354th EFS completes historic TSP deployment

from 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/4/2015 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany  -- The 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron completed its theater security package mission throughout Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, July 31, 2015.

The squadron's 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and approximately 300 Airmen from the 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, forward-deployed to Eastern European locations and conduct flying training alongside NATO allies with the goal of strengthening interoperability and enhancing regional security.

Operation Atlantic Resolve is a demonstration of U.S. European Command and United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa's continued commitment to the collective security of NATO and dedication to the enduring peace and stability in the region.

"This TSP is a long range, strategic capability to allow the Air Force greater flexibility against evolving threats," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, then-3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander, during the Feb. 18, 2015, announcement of the TSP at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. "It is not tied to a specific platform or aircraft, but instead is a method of presenting forces at the right time to the right combatant commander. Our abilities must remain agile to sustain and increase regional security."

The 354th EFS participated in 21 exercises, compiling more than 1,500 sorties and nearly 2,700 flight hours while engaging with 22 countries as part of their deployment.

"To the men and women of the 354th EFS, you are a part of an important mission," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Hayde, 354th EFS commander, during his first address to the squadron during a May 15, 2015, change of command ceremony at Campia Turzii, Romania. "That mission has taken this squadron around Europe. We have trained together with our NATO allies. We have forward deployed to multiple locations and proven we can deploy munitions in close proximity to friendly troops in any weather, day or night."

Although a first in Europe, the Air Force has been conducting similar TSP rotations in the Pacific region since 2004.

"These Airmen and A-10s of the 354th EFS provide a strategic symbol as they represent U.S. commitment to European security and stability," said Roberson during an April 17, 2015, media event at Campia Turzii.

The squadron's aircraft and Airmen will return home to Davis-Monthan after deploying out of Spangdahlem since Feb. 13, 2015.

"As our adopted sisters and brothers of the 354th EFS Bulldogs redeploy home, they can be proud of the hard work they've put in and all they've accomplished toward assuring our NATO allies and enhancing our collective combat capability and readiness," said Col. Joe McFall, 52nd Fighter Wing commander. "As the first unit to deploy in support of Europe's first TSP, they've set the bar for future TSP units on effective partnering with our allies to ensure the safety and stability of the alliance. Moreover, they have done so with class and a can-do attitude while operating at multiple locations with the leanest of support. A huge thanks for a job well done!"

SCANG Chaplains attend multi-national event in Colombia

by Tech. Sgt. Jorge Intriago
169th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs

7/31/2015 - MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. -- South Carolina Air National Guard Chaplain, Lt. Col. Brian Bohlman and Master Sgt. Charles Williams, noncommissioned officer in charge for the SCANG Chaplain Corps, attended a three day symposium in Bogota, Colombia, discussing how religion matters to military commanders, service members and their families, July 13-16.

The symposium united representatives from 12 different countries from the Caribbean, North, South and Central America, gaining an increased awareness on the role religion can play in a service member's life, the role of the chaplain in a military context and the ability of religion to influence individual and institutions toward peaceful coexistence.

This U.S. Southern Command Senior Religious Leader Symposium was hosted by Monsignor Fabio Suescun Mutis, Archbishop for the Colombian Military in cooperation with the USSOUTHCOM Religious Affairs Office.

"Making that initial connection with the religious leaders was important to me, I don't think the priests were aware of our State Partnership Program with the Republic of Colombia," said Bohlman. "I've been wanting to do something with the State Partnership Program and it [the symposium] was just perfect."

Bohlman and Williams were able to hear what other countries are doing with their chaplain programs. One program that stood out to them was the Dominican Republic chaplains' participation in crisis response and are very involved in their country's support during natural disasters.

"I discussed the importance of taking care of oneself following a crisis in order to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue," said Bohlman. "I also explained how the National Guard trains chaplains and chaplain assistants in spiritual resiliency and traumatic event management to help individuals recover following a traumatic event."

It was discovered during conversations, that the countries involved share similar social issues like suicide, domestic violence and alcoholism among their ranks.

"It brought a lot of conversation between the countries on what programs were in place to help the service members and their families. We were able to talk about how our Strong Bonds program and the chaplain's assistant are tools to help in these issues," said Williams.  "I was the only National Guard chaplain assistant there, for them to see that Chaplain Bohlman and I could work together as a team even though I'm Catholic and he is Protestant, intrigued them on what we do as a team and they wanted to find out how we made this work."

The trip was also used as an opportunity to mentor and encourage new chaplains in their military roles to support the service member. This allowed for camaraderie and fellowship around meals which those in attendance said it felt like God's family at large and was a neat experience.

"It was good for us as a Religious Support Team, Chaplain Bohlman's role as the wing chaplain and my role as NCOIC is more administrative here. This gave us an opportunity to grow together as an RST and to foster a relationship between the country of Colombia and the United States," said Williams.

