Face of Defense: Demo Team Pilot 'Rockets' to New Heights

By Air Force Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom

20th Fighter Wing

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C., July 29, 2015 – An F-16CM Fighting Falcon shoots through the air at 400 knots as Air Force Capt. Craig "Rocket" Baker, Viper Demo Team pilot, pushes the aircraft to its limits, experiencing eight to nine times the force of gravity as he demonstrates the aircraft’s capabilities.

After almost three years of inactivity, the Air Force recertified the Viper Demo Team and chose Baker to be its sole pilot.

"Craig always wanted to be a fighter pilot," said Lindsey Baker, Baker's wife of 10 years. "That, coupled with his desire to serve our country, drives what he does. He puts his all into everything that he is passionate about."

From a young age, the Air Force Academy graduate said, he had an itch for the thrill to fly.

"It's what I always wanted to do, and I've been fortunate enough along the way to have family from when I was a kid all the way through my Air Force career, support me along the way to allow what was a dream to become a reality," Baker said.

Through the years, the Gray's Creek, North Carolina, native said, he sought the best way to become an Air Force pilot.

"I started asking questions, because I really wanted to fly," he said. "Most of the pilot slots were given to the Air Force Academy, so at that point I set my sights on going there."

Patriotism, Service Enhanced Desire to Fly

Going to the academy was fueled a lot by the desire to become a pilot, Baker said, but it quickly came to be about being patriotic and serving the country.

The first in his family to join the military, he said, he went through three years of vigorous training to become an Air Force pilot, including pilot training to obtain his wings, land and combat survival training, the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course, and the F-16 Basic Course.

"It was cool, but nerve-wracking," he said. "Here I was, studying my whole life to be a pilot, and I've never flown before. What if I don't like it?"

During training pilots are able to list by preference which aircraft they would like to fly, Baker said. The F-16 was his top choice, he said, because it is a single-seat, single-engine, multirole aircraft that engages in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Flying that aircraft is highly esteemed in the Air Force, he added.

Baker is assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron. He has been assigned to Shaw for two years, and he deployed twice before he was selected for the Viper Demo Team.

"It's not the typical flying we do day-to-day here at Shaw," he said. "The demo profile is a crusher, for sure."

Physical Rigors

Demonstration pilots’ hearts typically drop about 4 inches while flying aerobatics, Baker said, and because of how he sits in the cockpit, blood pools in his elbows. His neck will hurt, he said, because it is not made to support a head that weighs nine times more than it normally does because of G-forces.

To physically prepare for the aerobatics, Baker said, he began participating in triathlons, and he consistently works out four to five times a week.

"It's intense," he said. "[Flying aerobatics] is similar to 12 minutes of doing wind sprints with a parachute behind your back. I am pulling eight or nine G's throughout the entire show. It is physically demanding and exhausting."

Representing the Air Force

After months of intense training and a 17-ride syllabus, Baker was ready to take to the skies and represent the Air Force in various air shows around the globe.

"We are out there to motivate and inspire the future generation of the Air Force," he said. "We are also out there to tell the Air Force story -- what the Air Force is doing currently, what we've done in the past, and what we will do in the future. We provide the community with an opportunity to see what the Air Force does for them."

"Being on the team is very prestigious," said Air Force Master Sgt. Aaron Smith, the Viper Demo Team’s noncommissioned officer in charge. "You definitely have to be good at your job and know what you're doing."

Even with the long, demanding hours it takes to be the Viper Demo Team pilot, Baker always makes time for his family.

"Craig is a very supportive husband and devoted father of our 2-year-old daughter and 2-month-old son," Lindsey Baker said. "His career has literally taken our family around the world, and I am thankful that I've been by his side through it all."

Innovative Airmen recognized by AF vice chief of staff

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Command Information

7/29/2015 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry O. Spencer presented the inaugural General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Awards July 23 at the Pentagon, to Airmen who made the most significant contributions to saving Air Force financial and manpower resources this year.

"This is personal for me -- not because of the award name, but because I'm so passionate about innovation," Spencer said during the ceremony.

