DoD Announces Upcoming NATO, Maritime Exercises

By Amaani Lyle

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2014 – Pentagon officials announced the start of two training exercises this month.

Exercise Combined Endeavor 2014 starts tomorrow and concludes Sept. 12. Exercise Northern Coasts 2014 starts Aug. 29 and ends Sept. 12.

Embarking on its 28th year, Combined Endeavor is a command, control, communications, and computer systems exercise involving 1,200 personnel from approximately 30 NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. It will operate at a main base with virtual forward bases for multi-national collaboration.

In the Baltic Sea, the annual maritime exercise Northern Coasts 2014 includes underwater mine, countermeasure and counter-improvised explosive device training. Forces from at least five countries will participate.

Ulchi Freedom Guardian: The drive behind exercise operations

by Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez
7th Air Force Public Affairs

8/26/2014 - OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  -- An understood aspect of military life is that it comes with the possibility of deploying to locations around the world, whether on a permanent change of station or a temporary duty assignment.

Senior Airman Jack Cortez, a 374th Logistical Readiness Squadron vehicle operator at Yokota Air Base, Japan, is one of those military members. He is currently TDY to Osan Air Base, South Korea, to support Ulchi Freedom Guardian Aug. 18 through 29.

While a majority of the 3,000 U.S. military sent from the States and the Pacific region to support UFG are actively playing in the exercise scenarios, Cortez has a unique role in this exercise, and that is by supporting the augmentees.

"We are providing transportation for the temporarily deployed members that are here taking part in UFG," Cortez said.

During his daily four-hour shift, Cortez transports more than 200 military members to dining facilities and other locations around base.

UFG is a command post exercise that simulates the protection of South Korea from hostile attacks, and although Cortez doesn't play a first-hand role in this exercise, his job is vital for any mission.

"Compared to an hour-long walk, the bus gets [augmentees] to their duty location in [approximately] 10 minutes," Cortez said.

The bus provides military members a quicker transportation alternative to get to the dining facility within the time frame it is open, typically a two-hour span.

A majority of the military members work 12-hour shifts during the exercise, allowing a small window for personal time, to include communicating with families back home or winding down at the end of the day. The bus allows them more of this important time.

Cortez is from Houston and has been stationed in Japan for a year. Since joining the military five years ago, he has had the luxury of travel. While stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., he traveled to California, Illinois and Nevada. Since being in Japan, he traveled to Misawa Air Base, Japan, and now Korea.

"I love Korea; I love Osan; and I love going off-base," Cortez said. "I've done a lot of sightseeing even though I have only been here two weeks. I went to Yongsan, an Army base nearby, the National War Museum and the Seoul Tower."

He said Korea was another unique experience to add to his memory.

"Everyone is friendly," Cortez added. "For some reason, I thought people would be more reserved here, but they were actually very approachable and even came up to talk to me or sell things. Even if they didn't understand me, they would try to work with me and try to understand what I am saying and if I needed help they would go out of their way to help me."

Cortez was one of six vehicle operators from air bases in Japan, all with similar stories. The six-person team provided transportation services 24 hours a day during the exercise.

Luke Air Force Base Launched 100TH F-35 Sortie

56TH Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Luke Air Force Base launched its 100th F-35A sortie at approximately noon on Tuesday.

"Flying the 100th F-35A sortie at Luke is a tremendous accomplishment," said Maj. William Andreotta, 61st Fighter Squadron chief of standardization and evaluations. "It is also a tribute to all the hard work and dedication put forth by the men and women of the 61st FS and 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit."

The 61st AMU has been dedicated to keeping the new fighter technology in flying condition.

"With every new weapon system comes a learning curve, and our maintenance team has done an exceptional job maximizing the balance between training opportunities and keeping pace with flying operations," said Lt. Col. Benjamin Smith, 56th Maintenance Group deputy commander.

Luke recently welcomed its seventh F-35 jet on August 20, bringing the F-35 program into full swing.