In a Colombia which is 90 percent Catholic, integration of religion in the military creates a broader dialogue on how it can be used to leverage it as a force for good.

"We believe the language of healing, hope and forgiveness is a religious language and we believe that religion, along with diplomacy together, can help bring about peace," said Bohlman.

Volunteers recruit potential donors to save lives

by Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/4/2015 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Volunteers heightened awareness and recruited potential donors for the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program during the Relay for Life event at the outdoor track on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, July 31.

The program's initiative is to match registered donors with patients who are in need of a bone marrow transplant when alternative options are not available.

"When patients are diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and other fatal blood diseases, a bone marrow transplant may be their best or only hope for a cure," Davis said. "Approximately 70 percent of patients who need a transplant do not have a matched donor in their family. They depend on supporters like the Spangdahlem community to find a match and help save their life."

Since the creation of the program in 1986, more than six million Americans including nearly half a million service members have registered as marrow donors.

"Registering is simple, painless, and will be done with an oral swab," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bridgette Davis, 52nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician and program point of contact for Spangdahlem. "There is a particularly urgent need for minority donors, non-Caucasian applicants, but anyone in good health between the ages of 18 and 60 is welcome."

For any questions about registering as a donor contact Staff Sgt. Davis or Airman 1st Class Kyle Schmidt at DSN 314-452-8348.

For more information on the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program, visit https://www.salutetolife.org/

Face of Defense: Soldier Vows to Never Quit

By Robert A. Whetstone

Brooke Army Medical Center

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Aug. 5, 2015 – When Army Pfc. Gustavo Moreno recited the oath of enlistment, he knew he was charged to defend his country against all enemies. What he didn't know is that shortly after completing basic combat training, he'd be fighting a different enemy altogether.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Moreno, a self-confessed basketball junkie and Spurs fanatic, found himself in a very grown-up situation during his senior year of high school: He was going to be a father.

Moreno said he knew he had to do something as soon as possible. He had to step up and be there for his then-girlfriend and now-wife, Valerie Hernandez, and their daughter, Avalee.

While Hernandez remained home, Moreno went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for basic training.

“I went in October 2013 and didn’t come back till December,” Moreno said. After a brief trip home following basic training, Moreno returned to Fort Sill in January 2014 for advanced individual training.

Warning Signs

“I was doing [physical training]. I was really fit,” Moreno said. “I ran a 13:52 2-mile, did 80 push-ups in 2 minutes, and something like 78 sit-ups in 2 minutes. And all of a sudden, I started losing my breath. I’d get dizzy.”

While he was lying on the top bunk bed and talking to Hernandez on the phone, Moreno said he recalls feeling nauseated and dizzy, and then blacking out. “I fell off the bed, went downstairs and was taken to the hospital,” he said. “At first they thought it was bronchitis because I had a cough and it was hard to swallow.” It turns out Moreno had a 14-centimeter mass compressing his trachea.

Moreno was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, or ALL, a rare subtype of adult non-Hodgkin cancer, commonly treated with intensive chemotherapy.

When Moreno was diagnosed, he said, “I was laughing, like I was in shock. I knew what cancer was, but I didn't know what [this] was, especially when it comes to blood cells and all of that.”

ALL is a type of blood cancer. It is the most aggressive leukemia in adults. ALL starts from white blood cells in the bone marrow and develops from cells called lymphocytes. It invades the blood and can spread throughout the body to other organs. Without treatment, it can be fatal in a few short months.

According to the National Marrow Donor Program website, someone is diagnosed with a type of blood cancer every three minutes. It can happen to anyone at any time.

‘Keep on Fighting, Every Day’

Moreno had the task of calling his wife to break the news to her. He said her father had passed away three years prior, and the thought of losing him, with their new daughter being so young, was difficult.

“I'm not going to leave them,” Moreno said. “I'm going to keep on fighting, every day.”

After the diagnosis, Moreno returned home to San Antonio and Brooke Army Medical Center to begin his chemotherapy. After one year of intensive treatment, he had a complete response and appeared to be free of cancer. Things were going well as he continued on low intensity therapy, but Moreno experienced a setback -- the mass returned and spread to his blood.

He was referred to the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston for therapy and entered into a clinical trial with an investigational drug. When he did not respond, he returned to San Antonio Military Medical Center for treatment.

A bone marrow transplant, also called a stem cell transplant, is a procedure that infuses healthy cells, called stem cells, into your body to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow. Moreno is now reaching this point in his battle.

Today, doctors are controlling Moreno's cancer with radiation and chemotherapy. “I'm hoping to get into remission enough to where I can still get the transplant,” Moreno said.

