by Lea Johnson
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer
11/27/2012 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Spirituality
means different things to each individual. Some go to worship, some
meditate, some hike. Whatever a person does, spiritual fitness is an
important part of overall well-being.
The spiritual pillar is one of the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman
Fitness, and it may also be the most complicated to understand and
measure.
According to Chaplain (Capt.) Joe Watson, the spiritual aspect of an
individual is whatever faith or religion they have, or don't have.
"(Spirituality) is part of their life and it means something in their
life. They rely on their faith or their God for strength and help," he
said. "There are people who do not have a particular religion or faith
or who may not even believe in a god. Some[of them] would say, 'I still
am a spiritual person, I still have spirituality.' Sometimes it means
they hang out in nature and get peaceful there. Or they meditate and
relax."
Tech. Sgt. Scott Devine, chapel programs NCO in charge, agreed that
spirituality is a peaceful feeling. "It's that peaceful place where
harmony can be found," he said.
The spiritual pillar can be one of the hardest to measure how fit a person is.
"It's easy to say I made an excellent on my PT test or I flunked,"
Watson said. "Faith is not something that you see. It's something hidden
inside a person. It is very difficult to measure and I would say the
person themselves knows best how they feel."
There are a variety of ways people can grow spiritually. Watson and
Devine both recommend reading scripture or other religious material,
prayer and attending worship.
They also recognize that there are those who do not have a religion.
Those individuals may want to try hiking, running, meditating or reading
as a way to grow spiritually.
"Spirituality doesn't mean you have to be religiously seeking prayer or
things of that nature. Spirituality could be sitting in your room
quietly reading a book," Devine said.
The coming holiday season can be especially hard for Airmen who may not get to spend time with their families.
"The holidays slow us down and remind us of times we have with our
family. That makes us homesick, that makes us sad, it gets us down and
mentally wears us out," Devine said.
Throughout 2012, the Air Force has focused on each of the four pillars,
but inside each individual the pillars are more woven together.
"When I look at the four pillars I don't look at them as separate things
because you can't separate a person out into their components," Watson
said. "Physically if you're feeling bad, you're probably going to be
feeling bad mentally too. They all interact with one another."
The chapel has resources for those who may be looking for something spiritually or just want to talk to someone.
"Chaplains are here to serve people and we respect people. Just because
we don't have the same religion or faith or spirituality as someone,
doesn't mean we're not able to help them," Watson said. "Even if you
don't believe in God, come talk to me if you need help. We don't have to
talk about God, we don't have to talk about faith. We're here to serve
everybody no matter where they are spiritually."
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Training Service Dogs Helps Heal Service Members
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
BROOKVILLE, Md., Nov. 27, 2012 – The phrase, “a dog is man’s best friend” has new meaning for service members undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
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“There are tens of thousands of warriors who are trying to transition back [into society]. There are also thousands of veterans on waiting lists who need trained service dogs,” Yount explained.
At NICoE, Yount encourages service members to volunteer for the program, especially those who might not respond to traditional treatment.
“I tell them, ‘While you’re getting treatment, here’s an opportunity to help train a dog for a veteran. You’re still a part of the war effort,” Yount said.
He said it’s not just training a dog -- the service members are doing it to care for their fellow veterans.
The relationships developed between the service members and the dogs are symbiotic, Yount said, adding that the dog training is an intervention for their post-trauma stress.
Service members who join the dog training program at NICoE go through basic commands, and then move on to more complex tasks such as opening doors, turning on light switches and pulling wheelchairs, said Marine Corps Sgt. Jon Gordon, a former NICoE patient and now an intern in service-dog training.
Diagnosed with PTSD and TBI following two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, Gordon said when traditional therapies didn’t seem to work for him, he was sent to Yount. Not enthused at first, Gordon said, he soon saw the power of training dogs.
“Working with them, you have to learn to regulate your emotions and tone of voice,” he said.
The NICoE service members are taught to give authoritative commands, and praise the dog in a high-pitched, excited voice, Yount said.
It only took a few sessions with a black Labrador named Birdie for their relationship to click, Gordon said.
Gordon said he’d stayed in his apartment and avoided people, ordering in pizza for meals. But after meeting Birdie his life changed dramatically, he said.
Now when he has appointments at a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gordon said he has to arrive early to answer all the questions about the dog. No longer avoiding people, Gordon said he is instead raising awareness of the service dog program for mobility-impaired veterans.
“When the veterans see Birdie, their faces just light up,” he said.
Gordon plans to become an occupational therapist, using dogs with patients.
“It changed my life,” Gordon said of the service dog program. While he used to get little sleep, he now gets about six hours each night, because Birdie is close by.
“It saved me from being a nobody and just another statistic,” he said.
“When you see him making progress, it’s rewarding,” Gordon said of Birdie, “You see how you actually make a difference in training the dog.”
Birdie “gave me a reason to get up in the morning and do something,” Gordon added.
Yount said it’s the release of the hormone oxytocin in the body that relaxes people who are around a dog.
“It’s a powerful drug,” he said.
Yount said the two goals of the program involve encouraging the healing capacity of the service member and motivating them to engage in the power of the warrior ethos. He recounted a visit from a member of Congress at NICoE, who asked a service member what he got out of the canine training.
“He told him, ‘Before I started training this dog, my wife and I were getting ready to divorce,’” Yount said. ‘I treated my 3-year-old son like a stubborn private. I used the “praise voice” on him, and it really taught me how to connect with my 3-year-old son on a 3-year-old level.’”
But training dogs is not an easy task, Yount said.
“Dogs have a natural ability to challenge leadership. Training is based on patience and assertiveness. It’s a process,” he said.
And the dogs learn how service members with PTSD and TBI react, Yount said. Those suffering from PTSD tend to keep to themselves but “a dog won’t let you do that,” he said.
“We have to come up with ways of retraining these warriors, because they go through training to keep their emotions from interfering in combat, and the trauma they experience in combat has that emotional numbing impact,” Yount said. “Then how do we reboot them to 'come back' when they [return home to] infants, toddlers and teenagers?”
The next step is research, Yount said.
“We want to prove it and look at its efficacy,” he said of the dog and service member bonding,” he said. “We want to maximize the therapeutic effect of working with these dogs.”
DOD Aids Sandy Recovery, Urges Authorization Bill Passage
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2012 – The Defense Department continues its assistance with Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, Pentagon Press Secretary George E. Little said here today.
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“Our personnel have made a significant contribution to the recovery effort,” Little said.
“Since the storm struck, the Army Corps of Engineers has installed 198 power generators in critical locations, and removed over 475 million gallons of water at 14 strategic sites -- the equivalent of 720 Olympic-sized swimming pools. They’ve also removed more than 340,000 cubic yards of debris,” he said.
In addition, more than 9 million gallons of fuel and more than 6 million meals have been delivered to affected areas by the Defense Logistics Agency, Little said.
The fact that DOD can carry out such large-scale operations while simultaneously conducting operations in Afghanistan and around the world is a testament to the department’s high level of readiness and its ability to plan for a wide range of potential contingencies, he said.
“I point this out because if Congress does not enact defense authorization legislation for fiscal year 2013 in a timely fashion, it could seriously hamper our ability to plan and to operate,” Little said.
A number of adverse situations will arise if Congress fails to pass the 2013 Defense Authorization Act, he said.
“For example, important new military construction projects -- including critical infrastructure upgrades -- could not be initiated,” he said.
“Authorities to provide counterterrorism support to law enforcement agencies and several important counter-narcotics authorities -- including support to the government of Colombia -- would expire,” Little said.
For service members, bonuses and special incentive pay would end, Little said, hurting troop morale and potentially impacting recruiting and retention.
These examples explain why -- beyond preventing sequestration -- one of Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta’s highest priorities for the current Congressional session is for lawmakers to pass the defense authorization bill, he said.
“In the coming days, it is his hope that Congress comes together to help this department accomplish this mission by acting on this critical legislation,” Little said.
