AF chaplain, NASCAR team to help service members

by Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/8/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS)  -- On April 27, 2012, Chaplain (Col.) Steven West went to Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., to speak about ministry; he left with a plan to change the world.

He left his office as the chaplain for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to meet with Dell Hamilton, a partner of Hamilton Means Racing LLC. Hamilton owns a team and car in NASCAR and helps provide faith-based initiatives at the races.

Hamilton and West shared a vision of linking America to verified organizations that provide needed support to active duty, guard, reserve, veterans and their families. Motivated by this goal, they co-founded the Support Military Foundation.

SMF helps charitable organizations maximize their abilities to assist the military.

"Our main purpose isn't to actually take care of a group," said West. "We are the ones overseeing to make sure the military members receive the assistance they need. This is led by military members to better serve the people."

West has seen all aspects of the military. He has been in the guard, the reserves and on active duty as both enlisted and officer. He enjoys educating business leaders about the military.

"I was able to reach out to businesses and help them understand the military and how SMF helps," said West.

Kathleen Frantz, Katy's Goodness proprietor, said SMF works with organizations to provide a gateway and validations to ensure that veteran support organizations are doing what they say.

"SMF becomes a go-to for people who want to learn more about providing help to the military and veteran communities with organizations that can be trusted," said Frantz.

SMF's main goals are to give Americans a place to find quality military support organizations, a method to get involved through social networks and a cause to rally around through the "Behind the Camo" awareness and involvement program.

"Our 'Behind the Camo' program is designed to be the 'Pink' (breast cancer awareness) of the military," said Hamilton. "In other words, if you wear our 'Camo' we want you to know it reflects your support of the military."

Hamilton said West has taught him more about the military in the last year than he has learned in his entire life. He is impressed by West's dedication to the SMF.

"My father and uncles were all in the Korean War," said Hamilton. "I have a deep love for the military and know they are why I have my freedom."

Frantz said the SMF is a continuation of West's life's work and service he has already provided.

"West is an educated, experienced pastor that has spent a large portion of his life dedicated to serving our country," said Frantz. "He also serves to inspire, support and make a difference to many of our troops in times of difficulty, strength and awareness."

Hamilton said he and West have a unique opportunity to use NASCAR to help get their message out to the public.

"I have been involved in NASCAR for eight years," said Hamilton. "NASCAR boasts some of the most patriotic fans you will ever find and that is why we chose to use NASCAR as our platform to promote our 'Behind the Camo' program."

Dempsey Discusses Middle East, U.S. Troop Issues

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2013 – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed events in the Middle East and U.S. troop issues during an interview broadcast today but recorded July 3 with Candy Crowley for CNN’s State of the Union news program.

Dempsey answered questions about recent events in Egypt, the ongoing civil war in Syria and the situation in Afghanistan.

Dempsey, who has served at length in the Middle East during his military career, called Egypt a great country and a cornerstone of the region.

“It’s got an incredible history and culture and the world needs Egypt to be stable,” the chairman said, adding that what the Egyptians want to do with their government “is for them to decide, and I mean that sincerely.”

He added, “As a student of that part of the world and someone who lived in the region for most of the last 10 years -- what we’re seeing is that democracy takes a while to stick.”

Turning to Syria, where civil war has raged since March 2011, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions, Dempsey said the United States is contributing hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance and working closely with partners in the region.

Dempsey said he tries to see the broader picture with regard to the situation in Syria.

“This is an issue that extends from Beirut to Damascus to Baghdad, and in fact over the last six months the levels of violence in both Lebanon and Baghdad have been alarmingly high,” he explained.

Events in Syria reflect a regional issue, Dempsey added, that’s related “to a competition at best and a conflict at worst between the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam, and it’s been hijacked at some level on both sides by extremists -- al-Qaida on one side and Lebanese Hezbollah and others on the other side.”
It’s not a simple matter of stopping the fighting in Syria by introducing any particular U.S. capability, the chairman said, pointing out that “this is about a 10-year issue and if we fail to think about it as a 10-year regional issue we could make some mistakes.”

Dempsey said he’s not making predictions about how long President Bashar al-Assad will stay or not stay in Syria.

“I’m suggesting that the underlying causes of the conflict as I have just described them will persist for 10 years,” he said.

Turning to Afghanistan, Dempsey said the International Security Assistance Force has another 18 months to get Afghanistan’s security forces where they need to be to maintain a stable security platform.
The ISAF is slated to disband at the end of 2014 when its combat mission in Afghanistan ends. NATO will then train, advise and assist Afghanistan’s security forces.

“I think that we will get the Afghan security forces to a point where they will be able to provide security generally across the country. But there will be pockets of resistance,” Dempsey said.

“The problem,” he added, “is that I can’t speak with much optimism at this point about the other factors of governance, be they economic or political. They have to keep pace. And we will know because … there are elections scheduled for early ’14.”

Asked about whether it will be difficult to bring adversaries like the Taliban into the Afghanistan peace process, Dempsey answered with an example from another war.

“It is always difficult to think about the losses that we’ve suffered and the idea that at some point we would find reconciliation with [the Taliban], but I’m mindful of the fact that all wars end with some level of political reconciliation,” he said.

Dempsey recalled that his Vietnamese counterpart joined him for dinner in his quarters last week.
“Outside we flew their flag next to our flag. I was almost unnerved by it because I went into West Point during the Vietnam War preparing to go fight in Vietnam. And here we are now, some years later, and they are seeking to become much closer partners with us,” the chairman said.

“I think there are several flavors of Taliban,” he continued. “I think there are some who are reconcilable and undoubtedly some who are not. So long as we can have enough precision in the way we reach out to them, then I won’t have … concerns about whether our sacrifices would somehow be undermined.”

Turning to issues facing U.S. troops, Dempsey said the American people have been extraordinary in their appreciation of the military’s contribution to the nation over the past decade.

“After every conflict there’s a period of time when the nation decides what it will think of the veterans of that conflict,” the chairman said, adding that now is the time to start thinking about the image this generation’s men and women warriors deserve.

“If I do have a worry,” Dempsey said, “it’s that this generation of veterans may be seen as somehow victims because a great many things have manifested themselves -- post-traumatic stress syndrome, rising rates of suicide, rising divorce rates, sexual assault.

“So I don’t want to have this generation’s young men and women, the warriors, seen as victims somehow,” he continued. “This conflict has been a source of strength as well for many veterans.”
Dempsey also said he’d “like the American people to give veterans opportunities -- not as a handout but rather to recognize what they might bring to the workplace, what they might bring to their communities.”

EOD removes more than 35 tons of ordnance during annual range clearance

by Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/5/2013 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho  -- Explosive ordnance disposal Airmen from the 366th Civil Engineering Squadron were joined by fellow EOD Airmen from nine different bases to perform the annual range clearance at Saylor Creek and Juniper Butte Range complexes, Idaho.

Members from the 366th Fighter Wing and other units have spent the past year dropping more than 35 tons of munitions at targets throughout the range complexes. Across the globe, millions of pounds of ammunition are dropped on ranges in order to assist in vital training for military members.

"The purpose of this range clearance is to remove munitions, unexploded ordnance and dummy bombs which have been dropped by the multiple military units across the globe who have utilized our range throughout the past year," said Tech. Sgt. Lawrence Saterfield, 366th Civil Engineering Squadron noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Explosive Ordnance Disposal plans. "The logistics phase began about six months ago and included things like coordinating dates with Air Combat Command, ensuring we had the required amount of personnel to complete the mission as well as the correct amount of vehicles to handle the difficult terrain throughout the entire month."

EOD personnel used military vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to clear approximately 2,106 munitions across 124,000 acres of range.

"Staff Sgt. Jonathan Winter and I performed an aerial survey of the ranges in order to do a pre-assessment of the ranges and see how saturated they were," said Saterfield. "We used the helicopter to pull out some of the extremely large bombs which can be too much for the trucks to handle."

Across the ranges there are various targets which must be maintained in order for the range to continue to be useful for training purposes.

