Face of Defense: Son Reflects Army Father’s Work Ethic

By Army Pfc. Ian Valley

205th Public Affairs Operations Center

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 8, 2014 – Shaun Hamilton, a linebacker from Carver High School in Montgomery, Ala., is ranked 102nd in the ESPN 300, a list of the 300 best high school football players in the country. He has a 3.9 grade point average, is graduating a semester early from high school, and is the front-runner to be his class’s valedictorian.

He credits his military father for the drive that allows him to conquer obstacles to success.

Lt. Col. Shelton Hamilton, an Army Reserve soldier for 23 years, serves with U.S. Army Reserve Deployment Support Command. Throughout his life, Shaun said, he has seen sacrifice, hard work, dedication and discipline pay dividends in his father's career.

Shelton said his mindset came from his Army Reserve background and the Army’s values, and that Shaun has translated those values in the classroom and on the football field.

Growing up, Shaun had to go through the same hardships as other children of a military parent, including two deployments for his father.

“There were missed birthdays and holidays, and that's tough for a young kid,” Shaun said. “I'm very lucky to have him here to see me now.”

Watching his father work hard at his military career contributed to his own athleticism, Shaun said.

“I saw him when I was little waking up in the morning and go running through the neighborhood, getting ready for a [fitness] test.” he added.

Now Shelton gets to see his son do the same thing.

“I have seen this guy wake up at 5 a.m., go out and work out, take a shower, go to school, and at the same time, exceed academically,” the proud father said.

Discipline, duty, hard work and diligence were never just words in the Hamilton household -- they were the way to live, and they were displayed in day-to-day life.

“I believe in doing whatever it takes to get the job done, and I have instilled that into my son,” Shelton said. “I told him, ‘If you’re going to play football, you're going to go out there and do whatever it takes to compete.’ He has done whatever it took to get him into this situation. It wasn't a given.”

Shaun's hard work and “go-get-it attitude” were the driving forces to his early success in life, Shelton said. Father and son agree it started with discipline.

“I coached him through 6th grade and instilled hard work and expectations,” Shelton said. “He knew what Dad expected out of him. You have to have discipline to succeed in the classroom, as well as on the football field. [I] had the discipline to join the military and be successful in the military.”

Shelton had the chance to watch Shaun play at Bryant-Denny Stadium here Jan. 4 in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the premier high school football event in the country. The game featured more than 90 of America's best senior high school football players.

21st SW fallen Airman returns home

from 21st Space Wing Public Affairs

1/8/2014 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Capt. David I. Lyon, 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron, returned home for the final time Jan. 6.

Lyon was part of the 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron and was killed in action Dec. 27 when the enemy attacked his convoy in Afghanistan. Lyon was working with Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, performing a Combat Advisory mission with Afghan National Army Commandos.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Capt. Lyon during this difficult time," said Col. John Shaw, 21st Space Wing commander. "The Air Force and our Nation lost one of our very best. We will never forget him or his sacrifice."

During his time in the 21st LRS, Lyon served as the Director of Operations as well as the 21st Mission Support Group executive officer.

"Capt. Lyon was a model officer and exemplary young leader," said Col. Chuck Arnold, 21st MSG commander. "Dave was special -- he was an intelligent, charismatic, natural leader who was widely respected by senior leaders, his peers and the Airmen he led."

Members of Team Pete lined the streets to honor Lyon as he departed Peterson Air Force Base for the final time. Lyon's funeral was Jan. 8 at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Lyon, a 2008 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy, was interred at the USAFA cemetery.

(More information from the funeral ceremony will be published online and in next week's Space Observer.)

Shelton discusses importance of space defense

by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

1/8/2014 - WASHINGTON -- Space is fundamental to the economy, the military and the way of life in the United States and officials must continue to guard against challenges in the domain from adversaries, the commander of Air Force Space Command said today.

Gen. William Shelton shared with students at George Washington University here some of his worries and concerns.

In the past 60 years, space has grown from a domain with a lone satellite beeping across the heavens to a $300 billion economic engine.

"The advent of space systems has allowed citizens and governments to engage routinely in the world around them, communicate at the speed of light and to tap sources of information previously unavailable to them," Shelton said.

Satellites are now essential parts of the 21st century way of life for all nations. Weather forecasting, precise navigation, instant communications and many other capabilities tie space to Earth.

These are incredibly important during crises. The death tolls from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Japanese tsunami in 2011 would have been even higher had not satellite surveillance and communications been available, he said.

Space has also changed the military. "In all of recorded history, when armies met on the battle field, they fought for the coveted high ground because of the obvious advantage it gave them over the adversary," Shelton said. "Later, balloons performed that function and even later, airplanes were used as observation platforms."

Space is the ultimate high ground, he said.

Shelton's command has a global mission with global responsibilities reaching all corners of the planet and up to 23,000 miles in space and geosynchronous orbit. "We get space-derived information to all sorts of users, including the military operators of our nation's Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines -- those who rely on timely and accurate data," he said.

Intelligence, logistics and other operationally relevant data flow seamlessly to the front lines in Afghanistan as well as to other parts of the world where U.S. forces are operating.

