Army Soldier Pleads Guilty in Denver to Bribery Charges for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan

Former U.S. Army Specialist Stephanie Charboneau pleaded guilty today to bribery charges for her role in the theft of fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Charboneau, 34, of Fountain, Colo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Phillip A. Brimmer in the District of Colorado to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one substantive count of bribery.
According to court documents, from approximately February through May 2010, Charboneau was involved in overseeing the delivery of fuel from FOB Fenty to other military bases.  As part of this process, documents generally described as transportation movement requests (TMRs) were created to authorize the movement of fuel.

Court documents state that Charboneau created fraudulent TMRs that purported to authorize the transport of fuel from FOB Fenty to other military bases, even though no legitimate fuel transportation was required.  After the trucks were filled with fuel, the fraudulent TMRs were used by the drivers of the fuel trucks at FOB Fenty’s departure checkpoint in order to justify the trucks’ departures from FOB Fenty.  In truth, the fuel was simply stolen.

Charboneau pleaded guilty to receiving payments from a representative of the trucking company in exchange for facilitating the theft of approximately 90 fuel trucks.  According to court documents, the loss to the United States as a result of the theft was in excess of $1.5 million.

At sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 12, 2013, Charboneau faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy and 15 years in prison for bribery.

Charboneau’s plea is the fourth guilty plea arising from this investigation of fuel thefts at FOB Fenty.  On Aug. 3, 2012, Jonathan Hightower, a civilian employee of a military contractor who had conspired with Charboneau, pleaded guilty to similar charges.  On Oct.10, 2012, Christopher Weaver, who also conspired with Charboneau, pleaded guilty to fuel theft charges.  Both Weaver and Hightower pleaded guilty in the District Court of Colorado.   On Aug. 29, 2013, Sergeant Bilal Kevin Abduallah, who succeeded Charboneau at FOB Fenty, pleaded guilty in the Western District of Kentucky to fuel theft related charges.

This case was investigated by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction; Department of the Army, Criminal Investigations Division; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Mark H. Dubester of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.      

33rd RQS Airmen awarded Distinguished Flying Cross with valor

by Tech. Sgt. Amanda Savannah
18th Wing Public Affairs

9/5/2013 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Five 33rd Rescue Squadron Airmen were recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor for their heroic actions during a deployment mission in 2012.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III presented Capts. Michael Kingry, Gavin Johnson and Matthew Pfarr, Tech. Sgt. Scott Lagerveld and Staff Sgt. Robert Wells with the award Aug. 20 during his visit to Kadena.

Capts. Matthew Carlisle and John Larson, former Kadena members, were also awarded the DFC with valor for the mission before permanently changing stations.

According to their citations, the members of PEDRO 83 and 84 distinguished themselves by heroism while participating in a two-ship HH-60G Pave Hawk combat rescue mission in Afghanistan on Aug. 4, 2012. On that day, the team demonstrated heroic actions during a seven hour, 320-mile rescue mission under direct enemy gunfire.

According to Pfarr, it wasn't just the mission that was different.

"The whole day started differently," he said. "There's a set time when we'd go preposition all of our gear (each day). We actually got the scramble call during that time. It was a little bit of a strange day."

On a typical day during their deployment to Bagram Air Base, Kingry said the team would show up, put their gear on their helicopters, receive update and mission briefs on the current status, and would then be on standby, waiting for the call.

"As I put my gear on the aircraft, I was halfway getting all my stuff situated when the call came in," Kingry said. "The call we listen for comes across the radio as 'Attention on the net, attention on the net, scramble, scramble, scramble.' As soon as you hear that scramble call, you know there's somebody out there who's basically in a life or death situation, and we've got to get off the ground as quickly as possible."

Two New Zealand coalition forces members had sustained gunshot wounds.

Again the day would prove "strange," as the pickup location was farther than usual and was nestled within a steep mountain range, which the HH-60s could not climb because of the weight of the aircraft. Kingry had to first plot a course through valley passes, making the trip longer.

The lead officer, in PEDRO 83, contacted the operations center and requested an HC-130 for refueling support, realizing the team would need fuel during the extended mission.

"About halfway there we got an update from our operations center that was saying it's now five total patients," Kingry said. "Our understanding was, 'Ok, the area is probably still hot, still sustaining casualties. There's an ongoing firefight.' So that definitely led us to step up our game."

The operations center also advised there was a B-1 providing close air support overhead and gave Kingry the frequencies to contact the aircraft.

"We were about 30 minutes out, and I was able to coordinate with him for what the picture looked like on the ground," Kingry said. "He was in contact with the JTAC (joint terminal air controller) on the ground. The story we got from him was they had five casualties all located in the same spot that had sustained gunshot wounds and were in an ongoing firefight from multiple points of origin."

Kingry developed a game plan with the B-1 and JTAC for the team to get in and get the casualties out. As they got closer, they got another update -- the casualty number was now seven.

As the team arrived, they located the patients within a valley flanked by very steep cliffs. Kingry and Pfarr remained overhead to provide watch while PEDRO 84 landed and picked up three patients. Kingry then landed PEDRO 83 in the same spot to pick up the other four before the team left the location.

They were too low on fuel and the patients were too critical for the team to return to Bagram. They had to fly to the nearest forward operating base.

The operations center notified the FOB to be ready with facilities and gas. Kingry said he landed PEDRO 83 with about 300 pounds of gas, the lowest he'd ever seen. The team had a few moments to reflect on what had happened, when another call came in.

There were three more casualties at the same site and the site's observation post. The team gassed up and returned to the location.

Now covered overhead by an F-16, the team returned to the site.

"It was taking a while to package this patient just due to the fact that it was very difficult terrain. They were under fire, and basically the slope of that terrain made it difficult," Kingry said. "It was starting to take more and more time, and we were burning more and more gas. So at that point I instructed my wingman to land at the other site and pick up the remaining patient."

As PEDRO 83 and 84 were picking up their patients, they came under fire.

"As we came to a hover over the incident site and started the hoist down, the copilot came on the radio and said, 'Muzzle flashes at 10 o'clock.' I was holding the aircraft in a hover and looked out to my 10 o'clock and basically I saw five or six just bright, flashes of light all aimed at our aircraft," Kingry said. "I immediately started pulling the power in to go around and my first call to the gunner ... was '10 o'clock, 300 meters burst.' I said it again, '10 o'clock, 300 meters burst.' Finally I said 'Shoot 'em, shoot 'em, shoot 'em,' so that he ... just started pouring 50-cal back into their position.

"At that point PEDRO 84 was still on the ground ... so I immediately called to them the weapons pattern, that we needed weapons support, and probably the best thing I heard the whole time as we came into the weapons pattern was 'PEDRO 84 calling in hot.'"

Kingry said the two aircraft spent about 500 rounds combined covering the area, with Lagerveld and Wells delivering most of the rounds.

Though the enemy threat was suppressed, the aircraft were then facing the threat of "bingo" fuel, meaning they had the lowest amount of gas possible to complete the mission, and the pararescue men were still on the ground with the casualties. Kingry maneuvered PEDRO 83 to pick up the PJs and the casualties, while PEDRO 84 called for the tanker to move as close as possible.

Soon the tanker met up with the team. The next mission would be to perform helicopter air-to-air refueling, which is done by the tanker aircraft dragging a hose with a small basket behind it, which the receiving pilot then directs his or her probe into, Kingry said.

"It was high altitude so it (the basket) was bouncing around quite a bit," Kingry said. "I remember taking the controls and looking at the fuel gauge and seeing that we had about 300 pounds of fuel. Previously we had landed with 300 pounds, and we were still about 20 to 30 minutes out. We had to get gas or we weren't going to make it back. Luckily for me ... it kind of got calm, the basket just kind of sat there in front of me, (and) I was able to make a run in on the first try and get gas."

PEDRO 84 wasn't so lucky. The turbulence returned, and the aircraft failed at a few attempts to connect to the hose.