Andrew Sloper, a logistics management specialist at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was the individual award winner. He increased the Ogden Air Logistics Center's capacity by 216 percent while reducing annual depot costs by 37 percent during the F-22 Raptor depot consolidation initiative streamlining. His effort provided a projected $300 million "should cost" savings.

"I've often been accused of having a lot of passion in what I do," Sloper said. "Making sure that we streamline our processes and get the aircraft back to the warfighter is my number one priority."

The team award went to the Air Combat Command Surgeon General's Home Station Medical Response and Bioenvironmental team from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The team identified and eliminated a redundant chemical detection capability across the Air Force, which resulted in an immediate savings of $2.3 million and a total savings over the life cycle of $3.5 million.

"It's an honor to be a member of this team receiving the inaugural General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award," said Maj. Perry Johns, assigned to the Home Station Medical Response Branch. "Air Force leadership has created a culture of innovation and good stewardship. I hope this initiative has laid a cornerstone on which the Air Force will continue to build future successes."

In the spirit of that culture, Spencer challenged those in attendance to think about the vast impact innovation has had, and will continue to have, on the Air Force.

"What is the Air Force going to look like when you're standing up at your retirement ceremony?" Spencer asked. "It's going to look a lot different than it does now. The reason these awards are so important is that you all now are contributing to the way the Air Force is going to look in the future."

RAF, USAF share mission with families

by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

7/28/2015 - ROYAL AIR FORCE MARHAM, England -- More than 10,000 RAF and U.S. Air Force Airmen, as well as theit families were invited to this year's 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Families and Friends Day event at RAF Marham, July 23.

The event organizer, Squadron Leader Steve Donnellan, was enthusiastic about making this year's Family and Friends Day a memorable one.

"This event is a very special day which enables families and friends of serving personnel to come onto the station and see what their loved ones do. There are many static displays where people can ask questions and children can understand what their serving parent's role is," he said.

This year, RAF Marham invited RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall Airmen and their families to attend the event, to enhance the partnership between the bases. With both RAFs Marham and Lakenheath slated to base the F-35 Lighting II, that partnership is only expected to grow.

"As we move toward the F-35, it requires that close operational relationship to enhance the operational effectiveness of the aircraft. We will continue working very closely in the future with U.S. Air Forces and looking for ways to improve the operational, engineering and logistics aspects of the mission," Donnellan said.

He went on to say that this year's event was made very special for Marham families, as the U.S. Air Forces conducted a F-15 Eagle flyover as well as  provided several ground displays like the CV-22 Osprey and MC-130J Commando II aircraft, military working dogs, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal team and much more.

"We are so busy throughout the year, this is a day to just get together to relax and make new friends in a fantastic atmosphere," he added.

Many Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing, 100th Air Refueling Wing and 352nd Special Operations Wing expressed how much they enjoyed their time at RAF Marham. In addition to watching the airshow, attendees enjoyed bouncy castles, WWII re-enactments, a skate park and archery during the event.

"I think it's awesome that they invited us out here," said Staff Sgt. Peter Musinde, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance technician. "It shows that they want us to be part of their family. I'm happy to be able to come out here and spend the time with my son and show him all the different aircraft and to see how the RAF do their jobs."

Fourteen flying displays were place, including two F-15C Eagles, a Typhoon FGR4, four Tornados GR4, The Falcons and the RAF Acrobatic Team Red Arrows.

"Our favorite part of the airshow was seeing the Red Arrows," said Musinde. "My son really enjoyed seeing the colored smoke."

The event ended with a 1940s themed hangar party with historic aircraft static displays, live music and jive dancing.

RAFs Marham, Lakenheath and Mildenhall's service member's joint efforts made the day memorable.

351st ARS boom operator receives 2014 USAFE Instructor of the Year award

by Senior Airman Christine Halan
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

7/28/2015 - RAF MILDENHALL, England  -- Teaching others is something Master Sgt. Joseph Blakley, 351st Air Refueling Squadron operations superintendent and chief boom from Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, has always wanted to do.

