Teaming Up to Throttle Back

by Airman Connor J. Marth
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/16/2014 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (Oct. 14, 2014) --
Every second hundreds of gallons of water pour over the edge and fall more than 75 feet before crashing into the turbines below. At the C.J. Strike Dam energy is created by the tremendous power of water.

However, with the demand for energy rising, the hydroelectric plant alone is not enough to keep the region running.

Consuming an average of 5 million kilowatts per hour of energy each month, Mountain Home Air Force Base is one of the most prominent energy consumers in the Treasure Valley region. However, it only consumes less than one-third of the Hydro Electric plants energy output.

"It's not just the base, it's the region as a whole," said Joseph Armstrong, the 366th Squadron energy manager. "Idaho Power cannot create enough energy from the hydro electric plant alone; we need everyone to try to throttle back on using energy."

While the base may not be the only place where energy can be conserved, support from high energy use areas could lessen the load on the C.J. Strike Dam.  Throttling the use of energy on the weekends or while not in the home allows Idaho Power to keep rates low, conserve water and help keep money in the state of Idaho.

"If housing along with your hangars and commercial buildings on base practiced simple energy saving measures, it could reduce your base energy bill by tens of thousands every month," said Steve Floyd, Idaho Power Major Customer Representative.  "That goes a long way toward using your money elsewhere."

With more money at the base's disposal, new renovations and improvements can be made to facilities, events and workplaces base-wide. The benefits made possible by this extra revenue could make quite a difference in quality of life for those living and working on base.

"This money we save goes back to the base," said Armstrong. "It's used to make residents and visitors lives more comfortable through renovation and improvement of base facilities."

Programs put on by base energy management offer opportunities for families to help get the most out of energy conservation.  One of the best ways for base housing to contribute is to participate in the Energy Management summer event known as the FlexPeak program.  The event is designed to lower energy consumption during times of peak demand.

"Through the FlexPeak Program we are supporting the regional grid, we are reducing our energy consumption and are in essence helping Idaho Power to not have to go onto the public grid and purchase other power at a higher cost," said Armstrong. "If Idaho Power has to purchase public energy then that cost will be passed onto its consumers."

With help from Idaho Power and Base Energy Management, MHAFB can continue to live comfortably while reducing its energy intake.

"It's all about using our resources wisely, in order to do that, we have to establish good habits," said Armstrong. "Mountain Home Air Force base has done an excellent job in the last 10 years and is helping to prevent grid blackouts, shortages, and higher cost of utilities."

Airmen restore American history at Gettysburg

by Airman 1st Class William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/15/2014 - GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Fighting broke out once again on the frontlines of Gettysburg. However, it wasn't the battle sounds of cannons and muskets being fired from the Union and Confederate Armies heard, it was the sound of overgrown brush being pulled from the ground and the sound of a rotting fence being torn down in a battle that pitted Airmen against Mother Nature.

More than 100 Team Dover Airmen armed with rakes, clippers and wood cleared out overgrown brush and rebuilt sections of a 300-yard fence line behind the historic Sherfy House Oct. 10, 2014, to help preserve one of America's most famous battlegrounds at Gettysburg National Military Park.

The volunteer trip was organized by the Dover Air Force Base First Sergeants Council and the trip itself was led by Master Sgt. William Garcia, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, who said it was a major success.

"As a first sergeant, we like to take charge and lead certain volunteer opportunities and I think this is one of the most worthy events we could have done," said Garcia. "But today would not have been possible without all of our volunteers. Everybody has smiles on their faces and we are getting a lot of work done quickly and professionally in a short amount of time. It really is a great thing to see."

This was the second time this year where volunteers from Team Dover have traveled to Gettysburg to help preserve the park. A similar clean-up event took place in the spring led by the Air Force Sergeants Association, Chapter 201.

Amanda Whitmore, Gettysburg National Military Park volunteer program assistant, said the park is always impressed by the quality of work performed by the volunteer Airmen.

"Dover AFB is one of the largest groups in our Adopt-A-Position Program that comes out and helps restores the park," said Whitmore. "I think they do a phenomenal job every time they come out and we really couldn't appreciate it more."

