Air Force Capt. Kaity Toner, public affairs officer for the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, autographs pamphlets for fans and spectators after the team’s performance at an air show in Ohio, July 10, 2021.
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Airman Shares Love of Conservation, Leads Project
July 15, 2021 | , 154th Wing
When she was only a teenager, one security forces specialist got her first taste of helping the environment while climbing Mount Kaala on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Airman 1st Class Genesaret Balladares, 154th Security Forces Squadron, said she and her friends came upon a volunteer group pulling up invasive grass that flourishes in swampy areas. The team taught her about the mountain, why preservation efforts are important and about a pink flower called Koli'i.
"There was something special about seeing that endemic flower for the first time, watching it blossom, and knowing that it only exists here and how I was possibly the only one in the world who was appreciating it at that exact moment," she said. "It made me feel that I needed to protect it and make sure it continues to flourish."
She said it ignited a lifelong passion for conservation throughout her studies, volunteer work and her personal mission to give back to the ‘Alina,' the land, in the Hawaiian language.
During COVID-19, as part of the Hawaii Air National Guard, Balladares served as part of the Task Force Reserve to augment domestic operations throughout Hawaii. She remained in touch with her outer network of environmental professionals throughout her island-based deployment and kept an eye out for opportunities to help the environment.
This spring, she received word that the Army Natural Resources Program, Oahu, sought help to move several tons of gravel near Mount Kaala. The goal of the program was to balance the requirements of the Army's training mission with its natural resource responsibilities.
She sought the muscle of her security forces family to aid the wildlife on the mountain sacred to her.
"I thought nobody would be interested," Balladares said. "They don't understand why I'm so passionate about it. I worried people would think this girl is crazy. She's talking about plants again."
To her surprise, about 90 percent of the Airmen volunteered.
"It was clear she was very emotional about this project, and it showed us how much passion she has for this," said Capt. Allison Delow Santos, 154th SFS operations officer. "She shares the scientific names of the plants and animals, their Hawaiian names, their features, what they look like. We could all see how much time and effort she's put into making sure this is successful. She made us want to be a part of it."
About 30 volunteers met at Schofield Barracks June 8, 2021 with ANRP program managers and biologists to learn how their efforts could help preserve natural habitats of at-risk species while respecting environmental sensitivities.
ANRP Outreach and Volunteer Specialist Kim Welch said they were one of the largest groups to ever contribute to the ANRP and they completed enough labor to account for five or six separate outings.
Balladares said she was overjoyed by receiving nonstop questions from her peers about the wildlife.
"I couldn't be happier with how the day turned out. To have their support and lead them, it's been very empowering," she said. "I'm glad everyone had a great time, worked hard and ended up making a difference."
(Shannon Collins contributed to this story)
Indoctrination Intensity
An Air Force cadet participates in the assault course during training at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 13, 2021. The six-week indoctrination program transforms civilians to military academy cadets prepared to enter a four-year officer commissioning program.
General Officer Announcements
July 15, 2021
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith for appointment to the rank of general, and assignment as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. Smith is currently serving as the deputy commandant for combat development and integration, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael A. Minihan for appointment to the rank of general, and assignment as commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Minihan is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as director of staff, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. Schneider is currently serving as commander, U.S. Forces Japan; and commander, Fifth Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
Air Force Maj. Gen. James A. Jacobson for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as deputy commander, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Jacobson is currently serving as director, training and readiness, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Tom D. Miller for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as commander, Air Force Sustainment Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Miller is currently serving as director, logistics, engineering and force protection, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark E. Weatherington for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as deputy commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Weatherington is currently serving as commander, 8th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command; and commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
Space Force Maj. Gen. Michael A. Guetlein for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as commander, Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, Los Angeles Air Base, California. Guetlein is currently serving as deputy director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Virginia.
Marine Corps Col. David J. Bligh for appointment to the rank of major general, and assignment as staff judge advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Bligh is currently serving as an assistant judge advocate general of the Navy, Washington, D.C.
View From Above
Navy Seaman Jordan Sharp unties a gasket on a sail aboard the USS Constitution in Boston, July 15, 2021
Maintainence Maine
Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew Beyersdorf changes the drogue on a refueling aircraft before a mission at Royal Australian Air Force Base Townsville, Australia, July 13, 2021, during Talisman Sabre 21. The exercise is designed to strengthen allies and partners’ capabilities to respond to security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ready to React
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Roberts tests a reaction agent on Seaman Jordan Brewer during respirator fit testing aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean, July 14, 2021.
