crosswords for AFNEWS during his off-duty time.

“We wanted to take over distribution of the puzzles because we knew we could reach a wider audience with the message about their existence. We also wanted to make sure every Air Force newspaper knew about them, because the puzzles can be an interesting and fun addition to a newspaper,” said Senior Master Sgt. Terry Somerville, Air Force newspaper consultant.

“I was struck by their professionalism right from the start. Lieutenant Wickman weaves special Air Force clues into the usual elements of a crossword puzzle,” Somerville said. “The puzzles can be a useful tool in a newspaper editor’s arsenal.”

Before this, Wickman produced puzzles at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. While not many Air Force bases run crosswords, he said that his puzzles were a huge success with airmen as well as civilians.

“I’d walk through the hospital and see new and old issues of base papers left open on the crossword section. I’d see people in the halls who would stop and ask me about the answers to certain clues. And we’d get calls coming in, asking if we could continue printing them,” he said.

Wickman’s puzzles, featuring various Air Force and military topics, and special holiday puzzles, are now slated to be a regular feature in many base newspapers.

“The actual making of a crossword puzzle is a challenge. When I first started, it would take me about three to four hours. Now, it takes me about an hour, and so far, I already have enough puzzles to get AFNEWS through most of next year,” he said. “My goal is to make the puzzles challenging and fun. I believe crossword puzzles inspire creativity and mix things up a little.”

This different twist will encourage people who might not normally pick up the paper to do so, and may even keep newspapers “hanging around” the offices longer, Wickman said.