DOD Official: Russia’s Actions Could Reshape Transatlantic Alliance

By Amaani Lyle

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2014 – A senior Defense Department official has told Congress Russia’s annexation of Crimea will affect and perhaps even reshape the NATO alliance.

Derek Chollet, assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs made the comments during testimony yesterday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Given the Russian Federation’s illegal actions in Crimea, our focus has shifted to the immediate question of how this crisis will reshape the transatlantic alliance, the upcoming summit and, more broadly speaking, NATO as a whole,” he said.

He recalled that after Russia’s invasion, United States took prompt steps to provide reassurance to NATO allies and partners in Central and Eastern Europe.

“We augmented NATO’s peacetime Baltic air policing mission by deploying six additional F-15s,” he said, adding, “We deployed 12 F-16s and approximately 200 support personnel to Lask, Poland, to supplement the U.S.- Poland Aviation Detachment training rotation.”

Chollet also noted the extension of the USS TRUXTUN’s stay in the Black Sea through March 21 to conduct exercises with Romanian and Bulgarian naval forces, as well as plans to launch the USS DONALD COOK from its new homeport in Rota, Spain, to the Black Sea to further build interoperability with allies and partners in the region.

“The United States wants to ensure a continuous, augmented presence along NATO’s borders at least through the end of the year that draws on the different capabilities of NATO in the air, on the ground, and at sea to reassure our allies and demonstrate our commitment to European security,” Chollet said.

Chollet also noted the U.S. is taking action to reassure the Ukrainian government by conducting an Open Skies observation mission over Ukrainian territory.

Senior defense officials recently traveled to Kiev for talks with their Ukrainian counterparts. “Although part of the discussions addressed Crimea and the buildup of Russian forces at the border, the majority of the discussion was spent on mid- and long-term bilateral defense cooperation.”

Russia’s actions, he said, have also increased the direct threat to other non-allied partners in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, particularly Moldova and Georgia.

“The administration is already exploring ways to support these important partners,” he said. “The U.S. government has tools at its disposal to contribute to this support effort, including security assistance resources, senior leader engagement, and defense cooperation activities.”

Overall, Chollet maintained that Russia’s actions in Ukraine challenge the idea of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.

“It changes Europe’s security landscape, and in doing so reinforces the importance of our bilateral defense relationships with European partners and within NATO.”

90th FS Pilots, equipment tested at Tyndall AFB

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

4/11/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Air Force Capt. William Albert could feel the missile bay door opening on his F-22 Raptor as the Air Intercept Missile-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile was launched outside, the rocket motor then engaged, giving the missile speed and shooting it out into the sky near Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., March 19, 2014.

The target was an orange, remotely-piloted, BGM-167A Subscale Aerial Target, designed as an evasive target for fighter jets during a Weapon System Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base. Twelve jets and more than 200 people, including 25 pilots, went to Tyndall Air Force Base to evaluate everything from procedures to equipment.

"It was pretty cool," said Albert, an F-22 pilot with the 90th Fighter Squadron out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. "I could feel the launcher kicking the missile out of the jet."

Once the rocket motor burnt out, the smoke trail stopped and the pilot lost sight of the missile. He watched the progress on the radar.

Albert wasn't the only pilot monitoring the drone on radar. He and Air Force Maj. Russell Badowski and were the third and fourth shooters against the drone. They flew parallel to each other, about a mile apart, and simultaneously fired their AIM-120 missiles.

Albert's missile got there first. For training purposes, the missiles didn't have warheads - his missile speared the drone.

"I was able to see it twist and turn as the drone basically disintegrated at the moment of impact and dropped out of the sky," said the pilot from Olympia, Wash. "It was pretty cool to get to see what that looked like on the radar."

Badowski's missile connected seconds later, hitting the already-damaged target.

"It was pretty cool for both of us to get that kind of success on a shot at a $750,000 drone," Albert said.

Going to WSEP is a Pacific Air Forces requirement. The program is run by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, part of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base. The 90th FS went there from March 17 to 28 for the two-week evaluation.

"The Air Combat Command commander has a directive that he would like everyone to get evaluated down there on a regular basis," said Badowski, director of operations for the 90th FS. "However, due to our remote location, funding and deployment requirements, we haven't been able to go since 2010."