"I could see how much gas they had; I knew that they weren't going to be able to make it back unless they were able to plug," Kingry said. He began discussing a plan to land PEDRO 84, move some of the crew to PEDRO 83 and return to the FOB, but finally Johnson was able to pilot the aircraft and connect to the tanker.

"The time that I was most afraid was ... waiting for our wingman to take fuel," Pfarr said. "We were thinking about how to PL -- precautionary land -- that aircraft in the middle of Afghanistan, and then PEDRO 83 would have to ferry crew members and patients out of there. That was a very real possibility that we had begun to look at, and fortunately right before we had to make that decision they were able to get the fuel they needed. That was the scaredest I felt during that day."

The team returned to the FOB, unloaded their patients and waited for more news before returning to Bagram.

Reflecting on the day, Pfarr said it was the type of day he expected when joining the Air Force.

DOD Focuses on Ending Assad Regime’s Chemical Weapons Use

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2013 – The Defense Department leadership is focused on what President Barack Obama has defined as the objective of a proposed military operation in Syria: ending Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little answers reporters' questions regarding possible U.S. military intervention in Syria at the Pentagon, Sept. 5, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Little spoke with reporters after two days of Senate and House foreign affairs committee hearings and testimony before both panels by Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E Dempsey.

Obama favors limited military action against Syria, but wants Congress to decide if the nation will stand behind it. That process is underway.

“We're focused right now on what the president and others have said about what this military operation -- if it takes place -- would try to achieve,” Little told the reporters. “And that is a clear objective of stopping the Assad regime using chemical weapons [and] deterring and degrading the ability of this regime to murder innocent Syrian men, women and children.”

The operation would be of limited scope and duration, and there would be no boots -- of American or allied troops -- on the ground, he added, describing the scope of the proposed operation.

But more broadly in Syria, others have been working on a track beyond the military part of the equation, Little said.

“The State Department, in particular, has been heavily involved in diplomatic efforts with the Syrian opposition to try to move toward an ultimate political solution in Syria that's driven by the Syrians,” he explained. “That's what we want at the end of the day. That's what the Syrians want.”

In terms of getting help with Syria from the international community, Little said the department believes some countries will provide support if the United States takes military action.

“But international participation does not need to be vast in order for us to succeed,” he added.

Little was unable to offer details on the cost of an incomplete and so far unapproved Syrian military operation, but he did respond to questions about continuing budget constraints in the upcoming fiscal year.

“We have said that this is in the national security interests of the United States. And if this operation goes forward, if we're asked by the president to conduct a military mission, we will conduct it,” the press secretary said.

“When it comes to sequestration and budget uncertainty,” he added, “when this country decides to come together and take military action for a just cause that's rooted in the legitimacy of a very strong international norm, then we'll find a way to fund it.”

During Hagel’s recent four-country trip to Asia, during which he engaged in bilateral meetings with several counterparts from the region, including South Korea, Little said the defense secretary learned about North Korean stockpiles of chemical weapons, underscoring this week’s discussions about Syria’s use of chemical weapons on its own citizens.

“If we sit idly by and allow the Syrian regime to perpetrate atrocities the likes of which we've seen recently, then what signal does that send to countries like North Korea?” Little said.

If the Syrians are allowed to get away with it, then perhaps that sends a signal that others might be able to get away with it, the press secretary added -- not just North Korea, but Iran, Hezbollah and other rogue actors in the international community.

“This is very serious business,” Little said. “And it is very important not just for the United States, but for other countries, to step up and say this international norm is worth defending.”

In response to a question about whether the long U.S. discussion about such a military strike would give the Syrian army an advantage during such an attack, Little said the United States is the strongest military power in the world and one of the most flexible and adaptable, with access to information that will enable it to take effective action at the appropriate time, if called upon.

“No one in the Syrian regime should take solace from the deliberative process that we're undertaking right now with the United States Congress,” he observed.

Little said there will be time to adjust, given conditions on the ground and given what the Syrian regime may or may not do in terms of moving equipment.

“So the Syrian regime does not get a strategic or a tactical advantage from the time we, if called upon, will carry out a military mission effectively,” he added, “and we will meet our objective of deterring and degrading their chemical weapons use.”

Veteran receives Bronze Star with Valor for declassified mission

by Senior Airman Daniel Hughes
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Not many people can say they served in three different branches of the military. Not many people can say they were involved in one war and two conflicts. Not many people can say they went into a foreign country, took care of a U.S. hostage for nine months and gave vital information that led to a U.S. Army "Delta Force" extraction. One man can say all those things and can say he has a Bronze Star with Valor for his efforts.

U.S. Air Force retired Col. (Dr.) James A. Ruffer was getting ready to attend medical school when the Vietnam War began and knew right away he would have to put aside his medical school dreams and join the cause. He went to a Marine recruiter with the intent of becoming an officer and shortly after commissioning he attended flight school.

His leadership came into the classroom one day and told the Marines attending flight training there was only one fighter pilot position open, and all the rest of the students would be trained to become helicopter pilots. To be chosen for that one position, Ruffer would have to be the "student of the week" out of 388 Navy and Marine pilots. Ruffer always wanted to fly a jet and knew, in order to achieve his goal, he would have to give his all. When the day came and student of the week was announced, he found out that he was selected for the lone fighter pilot position.

"I wasn't shocked; I knew I was doing the best I could at my studies and during my training flights," Ruffer said. "I learned at a young age to give everything I had in everything I wanted, and I would find a way to [earn] what I wanted."

After graduating fighter pilot school he was thrown into the "fire" in Vietnam, providing close air support for his fellow Marines on the ground.

"We flew so low; we used our own eyes to target where we wanted to drop the bombs," Ruffer said. "I knew while flying over those Marines that if I could pave a clearer path for them, they would be safer. That was always my goal."

Ruffer served five years as an active-duty Marine then six years in the individual ready reserve. While on IRR, he attended medical school. He wanted to stay close to the Marine Corps after he earned his medical degree, but the Marine Corps didn't offer him a position and ended up joining the Navy as a flight surgeon.

Ruffers claimed his greatest accomplishment in the Navy was a day in the emergency room where he delivered eight babies in 24 hours.

"That day was a handful," he said. "I was running around taking care of patients and pregnant women kept coming in. In those days, if you were due, you went into the base emergency room. It truly was a blessing to be a part of bringing those children into the world."

Ruffer served with the Navy for six years before he left the military to become a civilian doctor. That lasted for only a few months before he missed the military life, so he called an Air Force recruiter and asked if the Air Force had any need for a doctor. He joined the Air Force shortly after that call and was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. He was the flight doctor for the civilian flight crew, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, who flew the Rutan Model 76 Voyager aircraft around the world without stopping or refueling.

"Working with those two was a pleasure. I take pride in knowing I got to meet and work with them," Ruffer said.

Shortly after finishing his work with the Voyager crew, he was looking for a new challenge. Ruffer knew American forces were being sent to the Republic of Panama, and he wanted to be where the action was. He applied for the assignment, and a couple months later, his family moved to Panama City, Panama, where he would be the deputy command surgeon for the United States Southern Command in the Republic of Panama.

During that time, U.S. civilian Kurt Muse was arrested and held in the Carcel Modelo Prison, Panama, for transmitting a radio station critical of the country's dictator, Manuel Noriega. The American was beaten and interrogated, so Ruffer was sent in to the prison by the Department of Defense to ensure he was still alive and to try and stabilize him.

"I have never seen a man be made into nothing," Ruffer said. "When I started treating, him I couldn't stop praying for him."

He was debriefed by Delta Force members and commanders on the captive's condition each day. He made the commanders aware he needed to see Muse as much as possible. Ruffer went back to the prison the next day and talked to the captors and negotiated treatment sessions for Muse. "Every other day for as long as you have him," Ruffer demanded of the captors.

The prison guards granted him access to Muse for the next nine months. Ruffer worked with Delta Force intelligence officers discussing the prison's floor plans to include where the guard shacks were, how thick the cells were, if the prisoner would be strong enough to get out, and if he would be willing to risk escaping.

Operation Acid Gambit took place Dec. 20, 1989, to rescue Muse. The operation was a success.

