Mercy Conducts MEDEVAC Drill during RIMPAC

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Pyoung K. Yi, USNS Mercy Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The crew of the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) participated in a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) drill, July 16, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014.

The MEDEVAC drill's purpose was for Mercy's crew to practice coordinating between all of the medical components aboard the hospital ship while receiving a steady flow of incoming patients who suffered injuries likely to be seen during a mass casualty scenario. Medical, aviation and security personnel were all called into action in support of the drill.

Observers of the drill included medical personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces, the People's Republic of China, People's Liberation Army (Navy) [PLA(N)], and Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD). Some of the attendees who witnessed the fast-paced atmosphere of the drill were impressed.

"I found the whole experience to exceed anything I've done or witnessed in my twenty-one year career as a nurse," said Lt. j.g. Mary Pelton, a nurse and observer from NMCSD. "The use of resources, the communication, the level of professionalism and the mission in getting patients quickly evaluated, it's the gold standard."

Seven patients with various mock injuries were treated, and simulated mannequins were also utilized to enhance training and make the drill more realistic. Posing as patients with mock injuries during the drill were two midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy.

"The first time being wheeled into the casualty reception area, in that sort of trauma scenario, was very unique," said Midshipman 1st Class Vikram Mukherjee. "The medical team acted very quickly. You can tell they know what they're doing."

Lt. j.g. Nicole Ely, a nurse aboard Mercy, said the MEDEVAC drill, along with other drills the Mercy conducts, provides Sailors experience with of the ship's standard operating procedure when dealing with a mass casualty situation.

"Every drill we get a little better and fine-tune the ship's capabilities," added Ely. "It gives us all a chance to get better at our jobs and responsibilities on Mercy.

DoD Spokesman: No Hint Russia Has Ceased Rebel Support

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2014 – Although it's unclear who is helping separatists fighting in Ukraine and how much help is being provided, there are no indications that Russia has stopped its support, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.

During a Pentagon news conference, Kirby discussed the need for Russia to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine and its potential involvement in yesterday’s crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

“We see no hint that Russian support for the separatists has ceased,” he said. “In fact, we believe that Russia continues to provide them with heavy weapons and other military equipment -- financing as well,” the admiral said. “They continue to allow these Russian fighters to enter Ukraine freely.” Some tanks and personnel vehicles have made their way across the border, he added.

“It has been a steady, concerted campaign by Russia’s military to continue to support, resource [and] advise these separatists,” he said.

Kirby noted while there isn’t specific evidence that an SA-11 surface-to-air missile crossed the border into Ukraine, “we're not ruling anything in or out at this point.”

“The missile itself, the SA-11, which is the one we believe was used to down Flight 17, is a sophisticated piece of technology,” he said. “It strains credulity to think that [the separatists] could do this without some measure of Russian support and assistance.”

The admiral said “we want to let investigators do their work” to discern whether assistance includes Russian troops going across the border to act side by side with separatists to train and advise them.

“We do not have any reason to suspect that they have not provided some measure of support on the other side of that order,” Kirby said. “These paramilitary forces that we do not talk about as much any more certainly did not act or behave or organize resources like some ragtag militia.”

Kirby emphasized he is not suggesting that Russian military advice and assistance has not somehow crossed the border, but that it is “just unclear exactly how much and when and who.”

“That is what the investigators are going to look at, and that is what we need to let them do,” he said.

Kirby also said he was unaware of any major changes to Russian military presence in the region.

“It’s roughly still about 10,000 to 12,000,” he said. “And it fluctuates a little bit from week to week, but the point is that it has been, over time, a steady increase of these combined arms tactical battalions across the border on the Russian side, but to the southeast of Ukraine.

“And they are close to the border -- in many cases, closer than those forces who were more aligned right on the east,” he added. Tens of thousands were along the eastern border with Ukraine, he said, but not as close as these units appear to be.

The Russian military presence is further escalating tension, he said, and while it’s difficult to know what the intent is, the numbers growing week by week.

Kirby said the Defense Department is “taking it seriously, and we’ve been monitoring the situation there as closely as we can.”

“Nobody in the Pentagon has been shy about talking about the continued threat posed by these separatist elements inside Ukraine, or frankly, by those combined arms forces that continue to amass along the border,” he said.

Kirby said Pentagon officials continue to review requests for Ukrainian military assistance, and the support continues to flow.

“The focus of that remains on the nonlethal side right now,” he said, “and some [of the] $33 million that the president has authorized of material has been getting to Ukrainian armed forces and border services.”

Recent deliveries include radios, body armor, individual first aid kits, sleeping mats [and] uniform items,” Kirby said. “Over the next few months,” he added, “additional items will start moving through the procurement process, to include night-vision goggles, thermal imagers, Kevlar helmets, explosive ordnance disposal robots and some additional radios.”

