Providing Care: Senior Airman Taryn Summers

by Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

2/6/2014 - TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Novak, United States Special Operations Command, lay in the middle of the road waiting for care after his motorcycle had collided into a car early Tuesday morning outside of the Dale Mabry gate of MacDill Air Force Base.

Senior Airman Taryn Summers, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, arrived on the scene unaware of the events that had taken place only a few moments earlier but was ready to provide care.

"When I parked my car, he was surrounded by a group of elderly women who were trying to provide care; I immediately made them aware that I was a certified EMT and took charge of the situation," commented Summers.

Novak commented he was suffering from pain in his legs; however, Summers wanted to verify this was the only thing he was suffering from.

"I conducted a blood sweep and checked him for broken bones," stated Summers. "I discovered that his femur may be broken and that his ankle was bruised and swollen."

Lt. Col. Richard Briscoe, United States Central Command, arrived on the scene and assessed the situation.

"Senior Airman Summers was in charge of the situation. Tampa police and medical were still en route, but Senior Airman Summers had triaged the man for wounds, and directed a civilian to keep the man's head and neck stable," commented Briscoe. "When I asked if anyone had performed Self Aid and Buddy Care, she mentioned that she had and that she was also an EMT. Since she was doing great as the first-responder, I turned my attention to directing traffic and ensuring the scene was as safe as possible."

Briscoe mentioned to Summers how lucky the victim was she took the initiative to get advanced medical training, and thought to himself how glad he was that she was in our Air Force.

"I was impressed with how calm and confident she was during the entire event," stated Briscoe.

When the medics arrived, Summers relayed her exam findings, and they deduced to the same conclusion as Summers, commenting Novak's injury was in fact a broken femur.

"This is the first time I have taken on a real-life trauma situation alone," stated Summers.

"I usually work with a team or a class on medical emergency scenarios."

Summers has no military medical background. She works as an executive assistant at the 91st ARS; and prior to this assignment, she was an executive assistant at the 6th Operations Support Squadron.

The flame that pushed Summers to take an emergency medical technician course at Hillsborough Community College was her two small children.

"My two children are daredevils; so when my oldest son, Bradley, broke his arm I panicked as a mom and the training I received from the military went out the window," commented Summers. "I didn't want that to happen again; so about a week later I enrolled into a 16-week EMT course."

Summers efforts did not go unrecognized; Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, coined Summers for the services she provided to Novak.

Summers stated, "To be completely honest the recognition is a bit overwhelming. I only really did what I was trained to do."

18 AF Surges in Africa Mobility Airmen: Ready and Responsive, Anytime, Anywhere

by Maj Michael Meridith
18th Air Force

2/5/2014 - Spring 2014 -- 18 AF Surges in Africa

Mobility Airmen: Ready and Responsive,
Anytime, Anywhere As the death of former South African president Nelson Mandela drew the world's attention to the African continent, Mobility Airmen raced against the clock to ensure President Obama's security, communications, and mission support was in place.

Within days, those would become part of an international effort to help end violence in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Minutes after the international press announced Mandela's death on Dec. 5, planners at the 18th Air Force and the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Air Mobility Command's operational warfighting arm, began working to support anticipated presidential travel to South Africa. Linking up with their counterparts at U.S. Transportation Command and Air Forces Africa, 18th Air Force planners immediately began the complex effort of orchestrating the movement. And then things got complicated.

An initial deadline of Dec. 11 quickly shifted to Dec. 10, leaving the team with only about 60 hours to move thousands of tons of equipment halfway across the globe in advance of the President's arrival. Capitalizing on lessons learned from earlier presidential trips to Africa, the planners crafted a sophisticated network of Airmen and infrastructure at overseas locations in Puerto Rico, the Indian Ocean, Africa, and Europe to support the 24 airlift aircraft, which included 23 C-17 Globemasters and a C-5 Galaxy. In addition, the lack of fuel availability over vast distances and in Africa mandated the support of four KC-135s and 12 KC-10s.

Around the same time, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced the United States would support French and African peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic, specifically airlift of Burundi troops to the CAR.

"Our ability to accomplish the short-notice planning to support the Burundian deployment without losing focus on the execution and branch planning for the President's travel demonstrates the dedication and agility of the 18th Air Force/618th team," said Col. Kurt Meidel, the 18th Air Force's Director of Operations.

Within days of the announcement, as the presidential support operation began to switch gears to the redeployment of personnel and equipment, 18th Air Force's Air Operations Center, the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), had already coordinated two C-17 aircraft to transport more than 800 Burundi peacekeepers and equipment from Uganda to the CAR, where they were greeted by cheering crowds.

"The scale of the rapid support of a presidential movement into an austere location with only 60 hours to execution was impressive," said Maj Gen Barbara Faulkenberry, 18th Air Force vice commander. "It was a testament to the phenomenal planning and coordination that is simply a fact of how we do business."

Simultaneous execution and quick pivoting is nothing new for Mobility Airmen. In 2011, Air Mobility Command forces successfully responded to the near-simultaneous demands of humanitarian relief to Japan while supporting combat operations in Libya. In the case of the Africa missions, the nimbleness of the enterprise built not only on support of past presidential missions, but also a foundation of continued engagement on the continent.

Since 2011, the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) has conducted engagements and training with African partner nations where air mobility operational support is either non-existent or insufficient. The squadron is a tailorable, expeditionary organization whose members have expertise in command and control, air operations, aerial port operations, and aircraft maintenance. Additionally, since December 2012, the 818 MSAS has conducted three engagements, training its counterparts in the Burundi military in cargo preparation and load planning.

"It was great working alongside the Burundi Air Force," said Capt Louis Crooms, 818 MSAS senior air advisor, who noted that the Burundis his team trained had since assisted in an African Union mission to Somalia. "It was great to know they were able to put the skills we taught to use. In fact, I recently received an email from one of my counterparts saying that all people we trained with were using those same skills for the Central African Republic mission. He thanked us and asked when we were going back. To me, that's the mark of success for our efforts ... Africans helping Africans."

Although operations in Africa continue, AMC planners continue to look "around the corner" in anticipation of new requirements, ensuring the flexibility and readiness that is the hallmark of Mobility Airmen.

"As Mobility Airmen, our charge is to be ready to respond anywhere on the globe where we're needed," said Faulkenberry. "Thanks to the expertise of our planners and our continuing efforts to build the capacity of our partner nations, we were able to very quickly answer America's call and support the international partnership seeking to stop the sectarian violence and restore security in the Central African Republic."

Effectiveness inspection begins for Fairchild's classic-association wings

92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

2/5/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE Wash.,  -- Fairchild Air Force Base's Unit Effectiveness Inspection capstone visit began Wednesday as the first inspection of a KC-135 Total Force Integration organization under the new Air Force Inspection System.

About 90 members from the Air Mobility Command Inspector General's inspection team, consisting of functional experts from various career field backgrounds, will inspect and validate the effectiveness of programs and self-assessment processes within the classic-association between the 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings.

"The UEI capstone will validate the Fairchild's Total Force culture of compliance," said Col. Brian Newberry, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "This inspection signifies our transition from a system of being 'evaluated' for compliance to a system of 'demonstrating' that we can measure our own compliance and mission effectiveness."

The capstone visit provides higher headquarters an external evaluation of wing performance based on four major graded areas: 1) Leading People; 2) Executing the Mission; 3) Managing Resources; and 4) Improving the Unit.

