USS Cole to Enter Black Sea

By U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

USS COLE, At Sea (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) will enter the Black Sea, Oct. 10, to promote peace and stability in the region.

The Cole's presence in the Black Sea will serve to reaffirm the United States' dedication and commitment toward strengthening the partnerships and joint operational capabilities among U.S., NATO, and regional Black Sea partners.

The ship is scheduled to conduct routine operations which include, combined training, maritime security operations, and theatre security cooperation events. These interactions among allies and partner nations reaffirm the maritime relationships and commitment to the security and stability within the Black Sea region.

The U.S. Navy routinely operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and under the domain of International Law.

The U.S. is demonstrating its continued commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of the Russian intervention in Ukraine.

"Our presence in the Black Sea is meant to reassure and at the same time demonstrate our commitment to work closely with NATO allies in order to enhance maritime security, readiness, and naval capability," said Cmdr. Dennis Farrell, USS Cole commanding officer. "The relationships built during the coming weeks will strengthen and improve interoperability between allies as we all work together toward shared mutual goals."

Cole, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is on a routine deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations and is a multi-mission ship able to provide offensive and defensive capabilities.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Navy Divers Return Home from Southern Partnership Station 2014

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jared Aldape

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Spirits were high as family and fellow service members gathered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Va. to welcome home returning Sailors and Marines from a four-month deployment in support of Southern Partnership Station 2014, October 8.

The joint high-speed vessel USNS Choctaw County (JHSV-2) bustled with activity as dozens of Sailors and Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian mariners worked together to bring the ship into port. The brow could barely hold back service members as they scrambled aft waiting to reunite with their loved ones and co-workers.

Here, Navy Divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 stood alongside an assortment of specialized dive gear ready to offload after a successful training period.

Navy Diver 1st Class Jose Arbaleaz, assigned to MDSU 2's Company 2-1 was busy safely directing a vehicle against the flow of departing service members.

"We stayed productive during our deployment, and it's not over until we get our gear back to the unit." said Arbaleaz.

More than 10 personnel assigned to Company 2-1 traveled through various countries during Southern Partnership Station 2014. The effort was a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Company 2-1 had the opportunity to work with divers at each location.

Navy Diver 1st Class Shawn Gerasimchik, also assigned to MDSU 2, took time while transporting gear to reflect on what he considers to be the biggest impact the divers had made in Belize where they took advantage of the coastal clear water while working with the local Coast Guard.

"I had the chance to create a lasting impression on a foreign country through diving," said Gerasimchik.

Company 2-1 showcased a gamut of diving principles and operations and facilitated a remote operated vehicle (ROV) scenario before dive students in Colombia.

"The time that I spend teaching and helping out others was very rewarding," said Arbaleaz. "I look forward to returning to these places again."

MDSU 2 is an expeditionary mobile unit homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek-Ft. Story in Virginia Beach, Va. They previously conducted successful salvage operations supporting TWA Flight 800, Swiss Air Flight 111, the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minnesota, the Civil War ironclads USS Monitor, CSS Georgia, and recovery of downed F-16Cs off the coasts of Italy and Virginia.

Southern Partnership Station 2014 U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants.

Paratroopers train with SUSVs to prepare for winter ops

by Sgt. Brian Ragin
4/25th IBCT Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Spartan paratroopers with the 725th Brigade Support Battalion (Airborne), 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, participated in a small unit support vehicle driver's training course in preparation for the upcoming winter months at the Malemute Drop Zone Oct. 2.

The SUSV is a tracked, articulated vehicle designed to support infantry platoons and similar-sized units during operations in arctic and alpine environments and conditions. The SUSV can be used in all types of unimproved terrain, such as rocky and boulder-covered land, bog, marsh and water, and can operate in environments varying from arctic cold to tropical heat.

"I think that the SUSV is definitely going to help out with winter operations," said Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lucas, the master driver for A Company, 725th BSB. "The more [SUSVs] that we have during winter operations, the more the unit is going to benefit."

The SUSV driver's training is a week-long course. It includes a 40-hour block of instruction taught in classroom and in a field environment. The last three days are spent driving the vehicle. The trainees practiced driving in parking lots with orange-cone obstacles, then headed out to the Malemute DZ's rough terrain to experience the vehicle's capabilities. The final day is a road test when, if they pass, a certificate of completion is awarded.