"It's important to remove any munitions debris from the target areas so the contractors can fix or replace them," said Staff Sgt. William Roberts, 366th CES NCO in charge of EOD equipment. "Throughout the years we have refined a process allowing us to cover every single inch of the range by using GPS coordinates and marking flags.

"We like to start at the northeast corner and work our way south toward the more heavily used target areas," he continued. "Each day we pick up wherever we left of the previous day and get the vehicles on line and continue the sweep. The Juniper Butte range is an electronic targeting range which makes things a little tricky but there are specific target areas there where we find hundreds of rounds which must be cleared."

As the operations tempo for Air Force EOD technicians remains high, maximizing training opportunities such as clearing the ranges remains a critical step for these Airmen.

"When the notification for personnel needing war skills upgrade training went out a few months ago, our ranges were the only ones still operational at the time," said Saterfield.
"Because the ordnance consistently dropped there isn't as complicated as others it's a great way to get the newer techs an opportunity for hands-on training."

Training opportunities like this are rare due to sequestration cuts.

"Our range is still open because we have a land-use agreement with the state of Idaho and clearing these two ranges was already in the contract," said Roberts. "The money had already been allocated, so we were able to go ahead with the operation.

"The annual clearance ensures the bombing range can continue to be used safely by both civilian and military personnel which as EOD is our number one priority," he continued.

Dempsey Discusses U.S.-Egyptian Military Relations

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2013 – U.S. and Egyptian military leaders are building on relationships developed over more than 30 years as Egypt goes through political turmoil, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a July 3 interview with CNN.

President Barack Obama meets with members of his national security team, including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, to discuss the situation in Egypt, in the Situation Room of the White House, July 3, 2013. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

During the interview, CNN correspondent Candy Crowley spoke with Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, before the Egyptian military forced out President Mohammed Morsi, in preparation for a “State of the Union” show that will air July 7.

DOD leaders have spoken with Egyptian leaders -- including the military chief, Army Col. Gen. Abdul Fatah al-Sisi -- since demonstrations against the Morsi regime escalated in late June, department officials said.

U.S. military leaders have a close working relationship with Egyptian leaders, built on years of officer exchanges, joint exercises and operations. The U.S. military was working with the Egyptians to help the military define its way under a new system, Dempsey said.

“The armed forces ran the country for several decades, and they were transitioning themselves into their role in a democracy,” Dempsey told Crowley. “I’m not in the know about exactly what they’re going to do.”

Dempsey said his conversations with the Egyptians revolved around getting assurances that the military would protect U.S. citizens in the country.

“I wanted to encourage them to protect all the Egyptian people, not to take sides in any particular issue, and to ensure that they were a part of the resolution of this, but in their proper role as a military which is to ensure stability, but not try to influence the outcome,” Dempsey said.

The Egyptian leaders listened to the chairman’s concerns, he said, noting that “at the end of the day, it’s their country and they will find their way. But there will be consequences if it’s badly handled.”

Morsi has been forced from office and Adlay Mansour has taken his place.

U.S. Military Conducts Missile Defense Test

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2013 – The Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Air Force’s 30th Space Wing, the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, and U.S. Northern Command conducted an integrated exercise and flight test today of the ground-based midcourse defense element of the nation’s ballistic missile defense system, according to a Defense Department news release issued today.

Although a primary objective was the intercept of a long-range ballistic missile target launched from the U.S. Army’s Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, an intercept was not achieved, according to the release.

The interceptor missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the release said.
Program officials will conduct an extensive review to determine the cause or causes of any anomalies which may have prevented a successful intercept, according to the release.

Singing Soldier storms stages

by Staff Sgt. Wesley Farnsworth
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

7/4/2013 - FORT EUSTIS, Va. -- Fort Eustis U.S. Army Spc. Reuben Eldridge performed in front of a home crowd of more than 1,300, June 25 at Fourt Eustis, Va., as part of the "Ready and Resilient" 29-base tour.

Eldridge, assigned to the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element, is not only a talented Soldier traveling with the show, but also the Fort Eustis 2012 Operation Rising Star winner. He was ranked one of the top 12 competitors for the Army-wide competition.

"It's a dream come true to be a part of this show," said Eldridge. "I have a passion for singing and performing and I've always wanted to do something with it. Operation Rising Star and this show is a way for me to do that."

"Ready and Resilient" is a high-energy, live musical production that showcases the talents of active duty Soldiers selected by auditions throughout the Army. The 75-minute show is put on by active duty, reserve, and National Guard Soldiers.

Although they are Soldiers first, these artists also have a passion for music, dance and performance, with specialties ranging from information technology to combat medicine; they use music to put an entertaining spin on how Soldiers and their families maintain readiness and resiliency.

Eldridge learned at an early age that he enjoyed singing and had a talent for it.

"My passion [for singing] stems from watching my mother sing with my grandmother. But when I was 14, I learned I had a talent for it," said Eldridge.

This discovery started when Eldridge heard his uncle playing and singing, and decided to sing along. This became a weekly tradition, where eventually family and friends started coming to watch the duo perform.

The performances would become all-day barbeque events, with Eldridge and his uncle singing under the carport for entertainment. Ever since then, he's had a passion for singing.

The Soldier Show was an unexpected step for Eldridge when it came to his singing career.

"I heard about the show before but never really knew much about it," said Eldridge. "When I was at Fort Sam Houston participating as one of the top 12, they asked us to submit an application for the show."

After being accepted to the show and working with the other cast members, Eldridge says that level of professionalism exhibited every day from the other Soldiers has helped him improve as not only a Soldier, but also as a performer.

"I get a chance to perform music that I'm not used to in this show. I'm used to country music where you have a lot of runs, but I do a number during this show ... [which] requires me to actually act it out, and that's something I've never learned how to do," said Eldridge. "Through this show and the other cast members, I've learned about theater and acting and how to incorporate it into my music."

Annetta Thompson from Yorktown, Va., came out to watch the Solder Show at Fort Eustis.

"I absolutely loved the show," said Thompson. "I think the best part was seeing everyone in uniform and being able to shake their hands at the end."

The Soldier Show tour continues, stopping next at Fort Lee, Va. For Elkridge, the remaining performances are just another way for him to showcase his passion.

"The artistic expression of singing drives my passion. Every song means something different to each person," said Eldridge. "Being able to express those feelings is a great outlet for me. It's just like an artist with a paint brush; you can see the expression, but with me, you can hear it."

RPA teams test hunting skills over Nevada range

432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing

7/4/2013 - LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Remotely Piloted Aircraft pilots, sensor operators and intelligence Airmen worked together to fly simulated missions over the Nevada Test and Training Range testing their skills with live bomb drops.

The 432nd Wing hosted the second RPA weapons competition June 23-28. The 432nd Wing Hunt, formerly known as Gun Smoke, consisted of 18 teams from 14 squadrons - 10 MQ-9 Reaper teams and the rest with the MQ-1 Predator. Each team was comprised of a pilot, sensor operator, and intelligence Airman, who worked together to formulate a mission plan, evaluate threats, and develop a strategy to execute the mission effectively.

"It was a total force integration effort with local, geographically separated units and Air Force Reserve units," said Capt. Marcus from the 432nd Operations Support Squadron. "Due to the fiscal constraints, we limited the competition to only aircrews that could do Remote Split Operations from the local area, saving thousands of dollars."

This type of training and friendly competition affords the teams and each individual a scenario they could encounter down range.

"Training on the Nellis Test and Training Range allows RPA crews who typically fly in Afghanistan to practice against different threats and mission sets," Marcus said. "The 432nd Wing Hunt prepares crews for this fight, as well as the next one."

To further the realism and intense competition live GBU-12s, a 500lb laser-guided bomb, were dropped by the MQ-9 in the southern ranges.

"For most of these crews, it was the first time they dropped a live GBU-12," Marcus said. "It's important to give the crews an opportunity to test their skills, and practice tactics before having to go into the next combat environment."

The 432nd Wing Hunt also provides an opportunity for the RPA members to build camaraderie while challenging the squadrons in a realistic and tactical environment.

