92nd SFS earns AMC level award

by Senior Airman Taylor Curry
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

3/5/2013 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The 92nd Security Forces Squadron was honored for the third time since 2007 as the best medium-sized SFS unit in Air Mobility Command for the year.

"This is validation of hard work that the 92nd SFS has shown during the past year," said Maj. Garon Shelton, 92nd SFS commander. "The squadron was one of three security forces units in AMC rated "outstanding" in the last Operational Readiness Inspection."

Amongst its many accomplishments, the squadron was responsible for training more than 700 Airmen on more than 35 Ability to Survive and Operate core tasks. ATSO prepares Airmen to survive in a chemically or biologically contaminated environment.

"The squadron spent over 240 hours of training and preparation for this exercise," said Master Sgt. Daniel Merrill, 92nd SFS NCO in-charge of intel fusion cell.

The 92nd SFS was the first security forces unit in AMC to go from 12-hour shifts, to 10-hour shifts.

"A big challenge faced during the last year was getting Airmen out of 12-hour shifts and integrating civilian officers into the flight rotations allowing defenders more time to spend on physical training, with their families and working on their education," said Shelton.

The squadron's defenders responded to more than 800 incidents including DUIs, domestic disturbances, vehicle accidents and traffic citations.

"Our defenders work extremely hard by keeping people safe," said Tech. Sgt. Levi Wilson, 92nd SFS military working dog handler. "It makes me feel proud that we go above and beyond every year. It's time to repeat that effort this year."

The unit also thwarted a hostile gate runner, defused a five-hour bomb threat, and ensured the safety of more than 9,000 members of the base populace.

"You don't earn this award with only a handful of high-speed individuals, it's a team," said Merrill. "Our strategy is you always plan for the worst case scenario and strive for the very best."

U.S. Must Demonstrate Commitment to Mideast, Mattis Says

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2013 – Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis testified today about the potential for a perceived lack of U.S. commitment to the Middle East as forces draw down in Afghanistan.

Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee here, the commander of U.S. Central Command explained his concern and suggested ways how the U.S. can demonstrate its commitment to the region.

“The drawdown of our forces can be misinterpreted as a lack of attention, a lack of commitment to the region,” he said. “Obviously that's a misinterpretation of what we're doing. Those forces were sent there for missions that are going away.”

The U.S. should conduct military exercises through its military-to-military contacts with Middle East countries, Mattis said, and have their officers attend U.S. military schools to help demonstrate an unwavering U.S. interest in this critical part of the world.

Mattis also said Middle Eastern leaders cite U.S. “budget ambiguity” as “probably the single greatest factor” at the moment.

“I'm asked about it everywhere I go in the region by the regional leaders [and] the national leaders there,” Mattis said. “And I think we're at a point … [where] budget ambiguity is now starting to drive our strategy.

“What we could use most is some degree of budget predictability,” he added, “like any household or business in America needs to run an operation.”

The U.S. military also requires “some time to make those [budget] cuts right,” Mattis said, as well as “a certain amount of flexibility for the service chiefs so that they can make the cuts in a way that has the least risk.

“Combined with that, and a continuing straight message that we are committed, I think we can weather this current situation and reassure our friends and make certain none of our adversaries think this is an opportunity,” he added.

Mattis noted he believes “the most important point” is that open lines of communication are maintained with regional partners.

“They want to carry their share of the burden, in many cases,” he added. “They are eager to do so.
“And by good intelligence sharing, by good cross-component training with our various components and their components,” he continued, ”we can put ourselves in a position where we're not carrying this entire burden ourselves.”

Mattis also addressed the pace of the drawdown, praising President Barack Obama’s plan to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan leading up to December 2014.

“The way we are drawing down right now with the president's plan allows us to keep our troop strength in the field for the next year,” Mattis said. “[This] sends a message in itself, and we will then draw down after this fighting season.

“Further, we're going to maintain about half the troops we have there now through the [Afghan] election,” he continued. “[This] shows a commitment to an election that will get the country on the right path, I think, in terms of showing a sustained commitment to democracy and solving our problems through the democratic process rather than picking up AK-47s.”

Mattis noted there hasn’t been a specific date set for the Afghanistan election, but it will likely be in April or May 2014.

Meanwhile, he said, there’ll be “approximately a 34,000-person drawdown [in U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan] between now and February of 2014. So that will keep the bulk of our troops there through the fighting season this year.”

Another drawdown, Mattis said, “will probably commence after the Afghan election in April or May to help them get through their election in April-May of 2014.”

A third point, he said, is although Afghan President Hamid Karzai hasn’t yet decided when the Afghan election will be held, there will be an enduring force there.

Obama and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen have both said there will be a continued coalition presence in Afghanistan, Mattis said.

“Enough to buttress the Afghan security forces and keep them strong and on the right track as they continue to mature,” he added.

Yesterday, the Senate confirmed that Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, currently the vice chief of staff of the Army, will succeed Mattis as the next commander of U.S. Central Command. Mattis is slated to retire this year.

Special Ops Commander, Congress Evaluate Human Rights Law

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2013 – The commander of U.S. Special Operations Command responded to lawmakers’ questions about the Leahy Amendment, which prohibits U.S. military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights and restricts U.S. aid to abusive security forces overseas.

Navy Adm. William H. McRaven told the House Armed Services Committee that the “poison person, poison unit” policy mandates human rights vetting and applies to all U.S. military and law enforcement assistance worldwide.

Committee members referred to recent incidents in Mali, where some of that nation’s soldiers allegedly engaged in torture, summary executions, and kidnapping since fighting in northern Mali resumed in January 2013.

“We try to teach [foreign nation forces] what we think right looks like [from] good order and discipline, to civilian rules of the military to human rights,” McRaven said.

Socom units face the ongoing challenge of working with international partners to strengthen accountability efforts and civilian protection to help prevent further abuses.

But the law, the admiral acknowledged, inherently restricts special operations from offering assistance to units that may require U.S. assistance to practice ethical behavior.

“If the individual has committed a human rights violation, then by default we have to go back, relook the entire unit [and] potentially step away from that unit … at a time when we probably need to engage them more than ever before,” McRaven said.

McRaven assured legislators that U.S. forces conduct appropriate human rights vetting in accordance to the law and policy.

Air Force's first female chief

3/5/2013 - FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- In 1960, Chief Master Sgt. Grace Peterson became the first female chief master sergeant. She was not only the first female chief master sergeant; she was part of the original group of senior NCOs to be selected for the rank of E-9.

At the time of promotion, Peterson was the first sergeant of a 400-person Women in the Air Force, or WAF, squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

Chief Peterson entered military service in New York City soon after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that thrust America into the World War II and joined what was then called the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942.

