Patrol and Reconnaissance Change of Command

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Sandy L. Daniels will relieve Rear Adm. Matthew J. Carter as Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group/Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific in a change of command ceremony Feb. 20 at the command's headquarters at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads.

Daniels served as Reserve Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, since October 2014. She will assume the duties of CPRG/CPRGP until an active duty officer is assigned later this summer.

She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1980 and was designated a naval aviator in January 1982. She has served in numerous worldwide aviation assignments involving oceanographic research flying specially configured research P-3 "Orion" aircraft.

Daniels earned a space operations subspecialty designation while assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory and also was assigned to the Naval Space Surveillance Center in Dahlgren, Virginia, before transitioning to the Reserve component in 1991. She has logged more than 2,000 flight hours.

Carter has commanded CPRG/CPRGP since October 2013. His next assignment is Commander, Naval Forces Japan.

CPRG/CPRGP provides oversight to more than 7,000 men and women operating the U.S. Navy's maritime patrol aircraft including the P-8A "Poseidon", P-3C "Orion", EP-3 "Aries II" and MQ-4C "Triton" unmanned aircraft system.

The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) is organized into three Patrol and Reconnaissance Wings at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, and NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Composed of 14 Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons, one Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) and over 45 subordinate commands, the MPRF is the Navy's premier provider for airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), and maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

Mere minutes between life and death

by Senior Airman Rebecca Blossom
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

2/18/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.  -- As storms brewed throughout northern California Feb. 7, the community of Hiouchi in Del Norte County went dark. Whole trees and large branches were thrown by the wind into power lines and transformers, and more than 5,600 people in Del Norte lost power.

One of those people was Joe Akin, a retired California state peace officer and Army veteran. As emergency personnel worked to return power to the citizens of Del Norte, Akin began to notice a more personal issue.

"I believed I was suffering from some sort of respiratory, heart, or other ailment," he said.

Akin sent a text message requesting assistance to a relative of Staff Sgt. Wade Owen, 627th Security Forces Squadron deputy Raven program manager, who was with family near Hiouchi on vacation.

Due to his incapacitated condition, Akin's text wasn't clear, and created confusion about where he was and what was wrong with him.

"He sent a text to my mother-in-law with random characters that didn't make sense, but the numbers 9-1-1 were in it, so I knew something was wrong," said Owen.

Owen took it upon himself to drive ten miles and check Akin's residence.

"His front door has glass panes in it. I looked inside, but the power was out," said Owen. "At first, it looked like there was just a flannel shirt on the ground, and I almost left.  Then I kind of looked at it a little closer, and I could see a head. He was lying face down."

As his wife called emergency services, Owen kicked in the door.

"I thought he was dead at first," said Owen. "I went over to check his vitals and then I saw him take a breath."

That was when his wife brought the smell of exhaust to his attention.

"I didn't even smell the gas at first," said Owen.

Akin's backup generator, which he was using during the power outage, wasn't ventilated properly and the home was filled with exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and extremely toxic gas.

"That's when I noticed it was bad," he said. "I could actually see the cloud of exhaust in the house."

Owen dragged the 6-foot-1-inch, 300 pound Akin out of the house.

"Once outside, he continually assessed and monitored my condition, simultaneously attempting to elicit a response from me until Emergency Services arrived and transported me to a higher level of care," said Akin. "It was later determined that I had been exposed to a potentially lethal dose of carbon monoxide."

Owen also suffered some minor exposure effects of the gas.

"Joe is a big guy, and after I moved him a little I noticed it was getting hard for me to breathe," said Owen.  "By that time it was pretty bad, I was even getting a little light-headed from breathing heavily while carrying him."

Luckily, the effects were short term for Owen.

Akin, however, having spent a considerable amount of time exposed to the gas, required a constant flow of oxygen and an overnight stay in the intensive care unit of a local hospital.

"It was the opinion of medical professionals that mere minutes stood between me and certain death," Akin said.

Akin has fully recovered from the incident, and has nothing but praise for the man who saved his life.

"The fact that I am here today can only be attributed to the swift actions and bravery of Staff Sergeant Wade Owen," he said.