"Oftentimes, the RPA community fights to train, whereas most military units train to fight," Marcus said. "This competition promotes esprit de corps with a challenging scenario meant to test crew's knowledge, mission planning, and execution to be the best."

Face of Defense: Pilot Fights Cancer, Returns to Duty

By Bekah Clark 12th Flying Training Wing JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, July 3, 2013 – More than a year ago, Air Force Col. David Drichta was a happy man. Air Force Col. David Drichta returns from his first flight after his battle with cancer at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, on June 19, 2013. Drichta, the 12th Operations Group deputy commander, was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in February 2012, and after more than a year in recovery was medically cleared to return to flight status. The flight marked his return to flight status as well as his 3,000th flight hour in Air Force aircraft. Courtesy photo by Stacy Nyikos   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Then a lieutenant colonel, he served in a prestigious assignment as the commander of the 435th Fighter Training Squadron here, and looked forward to an even brighter future.   "I was on top of my game and top of the world," Drichta said. "I was flying a great mission with great officers." But one thing wasn't quite right: Drichta often felt tired. "Now, all squadron commanders -- by their second year -- are tired," Drichta said. "They either will or won't admit it, but they're getting tired." Because his daughters recently had strep throat, Drichta assumed he may have caught the infection as well. When medication didn't help, Drichta's doctor referred him to consult with an ear, nose and throat specialist. Drichta, however, didn't make it to the appointment. Three days later, he started coughing blood. "I went to the ER [and] they said, 'We have a serious problem here,'" he recalled. Drichta was told his airway was constricted down to less than the size of a soda straw. A tracheostomy tube -- creating an opening through the neck into the trachea -- and a biopsy confirmed the medical staff's suspicion: Drichta showed a stage IV cancerous tumor. After the diagnosis, Drichta said, he initially couldn't believe what happening to him. Then came feelings of fear. "You try not to let your mind go there, but you find yourself thinking, 'I have to tell my family I love them and that I will always love then -- even if I'm not here,'" said Drichta, who said he hesitated to even ask for survival rates for his type of cancer. His surgeon, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Cecelia Schmalbach, sensed his concern, Drichta said. "She told me, 'I could tell you the percentage of patients who live through this -- but, really, when it comes down to it ... It's either 100 percent or it's zero percent for you,'" Drichta recalled. "[Then she said,] 'You're either going to live or you're going to die. So let's focus on the 100 percent.'" This set the tone for his fight, said Drichta, who soon had to give up his command position and Air War College assignment to battle his cancer. Due to the location of his tumor, doctors could not operate without permanently damaging Drichta's ability to speak and swallow. Instead, Drichta had to undergo an aggressive course of chemotherapy and concurrent daily radiation exposure to fight the tumor's progress. "They said it was going to be hell," Drichta said. "And it was. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy ... but that was the means to the end. I needed to be a father and a husband, so we hit it with everything the doctors had, hoping for the best." The daily doses of radiation soon gave Drichta second-degree burns inside and outside his throat and mouth. His skin and gums began bleeding and falling away. Unable to swallow, he relied on a stomach feeding tube for three months. But his doctors warned him that it would get worse before he could hope for improvement. "There were points where I was so drained I literally would lay in bed and think, 'I don't know if I can move my legs and arms right now,'" Drichta said. "I'd go to take a shower and that would be all I could do for the entire day -- the entire day." After additional hospitalization for complications of the treatment, Drichta began a slow ascent to recovery. Then, after months of treatment, doctors approached Drichta with great news: the tumor had disappeared and his lymph nodes were also visibly free of cancerous growth. Although the news was good, Drichta's lymph nodes were enlarged and required another surgery to check for cancer spread. "Scarring from radiation and previous cancerous lymph nodes had wrapped around my jugular vein and the nerve bundle that controls my left arm," Drichta said. "If [the surgeon] had missed at all, I may not have been able to use that arm [anymore]." Drichta, however, emerged from the surgery with full movement of his arm and negative cancer pathology. Later in the same month, he received his promotion to colonel. Looking back on his care, Drichta said the support he received from his Air Force family was invaluable. "We talk a lot about being good wingmen ... but I saw it in action," Drichta said. "From the wing commander, vice commander and operations group commander in my room ... telling me everything was going to be OK and they'd take it from here, to [my brothers] in squadrons far and wide sending emails. "Everybody was taking care my wife, my kids and me because I couldn't," he continued. "The wingman concept -- caring for your fellow human being -- is a part of who we are. This is what we do." More than a year after his diagnosis, Drichta's return to flight status remained in question. Once again, doctors went to work and began to evaluate his health -- and finally recommended his return to flight status under the condition he passed certain tests. "I went to the centrifuge and was medially monitored," Drichta said. "We did the standard T-38 [Talon] profile: up to seven-and-a-half Gs. We did everything just like anyone going through that profile. And my body worked great." Surrounded by family and friends, Drichta marked his return to flight status June 19, with his first T-38 flight since his diagnosis. "This flight was 484 days after my last flight, my 3,000th hour of flight time in an Air Force aircraft and a flight that cancer tried to steal away from me last spring," Drichta said. As for the future, Drichta looks forward to an upcoming Air War College class, beginning this summer. "I don't know where I'll end up the next couple of assignments, but I absolutely have a story to share and a duty to use the perspective I've gained to help others around me," the colonel said. "My resilience is a direct result of so many individuals carrying me through. They are phenomenal wingmen and flight leads in every sense."

Ceremony honors North Carolina Guard members killed in firefighting air crash

by Maj. Anthony Deiss
South Dakota National Guard

7/2/2013 - EDGEMONT, S.D. -- A memorial ceremony was held Monday to dedicate an interpretive site that honors the airmen of the North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 aircraft that crashed one year ago Monday while fighting the White Draw Fire near Edgemont.

Four members of the six-person Modular Airborne Firefighting System 7 (MAFFS-7) aircrew died when strong winds out of a thunderstorm caused their air tanker to impact the ground on a ridge top northeast of Edgemont.

"We are honoring these six North Carolina Guardsmen for their heroism and we are dedicating this site so that people will remember them forever," said South Dakota Lt. Gov. Matt Michels during the ceremony. "It is impossible for any words to pass my lips that can express our incredible gratitude for the sacrifices that these men have made...but they will always be remembered by this memorial."

The MAFFS-7 C-130 aircraft that crashed was from the NCANG's145th Airlift Wing based at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Killed were Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal, 42, of Mooresville; Maj. Joseph McCormick, 36, of Belmont; Maj. Ryan David, 35, of Boone; and Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cannon, 50, of Charlotte. Two survived but were seriously injured -- Chief Master Sgt. Andy Huneycutt of Lancaster and Sgt. Josh Marlowe of Shelby.

More than 100 family members, friends and colleagues were present for the ceremony and to see the unveiling of the interpretive signs. Located approximately seven miles north of Edgemont along Hwy 18, the interpretive site overlooks the ridge where the aircraft crashed while dropping fire retardant on the White Draw Fire.

"None of them took off that day to become heroes, in fact they would all tell us assuredly if they were here that they were simply answering a call to duty," said Maj. Gen. Gregory Lusk, adjutant general of the N.C. National Guard. "They were simply doing the job they all love to do. As we pay tribute to the crew - by commemorating on the anniversary this site - we acknowledge that they join a very long line of Minutemen who have for over 376 years done exactly what they did; just answer the call of the neighbor in need, service to the community and service to our nation."

"I recall that first approach by a large air tanker, the roar of the props and turbines above the treetops...time and again, I witnessed how well it helped ground firefighters," Black Hills National Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien said of the MAFFS-7 aircrew. "Our purpose today probes deeper. We are peering into the tiny windows and inside the aircraft at the humans and focusing on the crew of MAFFS-7 - protecting our freedom and protecting us from peril. They served with honor and we are here to honor them."

The construction of the interpretive site and signs were a collaborative effort between the South Dakota National Guard and Black Hills National Forest officials. The interpretive site includes a parking area and signs that tell the story of the fire and the fatal accident.

