Sequestration Would Cripple U.S. Military Strategy, Hagel Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014 – If sequestration begins again in fiscal year 2016, the U.S. military will not be able to carry out defense strategy, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee this morning.

A return to sequester would put at risk "America's traditional role as a guarantor of global security, and ultimately our own security," Hagel said.

Events in Europe over the past few weeks underscore the need for American involvement, Hagel said. President Barack Obama's fiscal 2015 defense budget request reflects that reality, he added, and sustains U.S. commitments and leadership at a very defining time.

"I believe this budget has to be far more than a set of numbers or just a list of decisions," the secretary said. "It is a statement of values. It's a statement of priorities. It's a statement of our needs. It's a statement of our responsibilities."

The budget request is realistic, Hagel said, and prepares the military to defend the nation at a time of increasing uncertainty throughout the world.

From the troop side, Hagel discussed compensation reform. The department is committed to providing service members fair compensation, he emphasized, "as well as the training and the tools and the edge they will always need to succeed in battle and return home safely.”

"To meet those obligations under constrained budgets, we need some modest adjustments to the growth in pay and benefits,” the secretary said. “All these savings will be reinvested in training and equipping our troops. And there are no proposals to change retirement in this budget."

The Defense Department will continue to recommend pay increases, Hagel said, but they will not be as substantial as in past years. The department will continue subsidizing off-base housing costs, he added, but not at 100 percent, as it is today. DOD will pay about 95 percent, he said, and it will be phased in over the next several years.

The budget request includes a provision to reduce subsidies for military commissaries. "We are not shutting down commissaries," Hagel explained. "We recommend gradually phasing out some subsidies, but only for domestic commissaries that are not in remote areas."

Finally, the secretary said, the Defense Department recommends simplifying and modernizing the three TRICARE military health plan systems by merging them into one, with modest increases in copays and deductibles for military retirees and family members that encourage them more fully to use the most affordable means of care. "Active duty personnel will still receive care that is entirely free," he said.

Airman’s passion in singing landed a gig with “Tops in Blue”

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera
JBER Public Affairs

3/13/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- Airman 1st Class Alexander Ross' last performance was singing the national anthem and the Alaska state song at the 673d annual awards ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Feb. 7, 2014.

It was the biggest event at which he performed, and his first time performing with the JBER Honor Guard.

"No one told me that I had to wait for the Honor Guard to present the colors before beginning to sing the national anthem," Ross said. "I waited for the Honor Guard to present the colors and started singing again."

It was a graceful save, but his leadership didn't seem to think so--or so he thought.

His commander, Air Force 673d Logistic Readiness Squadron Lt. Col. John Harris, and 673d LRG commander Col. John Pepin came to his shop and demanded to know what had happened.

He nervously explained his confusion and waited for the fallout.

"I think you need practice on that," Harris said. "I think I know a great way for you to get plenty of practice. How about you go ahead and join the 2014 tour for Tops in Blue."

The singer had been selected to join TIB; Ross said he was surprised and speechless.

"When I heard him say that, I was just standing there thinking to myself, 'are you kidding me right now?' My mouth just dropped and everyone was clapping," Ross said. "I am still in shock. It hasn't really hit me yet and this is crazy."

The fuels technician was selected as a vocalist for Tops in Blue, the Air Force's premier entertainment showcase, after submitting an audition video singing Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good." A representative from TIB had asked Harris and Pepin to give him the news.

Ross is no stranger to performing. Before joining the Air Force, the Waynesboro, Va., native started singing in church with his family at a young age.

"Singing has always been a part of my life," Ross said. "My father was a vocals major in college and I started singing with my family, creating our own three part harmony pieces by performing in our local church."

Having a musical background and talent helped him land a position with the TIB after being in the Air Force only 11 months.

"My father's side of the family had a recording label with Jerry Lewis called 'The Singing Ross Family.' They used to travel and perform professionally back in the day," Ross said. "It was something I grew up around."

Even though his family have always been entertainers, he does not consider himself one, but he is hopeful TIB will help him achieve his potential.

"I think I have potential to be an entertainer," said the 25-year-old. "I love performing for people because it makes them happy and it makes me happy. It's something I like to do."

The first time Ross ever heard of Tops in Blue was when he told his recruiter he likes singing as a hobby.

"[Tops in Blue] has always been on my radar but I did not have any plans to pursue within my first year in the military," Ross said. "So I did not think this is going to happen like this, but I saw my opportunity and decided to go for it."

Ross got that extra push in pursuing his dream after Senior Master Sgt. Ronald Crowl, 673d LRS fuels management flight chief, emailed him the link to the Tops in Blue showing they were looking for a male tenor vocalist.

