Carter: Nuclear Deal Limits Iran, Not the Defense Department

By Cheryl Pellerin

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2015 – The U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement limits Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear bomb but puts no limits on the Defense Department or the United States, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a Senate panel today.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached in Vienna this month must receive congressional approval before it is implemented.

Carter and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on U.S. interests and the military balance in the Middle East.

When implemented, Carter said, the agreement will effectively cut off Iran’s pathways to fissile material for a nuclear bomb, but it places no limitations on the Defense Department.

No U.S. Limitations

“It places no limits on our forces, our partnerships and alliances, our intensive and ongoing security cooperation, or on our development and fielding of new military capabilities -- capabilities we will continue to advance,” he told the panel.

The department will continue to maintain a strong military posture to deter aggression, bolster the security of Israel and other allies and friends in the region, ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf, check Iran’s malign influence, and degrade and ultimately defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Carter added.

“We're also continuing to advance our military capabilities that provide all options, as [President Barack Obama] has directed, should Iran walk away from its commitments under this deal,” he said.

Carter called the Iran agreement is an important step that keeps Iran from getting a nuclear weapon in a comprehensive and verifiable way.

“Once implemented,” he added, the agreement “will … remove a critical element of risk and uncertainty from the region.”

Other Areas of Concern

In his remarks, Dempsey said that, if followed, the Iran deal “addresses one critical and the most dangerous point of friction with the Iranian regime. But … there are at least five other malign activities which give us and our regional partners concern.”

These, he said, include ballistic missile technology, weapons trafficking, the use of surrogates and proxies to naval mines and undersea activity, and malicious activity in cyberspace.

“The negotiating deal does not alleviate our concerns in those five areas,” he said, “[or] change the military options at our disposal. And in our efforts to counter the Iranian regime's malign activities, we will continue to engage our partners in the region to reassure them and to address these areas.”

The agreement’s successful negotiation is one part of the broader U.S. foreign and defense policy, Carter said, noting the Middle East remains important to U.S. national interests.

“As a result,” the secretary said, “the Department of Defense is committed to confronting the region’s two principal security challenges: Iran and ISIL.”

Describing his recent trip to the Middle East, Carter said he spoke with some of the men and women in uniform who are carrying out the Middle East strategy to let them know that the department is continuing full speed ahead, standing with its friends, standing up to ISIL, and standing against Iran’s malign activities.

“On ISIL … we have the right strategy in place, built on nine synchronized lines of effort to achieve ISIL’s lasting defeat. But we continue to strengthen execution,” Carter said.

Working with Partners

In Iraq and elsewhere, the department is working with partners on the ground and in a global coalition to enable capable and motivated ground forces to win back Iraq’s sovereignty and peace in its own territory, he added.

“I saw several parts of this effort last week and spoke with some of our partners on the ground. We're headed in the right direction in this counter-ISIL effort: we've made some progress but we need to make more,” he told the panel.

“If Iran were to commit aggression, our robust force posture ensures we can rapidly surge an overwhelming array of forces into the region,” the secretary added, “leveraging our most advanced capabilities, married with sophisticated munitions that put no target out of reach.”

Iran and its proxies still present security challenges, Carter said, noting Iran’s support of Hezbollah and the Assad regime in Syria, its contribution to disorder in Yemen and its hostility and violence toward Israel.

The secretary said he made it clear last week in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq that the department will continue to meet its commitments to friends and allies in the region, especially Israel, and continue to build on and enhance such cooperation.

“I also made clear that we will continue to maintain our robust regional force posture ashore and afloat, which includes tens of thousands of American personnel and our most sophisticated ground, maritime, air and ballistic-missile defense assets,” he said.

“Our friends understand, despite our differences with some of them about the merits of this deal,” Carter added, “that we have an enduring commitment to deterrence and to regional security.”

Air Force promotes fatigue countermeasures

Air Force Materiel Command Health & Wellness Team

7/29/2015 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Human fatigue results from sleep deprivation. Fatigue has become a growing concern in the Air Force as sustained and continuous operations, along with global deployments, are stretching the ability of our forces to meet growing mission demands. Some Airmen may question whether fatigue is really a big enough hazard to worry about. Fatigue can decrease an Airman's attention span and reaction times, and can impair their mental process, which can lead to increased probability of operational errors, mishaps and off-duty accidents. Ensuring that Airmen get the proper amount of sleep has become a serious challenge.

