Cannon conducts Mass Casualty Exercise

by Senior Airman Ericka Engblom
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2014 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- With a shout the exercise is set in motion: runners take off in all directions, frantic calls are made as the dead, wounded and dying lie scattered in various positions of agony across the pavement. Help soon arrives in the form of a fire truck, its lights flash as medics jump out bearing kits and stretchers. As the hours pass and the chaos is slowly reined in, one thing remains the same - the men and women with clipboards stand off to the side, observing.

Then with another cry, this one of "ENDEX," it is over. The "dead" get to their feet and smile and the "wounded" wipe fake blood from their faces. The Major Accident and Mass Casualty Exercise at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., has been a great success.

On May 6, emergency response agencies at the 27th Special Operations Wing, namely the fire department and members of the 27th Special Operations Medical Group, answered to a simulated incident on the flightline at Cannon.

The incident consisted of a simulated aircraft explosion that rained fiery debris down upon approximately 120 personnel, 70 of whom were severely injured. The remaining 50 scattered in every direction, eventually being corralled by members of the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron and sent to Hangar 174 for additional care. Meanwhile, the 70 injured personnel were attended to and sent to receive specialized medical treatment depending on the severity of their simulated injuries.

"No one wants to have an accident of this magnitude actually happen," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Douglas, 27 SOW Inspector General NCO in charge of exercises. "However, it always helps to prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

This MARE was designed to enhance Cannon's readiness and safety prior to the air show which is scheduled to take place May 24 and 25. It also tested the reaction time and abilities of Cannon's emergency responders should a real world MARE scenario occur. The exercise accomplished these objectives by condensing what would have been 24 hours' worth of events into a four hour, fast-paced experience.

In addition, the exercise helped reinforce bonds and interoperability with local emergency response personnel.

"This exercise assisted in strengthening interagency cooperation and functionality," said Todd Miller, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of operations. "We want to be equipped in case an event such as this occurs in the future."

When asked how well the exercise helped shape planning for disasters that might occur during the air show, Douglas replied that thanks to the MARE and several other exercises, the base is ready for anything untoward that might happen.

"We did very well during the exercise," said Douglas, "and we feel very confident about handling any situation that might arise."

CMSAF Cody visits Air Commandos

by Airman 1st Class Jeff Parkinson
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2014 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody visited Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 8 through 9.

During his visit, Cody held two all calls where he answered questions from Airmen and discussed a variety of topics including the Enlisted Evaluation System, promotion boards and force management. He also thanked Airmen for what they do to serve.

"Our Airmen are sacrificing every day; they step up to whatever their nation asks them to do," he said. "We are going through some significant fiscal challenges in our Air force, despite the fact we still have them engaged in direct combat operations. Our Airmen continually step up and do phenomenal work."

Cody also spoke about the changing landscape in the Air Force, and said soon the Air Force will be the smallest it has ever been.

"When I came into the Air Force we were just under 600,000 active-duty Airmen," he said. "[After] we go through force management this year and next year, we will be down in the range of 310,000 Airmen.

"That's pretty significant, especially when you think about what we're doing around the world," he added. "We're more engaged than we've ever been in the history of our military, and to be able to make that statement while being the smallest Air Force is pretty significant."

Despite all that's going on in the Air Force, Cody encouraged Airmen to remain strong.

"Do the best you can do every day," he said. "You may not be able to be the best all the time, but you got to keep trying."

B-1B crews validate Ellsworth's long-range strike capability

by Senior Airman Yash Rojas
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

5/22/2014 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFNS) -- Two B-1B Lancer aircrews flew a 30-hour, non-stop, long-range precision strike training mission from Ellsworth to strike targets on a range near Guam before landing back on base as part of a Global Power training mission, May 13 and 14.

Working in concert with U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Pacific Command and Air Combat Command, the sortie tested the capabilities of Ellsworth's Airmen to successfully load munitions, launch aircraft, effectively employ training munitions and return home.

"This was a tremendous effort from across the wing - accomplishing a training mission of this scope is a team endeavor," said Col. Kevin Kennedy, 28th Bomb Wing commander. "The success our aviators have had in Operations Enduring Freedom and Odyssey Dawn does not happen by accident and our success on this mission demonstrates the extended lethality of not only the B-1, but our nation's entire bomber fleet - as well as the importance of air refueling to expand our global reach."

Kennedy specifically lauded the tremendous support provided by the refueling assets that made the mission possible, adding that without them the mission would not have been possible.

Capt. Christopher McConnell, 28th Operations Support Squadron wing weapons officer and B-1 pilot, said training missions like this help demonstrate the B-1's long-range strike capability. He said launching aircraft from the continental U.S., flying to a region employing weapons - inert munitions in this case - and then returning home are all part of the base's mission of providing expeditionary combat power, anywhere on the globe.

