Kadena honors National Flag Day

by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel
18th Wing Public Affairs

6/15/2015 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The Air Force Sergeants Association hosted a National Flag Day ceremony in front of the 18th Wing headquarters here at June 15.

People across the U.S. celebrate National Flag Day June 14 each year to honor the U.S. flag and to commemorate the flag's adoption by resolution of the 2nd Continental Congress on that day in 1777.

"The American flag has been the symbol of our nation's unity, as well as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens," Tech. Sgt. Michael Collard, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection craftsman and emcee for the event, said. "The flag flies in the heart of every military member who has served and who is serving our great nation."

U.S. Flag Code states, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

This year, Kadena's Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts Pack 102 placed unserviceable flags into a collection barrel for proper disposal. The last flag to be placed in the collection barrel was the 18th Wing's U.S. flag, decommissioned by the Kadena Base Honor Guard June 15. The flag represents all of the flags collected that are officially retired from service today.

After the ceremony, the fire department transported the unserviceable flags to an alternate location for the final tribute to the flags to be made.

"There is a distinguishing feature on the tail of all of our jets -- that's the American flag," said Col. Christopher Amrhein, 18th Wing vice commander. "When I was a young captain, I always thought yes, that represents the United States of America wherever we go; then one day I had a senior mentor pull me aside and say 'captain that doesn't represent the United States of America -- that is the United States of America.'"

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day. In August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

However, National Flag Day is not an official federal holiday; it is at the president's discretion to officially proclaim the observance.

Ready to Receive: RAF Fairford goes to 'hot' for deployers

by Tech. Sgt. Chrissy Best
501st Combat Support Wing

6/11/2015 - RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom --  The sky above RAF Fairford is usually quiet, but for the last two years during the month of June the roar of heavy bomber aircraft can be heard as they land and take off from the flightline. This exercise gives RAF Fairford personnel the opportunity to show how the base transitions from what's called a 'warm' base to 'hot' base.

"Preparation can take as little as 48 hours, but in this case we've been planning for this exercise for months." said Lt. Col. Marc Galler, 422nd Air Base Group deputy commander.

More than 330 Airmen within the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command are supporting U.S. European Command exercises BALTOPS 15 and Saber Strike 15, and will be conducting flights around the region, using RAF Fairford as their deployed location.

On a normal day at RAF Fairford, the base has approximately 120 personnel. In preparation for exercises and operations, the 501st Combat Support Wing utilizes personnel from RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton and the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, which increases personnel on RAF Fairford to approximately 150.

RAF Fairford's strategic location, unique capabilities and support facilities that the 120 personnel maintain, continue to prove that RAF Fairford is a key location for large-scale exercises and readiness operations and an ideal site for bomber operations.  Its 10,000-foot runway is able to receive aircraft within 48 hours of notification, and provides an unrestricted load-bearing surface and 55 parking spots.  Additionally, the installation has the capacity to store 9.3 million gallons of jet fuel, a large vehicle fleet and support facilities for more than 1000 personnel.

"We surge in manpower and duty hours through the arrival of the main body of deploying personnel, cargo and their operating aircraft." said Galler.

Low-density, high-demand career fields, such as logistics, communications, air traffic control, contracting and services requires augmentation when the base transitions to hot status.

RAF Fairford's normal hours of operation while the base in warm status is 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. Once the base goes into goes into hot status it will go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contracts are reactivated or created to assist the inbound unit with their requirements when the base enters hot status.

"Multiple contracts were created or reactivated for this exercise, said Senior Master Sgt. Marcus Webb, 501st CSW, chief of contracting.  "The contracts included upgrading the WIFI services for the dorm areas, cellular phone capabilities, additional custodial services, food services and vehicle rentals are."

Facilities that are typically vacant must be placed into full operational status. RAF Fairford's team of civil engineers and maintenance personnel systematically work through all building water systems, heating systems, fire systems, doors and windows checking for functionality, safety and operability, said Andrew Davies, base civil engineer.

Davies said his teams also perform checks in the water system for concerns.