Crowl remembered his first interview with Ross after arriving on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

"A1C Ross expressed that one of his interests were to be part of a band," the 18-year veteran said. "The fuels management flight kept that statement in the back of our minds and months later an opportunity to participate in the Tops in Blue program came across the Air Force Portal and we immediately thought of him."

Upon clicking on the link Crowl sent him, Ross reflected back, thinking, 'You know what, I am going to try it out because I have done a couple promotion ceremonies singing the national anthem here [on base] and people really like it. So why not?'

His leadership and colleagues support Ross's opportunity.

"The flight knows he is a perfect fit," Crowl said. "Everyone is extremely excited for him to be a part of such a unique team. All facets of the chain of command were truly proud of him being selected."

Since being notified in February, he only had a few weeks to get ready and his only sentiment for his Fuel Management Flight peers is that he is going to miss them.

"They've become my second family," Ross said. "I just started to build those close relationship and I am going away again, so that is a little hard."

As Ross's song audition goes, "It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life."

Ross will start touring with TIB in May.

CMSAF Cody, wife tour Whiteman, visit B-2 total force

by 131st Bomb Wing Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and his wife, retired Chief Master Sgt. Athena Cody, visited Total Force Airmen and got a firsthand look at Whiteman's B-2 operations during their recent trip to the base.

The visit coincided with the March drill weekend for the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Bomb Wing, and highlighted the successful total force integration with the active duty 509th Bomb Wing.

"We're one Air Force and everything that we do as an Air Force, we do together. That's what makes us great," Cody told a group of junior enlisted Airmen at a weekend all call, one of a series of such forums the Air Force's top enlisted leader held while here.

A topic of keen interest to Airmen was proposed changes to the enlisted evaluation system, which Cody has previously discussed on his CHIEFChat program on BlueTube, the Air Force's social media video channel. Highlights of the new system include increased focus on job performance, a move away from numbered ratings, and an enhanced Airman-supervisor feedback program.

"We've been using the new feedback form in our office, just to get a feel for how long it takes, and to see if it's asking the right type of stuff, or if it is generating the right type of discussion," he said. "The feedback is the most important thing here, because that is where you establish their potential, where the opportunity is and what your expectations are."

Cody also addressed the need for force management programs in a fiscally constrained Air Force environment.

"Nobody wants to see Airmen leave our Air Force, because a lot of them are great Airmen who want to do nothing but serve," he said. "They've been supported by great families, and they want this to be what they do in life - and we're going to tell someone they can't.

"It breaks my heart," he continued. "I empathize with them in the most meaningful way you can, but it doesn't change the scenario. Our responsibility to the nation is to take the budget they give us and give them the absolute best military they can have - and in our case the best Air Force they could possibly want."

In addition to all calls, Cody toured Whiteman's flight, maintenance and support operations. He was particularly impressed by the successful integration of the B-2 mission shared by the active duty and guard wings at Whiteman.

"I look at each one of you, and I see a capability - a capability that's proven itself time and time, and time again," Cody told a Citizen Airman audience. "You do everything, every bit as good as every other Airman in the Air Force, because you are every other Airman in the Air Force.

"There is no distinction between airmen within the components, when it comes to how we do our jobs, how we live up to our Air Force standards and how we live up to Air Force Core Values," he said.

Chaplains conduct ‘blitz’ to engage with JBER Airmen

by Air Force Staff Sgt. William Banton
JBER Public Affairs

3/13/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaksa -- Decisive edge. Increased engagement. Shifts in resources.

These words could be used to describe any military unit planning tactical engagements, but few would guess that these words apply to the base chaplains.

In an effort to improve the chaplaincy's focus of the spiritual needs of Air Force personnel at a tactical level, this past fall Air Force Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Howard Stendahl, Air Force chief of chaplains, directed that 70 percent of a chaplain's time be spent directly in units and at least 18 hours be spent in face-to-face unit engagement.

To meet this requirement, the JBER chaplaincy decided to visit each unit in an effort described as a blitz. The chapel staff broke down JBER-Elmendorf into 12 zones, which they visit on a rotating basis to guarantee they contact every Air Force unit each month.
"Since squadrons are so spread out, chaplains were spending too much time traveling from building to building looking for their people," said Air Force Chaplain (Maj.) Steven Richardson, JBER deputy chaplain. "Many Airmen were being missed, so we decided to visit geographical areas so everyone sees a chaplain or chaplain assistant at least once a month."

The blitz enables chaplains to meet new requirements while maintaining core competency and functions of the chaplaincy, said Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Kenneth Reyes, JBER chief of chaplains.

"We deploy like a small force and we fan out across the zone," said Tech. Sgt. Steven James, JBER Chapel Center noncommissioned officer-in-charge of operational support.
Some zones have more buildings in them than others, so chaplains and chaplain assistants are divided into teams to ensure they maximize outreach without hindering productivity and don't overwhelm one building with their entire staff.