"I can't think of a single military operation across the full spectrum from humanitarian relief operations all the way to major combat operations that doesn't somehow depend on space for mission success," Shelton said. "But frankly, this dependence on space has also become quite a bit of a double-edged sword. Our potential adversaries have been going to school on us during these many years of combat operations."

Adversaries are mimicking American procedures and looking for chinks in American armor, the general said. "More concerning, as they've watched us, we've watched them develop systems to challenge our advantages in space," he said.

"Because space launch is so expensive, we loaded as much as we could onto our satellites -- multiple missions, multiple payloads, " Shelton said. "After all, we were operating in a relatively peaceful sanctuary in space."

Not today. "As I look at the next 20 years in space, we have a difficult, up-hill climb ahead of us," he said. "I equate this to the difficulty of turning the Queen Mary. You send the rudder command and the delayed response tries your patience."

To sustain space services, the United States must consider architectural alternatives for future satellite constellations. "These alternatives must balance required capability, affordability and resilience," he said. "There are many options that we're actively studying right now. The notion of disaggregation is one. And what we mean by this is moving away from the multiple payload, big satellite construct into a less complex satellite architecture with multiple components."

Distributing space payloads across multiple satellite platforms, increases U.S. resiliency. "At a minimum, it complicates our adversaries' targeting calculus," he said.

Air Force Wounded Warriors hone skills while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

by Master Sgt. Jerome S. Tayborn
15th Wing Public Affairs

1/7/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- 

More than 120 wounded warriors arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to prepare for the 2014 Wounded Warrior Pacific Invitational.

The WWPI is one in a series of adaptive athletic events leading up to the 2014 Warrior Games, an annual competition among wounded warriors from all branches of military service.

The Air Force athletes will train on the fundamental techniques of cycling, seated volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball, they will also scrimmage against, JBPHH Airmen, the Chief's Group and Pacific Air Forces senior leadership Jan. 5-7.

After the practice competitions the thirty Air force athletes will face off against the 90 other athletes for the Wounded Warrior Pacific Invitational Jan. 8-10.

The scrimmage games help the Air Force wounded warriors prepare for the Invitational.

"Competing in wheelchair basketball is very intense," said Staff Sgt. Blake Coney, 647th Logistic Readiness Squadron material management specialist and volunteer competitor.

"There's a lot of multitasking involved in the sport. Being able to see the court, pushing the wheelchair, and dribbling, are all very difficult tasks," said Coney.

Coney is one of several JBPHH Airmen who volunteered to practice with the Air Force wounded warriors.

"The wounded warriors that I practiced with are really sports enthuse and I like that, but they also know how to have fun." said Coney. "It's a lot to take in; the biggest challenge was dribbling and controlling the wheelchair. This experience has made me have a lot more respect for these warrior athletes."

Tech. Sgt. Ryan Pinney Wounded Warrior from the Arizona Air National Guard said these sport camps are fun and help to produce good camaraderie.

"It's a great opportunity to compete against new players and more experienced players. But every sport still needs structure, and requires a leader or captain within the team. But in these competitions were not focused on rank or titles. It's not about active duty, National Guard or civilian, it's all about the camaraderie and the most important aspect of the game is to just have fun." said Pinney.

First combat deployable F-22s arrive at Tyndall

by Staff Sgt. Rachelle Blake
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/7/2014 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- Tyndall Air Force Base received the first five-of-24 F-22 Raptors scheduled to transfer from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 6 as part of the new combat mission.

The aircraft are now a part of the 95th Fighter Squadron, which reactivated in October 2013.

"We have been talking about the arrival of this mission for a few years," said Lt. Col. Erick Gilbert, 95th FS commander. "Unfortunately, we had a one year delay, but today we were able to successfully bring in the first wave of aircraft."

He said six more will arrive in February, with six more in March and the final wave in April.

The squadron's mission is to project unrivaled combat power in support of national military objectives and combatant commander requirements through strategic application of 5th generation air dominance fighter aircraft and personnel.

"The 95th Fighter Squadron showing up represents a new era of capability at Tyndall," said Col. David Graff, 325th Fighter Wing commander. "No combat aviation unit has ever deployed out of Tyndall Air Force Base. Now, we will have the largest collection of F-22s in the world and will stand ready to project air power and defend our nation's freedom."

Base officials expressed the importance of this as the next step towards the new combat mission, responsible for deploying a large number of Airmen and aircraft at any given time.

The new mission adds to Tyndall AFB's current role as the home of F-22 pilot training. In total, more than 50 of the world's most advanced aircraft will call Tyndall home, making it the largest single-base contingent of F-22s in existence. More than 1,100 positions are associated with the new mission.

"We are bringing in close to 1,100 uniformed members to Tyndall plus their families, which will bring us back to a lively state like we had a few years ago," Gilbert said.

The transfer of the planes and people does not come without its challenges, but base leadership is confident the 95th FS will come out on top, thanks to the help from the Airmen and civilians at Tyndall and the local community.

"Bay County has not let us down in the 72 years we have been here and I know our partnership will continue to grow and prosper ... today is a great day," said Graff. "The sound of freedom just got a little louder over the world's most beautiful beaches."

B-52 upgrade to increase smart-weapons capacity

by Mike W. Ray
Tinker Air Force Base Public Affairs

1/8/2014 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) -- Tinker AFB Airmen will update ground maintenance and mission planning software in support of a new Air Force contract that will increase the B-52 Stratofortress's "smart-weapons" capacity by 50 percent.

