Carter: New Generation is Future of National Security

By Cheryl Pellerin

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2015 – On the first day of a two-day domestic trip, Defense Secretary Ash Carter today visited the high school he attended in Abington, Pennsylvania, to speak with students whose generation, he said, represents the future of national security.

Carter -- Abington class of 1972 -- got a standing ovation as he took the podium. After he spoke and answered a round of questions from students in the packed high school auditorium, they stood, clapped and cheered as he thanked them for their attention.

On his first domestic trip as defense secretary, Carter is also scheduled to visit Fort Drum in Jefferson County, New York -- home of the 10th Mountain Division. There, he plans to meet with troops who recently served in Afghanistan.

Before traveling back to Washington, the secretary will stop at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, to discuss the department’s commitment to building what he calls the “force of the future.”

Joining the Military

In his remarks, Carter referenced the 150-plus Abington graduates who had joined the military before and after attending college since 2000.

The secretary mentioned of some of his favorite high school teachers and coaches, some of whom were in the audience. He also named Lt. Matt Capps, a Navy helicopter pilot and 2000 graduate, whose mother Carole, a school employee, was in the audience.

“Movies like ‘American Sniper,’ video games like ‘Call of Duty’ and TV commercials with troops coming home are most likely where you see our military in your everyday lives, unless you have a family member or friend who is serving,” Carter said. Those images are somewhat true, he added, but they’re only part of what the 2.3 million men and women in uniform do every day in their jobs and in their lives.

The Future of National Security

“I wanted to come here today because your generation represents the future of our country and the future of our national security,” Carter told his audience.

“We now have the finest fighting force the world has ever known,” he said to applause, “and they’re not just defending our country against terrorists in such places as Afghanistan and Syria and Iraq -- they’re helping defend cyberspace, too.”

Service members work with cutting-edge technologies such as robotics and in fields such as biomedical engineering, the secretary said.

When disaster strikes, military forces deliver aid all over the world, he added, from the 2011 nuclear reactor meltdown in Japan to super storm Sandy in the United States. And they mobilized to Africa to save thousands of lives, helping to keep the deadly Ebola virus disease from spreading around the world.

Evolving Military Missions

“Our country’s military missions continue to evolve rapidly as our world changes and technology continues to revolutionize everything we do,” Carter said, “and … the institution I lead, the Department of Defense, must keep pace with that change as well to keep our nation secure.”

The secretary told the students that some people join the service right after high school and pursue a college education over time while serving. Some in college participate in the ROTC, a college-based program for training commissioned officers.

“In all cases, college and higher learning are encouraged, because we need our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to be the best and the brightest this country has to offer,” Carter said.

Nearly 40 percent of military officers come from ROTC programs at colleges and universities, he added, noting that the services send many members to top-notch graduate programs, such as civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, medical school at Stanford University, and business school at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

The New GI Bill

Everyone who serves, Carter added, can get college benefits through the GI Bill –- now called the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 -- which over the past five and a half years has helped more than 1.3 million Americans pay for college.

“You don’t have to join the military to serve your country –- I didn’t,” Carter said. “But Matt and all those other Abington graduates are the foundation of our future force.”

The future force has other pieces too, he added, such as having the best technology and the best planes, ships and tanks. “But it all starts and ends with our people,” he added. “If we can’t continue to attract, inspire and excite talented young Americans like you, then nothing else will matter.”

To help build the future force, the department must be able to attract young people and put the current generation’s command of technology to work for the nation, the secretary said.

Building the Future Force

Carter mentioned the kind of data-driven technology that allows Netflix to suggest movies and TV shows, Twitter to suggest who to follow and Facebook to suggest who to add as a friend. He said the same technology could be applied to chart how people are doing every day in all aspects of their jobs.

“We also need to use 21st-century technologies –- similar to LinkedIn and Monster.com –- to help develop 21st-century leaders and give our people even more flexibility and choice in deciding their next job when they’re in the military,” he added.

The department has internships, fellowships and pilot programs that allow people to pause their military service for a few years while they get a degree, learn a new skill or start a family, the secretary said, but he added that such programs are still small.

“These programs are good for us and our people, because they help people bring new skills and talents from outside back into the military,” Carter said. “So we need to look not only at ways we can improve and expand those programs, but also think about completely new ideas to help our people gain new skills and experiences.”

Equal Opportunity, Better World

Carter said the department also plans to keep making sure that anyone who is able and willing to serve their country has a full and equal opportunity to do so, drawing talent from a range of gender, racial, religious, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.

“Whether you’re a man or woman, gay, lesbian or straight -- no matter what walk of life your family comes from -– we’ll make sure you’re treated with dignity and respect,” Carter told them.

The secretary said the services will be competing hard around the country for talent like that represented by the students at Abington.

“I know that not everyone here is thinking about military service, and that’s okay,” he said. “If you’re like I was and you’re still interested in serving your country and making a better world, we need to be ready to help with ways you can serve as a civilian. Right now that’s not something our local recruiters offer, but we have to rethink that.”

The department wants people to consider military and public service because, “when it comes to working in national security, no matter what you do –- military or civilian –- you will be better off for having been a part of this incredible mission,” Carter said. “Whether it’s the people, the skills or the experiences, nothing else compares. I guarantee it.”

