West Point graduates return as part of summer training task force

 

Story by Brandon OConnor, United States Military Academy at West Point

As Capt. Jack Christoffersen arrived at the West Point gates in February, the old feeling from his cadet days returned and his heart began to beat faster.

It was his first time being back since graduating from the U.S. Military Academy with the Class of 2014 and nearly 10 years since he had begun his cadet career on Reception Day. This time, instead of arriving at the academy to begin Cadet Basic Training, he was at West Point for a pre-deployment survey as a member of 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, which would be serving as the task force overseeing Cadet Summer Training.

“Seeing how much work and effort from so many people goes into (planning Cadet Summer Training) was pretty incredible, and I don’t think I really appreciated that as a cadet, because I was just trying to get through it every day,” Christoffersen said. “I didn't realize there’s people dedicating hours and hours and hours to making sure that water buffalo is full, and the ammo is here so you can just pick it up and go shoot.”

The full task force of more than 1,000 Soldiers arrived at West Point from Fort Polk in June and has spent the last two months leading cadets through CBT and Cadet Field Training during a compressed training schedule. Christoffersen, who is the company commander for Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, is one of eight West Point graduates who have returned this summer to help lead summer training.

Throughout the summer, his company has been running Basic Rifle Marksmanship mostly for CFT cadets, and during the one-day course taught to new cadets during CBT. They have overseen the entire process from the initial train-up to the cadets qualifying on the range by taking the new Army Rifle Qualification Test.

As a company commander, his one-on-one interaction with cadets has been limited. Still, he has leaned on his experience attending West Point to make sure his Soldiers are prepared to train the members of the Class of 2023 going through Basic Rifle Marksmanship.

“I remember the task force when I was in summer training,” Christoffersen said. “I remember the positive experiences I had, and I remember the negative experiences I had. I’m able to tell that to my Soldiers. The impact that you make on this cadet, he’s going to remember in five or 10 years when he's a captain or company commander … So, you have to be professional and I can attest to the fact I remember the people who were unprofessional and who weren’t.”

First Lt. Jack Lucie had made a much more recent trip to West Point compared to Christoffersen as he just graduated with the Class of 2018 and then spent time after graduation serving as an athletic intern with the wrestling team. Despite his short time away from West Point, when the opportunity to serve as a member of the task force came about he jumped at it and volunteered for what was originally planned as a four-month mission before being shortened to two months due to COVID-19.

“I’m pretty passionate about the United States Military Academy and West Point,” Lucie said. “I still have a lot of friends that go here, and my brother is a rising firstie (senior). So, I really wanted to come back and help these guys out.”

Lucie, who is a plans officer for 3/89 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, served as a platoon trainer during CFT this summer. His job was to work with the cadet cadre and help develop future officers as they learn how to be platoon leaders.

“I’m not actively training them because they have dedicated lane markers and instructors for each block of instruction that they go through,” Lucie said. “But during their downtime, I’m teaching them classes about anything that they might want to learn. They have a lot of questions about the big Army and what’s different from what you experienced at West Point.”

His shared experience of having gone through CST and graduating from West Point enabled him to quickly build a strong relationship with the cadets he is overseeing, he said.

That relationship then helped create an environment where he could teach and mentor the cadets who will be in his same shoes in the near future. The biggest thing he said he worked to instill is how they should interact with their platoon sergeants and other noncommissioned officers once they begin their Army careers.

“A lot of them haven’t had a lot of NCO interactions,” Lucie said. “(West Point is) very officer heavy and field grade officer heavy at that like majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels. So, they get really used to speaking to high ranking officers, but their interaction with E-5s and E-6s is very minimal. So, kind of explaining to them how you interact with those guys has been a large chunk of my conversation with them.”

First Lt. Maylon Robertson, who graduated from West Point with the Class of 2017, has spent his summer serving as the executive officer for 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, which is running the various call for fire ranges during CFT.

His role has given him the chance to speak with almost every Class of 2023 cadet taking part in the training and answer any questions they have about West Point and life after the academy. That has included questions about picking a branch, the cow loan they can receive during their third year and more.

“For the most part, we’re just trying to impart some type of field artillery knowledge that they can use when they choose their branching decision,” Robertson said. “When they ask their questions, I’m just trying to help them be a little more positive about things than I was when I came through here. It’s easy to fall into the cynicism monster when you’re here.”

For each of the West Point graduates serving as members of the task force, it is a chance to see the other side of training they went through themselves and also work to make an impact on future officers following the same path they did in the recent past.
“I actually was out here on June 28, which was the 10-year anniversary of when I first got to West Point,” Christoffersen said. “So, June 28, 2010 was my R-Day and it was very surreal to come back and see people who I remember being in their shoes and now I’m on the other side. Definitely seemed to come full circle in a way that was actually pretty cool to see.”

Garrison Modernization to Support Warfighters

 

Story by Amy Phillips, Fort Hunter Liggett Public Affairs Office

Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) has been upgrading facilities and training systems to meet the Army modernization efforts in support of the nation’s warfighters.

“It’s very important to me that we provide as much training support we can so troops can train safely, and use what they learn here on the battlefield,” said Garrison Commander Col. Charles Bell.

Some modernization projects include the on-going upgrades to the Multi-Purpose Range Complex (MPRC) facility to construct new target emplacements and to upgrade existing target lifters to wireless operations; expansion of several training sites to accommodate increased engineer training; and the “301 Complex” renovation which will be the future home of the High Tech Regional Training Center currently located in Sacramento.

“Another major project is the consolidation of all the battle simulators on post to increase delivery efficiency for customers,” said Bill Riley, Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security. Every minute on ground is crucial to units who have a short time-frame to execute many essential tasks.

“We’re also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to plan potential troop projects such as the expansion of Training Area 10 for increased engineer training,” said Riley. Troop projects provide engineer Soldiers with hands-on training in real-world missions, and help the garrison save money.

