Dempsey, Gantz Look to Countering Mideast Threats

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

JERUSALEM , March 31, 2014 – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Israel’s chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz have met in Jerusalem to discuss countering long term threats to the region and ways to turn them into opportunities.

Speaking to reporters, Gantz said that based on their conversations, “we can definitely cooperate on the challenges and actually try and turn some of the threats that we face into opportunity.”

The Israeli military leader described cooperation with the U.S. military as being very important, very professional, very open and candid.

Dempsey described the meetings as a chance to look further into the future.

“I’m very excited to have that conversation with General Gantz and his team about our common future, common interests, the common security of our two people and to reassure each other on the strength and the enduring nature of our relationship,” the chairman said.

Gantz said the relationship between the two militaries will remain solid.

Dempsey stressed the relationship between the Israeli and U.S. military as being built on trust and candor. “The world is complicated enough without us speaking in parables to each other,” he said. “This is a time for great clarity and great candor and I can always count on our Israeli partners for that.”

Iran is constantly on the mind of Israeli military leaders. Both were asked by reporters if they had the capabilities needed to halt Iran’s nuclear program.

“Obviously we will keep our capabilities to ourself, but we do emphasize that the capability is very much there,” Gantz said.

Dempsey noted that President Barack Obama has made it clear that he will not allow Iran to gain nuclear weapons.

“My role as the senior military officer is to make sure that I provide him with the military options necessary to live up to that commitment, and we will,” he said.

New Family Care Center Set to Open in Bethesda

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

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2014 – A  new state of the art family care center is set to open at Naval Support Activity Bethesda tomorrow.

The USO and Naval Support Activity Bethesda hosted wounded warriors and their families for a March 28 preview of the facility.  Among the features of the 16,000-square foot complex are a National Football League-sponsored lounge complete with video game stations, a Charlie Sheen-sponsored music room, wireless internet access and a healing garden.

Marine Corps Cpl. Rebecca Fletcher said she enjoyed touring the new building and anticipates it will help build camaraderie at Naval Support Activity Bethesda.

“It’s gorgeous,” she said. “We’ve been watching it go up. It was gorgeous on the outside and coming inside it’s absolutely beautiful in here. It’s really nice.

“I think it’s going to kind of bring us together as like a bigger family,” Fletcher continued. “We’re kind of a big family anyway, but it’ll bring us closer.”

Army Sgt. Kevin Gatson also enjoyed the preview of the new facility, and noted “quite a few people … will definitely get quite a bit of enjoyment out of being here.”

“It means a lot,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a good thing. It’ll give the guys something to do when appointments and things are finished. This place will be someplace to go to have something to do.”

Pamela Horton, director of Warrior and Family Centers for USO Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore, said the new center broke ground in October 2012, after more than three years of planning at an approximate cost of $14 million.

“We picked, unfortunately, the harshest winter we’ve had in recent memory in this area,” she said. “So it kind of put us behind -- especially some of our outside work. We’re still catching up from the 21 days that we lost for weather.”

Horton said the USO believes the new center’s traffic will be similar to the Fort Belvoir center, opened on Feb. 5, 2013, with about 50,000 people using the facility annually.

“They don’t necessarily want to go miles away to go to something. They need something that’s close; they want something that’s comfortable.”

And they want something where they don’t have to feel like they’re being stared at or on display, she said.

“Think of this as your second home,” she said. “This is the way that the American public is thanking you for your service. They donated to build this facility to make it possible for [you] to come here and feel at home.”

RCS takes AWC students around world

by Lt. Col. Chris Karns
Air War College

3/28/2014 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala.  -- Approximately 240 Air War College students and faculty gained insight into issues facing about 13 different regions of the world and ways to develop solutions to common challenges during a field study, March 1-14.

As part of the AWC Regional and Cultural Studies curriculum, AWC students and faculty traveled to 30 different countries to gain a hands-on understanding of their security issues and areas of mutual concern.

"This course is about the security of both the U.S. and our regional partners across the globe," said Col. Charles Spencer, director of AWC's Regional and Cultural Studies Program. "Our goal is to prepare our future senior leaders to analyze and comprehend regional political, economic, and cultural contexts so that they can evaluate complex international issues that challenge national security. Our collective future depends on their ability to assess and successfully implement all instruments of national power with strategies that achieve regional and national security objectives."

The RCS program provides an in-depth study of a region that includes classroom academic preparation and the field studies element. The course allows students to discuss security issues with senior political, military, diplomatic, economic and academic leaders in the region itself. Students balloted for their region of study and traveled to countries within their chosen region.

The course and field study areas of focus included regional security, economic development, social issues, governance, health care, information, energy strategy and technology.

A central theme of the trip was gaining an understanding of different perspectives and ways of approaching problem sets.

