Centcom, Africom Nominees Tout Importance of Partnerships

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2013 – Two generals nominated to lead U.S. combatant commands focused on the role of partnerships in national defense strategy in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today.

Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, nominated to lead U.S. Central Command, and Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, the president’s nominee to lead U.S. Africa Command, testified together in a confirmation hearing.

Centcom’s area of responsibility covers 20 countries in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Yemen. While the Centcom commander doesn’t control combat operations in Afghanistan, the command is responsible for supporting those operations.

Austin, now the Army’s vice chief of staff, told senators the war in Afghanistan remains Centcom’s top priority. President Barack Obama announced this week that 34,000 U.S. troops, about half of those now there, will leave Afghanistan over the next year.

The movement of people and equipment that will involve, Austin told senators, will be a “herculean undertaking.”

The general noted he oversaw a similar effort as commander of U.S. forces in Iraq in 2010 and 2011. If confirmed as Centcom commander, he said, “I will do everything within my power to help set the broader conditions for our success in this most important endeavor.”

Austin said the nation owes a debt of gratitude to current Centcom commander Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, who will retire in March.

“General Mattis has led Central Command masterfully over these past two and a half years,” he said.

Mattis’ leadership and his team’s efforts over a decisive period “have been tremendous,” Austin said. “If confirmed, I intend to sustain and continue this important work.”

The general acknowledged Centcom’s mission is demanding.

“Our national interests, and those of our allies and friends, demand vigilance,” he said, “as well as our continued commitment to … address the many challenges that exist, and to achieve and maintain stability throughout the Middle East, and South and Central Asia.”

In a complex and “extremely volatile” world, Austin said, “much of the instability and associated challenges reside in the Centcom area of responsibility.”

The role of a combatant command is to be prepared to respond to contingencies whenever they occur, he said.

“If we truly want to have an effective and lasting impact in the region, our friends and allies must be assured of our support, and our potential adversaries must understand that there will be consequences for their actions,” he said.

Austin said the years since 9/11 have demonstrated that agencies responsible for elements of national power - military, economic and diplomatic – must work together. He said he has worked closely with senior military and civilian officials across government, and with partner nations’ government and military leaders.

“I can personally attest to the effectiveness of these kinds of collaborations,” he said. “If confirmed, I will continue to cultivate my existing relationships, while pursuing additional opportunities and partnerships that will surely prove beneficial to our efforts.”

The general said while these are “historic and difficult times,” they are marked by new opportunities and a shared desire for peace and prosperity, even in places that haven’t known them before.
“I fully appreciate that the work ahead will be great and the road will not be easy,” Austin said. “But if confirmed, I pledge to give all that I have towards our success, and ensuring the success of our allies and friends around the world, in this most worthy endeavor.”

Africom, formally established in 2008 with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, is the nation’s newest geographical combatant command, responsible for operations, exercises and security cooperation on the African continent.

Rodriguez now serves as head of the Army’s Forces Command. He said in a brief opening statement that if confirmed to lead Africom, he will “[work] closely with this committee, as well as all our joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational partners to address the challenges we face, and the opportunities to increase stability on this strategically important continent.”

Strong partnerships are key to that stability, Rodriguez said. He credited Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, the current Africom commander, with sustaining such partnerships among the 54 nations of Africa and “providing the foundation for our continued engagement across the continent and globally.”
Rodriguez said that if confirmed, he hopes to expand on the work Ham has done.

F-22 Demo practices at Tyndall

by Staff Sgt. Rachelle Elsea
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/14/2013 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- Tyndall Air Force Base hosted the F-22 Demonstration Pilot, as he took to the wide open blue skies in a practice F-22 Raptor demonstration run Feb. 8.

"I came to Tyndall for two reasons," said Maj. Henry Schantz, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va. "I wanted to spin back up for the new season, and I needed to get some practice sorties in. The 325th Fighter Wing was nice enough to let me come down and fly one of their aircraft. At the same time, it is always great because Tyndall support shows, and the Airmen get to see what all their hard work goes towards."

The demo runs are needed to regain currency for the year.

Schantz began his military flying career in 2000, flying the F-22 Raptor in 2005 and became an F-22 demo pilot in 2010.

"This is my fourth time at Tyndall," Schantz said. "It is great to be back to what feels like home. It is one of the only places that I have lived beside Virginia, and I like having the opportunity to reacquaint with old friends will being able to show off the aircraft and what I do."

When I was here as the wing executive officer, I was put in and interviewed for the job," Schantz said. "I am now starting my third year as the F-22 demonstration pilot. I love what I do. It is one of those jobs where you can't help but have a smile on your face."

Schantz flies on average 20 to 25 shows a year.

"I love the F-22," Schantz said. "Pilots have said, after transitioning from older aircraft, it is like going from a jalopy to a corvette. The best thing about the aircraft is that it's the newest fighter that is operational, it's the only 5th generation operational and it has capabilities that no other aircraft in the world has."

The major usually travels from show to show with a large team.

"The F-22 demo team incorporates about 17 people, including safety officers, other pilots who fly the jet to and from venues, and avionics, specialists and crew chiefs," Schantz said. "I have a full-time superintendent and team chief who also help me plan and coordinate the shows."

Due to Tyndall's F-22 mission, he was able to work Airmen already stationed here.

"For a place like Tyndall, I am able to use the local maintenance teams to help me fly," Schantz said.

For the Airmen of the 43rd Fighter Squadron this is a thrilling and exciting opportunity.

"It is also a morale booster for the Airmen on the flightline," said Staff Sgt. Bobby Collins, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief.

Schantz was also anxious to give the Airmen a demonstration.

Sergeant Collins and other Airmen in the maintenance profession know how vital their role is and appreciate the major's sentiment.

"I like knowing that whatever I do, maintenance wise, is important to bringing the pilot home safe," said Staff Sgt. Bobby Collins, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief. "For today, we provided an aircraft, launching out, recovering and making sure the aircraft we provided was ready for a demo launch and was able to do the maneuvers."

Colorado Guardsmen exchange aviation safety practices with Royal Jordanian Air Force

by Capt. Kinder Blacke
140th Wing Public Affairs

2/14/2013 - BUCKLEY AFB, Colo. -- The 140th Wing safety office hosted members of the Royal Jordanian Air Force last week to exchange ideas and best practices about aviation safety and build relationships as part of the Colorado National Guard's State Partnership Program.

Four Jordanian F-16 pilots, a flight doctor and a maintenance member spent the week receiving and conducting briefings and question and answer sessions with various members of the wing, coordinated and facilitated by the 140th Wing's Chief of Safety, Lt. Col. Mitchell Neff.

"The main focus of the Jordanians' visit here was to demonstrate how the Colorado Air National Guard goes about preventing mishaps and the steps taken to mitigate risks in our flying operations," said Neff, "and to gain insight from each other's respective experiences and best practices."

The week's agenda covered a diverse array of safety topics, such as flight safety, the Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazards Program, foreign object damage, flight medicine, and physical fitness, to name just a few.

"Our goals this week were to explain and then provide the opportunities to watch how the U.S. Air Force and the Colorado Guard incorporates Aviation Safety programs effectively into daily operations," explained Neff. "We gave plenty of briefings but we also let them witness first-hand how those programs were incorporated into our missions."

One opportunity to see safety practices in action occurred with a mid-week trip to the 140th Wing's Airburst Range. The group flew on a Colorado Army Guard CH-47 Chinook to the southwest region of Fort Carson, Colo., to watch F-16 flight operations and see how heavily involved safety and risk mitigation is in range operations, both from the air and the ground points of view.

"It was a great week, which only helped strengthen our State Partnership between Colorado and Jordan," said Neff, who formed relationships with many of his Jordanian counterparts. "I gained a new respect for our Jordanian friends."

Ruffing it with K9

by Staff Sgt. J. Aaron Breeden
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

2/13/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- As an oversized pick-up truck rolled into a dusty gravel lot, the silver trailer in tow was filled with the echoes of barking dogs ready for action. Members of the 21st Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog section were preparing for training exercises, Jan. 18 to help prepare members that would soon be deploying.

Tech. Sgt. Loren Surley, 21st SFS MWD trainer and supervisor, the leader of the day's exercises, explained the primary intent of this training was to reinforce the teamwork concept between the handlers and their dogs while familiarizing them with 'outside-the-wire' missions searching for drugs, bombs or on patrol.

Having been deployed as a MWD handler, Surley understands the importance of training exercises like this as it relates to safety.

"When you're heading outside of the wire, you're leading a team," said Surley. "You have other people there for back-up, but usually it's the K9 handlers who are responsible for the safety of the team."