“We have a dedicated garrison staff and tenant assets that work in unison to do what is needed to meet the garrison and customer missions,” said Bell.

The “301 Complex” renovation requires infrastructure upgrades and new communications lines to support the High Tech Regional Training Center mission. The FHL Network Enterprise Center, a tenant unit, is installing new fiber and other communication equipment.

“Our range modernization plan is based on troop requirements to meet their readiness,” said William Duckworth, Training Management Specialist. “Range projects are prioritized and approved by the Senior and Garrison commanders for each fiscal year.”

Future projects include the expansion of the Urban Assault Course (UAC) and new live-fire range for platform gunnery for lightly-armored, wheeled and tracked vehicles. The UAC provides troops an ideal space to learn how to fight in an urban environment, and consists of buildings and targets throughout the course. The new live-fire range includes multi-purpose machine gun lanes for dismounted fire.

“There’s a misconception out there that it is difficult to get to Fort Hunter Liggett,” said Bell. There are three airports (San Jose, Monterey and San Luis Obispo) within 1.5 to 2 hours from FHL. There is also a rail head at nearby Camp Roberts for units to transport equipment for training. With the continued increase of training, FHL is working on a contract to transport troops from the airport to the installation. This alleviates the transportation burden from units.

“We have the capacity and the great California weather to host training year-round. I look forward to making it easier for units to get here,” said Bell.

Class of 2024 marches back after CBT like none before

 

Story by Brandon OConnor, United States Military Academy at West Point

From the moment they arrived at the U.S. Military Academy, the Class of 2024’s experience was destined to be different from any class before.

Their arrival on Reception Day was delayed and split across three days in July because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their Cadet Basic Training program was shortened from six weeks to four in order to accommodate the change. The training itself was also modified from previous years. Monday’s March Back, which marked the end of CBT, took on a different look as well as 1,099 members of the class followed a nine-mile route around West Point instead of rucking from Camp Buckner like previous years.

It was a continuation of a tumultuous year for many of the members of the class who had their senior years of high school interrupted by the pandemic causing them to miss out on key events such as prom and graduation.

Instead of being deterred by the adversity they have faced at the beginning of their 47-month experience, the new cadets chose to wear it as a permanent badge of honor.

As they prepared to step off from the West Point Golf Course for the final leg of March Back, the class unfurled a black banner on which bright gold letters announced the motto they will carry with them for the rest of their lives — Like None Before.

“That’s the one I voted for, because we’re definitely different,” New Cadet Samuel Hein said. “We’re all coming out of this whole pandemic. It’s like none before. We’re just unique, and we’re going to take the experiences that we’ve learned from in our past and become better people and great leaders in the Army for the future.”

The three words were unveiled for the first time Monday, but over the next four years, they will become a part of the class’ crest and eventually be proudly displayed on the side of the class rings that designate a member of the Long Gray Line. New Cadet Rich Juin said the class’ motto is “ambiguous,” but it also challenges the Class of 2024 to continue to lead in new ways as the world changes before their eyes.

“It basically gives us a challenge because the Army has always persevered in difficult times,” Juin said. “I feel like all the world’s in relative chaos right now. I feel like for our generation we can be a sort of spearhead for them and just show that we can still function despite these times.”

The first step in becoming leaders was spending the four weeks of CBT learning how to be followers. From the moment they arrived at West Point on R-Day, the new cadets were taught how to take orders and were guided through the transition from civilian to cadet and eventually to Soldier after 47 months.

“I hope that I’ve grown a lot,” New Cadet Chloe Doubrava said. “I don’t quite see changes within myself just yet. I definitely have gotten stronger. I’ve lost some weight with those MREs. But I think that CBT rounds out people and changes them in a way that will make them better teammates, better people, more compliant and better followers in the world. That’s kind of what we need before we become good leaders.”

The lessons were instilled in them even though CBT was different than a typical year. After four weeks of training, Class of 2021 Cadet Evan Walker, who was CBT commander this summer, said she wanted the new cadets to know she was inspired by all they accomplished despite the unique challenges of training during a pandemic.

“I'm actually just planning my little closeout speech to them and making them aware of how amazing they did,” Walker said. “We actually just accomplished the unthinkable. Amidst the pandemic and everything that they left prior to this not really getting any closure from their senior year, they still received quality training and had the same Beast as me, basically. They’re all just so proud and happy, and it makes me really happy.”

Hein said his favorite — and also least favorite — part of CBT was the gas chamber, fondly known as the House of Tears, where new cadets learn to trust their protective equipment if they encounter a chemical attack. Although having to go through it himself “sucks,” Hein said he enjoyed seeing his classmates’ reactions to the gas. For Juin, it was learning to rappel that stood out and he said it was the training event he was most excited to tell his family about when he is able to talk with them again.

Doubrava said she enjoyed the challenge and adrenaline rush of the grenade training exercise as they learned to use new weapons throughout CBT.

“At the very end, when you’re able to throw the actual grenade, that's a deadly weapon in your hand,” Doubrava said. “But you have enough self-control and enough knowledge to be able to handle this weapon carefully and well. I think that’s a lot of growth. It changes people to have these rifles in your hand all the time. To have access to grenades. To have access to bayonets, just like chilling in your room.”

After a CBT like none before, the Class of 2024 will enter an academic year that is also expected to be vastly different than previous ones. Because of the changes, Juin said he expects the class and the cadet companies will become incredibly tightknit as they work together to overcome challenges, something that has already begun during their summer training.

“Coming in, I was nervous meeting new people,” Hein said. “It feels like I haven’t met new friends since the beginning of high school. That’s really a challenge but everybody here is in the same boat. Now, we’re all here four weeks later and these are my best friends. I know I’m going to have these relationships for the next 46 months of our leadership development here at West Point, and definitely for the rest of my life.”

