CJCS leads six stars to RAF Mildenhall during USO tour

by Senior Airman Kate Maurer
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

12/11/2014 - RAF MILDENHALL, England  -- Among stars of the entertainment world, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, greeted members of RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath and their families during a USO Holiday Tour Dec. 10, 2014, on RAF Mildenhall, England.

"[It's really an honor] to be here during the holiday season to say thank you and to wish everyone happy [holidays], that's all I really want [our Airmen] to remember," said Dempsey.

Dempsey and the celebrities finished their tour in the U.K. after visiting service members in Italy, Spain, Turkey and Afghanistan over the last five days.

"It's not likely that they'll remember that the chairman was here, it's more likely they'll remember the celebrities and then there was just some military guy with them," joked the chairman.

Dempsey explained that it's tradition for the Chairman of the JCS to accompany a USO tour at least once a year and these types of events are important to him because they give him and the celebrities a chance to say thank you.

"It's absolutely inspirational to get out here and see the equipment, technology and hardware, but truthfully this hardware is not worth much unless it's peopled by the best and brightest that we have in America - and it is," Dempsey said.                      

During his visit, Dempsey toured statics of a CV-22B Osprey, F-15C Strike Eagle, KC-135 Stratotanker, 352nd Special Operations Group ground displays and coined 14 Airmen for their exceptional job performance. He then wrapped up his visit with a few words to the crowd and introduced the USO show.

"So it's the kind of interaction that you see going on around this equipment that allows me to remind myself what's most important in our profession are the men and women who wear the uniform and their families," Dempsey said.

USS Paul Hamilton Rescues Missing Mariner

By Ensign Ashleigh M. Share, USS Paul Hamilton Public Affairs

USS PAUL HAMILTON, At Sea (NNS) -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) rescued a stranded mariner Dec. 9 while operating south of the Hawaiian Islands.

Paul Hamilton Sailors rendered assistance to Ron Ingraham after receiving a distress call from U.S. Coast Guard District 14's Honolulu Sector.

Ingraham, stranded at sea since Nov. 27, was caught in a storm that blew his vessel approximately 200 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands, leaving him without food or water for 12 days. The Coast Guard ceased searching for Ingraham Dec. 1 after Coast Guard and Navy crews conducted an extensive search of the area, flying 59 sorties and covering approximately 12,000 square miles.

"I thought I was going to die today," said Ingraham. "You guys are heroes."

Paul Hamilton received the call while approximately 14 miles from the vessel's last known position and arrived on scene about 30 minutes later. Once on scene, Sailors aboard Paul Hamilton launched a seven-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to render assistance.

The RHIB crew of Paul Hamilton, that comprised Ensign John Crow from San Diego, Petty Officer Majelle Medrano-Pangasinan from the Republic of the Philippines, Petty Officer Jeffery Hansen, from Tacoma, Washington, Petty Officer Darren Purvis, from Raleigh, North Carolina, and Petty Officer Michael Farbridge-Currie, from Las Vegas, provided food, water and medical attention. Ingraham embarked Paul Hamilton while awaiting a Coast Guard cutter to take him and tow his vessel, Malia, back to port.

"We are grateful to be a lifelong friend of Mr. Ron Ingraham," said Paul Hamilton Commanding Officer Cmdr. John Barsano. "Sailors on board Paul Hamilton have a heroic sea story to share and an early Christmas gift -- saving a life."

Paul Hamilton is one of eight surface warfare ships of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 21. The ship maintains warfighting readiness, capable of operating forward with allies and partners in the Western Pacific to deter aggression and preserve peace.

Joint, interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet's ability to respond to crisis and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.

Maintenance verses repair ... of our Airmen

By Maj. Cameron Richardson, 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 

Published December 11, 2014

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. (AFNS) -- This commentary is not about aircraft, vehicles, or even any mechanical components. It's about our Airmen and how we manage their care and development throughout their careers.

The maintenance versus repair concept is borrowed from the maintenance community and speaks to how maintenance managers plan, coordinate and execute scheduled maintenance events. The goal is to maximize the amount of time we can utilize the aircraft for missions and minimize the down time due to repairs.

Do we treat our Airmen the same way? I submit to you how to take care of our Airmen directly and indirectly.

Maintenance of our personnel is just as important as maintenance of aircraft. Most people are saying maintenance and repair mean the same thing, but they truly don't.

Maintenance actions are the planned events to ensure the reliability, longevity and airworthiness of our aircraft. Maintenance is normally done under the guise of pre-use, post-use and scheduled depot (major) inspections. Repair in some cases is a part of maintenance, but in most cases repair actions normally come at the most inopportune time.

When something breaks, the mission is delayed, hindered or stopped, which are all things the Air Force tries to mitigate. Repairs are unscheduled or unplanned events to get an item or component back to an operating condition. Since it is an unplanned event, we throw a great deal of time and resources at it.

Now how does that relate to our Airmen?

Well, maintenance of our Airmen consists of scheduling training events to take care of their careers and professional growth. It also entails implementing proper shift schedules for work and rest cycles, along with planned regular days off. Managing quality of life issues such as leave schedules as well as scheduling health exams, dental exams, and gym time encapsulates maintenance of personnel.