"Being a part of Luke's transition from F-16s to F-35As has been an incredible and rewarding experience," said Andreotta. "Every day we fly we are paving the way for a new era at Luke AFB."

For more information, contact 2nd Lieutenant Tanya Wren, 56th Fighter Wing public affairs, at (623) 856-6011.

"A Higher Calling": Airmen and Soldiers Call Close Air Support in Red Flag 14-3

by 2nd Lt. Michael Trent Harrington
JBER Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - YUKON TRAINING AREA, Alaska -- A microphone clicked beneath a camouflage helmet. The rumble of an idling M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle and the distant thud of 120-mm mortar rounds filled the radio channels, punctuating days and hours of terse back-and-forth radio conversation: air-to-ground, ground-to-air, ground units to ground units.

"John 5-3, you are cleared hot," the call barked.

An A-10 Warthog II banked into view, followed in close succession by the whine of its twin engines and the unmistakable rrrrrrippppp of the plane's 30-mm rounds striking targets, the smoke visible before the zipper sound of Gatling-gunned, ripped earth.

Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-directed training exercise often linked with air power alone - aerial missions, air combat sorties and dogfighting jet fighters above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex - 65,000 square miles of airspace and 1.5 million acres of maneuver terrain spread across central Alaska.

But more than tracing contrails over the sprawling terrain, Red Flag-Alaska 14-3 was practice in reducing the expansive map of the Yukon Training Area to the few inches which mattered most.

The echo of 120-mm mortars, joint terminal attack controller radio chatter and F-16 Fighting Falcons circling in the distance suggested that something much bigger than dogfighting was underway. Gone were the "simulated" victories and the pretend walk-overs of "notional" enemy air power. Now air superiority had to be attained, not assumed.

Air Force Lt. Col. J.B. Waltermire, commander of the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron from Oklahoma City described the best way to win the battle area in two words: shrinking it.

"We're shrinking the battlespace, compressing it," Waltermire said. "We're bringing the full might and force of the U.S. military to bear on the enemy right..." he said, tracing a black line across the gridlines of a green battle map "...here."

"We're dealing with surface-to-air threats, mortar fires, close air supports, platoons firing .50-caliber and Mk-19 (40-mm grenade machine gun), calling in support in real time," said Army Lt. Col. James Hayes, commander, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. "Before, you didn't get that unless you were downrange - now we practice it here. That's key."

The Stuart Creek wildfires burned much of the area northeast of Fairbanks last year, transforming the pine forest into thousands of acres of black spikes dotting an ashen, pale green-and-grey moonscape. The eight-wheeled, 18-ton Strykers carved knee-deep ruts in the mud and soon the ridgeline mirrored the piled-dirt dioramas where young Army lieutenants, platoon sergeants and Air Force JTACS planned their movements.

The Red Flag battle focused on a fight for reconnaissance, which became a massive screening movement to block enemy armored units funneling like liquid spilt down the tilted valley floor. The exercise planners realized mapping technology aboard the Army Strykers could be used to build graphics of the situation unfolding on the ground into the Air Force Situational Awareness Data Links. Essentially, Air Force jets and Army Strykers could see the same picture and talk one another through the changing targets, advantages and threats each saw in a manner the other could not.

A-10 pilots watched their dual mission unfold as they swooped 100 feet above the burnt pines. The first part of the Air Force pilots' battle was to win the air, working intercept missions with F-16s, 3rd Wing F-22 Raptors, Navy EA-18G Growlers and F/A-18 Hornets said Air Force Capt. Katherine Conrad, A-10 pilot with the 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard.

The second phase meant working close air support with the Army.

"We (the Air Force TACPs) had to learn to direct anything with a kinetic ground effect," Waltermire said. "In Red Flag, we have to know how to bring Air Force assets to the fight for the ground commander, how to work the processes, how to work the communication."

On the ground, in real-time with lead flying over their heads, Waltermire said, "We've got to overcome the friction of the processes, minimize hiccups."

