Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Delivers USS Springfield Ahead of Schedule, Under Budget

From Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) delivered USS Springfield (SSN 761) back to the fleet on Sept. 12 ahead of schedule and under budget.

PNSY conducted Springfield's docking continuous maintenance availability off-yard at Sub Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. Although PNSY routinely performs work outside the Kittery, Maine shipyard, off-yard availabilities are unique and an all-inclusive team mentality from planning to execution is especially important.

The Springfield Project Team and Ship's Force, with support from PNSY and the Regional Support Group in Groton, led the submarine's availability. Project Superintendent Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Luteran attributed the successful maintenance availability to teamwork and adhering to project management fundamentals.

"Portsmouth prides itself on first-time quality, and it couldn't have been more evident than the work completed during this maintenance period," said Luteran. "The project team's performance during the docking period enabled us to undock one week early and ride that success into the end game of the availability, returning Springfield to the fleet sooner than expected."

Throughout the docking phase of the maintenance period the project team successfully executed nearly 24,000 man-days of maintenance. This contributed to the delivery of Springfield one day early and $3 million under budget.

"Springfield's project team kept its focus on safety and first-time quality," said Shipyard Commander Capt. William Greene. "It's the team's commitment to excellence that delivers results in submarine maintenance and returns mission-ready submarines back to the fleet on-time and on-budget."

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the Navy's center of excellence for fast-attack submarine maintenance, modernization, and repair. The on-time or early completion of submarine availabilities are critical in the maintenance of the fleet and are essential to maintaining warfighter readiness. As a field activity of NAVSEA, PNSY is committed to maximizing the material readiness of the fleet by safely delivering first-time quality, on time, and on budget.

621st CRW Airmen, 688 RPOE Soldiers deploy to Liberia in support of Ebola outbreak humanitarian relief operations

by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

10/2/2014 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.  -- A rapid-response team of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army air and surface mobility specialists deployed to Liberia, Sept. 17, in support of Operation UNITIED ASSISTANCE, a comprehensive U.S. effort to support the World Health Organization and international partners to assist the governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in their efforts to contain the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

Approximately 60 members of  the 621st Contingency Response Wing, based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element from Joint Base Langley-Eustis,Virginia, merged as a Joint Task Force-Port Opening and began assessment operations at Roberts International Airport, Monrovia, to evaluate the airfield infrastructure.

"The Airmen and Soldiers of our JTF-PO team train together on a routine basis for missions such as these," said Air Force Lt. Col. Kyle Benwitz, JTF-PO contingency response element commander. "When the call came in, we were ready and able to assist the host nation's residents in their moment of need."

The JTF-PO specializes in rapidly establishing hubs for cargo distribution operations worldwide, to include remote or damaged locations, on short notice. Previous deployments include humanitarian assistance support missions to Haiti, Pakistan and Japan, and contingency deployments in support of military operations in Eastern Europe, Afghanistan and South America.

AFGSC on path to modernize ICBM sustainment

by Kate Blais
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

10/3/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- In an ongoing effort to better manage the sustainment of intercontinental ballistic missiles, Air Force Global Strike Command has implemented an ICBM Parts Centralized Funding Program designed to help alleviate budgetary pressure on missile wing leadership.

Leaders in the ICBM community have applauded this effort as one of the most important improvements to ICBM sustainment activities since ICBMs went on alert in 1960.

The centralized funding program is AFGSC's first attempt to bring funding used for purchasing missile system parts, which previously resided at the wing, up to the major command level. As of Oct. 1, the beginning of the 2015 fiscal year, AFGSC is responsible for day-to-day funding of the weapon system's parts costs.

"What happened before was that wings had to choose between whether or not to buy a missile part or buy something to support their people," Daryle Fry, AFGSC ICBM program analyst said. "That is a choice a wing commander shouldn't have to make."

Any item that an ICBM technical order covers is considered part of the weapon system and will be centrally funded. Basically, anything used in direct support of the weapons system is covered, Fry said.

