Eye on the NAGA

by Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

5/6/2014 - MINOT, N.D.--  -- It has been said that the American dream has always been about the underdog and striving to achieve your goals no matter what. Rooting for the "little guy" is an inspiration to work and train hard enough to overcome all odds. Minot Air Force Base is home to a few of its own underdogs - a handful of Airmen who commit themselves as much off duty as on.

What began as a small gym for amateur wrestlers and Jiu Jitsu fighters in downtown Minot, N.D., made its way onto the map of the martial arts world through the training of the dedicated members and what they describe as a traditional mindset of Jiu Jitsu.

"Our instructor believes in Jiu Jitsu," said Senior Airman Joseph Rhoades, an electrician for Minot AFB's 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, who explained that the mentality of the whole team is respect for the sport. "He teaches us the background and the history of it, so we're not just in there to kill each other."

As the group continued to train, Senior Airman Darin Nieuwsma, a Fargo, N.D., native, and a response force leader with the 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron, told his team about a grappling tournament in Fargo at a facility he used to train at.

"Once I told the guys about it, that's when we got really focused," said Nieuwsma. "We were training hard because we had a goal."

Stepping onto the competition scene, the members of Minot's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team seemed like an easy target. What their competition didn't know, was that their training focused on technique and execution over size and strength giving them an edge, said Senior Airman Andrew Magathan, 791st MSFS response force leader.

After forcing his first opponent to submit in a matter of seconds, Magathan and his team watched as shock blanketed the faces of their opponents in the arena.

"We were going up against high established schools with a lot of experience, but we did the best collectively," said Magathan. "We definitely put Minot on the map at that tournament."

With every member of their team bringing home at least bronze, the Minot Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team returned home with confidence, and an even bigger goal in mind.

The North American Grappling Association, the host of a competition held all around the country, is the next big test for Minot's underdogs. Heading to Minneapolis, Minn., next month, the team has no clue what they're in for but will continue to train none the less.

"That's what makes this team a threat," said Magathan. "It's our level of dedication - we're always helping each other get to the top."

Training seven days a week, members of the team have come to see each other as brothers, said Rhoades. Building themselves up individually, they in turn build each other up collectively.

"There's a saying in our gym, 'how can you make a friend without choking him out first,'" Rhoades explained. "It sounds strange, but it's true. We share a different kind of bond, and we do what we do for each other."

With their mind set on the upcoming NAGA, the team is more focused than ever, Rhoades said.

"Whether we are learning a new move or one we just haven't done in a while, we cover it over and over again, drilling, making it perfect and committing it to muscle memory," he explained. "In our gym, drillers make killers."

20th Air Force commander visits Malmstrom, hears FIP feedback from Airmen

by John Turner
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

5/7/2014 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont.  -- Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, 20th Air Force commander, visited Malmstrom Air Force Base last week as an opportunity to receive feedback from Airmen of the 341st Missile Wing about procedural and incentive changes suggested by the Force Improvement Program, and to speak frankly with them about his proposals for bolstering the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile mission.

"I wanted to sit down with Airmen in all disciplines to talk with them about what they thought about how we're taking their inputs from the FIP and how we're going to be implementing them pretty rapidly," Weinstein said. "I think it is going great and I've gotten really good feedback from it."

Weinstein toured several work centers and stayed overnight at a missile alert facility while here April 30 to May 2. He also met informally with small groups of junior enlisted Airmen and company grade officers from across the wing to hear their opinions on a wide spectrum of changes that are either being enacted or are under consideration by the commander. These suggestions include an immediate overhaul of training and evaluations for the missile combat crew force; an administrative streamlining of the Personnel Reliability Program; possible deployment credits and other incentives for all who serve in the missile field; special field uniforms for security forces that are better matched to the environment; and new tools and vehicles for maintenance teams.

