Wingman Day; taking care of Guardsmen and their families

by Senior Master Sgt. Jerry R. Bynum
Air National Guard Public Affairs

4/26/2013 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- Guardsmen assigned here participated in an Air Force and Air National Guard event known as Wingman Day to discuss important issues impacting Airmen and their families Thursday here.

"It's our time to focus on our organization and our people, to 'stop and check under the hood' on how we're doing both individually as well as collectively," said Col. Doug Slocum, the director of safety for the Air National Guard.

Wingman Day is a time set aside to focus on caring for service members and their families. It was institutionalized by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in early 2012 as a recurring opportunity for commanders to address their people and for face-to-face, peer-to-peer discussions on critical issues such as resiliency, stress, suicide prevention, sexual assault, substance abuse, safety and much more.

"The Air National Guard family doesn't just include the members serving in uniform," Slocum said, "it includes our families, retired Guardsmen and veterans, our friends and our communities. By equipping our Guardsmen and their families to be more resilient, we are enabling a stronger, more capable and more efficient community-based force."

Recognizing the importance of Wingman Day, the ANG has developed a supporting resource center through a Web site and a cell phone application for use with iPhone and Android to empower commanders and Airmen. This provides a "plug-and-play," off-the-shelf ready resource that gives commanders the ability and agility to focus their attentions on the leadership aspects of taking care of Guardsmen and their families. The Web site has proven to be successful and has been well received. The Air Force is looking into adopting the ANG resource.

"Our goal is to identify key issues facing our Guardsmen today and provide an arsenal of resources they can use to help themselves, and to help others, be more resilient, healthy and safe," said Slocum. "One of the fundamental pillars of Wingman Day is that everyone needs to know the proactive roles, resources and responsibilities of a being a wingman."

Wingman Day for the Air National Guard Readiness Center addressed a wide variety of issues in a large general session meeting. Following the general session, attendees broke off into smaller groups providing an opportunity for open discussions on resiliency issues with a focus on the "ACE" concept. Ask, care and escort is a three pillar system ensuring Guardsmen and their family's needs are addressed. The small group format was designed to engage individuals to brainstorm solutions and discuss available resources. This approach gets away from an impersonal online computer-based training and gets people talking to one another.

"The best resource we have is each other, our wingmen," said Slocum. "We all need to realize shortcomings and failures are necessary steps on the road to success. Being a winner is not defined by 'winning,' being a winner is defined by your character and how you handle the inevitable adversity along the way."

For more information about Wingman Day and the resources available visit www.wingmanday.org or use your cell phone and text "ACE" to 24587 to receive the cell phone application.

Northcom Tapped to Support Midwest Flooding Response

U.S. Northern Command

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., April 26, 2013 – At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command here today activated the Defense Coordinating Element for FEMA Region VIII in support of response efforts to flooding in the Midwest.

The DCE for FEMA Region VIII was activated to provide assessment and coordinate DOD assets should they be required following severely swollen river basins and will be assigned to the Regional Response Coordination Center.

DCE’s are normally a nine-person team that serves as the single point-of-entry for all local, tribal, state, and federal requests for DOD assistance. DCEs work closely with federal, state, tribal and local officials to determine what unique DOD capabilities can be brought to assist in mitigating the effects of the flooding.

In coordination with FEMA, the DOD will provide Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., as a federal staging area to support forward distribution of supplies or equipment to affected areas.

The Department of Defense has capabilities that can be used to save lives as well as many other unique support capabilities such as airlift, medical, communications and catastrophic planning.

Northcom is the joint combatant command formed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to provide homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities.

U.S. Army North provides defense support of civil authorities as the Army component of Northcom.

Hagel: Intel Community Says Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 25, 2013 – The U.S. intelligence community assesses with varying degrees of confidence that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons -- specifically the nerve-agent sarin -- on a small scale in that violence-torn nation, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said here tonight.

On the last evening of his five-nation inaugural trip to the Middle East as defense secretary, Hagel told reporters traveling with him that the White House delivered a letter on the topic this morning to several members of Congress.

“The intelligence community has been assessing information for some time on this issue, and the decision to reach this conclusion was made within the past 24 hours,” the secretary said. “I have been in close contact with senior officials in Washington since then to discuss this serious matter.”

Hagel said the United States can’t confirm the weapons’ origin, but “we do believe that any use of chemical weapons in Syria would very likely have originated with the [Bashar] Assad regime.”

The White House letter, signed by Miguel Rodriguez, director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, on President Barack Obama’s behalf, responded to an April 24 inquiry by unidentified members of Congress. They asked, “Has the Assad regime, or Syrian elements associated with or supported by the Assad regime used chemical weapons in Syria since the current conflict began in March 2011?”

In response, the letter said, “our intelligence committee does assess with varying degrees of confidence that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a small scale in Syria, specially the chemical agent sarin. This assessment is based in part on physiological samples.”

According to the letter, though, the chain of custody is not clear, so it’s not clear how the exposure occurred or under what conditions.

“We need to know the full story and get it right,” Hagel told reporters.

“Thus far,” according to the letter, “we believe that the Assad regime maintains custody of these weapons and has demonstrated a willingness to escalate its horrific use of violence against the Syrian people.”

The Obama administration will remain in close consultation with you and the Congress on these matters, the letter continued. “In the interim, the administration is prepared for all contingencies so that we can respond appropriately to any confirmed use of chemical weapons, consistent with our national interests.”

“As the letter states,” Hagel said, “the president has made it clear that the use of chemical weapons or the transfer of such weapons to terrorist groups would be unacceptable.”

The United States has an obligation to fully investigate, including with key partners and allies and through the United Nations, evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria, the secretary added.

Over the past week, Hagel has traveled to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and the military and government leaders of each country have expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Syria, he observed.

“This subject, Syria, and in particular chemical weapons, is just part of a larger challenge in the Middle East,” Hagel said.

“It is so vitally important for our United States interests, as well as for our allies, that we work … to stabilize and secure these [Middle East] countries,” the secretary concluded, “because if this region of the world essentially gets itself into a situation where it’s ungovernable and out of control, then this will be an astoundingly huge problem for all of the world.”

Through Airmen's Eyes: The walk toward flight

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

4/25/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- There's a saying -- "a journey begins with a single step."

For a flight engineer assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron here, even a single step seemed like a lofty goal at one time.

After Tech. Sgt. Christofer Curtis' CV-22 Osprey crashed during a mission in Afghanistan in April 2010, he was left with numerous serious injuries and uncertainty surrounding whether he would walk again.

Now, almost three years to the date of his crash, he has returned to the sky.

"We crashed and lost the aircraft, but more importantly lost four individuals along with it," Curtis said. "Since then, I've obviously been on the road to recovery. Seventeen broken bones will do that to you."

After being evacuated from the battlefield to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, Curtis was airlifted to then- Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Md., where he awoke from a coma. From the beginning of his recovery, Curtis said he decided not only would he walk again, but he would walk through the doors of his squadron.

"I was in the surgical intensive care unit when someone asked me, 'Are you going to get back up again?'" Curtis said. "I said, 'Not only am I going to get back up -- goal number one (is) to walk through my squadron's doors.' I did happen to accomplish that the same year, October 2010. Then they asked, 'What's your second goal?' And my second goal was literally today, it was to fly again."

Curtis said his natural mental resiliency was further strengthened by the encouragement he received from visitors and other wounded warriors while in the hospital.

"I had a lot of folks at Walter Reed come in to visit me and share their experiences of the do's and do not's of getting better, and I've learned to basically just stay positive," Curtis said. "Staying positive not only will it help you mentally, it will help you physically."

After leaving WRAMC, Curtis was sent on to Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, for the next almost year-long stage of his recovery. His physical resiliency was refined as he received therapy to help him achieve milestones, like being able to prepare his own meals. Now, reflecting back on the countless hours of physical therapy, the result was worth it.