"I enjoyed the class," said Spc. Andrew James, a Tampa, Florida, native, and a B/725th BSB SUSV mechanic. "It's different from the daily task that we normally do, to get to drive a piece of equipment like this [SUSV] on terrain that I honestly didn't think it could drive through."

"During winter operation out here, [Malemute Drop Zone] gets pretty nasty," Lucas said. "Our [light medium tactical vehicles] and cargo trucks are going to get stuck in the snow and mud, and it's going to be a hard time getting them out, and the SUSV will do just that."

The average annual snowfall at JBER is 68.48 inches, which makes for difficult navigation across unimproved terrain, especially at the drop zone.

"We're an airborne brigade combat team," Lucas said. "We're going to drop heavies. PFAR [2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment] is going to drop their guns. We're going to drop our Humvees. In order to get those pallets out of there, off the drop zone, and get back to the unit 100-percent accountable, a big part of that is going to be the SUSV dragging those pallets back."

Coast Guard exercises spill response with other agencies

by Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Eggert
Sector Anchorage Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- From its extreme weather to its remote communities and limited infrastructure, Alaska can present many challenges for response agencies in times of crisis. Plans for how to remove pollution or conduct a rescue at the edge of the Last Frontier are becoming increasingly important as the state sees more maritime traffic through its ports and waterways. That's why the Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and city of Unalaska came together with industry members from North Pacific Fuel and Alaska Chadux Corporation to conduct Aleutians PREP Exercise 2014 in Dutch Harbor, Sept. 24 and 25.

Aleutians PREP Exercise 2014 was part of the national Preparedness for Response Exercise Program and entailed the deployment of oil spill response equipment and a full-scale, government-led, multi-agency exercise that tested the agencies' ability to respond to a simulated fuel spill while navigating the limitations of working from the isolated island town of Unalaska.

"The exercise was designed to evaluate the capabilities and effectiveness of the federal on-scene coordinator, Alaska state on-scene coordinator, the Aleutians Area Committee and local and industry partners," said Jackie Stephens, Coast Guard Force Readiness Command Exercise Support lead for Aleutians PREP Exercise 2014. "This exercise provides the response community an opportunity to improve preparedness by validating information and procedures within their contingency plans."

The scenario for the exercise,  which involved a massive diesel fuel spill caused by a landslide at the North Pacific Fuel terminal in Unalaska,  provided many challenges for responders. Besides the obvious task of removing the diesel and rescuing impacted wildlife, federal, state, local and industry members had to figure out how to get equipment and personnel on scene while dealing with limited communications, sparse lodging, vast distances and poor weather conditions.

"Participants in the exercise were evaluated on their ability to effectively respond to the scenario and also on their ability to work around the challenges inherent to working in a remote location," said Coast Guard Capt. Paul Mehler, federal on-scene coordinator and Sector Anchorage commander. "The Coast Guard and our partner agencies have a responsibility to the safety of Alaska's residents and the accessibility of its ports no matter how secluded so we need to be prepared for situations that test both our skill and our ingenuity."

Upon completion of the Sept. 24 exercise, personnel deployed spill response equipment Sept. 25 in order to test the readiness of response and cleanup crews from North Pacific Fuel and Alaska Chadux Corporation. The entrance to the Iliuliuk River was boomed off and skimmers were operated from both the shore and a Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System after the area was examined by a state historical properties specialist from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

"It's important for responders to have a working knowledge of how to operate spill-response equipment, but it's equally important that these exercises are conducted in a way that doesn't endanger or adversely affect historical sites or environmentally sensitive areas," said Coast Guard Lt. Matthew Mitchell, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage planning department chief.

At the end of the exercise and equipment deployment, planners, evaluators and participants gathered or contributed feedback on performance and suggestions for future response efforts. Aleutians PREP Exercise 2014 may have only been a simulation, but the lessons learned may give responders the edge they need to quickly and successfully tackle a real spill if that day comes.

Former CSAF Fogleman honored today for contributions to air power

by By Karen Petitt
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Rainy weather couldn't dampen the spirits of those who attended the unveiling of a bronze bust of former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, who was recognized today for his contributions to the air mobility community.