USS Winston Churchill Departs on Deployment

 

NORFOLK (NNS) – Sailors aboard guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) departed August 10, for an independent deployment to maintain maritime stability and security and ensure access, deter aggression, and defend U.S., allied and partner interests around the globe.

Sailors aboard Churchill will also be navigating the continuing global pandemic, following strict protocols to keep the crew healthy while maintaining the highest states of operational readiness. All personnel assigned to the ship completed a minimum, 14-day quarantine and were tested for COVID-19 prior to getting underway.

This deployment comes in the wake of countless hours of training, maintenance and practice.

“This Team of Teams has trained hard for the last year, prepping to go overseas and execute whatever tasking and mission sets come our way,” said Cdr. Timothy F. Shanley, Churchill’s commanding officer. “This crew has very much taken extra steps compared to the typical Navy deployment, in having to take proper pre-deployment quarantine measures ahead of embarking the ship.”

Most recently, the ship participated in a rigorous Task Force Exercise (TFEX) alongside other U.S. and other coalition ships. A scenario-driven training event, TFEX serves as the certification exercise for independent deploying ships and is designed to test mission readiness and performance in integrated operations.

“We are a front line asset ‘warship,’ expected to be combat ready with the potential to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea, said Cdr. Timothy F. Shanley, Churchill’s commanding officer. “However, this year is the unprecedented 2020, and this crew has had to first adapt to being a ‘COVID warship’ by tackling the various challenges of keeping the coronavirus off our ship so we can get underway and properly execute the nation's bidding, on time. I am blessed to be the Captain of such a fine crew of professional surface warriors, each with their different strengths.”

The ship is deployed with “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70.

“HSM-70 stands firm in our commitment to the mission, undeterred by the challenges imposed upon us by COVID-19,” said Lt. Cdr. Mark D. Kummer, Churchill’s air boss.

Unique to the fleet, Churchill is the only U.S. Navy ship to have a Royal Navy officer assigned permanently to ship's company as a symbol of the partnership between the British and American navies. It is also the only U.S. Naval vessel to fly a foreign ensign - the Royal Navy's White Ensign is flown alongside the Stars and Stripes. Churchill is the fifth U.S. warship to be named in honor of an English subject.

The ship, whose motto is "In War: Resolution, In Peace: Goodwill," was commissioned in 2001 as the 81st Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

U.S. Marines implement Emergency Transfusion Program in Middle East

Story by Capt. Joshua Hays, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit   

A U.S. Marine Corps infantry battalion implemented an emergency blood transfusion program while deployed to the Middle East.

Marines and Sailors from 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, standardized an emergency blood transfusion program across the ground combat element. The combat causality technique allows the battalion to have a viable and pre-screened donor pool for emergency situations.

The Emergency Fresh Whole Blood (EFWB) program, originally utilized by members of the special operations community, allows pre-screened low titer group (type) O whole blood (LTOWB) donors the ability to deliver life-saving treatment at the point of injury to increase the chance of survival while awaiting transit to the next echelon of care. A similar U.S. Army program, known as the “Ranger O Low Titer (ROLO) Whole Blood Program,” was used for the first known time in Afghanistan earlier this year.

According to a Department of Defense study, from 2001-2011, during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, there were approximately 887 deaths resulting from massive blood loss that were potentially survivable had additional blood been available before arrival at an expeditionary surgical suite. By enabling multiple on-the-spot donors, blood can be safely transfused from a mobile donor to a critical patient during transport or from a location shielded from hazard.

The force surgeon and emergency physician, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sean Nardi, noted that by pre-identifying LTOWB donors, Marines and Sailors can quickly find a donor and begin the EFWB transfusion.

“Our ground combat element has really spearheaded this program and brought it to the entire command,” said Nardi. “We, along with champions of the program stateside, are currently validating training plans and standard operating procedures in order to truly make it a program of record for conventional forces throughout the service.”

Before a deployment, each consenting Marine or Sailor with group O blood is screened. This screening confirms their blood type, titer levels, and evaluates for transfusion transmitted diseases. Once the screening is complete, and if the service member is deemed to be a LTOWB donor, the service member is provided a donor identification card to keep on their person at all times.

“The EFWB program gives the ground combat element a capability that it hasn’t had in the past,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Lauren Murray, the infantry battalion’s surgeon. “Having the ability to resuscitate casualties with whole blood at the point of injury gives the ground combat element the ability to decrease mortality rates in situations where we are not able to evacuate casualties within the first hour after injury.”

Aside from the physical lifesaving aspect of the emergency transfusion, infantry unit’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Isaac Moore, believes there is a stronger psychological impact and benefit it brings to Marines forward-deployed.

“Marines are always there for each other, and [the EFWB program] is one more way they demonstrate that,” said Moore. “One individual literally giving his own blood to save a fellow Marine increases cohesion. In a sense, the unit can use the healthy life-blood of one Marine to sustain another. That’s a pretty powerful idea that makes a unit incredibly resilient.”

Each kit weights less-than one pound and costs approximately $135 U.S. dollars, which includes a blood collection bag, needles, filtered surgical tubing and equipment to maintain cleanliness. Each qualified Sailor can carry two kits on top of their standard gear and equipment.

Medical professionals and Marines currently assigned to SPMAGTF-CR-CC intend to keep the EFWB program moving forward with the drive to make the life-saving procedure and cost effective equipment standard across the service.

SPMAGTF-CR-CC is capable of employing aviation, ground, and logistics forces across the U.S. Central Command’s Area of Responsibility at a moment’s notice.

CSP helps Soldiers get the jobs they want

Story by Sgt. Alexandra Shea, Fort Jackson Public Affairs Office

“I am transitioning from active duty and was able to participate in the Career Skills Program,” said Sgt. Porch Colts, a 42A – Human Resource Specialist working in the Company D, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment training room. “I was able to gain skills in the financial services industry. Because of CSP, I’m employed. My last day at Fort Jackson is the first day of my new job.”