Many of the Airmen who volunteered in the spring volunteered for this trip as well. Staff Sgt. Caleb Dubourg, 436th Maintenance Squadron aerospace pulse technician, is one of those Airmen who made the two and a half hour drive to Gettysburg.

"I wanted to come back and volunteer again because I want to help preserve one of America's greatest battlefields," said Dubourg. "I think this is a great way for Airmen to show their support for the community and it gives younger Airmen a chance to observe American military history first-hand."

For some Airmen, this was their first time volunteering at Gettysburg but it won't be their last.

"I wanted to come out and make difference," said Robert Romano 436th MXS aerospace pulse apprentice. "People from other countries come and visit parks like this to get an impression about us as Americans and I wanted to do my part and make sure they get the right impression. I'm looking forward to returning in the spring to help out again."

Officer Training School graduates first total force class

by Phil Berube
42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

10/16/2014 - Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. -- Air Force Officer Training School moved one step closer to complete total force integration with its first-ever simultaneous graduation of active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard officer trainees Oct. 10, 2014.

The first graduating class of fiscal year 2015, which consisted of 193 new second lieutenants, included 73 active duty and 12 Reserve members completing Basic Officer Training and 108 ANG officers completing the Academy of Military Science.

This is the first time OTS ran through its new eight-week curriculum for both active duty and ANG officer trainees in parallel, which included combined lecture sessions and parade and drill training. The previous courses were 9.5 weeks for active duty and six weeks for ANG.

"The simultaneous training provided the same great training to two great officer candidate groups," said Col. Scott Lockwood, OTS commandant.

Total force integration is also evident in the makeup of OTS staff and command positions. Lockwood is the second ANG officer to hold the position of commandant, which rotates between an active duty and an ANG officer. Additionally, active duty and ANG trainees are instructed by an integrated staff representing all Air Force components.

While this is the first time active duty and Guard students have shared a common eight-week curriculum and graduated as one class, the ANG has been commissioning its officers at Maxwell for the past five years.

In 2009, the Guard moved AMS, its commissioning school, to OTS from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville, Tenn. The move came three years after then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley expressed his vision of a "shared common experience" at a single location for active duty, Reserve and Guard officer trainees.

Lockwood agrees with the concept, calling it "one furnace, one metal."

"Currently, with the increased focus on the total force in Air Force missions, OTS is working to merge BOT and AMS programs and training into a singular OTS culture, setting the stage for working and cooperating as a total force from the inception of an officer's career," he said.

That proposal is being looked at by the director of the Air National Guard, the adjutants general of each state and territory and Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, Lockwood added.

The presiding officer for the Oct. 10 combined graduation ceremony and parade was Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel, vice chief, National Guard Bureau.

In fiscal year 2014, OTS commissioned 748 second lieutenants and trained more than 1,300 officers through its Commissioned Officer Training and Reserve COT programs. AMS commissioned 511 Guard officers during that same time period.

Every Airman Counts: Wingman culture key to resiliency

by Col. Michael Manion
403rd Maintenance Group

10/15/2014 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- We've all encountered bad news or a series of bad news or bad days.  Each person reacts differently to news of setbacks such as injury, failure, tragedy, loss, and extreme stress.  How they respond is dependent on their ability for resiliency; the ability to bounce back.

Coach Vince Lombardi said, "It is not whether you get knocked down. It's whether you get up again ..."

Being resilient doesn't mean avoiding the issue; it means facing it; bouncing back from it, and recovering to previous levels of performance or even higher.  People can develop the ability to successfully overcome setbacks.  To assist Airmen, the Air Force had a mandatory stand-down day in 2012 to discuss resources available to support Airmen and the importance of strengthening mental, physical, social and spiritual skills to bolster resiliency.  A key point emphasized during that stand-down was that seeking help for yourself, or for fellow wingmen, is a sign of strength.

Building one's mental skill allows you to critically examine how your thoughts and attitude impact your behavior; it's even been said that an optimistic attitude can be learned.   The benefits of physical activity are improved mental awareness and the ability to more readily deal with stress.  A social skill refers to having peers you can engage with for support.  Building spiritual skill refers to cultivating purpose and meaning for however someone chooses to define that.  Strong spiritual foundations often help people deal with difficult situations.  A combination of all the above is often mentioned as the reason why many prisoner of war survivors made it back home.