This meant a host of different units - platoons, forward observers, air defense airspace management/brigade aviation element, the squadron tactical operations center, JTACS, Rangers from A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Infantry Regiment and Marines with the 1st Marine Recon Battalion - had to integrate and find ways to increase joint reporting and understanding, while shortening the "kill chain" - the steps necessary, with all their potential for errors, problems and delays, to win the battle.

"That relationship is critical," Hayes said. "We've learned overseas that the integration can't happen for the first time when we're already there."

"We build that relationship here and we're that much more effective when we deploy," Hayes said. "Here everyone can be a part of the planning process. Operations and execution are seamless."

The team put in weeks of 18-hour days, Soldiers sleeping in camouflaged tents, in their vehicles or on the muddy ground.

The greatest challenge, Waltermire said, was to make sense of the massive flow of information -sometimes supporting, other times contradictory, but nearly always overlapping - as it competed for attention on a chaotic battlefield.

"We've all been putting in long days to get the pilots on board, the JTACS integrated into the Army," Waltermire said. "It isn't easy stuff."

Pfc. Joseph Dean Quimpo, gunner, A Troop, 5-1 Cavalry, described Red Flag as a chance to practice the grit of real war outside a classroom.

"Here, we're not just writing in notebooks, we're doing it all outside," Quimpo said. "Now we actually have someone who will be calling for fire with the birds, and it makes it feel like it's all coming together."

"We've never seen this level of integration," Waltermire added, yet to him one lesson from 13 years of U.S. combat overseas was inescapably true: "Combat is not the time to learn this."

The JPARC logo is the complex's motto - "winning the future fight" - laid atop an outline of Alaska. The training for Red Flag 14-3 here suggests that future will involve both the roar of ultra-high-technology Air Force jets and the rattle of Army guns.

Slocum selected to lead 127th Wing

by 127th Wing Public Affairs
127th Wing

8/22/2014 - SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- The Air National Guard Inspector General has been recently selected as the next commander of the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

As commander of the 127th Wing, Col. John D. Slocum will also provide overall support and services to 44 tenant organizations, including all branches of the military and numerous Department Homeland Security organizations.

Slocum received his commission in 1984 and served as an Air Force F-4 Phantom and F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot. He joined the Arizona ANG in 1992 and has had several leadership positions at the ANG Readiness Center.

Slocum will succeed Col. Philip Sheridan, who has served as 127th Wing Commander since January. A change-of -command ceremony will be held in November.

Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, the 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operation Command by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 97th year of continuous military air operations in 2014.

Air Force's top leader discusses Reserve future

by Master Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Citizen Airmen have an advocate at the very top of Air Force.

During a visit to Robins Air Force Base, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James discussed several issues related to the Air Force Reserve's future.

As the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard continue to grow in proportion to the overall Air Force, greater integration and collaboration among active-duty and reserve component Airmen is expected, James said.

The Air Force faces a very tight budget environment, which is forcing officials to seek cost efficiencies wherever possible while maintaining the readiness to provide airpower when the nation calls. The Air Reserve Components are uniquely positioned to answer that call on an as-needed basis with combat-ready, cost-effective Airmen who do not require year-round, full-time pay and benefits.

The merits of the reserve components aren't news to James, who previously served as the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs from 1993 to 1998. During her visit to Robins, the secretary visited several units, including Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command.

"Nobody has to convince me," James said. "I'm already there when it comes to the value the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve bring to our Total Force."

In order to capitalize on Guard and Reserve cost-effectiveness, the Air Force is conducting a mission-by-mission analysis to determine what can be moved from the active component into the reserve components.

"We're going to lean forward and place as much as we possibly can in the Guard and Reserve," James said.

Approximately 80 percent of the analysis will be complete by the year's end, she said.

The increase in the Reserve mission set will be accompanied by an increase in the integration between full-time and part-time Airmen. Over the past few years, the number of associate units, in which active-duty and Reserve Airmen serve side-by-side, has climbed from 102 to 124. James said she doesn't want to stop there.

"I think we need to kick it up a notch and do more," she said.