During an interview at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in 2010, Peterson said, "I joined because of the horrors of Pearl Harbor and I felt I had to do something about it."

Peterson recalled the first momentous day she entered WAAC as a boot trainee. She was sent to the first WAAC training center, which she called hastily established, at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.

The "genius" who prepared these facilities to receive the first females into the military will forever command her admiration, she said.

"Male OD coats were issued and trailed in the snow for the shorter girls. None of us needed mittens for the sleeves completely enveloped our arms," she said.

Four weeks later, she was assigned as company clerk to the second WAAC training center at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and in less than one year the "boot trainee" had risen to the rank of first sergeant.

To this date, Peterson maintains the "boot" expression derived from the heavy brogan shoes she had her charges wore in those days. After experiencing the rigors of basic training and a tight academic schedule - first as a pupil and later as an instructor- the precedent establishing experience of the veteran of six months was considered too valuable to relinquish.

She had, so to speak, found her niche in the Army...to greet and train the women volunteers who had followed her in steadily increasing numbers.

At this point in her career, Peterson said, "I was not only proud of my personal good fortune, but I felt an immense pride of my sex. Many of the volunteers we received - some a great deal older than myself- were college graduates and had established civilian careers but chose, instead, to serve with the armed forces. And I think the record points out the caliber of service women performed during the war."

Throughout the war years, Peterson remained in the United States except for a period of duty at Ladd Field, Alaska.

She served during both Victory over Europe (May, 7 1945) and Victory over Japan (Aug. 14, 1945) days.

(Courtesy of the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute. Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson contributed to this article.)

RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2013 MILITARY CHILD OF THE YEAR® AWARD

Each Deserving Young Patriot Wins $5,000

SAN ANTONIO – Operation Homefront today announced the five recipients of the 2013 Military Child of the Year® Award.  The national non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance to military families annually gives the award to an outstanding military child from each branch of service – Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

From a pool of more than 1,000 nominees, each award recipient was chosen by a committee including active duty military personnel, Family Readiness Support Assistants, teachers, military mothers, and community members.  The five awardees will receive $5,000 each and will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C. for a special recognition gala on April 11, 2013.  The awards will be presented by senior leaders of each branch of service and an invitation to present the keynote address has been made to Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins, himself a military child.

“The sons and daughters of America’s service members learn what patriotism is at a very young age,” said Jim Knotts, President & CEO of Operation Homefront.  “Children in military families demonstrate leadership within their families and within their communities.  This is what the Military Child of the Year® Award honors.”

Following are 2013 Military Child of the Year® award recipients.

ARMY

Nicole Marie Daly, 16

Fort Lee, Virginia

Nicole, age 16, has moved 9 times and so far, attended 3 high schools.  Despite these constant changes, Nicole is ranked first in her class with a 4.7 GPA, a weighted score based on her coursework of Honors and Advanced Placement classes.  She has earned varsity letters in both cross-country and track, and runs half-marathons with her father.  Nicole served as the Military Child Education Representative for Fort Lee on a panel determining ways to help military children transition between schools.  Nicole also volunteers with a Family Readiness Group, the Fort Lee Spouse’s Club, and spends weekends visiting National Guard and Reserve units to teach soldiers and dependents about their education benefits.  Nicole was nominated by her school counselor, Tara Bauman-Seely, who wrote, “She is truly an example of a well-rounded student and immediately embraced her new environment and involved herself with extra-curricular activities.  She certainly stands out to me as a role model for military students!”  Nicole is the daughter of Cathy and Edward Daly.

Marine Corps

Abigail MaryRose Perdew, 17

Kingdom of Bahrain

Abigail is student council president and captain of the cross-country team and track and field team.  She carries a 4.1 GPA as a full International Baccalaureate (IB) senior with advanced placement courses in economics, calculus, European history and physics.  She has volunteered over 200 hours this year including math tutoring and as president of Student 2 Student, has grown the outreach of this group which helps new students acclimate to their new school and host country culture.  Linda Berger, the IB Coordinator for Bahrain School, wrote, “In my nearly thirty years as a secondary school educator, I regard Abigail as one of my top students.  She is intelligent, talented, highly motivated and positive.”    Abigail has earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy and plans to study development economics and Arabic.  She would like to work as an attaché or Foreign Area Officer and in the long term, as a diplomat or run for public office.  Abigail is the daughter of Jessica and Jason Perdew.

NAVY

Alexander Ray Burch, 17

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Born at 25 weeks and 1.5lbs, Alexander Ray Burch was not expected to survive the night.  He pulled through but at age four, doctors discovered he was hearing impaired and would continue to lose his hearing with age.  Instead of limiting him, Alexander excels in doing for others.  While living in Guam, then nine-year old Alexander collected food and water and delivered supplies to villagers who lost their homes in a devastating typhoon.  Since then, he has grown into an honors student and chess enthusiast who immerses himself in volunteering, over 400 hours this past year including producing a video for an Anti-Bullying Campaign.  He is a member of the golf team and on homecoming court.  Dawn Thompson, Director of Youth Programs at Grand Forks Air Force Base wrote, “There is nothing he will not do and ‘no’ does not appear to be in his vocabulary.  He is an inspiration for all kids and many adults.”  While his hearing disability prevents Alexander from pursuing his dream of a Navy career, he plans to study at the University of North Dakota for a career in government supporting the military.  Alexander is the son of Joanne and David Burch.

AIR FORCE

Mark Newberry, 17

Medical Lake, Washington

Mark moved for the 10th time, from Virginia to Washington state, the summer before his senior year.  He carries a 4.25 GPA with a course load of Advanced Placement statistics, anatomy, physiology, European history and literature.   Mark earned three varsity letters in cross-country and placed third at the state championship.  He earned the prestigious rank of Eagle in Boy Scouts at just 13 years old.  Mark teaches Sunday school, visits shut-ins every other weekend and volunteers at the local VA thrift store and elderly village.  His school principal, John McSmith wrote, “Mark is a person of character who always does the right thing.  He is thoughtful and considerate to everyone, willing to help and work for the success of the team.”  He participated in the Duke University TIP Program for clinical psychology and shadowed a neurosurgeon for 20 hours for his senior honors project, all in pursuit of a career in medicine.  Mark will study pre-med and has been accepted to John Hopkins University and Vanderbilt.  He is the son of Jill and Brian Newberry.