"The unveiling of this marker here today will assure that these heroes will indeed live forever," said Maj. Gen. Lusk. "To the families of these brave men, just know that we will always remember and acknowledge your sacrifices and your service, every step of the way. I hope from your perspective this dedication is indeed the legacies of your husbands, and that it is fair to say that the citizens of North Carolina and the citizens of South Dakota will forever share a kindred bond."

Dyess sets world record aircraft formation at JOAX

by Airman 1st Class Damon Kasberg
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

7/2/2013 - POPE FIELD, N.C. -- Members from Team Dyess flew to Pope Field, N. C., June 19, 2013, in support of Joint Operational Access Exercise 13-03.

JOAX is a 12-day combined military training exercise designed to prepare Airmen and Soldiers to respond to worldwide crises and contingencies.

"This was the largest JOAX since September 2011," said Major Josh Leibel, 317th AG. "Servicemembers from all across the Air Force and Army came together to make the exercise possible."

Dyess supported JOAX with 20 C-130Js and 87 aircrew members, which delivered Soldiers and equipment to multiple drop zones.

"During the exercise the 317th AG set a world record for the largest C-130J formation," Leibel said. "Just as impressive as the 20-ship formation, our aircrew delivered 2,426 paratroopers and more than 140 tons of equipment to support the Army's training."

Not only did Dyess support the exercise with aircrew and aircraft, servicemembers on the ground worked nonstop to ensure operations went smoothly.

"I'm very proud of everything these guys did," said Senior Master Sgt. Rodney Jones, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "They worked hard every day and every night to get the aircraft ready to go. I look forward to deploying with them."

"Once the engines started cranking up I got goose bumps," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Martin, 317th AMXS. "It was such a good feeling seeing the largest C-130J formation fly out knowing we all did this. It made all the hard work we put in worth it."

Exercises such as JOAX give Dyess servicemembers the unique opportunity to train as a team with other military branches.

"This training is very important," said Senior Airman Jamie Richardson-Granger, 317th AG loadmaster. "I've learned a lot since I've been out here. We actually get to see more of the real-world equipment we would drop operationally, things that aren't normally available to us at home station."

It's good to come out here and see how the Army and Air Force coordinate," he added. "Both branches worked together to ensure training requirements were met."

While JOAX plays a vital role in keeping U.S. military members trained and proficient, it's increasingly difficult to financially support these exercises under sequestration. However, Team Dyess was able to work through these constraints.

"About this time last year Dyess 317th was tasked as the lead unit for JOAX 13-03," Leibel said. "A few months ago it became apparent that under current government financial limitations that reaching the objective for both the Air Force and Army would require some creative options and divergence from the normal way of executing operations and exercises especially of this size.

"Through collaberation with the Army, our fiscal saving measures resulted in the exercise bed down cost of about $65,000 which is a 76.6 percent reduction and savings of around $215,000," he added.

Air Force brat breathes life, experiences into comic book heroine

by Master Sgt. Brannen Parrish
931 Air Refueling Group Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Like Moirai or "Fates" of Greek mythology, comic book writers have near autonomy over the lives of the characters inhabiting their universe. Subject only to the managing editor who, like Zeus, can affect the direction of the hero's narrative, the writer leads characters from one interaction to another, battling enemies or assisting friends.

Kelly Sue DeConnick grew up on Air Force bases around the world and draws on those experiences to weave the fabric of the Air Force's most famous super hero - Carol Danvers - the new Captain Marvel.

"Kelly has always struck me as proud of her Air Force childhood, so maybe she's a little more comfortable with characters of that nature," said Robert DeConnick, Kelly's father, a retired master sergeant who served as a Russian linguist during his 20-year Air Force career.

The magazine rack at in the Stars and Stripes bookstore on Hahn Air Base in Germany seemed "ginormous" to the little girl who found joy in the stories. The base is closed, but memories of it linger.

"I remember very well comics and Hahn AFB in Germany specifically being closely linked," said Kelly Sue. "They had a tremendous comic section. Maybe this is my 'child's memory but it was huge! There were comics on one side and magazines on the other. That was how I spent my allowance."

As with any hobby, community can play a major role in a child's level of interest. Kelly Sue said a great deal of her exposure to comics began with family friends stationed at Hahn AB. One of the families had a large comic book collection.

"I would go to their house after school, and they had tons of comics," said Kelly Sue. "They had a girl my age named Missy, and her two older brothers were into comics. Missy and I were like 'anything you can do, we can do too.' So, we read comics with them. I remember one of the brothers had the DC horror anthologies. They scared me to death, but I loved them. They were a fun family. "

For 45 cents, Kelly Sue could engross herself in the adventures of super heroes and super heroines. Her mother encouraged her to become a fan of the genre.

"It was the 70s; there was a feminist movement. I think my mom had the notion that 'Wonder Woman' was a feminist to me," said Kelly Sue. "If I did my chores, she would dole out Wonder Woman comics as a reward."

Today, Kelly Sue authors the "Captain Marvel" and "Avengers Assemble" series for Marvel Comics.

She didn't start out with the goal of writing Captain Marvel. When she approached Marvel Comics managing editor, Stephen Wacker, about writing the character, Carol Danvers' alter ego, Danvers was still using the alias "Ms. Marvel."

"When I pitched the book, I pitched 'Ms Marvel,'" said Kelly Sue. "When I got the phone call from Stephen Wacker, he messed with me. He said 'So, you're not going to be writing Ms. Marvel ... because you're writing Captain Marvel.'"

According to comic book canon, Captain Marvel was a Kree superhero named Mar-Vell who died in 1982. The Kree are an alien species in the Marvel Universe. While working with Mar-Vell, an explosion fused Mar-Vell's Kree genes with Danvers' genes. When Danvers realized the experience left her with super powers, she took the alias "Ms. Marvel."

For all of Mar-Vell's superpowers and resistance to external trauma, his own cells plotted a traitorous and suicidal course against him, refusing to fall in line with his body's natural defenses. Ultimately, the cellular traitors killed Mar-Vell and themselves.

"The character Mar-Vell died many years ago, but he didn't die from some horrible villain. Mar-Vell died of cancer, and it was beautiful and sad and had some meaning," said Kelly Sue. "There have been other people who had the title but Carol got her powers from Mar-Vell. So, it made sense in the world for her to take this mantle."

A post-mortem Mar-Vell appeared in various storylines and comics, even returning from the land of the dead, but Wacker felt it was Danvers' turn to take the Captain Marvel title. A new alias would not be the only change.

Since 1981, Ms. Marvel had been associated with a costume designed by Dave Cockrum, the son of an Air Force lieutenant colonel.

Cockrum designed Ms. Marvel's outfit as a one-piece bathing suit. While alluring, it provided Ms. Marvel with minimal posterior coverage. Wacker told Kelly Sue he wanted a design he could feel comfortable having his daughter wear. After reviewing submissions, they selected a design by Jamie McKelvie, which comprised at least twice as much fabric of the old.

"The comment about my daughter, and really anyone's daughter, had mostly to do with the costume. While I think Dave Cockrum's Ms. Marvel design is elegant, like all his designs, I also think that it is of its time and has held the character back, at least slightly, in a world now where women and girls make up more and more of our reading audience. I wanted a Marvel costume that a little girl could proudly wear on Halloween and thanks to the great design of Jamie McKelvie, we got it!"

From Kelly Sue's perspective, the Ms. Marvel outfit needed to be revamped. It needed to be something that fit her personality, and she didn't see an Air Force officer going to work in that old outfit.

"She wouldn't call it a costume, she would call it a uniform," said Kelly Sue. "If you look at the new outfit, it's sort of like a flight suit."

According to the Marvel storyline, Carol Danvers joined the Air Force after high school. Though she worked hard and earned better grades than her brothers earn, her father didn't support the idea of women's education. Carol enlisted in the Air Force and performed so well that she was eventually recruited by the intelligence community for service as a special operations intelligence officer.

She worked as a spy in clandestine operations before NASA recognized her potential and recruited her to serve as head of security for NASA.

Danvers retired at the rank of colonel and eventually left NASA to pursue work in the private sector. She has worked in numerous fields from journalism to aviation and held many aliases, including "Binary," "War Bird," "Ms. Marvel" and now, "Captain Marvel."

