Greek, US training ends with strengthened bonds

by Staff Sgt. Daryl Knee
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - SOUDA BAY, Greece -- The two-week bilateral training between the Hellenic and U.S. air forces ended Aug. 23.

As the U.S. service members departed for their home station at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, the pilots reflected on the outcome of this peacetime training event.

"The Hellenic air force and the U.S. Air Force have their own way of doing business, and we are good at it," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David Berkland, 480th Fighter Squadron commander. "But when you combine their air force with the way our air force operates, there are some limitations. Every day we get better at that interoperability piece, and both sides have seen significant improvements in our performance."

"Every day, we're working on interoperability," he emphasized. "It's absolutely essential to our ability to go to war with our coalition partners, and we train like this so that on day one of a conflict, we've already worked out a lot of these interoperability issues."

The U.S. air force launched nearly 200 individual sorties throughout this two-week period, each with a specific mission of enhancing the military compatibility between the two nations. The mission objectives required both air forces to integrate and prove their capabilities in air-to-air and air-to-surface combat, a multi-role to which the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft is geared.

"For us, it's really neat to be able to come here and train with the 343rd and 340th Fighter Squadrons because they also fly the F-16," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Kyle Davis, 480th FS pilot. "They bring different things to the fight than we do even though we fly the same jet. So we may be strong in certain areas, but they're strong in others. So training together with them, we really got to promote our own strengths and also fill in each others' weaknesses, and truly build a stronger fighting force together."

Greece is a longstanding NATO ally and has supported many joint objectives throughout the years. The country has promoted Balkan stability and economic development, and contributes forces to both the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and United Nations peacekeeping missions. Greece leadership has also provided the U.S. with access to the region to operate key military installations, such as the Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, a combined airfield and seaport facility that is the largest deepwater port in the eastern Mediterranean.

With the conclusion of this joint training, the Hellenic air force leadership feels they are demonstrating their commitment to a peaceful, stable and secure Europe.

"I think everything went well," said Hellenic air force Lt. Col. Michail Tsikalakis, 343rd FS commander. "Greece and the United States are proven partners with a long military relationship. It's strong, I think, and based on common values of democracy and freedom. We've had many (cooperation events) throughout the years, and we're looking to future challenges, training how we fight.

"We are confident to fly with the U.S. pilots now," he continued. "We have common training and common procedures. We see in the air that it works, and we're ready to fly and fight in a war together."

Davis said U.S. fighter squadrons in Europe have a unique chance to work with coalition partners who desire to train together. And as the Defense Department continues to operate in a fiscally constrained environment, it is even more important to take the opportunities when they are available.

"Because when it comes down to it, we need to be able to work with our partner nations to be able to provide an effective force no matter what type of engagements we find ourselves in," he said. "We're not going to do it by ourselves; we're going to do it with the Greek air force. We're going to partner with some of the other countries that surround us. And so flying with them proves the point that we can do it, but it also really helps us understand how to do it better in the future and make the total package of coalition partners a much more lethal fighting force."

The Aug. 23 date may have marked the end of face-to-face training; however, both countries aim to meet or exceed the NATO standard of operations. Collectively, this European partnership will continue to provide security, protect global interests and bolster economic bonds.

Trading places: Minot chosen as test base for crew swaps

by Airman 1st Class Apryl Hall
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- In order to implement new initiatives stemming from the Force Improvement Program, Minot Air Force Base was chosen as the test bed for two modifications currently underway within the missile community. To include F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming and Malmstrom AFB, Montana in the test phase, Task Force 214 and 20th Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein directed a crew swap, entailing missileers from all three bases trading places for three months.

"As much as possible it was a one-for-one crew swap," said Lt. Col. David Rickards, 91st Operations Group deputy group commander. "The idea is that the folks embedding with us for 90 days would be able to experience at the ground level some of the changes and initiatives we're implementing as part of the Force Improvement Program."

Minot AFB received four individuals from Malmstrom AFB's 341st Operations Group and three from F.E. Warren AFB's 90th Operations Group. Seven Airmen from Minot AFB were sent to fill their places.

"We sent similar people based on background, certifications and abilities," Rickards said. "One of the goals by sending crews from Malmstrom and F.E. Warren to Minot, and for us to reciprocate those crews back to those two wings, is to ensure the objectivity of the results, standardization across the operations groups and robust cross talk."

