Officer Training Command Changes Commanding Officers

By Lt. Brandon Walker, Officer Training Command Newport Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R. I. (NNS) -- A change of command ceremony was held for Officer Training Command (OTC) in the Captain Howard N. Kay Hall at Naval Station Newport, May 12.

In a traditional naval ceremony, Capt. Kevin McGowan relieved Capt. Vernon Kemper as commanding officer of OTC. The acting commander of Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Capt. Bob Fink, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

Fink applauded Kemper's work with the more than 6,000 new officers OTC produced during his tenure.

"Thank you for all you've done to pave the way for so many of our future leaders" said Fink, who also addressed the many officer candidates in attendance. "Maybe one day you will follow in Capt. Kemper's footsteps and be the commanding officer of this incredible command."

Fink also read a letter from Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, former commander of NSTC and current commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven.

"Your tour, in command of Officer Training Command, can only be described as brilliant. Unleashing your full potential, you masterfully led your 125 high-performing teammates on a journey of excellence in every area of officer accession training," said Mewbourne.

Additionally, Fink formally recognized Kemper's contributions during his tour of duty with an end-of-tour Legion of Merit award for his many accomplishments over the last two years.

Under Kemper's leadership, OTC saw wide ranging change, including the development and piloting of new curriculum for three of the five schoolhouses at OTC. Kemper also directed a comprehensive overhaul of the safety program at the command. It was a measure so successful that it was adopted by the rest of the NSTC domain, keeping thousands of officer candidates and midshipmen safer on a daily basis.

Kemper then addressed the staff and students of OTC for the last time as their commanding officer.

Kemper, an OCS graduate himself, said he was very impressed and proud of the work done at OTC, citing the 12-week transformation of candidates from civilians and enlisted personnel to Naval officers as a "process that happens so rapidly and with such life-changing consequences that I think it is rightly described as a miracle."

Kemper gave much of the credit for this transformation to his staff of Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs), Marine Corps Drill Instructors (DIs) and Class Officers.

"Throughout this tour I've been blessed with a fantastic crew" said Kemper. He added that his tour was intensely personal and told the students assembled from all of the OTC schoolhouses, "we put a lot of effort into what we do, and you will too when you're up here one day."

McGowan stressed the great import of the task he is about to undertake in his speech.

"At this crucial time, I can think of no task of greater importance to the health of our service than the formation of future leaders with fundamentally strong moral character. I am truly thankful to be blessed with the opportunity to make a difference in this monumental endeavor," he said.

McGowan arrives at OTC after completing a tour as a military professor in the National Security Affairs Department of the Naval War College at Naval Station Newport, R. I., teaching Leadership in the National Security Decision Making, and Theater Security Decision Making courses and the Naval Staff College's international short course.

McGowan, a native of Erie, Pa., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. His assignments have included flying the Navy's P-3 Orion as a part of Patrol Squadrons (VP) 11 and 30, assistant navigator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), a department head tour with Patrol Squadron (VP) 26, Patrol Squadron Air Combat Placement Officer (PERS-43) in Millington, Tenn., and tours as executive officer and then commanding officer of the Red Lancers of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10.

Following his command tour, he reported in 2009 to the Commander of U.S. Navy Central Command/Commander U. S. 5th Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, in Plans and Policy (N5) as Director of Strategy and Theater Security Cooperation.

Kemper will remain in the New England area, as he moves on to assume command of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit supporting the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

OTC is overseen by the Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. NSTC manages all initial Navy officer and enlisted accessions training except for the U.S. Naval Academy.

OTC conducts five officer accession training schools and is located at Naval Station Newport. The five schools consist of Officer Candidate School (OCS); the Officer Development School (ODS); Direct Commission Officer Indoctrination School (DCOIC); Limited Duty Officer and Chief Warrant Officer (LDO/CWO) Academy and the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) school. The Officer Staff, Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs) and U. S. Marine Corps Drill Instructors (DIs) also provide training assistance for these schools, especially with the academic and physical training of the candidates and students.

The mission of OTC is to develop civilians and fleet Sailors into newly commissioned officers morally, mentally, and physically and imbue them with the highest ideals of honor, courage, and commitment in order to prepare graduates for service in the fleet as Naval Officers.

