For the love of dogs - MWDs help MOD worker through personal turmoil

by Gina Randall
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

2/2/2016 - RAF MILDENHALL, England -- For Ministry of Defence employee Deborah Black, 100th Security Forces Squadron kennel attendant, her passion for her job and the dogs she cares for each day motivated her to overcome the news she had developed a life-threatening illness.

"My world fell apart when I was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago and following extensive treatment, I returned to work. Being here has significantly helped me put that to the back of my mind and focus on getting on with my job," said Black. "It's been a big benefit in aiding my recovery, both physically and psychologically, as it has distracted me from dwelling on my health issues. The exercise and interaction with the dogs and people I work with has definitely played a big part in my recovery, together with the support of my family and friends. Three years later and I'm good. My most recent mammogram last month was all clear."

The exercise and outdoor lifestyle may have helped her mentally and physically, but it was a life-long passion that brought her to RAF Mildenhall nearly 15 years ago. A journey began that would allow her to extend her family to the Service members she works with each day, both human and canine.

"I wanted to work here because I just love dogs," Black laughed. "I've always loved dogs. Prior to this job, I worked at a pet nutrition unit for a food company for seven years which is where I got most of the canine experience. Following redundancy from there, I saw this job advertised, came for an interview and was offered the position. I still had a passion to work with dogs and decided to take the job. And 15 years on I still love it."

No day at work is the same for Black and she knows the dogs better than anyone -- from the day they arrive on base as a young recruit, to the day their "do not pet" leash is hung up for good.

"This job is very unique in terms of working with dogs. I get to see these highly skilled dogs train and develop in their capabilities, improve and become very competent over the years," Black added. "I get to know the dogs' personalities and behaviors very well as I spend so much time with them daily from the time they arrive off the plane, to the day they retire years later."

It's the characters of the dogs that make Black's day brighter, even through her darkest times.

"The dogs definitely all have individual personalities, a real mish-mash of personalities," Black added with a smile. "To give you examples, Gina, she is really loving, quiet and kind. Oorion is a real macho man, 'look at me' kind of dog, with huge drive. Brock is like a grumpy old man (even though he is not very old) - after he's eaten his food, he lies on his bed and says 'I'm not getting up yet!' They all have their own endearing individual traits."

The dogs have a job to do, just like their handlers, but Black gets to spend time and energy caring for the four-legged warriors who serve their country.

"The dogs bring so much to my day, they make me feel happy and give unconditional love," Black reflected fondly. "You go in the kennels first thing in the morning and they are all there looking at you with expectation. I'm there all the time for the dogs whereas the handlers come and go. The handlers move bases and I am with these dogs until the day they are retired. They stay at this base their whole lives and don't go anywhere apart from on missions. In the past they have deployed with their handlers for six months at a time but recently they only go out on missions."

Black also enjoys working with the humans in the work center.

"I think the military people I work with are wonderful," she said. "I've made so many friends over the years, I think I could go and stay in many of the states in America and I would be very welcome. I still keep in touch with a lot of handlers who have served here. We have a really good relationship at the kennels. I'm the only civilian, but I get included in everything, both at work and socially. It's not like, 'you are the kennel attendant, and you aren't involved.' They actually come to me with all sorts of issues both personal and work-related and I help them out."

When the time comes for Black to say a fond farewell to a dog for the final time after years of faithful service, she is happy to know they will be cared for as a hero deserves. All the dogs are sadly missed, but for Black some will stay in her memories forever.

"I feel very sad when they retire. Nice in the fact that they are going to retire and go home with somebody that they know, but sad in the fact that we won't see them here," Black explained. "I try not to have favorites, but in the past there was Ootto. He was a magnificent big dog, our first Belgian Malinois to come to Mildenhall, and he was probably the stand-out dog of all time. He has passed away now at the age of 12. He had a nice, well-earned retirement back in the states with his former handler who adopted him. He enjoyed retirement for about two years before it was his time."