"I'm humbled by this honor," said Fogleman, who joined the ranks of other legendary mobility leaders in the Airlift Tanker Association's Hall of Fame. "However, these ceremonies are not about the individual.  Credit goes to the A/TA for the idea of recognizing people who contribute to the overall mission and through this program keeping our history alive.  The tribute also goes to all the great men and women who have made the mobility mission what it is today."

Rain had caused the first part of the ceremony to be moved indoors where retired Gen. Arthur Lichte, former AMC commander, and Gen. Darren W. McDew, current AMC commander, paid tribute to him.

Litche explained how Fogleman could in fact be inducted into a "fighter pilot hall of fame" with his Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Crosses and the many other accolades that are his.  Yet, since Fogleman drove through those Scott gates in 1992, "mobility blood has flowed through his veins."

"He's the one who put this command on the right path," said Litche, who also served as the Air Force's vice chief of staff from 2005-2007.  "He brought [AMC] to a whole new level of respect throughout the Air Force, and he did it by doing the things that come naturally to him, such as teaching.  He not only set the standard, but also taught them to all of us.  He set standards for base appearance and for how we would manage our ops tempo.  He demonstrated leadership in all he did for our community, and he deserves to be on this Walk of Fame along with the others who we try to emulate because they worked to make our Air Force better."

McDew reflected on how Fogleman laid the foundation for the DNA of today's Air Force in establishing the core values with the very traits that define Fogleman as a leader:  Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.

"[Those values] are the fabric of our lives," said McDew.  "You should be justifiably proud of the organization you commanded, but even more proud of the Airmen who carry your legacy today."

Fogleman acknowledged other former Hall of Fame inductees and commanders who were present at the ceremony that included retired Gen. Tom Ryan who commanded the Military Airlift Command before it was reorganized to AMC, as well as retired Gens. Duane Cassidy, James Baginski, Tony Robertson and Duncan McNabb.

"If you look at the whole list of recipients, you'll see that most of them spent a lot more time in the tanker/airlift business than I did.  Having spent 29 and a half years in the fighter world, Miss Jane and I arrived here to be the commander in chief of U.S. Transportation Command and commander of Air Mobility Command, something I didn't anticipate at all in my career . . . nor did I fully appreciate until I became part of this tremendous team.

"All my life whenever I needed a tanker, I just looked on my flight card to find out where and when to meet up," he said.  "I never realized how much went into these missions and the extreme ops tempo that existed within the command."

Fogleman recalled how former MAC commander Gen. Robert "Dutch" Huyser told him "he would grow to love the mission and the people."  From that day on Fogleman said he was welcomed into the mobility community and quickly worked to advocate the command's issues and contributions to the Air Force.

Since then and under his leadership, the command accomplished many significant achievements to include the revitalization of the use of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, to assuming a new aeromedical evacuation mission and developing the Department of Defense's process for patient movement.  His contributions to the command are vast and the full write up with which he was recognized in 2013 can be found at www.atalink.org. 

The weather cleared up just in time for the entire group to walk outdoors for the unveiling of Fogeleman's bust on the Walk of Fame.  Before doing so, Fogleman explained why he chose to be portrayed in the battle dress uniform.

"There are two reasons.  First I felt that we, as a headquarters, weren't focused on what we were doing for the nation.  Air Mobility Command in 1992 had more men and women in harm's way in more places throughout the world than any other command in the Air Force.  I decided that we were going to drive this point home so our uniform of the day would be BDUs until there were no more men and women in our command in harm's way.  Second, if you know what the birds do to the statues out there, then you'll understand why I want a cap on. If a bird wants to get to my face, he's got to work on it.  And, working on it is what AMC is all about!"

Spartans welcome forward support company

by Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Smith
4/25th IBCT Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Paratroopers with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, welcomed some new comrades into the Spartan Brigade during a reflagging and re-patching ceremony Oct. 1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The 725th Brigade Support Battalion formally added a new forward support company, attaching it to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion during the ceremony.

The new logistics support company, Echo Company, transferred into the 4/25th IBCT from U.S. Army Alaska's 6th Engineer Battalion, 2d Engineer Brigade, as part of the larger Army-wide force restructuring currently underway.

The unit will bring direct support to the 425th BSTB in the way of equipment maintenance, fuel and ammunition supply.