C3F Hosts Chinese Chief of General Staff

From Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

San Diego (NNS) -- Chief of the General Staff, People's Republic of China, Gen. Fang Fenghui arrived here, May 13, for a scheduled two-day visit hosted by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet (C3F) Vice Adm. Kenneth Floyd.

During his visit to San Diego, Fang met with Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, commander, U.S. Pacific Command and received tours of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) and the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

Fang's visit to San Diego is part of a week-long engagement hosted by Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey.

This counterpart visit is intended to help establish clear paths of communication, encourage transparency and trust, mitigate risks, and focus multilateral cooperative efforts to address common regional and global security challenges.

Fang is scheduled to visit Dempsey at the Pentagon Thursday followed by a visit to U.S. Army Forces Command in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, before wrapping up his travel with planned meetings in New York.

Joint interagency and international relationships strengthen C3F's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.

George H. W. Bush Hosts United Through Reading Mother's Day Event

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

ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) hosted a United Through Reading (UTR) event, May 9. The event was a celebration of Mother's Day in honor of all mothers currently serving aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

Legalman 2nd Class Ilecia Moses, president of CSADD, opened the event by thanking everyone who came out to participate.

"I want to thank all of the mothers coming out today for this special Mother's Day UTR event," said Moses. "This event today is for mothers to show appreciation to their kids and let them know that 'yes Mommy is out to sea, but she is still thinking about you and wants you to know that she loves you.'"

The UTR program is designed to allow families with young children to stay connected by allowing them to see their parent's face and hear their voice. Even though the Sailor and their child are not able to be physically united, this is a way to show that they are appreciated and not forgotten.

"This is my second time utilizing the UTR program," said Electrician's Mate 1st Class Latoya Mitchell. "But, this is my first deployment that's kept me away from home on Mother's Day. I have two small children at home - Justice, 4, and Jacob, 3. This is more for them to just see my face. This event makes me very happy just knowing that I'm doing something for my kids."

UTR is an outlet available to all Sailors aboard George H.W. Bush. Sailors read a book of their choice in front of a video camera. That video is then put onto a DVD and mailed home for their children to watch.

Mothers who participated in the event enjoyed cake and punch, light-hearted conversation about each other's children, and a time slot reserved only for them.

"I wanted to do something for my child this Mother's Day," said Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Paulina Shelley, air department's V-2 division visual landing aid (VLA) leading petty officer (LPO). "I wanted to come make a video anyway, so I figured what better time than today. I can come and celebrate, enjoy some cake, and make a video."

Moses said that CSADD members participate in UTR monthly, and saw this event as a good opportunity to help out.

"We all work so hard every day," said Moses. "A lot of times we might feel like people forget about us when we're out here. We may not be able to speak with them every day, so we just want to let them know we are still here for them. I think that helps out the morale, even though we miss our family, and it's not only for them, it's something for us to look forward to as well."

Sallie Mae Ordered to Pay $96.6M for Violating Troops’ Rights

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2014 – Justice Department officials announced an enforcement action yesterday against the nation’s largest servicer of federal and private student loans, which was found to be systematically violating the legal rights of U.S. service members.

Sallie Mae -- also known as Sallie Mae Bank and Navient Solutions -- is ordered to pay $96.6 million in restitution and penalties, officials said, adding that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation also reached a settlement with the companies that addresses allegations of student loan servicing misconduct.

“I commend Attorney General Eric Holder, FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg, and the staff at the Department of Justice and FDIC for taking action to protect student loan borrowers,” said Holly Petraeus, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau assistant director, who leads the CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs.

“I have been concerned for some time about the way that military personnel are treated by their student loan servicers,” Petraeus said in a statement. “The men and women serving this country should receive quality customer service and the legal protections afforded to them. Instead, Sallie Mae gave service members the runaround and denied them the interest-rate reduction required by law. This behavior is unacceptable. And it's particularly troubling from a company that benefits so generously from federal contracts.”