Air Force officials are exploring new creative integration models, and James said she expects staffs at all levels, from the major commands down to individual flights, to be integrated where appropriate.

She said it is especially important for senior-ranking Airmen to understand both the active and reserve models of service, and that eventually, candidates to serve as the Air Force chief of staff will have had assignments and experiences that were heavily involved with the Guard and Reserve.

The secretary also raised the topic of career mobility in the active and the reserve component.

"We care about having the best talent in our Air Force, and whether that talent resides in the active duty, or the Guard or the Reserve, it almost doesn't matter to us," she said. "The point is that we capture such talent and retain such talent for our Air Force going forward."

While it is currently possible for Airmen to move from one status to another, the secretary said a number of policies, processes and laws stand in the way, complicating the transition.

"It's not as seamless as it ought to be," she said.

Air Force officials are looking to recommend changes to some of the policies and laws.

"I would estimate over the next year or so we will have very specific proposals to put forward," James said.

Airman gives civilian second chance at life

by Senior Airman Marcy Copeland
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/22/2014 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- 

It was just another night out dancing July 3 for Staff Sgt. David Patton, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron support section floor chief and his girlfriend, Ann Strasser, until the unthinkable happened. 

Patton and Strasser frequent the Brookside 2 Bar and Grill to see their favorite country band and enjoy a night of music and dancing. The evening carried on as usual until Patton heard a woman screaming. He looked behind him and saw a man slumped in his chair lying on his arms. At first Patton thought the man may have had a bit too much to drink and that the woman was just upset with him. She then became more hysterical and that's when Patton walked toward the couple. 

The woman was yelling that he was having a heart attack. Patton pulled out his phone and dialed 911. Talking to the dispatcher, he quickly positioned himself behind the man. Following the 911 dispatcher's instructions, Patton checked the man's pulse and found none. He lifted the man out of his chair and placed him on the floor on his back, positioning his head. The bar owner, Gary Erwin, ran to the man as Patton was getting him to the ground and began doing chest compressions. 

Patton, following the instructions from the dispatcher, put his phone on speaker to relay instructions to both men. She helped the men keep tempo with chest compressions and reminded them of steps to take until the fire department and paramedics could arrive. 

Gary continued to administer chest compressions. The men switched places and Patton continued to give the man cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They continued this process for five minutes until the Surprise Fire Department and Paramedics arrived on scene. From there, Patton helped clear the area of tables and chairs to provide more room for the crews to work. 

"It was pretty intense," Patton said. "It was very instinctual after the training I'd received from the self-aide buddy care and CPR classes I've taken. For me it was doing what we are all supposed to do, which is just the right thing. There was no hesitation." 

Patton received an award Aug. 5 from Surprise Mayor Sharon Wolcott, Surprise Vice Mayor Skip Hall and the Surprise Fire Department for his quick actions, administration of life-saving CPR, and contribution to making the City of Surprise a heart-safe city. The fire chief commented on the incident and that without the quick thinking and action of both men, the man would not have survived his heart attack. 

"It's great when you get to meet someone, and you know you impacted their life in such a positive way," Patton said. It's really something." 

The man later identified as Robert Clark, attended the award presentation at City Hall. He and his wife were able to express their gratitude to both Patton and Erwin for saving Clark's life. 

"I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart," Clark said. "I really do not remember much, but I appreciate what he did. My wife said that people just stepped in instantaneously and started helping out, and I just thank God he was there."

TN ANG lends hand at US Coast Guard Academy

by Staff Sgt. Ben Mellon
134th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

8/25/2014 - NEW LONDON, Conn. -- More than 30 Airmen from the 134th Civil Engineer Squadron in Knoxville, Tennessee, traveled to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London Jun 1 to assist the Coast Guard in a joint effort to complete multiple projects on the USCGA campus.

The projects completed included building a large restroom facility, installation of street signs around the campus, rebuild of the home dugout on the baseball field, and resurfacing of the officers' quarters decking.

