62nd AW hits the mark during EDRE

by Staff Sgt. Tim Chacon
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/9/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Within three seconds of the scheduled time and 25 yards of the point of impact, Airmen of the 62nd Airlift Wing from Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash., were able to drop more than 90,000 pounds of cargo via air drops Sept. 27, at White Sands, N.M.

This very accurate and on time delivery was one part of the Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise conducted by Airmen from the 62nd AW and Soldiers from the 82nd ABD. The 62nd AW Airmen also delivered more than 500 airborne Soldiers from static line jumps and delivered more than 50 soldiers and four Humvees via air-land, Semi-Prepared Runway Operations.

The EDRE was one part of the Network Integration Evaluation 16.1. The objectives were to conduct geographically separated joint mission planning, deliver heavy platforms and static line jumpers via air-drop operations and deliver follow on forces via air-land operations.

The three C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 62nd AW flew to Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 25 and staged for delivery of the 82nd ABD troops and equipment.

"Joint exercises like NIE 16.1 allow both the Army and Air Force to build better tactics, techniques, and procedures," said Capt. Chris Martin, 10th Airlift Squadron operations flight commander. "We train like we will fight in future air operations."

The uniqueness of this mission lies in the planning process.

"Normally these types of exercises are tasked by Air Mobility Command as Joint Airborne Air Transportability Training and a mission planning cell will stand up at Pope AAF the week prior to plan the entire mission," said Martin. "In this case mission planning was completed from geographically separated locations, communicated and coordinated via daily teleconferences."

The 62nd AW crews turned the traditionally difficult tasks of these kinds of missions into the most accurately executed portions.

"The most critical times are usually during the alert sequence with loading cargo, fueling, validating flight plans and maintaining time tolerances for execution," said Martin. "However, in this case, {the} execution was very smooth and the plan came together nicely."

The successfulness of air-drop operations were mirrored by the air-land operations.

"I have been a part of SPRO planning cells before, but I have never had the opportunity to execute one," said Capt. J.D. Shaw, 8th Airlift Squadron C-17 pilot.  "I think it went as planned which means it went well. What we encountered was in line with what was briefed to us, so that helps out a bunch.

"The key to making joint missions successful is proper planning with adequate integration.  We can't give, the Army in this case, what they want unless we have someone integrated in their planning and vice-versa.  We talk different languages and our missions differ a lot, but we are still all one team one fight which drives the fact home that we must have proper integration and coordinating time. When this happens, we showcase our full military power."

The three 62nd AW aircraft were only part of the 14 different aircraft from seven different Air Force Bases across the country that participated in the exercise. Along with C-17s, several C-130J Super Hercules and C-130 Hercules participated.

Team McChord boosts capabilities of USAP

by Senior Airman Madelyn McCullough
446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/31/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The 446th and 62nd Airlift Wings are opening new doors for the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program with the use of night vision capabilities.

In June of this year, the first scheduled winter flight in 50 years proved successful when a C-17 successfully touched down at Pegasus Airfield, Antarctica, despite the complete absence of sunlight. Using night vision goggles, pilots were able to successfully navigate to and land safely on the runway without the help of LEDs. The aircraft dropped off passengers and cargo and even took a few people home. One month later, the crew did it again.

Traditionally, those who choose to stay once the last Operation Deep Freeze C-17 flies away in March also choose to stay for six months until WINFLY starts back up in August. Now, with the success of these two winter flights, a new idea is fortifying the foundation for drastic change.

To enable this transformation, the National Science Foundation, which manages the United States Antarctic Program, worked with the U.S. Air Force to use channel flights for their missions. These channel flights deliver cargo and passengers to various locations in the Pacific including New Zealand's neighbor Australia.

"The deployment and redeployment cost of getting a C-17 down here from McChord is substantial," said Lt. Col. Keith McMinn, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron director of operations "That's why we're picking off an airplane from an existing mission just right across the street in Richmond, Australia."