Staff Sgt. Whitney Young, 21st MWD handler, returned from his Afghanistan deployment Jan. 20 and explained how training prepares handlers gearing up for a deployment.

"The exercises that were done here, and the ones I did at my regional training center, are almost identical to what we're seeing down range," said Young.

"Some of the things we're starting to train on are buried (training) aids," he added. "That's what we're seeing everywhere in Afghanistan. Before we weren't training on buried aids until we got into country, but it's being incorporated into newer training and it definitely makes a huge difference."

Young also talked about how the Air Force is beginning to train handlers to work their dogs off-leash.

"It's something we're really expanding on now," said Young. "Before the dogs were on a 15-foot retractable leash but now some dogs are able to work up to 60 feet in front of the handler."

This extra cushion incorporates another level of safety for the handler while allowing the team to work quicker and more effectively.

While the safety of a handler is paramount, safety of the dogs is just as important.

According to Staff Sgt. Shawn Kaup, also a trainer with the 21st MWD section, handlers at Peterson AFB receive more than 100 hours of advanced veterinary care instruction from Fort Carson veterinarians.

Kaup has worked as a MWD handler for 10 years through three deployments, two to Iraq and one to Oman.

"The veterinary training includes learning cardiac life support, how to treat bleeding wounds, clearing airway obstructions and also learning to insert catheters and connecting IV lines," said Kaup.

Since fully trained MWDs are valued up to $80,000, handlers are even trained to call for medical evacuations in situations where a dog's life is at stake.

Although life as a MWD handler is often filled with long hours in often less than ideal conditions, it's still possible to smile at the end of each day.

"Everyone loves the dog," said Surley. "It's hard to have a bad day when you're spending it with your best friend."

Panetta Announces Distinguished Warfare Medal

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2013 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has approved a new medal designed to recognize service members directly affecting combat operations who may not even be on the same continent as the action.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal recognizes the changing face of warfare. In the past, few, if any, service members not actually in a combat zone directly affected combat operations.

These new capabilities have given American service members the ability to engage the enemy and change the course of battle, even from afar, Panetta said at a Pentagon news conference today.

“I’ve always felt -- having seen the great work that they do, day in and day out -- that those who performed in an outstanding manner should be recognized. Unfortunately, medals that they otherwise might be eligible for simply did not recognize that kind of contribution.”

Now, the Defense Department does.

“ “The medal provides distinct, departmentwide recognition for the extraordinary achievements that directly impact on combat operations, but that do not involve acts of valor or physical risk that combat entails,” Panetta said.

Technological advancements have dramatically changed how the American military conducts and supports warfighters. Unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned underwater vehicles, missile defense technology and cyber capabilities all affect combat operations while the operators may not be anywhere near the combat zone. The new medal recognizes the contributions of these service members.

It will not be awarded for acts of battlefield valor, officials said. It will be awarded in the name of the secretary of defense to members of the military whose extraordinary achievements directly impacted combat operations, and cannot be used as an end-of-tour award.

“This new medal recognizes the changing character of warfare and those who make extraordinary contributions to it,” said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The criteria for this award will be highly selective and reflect high standards.”

The most immediate example is the work of an unmanned aerial vehicle operator who could be operating a system over Afghanistan while based at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The unmanned aerial vehicle would directly affect operations on the ground. Another example is that of a soldier at Fort Meade, Md., who detects and thwarts a cyberattack on a DOD computer system.

The medal could be used to recognize both these exceptional acts, officials said.

In the order of precedence, the Distinguished Warfare Medal will be below the Distinguished Flying Cross, and will be limited to achievements that are truly extraordinary. “The member’s actions must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from comrades or from other persons in similar situations,” a DOD official said.

The military department secretary must approve each award, and it may not be presented for valorous actions. “This limitation was specifically included to keep the Distinguished Warfare Medal from detracting from existing valor decorations, such as the Medal of Honor, Service Crosses and Silver Star Medal,” the official said.

Award criteria will be incorporated into the next revision of DOD Manual 1348.33-V3, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Volume 3.

Firefighter surprises son at school after year-long separation

by Staff Sgt. Jamal Sutter
23d Wing Public Affairs

2/11/2013 - VALDOSTA, Ga. -- It was a typical Friday afternoon for Sallas Mahone Elementary School first graders as they cheered in anticipation of a bright red fire truck, but for one 6-year-old, it would be a surprise a year in the making.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Eric Kunzman returned home Feb. 8 and reunited with his son, Christian, following a year-long tour at Osan Air Base, Korea.

Kunzman, who was a 23d Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., before leaving for Korea, joined two of his former co-workers in what was thought to be a normal visit to the school for a fire-safety demonstration.

"This is more nerve-wrecking than a fire," he said as he and the fire truck approached the children. "A fire doesn't have feelings; my son does. I'm pretty anxious ... almost as bad as when I left."

Kunzman showed up fully equipped in firefighter attire, totally unrecognizable to anyone, especially Christian. When Staff Sgt. Jonathon Flacker, 23d CES fire department crew chief, asked the crowd of first graders for a volunteer, they all raised their hands. Flacker chose Christian and asked him to pull back the visor of the unknown firefighter who he, then, saw was his father.

While in Korea, Kunzman communicated with Christian solely through internet video chat and letters, a feat that was difficult to deal with.

"Being gone for a year, I've missed his birthday and every holiday," Kunzman said. "He's young enough to not understand fully why I'm gone, but he's old enough to realize I am gone."

The homecoming came about when Kunzman's wife, Crystal, talked with Christian's teacher about the idea. The working relationship between the school and Moody's fire department made the event easy to plan and execute.

"We have the fire department come out a good bit for demonstrations for our children, so it tied in very well with that," said Charles Glover, Sallas Mahone Elementary School principal. "It feels great, because we have so many military families here, and they are such an asset to our school.

"We appreciate the military so much," Glover added. "The things we're able to do are because of the brave men and women in the military who are fighting for us."

Kunzman said he originally only wanted to surprise Christian in his Airman Battlefield Uniform but thought the firefighter idea would mean more because of his son's interest in one day following his footsteps.

"He loves firefighting," he said. "He tells me all the time he wants to grow up to be a firefighter, and this was something I've wanted to do."

Leading up to the homecoming, Kunzman experienced a lot of anticipation about getting back to his family.

"The last couple weeks, it's been hard to sleep," he said. "Once we got out here and got everything going, it kind of dissipated."

Now that the nerves have settled, the family plans on spending quality time together before leaving in a couple of weeks for their next duty assignment at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

Operation Homecoming for Vietnam POWs Marks 40 Years

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2013 – Forty years ago today, a C-141A Starlifter transport jet with a distinctive red cross on its tail lifted off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, and the first flight of 40 U.S. prisoners of war began their journey home through Operation Homecoming.

Newly freed prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on Feb. 12, 1973, during Operation Homecoming. The mission included 54 C-141 flights between Feb. 12 and April 4, 1973, returning 591 POWs to American soil. U.S. Air Force photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

By the day’s end, three C-141A aircraft would lift off from Hanoi, as well as a C-9A aircraft from Saigon, South Vietnam. In a steady flow of flights through late March 1973 under terms set through the Paris Peace Accords, 591 POWs returned to American soil. Americans were spellbound as they watched news clips of the POWs being carried in stretchers or walking tentatively toward U.S. officers at the awaiting aircraft for the first flight from Hanoi’s Gia Lam Airport.

The POWs ranged from privates first class to colonels, all wearing new gray uniforms issued by the North Vietnamese just before their release.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. James R. Cook, who suffered severe wounds when he bailed out of his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam in December 1972, saluted the U.S. colors from his stretcher as he was carried aboard the aircraft. Also on the first flight was Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr., the first American pilot to be shot down in North Vietnam and, by the war’s end, the longest-held POW there. He spent eight-and-a-half years in captivity.

Celebration broke out aboard the first aircraft -- nicknamed the “Hanoi Taxi” -- as it lifted skyward and the POWs experienced their first taste of freedom.

Historian Andrew H. Lipps captured the magnitude of the moment in his account, “Operation Homecoming: The Return of American POWs from Vietnam.”

“Imagine you’re imprisoned in a cage; imagine the cage surrounded by the smell of feces; imagine the rotted food you eat is so infested with insects that to eat only a few is a blessing; imagine knowing your life could be taken by one of your captors on a whim at any moment; imagine you are subjected to mental and physical torture designed to break not bones but instead spirit on a daily basis. That was being a prisoner of North Vietnam,” Lipps wrote.