AFWA re-designated as 557th Weather Wing

by Staff Sgt. Rachelle Blake
55th Wing Public Affairs

3/30/2015 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The Air Force Weather Agency became the 557th Weather Wing in a re-designation ceremony March 27 at the Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman building.

"This is a momentous occasion; we are about to close a chapter in weather history and start a new one," said Ralph Stoffler, U.S. Air Force acting director of weather, who spoke at the event. "What you are seeing here today is not just a name change, but a fundamental philosophy change  of how the weather community is doing business ... I want to make sure that everyone in this organization knows, whether you have the weather badge or a communications badge or a supply badge, that you have done phenomenal work."

While still AFWA, the agency was considered a Field Operating Agency. As a wing, they will now fall under Air Combat Command and the 12th Air Force.

"Weather is critical to the mission," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Chris Nowland, 12th AF commander. "The reason this wing is being dedicated back into an operational realm is because threats are only increasing. The accuracy, the precision, the synchronization and the decision capability weather provides is not going to change. What it will provide is a joining together of eight other wings, 53,000 Airmen and 661 airplanes."

We are the only Air Force in the world who does what we do and you are the only wing in the world who brings it all together to support and enable those world-wide operations, he added.

The change, although an Air Force organizational decision, gave the wing an opportunity to showcase their rich heritage within the armed forces. This became evident while deciding the numeric portion of their title.

"It was noted that the year of the Army Air Force's weather wing stand-up, 1943, added to 17, the same year as the establishment of the Weather Service within the Army Signal Corps, 1917," said U.S. Air Force Col. David Bacot, 557th WW vice commander. "Five fifty-seven was a wing number available to AFWA and also summed to 17."

The 557th WW will be responsible for all operational weather support for the Air Force and Army, making them home to nearly 80 percent of all weather forces.

Structurally, not much will change. They will still house the 1st and 2d Weather Groups and their respective squadrons. The main difference will be the addition of the 17th, 21st, and 28th Operational Weather Squadrons to the 1st WXG, increasing their size by approximately 400 personnel.

Another modification will be the Latin verbiage on the bottom of their shield. It will now read "Coelum Ad Prelium Elige," meaning "Choose the weather for battle."

"There is so much pride that I have with everyone in this room and this organization," said U.S. Air Force Col. William Carle, 557th WW commander. "Last year, I professed my confidence in the Airmen in this organization. We knew we had this challenge to reorganize and be more operations focused. Today is the culmination of all of that hard work, dedication and perseverance. I am blown away. Thank you very much for what you have done. I am truly humbled and honored to be your commander."

CSAF thanks RPA Airmen, highlights RPA mission importance

by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

3/30/2015 - CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and his wife, Betty, visited the Airmen of the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing to discuss the importance of the ISR mission during their visit to Creech Air Force Base, Nev., March 24.

Among his stops to various locations around base, Welsh met with RPA pilots, senior non-commissioned officers, and the squadron and group commanders of the 432nd Wing and 799th Air Base Wing to discuss changes within the Air Force, such as the new enlisted performance report system and force management, as well as the importance of the RPA enterprise.

In addition, Welsh held an all-call, during which he thanked and highlighted the successes of the men and women of Creech AFB.

"I'm here really just to say 'thanks,'" Welsh said. "Thank you for how proud you make me every day, but more importantly, thank you for what you're doing."

The general went on to say that the RPA enterprise in total, from those who support it, to those who maintain and operate it, have been completing a mission, making significant personal and family sacrifices for more than a decade.

"It's absolutely stunning. The story of the last 15 years for the U.S. Air Force is going to be absolutely rich but the centerpiece of that story is going to be the development of an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance enterprise that the world has never seen before," Welsh said. "Every combatant commander wants you, which is a compliment, but you also understand the strain it inflicts."

Welsh highlighted the effects the RPA enterprise has on joint and coalition war-fighting capabilities, and the important role it has played in helping defeat and deter enemies.

"Thank you for the things you have done and for the success you've had and the success it has enabled," said Welsh. "Thank you for the feeling of security you give men and women on the ground."

With the growing demand for RPA capabilities, Welsh acknowledged some of the additional stressors that have been placed on RPA Airmen and discussed his goal for stabilizing the mission to allow manning to steady, while still allowing those wishing to enter the ISR community an opportunity to do so.

"There are some things [about the RPA mission] that clearly have to change. We have got to get ahead of the training curve, we have got to get fully manned, and we have got to slow down the operational demand long enough to produce new pilots and crewmembers so that when others leave, the enterprise isn't adversely affected," he said.

Welsh assured Airmen everything that can be done is being done to stabilize the force while continuing to complete the mission. He also acknowledged that demands for the RPA capability will continue to grow.

After reassuring the Airmen, the general continued his remarks by outlining a fundamental practice that is required.

"We have to listen to our people and offer ideas," Welsh said. "We have to care about the mission and our people now more than ever."

U.S. Air Advisors reach milestone in Air Drop Training with Colombian Air Force

by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hannen
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

3/30/2015 - BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- Members of the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron from Travis Air Force Base (MSAS) finalized their training with members of the Colombian Air Force while observing their performance of an air drop mission near Bogota, Colombia, March 4, 2015.

The successful air drop concluded a month-long Air mobility Command Building Partner Capacity mission. The mission of BPC is to build stronger international air force cooperation, interoperability and mutual support in coordination with 12th Air Force's (Air Force's Southern)continued engagements in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility of Latin America and the Caribbean.