"Being able to say I helped in the plans to extract an American held hostage is something that brings me a great sense of honor," Ruffer said.

Ruffer and his family moved out of Panama a couple months after the extraction, and he was slated to deploy in support of the Persian Gulf War, but his orders were cancelled.
"I knew we needed to have someone over there to assess the casualties for chemical traces," he said. "I went to the commander and told him I need to get over there to make sure we know how to treat and protect against chemical warfare."
After the discussion, Ruffer was sent to an Air Force forward operating location as a consultant for "Chemical Casualty Medical Management" to the Tactical Air Command and served as an air transportable clinic commander.

"My tour in the desert was great," Ruffer said. "Being able to help implement protective steps during a chemical attack was something that needed to happen. That's why I pushed to go on the deployment, so I could help potentially save the brave men and women of our country."

After completing his six month deployment, Ruffer was soon transferred to serve as an emergency room physician at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, where he retired in 1995, but his time in the military still didn't feel complete.

"I never sought medals in my career; it was always about the mission and country before self- glorification but something was missing," Ruffer said. "I always felt I should have received a medal for my efforts in Panama."

Twenty-three years after his part in the operation was declassified, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Lofgren, United States Air Force Warfare Center commander, presented him with a Bronze Star with Valor for heroism.

"What a great opportunity for our Air Force to recognize this true hero; for me, I was humbled and excited to officiate over such a significant event," Lofgren said, "Being able to recognize a true American hero was a thrill. What an amazing story."

After the ceremony, Ruffer recognized his wife and family for supporting him through the thick and thin.

"I couldn't have asked for a better support team than them," he said.

Growing up wanting to be a doctor, then joining the Marine Corps becoming a pilot, joining the Navy as a doctor, leaving the military for a civilian practice, and then coming back to the military to join the Air Force as a doctor is a rare military career path.

"When my Bronze Star with Valor ceremony was complete, my wife and I walked to the car," Ruffer said. "But I didn't want to go home; I knew when I took that uniform off my military career was over, and the decoration I thought I deserved for so long was finally on my chest. I hadn't prepared myself for the emotions that took place during that walk to the car."

Investigation report details February fatal accident at Joint Base Andrews

from Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Air Mobility Command officials released the Ground Accident Investigation Board report details, following the Feb. 17 Airman death stemming from a warehouse accident at Joint Base Andrews, Md.

Senior Airman John E. King II, 21, of Sarasota, Fla., was fatally injured as he was struck by a vehicle inside the base aircraft services warehouse. He was assigned to the 89th Aerial Port Squadron at JB Andrews.

Following the accident, Brig. Gen. Mike Minihan, 89th Airlift Wing commander, said, "The 89th, and all of Team Andrews are hurting after this tragic loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Airman King's family, friends and coworkers; our Air Force is a family, and they will not go through this alone."

King was standing at the rear of the vehicle and guiding an air transportation specialist driver as he was parking to create more room to move equipment in the warehouse.

The report indicated that the Airman driving the vehicle did not follow standard Air Force vehicle operating procedures and did not perform the proper corrective actions. Other factors include lack of communication between King and the driver when he went behind the vehicle.

The report is available on the Air Force Freedom of Information Act Reading Room web site, https://www.efoia.af.mil/palMain.aspx.

Sole searching: Army Spouse uses boots to remember fallen servicemembers

by Senior Airman Christopher Stoltz
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Public Affairs

9/3/2013 - TRIPLER HOSPITAL FISHER HOUSE, Hawaii -- 

Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen all have one thing in common: we all wear boots to work. Most lace them up in the mornings, while some cheat and purchase the ones with zippers on the sides. Regardless of how they are put on or what material they are comprised of, our clunky, often uncomfortable boots play a large role in our lives.

While boots are one of the first things servicemembers put on every day, it is one of the last things those killed-in-action ever wore.

This realization gave Theresa Johnson, Tripler Fisher House Manager and Army spouse, the idea to create the Fisher House Hero & Remembrance Run. While there are many events that commemorate the armed forces, this run comes with a unique take: attendees can both run and see more than 6,700 boots--one for each casualty in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

Although this year's run is only the second iteration, Johnson said she expects more than 5,000 attendees.

However, this year's event is of particular significance to Johnson, who said her son, who is about to deploy, inspired her to create the event.

"At any time, I could be laying down a boot for my son," she said.

For this and last year's event, the boots, badges and labor is based on donations from the local community. According to Johnson, the event is not used to raise funds for the Triple Fisher House, but is an event held only to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

"You see some really crusty old boots, but I honestly like it that way," she said. "We even have boots donated by families with stories attached to them, sharing the experiences of those who have worn them and the loved ones they left behind. We wanted to bring back names and faces, not just a number. You hear about casualty numbers all of the time on the news. We wanted to share their story, instead of 'there's another one, there's another one.' That number has a family, that number represents a person who sacrificed everything."

One of the stories on the boots was provided by former soldier Mark Eric, a six-year Army veteran who served from 2002-2008. While most families attending write stories for one boot, Mark is doing the same for 19.

"This event is a great way to honor and show respect to my friends," he said. "I donated a pair of boots I wore during both of my deployments. This is my first time volunteering for this event and it is an honor and privilege to remember the people I served with, the people who I considered part of my family."

Mark is not only a volunteer for this event, but also lives at the Fisher House as he recovers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The boots he donated are covered with photos and stories of his fallen friends in remembrance of better days and time he cherishes when they were more than a just picture and a memory.

"This is a good way to cope," he said.

Although the front lawn of the Fisher House resembles more of a boot factory and less of a grassy knoll, Johnson says she still needs more donations to ensure every sacrifice is represented.

When asked by a volunteer for an exact number of boots currently on the Fisher House property, she replied: "too many."

The Fisher House Hero and Remembrance Run is slated for Saturday, Sept. 7 on Ford Island. For more information about Fisher House or the run, contact Theresa Johnson at (808) 433-1291 or visit www.fisherhouse.org.

The Tripler Fisher House is a "home away from home" for families and patients receiving medical care at Tripler Army Medical Center, located in Honolulu.  Families served are from the Pacific area, including Korea, Japan, Okinawa, and Guam. Active duty and retired persons from all services are helped in their time of need. The Tripler Fisher House is run with donations and non-appropriated Funds.

Innovation integral part of 3rd Wing mission

by Air Force 1st Lt. Matthew Chism
JBER Public Affairs

8/30/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- In the 3rd Wing, innovation is the mission.

Airmen expect to encounter and overcome challenges. In the arctic environment, Airmen commonly compete with sub-zero temperatures, near 24-hour darkness, remote training areas, and rapid weather changes.

In addition to these challenges, Airmen continue to achieve mission requirements while working through the difficulty of sequestration, which reduced budgets and services while workloads increased due to cutbacks on our civilian teammates.

Regardless of unusual or extreme hardships, Air Force success has historically been a direct result of Airmen who possess the vision to develop new and improved solutions to the most challenging of scenarios. Two pertinent solutions implemented by 3rd Wing Airmen include the F-22 Raptor 3.1 upgrade implementation and the 3rd Wing Turkey Shoot competition.

Increment 3.1 upgrade
The Raptor 3.1 upgrade provides the 3rd Wing with the most advanced and, by extension, the most combat-capable F-22s in the entire Raptor fleet.

"The 3.1 upgrade gives pilots the ability to employ a more precise battlefield solution utilizing the ability to map an area, real-time ability to retarget weapons, among other capabilities," said Troy McCanless, 3rd Wing F-22 field services.

This upgrade directly spurred two 3rd Wing innovations. First, 3rd Wing Airmen developed a plan which kept the aircraft where they were needed most, in the 3rd Wing.

"Traditionally, depot bases like Hill Air Force Base, Utah would take on an installation like this," McCanless said. "You're talking about a large amount of money that was saved on costs like support tankers associated with performing this at another location. The wing also would not have had those aircraft available during the time of the install."

The 3rd Maintenance Group considered numerous planning variables for the F-22's capability expansion, identified scheduling deficiencies, and developed an organic upgrade plan to keep the F-22s at JBER.