McConnell noted the task often presents challenges to aircrew members, but few may be as critical as fatigue, compounded by the more demanding stages occurring mid-flight with the tactical portion of striking a target.

"Once you are 17 hours into the sortie that's when ... everyone needs to perform at their highest capabilities," said Capt. Chad Nishizuka, 34th Bomb Squadron B-1 pilot and flight lead for the Global Power mission.

The long flight across several time zones and approximately 13,200 miles proved the combat capabilities of one of the Air Force's premier long-range bombers - according to all those involved in planning, preparing for and orchestrating the mission - and helps prepare aircrews for the physical effects of such a demanding flight.

This was not the first time Ellsworth has conducted such a long-range round trip mission as part of training or combat operations.

On March 27, 2011, Ellsworth accomplished an amazing feat when they generated bombers in severe winter weather conditions and flew from the South Dakota base non-stop to strike targets in Libya as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn, a testament to the base's ability to accomplish this vital mission

B-1 aviators have been conducting long-range missions since 1998 when B-1 aircrews employed the bomber in combat for the first time as part of Operation Desert Fox. Today, B-1 aviators provide critical support for combatant commanders in Southwest Asia.

The shift to the Pacific theater is different from daily operations at home, but every one of Ellsworth's Airmen - maintainers, defenders, engineers, medical personnel, logistics personnel and more - understand training missions like this are critical to maintaining readiness and preparing for the future.

"Everybody had the capability... it proves how strong our squadron is and how strong Ellsworth is," Nishizuka said. "I am very proud of this mission and [to] be able to lead it."

IRT deployment benefits, Airmen, Marines, Soldiers, Scouts

by Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton
127th Wing Public Affairs

5/21/2014 - RAYMOND, Maine -- Generations of Boy Scouts will benefit from a recent innovative training project led by the Air National Guard at Camp Hinds here.

ANG Airmen joined by Marine Corps and Army reservists have begun a series of major upgrades to the Boy Scouts' Camp Hinds.

The project is a partnership between Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense and the Scouts through a program known as Innovative Readiness Training that allows military construction units to partner with nonprofit organizations during military training projects. In this case, the Airmen, Marines and Soldiers are conducting annual training at the Scout camp, working on their various construction trade skills as they cut in a new road, construct a new parking lot, build cabins for Scout staffers, and prepare the site for a new dining facility at the Scout camp.

"These projects will benefit not only today's Boy Scouts, but will last for generations," said Eric Tarbox, Scout Executive with the Pine Tree Council of Boys Scouts of America, which oversees the camp and Scouting programs in southern Maine. "I think for years to come, the boys who are in Scouts now will be talking about how they were here when all this was going on. The benefit to Boy Scouts is significant."

Under the IRT program the nonprofit organization, in this case the Boy Scouts, provides the materials needed for the various construction projects and the military provides the manpower. The IRT program at Camp Hinds is scheduled to take place over five consecutive summers, as military funding allows, beginning in 2014. In this first year, approximately 450 Airmen, Marines and Soldiers from about a dozen different states will be working on the project, said Maj. Allyson Benko, a member of the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, who is serving as the officer in charge at Camp Hinds.

"The partnership between the Boy Scouts and the military could not be better," Benko said. "The two organizations are really working seamlessly together in a situation where both sides are benefitting."

Marine Corps Capt. Cory Bruce, a member of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion and the assistant officer in charge of the Camp Hinds project, said the Marines on the project have an opportunity to build technical proficiencies not only in their assigned Military Occupational Specialty, but allows the Marines to gain a big-picture view of the project.

"This allows the Marines on this project to take on a complex project and not just use a piece of equipment to dig a hole, but to gain an understanding of how the piece of the project they are working on fits in with the project as a whole," Bruce said.

During the second of the six two-week work rotations at the camp, the 127th Civil Engineer Squadron, Michigan Air National Guard, from Selfridge Air National Guard Base contributed about three dozen Airmen to the project, joined by about two dozen Marines Reservists drawn from multiple units around the country and a half-dozen Rhode Island Air Guard Airmen who are part of the "duration team," who will be on site the entire summer.

Bruce said another benefit to the Marine detachment is that the current rotation features a number of very junior Marines and a larger percentage of more experienced Airmen.

"We are working to integrate the two teams, so those with the greater experience are able to work with the more junior personnel, maximizing the training in a joint environment," he said.

The work on the Scout camp is also of great benefit to the Civil Engineer Airmen, said Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Talaga, superintendent of the group from Selfridge.

"Often on our drill weekends, it is hard for our guys to get much time on the equipment, given the many requirements on their time," he said. "On a deployment for training like this one, the Airmen are out, working in their Air Force Specialty Code, seeing progress on their assigned tasks. This is why our Airmen joined CE in the first place.