In February, FIP teams visited each missile wing in Air Force Global Strike Command to conduct one-on-one interviews with Airmen. Following the analysis of more 1,800 survey responses and 835 interviews, more than 350 recommendations were briefed to AFGSC, 20th AF, Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. An immediate action prompted by FIP feedback has been the realignment of $19 million in the Air Force Fiscal 2014 budget to rejuvenate the ICBM mission. Nearly $3 million has already been received at Malmstrom for ICBM weapon systems parts and Launch Control Center refurbishments. An additional $1 million has been received for quality of life improvements.

"FIP has been a grassroots effort," Weinstein said. "This is talking to the Airmen who are actually doing the mission, finding out what their concerns are, and then going through the recommendations."

During the visit, Weinstein met with nearly a dozen missile combat crew officers for a crew force discussion. The meeting lasted approximately 90 minutes and covered changes in training and evaluation for missile operators including:

• Missile combat crew commanders are going to be given formal training responsibilities for their deputies.
• A standardized question bank, more formally known as an MQF (Master Question File) of up to 500 questions will be developed that represents the most important items crewmembers need to know.
• Monthly testing is now documented only as pass or fail instead of recorded by score. In the future, all questions will come from the MQF instead of generated by the individual units.
• All monthly training will be done in a single day.
• There will be two Missile Procedures Trainer rides each month instead of one, but comprising the same number of hours. One of the training rides could be dedicated to what the MCC feels is needed for team proficiency.
• Evaluations will be performed every 18 months instead of every 12, a cycle similar to how aircrews are evaluated. A complete evaluation would consist of an MPT ride, a field evaluation, and questions from the MQF.
• An advanced ICBM course has been developed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, and will debut in June. In addition, an in-residence flight commander course is being developed at Malmstrom and an MCC course may soon follow. These courses would eventually be taught at the other 20th AF bases.

"Really, what we are doing is a foundational change to the way we operate the ICBM missiles," Weinstein said. "Nothing is going to change in our ability to be safe, secure and effective in operating nuclear weapons in our mission."

Similarly, changes to PRP will make it easier for members to be continuously available for duty. For example, a downtown medical appointment will no longer automatically take a member off of PRP. Airmen will now only be taken off of PRP only when they need to be, instead of simply to follow an administrative protocol.

Weinstein envisions an electronic data base for PRP notifications, and plans to test the system at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, in a joint evaluation between the 91st Missile Wing and the 5th Bomb Wing, both of which are AFGSC units.

A reevaluation of PRP could potentially lower the overall number of security forces personnel on PRP status, putting only those whose duties actually place them near nuclear weapons in the program. This would make it easier for the Air Force to rotate security forces personnel through the ICBM wings, which would ease manpower shortages at the northern tier bases and allow members assigned here to transfer out sooner.

Weinstein's small group discussions with Airmen throughout the visit revealed a wide array of incentives and changes he is considering as he charts the best way forward towards mending the nuclear enterprise. Among the items he discussed in these informal forums were:

• All members who deploy to the missile field should receive a deployment credit. "It doesn't matter if you are sleeping in Afghanistan or in the missile field, you are away from home," Weinstein said. This credit will bolster members' careers because they would have deployment time banked when they move to their next assignments.
• Medals should be awarded for ICBM duty.
• Incentive pay for each day an individual is deployed to the missile field is being considered; however, Weinstein favors a balanced approach that is fair to everybody. This is a soft consideration right now because budget dollars are limited, and because other incentives might have a more positive net result.
• Security forces deploying to the missile field may eventually receive the multicam pattern uniform that was developed by the Army. Weinstein endorses this uniform because it is better for the missile environment. It provides better camouflage than the Airman battle uniform, and as a layered clothing system it keeps wearers warm in subzero temperatures.
• Maintenance personnel may see master team chief and other recognition patches restored to their uniforms. "They used to wear that but based on the ABU uniform we took it away," Weinstein said. "We're working with senior leadership to put that patch back. That is extremely important to people."
• Similarly, a return to squadron patches on ABU uniforms and colored organizational caps is under consideration.
• Weinstein wants to realign his helicopter squadrons to a helicopter group that would be commanded by a full colonel. He is aggressively pursuing this and hopes the new group will stand up by the end of July.