Sergeant a 'Warrior' in LP

by Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

2/20/2015 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- There are many reasons why Airmen at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., attend free courses including, but not limited to, learning how to buy a house, how to work with the variety of personalities in the work place and even how to run with proper form.

For Tech. Sgt. Mark Esquer, 15th Air Mobility Operations Squadron flight engineer, volunteering as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response coordinator and taking the training courses led him to the goal of participating in enough Leadership Pathway courses to recently reach the coveted warrior level, the highest achievement level consisting of 30 credits.

"After seeing that some of my previous volunteer courses earned credits toward the Leadership Pathways, I decided to take a few more classes," Esquer said. "I wanted to set an example for other Airmen and create a movement for our squadron, for our non-commissioned officers and even senior NCOs."

The Air Mobility Command Community Action Information Board adopted the Leadership Pathways program to support its Comprehensive Airman Fitness Strategy. It assigns credits to each course and works on a 3-tiered level; wingman, leader and warrior, at 10, 20 and 30 credits, respectively.

"We have had a steady increase of participants since the program's implementation in 2012," said Wes Yancey, 60th Air Mobility Wing community support coordinator. "In calendar year 2014, we had 9,028 participants in Leadership Pathways. As far as I know, there are only five who have reached the Warrior status and they are all from Travis."

After attending the three health classes offered at David Grant USAF Medical Center focusing on fitness, nutrition and a healthy heart, Esquer used what he learned to benefit his squadron.

"I brought a body transformation challenge to the squadron," Esquer said. "Going to the courses allowed me to use my head and think about how it could benefit the unit."

Esquer has inspired many in his shop, including Master Sgt. Michael Lopez, 15th AMOS flight chief, to make the courses even more accessible.

"For 2015, we are going to start having NCOs who have reached certain levels in the Leadership Pathways program to teach some of the courses not only here but also around the base," Lopez said. "I got here in October and I am already jumping on board because I think it is a great initiative. It doesn't matter what rank you are, you can inspire anybody."

The health courses have also helped the 17-year veteran become one step closer to achieving his goal of earning a perfect score on the Air Force physical fitness test.

"I have been focusing on my personal fitness level as well," Esquer said. "I have learned to eat healthier and how to live a healthier lifestyle."

He attributes his achievement to his leadership, his fellow Airmen at the 15th AMOS and his family.

"It's easier to achieve your goals whether it's Leadership Pathways, school, rank or anything, if you have support from your leadership, your team and your family," Esquer said. "If you try and do everything on your own, it will be a lot harder."

The Leadership Pathways program encourages the total force, Department of Defense civilians and family members to participate in wing programs and activities that strengthen individual, family and unit resilience using the Four Domains of Fitness; mental, physical, social and spiritual, according to the AMC Leadership Pathways Concepts of Operations.

"Once we get to a place where we feel like we have plateaued, you just keep striving for the next level of continued development," Lopez said. "Not only does it give something to strive for, this guarantees some recognition, it fires them up and helps to keep everyone motivated."

CMSAF #8 visits Dyess, marveled by junior enlisted force

by Airman 1st Class Kedesha Pennant
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

2/23/2015 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- "No matter what you do, be the best you can possibly be." This was the best advice retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Sam Parish received during  his 31-year Air Force career.

The eighth chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Dyess Feb. 12-13. During his stay, Parish served as the guest speaker for the Airman Leadership School graduation, the 2015 Team Dyess Annual Awards banquet and an enlisted all-call.

Parish offered advice and words of encouragement to Airmen he encountered throughout his tour of the base, especially to the junior enlisted force. He noted how much he was impressed with three particular Airmen, from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron, who briefed him on the B-1B Lancer's Link 16 system.

"Those young Airmen were unbelievable to me because of the fact that they can get up in front of a room and speak confidently," Parish said. "Trust was being placed on them, and they were able to deliver. They may have had doubts about what they were doing, but they didn't let it stand in their way."

The retired chief stressed how every job in the Air Force is essential to the mission and the importance of first-line supervisors and their supervision being a critical link to growing young Airmen.