The Air Force authorized USAP to borrow the jet for the June and July missions to McMurdo. To do this, the channel crew flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, where they met with a crew from McChord. While the channel crew took their crew rest, the ODF team flies five hours to McMurdo and five hours back. When the channel crew wakes up in the morning, their plane is back in place and ready to go.

Typically, this type of capability is only used for emergency medical evacuations and air drops, but this new system allows for much more.

Now, McMurdo can continue construction year round, McMinn said. The station is at max capacity during the peak season and needs to expand. With winter flights, they will be able to continue construction in the less congested off-season and will be able to send people for shorter periods of time. This way they don't have to pay them six months for a job that only takes one.

Along with facilitating year-round construction, the capability will expand the possibilities for scientific research.

"Now," McMinn said, "the NSF can get someone in and out of there to do shorter, more targeted research and do it in a way that's cost effective."

Aug. 23 marked the first WINFLY mission of the year using NVGs, successfully landing on the seasonal ice runway just a mile from McMurdo and proving even further that the new system will function as advertised. In fact, the preparation for next winter has already begun.

"It's a precedent-setting activity," said Paul Sheppard, the NSF Division of Polar Programs operations and logistics systems manager. "[The Antarctic Support Contract] is already planning on building it into the season plan for fiscal 2016."

"No longer do we have the mentality that the winter staff and the winter operation is a closed operation," said Michael Raabe, the ASC manager of transportation and logistics. "We have the ability to fly in and out year round. We become more of a mature operation that can dictate, in essence, to the continent what we want to do and not let the continent and the seasons dictate to us."

(The Antarctic Sun contributed to this article.)

62nd AW supports global response force exercise

by Staff Sgt. Tim Chacon
62nd Airlift Wing

8/14/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The C-17 Globemaster III aircraft is capable of delivering tailored force to anywhere in the world in less than 96 hours and that is just what they showcased Aug. 6.

C-17s from Joint Base Lewis-McChord staged out of March Air Reserve Base, California, participated in a Joint Operation Access Exercise (JOAX) at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin.

The Air Force's goal was to validate their doctrine of a global response force. Working with the Army they set an example of the type of mobilization they are capable of.

"We air dropped Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division on an airfield, which they then seized," said Capt. Sean McConville, JOAX C-17 lead planner, "Then we built up that [force] with and air land follow on of their equipment."

The three 62nd Airlift Wing C-17s were part of a total of six C-17s coming from both Joint Base Charleston, North Carolina Joint Base and Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

The other air assets included 11 C-130s from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina and Little Rock, Air Force Base, Arkansas.

McConville said the C-17's and C130's delivered more than 616 Soldiers and 850,000 pounds of equipment through air-drop and air-land operations.

The Soldiers and equipment were loaded on to the aircraft at March and flown to the NTC in two separate cycles. Those capable of being air dropped were parachuted out of the aircraft and others were off loaded on the ground, after landing in the southern California dessert.

Both iterations of movements were conducted in darkness and the landings were done on un-paved dirt runways, but that wasn't all of the obstacles to overcome.

"In addition to the Semi Prepared Runway Operations and night vision goggles we had significant terrain to deal with," said McConville. "This was one place where the junior planners we brought along really showcased their talent."

According to McConville one of the most time consuming problems to deal with is working the C-17s with the C-130s.

"About half our time was finding a way to bring in C-17's at very high speeds into a formation over an objective with the slower moving C-130's," said McConville.

The pilots got the aircraft to the drop and landing zones, but it is the loadmasters who are responsible for the unloading and dropping of the personnel and equipment, as well as helping to make adjustments on to the plan.

"Sometimes communication can be difficult," said Staff Sgt. Scott Delano, 8th Airlift Squadron loadmaster. "The Army has their objectives and sometimes we don't get them till the last minute, but we just have to be flexible to get the mission done."

Despite the lack of a built-up runway, the night time operations, treacherous terrain and continual changes to the plan, the Air Force was able to deliver all the Soldiers and equipment in less than nine hours from the time of the first plan took off.