"The feedback I've been getting from the field has been awesome," Weinstein said. "We listen (to Airmen) and now we're implementing what they said. It doesn't get any better than that."

509th Bomb Wing receives Omaha Trophy

by Senior Airman Bryan Crane
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

5/2/2014 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The 509th Bomb Wing was awarded the 2013 Omaha Trophy in the Strategic Aircraft Operations category, April 28, 2014, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

This is the second time Whiteman has one this award, the title was previously held in 2006.

The Omaha Trophy, sponsored by the Omaha's Strategic Command Consultation Committee, is awarded annually to four outstanding units that represent USSTRATCOM's mission areas, their role in global operations and USSTRATCOM's continued emphasis on strategic deterrence.

The four awards given are the Global Operations, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Submarine Ballistic Missile and Strategic Aircraft Operations trophies. Selections are based on formal evaluations, meritorious achievement, safety and factors such as community involvement and humanitarian actions.

The Omaha Trophy was first awarded in 1970 by the citizens of Omaha, Nebraska, through the Strategic Air Command Consultation Committee, to the most outstanding SAC wing in honor of the 25th anniversary of the SAC.

Over the years more categories have been added. In 1992 when SAC was deactivated and USSTRATCOM was activated, USSTRATCOM Consultation Committee went to two awards.

In 2003, two more categories where added.The award was dropped back to two categories for one year in 2007 and returned back to its current format of four categories in 2008.

Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, U.S. Strategic Command deputy commander, presented the award on behalf of Adm. Cecil Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander, before addressing Team Whiteman's Airmen and praising their continuous mission success.

CNRC Visits New England and Welcomes Future Sailors at Fenway Park

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim Smith

BOSTON, Mass. (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Annie B. Andrews, commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC) received a warm welcome from the Sailors and staff of Navy Recruiting District (NRD) New England during her recent visit to Boston, May 2-3.

Andrews started her two-day engagement trip with a tour of district headquarters given by Cmdr. Andrew Plummer, commanding officer, NRD New England. "This was a great opportunity for Admiral Andrews to meet with and engage our Sailors on a wide variety of topics" said Plummer.

The overall "Big Picture" to include mission accomplishment, female accessions and the welfare of both military and civilians were some of the topics discussed during her visit.

But, before delving into those topics, she started the all hands call with a bit of nostalgia.

"It's taking me really way back, It was actually right here in the New England states where I had my first take on getting to know about recruiters and all about recruiting" said Andrews. She once served as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Boston Military Processing Station (MEPS).

"But this morning I just wanted to come and get the opportunity and chance to just meet and see you," Andrews said. She also made a point to thank everyone for the great work they've done to support Navy Recruiting Nation. "I couldn't be more pleased" said Andrews.

Day one ended at Fenway Park where Adm. Andrews had the opportunity to swear-in 20 future Sailors and all were formerly recognized in front of thousands of Red Sox fans during pre-game ceremonies.

The trip concluded on May 3 when Andrews' visited with Navy Reserve Sailors at NOSC Quincy to engage in another all hands call "There will be an opportunity to ask questions and concerns will be addressed... we'll lay it on the table... whether it's big navy picture or what we do here in recruiting," said Andrews.

Andrews visit had a positive impact on the Sailors at NOSC Quincy "I think it's great to have the opportunity to speak with someone who can address issues that often get lost in the shuffle," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Matthew Lehr, NOSC Quincy's Junior Sailor of the Year.

Cmdr. Andrew Plummer summarized the visit by saying, "Her visit was also productive in terms of community outreach with Massachusetts General Hospital, the Homebase Program, the Boston Red Sox and the Navy Reserve at NOSC Quincy, Massachusetts. We were happy to be able to show the Admiral our superb team of Civilian and Military members who accomplish our critical mission each and every day and look forward to her next visit with "Team Patriot" said Cmdr. Andrew Plummer.