"As of Oct. 1, a technician can go into supply and ask to order a part without being concerned about funding," Fry explained. "The wing orders the parts they need, and the bill gets sent to AFGSC. Wing commanders can focus more on their people and support structure and 20th Air Force won't have to worry about advocating to command to find funding for parts."

The shift in funding responsibility not only decreases the sustainment burden that once resided at the wing level, but will allow AFGSC to determine the weapon system's true requirements.

"Before I couldn't tell you what the true requirement was, because in the old days the requirements were based off of funding availability and parts orders were deferred sometimes to pay for other priorities," Fry said. "Now unit funding availability is not really a factor anymore; requirements will be driven by a true weapon system need."

Fry expects the centralized funding to remain at AFGSC for about a year while the command determines the requirements. After, funding will be elevated up to Headquarters Air Force and ICBMs will be funded like the service's other weapon systems.

"The entire Air Force is aging, but while the rest of the Air Force moved on with sustainment, ICBMs did not, but we're changing that now," said Lawrence Kingsley, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support director at AFGSC. "My priority is to modernize how the ICBMs are maintained and sustained. This centralized funding program is part of that effort, and will allow AFGSC to become proactive as opposed to reactive in our approach to managing the ICBM force."

This program will not only help AFGSC determine the true requirements, but Fry anticipates that it will fix a lot of second and third order effects that cause improper weapons sustainment, he said.

"It fixes supply issues that aren't addressed until the last minute," he continued. "It allows us to do programming and budgeting because we'll have accurate information on what our true requirement is. We'll have forward thinking plans and better life cycle management."

In the long run, this program will start to reverse the effects of failing equipment, which will in turn reduce man hours, increase weapon system reliability and improve the overall performance of the weapon.

The effort began in 2009 when AFGSC became the Air Force's newest MAJCOM and merged the ICBM and bomber communities. Combining the two legs of the nuclear triad allowed for cross-flow of information and ways of doing business.

"I believe we've moved off the island and moved onto a continent," Fry said. "That has broadened our perspectives and horizons to see that there's other ways of doing things more efficiently. There's better ways to do things and make Airmen's life easier in the field."

Better ways of doing things locally have impacts globally.

"ICBMs are on alert underground 24/7, 365, and have been for more than 50 years," Kingsley said. "ICBMs are the cheapest insurance policy this nation has and the ultimate defense against strategic attack. For that reason it is imperative that we work to maintain and sustain these weapons in the most effective and efficient way possible."

Airmen celebrate 50 years of civil engineering heritage

by Senior Airman Franklin R. Ramos
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

10/2/2014 - ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Airmen from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron celebrated their Air Force heritage at a briefing Oct. 1, 2014.

Oct. 1, 1964 was the birth of the Prime Base Engineering Emergency Force and Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer units established Oct. 12, 1965, in Air Force history.

"The purpose of this briefing was to inform the wing of the heritage of both the Prime BEEF and RED HORSE units," said Tech. Sgt. Randy Crum, 97th NCO in charge of pavements and heavy equipment. "It shows some of the history of how they developed and some important events that have occurred within the two units."

The U.S. Air Force primarily established Prime BEEF to support combat and warfighting teams. They also responded to peacetime tasking's such as major accidents, training exercises and natural disasters.

"The first Prime BEEF team out of Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C., was deployed within seven months of being established," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brooke Byerley, 97th engineering assistant. "They were deployed to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to help bed down personnel. In 1965 they were also deployed to three bases in Vietnam to help build 12,000 linear feet of revetments for aircraft."

"For operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 3,000 Prime BEEF members bedded down about 55,000 people and 1,200 aircraft," said Byerley. "In operation Iraqi Freedom about 18,000 Prime BEEF personnel helped open and expand 22 bases on nearly 200 sites which supported not just the Air Force, but all services."