"We're trying to get all of the projects done by the end of the month," said Lt. Cmdr. Joseph A. Comar, the USCGA public works commander. "So it's a pretty busy month of June, but we are looking to get done as much as we can by the end of this month."

The 134th CES is made up of multiple career fields including plumbing, structures journeymen, electricians and heavy equipment operators.

Although Airmen from different Civil Engineer career fields came on this trip not all of them were doing work specific to their career field.

"When we come out on a job you may not be doing your career field," said Senior Master Sgt. Garfield Hedgecoth, 134th CES superintendent. "You may be an electrician laying block 9structures journeyman). Whatever we have to do, we all jump in and do it. We've got Lt. Col. Wilson (134 ARW chaplain) and Col. Houser (134 ARW Mission Support Group commander) with us and they are laying block with the others. It's just amazing that we can all work together as a team and do a fine job."

This trip had special significance as it was the first time an Air National Guard unit had come to work for the USCGA, and both the 134th CES and the USCGA worked together to make this mission possible.

From my knowledge this is the first time an Air National Guard unit has come to the Coast Guard Academy, which is pretty significant," said Comar. "Having a different military component here working at our site is something we wouldn't normally be able to do. Having the Guard come out and do some things we wouldn't normally be able to do, provides a great opportunity for our staff. It's a win, win for both of us. I think this is something we can continue in the future and realize the benefits for both services."

104th Fighter Wing Aircraft Crash Over Shenandoah Valley Virginia

104TH FIGHTER WING

8/27/2014 - BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE , Westfield, Mass -- At approximately 9:05 a.m. today the 104th Fighter Wing lost radio contact with an F-15C aircraft during a cross country mission over the Shenandoah Valley Virginia.

The pilot flying the F-15C made a report of an inflight emergency prior to radio contact being lost. Subsequently there were reports of dark smoke being seen around the aircrafts last known whereabouts. Local law enforcement arrived on scene and confirmed the aircraft crashed.

"Information on this incident is developing rapidly and we are not going to speculate on what occurred or the status of the pilot", said Col James Keefe, 104th Fighter Wing Commander. "We are hopeful that the pilot is ok, and the pilot will be in our thoughts and prayers as the events of this incident unfold."

The F-15C aircraft was in route to receive a system upgrade, and there were no munitions on the aircraft during this cross-country trip.

At this point the status of the pilot is not confirmed.

B-2 Spirits depart Andersen AFB following routine deployment

by Senior Airman Cierra Presentado
36th Wing Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Three U.S. B-2 Spirits redeployed to the continental United States following a deployment here as part of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region.

The bombers, and approximately 200 support Airmen, assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo, deployed here, Aug. 6, to improve combat readiness and ensure regional stability. Bomber deployments help maintain stability and security in the region, while allowing units to become familiar with operating in the theater according to USPACOM.

The team included maintainers, medical and communications Airmen who deployed with the B-2s to help maintain Air Force operational and support capabilities and evaluating the readiness of these assets through routine training sorties around the Pacific region. The deployment also offered aircrews the opportunity to hone skills in several key capabilities.

"This is an invaluable opportunity that allows us to train and integrate with U.S. Pacific Command," said Maj. Aaron Hager, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. "The training conducted during this deployment ensures our crews stay proficient in crucial skill sets such as command and control, air refueling and weapon load training."

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Youman, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron quality assurance inspector, has deployed to Andersen four times.

"Each time I've been here, I've always performed the same specialty; this is my first time being able to use the hot-refueling method on the aircraft," said Youman. "Basically, we are able to refuel the B-2 while it is running."

The hot-refueling capability ensures the B-2's combination of stealth, long range, large payload and precision weaponry can return to the fight more rapidly, providing decision makers with the ability to project power and deliver decisive effects.

From the crew chiefs to the weapons loaders, each specialty is needed for the B-2s to maintain a forward presence and remain a reliable regional partner.