The $24.6 million agreement stipulates that Boeing will develop a modification to existing weapon launchers so the aircraft can carry smart weapons in the bomb bay, which will enable aircrews to use the B-52's entire weapons capacity.

"With this modification, we're converting the bomb bay from dropping just gravity-type bombs to releasing precision-guided weapons," said Jennifer Hogan of Boeing Communications.

"When you combine that ability with the B-52's unlimited range with air refueling, you have an efficient and versatile weapon system that is valuable to warfighters on the ground," said Scot Oathout, the Boeing's B-52 program director. "This weapons capacity expansion joins the Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) program, a comprehensive communication upgrade that's being installed on the aircraft, to give the warfighter even more flexibility."

Boeing will produce three prototype launchers for test and evaluation. Initial capability is expected in March 2016, and potential follow-on efforts could add more weapons and allow a mixed load of different types of weapons.

Upon completion of the first phase of the upgrade, the B-52 will be able to carry two dozen 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions or twenty 2,000-pound JDAMs. Later phases will add the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, or JASSM, and its extended-range variant, as well as the Miniature Air Launched Decoy, or MALD, and its jammer variant.

The bomb bay renovation will enable the B-52 to carry all of its weapons internally, thereby increasing fuel efficiency in flight. The modernization work will use parts from existing Air Force rotary launchers repurposed for conventional missions, as well as hardware and software already developed for the wing pylons.

Engineers from the 76th Software Maintenance Group, 557th Software Maintenance Squadron, B-52 Software Avionics Flight here, are modifying the 1760 Integrated Weapon Bay Upgrade, or IWBU Ground Maintenance Computer Program to test out the additional Integrated Weapon Interface Unit being added in the bay location on the B-52 in order to launch additional weapons from the weapons bay location.

The primary function of the Ground Maintenance Computer Program is to test the B-52 Offensive Avionics System Prime Mission Equipment that is capable of communicating with the Avionics Control Units via the MIL-STD-1553A data busses and the Fiber Channel. The Ground Maintenance Computer Program will detect faults and aid in fault isolation of Prime Mission Equipment Line Replaceable Units on the aircraft. The GMCP software will execute within the Avionics Control Units and communicate with the Line Replaceable Units via the MIL-STD-1553A data busses and the Fiber Channel. Ground testing of this effort will occur in late 2014.

In addition, engineers from the 76th SMXG, 557th SMXS, B-52 Software Avionics Flight are transitioning mission-planning software from a unix-based Mission Planning System to a Windows-based Joint Mission Planning System. The B-52 JMPS Unique Program Component v1.0 software release will include conventional mission planning support for B-52 Software Blocks 04 and 05. It also adds capability for all variants of JDAM, JASSM and MALD at the bay location to support capability added by the 1760 IWBU program. Formal Qualification Testing will be accomplished by July 2014, and the software will fielded by July 2015.

The CONECT system will enable Stratofortress aircrews to send and receive information via satellite links, which will enable them to change mission plans and retarget weapons while in flight; currently, mission information must be uploaded to a B-52 before a flight. In addition, pilots will be able to interact better with other aircraft and with ground forces.

Other improvements will include a state-of-the-art computing network with workstations at each crew position and an integrated digital interphone with increased capacity that will allow crew members to talk to each other on headsets equipped with noise-canceling technology.

The $76 million CONECT upgrade installation will be performed during programmed depot maintenance by the 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, while Boeing will provide the low-rate initial production of the first CONECT kits, along with spare parts and maintenance and service at Tinker AFB.

The B-52H was delivered to the Air Force in 1961-62. Those aircraft have been kept aloft through regular maintenance and periodic upgrades. For example, GPS capabilities were incorporated into their navigation systems in the late 1980s. Citing engineering studies, Air Force officials have said the heavy bombers could keep flying for at least another quarter-century.

Memorial honoring fallen Airman unveiled

by Staff Sgt. Jacob Morgan
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

1/8/2014 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, was honored by more than 150 attendees from the 21st Space Wing, his family and EOD members from the area at a dedication ceremony Jan. 5. During the ceremony, as the wind chill reached -1 degree Fahrenheit, Col. John Shaw, 21st SW commander, issued the order to rename El Dorado Street to Seidler Street, the future home of the EOD flight.

Matthew Seidler was killed by an improvised explosive device exactly two years before the dedication -- Jan. 5, 2012 -- while deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, performing route clearance while attached to an Army platoon. The rest of Seidler's team, Team "Tripwire," Tech. Sgt. Matthew Schwartz and Senior Airman Bryan Bell, also lost their lives that day and were honored at the ceremony.

During the ceremony Shaw described Seidler's dedication to the Air Force.

"I am very honored to be speaking here today," said Shaw. "Matthew Seidler was a great Airman and a selfless American and that is what we are here to remember and celebrate. For those who have given the last full measure of devotion to our nation and the cause of freedom, we can never do enough, but we do our best to honor them, to remember them and to follow them along the path of dedication and service to something greater than ourselves."

Shaw spoke on the impact Matthew Seidler had on those closest to him and those who never had the opportunity to meet him.