"In our usual association fashion, we immediately seized the opportunity to capitalize on the strengths of both wings and created a combined IG office," said Col. Daniel Swain, 141st ARW commander. "The 92nd and 141st IG teams have been in constant communication with both AMC and Air National Guard IG to make sure we are in line with the expectations under this new UEI concept. Our success is always in the partnership between both wings."

Unlike previous inspection processes, the UEI includes confidential interviews with some wing-level Airmen and family members called "Airmen-to-IG sessions" explained Col. Brian Hill, 92nd ARW vice commander.

"The interviews will help identify the needs and challenges of Airmen and their families in order to measure the command's overall effectiveness," said Hill. "The visit as a whole will provide MAJCOM and Air Force-level leadership an accurate evaluation of Fairchild's total-force compliance and effectiveness."

The UEI, which was officially launched Air Force-wide in June 2013, focuses on continuous mission readiness rather than one-time inspection readiness.

The in-person visit also helps identify areas where risks from undetected non-compliance are greatest, said Lt. Col. David Parlotz, 92nd ARW IG.

Outlined in Air Force Instruction 90-201, the UEI operates on a two-year cycle that requires wing and unit commanders to continuously inspect their own programs using the Management Internal Control Toolset program.

"MICT is the tool that allows units to keep the commander informed on the compliance of their programs," said Parlotz. "MICT helps continually identify focus areas to the commander and will serve as a starting point for the AMC IG inspectors during this UEI capstone visit."

Fairchild's UEI process first began in August when base members, spouses and contractors were asked to fill out a voluntary, anonymous survey to provide the AMC IG a baseline comprehension of wing processes.

Since then, the base has stood up a Wing Inspection Team to outline and perform self-assessment processes to ensure the effectiveness of the Commander's Inspection Program, or CCIP, while continually working with the AMC IG team and functional experts to ensure continual compliance.

Fairchild is the third AMC wing to be inspected under the new process. Little Rock AFB and Joint Base Charleston conducted their capstone visits September and December, respectively.

Explosives Safety Individual of the Year

from AMC

2/5/2014 - Spring 2014 -- Explosives Safety Individual of the Year

TSgt Byron K. Allen
375 AMW, Scott AFB, IL

TSgt Byron K. Allen is the Weapons Safety Manager for the 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB, IL. He is solely responsible for implementing the weapons safety program for the entire installation, in addition to providing safety oversight and support to 23 tenant units.

While deployed, he created numerous Explosives Site Plans for multiple Africa Command airbases, establishing munitions storage operations and combat aircraft parking that provided deployed Combatant Commanders with kinetic air power. As the Scott Air Force Base Weapons Safety Manager, he personally trained 38 additional duty weapons safety representatives and authored a comprehensive training and compliance guide. TSgt Allen also led munitions operations in the first ever Military Ocean Terminal Concord Air Force Prepositioned Fleet refresh operation, loading the Motor Vessel Bennett with 4.6 million pounds of net explosive weight. This returned the vessel to Pacific Command ahead of schedule, saving the Air Force over 5 million dollars.

TSgt Allen is a native of Enterprise, AL, and entered the Air Force in 1998. He began his career as Munitions Systems Apprentice and has served in various positions and fields: Conventional Maintenance, Munitions Control, Senior Munitions Inspector, and Precision Guided Munitions (Missiles). His assignments include Barksdale AFB, LA; Kunsan AB, South Korea; Elmendorf AFB, AK; RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, and finally Scott AFB, IL. He has deployed numerous times in support of Operation Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

Louisiana teen becomes Pilot for a Day

by Staff Sgt. Sean Martin
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

2/5/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  -- Sam Guimaraes, 17-year old native from Alexandria, La., was given the chance to become an honorary member of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., through the Pilot for a Day program, Jan. 4.

The goal of the Pilot for a Day program is to provide children who have serious or chronic medical conditions and their families the opportunity to see firsthand what Airmen do to support the Barksdale mission.

Sam was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer in 2012. He was very interested in the military and had a wish to visit Barksdale. Upon hearing this, Team Barksdale came together to make it happen.

"Last week, I got a call about Sam and his family," said Lt. Col. Chad Bigelow, 2nd Bomb Wing Command Post. "One thing they wanted to do was to come out to Barksdale and see the base for a day. Within a week, and with the help of Team Barksdale, we were able to come together and make this happen for them."

The day began with Sam and his family arriving on base, where Sam was presented with his very own flight suit, before attending a crew brief alongside aircrew from the 96th Bomb Squadron where he received squadron patches and coins to add to his collection.
From there, he received a tour of a B-52H Stratofortress from Airmen of the 2nd Maintenance Squadron and a munitions display from the 2nd Munitions Squadron. His day concluded with a ride in a B-52 simulator.

"I got to sit in the cockpit of the B-52, which had my name on the side of it," said Sam. "This was a big surprise to me. I was also able to try on helmets and survival vest that aircrew members use. It meant a lot to be able to come here today and look at all the stuff they had for me."

Every person who came in contact with Sam, had nothing but positive things to say about this upbeat and influential teen.

"Meeting Sam allowed me to take a pause from the hustle and bustle of the operational environment and allowed me to get a better perspective on our operations here and the impact they have on our local community," said Bigelow.

Sam and his family were very thankful and respected what the men and women of Team Barksdale did for them on this special day.

"We cannot thank people enough for what they have done for us today," said Denise Guimaraes, Sam's mother. "It's a great feeling that people can care this much and give their time, patience and energy toward this. It is nice to know there are these kind of people in the world out there who would give this much to make sure Sam has such an amazing day."

Environmental issues are high priority at Wyoming’s Camp Guernsey

By Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy McGuire
Wyoming Military Department

CAMP GUERNSEY JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Wyo. (2/6/14) - Soldiers, Airmen and Marines have a lot of training to do before entering the field of battle, and that training can sometimes make a mess or damage property.

At Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center, where tens of thousands of service members conduct such training every year, keeping the camp in the condition it was found is taken very seriously.

Not only are fuel spills, trash or water usage addressed, but so are historic and cultural sites on the busy military training area.

"Everyone coming here to train is briefed on environmental issues," said Pamela McClure, Camp Guernsey's environmental specialist. "And, everyone has to check in with me before leaving.
"I'm available 24-7 and will check out units day or night," she added. "We'll do a walk through and pick up even a salt packet. We must keep this area sustainable."

Dear to McClure's heart is the "tribal" population that she reports has used the grounds for 10,000 years. She said there are more than 1000 cultural sites on the camp, which include stone circles, and sites where hide scraping and chert gathering was conducted.

"There are places where only foot traffic is allowed, and some very sacred sites, where natives pray before entering." Gen. Steven Mount, when he was garrison commander, made those a no-go area, she added. "We have constraint maps, outlining how an area can be used." McClure takes part in annual meetings, where representatives of more than 20 tribes with an interest in the camp discuss issues.
According to Col. Richard Knowlton, garrison commander, McClure and her assistant Cassie Wells are in the field almost every day. "They are always studying what happened 10,000 years ago and what it will be like next year. They are very conscientious and enthusiastic about what they're doing."
Preserving the history also entails keeping the historic district looking pristine. If someone proposes a plan to build a structure, it is scrutinized and won't be allowed if it impedes a view, even at a great distance.

McClure said, "We won't build anything that upsets the visual element. We have to keep the flavor."
Besides historical preservation and cultural issues, the environmental department also deals with water issues and hazardous materials. Camp Guernsey is the only National Guard training facility that has its own water system and with that, comes close involvement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Also, water purification units need to get special permits to use water from the Guernsey Reservoir, as it can't be put back in. "We use any leftover water for dust suppression," McClure said.