COAST GUARD

Amanda Wimmerberg, 18

McGuire AFB, New Jersey

Amanda is a gifted and talented senior with a 4.0 GPA and is captain of the varsity soccer team and track team.  She is a member of the Peer Leadership program which helps freshman acclimate to their new school by providing an older student to talk to about problems and make sure they aren’t getting bullied.  Amanda was the Teen Panel member of the Military Family Action Planning Committee and volunteers with her soccer team, student council and National Honor Society to organize beach cleanups and fundraisers.  She conducts senior citizen home visits with her church youth group.  Amanda is Red Cross CPR and First Aid certified and works as a lifeguard at the local community college.  Amanda was nominated by her school counselor, Kelly Reising, who wrote, “Frequent moves have always been a part of her life and so Amanda adapted quickly to her new environment. From the beginning, it was clear that Amanda was resilient, hard-working and intelligent.”  Amanda will begin college at the University of Central Florida where she will study to be a physical therapist.  Amanda is the daughter of Christina and Richard Schultz.

United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is the presenting sponsor for the Military Child of the Year® Award.  UTC, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company that provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.

Additional event sponsors include: Wounded Warrior Project, Military Times, Soldiers' Angels, Veterans United Foundation, Bank of America, Express Scripts, TeenCentral, LaQuinta Inn & Hotels, Flextronics, and Northrop Grumman.

# # #

About Operation Homefront:  A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 6,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has met more than 741,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002.  A four-star rated charity by

New ANG Command Chief's key aim points to Airmen

by Master Sgt. Marvin R. Preston
Air National Guard Special Staff Public Affairs

3/4/2013 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The new Command Chief of the Air National Guard met with ANG Airmen in the National Capital Region for the first time during an enlisted call at the ANG Readiness Center here Thursday.

Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling, who assumed his role Feb. 4 as the 11th Command Chief of the ANG, took the opportunity to introduce his family and discuss his three key aim points; the profession of arms, the health of the force, and recognizing and renewing commitment to Airmen.

"First, I am going to focus on us renewing our commitment to the profession of arms," said Hotaling. "We have to do professional development, we have to deliberately develop ourselves, we have to go to the right schools, we have to educate ourselves. All of those factors are what we will focus on because we are a profession of arms."

Hotaling said he would dig down into the details of issues such as changes with enlisted performance reports and how having a Community College of the Air Force degree may impact an Airman's future. He said he would frame EPR and CCAF decisions on the profession of arms.

"[My] second focus point is the health of the force," Hotaling said. "If you read any job description of any of the enlisted starting at the supervisory level all the way up to the command chief, we are supposed to take care of people."

Hotaling said taking care of people is the ANG's business and that Airman and family readiness programs will be significant for he and his wife, Marie.

"We are going to look at this together," said Hotaling. "We are going to make sure that we are taking care of Airmen, it is very important."

Other aspects of the health of the force discussed by Hotaling included working with a resiliency mindset during challenging times and sexual assault and prevention to make sure make sure we take care of Airmen holistically.

"The last focus point is to recognize and embrace our achievements," said Hotaling. "Tell our story; what we do is an incredible thing for our nation every single day."
He said it is imperative to show Airmen in the ANG how they fit into the mission.

"It is very important that the lowest ranking Airman understands what his or her responsibility is," said Hotaling, "and why we are the most dominating Air Force in the world."

Hotaling concluded by emphasizing the need to show Airmen sincere thanks for the hard work they do.

"We can't just keep patting people on the back and saying great job, see you again tomorrow," Hotaling said. "We have got to make sure that they are recognized for what [they] do, because we are professionals, and that is a part of what we do."

As the ANG Command Chief, Hotaling represents the highest level of enlisted leadership in the ANG. He is responsible for matters influencing the health, morale and welfare of ANG personnel and their families.

Mattis: Iran ‘Most Significant Threat’ To Regional Stability

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2013 – Iran’s behavior poses the greatest risk to stability in the Middle East, the commander of U.S. Central Command said here today.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis said “Iran remains the single-most significant regional threat to stability and prosperity,” adding that the Iranian government’s “Reckless behavior and bellicose rhetoric characterize a leadership that cannot win the affection of its own people or the respect of any responsible nation in the region.”
Iran’s continued support for the Assad regime in Syria, Mattis said, coupled with its maligned activities in the Middle East raise the risk of Iranian miscalculation sparking a disastrous conflict.
The general cited Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen and Gaza as places where Iran has attempted to derail stability in the region.\

Globally, Mattis listed Sudan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Thailand, India, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Nigeria as other sites for Iran’s clandestine activities.

“Even here in Washington, D.C., [Iran made] an attempt to kill the Saudi ambassador,” he said. Iran remains a threat elsewhere in the world, as well as in the cyber domain, he said.

On Syria, Mattis was asked by a committee member if all options, including a military option are still available to President Barack Obama, and if so, if a plan was fully prepared.

“Those plans are fully developed,” he said.

Mattis also said he would have reservations about arming Syrian rebels battling the Assad regime.
“The situation is so complex that I have to get some degree of confidence that the weapons that we would be arming them with would not be going to people who are enemies,” he said.

“[This] would be the one caveat that I would put on any military advice to go forward along those lines,” Mattis added. “We don’t want, inadvertently, with the best of intentions, to arm people who are basically sworn enemies.”

Mattis noted he has not been tasked with such a mission and hadn’t “looked deeply” into implementing such a plan.

The general was also asked by the committee how long he believed rebels can sustain their resistance to the Assad regime, and if President Assad would be able to maintain control in Syria.
“We’re dealing with a fundamentally unpredictable situation. However, [the rebels are] eroding his power base,” Mattis said. “It is eroding the geographic base he controls daily.

“You see him using ballistic missiles to impact the areas he’s lost control [over],” the general continued. “Notice how the increased use of those missiles over the last month or two has been evident.”

Though Assad is losing ground, Mattis said, it’s difficult to forecast how long his regime can hold out.

Command announces 2012 media contest results

3/5/2013 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Two reservists won more than three individual awards in the 2012 Air Force Reserve Command Media Contest. Their work, along with other qualifying entries, advanced to the Air Force Media Contest in San Antonio, Texas.

Staff Sgt. Brent Skeen, a broadcaster from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., was the top command winner. In addition to military broadcaster of the year, he won the television news report, TV feature report, TV sports report, TV newsbreak and video field production categories.

Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr. from the 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Fla., took the military photographer of the year award. He also captured the feature photo, portrait and picture story categories.

Airmen and civilian employees from 27 organizations throughout the command submitted 290 web, print, graphic, photographic and broadcast entries to the contest.

"I commend them for their dedicated service, superior work and continued enthusiasm," said Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, AFRC commander, in a memorandum March 2 announcing the contest results.

Other winners in the command contest are:

First Lt. Zachary Anderson, 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell AFB, Kan. - commentary, photojournalism and news photograph categories.