"I feel great, but at the same time I do feel remnants of that pain," Curtis said.
The care providers, therapy he received and even comments from naysayers were integral to his recovery, he said. "Without them I wouldn't even be close to here."

Once back at Hurlburt Field, Curtis worked with his unit to determine he was physically capable of returning to his job as a flight engineer responsible for maintaining the health of the CV-22 during flight. As he geared up for his first training flight, there were no visible jitters, just a slight stumble with putting on a new type of harness, the only indication Curtis had spent any time away from flying.

"I just did what I normally do, what I remembered normally doing, which is just getting up and thinking about the mission and my role, everything the Air Force taught me," Curtis said describing his preflight preparations.

While some questioned Curtis' drive and dedication to return to his job, his mental strength helped him push aside any doubts.

"I felt (in my) body and mind this is where I need to be and what I need to do," Curtis said.
After the flight, though Curtis had yet to hear his instructor's evaluations of his performance, both were all smiles.

"It isn't just me getting in the air," Curtis said postflight. "It's saying that I've made it this far physically, and mentally, as a bigger success. Flying, in the end, is something I always loved and will continue to do. I won't ever forget the path it took and the people I've met to get to this point."

Now in the position to pay it forward by relaying advice to other wounded warriors, Curtis offers what helped him most to get through his own challenges.

"Continue to stay positive and establish challenging but attainable goals," Curtis said. "More importantly, understand that you will have good days and bad days, but stay the course as it will pay off in the end."

On the road to regaining his flight qualifications, Curtis now looks forward to the normalcy of returning to the job he loves. Next on his radar: being assigned as part of aircrew charged with accepting new aircraft for the Air Force.

Deputy Director of ANG receives the Order of California

by Senior Master Sgt. Jerry R. Bynum
Air National Guard Public Affairs

4/24/2013 - WASHINGTON -- The Deputy Director of the Air National Guard was presented the Order of California by Army Major Gen. David S. Baldwin, the adjutant general of California, at the Pentagon here Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. James C. Witham received this prestigious award for exceptionally meritorious service during his tenure as the Commander of the California ANG from Nov. 15, 2011, through Nov. 15, 2012.

"This is the highest award that we give in California," said Baldwin. "We give it to mainly senior leaders who have made a profound difference in the strategic direction of our force; General Witham absolutely did that as the Commander of the California Air National Guard."

Witham's leadership instilled an organizational culture that embraced the Air Force Core Values. His strategic perspective, command and staff experience, and his decisiveness ensured the right leadership was in place to meet operational challenges and oversee implementation of complex Total Force Integration initiatives contributing to the success of the California ANG.

"[General Witham] is very dynamic," Baldwin said, "he had a view to take the Guard to the next level in California and set a lot of things in motion that will benefit our Airmen for the years to come."

An understanding of doctrine, span of control and future vision led to support and refinement of an organizational change request that established diverse missions in the California ANG of cyber, space intelligence and expeditionary communications. Witham tenaciously embraced force development by inaugurating a chartered force development council. His actions laid the foundation for personnel advancement and qualifications to fill key leadership positions.

Within the Air Division and Headquarters Air Staff, Witham established civil support as a mission priority. He identified resident, dual-use capabilities and ensured coordinated deliberate operational planning with the Army National Guard and state-level joint staff. This renewed spirit of cooperation included appointment of four ANG officers in joint command or key leadership positions and led to validations and certification in all supported civil missions sets.

The Order of California is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the state of California or the nation by a member of the California National Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia in a position of great responsibility. Qualifying service must have been within the scope of a special requirement or extremely difficult duty. It may also be awarded to civilians and members of other military services.

Mobility Air Force C-130s to continue legacy of fighting forest fires

from Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

4/24/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- As the National Interagency Fire Center reports increasing fire danger for parts of the west and southwest, and portions of the U.S. Central and South regions, Mobility Air Forces will continue to help fight forest fires, as they have for more than four decades.

"Having worked through significant budget cutbacks, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard C-130 aircraft units, which fly with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, remain prepared to support the U.S. Forest Service this year," said Lt. Col. Jeff Grimes, AMC airlift training branch chief.

Last year was a challenging year fighting fires. Just in Colorado Springs alone more than 30,000 residents and the Air Force Academy were evacuated after the Pike National Forest fire burned 23 square miles. More than 1,400 firefighters fought the fire and all four Air Force MAFFS units responded.

In preparation for this year's firefighting season one of those MAFFS units, the 302nd Airlift Wing, based at Peterson AFB, Colo., held its annual MAFFS certification for C-130 aircrews April 19-23.

"We are providing annual MAFFS certification training for all four units and if our assistance is requested, we will provide fully-qualified aircrews prepared to support firefighting operations," Grimes said.

MAFFS is an interagency program designed to provide additional aerial firefighting resources when commercial and private air tankers are no longer able to meet the needs of the forest service. This effort is part of a long-standing relationship between the DoD, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Interagency Fire Center and local authorities that began in the early 1970s.

MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system owned by the U.S. Forest Service that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than 5 seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

DMAA illegal for military members

by Senior Airman Kristina Overton
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/24/2013 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The road to staying fit to fight branches off in different directions for military members. For some, a regular workout schedule, or a change in diet may be sufficient to produce desired results. For others, shakes, supplements and vitamins may be included for building muscle or preparation for an increased workout schedule. When buying products, it's important to know which are off limits.

Dimethylamylamine, also known as DMAA, geranium oil and several other names, is commonly used in products promising weight loss, performance enhancement and muscle building such as Oxy Elite Pro and Jack3D, and is banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements containing this ingredient was placed on medical hold by the Department of Defense due to concerns about related adverse health effects and are currently not for sale on military installations. With the FDA ban, consuming any product that contains DMAA is illegal.

"It's important to know what's in your supplements in general," said Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Arthur, 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion flight chief. "These ingredients were causing severe health issues to include elevated blood pressure, and could lead to cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest. Illnesses reported include heart problems and nervous system and psychiatric disorders."

Supplements are often unregulated, meaning that the dosage of an ingredient may not be consistent with each different purchase. The Osan Health and Wellness Center encourages members to pay attention to labels when purchasing items and how often or how long supplements should be taken.

Each supplement may go by a number of different titles as well. In checking labels, it's important to know the numerous synonyms associated with a product. A list of all the names can be found on http://hprc-online.org.

"In most cases you don't even need a supplement," Arthur said. "The only time a supplement should be used is when it comes to some kind of extreme workout program, or you have extreme goals like a triathlon or body building competition. For the average military member, in most cases a good multivitamin, a balanced diet and good eating habits will produce results. Regardless, always do your research. You need to also be aware of what effects it may have with any medication you're taking or what side affects you may be facing."

In the case of a member being unsure of the safety of a product, the HAWC can assist in researching supplements, and also educate members on how effective the supplement may be with any additional medications.

"The HAWC mentioned in our Monday morning medical brief that several supplements were off limits so I went down to check mine out and get clarification," said Tech. Sgt. Damon Tatum, 51st Medical Support Squadron resource management office flight chief. "Having the excellent nutritional medicine staff here was really helpful in providing the information and helping to determine what is and isn't safe. That knowledge is really beneficial and can save lives."

Deputy Defense Secretary Receives Missile Defense Award

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter received the 2013 Ronald Reagan Missile Defense Award yesterday for his contributions in advancing missile defense as a critical U.S. defense capability.

Navy Vice Adm. James D. Syring, Missile Defense Agency director, and retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson, previous director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization and recipient of the 2004 Reagan Award, presented Carter with the award during the Ronald Reagan Missile Defense Forum at Fort Belvoir, Va.

As missile defenses have expanded to play a vital role in the national defense strategy, Carter has been instrumental in defining the relationship between the Missile Defense Agency, the developer, and the military services, which operate the ballistic missile defense system. His perspective has shaped thinking on a national level to meet a real-world evolving threat, officials said in a Pentagon news release announcing the award.
While serving as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics from April 2009 to October 2011, officials said, Carter led the department's efforts to accelerate the fulfillment of urgent operational needs, increase the department's buying power and strengthen the nation's defenses against emerging threats.