"I think it's awesome because you hear all the time, 'Hey, go see your chaplain' or 'go talk to a chaplain'," said Tech. Sgt. Torey Moore, 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron air surveillance technician. "I'm sure someone out there doesn't even know who their chaplain is."

James explained that this type of outreach doesn't have to be spiritual in nature, though it can be. The intent is to introduce chapel staff to Airmen and make sure the needs of the Airmen are being met.

"There is no ulterior motive," James said. "There is no running to your commander and saying, 'Hey, Johnny's not OK,' unless that needs to happen -- and then there is a procedure for that."

James said this allows them to show service members that they care.

"Whether caring is shaking a hand, high fiving them or giving them a cup of coffee, we are there," James said. "If you want to talk about whatever [that's OK]. Talk about 'Call of Duty' - because I throw down like a hoedown. I'm not bragging, I'm just saying."

During the 2013 holiday season, the chapel used this process during morale checks for Airmen who live in the JBER dorms.

"People were shocked to see us but when they realized it was a chaplain and a chaplain's assistant just saying 'Hey, how are you doing?' there was a conversation and they were pleased to see us," James said. "Before that, it was them at attention and 'there is a major and a technical sergeant at my door. What do I do?"

The recognition and willingness of individuals wanting to come and talk to the chaplains is one of the bigger advantages of the blitz, said Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Roland Reitz, JBER chaplain.

"They're more comfortable with us coming around," said Reitz. "There is not a stigma about talking to a chaplain because we are part of the unit. We are part of the furniture; we are just out and about with them so it's not strange to for us to be walking through the unit because they know who we are."

The process is so effective that other base chapels have reached out to the JBER chaplaincy staff, which has blazed a trail, Reyes said.

"It's not being prideful or anything, that's just how we need to think because things are changing like this," Reyes said, snapping his fingers three times. "We just can't sit around and wait for someone to say 'Hey maybe it's time to [do something].'"

Investigation board determines cause of KC-135 Crash in May

Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

3/13/2014 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Air Mobility Command has released the results of an accident investigation that examined what caused the May 3, 2013, crash of a KC-135 in the Kyrgyz Republic. The crew of three, en route from the Transit Center at Manas to Afghanistan on a combat aerial refueling mission, perished in the mishap.

Upon takeoff, a flight control system malfunction, the board found, generated directional instability, causing the aircraft's nose to slowly drift from side-to-side or "rudder-hunt." This condition, not fully diagnosed by the crew, progressed into a more dangerous oscillatory instability known as a "Dutch roll." The board identified that a poor layout of key information in the inflight manual and insufficient crew training contributed to the mishap by detracting from the crew's ability to act on critical information during their troubleshooting to turn off either of two cockpit switches which may have eliminated the malfunction.

Having not recognized the Dutch roll condition, the crew initiated a left turn to remain on-course along the planned route of flight and used a small amount of left rudder to coordinate the turn. The use of rudder, while in a Dutch roll, increased the aircraft's oscillatory instability. The ensuing large side-to-side movements of the aircraft varied the crew member's foot pressure on the rudder pedal which caused inadvertent fluctuations in rudder position. These fluctuating rudder movements, coupled with slight right rudder use while rolling out of the turn, compounded the Dutch roll severity and produced extreme airframe stress that caused the KC-135's tail section to separate from the aircraft. The subsequent, uncontrollable descent resulted in an in-flight explosion.

"Our hearts go out to the family members and friends of these Airmen," said Brig. Gen. Steve Arquiette, who led the accident investigation board. "Having attended the memorial service at Manas and later interviewing many co-workers, I know these Airmen were highly regarded and are greatly missed. The investigation team, with the help of our industry and Kyrgyz government partners, pushed through months of intense fact finding for the primary purposes of understanding what happened that day and to honor the crew's service to our nation."

The three Airmen who perished are:

Tech. Sgt. Herman Mackey III, 30, of Bakersfield, Calif.

Capt. Victoria Ann Pinckney, 27, of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Capt. Mark Tyler Voss, 27, of Boerne, Texas

A unique combination of six factors--flight control malfunctions, insufficient crew force training, incomplete crew checklist response, use of rudder while in a Dutch roll condition, crew composition, and cumbersome procedural guidance--all came together during the flight's short 11-minute duration and resulted in this accident.

"The crew encountered a condition that they had not realistically experienced in training, and when coupled with decisions based on their relatively low recent experience levels, were presented with an unrecognized hazardous and difficult situation to overcome," the general said. "It has been the focus of our investigative team, throughout these months of hard work and travel to the accident scene in the Kyrgyz Republic, to do everything we can to fully understand the facts surrounding this tragic string of events."

