Face of Defense: Airman Takes Weather Award Twice

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens

Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa Public Affairs

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti, April 18, 2012 – There's an old saying that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place, but it did for one Air Force noncommissioned officer.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Spiker, joint meteorology and oceanography operations weather forecaster, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, was named the 2011 Air Force Weather Noncommissioned Officer of the Year -- his second Air Force-wide weather award. His first one was the Air Force Battlefield Weather NCO of the Year for 2006.

Spiker's skill in the weather career field was obvious to his home-station supervisor, Air Force Capt. Drew Moore, 56th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight commander, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

"He's topnotch at what he does," Moore said of Spiker. "He's energetic, motivated and very involved with the fighter squadrons here and what we do on the weather side. He's positive, has a good attitude and is a stellar NCO."

Spiker deployed here in November 2011.

"Here we're responsible for forecasting for the entire area of interest for the combined joint task force," Spiker said. "Any mission that's a CJTF-HOA mission, we're going to forecast for it."

Spiker said he took an interest in weather and natural science at an early age. He first found out about the weather career field from his recruiter before joining the Air Force 10 years ago and he's been doing it ever since.

"I had always been a natural sciences kind of person and more of the 'outdoorsy' type," Spiker said. "I wanted to do something different, and it seemed like the Air Force offered the most unique opportunity for me, so it really worked out."

His first two deployments were to Iraq in 2006 and 2007 to provide tactical weather support for the U.S. Army’s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Spiker said his service in a deployed environment contributed to him earning his first Air Force weather award and also played a part in his receiving the 2011 award.

One of his main responsibilities here includes setting up and maintaining tactical weather equipment used for collecting atmospheric data in the CJTF-HOA area of interest, Spiker said. His job takes him to other sites in Djibouti and several countries in and around the Horn of Africa in support of the CJTF-HOA mission.

Spiker is a “tremendous asset” and deserves the recognition, said his supervisor, Navy Cmdr. Douglas Wahl.

"He is proactive and one of the most-knowledgeable Air Force technicians and forecasters I've worked with,” Wahl said of Spiker. “It's obvious he takes great pride in his job and this award truly reflects the quality of his workmanship."

Even though Spiker was excited about winning the award, he said he knew his career field was more than just a one-man job -- it is a team effort. He praised the airmen in his shop at Luke AFB and the joint personnel he works with here for their excellent performance.

"I work with the most awesome people I've ever worked with in my career right now. They're all such hard workers," Spiker said. "I've always been lucky to be able to work alongside such great people.”

USO Celebrities Visit Joint Operations Center

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 18, 2012 – The tables turned today as the USO's spring tour celebrities got a taste of combined military operations during a visit to a joint operations center here.

Navy Vice Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is serving as military host for the tour for comedian and actor Anthony Anderson; retired Major League Baseball pitcher Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson; actor Jason “Wee-Man” Acuna; actor and pitchman Dennis Haysbert; Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders Allyson Traylor, Brittany Evans and Kelsi Reich; and former “American Idol” contestants Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young.

The celebrities toured U.S. Air Forces Central's Combined Air and Space Operations Center. The CAOC is responsible for command and control of all air operations in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, said Air Force Col. Dave Iverson, 609th Air and Space Operations Center commander, providing 24/7 air coverage and conducting counterterrorism operations 365 days a year.

The CAOC is a joint and coalition team, staffed by the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and coalition partners since becoming fully operational on Feb. 18, 2003.

“We work with Canadians, Australians, the British and our other coalition partners in addition to every branch of service,” Iverson noted.

Serving as host for the USO celebrities’ tour of the facility, Iverson explained the CAOC’s mission and operational capabilities.

A majority of the CAOC's operations occur in Afghanistan’s southern and eastern border regions, Iverson said. Troops in enemy contact can have air support in seven to eight minutes, he added.

Air mobility is another major mission, whether it’s moving cargo or airdropping supplies for special operations forces, who often are in locations difficult to get to by road or with no airfields nearby, Iverson said.

