Sheppard graduates first intermediate F-35 avionics class

by Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

6/25/2014 - SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Sheppard graduated the Air Force's first intermediate class for the F-35 avionics career field June 19, 2014.

Officially known as intermediate general avionics principles, IGAP bridges the gap between the students' initial training in electronic principles and their follow-on training to work on the aircraft itself down at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Built by the Lockheed Martin corporation as a multi-role fighter, the F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter that combines stealth with a variety of sensor-based capabilities.

Avionics students will be responsible for making sure the electronic systems on the aircraft function correctly in order to get the mission done.

"They're going to be working on the newest and the best fighters in the world...without that general flight line knowledge, it's going to be taking a lot more time out of the actual F-35 maintainer's time to get them (students) spun up on the basics of avionics," said Staff Sgt. Westley Latina, 365th Training Squadron F-35 IGAP instructor.

Training frontline Airmen to produce higher quality avionic maintenance students is a mission Latina is eager to complete as a first-time instructor.

"It's different from what I'm normally used to teaching," he said. "I'm an F-16 avionics troop by trade. I'm an F-16 avionics instructor, but being able to get on a new program with the F-35 and help bring these maintainers down to Eglin to where they can get trained up jet-specifically, it's a pretty big privilege for me as an instructor to be a part of."

Airman Ryan Beattie, F-35 IGAP student, looks forward to working on the aircraft and seeing it for the first time.

"I enjoy working with my hands...I'm excited to learn how these jets work," he said.

At the end of the graduation, Airmen stood at attention with new certificates tightly clutched in their hands as they got one step closer to being fully qualified avionic specialists.

CMSAF Cody stresses service unity

by Staff Sgt. Kelly Goonan
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

6/27/2014 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- There is no distinction among Airmen within the Air Force components when it comes to how they perform their jobs, how they live up to standards and how they embrace the service's core values, said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody during a visit here June 24-25.

"Robins is a great example of our Air Force," he said during an enlisted call. "I'm looking out at all of you, and you represent the United States Air Force. We have four distinct components - Active Duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian employees. Together they make up our United States Air Force."

For the past 20 years, the reserve components have been called upon and have served in the same capacity as their active-duty counterparts. According to Cody, they offer unique strengths - strength in community and resiliency in units - because they are able to stay connected for longer periods of time.

"What our reserves bring to the table is their civilian experience - a different level of depth than active-duty Airmen, who predominately focus on the way they must do their Air Force job."

Because there is only one Air Force, Cody explained that all Airmen must understand and appreciate the fundamental differences between the components. The unity among the Active Duty, Guard, Reserve and civilians is crucial to the Air Force mission.

"Airmen serve worldwide. When they are where the nation needs them to be, we don't have this discussion," Cody said. "We just see Airmen doing what our nation calls them to do, but somehow when we get back home we revert back to this 'I'm in the Guard, I'm in the Reserve, I'm in the active duty.' No, you are in the United States Air Force."

In addition to speaking to the importance of unified components, Cody talked about the challenges facing today's Air Force.

"We're going to be a smaller Air Force," he said. "Where we maintain capability and capacity is important for what our nation is going to ask us to do."

Cody said fiscal challenges are forcing tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. He assured the Airmen that they and their families are always a major consideration.

"The future will always change and if we don't shape it ourselves we will be shaped by it," he said. "The fact is that what you do has purpose to our nation and is impacting people around the world. Don't lose sight of that. You and your families are without question our most valuable asset. Our nation treasures each and every one of you."

Director of Naval History Celebrates Progress, Looks to Future From Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division

WASHINGTON – The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) began a new chapter, June 27, as its director of two years retired during a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard.

Capt. Henry J. Hendrix, Ph.D., was assigned as NHHC’s director in the wake of a Navy Inspector General investigation in 2011 that revealed its archives, artifacts, art and other historic holdings were at high risk or, in some cases, already deteriorating under substandard conditions and care.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work, the ceremony’s guest speaker, was the Under Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) in 2011 and knew Hendrix who was serving on the SECNAV staff.

"I was always impressed by his passion for maritime history, and his ideas and vision on how the Navy needed to never lose focus on its heritage.” said Work, who recommended Hendrix for the position of NHHC director.

"I knew there was nobody better suited to come over to NHHC because of the way he approached problems. Thankfully, for the Navy and for our country's rich maritime heritage, he took the job,” said Work.  “Under Jerry's direction, the Naval History and Heritage Command dramatically improved the condition and the awareness of the Navy's historical artifacts and heritage, all while advancing historical scholarship in the Navy, and public outreach."

During his remarks, Hendrix discussed the challenges the command faced and the progress that has been made.