Africa mission brings Kentucky National Guard member home By Sgt. Jared Smith HHB 2/138th Field Artillery Regiment Click photo for screen-resolution image Pfc. Ismaila Pam, of Louisville, discusses his ties to Africa while on a mission there. (Courtesy photo) open link in new window download hi-res photo CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (11/27/12) - Most Soldiers from the 2/138th Field Artillery Regiment hail from Kentucky. Others are from Indiana, Florida and New York. But one bright, young Soldier calls Africa his home. Pfc. Ismaila Pam, an Automated Logistical Supply Specialist from the 2138th Forward Support Company (FSC) of Louisville, was born in Mauritania, Africa, and grew up in Senegal. “Growing up in Africa was a good life.” Pam said, “Everyone in the area is your family, you own most everything that you have to include your home, and electric was very cheap.” When asked how he ended up in the United States from such a far-away continent, Pam said that his father lived in the United States for about 18 years. His father decided to stay in Louisville because he had many friends in the area and he enjoyed the American lifestyle. He settled down and decided to bring his family from Africa. By age 18, Pam completed high school and two years of college in Senegal before moving to Kentucky. Although he could speak three languages, Wolof, Fulani and French, and could read and write Arabic, he didn’t know English. Upon his arrival in Kentucky, he had to go back to high school to learn the language, which brought his total to four languages that he is able to speak. Shortly after his arrival to Louisville, Pam started working as a bus boy in the same restaurant as his father. While on breaks, he could see through a kitchen window how hard his father worked to provide for his family. Pam decided that he was going to find another job trade to be able to help his father so he decided to join the Kentucky National Guard, which enabled him to get a steady paycheck as well as be close to home. When asked how his family feels about him joining the military, he said his father is very proud of him but his mother isn’t too happy about it. She worries about his deployment. Pam stated that it doesn’t bother him and he wants to continue to serve because it is something that he loves dearly. Pam has family who still reside in Africa, to include his grandfather, aunts, uncles and an older brother. If he gets the chance, he would love to be able to visit them while on his deployment. With his unit in Africa, Pam is looking forward to all the possibilities that lie ahead. “It’s very exciting, because we are going for peacekeeping and not war,” he said with a smile.
By Sgt. Jared Smith
HHB 2/138th Field Artillery Regiment
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (11/27/12) - Most Soldiers from the 2/138th Field Artillery Regiment hail from Kentucky. Others are from Indiana, Florida and New York. But one bright, young Soldier calls Africa his home.
Pfc. Ismaila Pam, an Automated Logistical Supply Specialist from the 2138th Forward Support Company (FSC) of Louisville, was born in Mauritania, Africa, and grew up in Senegal.
“Growing up in Africa was a good life.” Pam said, “Everyone in the area is your family, you own most everything that you have to include your home, and electric was very cheap.”
When asked how he ended up in the United States from such a far-away continent, Pam said that his father lived in the United States for about 18 years. His father decided to stay in Louisville because he had many friends in the area and he enjoyed the American lifestyle. He settled down and decided to bring his family from Africa.
By age 18, Pam completed high school and two years of college in Senegal before moving to Kentucky. Although he could speak three languages, Wolof, Fulani and French, and could read and write Arabic, he didn’t know English.
Upon his arrival in Kentucky, he had to go back to high school to learn the language, which brought his total to four languages that he is able to speak.
Shortly after his arrival to Louisville, Pam started working as a bus boy in the same restaurant as his father. While on breaks, he could see through a kitchen window how hard his father worked to provide for his family.
Pam decided that he was going to find another job trade to be able to help his father so he decided to join the Kentucky National Guard, which enabled him to get a steady paycheck as well as be close to home.
When asked how his family feels about him joining the military, he said his father is very proud of him but his mother isn’t too happy about it. She worries about his deployment. Pam stated that it doesn’t bother him and he wants to continue to serve because it is something that he loves dearly.
Pam has family who still reside in Africa, to include his grandfather, aunts, uncles and an older brother. If he gets the chance, he would love to be able to visit them while on his deployment.
With his unit in Africa, Pam is looking forward to all the possibilities that lie ahead.
“It’s very exciting, because we are going for peacekeeping and not war,” he said with a smile.
924th Fighter Group reaches milestone in November
944th Fighter Wing
11/20/2012 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The 924th Fighter Group reached a major milestone during the November Unit Training Assembly by conducting A-10 formal course pilot training sorties.
"This is a great day for the Air Force Reserve," said Col. John S. Russell, commander, 924th Fighter Group. "Being able to do everything in-house adds a critical layer of self-sufficiency and increases mission success. Being aligned with Luke Air Force Base, puts the 924th in with other training units who are all focused on the same goal...producing more pilots. We've been fully integrated with our Active Duty teammates working side by side. Now we're taking another step. Adding flying during UTA allows us to increase student pilot production for the Air Force as a whole. It's a win-win and adds flexibility to the entire flying schedule."
The new group has been recruiting and training personnel for two years. During that time, unit members have been working side-by-side with 355th Fighter Wing's active duty personnel executing the A-10 pilot training mission.
Lt. Col. Terry McClain, commander, 45th Fighter Squadron, indicated that his squadron of instructor pilots have been integrated with the 355th FW since 2008 and routinely fly approximately 20 percent of formal course missions. One of the most significant things his instructors bring to the Davis-Monthan mission is their experience, he added.
"45th Fighter Squadron pilots average more than 2200 A-10 hours and more than six years of experience flying formal training unit missions," said McClain.
The Fighter Group was activated in December 2010, and since then, the Tucson-based unit has been recruiting, hiring, and training Reservists locally to maintain and launch the Thunderbolt II A-10 attack jet.
"It has taken us two years of hard work to build the maintenance squadron to the point of being able to produce and fly sorties," said Chief Master Sgt. Roy Close, 924th Maintenance Squadron superintendent.
"The cooperation and acceptance of our personnel by the host unit 355th Operations and Maintenance Groups has been tremendous. This is a true Total Force Integration success story," said Lt. Col. Shirley Mercier, commander, 924th Maintenance Squadron.
"We have a great team and I have no doubt we will be totally successful in our mission because we have knowledgeable and skilled Airmen, who have lots of experience in their professions both on active duty and as Reservists," said Russell. "I'm grateful and honored to have been selected as the first group commander here."
"The 944th is proud of the work being done by the 924th Fighter Group down in Tucson," said Col. Jose Monteagudo, 944th Fighter Wing commander . "They're good at what they do and it's an honor to have them in the wing. Launching and recovering our own missions are important accomplishments, and I have no doubt this is this beginning of great things from this outstanding team!"
Contract award helps keep BACN airborne
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
11/21/2012 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Space, Aerial and Nuclear Network Division here recently awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for long-term platform maintenance on four E-11A aircraft.
The current amount awarded is $48 million, which is for a one-year base. There are four one-year options, which could eventually bring the value to $260 million.
The E-11A aircraft are modified Bombardier business jets outfitted with the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or BACN, payload that enables interoperability across voice and datalink networks. It also provides beyond-line-of-sight capability and voice and data relay to allow for critical communications between air and ground forces.
In addition to the business jets, BACN is also installed on three Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft.
"BACN can relay and broadcast a variety of information and is currently being used very effectively by warfighters throughout the theater of operations," said Maj. Bill Holl, program manager. "By awarding this contract we can ensure continued maintenance is performed on the E-11A aircraft to keep this crucial capability available to the warfighters."
Program officials expect this work to be complete by February 2018. The contract is in support of the BACN Joint Urgent Operational Need, or JUON, and the majority of the performance is expected to be done in Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom.
"We had a full and open competition, which allowed us to make sure we got the best value for the government and, ultimately, the taxpayer, and also ensures the E-11A aircraft are maintained in the most effective and efficient manner to support tactical communications," said Holl.
The BACN JUON program began as an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration in 2006 to meet the challenges associated with operating in mountainous terrain, such as limited line-of-sight. In 2009, it became a Joint Urgent Operational Need program to provide support to Operation Enduring Freedom.
"The BACN program was initiated to provide increased situational awareness for our warfighters by allowing for connectivity between dissimilar systems," said Holl. "The team continues to look for ways to optimize BACN's capabilities and provide even more support to the warfighter."
Since the first aircraft with BACN deployed in 2008, the fleet has flown more than 3,000 missions and 30,000 hours in support of OEF.
"The program office continues to receive praise from warfighters and commanders alike saying how BACN is a game changer," said Holl.
Grand Forks AFB officer helps bring home missing Vietnam heroes
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
11/26/2012 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- An officer stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base traveled thousands of miles earlier this year to return to his birth country of Vietnam for the first time in eight years.