The 3rd Operations Group have ownership of the second 3.1 upgrade innovation as, 3rd Wing F-22 pilots create the newest tactics to best optimize these new capabilities literally on the fly. Pilots from the 90th and 525th fighter squadrons, along with their 302nd Fighter Squadron Total Force Integration partners, are using each flying hour on the Alaska practice ranges to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for this newest upgrade, which will eventually become doctrine for the rest of the Raptor fleet when they become 3.1 capable.

"This upgrade gives combatant commanders a tremendous advantage. It provides a self-contained, precision strike capability combined with a low-observable fighter platform," said Air Force Maj. Nick "Conan" Sigler, 525th FS.

Turkey Shoot
During the 3rd Wing-wide Turkey Shoot competition, Airmen worked in teams to prosecute an attack on hostile air units to control the battle space.

"Teams rarely have an opportunity to integrate and compete with other squadrons across both groups in a complex training scenarios such as this, except for the two Turkey Shoots each year", said Air Force Capt. Herman "TC" Norwood Jr., 3rd Operations Squadron chief of E-3 Sentry tactics.

Innovative Airmen sought to take advantage of the 3rd Wing's unique integration opportunity. Previously, F-22s were the only airframe to compete in the Turkey Shoot Competition. Today, the 3rd Wing planners built a competition to incorporate nearly every maintenance and operations squadron within the Wing and across three airframes: F-22, C-17 Globemaster III, and E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.

"This combined event maximizes efficiency by aligning training over four days that would normally take weeks," Norwood said. "This training is exceptionally different because this is one of a very few wings where there are three different mission-designation series (aircraft type) to do this kind of integrated training."

The Turkey Shoot Competition was also an opportunity to incorporate 3rd Wing maintainers into the scenarios.

"The competition was the idea of innovative young captains who ran with it," said Air Force Col. David Nahom, 3rd Wing commander. "They turned their vision into an incredible opportunity for our Airmen to take advantage of unique training to showcase their talents. Perhaps most importantly, the competition also built camaraderie and teamwork between ops and maintenance."

During the past eight months, Air Force personnel have seen an increased emphasis on innovative ideas. The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Welsh, initiated the drive outlining his vision for the Air Force, "Powered by Airmen, Fueled by Innovation."

"It highlights Airmen as the source of our strength as a service, and it outlines the five enduring contributions that will continue to guide us as we move forward, no matter what happens in - with the fiscal realities of the future," Welsh said.

Nahom said encouragement for innovation should come from every level, adding "Our fiscal challenges will drive opportunity for our great Airmen to innovate and find solutions. which will ultimately better posture forces for the Pacific Air Forces commander. The Turkey Shoot was an incredible event to watch as it showcased the ability of 3rd Wing Airmen to succeed in the most challenging scenario."

Creech RPA Airmen earn Meritorious Unit Award

by Staff Sgt. N.B.
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - LAS VEGAS, Nev.  -- The 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing has been awarded the Air Combat Command Meritorious Unit Award for outstanding achievement in direct support of combat operations from June 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013.

The combat-ready Airmen of the 432nd employ the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, providing warfighters with long-endurance, real time intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision attack capability against fixed, mobile and time-critical targets.

"I'm continuously impressed and humbled by the amazing work you do every day to support joint warfighters around the globe," said Col. Jim Cluff, 432nd Wing/432nd AEW commander. "This award is not just for one individual squadron, it is a culmination of the entire wing's contributions to 24/7, 365 world-wide combat operations. Congratulations on a job extremely well done."

Squadrons that fall under the wing flew more than 100,000 combat hours in support of U.S. and coalition forces overseas during this time.

Other milestones include the creation of the first ISR video editing training program, creating the first Airmen Ministry Center for increased Airman resiliency, and secured the AF ISR squadron of the year for 2012.

The wing was also credited with five major command best safety practices and stood up the first combined multi-national training cell for ISR missions.

In March 2004, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the Meritorious Unit Award to recognize organizations for outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations.

To be selected, a unit must display outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks, setting it apart and above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit.

Columbian Air Force Jet Emergency Lands at JBER

by Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Trent Harrington
JBER Public Affairs

8/30/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Crack!

A deep, white spider web leapt across the windshield. The low rumble of engines on a Colombian Air Force aircraft was interrupted by the splintering sound of fractured glass. The pilots exchanged glances, checked safety lights, monitored their position and barked commands. Cabin pressure read normal, but the entire glass pane was split from end to end. It would be difficult to see, let alone safely fly. The aircraft had to descend. The plane radioed the control tower.

Onboard the twin-engine Boeing 767 aircraft that Saturday morning were 72 cadets from the Colombian Naval Academy, along with several supporting officers and 12 flight crew members. The cadets and staff were en route from Anchorage to Hong Kong, flying across the northern Pacific to embark on a three-month cruise aboard the Colombian Navy's flagship Gloria. The aircraft was expected to retrieve another group of cadets who had just concluded their sea tour at the Hong Kong port.

The plane had just taken off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport early Saturday morning when the situation developed. The aircraft commander requested permission to emergency land at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

As a safety precaution, the pilots circled for several hours to burn fuel before landing safely and taxiing to the Joint Mobility Complex on the JBER flight line.

The Colombians immediately ordered replacement parts, which arrived early Monday morning from Miami, Fla. JBER personnel facilitated the transportation and escort of civilian repair technicians to the flight line, where they installed the new glass with oversight from the Colombian air crew and members of the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron.

The mishap became an opportunity for the next generation of joint-force partners in South America. The majority of the cadets and officers had never seen an American military installation, especially one with the capabilities, mission variety and sheer size of JBER. The officers and cadets received a tour of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, during which they peered into stripped-down engine blocks, sat in the cockpit and listened to explanations from crew chiefs at the Alaska Air National Guard hangars. Many remarked they had never seen helicopters as formidable as the 20,000-plus pound UH-60.

The 517th Airlift Squadron hosted a tour of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft parked on the tarmac.

"The Colombians were most impressed with the size, capability and technology in the cockpit," said Air Force Maj. Darwyn Klatt, C-17 pilot, 517th Airlift Squadron. "Their pilots asked the most questions. The massiveness of the airplane, its capacity -- many of our foreign partners don't really have anything like this. Their largest craft is probably half this size."

Senior Airman Raul Gutierrez, crew chief, 517th Airlift Squadron, offered his bilingual capabilities while hosting the Colombians.

Besides refreshing his Spanish, "It was a privilege to show foreign military visitors what an Air Force unit is capable of," Gutierrez said.

Third-year Colombian cadet Felipe Cruz said while the group definitely wasn't expecting to see Alaska, the chance to meet U.S. Air Force and Army pilots was eye-opening.

"The difference in the scale of operations, the ability to see what's possible with the technology and the training, for us is great stuff," Cruz said.

Both sides of JBER pitched in to coordinate the 90 unexpected foreign military visitors. The group was billeted in the Army National Guard barracks on Camp Carroll. Army and Air Force officers, non-commissioned officers, and junior enlisted members from force support units, dining facilities, transportation, security forces and public affairs worked late into the evening escorting the group and easing the increased flow of personnel and questions their arrival brought.

The incident has attracted attention from throughout Pacific Air Forces, showcasing an unplanned opportunity for international cooperation immediately following other, highly-coordinated exercises like Red Flag-Alaska, which concluded last week.

The Colombian jet departed early Tuesday morning.

"The aircraft commander contacted us after take-off to thank the base for being gracious hosts," said Air Force Col. Frank Battistelli, 673rd Mission Support Group commander. "They appreciated all the support we were able to give them. Our allies would do the same thing for us if we were ever in need."

Partners in sky, on land, at sea

by Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- American and Korean F-16 Fighting Falcons took off from Kunsan Air Base on a friendship flight mission in the skies over Gunsan, Republic of Korea, Aug. 14, 2013.

Colonel S. Clinton Hinote, 8th Fighter Wing commander, led the U.S. Air Force aircraft while Col. Min-Oh Seo, 38th Fighter Group commander, led the ROK air force jets. The flight showcased the partnership and communication shared between the two air forces at Kunsan.