"Seeing a big plan like this come together after hours and hours is my favorite part," said Delano. "And we did it in less time than we were supposed to."

The participants in the exercise all seemed to learn from the experience and handle the challenges that were put upon them.

"This kind of training, where you have open ended situations and there is no necessarily right or wrong answers is a great way to teach critical thinking," said McConville. "I hope that some of the people who are training with us will get to a point where they can bring the kind of thinking they learned in these exercises to the strategic and organizational level."

Face of Defense: From Puppy to Police Dog

By Army Staff Sgt. Patricia McMurphy

28th Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash., Aug. 7, 2015 – He jumps, he drools, and he sheds like it’s summer all year long, but this is no ordinary pup. This dog is an invaluable part of team that could one day save lives and capture dangerous criminals.

Army Staff Sgt. Adam Serella, a military working dog handler with the 95th Military Police Detachment here, is busy training Greco -- a newly-acquired military working dog, fresh from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Greco left there with the basics, just like the airmen who attend Air Force basic training at JBSA, and now he’s ready to learn what it means to really be a MWD.

Serella, a seasoned handler and lead trainer for the kennels, has worked with and trained MWDs for five years and says he enjoys training new dogs.

"I have seen how rewarding and also how frustrating it can be at times," Serella said. "Just like [new] soldiers who come pre-trained or know the basics, I prefer that. I’d rather shape and mold a new soldier. It’s the same with dogs."

Serella said that when he found out he was getting a new dog, he went to work extra early that day just to meet him.

First Day of Training

After reading Greco’s training record and logging some playtime in the yard to get to know each other, it was time for a bath.

"He smelled pretty bad, so I put him in the tub and gave him his toy to chew on," Serella said. "He just had this sad ‘why are you doing this’ look on his face."

After the bath, Serella took Greco to his first training session.

Like all soldiers, military working dogs must practice their skills to stay sharp. The handlers and dogs also learn to work together as a team and complete required tasks.

According to Serella, finding what makes the dogs want to work is the key building a good working relationship -- it’s all about the rewards.

"Unlike dogs at home, these dogs don’t have toys laying around, so, all the working dogs have an extremely high desire for the toy or the reward, and we only play with that reward when they are working and after they have done a good job and have met the standard," said Serella. "That’s their form of currency."

Next Step: Certification

To assure the standards are met, each MWD team is tested on their proficiency during annual certifications, which they must maintain to conduct their garrison missions and in order to deploy.

"Certification is a weeklong process where every aspect of our work is evaluated," Serella said. "The standards are very strict, but they have to be. Bomb dogs can only miss one plant or hiding spot, anything more results in a failure."

Serella said military working dog teams have to meet these strict standards because they could one day lead units on patrol in dangerous locations or even work with the Secret Service, ensuring the safety of the president.

Serella may have been working with Greco for just six weeks, but he said he is confident when the time comes to test for certification, they will pass with flying colors.

"I don’t want to sound cocky, but there is no reason I can’t pass certification with him," Serella said. "He is a good dog."

After certification, the team can be utilized for a variety of missions here and on deployments around the world. They will also be able to add more advanced skills on top of what they already know.

An additional skill Serella is hoping to add is improving his obedience and extending the amount of time he can have Greco stay where he is told, even if Serella is not in sight.

"I would like to be able to say ‘stay’ and walk away for 10 minutes then come back and him still be there," Serella said. "That is obedience, which is the basis of all dog training."

Serella and Greco are scheduled to certify at the end of August, and when they succeed as Serella predicts, they will become an asset to JBLM and those they may serve at home or abroad.

McChord Airman to be honored as hero

by Tech. Sgt. Sean Tobin

62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/4/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  A McChord Airman has been selected by the American Red Cross Northwest Region to be honored at their 2015 Annual Heroes Luncheon in Tacoma, Washington.

Senior Airman Joshua Calhoun, 62nd Maintenance Squadron precision measurement equipment laboratory journeyman, is being recognized as a hero for risking his own life while rescuing a surfer who got stranded on a rocky cliff after getting caught in a rip current. The rescue occurred back in April at Ecola State Park in Oregon.