She recalled that for those who worked with him each day, Ootto was the epitome of the type of dog that handlers hope for as they are assigned a partner for duty.

"Ootto was such an amazing dog, such an all-round amazing dog," Black said. "He was brilliant at detection and bite work. When he was getting ready to retire, the handler who adopted him would have his small children around him and he was as gentle as a lamb! He was that good. He was just the ultimate MWD."

The U.S. Air Force entrusts its valuable assets to people who are as dedicated to the dogs as it is to the military members and the Air Force mission. And for Black, her leadership couldn't be prouder of her care of their dogs.

"It was very distressing for the entire kennel staff when we heard the news of Mrs. Black's situation a few years back. Not only is she a work colleague, but a true friend who has a big heart," said Tech. Sgt. Samuel Giordano, 100th SFS kennel master. "As scary as it was, we all knew she would be fine. Additionally, none of us would accept that she wouldn't be back working with the dogs. She is truly an irreplaceable asset with her vast experience working with these animals. Mrs. Black is the true continuity of this section. I like to think I am the boss, but really she is!"

For Black, the people she works with have become her extended family and she never takes the job she loves for granted.

"It's totally changed my outlook on life," Black said about her illness. "I try to make the most of everything, every day. Make every moment as enjoyable as possible as you really don't know what is around the corner."

Learned through blood

by Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
JBER Public Affairs

2/2/2016 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- If a person yells "bomb" in a crowded theater, most of the audience will disperse.

As chaos ensues, they will run for the exits with little in mind but to get as far away as possible.

While everyone flees, the explosive ordnance disposal technician approaches the site.

What proved to be a hazard and cause panic among so many is an opportunity for the EOD technician to put into play countless hours of training.

Members of the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight train tirelessly and are always on call to serve Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and the surrounding community.

"When some sort of emergency response goes on - [whether it be an] issue with [hung] ordnance on an aircraft; or a suspect package at one of the gates; [or] explosive hazards found -during duty hours, or outside of duty hours, we'll respond," said Tech. Sgt.  Jason Halgren, an EOD Craftsman.

EOD is a career field full of hazards that have the potential for loss of life and property.

There is no simple mistake for an EOD technician. Attention to detail is just as necessary a tool as the bomb suits or robotics utilized.

"There's a sense of urgency because there is something that's dangerous and could potentially hurt people," said Halgren. "That's where the training kicks in and you're in that mindset and getting the job done."

Aside from responding to unexploded ordnance, an improvised explosive device or weapons of mass destruction, some EOD missions include providing Defense Support to Civil Authorities for explosive hazards found off the installation. EOD will also provide support to ensure safety during high-profile events and will assist the Secret Service to ensure the safety of the president, vice president and other heads of state.

Technical training for EOD is tough and demanding, where attrition rates are high, said Senior Airman Joshua Harris, an EOD journeyman.

"[It] was about 10 months long," Harris said. "It's designed to be stressful to help deal with those situations that you are going to be facing out in the real world - in a deployed environment [like] in combat downrange."

But the missions can present themselves at anytime and anywhere.

In 2011, Airmen disposed of a sea mine that washed up on the Alaska shore, north of Sitka.

After X-raying the mine, EOD technicians could see where the explosive material inside was. They then placed the plastic explosive to destroy it.

In 2012, JBER Airmen traveled to the island of Adak in the Aleutian island chain to dispose of three World War II-era bombs. The mission spanned several months due to complications with weather.  But ultimately three bombs were excavated and disposed of.

But learning continues all the time. There are also opportunities for EOD technicians to learn from the actions of Airmen past and present, Halgren said.

"We keep the skill sets we learned through blood from Iraq and Afghanistan," Halgren said. "We've had a lot of people put up on the EOD memorial during the wars. That's what we refer to as 'learned through blood.' We learn from what's happened that got people killed as well as remember their life because they were all skilled, knowledgeable people. And [knowing they were] killed by a device proves that it can happen [to anyone]."