"We have all certainly come to know of Matthew Seidler's courage and heroism. Whether you knew him directly or not, he has made a difference; not only for this nation, but in the lives of his loved ones, members at Peterson (AFB) and those across the EOD community," said Shaw. "Explosive ordnance disposal is an extremely dangerous job. When there is a threat, Airmen like Airman Seidler are the ones who go forward to safeguard others from harm. To Mr. and Mrs. Seidler and all of those who loved him, I do not know what words or length of time will allow you to truly heal or if the mourning will ever stop, but I hope that the dedication of this street and park may bring some measure of healing."

In addition to renaming the street, there was a park and memorial dedicated in his honor.

The memorial at Seidler Park was designed by members of the 21st CES. Special focus was brought to the plaque, which was explosively engraved by members of the 21st EOD. After accepting an identical copy of the plaque that now sits at the Seidler Park memorial, Seidler's father removed his coat, scarf and gloves before speaking in the freezing temperatures.

"I am braving the cold for a reason today; Matt's entrance into the military started cold," said Marc Seidler, Mathew's father. "When he graduated boot camp, it was the coldest day in 30 years. He stood outside for the pre-run at 5 a.m. and the ceremony at 8:30 a.m.

"How they stood in 13 degree weather in dress blues is phenomenal to me," said Marc Seidler.

Marc Seidler continued by saying Matthew seemed the happiest he had been in years just before he was killed in action. He also thanked the Air Force and the EOD family for the support and inclusion into the EOD community.

"We are here to celebrate Matt, what he did for his country and the Air Force and what the Air Force did for him. We feel lucky that we have had so many of you to hold us in these dark times," said Marc Seidler. "I would never call myself religious, but I am sure spiritual now. I am warmer standing here now than I was sitting down with my jacket on, Matt is here keeping me warm."

Marc Seidler concluded the ceremony with a poem he wrote for his son before his son's memorial in 2012.

Another sleepless night, my son.
Another sleepless night

Our Journey's been long and hard, so long and hard

You went places we can never go
Seen things we will never see

But were closer now, closer now
Closer than we have ever been

You left us when you were so far away, so far away

But we are together now, together now.

Your face we will forever see, because now you are inside of me

We get out strength from knowing that you would have wanted us to know...
That you left us following your dream

And in that dream you will come back to us...
To help us understand.....
That what you did was for all of us...
To protect this great land.

So now that we are closer now, closer now
We reach out to hold your hand

Another Sleepless night my son
Another sleepless night

But we must get up, must get up, to face the day
So much work to do, so many things to say
People must know, must never forget, what happened that day
So very far away, so very far away

Another Sleepless night my son
Another sleepless night
Rest my son, rest, your work here is done.

Love, Dad

Fairchild Airman earns STEP promotion to technical sergeant

by Airman 1st Class Sam Fogleman
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

1/7/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Tech. Sgt. Vikas Kumar received his technical sergeant stripe under the Air Force's Stripes for Exceptional Performers program during a 92nd Medical Group commander's call at the base theater Dec. 18, 2013.

Kumar serves as the 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Aerospace & Operational Physiology Flight NCO in charge. He was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and grew up in India. He moved to the U.S. in 1998 and joined the Air Force in 2004.

"I was surprised and shocked beyond my imagination," Kumar said of his promotion announcement. "I have never been surprised like that in my life. It was a very happy ending to the year for the Kumars after some turbulent times."

The STEP program is designed for rare situations that, in the commander's judgment, clearly merit promotion.

"He is a critical part of our team who takes on senior NCO and officer-level work," said Lt. Col. Matthew Albright, 92nd AMDS Aerospace & Operational Physiology flight commander. "He is a leader amongst his peers and will be a future senior NCO leader in our career field, and the Air Force. He is actively involved at all levels of the wing, group and squadron, to include having Air Force-level impact. I cannot think of a finer NCO to have received this STEP promotion."

Kumar's promotion is a tribute to his service and is the latest in a long line of awards and decorations. He was named 2012 Air Mobility Command Aerospace Physiology NCO of the Year.

"The new rank brings with it additional responsibilities, and a lot of expectations from family as well as work," Kumar said. "I will work hard to ensure that I meet these responsibilities and expectations."

Hagel Hosts South Korean Foreign Minister for Pentagon Meeting

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2014 – In a meeting with South Korea’s top diplomat at the Pentagon yesterday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reaffirmed what Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby called “the crucial role of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, which serves as a linchpin for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.”

In a statement summarizing Hagel’s meeting with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Kirby said Hagel and Yun reaffirmed that both sides must continue to make progress to develop and acquire critical military capabilities necessary to maintain and strengthen the combined U.S.-South Korean defense posture.

“The two discussed the importance of maintaining a robust combined defense of the Korean Peninsula as a strong deterrent against provocations from North Korea,” he added. Hagel emphasized the importance of the U.S.-South Korean alliance and confirmed the solid U.S. commitment to the defense of the South Korea, Kirby said.

Today, Defense Department officials announced the rotational deployment of the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, from Fort Hood, Texas, to Camps Hovey and Stanley in South Korea.