“The record is clear that the staff of the Naval History and Heritage Command and its predecessor organization had been working for years under difficult conditions to promote our history and preserve our art and artifacts, but had lacked resources to properly do so,” said Hendrix. “I am proud to have added my talent to yours and achieved some modicum of success. Although we are far from healthy yet, we still have a long way to go.”

Still, the Navy recognizes the work done so far and appreciation for that effort was illustrated for those attending the ceremony, when Director of the Navy Staff Vice Adm. Scott Swift formally presented the command with the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC).  Signed by the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the award citation recognizes the meritorious service of the people assigned to the headquarters staff and its nine museums from December 2011 to January 2014 who "first stabilized and then systematically improved the Navy's historical and heritage assets that were in jeopardy in 2011."

Hendrix believes the MUC represents the dedication of the entire NHHC team and says he was proud to be a part of it.

“Theodore Roosevelt said great value is found in spending oneself in a worthy cause,” said Hendrix. “Well this was a worthy cause and I thank all of you for laboring so hard to preserve and promote our Navy’s history.”

For Work, the progress made by the command is something he, as a historian himself, deeply appreciates.

"I want to express my personal gratitude and appreciation to Jerry Hendrix for everything he has done, for taking on this critical job, and for his professionalism and personal dedication which I think has really set NHHC on a great track,” said Work.  “And while I’m here, I also want to commend all the men and women who work at NHHC for the millions of man-hours of work behind these accomplishments. I’m just in awe of what you’ve done and what you will do.”

Hendrix was careful in the planning of the ceremony to ensure it was used as an opportunity to celebrate the Navy family.  For him that family begins with his family from Indiana who he thanked in his remarks for the profound impact they have had on his life.

He said the most important part of the family to him is his wife Penny and their daughters Michaela and Amanda.

“My daughters are a blessing to me,” he said. “They made me want to be a better man, held me to a higher standard, taught me patience, delighted me, and distracted me from my concerns.  To see them happy and achieve great things is better than any diploma or medal I have ever received and I am so proud of you both.

“And then there’s Penny,” he continued. “For 24 years you have always been at my side. Only you know what this day means to me -- torn as I am inside -- and only you can see me through this, for you are the most important part of my heart.  Thank you for your service to our nation, and your support, sacrifice and love for me and our children.”

The other important part of the Navy family, said Hendrix are the professional Sailors and Navy civilians he served with through his 26-year career. 

After recognizing some of them he asked them all to stand and said, “Mom and Dad, you sent away one son; I show you many sons and daughters bonded by shared sacrifice. Daughters, you think me protective? Sometimes overprotective?  Look around you, these were your protectors -- all of our protectors, stretching back to the dawn of the republic and their service continues to this day.  It has been my high honor to serve among you, you have never been out of my mind, and I will love you forever.”

For the last two years of his career, the focus of his service and of those with whom he has served has been investing in improvements to the processes and infrastructure of naval history.  He admits there is much work to be done, but takes pride in that the command now has a strong foundation on which to build its future.

Progress made under Hendrix’ leadership included:

•           NHHC restructured its organization to better align form, fit and function. Today, the headquarters is made up of collection management, museum system operations, histories and archives, and communication and outreach divisions with special assistants for historic ships and aircraft maintenance, facilities, human capital and other support functions.

•             Launched significant phased improvement projects to better house crucial holdings, including the naval archives. Although addressing the facilities and condition of the archives required their closing, beginning earlier this month a phased reopening began with the expectation the entire archive will once again be accessible later this fall.

•             With the support from the Defense Logistics Agency, NHHC recently announced the consolidation of its collection of more than 300,000 artifacts from multiple locations into a single tailored facility located in Richmond, Va. which will offers a generational leap forward for the conservation, preservation, and management of NHHC holdings with proper environmental controls for high risk artifacts, appropriate shelving and storage, and an area for conserving and preserving the artifacts. The consolidation will take roughly 18 months to complete.

•             With the objective of getting to baseline capability, the command’s Histories Branch has been hiring additional historians and project managers, while leveraging contract vehicles to continue reducing existing backlogs of published documents.

•             The command is hiring additional curators and conservators, while using additional contract support as needed to consolidate artifact storage, and reduce the backlog of artifacts requiring accessioning meanwhile the staff has properly accessioned 100% of newly acquired artifacts since 2011.

•             Validated and published facilities requirements for preserving documents, books, and artifacts. Completed renovation work includes: fire protection and suppression systems in several Washington Navy Yard buildings and improved HVAC in library special collections room, historic weapons vault, uniform storage room, and artifact room.

•             Launched a program to assess the material condition and improve the safety of the more than 1,200 historic aircraft on loan around the world while providing essential staff support for ongoing maintenance and availabilities for USS Constitution and historic ship Nautilus.

