Month of the Military Child Recognizes Young Family Members

By Amaani Lyle

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2015 – To highlight the year-round contributions, courage and patriotism of the military community’s youngest members, the Defense Department observes April as the Month of the Military Child, a Pentagon official told DoD News.

Established by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1986, the month recognizes some 1.9 million U.S. military children ranging in age from infants to 18 years old who have one or both parents serving in the armed forces, said Barbara Thompson, the director of DoD’s Office of Family Readiness Policy.

“We want to highlight their sacrifices [and] support of the military member in their families, so it behooves us to take time from the busy calendar of our events and recognize military children,” she said.

Permanent-change-of-station moves, deployments and training activities, among other facets of military life, can present unique challenges to children who must constantly adjust to distance, unfamiliarity and uncertain schedules, Thompson explained.

“That can be a real sacrifice, because each parent is a very important part of that child’s makeup,” she said. “So we want to make sure that when they move or change schools, all of those transition times are supported with resources, programs and services.”

DoD offers a variety of programs to help military children overcome these challenges, Thompson said.

Available Programs Offer Assistance

For example, the Child Development Program offers child care up to age 12. Similarly, youth development programs offer older children opportunities for recreation, and character, social and emotional development.

Thompson reported that parents, too, have resources to help best guide and nurture their children of all ages.

The New Parents Support Program helps parents during pregnancy and childbirth, and children up to 3 years of age, to reach their full potential through home visitations and parent support groups, she said.

Military OneSource is another resource available 24/7, 365 days a year, to support parents to learn more about parenting skills, as well as to find support for themselves, Thompson added. It also offers telephonic, face-to-face, online and video nonmedical and financial counseling, which she described as “strengthening pillars” for military households separated from extended family or settling into a new environment.

“On the installations, we have military family support centers,” she said, “where a multitude of services for transitions and life skills are offered to make sure our families can be resilient and strengthen them in their efforts to be the parents they want to be.”

Family support has evolved over the last 40 years to become the family readiness system, which is a collaborative network of agencies, programs, services and professionals who promote the readiness and quality of life of military families both on installations and in the community, Thompson said.

“There is no ‘wrong’ door,” she said. “So regardless of where you’re seeking support, whether it’s with your pediatrician or with your chaplain, he or she will also know the resources to support you in your efforts to navigate the military life course.”

A Visual Tribute

Across the services, Thompson said, parades, fairs, art and poetry contests will abound as installations develop engaging and amusing activities to solidify the bonds among families and communities.

“We want to make sure that children’s voices are heard during the Month of the Military Child,” she said. “It’s a fun time to be with their families [and] to take part in the various activities that the services developed to recognize military children.”

Community outreach initiatives include partnerships with the Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s 4-H youth group to promote “Purple Up!” On April 15, Thompson said. Students, school sports team members, teachers and community leaders will wear purple as a visual tribute to military children.

“It is hard to be a military child, and they’re doing it super well,” Thompson said.

477th Fighter Group welcomes new commander

by Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso
477th Fighter Group Public Affairs

3/31/2015 - Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska  -- Col. David Piffarerio became the 477th Fighter Group commander during a change of command ceremony here on JBER, Mar. 20.

Piffarerio accepted the reins of leadership from Col. Tyler Otten who will move on to be the Mobilization Assistant to the 11th Air Force Commander here at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Under Otten's command, the group's Airmen weathered difficult financial challenges including furloughs and the government shutdown, while continuing to accomplish the mission of training citizen airmen to execute the F-22 mission with their active duty partners in the 3rd Wing. The unit was one of nine Air Force Reserve units to earn the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 2014.

"It has been an honor to serve the men and women of the 477th Fighter Group as their commander for the last two and a half years.  I have been repeatedly amazed at their capabilities and commitment to the mission," said Otten.  "I am looking forward to watching them continue to do great things under Colonel Piffarerio's leadership."

Piffarerio came to the came 477th Fighter Group in August 2007 from Nellis AFB, Nevada where he served as an F-22 operational test pilot. While in the 477th FG Piffarerio served as Flight Commander, Weapons Officer, Assistant Director of Operations and Commander of the 302nd Fighter Squadron.  Most recently, Piffarerio served as the 477th Fighter Group Deputy Commander.