NRC's mission is to recruit the best men and women for America's Navy to accomplish today's missions and meet tomorrow's challenges. With 70 percent of the world covered in water, 80 percent of the world's population living near coasts and 90 percent of the world's commerce traveling by water, America's Navy is very much a global force for good. NRC's mission is to recruit the best men and women for America's Navy to accomplish today's missions and meet tomorrow's challenges.

Dirt Boyz: Paving the way for a cleaner base

by Senior Airman Ashley Nicole Taylor
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/8/2014 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- In the winter, they're seen driving giant snow brooms to ensure base personnel are able to drive safely. Now that the snow is gone, Dirt Boyz from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron continue to work hard in cleaning the base and making it safe to drive.

"We're going to get into summer repair, which includes fixing fences, signs and anything else that the base would need, to get it back to how it was before the winter season," said Master Sgt. Mathew Fleming, 354th CES section chief of pavements and construction equipment. "We have a few projects planned this summer for construction, but our main project is going to be building an extended parking lot for people here supporting RED FLAG-Alaska."

From all the wear and tear the base endured during the long winter, the Dirt Boyz only have a few months before the snow starts again. They focus on areas that need the most work, all while keeping next winter in mind.

"Every year, the snow removal equipment needs to be turned in for summer rebuild, which means we have to clean up around 35 pieces of equipment and it takes a huge effort to wash all the grime from this past winter," said William Ferenc, 354th CES engineering equipment operator supervisor. "After the crews are finished cleaning them, it goes to the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron for vehicle maintenance so when winter hits next season, we get the vehicles back in tip-top shape."

Street sweepers, water trucks and hand brooms are just some of the many tools Dirt Boyz use to make sure all of the streets, even the roads less traveled, are kept clear of sand and pebbles.

"The gravel and sand we laid down over the winter becomes a hazard for windshields and motorcyclists," said Ferenc. "We have to make sure we clean all that up so everyone can move around safely."

Pesky potholes also become a problem now that winter is over and the Dirt Boyz have a hand in filling those as well.

"When water gets into a pothole, the pavement gets softer and it expands and ruins the road," said Ferenc. "We have to keep our Airmen and their families safe and if we take care of the pothole when it's small we spend less money when fixing it and save damage to vehicles."

Along with the snow melting, the risk of floods from water becomes an issue, potentially causing damage to base structures if not taken care of in a timely manner.

"Every year, some of the channels are frozen and when they thaw out certain areas won't drain very well," said Ferenc. "Our job is to pump water from one section to another to avoid the chance of a flood. To maintain flood control, we had a bunch of water pumps throughout base pumping water from one section to another."

The Dirt Boyz will be working year-round regardless of season, temperatures and weather conditions.

"We work really hard in the winter when it's 24 hours, seven days a week. These guys have to be here to allow everyone else to get to work safely," said Fleming. "Although we aren't working 24 hours a day right now, we always have somebody on stand-by and will respond to any situation where the Dirt Boyz are needed."

George H.W. Bush Forecasters Critical to Smooth Operations

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Ben Kelly

USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH, At Sea (NNS) -- Strategically placed in the aft-most section of the super structure is a vital aspect of USS George H.W. Bush's (CVN 77) mission; Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC). Without this mission-essential workcenter, pilots would lose efficiency and be at a higher risk of danger, which puts the entire ship at higher risk.

"Everyone knows that we deal with weather," said Aerographer's Mate 1st Class Chad McLaren, METOC Leading Petty Officer (LPO). "What a lot of people don't realize is that we deal with anything atmospheric or oceanographic. We even do a little bit of space weather and anything environmental. We put out the five-day forecast, do products for undersea warfare and a little bit of atmospheric refraction dealing with radar ranges. It's a pretty wide-reaching rate."

McLaren's main responsibility is to make sure the division runs how it is supposed to, regarding forecast products and range predictions.

McLaren explained that early in an AG's (Aerographer's) Navy career, "C" school is mandatory following their first command. That is where they learn to forecast the weather. At their next command they will be known as a "forecaster," being primarily responsible for forecasting weather. Forecasters aboard USS George H.W. Bush predict the weather for all the ships in the strike group.