Staff Sgt. Mikhail Berlin, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio - pictorial photo category.

Staff Sgt. Steve Collier, 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, Colo. - human interest feature article and illustrative photo categories.

Senior Airman Kelly Galloway, 439th AW, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. - documentation photo, sports photo and outstanding new photographer categories.

Tech. Sgt. Danielle Johnston, 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo. - military print journalist of the year, news article and personality feature article categories. Her feature represented the command in the Air Force contest's feature article category.

Shawn Jones, 514th Air Mobility Wing, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. - sports article and civilian print journalist of the year categories.

Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin, 434th ARW, Grissom ARB, Ind. - outstanding new writer and graphic layout & design categories.

Tech. Sgt. Brannen Parrish, 931st ARG, McConnell AFB - news feature article category.

William Pope, 439th AW, Westover ARB - graphic illustration category. Pope's photo portfolio also advanced to the Air Force contest in the civilian photographer of the year category.

Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes, 927th ARW, MacDill AFB, Fla. - series category.

Chaplain (Capt.) Joseph Eggleston outscored other contributors to win the command's stringer writer category. He was with the 439th AW, Westover ARB, at the time he wrote his commentary. He is now assigned to the 459th ARW at JB Andrews.

Shannon McKay and Senior Airman Trevor Saylor of the 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn., had their work advance to the Air Force contest. McKay is representing the command in the graphic animation category, and Saylor is in the outstanding new broadcaster category.

Unit award winners are the 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, in the website category; 315th AW, JB Charleston, S.C., in the video documentary category; and 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla., in the outstanding initiative in new media category. These entries are representing the command in the Air Force contest.

The Freedom Flyer magazine from the 514th AMW, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, was named the command's best publication.

The Heartland Warrior online magazine from the 434th ARW, Grissom ARB, placed second in the publication category. It is representing the command in the web-based publication category in the Air Force contest.

In announcing the contest results, Jackson thanked the print journalists, still photographers, graphic artists, broadcasters and contributing writers for keeping AFRC people and the American public informed about the important missions performed by their units, the Air Force Reserve and the U.S. Air Force. He extended "best wishes for success" to the individuals and units who had their work advance to the Air Force Media Contest.

Results of the Air Force contest are expected to be announced by March 8.

Other runners-up in the AFRC contest by category are:

Website - second-place tie - 439th AW, Westover ARB, and 94th AW, Dobbins ARB, Ga.

News article - second place - Tech. Sgt. Jeff Williams, 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS, and third place - Senior Airman Meredith Thomas, 916th ARW, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.

News feature article - second place - Tech. Sgt. Timm Huffman, 439th AW, Westover ARB, and third place - Master Sgt. Greg Steele, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.

Human interest feature article - second place - Huffman, 439th AW, Westover ARB, and third place - Staff Sgt. Anna-Marie Wyant, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB.

Personality feature article - second place - Senior Airman Shen-Chia McHone, 445th AW, Wright-Patterson AFB, and third place - Master Sgt. Steve Staedler, 440th AW, Pope Field, N.C.

Commentary - second place - Col. Michael Underkofler, 514th AMW commander, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakerhurst, and third place - Maj. Shannon Mann, 916th ARW, Seymour Johnson AFB.

Sports article - second place - Staedler, 440th AW, Pope Field, and third place tie - Tech. Sgt. Kent Kagarise, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, and Staff Sgt. Carl Berry, 434th ARW, Grissom ARB.

Series - second place - Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock, 910th AW, Youngstown ARS, Ohio, and third place - Wyant, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB.

Photojournalism - second place - Lt. Col. Jim Bishop, 439th AW, Westover ARB, and third place - Wyant, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB.

Outstanding initiative in new media - second place - 911th AW, Pittsburgh IAP ARS, Pa., and third place - 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB.

Outstanding new writer - second place - Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten, 94th AW, Dobbins ARB, and third place - Staff Sgt. Samantha Wagner, 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS.

Air Force military print journalist of the year - second place - Wyant, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB, and third place - Staedler, 440th AW, Pope Field.

Graphic illustration - second place - Master Sgt. Robert Barko, 910th AW, Youngstown ARS, and third place - Tech. Sgt. Joseph McKee, 914th AW, Niagara Falls IAP ARS, N.Y.

Graphic layout & design - second place - Collier, 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, and third place - Tech. Sgt. Brenda Cosola, 910th AW, Youngstown ARS.

Documentation photo - second place - Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston, 307th BW, Barksdale AFB, and third place - King, 919th SOW, Duke Field.

News photo - second place - Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston, 307th BW, Barksdale AFB, and third place - Ann Skarban, 302nd AW, Peterson AFB.

Feature photo - second place - Steele, 307th BW, Barksdale AFB, and third place - Tech. Sgt. Mark Orders-Woempner, 434th ARW, Grissom ARB.

Sports photo - second-place tie - King, 919th SOW, Duke Field; McLaughlin, 434th ARW, Grissom ARB; and Master Sgt. Wendy Lopedote, 916th ARW, Seymour Johnson AFB.

Portrait/personality photograph - second place - Tech. Sgt. Scotty Sweatt, 916th ARW, Seymour Johnson AFB, and third place - Berlin, 445th AW, Wright-Patterson AFB.

Illustrative photograph - second place - Staff Sgt. Megan Tomkins, 910th AW, Youngstown ARS, and tied for third place - Berlin, 445th AW, Wright-Patterson AFB, and King, 919th SOW, Duke Field.

Pictorial photograph - second place - Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB, and third place - Galloway, 439th AW, Westover ARB.

Picture story - second place - Wyant, 920th RQW, Patrick AFB, and third place - Steele, 307th BW, Barksdale AFB.

Outstanding new photographer - second place - Van Patten, 94th AW, Dobbins ARB.

Air Force military photographer of the year - second place - Steele, 307th BW, Barksdale AFB, and third place - Orders-Woempner, 434th ARW, Grissom ARB.

Command publication - third place - Falcon Flyer, 94th AW, Dobbins ARB.

Stringer writer - second place - Tech. Sgt. Randall Lynch, 307th BW, Barksdale AFB, and third place - Capt. Adam Ebacher, 96th Airlift Squadron, Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS.

Niagara Airman earns local, command scholarships

by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Caya
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/5/2013 - NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- A 914th Airlift Wing Airman was recently awarded the Air Force Reserve Command Total Force Top Three Academic Scholarship and the 914th Chief's Group Scholarship.

Senior Airman Travis Packard, a material management technician in the 914th Logistics Readiness Squadron, was selected as the most deserving candidate of the $500 scholarship by the AFRC Total Force Top Three Committee. Prior to this he was awarded $700 from the 914th Chief's Group Scholarship.