Kelly Sue said she considers Danvers' Air Force service to be an important part of her personality, and she likes to intertwine references to that service. In one storyline, Danvers wears an Air Force T-shirt. In a conversation with Captain America, she informs the soldier that she outranks him.

"I think it's a big part of her personality. I can always tell when military people come up to my table at a convention because there is that, 'yes ma'am, no ma'am'," said Kelly Sue. "When you are active military, it's a big part of your personality. She's not active military anymore but she was for so many years that I don't think it stops. I'm 42 now; my dad retired when I was 20 and he still carries himself like he's in the service."

Danvers has battled external and internal villains. The character has not been immune to human frailties. She has struggled with an alcohol addiction, and Kelly Sue described her as, "an adrenaline junkie" who sometimes misuses her superpowers in order to get thrills.

"She likes to fly as high as she can until she passes out and then lets herself fall and gets boosted by the friction energy that she absorbs but that's kind of a jacked up thing to do," said Kelly Sue. "That's a different kind of chemical high."

According to Staff Sgt. Dylan Bolander, a broadcaster with 3rd Combat Camera Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio, and a fan of the series, Danvers' shortcomings only endears the character to readers. For him, she represents a hero whose humanity shows through, and someone Airmen can learn from.

"As far as literary characters go, she's a great representation for the Air Force," said Bolander. "She's presented as a strong female, but she has flaws. If I were an 18-year-old who was learning what the Air Force is all about, I'd have a role model in Carol Danvers."

The transitional life of a military child is not easy. According to the US Census Bureau, the average American will move about 2.5 times by the age of 18. The average military child will move more than 2.5 times before completing the sixth grade. Writing about the life of a retired Airman, even a fictional character, is both a reward and responsibility for Kelly Sue.

Just as the comic book genre helped Kelly Sue cope with the mobile lifestyle and transitions, she now has a responsibility to readers with similar backgrounds.

Polly Ann Bauer, Kelly Sue's mother, said reading comics was one way her daughter managed the transitions.

"Moving schools frequently is the way of life as a military family. It's not always easy to uproot to a new home and a new school," said Bauer. "I think Kelly's love of comics and her joy of reading eased some difficult situations. Regardless, Kelly Sue was extremely proud of her father and his commitment to the Air Force. Her choice of Carol Danvers, an independent, strong female and retired colonel, seems perfectly natural and it seems natural that Kelly would unleash Carol as 'Earth's Mightiest Hero'!"

Though Kelly Sue's experiences as an Air Force 'brat' allows her to bring a unique and relevant dimension to her story telling, Wacker did not take that into considerations when he selected her to write the Captain Marvel saga.

"I didn't know about it when I hired Kelly Sue, but I think it comes through on every page. As an editor you depend on the writers making a personal connection to the characters, and I sure got lucky in this case," said Wacker.

Currently, Kelly Sue is the writer most closely associated with Carol Danvers and Captain Marvel, but she recognizes that her role as a weaver of the story is not permanent as it is with the Fates.

Kelly Sue brings her perspective - a perspective shaped by an early life of transitions and all of her experiences since - experiences very similar to, and very different from that of every military child.

"We have to remember that none of us owns any of these characters. These characters don't belong to us. Someone wrote them before us, and someone will write them after us. They belong to Marvel Comics," said Kelly Sue. "Marvel Comics is the longest-running continuous narrative in human history. It is 70 years of story, which is pretty amazing. It is a distinct honor to be a part of that, but you also have to remember that you are pretty tiny part of it."

Recent Academy grad now DOD's top women's triathlete

by Senior Airman Mariah Tolbert
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFNS) -- Her heart beats faster and faster and beads of sweat drip down her face, as she sprints toward the finish line just seconds ahead of several other competitors.

2nd Lt. Samantha Morrison, a recent graduate of the Air Force Academy, grew up the oldest of seven children that were all devoted and competitive swimmers and is now an avid competitor in triathlons, representing the Air Force.

Morrison competed and won the Armed Forces National Championships in her first race as an active duty Air Force officer. She finished this race, which involved a 1k swim, 40k bike and 10k run in 2:07.39, making her the fastest woman triathlete in the Department of Defense and the third fastest woman triathlete in the world.

"My siblings and I spent over 20 hours per week training with our local club swim team," Morrison said. "My parents pushed us to be our best, stay fit and get into the habit of an active lifestyle. I hated my dad every Saturday morning at 5 a.m. when he would wake me up to go to practice, but I thank him for it now."

At the age of 15, Morrison saw an ad in the newspaper for a half marathon and was determined to give it a try.

"I told my dad I was going to try it; he told me there was no way that I could finish a crazy race like that, so I was motivated to prove him wrong," she explained.

According to her resume, Morrison is in her seventh year of competing in triathlons. She was recruited to run Division I cross country and track at the Academy. After only one season, she decided that triathlon racing was her true passion.

With the support of her friends and family, she continues to thrive as a competitor and an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

"It is hard for me to balance my family and friends with my training schedule," Morrison said. "I end up spending all of my 'friend' time working out with them, then we are too exhausted to do other fun things. My family has started to get into the sport, so my dad will bike with me and my sisters run alongside as well. This helps with being able to balance both."

A 10k run, 40k bike and a 1k swim, seems like an exhausting task, add competing and fighting for a top 3 position among hundreds of other participants to that task and it seems rather daunting, however, Morrison trains for nearly 25 hours a week in order to triumph in these triathlons.

She said that her typical workout routine involves swimming for about an hour in the morning, then a two-hour run or bike. She also incorporates crossfit and weight training in order to avoid injury and stay strong, but getting into this routine wasn't the easiest thing to do.

"I think that starting the routine is the hardest part, but once you suck it up for a week or two, you'll feel like you are missing a part of your life if you miss a workout," she said. "Just give the active lifestyle a 7-day shot, and you'll get addicted, in a good way."

Morrison is slated to arrive at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, in August of 2013. While on station, Morrison will be part of the public affairs team and live the motto of "4th but First" by being the fastest person within the DoD.

In October, she will race in the Ironman World Championships for the second time. However, this year she competes representing the entire Air Force, as their chosen women's representative.

"I hope that [competing in triathlons] helps me in my public affairs career by showing people that I am dedicated to whatever I do in life," Morrison said. "I want to make the Air Force a career, but by competing in triathlons on the side I hope it helps me stay active and busy. When I am busy it makes me do a better job at everything in life."

First KC-46 build begins

by Daryl Mayer
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

7/1/2013 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Boeing's announcement this past week that they have begun assembly of the first KC-46 wing spar is a significant event for the Air Force tanker program. It marks the start of assembly of the first KC-46 Engineering and Manufacturing Development aircraft.

"We are excited and pleased that KC-46 fabrication has begun. The Boeing team continues to make significant progress in the development of the Air Force's next tanker," said Maj. Gen. John Thompson, Program Executive Officer for Tankers at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. "The development effort is on track, detailed test planning is making good progress, and initial beddown, training and sustainment planning is underway."

The Air Force is about a third of the way into the KC-46 tanker development program. The Air Force contracted with Boeing in February 2011 to acquire 179 KC-46 Tankers to begin recapitalizing the more than 50-year-old KC-135 fleet. The initial delivery target is for 18 tankers by 2017. Production will then ramp up to deliver all 179 tankers by 2028.

The aircraft being produced at the Boeing factory in Everett, Wash., is a commercial derivative design based on the Boeing 767-200ER passenger aircraft. When the aircraft comes off the Everett production line, it will be a 767-2C Provisioned Freighter that will eventually become a military-configured KC-46 tanker.

The first fully equipped KC-46 is slated to fly in early 2015.

Air Force, Army team takes ENT medicine to 'New Horizons'

by Tech. Sgt. Tony Tolley
1st Combat Camera Squadron

6/28/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO- LACKLAND, Texas -- BELMOPAN, Belize - U.S. military medical personnel partnered with medical staff from the Western Regional hospital here recently to conduct a medical readiness training exercise focused on providing health care for the people of Belmopan.