But Capt. Huy Tran wasn't there to reunite with his own family or friends. His mission was to help search for and recover missing Vietnam War personnel, a rewarding experience Tran says he won't soon forget.
In cooperation with the Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC), and the Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP), Tran played a vital role as a Vietnamese linguist on a recovery mission to bring home service members missing from the Vietnam War Era.
LEAP is operated by the Air Force Culture and Language Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. It is designed for those who have some existing language capability, and targets early-career Airmen most likely to take fullest advantage of language learning, maintenance and assignments.
Tran, who speaks and writes Vietnamese fluently, said he wanted to participate in LEAP because he was looking for a way to contribute his language skills to the military.
"LEAP has taken my language skills to another level and allowed me to utilize them to serve the Air Force," he said. "Programs like LEAP are what make the U.S. military second to none."
JPAC, on the other hand, conducts global search, recovery and laboratory operations to identify unaccounted-for Americans from past conflicts in order to support the Department of Defense's personnel accounting efforts. According to their website, JPAC continues to search for more than 83,000 Americans still missing from past conflicts.
This mission had a deeper meaning for Tran, who was born and raised in Vietnam until he was 11.
"As a son and grandson of South Vietnamese veterans, this recovery mission is dear to my heart," Tran said. "My father and grandfather were camp prisoners during the war. My grandfather served five years, and my dad served four years and 11 months in the prison camps."
Following his father's release from the prison camps, Tran and his family were offered an opportunity to relocate to the United States. They left Vietnam to pursue a new life in Rock Hill, S.C.
"After I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to be in the military," he said. "I never thought that being in the military would one day bring me back to Vietnam as a service member. It's completely changed from the time I left; Americans are more welcome now and the attitudes and hatred are no longer there."
Tran said he was excited when he found out he would be going on a recovery mission to search for missing Americans.
"I was thrilled that I was finally able to use my special language skills to contribute and serve," he said. "Being there gave me insight into what happened that day. It let me imagine what it would've been like to be in their situation. It makes you realize the importance of the mission."
The first leg of Tran's journey with his team took him from Hawaii, to Thailand, and finally to a rural area of Vietnam, where the objective was to locate a crew of American sailors who had gone missing during a flying mission in the conflict.
The opportunities offered through LEAP, coupled with those offered by JPAC, allowed Tran to put his language skills to special use by translating between his team members and Vietnamese government officials and other locals.
"I would translate everything for them, including negotiating the areas where we would be working, what materials and how many workers we would need," Tran explained. "They also needed me for everyday things, like buying equipment to do our work, or ordering food."
One of the most vital aspects of Tran's job as a team linguist, however, was interviewing witnesses to help narrow down the location and the circumstances where the service members first went missing.
Tran and his team negotiated with government officials to set up an area to camp, and an area to clear out some of the dense vegetation at the top of the mountain where the missing sailors were thought to be.
"By going through the rice fields, dense jungles, and up the mountain, it helped me relate to the time during which the crew got shot down," he said. "When we arrived at the crash site, we found aircraft parts lying everywhere. That moment was so surreal. It sent chills down my spine seeing so many aircraft pieces scattered on the ground. We knew then that we were in the right place."
Once those remains were uncovered and collected, they were sent to JPAC's Central Identification Laboratory, the largest and most diverse forensic skeletal laboratory in the world. Scientists from JPAC use circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools including dental comparisons and radiograph comparisons to analyze and identify remains.
Upon completion of the recovery mission, Tran and his team retraced their steps back home, first to Thailand, then to Hawaii, and finally to their respective destinations.
Tran said he looks forward to participating in more recovery missions like the one he completed earlier this year.
According to the Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office, since 1973, the remains of more than 900 Americans killed in the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Today, more than 1,600 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover its missing warriors.
"This JPAC mission was one of the most emotionally rewarding missions that I've had the honor to take part in," Tran said. "Most importantly, I was given a chance to bring heroes home to their families, and their final resting place. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that those families can finally have answers and closure."
Military OneSource Connects Troops, Families to Resources
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2012 – As the Information Age continues to shape modern communication, the Defense Department has revitalized and consolidated the Military OneSource website to better serve military members and their families, a Pentagon official said in a recent interview.
Zona Lewis, military community outreach online and resource operations manager, told the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service that the Military OneSource overhaul incorporates new functionalities, enhanced social media platforms and multiple access methods.
“We took this opportunity to look at industry best practices, to look at social media capabilities and to investigate making a mobile platform,” Lewis said. “People are accessing information on their phones and iPads today. They’re not waiting until they get home or back to the office to get that information on a computer.”
The revamping, Lewis said, comes at the behest of President Barack Obama, who sought an overall reduction of government websites, prompting DOD officials to have Military OneSource absorb MilitaryHomefront.
“We looked for commonalities to merge the sites,” Lewis explained. “Though MilitaryHomefront had a service and family member component, it was … geared toward leadership and service providers [seeking] family programs, policy and reports.”
Officials therefore transferred the leadership and service provider information from soon-to-be retired MilitaryHomefront to the Military OneSource umbrella, Lewis said.
“We … met the expectations we had for the site. We wanted the content to be easy to find, [with] the website easy to use,” Lewis said, adding that user-driven content enables more customizable information.
“You can see what other people are looking for and see if they’re [seeking] the same thing,” Lewis said, adding the social media aspect of the site enables users to “retweet,” “like” and share mobile- and tablet-friendly information through personal networks.
Lewis noted the particular usefulness of the locator and directory widgets, which enable users to type in their installation and instantly connect to local resources and relocation assistance.
Military OneSource also provides round-the-clock consultants available worldwide to assist with family life topics ranging from moving to nonmedical counseling referral, including anger management and communication skills.
“Military OneSource offers 12 nonmedical counseling sessions per issue per person in your family at no cost,” Lewis said.
“[This] is your quality of life program so call, click and connect. We’re there for you.”
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2012 – As the Information Age continues to shape modern communication, the Defense Department has revitalized and consolidated the Military OneSource website to better serve military members and their families, a Pentagon official said in a recent interview.
Zona Lewis, military community outreach online and resource operations manager, told the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service that the Military OneSource overhaul incorporates new functionalities, enhanced social media platforms and multiple access methods.
“We took this opportunity to look at industry best practices, to look at social media capabilities and to investigate making a mobile platform,” Lewis said. “People are accessing information on their phones and iPads today. They’re not waiting until they get home or back to the office to get that information on a computer.”
The revamping, Lewis said, comes at the behest of President Barack Obama, who sought an overall reduction of government websites, prompting DOD officials to have Military OneSource absorb MilitaryHomefront.
“We looked for commonalities to merge the sites,” Lewis explained. “Though MilitaryHomefront had a service and family member component, it was … geared toward leadership and service providers [seeking] family programs, policy and reports.”
Officials therefore transferred the leadership and service provider information from soon-to-be retired MilitaryHomefront to the Military OneSource umbrella, Lewis said.
“We … met the expectations we had for the site. We wanted the content to be easy to find, [with] the website easy to use,” Lewis said, adding that user-driven content enables more customizable information.
“You can see what other people are looking for and see if they’re [seeking] the same thing,” Lewis said, adding the social media aspect of the site enables users to “retweet,” “like” and share mobile- and tablet-friendly information through personal networks.
Lewis noted the particular usefulness of the locator and directory widgets, which enable users to type in their installation and instantly connect to local resources and relocation assistance.
Military OneSource also provides round-the-clock consultants available worldwide to assist with family life topics ranging from moving to nonmedical counseling referral, including anger management and communication skills.
“Military OneSource offers 12 nonmedical counseling sessions per issue per person in your family at no cost,” Lewis said.
“[This] is your quality of life program so call, click and connect. We’re there for you.”
Navy, DoD, Developer Announce Wind Farm Agreement to Preserve Training Mission in South Texas
By
Kenneth Hess, Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness
Division Public Affairs
KINGSVILLE,
Texas (NNS) -- Officials from the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department
of the Navy (Navy), E.ON Climate & Renewables North America, LLC (ECRNA),
and Petronila Wind Farm, LLC, owned by ECRNA (Petronila Wind), announced a
memorandum of agreement (MOA) Nov. 27 to allow the developer to build and
operate new wind turbines in Nueces County, Texas, while working to protect the
Navy's ability to continue its training mission at NAS Kingsville and NAS
Corpus Christi.