"It's impressive that we have Airmen that can communicate their thoughts, plans, as well as ambitions and be able to put that down on paper. Being able to do that makes them very competitive," said 914th AW Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Scharlau.

"Obviously Airman Packard did phenomenal by winning scholarships at the local level and then went on to win the Top Three Scholarship, so that's fantastic," added the Chief.

Packard said he applied for the Top Three scholarship after seeing an announcement in the 914th Force Support Squadron publication, "The Loop."

"More people should apply for these scholarships," said Packard; mentioning that his winning essay did not take him a very long time to produce. "There is no reason not to apply for them."

Packard said he feels great to have won these scholarships and will use the funds to pay for his books, which he said can be pricey as he is pursuing a biology degree at D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY, with the aspiration to be a physician's assistant.

Virginia ceremony to remember Airmen, Soldiers killed in 2001 plane crash

by Cotton Puryear
Virginia National Guard

3/1/2013 - VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Virginia Beach-based 203rd RED HORSE Squadron plans to hold a brief ceremony to lay an honor wreath March 3, 2013, at 3 p.m. at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach to honor the 18 unit members and three Florida Army National Guard aviators who were killed in a military transport crash 12 years ago.

The Virginia Guard engineers and three Florida aviators from Detachment I, Company H, 171st Aviation Battalion, were killed on March 3, 2001, as the 203rd members were returning home after completing a two-week military construction project at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The C-23 Sherpa they were flying in crashed in a cotton field near Unadilla, Ga.

The C-23 crash was the worst peacetime aviation disaster in the history of the National Guard, and the worst loss of life in the Virginia National Guard since World War II.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the memorial built to the fallen Airmen. The memorial takes the form of a reflection or meditation garden complete with the unit's mascot: a life-size, rearing red horse. The 30,000-square-foot memorial also includes a large bronze Minuteman statue rising up from a clear pool in front of a waterfall, and a second red horse. This horse kneels in front of a memorial made from a 7,000-pound, black granite boulder with the names of the 21 National Guard men etched into its one polished surface.

Encircling the border of the memorial is a winding path embracing 22 Bradford pear trees, and a plaque at the base of each tree honors each one of the Guardsmen. The 22nd tree bears a plaque honoring those who died during the terrorist acts of Sept. 11, which took place four days before the groundbreaking of the 203d's memorial on Sept. 15, 2001.

The memorial incorporates ideas from several 203rd members and used a range of the construction skills found in RED HORSE units. Members of the 203rd, assisted by RED HORSE units from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Washington, Montana and Texas, built most of the memorial.

RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, and the unit provides a highly mobile civil engineering response force to support contingency operations worldwide.

203rd RED HORSE Airmen lost in the crash:

• Master Sgt. James Beninati of Virginia Beach, Va.
• Staff Sgt. Paul Blancato of Norfolk, Va.
• Tech. Sgt. Ernest Blawas of Virginia Beach, Va.
• Staff Sgt. Andrew H. Bridges of Chesapeake, Va.
• Master Sgt. Eric Bulman of Virginia Beach, Va.
• Staff Sgt. Paul Cramer of Norfolk, Va.
• Tech. Sgt. Michael East of Parksley, Va.
• Staff Sgt. Ronald Elkin of Norfolk, Va.
• Sgt. James Ferguson of Newport News, Va.
• Staff Sgt. Randy Johnson of Emporia, Va.
• Senior Airman Mathew Kidd of Hampton, Va.
• Master Sgt. Michael Lane of Moyock, Va.
• Tech. Sgt. Edwin Richardson of Virginia Beach, Va.
• Tech. Sgt. Dean Shelby of Virginia Beach, Va.
• Staff Sgt. John Sincavage of Chesapeake, Va.
• Staff Sgt. Gregory Skurupey of Gloucester, Va.
• Staff Sgt Richard Summerell of Franklin, Va.
• Maj. Frederick Watkins of Virginia Beach, Va.

Florida Army Guard Soldiers lost in the crash:

• CW4 Johnny W. Duce of Orange Park, Fla.
• CW2 Eric P. Larson of Land-O-Lakes, Fla.
• SSG Robert F. Ward Jr. of Lakeland, Fla.

Hancock Field Airman and son rescue neighbors from burning house

by Senior Airman Duane Morgan
174th Attack Wing

3/3/2013 - Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, New York -- Tech. Sgt. Brian Matthews, a member of the 174th Attack Wing's Communication Squadron Quality Assurance team, along with his son helped rescue neighbors trapped in a burning building February 13, 2013 in his hometown of Clay, New York.

"It was around 9:30 p.m. and my wife and I were walking our dog when we noticed a beeping sound," said Matthews. "We then realized it was a smoke alarm and noticed smoke coming from the house across the street."  Matthews feared that all nine residents in the house were inside and acted quickly in coming to their aid.

"I immediately turned to my wife and told her to call 911," said Matthews. "I then ran to the house to knock on the door the warn everyone to get out."  While running toward the house Matthews noticed some of the residents were hanging their heads out of the window to keep from inhaling all the smoke coming from the house.  "There was a mother and her two kids on the second floor of the home and I told her they were going to have to jump," said Matthews. "She told me she couldn't jump and that was when I ran across the street to get my ladder."

On his way to getting his ladder Matthews yelled to his 15 year-old son Nicolas to assist him. "By the time I got the ladder Nicolas was already outside. He was barefoot with nothing but shorts on. He grabbed the ladder from me and ran across the street."

"We then put the ladder up to the house and started bringing people down from the window," said Matthews.  The other six residents of the house managed to make it out of the house unharmed.
"There were only three people in the house," said Matthews. "The others went out the back door."

"As soon as we got the last person down from the window flames started to shoot up," said Matthews.

Matthews has known the neighbors he helped rescue for over a year. One of the residents rescued was a member of the swim team with his son.

Matthews believes that his military training played an important part in helping him remain calm during his rescue effort.  "With us being in the military, it's in our nature to be alert at all times," said Matthews. Matthews also believes the training he has received at the 174th made it easier for him to think on his feet.

His son, Nicolas, has also had some experience with saving the lives of others. He once saved a friend who fell through the ice in the pond next to their home.

Nicolas Matthews believes that if he and his dad had not been home, the night would have turned out much different.  "They probably wouldn't have made it out," said Nicolas. "If they did it wouldn't have been safely."

"I'm just glad that everyone is all good and healthy," said Brian Matthews. "I'm glad all nine people were not there."