Other equipment has been given to Ukraine’s border guards, the admiral said, such as barbed wire, alarm systems, excavators, trucks, generators and communications gear.

Despite continuing to see “escalatory and dangerous” support from Russia to the separatists -- which Kirby said “needs to stop” -- the admiral also re-emphasized President Barack Obama’s point that there will not be a U.S. military resolution.

“The president has been very clear from the outset that there’s not going to be a U.S. military solution here to the crisis in Ukraine,” he said. “What we’ve been doing has been efforts to … reinforce and support our NATO allies and partners in the region.”

Officials are looking for ways to improve interoperability and capability, he said, to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which states that an attack on one member nation is an attack on all.

“And that’s what you’re going to continue to see us do,” Kirby added.

Training in hyper realism

by Dianne Moffett
Air Education and Training Command Public Relations

7/18/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas  -- Have you ever wondered what it would be like if film makers added smell and other senses to your explosive, action-packed movie watching experience? This idea is probably not far from reality and most likely will make motion pictures even more dynamic.

One strategy the Air Force Medical Modeling and Simulation Training, or AFMMAST, is improving medical training is by adding hyper realism and high fidelity through the use of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Cut Suit.

The AFMMAST website describes the cut suit as a learning tool which provides the most realistic way to simulate the look, feel and smell effects of severe traumatic situations on a live human. It allows medical providers a safe training environment to perform real procedures-from the point of injury, to treatment en route, and transition of care to surgical intervention.

Senior Master Sgt. Juan Rodriguez, AFMMAST Program Manager, said the cut suit gives medical providers a training platform to focus on the three primary causes of death on the battlefield: uncontrollable hemorrhaging, airway compromise, and tension pneumothorax (an abnormal collection of air or gas in the space that separates the lung from the chest wall).

In a field environment, a live actor wearing the cut suit will appear to be bleeding and can vocalize his or her pain and discomfort. The cut suit can also be used on a high fidelity mannequin. This cut suit mannequin combination will provide the users with the physical appearance of the injury as well as the ability to monitor physiologic symptoms of traumatic shock, like cardiac arrest, weak pulse, rapid or weak breathing, all of which can be tweaked and adjusted on a wireless computer monitor system.

"Simulation is just a tool to use during medical training and can be used with a huge variety of learning objectives," said Ruben Garza, Deputy Chief/Administrator, AFMMAST Program.

"The training that AFMMAST supports spans the continuum from combat mission preparation to basic training of Airmen to do the work required of their Air Force Medical Specialty. Some sites have minimal training requirements and equipment, and others, such as large hospitals have robust requirements that necessitate full time staff, dedicated space and large amounts of equipment," he said.

Tony Garcia, Simulation Operator at the Medical Research Training Center at Camp Bullis, Texas, said training can also be conducted in the Wide Area Virtual Environment, or WAVE. The WAVE is an immersive 3D environment which includes, smoke, noise and an interactive background complete with avatars.

"In some scenarios, the actual smell of cutting into the gastrointestinal tract can be added to the training simulators." he said, "But, they usually don't go that far, because it depends on the specific curriculum and scenarios the instructors request from AFMMAST."

The amount of training an Airman needs is determined by the mission and where they are in their career. Some Airmen are maintenance level, which means they are fully competent and not scheduled to deploy. But there is also the ramp up level where Airmen are preparing to deploy, and the novice level, where they are learning the basics of how to be a medic, nurse or physician.

"In any case, the advantages of virtual training allow the learner to practice critical skills repeatedly, in a safe environment, at a variety of locations, simultaneously," Garcia said.
These virtual environments are also cost effective if planned appropriately, according to Rodriguez.

"The program can be used by many people without costly set-up or resources," he said. "The skin and the organs on the cut suit are repairable. The organs can be changed out by the user and the skin can be repaired with special silicone based glue."

When asked what he hopes to see in future medical training models, Rodriguez said it would be smart for developers to address the full spectrum of a disease or injury.

"None of the simulation methods actually replicate real practice fully, so currently, a blend or variety of methods is used to meet training requirements," he said.

"Hyper-realistic training is immersion of the learner in the situation," reiterated Rodriguez. "It is intended to put the learner in a situation where cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills can be tested, trained and practiced."

"With this advanced technology, when trainees are presented with a real-life scenario, their motor memory will take over and will get them through the initial shock. It improves their training experience, helps them complete the mission, but most importantly, save lives," Rodriguez said.

Rescue Squadron participates in survival, evasion training

by Master Sgt. Luke Johnson
943rd Rescue Group Public Affairs

7/17/2014 - DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  -- Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Airmen from the 48th rescue squadron conducted survival and evasion training with aircrews that fly the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 305th Rescue Squadron.

