Kentucky Air Guard Supports Ebola Relief Mission

Kentucky Air National Guard News Release

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 2, 2014 – More than 60 airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard are scheduled to begin departing today for Senegal to establish a cargo-processing hub in support of Operation United Assistance, the international effort to battle Ebola in West Africa.

The airmen will bring all the equipment necessary to establish an aerial port of debarkation, or APOD, at Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport.

The APOD is designed to accept large quantities of cargo arriving on C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy aircraft, process the material for staging, and then load it onto smaller aircraft for distribution into affected areas.

The Kentucky airmen, all assigned to the Louisville-based 123rd Contingency Response Group, will remain in place as long as the mission dictates.

An advance team of eight Kentucky Air Guardsmen and one active-duty airman arrived in Senegal Sept. 28 to assess the airfield and operational capabilities.

“The eyes of the world are on West Africa right now and Kentuckians are on the way to help,” said Air National Guard Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, adjutant general for Kentucky. “There is no better organization to respond to this kind of mission than the Kentucky Air National Guard. The men and women of the 123rd Contingency Response Group are trained and experienced professionals, and I am confident they will make an important difference during this crisis.”

The 123rd Contingency Response Group, part of the 123rd Airlift Wing, is the only unit of its kind in the Air National Guard. Conceived as an “airbase in a box,” the group acts as an early responder in the event of contingency operations worldwide. Several members of the team were involved in previous humanitarian missions, to include the Haiti earthquake aid in 2010.

Its personnel have the training and equipment to deploy to remote sites, rapidly open a runway and establish airfield operations so cargo or troops can begin to flow into affected areas. Unit members represent a broad spectrum of specialties, including airfield security, ramp and cargo operations, aircraft maintenance, and command and control.

Piece of the Fight: In the fine print

by Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

10/2/2014 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D.  -- Contracts. We find them almost everywhere in modern life. Generally people don't pay much attention to what's actually in a contract.

For the Airmen of the 319th Contracting Flight, however, knowing what's in a contract can have a big impact on the Air Force mission.

"We are more than just another unit," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Cary, 319th CONF contract specialist.

"We are a force multiplier. By having the ability to utilize money as a weapon we can help other units accomplish more of their mission with less people."

The 319th CONF arranges for the purchase of commodities, services, and construction that supports the 319th Air Base Wing and its tenants.

Just a few of the things contracted for purchase are emergency propane during the winter, security camera systems and software to support operations at the 69th Reconnaissance Group.

The 319th CONF oversees service contracts such as garbage collection and recycling, even the 30-member fire department at Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota, approximately 80 miles northwest of Grand Forks AFB.

"All this work allows units to operate and train stateside to complete their missions here and overseas," Cary said, adding that the support the 319th CONF provides to the 69th RG as well as Cavalier AFS directly impacts deployed and worldwide operations.

In addition to administrating contracts for day-to-day operations, the flight members are also contingency contracting officers.

"If an emergency happens like a hurricane, earthquake, flood or tornado, we are ready and able to help purchase those goods, services, and construction to help fix the damage and get people back to living," said Cary.

"We do all these same tasks downrange, providing sound business judgment on the best way for our customers to utilize their resources."

Senior Airman Garrett Murray is a 319th CONF member experiencing that impact first hand as he is currently deployed.

"As a contracting officer I am responsible for the spending of the government's funds, the more money that is spent wisely and accurately, the more money is saved and in return more things can be purchased," he said.

Murray added that while he primarily works on several smaller purchases at his deployed location compared to the few bigger contract he managed here, attention to detail remains paramount.

"I have to really manage my time and be well organized to be successful doing this," he said.

In a time of increased budget changes and constraints, the Airmen of the 319th Contracting Flight continue to ensure that the best services and products are available when service members need them most.

Ohio reserve loadmasters train ANG, Army Reserve personnel

by Tech. Sgt. Frank Oliver
445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/1/2014 - TOLEDO, Ohio  -- Ohio Army and Air National Gaurdsmen at the Toledo Express Airport here got familiarization training with the C-17 Globemaster III from the Air Force Reserve's 89th Airlift Squadron, from nearby Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Sixteen loadmasters from 89th AS showed the Guardsmen how to properly load and configure the aircraft.

"I picked loads that people normally don't see. We loaded a couple of five tons trucks and a mobile command center, which we don't see at all when we are on the road. We wanted them to see everything this aircraft is capable of doing," said Master Sgt. Craig Essert, 89th AS standardization and evaluation loadmaster.

Essert said 51 people from the other units got an opportunity to fly on the aircraft and he received great feedback concerning the flight.