Personnel that have not yet attended "C" school are known as assistant forecasters, or observers. Their job is to observe the current conditions, record them in a weather observation log and assist the forecasters in anything else they need.

Every 30 minutes, an assistant forecaster takes a reading with a Kestrel, a handheld instrument that measures the air temperature and the dew point. McLaren explained how the Sailor will look all around the ship checking the sea state, what the visibility is like, how high the clouds are and how much of the sky is covered by clouds.

"Cloud height can affect air operations quite a bit," said McLaren. "We get pilot reports, but for the most part, the sea state and cloud coverage is judged by eye. It's an experience thing. After you've done it for a while you can tell based on how the clouds are moving, how fast they are moving and how much you can see them changing. You get pretty good at judging heights accurately."

METOC meets daily requirements such as forecasting weather for all ships in the strike group. However, safety trumps everything.

"The primary objective of METOC is safety," said McLaren. "Specifically, safety of navigation, personnel and flight operations. However we can support the warfighter, that's what we're going to do. We have the capability of knowing how a specific radar is going to perform in the atmosphere for a certain day or we can determine what the survivability is if there's a man overboard."

McLaren said that as far as the mission goes, the secondary goal is to exploit the environment to the best of their ability. They make sure that they know more about the environment than the enemy does, and use that to the ship's advantage.

"We take our observations from the 09 level between 24 and 48 times per day," said Aerographer's Mate Airman Taylor Kane, assistant forecaster. "It's necessary and very beneficial to the pilots to know what is going on at all times throughout their operations."

Every day, METOC provides vital information to people that truly need it and appreciate it.

"My favorite part about this job is being involved in just about everything that's going on," said McLaren. "We play a part in almost every operation that goes on underway. Whether it's flight operations, replenishment-at-sea or search and rescue. We have to be integrated into what everyone else is doing. It's fun, especially when you can give that essential information to people that truly require it. When you're getting good feedback and you know that you've actually contributed to the success of the mission; those are the good days."

Navy Offers Sailors Opportunity to Volunteer for Early Separation

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Due to the excellent retention and outstanding recruiting success, the Navy is reinstating the Enlisted Early Transition Program (EETP), according to a message released May 8.

According to NAVADMIN 103/14, EETP allows eligible Sailors in targeted ratings to apply for a voluntary early separation up to 24 months prior to their End of Obligated Service as Extended (EAOS). The new version of the program is ongoing, quota-controlled, and will help reduce the need for involuntary force management. Early separation will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Available quotas are identified by rating, paygrade, year group and Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC). A list is available at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/community/pages/eetp.aspx. Quotas will be reviewed periodically and updated as required.

Early Separation requests will not be approved for the following Sailors:

* With existing Permanent Change of Station orders,

* Identified to fill an Individual Augmentee assignment,

* In nuclear ratings,

* Assigned to a DoD area tour and have not completed the tour requirement, including overseas tour extension incentive programs for which a benefit has been received.

Commanding officers will maintain final disapproval authority and do not need to forward requests they cannot support. Final approval authority rests with Navy Personnel Command, Performance Evaluation Division, with positive commanding officer endorsement.

Logistics Airman is top officer, earns Bronze Star

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

5/8/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Air Force Capt. Dayton Blume sat in a helicopter as it approached a forward operating base at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. The helicopter was filled with several Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which Blume was assigned to in a Joint Expeditionary Tasking.

The helicopter landed at the base and the Air Force captain got out with more than 30 Soldiers, quickly performing security checks for insurgents or improvised explosive devices to clear the helicopter landing zone. He'd volunteered to help out - it wasn't his regular job.

The 673d Logistics Readiness officer deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Afghanistan from May 28, 2013, until April 11. His actions earned him a Bronze Star and the Air Force Logistics Readiness Company Grade Officer of the Year.

Having been in the Air Force for about five years, the year in Afghanistan was Blume's first deployment.