Enlisting September 1998 and now 36-years-old, he has been stationed at RAF Mildenhall for almost two years.

As an instructor boom operator, Blakley teaches Airmen a variety of necessary tasks while on the ground or in the air, eventually resulting in their ability to fly as the only enlisted person on a KC-135 Stratotanker.

"I take students and teach them ground classes that are associated with flying, aircraft systems, boom knowledge, refueling and egress knowledge, and passenger considerations. Then I take them up in the airplane and allow them to practice so that they can do it themselves," said the instructor, adding he often flies with experienced boom operators to evaluate them and ensure their qualifications or up to date.

Blakley has gathered his experience both on the job and while teaching as a technical school instructor for four years.

"I wanted to be an instructor and I enjoy it so much that I went to the school house. Now I get to fly and still instruct," he said.

In 2014, Blakley orchestrated U.S. Air Forces in Europe's new boom simulator requirements, managing a six-figure temporary duty assignment plan amidst surge operations that included multiple deployments while ensuring Airmen were combat ready. He also instructed over 100 hours in the aircraft for combat mission capability.

"This award meant a lot to me because it meant someone had seen the work I was putting in. I was pleased to get the award because I knew [my leadership] supported me.

"I might have received this, but there are probably at least six people here that could have received the same award who can do just as much or more of what I gave on the instructor side," he said. "What makes me pleased is to know that when I go home I know I did my best at the end of the day."

Rand takes command of AFGSC

by Carla Pampe
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

7/28/2015 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Gen. Robin Rand took command of Air Force Global Strike Command during a ceremony here July 28, becoming the newest leader of the organization responsible for the nation's force of ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers.

A command pilot with more than 5,000 hours, including 470 in combat, Rand previously served as commander of Air Education and Training Command. He succeeds Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson who had served as AFGSC's commander since October 2013.

Presiding at the ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said, "General Wilson and the Global Strike team have worked tremendously hard to make significant, positive changes for the Airmen who are charged with the deterrence mission. General Rand is the perfect leader to connect with those Airmen and continue to drive improvements for them and their families. They deserve nothing less."

Addressing an at-capacity crowd of Airmen, distinguished visitors, commanders and senior Air Force leaders at Barksdale's historic Hoban Hall, Rand said, "Today is a great day to be an American Airman and it's a great day to be in Air Force Global Strike Command.

"The thousands of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen who are doing job No. 1 for our nation -- these Airmen keep the wolves at bay in locations like Malmstrom, F.E. Warren, Minot, Whiteman, Barksdale, soon to be Kirtland, Dyess and Ellsworth," he continued. "Bad people with bad intentions don't mess with the United States because of these amazing Airmen."

A seasoned leader and airpower tactician, Rand previously served as commandant of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, 56th Fighter Wing and 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing; and commander of 12th Air Force, in addition to commanding AETC. He pledged to keep AFGSC focused on developing and providing combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.

"My priorities are mission, Airmen and families," he said. "We must deter and assure. In order to do that, the staff and I will laser focus on making sure our wings receive the tools, the equipment and the training necessary to execute our combat mission with great precision and lethality. Likewise, Kim and I will place a high premium on our families and their well-being. Trust me -- military families are personal to me."

The general also reminded Airmen of the importance of maintaining the Air Force core values, and of the rich heritage the command holds.

"Air Force Global Strike will focus on ensuring our Airmen have an unyielding commitment to our core values of integrity, service and excellence. And finally, we will ensure that our Airmen have a keen awareness of our rich heritage and legacy that was forged in blood, sweat and tears by countless Americans and Airmen before us who were assigned to 8th Air Force and 20th Air Force," he said. "While history makes us smarter, our heritage will make us prouder, and we will use that heritage to help inspire our Airmen to great heights."

The Air Force elevated AFGSC to a four-star major command in order to provide its global strike mission with the highest level of leadership oversight similar to the service's other operational core missions.