The program ensures the jets work, the maintainers have them ready to go, the AMRAAM launchers and the AIM-9 launchers are working appropriately, and the fire control system on the aircraft is working appropriately, Badowski said. It validates the missiles are made properly. The whole system is validated by going to this evaluation.

"I thought just loading them up was a lot of fun," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Jonathan Miller, 90th FS weapons team chief and native of Chino Hills, Calif. "The pilots came; they were all excited. They were still all hyped up when they came back. Everyone was really excited, it was a good experience."

It's important to have the experience of physically firing weapons, Badowski said.

"If we were to get called to go to war," Badowski said, "a lot of the young guys have never seen what it looks like to actually have a missile come off the jet; to see what the smoke plume is going to look like; to verify that missile is looking the way that it should. It's good for the guys to have that experience before the first time is in the heat of battle."

The pilots shot 12,000 rounds of bullets through every M-61 A1 gun they brought to ensure they were working properly, he said.

"When there's a Gatling gun that's going off about 10 feet over your shoulder, knowing what it feels like in the jet and having the sights, sounds and experiences those things are crucial because while we train, we don't have actual ammunition coming from the jet," he said. "We train on a daily basis but you don't get to experience what that feels like."

WSEP was developed in the Vietnam War, he said. It is designed to validate the pilots, the aircraft and the missiles to make sure they function properly.

"It was definitely a really valuable experience as a fighter pilot, to use your primary weapon and feel what it's like to have a missile come off the jet and actually hit something," Albert said.

"WSEP provides us the opportunity to evaluate the man, the machine and the missile," Badowki said. "We make sure everything is working perfectly so that when we go to war, we can go in confidence that everything is going to work as it's supposed to and we can be successful."

Hagel, Mongolian Defense Minister Agree to Deepen Ties

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, April 11, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Defense Minister Dashdemberel Bat-Erdene signed a joint vision statement here yesterday designed to deepen a decade-long defense relationship built on shared interests and forged in combat as troops of both nations fought together in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mongolia was the final stop of a 10-day Asia-Pacific trip -- Hagel’s fourth in less than 12 months -- that began in Hawaii with a meeting of defense ministers of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and continued in Japan, China and Mongolia.

When Hagel arrived at Ulaanbaatar’s Chinggis Khaan International Airport, among the U.S. Embassy and Mongolian Ministry of Defense officials there to greet him was a woman dressed in a traditional Mongolian garment -- one similar to Mongolian bridal designs used as the basis for costumes worn by Queen Padme Amidala in “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” according to embassy officials.

On the ground, Hagel was presented with traditional welcoming gifts: a blue silk scarf and a silver bowl containing a Mongolian dairy product called aaruul, a dried fermented milk curd.

At the Ministry of Defense, Hagel was greeted by Bat-Erdene and reviewed the colorfully uniformed Mongolian Armed Forces Honor Guard before the two leaders sat down for a meeting and later signed the Joint Vision Statement for the U.S.-Mongolia Security Relationship.

The statement, Hagel said, “expresses our shared desire to continue deepening that defense relationship.”

At a joint press conference after the meeting, Hagel characterized Mongolia, which adopted democracy in 1990, as “a valued partner of the United States” and “a growing state in regional and global security.”

During the meeting with Bat-Erdene, Hagel told the press, “I commended the minister for significant contributions the Mongolian Armed Forces have made to security around the world through participation in many activities. These include United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and fighting alongside the United States in Afghan and Iraq.”

Over the past decade the two militaries have benefited from working together and learning from each other, the secretary added.

According to a U.S. official, the Defense Department provides about $1 million annually in International Military Education and Training, or IMET, funding for MAF troops. IMET graduates have led all 10 rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Foreign Military Financing funds have been used to equip the Mongolian peacekeeping brigade with vehicles, communications equipment and personal equipment. That funding is about $2 million annually, the official said.

At the press conference Hagel said, “As Mongolia invests in defense modernization, the United States will continue to work with our Mongolian partners to include joint training and exercises. This would include increasing opportunities for Mongolia to observe and participate in multilateral exercises.”

The secretary said the defense leaders had also discussed opportunities for the forces to work even more closely together.