High standards are also applied in the care and handling of hazardous materials, McClure said.
"It used to be someone might have left some oil or paint, but now we have lots of rules regarding storage of materials. Material safety data sheets (MSDS) are well organized in case of a problem."

The camp exceeds federal spill standards, as well. If a quart or more of oil or any hazardous liquid is spilled, it must be reported to the environmental office, however, that is not so the offender will be punished.

"I provide tools to help clean it up," McClure explained. "We understand, you're training and spills happen. We don't want anyone to get in trouble; we just want to get it cleaned up. If people are worried about getting in trouble, they might not report a problem. I look at it as a customer service."

News Archives

USS Halyburton Assists in Rescue of Panamanian Crashed Helicopter

By Lt. Mark Day, USS Halyburton Public Affairs

CARIBBEAN SEA (NNS) -- A Panamanian helicopter crashed killing one and injuring eight while working together with USS Halyburton (FFG 40) conducting operations in support of Operation Martillo in the 4th Fleet area of operations, Feb. 6.

The names of the victims will not be released until after notification of the next of kin and released by the Panamanian authorities. There were no U.S. service members or personnel hurt in this incident.

The Panamanian helicopter, a Bell 412, had arrived in the vicinity of the beached small craft and assumed monitoring activities from the U.S. helicopter when it crashed with nine people onboard.

The Halyburton, a guided-missile frigate, immediately assumed the role of search and rescue on-scene commander. While Cutlass 466, the MH-60R attached to the Halyburton from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 46, returned to the area to begin search and rescue operations.

Halyburton's helicopter Cutlass 466 transported six of the wounded to a hospital in Panama, while Panamanian forces rescued and are transporting the other two survivors.

Halyburton is currently deployed in the Caribbean Sea conducting counter illicit trafficking operations in support of Operation Martillo.

Operation Martillo targets illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus, and is an international, interagency operation which includes the participation of 14 countries committed to a regional approach against transnational criminal organizations moving illicit cargo.

This deployment is Halyburton's last deployment in her 30-year career, as she is scheduled to decommission later this year. Her keel was laid Sept. 26, 1980 and she was commissioned Jan. 7, 1984. She is named for Petty Officer 2nd Class William David Halyburton, a pharmacist's mate, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism, May 10, 1945, while serving with the Marine Rifle Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division on Okinawa.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command's joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

2013 Safety Office of the Year

by By Rita Hess, Staff Writer

2/5/2014 - Spring 2014 -- 2013 Safety Office of the Year

436 Air Wing
Dover Air Force Base, Delaware

Lt Col Jason Mills, Chief, 436 AW Safety at Dover AFB, says every Safety Office at every base works hard. But he is obviously proud of what his folks accomplished in 2013 that garnered them the 2013 Safety Office of the Year award.

"We do what's expected," he explained, "but we also make a proactive effort to get safety messages out rather than sitting in the background and responding to events. That's where I think we excelled. The staff did a tremendous job of creating events that effectively pass along safety messages. For example, on Super Bowl weekend, we had an alcohol awareness event where Airmen put on beer goggles and attempted to drive a tricycle through an obstacle course. Events like that are meaningful and they work."

Lt Col Mills also credits partners on base and off. "The Delaware Department of Transportation and Office of Highway Safety, our Reserve partners, and others provide information and resources that help make events more impactful than individual efforts."

TSgt Janusz Jaworek (Ground Safety) agrees. "We worked with partners when possible to conduct safety briefings and sendoffs. We partnered with AT&T and organized training to address distracted driving. AT&T brought in a simulator to show what it's like to text while driving. That high-tech hands-on experience was meaningful because Airmen felt like they were actually driving and texting."

Beyond doing what is expected, SSgt Ashley Smith (Ground Safety) says the Wing went above and beyond to expand on existing programs. "When I got here, for example, the Supervisor Safety Training wasn't being taught as often as it should have been. I saw that and I revitalized the program. This year we taught it on a monthly basis. It's important because it gives new supervisors the tools they need to keep the work environment safe."

MSgt John Willard, Flight Safety NCO, thinks one key to the Safety Office's success is the kind of passion SSgt Smith displayed--to see something that needs done and care enough to do it.

"Regulations and programs are similar base to base, but we built teams of people who had a passion to make things better. On the flight safety side, using BASH as an example, we coordinate with our CE, pest management folks, tower controllers, airfield management, our contractor--even legal. We bring teams of people together who have a passion for what they do."

MSgt Willard cited motorcycle safety as another example. "Losing someone on two wheels is harder to accept than a combat loss because it's preventable. People who are passionate about something like motorcycle safety emerge quickly, and we capitalize on it. They want to make a difference, so we plan events that let them. The good outcomes are because of them and their individual passions."

Lt Col Mills says MSgt Willard is, in fact, one of those people. "His passion is evident as he counsels and coaches riders. He received the 2012 AMC Rider Coach of the Year award, and we received the AMC Distinguished Motorcycle Safety Award multiple consecutive years from AMC. That shows the program maintains its excellence, which speaks to the people that put together motorcycle safety events. We had a professional racing team come talk to riders about safe equipment, managing through fatigue, and riding in different weather environments. MSgt Willard and the motorcycle safety reps make sure riders inside our base are trained and knowledgeable about safe riding practices."

On the Flight Safety side, Capt Aaron Klang reiterated that partners on and off base, as well as passionate individuals, make a difference at Dover. "We have a high volume of general aviation traffic around the base, which sometimes got closer to our aircraft than we prefer. We amped up our midair collision avoidance (MACA) program in the community, and we worked with Airfield Management, Air Traffic Control, squadron aircrews, and civilian pilots to mitigate that risk." Capt Klang says individuals spent time on weekends going to local airports to spread the word with pamphlets and presentations about MACA. "Individuals motivated enough to do that made us stand out," he said.

Ms. Lorie Bellamy, Ground Safety Manger, returned to Dover in mid-October after an overseas assignment, bringing some expertise back with her. "I was here a long time, gone for five years, and then came back," she explains. "On returning, I was concerned with manning issues and thought I might come back and find some broken programs. I was so wrong. The folks here have done a phenomenal job of keeping programs afloat. I'm simply helping fine tune their already solid programs." Lt Col Mills says Ms. Bellamy has suggested modifications that made the Dover Safety Office even more effective. "People share things that are working in other places. We adopt what's appropriate while carrying our own practices forward."

Safety folks from Dover also take their knowledge elsewhere. Lt Col Mills noted that Maj Bert King and Capt Dan Morgan (Flight Safety), who are currently deployed, are carrying their expertise with them while working in their deployed offices. "Their primary mission is not safety, but once you have learned to look at things with a safety mindset you are able to influence the process to execute challenging missions in a safe manner."

Absent the day of the interview was Mr. Ernest Natividad, Weapons Safety Manager, but LtCol Mills praised him and his weapons safety experts.

"Companies and agencies clamming in Delaware Bay occasionally dig up WW I and II munitions. The DoD and my Weapons Safety Officer are responsible for monitoring the safe destruction of these items. Last year, we worked with the Army to manage recovery and demolition of four mustard chemical rounds at a cost of roughly $2 million dollars."

Mr. Natividad also worked with community partners to organize a unique training event. "An old elementary school was going to be demolished," explained Lt Col Mills, "and he worked with state and local folks to conduct breeching practice. Rather than passing on the opportunity, Mr. Natividad worked with the appropriate agencies and ensured safety measures were in place to allow the training to occur with no injuries."

The BASH program at the 436 AW is another example of effective partnerships. While every base has such a program, Dover AFB faces some monumental challenges.