"It is an honor to fly with our ROKAF partners," said Hinote. "This friendship flight is a meaningful symbol of the deep, ongoing relationships we have with Colonel Seo and the 38th Fighter Group."

Embodying the partnership, the F-16s flew around several landmarks in the Gunsan area in different formations with both Hinote and Seo leading the way.

Seo agreed that the flight was a meaningful representation of the commanders' attitudes towards combined operation capabilities.

"The flight was not merely a ROK-US combined flight, but was more of a representation of the will of commanders of the 8th FW and 38th FG to enhance realistic combined operation capabilities, and we firmly believe it could serve as a role model for ROK-US combined fighting power," said Seo.

Seo believes the combined flight was meaningful training since both the 8th FW and 38th FG witnessed the possession of excellent combined air operation capabilities.

"We could successfully complete the mission if we needed to fight tonight," said Seo. "This flight also reaffirmed a solid alliance between the 8th FW and the 38th FG, both of which play a pivotal role in protecting the sovereign skies of the Republic of Korea."

Just as they fly in tandem in the sky, both commanders also agree when it comes to their combined mission capabilities.

"We will continue flying and training together," Hinote said. "If we have to, we will be able to fight and win together."

Airmen to be nominated for special duties

by Staff Sgt. Candice C. Page
Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - LANGLEY AFB, Va. -- Approved changes to the Air Force special duty program will require Airmen to be nominated and vetted through an approval process beginning Oct. 1.

Changes to the special duty program allow leadership and commanders to nominate their top performing Airmen for positions such as military training instructors, airman and family readiness noncommissioned officers, enlisted accessions recruiter, professional military instructors and honor guard noncommissioned officer positions, which were filled previously on a volunteer basis.

The10 special duties and T-prefix duties selected for the program have been identified as enlisted developmental positions due to leadership responsibilities and the ability to mentor young Airmen.

Airmen who have demonstrated a record of exceptional performance in their primary duties are being sought to fill the developmental special duty positions. Airmen selected for the positions may also have the opportunity to enrich their careers, gaining leadership skills and broadening their experiences.

"I think if we encourage Airmen through a nominative process and allow leadership to encourage them by saying you're ready and we believe that you are the quality person to go do this job then we will have a highly motivated and diverse group of developmental special duty personnel affecting our Airmen," said Chief Master Sgt. Rick Parsons, command chief, Air Combat Command.

Although the assignment selection process will change to a nominative process, Airmen motivated to volunteer for a developmental special duty may still have the opportunity to do so.

"Airmen need to make contact with their leadership, voice their desire to be nominated on one of the lists and if their leadership agrees that they are the right person or right caliber to go and do the job they will be nominated," Parsons said. "When we need to fill vacancies we will certainly go to the list and pick volunteers first."

Air Staff will provide major commands nomination quotas twice a year, in March and September, based on their enlisted population of staff sergeants, technical sergeants and master sergeants. ACC has received their quotas, which requests nominations for 98 staff sergeants, 106 technical sergeants and 115 master sergeants.

"Not everyone will be nominated for these positions. The Air Force is looking for the best qualified Airmen that have qualities of a leader and will be able to prosper in these positions," said Chief Michael J. Helfer, chief enlisted manager manpower, mersonnel and services directorate.

Commanders will be allotted 30 days to nominate individuals based on rank and developmental special duty quotas.

"Quotas have been set to establish a minimum of nominations for MAJCOMs so Air Staff can have a pull that will fit their needs, said Helfer. "The quotas received will be distributed equally amongst ACC wings, but if a wing does not receive a levied quota they should still be nominating the best of the best to serve these duties."

ACC has a deadline of Sept. 30 to have nominations submitted to the Air Force Personnel Center.

Although, Airmen will be nominated for developmental special duty positions by their leadership, they still have to meet basic eligibility requirements listed in Personnel Services Delivery Memorandum 13-62, as well as specific criteria for the special duty listed in the Special Duty Catalog, which is currently under revision.

"Once an Airman has been nominated and selected for an assignment they will need to meet the eligibility requirements, detailed in the assignment selection instructions, within 45 days of notification," said Helfer.

He said, no indication of a timeline has been set on when Airmen will receive assignment notification, but April 2014 is the month when most Airmen can expect to report to their new special duty assignments.

For more information about developmental special duties refer to PSDM 13-62 and the SPECAT.

Kerry, Hagel Urge House Panel to Support Syria Strikes

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2013 – Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today urged the House Foreign Affairs Committee to support President Barack Obama’s plan to respond to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons against its own people.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel testifies to support U.S. military intervention in Syria during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., Sept. 4, 2013. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, right, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, not pictured, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also testified. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Joined by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the two Cabinet officials explained the president’s position, as they did yesterday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Hagel acknowledged the gravity of the issue, describing the U.S. commitment to the use of force as “the most difficult and important decision America’s leaders can make.”

“The Department of Defense – our leaders -- have spent days and days going over every option, every contingency,” he said.

The primary responsibility, he emphasized, is to ask the “tough questions” before making any military commitment. “The American people must be assured that their leaders are acting according to U.S. national interests with well-defined military objectives and with an understanding of the risks and consequences involved.”

To better make an informed decision, Kerry said, the president and his national security team gathered facts following the Aug. 21 sarin gas attack by President Bashar Assad’s regime.

“Our evidence proves that they used sarin gas, and it proves that they used some of the world’s most heinous weapons to kill more than 1,400 innocent people, including at least 426 children,” he said. “The risk of not acting is greater than the risk of acting.”

Hagel said he shares Obama’s sentiment that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is not only “an assault on humanity” but a serious threat to America’s national security interests and allies.

The Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons poses grave risks to U.S. friends and partners along Syria’s borders, including Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, the defense secretary said.
“If Assad is prepared to use chemical weapons against his own people, we have to be concerned that terrorists groups like Hezbollah, which has forces fighting in Syria supporting the Assad regime, could acquire them and use them,” he said, adding that the risk of chemical proliferation also creates a direct threat to U.S. personnel in the region.

“We cannot afford for Hezbollah or any terrorist group determined to strike the United States to have incentives to acquire or use these chemical weapons,” Hagel said.

An emboldened Syrian regime, Hagel explained, portends possible erosion of the nearly century-old international norm against the use of chemical weapons, which has helped to protect U.S. forces and the homeland.

Weakening that norm could hearten other regimes to obtain or use chemical weapons, he said, citing North Korea’s massive stockpile that threatens the South Korea, a treaty ally, and the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed there.

“Our allies throughout the world must be assured that the United States will fulfill its security commitments,” Hagel said. “Given these threats to our national security, the United States must demonstrate through our actions that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.”

Key partners and allies such as France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pledge support for U.S. action in the region, he said.

Military objectives are not to put U.S. military “boots on the ground,” Hagel said, but involve actions tailored to respond to the use of chemical weapons.

“We have made clear that we are not seeking to resolve the underlying conflict in Syria through direct military force,” Hagel said. “A political solution created by the Syrian people is the only way to ultimately end the violence in Syria.”

Chemical weapons, Hagel warned, “make no distinction between combatants and innocent civilians and inflict the worst kind of indiscriminate suffering.”

U.S. forces will be ready to act when the president gives the orders, Hagel told the House panel.
“The word of the United States must mean something,” Hagel said. “It is vital currency in foreign relations and international and allied commitments.”

Kerry urged the representative to support the president’s plan.

“This is not the time for armchair isolationism. This is not the time to be spectators to slaughter. This is not the time to give permission to a dictator who has already used these weapons the unfettered ability to continue to use them because we stepped back,” he said.

Storytellers at Peterson

by Michael Golembesky
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

9/4/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Every Airman has a story, but in the shuffle and stresses of everyday life, many are simply lost or forgotten, which is why the Storytellers project was started.

Storytellers began in July 2012 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, by Master Sgt. Lee Hoover, Incirlik American Forces Network station manager, and Tech. Sgt. Kitsana Dounglomchan, 39th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School instructor.