Now on the flip side, the need for the repair of Airmen normally comes in the form of personnel who have over-extended themselves mentally, socially, physically and financially; and personnel who are experiencing family hardships due to normal life demands. In many cases these demands can be compounded by military service. Airmen in need of some repair may chronically miss appointments, have difficulty passing the fitness test or have issues coping with life. I call this burnout syndrome, when our Airmen start to have multiple issues in various areas.

Can burnout syndrome be avoided?

Yes, with a good maintenance action plan. Some proactive methods include complementary shift schedules for family life, when possible, and establishing a culture of practicing resilience tactics, techniques and procedures. The resilience modules and suicide alertness and awareness training seminars provided by the Air Force truly can make a difference in the maintenance of our Airmen.

When you're lacking a solid maintenance action plan, personnel are taken out of the normal mission rotation for extensive repair. In extreme cases, some personnel will need all of the resources provided through our medical community, and outside organizations such as Military One Source, the Airman & Family Readiness Center, and Military & Family Life Counseling before they are ready to resume normal operations. When burnout syndrome happens, a great deal of time is required to repair, and it is costly, but our Airmen are worth it.

I want to reiterate that seeking help is the right thing to do, and we need to continue to encourage our personnel to get help prior to feeling "broken" or in disrepair. We have a host of resources that will maintain and repair our people for future use.

The bottom line is to maintain your Airmen with good scheduled events, and pay the little costs upfront. Or you will pay for the major repairs during the most inopportune time. Our mission hinges on our most valuable resource -- our Airmen.

3rd Air Force commander visits Spangdahlem

by Airman 1st Class Dylan Nuckolls
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

12/12/2014 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander, completed his immersion tour of the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Dec. 10, 2014.

Roberson, a previous wing commander at Spangdahlem from 2006-2008, toured the new facilities that were not here during his command. He also met with outstanding performers for lunch, held an all call to speak to Saber Nation and spent a day with the 480th Fighter Squadron.

Roberson talked to the wing about his three priorities-which are motivational mission accomplishment, compassionate care of our Airmen and families, and the constant drive to improve and innovate-and some of the issues facing the Air Force today.

He challenged Spangdahlem Airmen to make procedures better and improve on practices which fall under Roberson's priority of demonstrating a constant drive to improve and innovate.

"Make it better than it was when you got here, wherever your job is, whatever you're doing, make it better than it was when you got here," he continued.

Before the all call, Roberson met with the outstanding performers from the base, getting to know the Airmen, answering their questions and thanking them for what they do.

"It was good to see how much a person of his rank values the Airmen," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jessica Cunningham, a 52nd Force Support Squadron food service apprentice. "Not just the higher ranking, but the lower ranking Airmen who do the grunt work on a day-to-day basis. It is always a great thing to have someone so high up on the totem pole tell you that your job is imperative, and that the work you do matters."

Before completing the all call, Roberson took time to thank Saber Nation for the things they do.

"There is a lot that goes on right here at Spangdahlem that is fundamentally critical to America and to NATO," Roberson said. "So I thank you for that and thank you for what you do each day."

Fourteen Honored with ‘Spirit of Hope’ Award

By Nick Simeone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2014 – Fourteen individuals including a group of former New York City firefighters were honored by the Department of Defense with the Spirit of Hope Award today, named after the legendary entertainer Bob Hope to recognize selfless service and a dedicated commitment to the military.

“It’s the academy awards for those who have excelled in giving,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, who hosted the annual Pentagon ceremony. “Reading your stories I can’t help but be reminded of the power of one. Bob Hope recognized this too.”

Those honored were nominated by the four military branches, the Coast Guard and the Office of Secretary of Defense for actions “whose patriotism and service to members of the U.S. armed forces reflects the patriotism and service of Bob Hope,” the comedian and actor who spent decades traveling the world entertaining deployed troops.

Those honored today were:

-- The Vigiano Group, nominated by the Office of Secretary of Defense: Eight former members of the Fire Department of New York and former Marines who experienced personal tragedy during the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The group takes its name in honor of New York City policeman Joseph Vigiano and his firefighter brother John, both of whom were killed in the collapse of the Twin Towers. The Vigiano Group was awarded for dedicating the last 10 years to supporting Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center.

-- Joyce W. Massenburg, nominated by the Army: Awarded for developing command climate surveys during the tour of three separate quartermaster generals which aided in prioritizing efforts to boost morale of soldiers. For 17 years, she served with a community service organization that provided economic development, health and physical awareness training, and participated annually in the Soldiers Walk for Hunger and other events. Her contributions extended to all Army personnel through her lead role in developing an Army human relations response course.

-- Marjorie L. and Arthur P. Miller, nominated by the Marine Corps: Awarded for volunteerism at Navy and Marine Corps bases around the world, enhancing programs benefitting service personnel and their families with a special focus on child care and recreational services.

-- Jaspen Boothe, president, Final Salute Incorporated, nominated by the Navy: Awarded for providing housing and other services to homeless women and veterans.

-- Victor M. Pulido, a retired Air Force technical sergeant, nominated by the Air Force: Awarded for his work with community and base organizations to enhance the quality of life of service personnel and their families as well as for providing meals to homeless and needy families.

-- Robert Powers, nominated by the Coast Guard: Creator of the American 300 Foundation, a service that connects members of the military with other Americans. Powers was awarded for bringing vital messages of resiliency and appreciation to military personnel who have faced some of the most challenging and stressful situations imaginable. American 300 tours have visited hundreds of bases and units, most of which have seen combat or operate in isolated and remote locations around the world.