Tech. Sgt. Kelly Earehart, also a loadmaster with the 89th said, "It's nice just to get out with the Guard and let them see our airplane and see what we do, but it's also nice to get our new guys out and get them some training on a UTA [unit training assembly] weekend."

Three Airmen cross-training into the loadmaster career field benefitted from the weekend's training and were given a chance to see what the job is all about, said Earehart.

At the conclusion of the training, members of the 180th Fighter Wing expressed an interest in making this an annual training event for all five Ohio ANG units.

Face of Defense: Venerable ‘Sea Knight’ Makes Goodbye Flights

By Marine Corps Cpl. Owen Kimbrel

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif., Oct. 2, 2014 – For decades, the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter has served the nation with honor, reliability and time-tested dependability.

The Sea Knight, also known as the “Phrog,” is scheduled to perform Oct. 3-5 during the 2014 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show in California, but it will be a bittersweet event.

This will be the Sea Knight’s last appearance at the Miramar show before the aircraft is retired from service.

Historic military aircraft

The CH-46 has been used in military missions for 50 years and now is passing the torch to the MV-22B Osprey.

“The Marine Corps is about to be out of the ‘Phrog’ business and that seems sad,” said Lt. Col. John Field, the commander of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364. “However, it is also an exciting time as we complete the transition to the more capable MV-22 and prepare to write the next chapter in the great legacy of Marine aviation”

The air show will likely be an emotional event as the Marines with HMM-364 and the local community say farewell to this great helicopter, Field said.

“I know it is time for the ‘Phrog’ to retire, but I'm not happy to see it go,” said Marine Corps Capt. Brett Bishop, a ‘Phrog’ pilot with HMM-364. “It will be an emotional time for a large number of people to see the mighty battle ‘Phrog’ fly through the skies of Southern California for the last time in this capacity.”

The ‘Phrog’ is scheduled to perform in the Marine air-ground task force demonstration along with various other Marine Corps aircraft during the Miramar air show. This will be one of the many demonstrations during the show.

“It is a good way for the squadron to retire the aircraft by flying one more pass for the American public to see,” Bishop said.

Goodbye flights

The Miramar air show will provide the public one of the last opportunities to see the historic aircraft perform.

“I want people to remember that wherever the battle ‘Phrog’ was needed, she was there and performed in a manner that the American people would expect from an aircraft with ‘MARINES’ written on the side,” Bishop said.

Navy Establishes Information Dominance Forces

From Navy Information Dominance Forces Public Affairs Office

SUFFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy established the Information Dominance Forces Command (NAVIDFOR) as the U.S. Navy's newest Type Command, Oct. 1.

NAVIDFOR is a global readiness-focused TYCOM, responsible for organizing, manning, training, equipping (MT&E) and identifying requirements for all Navy Information Dominance (ID) capabilities.

"The standup of Navy Information Dominance Forces Command is a significant step in the right direction," said Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, during a recent All Hands call for Navy Cyber Forces. "The Information Dominance Corps Type Command allows for a more holistic approach that was not possible in the past."

NAVIDFOR will consolidate and align missions, functions and tasks previously managed by separate ID commands to improve the generation and sustainment of ID force readiness across the Navy.

"The Navy's Information Dominance Corps (IDC) requires a dedicated TYCOM that integrates and balances representation from each of the constituent Navy IDC components," said Rear Adm. Diane E.H. Webber, NAVIFOR's type commanger. "The standup of the NAVIDFOR TYCOM directly supports integration of ID capabilities throughout the Navy and is a natural progression in the development of an ID force capable of delivering assured command and control, battlespace awareness and integrated fires."

The IDC was formed in 2009 and built on the deep expertise and strengths of the officers/enlisted, active/reserve and civilian workforce from the oceanography/meteorology, information professional, information warfare, naval intelligence and space cadre. The IDC is an inter-disciplinary corps that possesses an innate understanding of potential adversaries and the battlespace, is able to accurately identify targets, and brings an array of non-kinetic, offensive and defensive capabilities to the fight in the Information Age.

"NAVIDFOR's establishment is the next step in the evolution of ID as a Navy warfighting discipline," said Webber. "NAVIDFOR will coordinate closely with other ID commands and the Navy's existing platform TYCOMs to fulfill MT&E responsibilities that sustain ID readiness for the Fleet."

Beginning today, resources and personnel are being realigned to support the transition of functions under one TYCOM. NAVIDFOR is expected to be fully operational by Dec. 31, 2014. Rear Adm. Matthew J. Kohler will relieve Rear Adm. Diane E.H. Webber as Commander, NAVIDFOR Oct. 3.