“Then imagine one day, after seemingly endless disappointment, you are given a change of clothes and lined up to watch an American plane land to return you home. That was Operation Homecoming.”

Aeromedical teams assigned to each aircraft tended to the former POWs during the two-and-a-half hour flight to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, the first stop on their trip home. Meanwhile, many of the POWs joked and smoked American cigarettes as they caught up on all they’d missed while in captivity: fashion trends and the women’s liberation movement, among them.

“Everything seemed like heaven,” recalled Air Force Capt. Larry Chesley, who, after being shot down over North Vietnam, spent seven years in the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” and other POW prisons. “When the doors of that C-141 closed, there were tears in the eyes of every man aboard,” he said.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Mechenbier, the last Vietnam POW to serve in the Air Force, recalled the emotion of his own journey out of North Vietnam on Feb. 18, 1973. "When we got airborne and the frailty of being a POW turned into the reality of freedom, we yelled, cried and cheered,” he said.

The POWs arrived to a hero’s welcome at Clark Air Base, where Navy Adm. Noel Gayler, commander of U.S. Forces Pacific, led their greeting party. Joining him were Air Force Lt. Gen. William G. Moore Jr., who commanded 13th Air Force and the homecoming operation at Clark, and Roger Shields, deputy assistant secretary of defense for POW/MIA affairs.

Speaking to the crowd that lined the tarmac to welcome the aircraft, returning POW Navy Capt. Jeremiah Denton -- who would go on to earn the rank of rear admiral and later was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Alabama -- elicited cheers as he thanked all who had worked for their release and proclaimed, “God bless America.”

Air Force Lt. Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris, who spent almost eight years as a POW after being shot down over North Vietnam, joined the many other POWs who echoed that sentiment. “My only message is, ‘God bless America,’” he said, dismissing assertions in the media that the POWs had been directed to say it.
“With six, seven or eight years to think about the really important things in life, a belief in God and country was strengthened in every POW with whom I had contact,” he said. “Firsthand exposure to a system which made a mockery of religion and where men are unable to know truth made us all appreciate some of the most basic values in ‘God bless America.’”

Air Force Col. Robinson Risner, the senior Air Force officer at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" honored today by a statue in his likeness at the U.S. Air Force Academy, choked back emotion as he arrived on the second C-141 flight from Hanoi.

“Thank you all for bringing us home to freedom again,” he told the crowd.

After receiving medical exams and feasting on steak, ice cream and other American food, the former POWs received new uniforms for their follow-on flights home. Their aircraft made stops in Hawaii and California. The first group of 20 former POWs arrived at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on Feb. 14, 1973.

News clips of the arrival reveal the deep emotion of the freed POWs as they arrived on the U.S. mainland. Navy Capt. James Stockdale, who went on to become a vice admiral and vice presidential candidate, was the first man to limp off the aircraft.

Stockdale paused to thank his countrymen for the loyalty they had showed him and his fellow POWs. “The men who follow me down that ramp know what loyalty means because they have been living with loyalty, living on loyalty, the past several years -- loyalty to each other, loyalty to the military, loyalty to our commander-in-chief,” he said.

Of the 591 POWs liberated during Operation Homecoming, 325 served in the Air Force, 138 in the Navy; 77 in the Army and 26 in the Marine Corps. Twenty-five of the POWs were civilian employees of U.S. government agencies.

In addition, 69 POWs the Viet Cong had held in South Vietnam left aboard flights from Loc Ninh. Nine other POWs were released from Laos, and three from China.

Forty years after their release, two of the former POWs serve in Congress: Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas.

A dinner and ceremony being planned for late May at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in California will honor the POWs, recreating the dinner the president hosted for them at the White House in 19

McConnell Reserve unit honors World War II Veteran, Air Force heritage

by 1st Lt. Zach Anderson
931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs

2/12/2013 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- A routine trip to a grocery store turned into a brush with living Air Force history for the commander of McConnell's Air Force Reserve unit last month.

Col. Mark S. Larson, 931st Air Refueling Group commander, was searching the store aisles for snacks before heading home to watch a football game. But among the pretzels, chips and soda, the colonel ended up discovering a living part of Air Force heritage.

"I was walking through the store and noticed an older gentleman wearing a World War II Veteran hat," said Larson. "Whenever I see one of those guys, I try to talk to them because there are fewer and fewer of them left and they all have a story to tell about their time in the service."

Larson made his way over to the gentleman, introduced himself, and asked the man about his experience in the war.

"Like most of those guys, he didn't talk much at first. That is just how that generation was," said Larson. "Those guys went over, did their job, and then came back home and reintegrated with their communities without thinking much about it. That's exactly how he was. But I kept asking him questions because I really wanted to hear his story."

After a few more questions, Larson said he finally began to get a bit more information from the individual.

"He shared with me that he had been a member of the Army Air Corps," said Larson. "That really piqued my interest, because that meant he was one of my own and a part of Air Force heritage."

As it turned out, the individual to whom Larson was speaking, Mr. Adrian Marlin, had an incredible story of air combat and service to country.

According to newspaper records, Marlin enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and soon thereafter was sent overseas to England where he served as a tail gunner on a B-17 flying fortress. He and his aircrew were part of a massive Allied offensive, flying bombing missions over targets in Germany throughout the war. In all, Marlin completed 35 combat missions.

It was on one of these missions that Marlin survived one of the most harrowing experiences an aircrew member can endure when he and his crew were shot down during a bombing run in Nov. 1944.

According newspaper accounts from the time, Marlin's B-17, the "Dallas Dottie," was on its way to bomb oil targets at Meresburg, Germany, when its number two engine was knocked out by anti-aircraft flak. Despite this, the crew tried to carry on with their mission by flying on only three engines, until the plane's number one engine began sputtering. At that point, the pilot, 2nd Lt. Raymond Reams, made the decision to turn around and fly back to friendly territory.

After flying for more than two hours on only two engines, the plane's number four engine began failing as well. The pilot made the decision to attempt a crash landing in a field in Belgium. As the crippled aircraft descended into the field, the left wing struck a post in the ground. On impact, the plane ripped through a fence and came to rest in a ditch. The left wing caught fire and the plane broke in two.

Quoted in a newspaper account of the incident, a then 20-year-old Marlin said, "The concussion and shock when we hit was almost unbelievable. We were thrown all around the radio room. We immediately took inventory see that we were all alright."
Luckily, the entire crew survived the incident. Within minutes of the crash landing, the crew was assisted by Belgians, who helped them make their way to a first-aid post, from which they were eventually sent back to their home base in England.

After hearing Marlin's story, Larson said he wanted to find a way to say thank you to the Veteran for his service and sacrifice.

"I immediately thought of our military awards banquet," said Larson. "I asked him if he and his wife would be interested in attending the banquet as my guests of honor."
On the night of the banquet, Larson introduced Marlin and his wife of 67 years, Neveline, and shared Marlin's story with the audience.

"Adrian Marlin is a part of the heritage of the Air Force," said Larson. "What we have today grew out of the Army Air Corps. When we think of who the pioneers of aviation were and we look back at the people we look up to, it's him and the men like him."

Larson then presented Marlin with a trophy as a token of appreciation for his service, and Marlin received a long standing ovation from the more than 350 Airmen and guests in attendance.

Marlin said he was truly touched by the gesture and the opportunity to interact with the current generation of Airmen.

"It was real nice," said Marlin. "It was something new for me, and I really, really appreciated it. I think the Air Force is in very good hands. We have a lot of good Airmen out there."

"It made me feel good to see how much people appreciated that," said Larson. "They don't know him, but they have a sense of where we came from as an Air Force, and hold an appreciation for the history and the sacrifice that is there, and they are proud of that heritage. The whole reason I brought him here was to honor him and his service, and to rekindle in our own minds that sense of honor, duty, and dedication."

Larson said it's that appreciation of history and heritage that first prompted him to speak to Marlin.

"We in the Air Force may not have a 200 year history, but we do have history," said Larson. "One of the most important things we need our Airmen to understand is that we are the Air Force we are today because of the people who had some foresight, took risks, established the Army Air Corps and eventually the Air Force. Today we all benefit from their hard work and sacrifice."

He continued, "Remembering the past gives you pride in your heritage, and I think it helps motivate you to do good things, to take pride in your duty and try to do it even better. It inspires you to take what you were given and leave it even better."

It's a rare occasion that a chance encounter in such an ordinary place, a grocery store, will lead to meeting such an extraordinary individual with such a remarkable story. Larson said it's a lesson that Airmen should always take advantage of the opportunity to speak with and learn from those who have served before.