Airmen with poor resiliency skills may not be equipped to notice or correct their situation, and that's where a good wingman needs to step in.  Being a good wingman transcends friendship, flights, and squadrons; it is something we do as professional Airmen and something we owe to those with whom we serve.  It is our responsibility -- if we see someone in need, we reach out to them.  It's the little gestures that can make a significant impact or can be the catalyst for resilience to blossom.  It often doesn't take much to make a difference.  The willingness to listen as someone talks through their feelings or fears; stopping by their workplace or meeting with them after work just to check up on them and to offer them the encouragement to keep taking the steps to rebound their situation can make a huge difference.  A positive attitude, a genuine sense of concern, and some of your time might be all it takes to get an Airman back on the vector to recovery.  If you determine you don't have the skills necessary to help the Airman get back on track, then take that next step, and get them in touch with the right personnel and/or resources.  Every Airman counts.  

By continuously cultivating mental, physical, social and spiritual skills, an Airman may get knocked down, but should be able to get up again on their own. We as wingmen need to be vigilant for those that are struggling to get up again, and do what it takes to help them recover to previous performance levels or even higher. We owe this effort to our fellow Airmen; it is the bond that makes us the world's greatest Air Force!

Face of Defense: Guard Soldier Aids Comrades Beyond Battlefield

By Niki Gentry

Tennessee National Guard

LOBELVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 16, 2014 – Army Staff Sgt. Pamela Pugh, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and 14-year member of the Tennessee National Guard, was contacted during the late summer by two of her fellow soldiers who found themselves homeless and in dire need of aid.

A platoon sergeant for her unit here, Pugh immediately took the initiative to help her comrades in arms, not only by her own actions, but also with help of numerous resources now available to military personnel, veterans and their families.

“These are my soldiers. I take care of them every month, and they know I care about them whether on or off duty,” Pugh said. “They know they can call me any time, especially when they are having difficult moments in their life. I take extreme pride in helping these soldiers. They are like my family, like my kids, and I feel an obligation to assist them as best I can.”

Study shows extent of veteran homelessness

Battling homelessness among service members and veterans has become a priority in the United States. The Department of Veterans Affairs published a study identifying nearly 58,000 homeless veterans nationally on one single night in January 2013.

Lori Ogden, director of development for Operation Stand Down Tennessee -- a nonprofit organization that provides free help to Tennessee veterans – said the unemployment rate among veterans in the state is 6.9 percent, and one in five homeless persons are veterans. VA and other agencies continue to develop programs to reduce the number of homeless who have a military background, she added, yet they emphasize the need for further support within Tennessee and across the country.

Pugh’s story began when she was contacted by a young soldier in her platoon who was living in a rescue shelter in Nashville, Tennessee. Using her knowledge of resources available through the Tennessee National Guard Family Programs section, the Enlisted Association of Tennessee, a local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other agencies, she was able to find financial assistance, temporary lodging and full-time employment for the Guard member.

Helping a second soldier

Pugh’s aid did not end with the one homeless soldier. Shortly afterward, she helped another member of her unit in a similar situation. The second soldier had sought refuge in a rescue shelter during an interim period prior to attending a state educational program.

Pugh helped the soldier obtain lodging and financial aid. Beyond the resources she accessed during the first soldier’s issues, Pugh was able to get other members of her unit to assist in moving the second soldier’s personal belongings during the transition to her school.

“The actions of Staff Sergeant Pugh are keeping with Army values, the Noncommissioned Officer’s Creed and are a true reflection of the nature of the Tennessee National Guard,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Scott, the senior enlisted leader for Tennessee. “Not only are our soldiers and airmen assisting their nation, state and communities, but they are dedicated to their fellow team members as well.”

Support mechanisms worked seamlessly

Pugh, members of her unit and the Tennessee National Guard’s soldier and airman support mechanisms worked seamlessly to help those encountering difficult times in their lives, Scott noted.