Called New Horizons, the 13-day medical exercise held April 17 through May 1, provided ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgical procedures and hearing aids to patients who were most in need and met the criteria for these services. ENT surgery is the surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, or deformations of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck areas. The purpose of this type of surgery is to treat abnormalities or defects to affected areas, according to members of the U.S. Army and Air Force medical team deployed to the region.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Quintin Hecht, an audiologist from the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center's 59th Surgical Specialty Squadron, Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, was enthusiastic about the opportunity to help the local community and learn from the Belizean staff.

"The hospital staff is very knowledgeable and we are able to learn and share ideas with them. This is definitely one of the most rewarding things I have done," said Hecht. "It's an unforgettable experience, to provide patient care to the Belize population. At the end of the day, you see how grateful the patients and staff are, you feel the sense of pride and accomplishment."

The U.S. medical team, consisting of two Army and nine Air Force personnel, had to make a few adjustments to their temporary working environment. Equipment and supplies were brought from their stateside units to turn the surgical area in Belize into a fully functioning operating room needed for the complex surgeries conducted.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Brent Feldt, an ENT resident from the San Antonio Military Medical Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, said he enjoyed the challenges it took to work in an environment outside of the United States.

"Being a surgeon in the Air Force, I have learned a ton about what it takes to work in austere conditions and working with a team of individuals from multiple bases that you have never worked with before," Feldt said. "Working with patients who don't speak the same language can present obstacles in this type of environment, but we learn to work around these problems."

Modern ENT surgery and procedures have a lasting effect and improve quality of life for beneficiaries, according to the deployed medical staff.

"What we are trying to accomplish here, is to bring the same standard of ENT care to Belize that we offer (our patients) in the United States," said U.S. Army Maj. Travis Pfannenstiel, an ENT physician and colleague of Feldt's at the SAMMC.

"An ideal surgical procedure for an international humanitarian mission is one that has high quality-of-life impact, like the restoration of form and function, with minimal follow-up care," said U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Boston, a WHASC surgical services consultant who helps coordinate humanitarian medical missions on behalf of the 59th Medical Wing at JBSA-Lackland.

ENT medical personnel screened 182 patients, conducted 10 operations and 82 audiology evaluations, and dispersed 44 hearing aids during the international mission to Belize.

New Horizons is a U.S. Southern Command-led joint humanitarian assistance exercise, which is conducted annually with partner nations.

"U.S. Southern Command conducts missions to different countries besides Belize - such as Panama, Peru, Honduras, and Ecuador - to perform similar services," said Boston.

The number of personnel on these missions varies in size, depending on what is needed for surgical procedures, he said. "These missions are usually 13 days long so the medical team brings along a two-week inventory to sustain surgeries without relying on the host nation for support.

"What is first and foremost on these international deployments is training in groups. We focus on working alongside local nurses and physicians to provide education and training, and direct patient care," said Boston. "We aim to provide a tangible humanitarian benefit to the host nation and its citizens." (Portions of this story compiled and written by Master Sgt. Arian Nead, 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs)

AMC recognizes Airman

by Nick DeCicco
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Ask Airman 1st Class Scott Krause, 60th Maintenance Squadron avionics flight member, to talk about himself and the response is a quiet one.

Lacking boast or ego, the Air Mobility Command-level recipient of Tuskegee Airmen Inc.'s Senior Master Sgt. Margaret Barbour Frances Award is speechless about his accomplishments.

"I never thought I'd be in this position," Krause said.

But surely he's thought about what it would be like to win an Air Force-wide award, right?

"It hasn't crossed my mind yet," he said. "It's up to the judges."

The award is presented to an Airman ranked E-1 through E-6 who exhibits outstanding performance in professional and community service.

For his part, 24-year-old Krause's helps with Vacation Bible School, booster clubs, dorm council and coaching youth sports.

While Krause shows modesty, his supervisor, Master Sgt. Ronald Richards, 60th Maintenance Squadron avionics flight chief, was eager to sing his praises for him.

"If I had a whole shop full of him, I'd be in heaven," Richards said. "He'll volunteer for stuff. He just goes and does it and he doesn't want people to know."

Krause said that's an attribute that was taught to him at an early age.

"My dad instilled integrity," he said.

Richards said his actions demonstrate that value.

"If he sees something wrong in the shop, he brings it to my attention," Richards said. "He tries to better the shop."

Education is important to Krause, too. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Carroll University, a private college based in his hometown of Waukesha, Wis. He's pursuing his master of business administration from Brandman University.

But as far as any attention or accolades, Krause does everything he can to deflect.

"In the grand scheme of things, I still haven't accomplished anything," Krause said. "It's not going to change who I am or who I see myself as. I'm not going to let it go to my head."

The award is named for Barbour, who served the Air Force for 27 years, including World War II. At the time of her retirement, she was one of the three top-ranking African-American enlisted women in her branch of the service, according to a 2010 obituary in the Newport News, Va., newspaper, The Daily Press. It is one of several annual awards the Tuskegee Airmen organization bestows.

Officials will announce the Air Force-level winners later this year. For more information, visit Tuskegeeairmen.org.

Through Airmen's eyes: Supporting the military through racing

by Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del.  -- On April 27, 2012, Chaplain (Col.) Steven West went to Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., to speak about ministry; he left with a plan to change the world.

The chaplain left his office at the 633rd Air Base Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., to meet with Dell Hamilton, a partner of Hamilton Means Racing LLC. Hamilton owns a team and car in NASCAR and helps provide faith-based initiatives at the races.

Hamilton and West shared a vision of linking America to verified organizations that provide needed support to active duty, guard, reserve, veterans and their families. Motivated by this goal, they cofounded the Support Military Foundation.

SMF helps charitable organizations maximize their abilities to assist the military.

"Our main purpose isn't to actually take care of a group," said West. "We are the ones overseeing to make sure the military members receive the assistance they need. This is led by military members to better serve the people."

West has seen all aspects of the military. He has been in the guard, the reserves and on active duty as both enlisted and officer. He enjoys educating business leaders about the military.

"I was able to reach out to businesses and help them understand the military and how SMF helps," said West.

Kathleen Frantz, Katy's Goodness proprietor, said SMF works with organizations to provide a gateway and validations to ensure that veteran support organizations are doing what they say.

"SMF becomes a go-to for people who want to learn more about providing help to the military and veteran communities with organizations that can be trusted," said Frantz.

SMF's main goals are to give Americans a place to find quality military support organizations, a method to get involved through social networks and a cause to rally around through the "Behind the Camo" awareness and involvement program.

"Our 'Behind the Camo' program is designed to be the 'Pink' (breast cancer awareness) of the military," said Hamilton. "In other words, if you wear our 'Camo' we want you to know it reflects your support of the military."

Hamilton said West has taught him more about the military in the last year than he has learned in his entire life. He is impressed by West's dedication to the SMF.

"My father and uncles were all in the Korean War," said Hamilton. "I have a deep love for the military and know they are why I have my freedom."

Frantz said the SMF is a continuation of West's life's work and service he has already provided.

"West is an educated, experienced pastor that has spent a large portion of his life dedicated to serving our country," said Frantz. "He also serves to inspire, support and make a difference to many of our troops in times of difficulty, strength and awareness."


Hamilton said he and West have a unique opportunity to use NASCAR to help get their message out to the public.

"I have been involved in NASCAR for eight years," said Hamilton. "NASCAR boasts some of the most patriotic fans you will ever find and that is why we chose to use NASCAR as our platform to promote our 'Behind the Camo' program."

319th Civil Engineer Squadron Improves Quality of Life While Sharpening Skills

by Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A portion of Building 408 is getting a facelift thanks to about 50 members of the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron.

The work was chosen for what is known as a Contingency Construction Home Station Training (CCHST) project, completed every 12 months to hone engineers' skills in their respective vocations, as well as improve quality of life for building occupants.

According to officials from the Headquarters Air Mobility Command Readiness and Emergency Management Division, AMC civil engineers should possess both construction and management skills to complete facility and infrastructure projects required of them in the deployed environment.