"Never, ever pass up that opportunity," said Larson. "At the very minimum, anytime we see a Veteran, we at least owe them a thank you for their service. Ten years from now, we won't have our World War II Veterans around anymore. Never let the opportunity go by to talk with someone who can give you that perspective."

Pope Field offers safe haven for Rhode Island aircraft

by Adam Luther
440 AW/PA

2/12/2013 - POPE FIELD, N.C. -- The 143rd Airlift Wing diverted six of its C-130J Hercules aircraft here Feb. 6  as Winter Storm Nemo struck the unit's home base at Quonset Point Air National Guard Station, R.I.

The aircraft are expected to depart from Pope Field Feb. 12, but with more winter storms on the horizon, that date may be pushed backed.

"We are grateful to the Airmen of Pope Field for assisting the 143rd Airlift Wing in this time of need," said Col. Arthur J. Floru, 143rd AW commander. "The long standing total force relationship we have with the 440th Airlift Wing has proven its effectiveness time and time again."

One full crew and four maintenance personnel have remained at Pope Field while Winter Storm Nemo moves through the northeast. While only a few hours flight away from Quonset Point, Pope Field offers a strategic option to bases on the east coast because of the relatively mild winters.

"With any impending weather event that would not be healthy for our aircraft, units will assess the impending threat and look out to see where they can position aircraft and personnel where they will be safer and capable of use should the nation need those assets," said Col. Sharon Johnson, 440th Maintenance Group Commander.

"Between the volume of snow and the expected hurricane strength winds, Rhode Island made the decision to evacuate their aircraft. Severe hurricane-force winds can have a devastating effect on aircraft hydraulics and flight control systems. Once exposed, those systems require extensive inspections before they can be airworthy again," Johnson said. "Between our airfield operations personnel, operations group personnel, transient alert and the 440th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; it was seamless to allow our C-130 brethren respite during the storm. We're glad we had the ramp space and resources to accommodate them!"

Winter Storm Nemo buried areas of the American Northeast in more than three feet of snow and left more than 600,000 people without power.

The C-130 Hercules is known as the work horse of combat airlift operations; often performing tactical portions of the U.S. Air Force airlift mission as it is capable of landing and taking off from rough dirt landing strips, and is apt for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.

Face of Defense: Navy Corpsman Shares Skills With Marines

By Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel Hosack
Marine Barracks Washington, 8th and I

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2013 – A native of South Amboy, N.J., is helping to save the lives of Marines here by sharing his skills as a corpsman.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Pappas explains to Marines how to properly apply a bandage on a wound during a Combat Lifesaver Course at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., Jan. 31, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Dan Hosack   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Pappas, one of three Navy corpsmen stationed at Marine Barracks Washington, taught the Combat Lifesaver Course to 30 Marines on Jan. 31. The course teaches critical battlefield first-aid techniques designed to save the lives of Marines injured in combat.

The three-day course gives Marines the hands-on instruction needed to provide lifesaving first aid in combat. They learned how to identify burns, treat bone fractures and wounds, and attend to other common battlefield injuries. The Marines also learned how to apply a tourniquet and open an airway, and they were taught how to evacuate fellow injured Marines off the battlefield.

“I think it’s a great course, because it teaches the Marines to take care of each other if something happens to one of them,” Pappas said.

Pappas, who served in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011, said he believes the three-day course was time well spent, and that the skills taught in the course increase the probability of Marines returning home if injured in combat.

“A course like this one is vital, because it increases the amount of Marines we can get back alive to their families,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles Barbarick, a corpsman who taught the course with Pappas. “Our role is to ensure the well-being of mind, body and spirit of all our Marines.”

In his regular duties, Pappas is responsible for the medical care and the overall health and wellness of the Marines he serves with, as well as the management of the unit’s “sick call,” the military’s equivalent of an urgent care center.

Pappas said he plans on staying in the Navy and entering the Navy Nurse Corps.

AETC best in Air Force for ground safety in 2012

by Tech. Sgt. Beth Anschutz
Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

2/12/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas  -- Air Education and Training Command Safety was awarded the Colonel Will L. Tubbs Memorial Award for ground safety for fiscal year 2012.

The award recognizes the most effective major command, direct reporting unit or forward operating agency ground safety program.

"We're very excited about this award because it captures a command-wide success story," said Colonel Tal Metzgar, AETC Director of Safety. "The Tubbs award recognizes the leadership of the headquarters safety staff, wing safety professionals, line-level supervisors and individual Airmen and civilians who own mishap prevention."

Reduction of military and civilian injuries and fatalities is the primary selection criteria for the award and AETC led the way with zero on-duty fatalities in fiscal year 2012 and a 33 percent drop in fatalities from the ten-year average.

"While it is impossible to contribute this reduction to any one cause, we've been working for several years to create a great safety culture in AETC," said Edward Talbott, AETC Ground Safety manager. "Our commanders, supervisors, military training leaders, and technical training instructors do a great job of conveying great safety messages to all our Airmen. This improved safety culture means Airmen are keeping risk management in their thoughts, and we have less injuries and fatalities occurring across the command."

The team also reported a 30 percent decrease in military on-duty mishaps and a 14 percent decrease in civilian mishaps for fiscal year 2012. Talbott says these statistics are important, but the culture change among the Airmen and civilian workforce is what will really benefit the force in the future.

"Supervisors and workers are working safer and smarter," Talbott said. "Working safer and smarter has paid dividends in the reduction of on-duty mishaps. People are making good choices, working as a team, and calling 'knock-it-off' when potentially dangerous situations arise."

The AETC Safety team's focus on private motor vehicle mishap prevention also paid off with a 28 percent mitigation for fiscal year 2012. AETC has lost 70 Airmen to motor vehicle accidents in the last 10 years, and Talbott says his team is very happy to see the numbers decline.

"Private motor vehicle mishaps are the biggest threat to our Airman, and one of the greatest concerns to safety personnel across the command," Talbott said. "Not only are safer cars contributing to this, but supervisors are making a difference by highlighting risk management with their young Airmen."

Although the headquarters safety team is honored to win the Tubbs award, Metzgar says in the end the entire command is on the same team moving toward a common goal.

"Our purpose is to protect lives and preserve our limited resources," Metzgar said. "Now, more than ever, protecting our highly trained Airmen and preserving resources is vital to national security. Simply put, you cannot do the mission without people and resources."

Rising temperatures create challenges for Deep Freeze missions

by Airman 1st Class Madelyn McCullough
446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

2/7/2013 - MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  A team of 35 McChord Airmen supporting operations in Antarctica face new challenges during the final rotation of the 2012-2013 Operation Deep Freeze season.

Airmen from the 446th and 62nd Airlift Wings form the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and fly the C-17 Globemaster III on resupply missions from Christchurch, New Zealand, to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

ODF is a joint service operation in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program and provides logistical support for the National Science Foundation's scientific research in Antarctica.

To accomplish these missions, they use two ice runways, a seasonal runway and the more permanent Pegasus runway.

Rising temperatures in Antarctica have left the Pegasus in a dwindling condition. Reduced from its usual size of 10,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, the runway is now 9,000 feet long and 90 feet wide. The minimum width for a safe C-17 landing is 90 feet.

"We've never had issues with Pegasus runway (melting) before," said Chief Master Sgt. Jim Masura, 446th Operations Group standard evaluation loadmaster. "To have it breaking apart, melting and unavailable is very odd."

Pegasus runway is 22 miles away from McMurdo and is used as a backup once the seasonal ice runway melts into the sea. The seasonal runway, just a mile away from McMurdo, is built out of frozen ocean water. When it melts every year, the 304th EAS turns to Pegasus to carry out the rest of the missions. Since Pegasus began breaking apart, C-17s have not been able to land. It even prevented the last rotation in Christchurch from flying any missions to Antarctica, keeping the people at McMurdo from getting all the supplies they need.

"I think it's really going to affect our ability to help the people down there," Masura said. "They're getting by, but they're not getting everything they need for the winter."

If the C-17 is unable to land, the LC-130s from the New York Air National Guard will be very busy until the end of the season, said Lt. Col. Scott Amerman, 304th EAS director of operations. The LC-130s take longer to fly to Antarctica and only carry a quarter of the cargo a C-17 would, but they have landing skis so runways are not an issue.

Since the weather in Antarctica is subject to rapid change, the scientists believe they can revive the runway in time for the last rotation to fly its missions.

"The National Science Foundation is leaning forward," Amerman said. "They're hopeful that they're going to be able to build us a runway for what we need to do. Since the C-17s provide so much lift, about the same as four LC-130 missions, they aren't ready to give that up."