"When we have to enter into hot status for exercises or contingences the level of preparation goes up exponentially to include significant materials procurement for things like c-wire, security lighting, rental of portable facilities for sleeping, washing, office and toilet portal accommodations." said Davies.

The amount of fuel changes significantly from warm to hot status when aircraft landing and departures increase.

"During hot status we issue triple the amount of fuel in one week than we do in one average month in warm status," said Lisa Mackenzie, the chief of logistics readiness at RAF Fairford.

"For example, for the entire month of April while in warm status, we issued 8,872 gallons of jet fuel and during the first week this June while in hot status we have issued 26,335 gallons." The ratio is about the same when it comes to fuel for the government owned vehicles, added Mackenzie.

The fuels operation is managed 100%, contracted personnel Monday through Friday in warm status, but once the base goes into hot status, the fuels operations is augmented with deployed fuels personnel, usually 100 percent military most of the time. The deployed personnel take over fuels operations throughout the entire exercise.

The contractors will still be utilized, but in other areas of the base.

"Our contractors will service initial cargo, passenger aircraft arrivals and then will provide onsite familiarization training to the deployed fuels personnel when they arrive," said Mackenzie "Then they step back into an advisory or assistance type of role, for the remainder of the exercise".

It takes an extremely dedicated team of professionals to keep RAF Fairford operational during the warm status, and even more to wake up the base and move to a hot status.

"It's fantastic to have AFGSC bombers back at RAF Fairford again this year," said Galler. "The deployment itself validates that the 501st CSW's planning, maintenance and mission support personnel are excellent at what they do."

"Having the deployers here is a real boost to the morale for the 420th ABS team." said Galler.

Face of Defense: Soldier Finds New Ways to Take Flight

By Flavia Hulsey

Western Regional Medical Command

FORT BELVOIR, Va., June 15, 2015 – Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Sifuentes has flown more than 2,300 hours and completed nearly 1,000 combat missions in an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter. Flying is a part of who he is. So when injuries to his back and knee and a tear in his right glute forced him out of the cockpit, he had to find a new way to soar.

Sifuentes is preparing to compete in the Department of Defense Warrior Games at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, June 19-28.

“What do I think I’ll get out of the Warrior Games experience? A new challenge -- a new me, if you will,” said Sifuentes, a Glendive, Montana, native, and a former Fort Riley Warrior Transition Battalion soldier, now with the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

“Yeah, I know I’ll never be 100 percent where I was prior to my injuries,” he added, “but I can establish a new baseline.”

Sifuentes, a former runner, was able to use cycling to recover from injuries, thanks to the adaptive reconditioning program offered through the Warrior Transition Battalion. He will compete in cycling, swimming and field events at the Warrior Games.

Different, But Therapeutic

“Once I couldn’t compete in [running] any more and I started the recovery process, I thought, ‘Let me give cycling a chance,’” he said. “Although much different, still, there are a lot of similarities. It’s very therapeutic for me. So you can go out and do a 10-mile run or you can go ride 30 miles. It’s just an opportunity to go clear your head. That’s the part I enjoy.”

Sifuentes also said he enjoys hitting new benchmarks in his fitness. When he began cycling, he noted, 10 miles was hard. He recently completed 100 miles over two days and has his sights set on other long-distance cycling challenges.

He’s also enjoyed adding sports to his workout routine. He started swimming after completing physical therapy in the pool sparked his interested in the sport. Swimming, combined with field events such as shot-put and discus provide therapeutic benefits to his recovery, Sifuentes said.

“The biggest thing when you get an injury is it’s not only debilitating on your body, but also the mental aspect,” he said. “It’s very self-defeating sometimes, and it’s easy to sit on the couch and go, ‘Hey, you know what, I don’t want to do anything today.’ But when I have something to strive for -- the Warrior Games, the Army Trials, things like that where I push myself -- I can look at the big picture.”

Looking Toward Second Career

In the bigger picture, Sifuentes is looking toward a second career. He will retire from the Army in April.