305th RQS aircrew members were in Flagstaff, Arizona, July 12-17,  learning survival techniques at the Arizona National Guard's Camp Navajo wilderness training range.

Aircrew members also learned how to properly use their survival gear and also how to evade capture from enemy forces.

Air Force aircrews complete initial SERE school at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington and survival refresher training is mandatory every three years.

The 305th RQS is part of the 943rd Rescue Group from Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, which is Air Force Reserve Command's only combat-search-and-rescue group. The mission of the 943rd RQG is to train and equip mission ready Citizen Airmen to perform personnel recover operations.

Face of Defense: Martial Arts Instructor Teaches With Passion

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Leslie Keopka

Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti, July 18, 2014 – Street lights shine down on a tent in a turf field as Marines of all ranks gather inside, night after night, to learn crucial skills that could someday save their lives.

These Marines not only are learning important martial arts tactics, but also are learning how to be martial arts instructors.

“One mind, any weapon,” is the motto for the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, meaning that a Marine is a weapon, even without carrying one.

Marine Corps Sgt. Lawanda Ruiz, administration chief for the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa personnel office here, has dedicated more than 400 hours as an MCMAP instructor trainer, both here and at her home station of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The martial arts program combines mental, physical and character discipline. Marines must have a balance of honor, courage, commitment, professional military education, determination, and physical and mental strength, Ruiz said.

Ruiz, a native of Anniston, Alabama, graduated seven new instructors last month. The course was three weeks long, six days a week, and its 120 hours of instruction covered tactics, nutrition and Marine Corps history.

“The thing that we wanted to do during the Martial Arts Instructors Course was let everyone get away from the mixed martial arts mindset and put it into a combat mindset -- full fighting gear,” Ruiz said. “Utilizing this course, I was able to show the Marines that regardless of their job, they might be called upon to take charge and ensure the safety of military, diplomatic and civilian personnel.”

Ruiz completed the seven-week Marine Corps Center of Excellence Instructor Trainer’s Course in March. This was the first class she taught alone.

She said couldn’t have done so well without the support of the combined joint task force staff here and her husband, Marine Corps Sgt. Carlos Ruiz, Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, Chesapeake, Virginia, and a 2nd-degree black belt Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor trainer.

“My husband got me into the program; he gave me motivation and encouraged me to go to the instructor course,” Ruiz said. “I looked to him, and he helped me so much with this first course. I was calling him every day saying, ‘How do I do this? What would be the best way?’”

When Ruiz finishes her deployment, she will transfer to the Martial Arts Center of Excellence headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, where she will be a full-time instructor trainer.

“I want to show people the positives of MCMAP,” she said. “I want them to tie MCMAP in with their careers, their lives, and use it to help make them be a better man or woman. I just want to be able to say that I gave every student my all.”

Hagel Offers Condolences to Malaysian Defense Minister

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by telephone today with Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to offer his condolences for those who lost their lives on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine yesterday, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said.

“The secretary extended his personal condolences to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Minister Hishammuddin, whose step-grandmother was among the passengers killed,” Kirby said in a statement summarizing the call.

The secretary reiterated President Barack Obama's pledge to provide U.S. support to the investigation, the admiral said, and the two leaders discussed the security situation in Ukraine and the importance of making sure investigators have unimpeded and secure access to the crash site.

“Secretary Hagel thanked the minister for his continued support of the strong relationship between our two militaries,” Kirby said, “and both leaders agreed on the need for continued dialogue as the investigation into the crash proceeds.”

The secretary and the minister promised to stay in touch as developments unfold, he added.

5th BW welcomes new commander

by Senior Airman Andrew Crawford
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

7/15/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D.  -- Col. Jason Armagost accepted command of the 5th Bomb Wing from Col. Alex Mezynski during a change of command ceremony here, July 14, 2014.

Armagost comes to the 5th BW from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where he was the vice commander of the 36th Wing. As vice commander, Armagost was responsible for the well being of more than 8,500 military and civilian Airmen on Andersen AFB. He also conducted Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence, theater security packages, and contingency response operations from Andersen AFB.

Armagost is accustomed to long range bombers, having served as commander of the 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, M.O. Though he has many flying hours in the B-2 Spirit and the B-52 Stratofortress, Armagost started his career flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Though Armagost has had a diverse career that has taken him all over the world, he expressed his excitement at the opportunity to lead the men and women of Minot AFB.

"I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to lead this wing," said Armagost.

Presiding over the change of command was Maj. Gen. Scott Vander Haam, Eighth Air Force commander, who spoke highly of Armagost as the new 5th BW commander.