Just like the NSF, Airmen on the crew are up for the challenge.

"Not everyone gets to visit Antarctica so getting to go there is my motivation," said Tech Sgt. Ron Capalungan, 446th Maintenance Squadron air reserve technician and 304th EAS aircraft hydraulic mechanic. "I've never been on a mission this high profile in such an extreme environment. I expect it to be challenging."

ODF is possibly the military's most difficult peacetime mission due to the harsh Antarctic environment. The Air Force is specially equipped with trained and experienced personnel to operate in these austere conditions and have provided support to the NSF since 1955.

McChord has participated in ODF since 1983 using the C-141B Starlifter. The 446th AW got involved in 1995. The first C-17 trial for use to support ODF was Oct. 15, 1999.

Air Force tuition assistance implements change

by Airman 1st Class Victoria Taylor
633 Air Base Wing Public Affairs

2/12/2013 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -  -- The U.S. Air Force Tuition Assistance program altered its guidelines Jan. 3 to emphasize the new requirement of maintaining a grade point average of at least 2.0, on a 4-point scale.

"By adopting these changes, the Air Force is falling in line with the federal government and the schools sharing GPA guidelines," said Bertram Hardnett, the education and training services chief at Langley Air Force Base, Va. "This causes the member to act and think more responsibly when signing up for courses."

The changes affect policy concerning waivers, missing grades and maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduate-level students.

To help students with the new TA process, colleges in the area are getting involved with Air Force programs, making course and degree information simple to access.

"Colleges are on-board with the Air Force Academic Institution Portal, which is the institutional side of our Air Force Automated Education Management System," Hardnett said. "Schools are loading college degree plans, course schedules and degree completions, as well as providing grades and invoicing in the system."

This partnership helps to eliminate mistakes on TA applications, payments and reimbursements. The student can load a degree plan into their record without emailing or bringing one to the education office.

If students are not signed up for this, a hard copy of grades must be taken to the education office within 60 days after the class ends to avoid paying out-of-pocket for the course.

"The new changes will be more beneficial to the Department of Defense, Department of Education and all of the higher educational institutions that are streamlining the process for students," Hardnett said.

The Air Force provides $4,500 a year in tuition assistance to active-duty personnel and activated members of the National Guard and Reserve. Members are eligible to use TA for Community College of the Air Force courses, an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree and a one-time certification in any academic area they want to pursue.

For more information, contact your local Education Office.

Army exploring 'human dimension'

by David Vergun
Army News Service

2/11/2013 - WASHINGTON -- The Army realized in the early years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that in addition to conventional warfare, Soldiers were being asked to perform a lot of nontraditional functions, some of which they were often ill-equipped to do.

These included negotiating with tribal leaders and helping develop infrastructure and services for local populations, tasks they were never trained to perform, said Col. Thomas Meyer, chief of the Human Dimension Task Force at U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC.

In 2006, Gen. William S. Wallace, who was the commander of TRADOC, realized that since more was being asked of Soldiers, they would need to improve their performance, Meyer said.

Wallace concluded that "tanks, trucks and guns were not the primary reason for battlefield success. Rather, it was the Soldiers on the ground," Meyer added.

TRADOC responded by adding the "Human Dimension" to its six other dimensions of study, Mission Command, Movement and Maneuver, Protection, Fires, Intelligence, and Sustainment.

Since then, human performance has moved toward the forefront of Army research .

The goals of Human Dimension research are to create a more resilient, knowledgeable and adaptive force through improved selection, talent management and training, Meyer said.

Because those goals are so broad, TRADOC enlisted the assistance of business and industry, academia and science, since each of these sectors had already been doing a lot of human performance studies. Army research labs, G-1 personnel and Army medicine were also consulted and information was shared across the services.

Researchers used cognitive, performance and psychological studies and surveys to better place Soldiers in military occupational specialties where they'd have a better chance of succeeding.

Placement is critically important, Meyer said, not just to make a happier and more productive Soldier, but from a cost perspective as well. A Soldier who doesn't have the aptitude for a particular specialty, for example, might not make it through training, he said. And training can be very expensive, especially in these times of fiscal austerity. Also, that Soldier might not be as successful later on the battlefield.

Meyer provided an example of a 68W, or combat medic, whose training is extensive, 13 months. To succeed, that person should have the right mix of knowledge and skills.

Also, the chemistry of the brain and personality factors could determine who succeeds and who doesn't.

The ultimate test, Meyer said, might be when they experience their first casualty on the battlefield. There are some individuals who can't function or cope in that traumatic environment, he said.

"Through research into how the mind and body works, we are learning more about those individual characteristics that will enable us to better place that person," he said, resulting in lower rates of attrition during training or after and the high cost associated with that.

In addition to better placement, Human Dimension is looking at ways to deliver improved training methods that are also more cost effective.

Some individuals respond better to different learning methods and the pace of learning is not the same for all Soldiers, he said. So the Army is adding virtual training, online courses and simulations, where Soldiers can learn at their own pace and get immediate feedback.

A traditional method of training involves creating a mockup of a village in a particular country, hiring actors to play the parts of locals, and then sending Soldiers on orders to remote training centers. All of this costs time and money, he said.

Now, a lot of this type of training can be run through simulations, he said, adding that a visit to a training center might still take place but by the time the Soldier arrives, he or she would have already become familiar with the training through virtual means and would likely be better prepared.

Human Dimension also is working with researchers on ways to optimize Soldiers' physical and cognitive abilities, as well as to increase their resilience to hardships. TRADOC is including Soldiers' families and Army civilians in its scope of study.

TRADOC's studies, while important and relevant for the Army today, are focused on looking ahead to 2020 and even 2030 and beyond.

People are an important investment for the Army, said Meyer, noting that more than 40 percent of the Army's budget is dedicated to manpower. And, he added, that manpower pool is dwindling, making that investment all the more critical.

"Now 75 percent of those 17-to-24-year-olds are not eligible for service either because they don't have the educational background, have physical limitations or they're overweight," he said. "Also, our population is aging and we're behind other countries as there are fewer young people with backgrounds in science, engineering and math."

That makes selection, training and adaptive strategies all the more important, Meyer said.

As America and its Army face an uncertain fiscal future, the nation continues to expect to have the same level of security in the future that it has currently, he concluded. To succeed in the Army's mission, therefore, investing in the Soldier is paramount.

450-miles of remembrance

by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

2/11/2013 -  MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- Sixteen Airmen from Hurlburt Field, Fla., took part in a 450-mile, six day ruck-march, in honor of five fallen Air Commandos.

Of the sixteen, were four teams which included members from the 319th Special Operations Squadron, the 34th SOS, the 18th Flight Test Squadron and the 25th Intelligence Squadron.

The Commandos' six-day journey began on the Emerald Gulf Coast and concluded at MacDill Air Force Base's U.S. Special Operations Command fallen hero memorial, where stories were told, tears were shed and fallen comrades were remembered.

As the Commandos neared MacDill, a motorcade of Patriot Guard Riders and more than 60 community members lined up to pay respect and thank the group for their sacrifices.

The march was a special event, "very moving, very emotional," commented ruck marcher Master Sgt. John Hickman, 18th FTS first sergeant. "It's not about us [the Air Commando marchers]; it's about those that made the ultimate sacrifice."

Upon their arrival at the memorial, the commandos were greeted by Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Trask, U.S. Special Operations Command director of force structure, requirements, resources and strategic assessments, who remarked on their noble efforts and selfless actions.

After comments were made, the Air Commandos gathered together, walked over to the wall of fallen heroes, knelt down, placed a rose and spoke to their fallen brothers and sisters.

Amongst the Commandos paying tribute was Hickman, who slowly walked the memorial's semicircle.

"I've seen seven names so far that I've known," he commented, showing the grim reality of combat and how much the march really meant.

This year's march was in memory of the five Air Force Commandos who died last year --Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron; Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 319th SOS; Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 34th SOS; 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 34th SOS; and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 25th IS

As the Commandos paid tribute at the memorial's wall of heroes, onlookers silently held each other, drawn in by the emotional event.

The Hulbert Field remembrance marchers left behind a unique ambiance, one that exemplified the Special Operation memorial creed:

To honor the selfless service and sacrifice of the men and women of the U.S. Special Operations Command and its assigned forces; to honor, promote, and preserve our nation's illustrious special operations heritage by recognizing the achievements, service, and sacrifice of the individuals, units, and other special operations organizations that contributed to our legacy; and, to recognize patriotic citizens who form our auxiliary.

