From E.R. to Black Hawk helicopter, Air Force nurse 'returns' to Army

by Master Sgt. Leisa Grant
Air Force Central Command Public Affairs

7/9/2013 - FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN EAST, Afghanistan  -- Blood spurts from a gaping wound. Broken bones pierce through skin. Screaming, shock, chaos - some things never change for emergency medical personnel.

But, for Air Force Maj. Sandra Nestor, a critical care nurse deployed with the 2-149 General Aviation Support Battalion, a typical day is very different from the ER she works in at her homestation, Langley Air Force Base, Va. She can often be found scrambling more than 200 yards to an aircraft, rotary blades whipping up dust in every direction, battling language barriers with coalition forces and working with limited medical supplies.

As a member of a medical evacuation team, Nestor is called upon for missions along side the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews that launch on a moment's notice when U.S. and coalition forces become injured in the field.

"I'm an extra set of hands in the back of the aircraft," Nestor said.

An extra set of hands at times, maybe. But, she brings a whole new capability to the missions.

The Department of Defense did a study of patients who died in theater and found there was a percentage of casualties who had survivable injuries and would have had a higher chance of survival had critical care transport been available.

As a result of the studies, a request for forces was submitted to Central Command in 2009 for all services to support the En Route Critical Care mission, said Army Lt. Col. Kimberlie Biever, director of the En Route Critical Care mission under Task Force Medical Afghanistan.

"The Air Force sent their first critical care evacuation team into theater in 2011 to support this mission, which had solely been supported by Army nurses since 2010," Biever said.

Nestor's years of nursing experience make her a vital asset during these critical care transports in particular, especially when it comes to lifesaving measures involving patients' airways and bleeding during point-of-injury missions.

Nestor, a member of the fourth Air Force TCCT in theater, acknowledges the importance of her role, but remains grounded when working with her Army medical evacuation crews.

"The medic is always in charge in the back of the aircraft," she said. The medic is also an enlisted Soldier.

Everyone works as a team to ensure not only the safety of their patients, but of the crews as well. Working out of a moving "hospital" has its challenges, especially to a nurse who has worked in facilities for most of her career.

"It's a lot different," Nestor said when comparing her home station environment to her deployed environment. "You have an entire team of people. You have resources throughout the hospital. If you need lab support or someone to come down and take X-rays. In the back of the aircraft, it is just you and the medic and the crew chief."

The crews she works with are from Army National Guard units out of Oklahoma and Texas. For some services, working with another service while deployed can create an interesting dynamic. For Nestor, this isn't her first time with the Army. In fact, she has had about equal time with the Army as with the Air Force.

"I was in the Army Reserve, out of high school, as a licensed practical nurse," she said.

Nestor's medical training required her to be on active duty for 1.5 years and it was there where she started to make decisions that would ultimately land her the job of jumping on and off helicopters up to four times a day.

"I did well in school and my instructors encouraged me to get my bachelor in science of nursing degree," she said. "I didn't have any money for college, so they told me about a great Army scholarship program called the [Reserve Officers' Training Corps]."

She joined the Army ROTC program and upon graduation went directly on active duty in the Army Nurse Corps for 7.5 years, where she met her husband, who has since retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kiowa scout pilot.

"I had a great time with the Army," she said, but added that it was difficult for her and her husband to be stationed together. Nestor decided to leave military service to raise a family with her husband because she said she did not want to be a geographically separated family.

After a five year break in service, she developed a yearning to return to military nursing. And, it was her husband who suggested the Air Force.

With a strong Army medical background and some familiarity with aviation, Nestor likens her joint medical world to aviation - she just happens to be a part of both while deployed.

"Like aviation, we have to work as a team to take care of the patients," she said. "So, I work closely with everyone and learn from them, whether they are the doctors or the medics. We learn from each other."

Regardless of service, the medical corps really has a single mission.

"For most of us, we work together in our hospitals back in the U.S. and we work
together when we deploy," Biever said. "We are all health care professionals with the
mission of caring for injured and ill warriors. Because of this commonality, we come together well, figure out each others operational languages and focus on caring for patients and saving lives."

Defense Department to Review POW/MIA Command Operations

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2013 – The Defense Department has a sacred obligation to recover missing service members, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters today at a news conference.
An internal review conducted by the office charged with that mission -- the Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command -- has raised concerns within DOD, Little said.

The results of the internal review are now with the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy, which has oversight over the recovery mission. Recent news reports have described organizational problems within the command.

“Sometimes media reports raise attention in … a department of 3 million people,” Little said. “It certainly sometimes helps to have press stories shed light on issues that are out there.”