Other CAOC functional areas include cells for personnel recovery, offensive and defensive operations and space, he explained.

Following the short tour and photo opportunities with the service members in the CAOC, some of the celebrities shared their thoughts of the tour.

“I felt like a third-grader trapped on a school tour,” Anderson joked. “But I understand why they can't have classified and top secret stuff on the screens while I'm in there. It was informative, and I understand [the privacy was] for national security reasons and whatnot. The center was what I pictured it to be -- minus the classified information that was going to be on the screen. I really wanted to see what was going on.”

After calling the tour an “amazing” experience, the comedian couldn’t resist another joke.

“I wanted to watch a Super Bowl or NBA Finals game on one of those [big] screens,” he said. “Overall, great experience just to see how an operation works like that from the inside out.”

The tour also showed him that Hollywood portrayals of military operations centers can be fairly accurate, he said. “[It was] definitely what I thought it would be from watching movies, being a part of movies in situations like that,” he said. “It was like, 'OK, what we've done on film is pretty accurate to what really goes on inside a command center like that.”

Johnson, who has been on multiple USO tours and visited other operations centers, was also impressed by the CAOC.

“It was obviously very intense to see the maps and big-screen videos and probably stuff that you can't talk about too much,” he said. “But I felt very privileged to be able to see the stuff behind the scenes. There's so much technology going on, and I just feel honored and privileged to be here, and hopefully, we encouraged and lightened up the moment and the day for some people.”

Naval Base Guam Celebrates Annual Sumay Day

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Corey Hensley, U.S. Naval Base Guam Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) welcomed island residents to the third annual Back to Sumay Day celebration April 14.

The annual event began in 2010 by then-base commanding officer Capt. Scott Galbreaith with the goal of inviting former residents of the pre-World War II village and their descendents back to this once flourishing site.

"Today is a sentimental journey back in time as we look around and try to imagine how life was here," said Santa Rita Mayor Dale Alvarez. "It was the center of activity both in business and family gatherings."

Sumay village was once known as the "Pearl of the Island" before the war between U.S. and Japanese forces decimated the area. Evolving from a small fishing village to the agricultural and commercial hub for ships in the mid-1800s, it became an economically rich village by the 1930s. It was located near Apra Harbor and within proximity to the Orote Airfield and other U.S. military stations that helped the village thrive.

The event kicked off with a religious mass near the Cross of the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, which is all that remains of the former Sumay church. Afterwards, opening remarks were made by Alvarez, who also invited Capt. Richard Wood, commanding officer of NBG, to say a few words.

"It's truly an honor to host this today," Wood said. "We're so thrilled to have so many people who have an historic tie to this land back today. We hope that you feel welcome and that you enjoy the day."

Former Sumay resident Lucy Anderson attended the event and vividly recalled different activities that occurred in what was once the island's hub for businesses and communities.

"The way Sumay looked, it was a beautiful place," she said. "Everything was in Sumay, the Pan American [Skyways Hotel], the Marine Barracks, the [Trans-Pacific] Cable Station. Sumay was the biggest place in Guam."

When the Japanese attacked Guam Dec. 8, 1941, it was the beginning of the end for the village. All the residents including Anderson, who was just 16 at the time, were forced to leave so the Japanese could occupy the homes and buildings.

Three years later the pre-liberation bombardment by U.S. forces destroyed several west coast villages including Sumay. Because of its strategic value to the war campaign in the Pacific, Sumay and surrounding area at Orote peninsula was absorbed into the new Navy Operating Base or Naval Supply Depot, and all former residents were relocated to what is now the village of Santa Rita.

"It was pretty complex town, and it's unfortunate that the war had to happen and some of these towns had to go away," said Senior Chief Navy Diver William Dunn, assigned to USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

Dunn was just one of many Sailors from various commands on Guam who volunteered their time for this event. Early in the morning, Sailors assisted the mayor's staff in setting up tents, tables and chairs. Some directed guests to parking areas, escorted the elderly, picked up trash, and assisted with anything else that was needed.