•             Inspired by the operating model of the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum System Operations division and the nine NHHC museums are hiring additional exhibit specialists and curators, implementing an annual museum action plan and Pursuing accreditation by American Alliance of Museums for all NHHC museums by 2020 (five of 10 are currently accredited).

•             Aggressively sharing the story of the Navy and its rich history with a forward leaning communication approach incorporating outreach opportunities, social media, internal and external media engagements, book and information product publishing, and a pending top-to-bottom redesign of the command’s antiquated web site all designed to raise awareness of the importance of naval history among the Navy and the nation’s leaders, Sailors past and present and the American public.

Recruitment for Hendrix’s replacement is nearly complete, and an announcement of a new NHHC director is expected soon.

Hendrix has not announced what he’ll pursue next.

The Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through the nation's history, and supports the Fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services.

NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, nine museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.

U.S. Announces Changes to Landmine Policy

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2014 – The United States will not produce or otherwise acquire any anti-personnel landmines in the future, American officials announced in Maputo, Mozambique, today.

The declaration -- delivered at the end of the Third Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention -- reinforces America’s commitment to the aims of the treaty.

The convention prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. American officials in Maputo said the United States would like to accede to the Ottawa Convention. The United States is researching how to “mitigate” the risks associated with the loss of anti-personnel landmines.

“Other aspects of our land mine policy remain under consideration and we will share outcomes from that process as we are in a position to do so,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlan Hayden said in a written statement released today by the White House.

The United States has worked with countries around the world to eliminate the threat posed by landmines. Landmines left over from World War II have injured or killed people in North Africa. Mines in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos still hurt citizens of those countries. Recent heavy flooding in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Balkans has uncovered dangerous landmines left over from the 1992-95 war that was fought there. Afghanistan was once one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.

The United States has provided more than $2.3 billion in aid since 1993 in more than 90 countries for conventional weapons destruction programs.

Marine Corps Returns to its Amphibious ‘Wheelhouse’

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2014 – After more than a decade of land-based combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marine Corps’ new Expeditionary Force 21 doctrine is returning the service to its amphibious roots, a senior Marine Corps official said yesterday.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration and the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command told reporters the new doctrine provides “the right force in the right place at the right time.”

The 45-page plan charts a course over the next 10 years to deploy Marine units up to expeditionary brigade-size for combat or humanitarian missions.

“We’re taking our forward station of fully deployed forces that will be closest to [a] crisis and provide that combatant commander with those forces as quickly as possible [to] give him the options to build the force that he needs,” Glueck said.

Primarily an amphibious operation, Expeditionary Force 21 will comprise a sea-based “family of systems” amounting to a force multiplying effect.

“[The force] is not just going to be amphibious warships -- it’s going to have flat-bottom hulls that will give us the capability to do at-sea assembly and transfer of capabilities at sea,” Glueck said.

For example, he said, a fully-loaded logistics ship can be selectively off-loaded at the capability needed and the equipment then can be transferred at sea onto a connector or Landing Craft Air Cushion, a high-speed, over-the-beach fully amphibious vehicle.

“It [will] give you that step forward and the opportunity to be there quickly to bring some command and control, some organization, to any crisis and be able to set up and be prepared to receive forces,” he said. “I look at it as a great opportunity for the challenges to move forward, and this is right there in our wheelhouse.”

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos has described the reconfigured force as being able to meet the coming challenges in a future of evolving and complex security environments.

“The intent is not to go force-on-force. It’s to find those seams and gaps,” Glueck said. “We want to put strength against weakness, so the capability is going to create … a dilemma the enemy is not going to be able to keep up with.”

CRC prepares new defenders for Osan's mission

by Senior Airman David Owsianka
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

6/26/2014 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- As their boots hit the ground, Airmen newly assigned to the 51st Security Forces Squadron begin their initial training.

The combat readiness course is a five-day ground and combat course covering land navigation, combatives, non-lethal fighting and different tactics to prepare the Airmen for the mission at Osan.

Staff Sgt. Malcom Stephen, 51st SFS training instructor, said the course is important for all defenders.

"It's a good refresher course for Airmen who have been in and may not have used the specific training from this course for several years," Stephen said. "It is also great for Airmen who just completed technical school because they don't receive all of this training there. It's essential that everybody is on the same page when they get out on flight so they can successfully accomplish the mission."

The first day of the course is classroom-oriented, where Airmen learn about tactical communication, land navigation and surveillance, target acquisition and night operation.

"We have the ruck march on the second day in case we go to some type of contingency here so they will know how it feels if they have to march out to their post," Stephen said.

Airmen also learn how to conduct dead body searches, receive training on the ability to survive and operate, and perform mounted and dismounted firing.

The CRC covers active shooter training on the third day. The day starts in the classroom, and then moves to an active shooter walk-through before the scenarios begin at the Osan Middle School.