Hagel Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Egypt’s Emerging Democracy

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

CAIRO, April 24, 2013 – On the fourth day of his inaugural trip to the Middle East, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spent time here today with Egypt’s top government and defense officials, reaffirming U.S. support for that country’s fledgling democracy.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, right, shakes hands with Egyptian Maj. Gen. Abd Al Halim Fouad as Maj. Gen. Mohamed Said al-Assar looks on in Cairo, April 24, 2013. Egypt is Hagel's fourth stop on a six-day trip to the Middle East to meet with defense counterparts. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The trip, which began April 20 and will end April 26, so far has taken the secretary to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. On his final full day in the region, Hagel will visit his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates to discuss common interests.

This morning aboard his military aircraft as it approached Cairo, Hagel told his staff that he had wanted to visit Egypt as soon as possible into his tenure as secretary of defense, a senior defense official said.

“I wanted to stop in Egypt to reaffirm American commitment to Egypt’s emerging democracy [and] encourage the democratic and economic reforms that are under way,” the secretary told reporters during a briefing here today.

“Egypt’s been an important partner to the United States for many years and I wanted to get acquainted with the new president,” he added. “I did not know him [but] I knew many of the military leaders, so today was the day to get acquainted and get reacquainted and reaffirm America’s commitment to this emerging democracy.”

Hagel’s visit here began with a tea ceremony during which he was welcomed by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Zamaloo, the Egyptian Central Military Zone chief of staff. Afterward, at the Ministry of Defense, Hagel met with Defense Minister Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who hosted an official lunch.

According to a senior defense official, al-Sisi gave Hagel a warm reception and expressed condolences for the Boston bomb attacks and a deadly Texas fertilizer plant accident that occurred during the same week.
During their meeting, Hagel reaffirmed the importance of strong U.S.-Egyptian military ties. He also expressed U.S. support for political and democratic reforms in Egypt and encouraged them to continue for several reasons, including stability in Egypt and the region. The secretary commended the Egyptian military for the responsible role it has played during a difficult transition period in the country.

Al-Sisi said that Egypt understands and takes responsibility for security throughout the country, including Egypt's borders, and the two men exchanged views on Syria, Iran and other regional security matters, the defense official said.

“It is not easy. This is a difficult part of the world,” Hagel said of Egypt and the region. “This is a large country, an important country. They are undertaking the right course of action -- human dignity and freedom, democratic norms and governance. We are committed to helping any nation that does that.”

Before visiting the presidential palace to meet Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Hagel took the time to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The memorial is sited along a major thoroughfare, according to a pool report, and has a 73-meter-tall pyramid sculpture-monument. Beneath are two tombs.

Then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat ordered the memorial’s in 1974 to honor Egyptians who died in the 1973 October War. The memorial was inaugurated in October 1975, then later chosen as the place for Sadat’s tomb after his assassination in October 1981.

Today, at the somber ceremony a large honor guard and a military band were present. A black marble square is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and, a few steps away, a white marble square is Sadat's tomb. Hagel laid a wreath at each tomb.

Later, during the cordial meeting with Morsi, the secretary reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Egypt military relationship, a senior defense official said, adding that Morsi “very much appreciated that affirmation and himself reaffirmed the importance.”

Discussions included the Egyptian domestic situation, he added, and Morsi offered his thoughts to the secretary about the situation there.

“We talked about Syria at some length in terms of the president offering his views on the situation in Syria and again in terms of the perception of the threat and what Syria’s future may mean for all of us, whether in the region or for the international community more broadly,” the defense official said.

The two leaders also discussed the importance of a close relationship with Israel, he added, and both reaffirmed the tenets of the Camp David Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Later, Hagel said he’d had a good meeting with Morsi.

“We discussed, the president and I, many issues this afternoon …,” the secretary said. “I spent a lot of time with the defense minister and a number of his representatives, some I’ve known over the years. So I was very happy that I stopped here and pleased that we spent the day, to really take my own assessment of the situation here.”

25 years of dominant Strike Eagle airpower

by Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/24/2013 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airmen from across the globe, and the decades, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the F-15E Strike Eagle here, April 12, 2013. The aircrew, and the operational capability of this dual-role fighter aircraft, have faced formidable threats and significantly shaped the battlefield for more than a quarter of a century.

Airmen and their family members reunited to commemorate the historic achievement of this combat-tested aircraft.

"This anniversary (was) an opportunity for Strike Eagle Airmen, past and present, to get together in shared comradeship to celebrate their service and dedication to this great aircraft and its history," said Col. Jeannie Leavitt, 4th Fighter Wing commander.

The first production line of Strike Eagles was delivered to Luke Air Force Base, AZ, in April 1988 for initial training. In September 1989, the aircraft reached operational capability at Seymour Johnson AFB. Currently, the 4th FW hosts two F-15E squadrons and the only two F-15E Formal Training Units across the Air Force.

"I've been with the airplane ever since day one," said Ret. Lt. Col. Bob Halverson, former 4th Training Squadron commander. "I really feel like it's a part of me and I've been working on it continuously for 25 years. This event could not be missed because of its importance and because it is a truly unique airplane. It is the best fighter ever built, that is uncontested."

Since its induction into the Air Force's arsenal, the Strike Eagle has been equipped with many upgrades to keep its efficiency current. An array of avionics improvements coupled with a sturdier airframe designed to double the life expectancy of earlier variants have contributed to the longevity of the aircraft.

With no slated replacements, the F-15E is expected to continue its reign as one of the Air Force's most potent and capable fighters for years to come.

"The F-15E is going to be around for at least another 25 years and it is not the same airplane that it was 25 years ago," said Halverson. "It's the next generation. We're putting new radar on it; we're putting new computer processors on it. The enemy knows that they're going to have a really bad day when a squadron of Strike Eagles shows up on their doorstep."

Top Acquisition Official Unveils ‘Better Buying Power 2.0’

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2013 – Defense acquisition professionals need to apply common-sense thinking as they make decisions, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics said here today.

Frank Kendall issued a memo on the “Better Buying Power 2.0” that re-emphasized the power people have in the acquisition process and seven common-sense ways that acquisition and contracting personnel can achieve greater efficiencies and productivity.

Kendall is building on the original Better Buying Power memo issued three years ago. He stressed that the 2.0 version is a continuous improvement process.

“It’s not about acquisition reform, or transformational change,” he said during a media roundtable at the Pentagon. “It’s really about attacking all the many problems that exist in how we do acquisition and making incremental improvements wherever we can.”

The memo directs personnel to achieve affordable programs, to control costs throughout products’ life cycles, to provide incentives for industrial productivity and innovation, to eliminate unproductive processes and bureaucracy, and to promote effective competition.

The memo also calls on personnel to improve tradecraft in the acquisition of services and to improve the professionalism of the total acquisition workforce.

“There is a flavor that runs through 2.0 of, ‘Here are the tools you need, and here is the way you should be thinking about the problems that you have to solve. But you have to solve them,’” Kendall said.

The memo tells acquisition personnel first to think -- to apply their education, training and experience to the process. It also talks about good decision making and the need to streamline the decision-making process.
“People, to me, are central to this [process],” Kendall said. “I’ve also made it a point that it will take cultural change to do a better job.”

It sounds like an oxymoron, but money has value, Kendall said. And while the Defense Department always has tried to be a good financial steward, the incentives often seem to work against that.

“Obligation rates as a key example of that -- where we effectively punish people for not spending their money,” he said. “That’s not how you negotiate a good contract.”

If acquisition professionals can return money to the department or buy additional product for their service or program, that should be rewarded, Kendall added.

“People shouldn’t just take the budget as a given and take it as their job to spend that budget,” the undersecretary said. “Their job is to get as much value as they possibly can -- one way is to get more content for that money, and another is to not spend as much.”

Kendall said he believes contracting personnel are embracing that idea and that it’s becoming institutionalized throughout DOD.