The two FIP modifications, referred to as Block 0 and Block 10, focus on changes to the organization of the operations group, crew training and scheduling. A major change for training is in the area of testing. Previously, crew members were required to take recertification tests monthly. With the new initiatives they will test quarterly while adding a second simulator session each month to hone their proficiency. The purpose of these changes is to emphasize hands-on training and empower crew commanders to be responsible for the proficiency of their crew.

"I think a lot of the problems in the missile world have been self-inflicted," said Capt. Adam Ross, 341st Operations Support Squadron missile combat crew instructor. "So let's think about this logically, be smarter and come to a better way of how we operate."

The seven Airmen sent to Minot for the test phase were chosen by their commanders. Although there is no formal documentation process required during their time at Minot AFB, they are responsible for relaying information back to their commands as the changes progress.

"They brought people from other bases to get different perspectives and make sure it jives with our bases," Ross said. "We're just going to work through the bugs here first."

For Ross, who is working with the 742nd Missile Squadron while here, being able to participate in the implementation process is exciting, he said.

"Changes are coming for the right reasons, and I wanted to be a part of that," Ross said. "I hope to inject positively where I can, provide that critical feedback and hopefully make a better system for everyone else later on."

The crew swap, which runs until the end of October, is a first step in using the FIP to produce necessary changes within Air Force Global Strike Command units. By involving all three missile bases in the initiation process, the goal is to make the transition smooth and do so as a team.

"It's always good to see how another team works," Rickards said. "We can learn at the grassroots level and not just get this from the outside in. We'll have someone who experienced it, really lived it and breathed it for three months."

Not your father's combat survival training

by Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood
179th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/22/2014 - MANSFIELD, Ohio -- The need for aircrew combat survival refresher training has been around for as long as the Air Force has been flying aircraft, yet this weekend something noticeably different was happening in the woods of north central Ohio.

"I had the opportunity to hear Secretary James discuss the need to embrace diversity of thought," said Col Mark Auer, commander of the 179th Operations Group. "That encouraged us to look for innovative ways to conduct reoccurring training. We knew Battlefield Airmen in Tactical Control Air Party units possessed finely honed land navigation, tactical movement and survival skills. And since TACPs attend the same basic survival course as aircrew, we knew they could speak the same language and our aircrew would benefit from their recent ground combat experience. We were all anxious to see what could be achieved by combining Mobility Air Forces aircrew and Aircrew Flight Equipment personnel with Battlefield Airman from the Combat Air Forces."

Four TACPs from the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois, combined with seven members of the 179th Operations Support Squadron AFE section to offer Combat Survival Training that was not your usual affair.

"Having the TACPs work to enhance our field skill instruction and play the role of aggressors elevated the training to a whole new level", said TSgt William Hamilton, who took lead on organizing the training and whose family hosted the event on their property near Butler.

"We were impressed right from the start; from the planning and coordination, to the level of engagement by the aircrew," said Senior Airman Matthew Denault, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, was one of the visiting TACPs. "Everyone was committed to making the training as realistic and valuable as possible, plus it was great to train together - we hope to continue the relationship."

The Ohio Airmen received valuable training on land navigation; shelter building, fire craft, food and water collection, camouflage and concealment, signaling and evasion techniques. This type of refresher training aims to enhance the survivability and combat readiness of aircrew.

"I have seen lots of Combat Survival Training in my career and this was as good as anything I have ever seen," said Capt. Ryan McMaster, an Intelligence Officer with the 179th OSS, who started his career as an AFE technician.
Based on feedback received, the 179th plans to expand the training next year.

"We are already looking at how to bring even more assets into the scenarios next year", said MSgt Trevor Shaw of the 179th OSS. "Coming from the birth place of aviation, no one should be surprised if further innovation is just around the corner."

188th Wingman Day Olympics builds unity, resiliency

by Staff Sgt. John Suleski
188th Wing Public Affairs

8/23/2014 - FORT SMITH, Ark. -- To develop unity and resilience among Wingmen new and old, members of the 188th Wing participated in a Wingman Day Olympics event held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base here Aug. 2.

In order for Airmen to have excellence in all they do, they need to have the unity to work together and the resiliency to push past all obstacles.

Since the 188th Wing's conversion to different missions, drastic changes and new faces have been a way of life, said Lt. Col. Tom Smith, 188th Wing chaplain.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts and this concept is used every day by people who work together as a team to achieve more than if they performed individually.