When asked how he feels about his dad's rescue effort, Nicolas said it made him feel proud.  "I'm really proud of him," said Nicolas Matthews. "He definitely acted fast."

Task force established to close gaps between active, Guard, Reserve

by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

3/4/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force senior leaders recently constructed a task force to develop the best ways to bring the active, Reserve, and Guard closer together to achieve the most capable force possible.

To meet the challenges of the future, the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force directed the stand-up of the Total Force Task Force, or TF2, to develop strategic options on the appropriate total force capabilities mix to meet current and future Air Force requirements.

"The results of this task force will inform our strategic planning and programming for fiscal 2015 and beyond, and will also serve as a resource to the congressionally-directed national commission on the structure of the Air Force that will be examining total-force issues later this year," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley at the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition Feb. 22.

The commission will study the structure of the Air Force to determine whether, and how, the structure should be modified to best fulfill current and anticipated mission requirements for the Air Force in a manner consistent with available resources.

The task force is led by senior leaders from the active-duty, Reserve and Guard who will work under Lt. Gen. Mike Moeller, who is the deputy chief of staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in coordination with Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve leadership.

The results of their work will inform the Air Force's planning process for fiscal 2015 and beyond. The expectation is for active, Reserve and Guard components to learn from each other, while also looking into the strengths and weaknesses of today's total force efforts.

"The determination of our leadership to break down barriers preventing us from planning and advancing as a total force will drive this effort to success," said Maj. Gen. Joe Balskus, who is the military assistant to the deputy chief of staff for Strategic Plans and Programs. "The team we have assembled from the three components and the extended team members across Headquarters Air Force, the Air Force secretariat, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve is incredibly impressive."

Over the past two decades, the Air Force has become a more integrated force, both operationally and organizationally, across the total force. As a result, senior leaders want to ensure the service is structured in a way that ensures the service can achieve its strategic objectives going forward.

"In view of this increased integration, as well as upcoming strategic shifts driven by post-Afghanistan reconstitution and the new Defense Strategic Guidance, the Air Force needs to undertake a comprehensive review of total force requirements and develop a strategic plan to ensure the Air Force correctly balances the strengths of each of the components to sustain the capabilities required in the years ahead," Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III stated in a memorandum about the task force.

Moeller said he is optimistic about the task force and the synergy it will generate within the planning community.

"Under the chief of staff and secretary's guidance," he said, "we are taking the right steps to bring our Air Force together as one team in order to collaboratively answer one of the most important questions we face as a service, 'what is the most effective balance of capabilities between the active duty, Guard and Reserve?' The task force is designed to be open and transparent, and we will need the help of all stakeholders to ensure success."

Esther Blake: First enlisted woman in the Air Force

3/4/2013 - FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- Staff Sgt. Esther McGowin Blake has the distinction of being the "first woman in the Air Force." She enlisted in the first minute of the first hour of the first day regular Air Force duty was authorized for women on July 8, 1948.

Blake originally enlisted in March 1944, in Miami in the Army Air Forces, served one year in the Alaskan division and was discharged in November 1945. She reenlisted in April 1947 and was assigned to the ground force but seized the first opportunity to return to the Army Air Forces. Service in the nation's armed forces was nothing new for Mrs. Blake.

She supported the war by working at the Miami Air Depot as a civilian employee. Blake was a widow. She joined the Women's Army Corps when she found out her eldest son, Lt. Julius Blake, was reported missing. He was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot out of England and had been shot down over Belgium. Her other son, Lt. Tom Blake was serving in B-25 Mitchell medium bombers in Italy -- he was also shot down at a later time.

At the time Blake was quoted in the Miami Herald as saying that her reason for joining the WACs was the hope of helping free a soldier from clerical work to fight, thus speeding the end of the war.

"If I can do this, "she said, "My efforts will be worthwhile."

During the months and years that followed, she saw both her sons return from combat with only minor wounds and heavily decorated.

She was assigned to several bases throughout the United States and in Alaska and the Yukon Territory near the Aleutians. She separated from service briefly and return to her civilian job in Miami in the mid-40s; however, she heeded a recall for women in service and returned to an Army assignment at Fort McPherson near Atlanta.

It was during this assignment that the Air Force became a separate branch of the service and women in the Air Force were authorized. She remained active with the Air Force until 1954 when she separated and went to work with the civil service at the Veterans Regional Headquarters in Montgomery, Ala.

Mrs. Blake, the first woman in the Air Force, died Oct. 17, 1979. In 1987, the Air Force Senior NCO Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., named one of their student dormitories in her honor.

Active Guard Reserve office moves to Buckley

3/4/2013 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Officials will realign and relocate some transactional work from the Air Force Reserve Command to the Air Reserve Personnel Center March 4.

The Active Guard Reserve Management Office from AFRC will realign functionally as part of the ARPC's Directorate of Personnel Assignments, with a streamlined assignments business process.

This action is the first of several upcoming realignments in support of the Program Action Directive 07-11 and Air Force's Three-In-One policy.

This new assignments business process consists of two teams - assignment management and assignment processing. This is different from the currently distributed workload which is divided by Air Force specialty code.

The Assignment Management Branch will own AGR application processing, vacancy management, nominations to the hiring authority and notification of applicant selection and non-selection. They will also take all AGR requests including management directed reassignment, also known as MDRs; voluntary and involuntary curtailments; and AGR review board processes.

The Assignment Processing Branch will process all assignments actions associated with new selections, MDRs, curtailments, ARB separation or date of separation extensions, to include systems updates and orders publishing.

AGR colonel assignment and ARB actions will still remain at AFRC.

Until a new venue is established, the AGR management Communities of Practice, or CoP, will remain the one-stop shop for AGR-related processes. Go to https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=RC-DP-00-11 to view all information applicable to AGRs throughout the transition.

Through the transition, there will be an overlap on organization boxes accepting AGR applications. Utilize the AGR advertisement to determine which organization box to send your application.

Call the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102 for AGR assignment-specific inquiries.
 

Air National Guard’s first female military training instructor named NCO of the year

by Capt. Peter Shinn
Officer Training School Student Squadron commander

3/4/2013 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The first and only female military training instructor in the Air National Guard is also the first and only Air National Guard member to be named the Air University Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Technical Sgt. Leslie Cummings is an MTI for the Academy of Military Science, the Air Force Officer Training School commissioning program for Air National Guard members.

"It's awesome, and I really appreciate it, but it's really about just doing your job to the best of your ability and maximizing your contribution to the team," Cummings said of winning the award for 2012. "I'm very fortunate to work with such a great group of professionals."

AMS Commander Lt. Col. Reid Rasmussen described Cummings as a "top-notch professional," and said he was not surprised to learn she won award.