A current exercise in which the United States and Mongolia participate is Khaan Quest, one of the world’s largest training exercises focused on peacekeeping operations. A joint venture, Hagel said, is the Five Hills Training Center near Ulaanbaatar, established in 1983. The joint-training military site gives units large areas for field training and exercises and classroom settings for strategic planning lessons.

“We’ll continue to do more together regarding humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, the secretary said, “and more joint training exercises that we discussed.”

Hagel added, “We in the United States believe that military-to-military cooperation between Mongolia and the United States is very solid, it is very strong, and we look forward to continuing to deepen and strengthen our military cooperation and relationship.”

A strong U.S.-Mongolia defense relationship is important to America’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region, the secretary noted, adding that he’s made that point during his current visit to the region and in discussions with Minister Bat-Erdene.

“I did share with the minister some of my reflections on this 10-day trip. I briefed him on all the stops I’ve made,” Hagel said. “I told him about the candid exchanges I’ve had at every stop, including my most recent stop in China, and I specifically mentioned the conversations I had in China regarding the regional security issue and China’s and America’s shared interest in putting our military-to-military relationship on stronger footing, which we think is good for the Asia-Pacific region.”

Hagel said he’d met with 13 Asia-Pacific defense ministers on the trip “and for all those discussions in this 10-day trip it’s clear to me that to preserve the region’s growth and dynamism and opportunities depends on 14 strong security relationships throughout the region, increasing cooperation in areas of common interest, and resolving disputes peacefully.”

Many challenges face all nations in the region today, he added, but also many opportunities.

“We must continue to work together to seize these opportunities as we all build a better future for all of our people,” the secretary said.

After the press conference, Hagel met with 26 Mongolian soldiers who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and for peacekeeping missions in Africa, including Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Chad. The secretary thanked them for their service and sacrifices.

Mongolia has about 350 troops in Afghanistan today and they are on their 10th rotation conducting security operations. They also had 10 rotations of troops in Iraq, a defense official said.

Hagel’s final stop in Ulaanbaatar was the Government House where he met with Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.

Hagel’s visit was the first time in 10 years Mongolia’s defense minister and president have met with a U.S. defense secretary, a senior defense official said, and the visit was critical to Mongolia's "Third Neighbor Policy" of outreach to governments beyond China and Russia.

But before Hagel left to meet with the president he received one more traditional gift from the minister of defense -- a 9.5-year old Mongolian horse, small but sturdy with a reddish coat, led by a handler to the area where the secretary was visiting MAF troops.

Hagel beamed and announced that he was naming the horse Shamrock.

“The reason I’m naming him Shamrock,” Hagel told the smiling crowd, “is that shamrock was the mascot of a place I graduated from, St. Bonaventure School in Columbus, Neb.”

Before he left for his meeting with the president, Hagel admired the horse, thanked the minister, and posed with the horse, throwing his arm across Shamrock’s withers as he was told that he would receive letters about Shamrock’s activities and well-being since the secretary was unable to take the horse to the United States.

Later, in the military aircraft on the way home, the secretary showed the reporters traveling with him a large framed photograph of Hagel and Shamrock standing cozily together, Shamrock wearing a hackamore of leather and polished stones and metal tied with a blue silk scarf.

The secretary said he would send the framed photograph to St. Bonaventure for the school’s permanent collection of graduate memorabilia.

Global Strike announces command’s best

by Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

4/11/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Air Force Global Strike Command announced its 2013 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at the 12 OAY Banquet here April 10.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, AFGSC commander, recognized each individual nominee and spoke about the aspects of each that distinguish them from their peers.

"There are three things that set these Airmen apart from everybody else," Wilson said. "They're all experts, leaders and they're all ready.

"Because of our mission and what we do, our Airmen have a special trust and responsibility and they demonstrate that every single day," he continued. "It's unbelievable the folks we have."

Wilson explained that out of 25,000 men and women across the Command, each of the OAY nominees first had to be nominated by their squadron, then group, wing and Numbered Air Force.

"And now we're picking the best in a major command," he said. "They'll represent us in the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

"We can't predict the future, but we can shape it," Wilson said. "The future of this Air Force is sitting in this room and we're going to recognize some of our amazing award winners."

