Language Lesson

 

Navy Seaman Aeri Moon teaches a Japanese language class aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Mediterranean Sea, April 1, 2021.

Readout of Acting Under Secretary of Defense Amanda Dory's Participation in a Multinational Roundtable on Ukraine

 April 7, 2021

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Today, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory participated in a virtual meeting of NATO colleagues from Canada, Lithuania, Poland, and the United Kingdom, the key contributors to Ukraine security assistance. The meeting was hosted by UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace. 
 
The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations and discussed concerns about the increase in Russian military activity in the region. Russia’s destabilizing actions undermine the de-escalation in tensions achieved through the OSCE-brokered agreement on July 27, 2020.

The leaders reiterated their commitment to providing training and support to build the capacity of Ukraine’s forces to preserve the country’s territorial integrity and continue progress toward NATO interoperability.

Dignified Duty

 

Air Force Senior Airman Katherine Buckley practices marshaling during nighttime dignified transfer training at Dover Air Force Base, Del., March 30, 2021.

Medical Assistance

 

Airmen assigned to the 775th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation flight from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., don personal protective equipment aboard a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., March 31, 2021. Aeromedical evacuation personnel are responsible for caring for medical patients in-flight and preparing a safe environment for them as well as the aircrew.

COVID-19 Check-In

 

Army Spc. Jose Lopez, with the 856th Military Police Company, Arizona Army National Guard, checks-in a patient before the COVID-19 vaccination is administered on the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Camp Verde, Ariz., April 6, 2021. More than 900 Arizona National Guardsmen continue to assist at vaccination sites, testing locations and food banks throughout Arizona.

DOD Announces New Discharge Appeal Review Board Option

April 7, 2021

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Today, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced a new board of appeals for Service members with separation dates on or after December 20, 2019. The Discharge Appeal Review Board (DARB) will provide final review of discharge or dismissal characterization upgrade requests when petitioners have exhausted all available administrative remedies.

Any DOD Service member separated on or after December 20, 2019, who has exhausted all available appeals with the appropriate Service Discharge Review Board (DRB) and Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR), may apply to the DARB. If a current or former Service member is deceased or incapacitated, the surviving spouse, next of kin, or legal representative may apply on their behalf. The DARB is a document review board with no provision for personal appearances. Only records from the Service BCM/NR case file will be reviewed. Any petitioner wishing to present new evidence must first submit a reconsideration request to, and receive a decision from, their Service BCM/NR before that new evidence may be considered. If the DARB recommends that the petitioner’s service characterization be upgraded, this recommendation will be transmitted to the Secretary of the Military Department concerned for final action.

The DARB was created by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, and is the final level of administrative review provided by the Department. There are no provisions for further administrative appeal or reconsideration of recommendations by the DARB, or of the Secretaries’ final action. The DOD has designated the Air Force as lead agent to execute and operate the DARB process. 

The DOD has sent information about the DARB, including guidance for members who wish to apply for reconsideration, to Veterans Service Organizations and Military Service Organizations in order to reach as many potential applicants as possible. Individuals who believe their discharge or dismissal was unjust, erroneous, or warrants an upgrade, are encouraged to apply for review. To learn more about the DARB and how to apply for review, visit the Air Force Review Board Agency Portal located at https://afrba-portal.cce.af.mil.

Jungle Journey

 

Soldiers participate in the Green Mile physical endurance course at the end of jungle training at Lightning Academy in Wahiawa, Hawaii, April 1, 2021.

Cargo Crew

 

Marines prepare for takeoff during a cargo air delivery aboard a KC-130J Hercules at Libby Army Airfield in Sierra Vista, Ariz., April 3, 2021.

Fire Fight

 

Air Force firefighters put out a fire during a live-burn exercise at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 30, 2021.

Fenway Flyover

 

An Air Force F-35A Lightning II, a KC-46 Pegasus and an F-15 Eagle conduct a flyover during the Boston Red Sox 2021 season home opener at Fenway Park in Boston, April 2, 2021.