The aircraft was assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., and was flown by members of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The crew and aircraft were flying out of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing at the Transit Center Manas.

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

Top training, realistic combat threats - warriors made on Idaho soil

by Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/13/2014 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Red smoke bellows from the hilltop as Marines and Air Force combat controllers barrel out the back of a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter.

Moments later, the relatively calm desert sky erupts with booms as two F-15E Strike Eagles "attack" the air assault as an exercise contesting enemy force.

More Strike Eagles from the 389th, 391st and 428th Fighter Squadrons arrive on station, engage the enemy aircraft and neutralize the threat. The Marines and CCT Airmen survived the mayhem.

That action-packed 20 minutes was fictitious, yet wasn't much different than the dozens of other sorties flown during the combined-joint exercise Gunfighter Flag 14-2, hosted here, March 10-14.

Airmen from the 366th Operations Group, 366th Maintenance Group and 266th Range Squadron teamed with Sailors from Whidbey Island, Wash.; Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; British Army joint terminal attack controllers; Marine JTACs; and Air Force, Marine and British special forces for the intense combat training scenarios.

Realistic training provides the U.S. and partnered warfighters with the combat edge.

Mountain Home has the right mix of air space, modern ranges and proficient personnel, which makes this base and ranges the perfect location for this type of combined-joint training.

The 366th Operations Support Squadron hosted the exercise and solicited all participants, set up times, airspace and players for the close-air support scenarios, said Air Force Maj. Dave "Mach" Cochran, 366th OSS Wing Weapons and Systems chief.

If the U.S. Air Force, Air Guard, Navy, Marines and British partners were all pieces of an international interoperability puzzle, the 366th OSS is the mechanism to assemble the pieces.

"Our primary role at wing weapons and tactics is to be knowledgeable about all pieces," said Cochran. "We develop relationships and integration proficiency by creating and executing exercises like this. The relationships we make this week and the tactics we practice could very well be used in combat in the near future to maximize the effectiveness of the joint and coalition force."

For any enemy forces seeking refuge from America's war fighters, the Navy forces at VAQ-139 Whidbey Island, provide airborne electronic attack to suppress their air defense systems and communication nodes.

"Our squadron operates the EA-18G Growler that is one of the only purpose built aircraft in the (Department of Defense), which provides electronic attack against enemy air defenses providing a sanctuary for friendly forces," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joshua VanNyhuis, VAQ-139 training officer. "We expect to have friendly ground and air forces meet all of their objectives with zero friendly losses or fratricide by controlling the electromagnetic spectrum."

Combat air power translates to lives saved on for ground forces. No one knows this realism more than Special Forces.

"The simulated threats and scenarios we develop here will undoubtedly save lives in Afghanistan or wherever the next war takes us," said an Air Force CCT, a member of the most highly trained special operations force in the U.S. military; a team that spends more than two years in initial entry training. "This is the optimal range to work because we get the right mix of Air Force, joint and foreign partners here, and can culminate all our mutual skill sets into a perfect execution of CAS, shows of force or other assaults on realistic threat scenarios."

That realism the CCT eluded to is paramount for both air and ground forces in this type of exercise, said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Summers, 266th RANS ground radar systems technician.

"Our unit's role is to portray the bad guy," said Summers. "We use real-time data and information we gain through our own intelligence to realistically simulate what the enemy does. We operate radars and simulate attacking aircraft, and then the aircrew can practice evading."

Once training is complete, the 266th RANS provides video and written feedback to the crews for training.

"We create an electronic warfare environment that they'd encounter overseas and in any contingency today," said Air Force Master Sgt. Bernard Castro, 266th RANS ground radar work center supervisor. "This isn't a practice for us, we put our prime operators in the seat and provide our pilots the most realistic training possible."

Working with Marines, Navy and British allies helps all parties out by enhancing communication across the forces, which is what you'd have in a real wartime situation, said Summers.

"We can simulate almost any threat in the world to near perfection. We add even more realism by providing exercise surface to air missile attacks, which aircrew will need to evade," said Summers. "We provide them the most realistic training opportunity available and are always seeking improvements and be ever evolving."

Today's mix of allied ground, air and space force provides national leaders the unmatched ability to take early, rapid and decisive action in combat, peacekeeping or humanitarian operations.

In training for warfare, realism is paramount, said Castro.

Mountain Home and the 266th RANS control and maintain emitter sites across almost 7,500-square miles of operational range space, and it's that access to airspace and ranges that allows for realistic, safe training and testing while providing the flexibility to accommodate the complexity of this multinational, multiservice exercise and for real world scenarios for all forces today and into the future.

Army Soldier Sentenced for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan

A U.S. Army soldier was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison for his role in stealing fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty near Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David J. Hale of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas B. Russell in the Western District of Kentucky.