"I was itching to deploy and volunteering left and right," said the native of Overland Park, Kan. "I put on captain the day I flew over there."

Blume was initially assigned to the 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron. As a Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airman, he was operationally assigned to the 101st.

"They were the 'Band of Brothers' unit," he said. "In about a month, they are decommissioning that unit. I got to be part of their last deployment."

When that unit left, the Air Force logistics officer became a part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

"It was interesting being the Air Force guy in the Army world," he said. "Until you're with an Army unit, you don't realize how different the jargon is."

Blume said he enjoyed working with the Army, and was amazed by the Afghan people. In his time there, his successes included leading a joint coalition team of more than 50 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and civilians teamed with six coalition partner nations to provide logistical support to the Afghan National Security Forces.

"It's kind of a different mission," he said. "In [Afghan] culture, we don't tell them what they are doing is wrong. We tried to lead them to the answer we thought was right, so they could take ownership of the decisions. It's kind of a blending of cultures and processes.
"I loved doing it; I really enjoyed working with the Afghans. For all the bad publicity, I think there are a lot of really good, smart people over there. Granted, some of their stuff may be a little behind ours, but I really enjoyed learning from them. These guys know how to work. They know how to motivate their people. They are really good at the less technical stuff."
Blume said he would talk to the Afghan leadership about logistics, he found they were good at convoys, and considered their work a logistical enterprise. He found some areas to give advice on, such as supply management.

"I'd sit down and talk to them almost on a daily basis, sometimes two or three times a day," he said. "I really liked to get out and work side-by-side with the guys loading trucks. They'd stack equipment 20 feet high on their trucks and tie it down. We'd say 'hey, maybe this isn't the best way of doing things.'"

Blume said much of what they did amazed him.

"One cool thing I did was seeing their depot warehouse in Kabul," he said, explaining how every piece of supply or ammunition that comes in would go to that warehouse. "It is truly the most beautiful, most organized warehouse I've ever seen. Everything's put away on the shelf; it is incredible. The problem is that if you call them up and say you need a tire, if they see an empty box, they don't look next to it where there's the same tire from a different brand. That's a logistical problem, but it is truly an amazing thing we've given them.

"One of the real problems that stood out is the Soviet mentality versus the American mentality. The Soviets used a push style of logistics supply. They get 10 units and 100 pieces of stuff in. Say it's brake pads; they all get 10 brake pads. In the American system, we keep those at the warehouse until a unit says they need them. That was one of the things we were battling in our advising."

Blume's role allowed him to travel a lot. With that travel came the necessary situational awareness of potential dangers.

"The constant looking over your shoulder part was interesting," he said. "The whole time you're out there, you're looking for threats. This guy that I'm advising, he could turn and shoot me. We had some insider attacks on the FOB. After one of them, an Afghan guy turned and shot the guy who had attacked the Americans. [The Afghans] want to protect you and are very good about it.

There was another guy in my career field who was killed while I was there. Just driving around Kabul keeps you on edge. I drove around in an armored SUV with bullet-proof glass and, at any time, we could have run over something. We were not out actively searching for the enemy; the Afghans were doing that and they are good. They like to fight and kill insurgents. I stayed safe."

Blume said he was glad he deployed for a year.

"Captain Blume has done a remarkable job taking on the task at hand and delivering the goods that our Airmen have been known for," said Air Force Col. Brian Duffy, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander. "On behalf of the whole team, you have my sincere congratulations and thanks for a job well done."

After returning from the deployment, the logistics officer said he didn't expect to win awards.

"I was shocked," he said. "It's the first award I've ever won. I feel like I was just out there doing what I was supposed to do."

Artillerymen leverage home training to master JRTC

by Sgt. Eric-James Estrada
4-25 IBCT (ABN) Public Affairs

5/8/2014 - FORT POLK, La. -- Paratroopers of Spartan Steel completed a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center here April 26.

Artillerymen of 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, trained at home station to prepare for the training deployment.