Congratulations to the 2013 AFGSC Outstanding Airmen of the Year:

Outstanding Airman of the Year: Senior Airman David M. Wallace III, 91st Security Forces Group, Minot AFB, N.D.

Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Christopher E. Kitts, 509th Operations Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Josef J. Albert, 509th Force Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Rebecca F. McNelley, 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.

Outstanding Honor Guard Member of the Year: Staff Sgt. Erik M. Dempsey, Minot AFB, N.D.

Outstanding Base Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year: Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Hull, 5th Force Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.

Nigerian, U.S. Air Forces partner for disaster relief seminar

by Capt. Sybil Taunton
U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa

4/11/2014 - ABUJA, Nigeria  -- "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

This African proverb was referenced several times during a disaster relief seminar hosted by the Nigerian air force at the National Defense College here, Jan. 27-30. More than 40 senior service members from various career fields and units all over Nigeria attended the seminar to discuss capabilities for contingency operations.

Throughout the week, briefings and discussions covered topics such as logistics, airlift support, medical and public affairs. There were also two scenarios introduced that required seminar attendees to brain storm as teams and use the briefings to develop their own plans for responding to the crises.

"The U.S. has gone through the process and has mitigated disaster. This is a way for us to share knowledge and experience. Ideas have been presented that we haven't thought of," said Nigerian air force Group Capt. F.C.S. Uwakara. "Knowledge is power, and when you have the knowledge you have the power to overcome any circumstance. Seminars like this help us find ways to solve our own problems."

Under the direction of U.S. Africa Command, personnel from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, and the 621st Contingency Response Wing also took part in the seminar by delivering crisis planning briefings on best practices used by the U.S. Air Force during disaster relief operations.

"It is important for us to attend seminars like this with our partner nations," said U.S. Air Force Col. David Poage, USAFE-AFAFRICA Plans, Programs and Analyses Directorate, building partnerships division chief. "By sharing our best practices and learning what works for the Nigerian air force, we enable ourselves as well as our partners to develop more effective crisis response plans for the future."

Members of the Nigerian air force also facilitated discussions and shared personal experiences regarding contingency operations.

"For Nigeria, we have had our own share of disaster relief operations, just like everyone else," said Nigerian air force Group Capt. E.O. Shobande. "This coordination needs to happen. Synergy is very, very important."

ESGR Selects Freedom Award Semifinalists

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2014 – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense office, has selected 162 employers as semifinalists for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The Freedom Award is DOD’s highest honor for employers that provide extraordinary support to their Guard and Reserve employees.

More than one million National Guard and Reserve members, who play critical roles in combat and humanitarian missions across the globe, rely on strong employer relationships such as those forged by the 162 semifinalists for this year’s award. The employers selected as semifinalists demonstrate their commitment to Guard and Reserve employees through formal initiatives such as setting veteran hiring goals and establishing military employee liaisons as well as informal activities like arranging care package drives and granting additional leave for military members to spend time with family.

“We honor employers who practice personnel policies that support employee participation in the National Guard and Reserve. With so many supportive employers, we are making significant progress in the reduction of the unemployment rate of our Guard and Reserve members,” said ESGR National Chair Paul Mock. “We must remember that our force is comprised of all-volunteers. Enabling our Guard and Reserve members to know they have supportive employers is huge. Thank you for your support and dedication to America’s fight¬ing force and their families.”

ESGR will announce the 2014 Freedom Award finalists after a review board comprised of military and civilian leaders selects the 30 most supportive employers this month. Afterward, up to 15 award recipients will be announced in early summer and honored in Washington, D.C., in September at the 19th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 190 employers have been honored with the award.

Iddins takes command of 59th Medical Wing

by Staff Sgt. Chelsea Browning
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

4/11/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Bart Iddins took charge of the 59th Medical Wing during a change of command ceremony April 10 at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center.

Iddins replaces a retiring Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, who led the 59th MDW through its integration with Army medical services as part of the new San Antonio Military Health System.

Gen. Robin Rand, commander of the Air Education and Training Command, presided over the event, which took place near the medical facility's main entrance.

"It's always a pleasure to be among these 6,000 professionals who are such a tremendous asset to our Air Force and to our nation," Rand said. "Few Airmen have served with more distinction than those from the 59th Medical Wing."