Surgery Team
Army Maj. Tuesday Fisher and Senegalese Army Lt. Col. Boubacar Mdaye conduct a partial hip replacement surgery during a medical readiness exercise at the Ouakam Military Hospital in Dakar, Senegal, July 13, 2021.
Marksmanship Training
A Navy ROTC midshipman candidate participates in small arms marksmanship training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., July 15, 2021.
Disassembly Duty
Navy Seaman Asante Conorquie disassembles a building during a construction training exercise at Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., July 12, 2021.
Response Ready
Airmen work with German first responders to fill and lay sandbags to prevent flooding in Binsfeld, Germany, June 14, 2021. The 52nd Fighter Wing provided more than 500 sandbags to help protect homes and businesses after two days of heavy rainfall left communities around Spangdahlem flooded.
DOD Officials Testify on Fixed-Wing Tactical, Training Aircraft Programs
July 15, 2021 | , DOD News
For the Defense Department to properly test the systems it intends to buy against expected threats, the DOD must invest now to create a robust test and evaluation infrastructure with live and synthetic environments that is equipped with cutting-edge tools and staffed by people with deep expertise, a DOD official said.
Raymond O'Toole Jr., acting director of operational test and evaluation, testified Tuesday before a House Armed Services Committee panel about the DOD's fiscal year 2022 budget request for fixed-wing tactical and training aircraft programs.
"DOD's mission success and national security reflect the quality of the operational test and evaluation we perform," he said. "A large number of new and complex technologies are in the development and acquisition pipeline, and our adversaries continue to advance their capabilities."
The F-35 Lightning II's Block 4 program is now underway, O'Toole said. He also said the existing development process — known as continuous capability development and delivery — is supposed to deliver a new, tested and verified increment of software every six months. "However, each increment has been flawed, more flawed than expected," he said. "Further, software changes intended to add new capabilities or fix deficiencies have instead introduced stability problems that adversely affected certain existing F-35 functionality."
O'Toole told the panel he is "cautiously hopeful" that the program office's decision to move to a 12-month software cycle will mitigate some of those issues; however, there remains concern that the ability to conduct adequate testing and evaluation is now at a crossroads.
"Simply put, we cannot determine the system's combat credibility nor thoroughly prepare our warfighters if our test and training capabilities are not kept up to date," O'Toole said.
Joseph Nogueira, acting director of cost assessment and program evaluation, answered three questions from the panel on CAPE.
First, in support of the fiscal 2022 budget request, CAPE conducted several analytic efforts assessing the capability, capacity and readiness of the DOD's tactical aircraft, he said. "To support major defense acquisition program milestones, CAPE generated independent cost estimates for the F-15 Eagle['s] Passive Active-warning and Survivability System Program and the next generation jammer low- and mid-band programs.”
CAPE also oversaw the joint tactical air synthetic training, analysis of alternatives and the Air Force's and Navy's next-generation air dominance analysis of alternatives, he said. CAPE also conducted other internal analyses directed by DOD leadership to investigate tactical air survivability, lethality, overall affordability and novel concepts of operations to support combatant commander needs.
Second, as part of the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress tasked CAPE with completing analyses on the service acquisition strategies for sixth-generation aircraft and a non-advocate review of the Air Force's digital century series business case. Both studies are underway, and CAPE is engaged in detailed discussions with the program offices, contractors and other stakeholders to gain the necessary data and insight to inform the department's evolving acquisition, he noted. "The digital century series business case review should be completed in August, and I expect to send it to you shortly thereafter," he said.
Third, Nogueira said, there are a number of analytical efforts underway across the DOD to determine the appropriate balance of sixth-, fifth- and fourth-generation capabilities. The Joint Staff, in coordination with combatant commands, is leading the DOD's thinking on how tactical air should be employed in a future conflict.
Additionally, "the Air Force and Navy are conducting tactical air studies focused on assessing both near- and long-term requirements," he said. "The results of these efforts will inform the National Defense Strategy and decisions to be captured in the President's fiscal year 2023 budget submission and associated Future Years Defense Program," Nogueira said.
Flag Officer Announcements
July 15, 2021
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:
Navy Vice Adm. Daryl L. Caudle for appointment to the rank of admiral, and assignment as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Caudle is currently serving as commander, Naval Submarine Forces; commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and commander, Allied Submarine Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
Navy Vice Adm. James W. Kilby for reappointment to the rank of vice admiral, and assignment as deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Kilby is currently serving as deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities, N-9, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
Navy Rear Adm. Frank D. Whitworth III for appointment to the rank of vice admiral, and assignment as director of intelligence, J-2, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. Whitworth is the incumbent director of intelligence, J-2, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
Tough Talk
Cadets in process at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 24, 2021.
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