"Each of us has an important role out here," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Jensen, 509th AMXS weapons loader team chief. "Our main goal and mission is to show the world that the B-2 is able to perform and provide global capabilities."

PACOM has maintained a deployed strategic bomber presence in the region for over a decade, but the last extended deployment for the B-2 to Guam took place in January 2012. This deployment allowed Andersen AFB Airmen to exercise B-2 specific support while re-familiarizing the Missouri-based B-2 Airmen with the region.

The B-2 is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the aircraft represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program; it brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses.

Facility Mangers: Handy "Air" men

by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

8/27/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- It started to rain and hail that night at the Bravo missile alert facility during one of Staff Sgt. Chariesse Garrett's shifts. As she began taking down the flag to protect it from the weather, Garrett spotted a tornado in the distance and immediately took action.

"I rushed out to take down the flag. I then informed the flight security controller and grabbed the chef because they are our safety buddy," said the 741st Missile Squadron facility manager. "We continued on to grab our emergency books, kit and the other Airmen, and headed downstairs to wait for the tornado to pass."

Facility managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations at a MAF and ensure the Airmen are taken care of at their home away from home.

"The FM is overall responsible for all portions of the MAF operations," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin McPherson, 91st Operations Group superintendent of MAF management. "We make sure the missile crews downstairs are taken care of and the chefs are available to bring food down."

They work with security forces personnel to ensure they have the required items they need to perform their duties.

"We also control the bedding-down situation when maintenance or fire teams have to stay in the field; we make sure they have a place to sleep along with hot meals," McPherson said. "During inclement weather, we're responsible for snow removal so security response teams can dispatch to the field and do their portion of the job."
Garrett explained that her day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m., but an FM is always on-call when deployed to the field.

"Normally the FM will start the day with daily checks," McPherson said.

Daily checks include checking water levels and the launch control equipment building to ensure all equipment is working properly. From there, they verify the MAF is in good condition and inspection order.

After daily checks are complete, FMs move on to normal daily operations, consisting of lawn care or snow removal--depending on the season. General upkeep of the building also falls under their purview and can vary from painting to shampooing carpets.

"You coordinate with security forces response teams on site because it's a team effort," McPherson said. "We all do it together and we ensure the building is in tip-top shape."

From a line FM, the typical name for an FM, to the group facility manager superintendent, there are several positions that can be held within this special duty.

"FM NCOs have a great opportunity to progress as leaders," said Chief Master Sgt. Jason P. Colon, 91st OG chief enlisted manager. "If they truly want to step up to the challenge, they may then be selected as the squadron superintendent or may end up being the group facility manager superintendent. It's a great way for NCOs to gain knowledge about the nuclear enterprise, along with the U.S. Air Force missile history and the impact it has had on Air Force strategy."

DoD Plays Key Role in Disaster Response, Official Says

By Claudette Roulo

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2014 – September is National Preparedness Month, a time when people across the country are encouraged to prepare for emergencies and disasters, Todd M. Rosenblum, acting assistant Secretary of Defense for homeland defense and Americas’ security affairs, said yesterday.

“National Preparedness Month is essentially about the entire nation building its preparedness to have resiliency to respond to natural or manmade disasters,” Rosenblum said.

In addition, President Barack Obama has declared September 30th as America's PrepareAthon day, a day of action for individuals, organizations and communities to prepare for six specific hazards -- earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and winter storms.

DoD’s disaster response role

“National Preparedness Month is especially important for DoD ... because DoD plays a critical role in the national response to emergency events,” Rosenblum said.

It's particularly important that DoD personnel be prepared, he said, because they may be asked to respond to a disaster while their homes or families are affected by that same disaster.

“What we have found over time is the most important thing you could do in terms of being able to respond effectively and recover quickly is to be prepared beforehand,” Rosenblum said. “For the DoD family this comes intuitively, because for us preparedness means readiness.”

Be prepared, informed

There are four elements to being prepared, he said: Be informed, make a plan, build a kit, and get involved.