RED HORSE is a highly mobile self-sustaining unit that encompasses its own services personnel, security forces and vehicle maintenance. They are a deployable heavy engineer repair squadron.

"All of those things are within a RED HORSE unit so when one deploys which is what it was primarily designed to do, it's entirely self-contained, it runs itself. It doesn't require any outside support whatsoever from any other unit," said Crum. "It's one of the first units on the ground when we go to a new location."

They are responsible for the major projects being constructed at new locations.

"We do large scale projects from nothing such as setting up a bare base camp, a new forward operating base and living quarters," said Crum.

For the past 50 years these two units have been crucial assets to the U.S. Air Force by constructing facilities and flightlines for new bases, assisting with natural disaster relief and even supporting humanitarian needs.

JBSA-Lackland systems administrator earns silver medal at Invictus Games

by Jose T. Garza III
JBSA-Lackland Public Affairs

10/3/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas  -- A 59th Medical Support Squadron systems administrator earned a silver medal as a member of the United States Armed Forces National Team at the first ever Invictus Games, Sept. 12 in London.

Staff Sgt. Mark Johnson earned the medal competing in Wheelchair Rugby after the U.S. national team suffered a 13-12 loss to the United Kingdom. Despite coming up short in the gold medal game, Johnson said his experience in London was amazing.

"It was cool because it was my first major international competition," the staff sergeant said. "It was a dream come true to perform on an international stage."

The Invictus Games was started by Prince Harry of Wales after he attended the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. The games featured teams from 13 nations comprised of injured active duty and veteran service members who competed in track & field, wheelchair rugby and basketball, archery, indoor rowing, road cycling, seated volleyball, powerlifting and swimming.

Johnson, whose right leg was amputated following a motorcycle accident in April 2013, described the close-scoring gold medal game as "intense."

"It was two superpowers going against each other, and the fans were going crazy," he said. "(Not winning the gold) was heartbreaking but not too much because we took the silver medal and represented our country the best we could."

Johnson became aware of the Invictus Games via the Air Force Wounded Warrior program. The program encouraged him to participate in the South Texas Area Regional Adaptive and Paralympic Sports program in February following his recovery at the Center for the Intrepid at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. He said competition helped him with his recovery.

"I was in rehab for seven months and learned to walk again while gaining my strength and balance back," Johnson said. "Competing in this event showed that I can lead a normal life and there are no limits to what I can accomplish as long as I put the dedication and work in."

Johnson said he will resume training in October for the 2015 Warrior Games trials and hopes to compete in next year's Invictus Games.

Air Force rebuts report due to outdated data

 Published October 02, 2014

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force believes a recent Department of Defense Inspector General report that critiqued Air Force MQ-9 procurement plans to buy 401 Reaper aircraft, stating that 46 aircraft may not be needed, is based on data that is out of date.

"The data in the report is a year old," said Lt Gen Robert Otto, Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. "The Air Force is only buying 346 aircraft, 55 fewer than the 401 figure contained in the report and we've only received about half that number.  The projected total Reaper fleet of 346 is far less the service had originally estimated prior to sequestration."

The Air Force was acting expeditiously upon direction from the Secretary of Defense to procure enough aircraft to meet the increasing number of combat air patrols the Service was being tasked to provide.   

The Air Force requested funds to procure 83 more of the ISR workhorse in its fiscal year 2015 President's Budget Request.

With its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite and precision weapons, the MQ-9 provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting and time-sensitive targets.

"There isn't a Combatant Commander that doesn't want more of this capability," said Col. Ed Thomas, spokesman for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  "The need for ISR remains a top requirement for our theater commanders and our national leaders."

A dynamic and volatile threat environment created a demand for the platform.

"The MQ-9 has played a vital role in combat operations and has resulted in saving American and coalition lives overseas," said Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers.  "This is a capability that is in high demand."

"The MQ-9 Reaper is a success story," said Otto. "The soldiers and Marines love it. Combatant Commanders want more of it. We’re working hard to make more, as directed by the Secretary of Defense.”