571 MSAS pilots and loadmaster instructors observed five Colombian parachute jumpers and two pallets successfully land within the recommended target range during two passes in a Colombian Air Force Casa 295 aircraft. This successful airdrop concluded a month-long Air Mobility Command Building Partner Capacity mission.

According to Maj. Justin Allen, 571 MSAS Colombia mission commander, this was the first air drop mission where 571 MSAS instructors were allowed to go on the aircraft and fly with the Colombians.

"In the past we taught classes, set up an exercise and then let them go execute the mission," said Allen. "That is very similar to simply telling someone how to drive a car, then giving them the keys and say alright go at it. Again, we don't know what we don't know until we sit there and watch them. Just as they don't know what they don't know until we tell them. As observers we can't see what happens inside the aircraft until we get to fly with them. The air observer piece was extremely important and very beneficial to our understanding of how they conduct their operations and what areas can be improved," Allen said.

The MSAS Airmen have been teaching seminars and advising the Colombian Air Force twice a year since August of 2012, but until recently, the Colombian Air Force had little experience in air drop procedures. In the last six months, the Columbian airmen have been able to leverage more air drop missions from the Army and have been able to conduct the operations safely and successfully.

"Prior to this they (the Colombians) didn't have any airdrop missions other than when we visited and prepared a training mission for them," said Maj Allen.

Colombia is a very large country with few roads and the military operates about 12 bases throughout the country. Smaller countries in the region use helicopters as their primary means of transporting people and cargo. Helicopters cannot carry enough cargo, nor do they travel fast enough, so they are not the preferred method of military transport in Columbia. Colombia is currently battling the Transnational Criminal Organizations, their war against the FARC Revolutionary Armed Forces and their war on drugs.

"Our efforts here are specifically helping them to conduct air drop operations that will allow them to resupply troops and forward operating bases throughout the country," Allen said. "They can resupply those troops with additional personnel if needed."

Staff Sgt. Peter Salinas, Loadmaster, has been an air drop and rigging instructor in Colombia on five 571 MSAS trips and has taught 30 students.

"I would say this drop went very, very well," said Staff Sgt. Salinas. "The success was a collaboration of the navigators, pilots, loadmasters and jumpers. They went from not being able to air drop and now they can air drop Container Delivery System bundles. We are still taking baby steps in order for them to get completely proficient and effective in the air drop, but we are happy with their progress," Salinas said.

According to Salinas, there are still steps needed to increase the capability of the Columbian air force.

"We only come in for four weeks at a time twice a year and they don't get a lot of airdrop experience in between those seminars," Allen said. "They can only get certain air drop operations and we are trying to raise that level of excellence. Some of their procedures and some of the things they are doing, it is just lack of experience, but it is not a lack of motivation or will. These guys are super energetic and they really want to learn how to get the mission done."

Another measure of success is the fact that the Colombian airmen are taking the knowledge the 571 MSAS has taught them on air drop and rigging procedures, and have gone to additional exercises in South America to train others.

"They are definitely taking the skills that we are teaching and they are providing training for other countries," Allen said. "They are providing airmanship, air drop, maintenance and other skill sets to other countries."

The BPC mission is to build stronger international air force cooperation, interoperability and mutual support in coordination with. The MSAS Airmen, based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., have been teaching seminars and advising the Colombian Air Force for a month twice a year since August 2012 to help them grow.

Face of Defense: F-16 Pilot Logs 125 Days of Flying

By Air Force Senior Airman Jonathan Bass

20th Fighter Wing

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C., March 30, 2015 – The commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron here has spent 125 days flying in the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Air Force Lt. Col. Raymond Millero Jr., who flew his 3,000th hour in the seat of his fighter jet last month, is the 260th F-16 pilot to achieve this milestone.

"When put into the context of 125 days, it seems unreal that I spent so much time in the cockpit," Millero said. "I've had the opportunity to fly with 11 different active-duty squadrons and five Air National Guard squadrons throughout my career."

In more than 19 years of service, Millero has flown three different models of the F-16: Blocks 30, 40 and 50. The Block 50 model focuses on the suppression of enemy air defenses, which is the mission set of the 20th Fighter Wing. These F-16s facilitate an air-to-ground campaign targeting and destroying enemy surface-to-air missile systems.

Wide Variety of Skills

Flying the different models has given him a wide variety of skills and an excellent grip on the aircraft's abilities and tactics, the Hadley, Pennsylvania, native said, which proved helpful during the more than 611 combat hours he flew in Iraq and Afghanistan. He flew tours in Operation Southern Watch, as well as in operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.

"His extensive experience gives him a deep knowledge base that he can call upon when things aren't going exactly right, and that's what separates the great pilots from the good pilots," said Air Force Lt. Col. Andrew Caggiano, the 79th Fighter Squadron’s director of operations.

Hard work, dedication and the application of knowledge gained through life experience is what brought Millero to this point in his career, Caggiano added.

His Father’s Dog Tags

Millero has taken his father's dog tags with him on more than 1,800 sorties in the F-16, using the opportunity to remind himself of his father's love.

"My father always encouraged me throughout my life and has been a great inspiration to me," he explained. "I like to honor his service and what he sacrificed to allow me the opportunities I've had. Flying with his dog tags reminds me of his sacrifice and provides a reminder to me of the reason I am where I am today."