According to court documents, in May and June 2010, U.S. Army Sergeant Kevin Bilal Abdullah, 40, of Clarksville, Tenn., was involved in overseeing the delivery of fuel from FOB Fenty to other military bases.   Abdullah created fraudulent documents called Transportation Movement Requests purporting to authorize the transport of fuel from FOB Fenty to other military bases, even though no legitimate fuel transportation was required.   After the trucks were filled with fuel, these fraudulent documents were used by the drivers of the fuel trucks at FOB Fenty’s departure checkpoint to justify the trucks’ departures.   In truth, the fuel was simply stolen, and Abdullah and his co-conspirators received payment in cash from a representative of the Afghan trucking company that allegedly stole the fuel.
Abdullah pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2013, to receiving payments from a representative of the trucking company in exchange for facilitating the theft of fuel in approximately 25 fuel trucks.   He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and to the substantive count of bribery.  At sentencing, he was ordered to pay $466,250 in restitution.

Abdullah’s sentencing was the fourth conviction arising from this investigation of fuel thefts at FOB Fenty.   On Aug. 3, 2012, Jonathan Hightower, a civilian employee of a military contractor who had conspired with Abdullah and others, pleaded guilty to similar charges.   After cooperating with the government, he was sentenced on Oct. 28, 2013, to serve 27 months in prison.   On Oct.10, 2012, Christopher Weaver, another conspirator, pleaded guilty to fuel theft charges and, after cooperating with the government, was sentenced on Oct. 28, 2013, to serve 37 months in prison.   On Sept. 5, 2013, former Specialist Stephanie Charboneau pleaded guilty, and on Feb. 4, 2014, she was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison.   Weaver, Hightower and Charboneau were prosecuted in the District of Colorado.

These cases were investigated by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the Department of the Army - Criminal Investigation Division, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the FBI.

The Abdullah case was handled by Special Trial Attorney Mark H. Dubester of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, on detail from SIGAR, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bennett.  

Every single dollar makes a difference

by Tech. Sgt. Joy Meek
PACAF Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARLHARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- 

The tightening of the money belt can no doubt be felt throughout the Air Force these days, but some insightful Airmen are creatively finding ways to save their units and the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars.  

Through Pacific Air Forces' Every Dollar Counts (EDC) initiative, Airmen at all levels are encouraged to develop a culture of cost consciousness and focus on saving and cutting costs. 

The EDC program is founded on the belief that with the power of our Airmen's ideas a small change can have a huge impact.  For example, if each PACAF Airman saves $1 per day, the command can save $15 million in a year.

PACAF kicked off the EDC program last June in support of the Air Force-wide month-long money saving initiative that encouraged Airmen to submit ideas through the "Airmen Powered by Innovation" website.

The PACAF EDC campaign recognizes initiatives that have already been implemented to achieve savings.  PACAF leadership wants to learn about real money saving ideas and share them across the command.

PACAF's EDC was designed to encourage a cost-conscious culture at every level of the command and, in turn, recognize Airmen who have identified and implemented innovative ways to save money in their work centers and across their bases. 

Through EDC, those ideas can then be shared across the command and could even earn Airmen time off awards and/or an Air Force Achievement Medal.

Three initiatives have been implemented and submitted by PACAF Airmen that saved the Air Force almost $800,000 in one year earning the five Airmen who submitted the ideas special recognition.

Staff Sgt. James Kliewer, 673rd Contracting Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, thought the Air Force was paying too much for a potassium acetate deicing fluid.  He discovered it could be purchased through the Defense Logistics Agency versus through local purchase. His research saved the Air Force $246,000 in the first year.

"The research process, coordination, and testing took about four months to complete," said Kliewer, "but they've estimated that JBER will save nearly $500K per year."

But the savings initiative doesn't end there.

"We've started looking more into supply versus DLA checks in purchased items to see if we could save more elsewhere," Kliewer added.

Staff Sgt. Tyler Ambrose, 36th Maintenance Squadron, Anderson Air Base, Guam, saved the Air Force nearly $124,000 when his idea for a B-52 wheel shipping and rebuild initiative was implemented.

While stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Captains Andrew Lawrence and Garrett Pitts from the 909th Refueling Squadron, joined forces with Capt. Nicholas Trudell from the 5th Expeditionary Airborne Command Control Squadron, to develop an innovative air refueling track that enabled maximum benefit out of every flight hour for ongoing missions. This combined effort saved the Air Force $408,000 in just 74 days and will continue to create future savings for the units.

According to Regina Torosian, Pacific Air Forces Financial Management Budget Analyst, "The Every Dollar Counts program is an ongoing effort that allows money saved to go back to the units to help pay for mission essential equipment and supplies."

