Face of Defense: Soldier Brings Heat to Culinary Tryout

By Army Sgt. James J. Bunn

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash., Dec. 16, 2014 – The scent of spices and steak filled the air as Army Sgt. Andrew Shurden displayed his cooking skills at culinary team tryouts here Nov. 18-21.

Click photo for screen-resolution image

Army Sgt. Andrew Shurden prepares a potato dish during tryouts for the culinary arts team at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Nov. 21, 2014. Soldiers selected for the team will compete in the Military Culinary Arts Training Event at Fort Lee, Va. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James J. Bunn 

(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

If selected, Shurden, a food services specialist with the 42nd Military Police Brigade, and 15 other food services soldiers will compete in the Military Culinary Arts Competitive Training Event at Fort Lee, Virginia, in March.

The Lewis-McChord team will consist of eight team members, four student team members and four alternates. At the competition, the team will compete in eight events, including the Armed Forces Chef of the Year, Armed Forces Student Chef of the Year, nutrition cook-off, culinary exam, military kitchen competition, team buffet, student competitive training event and dessert.

Shurden said he has competed at Fort Lee twice before with a team from Hawaii and that he hopes his skills and experience will earn him a spot on the team. “I liked being on the team in Hawaii,” he said. “I was able to learn more about being a chef and develop my skills beyond the dining facility.”

American Culinary Federation Criteria

Shurden will need more than sharp knife skills and tasty food to earn a spot on the team. The judges will score competitors using the same criteria as the American Culinary Federation and are looking for chefs who can work well in a team and who have good work habits and strong cooking and organizational skills.

“First and foremost, we’re looking at how well these chefs work in the kitchen,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jesse Ward, one of the judges at the tryouts. “Second is skills used during the food preparation. We want to know that the flavors are good and the temperatures are correct.”

At the beginning of the tryouts, team hopefuls had an opportunity to plan their menu for the cook-off. The next two days, competitors refined their menu selections and practiced cooking techniques.

Shurden has his sights set on the Armed Forces Chef of the Year portion of the competition, in which competitors have an hour and 15 minutes to cook and plate a meal using a mystery ingredient.

For the tryouts, the mystery ingredient was beef tenderloin. Shurden quickly trimmed the beef, sliced it into steaks and prepared it for the grill. His finished plate was a filet mignon on top of a blueberry red wine reduction topped with fried leeks, asparagus and layered potatoes.

A Lifelong Goal

“Before I joined the Army, I was a chef at a barbecue restaurant,” said Shurden, a Tupelo, Mississippi, native. “Meat preparation is probably my strongest skill in the kitchen.”

Shurden trained while working in a restaurant to achieve his lifelong goal of becoming a chef, but that wasn’t his only dream, he said. The aspiring chef wanted to be a soldier as well. “I joined the Army as a cook so I could serve my country and continue my career as a chef,” he said. “Being able to serve those who are serving is a rewarding to me.”

His love of cooking started long before he worked in a restaurant or a military dining facility, Shurden said. “I’m from Mississippi, and food is a big part of life back home, and it has always been important in my family,” he added. “I grew up watching my dad in the kitchen.”

Shurden said he wants to compete not just for fun, but also for the opportunities that come from participating in the largest culinary arts competition in the United States. Soldiers who do well at the Fort Lee competition often are recruited to work at the Pentagon’s dining facility.

Helping Fellow Soldiers

During the tryouts here, Shurden answered questions from younger soldiers about the meal he was preparing and the techniques he was using. “I am more than happy to teach anyone about cooking,” he said. “Sharing what I know with others is as rewarding to me as knowing that someone enjoys the food I prepared.”

At the end of the cook-off, the judges talked to all of the chefs about their food and offered critiques and constructive feedback.

“I want these guys to be able to take what they learn here and apply those skills in their unit’s [dining facility],” Ward said. “This is a good way to build motivation in the soldiers competing and also improve the quality of food in their units."

Shurden and the other competitors will find out in February whether they were selected for the Lewis-McChord team.

International military leaders inducted into AU Honor Roll

by Senior Airman William J. Blankenship
42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

12/15/2014 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Newly enshrined into the Air University International Honor Roll, 14 alumni and one representative gathered at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, for the formal induction ceremony Dec. 3 to celebrate their successes since graduating from the university.

This year's induction to the honor roll included 24 international officers, the largest class in the program's history.  Each of the inductees was honored for acceding to highest positions in their countries' respective service or military.

"This represents the fact that other countries in this world send us their very best and brightest," said Lt. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, commander of Air University. "They truly choose the ones that show the greatest potential for future leadership, and they send them here because they know they will have a world-class education."

The university annually welcomes about 250 foreign military leaders to step away from their commands at home to study at Maxwell, all while building global partnerships with their American and international colleagues.

During their time at AU as students, the inductees were immersed in the American joint-service learning environment, preparing them to return to their home countries' military departments not only as better leaders, but with multicultural relationships that can help advance the global desire for peace.

"This is one of the essential foundations of national security," said Kwast. "When you get to know somebody as a young officer, or enlisted, you nurture that relationship over time. In the crises that happen in this world, you find that you are thrown together-- such as Iraq or Afghanistan or Desert Shield or Storm. These friendships that have been bonded over years began here."

At the induction ceremony, the officers reflected on their experiences at AU and how the education they received helped propel them to senior leader positions within their militaries.