Expeditionary Center commander visits 43 AG

by Marvin Krause
43rd Airlift Group Public Affairs

2/11/2013 - POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, FORT BRAGG, N.C.  -- The commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Maj. Gen. Bill Bender, and his command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Cui, visited the 43rd Airlift Group here, Feb. 8, during a six-day tour of Air Mobility Command bases under his administrative command.

While at Pope Army Airfield, the General received a Global Response Force mission briefing from Col. Daniel Tulley, commander of the 43rd AG; attended a meeting with Maj. Gen. John Nicholson Jr., commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army; held an "All Call" with the group's Airmen and was the guest speaker for the group's Annual Awards Banquet.

During the "All Call", the General thanked the group's Airmen for their impressive service, discussed his priorities and surveyed Airmen's real-time responses to questions using cell phone text polling software.

"Thank you for the work that you're doing to support Air Mobility Command, and in many ways, to support Air Mobility Command's most important mission, which is the Global Response Force mission," said Bender. "We fail as a nation if we fail in that mission, so you're on point for some very serious mission responsibilities and you are doing a fantastic job with it."

"I just met with the 82nd Airborne Division and had a discussion with Maj. Gen. Nicholson and he was very complimentary in the support that we get from the 43d Airlift Group."

Bender went on to say that there is a lot of work going forward that needs to be done with our Army mission partners to get the Global Response Force back to where it needs to be.

"I just met with the 82nd Airborne Division and had a discussion with Maj. Gen. Nicholson and he was very complimentary in the support that they get from the 43d Airlift Group. There's a clear recognition on the part of the U.S. Army, the 82nd Airborne Division, Air Mobility Command, and the U.S. Air Force at every level, that having gone off to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last 11-12 years, that a lot of that mission capability that we used to practice and had a very high state of alert, has overtime atrophy," said Bender. "It's nobody's fault, we were doing what the nation was asking of us, but now there's a recognition as we come home with an environment that very likely will increase the likelihood of the use of the Global Response Force going forward in many different ways that we're going to be a part of that. I will submit to you today, going forward in our future, it is very likely that there will be increased emphasis on that relationship and that important mission."

The General also reinforced the priorities of Gen. Selva, the commander of Air Mobility Command, of mission, training, and caring and respect for each other to the group's Airmen.

"Gen. Selva places a huge emphasis on a couple of things. First is mission, and as I said, the Global Response Force is an important mission for us arguably in that small number of number one missions that we have," said Bender. "Secondly, is training and he has stated over and over again to his leaders, Gen. McDew at 18th Air Force and myself, that we have lots of work to do on the training side, not so much in your specialties, certainly a lot in certain key areas of our Air Force that we've allowed to atrophy over time as we transform our service to an expeditionary service. Where the Global Response Force is concerned, we've got to get back together with the Army and train through exercise and get ready for a critically important mission for our nation."

The general solicited real time cell phone text polling to several questions during the "All Call", providing instant feedback from the group's Airmen to the General's questions, allowing him to effectively explain current organizational challenges in the Air Force.

"From my perspective where I sit, we are very familiar with the challenges that you face here and we've been working them extremely hard, but they're hard and they're complex and in every case, every single office that we go to where they may have had more people, a better resource, and a better ability to handle whatever the problem is to address it, they also have the same challenges. They're now part of a smaller organization that has over many years now given up some of their resources," said Bender. "The challenge for all of us is to push as much as we can down to the very lowest part of the organization where the work gets done, to get you as the experts to address the problems."

He provided examples of Airmen creatively tackling problems normally accomplished at higher levels in the organization, using innovation, collaboration and teamwork to solve problems at the lowest level where the work is accomplished by the experts.

"You cannot, in today's environment, expect that an easy way that you're going to get resolution to difficult problems in a timely fashion is through a hierarchical approach," said Bender. "We need to take on a spirit of volunteerism and identify problems we need to fix in creative ways, working together to fix them."

The General culminated his visit by attending and speaking at the group's annual awards banquet, honoring the group's best of the best performers for 2012.

353 SOMXS wire analysis shop helps fellow maintainers

by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer
353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs

2/10/2013 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Maintainers across the Air Force spend countless hours on the flight line in extreme temperatures ensuring that our aircraft are mission ready. While Air Force maintainers understand and accept these work conditions that come with the territory, one 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron flight, helps to save its fellow maintainers time and frustration.

The 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, wire analysis shop, is AFSOC's test bed for automatic wire test sets, used to help identify maintenance issues faster in the MC-130 aircraft.

The AWTS program was initiated about four years ago by Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, in order to provide special operation maintainers a program to help pinpoint maintenance issues with MC-130s in significantly less time. Each test program set is built to specifically identify wire malfunctions on the aircraft.

"Typically, it can take a maintainer about one minute to test two or three wires by hand with a multimeter," said Tech. Sgt. Don McKenzie. "This system can test more than 3,000 wires in just one minute. This means what may take one maintainer days to identify, this system can catch something in less than a ten minute period."

Each program is written locally to identify specific maintenance issues. McKenzie along with Staff Sgt. Robert Walker is the second generation of Airmen assigned to the wire analysis shop. Between them and the three NCOs before them, they have written five difference test program sets used to help maintainers identify issues with the engine, antiskid systems, radar systems, missile warning systems and fuel quantity systems.

"AFSOC decides which program we need to build based on the number of maintenance issues we may have with a system AFSOC wide," said McKenzie. "We write the program here and get it approved for local use before sending it on to the Depot in Warner Robins who helps distribute the program DoD wide."

Last summer, McKenzie was able to witness first hand as an expediter during the Foal Eagle exercise in Korea how valuable the AWTS is.

"We had an MC-130 down for radar issues," said McKenzie. "We were working 12 hour shifts, 24/7, and still couldn't fix the issue. Finally we called the wire analysis team out and within one hour they told us that there was a broken ground wire. Once the issue was identified the hard part was over for us."

One of the goals of the wire analysis shop is to train their fellow 353rd SOMXS maintainers in the next few years to use the AWTS system so they will be able to simply check out the AWTS from the tool room as need.

By increasing the use of AWTS, the wire analysis shops expects to decrease the amount of aircraft down time by not only shortening the time it takes to trouble shoot hundreds of wires found on an aircraft, but also help their fellow maintainers proactively identify out of tolerance wiring even if the aircraft system still works.

"I think it is amazing," said Walker. "We create something out of nothing and then we get to see how it can help not only locally, but the entire military if they chose to use it."

27 SOMXG wins Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Trophy

27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

2/11/2013 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The hard working men and women of the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group earned top honors as they were chosen the recipients for the Air Force's 2012 Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy.

Awarded annually, this trophy is given to the Air Force unit with the greatest weapon system maintenance record over the past year.

"Our people superbly support an impressive array of special-function aircraft types," said Col. David Wiesner, 27 SOMXG commander. "Despite having aircraft constantly involved in cutting-edge testing and upgrades, we continue to flawlessly meet aircrew training requirements and real world taskings with reliable and mission-ready aircraft. Nobody does it better."

The trophy will be officially presented to the 27 SOMXG during a ceremony at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Times and dates are currently being coordinated. Updates will be made available on the 27th Special Operations Wing Facebook page.

"It's awesome for our maintainers to get recognition from people outside of the Cannon family," said Wiesner. "We have always known what a great job our maintainers do each and every day, and how hard they work. Now people at other locations and levels can see the evidence of their continuous exceptional effort."

Cope North continues to take to the skies

by Master Sgt. Joshua Gray
Cope North 13 Public Affairs

2/10/2013 - Cope North 2013 Public Affairs, Andersen AFB -- Exercise Cope North 13 moves into its second week here, with the focus on molding the air forces of three nations into a cohesive fighting force.

Participants from the Unites States, Japan and Australia will focus on Large Force Employment scenarios, which enhance the interoperability of 15 different airframes.

"From an interoperability standpoint, I think there are multiple facets to think about," said Col. Peter Milohnic, the U.S. Air Force Exercise Director for Cope North 13 and Commander of the 18th Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan. "At the lowest level of interoperability, we've got de-confliction, and I'm primarily talking about the flying aspect. As you move up the ladder of interoperability, you go from de-confliction, to coordination, to integration, and ultimately at the top of the hierarchy, you've got interdependence."

According to Milohnic, the combined nations at Cope North are at the coordination stage, heading to the integration stage. Integration is a vital step because it is the step where they make sure everyone's equipment can work with each other.

