Reserve Master-at-Arms Provide Security, Public Outreach in Chicago

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Katherine Brooks Hofman, Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command Public Affairs

CHICAGO (NNS) -- A team of 56 Reserve Sailors from Commemoration of the War of 1812 Navy Security Forces (COMWAR 1812 NR NSF) provided security for U.S. Navy ships during Chicago's Air and Water Show and the city's commemoration of the War of 1812, Aug. 15-19.

After a three-week break from other War of 1812 events the COMWAR 1812 NR NSF team regrouped to support the second phase of the Commemoration of the War of 1812 throughout the Great Lakes region.

A core group of 22 members provide continuity to COMWAR 1812 NR NSF, protecting ships and visitors during the historic weeklong commemoration events.

The events in the Great Lakes region act to showcase the Navy and its forces to the local community.

Although the COMWAR 1812 NR NSF mission is to protect the fleet, several of the members are seasoned civilian law enforcement officers who understand the benefit of working with the public to provide information as well as providing force protection.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class Robert Evans recognized the value of public relations as a part of the security forces mission.

"People are sometimes intimidated by us. We are looked at as big guys with guns," said Evans. "Once you begin talking to them and they realize you are a regular guy it opens up the lines of communication. They are here to see the ships and they have questions. We are here to engage with them."

Evans said he takes pride in being both a Navy and civilian police officer, and he enjoys acting as a positive role model to children through public interaction.

"I tell them to be good, eat their vegetables and stay in school, then they can grow up and do what I do," he said.

Sometimes the experiences the Sailors have with the public have an unexpected and profound impact. Master-at-Arms 1st Class David Utz was touched by his experiences in Chicago during public tours.

"People ask about why we are here and where we are from. Overall the reception is positive. I can't tell how many thank you's I have gotten for my service," said Utz. "It is definitely motivating and makes me feel good to be a part of the Commemoration of the War of 1812."

Utz, the father of a six-year-old son, fondly recalled interacting with a child and his parent at the event. "The little boy had a piece of paper in his hand. He had drawn a picture with a blue crayon of a fighter jet. He held it up to me and said, 'I made this for you,'" said Utz.

Wisconsin National Guard engages community at Rhythm and Booms

By 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. Larson

Wisconsin National Guard

The Wisconsin National Guard howitzers that fire powder charges and the F-16 Falcon fighter jets that fly overhead during the National Anthem at the annual Rhythm and Booms celebration at Madison's Warner Park are more than just show - they are a tangible reminder of the assets, capabilities and missions found in National Guard units in communities across Wisconsin.

"These are real howitzers," Command Sgt. Maj. James Ward of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery explained to Mike and Casey McCabe of Madison, Wis., in response to their questions about the four 105-mm cannons lined up at Warner Park June 30. "These are what we would take overseas to war, if needed."

The 115th Fighter Wing also hosted approximately 180 local civic and business leaders and their families at the Wisconsin Air National Guard base in Madison during Rhythm and Booms.

"This is our first event recognizing the Badger Air Community Council, an independent community council that's standing up to support the 115th Fighter Wing Airmen," said Brig. Gen. Joseph Brandemuehl, 115th commander. "It's a great way to demonstrate to local civic leaders and leaders in the community what we have here at the fighter wing - our capabilities, what our mission is, what our people do, and the impact we have on the community."

Among the prominent local business leaders behind the Badger Air Community Council, Brandemuehl said, are Pat Richter, Dave Anderson, Marv Siegert and Dave Lenz. Richter supported the annual Military Achievement Awards when he was an executive with Oscar Mayer Foods, and Lenz retired as a major in the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 176th Tactical Fighter Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 115th Fighter Wing.

"We're trying to show them behind the scenes what goes on - what goes into a fly-by, what goes into an event like this - that there's a lot more behind it than just the jets flying over," Brandemuehl continued. "There's usually about 40 Airmen when you talk about the maintenance side of the house, just to get the jets airborne. It also gives them a slice of what we do on a daily basis Monday through Friday as well."

The event included static displays of an F-16 jet, inert munitions, an F-16 flight simulator, and chairs and sound system for watching the fireworks.