"I caught a wave and I looked over and saw this guy waving his arms above his head, which usually means 'shark'," said Calhoun.

Heeding the shark warning, Calhoun headed back to the shore.

"But I didn't get that eerie feeling of a shark - there were no reported attacks in the area and the seal population isn't huge, so I started thinking the guy was trapped on the outcropping of rocks."

Calhoun's instincts proved correct. The surfer had gotten pushed into the rocky outcropping which runs perpendicular to the shore. The ebb and flow of the tide against the rocks creates small whirlpools, making it difficult for inexperienced swimmers to escape.

Calhoun noticed that where the stranded surfer was standing, he couldn't be seen from the shore because larger rock formations were in the way. Knowing that the water would be rising soon, Calhoun decided he would have to rescue the surfer himself, rather than wait for rescue services to be called.

Not wanting to get caught in the current himself, Calhoun climbed over a large rock formation in order to reach the surfer. Once over that set of rocks, the surf slammed him against the rocks, causing his hands to become bloody. Once over that first rock structure, he decided would be able to safely swim the remaining distance, so he jumped in the water.

"As I got to him, I could see that water was slowly lapping up close to his feet," said Calhoun. "I caught my breath, made sure the leash of his board was tied and explained what we were about to do."

Calhoun instructed the exhausted surfer to get on his board and together they would swim 100 feet perpendicular to the outcropping, far away from the rip current, then head back to shore once safely away from the rocks.

"I was pulling him on his board and he was so tired that he wasn't able to help paddle," said Calhoun. "I made him get off his board and hold my foot as I got on it and paddled away from the rocks.

Once far enough away from the rocks, they turned and began heading to shore.  Calhoun saw a wave forming so the two once again swapped places.

"I got him back on the board, shoved him into the wave and it took him to shore,' said Calhoun. "I made sure he was safe and then I gave him some homework - some safety articles to research online so he'd know what to do if he ever got in this situation again."

Master Sgt. Daniel Thomas, 62nd MXS PMEL shop chief, helped get Calhoun nominated for the Red Cross award.

"Josh has been so humble during this whole thing," said Thomas. "It's been difficult to get information out of him. He keeps saying, 'Anyone would have done the same thing. I didn't even think about it. He was stuck.'"

Thomas said Calhoun, an avid surfer who has been surfing with his father since he was very young, is probably more comfortable in the water than most people are on land.

"This wasn't a 'big deal' to him," said Thomas. It was just another day at the office."

The Red Cross will present Calhoun's award at the 2015 Annual Heroes Luncheon, scheduled for Oct. 13, at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma.

Nisqually Indian Tribe members visit McChord Field

by Staff Sgt. Katie Jackson
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/3/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- In attempt to rekindle a community partnership, Air Force members at McChord Field, Washington, coordinated a tour of the base for the Nisqually Indian Tribe July 30, 2015.

It is legend that the Nisqually people have lived in the Nisqually River valley in west central Washington for thousands of years and their territory initially consisted of more than two million acres. Their reservation now consists of approximately five thousand acres, some of which is under control of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Military Reserve.

The event was hosted by senior noncommissioned officers at McChord Field and consisted mostly of Nisqually Indian Tribe youth. The goal of the tour was to create a partnership between organizations and to eliminate any perceived barriers about each other's culture. Each squadron involved was given the opportunity to show what it does for the Air Force and why they are an integral part of the community.

"It [the McChord and Nisqually tribe relationship] was [almost] non-existent; they had a relationship with the Army, but not McChord Field," said Master Sgt. Robert Peaden, 62nd Aerial Port Squadron first sergeant and one of the founders of the community outreach program.¬¬¬ "The relationship was strong in the 1970's but has eroded over the years. We are here to renew that energy to have more community partners with Team McChord from all walks of life."