"There is no job in the entire Air Force that is not important to an individual or the mission at any given time, and it should always be treated that way," Parish said. "I encourage supervisors to make sure they know the importance of what they're doing. Today it may not seem important, but tomorrow it may be vital."

He also told of his own experiences as a young Airman in the mid-1950s as a ground weather operator.

"I remember when I took a test, which was similar to skills knowledge training and was asked for feedback on how effective the test was set up," Parish said. "This was the introduction of someone asking my opinion, and I was still an airman basic."

Parish worked for Capt. Eugene Blanton, who he said had the greatest influence on his Air Force career and personal life. He worked for him during his first four years in the Air Force and never lost contact after that.

"Capt. Blanton encouraged me to go outside of my lane," Parish said. "He encouraged me to do things I felt I couldn't accomplish. From then on, I was always challenged and never afraid to tackle anything."

The advice Parish offered to young Airmen was to keep a positive attitude and smile. It's a simple gesture that he believes goes a long way.

"A positive attitude is the greatest aspect you can reflect to society," Parish said. "If you reflect that you are happy and satisfied in life, then it becomes absolutely contagious. If you go around with a frown on your face, then you're going to create problems for everyone around you."

During the enlisted call, Parish took pride in witnessing the evolution of responsibilities young Airmen have now since he was the CMSAF in the mid-1980s.

"We're getting the best caliber of young people in the history of our Air Force," Parish said. "They're doing jobs that would have never been dreamed of by young enlisted Airmen in my day."

To enlisted Airmen who would like to become the chief master sergeant of the Air Force one day, Parish behooves them to get their priorities in order.

"Make sure you do everything you can to be great at your job and not just to be promoted," Parish said. "You can't have tunnel vision because you will make mistakes along the way. However, if you are the best at what you are doing regardless of what it is, then the Air Force will take care of you."

Boom sim keeps Airmen proficient, saves millions

by Airman 1st Class Nicolo J. Daniello
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

2/19/2015 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Regardless of tight budgets and limited training flights, Airmen must be able to develop critical skillsets in order for the Air Force to accomplish its missions. One way to do this is by using computer-based technology to create virtual training scenarios. Aerial refueling boom operators around the Air Force have one such platform - the Boom Operator Weapon System Trainer.

The BOWST is a simulator that educates Airman on air refueling aircraft boom operations. This training not only helps save the Air Force $35 million annually, it also provides boom operators the opportunity to practice emergency procedures without risking damage to aircraft.

Boom operators are able to continue their training and stay proficient throughout their careers with the BOWST, which features numerous settings to make refueling simulation as realistic as possible. The BOWST can simulate the refueling of an array of aircraft in a variety of weather conditions.

"We can simulate all kinds of weather scenarios and even turbulence, which is really important for us," said Staff Sgt. Michael Weidman, 92nd Operations Support instructor boom operator. "It can also simulate various cloud decks."

With the BOWST, Airmen are able to practice refueling operations on all Air Force planes, some U.S. Navy and Marine jets, such as the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier, as well as coalition and NATO nation aircraft, Weidman said.

Refueling an aircraft can take from a minimum of about five minutes to upwards of more than 30 minutes, and a KC-135 can transfer as much as 30,000 gallons of fuel in one flight.

Iron Dog races through JBER for the first time

by Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

2/22/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- The Iron Dog snow machine race took place Feb. 21, and for the first time, the race started in Anchorage and drove through Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, so that base residents would have a better view of the event.

"The Iron Dog is the world's longest and toughest snowmobile race; nearly 40 teams of competitors will cover 2,031 miles of remote wilderness and tundra from South Central Alaska to Nome to Fairbanks.," said Air Force Col. Brian Bruckbauer, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander. "Racers cover this grueling course in as little as 36 hours. "

To support the race's segment through JBER, 673d Security Forces Squadron provided designated parking areas and staff to direct residents and military identification card holders to the viewing areas.

"I am happy that I can help others have a first-eye view of something they might not have the chance to see anywhere else," said Air Force Master Sgt. Tammy Miller, 673d SFS noncommissioned officer in charge of base access.