EOD technicians work in a unique field in that their service is not used on a daily basis. And while it is a necessary profession, nobody wants to need them - It means bad things were intended to, or can potentially, happen.

"[We] train near-daily to defeat explosive items, and we trust in our training that we are going to use that skill set to assess the situation and take care of it," Halgren said.

Should they do their job right, countless lives will be saved. Yet, EOD technicians remain faceless figures to the people they protect.

"Some of us get a sense of accomplishment whenever we get a call and prevent something from blowing up because we've protected people," Halgren said. "Not in the way doctors or police officers or medics do, but we've protected life - we've saved life - and people can go about their daily business afterwards."

AF Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program list triples

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, / Published February 01, 2016

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force officials released details on the fiscal year 2016 Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program Feb. 1. This year’s program, consisting of 117 Air Force specialties eligible to receive bonuses, is a substantial increase from the previous year’s program where 40 Air Force specialty codes were eligible.

The program’s expansion coincides with Air Force plans to grow the force to meet mission demands in the face of changing geopolitical situations, and to address key gaps in nuclear, maintenance, cyber, intelligence, remotely piloted aircraft and support career fields through fiscal 2017.

According to Col. Robert Romer, the chief of military force policy for the Air Force, the criteria used to determine career fields eligible for re-enlistment bonuses includes current and projected manning levels, re-enlistment trends, career field force structure changes, career field stress levels, and the cost levels associated with training new Airmen.

“This year’s SRB list increased by nearly threefold as we focused on retaining key experience while continuing our deliberate plan to grow our force,” Romer said. “We are increasing our accessions and training pipeline to support the increased growth, but these new enlistees won’t be seasoned for some time. Retaining the experience we have is critical to our success in reaching target end strength.”

All AFSC bonus changes are effective Feb. 1, 2016.

For more information, contact the local military personnel flight re-enlistment section.

Face of Defense: Marine Bags Five-Peak Challenge

By Marine Corps Cpl. Angel Serna I Marine Expeditionary Force

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., February 1, 2016 — Like many before him, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Kenneth Bell learned quickly that being a triathlete isn't about some lofty, beautiful talent -- it's about hard work and dedication.

Late last year, Bell participated in the Mission Trails Regional Park Five-Peak Challenge. The challenge, which takes place in the mountains east of San Diego, is to hike at one’s own pace to the summits of Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay, and North and South Fortuna -- all five peaks in the park. The total vertical elevation surpasses 6,000 feet.

Triathletes and other participants wanted to make it even more difficult and asked event officials if they could run -- not walk -- the 21-mile course.

“I just saw the challenge and thought that it looked pretty difficult, but I wasn’t going to get a running opportunity like that on Camp Pendleton,” said Bell, a helicopter mechanic with Headquarters Co., I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. “It took me five hours and ten minutes to cover the 20 miles and all five peaks. It’s still probably one of the most challenging runs that I’ve ever done.”

Getting in Shape

Bell said he wasn’t into physically demanding challenges or the even concept of fitness until he joined the Marine Corps in June 2000.

An Atlanta native, he played basketball recreationally as a teen, but upon arriving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, he said he recognized that he was not as fit as he had hoped.

“I realized when I arrived at basic training that I had to run almost every other day, swim long distances, go on hikes and do a lot of pushups and pull-ups,” Bell said. “That’s when the physical fitness aspect of my life ramped up. I needed to get in shape.”

Bell completed basic training and went to his first military occupational specialty school to train as a helicopter/tiltrotor dynamic components mechanic. He said he was not content with that job, but wanted to stay in the same field and do more hands-on work. After four years, he became a helicopter mechanic.

Around the same time, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program was introduced, and Bell said it gave him an opportunity to challenge himself physically.

Lifestyle Change

MCMAP combines existing and new hand-to-hand and close-quarters combat techniques with morale- and team-building functions and instruction in the warrior ethos.