"It's really an incredible honor," said the commander of the Estonian Air Force, Col. Jaak Tarien, a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and the U.S. Air Force Academy. "I am very thankful for the United States Air Force and the United States of America for providing me all of the education I have received. Air Command and Staff College has really helped me with all of the challenges I have faced in my position."

While on Maxwell, inductees toured familiar locations, which helped them recall the friendships built here.

"From a year here at ACSC, I took back so many lessons that I've leveraged, but none so much as those that are related to the friendships that we've made here," said Gen. Thomas J. Lawson, chief of the Defense Staff, Canadian Armed Forces. "There is a fantastic fabric that is developed here for international officers."

Approximately 12,000 international officers have graduated from AU schools since 1954. In 1988, Edward C. Aldridge, Jr., then secretary of the Air Force, first dedicated the AU International Honor Roll. Approximately 3.5 percent of graduates reach the senior leadership positions necessary for the coveted milestone.

"This celebration of friendship and of success is something unique," said Kwast. "The dignity and honor of this profession of arms is degraded if we do not stop and celebrate these moments of friendship. I hope that these countries that are bound together in friendship for the future continue to send their very best and we promise and dedicate ourselves to educating thinkers that think critically, act morally, that innovate rapidly and think strategically. This is what will arm our next generation to solve the dilemmas of our day."

The 2014 Air University International Honor Roll inductees are:

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Frederik Beltoja, Commander, Albanian Air Force

Maj. Gen. Rumen Radev, Commander, Bulgarian Air Force

Gen. Thomas J. Lawson, Chief of the Defense Staff, Canadian Armed Forces

Gen. Guillermo Leon-Leon, Commander, Colombian Air Force

Brig. Gen. Jean-Jacques Rene Ouegnin, Commander, Cote d'Ivoire Air Force

Brig. Gen. Libor Stefanik, Commander, Czech Air Force

Maj. Gen. Ismael A. Alvarado, Vice Minister, Dominican Republic Armed Forces

Col. Jaak Tarien, Commander, Estonian Air Force

Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, Commander, Israeli Air Force

Gen. Mirco Zuliani, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Italy

Gen. Harukazu Saitoh, Chief of Staff, Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Khamis S. F. Al Marzouq, Commander, Kuwait Air Force

Lt. Gen. Bart H. Hoitink, Inspector General of Dutch Armed Forces

Senior Col. Hassane Mossi, Chief of Staff, Niger Air Force

Maj. Gen. Laurian Anastasof, Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff

Lt. Gen. Fayyadh H. R. Al-Ruwaili, Deputy Chief of Staff, Saudi Armed Forces

Brig. Gen. (retired) Stefan Czmur, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Iceland

Maj. Gen. Odirile Mashinyana, Commander, Botswana Air Arm

Maj. Gen. Bohuslave Dvorak, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Czech Republic

Lt. Gen. Evangelos Tournas, Chief of Staff, Hellenic Air Force

Maj. Gen. Staff Pilot, Ibrahim M. Naser Al-Alawi, Commander, UAE Air Force and Air Defense

Maj. Gen. Samuel B. Turyagyenda, Commander, Uganda Air Force

Maj. Gen. Muliokela M.G., Zambia Chief of Air Staff and Deputy Air Commander

Air Vice Marshal Kevin R. Short, Vice Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force

Lackland Sergeant completes formal course from all military branches

by A1C Justine Rho
502 Air Base Wing Public Affairs

12/15/2014 - Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland -- An Airman from the 502nd Civil Engineering Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland achieved distinguished graduate from the Marine Corps Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Advanced Course in October this year and has completed a formal course from every military branch.

Master Sgt. Ryan McClary, explosive ordinance disposal flight chief, has completed Navy EOD School; Air Force Airman Leadership School and NCO Academy; Army Jump, Air Assault and Repel Master's School; and the Marine Corps SNCO Academy Advanced Course.

"Attending formal training or professional military education courses from different sister services enable us to see the same issues from different viewpoints," McClary said.

McClary elaborates by describing the different perspectives of the Air Force and the Marine Corps.

"The Air Force focuses more time on educating Airmen thinking that a higher level of education creates better decisions," McClary said. "Whereas the Marines focus more on the combat mindedness."

The variance in focus showed similarities and differences in leadership methods between sister services, McClary explained .

"There was value gained in understanding the Marine Corps thought process and methods for evaluating Marines and how it compare to the Air Force," said Senior Master Sgt. Jacob Campbell, McClary's supervisor. "He also made note of the fact that there are many similarities in how the Marines handle issues."

Campbell continues by explaining the value in attending a sister service PME or formal course.

"This is the embodiment of the 'one team, one fight' mindset that is present in the Department of Defense and reinforces the fact that people in all career fields are crossing service lines everyday," said Campbell, JBSA EOD flight superintendent.

McClary describes how his leadership role as a senior airman at the Army Jump School gave him experience in a joint environment at a young age.

"I learned how to tone down the service idioms, like the acronyms, and this taught me how to speak more clearly," McClary said. "I learned that clear communication is a key leadership tool."

Wanting to learn form another perspective, McClary applied to participate in the Marine Corps Academy in lieu of the Air Force SNCO Academy because he had worked with the other branches, said McClary.

"I enjoy education," said McClary. "I feel the more I learn the better decisions I make and I am constantly pursuing as many opportunities as I can handle. "

Along with his drive for excellence; McClary said he enjoys bringing the Air Force to the other services.

"Every time I've worked with the other services I heard 'Thanks for bringing the Air Force,'" said McClary. "Being able to bring the Air Force forward on a good note has always been important to me."