Representatives
from each organization participated in a ceremony and base tour to commemorate
the agreement.
Signatories
to the agreement include Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for
Installations and Environment, John Conger; Principal Deputy (Acting) Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, Joseph
Ludovici; Deputy Director, Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental
Readiness Division, John Quinn; Commander, Navy Installations Command, Vice
Adm. William French; Commander, Navy Region Southeast, Rear Adm. Jack Scorby;
Commanding Officer, NAS Corpus Christi, Capt. David Edgecomb; Commanding
Officer, NAS Kingsville, Capt. Mark McLaughlin; Vice President of Petronila
Wind, Paul Bowman; and Chief Executive Officer, ECRNA, Steve Trenholm.
Under
the MOA, ECRNA will install and operate up to 100 wind turbines at the
Petronila Wind Farm site.
"The
Navy is at the forefront of alternative energy use and production, and the Navy
supports such projects when they are compatible with our mission," said
Rear Adm. Scorby. "The agreement will enable this wind turbine project to
move forward while putting measures in place that work to preserve vital pilot
training capability at NAS Kingsville and NAS Corpus Christi."
Under
the agreement, ECRNA will provide $750,000 in funding to DoD for researching,
testing and implementing solutions to mitigate potential impacts. Mitigation
efforts could include upgrades that allow the Navy radars to more accurately
detect aircraft; optimizing radars to "ignore" signals received from
wind turbines, incorporating new systems that fill in radar gaps, and other
technical modifications. To reduce the potential of radar interference, the new
turbines will be limited to 500 feet in height and will be confined to one 5 by
7 mile site within the existing Petronila Wind Farm project boundary.
The
agreement establishes a specific set of procedures the Navy and ECRNA will use
to safely curtail wind turbines when and if needed, and to document and address
emerging concerns. In addition, Navy, DoD, and Petronilla Wind will form a
joint working group to study the effectiveness of the mitigation measures
implemented
"This
agreement is a collaborative effort that proves the military and the wind
industry can find solutions that protect bases and still allow responsible development,"
said Steve Trenholm, CEO, ECRNA.
The
Navy and the Department of Defense will continue working closely with renewable
energy developers and local communities in South Texas to ensure local wind
turbine projects can coexist with the Navy mission.
Command announces 2012 Security Forces annual awards
11/27/2012 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command announced the 2012 Air Force Individual Security Forces Award winners Nov. 21.
The winners, by category are:
Capt. Bruce J. Lawler, 439th Security Forces Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Company Grade Officer.
Master Sgt. Juan C. Rodriguez, 452nd SFS, March ARB, Calif., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Senior NCO.
Tech Sgt. Nelson E. Brown III, 452nd SFS, March ARB, Calif., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level NCO.
Senior Airman Andrew J. Reynoso, 452nd SFS, March ARB, Calif., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Airman.
Master Sgt. Adam E. Jessee, 926th Force Support Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Outstanding Senior NCO Support Staff.
Staff Sgt. Zachary S. Enke, 926th FSS, Nellis AFB, Nev., Outstanding Security Forces NCO Support Staff.
Senior Airman Josh A. Bucknerberger, 910th SFS, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, Outstanding Security Forces Airman Support Staff.
Henry T. Bogan, 910th SFS, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, Outstanding Security Forces Flight-Level Civilian Award Supervisory Level.
Katherine S. Blackburn, 434th SFS, Grissom ARB, Ind., Outstanding Security Forces Flight-Level Civilian Award Non-Supervisory Level.
Dwayne Jackson, 926th FSS, Nellis AFB, Nev., Outstanding Security Forces Civilian Support Staff.
Master Sgt. Ray V. Kelly, Headquarters, AFRC/A7, Robins AFB, Ga., Outstanding Security Forces NCO Support Staff.
Austin R. Tosi, HQ AFRC/A7, Robins AFB, Ga., Outstanding Security Forces Civilian Support Staff.
Capt. Derrick H. Burks, 94th SFS, Dobbins ARB, Ga., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Company Grade Officer.
Master Sgt. Anthony C. Giardini, 439th SFS, Westover ARB, Mass., Outstanding Security Forces Senior NCO.
Tech Sgt. Scott E. Frazer, 934th SFS, Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn,. Outstanding Security Forces NCO.
Senior Airman Errol L. Flynn, 419th SFS, Hill AFB, Utah, Outstanding Security Forces Airman.
Master Sgt. John A. Falfas, 910th SFS, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, winner of the Col. Billy Jack Carter Award.
Senior Airman Alexander James, 910th SFS, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, winner of the Airman First Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award.
The winners, by category are:
Capt. Bruce J. Lawler, 439th Security Forces Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Company Grade Officer.
Master Sgt. Juan C. Rodriguez, 452nd SFS, March ARB, Calif., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Senior NCO.
Tech Sgt. Nelson E. Brown III, 452nd SFS, March ARB, Calif., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level NCO.
Senior Airman Andrew J. Reynoso, 452nd SFS, March ARB, Calif., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Airman.
Master Sgt. Adam E. Jessee, 926th Force Support Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Outstanding Senior NCO Support Staff.
Staff Sgt. Zachary S. Enke, 926th FSS, Nellis AFB, Nev., Outstanding Security Forces NCO Support Staff.
Senior Airman Josh A. Bucknerberger, 910th SFS, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, Outstanding Security Forces Airman Support Staff.
Henry T. Bogan, 910th SFS, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, Outstanding Security Forces Flight-Level Civilian Award Supervisory Level.
Katherine S. Blackburn, 434th SFS, Grissom ARB, Ind., Outstanding Security Forces Flight-Level Civilian Award Non-Supervisory Level.
Dwayne Jackson, 926th FSS, Nellis AFB, Nev., Outstanding Security Forces Civilian Support Staff.
Master Sgt. Ray V. Kelly, Headquarters, AFRC/A7, Robins AFB, Ga., Outstanding Security Forces NCO Support Staff.
Austin R. Tosi, HQ AFRC/A7, Robins AFB, Ga., Outstanding Security Forces Civilian Support Staff.
Capt. Derrick H. Burks, 94th SFS, Dobbins ARB, Ga., Outstanding Security Forces Flight Level Company Grade Officer.
Master Sgt. Anthony C. Giardini, 439th SFS, Westover ARB, Mass., Outstanding Security Forces Senior NCO.
Tech Sgt. Scott E. Frazer, 934th SFS, Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn,. Outstanding Security Forces NCO.
Senior Airman Errol L. Flynn, 419th SFS, Hill AFB, Utah, Outstanding Security Forces Airman.
Master Sgt. John A. Falfas, 910th SFS, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, winner of the Col. Billy Jack Carter Award.
Senior Airman Alexander James, 910th SFS, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, winner of the Airman First Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award.
Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman returns 'home' to help recover MIAs
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
11/27/2012 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)
An officer stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base traveled thousands of miles earlier this year to return to his birth country of Vietnam for the first time in eight years.
But Capt. Huy Tran wasn't there to reunite with his own family or friends. His mission was to help search for and recover missing Vietnam War personnel, a rewarding experience Tran says he won't soon forget.
In cooperation with the Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC), and the Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP), Tran played a vital role as a Vietnamese linguist on a recovery mission to bring home service members missing from the Vietnam War Era.
LEAP is operated by the Air Force Culture and Language Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. It is designed for those who have some existing language capability, and targets early-career Airmen most likely to take fullest advantage of language learning, maintenance and assignments.
Tran, who speaks and writes Vietnamese fluently, said he wanted to participate in LEAP because he was looking for a way to contribute his language skills to the military.
"LEAP has taken my language skills to another level and allowed me to utilize them to serve the Air Force," he said. "Programs like LEAP are what make the U.S. military second to none."
JPAC, on the other hand, conducts global search, recovery and laboratory operations to identify unaccounted-for Americans from past conflicts in order to support the Department of Defense's personnel accounting efforts. According to their website, JPAC continues to search for more than 83,000 Americans still missing from past conflicts.
This mission had a deeper meaning for Tran, who was born and raised in Vietnam until he was 11.
"As a son and grandson of South Vietnamese veterans, this recovery mission is dear to my heart," Tran said. "My father and grandfather were camp prisoners during the war. My grandfather served five years, and my dad served four years and 11 months in the prison camps."