As a component of the Soldier life cycle, the Career Skills Program provides Soldiers with opportunities to participate in career and employment skill training during their last 180 days of military service. CSP opportunities include pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, internships, employment skills and on the job training in a variety of industries.

The programs are of little to no cost for Soldiers. For programs that do require funding, the Post 911 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill and Credentialing Assistance can help cover costs.

While not promised, Soldiers often receive employment offers while participating in the programs. Like Colts, they will have the ability to step out of their boots and into work shoes within a matter of weeks after leaving service. Which can also mean peace of mind for transitioning Soldiers who may worry about employment after military service.

“I wish they offered this program when I was getting out,” said Jude Marranco, a 20 plus-year Army military police veteran and division chief of Fort Jackson’s Army Continuing Education Services, or Education Center.

The program is interchangeable with skills learned through a military occupation specialty or a career that peaks a Soldier’s interests. While the main goal of the program is to set Soldiers up for as much success in a civilian career as they were in the military, reduce veteran homelessness, prevent veteran Families from living below poverty lines, but also ensures a Soldier gets a job in a career they really want.

There are two paths within the program – approved and individual programs. Approved programs are established programs that have been vetted and approved by Fort Jackson and include the Veteran Affairs Warrior Training Advancement Course and Hiring Our Heroes. For those with a specific interest outside of the approved programs, Soldiers can participate in the individual program such as one with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office.

“The only difference between the approved and individual program is the individual is allowed to pursue an opportunity that may be more in their interests but doesn’t fall into one of the approved programs,” said Shelby Hebing, an Education Center counselor who specializes in CSP. “We currently have someone doing an internship with Columbia Scuba because he wants to be an instructor and open his own business when he gets out. He will be able to sit for his Scuba Instructor Exam after he completes his CSP.”

Many industries are included in the program locally including the Troops to Firefighters, 9-1-1 dispatch operator and Training Concepts-Information Technology. Additional programs such as solar power, maintenance and repair, construction and extraction, heavy equipment, commercial drivers, and Heroes Corporate Fellowship Academy for management and office administration support are offered across the nation. For those interested in participating in program out of state can apply for Permissive Temporary Duty to attend.

More information about the industries and locations available can be found at https://home.army.mil/imcom/index.php/customers/career-skills-program. A Common Access Card will be needed to view the individual programs and to apply.

“It is the Soldier’s responsibility to figure out what they want to do and what company they want to work with,” Hebing said. “We give them the autonomy to make that decision for themselves. They will just need to get in contact with the point of contact for that program directly.”

A complete list of CSP managers and their contact information is found on the website.

Soldiers interested in participating in CSP will need to complete an application in addition to supporting documentation such as a participation memorandum signed by the Soldier’s chain of command, leave form, legal review, any company forms and a completed DD Form 2648 available through the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program.

Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, interested Soldiers are encouraged to visit the website or request an appointment with program coordinators Shelby Hebing and Vivian Grant at 751-5341.

“While our doors may be locked (to help reduce the spread of COVID-19),” Marranco said. “We are here and always open.”

Dog agility obstacle course installed as a part of Eagle Scout project

 

By Lisa Bishop, USAG Wiesbaden Public AffairsAugust 13, 2020

WEISBADEN, Germany – Dogs (and their owners) are the beneficiaries of Tyler Houk’s recently completed Eagle Scout project, a dog obstacle course at the dog park on Clay Kaserne at U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden.

“The whole point of the Eagle Scout project is to learn how to plan and use leadership skills,” he said. Houk, a high school senior, coordinated with the Directorate of Public Works and the Military Police K-9 unit for the planning and approval of the course.

He used a CAD program to design the course in consultation with the K-9 unit. The K-9 unit also donated one of the three course elements, the tunnel. The other two pieces, a ramp and platform, were built by volunteer scouts and adults on Aug, 12 under Houk’s supervision.

Jennifer Fligor’s dog, a golden retriever named Beau, was the first to test out the new course. “As an avid dog park goer, I am extremely happy the Scouts have undertaken this project to add the dog agility training pieces,” Fligor said. “Beau is always happy to go to the dog park but now there is an added bonus of some agility training as well.”

Jaime Nairn visited the park with her small dog, Korea. “I love it; she loves it,” Nairn said. “It gives her a bit of exercise and we have two German shepherds to bring over.”

Houk intentionally designed the course to be small-dog friendly, with a lower platform and a moderate rise to the ramp.

“I wanted to do something different that I haven’t seen before,” he said. “I thought the community would love it.”

Fligor added, “Thank you Eagle Scouts.”

Range Rappel

 

Marine Corps Sgt. Luke Kuennen rappels during training at East Range Training Complex, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2020.

Sea Sail

 

The USNS Allen Shepherd sails alongside the USS Ronald Reagan during a replenishment in the East China Sea, Aug. 10, 2020.

Airman Ammunition

 

Air Force Staff Sgt. Wellington Parraga hands off ammunition to an aircraft’s crew to load for training at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 22, 2020.

Sailor Squad

 

Sailors carry a missile on the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan in the East China Sea, Aug. 11, 2020.

U.S. Soldiers Arrive in Poland With COVID-19 Protocols in Place

 Aug. 13, 2020 | BY Army Staff Sgt. Scott Longstreet

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, are participating in Phase II of Exercise Defender-Europe 20 at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland.

The unit, based at Fort Hood, Texas, arrived in Poland July 16.

"We are here executing a deployment readiness exercise," said Army Lt. Col. Ron Sprang, the battalion commander. "We will execute a gunnery skills table ... to improve our lethality as an organization."

