Luke F-16 crashes in Arizona

By 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, / Published January 21, 2016

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base crashed at approximately 8:45 a.m. today north of Luke AFB in the vicinity of Bagdad, Arizona.

Luke AFB officials are working closely with local authorities in a search and rescue operation. Due to the remote location and rugged terrain, the status of the pilot is unknown.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

Brigadier General Scott Pleus, the 56th Fighter Wing commander, has established an interim safety board to begin the preliminary investigation.

Information will be released as it becomes available. For questions, please contact the 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office at 623-856-6011.

Youth program teaches more than basketball

by David Bedard
JBER Public Affairs

1/21/2016 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, eighth-grader Abad Senquiz III towers over Clark Middle School classmates like Gandalf over a shire of hobbits. With his stratospheric height came an avid interest in all things sports from a young age.

Dabbling in other forms of competition, Senquiz didn't settle on basketball until sixth grade when his pastime penchant turned into a lifelong passion.
"I suddenly had a love for the game," Senquiz remembered. "I started watching it a lot and realized, wow, I want to be really good at that."

What Senquiz watched was the New York Knicks storming down the offensive lane bound for the hoop. For decades his father and grandfather, both from New York, fired up the television to witness legends like Walter "Clyde" Frazier and Patrick Ewing lead the Knicks to NBA glory.

Today, the younger Senquiz harbors hopes to someday lace up and venture out onto the court at Madison Square Garden. Helping him strive for his goal are the coaches and staff of The Youth Development Program, a non-profit organization that meets at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's Elmendorf Fitness Center.

Darryl Sample, TYDP vice president and a retired technical sergeant, said basketball serves as a strong basis for an active and academically driven youth community.

"The Youth Development Program helps guide and mentor youth in the Alaska and Anchorage area," Sample explained. "We try to instill confidence in their capabilities. We try to keep them active using sports as a vehicle."

Sample said athletics is one of three pillars TYDP instills in their youth, with strong academics and responsibility at home rounding out the other two. Though coaches shepherd the effort, Sample said other youths are instrumental in the process.

"Peer pressure can be either negative or positive, and we try to use positive peer pressure," he said. "When it comes to academics, we really believe that there are certain things you need to do before you come out on the basketball court - that's do your job at home and do your job at school.

"If those two things aren't in sync, then you can't come out here on the basketball court, because it's a privilege," Sample continued. "We really do believe in having your grades in order, and if there's a concern early on, then we encourage the kids to let us know, so that we can work with them to build their confidence up from an academic standpoint."

Sample said TYDP offers tutoring services to young athletes like Senquiz, who said he struggled with algebra. With the help of TYDP tutors, Senquiz said it soon became as easy for him to find "x" as the hoop.

"This program has really helped me academically," Senquiz said. "Now, my grades are improving, and I'm starting to become more focused."

That sense of focus is honed in all TYDP participants through a disciplined focus on the fundamentals, Sample said, fundamentals like ball handling and agility.
"We want them to be able to be functional on a basketball court," he said. "Sometimes, it may cause you to move differently than what you're used to."

During one practice, TYDP youth don't shoot a single hoop, because they were laser focused on dribbling. The young athletes lined up on opposite ends of the court and raced toward small orange cones. Their task? To seamlessly pick up the cones without interrupting their dribbling tempo.

The competition motivated the youths to do it quickly, while coaches watched to ensure they did it right. When one side won, the other was required to complete a lap around the gym.

While the vanquished youth completed their penance lap, the victors would beat their basketballs in exultation. It read like a scene out of Lord of the Flies, but it highlighted the sense of teamwork and accomplishment built into the program's methodologies.

Senquiz said he feels those methodologies work. Many talk about a holistic approach, but TYDP's emphases on athletics, academics and citizenship seem to fold into and reinforce each other.

"It was a lot better than I expected," the young athlete said of his experience with the program. "They don't just focus on basketball, they also focus on you at school and you at home. They want to make sure that the things you have off the court are right, and they want to get you better on the court."

Senquiz said he has suffered difficult circumstances off the court since he joined the program. Coaches came along side the youth during his travails, helping him to understand how the youngster's faith and wisdom acquired through experience can help him successfully navigate life.

"Sometimes, I'm really glad to have had the problem, because now I know better and I'm smarter for it," Senquiz said. "Through the experience, I gain knowledge, so I know what to do."

Whether he's experiencing hardship or his life is smooth as the backboard, Senquiz said he can put it all behind him when he steps onto the court.
"When I play basketball, everything else is out of my mind," he said. "I feel really good about it."

For more information, call Arnold Dade, TYDP president, at 764-3010.