Ring Rotation

 

U.S. Air Force Academy's Frankie Valentin performs on the rings during a gymnastics competition at the academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 3, 2021.

Eye Exam

 

Air Force and Space Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg receives an eye exam from Air Force Reserve Maj. Leslie Wilderson at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., March 26, 2021.

River Rope

 

Army 1st Lt. Brianne Hanley Division crosses a river on a one-rope bridge during jungle operations training at East Range, Hawaii, March 27, 2021.

Live Fire

 

Marine Corps Cpl. Manuel Bautista fires an M777 howitzer during live-fire training at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., March 30, 2021.

Refuel Ready

 

Marines unravel a fuel hose during joint refueling training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 1, 2021.

Grateful Recipient

 

Army Capt. Jacob Bell talks to Ruby Davis at the Wolstein Community Vaccination Center in Cleveland, April 2, 2021. Davis was the 100,000th person to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at the center.

Musical March

 

The U.S. Air Force Academy Band performs at Stillman Field in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 2, 2021.

Corps Course

 

A Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules flies during a weapons and tactics instructor course near Yuma, Ariz., April 3, 2021.

Log Lanes

 

Air Force 1st Lts. Nick Layden and Brian Billings train on an obstacle course for a competition at Fort Hood, Texas, April 5, 2021.

See the Sea

 

Sailors prepare for flight operations on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the South China Sea, April 6, 2021.

General Officer Assignments

 April 7, 2021

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The secretary of the Air Force announces the following general officer assignments:

Maj. Gen. Michele C. Edmondson will be assigned as commander, 2d Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Edmondson is currently serving as commandant of cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. 

Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Ekman will be assigned as the director, plans and programs, J-5, Headquarters U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany. Ekman is currently assigned as deputy commander, operations and intelligence, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Central Command; and commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Levant, Air Combat Command, Southwest Asia.

Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara will be assigned as the commander, Eighth Air Force; and commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Gebara is currently assigned as director, strategic plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. 

Maj. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt will be assigned as chief of safety and commander, Air Force Safety Center, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Leavitt is currently serving as director, operations and communications, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. 

Maj. Gen. Aaron M. Prupas will be assigned as director of defense intelligence for warfighter support, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Prupas is currently serving as director, intelligence and information, J-2, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. 

Maj. Gen. Andrea D. Tullos will be assigned as deputy commander, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Tullos is currently serving as commander, Second Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. 

Maj. Gen. (select) Michael L. Downs will be assigned as deputy director, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations; and director, Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations Center, J-32, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Downs is currently serving as vice director, intelligence, J-2, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Maj. Gen. (select) Thomas K. Hensley will be assigned as deputy director, operations, National Security Agency, Fort George Meade, Maryland. Hensley is currently serving as director, J-2, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Combined, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.

Maj. Gen. (select) Michael E. Martin will be assigned as commanding general, Special Operations Command Korea, U.S. Special Operations Command, Camp Kim, Yongsan Garrison, South Korea. Martin is currently serving as director, operations, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Maj. Gen. (select) Clark J. Quinn will be assigned as assistant deputy commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; and assistant vice commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force, Air Combat Command, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Quinn is currently serving as deputy director, plans and policy, DJ5, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. 

Maj. Gen. (select) Daniel H. Tulley will be assigned as vice director, joint force development, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Tulley is currently serving as commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Air Combat Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Brig. Gen. David W. Abba will be assigned as director, Department of Defense Special Access Programs Central Office; and director, Special Programs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Abba is currently serving as director, F-35 Integration Office, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. Christopher R. Amrhein will be assigned as vice commander, 19th Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Amrhein is currently serving as inspector general, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 

Brig. Gen. Jason R. Armagost will be assigned as director, strategic plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Armagost is currently serving as director,  operations and communications, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

Brig. Gen. Charles D. Bolton will be assigned as chief, Global Operations Center, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Bolton is currently serving as deputy director, operations, strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 

Brig. Gen. Julian C. Cheater will be assigned as commander, NATO Air Command-Afghanistan; deputy commander, air, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan; commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan; and director, Air Forces Central Command Air Component Coordination Element for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan. Cheater is currently serving as deputy director, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations; and director, Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations Center, J-32, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. Brenda P. Cartier will be assigned as director, operations and communications, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Cartier is currently serving as vice commander, 19th Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Davidson will be assigned as director, operations, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida. Davidson is currently serving as deputy commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. 