The FSC was originally constituted into the 2nd Engineer Brigade in 2008 at Fort Richardson and has supported operations around the world to include missions in Micronesia, the Philippines and Australia.

The unit, composed mostly of qualified parachutists, will continue to train in airborne operations as it joins the Spartan Brigade. The 4/25th IBCT, one of five airborne brigades in the Army, has undergone extensive airborne training this year. The unit has coordinated with not only its joint Air Force partners at JBER, but also with Air Force units from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington , and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The additional aircraft have allowed the Spartan Brigade to schedule large packages of personnel and equipment drops, leading to greater brigade-wide efficiency and ability in airborne operations.

"It's awesome, we get to jump more now," said Army Staff Sgt. Danny Uk, a section sergeant with Echo Company. "And we can provide support to the whole battalion. Our guys are motivated and we will bring a lot of capabilities to our new team."

Echo Company's leadership expressed confidence in the unit's ability to conduct operations and its dependability.

"We have competent and capable NCOs and Soldiers," said 1st Sgt. William Plachinski, Echo Company's first sergeant. "We have a great track record of servicing and maintaining equipment as well as providing fuel and ammunition distribution, and we intend to bring those same qualities and attributes to the 4/25."

Air Force personnel changes call for proactive Airmen

JBER PAO staff report

10/9/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Air Force members will see changes to the Air Force Development Education, the Enlisted Evaluation System, and the Weighted Airman Promotion System, which have begun. They will continue over the next 18 months for active duty; next 30 months for both Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard as part of a comprehensive personnel overhaul.  Air Force officials are asking Airmen to be proactive and be on the lookout for upcoming changes.

Weighted Airman Promotion System
In August 2014, the Air Force announced a series of changes to the Weighted Airman Promotion System, slated to be implemented in the coming months, which will focus on improving the enlisted evaluation and promotion process to ensure promotions are based on performance.

"We want to make sure performance is the most important thing in every aspect of an Airman's career," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. "So the evaluation process is going to measure performance and the promotion system is going to emphasize performance."

During Phase 1 of the changes to WAPS, the calculation for technical sergeant and below promotion will use the three most recent evaluations. The most, intermediary and least recent Enlisted Performance Reports will weigh as 60 percent, 30 percent and 10 percent respectively, increasing the maximum possible EPR points from 135 to 250. Time-in-grade and time-in-service points will decrease during the next several years to ensure promotions are base on performance. However, the decorations, specialty knowledge test and the promotion fitness examination points under WAPS will not change at this time, according to the Air Force Personnel Services report.

The top 60 percent of Airmen, who score the highest in their Air Force specialty code, will move on to Phase 2, where their record will be reviewed by an evaluation board.

"The commanders will have force distribution where they will recommend members eligible for promotion, when the new EPR is implemented," said Air Force Master Sgt. Carrie Rowland, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson career assistance advisor. "Members who were not placed in the top 60 percent of their AFSC will be non-selected for promotion."

Rowland said Airmen should be up to speed with the changes and ask questions. As the CAA, Rowland offers guidance to all enlisted personnel and their spouses on matters pertaining to retraining, special duty assignments and benefits. The CAA will assist the enlisted force when it comes to making informed decisions about each individual's career.

"So the important take away from this is for members to be aware of all the changes in [Air Force instructions 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation System, and 36-2301, Developmental Education] that govern those changes and timelines," Rowland said.

Starting in November, static EPR closeout dates based on current grade will be used for each rank tied to regular Air Force promotion eligibility cut-off dates. The static dates and new EPR form (when released) will enable the implementation of the force distribution and restricted-stratification policy and result in more accurate, useful performance-based evaluation. The new reports include a section for promotion recommendations that will curb inflation. Chief master sergeants will see the static enlisted performance report closeout dateson May; senior master sergeants in July; master sergeants in September; technical sergeants in November; staff sergeants in January; and senior airman and below in March.

Professional Military Education
In addition to the Enlisted Evaluation System and promotion changes, the Professional Military Education program is also going to focus on a blending approach from in-residence training to distance learning.

"The blended approach is the most effective approach; it is more adaptable [and] we can deliver it to more Airmen," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody, during the 2014 Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition. "We can make sure that every component of our Air Force has access to it in an equal way, where we don't have to prioritize one over the other because of the cost associated with it."