Following his father's release from the prison camps, Tran and his family were offered an opportunity to relocate to the United States. They left Vietnam to pursue a new life in Rock Hill, S.C.
"After I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to be in the military," he said. "I never thought that being in the military would one day bring me back to Vietnam as a service member. It's completely changed from the time I left; Americans are more welcome now and the attitudes and hatred are no longer there."
Tran said he was excited when he found out he would be going on a recovery mission to search for missing Americans.
"I was thrilled that I was finally able to use my special language skills to contribute and serve," he said. "Being there gave me insight into what happened that day. It let me imagine what it would've been like to be in their situation. It makes you realize the importance of the mission."
The first leg of Tran's journey with his team took him from Hawaii, to Thailand, and finally to a rural area of Vietnam, where the objective was to locate a crew of American sailors who had gone missing during a flying mission in the conflict.
The opportunities offered through LEAP, coupled with those offered by JPAC, allowed Tran to put his language skills to special use by translating between his team members and Vietnamese government officials and other locals.
"I would translate everything for them, including negotiating the areas where we would be working, what materials and how many workers we would need," Tran explained. "They also needed me for everyday things, like buying equipment to do our work, or ordering food."
One of the most vital aspects of Tran's job as a team linguist, however, was interviewing witnesses to help narrow down the location and the circumstances where the service members first went missing.
Tran and his team negotiated with government officials to set up an area to camp, and an area to clear out some of the dense vegetation at the top of the mountain where the missing sailors were thought to be.
"By going through the rice fields, dense jungles, and up the mountain, it helped me relate to the time during which the crew got shot down," he said. "When we arrived at the crash site, we found aircraft parts lying everywhere. That moment was so surreal. It sent chills down my spine seeing so many aircraft pieces scattered on the ground. We knew then that we were in the right place."
Once those remains were uncovered and collected, they were sent to JPAC's Central Identification Laboratory, the largest and most diverse forensic skeletal laboratory in the world. Scientists from JPAC use circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools including dental comparisons and radiograph comparisons to analyze and identify remains.
Upon completion of the recovery mission, Tran and his team retraced their steps back home, first to Thailand, then to Hawaii, and finally to their respective destinations.
Tran said he looks forward to participating in more recovery missions like the one he completed earlier this year.
According to the Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office, since 1973, the remains of more than 900 Americans killed in the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Today, more than 1,600 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover its missing warriors.
"This JPAC mission was one of the most emotionally rewarding missions that I've had the honor to take part in," Tran said. "Most importantly, I was given a chance to bring heroes home to their families, and their final resting place. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that those families can finally have answers and closure."
Everyone has a story: Driving instructor's passion saves lives
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
11/26/2012 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va -- Editor's note: This story is part of the 2012 Joint Base Langley-Eustis fall series, highlighting individuals with interesting stories.
The only sound in the room was a cheerful voice, sharing humorous and significant stories. The woman's eyes lit up as she talked about rewarding memories, and her face became animated - as if every gesture breathed more life into her words.
But her smile faded as she recounted one of the most pivotal moments she experienced in her career.
It was 4 a.m. when the jarring ring woke her. She had no idea who would be on the other end, but knew it must be important - it was the on-call phone.
"This is the command post," the voice said flatly. "We have a fatality."
Instantly she woke up, panic rising in her chest. Having only recently started her job, she wondered if she was prepared for what she was about to experience.
When she arrived on scene, she learned two young Airmen were involved in an alcohol-related car accident. Only one survived. She began taking investigation photos, quietly asking the young man who died, "Why? That was the dumbest thing you could've done."
The scene faded from the woman's eyes, and she paused to take a deep breath before continuing.
"It was absolutely devastating," said Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Young, 633rd Air Base Wing Safety noncommissioned officer in charge. "It just put everything in perspective that what I do matters. It's all about the education."
To Young, that experience ultimately shaped her future in safety. The combination of her love of people and her passion for education led her to become an exemplary Airman and award-winning defensive driving instructor.
"What makes her stand out the most is that she is dedicated to what our safety mission is, which is saving lives," said Master Sgt. Dawn Moninger, 633rd Air Base Wing Safety superintendent. "She takes that mission personally, and that's the difference between just doing a job and having a calling in life."
Although Young has been in the Air Force more than 15 years, her journey to become a defensive driving instructor started only three years ago, when she was retrained from her current career field.
"Safety was on the list, and I thought, 'Oh, I can do safety - AF Form 55s? That's easy,' because that's all I knew about safety," said Young. She smiled as she reflected back to her training experience. "Technical school was a rude awakening, but I started really liking it."
Young became a certified instructor at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. She began teaching driving safety after she relocated to Lages Field Azores, Portugal. Her primary students were from the First Term Airman Center, which she found to be an extremely rewarding experience.
"When I talk to my FTAC students, they say 'I appreciate the training you gave me - I was in a situation where I had to make a decision, and I chose otherwise because of your training,'" said Young. "That's the rewarding thing of it all. When you give them your personal experiences, make yourself vulnerable and open yourself to them, it makes it that much easier. Then they know it's not just another briefing."
According to Moninger, Young's positive energy and attitude has a lasting effect on her students, which makes her teaching more effective.
"She has this dynamic and charisma about her that reaches out and touches each of her students in ways that motivate them to keep themselves safe," said Moninger. "It makes a difference when it's a person who's instructing from their heart versus instructing from their head, because the people who sit in her class take in her inspiration, and it motivates them to enact in their lives what she's teaching them."
Young's dedication for teaching doesn't stop in the military classroom. She also pays for instructional materials out-of-pocket in order to teach community members off-base, hoping to instill the same driving safety lessons she teaches Service members.
"We have to learn to bridge the gap with our community," said Young. "We fight for the rights of the people that don't fight next to us. If I can go to the desert and fight for them, then why can't I educate them with having this certification?"
According to Moninger, Young's dedication and passion for the safety mission is one that leaves an impression not just on her students, but her colleagues as well.
"She is a fantastic role model for my team," said Moninger. "My team is a group of professionals, but the nature of safety is that we have new NCOs that come in and they're training as a three-level, so for them to come in a see a role model of her caliber, it really sets the tone for how their training goes, and who in turn they transform into as a safety professional."
According to Tech. Sgt. Oliver K. Missick, the 633rd Air Base Wing Safety inspection program manager, Young's devotion to her colleagues touches them on a more personal level as well.
"She's very enthusiastic and very charismatic," said Missick. "It affects the office in a positive light, and trickles through the whole office. She's also very caring - we call her 'Mother Goose.'"
Moninger said that the qualities that Young possesses carry through in everything she does, and that there are many things that she does on a daily basis that go unnoticed.
"She's behind the scenes and she's not getting the kudos for all the unseen things she does," said Moninger. "It makes it especially poignant when she is recognized because that's not what she's seeking."
Young's most recent recognition was received during the 2012 National Safety Council Congress and Expo, Oct. 20. Young was awarded the 2011 Defensive Driving Courses Alive at 25 U.S. Air Force Instructor of the Year award, being recognized for her education efforts while stationed at Lages Field Azores, Portugal. The Alive at 25 course aims to educate those in vulnerable age groups, focusing on defensive driving strategies.
Young's dedication to the safety mission has garnered much recognition, including being awarded the Untied States Air Forces in Europe 2011 Federally Employed Woman Meritorious Service Award, the 65th Air Base Wing 2011 Tuskegee Airmen Military Award and the 65th Air Base Wing 2011 GEICO Military Service Award. In addition to her individual awards, Young has also been recognized in both group and mentored awards.
Although she is proud of her many accolades, receiving recognition is not what motivates Young to succeed.
"Awards are not a factor. To be awarded for something that you have a passion for and that you love to do, that's just a double positive," said Young. "It's been a humbling experience. I have a passion for people and I love what I do. When I say I love people, it's an understatement. It's just what I do."
And with that, she smiled, filling the room with a sense of warmth and genuineness, making it clear that there could be no personality better suited to convey such a message of importance - a message with the potential to save a life.
Monday, November 26, 2012
NCO earns Bronze Star
by Senior Airman Nick Wilson
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
11/26/2012 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- An Airman with the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron was presented the Bronze Star for meritorious service at a ceremony here Nov. 20.
Tech. Sgt. James Hoskins, 509th LRS quality assurance inspector, was presented the award by Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, 509th Bomb Wing commander.