Virginia Guard Prepares for Massive Snowstorm

By Cotton Puryear Virginia National Guard

SANDSTON, Va., January 21, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard has been authorized to bring up to 500 soldiers, airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force on state active duty for possible assistance with the state’s severe winter weather response operations.

The plans come as weather forecasters are predicting a snowstorm of massive proportions to strike the Middle Atlantic region beginning tomorrow.

The Virginia Guard plans to stage personnel at readiness centers along the I-81 corridor between Lexington and Winchester, along the Route 29 corridor from Warrenton to Danville, as well as in the areas near Richmond, Fredericksburg and Gate City in order to be ready to respond if needed. The alert process to notify personnel to report for duty has begun, and they are scheduled to be in place by early evening today.

Take Necessary Precautions

"Keeping Virginians safe in the event of severe weather is our top concern," Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said today in his emergency declaration. "All Virginians should take the threat of this storm seriously and take necessary precautions now to ensure they are prepared for travel disruptions and possible power outages during a cold weather period."

Potential missions for the Virginia Guard and Virginia Defense Force include transportation through heavy snow, downed tree removal, debris reduction and distribution of food, water and other supplies, said Army Col. Thomas L. Morgan III, director of joint operations for the Virginia Guard.

"In order to be able to respond rapidly when needed, we will get our personnel in place at key locations before the severe weather hits," Morgan said.

The Virginia National Guard receives their missions through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to assist the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Transportation and other state and local emergency response organizations and is not able to respond to direct support requests from the public, Morgan said.

"If you need assistance because of the winter storm, please call 911 or your local dispatcher and let them know you need help and do not contact the Virginia National Guard directly," he said. "They will determine what emergency services are best suited to assist you, and they will contact us if it appropriate for us to take action."

History of Service

The Virginia National Guard last went on state active duty for response operations caused by heavy snow, ice and flooding in late February and early March 2015. Over an almost three-week period, more than 330 soldiers staged at locations across the commonwealth to assist local law enforcement and emergency response organizations with delivering food, water, medicine and other supplies, evacuating citizens for safety and medical assistance and removing snow berms limiting road access with engineer equipment.

Virginia National Guard aviators also conducted an aerial resupply mission to deliver supplies to an iced-in Tangier Island.

Since 2001, the Virginia National Guard has called up more than 8,500 personnel for state active duty to support state and local emergency response organizations as part of a coordinated state-wide response, as well as missions in Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, New York and Vermont.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Trading Classified Information in International Fraud and Bribery Scandal

A U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for accepting cash, consumer electronics and travel expenses from foreign defense contractor Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) in exchange for classified U.S. Navy information.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy of the Southern District of California, Special Agent in Charge Chris D. Hendrickson of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Western Field Office and Director Andrew Traver of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) made the announcement.

In May 2014, Dan Layug, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and is the first defendant to be sentenced in the bribery scheme involving Singapore-based GDMA, which provided port services to U.S. Navy ships in the Asia Pacific region and used bribery to obtain information to win and maintain contracts.

According to court documents, GDMA owner and CEO Leonard Francis and other GDMA employees enlisted the clandestine assistance of Layug and other U.S. Navy personnel to provide classified ship schedules and other sensitive Navy information.  GDMA allegedly overcharged the Navy under its contracts and submitted bogus invoices for tens of millions of dollars in port services.

In his plea agreement, Layug admitted that he accepted a $1,000 per month allowance from GDMA, plus luxury hotel stays for himself and others in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Thailand.  Layug also admitted that he sought consumer electronics from GDMA, including an iPad 3.  According to the plea agreement, Layug used his position as a logistics specialist at a U.S. Navy facility in Yokosuka, Japan, to gain access to classified U.S. Navy ship schedules, then provided this information to GDMA’s vice president of global operations.  Layug admitted that he also provided pricing information from one of GDMA’s competitors.

So far, nine individuals have been charged in connection with this scheme; of those, seven have pleaded guilty.  Captain Daniel Dusek and Commander Jose Luis Sanchez were charged with bribery conspiracies involving GDMA and have pleaded guilty.  Commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz and former Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employee Paul Simpkins currently await trial.  On Dec. 17, 2013, NCIS Special Agent John Beliveau pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery charges for regularly alerting Francis to the status of the government’s investigation into GDMA.

The NCIS, the DCIS and the Defense Contract Audit Agency are conducting the ongoing investigation.  Trial Attorneys Brian Young and Lawrence Atkinson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark W. Pletcher of the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.

CRW Airmen reflect synergy of West Africa mission

by Master Sgt. Russ Martin
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

1/21/2016 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- A contingent of Airmen supporting three unique mission sets from the 621st Contingency Response Wing recently returned from Gabon after stepping up to facilitate the delivery of more than 450,000 pounds of vital equipment to the African partner nation.