"Sergeant McClary constantly strives to be a better leader, manager, mentor and Airman," said Campbell. "His ability to work with openness and honesty with everyone in the flight and outside the unit proves that his intention is to do what is best for his people and the Air Force."

McClary is working on his master's degree and training for a triathlon. He says his career goal is to continue to serve in the Air Force as long as he is useful and relevant. And after retirement, he plans on opening an all-day boys and girls club where kids that don't have someone to spend time with can get positive social interaction.

When asked to give a word of advice to Airmen, McClary said, "It is important to set goals in your life even if they are short term and when things get rough just remember what motivates you."

New 19th Air Force commander visits Vance

by 71st FTW Public Affairs

12/15/2014 - VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 19th Air Force commander visited Vance Dec. 8. to share his mission of creating fifth-generation Airmen.

During a commander's call here, Maj. Gen. Michael A. Keltz presented his plan for training today's Airmen or what he calls "Fifth Generation Airman," as well as his vision for the new 19th Air Force.

Keltz said fifth-generation Airmen are the most "current and innovative" Airmen to date and have the capability to build an Air Force that can "dominate in land, sea, air, space and cyberspace."

The visit also provided an opportunity for Keltz to take a first-hand look at the 71st Flying Training Wing's operations and meet with base senior leaders.

"It was a great opportunity to reacquaint Maj. Gen. Keltz with Vance AFB and introduce him to the outstanding team we have here," said Col. Clark Quinn, commander of the 71st FTW.

"I know he was impressed and proud of the team and we are looking forward to continuing to excel at our mission of building fifth-generation Airmen for the Air Education and Training Command  and the Air Force."

This was Keltz's first visit to Vance since assuming command of 19th Air Force Oct.24, 2014, and is one of many stops he is making to learn more about the wings under his command.

AETC officially activated the numbered Air Force Oct. 1, marking another milestone in its flying education and training program for the Air Force, other services and the nation's allies.

The 19th Air Force trains more than 30,000 U.S. and allied students annually to include those at Vance AFB. The training ranges from entry-level undergraduate flying training through advanced combat crew training, and ultimately provides fully qualified aircrew personnel to the warfighting commands.

California Air National Guard conducts rescue off coast of Monterey

by 129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

12/15/2014 - MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. -- Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing completed an overwater rescue mission Dec. 15, saving the life of a 24-year-old male on a commercial fishing vessel approximately 160 nautical miles off the coast of Monterey.

At approximately 3 p.m. the 129th RQW accepted a mission tasking from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center concerning an ill 24-year-old male onboard a 65-foot commercial fishing vessel, Temptation.

The patient required treatment beyond the capabilities of those onboard.

A team of three Guardian Angel pararescuemen from the 129th RQW onboard an Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter flew to Temptation to administer care to the 24-year-old patient. The pararescuemen extracted the patient from the vessel at 5 p.m. and flew him to San Jose Regional Medical Center. The patient arrived in San Jose after 6 p.m. and is in stable condition according to the 129th RQW Command Post.

The primary mission of the 129th RQW is to perform its wartime mission of personnel recovery anywhere in the world. Equipped with Air Force MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, the 129th RQW has performed a wide variety of civilian personnel recovery missions, including the rescue of distressed persons aboard ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations.  To date, the wing is credited with saving the lives of more than 1,000 people.

Mission complete, partnership stronger

by Capt. Renee Lee
113th Wing Public Affairs

12/16/2014 - KINGSTON, Jamaica  -- District of Columbia National Guard and Jamaican Defence Force soldiers and Airmen wrapped up a weeklong subject matter expert exchange here Dec. 12.

During the course of the week, the combined and joint team of vehicle mechanics shared best practices on wheeled vehicle maintenance.

After a daylong orientation of the JDF's various vehicles and missions on the first day, the "Capital Guardians" rolled up their sleeves soon after and joined their Jamaican counterparts in fixing wheel bearings, adjusting alignment and using different tools and systems.

"We were here to provide our analyses and expertise to the JDF, and they provided us their expertise and knowledge," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Courtney Britton, 542nd maintenance company maintenance manager.

The U.S. team was here under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, a security cooperation program linking the United States' National Guard units with the armed forces of more than 70 partner nations. The D.C. National Guard has participated in the program with the JDF since 1999 on a range of topics.

As vehicle mechanics, the Capital Guardians and JDF colleagues shared many similarities, including the goal for their vehicles to be 100 percent mission-capable at all times.

"We shared what we bring to the table and they did the same, including many similar practices," said Senior Airman Butler, vehicle mechanic of the 113th Wing.

The exchange was also an opportunity for the D.C. team to observe their JDF counterparts creatively, analytically and manually approach their work with limited equipment.

"We have less technology that forces us to do greater analyses," said JDF Warrant Officer 1 Fitzgerald, H., JDF workshop manager. "We have a potpourri of vehicles so our skillset is very diverse and dynamic."

"They make everything work with the minimal resources they have," said Sgt. Girard King, vehicle mechanic, 273rd Military Police Co., whose main takeaway was being able to complete a mission without his usual resources. "They don't let anything go to waste and work very strategically. I learned from the JDF to think outside the box."
In addition to learning from each other, the exchange was also an opportunity for the Capital Guardians to work in a different cultural and professional environment.