Leadership is part of the whole process, and Better Buying Power 2.0 emphasizes the need for people to lead, he said.

“We have a lot of very good people, but I think we can improve,” he added. “We need to build our professionalism.”

The importance of DOD getting its money’s worth is especially important now that money is tight and sequestration has hit, Kendall said.

“Even though the workforce is out there trying to come to grips with sequestration, we also have to improve how we do our business in general,” he said. “This is not going to go away, no matter what the fiscal situation is.”

Erase the hate: observing the atrocities of the Holocaust

by Airman 1st Class Sarah Breer
6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs

4/19/2013 - MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- World War II saw the Axis powers and Allied powers fighting battles across Europe, the Soviet Union and the Pacific. While the whole world focused on the fighting that was going on between nations, something more horrific than war was going on in death and concentration camps across Europe from 1933 to 1945.

Adolf Hitler and the German Nazi party chose to imprison and systematically murder many groups of people who they considered inferior, undesirable or dangerous. Mainly, the plan focused on eliminating the Jewish population of Europe. Also targeted were Poles, other Slavic people, Soviet people, Gypsies, disabled people, homosexual and transsexual people, political opponents and religious dissidents such as Jehovah's Witnesses.

During World War II approximately 17 million people were killed in prison camps, including about six million Jewish people in what is known as the Holocaust.

As the war ended in Europe the camps were liberated by Allied troops, such as the United States and the Soviet Union.

Few people survived the death and concentration camps.

Philip Gans survived.

Speaking to members of Team MacDill April 11 at a Holocaust memorial service, Gans explained his life, struggles and survival of concentration camps, death marches and the Holocaust overall during World War II to a raptly attentive audience.

Born in 1928, Gans was just 15 when he and his family were arrested by Nazi soldiers July 24, 1943, his father's birthday after hiding for a year.

After being arrested, the Gans family was held at the Westerbork detention camp in Holland for about a month. From there the family was transported to Auschwitz.

His name changed to a number which is tattooed on his left forearm: 139755.

Gas chambers at Auschwitz II took the lives of his mother and sister. Gans, his brother and father were sent to Auschwitz III, a slave labor camp. During his time in the camps his brother and father would also die at the hands of their captors.

Humanity disappeared.

Gans described his day-to-day life at the camp, as well as some of his most impactful experiences. He outlined being beaten, starved, nearly frozen during the winters, wearing clothes that were not the proper size or made for the weather, wearing wooden shoes and getting blisters because the shoes had no laces and many other horrific details.

Gans told of how, while in captivity, he survived because of the words of his father.

"One night I asked my father a question, I don't remember the question now," Gans recalled, waving his hand in front of his face. "He said, 'we'll talk about it when we get home.' You see, he always expected to survive the camps. He never gave up hope."

The younger Gans refused to give up hope as well.

While surviving at Auschwitz III he did whatever he needed to in order to stay alive, but made a point to help his fellow prisoners.

One day another man was too sick to go to work. Gans stayed behind in the barracks where they slept to take care of him. When guards noticed they were missing, they beat both of them with a hose. Gans was able to proceed to work, so they let him go. The other man could not go to work, and so he was killed.

In captivity, he witnessed other people go through torture, watched others executed and witnessed those who tried to escape decompose as their bodies hung in the camps as a message to others: do not try to escape.

Through all of the terrible things he witnessed, Gans professed, he never gave up the hope his father gave him.

Captivity is something Tech. Sgt. Roger Zehr, 6th Operation Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, knows a lot about.

"I also enjoy learning about the common trends of captivity throughout history," Zehr said. "Anyone who experienced captivity will tell you that they all had to deal with boredom, fear, shock, loneliness and an overwhelming desire to return home. I enjoy hearing how people dealt with and overcame these feelings."

He attended the event to learn more about Gans' experience.

"I attended for two reasons, to hear the unique story of Mr. Gans and to further educate myself on the topic of captivity," Zehr said. "I strongly believe that we owe it to Mr. Gans to take a little bit of time out of our schedule to hear his message. As a SERE specialist I also owe it to my students to take advantage of every opportunity learn about captivity."

Gans survived more than just captivity.

As the Germans moved prisoners around in April 1945 in response to the Allied advances, Gans left Auschwitz during a death march. Guards walked prisoners over long distances and if someone stopped even for a second, they would be shot. Gans remembers the march all too well.

"My shoes were wooden, and I kept wire in them to keep them tight," Gans said. "I bent to tie the wire and realized I was last in line. I caught up so that they wouldn't shoot me."
Allied troops liberated Gans and his fellow prisoners in April 1945. Gans was 17.

Not a sound could be heard in the room as Gans told his story, and as he ended, he made a point of telling those in attendance a few main points.

"Erase the word hate from your vocabulary, because that is what started it all," Gans said.

After his speech, Gans met with those in attendance and spoke to people. Tears clouded eyes as person after person thanked Gans for sharing his story.

Pictures depicting the horrors of the Holocaust were laid out on tables for people to view. As people looked at the photos, looks of disgust and confusion passed over faces. One woman put her hand over her face and gasped as she viewed a picture of a mother, her young child and her baby in a mass grave after liberation.

Holocaust observances and guest speakers like Philip Gans serve to keep the history of the Holocaust alive, bring a message of the dangers of hate, and the hope that the lessons learned will prevent future tragedies.

Arizona reservists assist homeless veterans

by Staff Sgt. Joshua Nason
944th Fighter Wing

4/22/2013 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Members of the 944th Fighter Wing volunteered their time to help homeless veterans at the 12th annual Arizona StandDown.

The Arizona StandDown, held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds Veteran's Coliseum, is a three-day event aimed at getting homeless veterans in the valley off of the streets and into a permanent living situation. The event, organized by the Valley of the Sun United Way along with help from various organizations in the valley, is the largest StandDown held in the United States with more than 1,500 homeless veterans participating.

Volunteers from the 944th Fighter Wing were tasked with ushering the homeless veterans, at a one to one ratio, through the coliseum to receive assistance from whomever the veteran felt could help their situation. Some veterans needed minimal assistance, while others were seeking assistance for a multitude of issues.

944th member, Senior Airman Melinda Charlton, 944th Force Support Squadron, volunteered her time for the event and was impressed by the magnitude of the event. "The training was very sufficient for all of the volunteers. I was surprised by the amount of resources and things that the veterans could take advantage of. The offerings were fantastic," she said.

Homeless veterans were able to get ID's from the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, remedy criminal charges and fines with local, county, and state courts, receive assistance in finding permanent shelter, get haircuts and grooming kits, as well as receive basic medical care.

Brittany Wright, a dental hygienist volunteering at the AZ StandDown stated "Primarily what we will be doing is providing oral cancer screenings, as well as giving the veterans information on how to receive free dental care."

The loyal canine and feline companions of the homeless veterans were not left out. Pets also received care at the event, as well as boarding while the veteran was receiving services in the coliseum.

Julie Carlson, a certified veterinarian technician volunteering at the AZ StandDown said "We anticipate 175 to 200 animals to arrive with the veterans. We will be giving vaccinations, grooming, performing basic health examinations, as well as providing food that the veterans will be able to take with them."

In addition to volunteering at the StandDown, prior to the actual event, 944th members collected over 150 pairs of gently used blue jeans to be donated to the homeless veterans.

"The goal of the event is that attendees at this year's AZ StandDown will find themselves in safe living situations by the time next year's event comes around," commented StandDown volunteer Maj. Elizabeth Magnusson, 944th Fighter Wing staff. "Regardless, the Airmen of the 944th Fighter Wing will be volunteering their time again next year to ensure that the veterans who came before us are taken care of."

Soldier Inspires Wife to Enlist

By Julia Bobick
U.S. Army Recruiting Command

FORT KNOX, Ky., April 23, 2013 – When Christy reluctantly agreed to meet Joshua, the nephew of a co-worker, he was home on leave from Germany for a second time. Her co-worker's prodding couldn't get her to stop by the first time he was home, but she gave in the second time and agreed to meet him. That quick "meet and greet," as she called it, was all it took.