The Every Dollar Counts program is intended to encourage, recognize and reward PACAF Airmen for saving the Air Force money.  Airmen have amazing ideas on how we can do business smarter and EDC is an avenue to get recognized for those ideas. To learn about the EDC program, including where to submit your initiatives and how you can qualify for an award, log on to the PACAF EDC website at http://www.pacaf.af.mil/pacafeverydollarcounts.asp

Air Force Assistance Fund, Army Emergency Relief campaigns start

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Blake Mize
JBER Public Affairs

3/13/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The Army Emergency Relief campaign is underway at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and the Air Force Assistance Fund campaign will soon follow suit.

The purpose of both campaigns is to educate the JBER populace about the programs and who they support, and to garner donations.

Each program is in place to provide a safety net to members of their respective service.

"AER provides financial assistance to Soldiers and their families who experience unexpected financial hardships, such as emergency travel, funeral expenses or
essential vehicle repairs," said Salafai Ieremia, Army Emergency Relief officer. "Every case is unique and the form of assistance, either interest-free loans, grants or a combination of both, is determined by the Soldier's individual situation."

In addition to emergency relief, AER provides scholarships to spouses and children of active duty Army personnel and retirees, and financial support to surviving families of deceased Soldiers, Ieremia said.

The AFAF has a similar mission.

"The AFAF campaign is an annual, on-the-job fundraising appeal conducted among Air Force personnel for the benefit of Air Force personnel," said Air Force Master Sgt. John Smith, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter and JBER's AFAF installation project officer this year. "AFAF campaign contributions provide financial support to four AFAF affiliates."

The four causes the AFAF funds are the Air Force Village, the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.

According to their websites, the Air Force Village provides a dignified, comfortable, affordable retirement community for the widowed spouses of retired Air Force officers.
Air Force Aid Society emergency assistance is available to Airmen and their eligible family members to meet immediate needs in an emergency situation.

The Society provides interest-free loans and grants based on the individual situation.
The Air Force Enlisted Village provides a safe, secure and dignified place for indigent surviving spouses of retired Air Force personnel.

And the LeMay Foundation helps widows of all Air Force retirees, both officers and enlisted, through financial grants of assistance.

These organizations do not solicit support through the annual Combined Federal Campaign. They are an example of Air Force people taking care of their own, Smith said.
The campaigns are identical in how they accept donations.

Since only active duty personnel and retirees from the Army and Air Force may benefit from the funds, they are the only ones representatives can solicit for donations. Civilians and military personnel from other services can donate, but they should not be asked to do so.

Methods of donation include a payroll allotment, cash or check. However, only active duty personnel and retirees may make payroll allotments.

"We are asking for an annual contribution of 0.2 percent of annual base pay, but any amount will help these great organizations," Smith said. "These charitable affiliates all support the Air Force family and rely largely on volunteer contributions through the AFAF campaign."

As an example, 0.2 percent of base pay for an airman would equate to a $3.43 per month donation for one year. For a 12-year master sergeant, it would be $7.83 a month, and for a 16-year lieutenant colonel, $15.95.

AER runs from March 1 through May 15 and the AFAF runs from March 24 through May 2.
For more information about AER, contact Salafai Ieremia at 384-7478 or visit www.aerhq.org.

For more information about the AFAF and its affiliated charities, contact Air Force Master Sgt. Frank Wright at 551-0007, Air Force Master Sgt. Louis Ochoa at 551-6516 or Air Force Master Sgt. John Smith at 552-4478 or visit www.afassistancefund.org.

Unit project officers and key workers will visit work centers to provide information and answer questions once the campaign begins.

USS Mahan Visits New Orleans for Mardi Gras

By Ensign Alexander Washofsky, USS Mahan Public Affairs

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- The crew of the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) wrapped up a five-day port visit March 10 to New Orleans, the first ship in five years to make a visit there during Mardi Gras.

While in port, the crew participated in a number of events, including marching in both the Bacchus and Rex parades. Fire Controlman 1st Class Joshua Briles chose to have his reenlistment ceremony on the USS Constitution float during the Bacchus Parade.

"It was a unique experience that I'll never forget," said Briles.

The ship's distinguished visitors included Rear Adm. Brian Brown, commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command; Erin Kern, director, Shore Readiness and Logistics; and actor Hugh Laurie, famous for his lead role as Dr. Gregory House in the television show "House."

On March 2, Mahan's Crew hosted a group of local Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Sea Cadets. The Sea Cadets were given a tour of the destroyer and were able to get some hands-on training on damage control equipment and line handling at various stations around the ship.

"It was great being able to give them some real fleet experience," said Yeoman 2nd Class Jason Taylor.