"The appointment of a four-star sends a powerful message to our Airmen, allies and any would-be enemy," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. "It speaks to our commitment and promise to our Airmen and Nation to ensure a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent and global strike capability with the right level of leadership emphasis.

"In a complex global environment, having a four-star general responsible for the world's most powerful weapons is critically important," James added. "General Rand will continue to give voice to our Airmen and continue to advance progress made in the nuclear enterprise."

Welsh stressed to AFGSC Airmen that the Air Force will continue to support the nuclear enterprise.

"Nuclear deterrence for America and her allies remains our number one mission priority," he said. "A four-star at the helm of Air Force Global Strike Command affirms that commitment."

Wilson led AFGSC through a number of important changes during his tenure, including the Force Improvement Program, which instituted a culture of empowerment of its Airmen.

In his farewell address, Wilson praised the Global Strike Airmen and civilians for their hard work and dedication.

"I'm extremely proud of what you've accomplished over the past few years. You are our nation's deterrent and global strike force. You provide safe, secure and effective deterrence, and should deterrence ever fail, you are America's ability to swiftly and decisively strike anywhere on the globe," he added. "Because of you, we are the greatest Air Force on the planet. You are America's global power, and much like the Chief says about airpower, without global strike, you do lose."

Wilson will become the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Face of Defense: Army Sergeant Major Pursues Her Dreams

By Whitney Katz

Joint Enabling Capabilities Command

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., July 28, 2015 – Army Sgt. Maj. Kristie Brady said she knew from a young age that she wanted to serve in the military like her father had.

Brady was raised in Ethan, South Dakota, a farming town with a population of 300.

“I wanted to be a part of something larger than myself,” Brady said. “I wanted to travel and gain experiences that would not be possible in my hometown.”

Brady found that life-changing opportunity in 1992, when she entered the Army’s Delayed Entry Program at age 17. Since then, Brady has continued to broaden her horizons and exceed expectations as an information technology specialist and an airborne-qualified jumpmaster.

Her commitment and dedication to service have led to an historical event, as she was recently chosen as the next command sergeant major of the 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne) based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Brady will be the first female in the elite organization’s history to serve in this position.

“The 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion is an extremely prestigious unit with a great reputation across the Army,” Brady said. “It is an incredible opportunity to serve in the 112th Signal Battalion and to do so as their command sergeant major is an extreme honor.”

Information Technology Career Field

Brady had the foresight when joining the Army to realize that the information technology career field would be an important specialty both within the Army and in the civilian world.

“At the time I enlisted, computers and information technology were fairly new,” Brady said. “I wanted to do something that would translate into good job prospects while serving and also following my military service.”

Throughout numerous assignments across the globe, Brady honed her skills and steadily moved up the enlisted ranks serving in a number of key leader positions. She served as the first female squadron sergeant major for the 3rd Joint Communications Squadron of the Joint Communications Support Element in Tampa in Florida before becoming the unit’s Brigade Operations Sergeant Major.

“JCSE has been an integral assignment for me as it has provided me broader experiences enabling me to reach this next milestone in my career,” Brady said.

She added, “My experience at JCSE has definitely left me better prepared for the 112th Signal Battalion as their missions are somewhat similar. Both organizations provide rapidly deployable, early entry and scalable communications to the commanders they serve.”

Each unit also provides their service members experience in operating and maintaining an array of unique equipment not normally used by conventional joint service counterparts, Brady said.

In addition, both JCSE and the 112th Signal Battalion are airborne units, bringing a unique and valuable benefit to joint force commanders, she said. There are very few airborne units in the U.S. military that provide communications support to special operations forces, making JCSE Signal Brigade and the 112th Signal Battalion part of an elite group.

Brady attended airborne school in 1997 and serves as a jumpmaster at JCSE which has effectively prepared her for the transition to the 112th Signal Battalion.

“It’s an honor to be able to stay in an airborne unit -- especially one with such a significant history like the 112th Signal Battalion,” she said.

Gender Not a Factor

Brady’s selection as the command sergeant major of the 112th Signal Battalion was conducted through the Army’s centralized selection board, which identifies the most qualified senior noncommissioned officers for forecasted positions in the next fiscal year.