This combined arms battalion, with about 800 soldiers and its own wheeled and tracked vehicles, will deploy Feb. 1 to conduct operations in support of U.S. Forces Korea and the U.S. 8th Army, officials said. “This action supports the United States' defense commitment to the Republic of Korea as specified by the mutual defense treaty and presidential agreements,” they added in a statement announcing the deployment.

The battalion will provide a trained and combat-ready force that will deploy with its equipment to South Korea, and the equipment will remain there for use by follow-on rotations, they added. The soldiers will return to Fort Hood upon completion of their nine-month rotation.

Challenges never stop as Air Force officer clocks up 20 '13s' in 2013

by Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

1/7/2014 - RAF MILDENHALL, England -- To those who know him, Lt. Col. Chris Bennett, the former 100th Operations Support Squadron commander, isn't just a runner - he's a running machine.

While many dedicated runners run regularly, some may take a break every now and then. But not Bennett.

Not only has the Houston, Alaska, native and the Airlift and Tanker Requirements chief at Headquarters Air Force Reservist Directorate, Air Staff, Pentagon, run every single day for the last three years (as of Dec. 31, 2013), he recently completed his goal of running "20 13s" in 2013.

January 2014 had barely begun and he was off doing a 50 km race - completing it in 5 hours, 33 minutes.

To date, Bennett has amassed a veritable list of running achievements - 27 marathons, at least 35 half-marathons and four ultra-marathons. Most consider an ultra-marathon as anything more than a marathon, but not one to do anything by halves, two of those the lieutenant colonel ran were (in his words) "only 50-km races" - which he ran within a week of each other. The third was advertised at 57 miles, but in reality, ended up being 61 miles to the finish line. It was the London-to-Brighton ultra-marathon Bennett ran while he was stationed at RAF Mildenhall in England.

Keep on running

While most people's bodies would still be recovering for days after completing such races, Bennett just threw on his running shoes and hit the ground, each and every day.

When 2013 arrived, Bennett set himself a new challenge for the year - to make his own "2013." He decided to run 20 half marathons before the end of the year. On Dec. 8, he achieved his goal. He completed 13 of those "13s" (or, 13.1 miles, to be more specific) while he was at RAF Mildenhall.

Where it all began

High school was where he really took to running, transitioning from "riding the pine" (slang for sitting on the bench for most of the game) and not playing very much on the school soccer team, to running track and cross country. Bennett ran his first marathon in 1993, and his second in 1998, when he qualified for the Boston Marathon.

"I continued to run the occasional marathon, and balance that with job, family and church," Bennett said. "Running was and is one of many pillars in my life, but by no means the sole one."

Marathon achievement

During 2006 to 2007, while at intermediate developmental education in Norfolk, Va., he took advantage of school life and ran his first and second sub-three-hour marathons; he completed the Boston Marathon in 2:57. Soon after, he moved to Germany, where he began sharing his passion for running with others.

"The highlight in Germany was a group of approximately 10 from European Command Headquarters that travelled to Athens, Greece, to run the Athens Marathon, where it all began," he said. "I also ran my marathon (personal best) while in Germany, at the Koln Marathon, in 2:53."

After moving to England, Bennett continued to run heavily, encouraging and motivating others to push their limits as well.

"I recognized that I wasn't intimidated by the marathon - I was confident that I could show up at the starting line and was going to finish," he said. "That's what encouraged me to consider going longer; really long ... so I contacted the race director for London-to-Brighton, and they let me in the 2010 race - but I had to bow out due to an injury. But I reattacked for the 2012 race."

Bennett placed seventh out of 196 runners, in a time of 10:50. Only 88 runners finished the ultra-marathon in the required time limit of 13 hours.

What doesn't kill you

"That was my first attempt at really pushing into unknown territory, and I'll admit I didn't really know what I was doing, or how my body would react as I hit 40 or 50 miles," he said. "But, I liked the idea of entering a race not knowing if I had the ability to finish, and to find out how mentally and physically tough I was. It's mostly mental - just the ability to keep moving forward."

Bennett's running streak - which he began counting three years ago - hasn't been broken for a day since. He's logged 6,153 miles, run more than 831 hours and burned more than 611,000 calories. And he's still running every day.

"If you do the math, since (Jan. 1, 2011), I run approximately 5.5 miles each day," Bennett said. "Of course, some days it's more, some days it's less. My threshold is at least 30 minutes a day. In addition to the 20 '13s' in 2013, I set a goal to run 2013 miles, and passed that in mid-December. I did the same in 2012, and finished that year running 2119 miles."

Keep on running ... and running

For some people, doing any kind of running the day after you've just run a marathon is probably out of the question. Bennett does a "30 minute easy run - just to tick the box, if you will.

"My recollection of those runs, including the one after London-to-Brighton, it's usually a slow jog; perhaps a shuffle in some cases," he said. "For the half-marathons, it would normally be about 30 minutes, but could be longer. My longest run the 'next day' was another half-marathon ... yes, one weekend I did back-to-back half marathons!"

So, does this seemingly super-human runner ever break a sweat?

"Well, I'm usually pretty wiped after a half-marathon, but it depends a little on how hard I ran it," Bennett said. "Yes, I break a sweat; definitely when the weather is hot - August on the east coast of the U.S. - but even in cold temperatures, you still sweat. Over the course of the year, I was able to recover better from a half-marathon effort. With one or two easy days afterwards, I'd be back to 100 percent."