"I think the key was the preparation before we came here," said Army Maj. Jeffrey Munn, the executive officer for 2-377th PFAR. "We certified sections and really prepared to do those [advanced missions] so when we got here we weren't worried about just doing the basic tasks."

The Spartan Steel battalion spent 11 days in the field conducting live-fire drills with intense focus on getting certified and performing basic-level field artillery tasks in accordance with their occupational standards.

"That's what helped us do well; the basic core competencies training back at home station," Munn said.

The training paid off, the major said. Even before Spartan Steel had executed an eighth of its JRTC rotation, it had either met or exceeded the six-minute standard for steel on target during counter-battery fire missions, and continued to do so for the rest of the rotation.
Though the battalion as a whole performed well, the overall performance of B Battery, 2-377th PFAR, was highlighted as above standard when it came to executing the basics.
"We got after [the] troop leading procedures," Munn said. "Especially Bravo Battery, they were all over troop leading procedures."

An adage often heard in combat units of the U.S. Army is "train as you fight." For Spc. Mark Hinton, a cannon crewmember in B/2-377th PFAR, training as you fight is exactly what he learned. The specialist credited the intense training in Alaska for their success at JRTC.

"It was exactly how we trained," Hinton said. "... I think it prepared us pretty well for emplacing the gun, running crew drills and firing. Knowing that if I ever deploy with this unit, it makes me feel pretty good."

While at JRTC, Spartan Steel paratroopers learned new lessons, including how to integrate an additional battery with an entirely different weapons system.

"We're scheduled to [transition] into a 'composite fire battalion' in October," Munn said. "This is key training for us to understand that system."

The system in question is a mixture of two M119 105-mm howitzer batteries (six guns in each battery) and an M777 155-mm howitzer battery, which make up a composite fire battalion. As these two artillery systems are integrated, the battalion's target acquisition systems will also be updated with the addition of the Q-53 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar that will help make it easier to acquire and track enemy indirect fire weapons such as mortars and rockets.

"I can honestly say [JRTC] was hard," Hinton said. "It was uncomfortable, but I think it was in the best interest for me and for my unit."

Munn echoed Hinton's sentiments.

"No matter how well you do, you're going to learn something because they're going to keep stressing you until you find a breaking point or fault point in your system," the major said.

JRTC is designed to help a unit train and prepare for whatever type of mission it is getting ready to execute. For the Spartan Brigade, that mission is rapid insertion into any environment at any time as it prepares to take on the role of the Army's rapid-response force in the Asia-Pacific theater.

Activated in 2005, the Spartan Brigade continues to serve as the Army's only airborne brigade combat team in the Asia-Pacific region.

Engineers jump north of Arctic Circle

by Army Staff Sgt. Mylinda DuRousseau
1/25th SBCT Public Affairs

5/8/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The midnight sun turned the sky pink as 12 paratroopers from 84th Engineer Support Company, 6th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne), 2d Engineer Brigade, jumped out of a C-17 Globemaster III to land north of the Arctic Circle during multi-component joint Arctic mobility exercise Arctic Pegasus.

"It was an awesome jump," said Army Staff Sgt John Metzger, supply sergeant with 84th ESC, who said this was his first time jumping into the Arctic Circle. "It has been an experience."

The multi-agency exercise, which included air dropping and recovering a Small Unit Support Vehicle was designed to enhance U.S. Army Alaska's proficiency for conducting Arctic airborne operations, mobility and ground maneuvers in extreme cold-weather conditions while enhancing interoperability among agencies.

"We started with an airborne insertion of personnel and a SUSV," said 1st Lt. Robert Tester, 84th ESC executive officer. "Today we moved into arctic mobility training."
C-17s were used for the initial insertion and pilots from1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, transported the Soldiers through the area in UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

"It was a great opportunity to work with Alaska National Guard, their pilots and crew chiefs," Tester said.

Tester said the austere environment offered less support than other missions and required detailed contingency planning for equipment recovery, personnel injuries and other possible complications.

"It has been an overarching process involving multiple units across USARAK," Tester said. "Everything went together well, it has been a great experience."