Birdstrike Control Wildlife Management contractor, Mr. Dave Curtiss, explains. "We are in the middle of the Atlantic flyway, the main bird migration corridor on the East Coast. Canada geese and snow geese funnel east of the Appalachian Mountains and either winter nearby or farther south, but the gull population is a constant threat because of the base's proximity to Delaware Bay. We are also surrounded by agricultural fields and nearby wildlife refuges, which provide additional habitats for migrating waterfowl."

Curtiss works with landowners to gain access to private property over an approximate five-mile radius around base, striking a balance between scaring away birds and not interfering with waterfowl hunters. Dover AFB also uses a bird radar detection system provided by the Air Force Safety Center that allows for an expanded capability to identify and track bird activity.

"Our BASH program is successful because of communication and cooperation between landowners, Airfield Management, CE, the tower, FAA--everyone working together," says Mr. Curtiss.

The 436 AW Safety Office works closely with the 512 AW Safety Office. MSgt Kevin Casquarelli from the Reserve 512 AW tells of a joint effort implementing a little-known regulation for working on aircraft in snow and ice. "It took mishaps while performing those procedures down to zero. A recent, unrelated trend analysis revealed we went a whole year with no military people involved in a lost time injury that was aircraft related, which was phenomenal."

MSgt Casquarelli says the motorcycle safety program on base has been invaluable to Reservists but adds that the Alive at 25 defensive driving course has helped most at reducing mishaps on the 512 side. "We have over 150 people trained, and we've only been doing it about a year."

Lt Col Mills also praised the Alive at 25 effort, saying, "It takes longer to teach, but the reception from Airmen is great. We don't know how many accidents we've prevented, but we believe the course is saving lives." The base's primary instructor, who was also absent the day of the interview, Mr. Tim Hahn (Ground Safety), was recognized by the National Safety Council as the 2013 Alive at 25 Air Force Instructor of the Year. "He has trained nearly 3,000 people since the inception of this course and, to his knowledge, has yet to have a student be involved in an alcohol related driving mishap. That's a huge success for both him and the Air Force!"

In closing, Lt Col Mills reiterated the importance of teamwork. "Our success is because of the team concept, whether working with each other, with our Reserve counterpart, with the State of Delaware, or with our base leadership. We let Airmen know that we care about them, and our efforts are worth it if we save even one person or prevent one mishap."

Force Improvement Program gives Airmen direct line to Air Force leaders

by Airman 1st Class Joseph Raatz
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

2/6/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Senior Air Force officials have put a plan into motion that will give Airmen an opportunity to make real, visible and enduring changes to their command.

The Force Improvement Program has been created as an aggressive, action-oriented effort with the goal of making rapid and substantial change to the ICBM mission. The FIP was designed from the ground-up as a field-level initiative to draw on the experiences of Airmen at all levels.

"Unlike other studies we have seen in the past, the foundation for the FIP is that our own ICBM base Airmen (you) will identify challenges within your mission area and recommend solutions," Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a letter to missile crew members. "I can't stress this enough; this is a grass-roots-level effort. From the bottom, up, that's where the solutions are going to come from."

At the heart of the FIP is the Functional Cultural Working Group. These working groups are comprised of teams of Airmen, junior noncommissioned officers, senior NCOs and company-grade officers from each missile wing. There are five FCWG teams in total, one each from the fields of missile operations, security forces, maintenance, mission support and helicopter operations.

The FCWG teams will visit each missile wing throughout February to meet with their peers locally and work with them to identify challenges in their respective mission areas, and upon completion will recommend solutions directly to Wilson.

"I will, in turn, implement recommendations within my purview and report the results and Air Force level recommendations to Secretary James and General Welsh for their consideration," Wilson said, referring to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "I've spoken to the CSAF and Secretary and they are ready to act."

Each FCWG team will be augmented by mentors and experts from outside the ICBM field, such as U.S. Navy submariners, Navy or Marine security professionals, bomber combat systems officers and members of the 576 Flight Test Squadron and 381 Training Group from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. These additional members will provide the teams with a fresh perspective from an outside source.

"The goal of the FIP is to identify challenges associated with performing duties at our missile wings and to propose innovative, concrete solutions that your senior leadership can take action on in the coming weeks," Wilson said. "Note, I said 'weeks,' not years."

In addition to the FCWG teams, the FIP will include several other initiatives running concurrently to achieve more comprehensive solutions.

To better understand the challenges faced by ICBM crew members and their families, an email-based feedback system will be open to family members at AFGSC's three missile wings. This system opens up a direct line of communication to command leadership, giving family members an avenue to voice their concerns, address real everyday challenges and propose solutions. Email addresses of respondents will be masked, providing peace of mind. More information about the program will be provided through the chain of command as it becomes available.

Airmen will also be given the opportunity to participate in a confidential survey that will enable open and honest communication with leadership.

Both the email-feedback system and the field survey will be available Feb. 10 - 20.

"I ask that each of you participate in this program in order to provide honest and constructive feedback to me and our senior leaders," Wilson said. "This is your opportunity to foster positive change within your unit, wing, and our command. Don't pass it up."

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage moves to JBER

by David Bedard
JBER Public Affairs

2/6/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Coast Guardsmen of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage made their presence known at the outset of the Jan. 31 ceremony marking their arrival and inclusion at the Alaska Army National Guard Armory.

Attending Soldiers and Airmen knew they were welcoming a new service to the base when Cmdr. Shane Montoya, deputy sector commander and master of ceremonies, asked them to keep their headgear on during the indoor ceremony in keeping with Coast Guard tradition.

Maritime customs continued in the language of the ceremony with phrases like "call to quarters" and "man the rails" denoting the sequence of events.

Though the ceremony signified the sector's move into the armory's G-wing, the speakers said it marked more than a simple address change for the nearly 650 Coast Guardsmen and civilians. The ceremony was the culmination of an idea, years of work, and a drive to further increase cooperation between the Coast Guard and the Alaska National Guard.
Coast Guard Capt. Paul Mehler, sector commander, said the co-location allows closer coordination of search and rescue (SAR) operations across the state with quick deconfliction of marine-based SAR provided by the Coast Guard and terrestrial-based SAR provided by the National Guard.

"With an [area of operations] as vast and logistically challenging as we face, we cannot be successful without strong partnerships," Mehler said. "This addition to the Alaska National Guard building is fitting ... Through hard work and commitment, this building will bring to life an opportunity of unprecedented professional relationships with the best-trained staff to respond whenever the people of Alaska require us."

Lt. Cmdr. Greg Madalena, 17th Coast Guard District real property and planning for facilities, said the need for a new building to replace their 12,000 square-foot downtown Anchorage facility arose from a doubling of the sector's personnel. The sector required 28,000 square feet, which would contain a 4,000 square-foot command center, a small-arms armory and a medical detachment.

Realizing their current lease no longer met their needs, Madalena said the sector started looking for other options. Seeing the need could be met by a wing of the armory, Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Thomas Katkus, Alaska Adjutant General, approached Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, 17th Coast Guard District commander, with an offer of space at the National Guard facility.

Madalena said he surveyed the armory and found the standard wing was nearly identical to Coast Guard requirements for the sector.

He said finding the space was the easy part, the difficult part being the navigation of Air Force, National Guard and Coast Guard policies necessary to complete the relocation. The move meant the sector would have to secure a use agreement with the state of Alaska for the office space on Camp Denali, the camp being licensed to the state by the Air Force, custodian of the base.

After receiving approval from the Air Force Real Property Agency and the Pentagon, Madalena said the use agreement was approved by Congress in late 2011.