The PME curriculum will facilitate using a two-part process. The first portion is going to be a distance-learning course known as Course 15 for noncommissioned officers and Course 14 version 6 for senior noncommissioned officers, said Air Force Master Sgt. Levi Roberston, PME Center director of operations.

All Airmen who finished Phase 1 - in-resident Airman Leadership School - are required to meet the basic learning requirement for PME through distance learning. NCOs beginning at the seven-to-12 year time-in-service window need to enroll in the Phase 2 Distance Learning, while Phase 3 will meet the basic requirement for the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy beginning at the 12-to-18 year time-in-service window after completing and passing Phase 2. They will have 12 months to complete the course. An Airman who fails to enroll, completeor pass Phase 2 and 3 are ineligible to reenlist and compete for promotion until they meet the requirement.

"These courses are self-paced, but must be completed within 12 months of enrollment," Robertson said. "Completing these courses prepares NCOs and SNCOs for in-residence PME by assisting them in a higher comprehension level of lesson principles prior to in-residence
attendance."

After the completion of the distance learning Phase 2 or Phase 3, eligible Airmen can be scheduled to attend in-residence PME.

The comprehensive in-residence requirements for PME are no longer a requirement for promotion. "As we transition into the new curricula, there is a chance that not everyone will have a chance to attend PME in-residence," Robertson said. "As of now, this will not be a limiting factor when it comes to promotion. Completing rank-appropriate distance learning courses, Course 15 and Course 14 version 6, will ensure that members' records reflect completion to be eligible for promotion."

The comprehensive portion of Noncommissioned Officer Academy is called the Intermediate Leadership Experience, and the Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy is called the Advanced Leadership Experience.

Members attending the ILE and ALE in-residence are going to focus on group interaction, leadership exercises, and communication. No testing is going to be administered at the end of these courses, as members already completed distance learning Phase 2 'Course 15,' and Phase 3 'Course 14 version 6.'

The requirement for NCOs who are eligible for Phase 2 NCOA ILE are for technical sergeant selects and non-selects across AFSCs who have a minimum of eight years and no more than 12 years TIS. While Phase 3 SNCOA ALE is a resident opportunity for all senior master sergeants, selects and non-selects across AFSCs who have a minimum of 13 years and no more than 18 years TIS.

"Those members in their window [distance learning Phase 2 and Phase 3 window] need to self-enroll on the Air University student information system website [https://auportal.maxwell.af.mil/auportal/welcome.airuniversity]," Robertson said.

Robertson's advice is for members to be proactive.

"If you are a technical sergeant with fewer than 11 years time-in-service and have not completed NCOA, you should already be enrolled and working on Course 15," Robertson added. "SNCO, if you completed the old Course 14 and plan on attending the SNCOA, you need to complete Course 14 version 6. These distance learning courses are not easy; they will take studying and time management to be successful. Our goal in PME is to guide our future Air Force leaders into becoming more efficient operational and strategic thinkers. This PME transition will help make this goal happen."

For more information about the enlisted evaluation system and WAPS, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil. Select "search all components" from the drop down menu and in the search window enter "27948" for enlisted evaluation changes or "27949" for enlisted promotion changes. For information about PME changes, please read AFI 36-2301, Developmental Education.

Editor's note: Information for this story from myPers and AFI 36-2301, Developmental Education

Chemistry students get real-world lesson from 140th Emergency Management

by Capt Kinder Blacke
140th Wing Public Affairs

10/3/2014 - LITTLETON, Colo. -- Students at Rock Canyon High School witnessed exactly how the science they are learning in class is used daily by emergency management professionals in the Colorado Air National Guard Sept. 23.

Master Sgt. Jared Hiles, emergency manager, 140th Wing, shared his expertise and equipment with high school students whose science teacher, Mr. Bart Blumberg, is also a Traditional Guardsmen and Staff Sergeant in the 140th Maintenance Squadron.

On a day-to-day basis, Hiles ensures the 140th Wing is prepared to respond to and recover from a wide array of hazards. He is also a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear defense specialist and conducts CBRN defense training and performs Hazardous Material response.

Blumberg, who recently graduated from Colorado State University and started teaching at Rock Canyon High School, was formerly a member of the Emergency Management Flight for six years. He realized that many of the tools he used in EM were developed with the science he was currently teaching his students.