Bone Marrow Donors Needed

Donor awareness is extremely important to Moreno and Hernandez -- especially since minorities, particularly Hispanics, make up less than 10 percent of donors on the national registry.

“Even if I don't find a match, it's just something that needs to be out there, and more people need to hear about it,” Moreno said. “More minorities and Hispanics need to join the registry.”

“There are a lot of people who think that it hurts, so they don't donate," Hernandez said. “When they hear, ‘bone marrow transplant,’ they think ‘I'm going to be stuck with needles,’” Moreno said. “It's just like donating blood. Honestly, you're just giving of yourself to someone else, that way they can fight off the infection with your good cells. They might hurt a little bit, but they don't see everything we go through.”

Doctors gave Moreno a few months to live, but he still has hope. “There is always hope,” Moreno said emphatically. “Even if the doctors say one thing, God has the last word.”

How to Become a Donor

Hope can come in the form of myriad organizations working tirelessly to help people like Moreno. One organization, the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program -- also known as Salute to Life, provides assistance to those individuals seeking to join the national registry of volunteer marrow and stem cell donors.

Service members, military retirees and Defense Department civilian personnel who are between the ages of 18 and 60 and of good health can join by completing a simple cheek swab. A list of installation-based recruitment drives, walk-in sites, and information about requesting individual registration kits is available at https://www.salutetolife.org.

“Approximately 70 percent of patients are unable to find a match within their own families and must turn to the network of volunteer donors for help,” said Kathryn Branstad, donor quality and retention manager for the C.W. Bill Young DoD Marrow Donor Program.

“Our donors are amazing individuals, willing to temporarily disrupt their daily lives and give of themselves in a most profound manner in order to offer hope to someone they’ve never even met,” she said.

Hope also comes from a solid support system. “I'm glad I was born and raised here [in San Antonio],” said Moreno. “I have all my family here. My wife's family is here, and that helps out a lot.

“The nurses and staff up there in 5T [the San Antonio Military Medical Center Bone Marrow Unit and Outpatient Clinic], they're great,” he added. “They don't just look at you like a cancer patient -- they look at you like a friend."

True to the Soldier’s Creed, Moreno's message to those who are in the same situation as he is to “never quit.” And he has a message for those who don't know anything about his fight: "This is really important, I just want you to hear me, and please pay attention. You can save somebody's life.”

"The Sun Never Sets" on Schriever: Det. 3 quenches its thirst

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

8/4/2015 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- (Editor's Note: "The Sun Never Sets" is a series dedicated to highlighting our Globally Separated Units' team members, their contributions to the mission and some of the unique aspects of their sometimes remote locations)

Imagine working at your job for eight months without a self-sustained water supply.

All the water amenities used every day for drinking, cooking, showering and flushing, would no longer be at the push of a button or the turn of a knob.

For Detachment 3, 21st Space Operations Squadron, stationed at Kaena Point, Hawaii, this was a reality.

Kaena Point, home of satellite control station HULA, and a Schriever geographically separated unit, was originally established as a radar site during World War II. It wasn't until 1958 that the location became redesignated for satellite missions. Due to the unique geographic features of Kaena Point, Det. 3 has had a historic battle for attaining potable water since 1989.

"In 1989, the site began utilizing water coolers in order to have drinkable water and utilized the same type of water containers for hand washing/cooking," said Maj. Robert Shumaker, Det. 3 commander. "While there was water for flushing toilets, fire suppression and irrigation, it was not drinkable."

Initially, Det. 3's facility drew water from Dillingham Air Field a few miles to the east. This effort was abandoned once a well was dug on their facility. When the well water quality went bad, Det. 3 returned to using the water lines from Dillingham, which in turn, went bad itself.

The struggle took another turn for the worst beginning in September 2012, when Kaena Point lost all of its water supply.

Lance Hayashi, Det. 3 Civil Engineering chief, and 18-year Kaena Point employee, was tasked with leading the effort to repair the water issues. For most, this would be a logistical nightmare, but Det. 3 continued to carry out its mission.

"Not only did we need to keep the mission going, but we wanted to look after the health and safety of the people," said Hayashi.

Initially, HULA was able to get approximately 75,000 gallons of water trucked up to the site, which lasted only a few weeks until it ran out. At that point, personnel had to utilize water coolers heavily, as well as, use portable restrooms.

Hayashi explained how stressful the situation was for him and his team.

"It was chaotic," said Hayashi. "A lot of people were asking when the water service would be put back on. [Dealing with the stresses] was something we needed to quickly learn and master over a short period of time to keep the mission going."

Consider coming in from a hot sunny day after physical training and not being able to fill up your water bottle. Are you getting thirsty yet?

For years it seemed like having potable water at HULA was only a far-fetched dream.

During May 2013, teamwork made the dream work.

A combined effort lead by Hayashi, along with squadron and group funding, allowed the water line to finally be repaired.