Ostebo said, despite the long process required to secure the agreement, the effort was worth it.

"The right thing to do is still the right thing to do," the admiral said. "That's what we did in this case here and as a result we have a wonderful new sector.

"We have a sector that can grow with the mission sets of the Coast Guard in Alaska. We have a sector that is inviting for all of our federal partners to work closer together ... We have a sector that will drive down the cost of ownership of the Coast Guard here by millions of dollars in perpetuity."

Katkus echoed Ostebo's sentiments, citing the need for innovative solutions in a fiscally-constrained budget environment.

"You can't do more with less," the general said. "You have to do more with something different, and that's what we did here."

Madalena said, beyond the benefits of interagency cooperation, the relocation is a great benefit to Coast Guardsmen who live on and now work at the base.

"The base infrastructure on JBER is second to none - wonderful housing, great child-development center, dining facilities and a state-of-the-art commissary," he said.

Mehler likened the move to the commissioning of a Coast Guard cutter. Consisting of glass, stone, cement and steel, he said it is the Coast Guardsmen who bring the building and the unit to life.

"Over the coming weeks, our crew will start to man the rails, energize the systems, and hoist the Coast Guard flag," the captain said. "We're honored to have the opportunity to come aboard and turn this amazing new building into a living, breathing sector."

JBER Soldier dies after training jump

Release Number: 010214

2/6/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- USARAK news release

U.S. Army Alaska has released the identity of a paratrooper who died at Providence Medical Center Jan. 30 after a training jump earlier in the day.

Sgt. Jose Maria Pasillas, 34, a construction equipment repairer with the 23rd Engineer Company, collapsed at the Malemute Drop Zone on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson at about 3 p.m. Jan. 30. On-site unit medics rendered initial aid and called for medical evacuation. A physician's assistant and medics provided care until the arrival of an Alaska Air National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron medical evacuation helicopter.

Pasillas was transported to Providence Medical Center where he underwent immediate emergency surgery for a torn aorta. He was pronounced dead just before 8 p.m.

There is no indication Pasillas had a hard landing or any equipment malfunction in the jump he had just completed before he collapsed. His parachute had been packed away and he was wearing his rucksack when other Soldiers reached him. At this time, there is no known connection between the jump and the cause of death.

Pasillas, of Fort Worth, Texas, entered the Army in 2001 and attended basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He arrived in Alaska in August 2012 after being stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Fort Bragg, N.C.

Pasillas had combat deployments to Afghanistan in 2002, and to Iraq in 2004, 2006 and 2009.

An investigation into the circumstances of the death is ongoing.

COMPACAF talks force shaping during all-call

by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

2/6/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- General Hawk Carlisle, Pacific Air Forces commander, met with PACAF Airmen Feb. 4 at the Hickam Officer's Club during two separate "all-calls" centered on force management topics.

In 2013, the Department of Defense was mandated to cut $43 billion from its budget - approximately 10 percent, in less than a year. Approximately $10 billion of those cuts were required of the Air Force. Congress' "Balanced Budget Control Act" returned about half of that $10 billion in fiscal year 2014, and projects to return around $2.2 billion in 2015. In 2016, however, the effects of sequestration will cause the Air Force to change significantly.

"Instead of going down very steeply we're going down (more gradually)," said General Carlisle. "If something doesn't happen between now and FY16 when we go back to (full) sequestration, our Air Force will be fundamentally different than it is today. We will not be the global power that we are today if we have to go through the continued sequestration cuts of '16."

Due to this requirement for increased cuts, the Air Force has been forced to turn to reducing its personnel, Carlisle said.

According to Chief Master Sgt. Steve McDonald, 50 thousand enlisted Airmen alone have already been notified that they are eligible to be removed from the Air Force when the retention board meets in the summer - a fact that puts the onus on front-line supervisors to help Airmen understand their options and transition to the next phase of their lives, if necessary.

"If you look across the 280 thousand Airmen that we have enlisted in the force, 50 thousand of them got a notice saying 'you're eligible to be sent out of our force.' That's probably putting a lot of anxiety on our Airmen, and we really need to talk to each one of them," McDonald said. "They really need to do what's in their best interest at this point for them and for their families. We'll continue the mission, we'll train people, we'll do what we do. For those Airmen who have given and sacrificed so much to be part of this institution and now won't be part of the institution any longer, it's very unfortunate. Based on where we're at with the budget and with the things that are happening, it has to be done."

This reduction in force has increased the need for "bold and innovative leadership," according to Carlisle, as the Air Force will rely heavily on its Airmen to operate in an environment with fewer resources.

"I need you more now than ever. We need your help because I don't have the answers. General (Mark) Welsh, Chief (James) Cody, they don't have the answers. Secretary (Deborah Lee) James, she doesn't have the answers. The people that do it day in and day out - you, the (numbered air forces), the wings, you're the ones that have the answers. And that's what we need. We need a new way of thinking. We need bold and innovative leadership. We need to think of better ways to do what we're trying to do."

Despite the hardships, however, Carlisle said the Air Force's core responsibility remains the same.

"We can never lose sight of our job and why we do what we do...we owe it to the American people to produce the very best Air Force we can produce with the amount of resources they give us," Carlisle said. "We have to be able to do that job of defending this nation, so we have to build the best Air Force we can build with the resources we have."

Despite the unfortunate cuts PACAF will face in the future, Carlisle said this moral obligation to safeguard America is made possible by its supremely resilient Airmen.

"The work (PACAF Airmen) do is incredible. If you look at FY13, that had to be as bad a position as we could have possibly been put in," Carlisle said. "What you all did to make us the most effective we could possibly be - to be the best warfighting capability that we could possibly produce in the Pacific - was because of the work you guys did. My hats off to you. It was an incredible year, thank you for everything you've done, thanks for being great Airmen, thanks for stepping up and doing what we ask you to do, and we will do everything in our power to take care of you."

JB MDL service members visit Super Bowl Blvd

by 2nd Lt. Carrie Volpe
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

2/6/2014 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- More than 100 service members and their guests from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., attended the USAA Military VIP experience at the NFL House on Super Bowl Blvd. in Manhattan, N.Y., Feb. 1, 2014.

The attendees were invited to be part of the guest audience during the USAA Salute to Service SITREP, a televised interview with a few NFL celebrities, as part of the Super Bowl XLVIII festivities in New York City.

The service members and their guests of choice were provided with transportation to New York City, a catered lunch, meet-and-greet sessions with NFL celebrities, free tickets to ride the Super Bowl Toboggan and autographed photographs for all attendees.

The host of the show, Trey Wingo, interviewed a few NFL greats in front of an audience packed with personnel from JB MDL, West Point Academy and Gold Star Families. Jerseys from nearly every NFL team were represented in the audience.

Special guests included were hall of fame quarterback Roger Staubach, Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl VI most valuable player for the Dallas Cowboys; Charles Tillman, cornerback for the Chicago Bears and winner of the 2012 NFL Salute to Service award; and Robert Griffin III (RG3), Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback for the Washington Redskins.

In addition to having their NFL careers as common ground, the three featured guests also share a special bond with the military. Staubach graduated from the Naval Academy and served in Vietnam, all prior to him signing with the Dallas Cowboys. As for Griffin, both of his parents were sergeants in the Army and moved several times during his childhood. Tillman was also a 'military brat' and attended numerous high schools; his father, a former sergeant in the Army, retired after 20 years of service.

"My favorite part of the event was meeting the three players. They were all down-to-earth guys and very generous with their time," said Army Sgt. Timothy Walsh, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade supply NCO. "I think it's awesome that Roger Staubach went to the Naval Academy, served in Vietnam and then played in the NFL. The whole thing was quite a spectacle."