"We're on their land and I think it's good for us to show respect for them and let them come back and visit it to see that we're taking good care of it," Dunn said. "It also lets the Sailors understand a little bit more about Naval Base Guam and Guam itself, and maybe a take a little more pride in the history that is here.'

Throughout the day there was food, music, cultural dancing entertainment and historical displays and photos dating back to a pre-World War II Sumay. The elders of the former residents ranging in age from 83 to 92 were also honored with gifts presented by Alvarez.

In 1974, the former Sumay village area became known as the Sumay Historic District and was listed on the Guam Register of Historic Places.

My Injured Brain … My Wounded Heart

By Jayne Davis, DCoE Strategic Communications

Loss and recovery are common themes for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In my interview with Army Sgt. Mike Ortiz, he revealed his loss and his hope. This is his story.

It’ll be two years this June since I sustained a mild traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq … since I worked as an Army mechanic … since I felt wholly myself—funny, athletic, outgoing and caring … since my wife said goodbye.

I’m stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, but hope to find a job as a mechanic closer to where my two-year-old son lives. The Army says I’m fit for duty now (some days I’m still not sure) except for the weight gain from my long rehab. I’ll fix that, but I don’t see my wife and me fixing things. My behavior after the injury was just too hard on her. But, I want to be there for my son.

During my two tours in Iraq, I drove a wrecker, recovering blown-up vehicles and parts. One day, I was in a convoy on unfamiliar roads. In a convoy, you have to keep certain intervals for safety and we kept falling behind, so we punched it. What we didn’t see ahead was a hole in the road made by an improvised explosive device three feet deep and four feet wide—we hit it at 65mph. I tried to bounce with the seat, but there was so much force my head hit the roof like a projectile. When they asked me if I was ok, I said yes. Truth was my back was killing me—I didn’t even think about my head.

My back hurts … why are you talking about my head?

When I returned to the states, I saw a doctor for my back and related the story. He asked me a bunch of questions: did you develop a stutter? (I had); how many times did you hit your head? (twice); did you have anger issues that weren’t there before? (yes). I was getting frustrated because I didn’t know why he was asking those questions. I was there for my back, not my head.

When the doctor said I probably had a brain injury, I denied it. I later learned that denial and short-term memory loss are symptoms of TBI. I checked into the Jump Start program at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Texas, which offers speech, physical and occupational therapy to service members with traumatic brain injuries and posttraumatic stress disorder. I did well. Then my wife left.

I didn’t want to tell my son: ‘Daddy got kicked out of the Army’

After that, I was constantly late for work, got into trouble, didn’t shave and didn’t care. Nearly seven years in the Army and I never got in trouble once. Now, I was in danger of being kicked out—what would I tell my son?

With encouragement from Army Staff Sgt. Victor Medina, I entered Mentis Neuro Rehabilitation and spent six months in cognitive and behavioral therapy. That was my turning point. The therapists helped me to understand that I had to take care of myself before I could take care of others.

I don’t blame her for leaving

Depression, anger, denial, problems sleeping, concentrating, memory loss—my wife dealt with all of this without the benefit of understanding traumatic brain injuries. She thought I was lazy, uncaring and belligerent when I didn’t bring things she asked for from the store or brought the wrong item home. I felt dumb because I couldn’t remember simple things. Little stuff, but it piled up.

I believe the real mistake was not involving her in my therapy from the beginning. If my story could serve a purpose, it would be to raise awareness of the impact a traumatic brain injury can have on partners and families; how incorporating them into the healing process from the beginning can help everyone understand and cope with the symptoms. Doing so just might save a marriage … and keep a family intact.

Support for families can be found with these resources:

■DCoE Outreach Center (866-966-1020)

■Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support (855-260-3274)

■Family TBI Resources

■BrainLine.org

■Traumaticbraininjuryatoz.org