"For what it represents, [receiving the award] is very humbling," Hoskins said. "I'm just thankful I was even considered for it, let alone awarded it. It's a very big deal, so I'm pretty happy."
Hoskins served on a one-year deployment from July 2011 to July 2012 as a combat fuels advisor to the Afghan National Army Materiel Management Center, which is part of the Strategic Operations branch, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.
As a combat advisor, his primary duty was to train and equip the Afghan National Army.
"I scheduled convoys, moving all classes of supply throughout the country, from the main capital center to areas throughout the region," he said.
By equipping troops for the fight, Hoskins' actions directly contributed to coalition efforts on the frontlines.
"None of our advisor team could train the security missions and teach Afghans how to fight with weapons if they weren't getting the supplies they needed," Hoskins said.
Hoskins' daily routine also focused heavily on patrols outside the wire, patrols which were conducted six days a week.
"I had more than 420 combat patrols under my belt during the duration of the deployment," Hoskins said. "Most of the time, I was the lead 240-Bravo gunner, so...traveling on roads with vehicle-born improvised explosive devices, and being at risk to combatants with firearms, was a constant threat."
Hoskins had to work above both his pay grade and outside his area of expertise while deployed with joint and coalition forces. His deployed responsibilities differed greatly from those in his job at Whiteman, where he serves as a quality assurance inspector.
Hoskins said the switch from an on-guard tactical mentality to that of a strategic combat advisor was quite a challenge.
"Here, we get so focused at what we're doing at just one base or within a MAJCOM," Hoskins said. "Over there you were seeing how what you did impacted national-level logistics."
With an eventful schedule of combat patrolling and advising, Hoskins' days sometimes lasted 16 or 17 hours.
"Carrying 80 pounds of gear for multiple days is mentally and physically fatiguing," Hoskins said. "And I never had time to recover. I never got a day off to just sit and relax and let my mind run free because I was constantly being tasked."
Working an entire year without a day off was not the only challenge for Hoskins.
"The differences in the U.S. and Afghan cultures [were] also a difficult adjustment," Hoskins said. "Saturdays were the start of our weeks. The one day we did not roll outside the wire was Fridays, which we spent developing programs, answering emails, attending meetings and hosting video teleconferences."
Overall, Hoskins' duties were extremely stressful because of the challenges he faced outside his scope of expertise.
"There were times when we executed tasks on what seemed liked an unrealistic timetable, but we as the junior enlisted force always pulled up our boots and made it happen," Hoskins said.
One of Hoskins' major accomplishments was compiling a 106-page document that provided Afghans step-by-step procedures for core processes.
"I took the decade-old document, wiped the slate clean and wrote them a more comprehensive one," Hoskins said. "It was routed up to the Afghan National Command and signed by their Minister of Defense."
After the signing, the document was released to the Afghan National Army for immediate implementation.
"Arriving to the area as a young staff sergeant who just pinned on technical sergeant, Hoskins was advising an Afghan National Army full-bird colonel," said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Fujimoto, 509th LRS squadron superintendent. "With U.S. Forces and coalition partners, Hoskins stepped up to each challenge, keeping the mission moving forward."
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
11/26/2012 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- An Airman with the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron was presented the Bronze Star for meritorious service at a ceremony here Nov. 20.
Tech. Sgt. James Hoskins, 509th LRS quality assurance inspector, was presented the award by Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, 509th Bomb Wing commander.
"For what it represents, [receiving the award] is very humbling," Hoskins said. "I'm just thankful I was even considered for it, let alone awarded it. It's a very big deal, so I'm pretty happy."
Hoskins served on a one-year deployment from July 2011 to July 2012 as a combat fuels advisor to the Afghan National Army Materiel Management Center, which is part of the Strategic Operations branch, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.
As a combat advisor, his primary duty was to train and equip the Afghan National Army.
"I scheduled convoys, moving all classes of supply throughout the country, from the main capital center to areas throughout the region," he said.
By equipping troops for the fight, Hoskins' actions directly contributed to coalition efforts on the frontlines.
"None of our advisor team could train the security missions and teach Afghans how to fight with weapons if they weren't getting the supplies they needed," Hoskins said.
Hoskins' daily routine also focused heavily on patrols outside the wire, patrols which were conducted six days a week.
"I had more than 420 combat patrols under my belt during the duration of the deployment," Hoskins said. "Most of the time, I was the lead 240-Bravo gunner, so...traveling on roads with vehicle-born improvised explosive devices, and being at risk to combatants with firearms, was a constant threat."
Hoskins had to work above both his pay grade and outside his area of expertise while deployed with joint and coalition forces. His deployed responsibilities differed greatly from those in his job at Whiteman, where he serves as a quality assurance inspector.
Hoskins said the switch from an on-guard tactical mentality to that of a strategic combat advisor was quite a challenge.
"Here, we get so focused at what we're doing at just one base or within a MAJCOM," Hoskins said. "Over there you were seeing how what you did impacted national-level logistics."
With an eventful schedule of combat patrolling and advising, Hoskins' days sometimes lasted 16 or 17 hours.
"Carrying 80 pounds of gear for multiple days is mentally and physically fatiguing," Hoskins said. "And I never had time to recover. I never got a day off to just sit and relax and let my mind run free because I was constantly being tasked."
Working an entire year without a day off was not the only challenge for Hoskins.
"The differences in the U.S. and Afghan cultures [were] also a difficult adjustment," Hoskins said. "Saturdays were the start of our weeks. The one day we did not roll outside the wire was Fridays, which we spent developing programs, answering emails, attending meetings and hosting video teleconferences."
Overall, Hoskins' duties were extremely stressful because of the challenges he faced outside his scope of expertise.
"There were times when we executed tasks on what seemed liked an unrealistic timetable, but we as the junior enlisted force always pulled up our boots and made it happen," Hoskins said.
One of Hoskins' major accomplishments was compiling a 106-page document that provided Afghans step-by-step procedures for core processes.
"I took the decade-old document, wiped the slate clean and wrote them a more comprehensive one," Hoskins said. "It was routed up to the Afghan National Command and signed by their Minister of Defense."
After the signing, the document was released to the Afghan National Army for immediate implementation.
"Arriving to the area as a young staff sergeant who just pinned on technical sergeant, Hoskins was advising an Afghan National Army full-bird colonel," said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Fujimoto, 509th LRS squadron superintendent. "With U.S. Forces and coalition partners, Hoskins stepped up to each challenge, keeping the mission moving forward."
Commander announces safety award winners
11/26/2012 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Lt.
Gen. James Jackson, commander of Air Force Reserve Command, announced
AFRC's safety award winners for fiscal 2012 in a memorandum Nov. 19.
General category award winners are:
Safety office of the year - 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio
Safety officer (primary duty) - Lt. Col. Ricky G. Adams, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
Safety officer (additional duty) - Capt. Michael R, Murphy, 18th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
Flight safety award winners are:
Aircrew of distinction award - Scout 12, 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
Outstanding achievement award for flight safety - 910th AW Safety Office, Youngstown ARS
Pilot of distinction award - Lt. Col. Stephen G. D'Amico, 339th Flight Testing Squadron, Robins AFB
Ground safety award winners are:
NCO of the year (primary duty) - Tech. Sgt. Jennifer L. Sears, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
NCO of the year (additional duty) - Master Sgt. Robert M. Wynn, 512th Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
Civilian of the year - Justin D. Johnston, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
Weapons safety award winners are:
Outstanding achievement award - 452nd AMW Safety Office, March ARB
Civilian of the year - Travis G. Stewart, 419th FW, Hill AFB
NCO of the year - Senior Master Sgt. George Caprioli
The award winners will represent the command at the Air Force-level competition.
General category award winners are:
Safety office of the year - 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio
Safety officer (primary duty) - Lt. Col. Ricky G. Adams, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
Safety officer (additional duty) - Capt. Michael R, Murphy, 18th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
Flight safety award winners are:
Aircrew of distinction award - Scout 12, 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
Outstanding achievement award for flight safety - 910th AW Safety Office, Youngstown ARS
Pilot of distinction award - Lt. Col. Stephen G. D'Amico, 339th Flight Testing Squadron, Robins AFB
Ground safety award winners are:
NCO of the year (primary duty) - Tech. Sgt. Jennifer L. Sears, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
NCO of the year (additional duty) - Master Sgt. Robert M. Wynn, 512th Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
Civilian of the year - Justin D. Johnston, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
Weapons safety award winners are:
Outstanding achievement award - 452nd AMW Safety Office, March ARB
Civilian of the year - Travis G. Stewart, 419th FW, Hill AFB
NCO of the year - Senior Master Sgt. George Caprioli
The award winners will represent the command at the Air Force-level competition.