“When I competed on last fall’s Command Select Board, I was excited to see the 112th Signal Battalion as an option,” Brady said. “I very quickly identified the 112th Signal Battalion as my first choice if selected as a primary on the Command Select List.”

Brady was excited to learn just a few months later that she had received her first choice.

“I am extremely honored and privileged to be selected to serve as a command sergeant major but especially fortunate for the opportunity to be the 112th Signal Battalion’s command sergeant major,” Brady said. “I believe that selection for this position, as with others across the Army, was made by determining who best met the needs of the organization based on their training and experience level regardless of race, creed, color or gender.”

US, Singapore Navies Complete Complex Training, Achieve New Milestones During CARAT 2015

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory A. Harden II, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy completed the 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore after 11 days of comprehensive training both at sea and ashore, July 24.

CARAT Singapore featured a series of dynamic training engagements including a five-day sea phase involving ships, submarines and aircraft from both countries.

"Having arrived in Southeast Asia in 2012, this was my third time participating in CARAT Singapore and each year, the exercise gets better and better," said Capt. Fred Kacher, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 and co-commander of the exercise task group. "The high-end tactical and integrated warfare that was on display this week proved what a valuable training partner Singapore is and how important we view this maritime relationship."

Building on CARAT's emphasis of increasing the complexity of combined scenarios each year, USN and RSN ships, submarines and aircraft operated together during joint torpedo and gunnery exercises, launched unmanned aerial vehicles, performed deck landing qualifications with embarked aircraft, and conducted concurrent simulated underway replenishments with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO 197).

The RSN's Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme (73), Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) S-70B Seahawk helicopter and the USN's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter took part in the successful combined torpedo firing exercise July 22. Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, RSN Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Lew Chuen Hong, Rear Adm. Charles Williams, commander of the USN's Logistics Group Western Pacific, and members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs (GPC-DFA) were underway on board Supreme to observe the TORPEX.

The highlight of this year's exercise was the inaugural use of unmanned aircraft systems. The MQ-8B Fire Scout, embarked on the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), and the RSN's Scan Eagle UAV operated in the joint environment, demonstrating the value of unmanned platforms in providing an enhanced maritime domain awareness picture for the afloat task group.

"CARAT Singapore has increased in scope and complexity over the years. The successful conduct of the combined torpedo firing and the UAV operations underscores the high level of interoperability and trust both navies have achieved," said Col. Seah Poh Yeen, the RSN's co-commander of the exercise task group, in a Ministry of Defence press release July 22.

Additionally, Fort Worth conducted deck landing qualifications during the sea phase, landing the RSAF's S-70B on its flight deck. The DLQs on Fort Worth marked the first time a RSAF landed on board a LCS, showcasing the versatility of the rotary wing assets.

In another first, a sortie of two RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagle jets overflew the ships, providing an opportunity for the task group to practice integrated air defense measures.

Shore-based training included visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drills, military law enforcement expert exchanges, medical culinary and aviation exchanges, and a community service project. Sailors from the USN and RSN coastal riverine teams also conducted advanced small-boat training and boarding drills.

More than personnel from both countries participated in CARAT Singapore 2015. In addition to Fort Worth, U.S. assets included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82), a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 15, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713), USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), U.S. Marine Corps military police, and a Navy Riverine Squadron. RSN assets included the Supreme, Victory-class missile corvettes RSS Vigour (92) and RSS Valour (89), Fearless-class patrol vessel RSS Fearless (94), and Archer-class submarine RSS Archer.

The Republic of Singapore has been part of the CARAT exercise series since it began in 1995. After more than two decades of annual training events between the armed forces, CARAT Singapore remains a model for cooperation that has evolved in complexity and enables both navies to refine operations and tactics in response to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.

Following CARAT Singapore, additional bilateral phases of CARAT will occur from July through November 2015 with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Commander, Task Force 73 and DESRON 7 staff conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of maritime exercises such as the bilateral CARAT series, the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with Vietnam, and the multi-lateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.