There were two viewing locations: Dena'ina road and at Otter Lake. More than ninety people watched the event.

"It's great that we're able to come out and [my family gets] to see it all up close," said Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Roach, 773d Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations section chief. "We're only a few minutes from our house. It's nice that they were able to get this to come through the base; it puts people a lot closer to the racers."

Morgan's family have kept up with the racers and participated in several performances.

"It was amazing, like always," said Morgan Roach, 15. "I've met Cory [Davis] a couple times. We've watching Iron Dog twice now. I was happy I got to high-five him today."

Iron Dog is a long distance cross-country snow machine race, said Kevin Kastner, executive director of Iron Dog, Inc.

"It's a team sport," he said. "They ride in pairs for safety - they're covering literally 2,000 miles of some very distant and remote land. Anything is possible from an injury standpoint, whether it's weather or a crash."

This year, between pro class and trail class, there are 104 snow machines on the trail, with 37 teams in pro class he said.

"The trail class [is] more of a recreational ride that just goes from the Big Lake area to Nome," Kastner said. "It's an addition to the traditional race in the same timeframe."

Iron Dog races began in 1984 with a group of snowmobilers who "had this bright idea of going to Nome, similar to the Iditarod. They use a large part of the Northern route of the Iditarod trail."

"They wanted to test the machines and man versus the conditions and distance," Kastner said. "That's really what it began as. Over the years, it's morphed into a bigger event. In the 1993-1994 timeframe the race was extended to Fairbanks. There was a race to Nome, then a race down the coast, taking the Yukon River to Fairbanks and finishing there.

"I've been in this since 2010; it was the year that we rearranged the race a little bit more to downtown Fairbanks. We added a few more miles and a little more visibility. We also started working with Fort Wainwright to traverse through some of their live-firing area to get to Fairbanks," Kastner said.

Support from the Alaska National Guard was a key component for additional exposure getting Iron Dog into a much more visible area, he said.

"We've condensed our events - it used to spread over three weekends," Kastner said. "We've got it down to ten-day cycle."

The events preceding the race were scheduled against the actual start, he said.

Kastner said the intent was to give back to JBER and the National Guard who had been supporting them and to provide an opportunity for the military families to come out and have first-hand access to the event.

"It's cool to watch the racers from the car as they come pretty close," said Army Staff Sgt. Walter McEwing, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. "With the rain and everything, it's really nice that we can just stay in the car and let the kids climb around and stick their heads out the window to watch the racers go by. I'd love to see it next year, and so would my kids. They really enjoy it."

"It'd be cool if we could ride a stretch with them [next time]," Roach said.

Dempsey Discusses Pacific Rebalance During Australia Visit

By Lisa Ferdinando

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

SYDNEY, Feb. 22, 2015 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is slated to meet with his Australian counterpart here tomorrow, as he focuses on the importance of the U.S. military rebalance to the Pacific.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and the Australian chief of the Defense Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, will have a day of talks to include current global challenges, interoperability, and strengthening cooperation.

The United States and Australia have excellent relations, and defense officials have noted the many important contributions Australia has made to global security missions, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Australia Supports Resolute Support, Inherent Resolve Missions

Australia is currently contributing troops to Resolute Support, the NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces as well as providing military trainers to Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

Dempsey's trip to Australia followed yesterday’s brief visit to the remote Pacific Kwajalein Atoll, the home to the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll/Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

In Kwajalein, the chairman told a town hall audience that the U.S. rebalance to the Pacific region is a matter of "national imperative."

It is important, Dempsey said, because 7 billion of the 9 billion people in the world are projected to be living in the arc from India to China by 2050.

National Security Interests Migrating to the Pacific Region

"That's why we're here -- precisely to continue to reinforce that point that our national security interests are migrating to the Pacific over time," the chairman said.

"As a Pacific nation that takes our Pacific alliances and partnerships seriously, we will continue to build on our active and enduring presence in the region, including with Australia," said Dempsey's spokesman, Air Force Col. Ed Thomas.

In College Station, Texas, the first stop in this current tour, Dempsey told a forum at Texas A&M University that he travels to the Pacific area a few times each year to meet with his counterparts and "try to understand the region from their perspective."