The aircraft has made significant contributions to mission success.

“The MQ-9 has made tremendous contributions in combat operations, which has saved countless American and coalition lives, said Otto. “Over its lifetime, the Reaper has flown nearly 700,000 hours, most of those in combat operations, and continues to prove its worth daily in operations over Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa."

The Air Force is a small world

Commentary by Air Force Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera
JBER Public Affairs

9/26/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Throughout your career, when you meet someone, you hope to bump into them someday and often times, you hear, "I'll see you around again; the Air Force is such a small world."

After graduating basic training in 2005, I never expected to see any members of my flight again. As some of us move on to the next chapter in our life and career, we try to keep in touch but often fall out of touch along the way.

I did the math. I have a 9 percent chance of seeing anyone from the 336th Training Squadron, Flight 140. So bumping into my dorm chief while stationed here at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson bringsback memories.

I was 22 years old when I decided to join the Air Force. With no military background, I bonded with the women I met. There were nights I cried myself to sleep and days when I would laugh about our experiences.

During the six grueling weeks of basic training, we had each other's back and encouraged each other to keep pushing. We reminded each other why we wanted to join the military when our will and determination seemed to be in question.

My dorm chief, now Air Force Staff Sgt. Madonna Henard, was our rock in the flight. Meeting her the first time was very intimidating. She fit the job as a dorm chief to make sure that all orders, standards operations, and instructions are carried out correctly when the training instructors were not around, because she did not tolerate any foolishness in our flight. When I needed a reminder why I was in basic training, she was there to remind me.

Seeing her again in the hallways of the People Center, I did a double-take. It was like I was in slow motion. "Dorm chief," I exclaimed.

She quickly looked at me and there was an instant reconnection. We talked about our experiences in basic training, the women in our flight and our brother flight. It also gave us the opportunity to talk about a possible reunion with Flight 140.

I am sure there have been other service members who reunited with their past, and I will not be the last one.

So, no matter where you are, you will always find someone who made an impact in your life in the military, or it could be someone who you simply made a connection with, had a short conversation with, or someone you were deployed with for the months you were away from your family. This individual may be a fellow coworker, who helped you transition to your previous duty base, or someone at technical school who shares the same experience.

In my case, I leaned on my fellow trainees to help me get through Basic Military Training when things got tough.

No matter what the circumstances are, we hope to see them again and to say these words: "I'll see you around again; the Air Force is such a small world."

Sometimes, it just takes the lyrics of a song or a familiar sight to bring back memories, but in my case, it takes people who I encountered during my military career. And no matter what path Henard and I take, she will always be my dorm chief.

PACAF takes 1st place in AF Half Marathon MAJCOM team challenge

by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

10/2/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The Pacific Air Forces team recently placed 1st in the Air Force Half Marathon Major Command team challenge with a total run time of 9:07:38 and an average time of 1:31:17. The PACAF team consisted of six members, including Col. Dondi Costin, Headquarters PACAF, Hawaii; Capt. Allison Easterly, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; 2nd Lt. Herman Reinhold, Yokota Air Base, Japan; Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; Senior Airman Lauren Weimer, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and Airman 1st Class Andrew Riesenberger, Osan AB.

Their individual run times were as follows:

Riesenberger -- 1:19:17
Johnson -- 1:27:45
Costin -- 1:30:12
Reinhold -- 1:30:38
Easterly -- 1:37:24
Weimer -- 1:42:33


Also, the PACAF Full Marathon team took second place in the MAJCOM team challenge with an overall run time of 13:53:40 and an average time of 3:28:25. Team members included Maj. Luke Casper, Misawa Air Base, Japan; Master Sgt. Karissa Gunter, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; Master Sgt. Traveller Hill, JBPHH; and Senior Airman Kevin McInerny, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.

AF approves special pay for nuclear career fields

10/2/2014 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Assignment incentive pay and special duty assignment pay for select total force nuclear career fields became effective Oct. 1, following Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James' recent announcement.