According to Bennett, his goal of running 20 half-marathons in 2013 came from a moment of insanity as he pondered a running goal for the year. His wife, Molly, also had something to do with it when she set about researching half-marathons all around the U.K. after the British ultra-marathon and before the family was to move in July 2013. Her husband wanted a challenge, and she was going to make sure he got it ...

Everyone needs a challenge

"It seemed like a good idea at the time, albeit a bit ambitious when considering it would be a race approximately every 2.5 weeks," Bennett said. "I was a sitting squadron commander, getting ready to (move) in July. It took some planning to find enough races to meet the requirement, and I tried to 'front-load' the year, as I knew I'd have some attrition (one race was cancelled due to bad weather)."

There would also be periods where he wouldn't be able to race due to moving to the U.S., so he didn't schedule races in July.

"In truth, the goal was 20 races of a half-marathon or longer," Bennett admitted. "Seventeen of the 20 were designated half-marathons; three were other distances, to meet the 20; in fact, the first two were a 19-miler and a 15-miler respectively. Race 17 was my contribution to a 200-mile relay (where one of his teammates was Col. Chad Manske, formerly the 100th Air Refueling Wing commander at RAF Mildenhall) from Cumberland, Md., to Washington D.C."

His team took a total of approximately 28 hours to run the relay race; Bennett's contribution was a total of 22.3 miles, divided into legs of 8.8, 9.2 and 4.3 miles.

"It took some creative scheduling to meet the goal, but I inquired with my running colleagues, including Molly, and all said 'yes' that my contributions to the relay were worthy of being counted toward the goal."

Wherever in the world they are held, surely many half-marathons must be the same to run?

"Indeed not," Bennett said firmly. "Assuming the distance is the same, which is often plus or minus a little for a half-marathon, the variables are the terrain (road versus trail, flat versus hilly) and weather (hot, cold, rain or wind). All those factor in to make each reason unique. I really enjoy the trail ones, but they are naturally slower and require a lot of concentrated focus due to rocks, roots, and foot placement to stay on your feet, and to watch for trail markers to make sure you don't get lost. Road races for the most part don't require a focus on the terrain and course, and allow more focus on (things such as) pace and mile splits."

When the going gets tough, the tough get running

One of Bennett's toughest half-marathons in England was at the Cheddar Gorge, in Somerset, England.

"It was more-or-less a two-loop event, but to get to the start we had to climb up about a 600-foot hill - and I do mean climb!. At the end of loop one, we were back down at the bottom of that hill, and to start loop two, we were back to climbing - walking was the only option - to get back to the 'flat' portion where we could run again. But it was also great, as two of my kids were running the 5 km simultaneously, and I saw them near the 5 km finish as I was completing loop one, and getting ready to ascend the 'cliff!'"

Running a half-marathon at his former base, RAF Mildenhall, was a highlight for Bennett.

"We were a small community of runners, and it was great to see so many people finish their first half-marathon; one of the highlights for me is sharing my love and the benefit of running with others," he said.

Running in the family

Having such a dedicated runner for a dad and husband has certainly encouraged his family to get their running shoes on.

"But I don't force them!" Bennett said, delightedly sharing their achievements. "Molly is a veteran of two half-marathons, and she'll be toeing the line at this spring's 'Rock and Roll' half-marathon in D.C., along with my 15-year-old daughter, Katie Reed (her first half-marathon). Katie Reed was also a team member of our Ragner Relay last fall, a track and cross-country letterman in her freshman year at Lakenheath High School, and most recently a third-place overall female at the Blue and Gray 5 km (23:25) in Fredericksburg, Va.

"My 11-year-old son, Eli, has a natural gift to be a runner as well - he currently runs about a 6.50 mile and doesn't do much training," he said. "Both Katie Reed and Eli ran the Cheddar Gorge 5 km, and his tenacity enabled him to edge Katie Reed at the finish line. We have healthy competition in the family!"

Famed scientist, author visits RAF Lakenheath

by 2nd Lt. Keenan Kunst
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/7/2014 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- On the afternoon of Dec. 29, 2013, Royal Air Force Lakenheath received a surprise and impromptu visit from a member of the local community and a famed figure in the global scientific community.

Preceding the unexpected visit, RAF Sqn. Ldr. Jerry Neild, RAF commander, received a late-night call - an inquiry for a visit on behalf of Professor Stephen Hawking.

Hawking, a theoretical physicist and U.S Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, best known for his best-selling book "A Brief History of Time," is a professor at and director of the University of Cambridge's Centre for Theoretical Cosmology. He had previously sought to visit RAF Lakenheath to scatter the ashes of a friend, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant. However, he had been unable to make it. As 2013 came to a close, he found himself available and in good health and contacted the base through his late friend's widow. Despite the late notice, U.S. Air Force and Ministry of Defence personnel made the visit happen.

Hawking arrived on base the following afternoon, greeted by Neild and Col. Mark Slocum, 48th Operations Group commander, as well as several security forces personnel, who Neild described as "astonished."

Following a windshield tour of the base and a briefing at Radar Approach Control Hawking visited members of the 48th Maintenance Group in a Protected Aircraft Shelter, where he could see one of the Liberty Wing's F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft up close.