The Air Force defines fatigue as the state of tiredness associated with:
· Long hours of work
· Prolonged periods without sleep
· Physiologic stressors of the flight environment
· The requirement to work at times that are out of sync with the body's biological -- or circadian -- rhythms

To raise awareness about fatigue and disseminate information to Airmen regarding strategies for its management, the Air Force Medical Operations Agency has developed and published the Air Force Fatigue Management Guide. Highlights of the guide include: understanding the nature of fatigue, fatigue countermeasures, good sleep habits and advice for handling unavoidable sleep loss.

One hard-copy of the guide will be distributed to each current and incoming Airman during the next year. The point of contact for distribution of the guide is the installation's Medical Group. An electronic guide is also available; instructions to download can be found at the AFMCwellness.com website or by contacting a Med Group point of contact.

Civilian Health Promotion Services will be offering classes on sleep health during the month of August. Civilian employees can obtain their "Guide to Healthy Sleep" booklet by contacting their local CHPS team or visiting AFMCwellness.com.

New interrogation system installed on AWACS, more in pipeline

by Justin Oakes
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

7/28/2015 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Out with the old, in with the new -- at least that's the case for the existing interrogation system found on E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.

The AWACS Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe program office here recently completed the first installation of the new AN/UPX-40 system, which also brings new enhancements, onto an operational AWACS at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

"This operational installation marks a huge milestone for the AWACS program," said Nick Grudziecki, NGIFF deputy program manager. "And it's only the first of many."

The Air Force has a fleet of 31 E-3 AWACS aircraft, all of which are slated to receive the upgrade.

The radar and computer subsystems on AWACS can gather and present real-time, detailed battlefield information. The radar, when coupled with an identification friend or foe interrogation system, can detect, identify and track enemy and allied low-flying aircraft by eliminating ground clutter signals that confuse other radars. That information can then be used to direct fighter-interceptors toward enemy targets.

The AN/UPX-40 system is replacing the AN/APX-103C model and is unique to AWACS; the new IFF system retains legacy capabilities, but also includes new Mode 5 Interrogation enhancements.

"The UPX-40 dramatically improves the detection of weak signals or maneuvering targets at maximum range and improves detection of targets at all ranges," Grudziecki said. "The new interrogation capabilities also provide faster detection of friendly targets."

The NGIFF development program began in 2008 after the National Security Agency mandated a Mode 5 upgrade to ensure access to airspace and reliable combat identification. After successfully reaching a Milestone C decision in 2012, a production contract was awarded to Telephonics Corp., resulting in the first delivery in fiscal 2015.

According to Grudziecki, eight more installations are planned by year's end, moving closer to the Air Force's goal of 31.

However, the $60 million IFF upgrade is part of a much larger AWACS modernization effort known as Block 40/45.

Block 40/45 represents a revolutionary change for AWACS and worldwide joint command and control, battle management and wide-area surveillance, according to the Air Force's AWACS factsheet. It is the most significant counter-air battle management improvement in the Combat Air Force's tactical C2 history. The modernization will replace current 1970s vintage mission computing and displays with an open system and up-to-date commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and software.

"The role of the E-3 is to carry out airborne surveillance and command, control and communication functions for both tactical and air defense forces," said Lt. Col. Chris Williams, E-3 Netcentric Capabilities Branch materiel leader. "The interrogator is a vital piece of equipment required for AWACS to meet mission needs. With the successful installation of the first UPX-40 system, we are one step closer to equipping the fleet."

Creech Airmen showcase RPA at Canadian airshow

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

7/28/2015 - CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada  -- The RPA MQ-1 Predator made its debut in Canada among 30,000 Alberta locals in Lethbridge, July 23-25. It's the second time it was showcased at an international airshow.

Fifteen Airmen from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, participated in the 2015 Lethbridge International Airshow and educated the civilian population on the Predator's capabilities.