"The 477th FG has a tremendous heritage and history of incredible airmen," said Piffarerio. "I look forward to leading this organization to great heights and working with the men and women of the 477th FG and our partners in the 3 WG."

During the ceremony Brig. Gen. Richard Scobee, 10th Air Force commander lauded Otten's accomplishments as commander and said "Col. Piffarerio has been a member of the 477th Fighter Group family since 2007; he knows the organization and how to continue to make the group successful."

Piffarerio is native of Colorado and received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1994. Piffarerio began his career flying F-15E's before being selected as initial cadre to test the F-22 during follow-evaluations. In 2011, Piffarerio was the first Air Force pilot to reach 1,000 flight hours in the F-22 Raptor.

Face of Defense: Mess Sergeant Makes Most of Culinary Experience

By Army Staff Sgt. Paul Roberts

314th Press Camp Headquarters

SMARDAN TRAINING AREA, Romania, March 31, 2015 – Army Sgt. Raheem Johnson isn’t your typical “mess sergeant” in Forward Support Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Johnson, who hails from Philadelphia, had almost seven years of experience in the culinary field before joining the Army.

He earned his certification in the culinary arts with the Job Corps in Philadelphia and proceeded to work for universities and local restaurants before embarking on a new career path, he said. Johnson chose the military occupational specialty 92G -- food service specialist -- one he has been working in for eight years now.

“Right now the path that I’m on, I’m very happy,” Johnson said.

“I wouldn’t change anything,” he added.

Johnson said his previous culinary experience enabled him to “fast track” while in advanced individual training. Instead of having to go through the full nine-week course, he cut the time in half because of the level of his certification.

“Actually, I’ve exceeded some of my own expectations as far as where I’m at right now,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he’s decided to make the Army a career. His ultimate goal, he added, is to achieve the pinnacle enlisted rank of sergeant major of the Army before he retires.

Leading Soldiers

As a new leader, Johnson said he doesn’t find his challenges come in the kitchen, but in the management of soldiers.

“Just as far as being a leader, a new leader, getting to know soldiers and trying to get the mission accomplished and at the same time, cater to your soldiers’ needs,” Johnson said, has been the challenge.

Even though he has been invited to join culinary competition teams, Johnson said, he doesn’t enjoy competition as much as he enjoys being in the kitchen and working with his soldiers.

“I just enjoy cooking,” he said with a smile. “I enjoy teaching.”

Johnson said he is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experiences with his soldiers and knows that if he isn’t sharing what he knows, then he isn’t the leader that they deserve and need.

“You have to be very logical and have your head in the game when you’re cooking,” he explained. “Your mental stability will be tested.”

Johnson said for him, the ability to share his passion, his drive and his knowledge with soldiers is the highest calling and leads to the true molding of the future in his career field.

USNS Comfort Deploys In Support of Continuing Promise 2015

From a U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet News Release

NORFOLK, Va., March 31, 2015 – U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort is set to deploy from Norfolk, Virginia, this week to Central and South America and the Caribbean from April through October in support of Continuing Promise 2015, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet officials said today.

During the six-month mission, the Comfort will visit Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama.

“Just as in previous years’ missions, the goal is to increase unity, security and stability by fostering strong partnerships and working as a team to improve the lives of thousands of men, women and children from these countries,” said Rear Adm. George Ballance, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet.

‘Real People, Real Needs’

“Continuing Promise focuses on real people with real needs,” he added. “Working alongside local government officials and medical professionals from each of the host nations as well as volunteers from nongovernmental agencies, our teams will work to meet the day-to-day needs of communities and prepare to respond together in disaster relief.”

Continuing Promise is sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, conducted by Naval Forces Southern Command, 4th Fleet. The deployed operation focuses on civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, subject matter expert exchanges, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support, and disaster response to partner nations.

The Comfort, operated by Military Sealift Command, will carry over 1,000 people from the U.S. Navy, partner nations and nongovernmental agencies to each country. This year’s mission includes over 50 NGOs, a marked increase in global participation compared to previous years’ missions, officials said. Continuing Promise participants will work alongside local government officials and medical professionals from the host nation to meet the day-to-day needs of communities and assist in natural disaster responsiveness.