Even beside the Strike Eagle, many saw Hawking as the most impressive presence in the hangar.

"We were in awe of Hawking and were truly honored to meet him," said Master Sgt. Patrick Robison, 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintenance debrief NCO in charge, who helped organize the PAS visit. "The visit lasted less than an hour, but it was an experience that I will always remember."

"Having someone as decorated as him take interest in something we, the 48th MXG, maintain and fly here at RAF Lakenheath, is something special," added Staff Sgt. Joshua Angus, 48th AMXS cann manager, who also helped show Hawking the Strike Eagle.

As the tour came to an end, Hawking even posed for photos with members of the 48th Security Forces Squadron who had waited well after their shifts' end to meet the noted scientist. Neild said the impression he left was clear and that "his reputation and standing was recognized at all levels."

The 48th Fighter Wing's personnel also left an impression on Hawking, who, according to a message relayed by Neild, said he was taken aback by the intelligence of the Airmen he met and how much responsibility they have to bear.

The Jennifer Vaughan story: one Airman's comeback journey from near death

by Karen Petitt
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

1/2/2014 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- There are words Staff Sgt. Jennifer Vaughan faintly remembers hearing from her family and fiancé as she slowly woke up Feb. 18, 2013 from a 62-day induced coma, but it was the look on their faces that made her understand that something was "very wrong."

Unable to respond and comprehend the magnitude of the ordeal they spoke of, she shut her eyes and went back to sleep. For this once athletic and fit 30-year-old Airman who had just returned from a five-month deployment in Afghanistan, it would take several more months for her to fully wake up and regain the strength to adjust to her new life--one that a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer, and a life-saving medical procedure had changed forever.

As she lay in her hospital bed at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, Jennifer's family helped her fill in the missing pieces of more than two months of darkness. She remembered feeling ill back in October of 2012 after she returned from her deployment where she served as a public health technician. She thought maybe it was just a combination of the flu and adjusting back to the States that was causing her fatigue and shortness of breath.

For her fiancé, Master Sgt. Dan Grabski, the first in a series of terrifying moments came when she could not stop violently coughing. He rushed her into a local emergency room Dec. 16, 2012, and two days later she was flown to Barnes Jewish Medical Center in St. Louis where her condition continued to deteriorate until she was put on life support. The cancer had directed itself into her lungs and caused them to bleed, thus preventing the oxygenation of blood.

So, on Christmas Day in 2012 when Dan should have been opening presents with his three children and proposing to her as he had originally planned, he and her parents were instead presented with a difficult choice of whether or not to take her off life support as her lungs had completely failed despite being on a ventilator. No one was willing to let her go but they did not know what to do.

It was Dr. Rizwan Romee, a Washington University oncologist with the Siteman Cancer Center, who also believed it was too soon to give up and suggested a treatment for her that is normally only performed on newborn children and had never been tried before on adult patients with this condition.

Dr. Romee explained, "I see her parents crying. I see her boyfriend next to her crying. One of my nurses told me that he had planned to propose to her. I felt desperate and helpless, and it was in that moment that I felt we should try the ECMO machine, which acts as an artificial lung. The machine (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) pumps blood from the body and oxygenates it and then pumps it back into the body. It's very risky, and while most infants are on this machine for a few days, Jennifer was on this machine for 45 days."

Adding to that risk was the fact that Jennifer was also undergoing chemotherapy for her leukemia while being on the ECMO, which Dr. Romee said was "completely unchartered territory for the entire team of physicians treating her as nobody knew what to expect."

During this time, Dan brought the engagement ring into her most every day during his visits to be by her side. His life had a new normal to it, and he said he's grateful to his unit, the 375th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, for their flexibility and support. Her unit, also the 375th AMDS and more specifically the people in her Public Health Flight, went "above and beyond" in offering their support as well.

Tech. Sgt. Miranda Minshew, her supervisor, decided to put a team together to raise money as part of the St. Louis half-marathon in support of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. They raised $5,300 and named their group "Team Hope" in honor of Jennifer. They also decorated her hospital room--a place she would stay until July 2013--and there were more fundraising activities that provided gift cards for Jennifer's family.

"My flight is my family, and we've come together in so many ways to support our Airman," said Minshew. "I believe we've been changed for the better, and we can truly say that we live up to the Airman's creed that "We Will Never Leave an Airman Behind."

Miraculously, Jennifer not only recovered from the hemorrhaging, but her leukemia has achieved complete remission.

Dr. Romee said, "She has an excellent prognosis with the chances of her leukemia ever coming back as being quite low. Jennifer changed my perspective toward dealing with very sick patients. She taught me to trust my instincts in desperate situations and to try 'out-of-the box ideas' before giving up on those who may have few, if any, treatment options."

He also said she was lucky to be in one of the few centers in the country to have the expertise to perform this procedure. A team of surgeons and nurses rushed to place her on the ECMO that Christmas Day before she developed permanent brain damage from the lack of oxygen, and the intensive care team monitored her every minute for six weeks until she came off the ECMO and ventilator support.

With the worst behind her, Jennifer began to focus on her rehabilitation and recovery--and to live.