However, they are not always provided the opportunity to practice these skills at home station due to their focus on accomplishing small repair or recurring maintenance work.

Structural and power production engineers, electricians, Heating, Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Refrigeration specialists, and other specialties within the CE squadron come together to complete each project.

"It's important that our civil engineers get this experience here at home in between their routine repair and maintenance duties, because this is the kind of thing we do while deployed, and they've got to know what they're doing when they get there," said 2nd Lt. Chrystopher Nicholson, 319th CES.

Projects selected for a CCHST are usually small-scale renovation or construction projects that take between 500-1,000 hours to complete, and are usually finished by the end of June each year.

Civil engineers here chose the area in Building 408 because it was many years outdated, both cosmetically and functionally. There, they installed two new offices that didn't exist before, as well as two refurbished restrooms.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Powell, 319th CES electrician, said he very much enjoys the work he and his team are getting to do on the current project at Building 408.

"This is really more than just making this part of the building look nicer," he said. "This is about ensuring the building is code-compliant and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, and more energy efficient. The planning and purchasing aspect can be really involved and time-consuming, but when you take a step back and say to yourself, 'I built that'--that gives you a real sense of accomplishment."

Port Dawgs ship help

by Staff Sgt. Christopher Carranza
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 60th Aerial Port Squadron recently shipped more than 14,000 pounds of donated humanitarian relief supplies to Afghanistan as part of a Denton Program shipment.

The Denton Program's objective is to put the empty space on U.S. military transport to good use by providing humanitarian relief transportation for nongovernmental organizations or private citizens, at little or no cost to them.

The donor organizations for this shipment plan to have their goods distributed to the Afghan people in and around Kabul, Afghanistan.

Among the materials donated were clothing for people of all ages, fabrics, footwear, dishes, pots, pans, bowls, cups, bedding, toys and food.

"This is the second Denton shipment I have dealt with and it makes me feel great," said Tech. Sgt. Martin Moya, 60th APS NCO in charge of inbound logistics. "After doing some research on my own and finding out what this program is about, it fills me with great pride knowing these donations are from the American people."

"I really believe a shipment like this establishes faith and changes the perception of Americans from another country's point of view for the good," Moya said. "This reinforces the big picture and it convinces Airmen we are not just moving a box from A to B, but resources and help to those in need."

The Port Dawgs inspect and palletize the donated goods in a short amount of time in preparation for movement. Two of the Airmen palletizing this shipment were Senior Airman Jacob Peterson and Airman 1st Class Jacob Siluano, both 60th APS airfreight operators.

For Peterson, this was his fourth Denton shipment.

"It is important we get these goods out," Peterson said. "I feel very proud helping people and when these types of shipments come, I feel very grateful for the job we do."

This was Siluano's first Denton shipment.

"I feel great knowing that these goods are going to people who are in need, it's a great experience and feeling," Siluano said.

The shipment of goods weighed more than 14,000 pounds and had an approximate value of 16,000 dollars. The goods are shipped via space-available, meaning all mission- essential materials have first priority.

Grand Forks AFB youth takes 8th place in AF-wide literacy program

by Airman 1st Class Ashley Nicole Taylor
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A Grand Forks AFB youth has been named one of the top 25 readers in the Air Force.

Isabell Taylor, 6, daughter of Master Sgt. Jessica Taylor of the 319th Air Base Wing Legal Office, and Tech. Sgt. Ray Taylor of the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron, earned an 8th place finish in the "One Page at a Time Program."

The Air Force created the program to promote literacy to today's youth. The free program is for children in kindergarten through 8th grade and it runs from November to March each year.

Every book read is logged and turned in to the base library or youth center and prizes are given out with each title.

Isabell, one of more than 2,100 kids worldwide who participated this year, read a total of 199 books, earning her a Kindle Fire and a $10 Amazon gift card.

"We're so proud of her," said Isabell's mother. "At night I would read with her, but she loves reading anyway, so it was easy."

Isabell said her new Kindle Fire makes reading easy and convenient.

"I like reading because it makes me a lot smarter," said Isabell. "My favorite book is "Cat in the Hat," by Dr. Seuss because I like that it rhymes and my favorite animal is a cat."

Youth Center staff members said they would like to see this program expand in the years to come.

"The One Page at a Time Program is a great program with guaranteed prizes for participation," said Stephanie Pfeiff, school age program clerk. "I would love to see greater enrollment in the following years. The kids on base are reading for school already, so all they have to do is turn in logs of what they are reading."

Face of Defense: Corpsman Imparts Battle-tested Techniques

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Shaltiel Dominguez
1st Marine Logistics Group

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., July 2, 2013 – The medical tent erupted with noise as patients flooded in during a mass casualty exercise. Amid the chaos, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ali N. Adams, an administrative clerk with the Advisory Training Group, 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, calmly observed and advised corpsmen as they did their work.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ali N. Adams uses the experience he gained as a member of a shock-trauma platoon in Afghanistan to teach life-saving techniques to less-experienced sailors. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shaltiel Dominguez   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Adams, a St. Louis native, is part of a select group of corpsmen who have deployment experience and are considered the best in their field. Their mission is to teach real-world techniques to less-experienced sailors.

“The Advisory Training Group staff are proven sailors and Marines that have been battle tested,” said Navy Lt. Paul B. Dalangpan, company commander for Bravo Surgical Company, 1st Medical Battalion. “They are staff specialists who are certified in what they do.”

Adams’ personality is a perfect fit for the ATG, which demands leadership and teaching skills from its staff.

“I love to teach,” Adams said. “It’s really fulfilling when you see somebody learn and apply what you taught them.”

Despite the prestige that comes with being an ATG member, Adams is humble and gives credit to those around him, such as his mother, who fostered his passion for teaching.

As a young adult, Adams said, he found an avenue for his skills.

“I used to coach a basketball team in my early 20s,” he said. “Seeing that process of a young mind not knowing something and then becoming a master at whatever they’re doing is very fulfilling.”

Perhaps the main reason for Adams’ success as a teacher is because he was also a good student during his deployment. Adams attributes his technical proficiency to his mentors, Navy Chief Petty Officer Ralph Solon and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Levya, during his time as a shock-trauma platoon member in Afghanistan.

Adams learned fast, and his success in the field led to his meritorious promotion from seaman to petty officer 3rd class. Now, as an experienced 28-year-old corpsman, Adams takes pride in passing on knowledge to new sailors.

“For Marines to know that [corpsmen are] there really helps their confidence and morale,” he said. “They know that if something happens to them in the battle space, they can and will survive.”

Whether he is teaching new sailors as a member of the ATG or learning new techniques, Adams said, he understands the value of being a corpsman and strives toward excellence.

Senior leaders remember fallen heroes on America's birthday

7/2/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody send the following Independence Day message to the men and women of the U.S. Air Force:

Happy Birthday, America! For 237 years, our Nation has been built on the bedrock of freedom and democracy that our Founding Fathers established when they signed the Declaration of Independence. We draw on the courage of those patriots and take inspiration from the countless acts of heroism that followed as America's sons and daughters fought to protect our free and independent Nation.

On this Fourth of July, as Americans around the world gather to celebrate with families and loved ones, let us remember our service members who have fallen in battle. These brave heroes paid the ultimate price to make freedom possible. We must also never forget the families who have lost fathers, mothers, sons or daughters-they are part of our extended family. Remember them this Independence Day, as well as those who stand guard while we celebrate our Nation's birthday.

The American people look to our men and women in uniform as symbols of the strength and commitment of this great Nation. As Airmen, we live up to a high standard and we are grateful for all you do to defend our precious freedoms each and every day. We are proud of you, and we wish you and your families a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Iron Airman challenge promotes fitness resiliency

by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

6/28/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- All Airmen must maintain fitness standards as a mission readiness requirement. However, fitness can also be used as a great motivator for people to achieve higher levels of resiliency.

The Iron Airman challenge, which consists of timed push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and a distance run, is a new program being run by the 2nd Bomb Wing to accomplish just that.