An example of this is the F-15, which has two squadrons participating at Cope North. One of which is the U.S. Air Force unit flying C-models, while their Japan Air-Self Defense Force counterpart is flying J-models. While the basic airplane is the same, each aircraft has different internal systems specific to each nation. Each nation tries to make those systems work with each other as closely as possible, but sometimes there are kinks to work out.

Royal Australian Air Force Exercise Director Group Captain Robert Chipman said exercises like Cope North are important to make sure that not only can those F-15s work together when the time comes, but that they'll also work with the other fighter and support aircraft of partner nations, such as the newly-operational RAAF E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft.

"I think it is very good that we get to incorporate air combat training, particularly where we have all three forces, with the surveillance and refueling assets as well, because it is extremely complex to bring those together," Group Captain Chipman said. "And the time you need to learn those lessons needs to be in training, and not in combat."

Look at the flightline at Cope North, and you'll find a lot of units that are home based with, or near, units of the other partner nations. The JASDF's F-2 fighters and E-2C radar surveillance aircraft here for Cope North share a runway at Misawa with two squadrons of F-16s from the USAF's 35th Fighter Wing, and the F-15Cs of the USAF's 44th Fighter Squadron and the F-15J's of the JASDF's 204 Squadron are both based on the island of Okinawa.

However, each air force has their own training objectives and restrictions, so despite having squadrons so close to each other, the nations don't get to fly together as often as they might like.
Colonel Niida Yoshiyuki, the JASDF's Exercise Director, states one of the key advantage to Cope North is being able to free themselves from home station obligations and focus solely on integration.

"There are fewer limitations for training, so we are able to do all kinds of training," Colonel Niida said. "That's the main difference between training at Misawa and training here. At Misawa, we only train with the U.S. Air Force, but here we can train with the RAAF, and it is very useful for improving our tactical ability."

While there may only be a few days left of flying for this year's Cope North, Colonel Milohnic believes there is still plenty of time to solidify the lessons learned about each air force's different tactics and procedures, ultimately making them a more formidable force.

"From an integration standpoint, as long as we see a learning curve that's on the positive slope, going up rungs of the ladder instead of back down, then I think we'll be pretty happy."

Community organizations send their thanks!

by Maj. Katherine Cherolis
Public Affairs

2/8/2013 - Swanton, Ohio -- Part of the 180th Fighter Wing mission is to be good stewards in our communities. The 180th continues to show how committed they are to their communities, with contributions to the Seagate Food Bank and a partnership with the American in Red Cross.

In 2012, 180th members donated 4,917 pounds of food, as well as, $6,909.50, to the Seagate Food Bank of Northwest Ohio. The money was used to purchase fresh
veggies, meats and dairy at discount prices. All the food collected and purchased was distributed through their partner network at no cost. It is the biggest collection year on record.

In a thank you letter from Seagate, Deborah A. Vas, Executive Director of the Seagate Food Bank of NW Ohio, said, Seagate can't change the world, but I am proud to say we make a small difference in our community. That "difference" would not be attainable without the generosity and compassion of the 180th Fighter Wing.

"Toledo Seagate Food Bank appreciates and commends the 180th Fighter Wing on keeping our Country safe and also their care and compassion for our local community,"
said Vas.

Master Sgt. Dave Harrison, a member of the Communications Flight, who helps collected money and food donations at the gate, is completely astonished at the generosity of the 180th members. "Being a part of this collection and being able to see how much we truly contribute back to the community and how giving the 180th folks are makes me even more proud to say I am a member."

Members not only donated food and money but also their blood. The 180th host three blood drives each year on base. Since 2009, 310 members have contributed 1,149 units of blood to the American Red Cross.

"The partnership between the Red Cross and the 180th is one that has become very solid over the years. When the 180th commits to doing a blood drive, we know that
drive will do well and we can be sure those units will be there for hospital patients the next day," said Kerri Rochelle, American Red Cross Senior Donor Recruitment Representative.

Each year 180th members continue to set the bar higher with their commitment to the surrounding communities. Members show that their core values of integrity in all we do, service before self and excellence in all we, not only applies to the ANG, but to those outside of the Guard.

TV series offers gritty inside look at AF rescue missions

by Senior Airman Jarrod Grammel
23d Wing Public Affairs

2/8/2013 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- During an episode of "Inside Combat Rescue" that premiered at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Feb. 7, viewers saw the chilling sight of pararescuemen loading an amputee into a helicopter.

"Inside Combat Rescue" is a National Geographic series that shows a realistic and gritty look at what goes on during a deployment for Air Force rescue units. The series is scheduled to air on TV for the first time Feb. 18 and continue Mondays at 10 p.m.

"Our biggest goal was to make something that they could look back on and be proud of," said Jared McGilliard, "Inside Combat Rescue" series producer. "I hope it creates conversations about this war. The series shows the consequences and humanities of this war."

One of the Airmen featured in the series was U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Trevor Clark, 38th Rescue Squadron pararescueman. He said that the series looks really good and is happy with how everything is being portrayed.

"It's an honor to be a part of this," he said. "It feels good to know this is going to do good things for our unit, this base and the Air Force as a whole. It's something that's never really been done before."

While capturing the lives of the pararescuemen and their teams, one of the film crew's biggest goals was to stay out of the rescue team's way. McGilliard said the film crew began to integrate with the unit, so there was an expectation of where to be and when.

"It was important to stay out of their way," said McGilliard. "We had to ensure we would never be a detriment to the mission."

The main way the film crew accomplished this was with the use of mounted cameras. With limited space on the helicopters, there was little if any room for a cameraman. The film crew stayed on the main base, filming every moment up to take off and immediately after the helicopter landed.

To ensure they captured everything, even when they couldn't be onboard, the film crew used more than 50 mounted cameras for every mission. They mounted cameras on everything from the outside of the helicopters to the helmets of the pararescuemen, aerial gunners and pilots.

"The mounted cameras made it accessible like never before," said McGilliard. "It's about the guys, as seen through their perspective. It's authentic and hard to watch. If the audience isn't uncomfortable watching it, then it wouldn't be authentic.

"It's character driven," he added. "It's about these guys and their war."

Clark agreed with McGilliard on the use of these mounted cameras. He said the film crews were never in their way, and the mounted cameras give a unique perspective.

"I think the way they set up the cameras in the helicopters and having our helmet cams being able to really show the audience what goes on, hasn't really been done before," said Clark. "It's a really cool perspective, and I think people are going to see stuff they would never get to see otherwise."

This was McGilliards goal, and he said the footage came out even better than expected. He said it was an honor to work on the project and that it was humbling to work with the rescue teams.

"They are an elite unit, and I don't think there is anyone more deserving of being a role model than these guys."

McGilliard and Clark both agreed that the mission and the series were a team effort. Although the focus of the series is on the pararescuemen, Clark said they couldn't do their job without the maintainers, pilots, flight engineers and many other units and people.

As far as the series goes, McGilliard said that it wasn't just National Geographic and the pararescuemen working on it. He said there are a lot of people who should be proud of the series.

I will revolutionize the way people look at Chaplains"

by Master Sgt. Todd Moomaw, Tech. Sgt. Sara Robinson
132nd Fighter Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

2/10/2013 - DES MOINES, Iowa -- As Airmen, we all raised our right hand and swore to 'support and defend The Constitution of the United States'. This is no exception for members of the Air Force Chaplain Corps. As a matter of fact, they focus on one very important part of the Constitution, our First Amendment Right to 'Free Exercise of Religion'.

Chaplain (1st Lt.) Tony Davy is the newest member of the Iowa Air National Guard 132nd Fighter Wing's Chaplain Team. As a young man growing up in Independence, Iowa, he felt the call to ministry at the young age of 11. This started him on a spiritual journey that has led him to a better understanding of the power of spirituality and diversity in religion.

After high school he worked as a counselor at a boarding school and looked for opportunities that he thought would help people. He then decided that the military would be a good place to gain insight in the world and maybe help him grow as a person.  "I'll join the guard for a couple years and see," he said in May of 2003. Davy first served as a traditional enlisted member in the Logistics Readiness Squadron for 9 years. He was selected in 2008 as the 132nd Fighter Wing Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. After finishing his Bachelor's Degree in Business from Upper Iowa University, he earned a Seminary degree from Liberty University.

It was now time for Davy to decide what direction he wanted his military career to go. Davy's motivation to become a Chaplain came from interacting with his peers on drill weekends and several overseas deployments. "People in uniform come into contact with more reasons to look to the divine," he says.  In Davy's 20 years working in ministry he learned that spirituality can be the key to a better society as a whole.