The "Iron Horse" brigade is scheduled to conduct gunneries and live fire exercises at various lower echelons, up to the company level, to enhance its capabilities. The training will culminate with a combined arms live-fire exercise.

"We are excited to interact with both the Polish military and other American units here supporting Defender 20," said Army Maj. Brandon Kennedy, battalion operations officer.

The training will allow the U.S. forces to integrate with their Polish-NATO Allies.

"Interoperability is key," Sprang said. "We all come from different nations with different equipment and backgrounds. It is critical that we develop skills in order to fight together and build that teamwork and cohesion so we can integrate our systems, our personnel, and be able to communicate effectively so we can fight as a bigger, more powerful team against anyone who will stand against us."

Service members implemented a thorough COVID-19 screening protocol, which included daily screening up to three times through temperature and symptoms checks, along with restriction-of-movement measures. All soldiers will be tested upon arriving at the training area, with periodic checks throughout training.

"We exercised mitigation measures long before we arrived here in Europe," Kennedy said. "We had these measures in place not only for these events upcoming, but to also continue to protect our families and our forces back at Fort Hood."

Defender-Europe 20 is designed as a deployment exercise to build strategic readiness in support of the U.S. National Defense Strategy and NATO deterrence objectives. In response to COVID-19, the exercise was modified in size and scope.

Phase I of the modified Defender-Europe 20 was linked to Exercise Allied Spirit, which took place at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, June 5-19, with about 6,000 U.S. and Polish soldiers. In Phase II of the modified exercise, a U.S.-based combined arms battalion is conducting an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise to Europe that began July 14 and ends Aug. 22.

(Army Staff Sgt. Scott Longstreet is assigned to U.S. Army Europe.)

Air Guard Wing Receives DOD's First UV Light Disinfectant System

 Aug. 13, 2020 | BY Air Force Master Sgt. Jessica Roles

Over the last several months, the world changed dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. American families were crushed with the responsibility of wearing face masks, practicing social distancing and keeping social activities to a minimum. While it is becoming easier to manage these new expectations, other preventive measures are being tested and discovered, adding to the health and safety of people around the globe.

The Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Airlift Wing, in coordination with the wing's innovation team, started the process to implement the Krypton Light Disinfection system. Working with FAR UV Technologies, a Missouri-based disinfectant technology company, the wing plans to install 50 UV lights throughout the campus and eventually innovate ways to use the light sources inside aircraft.

The company was awarded a $1 million contract to initiate the project with the wing. The goal of this partnership is to eventually encourage other units to purchase the same light system through accelerated means, officials said.The 189th Airlift Wing is the first Defense Department unit to use this system.

"About a month ago, we were running up on a deadline for wings to submit innovation ideas for a special round of government funding called special business innovation research," Air Force Maj. Justin Fitzpatrick, the 189th AW's innovation officer, said. "We weren't planning on going in for that, but the innovation team cold-called the company, and they got back to us."

"We seized the opportunity and used what they already did along with our own work to put this opportunity together," he continued. "We were only able to put this project together so quickly because of our close contacts with the Air National Guard innovation directors and our agile wing innovation structure."

The lights being installed may sound like a process already implemented in some facilities, but a difference in the amount of light used is what allows FAR UV Technologies' product to stand out, wing officials said. According to Far UV Technologies, this technology safely and effectively kills airborne or surface pathogens in occupied locations. This means that while on duty, airmen throughout the wing will have constant, additional protective measures in place to keep them safe and healthy.

"This will add an extra layer of protection in addition to our current risk mitigation strategies," Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Thomas DeGraff III, 189th AW senior flight surgeon and member of the Team DUCIMUS Think Tank group, said. "I see this as increasing exposure time to in-person interactions and decreasing the odds of viral exposure as well as decreasing the risk of infection. We don't have the medical peer-reviewed data to back that up 100 percent, but we do know that it kills pathogens and doesn't cause cancer or cataracts in humans."

The krypton light is a measure of ultraviolet light designed to eliminate surface and air pathogens while remaining safe for humans. The light, at 222 nanometers, does not penetrate human and animal skin or eyes, making it safe for everyday use. According to Dr. David Brenner, an independent safety expert from Columbia University Medical Center and subcontractor on the project, the lower exposure range is the key difference between the Krypton system and traditional UV sanitization systems, which can operate at up to 254 nanometers, damaging sensitive cells in the epidermis when used in occupied environments.

"Our advances represent a quantum leap forward in applied science because of our partnerships and represent a giant step for all of DOD," Fitzpatrick said.

(Air Force Master Sgt. Jessica Roles is assigned to the 189th Airlift Wing.)

Remains of Marines, Sailor from 15th MEU transferred to Dover AFB

 

Story by Staff Sgt. Kassie McDol, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The remains of seven Marines and a Sailor recovered Aug. 7 off the coast of San Clemente Island following a July 30 assault amphibious vehicle mishap were transferred Aug. 12 to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.

Six pallbearers of Marines and Sailors escorted each casket aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III bound for Dover AFB for final preparation for burial before being released to their families for final arrangements.

Transferred were:

Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona, California

Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello, California

Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (Fleet Marine Force) Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California

Pfc. Jack-Ryan Ostrovsky, 20, of Bend, Oregon

Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 22, of Harris, Texas

Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 18, of Portland, Oregon

Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside, California

The remains of Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 19, of New Braunfels, Texas, who also died in the AAV mishap July 30, were transferred to Dover AFB on Aug. 5 from MCAS Miramar.

The ages of the deceased have been updated, as a previous press release listed them incorrectly.

Gnem was posthumously advanced to the rank of petty officer third class and posthumously awarded his enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist qualification, having met the criteria set by the Navy for both before his death.

We ask that the privacy of the families be respected as they make final arrangements for their loved ones.

The cause of the July 30 incident is under investigation.