So how did Storytellers make it from Turkey to Peterson?

"It really struck a chord with me ... I thought it would be very unique and something that we had never seen before at Peterson ... I really wanted to try it out," said Tech. Sgt. Kimberly McDougle, 561st Network Operations Squadron unit training manager and Storytellers event coordinator here.

Storytellers is designed to be a live event where fellow Airmen can share their amazing stories of resilience, motivation and professional pride in a relaxing environment that allows the audience to connect and learn.

"I watched Gen. Welsh speak to the cadets on YouTube -- every Airman has a story -- and to be a good leader, to truly care about your people, you have to know their stories," said McDougle. "There are so many amazing stories that have gone untold; this is a great opportunity to hear some of those stories from our fellow Airmen."

Storytellers is a learning experience for service members of all ranks with a emphasis on educating and mentoring younger Airmen.

"Especially for younger Airmen, it's not death by PowerPoint. It is gripping, you are there in person and they are going to tug at your heartstrings," said McDougle.

Peterson AFB is hosting its own Storytellers event from 8-10 a.m. Sept. 12 at The Club ballroom, building 1013, and will offer all attendees a complimentary breakfast and Starbucks coffee.

Senior Master Sgt. Alvey Brandon, 561st Network Operations Squadron, will narrate the event where those in attendances will hear uplifting and inspiring stories from the following Airmen:
· Capt. Mark Muller, 561st Network Operations Squadron
· Master Sgt. Benjamin Horton, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron
· Master Sgt. Walt McClung, 21st Force Support Squadron
· Master Sgt. Stephen Schexnayder, 561st Network Operations Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Cerrissa Witte, 21st Medical Operations Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Kyaw Min, 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron
· Airman 1st Class Janee Tamayo, 21st Dental Squadron

Go to https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=166582&k=0367440C7355 to reserve a seat for this event. For information about Storytellers, contact McDougle at 556-6769.

Face of Defense: Transit Center Airman Strengthens Russian Ties

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
376th Air Expeditionary Wing

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 4, 2013 – Not many American airmen can say they are originally from Russia. Even fewer can say their military deployment has strengthened their family.

Air Force 2nd Lt. Liya Smolina translates an explanation for the role of the aircraft on the flightline to visiting Kyrgyz students at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 22, 2013. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

For Air Force 2nd Lt. Liya Smolina, chief host nation liaison for 376th Air Expeditionary Wing theater security cooperation, that's exactly the case.

"My entire family is Russian; that's where I was born," said Smolina, who is deployed from Tyndall, Air Force Base, Fla. "My grandparents on my mother's side came to America first, then I moved with my mom when I was 8, and I haven't lived in Russia since."

After living in North Carolina for another eight years, Smolina said, her family moved to Honolulu. Although Russian was her first language, she said, she mainly has spoken English.

"I think I'm more fluent in English than Russian right now," she said. "I think when you spend 17 years speaking another language, it becomes a little more difficult to recall certain words in your first language that you've only spoken for eight years. It's a little more difficult for me than English, but I still remember most of it."

When her mother became an American citizen, Smolina automatically became a naturalized citizen when she was 16. She became involved in programs such as ROTC in school, and learned about the military from friends who were serving, she said.

Her family supported her decision to join, she added, and she picked a career in force support, responsible for functions such as lodging, fitness, dining, honor guard, mortuary affairs, protocol and more.

"I'm not an interpreter back at my home station. I'm a personnelist," she said. "That was actually my first choice."

At her home station, Smolina served in readiness and plans before being assigned to the community services flight, where she was in charge of 10 on-base services, including the bowling center.

She also took the Defense Language Proficiency Test and was certified as being fluent in Russian, and now she serves here as an interpreter.

"The Air Force Personnel Center found me by my scores, contacted my commander and asked me if I wanted to deploy to Kyrgyzstan," she said. "I said, ‘Definitely.’ I spoke with the interpreter that I replaced, and she gave me an overview of what she did daily. I kind of learned what I would be doing as I went along."

She quickly discovered the importance of her mission.

"Interpreters break the communication barrier that exists between the Kyrgyz and the Americans," she said. "We're in a foreign country where most of people speak Russian, and we need to communicate with them somehow. I think we're key to the mission, especially since we have so many people from the Kyrgyz Republic working here on base. Whenever we go out to the city and we need to communicate with schools, hospitals, clinics or anywhere, that's what the interpreters are used for."

Smolina acknowledged her Russian was a little rusty at first, as she hadn’t used it regularly since she was 8 years old. Her deployment has helped her refresh her language skills, she said.

"Coming out here and using the Russian language every day has definitely improved my proficiency," she said. "Back home, I don't speak Russian every day. I had to brush up on my Russian a little bit before I came -- reading books, newspapers and watching Russian shows kind of helps recall some words."

Smolina said this deployment has enabled her to reunite with her Russian heritage.

"Whenever I speak with my mom, I'm speaking Russian now," she said. "Before this, we mostly communicated in English. Now, every time we talk, I try to use only Russian, and she says I've improved. Having this job has improved my family ties."

Smolina said this deployment has added to how she sees the future of her career.

"I'm very lucky to have gotten this deployment very early in my career," she said. "It's going to be interesting to go back to my regular job. I love it, but it's going to be different. I think I'm going to seek out other opportunities in the Air Force for foreign language speakers and see if there are other interpreter opportunities out there for me.

"It's been great working here,” she continued. “Our mission definitely makes the job a lot better. When you're doing great things and helping out people, what's better than that?"

3 SOPS celebrates DSCS B6's 10th Anniversary

by Scott Prater
Schriever Sentinel

8/29/2013 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- As the Air Force continues to introduce follow-on satellites to its space constellations, older legacy vehicles tend to lose a bit of their prestige. In many instances, the newer vehicles are light years ahead in technology. They hold more capability, are more robust and easier to operate. However, legacy versions continue to provide mission capability.

The Defense Satellite Communications System B6 satellite will reach its 10-year anniversary Aug. 29. As the men and women of the 3rd Space Operations Squadron celebrate that milestone they also recognize the spacecraft's outstanding service and continued effectiveness.

"DSCS B6's 10 year anniversary represents an important milestone for current and former members of 3 SOPS," said Lt. Col. Chadwick Igl, 3 SOPS commander. "I am very proud of the initiative and dedication of the entire DSCS team. Our mission partners from Lockheed Martin, Aerospace, US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, the 53rd Signal Battalion, Defense Information Systems Agency, and the Regional SATCOM Support Center have enabled B6 to continually provide the warfighter with critical communication capability. This anniversary serves as a worthy tribute to the entire DSCS constellation's contribution to our great nation."

Launched in 2003, B6 is the newest DSCS III vehicle on orbit. Stationed in geosynchronus orbit above the East Coast, it provides U.S. military users worldwide with nuclear-hardened, anti-jam, high-data rate, long-haul communications.

Users include the defense communications system, the Army's ground mobile forces, the Air Force's airborne terminals, Navy ships at sea, the White House Communications Agency, the State Department and other users. U.S. Strategic Command has overall responsibility for the DSCS constellation.

Though B6 can be a considered an engineering marvel, it's older than many of its operators. Originally, it was slated to be launched along with its sister, A3, aboard one of the space shuttles during the late 1980s, but plans for its launch were derailed by the Challenger disaster of 1986. Ultimately, it launched on Aug. 29, 2003, five months after A3.

It was the gold standard of wideband communication satellites until a follow-on vehicle known as Wideband Global SATCOM-1 launched in October 2007, but even as the Air Force transitions to the next generation WGS vehicles, DSCS satellites, including B6, continue to provide critical space effects to the warfighter. That fact is not lost on 3 SOPS operators and engineers, who have continued to innovate and enhance B6's life and capability.

"We've done a lot to make the vehicle better in the past few years," said Capt. Ashley Maher, 3 SOPS operations flight commander. "Our 3 SOPS engineering shop has made a huge effort to automate and improve command and control functions. We've also introduced updates to the vehicle's software, which helps it operate more efficiently. It may be considered old, but it's more capable than it's ever been and it operates more efficiently as well."