"This was a very good learning experience for me," said Fitzgerald at the close-out briefing. "I don't have to be in the U.S. to understand what you're all about. Your ability to fit in and your enthusiasm for trying new things were refreshing."

"We shared different ideas on how we do things so we are always ready to serve locally and internationally," said JDF vehicle mechanic Sgt. Beadle, C. "The U.S. team got right into it like they worked here on a normal basis. That's an approach we should take anywhere we go."

JSTARS Recap stands up as division, moves toward MDA approval

by Justin Oakes
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

12/16/2014 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- As the Air Force's No. 4 acquisition priority, the Joint STARS Recapitalization program continues to progress through risk reduction efforts and refine requirements, all the while growing in size and significance.

So much so, the Recap was designated its own division within the Battle Management Directorate at Hanscom AFB recently.

"Leadership is crucial to the success of any program, especially one the size of the JSTARS Recap," said Steven Wert, Battle Management program executive officer.

With the new division beefing up in personnel and resources, the team has its sights set on preparing and managing the next cycle of contracts leading up to the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development phase anticipated to begin in 2017.

At the helm of the new division is Col. David Learned, a 19-year defense acquisition veteran and former resident of Hanscom. As the JSTARS Recap senior materiel leader, there will be no more than two levels of review between Learned and the milestone decision authority.

The JSTARS Recap Division is comprised of three departments: a systems engineering, integration and test branch; a platform branch responsible for aircraft and communications; and a mission systems branch responsible for radar and battle management command and control. All will work together to integrate and field a complete weapons system solution.

"By standing up this division, Mr. Wert gave us the final ingredients for success ... the organizational structure and dedicated resources needed to get the job done," said Learned. "The timing of the stand-up conveys the Air Force's sense of urgency to get started, and its commitment to satisfying the JSTARS mission set at a lower life cycle cost, as maintenance costs are rising and aircraft reliability is decreasing in the aging JSTARS fleet."

Currently, the legacy Joint STARS office has less than 10 people as the program moves into sustainment at Robins AFB, Ga., after the transition from the Electronic Systems Center to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center in 2012. As of Jan. 1, 2015, there will be no remaining legacy Joint STARS support at Hanscom as the capability and mission shifts focus to the new, modernized weapon system during the next decade.

Since hosting an industry day in April -- where interested companies heard first-hand about the future needs of the JSTARS program -- the Recap team continued the risk reduction phase of the effort by spending $18.5 million in subsystem risk reduction contracts with industry for radar and BMC2 systems.

The next significant step in the modernization occurred in October, when the program office issued a set of draft requirements to potential contractors outlining items such as cost, schedule and performance impacts.

Following the draft requirements release, the Air Force held a technical exchange event with industry to discuss requirements and impacts face-to-face. The exchange, which took place this month, yielded valuable feedback for the Service that will help refine requirements.

The Air Force is paying special attention to any option that offers an open system architecture approach to hardware and software, will increase automation within the BMC2 component and options that ultimately lower the cost of the product over the program's lifecycle.

According to Learned, the Air Force remains optimistic that the program will achieve milestone decision approval sometime in January 2015.

He also indicated that the current strategy includes entering into a weapon system-level technical maturity risk-reduction phase following milestone approval. The TMRR will lead up to a preliminary design and incorporate integrated subsystem demonstrations.

"This phase is important because it drives industry to reduce risk, and at the same time, promotes ingenuity among competing companies," Learned said.

With finalizing system requirements, a milestone decision approval anticipated for January and a technical maturity risk reduction phase on the horizon, the newly minted senior materiel leader and his team have their hands full.

"Not only are we working on a cool mission that empowers the warfighter, but we're setting the tone for other modernization and recapitalization efforts," Learned said. "I am excited to be a part of this incredible team."

436th SFS reins in three AMC awards

by Airman 1st Class William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/9/2014 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The 436th Security Force Squadron is no stranger to winning awards and 2014 was another year in which the squadron was recognized. Three individual Air Mobility Command level awards were hauled in by three of Team Dover's defenders.

The 436th SFS Airmen went up against 14 other AMC bases and won awards in the Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level NCO, Outstanding Security Forces Support Staff Airman and the Outstanding Security RAVEN Team Leader categories.

Senior Airman Joli Franicevich, 436th SFS supply custodian, won the Outstanding Security Forces Support Staff Airman award. As an Airman, Franicevich holds a NCO in charge position and manages more than $12 million worth of deployable assets.

"I was surprised and shocked when I found out that I won," said Franicevich. "Other than my family, this squadron is a huge support system for me. My leadership and co-workers are definitely the reason why I got any sort of recognition and I can't thank them enough."

The 436th SFS Raven section was also recognized by AMC and Staff Sgt. Shane Howard, 436th SFS Phoenix Raven team leader, won the Outstanding Security Forces RAVEN Team Leader award.

Phoenix Ravens are teams of specially trained security forces personnel that provide armed security for AMC aircrafts as they transit to high terrorist and criminal threat areas.

One of Howard's deployments to Southwest Asia resulted in 23 missions that safeguarded $60 billion worth of Department of Defense assets, 2.3 million pounds of cargo and security for 3,000 personnel.

"There are a lot of Raven team leads around the Air Force that are doing some amazing work so for me to be selected was a shock and a honor," said Howard. "Everybody in this section has been working extremely hard this entire year. This group of Ravens has been phenomenal at working whenever we're called to and I think that helped a lot with me winning this award."