"With all the transition, planes going away, a new mission no one knew anything about, people's lives being turned upside down, it's been hectic," said Smith, who coordinated the event. "If it was going to work, it had to be with everyone pulling together. The Wingman Day Olympics was one way to accomplish that."

The 188th Civil Engineering Squadron Team 1 won a tiebreaker with 188th Wing Staff to claim this year's Wingman Day Olympics. Both teams scored 50 points but CES scored points in more events to earn the tiebreaker.

The 188th Security Forces Squadron and 188th Civil Engineering Squadron Team 2 tied for third place with 45 points each.

Senior Master Sgt. Sam Janski won this year's Rambo Award for the most points scored by an individual. Janski hit on 14 of 15 shots to win the free throw competition and also won the golf chipping contest to collect 50 total points for 188th Wing Staff.

The Olympics had eight events, ranging from a 1.5-mile run to volleyball. Smith said the events were chosen to build teamwork and challenge the participants' physical fitness, which ties into the physical pillar of resiliency.

Staff Sgt. Tim Curd, 123rd Intelligence Squadron intelligence specialist, said the mile relay race was particularly difficult.

"The box jumps were the worst," said Curd, in between deep breaths. "It really slowed my running down. But, it was a good, hard race."

The 123rd team won the mile relay event with a time of 6:02.

Some of the events, like basketball free-throws and golf, were individual competitions but allowed for others to cheer for different people, Smith said. He added that he enjoyed seeing the spectators at the 1.5-mile cheer for everyone, not just the finalists.

Smith said this was important because this unit training assembly was the first time the members of the 188th and its new squadrons, including the 123rd Intelligence Squadron, would be together.

Most of the participants wore different colored squadron shirts; 188th Wing personnel had olive green shirts. The 188th Security Forces Squadron had black and other squadrons had red, blue and light green. While there were several seas of solid colors, many teams resembled tie-dyed shirts.

"Everyone still has their guys that congregate together because they know each other," Curd said. "But making them get on different teams and do different things with different people, that separates them out and mixes things up so they come together more as a unit. Wingman Day is a really good idea and I think it should be done a little more often."

Smith said the Wingman Olympics is planned on being held every year. Additionally, the fastest 1.5-mile run records, engraved upon a plaque, can only be broken during the event each year.

This year, the fastest man, Airman 1st Class Austin Culp, 188th Operations Support Squadron, came in at 8:33. The fastest woman, Staff Sgt. Rachel Ponder, 188th Communications Flight, came in at 10:35.

After proving their physical prowess as a part of resiliency, the members of the 188th Wing broke up to their individual units for resiliency training to learn more about the other pillars of the concept: mental, spiritual and social.

"Having the Olympics and then going to resiliency training was a good idea," Smith said. "Everyone had a good taste in their mouths and that helped them not go to this training like a lot of training they've been in."

Overall, the chaplain said the Wingman Day Olympics were a success. He added that it was not him who made it happen, but the volunteers who helped support the different events.

"The wing came together, competed against each other, cheered for each other and I witnessed some real bonding and cohesion," said Col. Mark. Anderson, 188th Wing commander. "Everyone who played a role in making this a success - participants and those who worked behind the scenes coordinating the events - deserves a pat on the back. This was an exceptional event."


WINGMAN DAY OLYMPICS
Team results
1st place
188th Civil Engineering Squadron Team 1 - 50 points (won tiebreaker: scored in most events)

2nd place
188th Wing Staff - 50 points

3rd place (TIE)
188th Security Forces Squadron - 45 points
188th Civil Engineering Squadron Team 2 - 45 points

Individual results
Wing Rambo (individual top scorer)
Senior Master Sgt. Sam Janski (188th Wing Staff) - 50 points

1.5 mile run (men's)
Airman 1st Class Austin Culp (188th Operations Support Squadron) - 8:33

1.5 mile run (women's)
Staff Sgt. Rachel Ponder (188th Communications Flight) - 10:35

Mile relay
123rd Intelligence Squadron - 6:02

Free throws
Senior Master Sgt. Sam Janski (188th Wing Staff) - 14 of 15 shots

Golf pitching
Senior Master Sgt. Sam Janski (188th Wing Staff)

Horseshoes
153rd Intelligence Squadron Team 2

Casting contest
188th Civil Engineering Squadron Team 1

Safety obstacle course
Airman 1st Class Kody Miller (184th Attack Squadron)

Deployed maintainers keep hurricane hunter mission moving

by Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
403rd Wing Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS -- The pilot prepares the aircraft for takeoff going through the required checklists when she notices the embedded GPS initial navigation system isn't working properly.