Being informed means knowing what kinds of disasters may strike the area in which you live, he said. And whether that’s hurricanes, fires, flooding, earthquakes, or broader hazards like terrorism, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s ready.gov website can help people learn more about the hazards in their area and how to prepare for them, Rosenblum noted.

In addition to FEMA’s website, each state and many counties or local governments offer disaster planning information on their official government websites.

Have plan for emergencies

Planning for a disaster or emergency means taking into consideration your family’s unique needs so that everyone will know what they should do during an event.

Once you have a plan, you can build a toolkit so you will have the supplies you and your family need in the event you don't have power or water, or if the communication network goes down, he said.

“And finally, it is critical that everyone be involved, because preparedness, response and recovery have to involve everyone in the community, and the first responders are typically the leading edge. Many of those first responders will come from the DoD community at the base and installation level,” Rosenblum said.

DoD provides big capability

DoD has the nation’s greatest capability to respond to disasters, he said, and does so not just because it is required to under the National Response Framework, but because it is part of being a good neighbor.

The National Response Framework establishes the rules for how and when DoD and other federal agencies can contribute to the national response to disasters or emergencies. It’s part of a suite of five National Planning Frameworks that include prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery.

Typically, when the National Response Framework is activated, FEMA will request that DoD provide a certain of capability -- logistical support or generators, for example. Generally, that capability will need to be made available within the first 24 to 72 hours of an emergency -- the most critical hours, he said.

DoD’s contribution to national preparedness comes at multiple levels, Rosenblum said.

“Obviously, the mission of national defense and homeland defense is the center of our responsibility to the nation,” he noted.

Requesting federal assistance

In addition, DoD is a critical actor in support to civil authorities during emergencies, Rosenblum said. If an individual state cannot meet its emergency response needs by itself or in partnership with another state, it’ll come to the federal government for assistance, he explained.

“FEMA is typically the federal lead,” he said. “Beyond that, FEMA will often reach out to DoD to provide assistance for especially large scale events, such as we saw in Hurricane Sandy or Hurricane Katrina.”

Once an emergency or disaster occurs and DoD’s help is requested, that help can take many forms, Rosenblum said. For instance, he said, installation commanders often have a mutual aid agreement with local first responders that promises the installation will provide assistance to the community in the event help is needed. Examples of how these agreements work may include a local fire department needing the help of an military installation’s fire department during a large structure fire, or when service members help fill sandbags when a neighboring community is preparing to face a flood.

Fire suppression aid

Another way DoD provides disaster and emergency response is through its support of the National Interagency Fire Center, Rosenblum said.

“That means that DoD is ready to support, when requested, federal firefighting efforts,” he said. “… Typically, the states first manage fire response, and if the fires are on federal land, then they will request support from the federal government.”

Then, in partnership with a state’s National Guard and lead federal agencies, DoD can provide assistance in fire suppression activities or in observing and identifying a fire’s movements or behavior, he added.

Hurricane Sandy disaster assistance

“Hurricane Sandy is a great example of the diversity of support DoD provides, as well as the complexity of responding to an event in a major urban area that crosses state lines,” Rosenblum said.

DoD support in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy was provided at multiple levels, he explained. First, it came under the immediate response authority. “It also was provided by the Defense Logistics Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Rosenblum said. DLA has a unique capability to let large-scale and emergency contracts quickly, he said, which enabled it to provide the generators that powered the recovery effort.

“In terms of the complexity of Sandy, what we also learned when power went out, one of the critical capabilities that was lost was the ability to pump gas,” he said. Without gas, the generators couldn’t run, which meant there was no power for communications. There was also no way to move people and goods, Rosenblum added.

So, he said, the first generators were dedicated “to making sure, at the gas station and at the larger infrastructure level, that those capabilities had sustainable power supplies so they could operate and therefore we could do the more direct tasks that assisted people in recovery.”

Million Gallon Man' fuels the mission

by Senior Airman Timothy Moore
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/25/2014 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Regardless of the vehicle you operate, it requires fuel. For military vehicles passing through Ramstein Air Base, Germany, that fuel is often supplied by Airmen from the 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and one Airman from the squadron went above and beyond to perform his mission.

