Denver MEPS is 'freedom's front door'

by Airman Emily E. Amyotte
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

3/7/2014 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  -- There are plenty of movies depicting boot camp where tentative faces pile out from a bus into the grasp of screaming drill sergeants, are put through strenuous physical and mental tasks, and over the timeframe of a couple months are transformed into basically trained and proficient military members. But the onboarding process it takes to get those faces onto the bus in the first place is as equally crucial for success.

The Denver Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS, is one of 65 total MEPS locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico responsible for reviewing and processing the men and women who aim to be the future of the U.S. Armed Forces. Though geographically separated, Denver MEPS gains support services from Buckley Air Force Base as one of 84 Buckley base partners.

Since the mid-1950's, the Denver MEPS has dedicated itself to ensure that the quality of applicants are suitable for military service.

"We are the gateway into the military," said U.S. Army Capt. Jennifer Bray, Denver MEPS assistant operations officer. "We uphold Department of Defense standards in order to provide quality applicants to all military branches."

Last year, there were more than 6,000 applicants who processed through the Denver MEPS from both Colorado and Wyoming in anticipation of being sent off to begin their military careers.

For many of the prospective recruits, the MEPS experience is their first introduction to military life.

"We really are the first impression that most folks get of the military," said U.S. Navy Lt. Joseph Abdullah, Denver MEPS operations officer. "We definitely aim to provide a professional environment that's conducive to entering a new profession."

The Denver MEPS aims to change the tradition of uncomfortable, long hours and feelings of being herded through the process like cattle. Recruits may sit in the break room to watch TV, enjoy free Wi-Fi or share their excitement for the future with others while waiting for their turn to process.

"We aim to provide 'red-carpet treatment' to all applicants, recruiters and family members that come through the Denver MEPS," Abdullah said. "It's our primary goal."

Recruits go through testing on mental aptitude, physical ability, and moral readiness while at the Denver MEPS. The applicants' results are reviewed and held to the DOD Instruction and service-specific standards, determining if they are fully qualified for U.S. military service.

"Our goal is to efficiently process quality applicants out to the services," Bray said.

With representatives from all branches of the military, along with civilian employees working to build the future of the military, the Denver MEPS employs a highly competent, technical and motivated team of professionals.

Lt. Col. Keith Collier, Denver MEPS commander, is "dual-hatted" as the commander of the Denver MEPS and the 3rd MEPS Battalion. The Denver MEPS is the battalion headquarters for five MEPS locations that includes the Denver MEPS, Salt Lake City MEPS, Albuquerque MEPS, Boise MEPS and Butte MEPS. It covers the largest geographic area out of all MEPS Battalions.

Once applicants complete their processing at the Denver MEPS, after their lengthy process of aptitude tests, medical examinations, and processing, they are ready to become one of those wide-eyed, new recruits who will one day put on the coveted uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Battaglia Honors Service Members, Families for Adaptability

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 10, 2014 – The military’s top enlisted leader praised service members and their families at Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Va., March 7 for their professionalism, flexibility and tenacity during a time of impending change for the Defense Department.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke during Air Combat Command’s annual awards dinner, where he lauded troops for their service and their families for their unwavering commitment.

“I just want to say how tremendously proud we are of the service members and civilian workforce that comprise our total force,” he said.

Also, Battaglia said, it takes a very special family to endure the frequent and lengthy separations and household moves inherent in military life, especially while shouldering hardships awaiting the return of loved ones.

“We hope you share our excitement and pride that our military family is the heart and soul of our force,” he said, leading a round of applause for military spouses in attendance.

While families are the military’s heart and soul, the sergeant major said, “our serving men and women stand tall as the center of gravity.”

“Despite the impending changes to our force,” he said, alluding to uncertainty in the defense budget and the nation’s transition from a 13-year wartime footing. “We’ll forge through it and adapt to upgrades and modernization. It may sting, but we shoulder a duty and responsibility to our country and its citizens.”