Testing of the water began in the early spring of 2015, and by June, Shumaker declared the water potable with no bacteria.

The water line still pumps from its source at Dillingham Air Field.

"I think it's important to understand that repairing this water line is no easy task," said Shumaker.

The route of the 40-year old water line runs through a relatively flat area until the last two miles where it ascends to a 1,200-foot bluff. This creates a steep hike down for repairs on the three pump houses that push the water up to Kaena Point.

"The team is often forced to hike in, identify problems, hike out and hike back in with tools and materials - on foot," said Shumaker. "To put it in a Colorado Springs perspective, imagine fixing a water line on The Incline with all your tools and materials at the top and going up and down on foot."

Despite such challenges, many would agree having potable water is a well-deserved victory that has been fought many years for.

Although there are mixed emotions about actually drinking the water that was once considered "undrinkable," as well as transitioning from having free water bottles provided, Hayashi believes people are slowly embracing the reality that the water is now good to consume.

"We don't have to brief on which water sources are safe or not to drink," said Hayashi. "I think people are excited about it."

Alas, crisp water, finally available at the turn of those knobs - it's a refreshing thought.

Total Force collaborates to fight Western wildfires

by Master Sgt. Daniel Butterfield
302nd Airlift Wing

8/5/2015 - MCCLELLAN AIR TANKER BASE, Calif -- Two Air Force Reserve Modular Airborne Firefighting System equipped C-130 Hercules along with two MAFFS certified aircrews and support personnel from the 302nd Airlift Wing have been activated to support the aerial firefighting efforts for the ongoing wild land fires in the Western U.S.

The MAFFS certified Reservists are expected to fly fire containment missions based from McClellan Air Tanker Base, California and other locations as needed.  The two 302nd AW MAFFS-equipped C-130s are expected departed Peterson AFB, Colorado Aug. 3 to join two Air National Guard MAFFS-equipped C-130Js from the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands, California, that had been flying on the fire since Aug. 1, 2015. If activated to federal service, the 146th AW is gained by the Air Mobility Command.

We were flying within a couple hours of arriving here," said Maj. Brian McReynolds, who is a MAFFS aircraft commander for the first time this season.

The Rocky fire has burned 62,000 acres as of Tuesday morning and is only 12 percent contained. Thousands of residents have been evacuated so far. The dry, windy conditions could mean an even more dangerous fire if the environment does not improve.

"It was challenging," said McReynolds. "There were multiple fires in one location, smoke, other air traffic."

On the first day all four C-130 aircraft were fighting the Rocky fire, they flew a combined 22 sorties and dropped close to 63,000 gallons of retardant to establish fire containment lines.

According to the Air National Guard mission commander, Maj. Andrew Miller, they are expecting to fly out of McClellan for the next several weeks.

The DOD MAFFS-equipped C-130s are operated by four military airlift wings: The 153rd AW, Wyoming Air National Guard; 146th AW, California Air National Guard; 145th AW, North Carolina Air National Guard; and the 302nd AW, U.S. Air Force Reserve Command.

MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system, owned by the U.S. Forest Service, that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

The DOD, through U.S. Northern Command at Peterson AFB, provides unique military support to firefighting efforts when requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and approved by the Secretary of Defense.  These diverse mission assets are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives, property, critical infrastructure and natural resources, and can include, but are not limited to, MAFFS, military helicopters and ground forces capable of supporting the firefighting efforts.

Newest Joint High Speed Vessel USNS Carson City (JHSV 7) Keel Authenticated

From Team Ships Public Affairs

MOBILE, Ala. (NNS) -- The keel of the future USNS Carson City (JHSV 7) was authenticated during a ceremony at the Austal USA shipyard here today.

The keel was authenticated by the Mayor of Carson City, the Honorable Robert Crowell. By etching his initials into the keel plate, Crowell confirmed that the "keel" of the ship had been "truly and fairly laid." Today's ceremony serves to recognize the joining together of a ship's components, representing a major milestone in the ship's construction.

"We're honored to have Mayor Crowell of Carson City give life to the ship by authenticating its keel," said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. "This ship will fill a role critical to our maritime strategy, providing forward naval presence, and strengthening alliances and partnerships, and the keel laying is the first significant milestone in her journey."

Joint high speed vessels are versatile, non-combatant vessels designed to operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, increasing operational flexibility for a wide range of activities including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for rapid transport. They are capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, as well as on/off-loading vehicles such as a fully combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank.

JHSVs support a variety of missions including the overseas contingency operations, conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supporting special operations forces, and supporting emerging joint seabasing concepts.

JHSVs provide fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment. Each JHSV is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. Each vessel includes a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations. Brunswick will have airline style seating for 312 embarked forces with fixed berthing for 104.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.