Imagery of the recovery efforts and transfer of remains will be available at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/15thmeurecovery.

Media should direct all queries to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Communication Strategy and Operations Office at kassie.mcdole@usmc.mil.

Fast Forward

 

Oregon Army National Guardsmen move towards their objective during training at Biak Training Center in Powell Butte, Ore., July 30, 2020.

Fiery Flare

 

Navy Seaman Stephen Otchere-Danso trips the wire for an M49A1 trip flare during training at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 11, 2020.

Misty Maneuver

 

An airman rappels out of an aircraft during training at Lake Theodore Roosevelt in Roosevelt, Ariz., Aug. 5, 2020.

Defender-Europe

 

An Army M1 Abrams tank fires at a target during Defender-Europe at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, August 11, 2020. The exercise was designed to build strategic readiness

National Defense Strategy Key to Force Restructuring

 Aug. 12, 2020 | BY TERRI MOON CRONK , DOD News

As the Defense Department looked at restructuring its forces in Europe, officials had to decide how a restructure would deal with today's threats as defined in the National Defense Strategy, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Hudson Institute today.

Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten said the NDS — which focuses on force lethality, increasing partners and allies, and reforming DOD — is a strategy "based on a threat."

When DOD looked at Europe, it had a series of priorities, he said:

• Whatever we do in Europe should improve our deterrent posture. 
• DOD must better engage with its allies across the European continent. 
• DOD needs to improve its partnership with NATO. 
• DOD must make sure its armed forces are ready and it could give more flexible options for deploying the force. 
• DOD must ensure it is true to its commitment to its service members and their families that are deployed in Europe.

"We are moving [some] forces back to the United States so we can improve readiness, and then deploy them back into Europe on a rotational basis and some other places in Europe to allow us to better be postured for the threat," the vice chairman said.
 
"You'll see Poland be a more active partner, you'll see Romania be a more active partner, [and] you'll see the Black Sea area more active because that's where we improve our deterrence versus Russia, which was [Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper's] No. 1 priority," Hyten said.

After the military is done with the restructure, the largest number of forces will still be in Germany, he said, calling Germany "a critical ally."

The secretary asked DOD to build a new joint warfighting concept and to have the first defined by the end of this year, Hyten said. 

The secretary also said to integrate the Army's focus on multidomain operation, the Air Force's focus on multidomain command and control, and the Navy's focus on fleet operations, the vice chairman said. "As we've looked at each of those, we started to build a joint warfighting concept," he added. 

"But it's really combined in … all the main command and control, because we have to be able to do it with our allies and partners too," he said.

"Because if we figured out how to do it in the United States, … since we do everything as a coalition, when we bring a coalition together, they have to understand how to fit in because we have to draw a line for them."

If DOD and its allies can do all of that together, the general said, it creates a huge advantage for the future joint combined force, and it will create huge challenges for competitors around the world to try to figure out how to deal with it. Hyten said that's the path DOD has been going down for a while, and it's starting to actually mature and come to fruition now. "It's pretty exciting to see," he said.

Allies and partners are probably DOD's biggest advantage in the world today, "and will be as far as I can see in the future," the vice chairman said.

"[We] want to make sure that when our allies come with us — whether they come with us in the air at sea on the land — that they have capabilities to allow them to interoperate with the tactical units they're falling in with."

The command and control relationship is going to be "critically important to build as we go forward," Hyten said.

MWD, handlers receive conflict management training

 

By Dani JohnsonAugust 12, 2020

ANSBACH, Germany (Aug. 11, 2020) – Soldiers and their military working dogs (MWD) received conflict management training Aug. 7 at Oberdachstetten Training Area to reduce the risk of avoidable safety events to the force and enable dog handlers to continue to successfully meet the mission.

Seven teams from Ansbach and three from Grafenwoehr received the daylong training that consisted of socialization exercises and classroom training on working dog psychology, instinctive drives and behavior, communication and canine body language, and canine stress management.

“Since October 2019, we have had a string of bites with the military working dogs with our Soldiers and a majority of them took place during kennel care when they would go into the kennels to clean or feed,” said Duane Stinson, MWD program manager, U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR), Wiesbaden. “Unfortunately at the MWD School at Lackland (Air Force Base, Texas), new dog handlers are not currently taught to read behavior. It might be briefly talked about but they don’t put any time teaching them to read behavior or go into really good communication between dogs and handlers.”

When the dog bite cases were looked at, the common denominator was that they could have been prevented if the Soldiers had been able to read canine behavior and communication signals, and could have seen what was coming and to react better to it, according to Stinson.

“We looked at the problem set. Between Maj. (Desireé) Broach, the veterinary behaviorist, and myself and 31K (military working dog handler) leaders here in Europe got together and developed a course to educate them (handlers),” Stinson said. “We developed the training and are traveling to all seven kennels in Europe to deliver seminars focused on stress management in the kennel environment and with the individual dogs and handlers how to manage their (MWD) stress. They are patrol dogs so they are trained to bite people and that is a very stressful task.

“They aren’t like police dogs that go home (with the police officer) and are part of a family unit,” he said. “Dogs are a social species, they don’t get to interact a lot and in the exercise they do fight with each other. This is the time to work through those issues and relieve the stress and anxiety that comes with the lack of dog-on-dog socialization.”

According to Broach, director and veterinary behaviorist, Veterinary Medical Center Europe, Kaiserslautern, there is lag time with what science says and what we currently practice. There is a knowledge gap to fill and handling practices that need to be updated.

“We trying to correct a problem with new information and are not saying the handlers are wrong,” said Broach. “We are saying that we have more information to make it safer for the handler and better for the dog.

“The original intent was we didn’t want them to socialize together because we wanted them (the MWDs) to be bonded to people,” the major said. “They will bond with people and dogs so it is not a reason to keep them from normal expressions of behavior and we’ve seen the adverse effects from suppressing their normal behaviors.”