Hiles explained that part of the Core curriculum at RCHS is to not only teach the students the material, but to also show them how what they have learned is being used in real world applications.

"I invited Master Sgt. Hiles to talk to the class because of my experience working with him and his knowledge of the career field," Blumberg said.  "He is extremely knowledgeable about Emergency Management both as a career field in the Air Force, and its applications in the civilian sector."

Blumberg wanted the students to apply the concepts he had taught them in class. "It is important for them to know that this information can be carried outside of the classroom," he said, and Hiles' diverse and unique knowledge base helped the students to further understand the concepts and their application.

Since the science department just learned about light and nuclear chemistry, Hiles brought in some chemical detection equipment that uses infrared spectroscopy and some radiation detectors to reinforce those lessons in Blumberg's classes.

Based on the students' reactions, they really enjoyed the presentation, seeing the different kinds of equipment and hearing actual stories of where they were used. "A lot of them left with either new knowledge or new ways of thinking about prior knowledge," Blumberg said. The majority also enjoyed seeing and working with equipment during the hands-on portion of the class.

Hiles enjoyed it as well. "Talking to students at RCHS was an amazing experience," he said. "I have always enjoyed teaching CBRN to military members, but this was a little more fulfilling because at the end of the day, it felt like I had shown a majority of the students that there are multiple applications in multiple career fields in the civilian world that use light and radioactive material."

Blumberg fully agreed. "Students are able to grasp the concepts more when they see it as it can relate to them in the real world," he said. "It is also important for the students to see there are many opportunities both within and outside of the military where they can use this information."

Sometimes it's hard to relate how chemistry can be applied to professions other than chemists, so Hiles was happy that the kids were interested and engaged. "It was fulfilling to see some of the students light up when they realized that what they had learned could apply to what they want to do in life," He said. "Also, it is always a great thing to be out in the community in uniform and representing the Colorado Air National Guard in a positive way."

Blumberg, like all of Colorado's Citizen Soldiers, represents the COANG in a positive way every day with his students since he is not only their teacher, but also an Airman. "I try not to talk about my military life too much, however, if there is an opportunity where I can correlate my military experiences with the material to make it more relevant, I do that when I can."

While this was not a recruiting event, Hiles is confident it was a worthwhile endeavor. "For the students to know that we weren't there trying to recruit them, but to actually teach them, really put a lot of them at ease. They seemed to focus on the equipment and technology more than the uniform," he said. "Even if we don't get any recruits out of this, I know that there is a new generation coming up that will better understand what the COANG can do and we will have continued support for and from our community."

BMT trainees complete last run on closing obstacle course

by Senior Airman Krystal Jeffers
502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas  -- Air Force basic military trainees completed the obstacle course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for the last time before it closed Sept. 24.

A new course, called the Leadership Reaction Course, was integrated into Creating Leaders, Airmen, and Warriors - or CLAW - mission at basic expeditionary Airmen's training, also known as BEAST week, at JBSA-Lackland Medina Annex and became fully operational Sept. 29.

"The obstacle course has a long history at the Air Force's basic military training," said Col. Michele Edmondson, 737th Training Group and BMT commander. "It affords the trainee an opportunity to dig deep within themselves and realize they are stronger than they think. It builds their self-confidence as they proceed throughout the course. The CLAW builds on this by developing teamwork and leadership skills as well."

"The change is a new element in BMT's move from an eight and a half week program to a seven and a half week program and the transition from the obstacle course to the CLAW allows us to consolidate all like training during BEAST week," Edmondson continued. "This frees up the eighth week for a transition week between graduation and technical training where new Airmen will be afforded the time to reflect and develop their Core Values."

The original obstacle course, which was built in November 1942, was about a mile to a mile and a half long depending on what obstacles were open. Of the 14 obstacles, the two water obstacles would close seasonally affecting the course length.

The new course is 1.3 miles and takes trainees two to two and a half hours to complete. Previously, the trainees completed the obstacle course individually, but CLAW will require the Airmen to work together in teams.

"The CLAW is about completing the course as a team," said Edmondson. "It's a mission oriented course where a team of 24 trainees complete a series of checkpoints to complete an objective."