The office of the undersecretary of defense for policy will begin a review of JPAC operations and the issues described in the internal review soon, he said.

“It's the prudent thing to do, if concerns haven't been raised to the appropriate levels, to take a second look and to ensure that we're performing this very important mission to the best of our ability,” Little said.

“We're going to review the concerns raised in the report to see how JPAC is or isn't functioning well,” he said. “And if steps need to be taken to remedy what's happening inside JPAC, then we'll take action.”

Face of Defense: Security Airmen Deploy With K-9 Partners

By Air Force Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones
379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 9, 2013 – One of the most difficult aspects of deployment for service members is leaving behind friends and family. Security forces airmen in the Military Working Dog section here, however, have a unique opportunity when they deploy.

Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Hanus and his working dog partner, Beni, conduct a vehicle check at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, July 2, 2013. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"We get to deploy with our best friend," said Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Hanus, a 379th Expeditionary Security Forces dog handler, deployed with his K-9 companion, Beni, from Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

Hanus and Beni are one of 13 working dog teams here who support the 379th ESFS’s mission to maintain security and vigilance throughout the wing, and to ensure no threats enter the base by searching each vehicle prior to entry. The dogs also serve as a psychological deterrent and are trained to attack perpetrators on command.

"The job we do is instrumental in keeping the base secure," Hanus said. "A good relationship between a military dog and handler is critical to executing the mission."

Before a deployment, MWD teams are certified and validated by the mission support group commander at their respective home stations.

"We demonstrate our abilities to work together," Hanus said. "Beni showed proficiency in searching for explosive odors, and I showed competency in recognizing his change of behavior and making the final call if he is giving a positive response."

The certification is conducted by the kennel master and the team must demonstrate the canine is obedient and listens to critical commands given by the handler. If those tasks are not demonstrated, they do not certify and training continues.

The MWD teams must also have mutual trust for one another, Hanus said.

"We work our dogs on a 6- to 15-foot leash," he said. "If Beni detects a threat, we could potentially be within feet of an explosive device -- right on top of it. I have to be able to trust him to provide an accurate response and that has a lot to do with our relationship."

In addition to the patrol and search responsibilities, the duo trains every day to ensure Beni remains proficient in his duties, which is particularly important because he is new to the Air Force.

"This is not only Beni's first deployment, but I am also his first handler," Hanus said. "I have a very cool opportunity to help him learn and develop his skills."

That, in itself, strengthens their relationship, Hanus said.

"Everything I teach him now should stick with him for the rest of his career," he said. "I feel like I am setting him up for success."

The bond and mutual trust between Hanus, Beni and other K-9 teams here is what keeps the base secure, Hanus said.

"Every morning I wake up and know I am going to be working with my closest friend out here," Hanus said. "There is this awesome feeling of accomplishment you get working with a dog. These dogs are smart and the more time you spend with them, the more you begin to realize this. The appreciation we are given out here is tremendous, but the dogs are the ones putting in the real work."

This sense of a strong companionship is shared across the K-9 community.

"There is a saying in the K-9 world: feelings and emotions run down leash," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kent Bass, the unit’s kennel master. "If you have a good bond with your MWD they will be happy to work and be loyal to you."

Super senior airman saves lives

by Staff Sgt. Terri Paden
15th Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- Heroes are typically thought to be super human beings with extraordinary strength capable of leaping over tall buildings in a single bound, shooting fire out of their eyes and in some cases even flying; however, for two very fortunate women, their hero recently came in the form of a super senior airman deployed from the 15th Wing.

It was a typical day for Senior Airman Rainier Jeffrey as he rode to the Upolu Hospital in Samoa. As a medical technician deployed with the Navy out to sea in support of the humanitarian operation Pacific Partnership 13, it was Jeffrey's job to share medical knowledge with the auxiliary nurses at the village hospitals in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada, as well as provide medical assistance to the villagers. Acting in a dental technician capacity for this deployment, it was Jeffrey's job to in-process patients, check their vital signs and document pertinent medical information in their charts.

This particular day, the rain had deterred many of the locals from making the trek to the clinic so Jeffrey decided to busy himself training the local dental staff on proper patient care and documentation procedures.

He was eating his lunch when the day took an unexpected turn as he was summoned into the treatment room by one of the local auxiliary nurses to assist with an elderly patient in distress.