The training is only offered in USAREUR, according to Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Barry, kennel master, 131st Military Police Detachment (MWD), 18th Military Police Brigade.

“We are trying to teach the handlers the importance of understanding what your dog is thinking and what your dog is doing to help make the right decisions,” said Barry. “You can understand and see the signs of how your dog is thinking and feeling.

“If you can read your dog you can see what is going to happen before it happens, such as you see him getting uncomfortable nervous or scared,” said the kennel master. “You can manipulate that dog to give him confidence and work through it or avoid it all together.”

In the socialization exercise, the handlers and MWDs walked to a flat lot and circled numerous times allowing the dogs to interact. All the dogs had muzzles on to prevent injuries and remained leashed.

To the normal person it will look like the dogs are fighting versus socializing.

“Getting them together in a safe manner is going to force you to watch their behaviors. When you are a bit more tense and vigilant your dog reacts to you,” said Broach. “How they react to other dogs together may surprise you. We want them to be dogs and interact but they may not know what to do because they have never had the opportunity.”

“It definitely opened my eyes,” said Sgt. Ian Long, Ansbach MWD Kennel non-commissioned officer in charge. “The dogs can be very anxious towards one another and we built that into them.”

Long knew his MWD, Kimbo, was anxious around people and dogs, and hopes this training will help socialize him more so they can focus on the mission.

The Ansbach MWD Kennel houses eight handler-dog teams dedicated to helping to safeguard Army installations and activities, to detect bombs and other explosives before they inflict harm and to deploy worldwide to support military and diplomatic missions

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Military Policeman rescues local national after rollover accident

 

By Keith PannellAugust 12, 2020

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Sgt. 1st Class Chad Bailey won’t call himself a hero. However, his actions may prove otherwise.

The U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Directorate of Emergency Services Military Police Investigations supervisor was travelling with his family on the L-529, near their amusement park destination Aug. 9 when brake lights in front of him suddenly lit up and traffic came to a sudden and screeching halt. That’s when Bailey saw a car, crunched at both ends and laying on its top on the opposite side of the road.

“I looked at my wife and she said, ‘Go!’ because she knew what I was doing,” Bailey said. “I opened the door and jumped out. I was wearing my bathing suit and one thing I remember is my wallet swinging back and forth really hard in my pocket as I ran forward. I had to reach down and hold it still so I could run.”

The scene Bailey ran up on was worse than he expected.

“The engine was still running, the tires were still spinning and smoke was rising from the engine compartment,” he said. “There were two people in the car, a man who was already out but very shook up and a female. Two other people tried to pull the female out but looked like they were afraid to touch her. She was struggling and very confused.”

After Bailey helped her the rest of the way out of the overturned Mercedes, she sat there in a disoriented state. He said he was trying to communicate to the German woman that she may be in danger, but it appeared his words weren’t getting through to her.

“I gave her about three seconds and told her, ‘We need to move’ and she wasn’t hearing me, so I finally said, ‘Auto go boom!’”

Bailey picked the woman up from behind with his arms under hers and dragged her to a shaded spot away from the wrecked car. Military Combat Lifesaver Course training kicked in and he checked her for injuries, of which he didn’t find anything obvious.

Bailey has been part of the garrison about 11 months as the MP Investigations supervisor. His skill in that job made him a natural for the head of Team Trace, which tracks down the contacts of those who have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Sgt. 1st Class Bailey has already made a name for himself within the garrison as the noncommissioned officer in charge of Team Trace operations,” said Maj. Chase Crabtree, DES director. “He’s a stellar individual and I’m not surprised he ran toward the danger. I’m blessed to have him.”

After monitoring the couple for a few minutes, the Polizei arrived and Bailey said he got back in his car and, when traffic started moving, he and his family went on to enjoy their day. The whole incident took less than 15 minutes, he said.

“I did lay in bed Sunday night wondering how that couple was doing,” Bailey said. “I’m glad it doesn’t appear anyone was hurt too badly.”

As for the cause of the accident, Bailey’s investigation training led him to a couple of possibilities, but rather than speculate, he’s leaving that up to the host nation investigators to officially determine.

Brooke Army Medical Center Offers 'Last Line of Defense' Against COVID-19

 Aug. 12, 2020 | BY Elaine Sanchez , Brooke Army Medical Center

Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is expanding its use of a highly specialized treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, is a heart-lung bypass intervention that is proving to be lifesaving for some COVID-19 patients.

"ECMO is often the last line of defense for the most critically ill patients with severe pulmonary disease," said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Patrick Osborn, BAMC's deputy commander for surgical services. "Whether due to COVID-19 or another condition, ECMO provides a life-support option that can potentially save lives when all other options are exhausted."

BAMC, one of the few local facilities that offer the treatment, is providing up to one-third of the ECMO capability for the San Antonio area's most severely ill residents, veterans and military beneficiaries suffering from the virus.

"As much as able, BAMC is easing the burden on local health care resources by admitting civilian ECMO patients," Osborn said.

ECMO Explained

This treatment, which requires a multidisciplinary team of specially trained medical personnel, is used in the intensive care unit when a patient experiences heart or lung failure. The ECMO machine removes blood from central vessels in a patient's body, circulates it through an artificial lung, oxygenates it, and delivers the blood back into the bloodstream. In essence, it replaces the natural functions of the heart and lungs, allowing the treatments to help heal the affected organs.. 

"ECMO is not a treatment for any specific disease," said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Phillip Mason, medical director for BAMC's adult ECMO program. "It works by keeping critically ill patients alive and buying time for us to address their underlying condition. In some cases, we can reduce a patient's chance of dying from 80 to 90 percent down to 30 to 40 percent. While 30 to 40 percent is still high, it represents a significant improvement and translates into many lives saved."