"We brought the MQ-1 Predator and members from different career fields like maintenance, intelligence, sensor operators and pilots so we could educate the public in every facet of the mission," said 2nd Lt. Joel, 11th Reconnaissance Squadron chief of intelligence. "We wanted to show everyone that the plane is not 'unmanned' and it takes a lot of manpower in every stage of operating the aircraft."

Among the high-flying maneuvers and exciting explosions of other demonstrations, the RPA held the attention of many intrigued spectators and at any given time and was surrounded by 25-30 curious parents and children.

The surprisingly large Predator which has a 55 foot wing span yet fits in a 27' long, 4.5' wide, and 4' foot tall casket, was transported by the 22nd Airlift Squadron's C-5M Super Galaxy and aircrew.

"It's a really cool plane, I thought it was a lot smaller but it's actually quite big," said Wayne Burndred, a Calgary, Alberta, Canada local.

For most spectators, this was the only time they have seen the aircraft up close and personal.

"I loved seeing the predator here and being able to see it in person and talk to the guys who actually operate it," said Doug Kakuschke, a Brooks, Canada local. "It was great having the American presence here again and I hope we can continue to have them participate in the years to come."

"We were really well received by everyone," said Capt. Reed, 15th RS pilot. "We really wanted to dispel any misnomers and put faces to the plane and provide open communication to educate people on what we do, which is ultimately saving lives, and I think we did that."

The 20-year semi-annual airshow included demonstrations from a Canadian Forces F-18 Hornet, B-17 Flying Fortress, biplanes, and the Royal Canadian Forces Snowbirds.

"Overall the airshow went great," Reed said. "It was a great opportunity to work with our coalition partners and even Airmen from other U.S. bases to develop partnerships and set the foundation for more international events in the future."

Team BLUE visits Team 5-0

by 2nd Lt. Darren Domingo
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

7/28/2015 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Get ready for your big TV debut, Schriever.

A team of Air Force TV broadcast producers, responsible for creating episodes of the Air Force's flagship television program, BLUE, is visiting Schriever July 24-30 to get a better grasp of the 50th Space Wing's role within Air Force Space Command.

According to their YouTube page, Air Force TV, "BLUE delves into the lives of Airmen through in-depth storytelling, with an unflinching look into the blood and sweat that makes America's Air Force what it is. Marines bleed scarlet and gold, the Army bleeds green ... Airmen bleed BLUE."

To date, Air Force TV has released six episodes of BLUE - their next being focused on Air Force Space Command.

"We're here to learn as much as we can. We're visiting Schriever and Buckley to just capture as much as we can to tell some of the Air Force's space story," said Staff Sgt. Peter Ising, Air Force TV broadcast producer.

Hailing from Ft. Meade, Maryland, at Defense Media Activity, the three visitors spent time visiting the Central Utilities Plant, 22nd Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Communications Squadron, 50th Security Forces Squadron and 2nd Space Operations Squadron. The team also witnessed the Satellite Control Authority transfer on July 24.

"People aren't always aware of the magnitude that our mission has," said Senior Airman Shirley Montgomery, 2 SOPS mission chief. "I'm looking forward to seeing team BLUE shine a light on that."

Despite receiving a deep pool of information on the mission aspects Schriever provides, Ising explained a focus on the people that make Schriever run is what is more important to them.

"Satellites and missions are important, but it's the characters of BLUE episodes that people really want to see," said Ising. "That's the heart and soul of BLUE."
Staff Sgt. Traci Keller, Air Force TV broadcast producer, shared what makes her job fulfilling.

"There's just so much you never really know that goes on here at Schriever," said Keller. "The great thing about being a broadcaster is being able to see what other people do every day."

As for Team 5-0, in order to understand how much of a big deal this BLUE episode will be, one only needs to YouTube "Air Force TV" to see the production level these crews produce.

"[Schriever] can expect to see what their mission looks like to an outsider's perspective," said Staff Sgt. Michael Brady, Air Force TV Broadcast Producer.

Whether you're a seasoned Schriever space stud, or a young newbie to anything space-based, anyone interested to see the newest episode of BLUE can expect to see it released by approximately late September.