Her pulse was irregular, her breathing was shallow and her extremities were getting cold and clammy. Jeffrey sprang into action initiating manual chest compressions, instructing his counterpart on how to administer proper rescue breaths and inserting an intravenous fluids bag. The resuscitation was a success, and the patient became stable. With the absence of hot water to warm fluids, Jeffrey improvised by using an MRE heating packet to warm the IV, and covered the patient with blankets to keep her warm as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

Believing the hard part was over, Jeffrey went to update the patient's family on her condition.
Moments later, he was approached by one of the auxiliary nurses with more shocking news. A patient had gone into labor and, without her midwife present or the help of a physician, he would have to deliver the baby by himself. A few big pushes later and Jeffrey had successfully made it through his first delivery. The midwife arrived just in time to finish afterbirth care and, surprisingly enough, help deliver the woman's second baby. It turned out the patient was pregnant with twins! But nevertheless, Jeffrey's work was done. He'd managed to deliver the first baby and keep the patient stable until trained help arrived.

"I feel like any armed forces medic in my position would have done the same thing," he said reflecting back on the day. "Springing into action is what we are all trained to do in a tactical setting regardless of rank or specialty. I enjoy being a medic and I definitely got an opportunity to do something that day that truly made me proud to be an Air Force medical technician."

Jeffrey, who has been in the Air Force for three years, said though he realizes he probably helped save lives that day, he doesn't consider himself a hero for doing what he was trained to do.

"My first thought was just to respond," he said. "At first I was drawing a blank because I was over thinking things, but as my hands started moving my training came back to me and I started remembering the right steps and proper medical procedures. Though I was in no way completely comfortable, the adrenaline kicked in and the knowledge started resurfacing as I needed it, and it became second nature in a matter of seconds."

Maj. Wanda Edwards, Jeffrey's supervisor, said she was not surprised by Jeffrey's actions when she'd heard about the day's events.

"He is not one to sit by and let others take care of things," she said of Jeffrey. "His compassion and dedication were evident by his swift actions and immediate response at the clinic."

The major said she knows all too well the fear, excitement and sense of responsibility that comes with having a critical patient, but Jeffrey conducted himself exactly as she would have in the same situation.

"Out of my three deployments, he is by far the best medical technician that I have had the pleasure to be deployed with," she said. "I am so proud of him, and his professionalism and leadership shines through every day. As medical responders, we never know what we will face and to know that I can trust our Airmen to not only respond appropriately, but exceed the expectations and respond as I would have."

Two saved lives and one baby later, Jeffrey recalls how what started out as a normal day ended up becoming anything but.

"After the shock of the event wears off, you realize that everything you did resulted in keeping someone alive," he said. "The sheer thought brings an overwhelming sense of happiness, elation and a sigh of relief gets sprinkled in there somewhere. It's a mass of mixed emotions and truly an indescribable feeling."

Face of Defense: Alaska Army National Guardsman on Track to West Point

By Army Sgt. Balinda O'Neal
Alaska National Guard

CAMP DENALI, Alaska, July 8, 2013 – As a high school dropout, Army Spc. David Huff has accomplished more than he ever expected in the past three and a half years.

Alaska Army National Guard Spc. David Huff, a signal support systems specialist for the 297th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, runs during a physical training session at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 18, 2013. He will enter the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School as a cadet candidate this month. Alaska National Guard photo by Army Sgt. Edward Eagerton   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Upon completing the Alaska Military Youth Academy ChalleNGe Program, enlisting in the Alaska Army National Guard and graduating from the National Guard Patriot Academy, Huff is now bound for the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School and U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

 

After an altercation led to suspension at the end of his freshman year in high school, Huff was left six credits behind and with a diminishing grade point average.
“I had to make up those credits, and I had an attitude problem,” said Huff, 21, a signal support systems specialist for the 297th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Alaska Army National Guard. “So I dropped out of high school and was accepted into the AMYA.”

The AMYA ChalleNGe Program is designed to intervene and reclaim the lives of Alaska’s at-risk youth and produce graduates with the skills to succeed as adults.

“I got angry really easily and let opportunities that I could have had go by the wayside under my own free-will and accord,” Huff said. “I did well at the AMYA but still left there dealing with some issues of immaturity.”

Two months after he talked to a recruiter, Huff enlisted in the Alaska Army National Guard and took advantage of another opportunity by attending the National Guard Patriot Academy.
While lack of funding closed this pilot program in January, the Patriot Academy offered qualified recruits the opportunity to finish high school and earn college credit while giving back to the community.

Two of Huff’s role models, including an instructor at the Patriot Academy, helped him refocus on long-term life objectives, said Army Brig. Gen. Mike Bridges, commander of the Alaska Army National Guard. They guided him toward “being successful and to really go for a diploma and look at other options,” he said.

“One of those other options was the potential to receive a National Guard nomination to West Point from the Alaska Army Guard,” Bridges said.

