USFF Announces 2013 DRA Sea, Shore Sailor of the Year

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Phillippe Beaufort, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- NORFOLK, Va.(NNS) - USFF's deputy commander Vice Adm. Nora Tyson announced the 2013 U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) Direct Reporting Activities (DRA) Fleet Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year (SOY) during a ceremony at the Norfolk Waterside Sheraton, March 6.

Aerographer's Mate 1st Class Stella G. Swartz, of Denver, CO, assigned to U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, San Diego, was named USFF DRA Shore SOY, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Rosalinda, of Las Vegas, NV, assigned to Marine Corps Forces Command, was named USFF DRA Sea SOY.

Seven finalists from more than 1,000 commands belonging to USFF participated in a week of activities designed to highlight the individual accomplishments of the seven finalists. Each candidate also underwent an intense review board to determine who would be chosen as the USFF Sea and Shore SOYs. Hampton Roads military and civilian supporters sponsored various social functions leading up to the announcement. Tyson awarded each of the finalists a Navy Commendation Medal for their outstanding achievements.

"I can't tell you enough how proud I am of each and every one of you. I know how hard it is to only select one of you for the sea and one from the shore. You are all the best of the best and I know you will continue to be your very best," said Tyson in a speech to the finalists.

"You are here not just for what you've accomplished this year, but for what you've done for our Navy, our county, your commands and your shipmates your entire career. You are the enlisted leaders of today and the future Master Chiefs and Officers of tomorrow."

Swartz and Finnerty will go on to compete against Sailors selected from both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, and compete to become the Fleet SOY. The four Fleet SOY finalists will be automatically selected for chief petty officer.

The Chief of Naval Operations established the SOY Program in 1972 to recognize the outstanding Sailors of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet. The program is designed to recognize the best all-around Sailors from the ranks of E-4 through E-6.

Sea Sailor of the Year finalist:

- AG1(IDW/AW/SW/EXW) Curtis J. Lester, U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, San Diego

- HM1 (FMF/SW) Aaron I. Csatro, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command

- LS1(EXW/AW) Kenneth D. Haney, Naval Special Warfare Command

Fleet Shore Sailor of the Year finalist:

- CTR1(IDW/AW/SW) Alexys E. Gomoll, Navy Strike and Air Warfare Center

- ET1(SW/AW) Bryce D. Brown, Strike Force Training Atlantic

For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/clf/.

Navy Helps in Search for Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 8, 2014 – The U.S. Navy is contributing to the international search effort for a Malaysia Airlines jet that dropped off the radar of Subang, Indonesia, traffic controllers early Saturday morning while over the South China Sea, according to a statement from the U.S. Seventh Fleet public affairs office.

Flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft, departed Kuala Lumpur at 12:41 a.m. Saturday local time and was scheduled to land at Beijing International Airport at 6:30am Beijing time. The flight has 227 passengers from 14 nations, mainly China, and 12 crewmembers. According to the Malaysia Airlines website, three Americans were also aboard.

Today, the USS Pinckney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer homeported in San Diego, was dispatched to the southern coast of Vietnam to join teams from Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam in search and rescue efforts already underway, according to the Malaysia Airlines website.

Pinckney was conducting training and maritime security operations in international waters of the South China Sea. The ship could be in vicinity of the missing jet within 24 hours and carries two MH-60R helicopters that can be equipped for search and rescue.

The Seventh Fleet PAO says a P-3C Orion aircraft also will depart shortly from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, bringing long-range search, radar and communications capabilities to the efforts.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by this tragic event,” PAO officials said in the statement, which also requested that all questions about the event be directed to the Navy Office of Information, or CHINFO, duty officer.

Bataan responds to Vessel in Distress

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark Hays

AEGEAN SEA (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) received a distress call today.

When Bataan's Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter arrived on-scene the Hellenic Coast Guard was responding to a grounded Turkish Flagged Container Vessel, Yusuf Cepnioglu. The SAR team observed the Turkish vessel listing.

Upon request for assistance, the aircraft lowered a rescue swimmer and recovered two Turkish mariners and returned to Bataan. The rescued mariners were assessed by Bataan's medical team, and were transferred to the Hellenic Coast Guard.

DOD Official: Quadrennial Review’s Focus is Protecting Homeland

By Nick Simeone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 7, 2014 – Two countries that have long concerned the United States in terms of national security -- North Korea and Iran -- are mentioned first in the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review, a document that a senior Defense Department official told reporters this week has a renewed emphasis on protecting the homeland.

The congressionally mandated review of national defense strategy establishes priorities for defense spending, assets and a rebalancing of the military in anticipation of the security challenges the nation is likely to face in the coming years, all in light of an increasingly tight fiscal situation.

In explaining the objectives to foreign journalists this week, Christine E. Wormuth, deputy undersecretary of defense for strategy, plans and force development, said the United States remains concerned about North Korea in particular, which she called a “major challenge” for the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The regime remains very insular and closed, and has engaged in a series of provocations,” Wormuth said, adding that the United States is working closely with South Korea to ensure stability on the Korean Peninsula.