“My physical fitness peaked once MCMAP was introduced,” Bell said. “That was when I began to focus more on bettering myself, and it became easier when I found friends that had the same goals in mind.”

However, in 2008 Bell deployed to Iraq, where, he said, his training took a backseat. He rarely got to the gym, and, he said, when he came back home he knew his fitness level wasn't sufficient. He said he decided then to always make his workouts a priority and be a model Marine.

Eventually, Bell said, he stopped associating fitness with his identity as a Marine -- it just became a lifestyle.

“Physical fitness is my hobby,” he said. “It’s something I take great enthusiasm in. It’s my equivalent to how some people like to play video games, or others who like going fishing or riding motorcycles, but physical training is what I like to do.”

Enter Bicycle

Eventually, the fitness hobby -- and, he said, a movie about a bicycle messenger -- led Bell to buy a fixed-gear bicycle, which he started using to commute to and from work.

“One day I was zipping by on my bicycle and someone I know told me, ‘Hey, you’re pretty good on that bicycle. You should try participating in a duathlon. You just run, bike and run again,’” Bell said. “After that, I just got hooked.”

After participating in a duathlon, Bell said he was determined to try a triathlon, but he wasn’t a good swimmer. So, he practiced until he found a whole new level of fitness.

Bell said his first few events were unremarkable -- he was mostly competing to test himself. It wasn't until the 2015 Ironman 70.3 SuperFrog event that he said he was actually impressed with his results.

“My greatest accomplishment was at the SuperFrog Ironman,” Bell said. “My completion time was five hours and 14 minutes. That race was truly a testament to hard work and consistent training, because I had improved in all three disciplines of the sport and completed each event at my personal best.”

He has now participated in more than 25 endurance training events and was recently named a 2016 Bronze Ironman All World Athlete. Bell said one of his new goals is to earn a professional card as a triathlete.

“I don’t know if that route would turn into a career but, if I got to spend one year as a pro, that would be one of my top achievements,” said Bell.

673d SFS offers guidance for base weapon registration

by Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
JBER Public Affairs

2/1/2016 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Recently, 673d Security Forces Squadron provided guidance for privately owned weapon registration, storage and transportation to ensure the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson community remains compliant with current regulation.

On base, JBER Instruction 31-107, Weapons Registration and Child Access Prevention Policy, dictates proper weapon registration, transportation and storage.

"People with unregistered weapons on base, once discovered, will be detained and charged with an Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, failure to obey order or regulation," said Tech. Sgt. Jose Ramirez, 673d Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of reports and analysis. "Civilians are charged with carrying on federal property and [Anchorage Police Department] will be called in for that."

"Weapons will be confiscated ... [and] punishment will be given by the unit commander," he said. "It can ... [be any] form of non-judicial punishment."

"Part of what drives weapon registration on base is the need for full accountability," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Barrey, 673d Security Forces Squadron NCOIC of base access. "This allows first responders to know they are going to a location that has weapons and can take the proper precautions when reporting to a scene."

Units have a POW monitor/armorer assigned by the commander. POW monitors are in charge of ensuring all weapons owned by assigned troops living on base are in compliance.

"Those who wish to bring weapons on base are required to declare and register their POWs at the visitor control center, at either Richardson or Boniface gate, prior to entering base," Barrey said

He said, registrants will fill out AF Form 1314 [Firearms Registration] at the VCC and the information will be put into [the Security Forces Management Information System].

"[On JBER, it is] not allowed to carry concealed [weapons], with the exception of designated local, state and federal law enforcement personnel." Barrey said.

Those registering POWs will complete DD Form 2760, Qualification to Possess Firearms or Ammunition, acknowledging they don't have any prior convictions or anything on their record that restricts them from owning a weapon, he said.

The sale of any weapon registered on base must be reported within 48 hours from the point of sale, Barrey said.

"[673 SFS] Form 0107 can be picked up at VCC or people center," Ramirez said. "The wallet-sized form serves as proof of registration and allows individuals to transport their POWs on base."