When the West African nation of Gabon's military was charged with delivering resources and equipment to the Central African Republic of Bangui as part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission, the Gabonese government reached out to the U.S. defense attaché for assistance, which called upon the unique capabilities provided by the 621st Contingency Response Wing's rapid global mobility experts and advisors.

Lt. Col. Michael Sheldon, a 621st CRW Air Mobility Liaison Officer attached to U.S Army Africa/Southern European Task Force, provided his perspective on the coordination involved during the multinational interoperability effort that wrapped up in December.

"I met with personnel from the U.S. Embassy Gabon, Gabonese Military Forces, Gabonese Republican Guards, French contractors, and French Forces stationed in Libreville supporting the movement," Sheldon said. "We discussed the movement and support requirements necessary to assist Gabon in accomplishing its UN peacekeeping mission. "

As an AMLO, Sheldon was keenly aware of U.S. air transportation safety requirements , contingency response capabilities and procedures, as well as the processes involved with requesting and delivering strategic airlift support.

"I visually inspected the proposed material to be moved, performed the necessary measurements to submit an Air Transportation Test Load Agency Certification so the various vehicles could gain approval for transportation on U.S. aircraft, and designated the areas to be used for aircraft parking and where cargo preparation would take place," Sheldon said. "Additionally, I accomplished the final coordination with Tanker Airlift Control Center and Air Mobility Command to schedule the C-17 aircraft and arrange for the proper mix of CR Forces to mission."

As the logistical requirements unfolded, Capt. Philippe Caraghiaur, an air advisor with the 621st CRW's 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, was already in Libreville, Gabon attending a planning conference for Central Accord slated for the summer of 2016. When the request for assistance came in, he and his team diverted their attention to assisting Sheldon with inspecting Gabon's aerial port capabilities and coordinating the delivery of materials from Libreville to Bangui.

"The MSAS team was integral to the assessment, providing interpretation and facilitating conversations between U.S. forces and the Gabonese aviators," Caraghiaur said.

Once the plan was in place, Master Sgt. Darrell Layne, 621st Contingency Response Squadron operations flight chief, and a contingent of six CR Airmen were up to the task at hand.

"Our team was there to help build, inspect and make sure the cargo was airworthy to fly on the C-17. We moved 235 short tons of cargo which consisted of 29 pallets, 1 T-2 and 18 rolling stock," said Layne. "We helped build, net, weigh and placard the cargo and conducted the Joint Inspection. We worked hand and hand with the Gabonese military to complete the tasks."

The opportunity to work with the Gabonese military early on was not lost on Layne, seeing as how the summer will bring U.S. involvement to the planned Exercise Central Accord 2016 in the country.

"I truly believe we were able to pass off a lot of knowledge on what the CRW does and I am sure we will be requested to come back at a later date," Layne said. "It was great working with the U.S. Army, AMLO, Attache', Gabonese and French military--it was a really great experience and we look forward to continuing this type of training.

As America's only contingency response wing, 621st CRW is highly-specialized in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain, and coordinate air mobility operations. With bicoastal units at both Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. and Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the 621st consists of approximately 1500 Airmen in three groups, eleven squadrons and more than 20 geographically separated operating locations aligned with major Army and Marine Corps combat units. The wing maintains a ready corps of light, lean and agile mobility support forces able to respond as directed by the 18th Air Force in order to meet Combatant Command contingency requirements.

The 621st CRW accomplishes its mission through four distinct and integrated lines of effort: theater-wide command and control executed by its Air Mobility Operations Squadrons, building partner capacity through engagements performed by its Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons, providing mobility expertise directly at the point of need via embedded Air Mobility Liaison Officers, and Contingency Response Forces who open, operate and close airfields for mobility operations around the world.

Beyond the teamwork and integration between multinational forces, the U.S. Army, AMLO, CR Forces, MSAS advisors, and U.S. Embassy personnel, more important to Sheldon was the projection of goodwill and partnership with Gabon in assisting with their delivery of equipment.

U.S. involvement in Central African Republic stability efforts began in 2014 and has included enabling logistics for troop contributing countries like Gabon, which currently supports MINUSCA with a partially-equipped Gabonese Rapid Reaction Battalion.  Strategic lift was required in order to equip the battalion to fulfill an important UN mandate prior to presidential elections planned for December 2016.

"The mission was important in our ability to make an outsized contribution to the larger goals of the U.S. Government in Africa," Sheldon said. "Besides helping a partner nation contribute to an important peacekeeping mission, we helped elevate an important African ally."