“I think we’ve developed, together with [South Korea], a counter-provocation plan that’s designed to help us coordinate and respond to potential future provocations more effectively than ever before,” she said.

North Korea tested a long-range missile this week in what was described as a reaction to annual U.S. and South Korean military exercises. “I think we feel confident that with the force that we have going forward and the strategy that we have, that we will be able to meet our responsibilities with [South Korea] to address threats that we might see from North Korea,” Wormuth told reporters a day after the missile test.

Wormuth called the U.S. military’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region announced two years ago an important part of the U.S. strategy and said U.S. officials are paying close attention to China’s military modernization.

“We would like to see more transparency in terms of Chinese intentions behind the various elements of its modernization,” she said. China this week announced plans to increase defense spending by more than 12 percent.

The Quadrennial Defense Review also says the United States must stay ahead of the ballistic missile threat posed by Iran. To that end, Wormuth said, the strategy highlights the importance of investing in national missile defense in light of Iran’s growing capabilities, and added that the strategy anticipates a lot of continued instability in the Middle East in general, especially involving ongoing Sunni-Shia tensions and the consequences of revolutions rooted in the Arab Spring.

AFLCMC branch delivers first AC-130J for flight test

by Molly Islam
Lead Program Manager, Strike Systems Branch

3/5/2014 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Strike Systems Branch, working in conjunction with U.S. Special Operations Command, recently completed the first flight of the AC-130J Ghostrider.

The branch is part of the Special Operation Forces and Personnel Recovery Division here. Its parent organization is the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, which is headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB.

The 50-member Strike Systems team, along with Lockheed Martin Missiles Fire Control, began initial modifications in February 2013 at Eglin AFB, Fla. The modification effort took nearly one year from initial cut to first flight in January. The Strike Systems Branch worked closely with airworthiness subject matter experts to ensure all necessary data was received and reviewed to obtain a military flight release for flight test in less than 12 months.

Developmental testing began on Jan. 31, 2014, at Eglin AFB and is scheduled to conclude in November. Modifications to the second aircraft will begin in September, with operational tests beginning in the summer of 2015. The first aircraft will be operational in 2017.

The Ghostrider blends the MC-130J Commando II with the combat proven DRAGON SPEAR Precision Strike Package from the AC-130W Stinger II. The Precision Strike Package consists of a mission operator console, dual electro-optical infrared sensors, advanced communication suite, advanced fire control equipment, precision guided munitions and a trainable 30mm Bushmaster Cannon.

The mission of the AC-130J Ghostrider is to provide close air support, special operations armed airborne reconnaissance and ordnance delivery to precise targets in support of ground forces. Additional collateral missions include strike coordination, non-traditional intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, and command and control.

The next-generation AC-130J is USSOCOM's number one acquisition priority. A total of 32 MC-130J aircraft will be modified for Air Force Special Operations Command as part of a $2.4 billion AC-130J program to grow the future fleet and replace AFSOC's aging fleet of AC-130H/U/W gunships.

Altus AFB named Air Force installation excellence award winner

By Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon, 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs / Published March 07, 2014

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) -- Air Force officials announced Altus Air Force Base as the Air Force's Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award winner March 6.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III broke the news to a crowded hangar of Airmen during a 97th Air Mobility Wing all call during his visit here.

"Congratulations. That's a phenomenal accomplishment," Welsh said. "It takes everybody in a wing to make it happen, and it takes everybody in the community to support you to accomplish this. It's really exciting news for all of us."

In addition to recognition as the best base in the Air Force, a monetary incentive of $1 million will be awarded for future quality of life improvements.

"This just confirms what I've known all along; the Mighty 97th has the best active duty, Reserve and civilian Airmen and what you've accomplished in the last year is nothing short of phenomenal," said Col. Bill Spangenthal, the commander of the 97th AMW. "Our focus on accomplishing the mission, developing our Airmen and caring for our families is the motivation to achieve even greater results in the future."

Air Education and Training Command Commander Gen. Robin Rand announced the wing as the AETC nominee for the award in November. The 97th AMW went on to represent the command at the Air Force level. Altus AFB and Travis Air Force Base, Calif., were the final two competitors in the running for the AF-level award.

A selection board consisting of four colonels visited in January to see the 97th AMW Airmen in action.

"Altus AFB has stood out as an example in innovation and cost-savings across our Air Force," Rand said. "This is a collective reflection of dedicated Airmen contributing to overall mission success. The result of their hard work can be seen throughout the service and around the world through global mobility. Thank you for your commitment to excellence."

Welsh and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody visited Altus AFB to thank Airmen and their families, and to learn more about the training and support missions here. Their visit also served as a perfect opportunity to announce the award.

"It's a testament to what you do every single day for our Air Force," Cody said. "You're not asking for anybody to identify you for what you do, but you do it for a chance to serve your country. It's well deserved."

To win the award, an installation must demonstrate exemplary support for the Department of Defense mission and show marked improvement and innovative progress in various processes that are fundamental to an installation's successful operations.

As the Air Force's top installation, Altus AFB will compete for the Department of Defense's 2014 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award.