With 3,000 hours of experience in the cockpit, Millero has seen almost every possible scenario and can turn bad situations into good ones, thus making him and every pilot he leads both safer and more lethal in combat, Caggiano said.

"Achieving 3,000 hours is a significant personal and professional accomplishment for a fighter pilot," said Air Force Col. Paul Murray, 20th Operations Group commander. "But beyond the personal aspects, this milestone demonstrates the capability of our Air Force to maintain aircraft and personnel at a high level of readiness and ultimately support combat operations around the world."

Lucky to be Flying the F-16

Millero said he considers himself lucky to be flying the F-16 after so many years, and that he takes the most satisfaction out of instructing pilots and teaching them the necessary skills to employ the F-16.

"I believe it is necessary for the older generation to pass along the lessons learned from their experiences in order to develop the next generation," he said. "By growing the next generation of fighter pilots, we ensure they are ready when the nation calls us for combat operations -- any time, anywhere."

Malmstrom AFB prepares for SELM

by Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

3/27/2015 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Maintaining the nuclear triad requires an enormous amount of manpower, technology, skill and determination. For Air Force Global Strike Command, the mission of sustaining the land-based leg of this nuclear defense hails as one of the most challenging and important undertakings, aside from providing the nuclear deterrence itself.

As part of this maintenance, AFGSC conducts intercontinental ballistic missile operational tests and evaluation on an annual basis to ensure system readiness. Components are put through a rigorous series of checks to ensure maximum operability.

One such test is a Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman, which provides the most in-depth assessment of a deployed ICBM system.

"SELM provides the most complete test of the deployed ICBM force from crew commit actions through issuance of the Minuteman first stage ignition signal," said Lt. Col. Scott Fleming, 490th Missile Squadron assistant director of operations.

For Malmstrom AFB, preparation for the successful launch of the installation's upcoming SELM, designated GP 15-1M, has been months in the making.

"Two SELMs are conducted each year, with each of the three ICBM bases conducting one approximately every other year," said Fleming. "Testing typically occurs over two test days where crews from both launch control centers and the airborne launch control system validate their capabilities."

For a complete evaluation of these missile systems, data from operational test launches at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., and SELM tests in the command's missile fields is combined and reviewed.

The success of these tests is a direct result of the hard work of Airmen throughout the command. From the men and women in the field setting up the groundwork for a test to be launched, all the way up to the commanders coordinating assets and manpower, every individual is a critical component.

"Success of a SELM directly falls on the backs of our Airmen and the hard work they put into this effort," said Fleming. "A successful SELM can only take place after a great deal of work is done, well in advance of the specific test dates."

As Airmen at Malmstrom partner with personnel from the 576th Flight Test Squadron from Vandenburg, the planning, training and myriad of logistic details bring us ever closer to the completion this very important undertaking, he said.

"Together, our Wing One maintainers, defenders, operators and support personnel have us ready for GP 15-1M," said Fleming.

ACC Airman to compete in Military World Games

by Staff SSgt. Candice Page
Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs

3/30/2015 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- An Air Combat Command Airmen is set to compete at the 6th Conseil International du Sport Military (CISM) World Military Games in South Korea, Oct. 2-11, 2015.

The CISM Military World Games is a multisport event that is held every four years and one year before the Olympic Games. This year they are expecting 110 nations and 6,500 military athletes to compete in the games.

Senior Master Sgt. Spencer Mims, ACC A4 Logistics, and seven more members of the U.S. Men and Women Armed Forces Golf team will be the first U.S. Armed Forces golf team to play at the CISM World Military Games. Golf was added to this year's schedule because it will now be played in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Golf has not been played in the Olympics since 1904.

The team recently competed in the 8th CISM World Military Golf Championship on Bahrain, Nov. 13-21, 2014 where they won their 7th gold medal and found out they would be heading to the World Military Games.

During the golf championship in November, Mims won an individual gold in the Men's Senior Division during the championship.

"My passion for golf is driven by the challenges and being able to improve every time you go out and apply yourself," Mims said. "Some days you will have it and some days you won't."

Mims who joined the Air Force in 1993 as an aircraft maintainer for the A-10 says he was stationed at his first duty station Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. when he fell in love with golf.

"It was 1996 and a couple of guys from work took me out to the course and I have been hooked ever since," Mims said. "Having a new challenge every time you come to the course is what made me fall in love."

Mims has won many trophies during his golf career and he credits that to his competitive nature.

"My drive to be successful comes from my competitive nature and if I am taking time away from my wife and kids I better make them proud," Mims said. "I have full support from my family."

Becoming a player of the Armed Forces team took some hard work from Mims.

"I got on the Armed Forces team because I played well enough on the Air Force team last year which gets you invited to the camp the following year," Mims said.  "You have to qualify in the top six to make it to the Air Force team and once on the Air Force team we go to Armed Forces camp and you have to finish in the top six as well to qualify for the Armed Forces team which then earned the team an invite to the World Military Games this year."

Mims says his goal in the World Military Games is to go there play well and represent the U.S. Armed Forces and the Air Force. They team is also looking forward to bringing home their 8th gold medal.

AGOW teaches Romanian airmen airfield management

by Staff Sgt. Kris Levasseur
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/25/2015 - CAMPIA TURZII, Romania  -- Members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing air advisor branch provided Romanian airmen at Campia Turzii, Romania, the opportunity to learn about U.S. Air Force airfield management operations March 10 to 27 during Dacian Warhawk, a two-week training mission designed to increase the interoperability between the two nations.