Shipboard Hospital

Comfort’s shipboard hospital is configured with specialized medical equipment and staffed by a multi-specialty medical team of uniformed and civilian health care providers to offer a range of services ashore as well as on board the ship.

During Continuing Promise, an estimated 104,000 patients will be seen. More than 400 subject matter expert exchanges will take place, covering medial, veterinary, engineering and environmental health topics; and more than 20 engineering and building site projects will be completed. Hundreds of surgeries will be performed by teams of specialized medical personnel from the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force and various NGOs, officials said.

Managing acquisition: a PM's perspective

by Justin Oakes
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

3/27/2015 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- There are hundreds of different career fields within the Air Force. All have their roles to play, cumulatively resulting in the aircraft that dominate the skies, satellites that connect us from space, cyber defenses that safeguard our networks and many other warfighting systems.

While we often see and hear about the end capability, it's the behind-the-scenes program manager who is responsible for these assets from cradle to grave.

Hanscom AFB is an acquisition base and home to more than 300 Battle Management and Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks program offices -- programs that total approximately $30 billion.

Currently, Hanscom also employs 488 program managers -- commonly referred to as PMs -- with varying backgrounds, expertise and experiences. Each is suited for a specific acquisition effort and mission.

"I'm new to defense acquisition, compared to some of the other PMs who have decades working with high-level initiatives," said Nick Grudziecki, a PM with three years of experience who currently works within the Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe program office. "As a PM, you're responsible for the program's cost, schedule and overall performance."

Grudziecki and the NGIFF team are working to upgrade a system into E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft that has the capability to differentiate between hostile and friendly aircraft.

"That's the great thing about working on a smaller program, you have more responsibility earlier in your career," Grudziecki said. "It helps you better understand the ins and outs of management."

With time comes experience and the opportunity to lead a larger effort. Take the Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal, or Global ASNT, program for example.

Global ASNT is directly tied to the Air Force's nuclear mission, since they are the ones responsible for developing and acquiring new, nuclear C3 terminals.

The result will be secure, survivable ground terminals that have the ability to receive emergency action messages via advanced extremely high frequency satellites. Those messages are then relayed to bomber, tanker and reconnaissance aircrews for action.

However, like any job, being a PM is not without its challenges. Money and requirements are the primary ones.

"Having the right amount of money at the right time is critical; you also have to ensure that requirements are being met -- that's the number one job of a PM, and it's not always easy," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, Global ASNT program manager and 17-year defense acquisition veteran. "Information is another thing that can be a challenge. There is a constant flow of information in and out of the program office. How you effectively manage that flow is extremely important."

To successfully clear such obstacles, the Global ASNT PM emphasized that good communication and trust are needed.

"Being able to trust your team, both government and contractor, is huge. If there is a high level of trust and communication, then you'll be able to overcome the inevitable roadblocks that pop up during the acquisition life cycle," Decker said.

In addition to upgrading systems and acquiring new ones, some Hanscom PMs also focus on foreign military sales.

"The Air Force gains a huge benefit from foreign military sales," said Col. Niles Cocanour, chief of International AWACS programs, who has spent a combined 23 years serving as a PM and flight test engineer. "We approve sales based on strategic goals of the U.S., specifically to help meet regional security needs that are in our interest and in the interest of our partner nations.

"Additionally, these sales help maintain a strong military defense industrial base, and we often partner with nations to reduce our own development costs. We also benefit from improved integrations and interoperability with our coalition partners."

For example, the French are upgrading their current fleet of E-3 AWACS with a mission computing upgrade program that aligns their system with the new USAF Block 40/45 system. As a mutual benefit to the U.S., the French have also helped with the integration of the new Mode 5 identification friend or foe system, which in turn aided USAF development efforts.

Hanscom acquisition teams also support countries such as the United Kingdom, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea and Australia that fly AWACS and similar platforms.

They're responsible for not only producing a warfighting capability, but doing so in a timely manner and while reducing costs where possible. And for the PMs located at Hanscom AFB, it's no exception.

"Hanscom is the glue that holds the Air Force together -- we make all the capabilities more effective by connecting the warfighter in ways that give us significant tactical and operational advantages," said Col. Alfonso LaPuma, C3I and Networks deputy director. "It takes a special blend of tenacity, creativity and negotiation savvy to be a PM in today's Air Force."