The Military Working Dog section also brought home an AMC award and Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lewis, now assigned to the 802nd SFS at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, won the Outstanding Security Force Flight Level award while he was assigned to the 436th SFS as a MWD handler.

Lewis developed the K-9 Random Anti-terrorism Measure program that helped secure 67 aircraft and $10 billion in combat assets.

Lewis said he was surprised to be recognized with such high honors and wanted to thank his first Kennel Master at Dover AFB, Tech. Sgt. Ryan Walker, for molding him into the Airman he is today and for changing his outlook on the Air Force.

"My fellow MWD handlers helped me out tremendously to win this award," said Lewis. "I really owe this accomplishment to my chain of command within the 436th SFS for allowing me the opportunities to accomplish the things that I did."

All three award winners will now go forward to compete at the Air Force level for their respective categories.

17th AS assists S.C. National Guard in locating downed Black Hawk

by Trisha Gallaway
628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

12/9/2014 - JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- What began as a local training mission for an aircrew from the 17th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., quickly turned into a search for a downed helicopter.

When Maj. Matthew Scheulen and Capt. Nicholas Coblio, 17th AS pilots, climbed into the cockpit of their C-17 Globemaster III, on Dec. 3, 2014, they were prepared for a mission that included an aerial refueling, an assault landing and airdrop training. What the crew was not prepared for was that they would soon be called upon to assist in the search for a downed South Carolina National Guard Blackhawk helicopter.

"Around the time of the incident, we had just completed our airdrop training and were preparing to land [at North Field] to pick up our passengers." said Scheulen.

According to Scheulen, aircrews listen to a number of radio frequencies while flying, and one of those is the Columbia Approach Control when operating locally. It was on this frequency the aircrew heard a call go out.

"We heard a South Carolina National Guard helicopter calling in with some in-flight malfunctions," said Scheulen. "We offered to assist in any way possible, but at that time our assistance wasn't needed."

But shortly after that initial call, Scheulen and his crew heard a much different transmission go out over the radio.

"We heard the helicopter pilot make a radio call with a very different tone of voice; that he would not be able to make it to an airport and was 'going down' in a field near a highway,"  said Scheulen.  "We again offered our assistance and this time Columbia Approach Control gave us an immediate vector to his last known position."

After 30 to 40 minutes, the aircrew, along with another aircraft in the area, located the helicopter at the same time.

"From overhead, it looked like the helicopter hit quite hard, digging a trench in the field ... but no debris or fire," Scheulen said. "As we were departing the area, after we were no longer needed, we overheard from another S.C. National Guard helicopter that the crew was okay, which of course was a relief to us."

According to the S.C. National Guard, the UH-60 Black Hawk, assigned to Detachment 2, Company F, 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion, made an emergency landing after experiencing a main rotor blade malfunction.

While first responders were en route to the landing site, the S.C. National Guard brought in another helicopter to airlift the helicopter crew out of the area.

"They were able to quickly identify the crash site by identifying our aircraft circling overhead," said Scheulen.  

C-17 aircrews do not typically receive search and rescue training, so Scheulen and his crew had to rely on their combined experiences to complete this unexpected mission.

"Our entire crew was highly experienced in a number of different aircraft, and looking back on it, I was almost surprised at how quickly and seamlessly everyone just made it happen," said Scheulen.  "Even without any truly formal training for something like this we came up with a plan and executed it well."

Mentoring event expedites knowledge transfer

by Senior Airman Ashley J. Thum
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

12/15/2014 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- "You have 2.5 minutes. Ready, go!" "And ... switch!"

What might sound like commands for a physical training exercise were actually the instructions given to Airmen and NCOs at a unique mentoring event held here, Dec. 11.

The Airmen Mentoring Network hosted more than 20 participants who came face-to-face for what could only be described as "Speed Mentoring."

The function featured NCOs seated at tables with one to two Airmen who then switched tables every 2.5 minutes.

Members of two organizations, Exceptional Airmen Gaining Leadership and Expeditionary Skills and Group 5/6, collaborated to provide a venue for Airmen to ask questions of NCOs quickly and informally.

Senior Airman Wendy Fisher, 4th Force Support Squadron readiness journeyman, said she came to Speed Mentoring looking for answers, adding that she feels she received them.

"I wanted to know more about how enlisted people feel about commissioning," Fisher said. "I'm still eligible for the United States Air Force Academy, but I've also been told there are a lot of good aspects about ROTC programs. I can do research on the topic myself, but it's nice to know the opinion of real people."

At the start of every switch, volunteer mentors shot to their feet to shake hands with their Airman for the new round and immediately got down to business. While the atmosphere was hectic, Airmen said the reality in the room was that important advice was sinking in.

Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Jenkins, 4th Security Forces Squadron flight chief, said some of the most frequent questions weren't what she had expected.

"I was surprised at how many Airmen didn't know how to apply for a new assignment," Jenkins said. "As an NCO, you think some things are common knowledge, but that's not always the case. This helped me understand some of the things that I need to work on with my own subordinates and make sure they know."

Other topics discussed included raising a military family and the difficulties associated with discharging an NCO's duties.

"Some Airmen don't talk to NCOs for a variety of reasons, but it's important to open that rank barrier," Fisher said. "I think this was a good experience, and I learned a lot about different career fields in the process."

Speed Mentoring was the second event put on by the Airmen Mentoring Network that plans to host more in the future. The network was created to give Airmen increased opportunities to interact with leaders and learn from their experience.