Unlike the U.S. Air Force, the Romanian air force does not have airmen specifically trained to manage airfield operations and maintain airfield standards.

"Throughout Dacian Warhawk, the 435th AGOW was able to accomplish several events designed to build partnerships with our Romanian allies to include airfield management, fuels management, Medical treatment and fighter pilot integration," said Maj. Justin Rex, 435th Contingency Response Group air advisor.  "In particular, the airfield management event focused on building the Romanian capacity to have dedicated airfield managers monitor and develop the airfield manager capacity from scratch."

In order to provide the Romanian airmen with a foundation for their airfield management program, Rex and his team covered a variety of information including FOD prevention, airfield driving, daily pavement evaluation and several other aspects of airfield management.

"Building this capability will set the stage to enhance the processes and procedures to maintain a fully operational airfield and enhance NATO interoperability," said Tech. Sgt. George Broom, 435th AGOW 435th Contingency Response Group air advisor.

The airfield management training provided the Romanian airmen with first steps toward creating a program at Campia Turzii which, if successful, could be used to develop a program for the entire Romanian air force.

"Campia Turzii will be the first base in Romania that is training and equipping personnel to handle all airfield management responsibilities," said Rex. "This event provided the baseline on which the Romanian air force can build the airfield management capability and successfully guide airfield safety and construction projects."

Though their program is still in its infancy, the value of this training has been immeasurable according to Romanian 2nd Lt. Adam Loam, 71st Base airman training on airfield management.

"The airfield management training was very useful," said Loam. "This training helped us change our vision on how we can run our program in the future. Building our program will help us work together better.

Throughout Dacian Warhawk, Airmen from both nations came together to teach each other many things, but the programs they built together will last beyond their stay and support future Airmen accomplish many more missions.

STEM event readies local female youth for the future

by Senior Airman Zachiah Roberson
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/30/2015 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. recently hosted a STEM event here as a collaborative program highlighting Women's History Month Mar. 25, 2015.

Science, technology, engineering and math; the central components of the STEM Education Coalition, are designed to help shine light on the possibilities and capabilities of today's youth.

The event offered girls in grades 7, 8 and 9 to attend numerous activities on base, giving them hands on experience with miniature remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), and even a visit to one of the 69th Reconnaissance Group's Block-40 Global Hawks. All of these stops were supported by female military members to not only stamp a true fact that the military holds no barriers for women, but also to show support during Women's History Month.

"[With the STEM program] we want students to pursue careers based off of their interests, not off their gender," said Eric Ripley, Grand Forks Public School District director of career and technical education.

This program was a cooperatively introduced by the base and the Grand Forks Public Schools. (how many students) split up early in the day, to help them better interact with the base personnel who assisted with the day.

The first activity for one group was learning what the RPA pilots here do and how they accomplish the mission both at home and overseas. Once that task was accomplished it was on to actually piloting one of their own mini RPAs.

"This made me feel like I could go out and do something important," said Alynn Julien, a student at Twining Middle and Elementary School. "Instead of thinking just boys had to do this and just girls had to do this, we can do also what boys do and the other way around."

After learning the basics of mini RPA controls, the children continued on their tour to see an actual Block-40 Global Hawk with the assistance of Capt. Ellen Williams, 69th Maintenance Squadron air craft maintenance unit officer-in-charge. Williams talked to the group, explaining what she does and how the aircraft works; after which the girls were let loose to inspect the Aircraft up close.

"I thought it was a great opportunity to have girls out here getting to see what maintenance does. It's not typical for most people to do this kind of maintenance, let alone the female population doing so," said Williams. "Women are doing lots of different things in the world today and I just wanted to let them know that they can do whatever they want to do in life and be who they want to be."

Seeing the aircraft and learning how to pilot a mini RPA was just the mechanical side of the tour, the group followed through to the next part of the tour which involved a more personal side of the RPA career field.

Members of the 69th Reconnaissance Group, known as the Lady Hawks, gathered the girls in a room to discuss with them what they have done in their time working with RPAs, from working at home-station, deploying abroad to Australia and breaking military world records for flight time. The children were shown that if they want to be a pilot in the Air Force they can, with hard work and continuing to be active in bettering themselves through school and productive activities.

"Having role models like the Lady Hawks are great examples of females that were able to set world records and I think it's awesome, our girls really look up to them," said Ripley.

Just as the Secretary of the Air Force is pushing to increase opportunities for females in the Air Force, events like these help to show the force's diversity and innovation.

"This goal will encourage our accession sources to more aggressively compete for our Nation's top female talent and encourage the next generation of innovative leaders to apply for our officer corps," said Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force.

As homage to Women's History Month, the day contributed to reaching a large amount of local young girls to show being female is no longer a roadblock to a great career. Caring about what one does and striving to actually succeed and reach that goal are the stepping stones in today's Air Force.

Virginia Guard Airmen supporting global operations at Langley AFB

by Cotton Puryear
Virginia National Guard

3/30/2015 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va -- Virginia National Guard Airmen from the 192nd Intelligence Squadron work side-by-side with the active duty Air Force every day at Langley Air Force Base. They provide critical intelligence products to support warfighting operations around the world, and several of them took part in a capabilities demonstration for local and national news media hosted March 17, 2015, by the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.