CSAF, CMSAF visit Malmstrom AFB
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
11/26/2012 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy visited Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Nov. 19 and 20 to meet with Airmen and see the base's nuclear deterrence mission.
Welsh and Roy spoke at an Airman's Call where they emphasized that Airmen, driven by pride, do their best when performing their jobs and accomplishing the mission.
"In our business, great people plus pride equals performance," Welsh said. "And we only have one bottom line in this business, and that's performance. The American people are going to judge us on one thing: do we win the next war."
Comprehensive Airman Fitness -- caring for Airman and families -- has an important role in that, according to Roy.
"The whole idea and essence behind this is to know each other and to know yourself; to know your breaking point and be able to work through that," Roy said. "Know your buddy's breaking point -- your wingman's breaking point -- and be able to work through that. And this also goes for your families."
While visiting Malmstrom Air Force Base, the Air Force leaders met with Airmen who support the Air Force's nuclear enterprise through specialized capabilities. This included first responders like fire protection, explosive ordnance disposal and security forces during an emergency responder expo. Following the expo, the two visited the 341st Medical Group and 341st Maintenance Group for additional tours and discussions with Airmen.
Betty Welsh and Paula Roy also visited with the Airmen of Team Malmstrom. They toured the Airmen's Center and Grizzly Bend where they spoke to Airmen and Family Readiness personnel and key spouses about the programs available to support Airmen, families, retirees and the community.
Welsh and Roy wrapped up their tour of Malmstrom at a luncheon with various members of wing leadership. This luncheon was a chance for the squadron commanders, wing chiefs, the Airman Executive Council, the 5/6 Alliance Council, and others to talk with the Air Force's senior leaders.
During the lunch, Welsh underscored what he said about performance during the Airman's Call.
"Folks, our job is to fight and win the nation's wars," Welsh said. "It's an ugly job. It's a really ugly job some days, but if your job is to do that -- to defend your nation and your people -- then you'll never be good enough at it. So every day you come to work, you ought to be trying to get better at it."
Commentary: This is how we do
Command Chief, Air Force Materiel Command
11/26/2012 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The other night I was driving home from work listening to the radio. A commercial came on for Mountain Dew and Jason Aldean, a popular country singer, said, "This is how I do" -- then went on to explain his life philosophy. Later I saw a commercial with another music star that was advertising for Mountain Dew. He also said, "This is how I do" and explained his philosophy. That "how I do" tagline prompted me to think about what we do as NCOs. In essence, "this is how we do."
This is how we do: the mission. As Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh III said, "No one will care how well you take care of your people if we lose the next war." NCOs understand the priorities of the Air Force, our command, our center, our wing and our squadron. We know how important it is to educate our Airmen on the mission so they know what they are driving toward and how their actions are instrumental in getting that mission done.
This is how we do: values. NCOs know, care about and enforce our core values. We embrace, preach and live the guidelines set forth in our Enlisted Force Structure, and we absolutely embrace the responsibility to train our Airmen in their specialty, to be masters at their trade, and to teach them how to be professional Airmen.
This is how we do: priorities. NCOs know what is important. People are important. What is going on in their lives is important. Development of our Airmen is important. Discipline is important. Fitness is important. Honest, direct feedback and honest evaluations are important. Leadership by example is important. Open communication with Airmen is important. Face-to-face interaction is important.
This is how we do: conviction. NCOs know when to stand up for what we believe -- standards, discipline, core values, EPR ratings that are earned. When something needs to be said, NCOs say it. When something needs corrected, NCOs correct it. If someone has earned recognition, NCOs make it happen. We cannot just go with the flow, be silent or ignore problems. Because we stand up for what we believe, inaction is not part of our behavior.
This is how we do: leadership. First, NCOs know leadership is hard work. For every one leader, there are 1,000 critics. This does not deter us. Hard work is expected; hard work is given. There is no room for laziness in good, old-fashioned NCO leadership. Being an NCO is tough, but so what -- it wouldn't be as critical to our Air Force, our mission or our Airmen if it weren't tough. We earned the promotion because our leadership knew we could do it.
Second, once we've proven ourselves up to the challenge, NCOs realize that leadership is a gift given by those that follow. Being in charge and being a leader are not the same thing. NCOs know the difference and we know it is us who determines where we stand. NCOs embrace that leadership isn't a popularity contest -- it is about living up to what it means "to serve" and to be called Sergeant. We know Airmen don't want a soft leader. They want someone who will push them to be the best they can be, to challenge them, to discipline them, to listen to them and to care about them.
Finally, NCOs use digital as a tool, not a leadership method. NCO leadership is all about one-on-one, face-to-face, daily dialogue with our Airmen. Being an NCO means training them and leading them in person, not by absentee means. Just because it is quicker to send an email or make a phone call does not mean it is the best way to lead.
This is how we do: the Wingman Concept. People are our most valuable resource ... period. As the saying goes, people will never care how much you know until they know how much you care. Every Airman has a story -- why they chose to serve, what they hope to accomplish, what degree they want to earn, where they want to be assigned. NCOs know those stories because we ask, because we care, because it is part of being an NCO. We know where our Airmen live, who they are married to or dating, what their kids' names are, if their parents are sick. NCOs care about our Airmen and our Airmen know we are there to help. This is part of developing resilient Airmen for our Air Force.
This is how we do: honor. NCOs know being an NCO means something. It isn't about the pay. It isn't about the privileges. It isn't about the amount of time spent in the Air Force. It means something to be a leader of Airmen and to be entrusted with their development. It means something to be called Sergeant or Shirt or Chief. It means something because of all the great NCOs that have come before us and set the stage. We know we have to live up to all of that.
As NCOs, this is how we do!
Face of Defense: Soldier Keeps ‘Comms Up’ for Exercise
By Army Sgt. Katryn Tuton
50th Public Affairs Detachment
FORT BRAGG, N.C., Nov. 26, 2012 – It is an unusual Thursday morning when Army Spc. Sean Locke gets to skip physical training. Usually, he would be outside in the winter cold, more than likely running from one place to another and back again.
But there is a good reason why he’s not running at 6 a.m. In
addition to being a computer systems repairer, he also is a member of
Task Force Bragg’s assault command post.
50th Public Affairs Detachment
FORT BRAGG, N.C., Nov. 26, 2012 – It is an unusual Thursday morning when Army Spc. Sean Locke gets to skip physical training. Usually, he would be outside in the winter cold, more than likely running from one place to another and back again.
|
The roughly 60 members
of the ACP are a vital element of maintaining 18th Airborne Corps forced
entry capabilities into a hostile country. They work hand in hand with
the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division and support the infantry
element with communications, medical, intelligence and command
capabilities.
So, instead of PT, Locke reported to his company area to test and prepare the radios that will tumble out of airplanes in the rucksacks of paratroopers.
“I’m proud to be a part of the [ACP], because only a select amount of people get to do it,” said Locke, who serves with Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 18th Airborne Corps. “My company commander came to me personally and asked if I wanted to be a part of it, so I feel privileged to have the opportunity to do this.”
After preparing for the night’s exercise, the regular work also has to be done. Before he could get out of the room where the radios are secured, another soldier asked for Locke’s help installing a radio into a vehicle for a weapons qualification range that afternoon.
“That’s just part of my job,” said Locke, who installed a radio into Humvee and established communications with range control. “I set up the radio last week, so I was asked again because they knew I could do it.”
Later, at a nearby baseball field, Locke and the rest of the communications team set up their radios in a dugout to stay out of the rain. With antennas sticking out through the chain-link fence, the soldiers practiced jumping out of planes and organizing themselves on the drop zone.
All radios successfully communicated with the Fort Bragg Operations Center, and the paratroopers repacked their gear into their rucksacks. They loaded onto buses for the short ride to Green Ramp, where their C-130 Hercules aircraft was staged.
The soldiers waited in the passenger terminal until the sun went down, but at 6 p.m. the jump was cancelled because cloud cover was too low for jumpmasters to ensure the drop zone was clear of hazards.