ANG's Outstanding NCO of the Year: Staff Sgt. Douglas Kechijian

by Staff Sgt. John E. Hillier
Air National Guard Readiness Center Public Affairs

7/24/2015 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The drive to succeed in a job he thoroughly enjoys while being able to serve others is what fuels Staff Sgt. Douglas Kechijian, the Air National Guard's 2015 Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

Kechijian serves as a pararescueman with the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing, based in Westhampton Beach, Long Island, New York. As a native New Yorker graduating from college shortly after 9/11, he sought a way to take his ability and skills farther and found it with the Guard.

"Initially, I didn't even know the difference really [between active, Guard and Reserve.] The more I learned about the Guard, I liked that you have the same opportunity to do things as active duty, just with a little more flexibility. Couple that with the fact that there was a Guard unit an hour away from where I grew up. I thought 'OK, this is a really easy decision.'"

The pararescue mission is to rescue, recover, and return American or Allied forces in times of danger or extreme duress, no matter what it takes. It requires being able to operate in any environment and overcome whatever obstacles may lie between the pararescue Airmen, or "PJs" and accomplishing their mission.

"Pararescue allowed me to pursue my passion for medicine in a more exciting way," he said. "You can do trauma medicine in the civilian world... but there are very few professions in the civilian world in which your way to get to work is parachuting, scuba diving, rappelling out of a helicopter, mountaineering. I found the 'adventure sport' aspects of pararescue to be just as exciting. You can do any of those for recreation, but to have a job that incorporates all of those disciplines is unique. Fortunately, I had to opportunity to do it in the Guard."

While Kechijian was chosen among thousands of Air National Guard members for this honor, he feels that any pararescue Airman could stand in his place. For him, it's not about the individual accomplishing a mission, it's the mission itself.

"I just do what I do," said Kechijian. "What I'm being recognized for, I feel you could say the same thing for any PJ, especially when it comes to the things we do downrange. We're all trained to the same level, and sometimes different guys are given different opportunities to do what they were trained to do. I was fortunate to have that opportunity, but I'm not unique. These awards are great, of course, but they're not why we do any of this."

"We have a very serious job to accomplish - especially in pararescue, where lives are at stake," said Kechijian. "We're typically responding to a situation where potentially it's the worst day of a person's life, and if we're not excellent in all we do, it could have catastrophic consequences. Sometimes I think that we can lose track that there's a finite thing that we have to accomplish... that we need to get a result. In a war, you've got to win."

Kechijian holds a doctorate in physical therapy and has integrated the physical demands of his military life with his civilian career. Applying his knowledge and skill to help his teammates improve is part of how he embodies the Wingman concept. He provides physical therapy treatment and advice to members in his unit and is also working to develop a human performance optimization program there.

"Physical fitness is a big part of my civilian career, and things like human performance, keeping people healthy and injury prevention are huge initiatives in the pararescue field. I'd like to take what I've learned in the civilian world and try to apply it into a tactical setting, to look at it from a sports medicine standpoint."

Just as Kechijian supports his wingmen, he acknowledges that he wouldn't be able to succeed without the support he receives from his family.

"I like to spend time with my family, my wife," he said. "We both like to travel - she's into outdoorsy stuff as well, so anytime we get the opportunity to get outside and leave the city, we do that. She's supportive. I couldn't do what I do without her. Between my professional obligations and Guard obligations, she's been really patient. She wishes that I was around more often, but at the same time she recognizes that it's an important part of who I am."

The pararescue field places high demands on an individual's time and energy, but Kechijian has seemingly mastered the balancing act between civilian and military life that so many Air National Guard members and their families experience. The key, he says, is to love what you do.

"Most of my hobbies involve some form of physical activity... but I don't wake up thinking 'I can't wait for the weekend,' because I've got the next 30 years of my life or more to be working, so if you don't enjoy what you do - if there isn't some overlap between what you do professionally and personally, I don't know how you can be a happy person."

"When I'm with my Guard unit, or we're on a training temporary duty, that's fun," he said. "Yeah, it's also work, but I enjoy it. If we go to Arizona to do skydiving training, or Florida for scuba dive training, train on ice climbing in Colorado, I'm working when I do that, but I'm also fulfilling a hobby... there are very few jobs where you get paid to do so many things you enjoy. So I'm pretty happy with what I'm doing now. If there was something else that was more appealing, I'd be doing it."

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."