“Our National Guard is a family, and when any of our own are in need of assistance, we come together to support each other,” he said. “It is with great pride that I was allowed to witness the functioning of our internal support network to assist one of our own. Staff Sergeant Pugh is a credit to her unit, as well as her fellow service members. She recognized a need and proactively sought out the necessary resources to take care of our Guard personnel.”

Hagel Praises Army’s Strength, Resilience

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

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel commended the Army today for its contributions to national defense over the last 13 years of conflict and noted that demand for the things the Army does for the nation will not diminish during the period of uncertainty and change that lies ahead.

Speaking during the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference, Hagel said this is a time of great transition for the Army as the U.S. military responsibly ends its combat role in Afghanistan and transitions to a train-advise-and-assist mission.

“The Afghan national security forces will be fully responsible for their country's security,” he said, “an accomplishment made possible by the tremendous sacrifices of American troops, our [International Security Assistance Force] partners and the Afghan people.”

Army service during volatile times

“As the Army emerges from over 13 years of large-scale combat operations -- the longest in its history -- it faces new challenges,” Hagel said. “The world’s becoming more volatile, less predictable, and, in many ways, more threatening at the same time our defense budgets are declining.”

The theme chosen for this year’s AUSA symposium -- Hagel said, which is “Trusted Professionals: Today and Tomorrow” -- is well-suited to describe the kind of soldiers America will need as it navigates this period of change and uncertainty, the secretary said.

More than 1 million U.S. soldiers have deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 13 years, Hagel noted.

“One out of six of these soldiers was deployed to both countries,” Hagel said. “More than half-a-million soldiers -- 30 percent of them Guardsmen and reservists -- endured multiple deployments. As ground forces, they shouldered a heavy burden”

“Seventy percent of U.S. personnel wounded in action over the last 13 years were from the Army,” he continued, “and countless soldiers have come home with visible -- and invisible -- wounds of war.”

The enduring obligation to take care of them and their families, Hagel said, is a sacred responsibility that the nation must always uphold.

“Through the crucible of combat, and a grinding counterinsurgency campaign, the American soldier fought on,” he said. “As a result, today’s Army is as battle-tested as it has ever been.”

Hagel said of all the soldiers who served in Iraq since 2003, nearly half are still on active duty or in the National Guard and reserves, and of those who served in Afghanistan, almost two-thirds are still in the Army.

America’s Army today

The strength, resilience, and dedication of the Army, Hagel said, is what makes it the foundation of America’s national security and its contribution to U.S. security is as critical today as ever.

“We see it in West Africa,” he said, “where soldiers will soon deploy as a key part of America's contribution to the global effort to stop the spread of Ebola before it becomes an even more of a grave threat.”

Hagel said it is also seen in Poland and the Baltics, where soldiers are reinforcing and reassuring NATO allies in the face of Russian aggression, and in Iraq, where soldiers are deploying to train, advise and assist Kurdish and Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Soon, he added, it will be seen in Saudi Arabia, where soldiers will help to train and equip members of the moderate Syrian opposition.

“The president has been very clear that he will not commit our armed forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq,” Hagel said, “or become involved in the war in Syria.” This is not because of a belief that wars can be waged without committing troops to combat, he said. The strategy in Iraq and Syria does require forces on the ground, he explained, but they must be local forces.

“This is not only the best way to degrade, and ultimately defeat terrorists,” Hagel said, “it is the only sustainable path to defeating terrorism and extremism.”

Demand not diminishing

The defense secretary noted that while a another Iraq or Afghanistan-type campaign is unlikely, this does not mean that demand for the Army is diminishing, or that the Army’s place in U.S. national security strategy is eroding.

While there are no longer 150,000 soldiers engaged in ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hagel said, there are still almost as many soldiers either deployed or forward-stationed in nearly 150 locations around the world. This includes 80,000 soldiers in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility and nearly 20,000 soldiers in South Korea standing ready to “fight tonight.”

“There are also 40,000 soldiers under Central Command; 28,000 soldiers in Europe, and thousands more in both Africa and South America -- some of whom I visited in Colombia last week,” Hagel said. “The demands on the Army will only grow more diverse and complicated going forward. Threats from terrorists and insurgents will remain with us for a long time, but we also must deal with a revisionist Russia -- with its modern and capable Army -- on NATO's doorstep.”