The Justice Department's civil rights division has initiated a number of enforcement actions in recent years to pursue those who don’t fulfill their legal obligations under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, Petraeus said. “I applaud their actions, which have put millions of dollars back in the pockets of service members,” she added.

The enforcement action should serve as warning not only to the student loan servicing industry, but also to all institutions that provide or service loans to the military, Petraeus said. “Federal agencies will be vigilant about holding all financial institutions accountable for providing the protections that our service members have earned through their selfless service to our nation,” she added.

A 2012 CFPB report found that service members faced serious hurdles in accessing their student loan benefits, including the provisions of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act that cap the interest rate on pre-existing student loans and other consumer credit products at 6 percent while the service member is on active duty, CFPB officials said. Servicers were not providing them with clear and accurate information about their loan repayment options.

The CFPB heard from military borrowers, including those in combat zones, who were denied interest-rate protections because they failed to resubmit unnecessary paperwork. These kinds of obstacles prevent service members from taking advantage of the full range of protections they have earned through their service to this country, officials said.

The CFPB has partnered with the Defense Department to create better awareness of the rights and options for service member student loan borrowers. A CFPB guide for service members who have student loans contains clear information on the various ways student loans can be repaid.

Officials noted that the CFPB began accepting student loan complaints in March 2012, and added that service members who have an issue with their servicers should submit a complaint to the CFPB.

To submit a complaint, consumers can:

-- Go online at http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint;

-- Call the toll-free phone number at 1-855-411-CFPB [Call: 1-855-411-CFPB] (2372) or TTY/TDD phone number at 1-855-729-CFPB [Call: 1-855-729-CFPB] (2372);

-- Fax the CFPB at 1-855-237-2392 [Call: 1-855-237-2392] ; or

-- Mail a letter to: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City, IA 52244

Additionally, through “Ask CFP,” or by calling 1-855-411-CFPB [Call: 1-855-411-CFPB] (2372), consumers can get clear, unbiased answers to their questions, officials said.

Face of Defense: Hometown Friends Serve Together on Deployment

By Air Force 1st Lt. Holli Nelson

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 14, 2014 – Throughout life, there are people who inevitably leave lasting impressions -- an imprint on our consciousness. As examples, mentors and friends, they help us strive to be better, push harder and reach for higher goals.

For Air Force Lt. Col. Elizabeth Clay, Air Force Col. Brad Hoagland made a difference in her life and career more than 28 years ago, when the two were in high school. Today, they find themselves serving together halfway around the world -- he as the vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and she as deputy commander of the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group.

Clay and Hoagland grew up in the neighboring small towns of Elyria and Oberlin, Ohio, where they attended the same elementary and high schools. Hoagland, three years ahead of Clay in school, had three younger brothers, one of whom was in the same grade as Clay.

Both were active in their high school athletics programs, with Clay playing volleyball, basketball and running track, and Hoagland winning two state championships in football during his high school years. It was during this time that the two learned the importance of working as a team, dedication and setting high goals for themselves. It was this foundation that would propel both forward in their Air Force careers.

In 1986, Clay was attending the end-of-year awards ceremony for her high school and witnessed a special moment in Hoagland’s life. He had been called onto the stage at Elyria Catholic High School to be presented with his appointment to the Air Force Academy. An Air Force major presented the appointment letter and spoke to the audience about the prestige and honor that accompanies attending the academy. It had a profound impact on Clay.

“At that moment,” Clay said, “I knew that’s where I wanted to go to college. Over the next few years, I set my focus on getting good grades and participating in the extracurricular activities I needed to get into the academy.”

With the bar set high, Clay dedicated herself to preparing for the journey ahead. Every summer, when Hoagland would come home from school, Clay spoke to him about his experiences, eager for knowledge and insight into the life of an Air Force cadet. Ever the mentor, Hoagland presented Clay with her first cadet “Contrails” book so she could begin studying for her freshman year, helping to ensure she was as prepared as could be for what was ahead.

In 1989, Clay received a congressional nomination to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, but did not receive the appointment. Disappointed, but resolute in her desire to attend the Air Force Academy, she began classes at her local community college, waiting for her opportunity to apply. The next year, Clay received another nomination, this time to the Air Force Academy. She was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy preparatory school, where she completed her academics and played volleyball.