Army Staff Sgt. Joshua and Army Pfc. Christy Garlick play with their children, Camden and Keegan, at the Kingsolver Elementary School playground on Fort Knox, Ky. U.S. Army photo by Julia Bobick   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

They talked the entire two weeks he was home in southwestern Pennsylvania, and it became a cell phone relationship when he returned to Germany. Her first cell phone bill was $1,200. It went down to about $800 the second month, and then they finally got the hang of it. He still refuses to tell her how much his first phone bills were, but they both agree "it was worth every penny."

Joshua and Christy Garlick have now been married for more than seven years and have two children: Camden, 6, and Keegan, 4. They've been stationed in Germany, as well as Fort Lee, Va.; Fort Drum., N.Y.; and now here, where Army Pfc. Christy Garlick works at Headquarters Company with the Army Medical Department Activity, and Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Garlick is a military policeman working in the Elizabethtown Recruiting Center.

Though he’s a recruiter, it was not Joshua who recruited Christy. He was selected for recruiting duty after she shipped to basic combat training, but it was his love of being a soldier that had such a great impact on her.

"It was something I always wanted to do, both being in the Army and being an MP," Joshua said.

Christy said she didn't really know anything about the Army or the Army lifestyle until she met Joshua. After the birth of their son, Christy took a year off from working and during that time decided she couldn't be a stay-at-home mom. She told Joshua, "I want to join the Army, and I want to be just like you."

While she had an incredible amount of determination, Christy said, becoming a dual military couple was not a decision they rushed into or took lightly, and it took Joshua about six months to come around to the idea. They spent a lot of time discussing the options with their families and seeking advice from his unit leadership. At age 34 and running out of time to enlist, Christy said, she didn't want any regrets in life -- it was something she wanted to do.

They are appreciative that their families were supportive of the decision. Though Christy's mother was hesitant, she said, her father was incredibly excited -- quickly becoming the proud bumper-sticker-displaying, ball-cap-and-T-shirt-wearing dad.

"Everybody said we could make it work, and it has," said Christy, who enlisted as a health care specialist.
Joshua is proud of his wife's service and uses her experiences when he talks with applicants and future soldiers -- especially women -- about Army training and opportunities. Since he's been on recruiting duty for only a few months so far, he said, he doesn't know yet whether he will remain a recruiter longer than one tour. Both, however, plan to make the Army a career.

Joshua said his best experience in the Army is not any one thing -- it's a combination of things during his 11 years in uniform.

"I have met great friends, had awesome leadership throughout my career, and have gotten to see things I never thought I would," he explained.

"Once you get in the Army life, it's amazing," Christy said. "The camaraderie and the family atmosphere make up for your far-away family. This is where I'm meant to be. I love it. I love the structure of the Army.

"I've been blessed every step of the way, for as old as I am and as out-of-shape as I was, every place I have been has been a blessing," she continued. "Though I wish I would have done this 10 to 15 years ago when I was younger, I'm probably in the best shape of my life now."

As the February MEDDAC soldier of the month, Christy is preparing for the upcoming soldier of the quarter board. The tables are turned now, and Joshua is helping Christy study for promotion and competitive boards, just as she helped him when they first met.

Christy said she feels like she started everything late in her life -- having children at age 27 and joining the Army at 34 -- but that it's been the right time to find happiness.

"I'm so excited I did this," she said. "I feel like this is the second half of my life, and I'm living it with true happiness. I'm finally getting everything I wanted. Our kids are still young, but we always try to impress upon them they can do whatever they want to do in life at any time."

Readiness, Modernization in Flux, Air Force Secretary Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2013 – The Air Force will see few force structure changes this year, but readiness and modernization accounts will be in flux this year and next, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said here today.

The secretary also told the Defense Writers’ Group that now is the time for another base realignment and closure process.

Readiness and modernization will be problems for the service, Donley said. Air Force readiness has declined since 2003 as the service concentrated on providing support for counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, he explained, and providing combat power for the full spectrum of operations has decayed.
“Air-to-air combat, suppression of enemy defenses [and] operations in a contested air environment have not gotten the attention they deserve, and readiness has declined in that respect,” Donley said.

The service had been working to rebuild readiness, he said, but sequestration spending cuts have thrown that effort out the window. Troops and aircraft deploying in support of operations are top notch and receive the training, equipment and supplies they need, the Air Force secretary said, but stateside training has been slashed.

A flying hour reduction of 18 percent is concentrated in the last six months of the fiscal year, and only to stateside-based units, Donley said.

“We are standing down nine fighter squadrons, three bomber squadrons, … and there will be an additional bomber squadron this summer when it returns from deployment,” he added. “It will make the challenge of readiness in [fiscal year 2014] that much harder.”

Some of the recovery from this drawdown will take months, but for depot-level maintenance, which the service is deferring, recovery may take a year or more, he said.

Modernization remains an overarching problem for the Air Force, the secretary said. The average age of the air fleet is increasing, with some aircraft -- B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers -- being far older than their crews, he noted.

The Air Force must modernize across the board, Donley said. In addition to its fighters, bombers, tankers and trainers, he said, the service also must modernize satellite capabilities and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

“Every mission area that you can think of needs to be modernized,” he added.

The fiscal situation could be the Air Force’s best chance to eliminate excess infrastructure, Donley said.

“It’s a significant forcing function,” he added, noting that Air Force officials estimate the service has roughly 20 percent excess infrastructure by square footage. Eight closures conducted during the 2005 base realignment and closure round, he said, were relatively small.

Since then, the Air Force has retired more than 500 aircraft, and the number of personnel has shrunk. The best way to do this is to retire aircraft and eliminate the infrastructure that supports those aircraft, Donley said, but aircraft retirement decisions and base closure decisions are made in separate worlds. The Air Force did do this in a drawdown during the 1990s, he added, but has not since then.

Hagel Places Jordan Among Most Important Middle East Partners

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

AMMAN, Jordan, April 23, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met here today with Jordan’s Lt. Gen. Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein and Gen. Mashal al-Zaben, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian armed forces, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, left, meets with Jordan’s Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein in Amman, Jordan, April 23, 2013. Hagel is on a six-day trip to the Middle East, where he is visiting counterparts in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The United States and Jordan -- which Hagel said is one of the most important U.S. partners in the region -- share concerns about the crisis in Syria and continue to consult closely on issues including chemical weapons and demands posed by the influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the violence, Little added.

 

During the meeting, Hagel reaffirmed the closeness of the U.S.-Jordan strategic relationship and reiterated the DOD commitment to working with the Jordanian armed forces to address common challenges, the press secretary said.

The leaders discussed Hagel’s decision, announced April 17, to sustain U.S. military personnel in Jordan to foster even closer planning, improve joint readiness, and prepare for a range of scenarios, Little noted.

Hagel and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, reported to the Senate Armed Services Committee that the secretary ordered the Army deployment to help Jordanian forces defend their border with Syria. The contingent will enhance the efforts of a small U.S. military team that has been working in Jordan since last year on planning related to chemical weapons and preventing a spillover of violence across Jordan’s borders, Hagel told the Senate panel.

DOD personnel and interagency partners are helping Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and other Syrian neighbors counter the threat posed by Syria’s chemical weapons, Hagel said during the hearing.

The secretary, Prince Faisal and Zaben agreed to continue to work closely together to support mutual objectives, develop capacity and provide military assistance as needed to the Jordanian armed forces, Little said.

Hagel commended Jordan on its decision to keep borders open to refugees fleeing the violence in Syria, the press secretary said, adding that Jordan now hosts nearly 500,000 Syrian refugees.

In addition to about $409 million in humanitarian assistance the United States has provided to those affected by the violence in Syria, Little said, DOD has provided more than $1.2 million in goods such as food, water, medical supplies and power generators through the Jordanian armed forces to help in the care and transport of refugees coming across the border.