Established in October 2012, BAMC's adult ECMO center is the only one in the Defense Department, and it remains one of the few centers with global air transportable ECMO capability. The multiservice ECMO team has traveled as far as Iraq and Afghanistan to pick up service members in need of the treatment.

While taking care of military beneficiaries is BAMC's primary mission, the organization is able to support civilian ECMO patients through a special Defense Department program. The experience gained ensures the ECMO team sustains the skills required to mobilize worldwide to treat and transport patients back to BAMC, Osborn said.

COVID-19 Care

Due to the highly specialized personnel, training and equipment required to care for ECMO patients, BAMC typically could treat only up to four patients at any given time prior to the outbreak. In recent weeks, the hospital has expanded its capability and is treating up to nine patients at a time, most of whom are battling COVID-19. 

An ECMO team carefully considers the treatment after other lifesaving measures, such as oxygen therapy or a ventilator, have proven ineffective.

"The vast majority of the critical care community believes that ECMO is effective as a rescue therapy for respiratory failure that does not respond to conventional therapies," Mason noted. 

BAMC is also part of a multinational observational trial of ECMO's use for COVID-19. The trial should help to reveal evidence-based proof of the treatment’s effectiveness, but that's further down the line, Mason said. 

"While COVID is a complex disease affecting many organ systems, its primary manifestation is respiratory failure, so there is at least some reason to believe ECMO will be effective," he said, noting the treatment is often used for other viral respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.

We have the highest highs and the lowest lows. But each life saved is incredibly rewarding for us and a testament to the importance of this treatment.''

Air Force Col. (Dr.) Phillip Mason, BAMC Adult ECMO Program

With the program in place for nearly a decade, BAMC's COVID-19 team is accustomed to working closely with local hospitals in the event a patient may be a candidate for ECMO. This collaboration has stepped up in recent months, creating a larger influx of patients. 

To expand capacity to meet the growing community need, BAMC called on its ECMO team to train additional nurses and technicians on the equipment, while also leaning on personnel from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, which is housed in the hospital, to assist. 

"With the support of the ISR we have been able to expand our ECMO capacity significantly," said Army Maj. (Dr.) Michal Sobieszczyk, staff physician, interventional pulmonology and critical care medicine. "The BAMC and ISR bedside nurses have been instrumental in making the ECMO mission a success."

Lifesaving Treatment

ECMO may be a last resort for COVID-19 patients, but one that has proved lifesaving for many. Sobieszczyk recalled one recent patient in his late 20s who was placed on ECMO twice — once for COVID-19 pneumonia, from which he recovered, and the second time for a bacterial pneumonia and sepsis.  

"He required a high level of support and came close to dying several times," Sobieszczyk said. "Fortunately, he was able to be weaned off ECMO and his [breathing tubes were removed] earlier this week." 

As a last-resort measure, ECMO is a high-stakes endeavor, Mason noted.

"We have the highest highs and the lowest lows," Mason said. "But each life saved is incredibly rewarding for us and a testament to the importance of this treatment."

ECMO is just one line of defense against COVID-19, but one that BAMC is proud to offer to its beneficiaries and the community, Sobieszczyk said. 

"The ECMO team is honored to support the community during this pandemic," he said. "Not only are we able to help the civilian population, but at the same time use this as an opportunity to enhance our mission readiness. It gives everyone a sense of purpose and mission, something we all strive for in the military."

(Elaine Sanchez is assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center.)

Medics Train at Ramstein for COVID-19 Response

Aug. 12, 2020 | BY AIR FORCE STAFF SGT. KIRBY TURBAK , 86th Airlift Wing

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have adapted to and overcome an array of unanticipated situations. Medics within the Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany have done, and continue to do, just that. On July 14, members of the Air Mobility Command arrived at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to teach local medical instructors how to respond to a number of situations that could happen with a negatively pressured conex, a device used to safely transport passengers and medical personnel in the midst of a viral outbreak.

"We have a large group of individuals coming together from the 86th Medical Group and the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron to form a COVID-19 team," Air Force Capt. JD Pilger, 86th AES interim training flight commander, said. The training equips the Europe-based trainers to implement the U.S. Air Forces in Europe for movement of patients for U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, he added. 

While there hasn't been a large demand for NPC teams within Europe, military medics know it's best to be prepared.

"There's not a huge demand within Eucom currently, but we're training, getting ready so if there is a demand, we're ready to go," Pilger said. "There's not going to be any delay, we'll be able to start moving patients Day One."

Building up and preparing these teams is important. COVID-19 may not be the only global pandemic they are called on to combat.

"Going forward, we can use these units for potential outbreaks like Ebola and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, which have a higher mortality rate," Pilger said. "It's important to maintain our NPC protocols for anything else in the future."

The AMC instructors ran the medics through the gamut of real-life scenarios.

"We covered around 15 different scenarios today," Pilger said. "Anywhere from a patient emergency, where they have a cardiac arrest and we're having to perform lifesaving maneuvers to bring them back, [to] a personal protective equipment breach and we have to decontaminate ourselves so we don't get infected."

Fighting COVID-19 is an all-hands-on-deck fight, and it's important for medics from different units to be able to work as a single team, Pilger noted.

"We had a great job with everyone coming together," Pilger said. "We've come together communicating and coordinating. We'll be ready to start taking live patients if the demand is there."

Warbird Carrier

 

The USS Essex transports vintage military aircraft into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2020. The aircraft will take part in events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Close-up Pups

 

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Cheyenne Morgan plays with some puppies during a command-sponsored community relations event at the Souda Animal Shelter, Souda Bay, Greece, Aug. 8, 2020. Sailors helped out around the shelter by performing yardwork and socializing with the dogs.

Above Japan

 

F-16 Fighting Falcons fly in a four-ship formation behind a KC-135 Stratotanker above Japan, July 31, 2020.