"Having people running out screaming gets your adrenaline going and makes you think on your feet," said Airman 1st Class Nicholas Diamond, 51st SFS member. "The scenarios made it more realistic on how to react with constant stress, and it allow us to be able to react better to real world scenarios."

On the fourth day, defenders are taught how to use the Armament Systems and Procedures baton and combatives.

"We have a 24-hour field training exercise on the final day combining everything the Airmen have learned in the first four days of the course," Stephen said.

The course helps participants become prepared for real world scenarios.

"It has provided me with the necessary tools and tactics such as speed and tactical reloading and combatives to be able to successfully complete my job," Diamond said.

Seeing how much Airmen improve from the beginning to the end of the CRC gives instructors a sense of pride.

"It is a very rewarding job to provide training to Airmen," Stephen said. "It's great to see the information and experiences I pass on to another Airman instantly take effect."

Former Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of His Five Year Old Daughter

Army Soldier Naeem Williams, 34, will receive a life sentence for murdering his five-year-old daughter, Talia Williams, after a federal jury in Honolulu, Hawaii, reported today it was unable to reach a unanimous decision on whether to impose the death penalty.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and United States Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni of the District of Hawaii made the announcement.

The jury previously found Williams guilty of killing his daughter on July 16, 2005, by engaging in child abuse that included beating and punching her at the family’s residence on Wheeler Army Airfield in Honolulu.  Williams was also convicted of participating, along with his wife, Delilah Williams, in a pattern and practice of assault and torture from December, 2004, until July 16, 2005, that resulted in Talia’s death.  In addition, Williams was convicted of conspiring to engage in a pattern and practice of assault and torture leading to death, obstructing justice, and making false statements to Army Criminal Investigation Division agents on the night of his arrest in July 2005.

 

The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Naeem Williams and his wife Delilah Williams beat Talia Williams almost daily.  Naeem Williams testified that the abuse was aimed at disciplining his daughter as a result of bathroom accidents and was exacerbated due to frustrations he was experiencing in his marriage.  The evidence indicated the defendant’s physical abuse included punching Talia repeatedly, commanding her to eat her own feces, and using duct tape to bind her from head to toe to a bed post where she was whipped with a belt.  In the hours preceding Talia’s death, Williams struck a frontal blow to Talia and her head slammed backwards against the floor.  Talia then appeared to have a seizure. 

 

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Army Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Steve Mellin from the Capital Case Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Ching.

USS John Paul Jones Makes History with Live Fire Missile Tests

By Lt. j.g. John F. Tanalega and Ensign Elee Wakim, USS John Paul Jones Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) successfully conducted a series of five live-fire tests for the Baseline 9C Aegis Combat System during Combat Systems Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT) and Naval Integrated Fire Control Counter Air (NIFC-CA) capability, June 18-20.

Over the course of three days, the crew of John Paul Jones successfully engaged six targets off the coast of Southern California, firing a total of five missiles that included four Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) missiles and one Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) missile.

One of these exercises, designated as NIFC-CA AS-02A, resulted in the longest surface-to-air engagement in naval history.

During the underway period, John Paul Jones also conducted its first ballistic missile tracking exercise while simultaneously tracking two supersonic and two subsonic missile targets. This event fully demonstrated the capabilities of Aegis Baseline 9C and of John Paul Jones as the first Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) destroyer.

"It's a great step forward for the surface navy and our integrated war fighting capability," said Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Matthew Miller. "I'm proud, really proud, to be a fire controlman, and proud to be in the Navy."

These CSSQT successes are attributed to the hard work and dedication of each and every member of the John Paul Jones crew. The long road to these missile firings started in the BAE ship repair facility in San Diego during 2012 when the ship started combat systems modernization as part of the destroyer modernization program.

Over the course of a year, John Paul Jones received the latest commercial off-the-shelf computing infrastructure, SPY-1D transmitter upgrades, and a multi-mission signal processor which comprises the Aegis Baseline 9C suite.

Since then, the crew has worked diligently to ensure that the systems are not only operational, but that they will operate effectively for future ships.

"It is my honor to serve on such a fine warship and be able to sail with the men and women who tested and demonstrated this amazing capability," said Cmdr. Andrew Thomson, the ship's commanding officer. "From the concept development phase, through design, build, installation, and test many hard working Americans came together to field this capability. I consider myself lucky to be part of that amazing team."

Thomson said that with these tests, the crew of John Paul Jones has proven that they are ready to assume the role as the Navy's Integrated Air and Missile Defense test ship following a change of homeport to Pearl Harbor later this summer.

According to Thomson, CSSQT is just the beginning. In the coming years, John Paul Jones is expected to test newer and more advanced systems that will be used to defend the nation and U.S. and allied forces overseas.