The tour of McChord Field has been in works for some time now. This idea [originated] by Chief Master Sgt. Gordon Drake, former 62nd Airlift Wing command chief, and Senior Master Sgt. John Lipsey, 62nd Maintenance Group quality assurance superintendent.

"Master Sgt.'s Beverly Lay and Shenica Speck, both 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment section chiefs, and I ran with the idea and wanted to start a community outreach team."

The tribe members began their tour with an introduction from the McChord chaplains; the fire station where teenagers watched firefighters hose down part of the flight line and try on some gear; and the 627th LRS's aircraft parts store where they were able to see what goes into the maintenance of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

After lunch at the Olympic Dining Facility, they continued to the 627th Security Forces Squadron for their next stop.
The youth were shown some of the weapons the security forces Airmen are equipped with. They were able to meet some of McChord's Phoenix Ravens, specially trained security forces personnel dedicated to providing security to aircraft transiting high terrorist and criminal threat areas.

They continued to the 62nd APS with a tour of their facilities and an explanation of an airdrop bundle.

From there they were shown a display of a 60K Halverson tunner loader, a vehicle which provides the capability to rapidly load and unload pallets from an aircraft. The tour was not complete until some tribe members were able to honk the vehicle's horn.

Next, tribe members were given a tour of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft by members of the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. For some of these teenagers, this would be their first time on an aircraft.

Finally, their tour concluded with a briefing from the 5th Air Support Operations Squadron.

Peaden said, "This group is the beginning phase with the Nisqually community, and I hope to have them, along with other community partners, to work together so we can learn from each other cultures and we, Team McChord, can create legacy of support and mentorship for years to come."

McChord Field Honor Guard honors Vietnam War veteran

by Airman 1st Class Keoni Chavarria
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/29/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Helping to bring closure to a family after a service members death is an honor many people might not experience day-to-day, but for the McChord Field Honor Guard, it is something they deal with on a daily basis.

Recently, the McChord Field Honor Guard presented the family of Tech. Sgt. Hugh Sherburn, a Vietnam War veteran, with an active duty honors ceremony, July 25, at Waldport High School in Waldport, Ore.

Sherburn was an airborne radio communications analyst who went missing in action during his tour in the Vietnam War. He was assigned to the 6994th Security Squadron and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with fifth Oak Leaf Cluster, and Purple Heart after the incident.

Sherburn was given full service honors during the ceremony, which included a presentation from the honor guard's pallbearer, color guard, firing party, and bugle team.

"They are a great example and inspiration to everybody," said Brian Norris, Bateman Funeral Homes funeral director from Oregon. "The honor guard has been amazingly helpful and they know exactly what they are doing."

The honor guard's pallbearer team began their trip with a visit to Portland International Airport, Ore., to lead Sherburn off of an air plane and into a hearse, July 24.

From there, the team prepared for the funeral ceremony which took place the next day.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the pallbearer team brought the casket from the hearse and placed it on a stand.

After bringing out the casket, the honor guards firing party fired three volleys followed by a playing of taps by the bugle player.

According to Norris, the performances by the honor guard helps tremendously with bringing closure to the families.

"The compassion, care and the precision the honor guard performs with really, demonstrates to the family that they respect the sacrifice their loved one gave," he said.

Mary Jarvis, Sherburn's sister, was then presented a flag from Capt. Brian Meredith, 627th Force Support Squadron flight commander.

"We think that the presentation the honor guard gives is wonderful," said Jim Neal, Oregon Coast Veterans Association vice president. "We're glad the honor guard can come out and support this event."

The honor guard then concluded the ceremony by retiring the casket.

According to honor guard members, while the ceremony helps bring closure to families, it also gives the teams a sense of honor in helping veterans.

"Giving our brother [in arms] and his family a final closure, with the final ceremonial honors shows that we care about our fallen brothers and sisters and that we will do anything for them," said Senior Airman Angel Laureano, McChord Field Honor Guard lead trainer.

The McChord Field Honor Guard is made up of 30 Airmen who work in this special duty for six months out a year. For more information, call the McChord Field Honor Guard at (253) 982-3775.