"With this change of command, the 5th Bomb Wing is still in the most capable of hands," said Vander Haam. "I have the utmost trust, faith, and confidence that you will continue to develop our Airmen into the future leaders they will be."

Dyess Airman to run in 2014 Air Force Marathon

by Senior Airman Shannon Hall
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

7/18/2014 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas  -- While most people are spending their summer relaxing and enjoying extra family time, one Dyess Airman is putting in extra miles on pavement, all in preparation for the 2014 Air Force Marathon.

Senior Airman Seth Michael, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, has trained for the past six months and has been hand-picked out of six nominees to be the 7th Bomb Wing representative.

"SrA Michael was selected by the Equipment Maintenance Squadron due to his dynamic attitude," said Chief Master Sgt. William Starling, 7th EMS chief enlisted manager. "EMS leadership felt his selection was a smart one and we always desire to put our best foot forward."

Part of the nomination process required Michael to submit his past three enlisted performance reports, last three physical training tests and single unit retrieval format (SURF), which is a summary of a person's military career.

"The opportunity to represent Dyess Air Force Base in the 2014 Air Force Marathon is an honor," Michael said. "To be the representative of your base in an Air Force-wide event comes with a level of commitment that you would not have if doing it just for yourself."

As part of his commitment and training, Michael maintains a healthy diet and works out twice a day, seven days a week.

"I use my lunch break to complete some of my work outs that include lifting weights and running; about 60 miles a week," he said.

Michael will continue his training until the 26.2 mile marathon takes place Sept. 20 at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This will be his second time competing in this event.

When he participated in the 2013 Air Force Marathon, Seth finished in the top 10 percent of more than 6,000 runners.

"There are plenty of mornings I don't feel like getting up to run ten or fifteen miles before work, but there are a lot of people out there who can't run or play sports due to an illness, injury or some other disability," Michael said. "If you have a gift I believe you should use it. There are others out there who wish they could do what you do, and in part, you are kind of running for them."

Airman Michael said his primary supporters and motivators who keep him driven include his wife, parents, grandfather and the 7th EMS, specifically the Aircraft Ground Equipment shop.

"This is an experience I can take advantage of and I'm looking to perform at an elite level," Michael said. "Commitments have been made and goals need to be met."

ACC officials announce headquarters reductions

from Air Combat command Public Affairs

7/18/2014 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.  -- Air Force officials recently announced plans to reduce the total number of civilian and military positions on the Air Combat Command headquarters staff here by 742.

The action is part of the Air Force's Management Headquarters Review, an effort to increase efficiencies and improve support to the warfighter while helping the service to meet the Department of Defense's directive to reduce costs and staff levels in order to provide the most capable force at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced the department-wide initiative in December 2013.

Although the Air Force plan calls for reductions in headquarters positions, or "spaces," no later than October 1, 2014, ACC officials stressed that any personnel reductions would likely take much longer and wouldn't necessarily correspond directly to the number of spaces.

In the case of active duty military members, individuals will likely continue in their assignments as normal before eventually transitioning to a new assignment, without a backfill. On the civilian side, some positions are already vacant and the personnel community's focus will be to outplace civilian personnel through a variety of transition programs.

While details are still being finalized, officials stressed every effort will be made to minimize impacts on personnel.

"There is a set process," said Patricia Whitaker, the 633 Air Base Wing's Chief of Civilian Personnel. "First there will be voluntary separation measures such as the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. Then the numbers of vacant positions are evaluated. Once we exhaust the vacancies, we can consider involuntary separation measures."

This three-step process means the total time between the initial announcement of reductions, notification of union representatives and management, implementation of voluntary separation or retirement programs, and potential involuntary reductions in force may be significant. Ultimately the time allows officials and those affected to develop plans that can reduce the impact of the actions.
During a previous reduction, Whitaker's office achieved a 98 percent placement of more than 200 civilians whose positions were selected for reduction.

"We are committed to using all voluntary separation measures available to help place an employee," Whitaker said. "They are certainly welcome to come to our Civilian Personnel Section if they have questions about the process."

ACC directors are currently identifying what positions will be eliminated and until this is done, Civilian Personnel are unable to notify the union. In addition, specifics about VERA/VSIP programs are still pending for ACC personnel.

"We know this is an uncertain time for ACC's civilian force," said Patricia Whitaker, 633 Air Base Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Va., Chief of Civilian Personnel. "I've been in the federal government for 22 years, and I want people to know that there are a lot of options out there, should their position be selected for reduction."

One action people can take now while waiting for more information about whether they will be affected is to ensure their personnel information, including their resume, is current. Whitaker said she recommends civilians always maintain an updated resume.

Many of the counseling services and chaplain services available to Airmen are also available to civilians. In addition, the command is working on setting up forums to give personnel an opportunity to hear firsthand about the impact.