"POWs will only be transported to and from their place of storage or purchase, to authorized sporting events or activities on or off the installation," he said. "Weapons are not allowed to be stored in vehicles."

Weapons of any kind are not allowed in the dormitories, barracks, temporary housing, billeting or any government-owned building on JBER, except for storage in security forces, Marine Corps and Army armories, Barrey said.

During transport, the weapon cannot be loaded, and both the ammunition and weapon have to be separated, he said.

In base housing, similar storage rules apply.

"The weapon will be unloaded while in the residence and the weapons will be locked up," Barrey said. "Ammunition can be stored in the same locked container, if the container cannot be easily penetrated or located in a spot where kids can get to it and put the two together."

Each military sponsor is responsible to ensure all weapons are registered, stored unloaded and secured in a locked container with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety devices.

"This is a big base, and you trust your neighbors are doing the right thing," Barrey said. "The biggest thing to remember is anything that you are allowed to have on the installation is a privilege."

Dover Security Forces Squadron implements Staff Arming Program

by Senior Airman William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

2/1/2016 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del.  -- The threat to global security is ever present and with the rise of homegrown violent extremism and lone wolf attacks, the Air Force has reviewed its force protection and security policies, programs and procedures to better protect its Airmen and their families.

Since the fall of 2015, security experts and senior leadership at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, have worked meticulously on selective arming initiatives, called the Eagle Shield Program, to enhance the protection of all base personnel. One of these selective arming programs under Eagle Shield is the Security Forces Staff Arming Program.

Under the Security Forces Staff Arming Program, all security forces staff members have the ability to arm up with a M4 rifle or M9 handgun. This affords Team Dover additional armed defenders, providing a 200 percent increase in their response force.

"Now staff members are able to respond in the case where our patrols run into an active shooter incident or any incident where they might need backup," said Lt. Col. Dana Metzger, 436th Security Forces Squadron commander. "We have an immediate response capability that reduces the amount of time it takes to respond to an event that is happening."

Col. Michael Grismer, 436th Airlift Wing commander, has also authorized, under Air Force Instruction, security forces staff members to transport their government weapons in their privately owned vehicles on the installation.  This allows armed staff members to respond to emergency events in a greater capacity, potentially saving lives in the process.

"We can't stop an active shooter incident from happening," said Metzger. "But what we've found is that by getting to a scene quicker, we can limit that individual from doing the maximum amount of damage. The more patrolmen that I have enables us to reduce that time frame; saving lives and reducing damage."

Staff Sgt. Joshua Botto, 436th SFS trainer, said it takes only a few minutes to arm one defender, so by arming SFS staff members at the start of the duty day, they are saving valuable time in the event they need to respond to an emergency.

"They are armed with a M9 and they have all of their gear with them at work," said Botto. "So if there were a situation where they are needed, we don't have to spend that extra time to go and arm them up."

To cut down response time, additional SFS staff members will perform their daily duties while being armed and outfitted with the same gear as on-duty patrol forces. If called upon, they are available for immediate response and will respond in designated SFS vehicles. If additional responders are needed, other staff members can quickly don the rest of their gear and respond in additional security forces vehicles or POVs as needed.

Staff Sgt. John Broughal, 436th SFS unit training manager, said the biggest challenge with the program has been getting the base populace accustomed to seeing more security forces Airmen with guns, but he said this challenge also comes with its advantages.

"It acts as a deterrence tool," said Broughal. "It gives us more presence out there and enables us to shift the mindset that there are more cops carrying a firearm on the installation."

As terrorist and lone wolf attackers continue to evolve their tactics and target selections, the 436th SFS will continue to defend its flock as effectively and safely as possible.

"This is the first time that the Department of Defense, the Air Force and Dover has actually started to change our mindset on how we are going to react to these new threats we are going to be faced with," said Metzger. "We are trying to change the culture and change the mindset of everyone around us so that they know we got their six and we are changing our tactics to match and counter that of the bad guys."