"It breaks my heart to think about the moment of decision before Dr. Romee stepped in and how hard that was for my family," she said. "I want to tell everyone that there is so much out there that can help us, and we shouldn't give up so easy. I can't imagine what would have happened if it weren't for Dr. Romee. In fact, I'm indebted to the entire team of doctors and nurses who took care of me ... how can I say thank you for my life back? I can't thank them enough."

With Jennifer on the mend and things looking brighter, Dan brought in a backpack with a baseball where the ring was hidden and officially proposed on March 9. It was a love of sports that brought them together--their first date being a hockey game--and for Jennifer, a St. Louis native and "huge" Cardinals fan, "it was the perfect proposal."
Now, back home and looking forward to the New Year, she reflects on how "life is so different."

"I look different. I feel different," she said. "Thankfully my cancer is in remission and at some point my lungs should be strong enough to where I won't need to carry my own oxygen. This experience was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through, but I know it was for a reason. Part of that is hopefully to help other patients who can be saved with the same procedure I was ... that would be ideal."

Also different will be life in the military which will come to end soon as she is undergoes a Medical Evaluation Board.

"I joined the Air Force to be part of something special, something bigger than myself, and I've enjoyed my time in the service. I've met lifelong friends and obviously met my future husband through the military," she said. "I spent five years in North Dakota and served proudly for my country in Afghanistan, which was an amazing experience I will never forget. I was incredibly fortunate to be stationed back in my hometown before all this happened to me, and the support from my flight showed how much the Air Force is like family. However, I know that I'm not physically able to keep up with the demands the Air Force expects from us because of tissue scarring and just how much my body has been so beat up ... so I'm OK to separate now after enduring this past year."

She said she's working on planning a very simple wedding with immediate family and in taking care of a surprise new addition to their family--her first child due in June.

"I thought I was getting ill again, but found out the great news. I'm nervous and happy, and I'm focused on being as healthy as possible for our child. It's been an incredibly challenging year filled with every emotion possible. One thing I've learned is that it's OK to feel a wide range of emotions as you work through any trauma, and that it is a necessary part of the healing process."

The smile and twinkle in her eyes have returned, said Dan, just like when they first met.

"I knew she wanted to live and to laugh again," he said. "I never gave up on her because I knew she had the strength to make it. She is an amazing woman, and I'm lucky--we're all lucky--to have her."

Cavalry Rotational Deployment Supports Asia-Pacific Rebalance

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2014 – The rotational deployment of a cavalry battalion from Fort Hood, Texas, to South Korea next month is part of a broader effort to rebalance U.S. forces to the Asia-Pacific region in support of the defense strategic guidance released in January 2012.

Defense Department officials announced today that the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, will deploy to Camps Hovey and Stanley on Feb. 1.

About 800 soldiers that make up the combined-arms battalion will deploy for the nine-month rotation with their wheeled and tracked vehicles in support of U.S. Forces Korea and 8th U.S. Army, officials said. Their equipment will remain in South Korea for use by follow-on rotations when the unit returns to Fort Hood.

The deployment underscores the U.S. defense commitment to South Korea and is part of enduring U.S. rebalancing efforts within the Asia-Pacific region, officials said. Posturing a trained, combat-ready force in the region allows for greater responsiveness to better meet theater operational requirements, they added.

An Army attack reconnaissance squadron became the first U.S. rotational land forces in the region when it deployed to South Korea in September. The 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, deployed with 30 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Its 380 members are operating in support of 8th Army, the 2nd Infantry Division and the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, Army Lt. Col. Brian Watkins, the squadron commander, reported.

As with the deploying cavalry battalion, the squadron will leave its aircraft behind after the deployment is completed for use by the follow-on rotational unit, which will come from U.S. Army Alaska.

The Army rotational deployments are just one aspect of the rebalance. Marine Rotational Force Darwin was the first new rotational arrangement in the Asia-Pacific region designed to bolster U.S. theater engagement.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced during a joint news conference with President Barack Obama in November 2011 that Australia would host the rotational units. The intent, they said, was to build a rotational presence up to a 2,500-member Marine air-ground task force that would exercise with the Australian defense force and train regional militaries.

In building toward that goal, the first rotation of about 200 Marines deployed to Australia in April 2012, just months after the United States and Australia announced the initiative, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matthew Puglisi, officer in charge of Marine Rotational Force Darwin, told American Forces Press Service in a telephone interview.

The second rotation of U.S. Marines wrapped up its six-month deployment to Darwin in late September, with the third rotation to increase five-fold when it deploys this spring, Puglisi reported. About 1,150 members of Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, are scheduled to deploy from Camp Pendleton, Calif., complete with an infantry battalion, logistics and aviation detachment.

Meanwhile, the Navy has started littoral combat ship rotations in Singapore. USS Freedom completed its first rotation in November, basing its operations at Singapore's Changi Naval Base after its arrival in April.

Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, the U.S. Pacific Command commander, is a big fan of rotational units, which he said provide an “uptick in presence” that complements that provided by the 330,000 service members permanently based within the Pacom area of responsibility.

“What they provide is an ability to work with our allies and to leverage the capabilities of the allies across all aspects of peace to conflict,” Locklear said. Rotational forces, he added, also provide a regional presence that could pay dividends if the United States had to flow more forces into a particular area to protect the interests of the United States and its allies.