DOD also has provided more than $70 million to Jordan this year to help secure its borders and prevent chemical-weapons transfer, Little said.

Hagel’s trip to the Middle East, which began April 20 and will end April 26, also will take the secretary to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to discuss common threats and interests in the region.

Hagel: Defense Partnership Anchors U.S.-Saudi Relationship

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 23, 2013 – On his inaugural trip to the Middle East since taking office, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met here today with Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel meets with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, the country’s deputy defense minister, for a welcoming tea ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 23, 2013. Hagel is on a six-day trip to the Middle East, where he is visiting counterparts in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

During their talks, Hagel and his Saudi counterpart reiterated the longstanding, steadfast relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and emphasized the strong defense partnership that anchors the two nations, Little added.

They also discussed the release of standoff weapons to Saudi Arabia that will provide strategic precision defensive capabilities to the Saudi F-15 fleet, Little said. Such smart weapons can navigate to their targets and are more precise and can be fired at further distances.

“Both agreed the release reflected the close bilateral partnership and would enable long-term cooperation in the pursuit of common security policy aims of a peaceful and stable region,” Little said. The two defense leaders also consulted on regional issues, including the need for Iran to abide to international commitments on its nuclear program, the situation in Syria, and the political transition in Yemen, he added.

Hagel’s trip to the Middle East, which began April 20 and will end April 26, began in Israel and Jordan and tomorrow will take the secretary to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to discuss common threats and interests in the region.

Air Force Secretary Describes Morale Among Airmen

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2013 – Deployed airmen are ready and motivated, but those based in the United States face fiscal challenges that sap morale, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said here today.
“The airmen that we send downrange are well-trained -- they are pumped,” Donley told the Defense Writers Group. “There’s no doubt they are doing what they signed up to do in the military. They are doing their jobs in a combat environment.”

Donley, the longest-serving Air Force leader, said he has been struck by how connected and educated the force is. “I can go downrange to an airman’s call at Bagram [Airfield, Afghanistan] and get questions on sequestration, or tuition assistance or the retirement plan,” he said.

Airmen are connected, and they follow what defense leaders and Congress are doing, the secretary said.
“They know we are living through challenging times,” he added.

In his experience, Donley said, this “connectedness” is a change for airmen that has had an effect across the institution. Airmen listen when Congress talks about sequestration or budget cuts that last 10 years, he said. For many of the younger airmen, he noted, this is their first experiences with a constrained fiscal environment.
“Those who have been in 20 to 30 years know there are ups and downs,” he said.

Airmen also know the Air Force faces huge modernization challenges, the secretary said. “Equipment they are operating is beyond what we thought its service life was going to be,” he said. “And they know that the training environment they come back to … is not as robust and not as demanding as it used to be.”

Donley took over as acting Air Force secretary in June 2008, after then-Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates asked for then-Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne to resign over concern about the Air Force’s focus and performance in its nuclear mission. That was a low point for morale in the Air Force, Donley said, adding that he believes morale has risen overall since then.

“Airmen downrange are performing magnificently,” he said. “Air Force men and women know they are making a difference in the lives of those who serve on the ground.”

The Air Force is key to operations in Afghanistan and around the world, Donley added.

“The Air Force is providing a lot of glue to hold current joint and coalition operations together,” he said.

U.S. Committed to Pacific Rebalance, Carter Says at Harvard

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2013 – Even given fiscal constraints, the U.S. military still can carry out the strategic rebalance to the Pacific, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at the Harvard Institute of Politics tonight.

The Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed 60 years of peace in large part due to the American security umbrella, Carter said, and the American military will continue its strategic shift to the area.

North Korea is an important exception to the general atmosphere in the region, the deputy secretary said. “First Japan rose and prospered, and then South Korea rose and prospered, and then Southeast Asia rose and prospered,” he added. “Today, India and China – in their different ways – rise and prosper. That’s a good thing. It was all assisted by the United States, but none of it was a sure thing, given the shape that Asia was in at the end of World War II.”

The principles included a commitment to free and open commerce, a just international order that emphasized rights and responsibilities of nations, open access, and the principle of resolving conflicts without force.
“We believe that our strong security presence in the Asia-Pacific has provided a critical foundation and in one sense our rebalance says we are going to continue to provide this balance into the future,” Carter said. U.S. partners in the region welcome American leadership and robust engagement, and the values that underlie them, he added, so the rebalance will be welcomed and reciprocated. He stressed that the strategy is not aimed at any one country or group of countries.

The rebalance is possible because the U.S. effort in Iraq has ended and the American presence in Afghanistan is winding down, Carter said. There will be a higher percentage of American naval power in the Pacific than the Atlantic -- a reversal of current strategy – and the Air Force will increase its posture and presence in the region, he told the Harvard audience.

Allies will see more of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in the coming years than they have in the last decade. “Why is that? Because they have been in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now they are coming home to the Asia-Pacific,” Carter said.

Working with allies and friends is a huge part of the shift, the deputy secretary said. The United States is working with the Japanese, South Korean, Philippine and Australian governments to enhance contacts and cooperation. Australia is hosting a rotational Marine Corps presence in Darwin. Japanese and American officials are working on a basing plan for American forces in the country, including the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the Japanese island of Okinawa, Carter said.

The United States and South Korea are working together to defend South Korea from North Korean aggression, and American service members are continuing to work to strengthen the Philippine military.
Rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region is happening on a global scale, and it is happening within the region, Carter said. Northeast Asia always has been the center of gravity for American forces, he added, but now, more forces will be in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean area. “This is a recognition of the importance of Southeast Asia and South Asia to the region as a whole,” he explained.

Friends and allies recognize this, Carter said, and the first or four U.S. littoral combat ships arrived a few days ago in Singapore. The United States is working closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and will conduct exercises with the nations of that group. And after decades of no contact, there is now limited contact with the Burmese.

India is a key nation in the region and the world, Carter said. “Our security interests with India converge on maritime security and broader regional issues including India’s Look East policy,” he added. “We’re also looking to broaden our industrial base policy with India, moving beyond a vendor/purchaser relationship to co-develop and co-produce with the Indians.”

The list goes on, Carter said.

The United States military is investing in the personnel capital that will be needed to ensure the new strategy works, the deputy secretary said, and American service members are going through the language and culture training needed to understand the nuances of these countries.

CE units combine forces to catch planes

by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

4/18/2013 - BUCKLEY AFB, Colo. -- Airmen from the 460th Civil Engineer Squadron and 140th CES, Colorado Air National Guard, received assistance from the 200th RED HORSE, Ohio Air National Guard, to install two Barrier Arresting Kit-12 systems April 12 on Buckley's flightline.

The team of power production Airmen assembled and installed the BAK-12 systems during a five-day span.

"We did it in a short timeframe. Everyone started on Monday, and we had the certification run on Friday. We saw all inclement weather conditions, from snow to high winds, and zero visibility," said Master Sgt. Joshua Barnett, 140th CES power productions NCO in charge.

The barrier systems were installed on Buckley in preparation for upcoming flightline construction.

The BAK-12 is an emergency stopping system for tail-hook equipped aircraft to prevent crashes and give assurance to pilots should their aircraft experience maintenance issues.

The system consists of a cable stretched across the flightline that is attached to the braking mechanisms on both sides. As the aircraft engages the system, the braking mechanism will slowly apply pressure until the aircraft comes to a stop.

After the week-long assembly, the BAK-12 proved it was capable of stopping a 29,000 pound F-16 Fighting Falcon traveling at a speed of more than 100 mph.

"The most rewarding part was seeing the plane hit the catch line. When I first went out there it was a patch of grass and a flightline. We got to see what we had worked so hard to do," said Senior Airman Taquan Kelley, 460th CES power production journeyman.

Eight Airmen from the 200th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers provided Buckley's power production teams with manpower, assets and expertise.