Her hopes of attending the academy and gaining success in her college dreams were high until she injured her knee playing volleyball in 1990. Because of the injury, she was medically discharged from the Air Force and disqualified for admission into the academy.

Once she finished out her year of the preparatory school, Clay moved back to her hometown of Oberlin, where she rehabilitated her knee and again took classes at the community college. As she worked through her injury and the multiple setbacks she had faced, she never let her goal out of sight.

The following year, with her knee rehabilitated enough to be medically cleared, she reapplied to the Air Force Academy and received her appointment to the freshman class of 1992.

“It took me awhile, but three years after graduating high school, I was finally accepted into the freshman class,” she said.

She pursued her degree in general studies with a concentration in biology, played for two years on the academy’s volleyball team, and graduated in 1996 with a bachelor of science degree.

In the course of all the ups and downs in Clay’s life, Hoagland’s career and success had been a beacon for her. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in civil engineering and set off for his life in the Air Force, not truly knowing how much his example and mentorship had inspired this young woman.

“If it wasn’t for Colonel Hoagland, I would not have known about the academy,” Clay said. “He encouraged me through my high school years and beyond to continue to pursue it.”

In small-town Ohio, Hoagland said, not many people aspired to join the military or attend a service academy. At the time, he added, he was one of only a handful of people from Elyria ever to have ever been appointed to and graduate from the Air Force Academy.

The two academy graduates found themselves deployed together for the past year.

“Here I am today, 28 years after Colonel Hoagland sparked my interest in the academy,” Clay reflected. “I’m serving side by side with him in a foreign country that was once devastated by a brutal enemy.”

Since 2013, Hoagland has been leading more than 1,700 airmen as the vice wing commander, and Clay ensures all flightline operations run smoothly as the deputy maintenance commander.

“It means a lot to me to be sharing in the same mission accomplishment at a deployed location with the person responsible for sparking my interest [in the academy] during high school and, ultimately, for me serving in the Air Force,” Clay said. “I’m honored to be serving under such a phenomenal leader as Colonel Hoagland.”

After they complete their tours here, Hoagland will assume command of the 11th Wing at Joint Base-Andrews, Maryland, and Clay will return to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to work at Air Mobility Command headquarters.

“I can’t think of a more rewarding profession than serving in the armed forces and leading people to accomplish great things,” Clay said. “I have grown as a leader and am a better person now than I was 20 years ago because of what I’ve learned from the people I’ve worked with through the years.”

Forward, Ready, Now: US Airmen train with Nordic nations

by Airman 1st Class Trevor T. McBride
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/14/2014 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England  -- The U.S. called upon the 48th Fighter Wing to participate in a quick-response, cross-border, training exercise out of Bodo Main Air Station, Norway, May 6-8.

The exercise involved air forces from Norway, Finland and Sweden, who make up part of the Nordic Defence Cooperation which also includes Denmark and Iceland who were not participating in this exercise.

"The exercise gave us the opportunity to intermix between the Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish air forces," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Aaron Jones, 494th Fighter Squadron pilot.

While located at Bodo, approximately 40 Airmen and five F-15E Strike Eagles contributed to increasing tactical interoperability between the different air forces. They accomplished this objective by conducting defensive, counter-air exercises.

The Liberty Wing's forward presence in Europe allows them to work closely with allies and partners to ensure security and protect global interests.

"We executed timely and effective takeoffs from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England to be able to intermix with the cross-border training exercise and practice with our allies in the North," Jones said. "To accomplish what we did shows how quickly we can reach out and help from just about anywhere."

The participating nations worked side-by-side every day, training to meet any future challenges.

According to Norwegian air force pilot Maj. Thomas Harlem, the U.S. Air Force is their "Big Brother." They base tactics and training off of "Big Brother," but add their own capabilities in order to employ the most efficient tactics.

"Executing together helps us get to know one another's abilities and limitations," Harlem said. "We fight together, we train together."

Although the U.S. Air Force values cooperation with its regional partners, there can sometimes be obstacles.