For Jenkins, the event held special significance, since one of the organizers was her former trainee when Jenkins was a military training instructor for Air Force basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

"I think she and everyone else did an impeccable job," Jenkins said. "Things like this help everyone understand where the other one is coming from and really help bridge the gap between NCOs and Airmen."

Mutual-aid HAZMAT exercise strengthens response capabilities

by Senior Airman Mary O'Dell
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

12/12/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE-Wash. -- Team Fairchild hosted it's first-ever mutual-aid hazardous materials emergency response training exercise with members of the Spokane, Wash. emergency responders here, Dec. 8-11.

Agencies involved include Spokane City Fire Department, Kootenai County emergency management, Spokane City EM, a 92nd Medical Group bioenvironmental engineer team, 92nd Medical Operations Squadron medical technicians and a 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management team.

Each day, around 40-60 individuals were participating, preparing responders in the Eastern Washington region for a potential HAZMAT situation.

Scenarios practiced during the exercise included a train derailment and hazardous gas leak through the heating a ventilation system of a building on base.

"Being able to come together and work in this capacity, utilizing all of our resources as a team is instrumental in preparing us for potential real-world situations," said Kimo Kuheana, 92nd CES fire chief. "This training and others like it help us to keep Fairchild and the community safe."

IMA leads on the links, wins sixth international gold medal

by Master Sgt. Timm Huffman
HQ RIO Public Affairs

12/15/2014 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- For most, a day on the links is a way to pass the time. For Maj. Linda Jeffery, her passion for golf builds diplomatic relationships with foreign militaries.

Jeffery, an individual mobilization augmentee to the Air Force Pacific Command's exercise division, is a long-time member of the U.S. Armed Forces Golf Team and recently returned from her sixth Conseil International du Sport Militaire World Military Golf Championship.

She has won gold six times.

But the win is not what's important to her in a golf tournament where 15 different militaries are represented. She says it's all about building relationships with other countries.

"My job [on the Armed Force Golf Team] is to be an ambassador and build allies," she said.

Winning the 8th annual CISM golf tournament, which was held in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Nov. 13-21, was no easy task. In order to play for the Armed Forces team, the only non-Olympic team which can officially be called Team USA, she first had to earn a spot on the Air Force golf team. After that, she had to compete against the other service teams in the Armed Forces Golf Championship, held at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 5-10.

"I always find it challenging to play in the Armed Forces Golf Tournament because the competition is tough and only two women get to go on to the international competition," she said.

She said the Navy's golf team is particularly good. But, while the Navy's women did take gold in the team event, Jeffery shot 306 strokes, earning herself an individual gold medal and a spot on the Armed Forces team.

To prepare herself for this level of competition, Jeffery, who is an elementary school teacher by day, hones her golf skills after hours and on the weekends as an amateur. During the spring and summer, she spends nine to 15 hours a week on the links. To really fine-tune her skills, she prefers competitive practice rounds.

"You want practice to be like competition so that competition feels like practice," she said.

And while she doesn't visit the driving range, she will force herself to spend up to an hour at a time practicing putting on the green.

Jeffery's golfing career started long before she began competing in military competitions. She took up golfing in high school, where she became the top golfer by her sophomore year. She continued playing at Hardin-Simmons University and was named an All-American athlete. Following her studies, she spent time as a professional golf instructor.

Once she secured her spot on the Armed Forces women's golf team, she was off to the four-day CISM tournament the following week. This year's tournament had teams from Thailand, Germany, South Africa, Canada, Uganda, Botswana and Namibia. Despite the various nationalities, the love for golf served as a universal language, said Jeffery.

This year's international military tournament was held on a challenging course in the desert. The 18-hole course was wide open and presented plenty of opportunities for lost balls and less than favorable playing surface.

"If you were off the maintained grass, you were playing on dirt and the ball acts a lot different, "said Jeffery. "It makes it more difficult."

Despite these difficulties, the IMA excelled, shooting an average of 1 over par each day, netting her the gold medal in the women's individual category.  Along with the Navy's Johnson, Jeffery also secured gold in the women's team competition - her sixth in that category as well.

As a long-time member of the Armed Forces team, Jeffery takes a leadership role on the team, which features many new faces each year. She reminds them that the point of the competition is to build esprit de corps with military allies and encourages her team mates to get to know the other athletes.

"I tell the guys and gals, 'yes you want to win, but the real role is to build relationships and make friends through sport,'" she said.

When she's not taking the lead in military tournaments, she plays in the U.S. Golf Association Mid-Amateur league. According to the USGA Mid-Am webpage, the league is "for amateur golfers of at least 25 years of age and provides a formal national championship for the post-college amateur." She recently made it to the third round of the Mid-Am Championship, which featured the top 16 amateur golfers. She has also represented her home state of Alabama in the USGA's state event and, in September, she qualified to play in a new event - the 2015 USGA Amateur Four-Ball Women's Championship.

Her victory at CISM closed out three grueling weeks of back-to-back military golf tournaments. She said that the pressure of going from the Air Force championship, to the Armed Forces championship, to the CISM championship builds up and is draining, not just on her, but also her family. And while she's glad for a break, she also takes great pride in representing the red, white and blue out on the green.

"Representing the USA as a military member is something I'm extremely proud of," she said. "However, representing our country as an official military member on Team USA is a feeling that very few people ever experience. Hearing the Star Spangled Banner being played while on the award podium because of both my individual and team efforts is an overwhelming feeling of joy and pride."