They can't fly without it so Maj. Dena Williams, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot and aircraft commander for the Aug. 25 mission flying into 'Cristobal,' calls maintenance.

Master Sgt. David Workman, 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crewchief, comes onto the flight deck and troubleshoots the issue. The solution was a reboot, shutting the aircraft down and restarting, much like a computer.

"It's rewarding to know you contributed to the aircraft taking off on time, and it's a safe aircraft," said Workman, who joined the unit in 2001. "This is a great mission. We contribute to the safety of people in the United States who may be impacted by these storms."

Workman is one of 31 Airmen from the 403rd Maintenance Group deployed to St. Croix from Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, to maintain and repair the WC-130J Super Hercules, the weather-data-gathering platform for the Hurricane Hunters. The 53rd WRS has been flying missions into the now Category 1 hurricane out of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, since Aug. 21. The information they collect is sent to the National Hurricane Center to assist them with their forecasts and storm warnings so maintenance plays a huge role in ensuring mission success, said Chief Master Sgt. Vince Armata, 403rd AMXS superintendent.

"There is a limitation on our checklists on what we can do," said Williams, referring to the aircrew. "We can let them know what we think might be wrong, but it's up to them to trouble shoot and repair."

With seven systems ranging from hydraulics to avionics, the $13 million aircraft is complex and a lot of things can break, so maintenance is essential in turning the aircraft and getting them back into the air, said Armata.

Because of the aircraft's complexity, the 403rd MXG deploys a variety of specialists from the communication and navigations, meteorological, hydraulics, propulsion, structural, electro-environmental, and instrument flight control systems shops. They also bring all-purpose mechanics, better known as crewchiefs who work on just about everything on the aircraft, and personnel from the maintenance operations control center, which tracks maintenance status on the planes and serves as a liaison with leadership and ground crew maintainers.

Having the right equipment is crucial in a bare-bones maintenance operation so a supply technician from the 403rd Logistics Readiness Squadron also deploys with the unit to track, issue and order parts for the aircraft.

Being forward deployed on the island is a bit different than working back at Keesler where they maintain the only 10 WC-103Js in the Air Force inventory, said Armata. At home station the specialists are typically dispatched from their shops to the flightline or inspection dock. Once the task is complete they return to their shops. At St. Croix the labor pool is smaller so the Airmen work with different specialties, which broadens their maintenance knowledge, said Armata.

"It's more of an AMU (Aircraft Maintenance Unit) concept here where everyone helps each other," he said.

This is what Staff Sgt. James Barnhart, 403rd Maintenance Squadron IFCS journeyman, said he likes about his first deployment to St. Croix.

"You get to work with systems and people from other shops that you don't normally work with at home station," said Barnhart, who has been in the Reserve for six years. "It's more of a team concept."

While it's Barnhart's first time working at St. Croix, it's Staff Sgt. Crystal Pourciau's fourth deployment to the island. She is a meteorological equipment technician with the 403rd Maintenance Squadron MXS and has been working in the shop for a year. Prior to that she worked electronic countermeasures.

She stands with Workman on the parking ramp adjacent to the flightline watching as the WC-130J races down the runway at 115 mph and ascends into the stormy grey clouds.

Pourciau, who works on the equipment used by the aerial reconnaissance weather officer and the dropsonde operator, walks back to the detachment with a smile.

"Whenever you get a weather bird into the air that's an amazing feeling," said Pourciau, who is a bank teller in civilian life. "Not many people get to do what we do. It's such a great opportunity to come out here and be a part of something that's bigger than myself. We've been impacted by hurricanes before so now I get to see how we were able to prep for that and be a part of it."

Children and teachers deploy in Operation KUDOS/TUDOS

by Airman 1st Class William Johnson

436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/25/2014 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Children and teachers of Team Dover got the chance take a step in Airmen's boots as they deployed in Operation KUDOS/TUDOS, Kids/Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations Aug. 20, 2014, at the Youth Center.

The event recreated the stresses of deploying and gave kids a better insight of what their parents go through when they are preparing a for a real-world deployment.

The children and teachers went through pre-deployment briefings and processed through a deployment line where they received their dog tags, mock travel cards and physical forms.

After processing through the deployment line, the kids were greeted by their Military Training Instructor who formed them into a formation and marched them to the track and field to participate in deployment exercises. The kids donned and doffed gas masks, received self-aid buddy care treatment, got their faces painted with war paint and went through an obstacle course.