"The course helps the students understand diversity of thought and ways to communicate and work effectively in an international forum," said Lt. Col. Dwayne LaHaye, an AWC student who traveled to India. "Students gain a global sense of issues as opposed to solely a U.S.-centric perspective. It is real life application, utilizing the knowledge gained in the classroom and applying it directly in the field with the goal of gaining enhanced understanding and enhancing relationships between countries."

The program provided an opportunity to work with leaders in government, industry, and defense in an effort to discover common ground as well as opportunities to partner, build trust, and enhance relationships.

"The RCS provides a chance to interact with senior leaders from other countries and gain insight into common challenges," said Lt. Col. Danny Davis, an Air War College student who traveled to Cambodia and Vietnam as part of the Southeast Asia program. "It also provides a chance to gain understanding of issues from alternate vantage points."

While U.S. students gained an understanding of other countries, 43 AWC international fellows, representing 42 different countries, traveled to Boston, Kansas City, Mo., and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, to gain enhanced understanding of U.S. foreign policy and security issues as well as government and industry perspectives.

With calls for reduced defense budgets, increased attention has been placed on the need to enhance understanding of global areas of interest and invest in ways to partner. The RCS program provided a foundation for solidifying partnerships and experiencing classroom instruction in the countries of study.

"The field study provided an opportunity for relationship building and partnering," said New Zealand Air Force Wing Commander Shaun Sexton, an AWC international fellow. "The program provides a greater ability to build relationships and maintain partnerships with the U.S. and other international fellow nations. Living and working closely together is a powerful way to get to know people and issues."

Countries visited by U.S. students included Austria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, France, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Bethesda Ready to Unveil New USO Warrior, Family Care Center

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

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2014 – Naval Support Activity Bethesda looks forward to the newest United Service Organizations facility opening which will enhance the installation’s ability to care for troops, said Navy Capt. David A. Bitonti, commander of NSA Bethesda.

“We’re very excited about the USO facility opening on Naval Support Activity Bethesda,” Bitonti said. “This facility is a phenomenal addition to our ability to provide the full range of care and support to, not only our wounded warriors, our patients [and] their families, but also our staff.”

“It’s a wonderful partnering opportunity that the USO has agreed to do along with us here on the installation,” he added.

The biggest benefit, he said, is that the center will provide new opportunities for staff, patients, wounded warriors and their families.

Bitonti described the features of the new facility, set to open April 1, which includes a full kitchen, living room-like area with a fireplace, multi-functional community room with 180-person capacity, therapeutic art Studio, NFL Lounge complete with video games, a Charlie Sheen-sponsored music room, and healing garden.

“In this 16,000 or so, square-foot facility and the garden space behind it,” Bitonti said, “we have the ability to do pretty much everything and anything you would do if you were back home wherever you may have come from.”

“I think that’s probably one of the biggest things that the USO has done,” he said. “Their whole mantra has always been about bringing a piece of home to the service member and their families, and I think this facility is a shining example of that.”

Bitonti noted the USO’s warrior and family care center is a “critical contribution” to helping rehabilitate troops.

“The patients, the families, the staff -- they have their eight or 10-hour-a-day job of either healing or providing the healing or providing the support to those that are healing,” he said. “But it’s that whole rest of the day where you need the opportunity to rest, to recover, to re-energize to get ready for the next day’s set of events so that then you can heal as quickly as possible.”

This facility is a great example of the ability to provide opportunities for people to re-energize to do better at their everyday jobs, he said.

Bitonti lauded the USO for providing an “exciting” opportunity to partner with the installation to provide the very best care for their patients, wounded warriors, their families, and the base’s staff.

“We’re really proud to be a part of it,” he said. “And we’re very thankful to the USO and their supporters for supporting us in that way.”

Exercise Tonnerre Lightning 14-1: Refining the language of war

by U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Public Affairs

3/31/2014 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- British, French, and U.S. Airmen wrapped up the inaugural Exercise Tonnerre Lightning 14-1 here and other operating locations Friday.

The tri-lateral exercise, which replicates a coalition response to a contingency operation, developed as a method for the U.S., the United Kingdom and France's air forces to strengthen their combined interoperability.

"We are always looking for ways to exercise and improve our methods as allies," said Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Bence, Joint Forces Allied Air Component commander for the exercise. "We are extremely fortunate that our forward-based presence allows us to constantly train with our French and British allies."

The first of these multiple tri-lateral exercises, which has been in the planning phase for over six months, focused on communications integration and interoperability to support air operations.

Partner nations synchronized command and control efforts at the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center at Ramstein Air Base while deployed forces conducted training operations off the coast of England.

