Navy's Newest Submarine Squadron Stands Up in 5th Fleet

By Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Kakiel, Task Force 54 Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The Navy's newest submarine squadron stood up Dec. 15 at Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 21 replaces the Commander, Task Force (CTF) 54 detachment as the organization charged with supporting submarines forward-deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), which encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area including the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

"It is a great honor to be establishing this forward-deployed squadron and to be part of the clear message to our partner nations of the continuing U.S. commitment to the region," said Capt. Michael A. Fisher, commodore of Submarine Squadron 21. "I have the privilege of having a great staff that are ready to hit the ground running and I look forward to working with them."

CSS 21 replaces an existing small detachment of CTF 54. The squadron will be under CTF 54's operational control and will have tactical control of submarines deployed to the 5th Fleet AOR. The squadron is being stood up to increase submarine safety and optimize submarine force support to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

"This submarine squadron was specifically commissioned to provide better support to the 5th Fleet during very challenging and demanding times," said Vice Adm. John W. Miller, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. "The squadron will provide mentorship, lessons learned, logistical and administrative support and coordination with other task forces to support submarine missions here in the region. The standing up of Submarine Squadron 21 is another example of the Navy's commitment to engagement with partner nations here in the area to include establishing a permanent submarine presence and to support the theater security cooperation mission."

According to many submarine leaders, the new squadron will benefit the crews and the Navy immensely.

"The establishment of Submarine Squadron 21 will help us to better serve deployed submarines and thereby improve support to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command," said Rear Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander, Task Force 54.

"I'm excited about the effect Submarine Squadron 21 will have on our ability to contribute to the NAVCENT missions," said Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "Captain Fisher and his staff's regional expertise will ensure our submarines are ready and supported during any contingency."

The new squadron will help submarines to better prepare for the unique and challenging shallow water, high contact density environments in the 5th Fleet AOR. It will provide deployed submarine assessments and additional training as necessary. The squadron will be able to provide more localized support and be able to improve existing relationships from its forward-deployed location in Manama.

"Establishing a squadron that is stationed in the region to be intimately familiar with current ops [operations], well acquainted with all theater partners, and the embodiment of submarine operations lessons learned will improve the safety and effectiveness of our submarine deployments to the 5th Fleet," said Munsch.

"Our mission is to provide combat ready submarines that are always prepared for the unique challenges of this area," said Fisher. "I think by providing this year round focus on training from one consistent organization, we'll see the proficiency of all our subs go up.

"We'll be providing a better product to our customer, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command," he added. "We want to give him a ship that can do everything he needs it to do and be as good as they can be."

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."