All three celebrity guests spoke highly of their military background and said they were honored to give back to the service members and their families. They signed autographs, shook hands and posed for photos for those in attendance.

"I really enjoyed hearing the advice that RG3 and Charles Tillman gave in regard to being a military dependent and how they went about adapting to the constant change," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Carlton Anthony, 87th Air Base Wing ground safety craftsman from Arlington, Va. "It was also really cool that we got to see Cam Newton and Mike Tirico out on Super Bowl Boulevard."

Special Tactics Airmen awarded top combat decorations

by Rachel Caldwell
Special to the 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

1/13/2014 - POPE FIELD, N.C.  -- Already the U.S. Air Force's most decorated community since the end of the Vietnam War, Air Force Special Tactics added to its total over the weekend.

Three Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen received Silver Star and Purple Heart medals in a ceremony at Pope Field, N.C., Jan. 10.

"You will say you were just doing your job, but you were not just doing your job. You knew the dangers, and you did not back down," said Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, AFSOC commander and presiding official for the ceremony at Pope Field.

Combat controllers Master Sgt. Delorean Sheridan and Staff Sgt. Christopher Baradat received the Silver Star, the U.S. military's third-highest decoration for gallantry in combat, for their efforts in Afghanistan last year.

Technical Sgt. Jeremy Whiddon, a special tactics tactical air control party member, received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat also in Afghanistan. Sheridan, Baradat and Whiddon are assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Field, N.C.

"Getting the Silver Star is a humbling experience, but I was just doing my job," Baradat said. "Everyone did what they had to do that day to make the mission successful."

Fiel presented the Pope Field decorations in front of an auditorium full of the honorees' family and friends, fellow Special Tactics Airmen, members from Army Special Forces members, and representatives for North Carolina's congressional members.

"Your strength and tenacity epitomizes what being a warrior and a Special Tactics Airman is all about," said Fiel.

All three Airmen attributed their ability to act decisively in critical moments on the battlefield to the extensive physical and physiological training they undergo. Training enabled Sheridan to act largely from muscle memory, he said.

"The training kicks in and there is a reason why it is as rigorous as it is because, at these times, you have to be able to step up and react," he said.

In March 2013, Sheridan was preparing for a mission with his Army Special Forces team when an Afghan National Police Officer working with the team opened fire from a machine gun at 25 feet. The teammates to Sheridan's immediate left and right were hit.

Puffs of smoke blew up around him. When he realized what was happening, his first instinct was to grab his team leader and get him out, he said.

As he turned to react, Sheridan saw his team leader shot in the head at close range.

At the same time, a group of about 20 insurgents fired on the team from a position outside of the base in what was a coordinated attack.

To Sheridan the insider attack was like "having someone sneak into your house in the middle of the night." It provoked an instantaneous reaction.

He ran toward the shooter, jumped into the turret of an armored vehicle and shot him twice with his pistol and nine times with an M4 rifle.

One by one, he dragged his team leader, team sergeant and the infantry squad noncommissioned officer in charge to an area where they could be extracted by medevac.

Sheridan, 33, called in six medevac flights and helped transfer his wounded teammates to litters while controlling aircraft overhead.

He helped save the lives of 23 critically wounded personnel on what was his sixth deployment.

Baradat, of San Rafael, Calif., was working as part of an Army Special Forces team in April 2013 when tasked to retrieve a group of pinned-down coalition forces.

His job was to control the air assets supporting the team on the mission. When they came under fire, Baradat directed the 30mm guns of the A-10s overhead on the enemy prior to taking cover with his teammates.

When he realized he could not control the aircraft effectively from his covered position, he moved from safety to the center of the compound where he was sprayed with dirt from consistent machine gun fire.

Standing in the thick of the firefight did not phase Baradat, though his teammates were urging him to take cover.

"That was where I needed to be standing to communicate with the aircraft and to get the mission done," he said.

Baradat, 24, continued to direct the A-10 and AC-130 aircraft even as his team left the area with the coalition members by jumping on the running board of his vehicle, again exposing himself to fire.

As a result of his actions, 150 coalition members were saved and more than 50 enemies killed on what was his third deployment.

On receiving their decorations, both Sheridan and Baradat thanked the Army members of their deployed teams for attending the ceremony.

"We lost two-thirds of our team [on the mission] so about half of the guys who were there today were wounded in the firefight," Sheridan said.

Lt. Col. Jason Self, commander of the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, said his Airmen contributed to the proud heritage of the squadron.

"The 21st Special Tactics Squadron has a legacy of valor and heroism," Self said. "Both Sheridan and Baradat contributed to this continued legacy of the unit in their phenomenal performance of protecting the lives of our servicemen."

Sheridan and Baradat's Silver Stars are the 27th and 28th for the Special Tactics community since the end of the Vietnam War. Conflicts that include Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operation Just Cause in Panama, the 1993 Battle of the Black Sea in Somalia - later made into a Hollywood motion picture titled "Black Hawk Down," and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. During that span, six members of the community have also been awarded the Air Force Cross, second highest decoration to only the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in combat.

As the small ribbons that speak volumes were pinned to the chests of the three Airmen, Fiel referred to their acts of extraordinary heroism as an example to all.

"This calls us to look into ourselves and be prepared for our own moments of courage and bravery."

(Editor's Note: Three Special Tactics Airmen with the Kentucky Air National Guard were awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and Distinguished Flying Cross medals in a separate ceremony at Staniford Field, KY, Jan. 12. 123rd Special Tactics Squadron Kentucky guardsmen Tech. Sgt. Jeff Kinlaw and Tech. Sgt. Robert Bonello received the Bronze Star with Valor while Capt. Nate Tingle received the Distinguished Flying Cross all for actions executed in Afghanistan as part of an expeditionary force.)

Colorado volunteers hit mountains after fires, mitigate flood damage

by Master Sgt. Daniel Butterfield
302nd Airlift WIng Public Affairs

2/4/2014 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- More than one dozen members of the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing took to the Colorado mountains to assist with post-wildland fire flood mitigation efforts this past fall.

The Waldo Canyon fire of 2012 and the Black Forest fire of 2013, both within miles of Peterson Air Force Base and both near the city of Colorado Springs, burned thousands of acres of terrain during the last two summers. The damage caused by these events continues to be felt long after the last flames were extinguished.

One of the damaging, post-fire effects is that the vegetation that normally restricts the flow of water after a heavy rain or during snow melt is no longer there, allowing the water to flow unimpeded. This can cause flash floods capable of destroying roads, or washing away vehicles and bridges. The waters flowing from the mountains can also cause damage and flooding to homes, businesses, and anything else in its path.

Because of this potential for destruction, the Coalition of Upper South Platte has been involved with fire rehabilitation of affected areas since Colorado's Hayman fire in 2002. But in order to be effective in their flood mitigation efforts CUSP relies on hundreds of volunteers every year.

Master Sgt. Michael White, acting production superintendent, 302nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, has answered CUSP's call the past two years, along with more than a dozen others from the 302nd Maintenance Group and the wing's associate active duty 52nd Airlift Squadron.

"It started after the Waldo Canyon fire. My wife is a stylist downtown and she has a client, a really good friend, who happens to live along the Waldo Canyon burn scar and she had some threats of floods," said White. Knowing my wife's friend was in need of help, I put a team together...we went up and worked that."