"The purpose of these special pays is to incentivize Airmen to volunteer for and perform duties in a particular career field, location and/or special assignment where the scope of responsibility and required skills exceed those of other Airmen in the same career field and rank," said Brig. Gen. Brian Kelly, director of force management policy.

Select officers and enlisted members serving in eleven nuclear career fields and assignment areas will receive between $75 and $300 per month.  Nuclear careers fields selected for these special  pays include enlisted service members assigned to command post, nuclear aircraft maintenance, security forces, missile maintenance, aircraft armament systems, nuclear weapons and support personnel who deploy to the ICBM complex.  Missile launch, security forces and missile maintenance officers will be eligible to receive special pays as well.

"The Airmen selected for this incentive are critical members of our Air Force's number one mission," said Col. Zannis Pappas, nuclear and missile operations career field manager. "Our members take extreme pride in accomplishing their duties, ensuring that our nuclear arsenal remains safe, secure and effective."

While the effective date is Oct. 1, it will take several months for Airmen working within the selected nuclear careers fields to receive their pay adjustments.  However, eligible Airmen will be retroactively compensated to the Oct. 1 effective date.  In the meantime, officers and enlisted members meeting the criteria for these special pays should work through their chain of command and military personnel sections for questions on their individual eligibility.

To see the full assignment incentive pay and special duty assignment pay list and program changes, go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil, select "search all components" on the search drop down window and enter "SDAP" in the search window.

Dicemen bring Raptors to Valiant Shield

by Air Force Staff Sgt. William Banton
JBER Public Affairs

10/2/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- For some service members, simply comprehending the scale of the more than 200 aircraft from multiple  military branches participating in exercise Valiant Shield 2014 - which offered real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities - would leave a lasting impression. But for one pilot from the 90th Fighter Squadron, a small moment in an ordinary, daily action may have defined what a joint operation is truly supposed to be about.

"My radio stopped being able to transmit, and on the way home, I noticed an F-18 Hornet was chasing me down," said Air Force Maj. Matthew Miller, 90th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. "I started to turn as he rejoined me - and there I was, looking at a Marine Hornet."

Miller wasn't able to talk to the other pilot - but his new  Marine Corps wingman brought him all the way back to Guam. As the now-joint pair of aircraft approached Andersen Air Force Base, the pilots saw more examples of what Valiant Shield was all about.

"We got under the clouds, broke out over the island and there was an F-22 Raptor and another Hornet coming up for their initial approach together," he said. "Stuff like that is really neat for me, and I was pretty sure it was neat for them."

The opportunities provided by a large-scale exercise like Valiant Shield allow aviators to interact on the ground and in the air and to figure out how to work out their differences, whether it's different communication styles within each service or in their warfighting doctrine, said Air Force Maj. Kevin Bradley, an F-15 Eagle pilot assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan. Valiant Shield is aimed at developing a "pre-integrated" joint force built from habitual relationships, thus closing the gaps that may exist in joint operations.

While the gaps in their common aviation language are much smaller than the expanses of open ocean that separate their runways, the greatest challenges for Air Force,  Navy and Marine Corps aviators come in reconciling subtle differences, all while cruising at hundreds of miles an hour above the water.

"The way [Sailors] operate off the boat [referring to a Navy aircraft carrier] is very different than how we operate," Bradley said. "It's in the schedules they keep and the terminology they use. We have a lot of similarities, but there's a lot of coming together and understanding what each other's unique capabilities are and how we can put all that together into a coherent package."

Valiant Shield also provides a unique mission planning structure due to the geographical separation of the Navy pilots on the aircraft carriers who need to participate in planning that may be taking place on shore.

The goal is for all of the pilots to be on the same page, but that's not always possible, Miller said. That's why it is critical to understand how each other operates - much like building muscle memory. Valiant Shield creates that muscle memory. There is always a need for flexibility to ensure the mission still gets accomplished, he added.