"It's a good way to educate the local people on what an F-16 is," said Maj. Tim Dyer, "and also the munitions we use when we deploy to a foreign location as far as our missions are concerned."

Maj. Mike Palmer, who with Dyer helped organize the event at the 115th Fighter Wing, said the unit was putting greater emphasis on telling its story to the community.

"If you look at the role we play and how efficient we do the job, we're trying to tell that story to the rest of the world," Palmer said. "We know times are tough right now and money's tight, and we think we have a very efficient, highly educated group of people that we want to see continue forward into the future to keep the base open and defend our country at an efficient cost."

"This is our way of showing gratitude for their support," Dyer said.

Back at Warner Park, the public also demonstrated its appreciation for the Wisconsin National Guard, as handshakes and "Thank you for your service" became a common refrain heard near the howitzers.

Leap Frogs Perform Multiple Shows for Nashville Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Fletcher Gibson, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, performed jumps at four different locations May 11-12 in support of the city's Navy Week celebration.

The team performed jumps at both Lavergne and Stratford High Schools, as well as a game-opening jump at Greer Stadium for the Nashville Sounds baseball team May 11. They performed two passes at The Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna, Tenn., May 12. Rainy weather May 13 prevented the Leap Frogs from performing on the second day of the air show.

Team members met and interacted with a wide-range of fans and audience members. At Stratford, the Leap Frogs enjoyed some one-on-one time with members of the local Sea Cadet unit, while the performance at Lavergne introduced them to a potential future member of the SEAL community.

"I've never met an active duty SEAL," said Ethan Vicars, a student at Middle Tennessee State University who had just been accepted into the SEAL training program. "They gave me a lot of good advice from their experiences."

"Just to be surrounded by men and women who have done something positive with their lives is important in our community and to our students," said Letoni Murry, the assistant principal at Lavergne High School.

Spectator Faye Lash was impressed with the team's opening jump during the national anthem.

"I've been coming to air shows since I was six years old, and I've never seen anything as awe-inspiring as that. To see an American flag fall out of the sky and be brought down by a Sailor...this is what it does," she said indicating her tears.

Deputy Chief, Medical Operations and Future Plans Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Rear Adm. Donald Gintzig, was also impressed.

"It's great to see them perform and really help inspire the next generation because I can guarantee you there were young men and women here looking up and saying 'I want to be doing that some day,'" Gintzig said.

The Leap Frogs are scheduled to perform May 15-16 at the Navy Week in Spokane, Wash.

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

For more information about the Leap Frogs, visit www.leapfrogs.navy.mil.

Leap Frogs Jump into Sound of Speed Air Show

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Fletcher Gibson, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (NNS) -- Members of the U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, performed at the Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Mo. as part of the annual "Sound of Speed" Air Show, May 5-6.

The team performed four jumps over both days, including one jump performed in conjunction with their Canadian skydiving team counterparts, the SkyHawks.

Between performances, the team members took time to meet with the crowd and give some hands-on presentations of some of their skydiving equipment.

"It was absolutely amazing," said Sam Buckley, who visited the air show from Savannah, Mo. "I saw the Leap Frogs a couple years ago, and this was even better."

This show was especially important to the team because St. Joseph is the hometown of the 139th Airlift Wing. This Air National Guard unit has an extended history of volunteering to assist the Leap Frogs with transportation and jump platforms.

"Our show season wouldn't be possible without the 139th's support," said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class Thomas Kinn, the jumpmaster for this event. "They support over half of our shows."

"We're extremely proud of our relationship with the Leap Frogs," added Air Force Col. Mike Pankau, the wing commander for the 139th. "We're grateful to have them here to show the hometown what we do when we're out on the road supporting them."

In addition to the skydiving demonstrations, Sound of Speed also featured both military and civilian aircraft demonstrations and static displays. The show featured aircraft from one-seater stunt planes to Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft, and from WWI-era bi-planes to the ultra-modern F-22 Raptor fighter.

The Leap Frogs next scheduled performance is May 11-13 at the Nashville Navy Week in Nashville, Tenn.