Wrapping up their stay, a group of 20 Mahan Sailors visited the New Orleans Children's Hospital March 10, to deliver gifts and spend time with the kids. For crewmembers like Senior Chief Logistics Specialist LaClondria Caddell, the children's hospital visit was just another example of how the port call was about more than Mardi Gras.

"Anywhere we go, we always reach out and help the local community however we can," said Caddell. "This was my favorite part of our port visit."

Cmdr. Zoah Scheneman, Mahan commanding officer, said the visit was a great success.

"We were happy to visit a city so rich with history and tradition, especially during the Mardi Gras," Scheneman said. "It was an experience for our Sailors to participate in the celebration."

USS Mahan is the fifth ship named after Rear Adm. Alfred Thayer Mahan, a naval theorist and author of "The Influence of Sea Power upon History," and considered the father of modern navies.

Face of Defense: Racing Helps Wounded Marine Focus on Abilities

By Marine Corps Cpl. Allison Beiswanger

Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., March 13, 2014 – On a 70-degree California day, track stars took their warm-up lap to get started, focusing on their form and the rhythm of their breathing to ensure a better race.

But unlike other track stars, Marine Corps Cpl. Ivan Sears was competing in a wheelchair.

Sears was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device during a patrol. He didn’t know what hit him, he said, and his fellow Marines from 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, saved his life.

“All my boys kept me calm, patched me up and made sure I stayed alive,” he said. “They’re the reason I’m here today.”

Sears lost both legs above the knee, but it wasn’t until later, he said, that he fully grasped that his life had changed forever.

He said wanted to stay with his unit in Afghanistan and offered to stand duty every day, but he was transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center for rehabilitation. He went to his appointments and did his required physical training, he added, but his social life completely plummeted. When other asked him to go out on the weekends, he said, preferred to stay in his barracks room.

“I was basically like a hermit,” he added.

Then something inside him clicked.

”I thought, ‘I need to get out of this funk. The world’s not going to stop moving. I need to get out and do something with my life,’” Sears said.

He turned to the Marine Corps Trials, which enables wounded, ill, or injured Marines to focus on their abilities and to find avenues to thrive. Sears said he quickly bonded with the other wounded warriors by talking and swapping stories.

“We all have the same story in some parts,” he said. “It helps everyone form a bond, because we’ve been through a lot of similar experiences.”

The Marine Corps Trials also gave Sears the opportunity to get his life back on track through sports. He began running track events with his prosthetic legs, he said, but then a coach pulled him aside and asked if he would like to try wheelchair racing. The coach gave Sears hope and told him he had great potential, so he decided to stick with it.

Wheelchair racing became more of a lifestyle than a sport for Sears. In his first year, he earned a gold and silver medal at the 2013 Warrior Games, became certified for Paralympic standards, competed in nationals and even competed in an international competition in Germany. Thinking back to shortly after his injury, Sears said, he gives credit to wheelchair racing for bettering his life.

“When I race, all I think about is getting from one line to another,” Sears said. “I enjoy the view, and I just keep pushing.”

Sears is training to compete in national wheelchair racing again, but his ultimate goal is to join the Paralympic team, he said. He knows he’ll be there one day, he added, but he’s taking baby steps to get there.

Since Sears has competed at an international level, he isn’t eligible to compete in the Warrior Games, a Paralympic-style joint service competition. Though he can’t participate, his ambition this year at the Marine Corps Trials is to be a mentor to all the other athletes.

Marine veteran Cpl. Josue Barron is a champion in wheelchair basketball at both the Marine Corps Trials and the Warrior Games. This is Barron’s third year, and he’s trying something new: wheelchair racing.

“At first I thought it was going to be easy,” Barron said. “But that wheelchair racing is no joke. It’s pretty hard.”

Sears’ natural ability to compete inspires Barron to do well.

“Sears got really good at [wheelchair racing] in one year,” Barron said. “Him coming out here and giving me some tips and pointers will really help me go far.”

Sears said he thinks back to how he felt when he got injured and can relate to others feeling the same way. But what you’ll get out of any situation, he added, depends on the effort you put into it.

“Not everything’s easy, but if you put the hard work in, then you’ll get it,” he said. “And never give up. Even though you’re injured, there’s still life. Keep your head high.”

Space wing reservists showcase grit, heritage during combat dining in

by Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
310th Space Wing Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo -- An obstacle course, squirt guns, riot shields and blue flight suit "throwbacks." Oh, and Spartans guarding a grog bowl.

It was all-out war between the squadrons of the 310th Space Wing March 1 during the wing's Combat Dining In/Annual Award Banquet at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The event brought more than 400 Air Force Reservists together in the fun-filled atmosphere of a C-130 hangar, strengthening the wing's esprit de corps, camaraderie and morale within the ranks.