This need for flexibility in the face of changes - in plans, tropical weather, targets and objectives - provides an added sense of realism to the execution of Valiant Shield.

"There are a lot of things changing every single day," Miller said. "For me personally, I think this is as close to real as you can possibly get. This is how we are going to get to fight in the Pacific. We are not going to have this experience in the type of environment where we are all conveniently at the same base and same mission planning. So [here], we get people and assets from all over the place - and we are expected to fight together."

The exercise is also a chance for the Air Force to practice war-at-sea scenarios, something Airmen don't get a chance to practice regularly, said Air Force Capt. Nicholas Trudell, E-8 Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System mission planner and liaison officer/air battle manager assigned to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

"There is a perception of 'what is the next big threat and where do we need to work on Air Force tactics to support combatant commanders across the world,'" Trudell said. "There has been a big shift toward joint operations in maritime environments ... and that is what Valiant Shield is bringing us all together to do."
For the joint aviators, working with Army units on the ground, Valiant Shield is a look across the horizon in the literal and figurative sense - at a certain point, the sea and the sky blend, and it is tough to say where one ends and the other begins.

Valiant Shield is an exercise integrating an estimated 18,000 Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps personnel, more than 200 aircraft and 19 surface ships, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend  interests and those of its allies and partners.

Overcoming fear: Airman's training takes over during firefight

Commentary by Senior Master Sgt. Mike Hammond
JBER Public Affairs

7/31/2014 - KABUL, Afghanistan  -- It was just after 4 a.m., July 17. Many on the base at Kabul International Airport, and Forward Operating Base Oqab nearby, were still catching a last hour or two of sleep before the day would begin.

The bad guys, however, were not sleeping. Under the cover of darkness, a small force determined to attack the Kabul Airport and Afghan Air Force Base next to it, took over a multi-story building under construction just north of the target. Armed with multiple rocket-propelled grenades, automatic weapons, suicide vests, and a vehicle rigged to explode, the attackers crept up to the rooftop and prepared to unleash hell.

Fortunately for the coalition members living and working on base, a small group of Air Force security forces defenders were not sleeping - they were paying very close attention to their duties. Those who weren't on shift would be ready to go within minutes - from a comfy bed to slinging lead.

Senior Airman Julian Rangel, deployed from the 30th Security Forces Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was in bed on his day off when he heard what sounded like indirect fire and indiscriminate mortars, followed by the more unusual sound of small arms fire.

Dressed in shorts, skater-style shoes and his body armor, Rangel rushed to see how he could help. Soon, he was assigned as gunner for one of two Air Force quick reaction force teams. The teams would be sent outside the forward operating base in mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to try and gain a closer and more advantageous position from which to engage the enemy.

"It was a roller coaster of emotions for me," Rangel said. "When I was in that vehicle waiting for the gate to open so we could go out and fight from closer, I was scared. I was breathing fast, almost hyperventilating. That's when Tech. Sgt. (Rafael) Melendez (the vehicle commander) turned to me, made eye contact, and told me to slow down; to take deep breaths. He calmed me down."

Once the vehicle left, the Airmen maneuvered to a position between two buildings on the Afghan air force's Kabul Air Wing, which surrounds FOB Oqab.

"Almost immediately, I spotted two guys on the rooftop firing and then my training automatically kicked in," Rangel said. "I started laying down 6 to 9 round bursts (from the M240, 7.62-mm machine gun), just like I'd been taught. In fact, it actually felt like training to me at the time."

Maneuvering to a new position, Rangel and his teammates were dangerously close when the attackers detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near a checkpoint.
"That was my 'oh [shoot]!' moment, and I got scared then," Rangel said. "But it didn't get a whole lot better. We moved up near a gate and an RPG hit just 35 meters away from us. When we moved to some other buildings, another RPG hit the building above us. I still remember the glass shattering and blowing outward."