IMAs are Air Force Reservists assigned to active-duty units and government agencies. They are managed by Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization, located at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, and serve over 50 separate major commands, combatant commands and government agencies.

Unlike traditional Reservists, who are assigned to Reserve units that regularly perform duty together, IMAs work with their active-duty supervisors to create a custom duty schedule that helps their unit meet mission requirements.

AFSPC commander visits Buckley

by Senior Airman Phillip Houk
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

12/15/2014 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- General John E. Hyten, Commander of Air Force Space Command, visited Buckley Air Force Base Dec. 10 for the first time after assuming command of AFSPC on August 2014.

During his visit, General Hyten toured several agencies and units across the base and received a mission immersion into the 460th Space Wing and its base partners.

At the end of his tour, General Hyten shared his priorities, concerns and vision as commander in the fitness center filled with Team Buckley members.

"The missions that are going on here are very critical," General Hyten said at the commander's call. "You here at Buckley are doing some spectacular work, and I got to see a bit of that this morning."

General Hyten's priorities include winning today's fight, preparing for the fight tomorrow, and taking care of Airmen and their families.

"Priority number one is to win today's fight, and that's what you guys are doing here every day. At the 460th, (you make) sure the warfighters ... and operators around the world get the information they need, that it is coming right to them when they need. It's accurate, it's timely all the time, and you never make a mistake; it's always hard to work in a mission where you can't make a mistake," he said. "The second priority is to prepare for the fight that is coming tomorrow. What's going to happen in the 460th, and it is coming fast, is a lot of new capabilities are going to be coming into the operations floor. We are going to have to figure out how to take all of that information and get it out.

"Priority three is we have to take care of our Airmen and our families," he continued. "That's what we have to do, and right now we've been going through some difficult challenges."

General Hyten addressed ongoing issues and changes during the commander's call to include the scheduled move of the Buckley clinic onto the base from the VA Joint Venture Clinic.

The clinic presents an ongoing issue on Buckley as members are required to drive more than 15 minutes to the clinic and return to the base for pharmacy services. Members are also required to park blocks away from the clinic due to ongoing construction, which requires a shuttle service to and from the facility. As a result, patients are required to set aside large portions of time for each visit.

"We have to figure out how to fix the Buckley medical problem," he said, referring to the separation between the base and the clinic. "We are going to get medical capabilities onto this base before I get out of the Air Force," General Hyten exclaimed.

Another issue the general discussed was the need to ensure all major commands had a greater understanding of space-based missions and how they can be applied to missions in the air and on the ground around the world.

"It was just two months ago, we sat down and figured out that was a huge problem we hadn't addressed," he said. "(All major commands and missions) need this kind of expertise and capabilities, so they are going to get it."

General Hyten shared his view of the future, where space will no longer be an uncontested environment, but a place needing constant protection. He said we need to realize that the satellites we are operating today are threatened and it is important how to recognize and act upon those threats.

"To be honest, the folks who work here on our operations floor and the folks who work at the (50th and 21st Space Wings), don't think very much about these threats today because we still have a mindset that space is a benign environment. It is not," he said.

Threats to air, space and cyberspace missions extend beyond the adversarial type. AFSPC mission sets also come under threat during sequestration, budget concerns and government shutdowns.

The general expressed his concerns over the changing budget scene and how that will affect every level of Airmen; but General Hyten also expressed his confidence in 460th SW service members and civilians to successfully fight through any challenges the future may bring.

"The bottom line is that I have no idea what tomorrow is going to bring; I am not clairvoyant," he said. "Tomorrow could be bad or tomorrow could be great; but I tell you what, I am excited about tomorrow."

Overall, even with looming budget concerns and potential future threats, the general said he is excited about the future of AFSPC and the Air Force and is confident in the professionalism of the force as a whole to withstand upcoming difficulties, as well as celebrate victories, together.

Reserve colonel makes swift water rescue, awarded Airman's Medal

by Staff Sgt. Devon Suits
Air Force News Service

12/15/2014 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- As then-Lt. Col. Richard Poston came around the bend while biking on the Mount Vernon Trail off Gravelly Point July 6, 2013, he could see something floating out in the water, but couldn't quite make out what it was.

He continued down the path, only to have his recreational bike ride interrupted by a crowd of people looking out across the Potomac River.

"I slowed down and came to a stop ... and I asked a lady what was going on," said Poston, an Air Force Reservist who has since promoted to the rank of colonel and is the assistant deputy director for political military affairs, strategic plans and policy, J-5 DD-Africa. "She said, 'a boat sank and some people are trying to get to shore.'"

As he stood there, he saw five people stranded in the water, about 125 yards from shore. Furthest from him were three people yelling for help as they hung onto a life jacket to stay above water. Between the group and Poston were two younger females, slowly swimming to the shoreline.

Shocked to see that no one had made their way into the water, Poston reacted quickly, taking off his shirt and shoes and crawling down the river bank.

"I never really thought about endangering myself when I went out there," Poston said. "I grew up around the water. My family water skis and all three of my boys have been lifeguards. I am comfortable in the water and knew how to do rescue swimming."

Before he could get into the water, Poston said another biker followed him down the bank and offered his assistance, but he couldn't swim.

"OK, don't go out over your head and make sure you can touch," Poston told him.

The man agreed and said that if Poston could get them close enough, he would help get the others to shore.

Entering the water, Poston headed toward the group of three. As he swam past, he checked on the first female, who continued to swim toward the shore. As he continued toward the group, Poston noticed that the second girl had stopped swimming.