"ISR provides supported commanders with decision advantage," explained Col. Timothy D. Haugh, commander of the 480th ISR Wing. "It makes sure they have the best available information for whatever decision they have to make from peacetime to the execution of combat operations."

Because the demand for information has grown significantly, the active Air Force had to look for ways to meet the demand.

"We needed to grow our capabilities beyond the capacity of our wing, and we have done that through a partnership with the Reserves and Air National Guard," he said. "We could not do our mission successfully without that partnership with the Guard and Reserve. They all bring a lot of capabilities, capacity and talents that have been an incredible value added."

More than 100 Virginia National Guard Airmen support the ISR mission at Langley in a variety of duty statuses. Some are full-time military technicians, others volunteer to serve in an active-duty status, while the majority are traditional Guardsmen who support the ISR mission during their monthly drill weekends.

The 192nd Intelligence Squadron is part of the 192nd Fighter Wing and engaged in what is called a "Single Wing Classic Associate" where National Guard Airmen are fully integrated with the active-duty Air Force. This means they work side-by-side with the 497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, the 1st Fighter Wing Operations and Maintenance Groups and the 735th Supply Chain Operations Group. The 192nd Fighter Wing also conducts independent missions with the 192nd Security Forces Squadron, the 203rd RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron and 192nd Medical Group.

The 192nd Intelligence Squadron achieved full operational capability in June 2010 and now provides direct support to assist the active duty as they execute 70 missions a day, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

"I'm proud of our Airmen and the culture they have established," said Lt. Col. David R. Lands, 192nd Intelligence Squadron Commander. "Our ability to integrate with mission partners while preserving unit identity and esprit de corps is vital to our role as citizen Airmen."

The 192nd Intelligence Squadron's federal mission is to "provide near-real-time, high confidence intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance products to Joint Force and Component Commanders," Lands said. Additionally, their domestic mission is to "provide near-real-time, high confidence incident awareness and assessment for domestic operations in the Commonwealth of Virginia" in times of emergency.

No matter what their status, they all support the mission from their home station at Langley. This is possible through a global information network that allows data collected in one location to be evaluated and turned into an intelligence product by an analyst thousands of miles away, Haugh explained.

He said that commanders identify their information requirements, and then all the different requests are prioritized at the Joint Staff level. From there, analysts are assigned missions based on those priorities.

"We have a large, centrally managed process to ensure that as a nation we are placing our ISR resources against the highest priority things that meet our national security objectives and theatre objectives," he said.

Haugh explained that data comes from a variety of aerial platforms, but the critical element is getting it to the analyst that will turn it into the product commanders need. Analysts pull in video and integrate it with other information to produce their final intelligence product.

"Our Airmen take all the data coming from those aircraft and put it into useable intelligence for supported commanders," he said. "This allows commanders at every level in the battle space, it could be a captain or a three or four-star general, to make decisions on how to position their forces."

Through a global network of installations located in the United States as well as Germany, Korea, Hawaii and in the Central Command area of operations, collected data can be routed to an available analyst.

"We are able to leverage the entire global network, take the data and send it to analyst who can create products to support the joint war fight," he said. "We are able to be engaged in combat operations while still at home station."

While ISR is a highly effective integration of the latest technology, senior leaders acknowledge that it is the people who make the mission successful.

"The greatest asset today's Air Force has is our Airmen," said Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, the higher headquarters for the 480th ISR Wing. "The men and women who raise their right hand and swear an oath to our nation are simply amazing."

U.S. air advisors pioneer new DoD training in Zambia

by Staff Sgt. Destinie Berry
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

3/27/2015 - Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.  -- Eight members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing's 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron traveled to Lusaka, Zambia to take part in a first of its kind Department of State training event, March 21, 2015.

The team engaged with twenty members of the Zambian air force to accomplish two objectives: share ideas and to train.

The Congressional authority, under Section 1203 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 enables air advisors to build partnerships with a strategic U.S. ally while expanding their unit's air advising capabilities at the same time.

"This is the first time the new section 1203 authority has been used by general purpose forces to train with friendly foreign military forces," said Maj. Michael Morrow, 818 MSAS, 1203 mission commander. "In order to be an effective air advisor, extensive training is necessary. Each mission presents an opportunity to upgrade a new advisor. Normally, we can only upgrade a maximum of two people per trip, but due to the nature of a 1203 mission we were able to upgrade six team members."

The training events allow the department to expand and enhance partner capacity in the African area of responsibility. They are also a key component of the building partnership capacity efforts supporting Air Forces Africa partnership engagement objectives, although getting the initial approval of the Section 1203 was a lengthy process.

"Planning for any engagement in a foreign country requires close attention to every detail for safety of the team and success of the mission," Morrow said. "For this engagement in particular, it was a six month process to draft the concept of operations and request authority through Congress.  Because it had never been done before, coordination took countless phone calls, e-mails, routing, and re-writes within the Air Force and the departments of Defense and State. To finally be in country and interact with the Zambian air force has been extremely rewarding."

According to Morrow, the extensive planning process paid off. With upgrade training out of the way the Air Advisors were able to focus on their main mission: sharing ideas with partner nations.

"No single country has all the knowledge and resources needed to rapidly and efficiently mitigate every potential disaster around the world," Morrow said. "We need to work together and learn from each other.  The need to share best practices for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief principles is critical. The Zambian air force showed great enthusiasm in sharing their response methods during the discussion phase and table-top exercise at the end. I learned so much from them in a relatively short time."