“When you’ve done a job for so long, it becomes a part of who you are and a part of your identity,” he said. “And that was the most daunting task for me –- to get back out there and look at a potential professional growth and where I could go in a new career. But I’ll be 37 years old, well young enough to get another job and do something productive for society.”

While Sifuentes was in the Warrior Transition Battalion, he worked with the staff to develop a transition plan in case he was unable to complete his time in the Army. He even completed job interviews that led to conditional offers. And though he chose to finish his Army career, the skills he learned will serve him well in his next phase, he said.

Advice for Others

Sifuentes said he encourages all soldiers facing an injury or illness that could alter their military career to give the Warrior Transition Battalion a shot.

“At least give it a chance -- give it a shot,” he said. “Don’t dwell on what you can’t do. Think, ‘What can I do?’”

It’s a lesson he also hopes to teach his five children, Sifuentes added.

“There’s ups and downs in life –- challenges –- but I think that makes us who we are,” he said.

177th Fighter Wing participates in local school event

by Airman 1st Class Amber Powell
177th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

6/10/2015 - EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Local first responders and military personnel visited Alder Avenue Middle School in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey to celebrate the school's Not All Heroes Wear Capes event on June 9, 2015.

Airmen from the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing and first responders brought equipment and set up display tables to teach the students about the services they provide to the local community.

"The goal of this project from an educational standpoint was to have the students learn, think about, and honor the roles our first responders and military play in keeping our great nation safe," said Kelli Wenzel, teacher and coordinator of the event. "Additionally, the students were exposed to a variety of professions that may be future job opportunities for them."

Explosive ordnance disposal technicians from the 177th FW brought an Air Force Medium-Sized Robot and protective gear to show students. Firefighters from the Wing unrolled fire hoses from their truck and allowed students to spray water. Also, a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, commonly known as the Humvee, from the Wing's 227th Air Support Operations Squadron, was on display along with a tactical vest and ballistic helmet that students could try on.

"This is the coolest thing I've ever seen," said a student referring to the Humvee. "It's like the toys but bigger!"

Students from sixth and seventh grade participated along with second graders from Slaybaugh Elementary.

"We have been holding this event for 10 years, but the event has grown to include over 200 students since receiving a mini grant from the Egg Harbor Township Education Foundation," said Wenzel. "We wanted the students to be able to learn about the jobs of our first responders and military and to gain an understanding of the sacrifices that our heroes make."

Air War College officers gain from seminars, TEC campus

by Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
I.G. Brown Training and Education Center

6/12/2015 - MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. -- About 66 Air Force officers and one Marine Corps officer gathered here June 1-12 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center for the fourth Air War College seminar.

The TEC now hosts the seminar twice a year to help provide options for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command lieutenant colonels in their strategic leadership correspondence studies, said officials.

"Officer PME on the TEC campus has really enhanced the training and education experience for all our students," said Col. Jessica Meyeraan, the TEC's commander. "Last week's retreat is a great example. The addition of the AWC flight, formed up next to the NCOA students, was a fantastic way for us to collectively honor our proud heritage, tradition of honor and legacy of valor."

The officers arrived from across the nation, they networked and they prepared papers on national security topics.

Lt. Col. Dawn Roberson, a facilitator for the Carl A. Spaatz Center for Officer Education, said that selection for these seminars is highly competitive - twice as many applied as were selected.  For the Air National Guard officers, their assigned units selected them to attend as well as sponsored their travel costs.  Air Force officers are centrally funded.

Roberson said that the seminar strengthens the correspondence version of AWC's 10-month in-resident program at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The TEC version consists of four courses, which can take an officer enrolled in normal distance learning four years' worth of nights and weekends to complete. These seminars support the officers with networking and classroom discussion during the second and fourth course.

"The purpose of this seminar is to let them focus on those studies, discuss them and set aside the distractions and demands at home," said Roberson.

Roberson said that the officers' perspectives from their particular career fields and duty assignments held great value to the studies and writing as well as in networking to future missions. She hopes more will consider the seminar's value in AWC. 

Thousands of officers enroll in AWC's distance learning program each year.