"I was about 15 yards from her at that point," he said. "She was yelling, 'I can't make it! I can't make it!'"

Assessing the situation, he noticed that the group of three appeared to be safe for the moment, so he changed course.

As he approached the girl, Poston understood that one of the most dangerous parts of a water rescue is when the victim tries to grasp hold of the rescuer. He did what he could to calm her down.

"I asked her if she could float on her back and she said, 'yes.' She rolled on her back really quickly and I grabbed her ... (with) a cross-chest carry. I started towing her in, but about every third stroke, a big wave would wash over us and she would cough and panic," he said.

To keep her calm, Poston assured her that she would be fine and that he wouldn't let her go.

As they both swam back, Poston said that another man had gone in to assist the first girl while a third man was already swimming out to the farthest group. As Poston got closer to the shore, the guy who originally offered to help Poston was waiting to pull them to safety.

Once he made it to land, Poston noticed that the third man had reached the farthest group at about the same time as a Washington D.C. police boat. The police lowered their bow door, helped the stranded people aboard and brought them ashore.

Recognizing Poston for his act of heroism, Lt. Gen. David L. Goldfein, the director of the Joint Staff, presented him with the Airman's Medal Dec. 10, in a ceremony held at the Pentagon.

"This is a rare opportunity to highlight the courageous efforts of an Airman," Goldfein said. "This medal is the highest recognition for an act of heroism outside of combat. There are only a few of these given out each year.

"Col. Poston performed a courageous act. ... As a result, a young girl is still with her family today," Goldfein said. "It is an honor to have the privilege to present this decoration to Col. Poston."

Even though Poston said he is honored to be recognized, he is convinced that most military members would have done the same thing.

"I am just the old guy that jumped in the water," he said. "I just happened to be the right person that happened to be there at the right time."

An Air Force dynamic duo

by Senior Airman Shannon Hall
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

12/12/2014 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas- The shop is full of constant howling, bones and bouncy balls scattered on the floor, a pungent smell and the king of this domain is a four-legged creature that lies on a couch and greets people with a slobbery lick.

It's just another day for Staff Sgt. Andre Hernandez, 7th Security Forces Squadron handler, a quiet and reserved Airman and his black, thick haired German shepherd military working dog, Ivan.

Hernandez has been a handler at the Dyess kennels for three years. He started out as every other defender does, performing normal security forces jobs like checking identification cards at the front gate and conducting routine patrols around base. In 2010, he attended his 7-level training school and then K-9 training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

"In order to become a handler," Hernandez said. "I had to apply for a re-train, ensure I had adequate enlisted performance reports, recommendations from my leadership and a physical exam."

Only a select few get the opportunity to work with canines in the Air Force. Hernandez has always been a fan of man's best friend and is grateful for this opportunity.

"What really made me want to be a handler was how well trained the military working dogs were and the amount of obedience they have," Hernandez said. "I always loved dogs and actually getting paid to work and train them every day is very rewarding."

Most of his days are spent training on their course, working on commands and obedience, providing security and explosive and narcotic deterrence for the base. When tasked to deploy, the pair takes on a different mission.

"While at home station the mission is more focused on security, law enforcement, explosive and narcotic deterrence, locating suspects and educating the public through demonstrations," Hernandez said. "While deployed, my mission is to provide counter improvised explosive device and narcotic protection to the U.S. and coalition forces and we have the capability of locating high value targets or suspected personnel."

Hernandez and Ivan received special training at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Once their training was complete, they deployed to an undisclosed location for the first time together.

"When deploying we go through a specialized training course at a Regional Training Center," Hernandez said. "The training received ultimately depends on the environment we will be operating in."

While deployed, special precautions are taken to ensure Hernandez and Ivan can efficiently accomplish their mission.

"One of the most important things we make sure of is that we have adequate living conditions for the canine," Hernandez said. "They also ensure we have proper heating or air conditioning depending on the environment we are going to."

Although this is his first time deploying with his current dog, Hernandez has been on many other missions throughout his career.

"I went on a USSS mission to Natal, Brazil, Guatemala City in support of the vice president and for the FIFA World Cup," Hernandez said.

When deployed, or on any type of mission, the canine is always with their handler. Ivan is Hernandez's wingman. By being together at all times, the handler and their dog create a remarkable bond.

"Having a good bond with my dog is one of the most important things I want as a handler," Hernandez said. "At the end of the day, we are a team and working together is what makes us an effective threat to our enemies."

Although handlers are taught at the same school, each one has their own way of building a good rapport with their military working dog. Just like people, no dog is the same, and it's important for handlers to know that, as they can have different canines throughout their career.

"I have had five dogs throughout my time as a handler and patience and consistency in my opinion are very important," Hernandez said. "Setting a schedule and sticking to it gives the dog something to look forward to every day. Building that strong rapport also builds trust. Most importantly, I always try to play with him and let him be a dog."

Working outside, getting a little dirty, teaching and training man's best friend every day, Staff Sgt. Andre Hernandez is living the dream.

"Staff Sgt. Hernandez if very knowledgeable when it comes to training and understanding military working dogs," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Castillo, 7th Security Forces Squadron kennel master. "He has already passed many handlers and continues to strive to be the best. In one word, he's suave."

"I work outside, I train dogs who are always forgiving and never talk back, air conditioning is a must wherever we go and there is always something new to teach my canine," Hernandez said. "I plan on making this a career and working with canines for as long as I can."