Airman 1st Class Ben Hunter, 86th LRS fuel distribution operator, supplied more than one million gallons of fuel here in July.

"It was a personal goal," Hunter said. "I was challenged to it because it hasn't happened at Ramstein in two years. It happens more often in deployed locations. Some Airmen have tried to go for it, but usually only get close. I wanted to do something significant, so I did."

The feat is something significant as Hunter outperformed 86th LRS's top pumpers by approximately 600,000 gallons.

"The average is around 200,000 to 300,000 gallons a month for our top pumpers," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Groff, 86th LRS NCO in charge of fuel distribution. "For him to do that, he basically picked up the workload of three other individuals for the entire month."

Fuel distribution operators supply fuel to both aircraft and ground vehicles of varying sizes. The vehicles they service are used for transporting service members to and from deployed locations, enabling security forces personnel to patrol installations, taking patients back home to the U.S. and delivering humanitarian aid among other things.

The unit's control center tracks the fuel issued and helped Hunter keep track of his goal.

"People call me the 'Million Gallon Man'," Hunter said. "They like to poke fun at me, but not in a negative way. It's one of those things we don't see happen often; so when it happens, it's just fun to joke around about."

Though he and his fellow fuel distribution operators joke around about his impressive feat, Hunter is determined to stay humble and keep working hard.

"I'm happy to have accomplished a big goal, but it boils down to the fact that I was just doing my job," Hunter said. "Personally, I like to do things to the best of my ability. If I'm not, I'm not doing myself justice. I just want to do the job the best I can."
From a challenge, Hunter fortified himself to reach a personal goal, better himself in his career field and become the "Million Gallon Man."

Deployed Airmen conclude operations at Powidz AB, Poland

by Staff Sgt. Jarad A. Denton
USAFE/AFAFRICA Public Affairs

8/26/2014 - POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland  -- Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron performs their final flying operations at Powidz Air Base, Poland, Aug. 25, 2014.

For more than 75 Airmen deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, this was their home-away-from-home for 60 days.

"Throughout this deployment the Airmen here represented America's forward presence, postured alongside our proven, indispensable European partners," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Barry King II, 37th AS detachment commander at Powidz. "The visible support we bring to Europe allows us to strengthen our interoperability through regular combined training exercises."

During their time in Poland, Airmen honed their operational skills and worked together to ensure the C-130's were ready and able to conduct low-level flight training at improved and unimproved landing zones, as well as partner with U.S. Army and NATO Service members for cargo and personnel airdrops. Aircrews worked around-the-clock, generating 150 flying missions that accounted for more than 330 hours in the air.

"This has been a tremendous opportunity for our Airmen to demonstrate their shared commitment to peace and regional security, alongside our NATO partners," said King. "Since 2012, the 37th Airlift Squadron has held training events like this in Poland. We are proud and honored to continue the tradition."

Throughout the training, Airmen on the ground toiled tirelessly to ensure the Super Hercules was in prime working condition. Twenty-nine Airmen devoted countless maintenance hours to keeping an aircraft, which recently turned 60, in the air.

"At any given moment, a C-130 could be called anywhere in the world to take on any challenge presented to it," said 2nd Lt. Su Johnson, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron sortie support officer in charge. "Maintainers are ready anytime to ensure that plane is prepped, ready to go and capable of returning safely. We take our job very seriously."

Whether on the ground or in the air, Airmen deployed to Powidz had a unique opportunity to test their capabilities, while integrating themselves with Polish culture and traditions.

"Our time in Poland has afforded us a unique opportunity to conduct training focused on maintaining joint readiness, ensuring our collective security and protecting our global interests," said King. "The benefits of training with other nations in deployed locations, like Poland, far outweigh the benefits that come from training independently. The experience gained by our Airmen alone is absolutely essential to maintaining our commitment to a Europe that is whole, free and at peace."