"This is an incredible morale builder and team building opportunity for our Airmen, to get out, get their hands on the equipment and, in this case, they are building something that gives right back to the community in the form of this Boy Scout camp," Talaga said.

For Senior Airmen Bradley Ziegler, 127th CES, the two weeks at the Boy Scout camp has been a positive experience.

"We've been able to hone our skills and work with projects we don't normally work on at home station," Ziegler said. "As far as the Boy Scouts, we are able to come out here, support their needs and get their facility up to par where the Scouts can utilize and enjoy their facilities in the manner that they should be able to."

And that's ultimately the goal, said Benko.

"It is a situation here where our Citizen Airmen, Marines and Soldiers are gaining experience and a local organization is able to accomplish a project they likely could not have otherwise accomplished," Benko said. "It is a classic win-win scenario."

Military license plates honor heroes and their families

AUSTIN – As the nation prepares to honor those who have died for their country this Memorial Day, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) reminds veterans and their families that they can honor their service and their loved ones with special military license plates.

“On Memorial Day we pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom,” said TxDMV Executive Director Whitney Brewster. “The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is honored to give Texas families this opportunity to remember their loved ones who served.”

In 2013, the Texas Legislature created several new military license plates, including:

•             Enduring Freedom Afghanistan, available to veterans who served in the armed forces and

               participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

•             Plates for retired members of the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Coast Guard, the  

              U.S. Marines, and the U.S. Navy. Former members with more than 20 years of satisfactory 

              service are eligible.

In addition to these newest military plates, TxDMV offers veterans and their families several other plates that honor military service. There are more than 275,000 registered vehicles with military plates in the state. Texans interested in these plates can view samples and get more information online or by calling 1-888-368-4689.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is charged with overseeing the state’s motor vehicle services that provide consumer protection, assist motor vehicle-related businesses and raise revenue for the state. For every $1 it spends, the TxDMV returns $10 to build and maintain highways, roads and bridges and provide needed services to Texans. Each year the agency registers more than 23 million vehicles; regulates more than 23,000 vehicle dealers; credentials buses and big trucks for intrastate and interstate commerce; and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts. Learn more at www.TxDMV.gov.

Special Ops Commander Appeals to Industry for Force, Family Preservation

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2014 – All the equipment, the greatest plans and weapons systems in the world won’t be worth much if the force is broken, U.S. Special Operations Commander Navy Adm. William H. McRaven told the Special Forces Industry conference in Tampa, Fla., yesterday.

This year’s three-day Strengthening the Global Special Operations Forces symposium is a forum for military, government, academia and industry members to network and supports the force.

Taking care of special operations forces and their families is McRaven’s combat priority through the SOCOM program, Preservation of Force and Families, to combat suicide, depression and other psychological issues, he said. The program’s website says the goal is to improve the well-being of special operations warriors and their family members.im improving the –

“People from industry may say, ‘What can I do to help with the health of the force?’” the commander said. “I think there are a lot of things out there [such as] biofeedback programs and things we haven’t even considered that we can put in front of some of these young men and women who have been under the stress of the last 13 years [to] help them deal with some of the problems they’re facing today.”

Calling the challenges personal, McRaven encouraged those in such lines of business to bring forth some ideas. “What can we do for these young men and women and their families to deal with the pressures they’ve been under since I’ve watched them [following] 9/11?” he asked the audience.

A task force was formed in 2011 and during the course of 10 months, about 700 special ops force members and 1,000 family members were interviewed, McRaven explained. “A lot of information came out of that report that was anecdotal,” he said. “I knew we had to get ahead of this.”

The force in 2011 was frayed, he added, but had not collapsed under the strain of the coexisting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If people can be kept healthy, so they physically feel good, they’re “less inclined” to commit suicide, be depressed, and are more likely to do their job well, McRaven said.

“The human performance piece has been key,” he said of the program. “We leverage all the services. I don’t do anything that doesn’t have a service component.”

Calling the military services “magnificent” he said, “We are absolutely not better than the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines [than others in the war]. We’re no more heroic, smarter, more patriotic. We just have a different mission.”

Part of his job as the commander of special operations is to make sure the force is ready to support combatant commanders down range, McRaven emphasized.

“When I looked at this problem set, this fraying of the force, we realized we had to look at the human physical, psychological and family resilience pieces,” he said. “It shouldn’t surprise anybody, but if you want to talk about the health of an individual, you probably want to take a look at the health of the family, because the health of the spouse and the kids is very important to the health and the readiness of that soldier.”

Establishing the Preservation of Force and Families program wasn’t a business decision, McRaven said.

“It’s a moral obligation that we are taking care of the force and the families,” he said. “We’re making sure this program stays as healthy as can be as long as I can make it happen.”