Airmen show off importance of airpower to Saber Strike distinguished visitors

by Staff Sgt. Armando A. Schwier-Morales
U.S. Air Force in Europe and Air Forces Africa Public Affairs

6/14/2015 - RIGA, Latvia -- The Airmen of the Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania Air National Guard took to the skies with Latvian leaders June 10, 2015.

During exercise Saber Strike 15, DV and partnership days highlighted the importance of airpower and the tools utilized to ensure that airpower is available to those who need it. The exercise is designed to build partnerships and support regional stability in the Baltics with 14 nations and 6,000 service members participating.

Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and the Air National Guard hosted Latvian President Elect Raimonds Vējonis, Latvian Armed Forces generals, and several local and national political leaders during the Michigan-Latvian Partnership Day.

The partnership and distinguished visitor day gave the Air Force and participants of Saber Strike 15 an opportunity to tell and show the work that they are doing to the general public, elected representatives and media outlets.

"Having them crawl (in the boom pod) and seeing the smiles on their face just like if they were a kid at an airshow and asking the same questions whether you are 5 years old or the president elect of Latvia is amazing," said Master Sgt. Joseph M. Penta, 171st Airlift Squadron boom operator. "You realize how great your job is when you have people that important wanting to do it."

The KC-135 aircrew and maintainers provided the distinguished visitors an insight as to how the KC-135 enables the A-10s, fighters, cargo and bombers to stay on station longer and continue their mission.

"Its great for the young guys to get out there and meet these people and show them what they do," said Senior Master Sgt. Birk Wolford, Michigan Air National Guard. "Crew chiefs love showing how we make the mission happen."

A day after the Partnership Day flight the visitors also witnessed what the refuelers enable while visiting the Adazi Training Area range. During a multinational offensive-defensive squad movement operations exercise, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, C-130 Super Hercules and B-52 Stratofortress provided close air support and shows of force for ground troops.

Saber Strike 15 is a multinational exercise designed to support the stability of the Baltic region by building interoperability between allie's ground and air assets to ensure seamless mission completion.

The visits provided up-close perspective to representatives from the participating nations on how Saber Strike 15 enables interoperability between the ally and partner nations and the importance of working together in order to ensure regional security.

U.S. Air Force, Navy build inert mines for BALTOPS 15

by Senior Airman Malia Jenkins
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

6/13/2015 - ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England  -- Minemen from the Navy Munitions Command Unit Charleston and Airmen from the 5th Munitions Squadron out of Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, built 18 inert MK-62 Quick Strike Mines, June 10, 2015 to be loaded onto two B-52H Stratofortress participating in the BALTOPS 15 exercise.

The B-52 used the inert MK-62 Quick Strike Mines to train and test the aircrew's ability to precisely drop munitions into a target zone.

"These bombs are configured for the B-52 internal bomb bay," said Petty Officer 1st Class David Toyloy, Navy Munitions Command Unit Charleston mineman. "We build them up, and once they're built up and quality assurance signs off on them, we turn them over to the Air Force for delivery."

This is Toyloy's second time participating in BALTOPS, which provides an opportunity for personnel from different services and nations to engage in realistic maritime training to build experience and teamwork and strengthen interoperability.

"It's important to participate in this exercise because it prepares us to work better with our allies and in a joint military environment," Toyloy said.

The Air Force's strategic bomber participation in BALTOPS 15 emphasizes the conventional, long range, global strike and precision attack capabilities in a joint environment from a forward-deployed location.

"We train with our sister services because it shows we are capable of working with any armed forces: the Navy, Army or Marines," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Cassady, 5th MUNS munitions systems technician. "It shows that as we work together we're able to accomplish more."  

Although this is Cassady's first time working with the Navy in a joint-military environment, he said he knows everybody has a part to play, and the point of all this is to show the United States military is capable of working with their allies and standing up a "warm" base from day one and generating missions.

U.S., ROK civil engineers strengthen alliance during PACUNITY

by Staff Sgt. Jake Barreiro
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

6/12/2015 - JUNGWON AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Civil engineer Airmen from the Republic of Korea and U.S. air forces strengthened their joint partnership and sharpened their emergency response skills during Pacific Unity June 9 through 11 here.