"AMS and OTS are fortunate to have people like Leslie," Rasmussen said. "I'm constantly amazed at not only her job performance but everything she's done for Maxwell, as well."

Cummings' contributions to the Maxwell-Gunter community include founding Airmen Against Drunk Driving, known locally as A2D2, which has virtually eliminated drinking and driving incidents among military personnel here. She also is a founding member of the Guard and Reserve Network, or GARNET, an organization that enhances the skills and civilian employment opportunities of Reserve component members.

The Air National Guard advisor to the commander and president of the Air University praised Cummings as an "outstanding Citizen-Airmen" and a premier example of the total force concept.

"Sergeant Cummings is quite simply one of the Guard's very best leaders," said Col. Edward Vaughan, who is also the founder of GARNET. "Her selection as AU's NCO of the year shows that she's one of the very best leaders across the total force as well."

Cummings, who is currently serving on extended active duty, is a member of the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, located at Channel Islands.

The wing's commander, Col. Paul Hargrove, congratulated Cummings on her achievement.

"Every member of the 146th Airlift Wing and I are proud of Leslie's accomplishments," Hargrove said. "We're looking forward to her return to the unit."

Though Cummings is the first Air National Guard MTI and first Guard member to be selected for the award, she said she doesn't see herself as a pioneer.

"I really don't think of myself as a trailblazer," Cummings said. "I've just been given great opportunities that I've tried to maximize as best I could, because I believe every opportunity you're given is an opportunity to set yourself apart in a positive way."

F-35s cleared to resume flight

by Joel Fortner
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

3/4/2013 - WASHNGTON (AFNS) -- F-35 Lightning IIs were cleared for flight Feb. 28 following a temporary suspension after a cracked engine blade was found in a test aircraft earlier in the month.

A .06-inch crack was discovered in a third-stage turbine blade in a test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Feb. 19. Third-stage blades are located deep inside the engine.

A thorough series of tests on the blade concluded prolonged exposure to high-heat levels and other operational stressors on the engine were contributing factors. Edwards AFB is home of the service's major flight test wing, where aircraft undergo rigorous testing.

"As with any new weapons system, we expect to learn things about the aircraft and the system over time and we are doing just that," said Col. Andrew Toth, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander at Eglin AFB, Fla., where F-35 pilot and maintenance training began in January.

After the crack was found, all F-35 engines were inspected and no additional cracks or signs of similar engine stress were found.

Despite not being able to fly during the recent suspension, teams at Eglin AFB continued training in a state-of-the-art training center.

"Due to the fidelity of the simulators, approximately 50 percent of the core syllabus flights for the F-35 training program are accomplished virtually," Toth said. "Any additional time in the simulator gives pilots an opportunity to practice more emergency procedures and improve their capabilities."

The training center has electronic classrooms for maintainers, actual-size, mock-up cockpits and weapons bays. On the flightline, maintainers continued to hone their skills on the advanced, stealth fighter.

In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc explained why the F-35, which will be built for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines, and eight allies, is needed.

"Enemy threats are evolving. Their surface-to-air missile technology is evolving," he said. "So that's why fifth-generation technology is such a thing and that's the promise of the F-35."

Gorenc said aircraft like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II are far more vulnerable in "contested environments" because they are not stealth aircraft.

The general also explained the advantage of going to war with coalition partners that train with and fly the same aircraft.

"The ability to deal with coalition partners that operate the same equipment, that will probably adopt the same tactics, techniques, procedures, that will be involved in the same logistics concept," Gorenc said, "That's very important because when you have a coalition partner that is operating the same equipment, there are so many things in the joint fight that become much easier to do than you would expect."

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said July 18, the F-35 is critical to a future defense strategy that depends on agility, flexibility and the ability to stay on the cutting edge of technology.

"We're committed to all three (F-35) variants," Panetta said, "because we think each of the forces will be able to use that kind of weaponry for the future so that we can effectively control the skies as we confront the enemies of tomorrow."

Team Fairchild enhances resiliency eight hours at a time

by Senior Airman Mary O'Dell
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

3/4/2013 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE-Wash. -- An Air Mobility Command priority-training course is making its way into the lives of Fairchild Airmen.

This eight hour-resiliency class, designed to build self-confidence, personal strength, spiritual growth and an overall appreciation for life, is open to civilian and military personnel on base.

"Building resilience is vital to overcoming the speed bumps and pitfalls life throws your way," said Maj. Eric Cameron, Fairchild's lead master resiliency trainer and bioenvironmental engineering flight commander. "While the impacts of these adversities are handled in different ways, the fundamental principles being taught in this resilience training provide a skill set that will no doubt enhance everyone's resilience."

Topics discussed during the class include the Comprehensive Airman Fitness Model, how to avoid thinking traps, putting issues in perspective, and capitalizing on strengths.

"Modules are taught using personal examples and interactive tools to help hit main points," said Cameron. "Once individuals have a clear understanding of the skills being taught, they are then given the opportunity to reflect inward to identify and share both challenges and positive moments in their life."

Each of the ten master-resiliency trainers here attended a two-week course at Joint-Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. There are also resiliency-trainer assistants who can teach up to four hours of the course.

"This is the best Air Force training I have ever been a part of," said Tech. Sgt. Paula Barkhauer, master resilience trainer. "This training is designed to give our men and women the tools for coping with adversity before an event happens."

AMC's senior leadership established a strategic goal of 20 percent of Airmen receiving eight hours training by the end of 2012. Fairchild exceeded that goal and is on track to meet or exceed again to have 80 percent of the base trained by December 2013.

The First Term Airman Center was the starting venue for Fairchild to get the resilience training off the ground about a year ago. It is also now offered the first and third Tuesday of every month at the education center.

Airman revisits recovery with Lt. Dan

by Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

3/4/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla.-- (AFNS) -- Lt. Dan, as Forrest Gump film actor Gary Sinise is affectionately known, may not actually be a member of the military, but he treats each service member he meets with the deep-seated respect that should be given to a brother-in-arms.

For Hurlburt Field's Tech. Sgt. Christofer Curtis, a CV-22 flight engineer of 8th Special Operations Squadron, Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band's February visit was more than a good time to at a concert. It was a full circle moment in Curtis' journey towards recovery after suffering injuries, including 17 broken bones, in an aircraft crash in Afghanistan during a 2010 deployment.

"We met in the hospital when he had been injured and we ran into each other again when I did another visit three or four months later," Sinise said in describing meeting Curtis at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. "Now he's here [at Hurlburt] and we're really happy he's back."

With a daunting recovery ahead of him and the need to relearn how to walk, Curtis latched onto any support he could receive.