"This effort is a great example of leveraging guard and active-duty assets to complete a mission. Installing two Barrier Arresting Kit-12 systems in one week is not easy. The entire team of power production and heavy equipment personnel should be proud of their achievement and how well they were able to integrate operations," said Maj. Gibb Little, 460th CES operation flight commander.

Face of Defense: Airman’s Sharp Eye Saves Air Force $348K

By Air Force Senior Master Sgt. George Thompson
386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 22, 2013 – As Air Force officials seek to institute a culture change through the "Every Dollar Counts" campaign, one deployed airman's determination helped to save more than a third of a million dollars.

Air Force Master Sgt. Ernest Harrison, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, poses for a photo at the U.S. Army Logistics Civil Augmentation Program port in Southwest Asia, April 16, 2013. Harrison saved the Air Force more than $348,000 when he found a misplaced U-30 aircraft tow tractor that had mistakenly dropped off the inventory list during changeover with his predecessor. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Air Force Master Sgt. Ernest Harrison, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron transportation management office superintendent, was working his liaison officer duties at a host-nation port when something caught his eye.

"I saw this massive piece of equipment, but had no idea it was an Air Force asset," Harrison said. "My predecessor gave me a list of all the assets I needed to track, and this was not one of them."
The item in question, a 50-ton U-30 aircraft tow tractor, had somehow dropped off the inventory list during the changeover.

"Normally it's dark when I finish my work, but on this particular day, I finished early and took a couple of pictures of this thing," Harrison said. "I wrote down the weight and the tag number and sent it to the Air Forces Central guy in charge of all the vehicles in the region."

As it turns out, AFCENT was in the process of ordering a new U-30 to support the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's C-17 operations.

"He wrote me back and said, 'Where did you find this thing?' and I said, 'It was sitting out here in the middle of a field all by itself,' and the best part was it started right up," Harrison said.

Harrison's detective work allowed AFCENT to cancel the equipment order and scratch the C-17 mission slated to transport the 100,000 pound U-30, saving the Air Force $348,571.73.

Though Harrison will not receive a monetary award, as do those who submit money-saving ideas through the Air Force’s Innovative Development Through Employee Awareness Program, he’s glad he was able to save his service a substantial sum.

"As you know, the budget is tight,” he said, “and just knowing I saved the Air Force this money is a great feeling."

Sniper ATP-SE makes operational debut with Dyess bombers

by Airman 1st Class Charles V. Rivezzo
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

4/22/2013 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- B-1 Bombers from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, received a significant upgrade to their targeting capability April 15, becoming the first operational platform to employ Lockheed Martin's Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod-Sensor Enhancement modification.

Building on the technology of legacy ATP pods, sniper pods in the new ATP-SE configuration provide an even greater capability via new enhanced sensors, a two-way data link, advanced processors and automated non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance modes.

"Sniper-SE incorporates the greatest set of upgrades to the advanced targeting pod since its inception," said Capt. Artur Kosycarz, 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron Sniper-SE rated project officer. "Standardized across the combat air force, Sniper-SE equipped jets will be able to execute a myriad of mission sets with capability in the realm of maritime operations, ISR and video data-link."

A new facet to the modification is the pod's Net-T, or network tactical capability, which enables a point-to-multipoint networking architecture that, when employed with other platforms, provides beyond line-of-sight range capability allowing operators, analysts and decision makers access to real-time situational awareness data.

This targeting pod enhancement can provide the commander real-time information, videos, images, maps or coordinates from the forward deployed elements without relying on satellite, radio or other forms of traditional communication.

"The legacy sniper pods only have one way data-link capability," said Master Sgt. Jesse Williams, 7th Maintenance Group wing avionics manager. "However, the new Sniper-SE pod brings in the two-way option, allowing ground receivers to relay high-resolution streaming video to forward-deployed forces for rapid target coordination.

"Very similar to other aircraft's Link-16 network, the added capability can be relayed around to other aircraft or ground units across all services," Williams added. "Simply stated, the pod acts almost like a wireless router or Wi-Fi hot-spot that can be bounced around to other aircraft or ground units with the data-link capability."

Furthermore, a unique enhancement to the new targeting pod not previously available is its ability to record the video and images captured, significantly enhancing the employing platforms ISR capability.

"With previous, pods once the data was displayed it's pretty much gone," Williams said. "But with the Sniper-SE pods, aircrews can record every single mission and use that for training, further analysis or whatever the case may be."

Sniper ATP is the only pod with advanced integration across all Air Force air-to-surface fighter and bomber aircraft. Like the legacy targeting pod, Sniper ATP-SE will also be capable of employment on the B-52 Stratofortress, F-15E Strike Eagle, A-10 Thunderbolt II and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

However, with the B-1s ability to carry the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, as well as the aircraft's speed and superior handling characteristics which allows it to seamlessly integrate in mixed force packages, the B-1 presents itself as a premier platform to employ the new targeting pod.

Dyess aircrews are currently training and familiarizing themselves with the new pod in preparation for future deployments and could become the first unit to employ the new targeting pod in the area of responsibility.

Doolittle Raiders greet, inspire Air Commandos

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

4/19/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Exactly 71 years ago to the day they and their fellow Airmen turned the tide of the U.S. war effort, three World War II legends spoke to dozens of Hurlburt Airmen at the 319th Special Operations Squadron auditorium April 18.

Lt. Col. Richard Cole, Lt. Col. Edward Saylor and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher all served alongside 77 fellow then-U.S. Army Air Corps Airmen taking off in 16 B-25s in the April 18, 1942 bombing over Japan known as the Doolittle Raid.

The raid, designed and led by then-Lt. Col. James Doolittle, served as the first air raid by the U.S. military in response to the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, while both bolstering the morale of the American public and instilling doubt among the Japanese people.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Col. William Holt, vice commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, before introducing the Raiders. "In my 22 years in the Air Force, I never imagined I'd be standing in front of three Doolittle Raiders. Without a doubt, this is the highest honor I've had."

After the three Raiders entered the squadron through a sword cordon from the Hurlburt Field Honor Guard, the Air Commandos opened the discussion by asking questions about their memories and impression of the raid's chief architect.

"Colonel Doolittle was a very persuasive individual," said Cole, who also served as his co-pilot on the lead aircraft. "He was very charming. He treated everyone with respect and was very polite. He was a team person, and it vibrated throughout all 80 people."

Cole also described Doolittle's dedication to his Airmen as a testament to his leadership.

"Outside of being in awe of him and being able to fly with him, we observed the way he treated his people," he said. "For instance, he would go to an air base and would not leave the airplane until the crew chief had finished gassing it up and doing the things that needed to be done. He'd make sure the crew chiefs were taken to their barracks before he was taken to his. It indicated to me that he treats his people in a very, very polite way."

Prior to leaving the continental U.S., the Raiders spent a portion of the training for the mission at what is now Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., for three weeks of intensive training in March 1942. Given the base's proximity to the water, one Airman asked if the three had any downtime to enjoy the Emerald Coast.

"We did not receive any time off," Cole said. "We were based in quarters and not allowed to go off the base."

The questions then turned to how the Raiders personally prepared for the mission -- an element the team said they had little time to react to but enough resolve to ultimately see it through.

"When they presented the request for volunteers, we were given no information other than it was a dangerous mission," Cole said. "We were practicing takeoffs and so forth. It was very obvious we were going to takeoff from a carrier. We thought we were being transported to some place with a different carrier so we could takeoff and go to an island some place in the Pacific and land and start fighting the war."

"When they announced over the loudspeaker our target was Japan, there was a huge shock that went all over the carrier," said Thatcher, who served as an engineer and gunner in the raid. "No one knew where we were supposed to go, especially the Navy personnel."

"We all volunteered, and I went not knowing what it was," said Saylor, then an engineer. "My feeling was that I hope I could do the job as well as it needed to be done. The responsibility of the airplane was very heavy on my mind. That's how I felt about going in -- I hope I could do the job."