PACUNITY is a U.S. Pacific Command event focused on improving Theater Security Cooperation within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The operation builds partnerships and promotes interoperability by creating an environment where civil engineers can work together and exchange experiences. Engineers from the U.S. and ROK discussed and worked together in several areas such as emergency management, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, general engineering, environmental security and energy conversation.

Together, the civil engineers completed an Airfield Damage Repair scenario. The ADR tested the team's ability to restore an inoperable runway to operational status as quickly as possible. Being able to work in tandem with each other is an essential aspect to the U.S. and ROK alliance.

"If we were to go to war, it would require a combined effort between us and our Korean counterparts," said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Miguel Millares, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, ROK, and officer in charge of ADR for PACUNITY 2015. "Just being able to have our processes on the same page when it comes to command and control when we do our repairs is of the utmost importance."

Being able to work at the tabletop and on the scene with Koreans is a boon to American forces, Millares said, a sentiment shared by his ROK counterpart.

"We're always looking for chances to simulate wartime situations and during wartime the Republic of Korea military and U.S. military are going to be working in a combined manner, so we're always looking for opportunities to conduct exercises and combine," said ROKAF 2nd Lt. Kim Sung Kyum, Air Force Operations Command plans and coordination office at Osan Air Base, ROK. "This is a great opportunity for that. The advantage here is that you get to meet different people from different places and broaden your understanding about how each military works.

The ADR scenario simulated a successful attack on a mock airstrip, leaving two larger craters and six smaller ones that rendered the runway inoperable and requiring quick repair. Working as a team, the engineers labored to repair the craters, excavate and fill the earth and reestablish the airfield lighting system all while operating heavy machinery.  U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jacob Sherrer, 773rd Civil Engineer Squadron equipment operator from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, said he and his teammates overcame the traditional language barrier with Koreans by using easy to understand hand signals, commonplace on the job.

"We need to be prepared for translation and other forms of communication," Sherrer said. "I think it helps that we have hand signals, being an equipment operator. It's pretty universal. Safety is paramount and with all the heavy equipment you can't always hear and you can't always see. So, we utilize as many forms of communication as we can."

Communication being key, Airmen from the U.S. and ROK remarked on their abilities to overcome the language barrier. Enlisted and officer translators on the Korean side proved critical in aiding communication among team members. Learning to communicate together helped the civil engineers understand and work past procedural barriers, becoming better teammates in the process.

"A lot of what we're doing is learning what our Korean counterparts do," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Raymond Brown, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron from Kunsan AB. "They use a different system than we do. They have different rules ... but it's good because, if something serious happened and we had to work together, we'd want total capability applied. It helps us streamline our performance, so in the event of a serious incident we could quickly integrate with our counterparts to maximize effort."

Kim reiterated the sentiment for ROK Airmen.

"At first, there was a lot of cacophony on the field, because many things hadn't been coordinated beforehand, but together we've improved our coordination and understanding of how each other work," Kim said.

Repairing large-scale damage at a moments notice is arduous, but it's undertaken to increase Theater Security Cooperation, and the importance of maintaining security in the Korean theater is one Airmen from the U.S. and ROK both acknowledged.

"Exercises like Pacific Unity are tremendous opportunities to reinforce already strong partnerships between the Republic of Korea and the U.S. militaries," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Kyle Ficke, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron on-site commander from Osan AB. "This kind of interoperability through the collaboration of civil engineering capabilities postures us to thrive operationally should the need for a bilateral response to a contingency arise in the area."

Airmen from both countries said the exercise left them better prepared to accomplish their job and more confident in their abilities to respond to an emergency and support theater security.

"We're seeing how we can better equip ourselves if we're ever in the situation to have to do this," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Justin Emanuelson, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. "It gives us a little bit of variety and a chance to reach out to other countries and make sure that we're able to work along side with them side by side. I've been able to ask them and see how their training is, and its very similar in a lot of ways and it has been a lot of fun."