Solar Ready Vets program readies first class at Hill AFB

by Crystal Young
75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

1/15/2016 - HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The Solar Ready Vets program announced by President Barack Obama during a visit to Hill Air Force Base in April 2015 will begin training the first class of 24 veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce.

The training, which begins Feb. 1, is being provided by Salt Lake Community College in partnership with the Department of Energy, which oversees the initiative. Some of the training will take place in Hill classrooms and some will be online "self-driven" learning.

"We've got to be relentless in our work to grow the economy and create good jobs," Obama said during his visit. "I think everybody here at Hill understands that one of the most important aspects of national security is strong economic security."

Hill was chosen to be part of the program based on the number of exiting military personnel from the installation, the strength of the surrounding solar market and the capacity of nearby training institutions.

The base acquires 20 percent or more of its overall energy from renewable energy sources. The base's solar array installation was completed in June 2009, making it Utah's largest ground-mounted photovoltaic system at the time. 

"We take pride in the energy initiatives we have underway here," said Col. Ron Jolly, 75th Air Base Wing installation commander.

Obama said the new program is one of many steps to help nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get a job.

Hill is the fourth base to implement the program -- which is already underway at Camp Pendleton, California; Fort Carson, Colorado; and Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia -- has already delivered 150 military veterans ready to begin careers in the solar energy career field, one of the fastest growing job sector's in the country.

While veterans are not guaranteed a job, the DOE reports that all of the participating veterans have been extended job offers from renewable energy companies participating in the initiative. Starting salaries for these types of positions average $20 to $24 per hour. The program prepares veterans to be strong candidates for a wide range of solar energy careers, including management, photovoltaic installation, sales and technical positions.

According to the DOE, the Department of Defense is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government. So, to meet new goals set out in an Executive Order signed March 19, 2015, for the federal government to reduce emissions, some of the Solar Ready Vets graduates may return to bases, helping build solar arrays that improve energy security.

The program is tied to the Department of Defense's SkillBridge Initiative, a program designed to equip active duty military personnel within six months of moving to veteran status with skills to enter the civilian workforce.

"Solar power can be a key element of strategic energy agility for the Air Force, and we see the industry growing rapidly. Solar Ready Vets is a tremendous program providing energy-specific technical training to our veterans, preparing them for high-skill jobs in the renewable energy industry. We are proud to partner with the Energy Department, Veterans Affairs, local colleges and our sister services on this important endeavor, and hope to see Air Force vets working in the solar industry across the country in the near future," said Miranda Ballentine, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy.

The Energy Department is working with the Department of Defense to expand Solar Ready Vets to a total of ten military bases by late spring 2016.

"We have eight currently registered with more Airmen expressing interest every day. Many are currently working through the application process," said Capt. Joshua Tate, deputy director of the 75th Force Support Squadron.

The classes are paid for by the DOE during the startup phase and funding for continuing classes can be paid for by the members' GI Bill benefits, Tate said.

Two WPAFB units earn AFOUA

by Marie Vanover
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

1/15/2016 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE -- The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award has been awarded to the 88th Air Base Wing and to the 21st Intelligence Squadron here for exceptionally meritorious service for the period Aug. 1, 2013 to July 31, 2015.

The award is presented to numbered units for exceptionally meritorious service or exceptionally outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above other units.

"Wow ... what a tremendous accomplishment for the Mighty 88th Team! This award formally recognizes what I see every day from amazing Airmen in the wing and represents the collective efforts of the entire team over the past two years," said Col. John Devillier, 88 ABW commander.

During the two-year period, the wing met all challenges while continuously training and equipping combat-ready forces for deployment and employment, added Devillier.

Some of the highlights throughout the wing over the past two years include hosting CORONA Top for 2014 and 2015; supporting the bed-down of the 434th Air Refueling Wing with 13 KC-135 aircraft; solidifying the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs joint venture initiative -- a first in the Air Force; successfully executing and hosting two Air Force Marathons, and earning an "Excellent" Command Cyber Readiness Inspection rating followed up two weeks later with a "Highly Effective" Unit Effectiveness Inspection rating!

Some of the 21 IS highlights included supporting 287 acquisition programs worth $549 billion; managing the largest Special Security Office customer base in Air Force Materiel Command; and facilitating the DOD's sole Acquisitions Intelligence Formal Training.

"I'm in awe of the hard work our Airmen put in each and every day serving the program executive offices as well as the entire acquisitions community," said Lt. Col. Steven Watts, the 21 IS commander.

The two organizations were among six units across Air Force Materiel Command recognized.

"What a wonderful way to start off 2016 -- the support the 88th provides to more than 100 mission partners at Wright-Patterson ensures mission success not only here in Ohio but around the nation and the globe. The award is really indicative of the great Air Force and Department of Defense team we have here at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base," concluded Devillier.