Brig. Gen. Eric P. Delange will be assigned as director, cyberspace operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Delange is currently serving as director, cyberspace operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Russell D. Driggers will be assigned as director, air, space and cyberspace operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Driggers is currently serving as deputy commander, NATO Mission Iraq, U.S. Central Command, Baghdad, Iraq. 

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey H. Hurlbert will be assigned as commandant, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.  Hurlbert is currently serving as deputy inspector general of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. John M. Klein Jr. will be assigned as chief of staff, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Klein is currently serving as director, Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, U.S. Central Command, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. 

Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman will be assigned as director, operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Lenderman is currently serving as director, plans, programs, and requirements, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. 

Brig. Gen. Joseph D. McFall will be assigned as senior military advisor to the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, Department of State, Washington, D.C. McFall is currently serving as assistant deputy commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; and assistant vice commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force, Air Combat Command, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. 

Brig. Gen. Albert G. Miller will be assigned as director, training and readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Miller is currently serving as chief of staff, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 

Brig. Gen. David A. Mineau will be assigned as vice commander, Fifteenth Air Force, Air Combat Command, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Mineau is currently serving as director, current operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. Paul D. Moga will be assigned as commandant of cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. Moga is currently serving as deputy director of operations, U.S. Northern Command, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. 

Brig. Gen. Paul J. Murray will be assigned as deputy director of operations, J-3, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Murray is currently serving as inspector general, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. 

Brig. Gen. Derek J. O’Malley will be assigned as deputy commander, Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Region; and deputy Combined/Joint Force Air Component commander for the 1st Canadian Air Division, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. O’Malley is currently serving as commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. 

Brig. Gen. Evan L. Pettus will be assigned as vice commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Air Combat Command, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Pettus is currently serving as commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Brig. Gen. Neil R. Richardson will be assigned as deputy director, operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Richardson is currently serving as chief, Air Force Senate Liaison Office, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. Jennifer M. Short will be assigned as deputy director, strategic planning and policy, J-5, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Short is currently serving as chief of staff, Pacific Air Forces, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Brig. Gen. Ernest J. Teichert III will be assigned as assistant deputy to the under secretary of the Air Force for international affairs, Office of the Undersecretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Teichert is currently serving as senior defense official and defense attaché-Iraq, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq. 

Brig. Gen. Claude K. Tudor Jr. will be assigned as chief of staff, Pacific Air Forces, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Tudor is currently serving as director, Integrated Resilience Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. Parker H. Wright will be assigned as director, intelligence and information, J-2, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Wright is currently serving as director, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. (select) Tad D. Clark will be assigned as director, electromagnetic spectrum superiority, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Clark is currently serving as senior executive officer to the vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. (select) George T.M. Dietrich III will be assigned as director, logistics, engineering and force protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Dietrich is currently serving as deputy director, resource integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. (select) Melissa S. Cunningham will be assigned as director, cyberspace operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Cunningham is currently serving as chief, Cyberspace Operations Branch, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. (select) Brian S. Hartless will be assigned as deputy director, resource integration, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Hartless is currently serving as commander, 10th Air Base Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. 

Brig. Gen. (select) Debra A. Lovette will be assigned as director, Integrated Resilience Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Lovette is currently serving as director, Executive Action Group, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Brig. Gen. (select) Robert A. Masaitis will be assigned as chief innovation officer and deputy director, integration and innovation, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Masaitis is currently serving as commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Brig. Gen. (select) Michael A. Miller will be assigned as director, operations and communications, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Miller is currently serving as chief of staff, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. 

Brig. Gen. (select) Max E. Pearson will be assigned as director, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Pearson is currently serving as senior military assistant to the under secretary of defense for intelligence, Office of the Secretary of Defense, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.