"The language barrier is something to overcome depending on the region we may be working with," Jones said.

Finnish air force Lt. Col. Aki Heikkinen, Lapland Air Command commander, expressed his perspective on working alongside the U.S. Air Force.

"We try to be as [cooperative] as possible," Heikkinen said. "We have changed from Finnish as a tactical language, to English.

"Becoming friendlier with the Americans increases trust between each nation and we are able to show what we know, as well as learn what the other air forces do," Heikkinen added.

Although the purpose of the NorDefCo training exercise was to improve air capabilities, the 48th Fighter Wing's maintenance Airmen provided the necessary ground work for that to happen.

According to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Martin Hardin, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron production superintendent, the maintenance team proved how vital their home station training is. After the initial recall, the team met the task of showing up, outprocessing and loading the aircraft to fly to Norway so they could regenerate the aircraft to fly again immediately upon their arrival.

"The team has to overcome limited capabilities, parts and manning," Harden said. "[But] they have operated here professionally, and I have nothing but the utmost confidence that we can do this any time anyone calls upon us."

Before departing from Bodo Main Air Station, Jones reflected on his training throughout the week.

"The experience has been phenomenal," Jones said. "To be up in the air with Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish air forces, executing on a global scale is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they are a thrill to work with."

The U.S. Air Force will continue acting collectively with NATO, NorDefCo nations, and the international community to address any challenges.

"The training we do on a day-to-day basis allows us to be prepared for any calls at a moment's notice," Jones added. "We are Forward, Ready, Now."

ANG senior leaders gather for Executive Safety Summit

by Master Sgt. Marvin R. Preston
Air National Guard Readiness Center Public Affairs

5/14/2014 - VOLK FIELD COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Wis. -- Safety, diversity and the new Air Force Inspection System were among topics highlighted and discussed among adjutants general, wing commanders, command chief master sergeants and others Guard leaders at a recent conference here.

More than 300 Air National Guard senior leaders and safety experts met at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center May 13-14 for the ANG's 2014 Executive Safety Summit.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, Air Force Maj. Gen. Kurt F. Neubauer, Air Force chief of safety, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico., Air Force Maj. Gen. Donald P. Dunbar, Wisconsin adjutant general and Air Force Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Schwab, ANG assistant to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, among the guest speakers.

"The return on investment of this conference is what you do after you leave here with the information you have," said Clarke.

This year's theme, "Don't Let Your Guard Down," framed the two-day meeting and served as a backdrop for Safety Summit attendees.

The tone of the summit was set by Air Force Col. Edward Vaughan, director of safety for the Air Guard, who slowly chronicled mishaps and the Airmen lost in the last year.

"It makes no difference if it's on a stat or on a slide, when we lose an Airman. It's personal," said Vaughan. "Airplanes are probably the most expensive asset we have, but Airmen are the most valuable asset we have."

The culture and diversity breakout discussed how a sound program of inclusion and culture enhances organizations.

"Wing commanders are faced with so many challenges in today's environment, especially with budgetary constraints," said Col. Shirley Raguindin, director of ANG Diversity. "When you utilize diversity as leadership strategy, especially for wing commanders, they will take with them improved mission operations and readiness and it also provides transparency to the organization so they'll be able to make better decisions."

The Safety Summit also served as a platform to discuss the new Air Force Inspection System.

In short, AFIS allows organizational leadership the opportunity to concentrate on enhancing mission efficiency and effectiveness daily without having to ramp up for occasional inspections.

The new AFIS will greatly enhance and affect safety within Air Force organizations.

"The [AFIS] system gives an opportunity to commanders now, to have more of a role in terms of compliance and culture within their organization," said Col. Doug Slocum, ANG inspector general. "With a decentralized system where they are the inspectors, it's empowering them to have more influence than they ever had before."

The ability to have adjutants general, wing commanders, command chief master sergeants and other senior leaders in the same room to talk about safety is immeasurable.

"To have all the senior leaders from the Guard in one place, at one time to talk exclusively about safety for an entire day is an unprecedented opportunity," added Slocum. "We've had an enduring [safety] rate that's about half that of our active duty counterparts."