Locke shrugged off the cancellation.
“I honestly don’t mind,” he said, laughing. “It’s good training, and I understand why we do it, but it hurts when you hit the ground with an additional 70 pounds of gear.”
Instead of completing the exercise with the airborne jump, the group moved to a nearby field and simulated landing on the drop zone.
Using night-vision goggles to see in the dark, the team rallied at a designated point and headed in small groups toward the patrol base that was being set up. After an accountability check for personnel and equipment, the radiomen started working toward establishing communications with the Fort Bragg Operations Center and the designated secure tactical satellite.
Locke unfolded a small antenna and began radio checks. Within a few minutes, he gave a thumbs-up and called “comms are up” to the operations commander.
“Commo is our weapon,” said Army Col. Bruce Parker, operations officer for 18th Airborne Corps and commander of the exercise. “If we can’t talk, then we aren’t any good. “Our whole job is to get out here and establish communications, be able to shape conditions for the unit that’s jumping in with joint fires, joint intelligence, so we are feeding them information. If you can’t talk, you are just another rifleman on the drop zone, no matter what your rank.”
Communication is important because it’s the only way leaders can communicate and work as one team, said Locke, who along with five other soldiers was able to establish comms with the operations center. But the two soldiers establishing contact with the tactical satellites weren’t having as much luck.
“The cloud cover is making the signal come in and out. We can’t get a solid lock,” said Army Spc. Robert Mitzek, the satellite RTO for the command group.
While the soldiers continued to try to establish satellite communication, others performed medical evacuation and perimeter security training.
Thirty minutes later, Parker called everyone together to discuss the exercise’s successes and challenges. Then the group loaded back onto the buses and returned to the company area. The radios and weapons were secured, and after a short briefing, the soldiers were released to go home.
When Locke got home around 11:30 p.m., he found that his wife, Heather, had left food out for him.
“The hours are just part of being in the Army,” Locke said. “What matters is that the training teaches us something, and there were soldiers out there that had never done this in the dark. It’s always good training when at the end of it we can say we learned something.”
So, instead of PT, Locke reported to his company area to test and prepare the radios that will tumble out of airplanes in the rucksacks of paratroopers.
“I’m proud to be a part of the [ACP], because only a select amount of people get to do it,” said Locke, who serves with Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 18th Airborne Corps. “My company commander came to me personally and asked if I wanted to be a part of it, so I feel privileged to have the opportunity to do this.”
After preparing for the night’s exercise, the regular work also has to be done. Before he could get out of the room where the radios are secured, another soldier asked for Locke’s help installing a radio into a vehicle for a weapons qualification range that afternoon.
“That’s just part of my job,” said Locke, who installed a radio into Humvee and established communications with range control. “I set up the radio last week, so I was asked again because they knew I could do it.”
Later, at a nearby baseball field, Locke and the rest of the communications team set up their radios in a dugout to stay out of the rain. With antennas sticking out through the chain-link fence, the soldiers practiced jumping out of planes and organizing themselves on the drop zone.
All radios successfully communicated with the Fort Bragg Operations Center, and the paratroopers repacked their gear into their rucksacks. They loaded onto buses for the short ride to Green Ramp, where their C-130 Hercules aircraft was staged.
The soldiers waited in the passenger terminal until the sun went down, but at 6 p.m. the jump was cancelled because cloud cover was too low for jumpmasters to ensure the drop zone was clear of hazards.
Locke shrugged off the cancellation.
“I honestly don’t mind,” he said, laughing. “It’s good training, and I understand why we do it, but it hurts when you hit the ground with an additional 70 pounds of gear.”
Instead of completing the exercise with the airborne jump, the group moved to a nearby field and simulated landing on the drop zone.
Using night-vision goggles to see in the dark, the team rallied at a designated point and headed in small groups toward the patrol base that was being set up. After an accountability check for personnel and equipment, the radiomen started working toward establishing communications with the Fort Bragg Operations Center and the designated secure tactical satellite.
Locke unfolded a small antenna and began radio checks. Within a few minutes, he gave a thumbs-up and called “comms are up” to the operations commander.
“Commo is our weapon,” said Army Col. Bruce Parker, operations officer for 18th Airborne Corps and commander of the exercise. “If we can’t talk, then we aren’t any good. “Our whole job is to get out here and establish communications, be able to shape conditions for the unit that’s jumping in with joint fires, joint intelligence, so we are feeding them information. If you can’t talk, you are just another rifleman on the drop zone, no matter what your rank.”
Communication is important because it’s the only way leaders can communicate and work as one team, said Locke, who along with five other soldiers was able to establish comms with the operations center. But the two soldiers establishing contact with the tactical satellites weren’t having as much luck.
“The cloud cover is making the signal come in and out. We can’t get a solid lock,” said Army Spc. Robert Mitzek, the satellite RTO for the command group.
While the soldiers continued to try to establish satellite communication, others performed medical evacuation and perimeter security training.
Thirty minutes later, Parker called everyone together to discuss the exercise’s successes and challenges. Then the group loaded back onto the buses and returned to the company area. The radios and weapons were secured, and after a short briefing, the soldiers were released to go home.
When Locke got home around 11:30 p.m., he found that his wife, Heather, had left food out for him.
“The hours are just part of being in the Army,” Locke said. “What matters is that the training teaches us something, and there were soldiers out there that had never done this in the dark. It’s always good training when at the end of it we can say we learned something.”
Capitol Christmas Tree makes pit-stop
22nd Air Refueling Wing
11/26/2012 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The 2012 Capitol Christmas Tree arrived on the west lawn this morning after spending the night at McConnell Air Force Base, Kans., Nov. 16, 2012, on its way from Colorado.
The Capitol Christmas tree has been a tradition since 1964 when a live tree was planted on the west lawn of the Capitol. The Department of Agriculture Forest Service began providing trees in 1969.
Each year a tree is harvested from a different national forest and 2012 marks the third time that Colorado has provided a tree.
This year's tree came from the Blanco Ranger District of the White River National Forest near Meeker, Colo., and makes its journey after 74 years in the forest.
"I hope everybody can enjoy the tree," said Paul Krisanicks, U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer. "It's been wonderful, seeing the turnout with the stops we've been making."
While the tree was on base, Airmen and visitors had the opportunity to sign the banner surrounding the trailer that will then be hung on display with the tree.
"I wanted my daughter to be able to see the tree that is going to be displayed in front of the Capitol," said Staff Sgt. Megan Hay, 22nd Medical Operations Squadron medical technician. "I didn't realize how big it was, it's really neat to be able to see it like this."
After the night stay at McConnell, the crew and tree continued on their eastbound journey to the Capitol arriving at Andrews AFB, Md. Sunday.
Speaker of the House John Boehner will officially light the more than 70-feet tall tree during the Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 4. Following the ceremony, the tree will be lit from dusk to 11 p.m. each evening through Dec. 26.
Editors note: Air Mobility Command Public Affairs contributed to this article.
317th Airlift Group awarded Meritorious Unit Award
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
11/26/2012 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 317th Airlift Group received the Meritorious Unit Award in recognition of their superior accomplishments from July 2011 to June 2012.
This award is given to units that show exceptional meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days.
The unit qualified for this award by making tremendous and singularly distinctive contributions in support of the United States tactical airlift objectives, Air Mobility Command's global airlift mission and the direct support of overseas contingency operations.
"This award is very special to me because every member of the group contributed to earning it," said Col. Walter H. Ward, 317th Airlift Group commander. "Teamwork is the enabler of all our successes, and I'm pleased to see our group recognized for getting the job done in a manner true to service before self. There are so many reasons to be proud of the Airmen and families of the 317th Airlift Group; this is just one more to add to the list. I'm very proud of all of them and humbled to be part of this magnificent team."
According to the award citation, 317th AG personnel executed 9,359 sorties that delivered over 137,391 personnel and 27,940 tons of cargo in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
These efforts were instrumental to the closure of combat operations in Iraq while sustaining the surge in Afghanistan. These missions included Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance data collection, medical evacuation and psychological operations.
Additionally, the dedication of the men and women of the 317th AG is marked by 3,116 consecutive days deployed throughout the world.
This is the third time the 317th AG has received the MUA.
Members assigned to the group from July 2011 to June 2012 are authorized to wear the MUA ribbon for supporting Overseas Contingency Operations.
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