Throughout this time, Rangel, from the gunner position in the vehicle, was sending a lot of lead downrange as suppressive fire. He estimates he went through about 400 rounds in total during the firefight. Eventually, fear for his life gave way to frustration.

"My particular weapon isn't necessarily meant for precision so much as suppressive fire," Rangel said. "But still, it was frustrating me that I kept hitting the building right where the guy was and he'd duck, then pop up and shoot more, and then run to a different window."
Eventually, the operations center called out a cease-fire. The majority of the attackers were eliminated and the rest were about to meet a quick reaction force of Afghan Security and coalition members who had surrounded the attack position and began clearing the building from within.

For a period of time that seemed to last forever, the Air Force defenders had to hunker down, as the attackers who had not encountered the QRF yet continued firing. Finally, the QRF cleared the last of the attackers and after some additional procedures, the firefight finally ended.

The attack and defense had taken over four hours overall and for the first two it was constant action for the Air Force security forces.

"When it was done, I was truly glad it was over," Rangel said. "Shooting at someone and being shot at is not a good feeling."

"As we were driving back to our FOB, through the Afghan Air Force base, the Afghans were coming out to see us drive by - giving us thumbs up, smiling, giving us applause," Rangel said. "I felt very proud and felt truly like we were a part of a team."

Looking ahead, Rangel said he will approach the rest of the tour with a different perspective than he had prior to the attack.

"Although it is done, it really isn't; because every time I go into a tower, every time I get in a vehicle, it replays for me in my head," Rangel said. "To be honest, I'm scared. I think most of us are. We don't want to go through something like that again. But if we have to, I'm confident we'll get through it again.

"In training, they preach to us about muscle memory," Rangel said. "Actions are very repetitive and seem redundant. It was very frustrating at the time. But Thursday morning (July 17), I finally understood what that meant, why it was important. When it mattered most, the training took over and we got through it with no serious injuries to our side."

A word of caution on high hopes

by Air Force Capt. Stephen Braunlich
Area Defense Counsel

10/2/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALaska -- This November, Alaskans will vote on Ballot Measure 2: whether to legalize marijuana use for persons 21 years of age or older. Although passing a bill through the legislature is the most common way of creating new laws, many states will allow laws to be passed based upon a public vote. Such is the case in Alaska.

However, service members should be careful to avoid any high hopes they can soon legally smoke marijuana. Even if Ballot Measure 2 passes, troops will still be banned from using marijuana.

Confused how a substance can still be illegal after the state you live in has legalized it? The answer lies in the U.S. Constitution.

The Constitution created a federal system. Under this system, the states and the federal government have freedom to act independently of one another. This means the federal criminal law and separate, different state criminal laws can coexist side by
side.

Conduct that a state has criminalized, the federal government may decide not to criminalize, and vice versa. Because the state and the federal government are making independent decisions about what conduct to criminalize, they also independently enforce their own laws. Violations of state laws are tried in state court and violations of federal law are tried in federal court. Under this structure, both the federal government and Alaska have made independent decisions that marijuana should be illegal.

Recently, a handful of states have legalized marijuana under state law. However, the federal government has not made its own determination to do the same. Therefore, marijuana remains illegal throughout America under federal law. It is simply the case that in states which have legalized marijuana, the local and state authorities will not prosecute marijuana use.

As service members, we have a duty to follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a federal law. Article 112a of the UCMJ prohibits the use, possession, manufacture, distribution, importation, and exportation of a variety of drugs and intoxicating substances, including marijuana. Under America's federal system, this law will continue to stand even if Alaska legalizes marijuana under state law. Therefore, whether or not Alaska legalizes marijuana, troops are prohibited from using marijuana until federal law changes, too.

None of this is intended to dissuade any service member who is an Alaska resident from voting their conscience. Whether or not Alaska passes Ballot Measure 2, the outcome of the vote will send a message for or against criminalizing marijuana. All Americans, to include service members, have a right to make their voice known through that vote.