"This exercise allowed us to test and refine secure communications with our close partner nations," said Maj. Jan-Peter Linch, U.S. Air Force action officer for the exercise. "In a short amount of time, our three nations' teams effectively validated significant capabilities that are crucial to the success of our tri-lateral operations."

Planners coordinated and directed a large-scale air campaign including aircraft from the 48th Fighter Wing and the 100th Air Refueling Wing along with allied strike, refueling and airborne control aircraft.

Friendly forces conducted strikes against simulated enemy targets while simultaneously fighting enemy air forces, all played by allied fighters.

The overall goal for the exercise was to smooth out complications that arise when communicating between air forces, said Linch.

"The training is aimed at reinforcing a common understanding between partner nations," he said. "This allows for more effective operations at any given time while strengthening our combined capabilities."

During contingencies, allied air coalitions can be quickly assembled to meet desired objectives, which can range from delivering humanitarian assistance to launching air strikes.

The United Kingdom, France and the U.S. have continuously collaborated over the years to provide airpower assistance on numerous occasions, including Libya in 2011, and the recent crises in Mali and the Central African Republic.

"Based on past experiences with our allies, I have seen our effectiveness at quickly putting teams together and achieving the objectives," said Squadron Leader Gordon Ferguson, UK action officer for the exercise. "But this success does not come without complications. That's the advantage of practicing--we can refine our processes together through robust training exercises."

Tonnerre Lightning is planned to be held twice a year with the command rotating among the three nations.

While this iteration was led by the U.S., the next Tonnerre Lightning will be led by France later this year.

"The goal for each exercise is to become progressively more complex than the previous one," said French Lt. Col. Pascal Sotty, director of the French JFAC in Lyon. "For this iteration we focused on communications and creating the products needed for forces to effectively talk, plan and execute the mission. We look forward to the next opportunity together to test our procedures."

Water survival training provides life-saving skills for aircrew

by Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

3/28/2014 - NORFOLK, England  -- As a mayday signal crackled over the radio, thunder sounded, rain poured down heavily and 6-foot waves crashed in their faces, aircrew from Team Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath's Liberty Wing battled their way through water, slowly making their way over to a life raft rocking back and forth in the darkness.

Forming a human chain, they clambered over the side to the relative safety of the raft, blindly feeling around for the next person in the chain and dragging him inside. The only light to guide them came from glowsticks tied to their helmets and the outside of the raft, along with the occasional flash of lightning.

While this sounds like a horrific scenario, thankfully it wasn't real. The aircrew - from various squadrons on both bases - were undergoing water survival training at Lowestoft College in Norfolk.

Weathering the storm

Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists from RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath led the training at a special-purpose pool approximately 80-feet long and 32-feet wide. The water is more than 13-feet deep, and there is approximately 17-feet from the bottom of the pool to the top of the deck.

Special equipment simulates storm conditions, with sprinklers enabling "rain" to beat down, a wave machine creating 5- to 6-foot waves from crest to trough and six fans which kick out winds of up to 30 knots.

Training scenarios include parachute disentanglement and drags, swim techniques and raft entry, according to Staff Sgt. Jonathon Schmitz, 100th Operations Support Squadron NCO in charge of SERE operations.

"They're designed to give the aircrew some basic techniques and memory devices to recall if put into a real survival situation, so they can be successful," the Minneapolis native said. "The pool at Lowestoft is capable of creating realistic training conditions similar to a rough North Sea with 30-knot winds; however, within a minute, the pool can be calmed down - lights can be put on and wind can be stopped - and we can respond to any real-world emergency without putting students in real danger."

Training is a life-saver

Although KC-135 Stratotankers don't have parachutes on board, the training is still vital for the aircrew of that aircraft.

"The Boeing 707 model has demonstrated several times the survivability of the crew inside during a water or land crash," Schmitz said. "The KC-135 crew needs to be prepared for any situation, regardless of parachutes and how reliable the platform is.

"Safety is a concern no matter what or where we train, but especially at the pool. We brief on this, and provide instructions for use of equipment and techniques on anything from disentangling from a parachute in the water to boarding a 20-man life raft in 5- to 6-foot waves," said the SERE specialist.

The specialists conduct the training approximately once per month to fulfill normal training requirements.

Skills to survive

"Hands-on WST refresher training involves physically familiarizing individuals with operational use of equipment in less-than-ideal conditions," Schmitz said. "This gives them the confidence and experience to use their equipment and survive, as well as assist others to survive in isolating circumstances."

During the training, all aircrew wore life preservers, which varied according to the airframe they fly. Pilots wear different equipment due to the cockpit configuration and specific needs unique to the aircraft.

Fighter aircrew wear black life preserver units with a harness, which represents a parachute. Other aircrew wear orange life preserver units when flying over water. Some aircrew, depending on the type of aircraft they fly in, also wear a harness as a representation for a parachute.