As commander, Iddins is responsible for the Air Force's largest medical wing, composed of seven groups with a staff of more than 6,000 military, civilian, and contract employees. Iddins will also serve as Deputy Market Manager of the San Antonio Military Health System, an integrated U.S. Air Force and Army medical team dedicated to serving the nearly 240,000 beneficiaries at the nine medical treatment facilities in the San Antonio metropolitan area.

"To the 240,000 beneficiaries served by this military health system - your mission is our mission, your hardship is our hardship," Iddins said. "We will always be there for you. Not simply to meet your expectations, but to exceed them."

Iddins is no stranger to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland; he was assigned to what was then Wilford Hall Medical Center for a transitional internship from June 1991 to July 1992. He returned in July 1997 as a dermatology resident, then again in September 2006 as the 59 MDW's vice commander.

A chief flight surgeon with more than 1,250 flight hours, Iddins comes to San Antonio following an assignment as the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. As AMC's senior medical officer, he was responsible for establishing, coordinating and sustaining a health care system for 429,000 beneficiaries; and for organizing, training and equipping AMC medical forces for contingency operations.

18th MUNS helps locals celebrate Shimi

by Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais
18th Wing Public Affairs

4/10/2014 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 18th Munitions Squadron opened their gates to offer more than 400 Okinawan locals the opportunity to visit family tombs for the Okinawan Shimi celebration here April 6.

Shimi is an annual celebration during which extended family members gather to clean up the exterior of their family's tomb and the surrounding area. Afterward, the family will pray for health and protection, and offer food to their deceased relatives before enjoying each other's company at a picnic beside the tomb.

The sprawling 5,900-acre munitions area's dense jungle is home to roughly 25 family tombs. The visiting locals were welcomed into the restricted area by 18th MUNS volunteers through gates not open to the public.

Once inside, the volunteers escorted the visitors to their respective family tombs in order to maintain accountability, a daunting task considering the number of participating locals and the expansive, maze-like terrain.

"We had more than 100 MUNS Airmen volunteer for this event," said Floyd Higa, 18th MUNS master labor contract chief. "We had airmen, NCOs, officers--about a third of our staff came out to escort these families."

Typically, the tomb is cleaned by younger family members about a week before the celebration. Since the munitions area was only open for one day, locals expedited the process by cleaning in the morning and gathering the remainder of the family around lunchtime.

Although the families had to be escorted for accountability purposes, volunteers were careful not to intrude on the visitors' private celebrations.

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Patrick Stanton, 18th MUNS systems flight commander, said inviting locals into the munitions area in observance of Shimi each year is one of the efforts Kadena makes to maintain a positive relationship with the Okinawan community.

"They can only come to their tomb once a year, so it's something they really look forward to," Higa said, acting as a translator for one of the visiting families. "They had relatives from all over the island come here to celebrate and be together, and we're happy to help make that happen."

Shimi is still being observed, as it is traditionally celebrated on a weekend between the first week in April and the first week in May at the family's discretion.

Ghana, US Maritime Forces Complete Combined Maritime Law Enforcement Operation

By Meghan Patrick Henderson, USNS Spearhead Public Affairs

SEKONDI, Ghana (NNS) -- Ghanaian and U.S. maritime forces completed a three-week combined maritime law enforcement operation as part of African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP), April 11.

During the operation, the combined U.S.-Ghana boarding team was able to board three fishing vessels that were fishing illegally in Ghanaian waters. A fisheries agent from the Fisheries Commission of Ghana, embedded with the combined boarding team, recorded six infractions under Ghana fisheries regulations for these vessels, which could lead to potential fines of up to $2 million once the cases go through the Ghanaian judicial system.

"This joint exercise has improved the professional competence of the maritime security agencies and also interagency collaboration," said Commodore Godson Zowonoo, flag officer commanding of the Western Naval Command and 2 Garrison commander. "Ghana's joint boarding team will be at sea very often to ensure that the knowledge acquired is utilized."

U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard members involved in the operation felt privileged to serve alongside their Ghanaian counterparts and to work toward a more secure maritime environment.