Master Sgt. Arthur Bradshaw, 436th Force Support Squadron readiness non-commissioned officer, and Staff Sgt. Nicole Hawley, 436th Mission Support Group administrative assistant, organized the event and they said the operation was widely successful and they met their goal of showing children and teachers what it is like to deploy.

"We had a great turnout for today's operations and everything ran smoothly," said Bradshaw. "This was a big event that required a lot of resources from various agencies and everybody knocked it out of the park."

More than 160 children and 83 teachers from Major George S. Welch Elementary and Dover Air Force Base Middle school participated in the mock deployment. The participants were split up into 10 chalks.

The obstacle course was a favorite of Daniel Bradley, 7, who said he thought the whole day was really fun.

"I really liked crawling under the ropes with a NERF gun," he said. "I also liked getting my face painted."

Wendy Jones, Youth Center school age program assistant, led the first chalk and said events like Operation KUDOS/TUDOS is a constructive way to show children and teachers just a fraction of what military members go through when deploying.

"I think the children learned a lot when they were going through the numerous stations and exercises in the deployment area," said Jones. "My favorite part of the day was taking pictures and watching the kids be happy and just having a good time."

Operation KUDOS/TUDOS was staffed by over 100 volunteers from Team Dover and the operation received numerous sponsorships totaling more than $10,000.

"Today would not have been possible without all of our volunteers," said Hawley. "We'd like to give kudos to all of our KUDOS volunteers."

Experts exchange ideas to vector Aviation Safety Cooperation in Asia-Pacific region

 

by Tech. Sgt. James Stewart

Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  --

Military aviation is an inherently dangerous undertaking -- in every aspect, there's a chance something can go wrong, be broken, or worse, someone can get hurt.

The U.S. Air Force dedicates entire career tracks to researching, measuring, evaluating and, most importantly, preventing safety mishaps. Airmen in these careers live and breathe aviation safety, immersing themselves so completely they provide a huge amount of expertise to those attending the Asia-Pacific Aviation Safety Subject-Matter Expert Exchange hosted by Pacific Air Forces Aug. 25 to 27.

"The whole purpose of this exchange is to bring everyone together, giving us the opportunity to share what we know about aviation safety," said Maj. Cherie Clark, PACAF flight safety officer.

That opportunity includes safety experts from PACAF, as well as 13 other nations.

"Safe aviation throughout the Asia-Pacific region is a top priority for all of us," Clark said. "Cooperation is a big part of what we do in PACAF, and it's only natural we collectively consider how to work together to safely accomplish the mission."

Risk management is a major focus for the attendees this year. Using the RM process, PACAF has already achieved a 30-percent reduction in aviation safety mishaps this year.

"We work side-by-sidy with our nation's allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region," Clark said. "We all have unique methods of working to minimize flight safety risks, and the conference provides another avenue to give us access into each other's minds and creates a venue for us to examine how we can improve our own risk management processes."

At its core, risk management helps recognize, gauge and prioritize risks with an aim to avoid threats altogether or lessen the chances of them occurring.

"Risk management is a reflection of who we are as American Airmen," said Maj. Gen Kurt Neubauer, Air Force Safety Center chief of safety and conference attendee. "It's a direct result of every leader's effort to instill our Airmen with the thoughts, words, actions and habits to get the mission done -- safely and effectively."

Expert exchanges are a core principle to the U.S. military's role in building partnerships with other nations. These engagements come in many forms, and PACAF's safety exchange is a shining example of BP's strategic benefits.

"It's a tremendous opportunity for American Airmen to meet with their counterparts to exchange ideas, understand common safety challenges, share lessons learned and discuss proven techniques and procedures," Neubauer said. "That will go a long way to improve aviation safety programs and foster better interoperability throughout the region."

Clark couldn't agree more.

"Safety is an organic part of the mission in the Pacific. We all share a responsibility to deter aggression and promote stability," she said. "Keeping safety in the fore-front of our minds is how we increase aviation safety awareness and ultimately improve our ability to work together for the common good in the theater."

Nine nations who participated in last year's expert exchange have returned and approval was granted to continue idea exchanges in 2015.

"Repeat engagement is the key to building reliance with our partners," Clark said. "As a team, as a theater, we achieve greater risk management by sharing our ideas. We owe it to our Airmen to focus on safety. Continually engaging with our partners is a great way to discover new methods to protect our Airmen from risks that come with aviation and make sure they are capable to get the job done."