Members wore their best "battle" gear for the dining in, donning anything from tiger stripe uniforms from deployments of yesteryear, Air Force Space Command's blue flightsuit from the 1990s and even the attire of Spartan warriors as made famous in the movie "300." Senior Airman Grant Nelson, a fire team leader with the 310th Security Forces Squadron, had never attended a combat dining in before - and couldn't wait until the next one.

"I thought it was awesome!" said Nelson, who has been in the Air Force Reserve for four years. "I had never been to an event like that in the military. It was a great way to mingle with other people in different missions while also being a great morale booster to build us as a team."

As one of the lead planners for the event, Senior Master Sgt. Lisa Christensen, 310th Operations Group standardization and evaluation superintendent, said she felt the event went very well.

"I think we were very surprised by the number of folks that attended," Christensen said. "For this event to get more than 400, just military members, was quite impressive. It showed that this type of event was appealing to a good chunk of this wing compared to the fancy version."

For the wing's command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Gary Brown, he said the combat dining In "filled his heart with pride" as he watched the wing's "family of professionals" come together.

"It was a long time coming and the planning committee did an outstanding job pulling it together," Brown said. "I am so proud and honored to be the command chief of the 310th Space Wing."

The event's fundraising also has left organizers in the black, clearing $400, in what Christensen believed was a first.

Master Sgt. Patrick Hampton, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Detachment 1 first sergeant and lead planner for the event as well, said feedback from the wing was overwhelmingly positive, with one Airman telling him "it was the best event has had been to during his entire career."

It was great to see so much participation from the wing as a whole," Hampton said. "We were very impressed with the high level of participation we received from the units based at Buckley. This, coupled with the outstanding support from both the local community and our local military family, made the event successful."

Human simulators featured at international medical summit

by Tech. Sgt. James M. Hodgman
U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- More than 170 members of the international medical community from 16 nations filled the Hercules Theater here March 10 for the first day of the 29th Ramstein Aerospace Medicine Summit and NATO Science and Technology Organization Technical Course.

The annual summit is a joint effort between the U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Surgeon General's office and NATO to share information in the aerospace medical world and build relationships with international partners.

On the first day of the conference, attendees learned about emerging technology, medical evacuation on the African continent and advances in simulation training.

"Using simulators really enhances our training," said Carlos G. Rodriguez, 86th Medical Group simulation coordinator, "because we use various scenario-based events to train and develop skilled, competent medical professionals."

Rodriguez said utilizing human simulators, rather than live patients, have several benefits.

"By using the simulators, we are able to mimic everything a human casualty or sick patient may experience," he said. "The simulators can bleed, blink, talk, breathe, move and have a pulse."

Medical technicians can practice administering intravenous fluids, airway intubation procedures, electrocardiogram monitoring and defibrillation, Rodriguez said.

Christopher Williams, 86th MDG simulator operator, said the simulators provide a realistic training environment.

Previously, he said, students referred to instructors to learn vital information like the patient's pulse rate or if the patient was breathing.

Now students assess the simulators, which provide realistic signs and symptoms. As a result, the number of instructor injects has greatly been reduced, Williams said.

"This leads to the most realistic training possible, because when you're downrange, you have to make those decisions right there," he said.

The simulators have also greatly enhanced self aid buddy care training, said Tech. Sgt. Mariah Pike, 86th Airlift Wing SABC advisor.

Good medical care starts at the lowest level, and SABC is the U.S. Air Force version of non-medical responders applying medical care in the field, she said.

"It's not just medics who get this training; it's all Airmen," Pike said. "We've taught them how to apply tourniquets, how to properly apply an emergency bandage, as well as other bleeding control measures. With the simulators we're preparing them for almost any medical situation they may encounter."

In 2013, more than 1,500 Airmen used the simulators to practice a variety of medical skills.

Lt. Col. Bo Norenberg, a command surgeon with the Danish air force, said he was impressed by the simulators.

"They're much better than the simulators that we have," Nornberg said. "They're more natural and very suitable for first aid training."

One of the things Norenberg said he appreciated the most, was the capabilities the simulators provide.

People can practice artery compression and applying bandages to stop bleeding and the simulators can be programmed to lose a vast amount of blood, if the people working on them don't perform the techniques properly, he said.

"These simulators are the best I've seen," he added.

Ramstein received its first human simulators in June 2012. Shortly after their arrival, the 86th MDG started using them to teach the Advanced Cardio Life Support Course, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses for medical professionals across the Kaiserslautern Military Community. The simulators are also used for base readiness and mass-casualty exercises.

Ramstein now has nine simulators at a cost of more than $400,000, and the capability they provide is worth every cent, Williams said.

"You could probably spend up to $80,000 on one of our simulators, but if you look at the lives saved, it's well worth it," he said.
The Aerospace Medicine Summit and NATO STO Technical Course ends, Friday, March 14.