"This operation was successful as a result of collaboration and professionalism of all involved," said Navy Capt. Marc Lederer, mission commander of Spearhead's Africa Partnership Station deployment. "Efforts such as these, which focus on active patrolling, interagency and maritime governance, go a long way in increasing the capabilities of our maritime forces to ensure economic security and sustain global trade in these waters."

Operations were conducted from the U.S. Navy's joint, high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1). Spearhead also assisted in escorting the violators to Ghana's Western Naval Command in Sekondi, Ghana, where Ghanaian naval forces took custody of the vessels to enforce follow-on judicial actions.

The combined boarding team consisted of Ghanaian navy and marine police personnel, a Ghana fisheries agent, and members of a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment.

Operations were conducted in close coordination with the Maritime Operations Center (MOC) at the Western Command Naval Base. Two U.S. Coast Guard operations specialists were embedded in the MOC to work alongside their Ghanaian counterparts to improve command and control of naval units and to enhance maritime domain awareness.

Ghana participants in AMLEP acknowledged the success of the operation and recognized the important skill sets that were gained as a result.

"The Americans and Ghanaians worked well together as one team," said Ghanaian navy Sub Lt. Evans Blay Enwunli. "This experience and exchange of practices helps us all identify more tools to more successfully protect fishing [and other maritime threats] in Ghana's waters in the future."

U.S. Coast Guard personnel enjoyed working with their Ghanaian counterparts and credited them with mission accomplishment.

"The Ghanaians were the first aboard the vessels," said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jeff Deitell, the officer in charge of the U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment, who joined the team for several of the boardings. "They led everything and projected a strong, clear Ghanaian voice to conduct law enforcement."

Not only was the U.S.-Ghana AMLEP helpful for the military forces, but it also aided the interagency dynamics that are involved in fisheries management, said the fisheries representative. The fisheries representative worked directly in tandem with Ghana navy and marine police personnel.

"[This operation] gives us an opportunity to not just work alongside American forces, but to bring many Ghanaian forces together," said Josephine Laryea, a representative from the Fisheries Commission of Ghana embarked aboard the ship. "This was rewarding because the new team we've created brings more perspective to our collective Gulf of Guinea activity."

AMLEP, the operational phase of Africa Partnership Station (APS), brings together U.S. Navy, U.S. Coastguard, and respective Africa partner maritime forces to actively patrol that partner's territorial waters and economic exclusion zone with the goal of intercepting vessels that may be involved in illicit activity. The program aims to enforce partner nation maritime law, follow-on prosecution, so that African partners will benefit from revenue that comes from judicial processes.

AMLEP is a key operational milestone during Spearhead's maiden deployment. Spearhead is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area in support of the APS program and maritime security operations.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.

90th FS Pilots, equipment tested at Tyndall AFB

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

4/9/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- Air Force Capt. William Albert could feel the missile bay door opening on his F-22 Raptor as the Air Intercept Missile-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile was launched outside, the rocket motor then engaged, giving the missile speed and shooting it out into the sky near Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., March 19, 2014.

The target was an orange, radio-controlled, BQM-167A Subscale Aerial Target, designed as an evasive target for fighter jets during a Weapon System Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base. Twelve jets and 170 people, including 25 pilots, went to Tyndall Air Force Base to get everything from procedures to equipment evaluated.

"It was pretty cool," said Albert, an F-22 pilot with the 90th Fighter Squadron out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. "I could feel the launcher kicking the missile out of the jet."

Once the rocket motor burnt out, the smoke trail stopped and the pilot lost sight of the missile. He watched the progress on the radar.

Albert wasn't the only pilot monitoring the drone on radar. He and Air Force Maj. Russell Badowski and were the third and fourth shooters against the drone. They flew parallel to each other, about a mile apart, and simultaneously fired their AIM-120 missiles.

Albert's missile got there first. For training purposes, the missiles didn't have warheads - his missile speared the drone.

"I was able to see it twist and turn as the drone basically disintegrated at the moment of impact and dropped out of the sky," said the pilot from Olympia, Wash. "It was pretty cool to get to see what that looked like on the radar."

Badowski's missile connected seconds later, hitting the already-damaged target.

"It was pretty cool for both of us to get that kind of success on a shot at a $750,000 drone," Albert said.

Going to WSEP is a Pacific Air Forces requirement. The program is run by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, part of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base. The 90th FS went there from March 17 to 28 for the two-week evaluation.