With no knowledge of West Point, Huff began researching the academy that has become synonymous with educating, training and inspiring many of the Army’s greatest leaders throughout the past 200 years.

“To see the people who have actually gone to West Point and to see the things they have done, [attending] is a goal worth aiming for,” Huff said. “The experience that you get there, the different people that influence you, it’s second to none.”

With thousands of students applying to West Point each year, it is an exceptional honor to be accepted for admission. After being denied admission twice, Huff was finally admitted into the West Point Preparatory School on his third attempt.

“I was taking college English, Trigonometry, and Chemistry, and they saw I was doing well,” Huff said. “I’m extremely grateful they recognized the academic and leadership potential in me because usually when they say ‘no’ the first time, it stays ‘No.’”

With roots in the Alaska Army National Guard, Huff will be able to share what he’s learned here and also expand on that, giving even more to the country with this new venture.

“We will feel bad about losing a great soldier from our ranks who has potential and is doing well, but the Alaska Army National Guard is sharing this young man and his potential with the nation through service,” Bridges said. “He is succeeding in a great way, which makes us very proud of being his host family unit.”

“For me to even have the opportunity to go to the prep school is a blessing in and of itself,” Huff said. “Through all this, I’ve learned that you really can’t go anywhere unless you have a goal in life.”

With a growing list of people Huff attributes to his success, there are two people that stand out -- his father, Darryl Huff, and retired Army Gen. Colin Powell.

“Apart from God, I couldn’t have made it this far without my dad,” Huff said. “It’s amazing what God has done for me, and my dad always knew I could do better and pushed me.”

Huff has nothing but accolades for Powell after reading his book, “My American Journey,” while attending the AMYA. Huff said his guiding principle in life came from the book: “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.”

“I changed my mindset and my history of getting in trouble into something positive,” Huff said.

“You get the right mindset, you get hungry, and you go after what you want.”

Huff will be leaving for the West Point Prep School this month.

Dyess leads JOAX, sets world record

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

7/8/2013 - 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.

27th SOAOS activates at Cannon

by Senior Airman Whitney Tucker
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

7/1/2013 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The 27th Special Operations Air Operations Squadron was activated during a ceremony at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., June 27.

Col. Buck Elton, 27th SOW commander, called for the formation of the 27th SOAOS in response to the 23rd Air Force directive. 

The directive called for a successful transition of command and control execution from the 623rd Air Operations Center to special operations wings and groups.

"Command and control is an Air Force core function and a special operations core mission," Elton said. "The timing was perfect -- we had the right leader, and the right people to build this squadron."

In a gesture deeply rooted in tradition, Elton unfurled, and passed the guidon to Lt. Col. Edward Espinoza, whose acceptance signified his assumption of command and a historical moment for Air Commandos of the 27th SOW. Before rendering their first salute to their new commander, members of the 27th SOAOS listened to Espinoza's address.

"I have always believed that to whom much is given, much is expected, and much is expected of us," Espinoza said. "Today, we've officially tied ourselves to the heritage and history of Air Force Special Operations Command and United States Special Operations Command -- organizations synonymous with high expectations, high risk and high payoff. We've been given an opportunity to do something unique, something worthwhile. I'm counting on all of you to help me successfully carry out our crucial mission."

The wing commander expressed his faith in Espinoza's ability to effectively lead his squadron, bringing credit upon himself, the 27th SOW and the Air Force as a whole.

"We rely on you to provide critical global situational awareness, enable swift and effective orders, streamline communication, manage, protect and develop the training range, and most importantly, to make sure we execute the missions that are tasked to us all," Elton said. "I hope each Airman appreciates the trust, faith and high expectation our nation places upon Colonel Espinoza as we appoint him to command the 27th SOAOS."

Fort Belvoir Hospital Aims to Redefine Military Healthcare

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

FORT BELVOIR, Va., July 8, 2013 – When the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital opened its doors in August 2011, it represented a long list of “firsts.” It was the nation’s newest, most technologically advanced military treatment facility, the first one to receive gold-level LEED “green” construction certification, and one of just two joint hospitals in the Military Health System.

With a heavy focus on preventive care, the new Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Northern Virginia pairs patients and their families with teams of providers who make up their “medical home.” Here, Dr. Cathy Tieu and Barbara Venable gauge the reactions from LeAnn Redlinger’s patch test to diagnose skin allergies during a dermatology appointment, July 27, 2012. DOD photo by Tina Staffieri   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Less than two years later, the staff at the Defense Department’s newest treatment facility is implementing another first: an ambitious new strategy that its commander hopes will help redefine military healthcare.