"I was in for the long haul, not just being reconstructed physically but also mentally," Curtis said. "I believe the first time [Sinise] was there I was still waiting to bury my aircraft commander and there were a lot of emotions at the time. I can remember back then I was just a mess, but the thing that really kept [me together] was the support from Air Force Special Operations Command, my family of course, my close friends and folks like Gary Sinise."

While a short visit to the hospital room of a wounded warrior may seem like a minor contribution in comparison to the sacrifice of an Airman injured in combat, for Curtis, the visits reminded him that his sacrifice was honored.

"[Sinise] truly cares for those that defend this nation, and continues to do so," Curtis said. "It's one thing to talk about support but to act and do something continually is the true mark of a patriot. That constant time and presence he volunteers to our service members and their families is amazing."

Though Sinise began his work with veterans years before his role as Lt. Dan, once he portrayed an amputee veteran he began to gain insight into the struggles of wounded warriors.

"Then I started interacting with people like [the character] Lt. Dan and Chris, and getting to know people who have been hurt and are trying to come back," Sinise said. "The spirit of someone like Chris, people who just come back from injuries, they're all over the place. You probably go through those days like Lt. Dan did in the movie where he's really dark for a while and just can't get his mind right. Then things happen that put them all in perspective and get you going."

After coming to the hospital to start the long road to recovery, Curtis found himself experiencing many of the same emotions that Lt. Dan worked through in Forrest Gump.

"Now I didn't lose my legs and get out of the military, but I certainly could have chosen to get out and learning how to walk again was no picnic," Curtis said. "My destiny was to be 6 feet tall and an AFSOC-sharpened weapon or 6 feet under with my fallen crew members. I felt as if I had been stuck in the middle and it took me a long time to finally figure out that there's always something to live for and never give up on a purpose to live."

Bolstering the morale of service members, whether they are deployed overseas or recovering after being wounded in combat, is a key goal of Sinise's Lt. Dan Band. For Sinise, honoring the troops is a natural place to direct his attention and talents.

"I just have a lot of respect for people that decide to do this, to take this course with their life, public service," Sinise said. "What would we do as a country if we had nobody who wanted to raise their hand and join our service? Well, then we'd have to have a mandatory service so we're grateful for those who choose this."

Curtis's recovery experience altered his outlook on such service and on those who serve alongside him. With the needed support and encouragement, wounded warriors such as Curtis are able to return to duty.

"I look at those who served completely different," Curtis said. "It's no longer something that's just a word to me. I always remember that today is probably someone's day one being a wounded veteran and the impact that has on their families and friends can be frightening. I told myself that if there is any chance that I could continue to serve I would do so. As with many other wounded warriors, I had quite a bit of fight left in me. So I used that sense of continued duty and focused it on a new mission at the time, to get better. Now with that objective cleared, it's back to flying."

Curtis is currently working to regain his flight qualification status so he can return to flying special operations missions.

Air Force, Army battle it out on the paintball field

by Airman 1st Class Naomi M. Griego
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

3/1/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- --Members of the 7th Special Forces Group and Team Hurlburt joined together
for an afternoon of free paintball at the paintball field on Hurlburt Field,
Fla., 1 Mar.

"I coordinate these functions because everyone works very hard and it's nice
to take a step back from the high ops tempo and just have fun," said Robert
Scott, 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron Landing Zone manager.

Scott, a former member of the United States Army reached out to our brothers
in arms at the 7th SFG and invited them to Hurlburt Field to enjoy an
afternoon of free paintball along with Airmen from Hurlburt Field.

Scott coordinates various events with different organizations on base to encourage
camaraderie among Airmen of all ranks. His goal is simple; he just wants
everyone to enjoy themselves.

"It's pretty cool to be out here, I had fun," said Sgt. Cecily Aguas, 7th
SFG, supply logistics troop. Aguas participated in the paintball-filled
afternoon as one of the only two women amongst close to fifty men.

'To honor our fallen heroes, step by step'

by Senior Airman Joe McFadden
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

2/4/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In the same park that enshrines the memory of the first Air Commandos, sixteen Hurlburt Airmen set foot on a 450-mile march to honor their fallen brothers during a kickoff ceremony at the Hurlburt Airpark Feb. 3.

The second annual Air Commando Ruck March and Climb encompasses a nearly one million-step trek from Hurlburt Field, home of the Air Force Special Operations Command, to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., the home of U.S. Special Operations Command.

In addition, two more Hurlburt Airmen will simultaneously ascent Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, as part of the dual effort to pay tribute to the sacrifice of deceased Airmen.

"We're motivated by the memory of our brothers," said Maj. Tom Leyden, 34th Special Operations Squadron and ruck march participant. "When I think about their sacrifice, how they loved this country, their families and their friends - they truly lived 'service before self.' And when we get down there for the memorial, we'll remember their sacrifice, knowing that our country is a better place because of their service."

Tech. Sgt. Deon McGowan, 1st Special Operations Wing and lead coordinator of the march, said the project originally began in 2011 after 31 American service members, including three Airmen from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, lost their lives in an Aug. 6 Chinook helicopter crash.

Yet after completing the march, McGowan said the losses of Capt. Ryan Hall, 319th Special Operations Squadron, Capt. Ryan Whitlock, 34th Special Operations Squadron, 1st Lt. Justin Wilkens, 34th SOS, and Senior Airman Julian Scholten, 25th Intelligence Squadron, in a Feb. 18, 2012 U-28A crash in Djibouti, Africa, as well as the Feb. 25, 2012 death of Lt. Col. John Loftis, 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron, in Kabul, Afghanistan, demanded his team commit to a second march.

"This is the reason why we're out here today," McGowan said. "These Air Commandos are dedicating their time, their bodies and their feet to this event to honor those five Air Commandos."

McGowan reaffirmed his fellow ruckers' commitment to respecting the fallen as he described the challenges his team would encounter.

"For the rest of our journey, it's going to be tough," he said. "But we have a motto 'Honoring our fallen heroes, step-by-step.' And when you walk through the gate [at MacDill Air Force Base] and the big memorial comes up, you'll see it's an overhead shot of a spade, the symbol for USSOCOM. And as you enter that and see the black marble with the names on the walls, you can take your hand over the names on the wall of those who have fallen and made the ultimate sacrifice-- I will tell you, it's quite moving. That's what's going to get you through this march."

Among the dozens of well-wishers at the Airpark included Loftis' widow, Holly, who thanked the team for their tribute to her husband's memory.

"It means a lot that they would do this and walk to remember them-- it's very meaningful to us as families," she said. "But my hope is that everyone will remember they gave their lives for our freedoms and not to take that for granted."