Although many of the aircrew had similar training before, there was an overall consensus this was a very different experience.

"The training was very robust, and probably the best version of this training I've attended," said Maj. Steven Strasbaugh, 351st Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 instructor pilot from Watonga, Okla.

Reality kicks in

"Some parts were very challenging because of the conditions (the specialists) were able to create in the training pool. The waves definitely made the raft entry more difficult," Strasbaugh said. "Like any learned skill, these are perishable if not exercised. At the beginning of the day, a lot of the information was very difficult to remember, but as the day progressed, I was able to recall more information from previous training.

"We all hope we'll never have to use the skills we learned, but it's important to be confident in the equipment we are issued and training we received," Strasbaugh said. "The SERE specialists did an outstanding job of administering the training. In the end, we all had the opportunity and ability to use the skills they taught us and no one was hurt. I definitely feel better equipped to deal with a water survival situation after this training."

Another part of the training involved a simulated helicopter hoist lowered into the water. The aircrew members had to individually unhook a Navy strop (rescue sling) and run it underneath their arms and behind their backs before rehooking it. The hoist then lifted them several feet into the air, as though a helicopter was pulling them to safety. Strasbaugh said he enjoyed this exercise as that particular capability hadn't been available at other training he'd attended elsewhere.

Taking it to the limit

"The most difficult part was the exercise in the raft," Strasbaugh said. "The wind and wave noise made it very difficult to communicate, and the darkness made it difficult to work together effectively. The waves made it very unstable to work in the raft."

Other aircrew in attendance also felt the training was very beneficial.

"When dealing with an issue as important as water survival training, it's of the utmost importance to take the training seriously and try to learn as much as you can," said Capt. Adam Huebel, 351st ARS assistant flight chief of standardization and evaluations. "I feel much better prepared to deal with any and all emergency situations that might involve ditching the aircraft."

Besides enjoying the training, the aircrew had high praise for the SERE specialists.

"Even an amazing facility like the one we used is worthless without specialists who know what and how to teach," said Strasbaugh. "They deserve all the credit for putting together an outstanding training program."

Dempsey Sees Possibility of New Alliances in Mideast

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

JERUSALEM , March 31, 2014 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says he sees the possibility of new alliances emerging in the Middle East, springing from the on-going instability across much of the region.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey is in Israel to discuss issues of mutual strategic interest with Israeli defense officials.

Dempsey told reporters that current instability across the Middle East provides opportunities, to include “an outreach to other nations who may not have been willing to be partners in the past.”

Dempsey arrived in Israel yesterday and immediately went into meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. Israeli Army Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, the chief of the Israeli General Staff, is hosting Dempsey.

In his meetings with Israeli officials, Dempsey said he’s trying to step away from reacting to the daily headlines in order to look at the region strategically.

The Middle East is experiencing a period of instability affecting Egypt, Syria, Iran and other areas, which is having an impact on the strategic landscape.

This, Dempsey said, is causing countries that may not have agreed on much in the past to realize they have a common cause toward regional instability.

Dempsey pointed to the Persian Gulf states as an example. They “may not have been as open-minded about the potential for cooperation with Israel in any way,” he said.

“What we discussed,” he added, “was the possibility that there were opportunities that would present themselves because of the instability around them that could create a different web of alliances than existed before.

“What I’m suggesting,” Dempsey continued, “[is] the possibility of new and different alliances in the region in response to this instability.”

The chairman said he’s neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the Mideast situation.

“I think there are enough issues across the region in common that it should provide an opportunity for greater cooperation,” Dempsey said. “So our allies become allies with each other.”

For example, many nations have discussed strategy to counter al-Qaida. “Al-Qaida is adapting regionally because we’ve succeeded in putting pressure where they used to operate with impunity,” Dempsey said. “What you see now is al-Qaida core is much less capable, but there are other organizations that have branded themselves with the al-Qaida ideology.”

The al-Qaida network crosses the region, and this has caused the United States to come together militarily with like-minded and interested parties to discuss everything from intelligence sharing to capacity building to foreign military sales. All of these things put pressure on the group.

The chairman called this just one example of an opportunity that didn’t exist before.

Combating Iranian moves in the region could provide other opportunities, he said. Iran is involved with arms trafficking, building surrogate networks and launching cyber attacks.

“It seems to me that as threats evolve so, too, do our systems of alliances to deal with them,” Dempsey said.

Military officials from many countries and at many levels are having these conversations “so we can be a network to confront networks,” he said.

“Sometimes we’ve been accused of not leading enough,” he said. “I have found both a great appetite and a great acceptance for our military leadership, especially in things like building partner capacity, which ultimately is the greatest strategic hedge against risk in the future -- far more so than any direct action.”