CUSP provided the materials for their mission. This included wattles (long lengths of netted hay,) stakes, rakes, oat seeds and mulch. First the team drives stakes into the ground to support the wattles, then the ground is raked and oat seed is planted with mulch spread over the top. The goal is to get some quick, temporary growth in the burn areas to slow down the running water.

"It was tough work, we were up on the slope of a hill at about 9000 feet. You can't even get a 4Runner up there it's so steep. So we're packing these oat seeds, mulch and wattles up the side," explained White.

After their work in 2012, CUSP called upon White and his group of volunteers for a new challenge in 2013.

"This past year we had to hike a half mile back into it to get to the spot. We made maybe five or six trips. We had sixteen people total from the 302nd and 52nd," said White.

Lisa Patton, volunteer coordinator with CUSP explained the difficulties in an email to the 302nd Airlift Wing. "On 9 November, 2013, sixteen members of the 302nd Airlift Wing Unit completed a critical flood mitigation project near the top of the Waldo Canyon Fire burn scar. Of over 200 fire rehab projects completed in this burn area, this was the most physically challenging project to date, with a hike at an altitude of 8180 and at a 20 to 60-percent grade. The group hand transported McLeod's [special rakes used for trail restoration and erosion control], sledges, wooden stakes and 26 straw wattles (about 70 pounds each and 25 feet long,) and installed 13 wattle structures, the rest being staged for future installation," she wrote. 

"After this day we were beat down, I mean we were dog tired, there were guys saying 'you know what? Call next year I've got something else to do,' it was rough," said White, who admitted Air Force fitness was a factor in being able to complete the task.

According to Patton the efforts will have a huge impact in the region. "The area treated covered more than one acre, yet will protect a much greater area below. The long term impacts of this high priority project include flood protection and access for many homes and residents of Ute Pass, as well as access to and from the Cascade Fire Department. Mitigation at this site also prevents flooding and closure of Highway 24, a major east west transportation route for central Colorado and emergency response teams."

And while White can now look back and see the difference the group he organized made, he is not sure what the future holds for himself or the other volunteers.

"Going into it we thought, 'well it can't be as tough as last year, and it was tougher.' Maybe a year from now I'll go, 'ok, I'm ready to do it again.' How many volunteers I get I don't know," said White. But there is a chance they might be back for another challenge. "All the guys said this is one of those things where you really feel like you're doing something good."

CUSP's workforce is made up of 90 to 95-percent volunteers. They have worked over 1.5 million acres over the last few years for flood mitigation, erosion, and storm waters.

The volunteers that made up the 302nd Airlift Wing team in 2013 were: Master Sgt. Michael White, 302nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Capt. Abigail Platt, 52nd Airlift Squadron, Chief Master Sgt. Glen Blackmann, 302nd Maintenance Squadron, Master Sgt. James Scharfenberg, 302nd Maintenance Squadron, Master Sgt. Steven Cisneros, 302nd Maintenance Squadron, Tech. Sgt. Cory Slater, 52nd AS, Tech. Sgt. Mario Frank, 52nd AS, Tech. Sgt. Rodolfo Ramirez, 302nd Maintenance Squadron, Staff Sgt. John Novela, 52nd AS, Senior Airman Jasen Coburn, 52nd AS, Senior Airman Tristian Lyons, 52nd AS, Senior Airman Robert Morgan, 52nd AS, Airman 1st Class Jennie Holland, 52nd AS, Alex Blackmann and Anthony Staley.

Precious Cargo: Joint Task Force-Bravo's 612th Air Base Squadron offloads medical supplies bound for Honduran hospitals Posted 2/4/2014 Updated 2/4/2014 [/shared/AFImages/transparent.gif] Email story Print story [/shared/AFImages/transparent.gif] Share by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stacy Rogers 612th Air Base Squadron 2/4/2014 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- Joint Task Force-Bravo's 612th Air Base Squadron's Logistics Flight offloaded more than 19,000 pounds of donated medical supplies and equipment from a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here, Feb. 3. The six pallets of medical supplies, including a defibrillator, diapers, and a tabletop microscope, were donated through the non-profit organization MEDWISH International to the Helping Hands Ministry (Las Tres Rosas) non-governmental organization (NGO) in Honduras. The supplies and equipment will be distributed by the NGO to three hospitals in Honduras: The Santa Rose Lima Medical Center, Nuevo Paraiso; Hospital Torax, Tegucigalpa; and Hospital San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo. The supplies were sent to Honduras through the Denton Program, which allows private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods to approved countries in need. Approved countries include those that are supported by Department of Defense transportation services, and where civil systems, local infrastructure and the supply chain will support immediate onward distribution of the commodities. The program is jointly administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and the Department of Defense. "These were supplies that were donated, and then shipped on the C-17 on a space-available basis," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Mizzoni. "This is precious cargo for Honduras." 612 ABS Airmen were able to assist with the transfer of cargo due to the training mission of the C-17. In total, 612 ABS Airmen offloaded 10 pallets, amounting to more than 30,000 pounds of total cargo, and transferred more than 30,000 pounds of fuel to the aircraft.

by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stacy Rogers
612th Air Base Squadron

2/4/2014 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- Joint Task Force-Bravo's 612th Air Base Squadron's Logistics Flight offloaded more than 19,000 pounds of donated medical supplies and equipment from a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here, Feb. 3.

The six pallets of medical supplies, including a defibrillator, diapers, and a tabletop microscope, were donated through the non-profit organization MEDWISH International to the Helping Hands Ministry (Las Tres Rosas) non-governmental organization (NGO) in Honduras. The supplies and equipment will be distributed by the NGO to three hospitals in Honduras: The Santa Rose Lima Medical Center, Nuevo Paraiso; Hospital Torax, Tegucigalpa; and Hospital San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo.

The supplies were sent to Honduras through the Denton Program, which allows private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods to approved countries in need. Approved countries include those that are supported by Department of Defense transportation services, and where civil systems, local infrastructure and the supply chain will support immediate onward distribution of the commodities. The program is jointly administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and the Department of Defense.

"These were supplies that were donated, and then shipped on the C-17 on a space-available basis," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Mizzoni. "This is precious cargo for Honduras."

612 ABS Airmen were able to assist with the transfer of cargo due to the training mission of the C-17. In total, 612 ABS Airmen offloaded 10 pallets, amounting to more than 30,000 pounds of total cargo, and transferred more than 30,000 pounds of fuel to the aircraft.

Looks Like Stormy Weather

by MSgt Julie Meintel
445th Airlift Wing, WPAFB, OH

2/5/2014 - Spring 2014 -- Of all the changes of the seasons, it sure seems like everyone is happiest to see the arrival of spring. I don't know of that many people who really look forward to the arrival of cold temperatures and piles of snow that winter usually brings, but I know there are some who do! In the spring, flowers begin to bloom, the grass begins to turn green again, and we can put our winter jackets away. Spring, as everyone knows, brings warmer temperatures and leads right into summer, with its longer days, plentiful sunshine, and slower pace. We do relax a little in the spring, but one way we can't let down our guards is with relation to flying and the weather. Getting from the snow and ice of winter to the clear, sunny days of summer means a sometimes-bumpy trip through the unpredictable spring weather patterns.

Perhaps no season is quite as erratic as spring, with its increased thunderstorm activity, fog, high winds, and tornado potential. Weather changes more day to day during the spring than in any other season. Air Force Handbook 11-203, Vol 1, Weather for Aircrews, is a valuable resource for all things weather related and should always be your first stop for weather questions. Here in southwest Ohio, typical springtime weather usually involves some push-and-pull between cold air masses from the north and warm, moist air from the south in the Gulf region. This can cause severe, sometimes violent, storms with high, unpredictable winds, hail, or even tornadoes. If that weren't enough, even after temperatures begin to climb, it is quite possible that they will drop again. It's not at all uncommon to see icing into March and even April.