The Army, Hagel said, will remain essential to helping to deter and confront every national security threat facing the country.

Maintaining a ready and capable force

There will always be a need for a modern, ready, well equipped, well-trained standing Army, the defense secretary said.

“But maintaining a ready and capable Army as we come out of 13 years of continuous large-scale combat will not be easy,” he added. “For the Army to fulfill its role as a guarantor of our national security, our soldiers must continue to be exceptionally well-led, well-trained and well-equipped.”

Hagel said this is especially true in a global security environment that is more unpredictable than ever and that will require America to lead the world in response.

“We must not forget the lessons of history,” he said. “We’ve seen how quickly a battle-hardened army can wither into a force that is ill-equipped and ill-prepared to carry out its mission, and we've seen the consequences.”

In July 1950, Hagel said, five years after America’s military victory in World War II, the soldiers of Task Force Smith were sent to the first battle of the Korean War with orders to halt the North Korean advance. Under-trained, under-equipped, outnumbered and unprepared, they were routed within hours of engaging the enemy, Hagel said, ultimately suffering a casualty rate of nearly 30 percent. Soldiers paid for poor training, equipment and leadership with their lives, the secretary said.

“We’ve also seen how past drawdowns sought to protect the training and equipment that is the essence of military readiness,” he said.

Hagel noted that retired Army Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, AUSA’s president and former Army chief of staff, used the mantra “No More Task Force Smiths” after Operation Desert Storm and the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s as the Army made “difficult but necessary decisions” reducing the force in order to safeguard readiness.”

“Today,” the secretary said, “‘No More Task Force Smiths’ must once again be our motto. We need to maintain an exceptionally ready Army.”

Budget challenges and adaptability

Due to “deep, steep, and abrupt defense budget cuts” imposed by sequestration, Hagel said, the Army had to cancel many critical training rotations, leaving it with only two active-duty brigade combat teams fully ready and available to execute a major combat operation.

Army readiness improved, with 12 out of 37 brigade combat teams trained to the highest levels of readiness, Hagel said, thanks to the budget compromise reached in December by President Barack Obama and Congress and the Army’s “relentless focus on training.”

“While this is a direct result of the Army's ability to adapt to unreasonable budget constraints,” Hagel said, “it falls short of what I believe is sufficient to defend our nation and our allies with minimum risk. We must continue to put readiness first in the current budget environment. [That] is why we have modestly reduced the size of the Army and protected training and maintenance in our budget.”

Trading readiness for capacity is the path to a hollow force, Hagel said, and despite temporary relief, sequestration remains the law of the land.

“If Congress does not act,” he said, “it will return in 2016 -- stunting and reversing the Army’s readiness just as we’ve begun to recover, and requiring even more dramatic reductions in force structure.”

The defense secretary said the department could face a $70 billion gap in its budget over the next five years if Congress “prevents us from moving forward … with these changes.”

“DoD's leaders understand that there will be less resources available,” Hagel said. “But the Army -- and our military -- needs Congress to be a partner in responsible, long-term planning and budgeting. We will continue to urge Congress to put an end to sequestration -- an irresponsible deferral of responsibility.”

Challenges the military faces will become far more difficult and dangerous the longer the tough choices are deferred, the secretary added.

Responsibility of leadership

Hagel said the future security environment remains uncertain, and trying to predict it will continue to be as challenging as ever. He quoted former President Woodrow Wilson, who predicted to Congress “a growing cordiality among nations, foreshadowing an age of settled peace and goodwill.”

“He spoke those words 101 years ago,” Hagel said. “We all know that history proved him wrong. The so-called ‘war to end all wars’ was anything but a war to end all wars. A century later, we cannot know for sure what conflicts, challenges, or threats the next 100 years may bring or the next 10 years may bring.”

“We cannot say for certain whether history will be repeated or made anew,” Hagel said, “but we must prepare our institutions for the unexpected and uncertain. That is the greatest responsibility of leadership.”