Since it's the newest of the DSCS satellites, Air Force leaders plan to make good use of the vehicle for many more years to come. It is slated to be replaced on orbit by one of the Air Force's newest WGS vehicles, which is currently in a testing phase, but B6 will continue to serve in a residual capacity.

"B6 will continue to stay online and provide effects depending on constellation optimization and USSTRACOM needs," Maher said. "After 10 years on orbit, B6 is still extremely relevant and providing important and critical effects to the warfighter."

Air Combat Command Public Affairs

9/3/2013 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va., -- Two Air Combat Command senior non-commissioned officers who made potentially career ending decisions have come forward to share their stories as part of the "Every Airman Counts" program.

Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parsons, ACC's command chief, found himself facing a potential court martial. His professional issues spilled over into his home life, affecting his wife and children.

"Much of what we face is normal, but we seem to think we are the only ones it has happened too. It is recoverable, we can turn things around," said Parsons. "Those who love you will forgive you if you truly commit to change."

He recalls dark days when he doubted his ability to recover from self-destructive decisions. In his mid-20s, upon graduating Army Ranger School, the fast-rising staff sergeant had been selected to lead a fire team and had flourished during Operation Desert Storm. After all these successes, he found himself facing a deferred promotion to technical sergeant, possible court-martial, and, potentially a divorce which would have affected his relation with his children.

He was an early adopter of the pillars of resilience, starting first with the spiritual pillar, which he cites as the most important pillar in his life.

"About a year into my assignment at Lackland AFB, my wife and I visited University Baptist Church," said Parsons. "A small group of people from the church would come to visit us and we soon were fully involved and growing in our faith. That is when I committed to reading the Bible daily."

His morning routine now includes working out, eating healthy, communicating with his family and focusing on the day ahead. In sharing his story, Parsons hopes to inspire Airmen to share their experiences, in order to build stronger ties as an Air Force family.

Today, CMSgt Parsons says he has a vibrant marriage and his family recently celebrated the marriage of his middle child. His career is successful according to most people's measure of success. He still guards himself from destructive behavior by relying on the spiritual, physical, social, and mental pillars of resilience.

Senior Master Sergeant Randall Renaud, 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron engineering flight superintendent at Langley Air Force Base, Va., has been sharing his story for some time. Following a DUI, court martial and full rank demotion from technical sergeant to staff sergeant, Renaud dedicated his time to rebuilding his reputation and focusing on how he could prevent fellow airmen from making the same mistake.

"I spoke with a dozen [First Term Airmen Center] classes and commander's calls at various squadrons to try to influence people not to do what I did, and think before you drink," he said.

Fourteen months after receiving the DUI and reconstructing his reputation, Renaud felt it was time to move on and volunteer for a new assignment.

"When you get an Article 15, there are two routes you can take: You can take the route where you give up, or you can take the route where you try to rebuild yourself," he said. "I wanted to take the route to rebuild myself, so I needed a fresh start. I took an assignment to Yokota Air Base, Japan."

Parsons and Renaud are participating in the Air Force initiative known as "Every Airman Counts."

To enable dialogue and spur resilience, the Air Force designed a blog to share ideas, collect suggestions, concerns, stories, and questions for Air Force leaders and SAPR officials. The SAPR blog site asks Airmen to make inputs on how the service can better combat sexual assault.

"We can't fix this issue sitting in the Pentagon," said Gen. Larry Spencer, the Air Force vice chief of staff. "We need each and every one of you to get engaged in addressing this issue... this crime, and it is a crime. We need to know exactly where you feel the issues are, so we can address them with laser focus. I need every one of you helping us find ways to ensure dignity and respect are prevailing qualities in our daily relationships."

Editor's Note: Benjamin Newell, Staff Sergeant Ashley Hawkins and the Air Force News Service contributed to this report.

CSAF outlines focus areas to Misawa Airmen

by Senior Airman Derek VanHorn
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/30/2013 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen from the 35th Fighter Wing here reveled in the opportunity to welcome Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III to the base Aug. 28.

In his first official visit as chief of staff, Welsh was candid and amicable while speaking with hundreds of Airmen during an Airman's call where he touched on key issues regarding the current state of the Air Force and the role of Misawa Air Base.

In particular, he highlighted the 35 FW Wild Weasels F-16 Fighting Falcons who perform the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission as "operationally outstanding."

"Everything I have seen here at Misawa has been fantastic," Welsh said. "The mission you do here is very important; it's the only unit in this theater that does this full time and the people here are really good at their job. The Air Force is about being a great team, and Misawa is a great microcosm of that."

As part of his two-week tour in the Pacific, Welsh has met with Airmen and families to discuss opportunities and challenges in the region, while also taking time to discuss issues with partner Airmen in Korea and Japan.

"The partnership with Japan and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is very important to regional security," Welsh continued. "There are all kinds of people who trust each other, and that's what partnerships are all about. You live that every day, so thank you for that."

With a year under his belt as chief of staff, Welsh shared what he considers vial focus areas to ensure Air Force success moving forward -- common sense, communication and caring.

"Common sense has to be the first standard we apply every time," said Welsh. "If you find a standard that doesn't agree with common sense, it's wrong."

Earlier this year, the Air Force launched a campaign called "Every Dollar Counts" where Airmen and civilians were encouraged to submit money-saving ideas to a website over a 30-day period. At the end of the month, more than 11,000 ideas were submitted. The feedback was overwhelming and there were many great ideas, but one looming question left Welsh a bit rattled: Why do 11,000 Airmen feel like they have to go to a website to bring up a good idea?

"They don't feel like someone is going to listen and no one wants to rock the boat," he said. "Those are horrible reasons and we have to change them. We have to listen to our Airmen."

Welsh said one change he would like to see in the Air Force is the way we care for people. He said 22 years of consistent deployments has been taxing on Airmen, and more importantly, it has also worn out their families. With all the questions about funding and the future of the service, Welsh said it's a priority of his to put a focus on the people.

"The better we take care of them, the prouder they are to be in this business and wear this uniform," he said. "The more challenge they feel, the more likely they are to stay in. I don't want to lose Airmen, they're fantastic."

Welsh talked about how he would also like to see improvements made to enhance the effectiveness of communication, using the recent challenges with tuition assistance as an example.

Last year alone, around 104,000 Airmen were paid TA that totaled approximately $200 million. When TA was cut earlier in the year, thousands of service members were quick to express their displeasure, causing legislative action for the Air Force to transfer funds to reinstate the program. Welsh said what many people didn't understand was where this money was forced to come from. The Air Force was left with no option but to cease operations for two flying squadrons critical to air superiority for the remainder of the year.

"Our job is to fight and win the country's wars. There's only one option there, and that is to win," Welsh said. "If we lose the next war, nobody will care how well we treat our people. This information was out there, but we need to do a better job of communicating it to everyone."

But he foot stomped that communication also includes just listening to them.

"Every Airman has a story and each one is unique. But if you don't know the story, you can't lead the Airman," Welsh said.

He also hit on the status of sequestration and civilian furloughs, apologizing and defining the unfortunate developments as a breach of faith.

"Our civilians are critical to every mission area we have," he said. "We're doing everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen again next year."

Airmen were provided the opportunity to ask the chief of staff questions in an open-floor format. Recurring questions were rightly centered on budget constraints and impacts of sequestration.

Welsh said both civilians and uniformed service members have felt the effects of budget cuts, and thanked everyone for their patience as Congress works through these big-picture issues.

"This is an unusual time; everyone is going to be affected financially, and we have to understand that," Welsh said. "We are going to get smaller as an Air Force. We have to focus on our core missions; they haven't changed since 1947 and that's who we are. Anything around the perimeter of that is going to go away."

Welsh finished by saying the Air Staff is working tirelessly to review and implement long-term programs across the board to provide stability to all those serving, and he expects to tangibly see the effects of many of these efforts in the coming months.