"This first ever 1203 mission was a tremendous success," said Lt. Col. Pete Larsen, 818 MSAS commander. "The new authority has allowed us to strengthen our military-to-military relationship with an important African partner to the U.S., while ensuring that our air advisors are trained and ready to execute their building partner capacity mission."

Despite the fact that this is the first Section 1203 mission, the team has not identified any barriers to mission success.

"I was able to upgrade six members of my team and focus on working with the partner nation smoothly," said Master Sgt. Derrick Lodge, 818 MSAS. "It helps that the Zambian air force is an extremely professional force. We found them to be enthusiastic for the opportunity to listen to how the U.S. Air Force conducts humanitarian assistance missions and were eager to share their own experiences with responding to natural disasters here in their country as well as those in other parts of Africa."

"Our Air Force is newer," said Lt. Col. M. Mukuka, Zambian Air Force commanding officer for 15th Squadron. "It is still growing and learning from bigger Air Forces. The training helps to build partnerships for future issues, giving different dimensions to work with.  We are now looking at it on a different dimension."

The 818th MSAS brought this new mission to a close, strengthening relationships in the African AOR and strengthening the humanitarian aid reliability in Zambia.

"I feel truly fortunate to have had this unique opportunity to focus on training air advisors while at the same time sharing best practices on a topic that knows no boundaries," said Lodge. "For me, there is no higher calling than humanitarian assistance and providing relief to those in desperate need. It was humbling to know the Zambian air force holds that same opinion."

"This program has been very useful to us," said Lt. Col. Phiri, Zambian air force Flying Wing for Air Transport commanding officer. "The way we respond to disaster has improved."

"Zambia is only the first country to be involved," Larsen said. "Follow-on 1203 engagements will go a long way to advancing interoperability and regional stability in Africa. We are already considering other countries that fit into AFAFRICA's strategic objectives for the next 1203 mission."

U.S. Air Advisors reach milestone in Air Drop Training with Colombian Air Force

by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hannen
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

3/27/2015 - BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- Members of the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron from Travis Air Force Base (MSAS) finalized their training with members of the Colombian Air Force while observing their performance of an air drop mission near Bogota, Colombia, March 4, 2015.

The successful air drop concluded a month-long Air mobility Command Building Partner Capacity mission. The mission of BPC is to build stronger international air force cooperation, interoperability and mutual support in coordination with 12th Air Force's (Air Force's Southern)continued engagements in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility of Latin America and the Caribbean.

571 MSAS pilots and loadmaster instructors observed five Colombian parachute jumpers and two pallets successfully land within the recommended target range during two passes in a Colombian Air Force Casa 295 aircraft. This successful airdrop concluded a month-long Air Mobility Command Building Partner Capacity mission.

According to Maj. Justin Allen, 571 MSAS Colombia mission commander, this was the first air drop mission where 571 MSAS instructors were allowed to go on the aircraft and fly with the Colombians.

"In the past we taught classes, set up an exercise and then let them go execute the mission," said Allen. "That is very similar to simply telling someone how to drive a car, then giving them the keys and say alright go at it. Again, we don't know what we don't know until we sit there and watch them. Just as they don't know what they don't know until we tell them. As observers we can't see what happens inside the aircraft until we get to fly with them. The air observer piece was extremely important and very beneficial to our understanding of how they conduct their operations and what areas can be improved," Allen said.

The MSAS Airmen have been teaching seminars and advising the Colombian Air Force twice a year since August of 2012, but until recently, the Colombian Air Force had little experience in air drop procedures. In the last six months, the Columbian airmen have been able to leverage more air drop missions from the Army and have been able to conduct the operations safely and successfully.

"Prior to this they (the Colombians) didn't have any airdrop missions other than when we visited and prepared a training mission for them," said Maj Allen.

Colombia is a very large country with few roads and the military operates about 12 bases throughout the country. Smaller countries in the region use helicopters as their primary means of transporting people and cargo. Helicopters cannot carry enough cargo, nor do they travel fast enough, so they are not the preferred method of military transport in Columbia. Colombia is currently battling the Transnational Criminal Organizations, their war against the FARC Revolutionary Armed Forces and their war on drugs.

"Our efforts here are specifically helping them to conduct air drop operations that will allow them to resupply troops and forward operating bases throughout the country," Allen said. "They can resupply those troops with additional personnel if needed."

Staff Sgt. Peter Salinas, Loadmaster, has been an air drop and rigging instructor in Colombia on five 571 MSAS trips and has taught 30 students.

"I would say this drop went very, very well," said Staff Sgt. Salinas. "The success was a collaboration of the navigators, pilots, loadmasters and jumpers. They went from not being able to air drop and now they can air drop Container Delivery System bundles. We are still taking baby steps in order for them to get completely proficient and effective in the air drop, but we are happy with their progress," Salinas said.

According to Salinas, there are still steps needed to increase the capability of the Columbian air force.

"We only come in for four weeks at a time twice a year and they don't get a lot of airdrop experience in between those seminars," Allen said. "They can only get certain air drop operations and we are trying to raise that level of excellence. Some of their procedures and some of the things they are doing, it is just lack of experience, but it is not a lack of motivation or will. These guys are super energetic and they really want to learn how to get the mission done."