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

Leap Frogs Perform at Lauderdale Air Show

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luke Eastman, U.S Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, performed at the 14th Lauderdale Air Show, April 27-28.

The Leap Frogs performed three of five scheduled jumps but had to cancel two jumps due to inclement weather.

The team jumped with members of the Army 101st Airborne Division parachute demonstration team, the Screaming Eagles. The Leap Frogs and the Screaming Eagles jumped from a CASA HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, flown by members of Coast Guard Air Station Miami.

More than 2,000 spectators watched the practice jump during the air show rehearsal on Friday. The Leap Frogs performed a second jump for more than 3,000 people at the air show take-off event later that evening.

"It was the most impressive thing I've ever witnessed," said Dan Dees, a spectator at the take-off event. "What I found most exciting was the speed at which they came down. I couldn't believe they jumped with this wind and were able to make such pinpoint landings."

The Leap Frogs were scheduled to jump during the national anthem to start the air show on Saturday, but they had to cancel the performance due to high winds and low cloud cover. After a few hours, the weather cleared up and the team was able to jump outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for a crowd of more than 500 people.

"The most exciting part was seeing the two guys tangle up together and do those tricks in the air," said Rafael Nieves, a spectator at the event. "This is the first time my kids have seen this and they're actually helping the SEALs pack their parachutes right now. It's a very cool experience. My son is only four years old but after seeing this today he told me it's something he wants to do when he gets older."

After the performance, members of the team showed spectators how to pack their parachutes. The Leap Frogs were also available to answer questions, sign autographs and pose for photographs.

"It's a great community event and a great way to bring the community together," said Jack Seiler, mayor of Fort Lauderdale. "More importantly it's a way for our community to show our admiration and appreciation for the men and women who serve this country. It's just fantastic and we thank all the men and women who sacrifice to serve this country; we really admire what they do."

Lauderdale Air Show is one of 35 major events on the Leap Frogs' schedule this year. The team is based in San Diego and performs aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

For more information about the Leap Frogs, visit www.leapfrogs.navy.mil.

For more information about NSW programs and opportunities, visit www.sealswcc.com. For more news from U.S. Navy Parachute Team, visit www.navy.mil/local/usnpt/.

Kentucky Air Guard to support, participate in Thunder Over Louisville

By Air National Guard Master Sgt. Phil Speck

123rd Airlift Wing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (4/20/12) – The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing is scheduled to support the 2012 Thunder Over Louisville Air Show April 21, providing logistic and maintenance support for military aircraft scheduled to appear at this year's show.

The April 21 event promises to be one of the biggest yet, said Air Force Capt. Josh Ketterer, a C-130 Hercules pilot with the 123rd AW, and the Kentucky Air National Guard's Thunder coordinator.

This year's schedule features more than 25 current military planes and helicopters from the across the U.S. armed forces and Canadian military, as well as variety of historic aircraft. Highlights of the show this year include the F-22 Raptor, a B-2 Stealth Bomber and F/A-18 Hornets.

"The public will see a representation of every single service, and every single type of military aircraft during the air show," Ketterer said. "It will be impressive."

A special segment of the six-hour program will highlight Marine Corps aircraft in recognition of the Corps' 100th year of flying operations. The United States Marine Corps began its aviation program on May 22, 1912.

Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient and Kentucky native, will be featured during the Marine aviation segment by sitting in the back seat of an AV-8B Harrier during its aerial demonstration over the Ohio River.

As always, the Kentucky Air Guard will provide logistical, security and maintenance support for military aircraft throughout the day.

"It's an honor for us to support this event, which is now in its 22nd year and has become one of the most successful air shows in the nation," Ketterer said. "For the past 21 years, the 123rd Airlift Wing has consistently provided a high level of service to the community and a high level of hospitality to our visiting air crews and maintainers during Thunder. This year will be no different.

"We know our efforts allow hundreds of thousands of people to see the nation's military aircraft up close, whether they're watching them in person along the riverfront or tuning in to the live telecast."

The Kentucky Air Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron will kick off the air show Saturday when four pararescuemen are scheduled to parachute out of a Kentucky C-130 aircraft and land in the Ohio River, where they will be recovered by other members of the special tactics team.