"The Air Combat Command commander has a directive that he would like everyone to get evaluated down there on a regular basis," said Badowski, director of operations for the 90th FS. "However, due to our remote location, funding and deployment requirements, we haven't been able to go since 2010."

The program ensures the jets work, the maintainers have them ready to go, the AMRAAM launchers and the AIM-9 launchers are working appropriately, and the fire control system on the aircraft is working appropriately, Badowski said. It validates the missiles are made properly. The whole system is validated by going to this evaluation.

"I thought just loading them up was a lot of fun," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Jonathan Miller, 90th FS weapons team chief and native of Chino Hills, Calif. "The pilots came; they were all excited. They were still all hyped up when they came back. Everyone was really excited, it was a good experience."

It's important to have the experience of physically firing weapons, Badowski said.

"If we were to get called to go to war," Badowski said, "a lot of the young guys have never seen what it looks like to actually have a missile come off the jet; to see what the smoke plume is going to look like; to verify that missile is looking the way that it should. It's good for the guys to have that experience before the first time is in the heat of battle."

The pilots shot 12,000 rounds of bullets through every M-61 A1 gun they brought to ensure they were working properly, he said.

"When there's a Gatling gun that's going off about 10 feet over your shoulder, knowing what it feels like in the jet and having the sights, sounds and experiences those things are crucial because while we train, we don't have actual ammunition coming from the jet," he said. "We train on a daily basis but you don't get to experience what that feels like."

WSEP was developed in the Vietnam War, he said. It is designed to validate the pilots, the aircraft and the missiles to make sure they function properly.

"It was definitely a really valuable experience as a fighter pilot, to use your primary weapon and feel what it's like to have a missile come off the jet and actually hit something," Albert said.

"WSEP provides us the opportunity to evaluate the man, the machine and the missile," Badowki said. "We make sure everything is working perfectly so that when we go to war, we can go in confidence that everything is going to work as it's supposed to and we can be successful."

PACAF chief breaks national, American powerlifting records

by Capt. Justin Billot
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

4/10/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- Months of training and years of experience were put to the test recently as judges meticulously observed more than 40 power lifting contenders during 2014 Military National Championships.

One Airman, who has been powerlifting for nearly 30 years, approached the stage, chalked up his hands, and made his second attempt at breaking the national and American powerlifting record.

Within a matter of seconds, the Airman broke the five-year record with a colossal 633-pound deadlift.

"The lift was good," said Chief Master Sgt. Troy Saunders, Pacific Air Forces vehicle management functional manager. "I feel extremely fortunate to be able to keep doing what I do as I close in on 30 years of competing".

Saunders broke nine new powerlifting records while competing in the last month in Killeen, Texas. His lifts for the squat, bench press and deadlift totaled 1,526 pounds, earning him 11 gold medals, five Military National and four American records. These consecutive wins allowed him to wrest the Overall Best Raw Lifter title from lifters two decades younger.

"I'm a lot older and there are others stronger than me who compete in the sport," he said. "I'm ecstatic simply to continue to lift and give it my personal best."

Saunders credits his achievements not only to hard work and dedication, but to those who have helped him along in his career.

"I owe a lot of my success to inspirational people and mentors throughout my time in sports," he said. "I think these people are invaluable to one's success in sports and life."

Saunders has been powerlifting for most of his life and said the lessons and skills learned through the sport have helped him to excel in his personal and professional goals. At the same time Saunders has been coaching nine Air Force lifters who made multiple first place finishes and a Military National 2nd place team award.

Airmen have a duty to maintain their Air Force physical training standards, but can supplement their fitness with other activities such as hiking, swimming, surfing or running, according to Saunders. The key to improving physical fitness, he said, is to find and engage in activities that are enjoyable and to have more than a desire for medals.

Saunders also recommends that Airmen explore ways to incorporate their families into fitness and health endeavors.

"Encourage your family and friends to get involved and get active," he said. "Physical activity allows people to spend time as a family unit and improve family resiliency through support and motivation."

Airmen interested in learning more about fitness and sports programs on base should contact their health and wellness centers or base fitness centers. Off-base resources can also serve as conduits for physical well-being.

For Saunders, he plans to continue competing.