Another measure of success is the fact that the Colombian airmen are taking the knowledge the 571 MSAS has taught them on air drop and rigging procedures, and have gone to additional exercises in South America to train others.

"They are definitely taking the skills that we are teaching and they are providing training for other countries," Allen said. "They are providing airmanship, air drop, maintenance and other skill sets to other countries."

The BPC mission is to build stronger international air force cooperation, interoperability and mutual support in coordination with. The MSAS Airmen, based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., have been teaching seminars and advising the Colombian Air Force for a month twice a year since August 2012 to help them grow.

Air Force Wrestling Team trains at JB MDL

by Airman 1st Class Joshua King
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

3/27/2015 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- Air Force Wrestling Team trains at JB MDL Airman 1st Class Joshua King Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST

The U.S. Air Force Wrestling Team recently concluded  their annual two-month training camp at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. in preparation for the Armed Forces Wrestling Championships currently being held at Fort Carson, Colorado.

For the duration of the training, team members exercise together for at least six hours each day, with a strenuous combination of sprints, sometimes with a teammate on their back, pool sessions and long hours in the wrestling room practicing their technique.

"This is top notch training," said Airman Tyler Westlund, a wrestling team member from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, who is also a former high school state and national champion. "It is the hardest training mentally and physically that I have ever been through. The diet and going to the gym before and after practice make it very difficult."

While other branches of the military have year-long training programs for their competitive sports teams, Airmen who don't have local wrestling teams at their base have to train on their own for most of the year and show up to camp ready to work hard.

"You can't expect to compete with those guys [other wrestling teams] if you're sitting at home eating Cheetos in the off season," said Westlund, "You have to train continuously if you want to win."

"We understand we have a mountain to climb," said Floyd Winter, the team's head coach. "I just want them to fight every minute out there, if they do that we can win some medals."

The team has several competitions throughout the year, including the ongoing Armed Forces Championship, the National Championships in May and the International Military Sports Council (CISM) World Championship in October.

"Our goal is to place first or second as a team," "We compete pretty well," said Master Sgt. Sherwin Severin, a wrestling team member from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.. "The other branches know when they wrestle us it's not going to be easy. What we lack in experience we make up for in conditioning."

Admission to the team is competitive, requiring an application, commander's approval and selection by Air Force Sports, based on their package. Once selected, Airmen intent on making the team must vie amongst themselves for a position, ensuring places only go to the top contenders.

"There were 20 Airmen at the start of camp," said Floyd Winter. "There were wrestle-offs that cut it down to 12."

"This is probably one of the strongest teams I've seen since 2010" added Severin. "We have guys who are fresh out of state championships; one guy who was a college All-American and a good number of returnees."

The final team of 12 members ranges in rank from Airman to master sergeant, hailing from bases around the world. They converged on the base in the beginning of February, and have spent nearly every waking hour in one another's company since then.

"We're all military so we have that in common but we're also all wrestlers," said Westlund. "Those guys are like my brothers, they're my best friends. It's crazy, in such a short time you can bond. It's a really cool bond and I'm really happy to be here and a part of that."

"We bond through the struggle we go through every day," added Severin.

In addition to developing strong bonds with teammates, being part of the wrestling team has countless other benefits for its members.

"Being on the team means a few things - I get to go after my goals, I get to promote Air Force wrestling, which very few people know about, and being the older guy, it shows the Airmen below me that anyone can do it," said Severin.

"This is a great experience, I get to represent the Air Force and if I do well I could get the chance to compete overseas and represent the United States," agreed Westlund.

341 MDG flawless during AAAHC inspection

by Chris Willis
341st Missile Wing

3/27/2015 - MALSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- The 341st Medical Group opened its doors to a group of surveyors from the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care, March 24 to 27.

More than 3,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Accreditation highlights a facility's long-standing dedication to providing the best possible levels of care to the patients it serves.

The three-day inspection occurs every three years and covers virtually every aspect of the hospital system, from patient treatment to infectious disease control.  The survey also helps to identify areas within the hospital that could possibly improve and enhance the quality of health care they provide.

Senior Airman Linda Iammapollo, 341st Medical Group health service management technician, previously stationed in Alaska, has been working for the 341st MDG for more than a year and this was her first AAAHC inspection.

"I have been through inspections before but not to the level of innovations we are currently working on to provide our patients with a higher level of care," said Iammapollo.

The MDG enhanced medical services by; extending immunization hours to include lunch, implementing immediate care to babies born at medical facility outside of the base, and providing monthly educational programs to new parents or to those wanting to receive the training.

"One of the goals for the medical group is to support our patients with a safe and centralized quality health care, and that is what we strive for," said Iammapollo.  "I believe the inspectors saw that."

Col. Christopher Phillips, 341st Medical Group commander, and his staff of 2,030, support more than 10,000 enrollees comprised of active duty, dependants, and retirees.  The group aids the wing's mission of providing a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrence across 13,800 square miles of Montana.

"The medical group's job is to take care of the Airmen and their families so they can complete the mission," Phillips said.

In 2006, the 341st MDG achieved the AAAHC accreditation making it the first Air Force Medical Treatment Facility to attain that status.  There have been two more inspections since then, each time improving the quality of care administered by the clinic.

"That's another thing the AAAHC looks for-are you an organization dedicated to continued improvement?," Phillips said.  "Are you constantly looking for ways to be more effective and more efficient to deliver better care?"