U.S. Rebalance to Pacific Region a ‘Steady’ Effort

The rebalance has been a "steady" effort, the chairman stated.

"It’s more like a marathon than a sprint, which is good," he said of the U.S. rebalance to the Pacific region. "It’s inevitable. It’s imperative -- and I don’t use those words often."

While most U.S. partnerships in the region have been bilateral, the United States is seeking to expand that further, Dempsey said.

"What we’re trying to do is kind of knit it all together because I think a multinational or multilateral security environment is the environment in which I think China can rise peacefully," he said.

While in Australia, Dempsey also is slated to meet with David Hurley, the governor of the state of New South Wales.

Dempsey Visits Strategic, Remote Kwajalein Atoll

By Lisa Ferdinando

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

KWAJALEIN ATOLL, Marshall Islands, Feb. 21, 2015 – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, paid a visit here today to highlight Kwajalein’s importance to the U.S. missile defense and space programs.

The atoll, located more than 2,000 miles southwest of Honolulu, is home to the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll/Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

The U.S. rebalance to the Pacific is a matter of "national imperative," Dempsey told a town hall audience at an open-air church with about 200 people in attendance. The general’s wife, Deanie, was also on-hand to address family-member concerns and answer questions.

The U.S. rebalance to the Pacific region is important because 7 of the 9 billion people in the world are projected to be living in the arc from India to China by 2050, Dempsey said. Where the majority of the planet’s people live is where the issues -- economic, demographic, security, climate change -- will be, he said.

Key U.S. Missile Defense, Space Program Site

In addition, the chairman highlighted the importance of the efforts of the 1,000 people who serve on Kwajalein in support of key U.S. missile defense and space programs.

Eleven of the 100 islands comprising the atoll are leased by the United States from the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Radar, optics, telemetry, and communications equipment on eight islands provide instrumentation for ballistic missile and missile interceptor testing and space operations support.

"The future of space … is contested. It's congested and it's becoming increasingly competitive," Dempsey said. "That's one of those things where if we don't get ahead of it, you're not going to catch up once you fall behind."

The chairman answered questions on variety of topics. The town hall participants, mostly civilian employees, were concerned about the defense budget, health care, the rebalance to the Pacific, and the U.S. response to violent extremism.

The commander of U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll said the people on Kwajalein are uniquely familiar with the chairman and his spouse because of their greetings over the American Forces Network.

"We all spent a moment or so with the Dempseys, whether they knew it or not, as they enter our homes via AFN and wish us all a happy holiday," said Army Col. Nestor Sadler, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Strategic Site

The visit of the highest-ranking U.S. military officer to this far-flung atoll underscores just how critical Kwajalein is to national security, the colonel said.

"If we're not concerned about what our adversaries are putting in space, and if we're not concerned what is currently in space, then Kwajalein isn't important, but I have yet to find anyone who thinks we shouldn't be concerned," Sadler said.

Kwajalein is the world's premier range and test site for intercontinental ballistic missiles and space operations support, he said.

"This is very important. There are a lot of things that we do here because of where we're located, that we can't do anywhere else in the world," he said.

The U.S. military has a great relationship with the Marshallese people and their government, Sadler said. "Without the Marshallese workforce, we would not be successful here on Kwajalein," he said.

The U.S. ambassador to the Marshall Islands, Thomas Hart Armbruster, said the U.S. is invested in the relationship with the Marshallese.

The United States provides about $75 million a year in compact assistance, education, health and infrastructure to the Marshall Islands, he said. That aid runs out in fiscal year 2023, he said, so that is why the base is so important, because that lease runs through 2066.

"So it's really a partnership between the U.S. and the RMI that's going to last a lifetime, basically," he said.

"We're responsible for their defense and they've played a huge role in the history of the U.S. -- from World War II when Marshallese scouts were here working with our forces," Armbruster said.

During the Battle of Kwajalein the United States wrested control of the atoll from Japan during World War II. The Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1983 and gained independence in 1986. The two countries negotiated an Amended Compact that entered into force in 2004.