The new course checkpoints include more than just physical goals, which is a difference compared to the original obstacle course.

"The CLAW course maintains the challenges of the obstacle course while adding in teamwork, communication, and problem solving skills," said Edmondson. "The teamwork and leadership roles that will now be incorporated will challenge trainees and invoke thought in real-world battlefield scenarios."

"It requires the trainees to actually work together vs just being physically strong and motivated," added Tech. Sgt. Richard Harding, 319th Training Support Squadron military training instructor and NCO in charge of the obstacle course. "The new course adds many more scenarios which will require them to use skills like self-aid buddy care, CRP, wingman-ship and teamwork. They get to apply foundational expeditionary skills training like tactical formation movements, low and high crawling, basic defense, force protection conditions, and weapon fighting techniques. Basically, they will be applying everything they learned in BMT."

The differences in obstacles, however, weren't the only changes made to invoke real-world scenarios and simulate a deployed location.

"At the old course, the obstacles were completed without their (M-16 trainer) weapons," Harding elaborated. "Now, they run with their gear (Kevlar vest and helmet) and have their weapons so there is more real-life application."

According to the 737th TRG, there are currently no plans in place for the old obstacle course to be demolished or re-purposed.

Altus Airmen deliver aid to Liberia

by Airman 1st Class Nathan Clark
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Ten Airmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing delivered humanitarian and medical supplies to Liberia Sept. 25 - Oct. 3, 2014, in support of Operation United Assistance to provide aid to the Ebola stricken region.

The Ebola virus epidemic has grown since March 2014, killing thousands in Africa and presenting a threat to the world. President Barack Obama has stated the U.S. will be leading the effort to fight the virus using a civilian-led, whole-of-government approach.

This approach gave Altus Air Force Base, a base dedicated to training pilots, loadmasters and inflight refueling boom operators, an opportunity to help with a real-world issue.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Will McDougall, assistant director of operations with the 58th Airlift Squadron, said six instructor pilots and four instructor loadmasters with the 58th took more than 180,000 pounds of medical and humanitarian aid in two C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft.

The medical supplies were taken to a nearby hospital and the humanitarian supplies were taken to a site near the airport in Monrovia, the country's capital, said U.S. Air Force Maj. Mathew Foss, a formal training unit evaluator pilot with the 58th. The humanitarian supplies were intended for living quarters being built for U.S. Army Soldiers, which will be adjacent to a field hospital being set up near the airport.

"We were very well received and our help was clearly appreciated by the residents," said McDougall. "They were eager to get the supplies. That was the most rewarding thing to see."

President Obama met with his senior advisors Oct. 6 to review the U.S. response to the epidemic. "As I've said from the start of this outbreak, I consider this a top national security priority. This is not just a matter of charity - although obviously the humanitarian toll in countries that are affected in West Africa is extraordinarily significant. This is an issue about our safety. It is also an issue with respect to the political stability and the economic stability in this region," said the president.

"It's not very often Altus crews get to support Air Mobility Command in this way," said McDougall. "We were all very happy to directly impact the humanitarian effort."

Foss said he saw several agencies and military branches working together in Liberia, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and the United Nations among others.

Foss agrees with the U.S. taking responsibility. He said, "Helping with the effort there helps protect us at home."

The whole-of-government approach being used to contain the spread of the Ebola virus in Africa is not just a term. It's putting any government agency that can help into the fight, including a U.S. Air Force training base in Oklahoma. Even though Altus is known for its training mission, Airmen here are able to deploy in support of larger Air Force and DOD objectives when called upon.

MQ-1B Predator Accident Report Released

Release Number: 081014

10/9/2014 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- An oil leak led to an MQ-1 B Predator crash near Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, Apr. 26, 2014, according to an Air Combat Command abbreviated accident investigation board report released today.

The aircraft and its aircrew were assigned to the 214th Reconnaissance Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. At the time of the mishap, the aircraft was conducting an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission. The aircraft was destroyed on impact with a loss valued at approximately $4.61 million. There were no injuries or damage to private property.

The board president found by clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the mishap was an engine oil leak. The rapid rate at which the oil leaked out ultimately caused the Predator's engine to completely seize, resulting in the aircraft's inability to maintain altitude or return to base. No portion of the wreckage was recovered.