"We can make the world a better place, one person at a time. We have the ability to help others, but often we choose not to. Don't be concerned about, 'what's in it for me', says Davy. Being a good person is not specific to any religious affiliation. Chaplains serving in the United States military need to be prepared to offer spiritual guidance regardless of someone's religious or spiritual beliefs.

"We [Chaplains] give everyone access or the right to worship as they choose or the right not to do anything. We treat the people around us appropriately, regardless of religion. If you get strength from a religion we want you to practice that regardless of the religion. Spirituality supplements our relationships with everyone," explains Davy.

The US military is a culturally rich, interfaith environment as is the Chaplain Corps. Chaplains can specialize in Muslim, Protestant, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu or Sikh beliefs. They are not however limited to just those areas. All Chaplains should be able to council, support and advise any other area.

Davy has 2 objectives to reach his goals as a chaplain. First, make himself available to anyone who wants to speak of a spiritual nature. "We don't always see that we are spiritual, but crisis in our lives can make us come to grips with our spirituality," he says. The second goal is to increase participation in base worship services. Davy understands the challenges of people making themselves available on busy drill weekends, but wants to create an excitement or buzz around worship. "There is strength in numbers, we can create synergy with more people, and on an individual basis it boils down to connecting with the person next to you."

Lt. Davy says, "I will revolutionize the way people look at Chaplains." All of us should be in the ministry, all the time. Chaplains are stewards of community and citizenship. Community is common and unity combined. Too often, we just want to be us, but we have to help each other. Being a good wingman does not stop at the end of drill weekend. We need to be wingmen for other citizens to help the world be a better place.

"Assisting other people will give us more fulfillment in our own lives. We should be reaching out every day to minister hope and address needs with people we come in contact with every day," he says.

Exercise Cobra Gold 2013 Kicks Off in Thailand

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2013 – The commander of U.S. Pacific Command kicked off the longest-running U.S. military exercise in the Pacific in Thailand today, calling the 13,000 multinational participants guardians of future peace and prosperity.

Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III marked the opening of the 32st iteration of Cobra Gold hosted by Thailand and the United States since 1980.

Cobra Gold began as a bilateral U.S.-Thai exercise, but expanded more than a decade ago to include other regional partners to advance their common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region, officials said.

Cobra Gold 2013, which runs through Feb. 21, brings together the militaries of United States, Thailand and five other Asian countries: Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Twenty additional nations have sent observers, including, for the first time, Burma.

“Whether you are a participant or an observer, or whether you have been here for 32 years or this is your first year, your being here demonstrates your country’s resolve to peace and stability in this region and in the world,” Locklear said at the opening ceremonies. “It is critical to building our multinational coordination, our interoperability with all of our partners in the region and to allow us to collectively respond to crises and protect the peace and prosperity of all our people.”

This year’s exercise will be demanding, as it prepares participants “for a broad spectrum of challenges we are going to face together,” the admiral said. The ambitious training schedule includes a staff exercise, senior leader engagements and “humanitarian and civic projects we will do together, field training we will do together, [and] live-fire events we will do together,” he said.

Highlights will include an amphibious assault demonstration that includes attack jets, helicopters, landing craft and small boats; small-boat and helicopter raids; a multilateral noncombatant evacuation operation; a combined arms live-fire exercise; and jungle warfare and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training.

All are designed, Locklear said, to “replicate the dynamic environment we find ourselves in today and [expect] in the future.” He challenged the participants to take advantage of the training opportunities at Cobra Gold to build the bonds and capabilities that ensure they will be prepared.

“Working together, we will meet the challenges and forge a brighter future for the region and the world,” he said.

Marines with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force’s Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, arrived in Thailand last week to partner with Royal Thai Marines to build a schoolhouse at Ban Nam Chiao Elementary School in Lam Ngob district. Another civic project planned during the exercise is construction of a one-story multipurpose building for the Baan Hua Wang Krang School in Thailand’s Muang district.

KARL members soar with McConnell

by Staff Sgt. Abigail Klein
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

2/11/2013 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- More than thirty members of the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership group took to the skies to witness McConnell's main mission firsthand Feb. 7, 2013.

A staple of the Kansas community, KARL is a two-year program that provides study, training and worldwide travel opportunities for emerging leaders in the states agriculture and rural communities since its founding in 1990, said Jack Lindquist, KARL president.

The flight also gave KARL members a chance to learn about the importance of air refueling, detailed during a unit mission brief conducted by Col. Kyle Kremer, 22nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander. The pre-flight briefing detailed McConnell's history and the importance of the Air Force's role in combat.

The brief also provided Kremer a chance to thank KARL members for their dedicated support to McConnell as leaders and members of the Kansas community.

"You guys are really what makes this community great and we can't thank you enough for coming out here today," he said.

The flight lasted approximately three hours, and was a once-in-lifetime event for the members, most who have little or no military background.

"It is important for the KARL class to participate in McConnell tours because the military helps to keep the [agricultural] trade routes open," said Luke Thornton, KARL member. "Since we are heavily involved in production agriculture, this is a very important function considering the purpose of our class is to understand as many aspects of our Kansas economy as possible."

KARL has toured McConnell every two years since 1993. The importance of maintaining this link was re-emphasized by Thornton.

"We are very supportive and thankful of everything the U.S. military does to ensure our safety and we are fortunate to have such a long-standing relationship with McConnell as part of our program," he said.

Panetta Praises Outgoing, Incoming ISAF Commanders

American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2013 – The following statement made by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was read at today’s transfer of command ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan: To the men and women of ISAF: Thank you for fighting and serving in tough conditions every day. Through your dedication and sacrifice, you are changing the course of history in a volatile and dangerous part of the world – and you’re paving the way for a brighter future. No one has done more over the last 18 months to help realize that brighter future than General John Allen. He is one of America’s most outstanding, unassuming, and brilliant military thinkers and leaders. General Allen took command of ISAF and USFOR-A at a crucial moment in the war. He has led U.S. and coalition forces at the height of their combat power, and the men and women under his command have achieved steady progress despite severe challenges. As a direct result of General Allen’s superb leadership, the ISAF campaign is on track to achieve the goal of ensuring Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for Al Qaeda or its extremist affiliates. ISAF and Afghan forces have put relentless pressure on a resilient enemy and disrupted its ability to derail the campaign. Meanwhile, Afghan National Security Forces have grown in number and capability, and stepped into the lead for security operations – even as the United States has recovered 33,000 surge forces since mid-2011. A critical part of that success has been General Allen’s tireless and effective efforts to sustain and strengthen coalition unity now and in the future. General Allen’s forthright advice and wise counsel have been essential to President Obama and to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His selfless dedication to our troops and to our mission is a constant source of inspiration on the battlefield and back at home. He has earned the thanks of this nation and many others for carrying the heavy burden of leadership with utmost professionalism and courage. Congratulations on a job well done, and Semper Fi! General Allen will be succeeded by another combat-tested Marine, General Joe Dunford, who will carry forward the momentum and hard-fought progress in the campaign. As General Allen has said so often, this campaign is about winning, and with continued dedication and sacrifice, we will prevail!

Allen Passes NATO Security Assistance Command to Dunford

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2013 – U.S. and NATO leaders today congratulated Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen for a job well done as commander of the alliance’s International Security Assistance Force and praised Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. as the strategic leader needed for the next phase of the command.

At a ceremony here, Allen passed Dunford the flags of the NATO command and of U.S. Forces Afghanistan. There are 66,000 American service members in the country.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey was on hand and praised Allen as a coalition builder. “He is as fine an officer as I’ve ever known,” Dempsey said. “He has led with a quick mind, calloused hands and a servant’s spirit.”

Dunford is perfect to follow Allen as the new commander, Dempsey said, calling him a leader who can draw on more than 35 years of excellence at every level in the military.

Afghan Defense Minister Bismullah Khan thanked Allen for his leadership and told him to “be proud” of all he has done for Afghanistan to build and train Afghan security forces and reduce civilian casualties. “You are leaving behind memories we Afghans will always remember in our hearts,” the defense minister said through a translator.

With 50 nations represented in the coalition to help the country, Allen said he is confident in victory. He remembered the more than 560 ISAF personnel who were killed and the more than 5,500 who were wounded during his 19 months in command.

The new commander kept his remarks short, but promised to keep up the momentum. Dunford will have his work cut out for him as he continues training Afghan forces and the movement of supplies and personnel out of the country ahead of the drawdown. And all this must be done in a way that allows a yet to be determined post NATO force to be ready to begin operations Jan. 1, 2015.

“Today is not about change, it’s about continuity,” Dunford said.