"The job we do is more demanding now than ever, and the importance of personal resiliency has increased proportionately," said Col. Andrew Gebara, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. "Physical fitness is a significant part of a person's overall feeling of well-being, and having goals is a huge part of physical fitness. For Airmen who have mastered the Air Force physical fitness test, the Iron Airman Challenge is a significantly higher goal to which those with a competitive spirit can aspire."

Iron Airman, which began in 2012 as an initiative by the 11th Bomb Squadron's commander, Lt. Col. William Wharton, was partially derived from a melding of the various services most challenging PT standards. For example, the max push-ups for males was derived from the Navy and the Air Force Academy tests, while the two-mile run was a combination of the Air Force and Army run tests. Using this model, Wharton felt he could encourage Airmen to achieve much higher than the USAF PT test requirements.

"I set out to challenge and inspire a few folks with the program and have found myself inspired by their efforts instead," said Lt. Col. Wharton. "I believe physical fitness is merely an outward representation of the deeper traits of resiliency, determination, endurance, and grit."

To become an Iron Airman, one must complete four events, each worth 100 points, in less than 30 minutes, and score a minimum of 360 points.

A perfect 400, for example, would require a male under 30 to complete 21 pull-ups, 91 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and a two-mile run in 12 minutes and 16 seconds or less.

Capt. William Graff, 2nd Bomb Wing, recently became the first to complete the test with a perfect score.

"It's like a supercharged PT test," Graff said. "It pushes you to the max, which I wanted after I broke my arm in January. I wanted a rehab goal, and Iron Airman was the perfect fit."

The challenge is not just for aviators.

"Every Airman is eligible to do this," said Carroll, who was the first to become an Iron Airman. "However, the kind of person that's going to succeed is one who has already excelled on the PT test. If you train for Iron Airman, you will also be training to excel on the PT test."

Those who complete the Iron Airman challenge receive recognition from the 2nd Bomb Wing commander, see their name on an Iron Airman Achievement Board, and receive a trophy.

607th ACS Air Control Squadron joins AETC

by Senior Airman DAVID OWSIANKA
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

6/28/2013 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE -- The 607th Air Control Squadron at Luke Air Force Base realigned from Air Combat Command and joined Air Education and Training Command as of Monday.

The squadron moved to AETC because the Air Force needed a unit to manage the undergraduates weapons director training course.

"It's great to be able to keep the training here at Luke where we have outstanding fighter jet training to work with to complete our mission as air combat controllers," said Lt. Col. Sean Slaughter, 607th ACS commander.

The 607th took responsibility for executing undergraduate weapons director training in January. The Arizona Air National Guard's 107th ACS, which will inactivate October 1, had previously been responsible for that mission.

"Despite a host of complex challenges, the transition has been a real success story," Slaughter said. "Active-duty and Air National Guard maintainers and instructors from the 107th, 607th, and 56th Training Squadron have worked as one highly effective team to make this a seamless transition for the weapons director pipeline."

"Having the instructors in one squadron allows for everyone to be on the same page for training," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Gibson, 607th ACS initial qualification training informal training NCO in charge. "The undergraduate course being part of the 607th has allowed for more instructors to teach the class."

The squadron's mission is to train control and recording center professionals. With the new missions, they teach six courses; five initial qualification training, from the old curriculum, and one undergraduate course received from the 107th ACS's curriculum.

The five IQT courses are the weapons director IQT, air weapons officer, interface control technicians, surveillance technicians and electronic protection technicians.

Weapons directors go through the undergraduate course. The course is for enlisted weapons controllers who control combat and support the aircraft in the battle space.

Even though the 607th ACS is changing commands, the mission will stay the same.

"The expertise and support from AETC and ACC have helped ensure that our courses will remain relevant, our instruction remains effective and we will continue to produce the world's greatest air control professionals," Slaughter said.

July Marks 40th Anniversary of All-volunteer Army

By Alex Dixon
Army News Service

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2013 – When newly elected President Richard M. Nixon directed the Department of Defense to create an all-volunteer force, Army leaders knew there would be some hurdles.

Today’s Army enlists only those who voluntarily choose to enter into military service. That has not always been the case. In 1973, the U.S. military implemented the all-volunteer force that replaced the conscription system used previously. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Instead of drafting young men to fill the ranks, the Army and the other armed services would need to spend money to ramp up recruiting efforts and portray military service as an attractive career choice.

 

By July 1, 1973 -- now 40 years ago -- the draft had been eliminated. But the Army started working on developing the all-volunteer force well before that.

In April 1971, Project VOLAR, for "volunteer Army," was implemented at select Army posts across the country. The project was an experiment designed to increase retention rates and morale among soldiers and attract those who would want to serve.

Army Sgt. Maj. Ray Moran, now retired, was assigned to the 1st Recruiting Brigade under VOLAR in 1971, at Fort Meade, Md., and said VOLAR brought about changes to life at the post.

Comfortable furniture soon filled the open-bay barracks, which were divided into sleeping rooms. Beer, once prohibited, became a popular beverage. And grooming standards relaxed. But Army leaders soon realized some changes caused more problems than they solved, and new initiatives began that focused on instilling professionalism and building pride for the Army.

Moran said he thinks the all-volunteer force initiative has proven a success -- and he was proud to have been part of it.

"We built a volunteer Army that really proved itself in Desert Storm," Moran said in a 2011 interview. "They were just a marvelous bunch of soldiers, and they have done it right through to Iraq and Afghanistan today. We are very proud of the all-volunteer Army."

Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Seamands, director of military personnel management, Army G-1, has served in the Army for 32 years now. As he grew up on a military post, he saw how the services transitioned from the draft to the all-volunteer force.

Now 40 years after the transition, Seamands says he continues to see the Army improve as a result of the all-volunteer force.

"Everybody in the Army wants to be in the Army," Seamands said. "Everyone's volunteered to come in and be a part of something bigger than themselves."

Seamands says the all-volunteer force creates a longer term of service, allowing for more complex training and cohesion-building for units.

Under the draft system, draftees usually served for two years. Now, soldiers enlist to serve for up to five years.

Only 20 percent of Americans are qualified to be in the Army under standards of health, behavior and intelligence. Seamands said recruiting still remains a challenge.

"We are very selective because we know what's at stake," he said. "What's at stake is having a professional force that's capable of fighting and winning our nation's battles."

During and following the Vietnam War, public trust in the Army was at an all-time low, Seamands said. Significant numbers of draftees didn't want to serve and faced hostile environments when they returned home.

Seamands said the transition to the all-volunteer force changed the national dialogue about the Army.
"Americans have a lot to be proud of and one of them is the all-volunteer force," Seamands said. "It's unprecedented. And now, the American people realize the national treasure we have in our sons and daughters serving in uniform."

New York Guard Members Battle Mohawk Valley Flooding

National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va., July 3, 2013 – New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday deployed 250 National Guard members to aid residents and businesses impacted by recent heavy rains and severe flooding in the state’s Mohawk Valley region.

New York Army National Guard soldiers Staff Sgt. Gary Matt, from the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, and Staff Sgt. Joe Bolton, from the 206th Military Police Company, tow a surplus Humvee vehicle used by the village of Mohawk in New York as a rescue vehicle out of a garage where it was submerged in five feet of water. Photo by Bill Albrecht, New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Guard members along with 27 pieces of heavy equipment will work in flood-impacted areas to help with debris removal and security.

 

“The state is using every resource at its disposal to help New Yorkers impacted by these devastating floods,” said Cuomo, noting the state’s National Guard members will “provide immediate aid and assistance on the ground in those communities hardest hit.”

National Guard members deployed to the Mohawk Valley will assist residents, businesses and local first responders in various ways, officials said.

Guard members, including dozens of engineers, will help local personnel with debris removal and road repairs using heavy equipment including excavators, dump trucks and bulldozers.

Thirty five military police and Humvee vehicles will assist local police forces with security and presence patrols.

These New York National Guard members are stationed in the Southern Tier and Capital Region areas and have been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and also have helped New Yorkers impacted by past hurricanes and tropical storms including Irene, Lee and Superstorm Sandy.