The air raid stormed over the Japanese island of Honshu, with none of the U.S. aircraft being gunned down. While heading across the East China Sea, the Raiders faced harsh conditions both during the flight and in their crash landings in China and the then-Soviet Union, especially under the threat of possible capture by enemy forces.

"I would advise you to be prepared as much as possible for any situation," Thatcher said. "We were in a situation we didn't have any control over. We crash landed on a Japanese-occupied island. There were no Japanese there at the time, and the Chinese Underground who were working on that island helped us escape."

News of the raid's success quickly reached American news outlets, rejuvenating the country's morale for the budding war effort. However, the Raiders said many did not know of their reception in their homeland until years later.

"When I came home, the sense that the whole country was gung-ho to get on with the job -- it was a pretty good feeling," Saylor said.

Shortly after the raid's completion, Doolittle, who had been promoted to brigadier general and received the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, had the idea for a reunion among all the surviving Raiders, Cole said.

"Each day after the mission was over [Doolittle] said he was going to throw a party like one we'd never been to before," Cole said. "In 1945, the first party was at McFadden-Deauville Hotel in Miami. The people who were able to come came to it. The party grew to talking and conversations, and somebody suggested 'Why don't we do this every year?' And then Doolittle said 'Wait a minute, fellas -- I'm paying out a lot of money here!'"

Eventually, the reunions led to visiting bases and cities throughout the country. The gatherings soon began awarding out Traffic Safety Awards and recognition to deserving Airmen and later evolved into providing scholarships for local students beginning in 1962, Cole said.

As the session came to a close and the Raiders prepared for their final reunion weekend in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Saylor concluded by giving his endorsement of the men and women who followed in their footsteps by serving in the Air Force today.

"I look this gang over, and I think we're in good hands," Saylor said. "I want to make sure we give you guys everything you need to get the job done. I'm hopeful."

Cole, an Ohio native, enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November 1940 and received his pilot's commission in July 1941. After serving in the Doolittle Raid, he continued to serve in the Burma-Indo-China theater as one of the original Air Commandos. He is the recipient of Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.

Saylor graduated high school in Montana and enlisted Dec. 7, 1939. He served both in the United States and overseas throughout the war until March 1945. He accepted a commission as an aircraft maintenance officer in October 1947. He is the recipient of Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.

Thatcher graduated high school and enlisted in December 1940. After the raid, he served in England, Africa and California before being discharged from active duty in July 1945. He is the recipient of the Silver Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.

Archaeologists tour Luke's 5,000 year old site

by Airman 1st Class Grace Lee
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/19/2013 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Thirty professional archaeologists and students toured the Luke Air Force Base Solar-Power-Array project area April 12 to learn about the find at the site and its rich history.

Luke members teamed with the Arizona Public Service, a major electric company in the Phoenix area, to construct and operate the solar array during the planning phase. Archaeologists discovered artifacts on the surface.

"The finding of these surface artifacts clued us in that there may be more underneath," said John Hall, Statistical Research Incorporated project director. "In the summer of 2010, we began excavating doing backhoe trenches and mechanic stripping, which is removal of the top soil."

After three years of hard work, archaeologists uncovered approximately 46 acres through mechanical stripping, revealing 3,500 features or remnants of past activities such as fire pits and housing structures.

"We consider the people who lived here archaic, since radio carbon dates show that the features are anywhere from 3000 B.C. to 1400 A.D.," Hall said. "This site is also one of a kind because it's so old and no one in the Phoenix basin has ever found this many archaic features before."

Because of the uniqueness and rarity of the site, it is important for Luke to reach out to local professionals and students in the area.

"The purpose of the tour was to share information about the project and the features found," said Jeff Rothrock, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Flight chief. "The tour gave professionals and students an opportunity to examine in detail the cultural heritage of Luke, the Phoenix basin, Arizona and the greater U.S. Southwest."

The archaeologists also took a walking tour of the different archaeological features, including pit houses, armadas and storage areas.

"This site is very interesting because it covers a period of time that is relatively unknown and a time we rarely see," said Walter Duering, Arizona Museum of Natural History archaeologist.
The amount of features found made it even more special.

"It's remarkable to find so many features in one site associated with this early time period," said Sandy Haddock, Arizona Archaeological Society vice president. "I'm glad to have been able to see such an important, rare and large site."

The project is slated to be completed by May 1. Once all the excavated dirt is put back and compacted, the site will be ready for APS to begin the solar array project by October.

Guard Troops Battle Rising Waters in Missouri, North Dakota

By Bill Phelan
Missouri National Guard

CLARKSVILLE, Mo., April 23, 2013 – About 100 Missouri National Guardsmen from units in St. Louis, Hannibal and Cape Girardeau joined community volunteers to work in support of flood relief operations in affected areas.

Army Spc. Bryan Sholts, left, and Army Spc. Alex Preszlerof from the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 191st Military Police Company control traffic in Fargo, April 22, 2013. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

And in North Dakota, about 70 troops were on duty today, as Guard members set up additional traffic control points in Fargo to assist with sandbag levee construction along the Red River.

After more than 5 inches of rain fell in parts of Missouri last week, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon mobilized the National Guard on April 19 to help protect lives and property from rising flood waters, especially along the Mississippi River.

In addition to the weekend Guard response in Clarksville, about 50 soldiers were called yesterday to help with sandbagging operations in Dutchtown, about 150 miles downriver, near Cape Girardeau.
"Missouri's citizen-soldiers and -airmen have proven themselves as true leaders during times of need, and they again are meeting the challenges of this year's floods," said Nixon, who toured Clarksville on April 20 with Army Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, Missouri’s adjutant general.

"Winning these fights to protect lives and property takes close cooperation and coordination between state and local officials, Missouri Guardsmen and volunteers from across the region, and that is what is taking place right now on the Mississippi," Nixon added.

“We are always happy to come to the aid of our fellow Missourians,” Danner said. “We will work directly with the Department of Public Safety, other state agencies and local authorities to answer this call. We are going to ensure that we strengthen that levee wall and do anything else we can to assist.”

Within an hour of being mobilized, airmen from the St. Louis-based 121st Air Control Squadron, the 131st Civil Engineer Squadron and soldiers from the 70th Troop Command were on their way to Clarksville. There, Guard members immediately began to assist with construction of a 1,500-foot sandbag levee. Soldiers from the Hannibal-based 2175th Military Police Company were also called up to help with the effort.

“Our primary mission is to fill a lot of sandbags,” explained Army Capt. Wesley Dickman, of Columbia, commander of the 2175th. “My troops have been working throughout the night to build up the main levee and the side levees protecting some of the buildings. The effort here is really impressive.”

In addition to National Guardsmen, city officials, area residents, Boy Scouts and prison inmates worked around the clock to build up the levee wall. The Guard’s arrival in Clarksville was a welcome sight to volunteers who had been working on the sandbag levee since April 17.

“With this kind of manpower, we can really get things done,” said Ray Wagner, of St. Louis, one of numerous AmeriCorps volunteers working on the wall. “We really appreciate the Guard’s help, because we have several projects that we have not started yet.”

“When AmeriCorps arrived on the scene, we breathed a huge sigh of relief, and when the National Guard arrived, we breathed a bigger sigh of relief,” Clarksville Mayor Jo Anne Smiley said. “Their arrival has relieved us in so many ways I can’t even describe it. This effort would not be successful without them.”
Founded in 1817, Clarksville is no stranger to flooding and has adapted an impressive flood management plan that clearly impressed everyone who saw it implemented.

“This town has been here a long time, and I expect that when the waters recede, Clarksville, Mo., will be open for business as usual,” Nixon said.

Soldiers of the Cape Girardeau-based 1140th Engineer Battalion and the Perryville-based 880th Engineer Team -- both part of the 35th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Leonard Wood -- were called to fight flood waters in Dutchtown.

"This is one of the reasons we put the uniform on. It's our way of giving back and protecting our community, and we are ready and prepared to help the community and people of Dutchtown,” said Army 1st Sgt. Haskel Rooker of the 1140th Forward Support Company.