Partnership Mission Promotes Security, Capacity in West Africa

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2013 – More than 90 U.S. Marines set sail this weekend for a three-month mission along the West African coast – but for the first time in the Africa Partnership Station program, it was aboard a Dutch navy ship, alongside their counterparts from Holland, Spain and the United Kingdom.

U.S. Marine Corps Africa Partnership Station Security Cooperation Task Force personnel embark from the Royal Netherlands Navy landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam in Rota, Spain, Aug. 30, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis S. Alston   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The international task force departed Rota, Spain, early Aug. 31, aboard HNLMS Rotterdam, a Royal Netherlands Navy landing platform, reported U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Charles Watkins, security cooperation task force officer in charge for African Partnership Station 13.

Through the next three months, the crew will visit Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Benin, exercising security techniques and tactics with host-nation militaries, Watkins told American Forces Press Service during a telephone interview as the crew prepared to leave Rota.

The combined military engagements stem from Africa Partnership Station, one of U.S. Africa Command’s most successful programs. The international security cooperation initiative, established in 2007, aims to strengthen global maritime partnerships through training and shared activities.

The goal is to improve maritime safety and security along the Gulf of Guinea, Watkins explained. By building capacity among African partner nations, the mission increases their ability to strengthen their borders, control their territorial waters and crack down on illicit trafficking and other destabilizing activity.

Africa Partnership Station 13 includes a new dimension. Rotterdam, home ported in Den Helder, Netherlands, is supporting the mission under a companion capacity-building program called “African Winds.” The ship’s sailors will work with African partners to build capabilities in maritime activities such as visit, board, search and seizure; maritime operations center planning and execution; and small boat operations.

Meanwhile, the security cooperation task force will work with African ground forces to conduct amphibious landings and exchange best practices in jungle warfare, hand-to-hand combat, humanitarian assistance and noncombatant evacuations.

The 2nd Marine Division’s 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion from Camp Lejeune, N.C., is contributing the ground forces. The Marine Corps Reserve’s Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, headquartered at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is providing two UH-1N Huey helicopters and crews for the mission.

Watkins called the opportunity to help build capacity among African partners while working hand-in-hand with other NATO forces “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for the participants.
Some have never deployed before, and Watkins said he personally was looking forward to his first deployment in a noncombat role.

“The main, driving force is relationship building,” he said. “We want to build relationships, not only among the NATO forces, but also among the African forces. So getting to work hand in hand with the Dutch, the Spanish and the Royal Marines is a huge thing.”

Africa Partnership Station 13 provides a forum to increase interoperability as participants work through the challenges of different languages, equipment and standard operating procedures, he said.
For example, as a pilot, Watkins described the challenges of landing a U.S. helicopter aboard a Dutch ship. The crews practiced the procedures they and their Dutch hosts had worked through during a planning conference in Amsterdam before departing Rota, he reported.

For participants aboard Rotterdam as well as in Africa, the mission “is an opportunity for all the Marines to work side by side, working on [standard operating procedures], sharing with our partners and learning from each other and learning how we can work better together,” Watkins said.

 That understanding, he said, strengthens their ability to mutually respond to a future crisis, if required.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa welcomed the Rotterdam’s contributions as an extension of Africa Partnership Station’s international collaboration.

“We are thankful for the U.S.-Dutch partnership, as well as the involvement of the U.K. and Spanish Marines, and our African partners as we collaboratively seek to enhance the security environment in Africa,” said Navy Capt. John B. Nowell Jr., deputy chief of staff for strategy, resources and plans. “African navies have made great strides to increase their maritime capabilities, and this iteration of APS sets the stage to further sharpen those skills.”

Other participants shared Nowell’s enthusiasm about the mission.

“The Royal Netherlands Navy recognizes the U.S. Africa Command APS program as the most effective way of gradually improving the West African maritime security environment,” said Dutch Marine Corps Col. Frederik R. Swart, commander of Netherland Landing Forces participating in the mission. “Also, working with an international marine task force enhances interoperability among all coalition forces involved.”

This year is the second time the Dutch Navy has contributed a major naval asset to Africa Partnership Station. HNLM Johan De Witt, a landing platform dock ship, participated in 2009.

“The U.K. sees this engagement as an excellent opportunity to contribute to the security of the West African maritime environment and to conduct some valuable cross training with African partners and members of the combined security cooperation task force,” agreed Royal Marines Maj. Anthony Liva, officer in charge of the Royal Marines’ Whisky Company of the 45 Commando aboard Rotterdam.
“Training will be progressive and focused,” Liva said. “I have no doubt that every nation involved in this initiative will benefit immensely.”

Hagel Urges Congress to Support Military Action Against Syria

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2013 – Emphasizing the need to protect U.S. national security interests, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today he supports President Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional authorization for the use of force in Syria.

Hagel joined Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in making the administration's case for the use of force in response to a large-scale sarin gas assault which the administration says was carried out by the Syrian government against its own people.

Explaining the rationale behind what he acknowledged was a difficult decision for the national security team, Hagel urged Congress to consider not only “the risks and consequences of action,” but also the consequences of inaction.

Hagel reiterated the president’s assertion that Syria’s use of chemical weapons represents “a serious threat to America's national security interests and those of our closest allies.” It poses a grave risk to partners along Syria’s borders, including Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, he said.

Even more concerning, he said, is the possibility that terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, which has forces in Syria supporting President Bashar Assad’s regime, could acquire and use them.

“This risk of chemical weapons proliferation poses a direct threat to our friends and partners and to U.S. personnel in the region,” Hagel said. “We cannot afford for Hezbollah or any terrorist group determined to strike the United States to have incentives to acquire or use chemical weapons.”

Syria’s actions risk eroding the nearly century-old international norm against the use of chemical weapons that has helped to protect the U.S. homeland and U.S. forces operating across the globe, the secretary said. Weakening that norm, he said, could embolden other regimes, such as North Korea, to acquire or use chemical weapons.

“Given these threats to our national security, the United States must demonstrate through our actions that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable,” Hagel said.

The military objectives in Syria would be “to hold the Assad regime accountable, degrade its ability to carry out these kinds of attacks and deter the regime from further use of chemical weapons,” he said.

The Defense Department has developed military options to achieve these objectives and positioned U.S. assets throughout the region to successfully execute this mission, he reported. “We believe we can achieve them with a military action that would be limited in duration and scope,” he told the Senate panel.

Hagel said he and Dempsey have assured Obama that U.S. forces will be ready to act whenever the president gives the order.

Meanwhile, officials are working with U.S. allies and partners, he said. “Key partners, including France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and [other] friends in the region have assured us of their strong support for U.S. action,” he reported.

Hagel underscored that the military force would not be used to resolve the underlying conflict in Syria – an issue he said must be settled through a political solution by the Syrian people themselves. He noted that Kerry is leading international efforts to help the parties move toward a negotiated transition, and expressed a commitment to “doing more to assist the Syrian opposition.”

Military actions being contemplated would be tailored specifically to the use of chemical weapons, he assured the panel. “Assad must be held accountable for using these weapons in defiance of the international community,” he said.

In presenting the case for military action, Hagel urged the committee to recognize the consequences of not doing so.

“There are always risks in taking action, but there are also risks with inaction,” he warned. “The Assad regime, under increasing pressure by the Syrian opposition, could feel empowered to carry out even more devastating chemical weapons attacks” that he recognized make no distinction between combatants and innocent civilians.”

Refusing to act also would undermine the credibility of other U.S. security commitments, Hagel said, including Obama’s commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“The word of the United States must mean something,” the secretary said. “It is vital currency in foreign relations and international and allied commitments.”

Noting that he, Kerry and Dempsey all have served in uniform, Hagel said they have witnessed the “ugly realities” of conflict up close. “But we also understand that America must protect its people and its national interests,” he said. “That is our highest responsibility.”

Hagel called the decision to use military force “the most difficult decision America’s leaders can make,” and urged vigorous congressional debate on the issue.

“All of those who are privileged to serve our nation have a responsibility to ask tough questions before that commitment is made,” he said. “The American people must be assured that their leaders are acting according to U.S. national interests, with well-defined military objectives, and with an understanding of the risks and consequences involved.”