Our purposes here are not really to go in-depth into thunderstorm producing weather conditions but simply to get you thinking about shifting gears with your flight planning and paying attention to seasonal changes. Thunderstorms and tornadoes aren't the only weather conditions that might trip you up; those high winds that behave unpredictably can also turn into wind shear and microbursts very quickly, and those are guaranteed to ruin your day. When doing flight planning, of course you start with Plan A, but you need to be sure that you don't take off without Plan B, C, and D in your pocket, just in case.

To touch briefly on a few of the weather conditions you're most likely to see, no matter where you are leaving or where you are headed, let's look at thunderstorms and high winds for a few minutes. It says right in the introduction to the thunderstorm chapter in AFH 11-203, Weather for Aircrews, that thunderstorms contain the most severe weather hazards to flight. It also goes on to list these hazards: strong winds, severe icing and turbulence, frequent lightning, heavy rain, and hazardous wind shear. And oh yeah, don't forget large hail, microbursts, and even tornadoes. Each of those is worthy of its own chapter and its own article, but just be aware that in flying near a thunderstorm, those are some of the things you can encounter. The best possible thing you can do when a thunderstorm is in your flight path is avoid it to the greatest possible extent. When you have around 44,000 thunderstorms happening every day somewhere in the world, avoidance is sometimes just not possible. The next best thing if you can't avoid it altogether is to stay far, far away from it and depart the area as quickly as you can.

High, unpredictable winds can quickly and easily turn a moderately bumpy flight path into far more dangerous conditions like wind shear and microbursts. Wind shear, simply put, is any rapid change in wind direction or speed. It is especially dangerous during takeoff and landing when the aircraft is operating close to stall speeds, when any loss of lift could be catastrophic. Wind shear has caused aircraft crashes and fatalities, and being ready to counteract it is critical. A microburst, in a nutshell, is a short-lived and powerful downdraft associated with convective activity. Microbursts and wind shears go hand in hand; microbursts often cause strong wind shears, and meteorological observations show that about five percent of all thunderstorms produce microburst activity.

When the strong winds of a thunderstorm become violent rotating winds in a column, then you have a tornado. This can happen quickly; this is one reason it's important to avoid the vicinity of the storms in the first place. We've all seen the damage tornadoes can do; they are devastating. Winds within the funnel-shaped circulation can reach 300 mph, and the tornado's forward speed averages about 30-40 knots, which equates to about 35-45 mph. That's a fast-moving storm and definitely one to steer clear of!

As if the winds weren't enough danger to accompany thunderstorms, they can also bring hail and lightning. Hail is a solid ball of frozen ice, although hailstones are not always spherical; they are often irregular in shape and size. A general rule of thumb about storms and hail: the larger the storm, the more likely it is to produce hail. It has been known to be present as high up as 45,000 feet, in clear air, and it can be carried as much as 20 miles downwind from the thunderstorm's core. Hailstones can get large and do a lot of damage to an airplane in a very short time.

Lightning can strike at any level in a thunderstorm. Most lightning discharges never hit the ground but occur either within a cloud or between clouds. Lightning can also occur in the clear air above or below a storm, as well as all around it. Depending on the severity of the strike, structural aircraft damage is generally minor, but severe damage can occur. Beyond the structural damage, lightning can also affect the way the aircraft's electrical systems work, along with avionics, instruments, and radar. It can cause bomb doors to open or activate wing folding motors, and it can call your electronic flight control navigational systems' accuracy into question. After a lightning strike, the best thing to do is have your aircraft's systems checked out, and don't trust the instruments' readings until they can be verified.

Like most safety warnings, much of this is "worst case scenario" territory, and you may never encounter anything as severe as these situations. But you are just about guaranteed to encounter a thunderstorm at some point in your flying career, and you will need to be prepared to deal with it. Read AFH 11-203, plan ahead, talk to the weather shop for forecasts along your flight path, and give PIREPS for other crews transiting the area. Don't be surprised by bad weather. Be ready for it!

726th ACS hits ground running in SW Asia

by 552nd Air Control Wing

2/5/2014 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- -- On Jan. 10, approximately 42 Airmen with the 726th Air Control "Hardrock" Squadron from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho took up their watch at the 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron in Southwest Asia.

The 726th ACS is a geographically separated unit that falls under the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base.

The 73rd EACS, or "Double Dagger" as they are also known, is responsible for providing command and control radar, ground-to-air radio communications, and tactical data links to the 71st Expeditionary Air Control "Pyramid" Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as they execute the Combined Forces Air Combatant Commander's Tactical Air Control mission in Operation Enduring Freedom.

On Jan. 13, the 726th ACS also took over the reins of the 71st EACS, with Lt. Col. Shayne Yorton assuming command from Lt. Col. Robert Long.

In the few short days Hardrock Airmen have been on-site, they have resolved a wide range of complex radar and radio outages that had plagued the command and control mission for months.

Along with approximately 121 Airmen from Mountain Home AFB, the 71st EACS team is also comprised of Airmen from Hill AFB, Utah, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, and Tinker AFB. The United States Marine Corps, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Air Force round out the remaining operators providing battle management command and control to OEF.

Both Double Dagger and Pyramid's mission is to provide a clean and accurate radar air picture, bolstering voice communications to reach maximum reliability, extend the OEF/Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf tactical data network, and finally providing time critical battle management command and controll (BMC2) to support the CFACC's priorities and support the troops on the ground.

This is the Hardrock standard and both of these teams have hit the ground running to do just that.

Italian, American Airmen honor 50th anniversary at Ghedi Air Base

by Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/5/2014 - GHEDI AIR BASE, Italy -- More than 100 Italian and American Airmen gathered at Ghedi Air Base, Italy, Jan. 31 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the installation's bilateral partnership.

The U.S. Air Force's 704th Munitions Support Squadron and the Italian Air Force's 6th STORMO jointly hosted a flagpole rededication ceremony and a dining out banquet to honor the two nations' alliance.

"The event we celebrate today comes after a 50-year long and continuous cooperation between the U.S. Air Force and the Italian Air Force," said Italian Air Force Col. Andrea Di Pietro, 6th STORMO commander. "The chance to celebrate with you all such a special anniversary stirs up very strong feelings within me, many of which you all may share with me as well."

Before flanks of Italian and American Airmen standing side by side, both American and Italian commanders spoke about the significance behind the day's milestone.

"For 50 years, these men and women have jointly shouldered the awesome burden of contributing to the common defense of the free peoples of the NATO alliance," said Lt. Col. James Soles, 704th MUNSS commander. "If this mission is needed in the cause of freedom for another 50 years, the Airmen of the 6th STORMO and 704th MUNSS will continue the selfless work of the thousands that have gone before them. Today, we remember sacrifices of all those who have served in this NATO strike mission. They worked tirelessly through the Cold War and have continued to stand watch for the enemies of freedom."

Later that evening, more than 150 Airmen and their families attended a dining out banquet at the Officers' Club, complete with Italian cuisine and military customs going back to U.S. Air Force Gen. Hap Arnold's fabled "Wing-dings."

"May it be said 50 years from today, our successors will be able to say the ties that made our countries so strong in 2064 were not as strong as they were in 2014 -- they will be even stronger," said Col. David Julazadeh, commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing and banquet keynote speaker. "I'm confident the coming years will bring Italia and the United States of America more success than the two countries have ever yet known."