One of the most striking things about the gleaming new hospital is that despite its 1.3-million-square foot footprint, it has only 120 inpatient beds. Most of the facility is built around 440 examination rooms and 55 clinics that concentrate on outpatient care and preventive medicine, Army Col. Chuck Callahan, the hospital commander, told American Forces Press Service.

“The outpatient arena is where healthcare takes place in 2013,” he said. “Good healthcare is focused on prevention, which means you don’t need to get hospitalized.”

With that goal in mind, the hospital staff is working to keep patients healthy and, when they need medical care, to make it the most positive experience possible.

This is the foundation of the new strategy Callahan began rolling out last year. Tapping the hospital staff and patients directly, he incorporated almost 700 of their suggestions into a plan designed to improve the care provided.

“This strategy we have embraced really belongs to the staff and patients of the organization, and we are now in the process of beginning to implement them,” Callahan said.

Early indications are positive, he said. Making appointments is easier than ever before. Parking is convenient. The facility itself is inviting. And most important of all, Callahan said, everything about the hospital operation is focused directly on patients and their families.

People who have tried to see a doctor when they are sick probably know the pitfalls of a reactionary healthcare system. Getting squeezed in for a same-day appointment can be difficult, at best. If a condition requires a visit with a specialist, that draws treatment out even longer and often requires multiple appointments.

“The notion of patient- and family-centered care means we look at the way care is delivered from the perspective of the patient, both individually and as a population,” Callahan said.  It’s a proactive approach that boils down to “‘What health care do you need and how do we provide it to you?’ rather than the opposite, ‘Here is what we have and sorry if it is not what you need,’” he said.

The centerpiece of this model is an ongoing relationship between patients and their providers.

Patients are assigned to a “medical home” -- a team of doctors, nurses and specialists who oversee their care. “This is a group that puts their arms around that group of patients and manages their health -- not just treats their disease,” Callahan said.

As a result, patients know who to call when they have health issues or questions. When they need to make an appointment, they can feel confident that they’ll get one, and be seen by providers who know their conditions and medical histories.

Patients with complex medical issues also have ready access to the “medical neighborhood” within the hospital, Callahan said. No longer do they need to schedule multiple visits with a series of specialists who may never communicate with each other. Instead, providers from across the “neighborhood” coordinate through medical home to provide interdisciplinary care.

“That’s all the providers, plus the patient and family, in the same room, talking through the treatment and management plan,” Callahan said. “It’s the model we are evolving as a hospital.”

The facility itself incorporates what Callahan called “evidence-based design” that supports healing. Design decisions were made to be therapeutic, incorporating natural light, outside views, healing gardens and pavilions inspired by nature: Eagle, River, Sunrise, Oak and Meadow.

Sections of the hospital are color-coded so visitors can quickly get their bearings. All in-patient rooms have just one bed, and a pull-out sofa that family members can sleep on. The design team tapped the Disney Corporation’s concepts of “on-stage” versus “off-stage” operations, relegating non-medical services to back hallways or non-prime hours.

While improving access to care when patients are sick and making the hospital experience as positive as possible are major goals of the new strategy, a foundation of the medical home concept is taking care of patients when they are healthy, Callahan said.

Instead of waiting for patients to call, he said, providers reach out to initiate required tests and procedures. They also rely heavily on social media and a secure Internet-based messaging system to answer patients’ health-related questions and provide healthcare information aimed at promoting health and well-being.

“The focus is on managing the patients so they get what they need and what they don’t even know that they need,” Callahan said. “It’s not just a matter of ‘What are you here for today?’

The goal is to keep you out of the hospital and keep you healthy. That’s much better than waiting until you are sick.”

Making these investments up front changes the paradigm in delivering healthcare, creating healthier beneficiaries and improving their quality of life, Callahan said.

As the Defense Department struggles with tough budget choices amidst skyrocketing medical costs, this proactive approach makes financial sense, he added.

“Treatment of disease is almost always more expensive than screening for and preventing disease.
Almost always,” Callahan said. “So we are making the investment up front. As we move toward health and well-being, we are not only providing better healthcare to our beneficiaries. We are also going a long way toward saving healthcare costs in the long run.”

Callahan said he expects the new strategy to be fully in place within the next five years, but emphasized that he doesn’t anticipate a point where the staff will ever fully declare “mission accomplished.”

“Performance improvement is a journey. It is not a destination,” he said “Getting better as an organization is a journey, so we are going to continue to evolve our strategy to adapt to healthcare changes and better ways to provide for our patients.

“So there is never going to be a point of ‘arriving,’” he said. “In terms of healthcare, there will always be traveling.”

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.