Joint Chiefs of Staff Senior Enlisted Advisor Visits Pensacola Training Commands

By Lt. Jonathan Bacon, Naval Air Technical Training Center Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, conducted a Town Hall Meeting for more than a thousand Sailors, Marines, and Airmen as part of a visit to Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP), May 20.

Speaking in the Naval Air Technical Training Center's (NATTC) Charles Taylor Hangar, Battaglia covered numerous issues challenging today's service members and discussed how although technology and conflict has changed, the basics of leadership and honorable service have remained constant.

Battaglia addressed the diversity in generations within the military as he spoke about "getting back to the basics." He explained that, especially now, in times of transition and change, "We can't get away from our foundations and our basics."

"Technology may change, streamline processes and make our processes easier, but we must always remember how it was done before modern technology, in case we ever find ourselves without it," said Battaglia.

Acknowledging that most of the audience members were in the "sunrise of their careers," as they attend 'A' Schools, Battaglia reminded the crowd that the "Transition to being a veteran will come to everyone at some point," and he added that "The best thing you can do to prepare for your transition from active duty to veteran is to do everything possible to get an honorable discharge."

To those in the crowd who were more senior, and perhaps closer to separation or retirement, he reminded them that "It is never too early to capture your military job skills and transfer them to a resume for use on the outside." Battaglia also reminded those in the crowd of how seriously he takes the transition from service member to veteran. "I don't want you to have difficulty finding a job, starting a business, or starting college," he said. "If you end up unemployed as a veteran, it means that I've failed you."

Battaglia encouraged the assembled Sailors to get a copy of the book, "The Noncommissioned Officer and Petty Officer: Backbone of the Armed Forces." He told the assembled group that this was a book about them. It describes what being an enlisted leader is about, defines the expectations of enlisted leadership, and expands upon the various services leadership manuals.

His final topic was resiliency. He explained that the Department of Defense programs on resiliency are not only for the service member, but for their unit, and their families. Battaglia described resiliency as "the strength, physical, psychological, and spiritual, to maneuver and navigate through adversity and stress with minimal impact, and return to an optimal level of operations afterward."

After taking a few questions, Battaglia closed by encouraging the crowd to "stay fit, stay strong, and stay resilient."

The NATTC Command Master Chief, Kirk Klawitter, said that his students and staff were very impressed with Battaglia's taking the time to share his insights and experience with them.

"Sgt. Maj. Battaglia provided my junior Sailors with a unique glimpse into how much they matter to the senior enlisted leadership in the DoD," said Klawitter. "The messages of service with honor, and enlisted leadership across the generations he presented should serve well to reinforce our Sailorization and professional pride training; we strive to instill in them on a daily basis."

Phoenix Express Participants Prepare for At-Sea Portion with Pre-Sail Conference

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Murch, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-Detachment Europe

SOUDA BAY, Greece (NNS) -- Members of maritime forces from European, North African and U.S. Naval forces participated in a pre-sail conference kick-off for Exercise Phoenix Express 2014 (PE14) at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center (NMIOTC) in Souda Bay, May 21.

The U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise, now in its eighth year, is designed to improve cooperation and interdiction expertise among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea.

"This is a great opportunity for our nations to work together, build relationships and improve interoperability amongst our navies," said Rear Adm. Chris Sadler, director, Maritime Partnership Program, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and vice commander, U.S. 6th Fleet.

Participants discussed the upcoming underway phase of Phoenix Express, meant to improve maritime domain awareness and interaction between forces afloat and the combined maritime operations center ashore.

Combined maritime forces will execute a series of training scenarios exercising force protection measures, boarding procedures, search and rescue, replenishment at sea, and helicopter operations.

"The end result of the exercise will be to improve maritime security and stability in the Mediterranean Sea and ensure we train like we fight and fight like we train," said Sadler.

PE14 is in the middle of its two-week in port phase, with underway operations in the central Mediterranean Sea scheduled to begin May 24 and end June 2.

"Promoting interoperability and cooperation among the coastal states, North Africa and South Europe, is the objective," said Hellenic navy Commodore Ioannis G. Pavlopoulos, Commandant of NMIOTC. "When we manage to establish constant communication between our states from both sides, I think the maritime trade will flow easier and more securely for the benefit of our states and the global security system."

Thus far, participants have gained various skills during the Maritime Interdiction Operations inport phase of Phoenix Express.

"The training at NMIOTC is excellent, and will help us deal with maritime issues in the future," said Lt. Col. Salem Alshwerif, a member of Libyan Armed Forces, who are participating in Phoenix Express for the first time.

Countries participating in Phoenix Express 2014 include Algeria, Croatia, Greece, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States.

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 partners in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.