Arctic Pegasus allowed USARAK to demonstrate its unique capability as the premier Arctic-trained operations command in the Army and maximize training resources across multiple units and maintain readiness for an array of mission sets across the Asia-Pacific theater and the Arctic.

"It was a way for us to rehearse a capability we have that is unique to Alaska and USARAK," said Army Lt. Col. William Conde, battalion commander for 6th Engineer Battalion.

In addition to the challenges of operating in the arctic, being more than 900 miles from the unit's home station at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson presented communication and medical care concerns.

Army Maj. Dana Riegel and Army Capt. Taylor Fernandez, 2nd Engineer Brigade planners, coordinated with civilian agencies like the small medical clinic in Deadhorse to ensure all aspects of readiness were built into the exercise. Great attention was paid to what gear the Soldiers would wear throughout the mission, ensuring they had the proper equipment for operating in the Arctic while not overheating in the 68-degree weather prior to boarding the plane.

"[The] thing that paid off the most was the integration with external organizations," Conde said.

The planning and execution of the exercise was focused on the arctic, but the complete process provided valuable experience and training for potential contingencies throughout the USARAK area of operations.

USARAK is prepared to respond to needs in the Pacific and has the ability to travel throughout the region quickly. The ability to board a plane in subzero temperatures and jump out in a tropical environment with almost 100 pounds of equipment strapped to each Soldier is one that could be exercised in a number of situations, said Army Lt. Col. Alan Brown, USARAK public affairs officer.

"The individual adaptation of leaving one environment and going to another, training our troops to be adaptable to those extreme changes, is an important skill set," Brown said.
Exercise Arctic Pegasus presented planning and logistical challenges, but joint interagency planning and execution made it possible, Brown said.

Sgt. Kandom Moore, an 84th ESC squad leader, said the jump provided valuable training.
"It is what we are up here for," he said. "It was a great opportunity for us to do what we train on, what makes us different."

AF implements DOS rollback phase II

by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

5/8/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force has implemented the 2014 enlisted date of separation rollback program phase II, Air Force Personnel Center officials said May 1.

The program accelerates the date of separation for Airmen who declined to acquire retainability for an assignment, training, retraining or professional military education, and who have fewer than 18 years or 20 years or more of total active federal military service.

Airmen identified for separation under this second phase of the fiscal year 2014 DOS rollback program must do so by Sept. 29. Those eligible to retire must apply for retirement by May 29 and must be retired by Sept. 1.

Airman can be considered for the DOS rollback only if they meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

- Have fewer than 15 years of total active federal military service as of Sept. 29, or at least 15 but fewer than 18 years of TAFMS as of Aug. 31; or 20 years or more TAFMS on or before Aug. 31.

- Have an Aug. 31, 2015 or earlier DOS for those eligible to retire, or a Sept. 29, 2015 or earlier DOS for Airmen ineligible for retirement.

- As of April 30, must have a "3D" or "3E" reenlistment code, a "09" assignment availability code, or "3E" grade status reason that renders them ineligible to reenlist.

Airmen separated or retired under DOS rollback will not be required to repay unearned portions of bonuses, special pays or other monetary incentives, and they will not be entitled to any unpaid portions of bonuses, special pays or other monetary incentives.

Airmen affected by the rollback may also be entitled to separation pay, officials said.

Airmen who have between six but less than 20 years of active service who are not first-term Airmen may be eligible for full separation pay, if they sign an individual ready reserve agreement. In addition, Airmen on active duty for 180 days or more will be authorized transition assistance benefits, such as permissive temporary duty, 180 days extended medical care for themselves and their family members, and two years of commissary and exchange privileges.

Affected Airmen who have at least 15, but fewer than 18 years TAFMS as of Aug. 31, may request retirement under the temporary early retirement authority.

For more information about fiscal 14 force management programs, including DOS rollback and TERA, as well as other personnel issues, visit myPers. Select "search all components" from the search window drop down menu, and enter "Active Duty: FY14 Force Management Programs" in the search window.