Some areas of change, such as pay and compensation, may take a little longer to return to normal than others, Battaglia said, but the military’s leaders hope to do this just once.

“Our professionalism, tenacity and moral obligation will see us through,” he said. “We can never forget that we are a loyal, patriotic and professional organization our society respects and admires, and an organization that many nations, in fact, envy.”

The senior enlisted advisor said each service member -- no matter their rank or status -- has attained the credentials and privilege to proudly wear the uniform, earning their coveted title of soldier, sailor, airman or Marine. He said it is “professionally humbling” and that he feels “very fortunate” leading and representing a force of more than 2 million enlisted men and women -- active duty, Reserve and National Guard -- and their families.

Battaglia provided an overview of the challenges that lie ahead for the department, troops and their families.

“It should be no surprise to anyone here that as we have returned forces from Iraq and continue to methodically redeploy forces from Afghanistan, we are also restructuring and reshaping our total force,” Battaglia said. “Like we have after every major conflict, readjustment in personnel and equipment comes as part of that post-conflict cycle.”

While the armed forces may be leaner tomorrow than they are today, Battaglia said, they will remain ready, relevant, trained, poised and postured to meet any emergent requirement as the president directs to defend the nation.

The sergeant major said every service and component will be reshaped in some manner, but there will be a slight build-up in cyber warriors and special operations forces.

“You know the capability they bring,” Battaglia said. “Cyber is certainly a viable and current challenge to our country’s security. Freedom is not free.”

The sergeant major noted that the fiscal challenges the nation faces will affect the armed forces as well.

“It shows us from multiple perspectives that war, through all phases, comes with a cost,” he said. “We have some state-of-the-art equipment and technology that has allowed our forces to not only defeat our enemy … but prevent and avoid engagement partly because of advanced technology.”

Battaglia said he uses “freedom is not free” means that keeping adversaries out of reach comes with a monetary cost to supply operational forces. But more importantly, he said, freedom comes with a human cost: the lives of service members who gallantly have given their full devotion.

With the sacrifices of those serving over the last 13 years, Battaglia said, “no dollar amount can be placed to that price.”

“It is one of the sacrifices that every one of you who have sworn the oath carries with you each day,” he added. “On any given day, you are prepared to support and defend [it] at all costs.”

Battaglia acknowledged more than 90 award nominees “who have gone the full mile, and a handful within that group who happened to go even a little further.”

“All of them,” he said, are “honorable in their actions and courageous in their hearts. They are the members of our team who have set a fine example [with] not only their past performance, but rather their future potential.”

Knowledge Base Offers ‘Umbrella’ of DOD Information

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 10, 2014 – Whether it’s how to replace a lost military service medal, ship a package to overseas troops or get the details of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, there’s a good chance the Defense Department’s Knowledge Base will have the answers.

A DOD information tool to answer public inquiries, the database offers about 18 pages of 180 Defense questions and answers that address the hottest topics of public concern, said Nancy Kuck, a public affairs specialist working in community and public outreach for the office of the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.

“We are an avenue to ask questions,” Kuck said of the Knowledge Base.

Anyone can use the database, and Kuck encourages people to first look at Knowledge Base’s frequently asked questions to find the information they need. If the answer to a question is not listed, information-seekers can submit questions and receive electronic responses.

If the staff of three full-time employees doesn’t know the answer to a question, they will research a topic and find the answer, Kuck said. The staff answers more than 40,000 inquiries a year submitted through the Knowledge Base and by letters, emails and phone calls, she said.

Two of the most popular questions are how to replace an identification card, and how to obtain a DD 214, the certificate of release or discharge from active duty, she said.

Additionally, if Kuck’s office sees a trend in questions or concerns -- such as last year’s furlough, -- the staff researches and gathers the information for posting on the Knowledge Base so it’s readily available to the public, she said.

The Knowledge Base is “the big umbrella” of DOD information, although some questions are military service-specific, Kuck said, noting that directly contacting the appropriate branch of service is sometimes faster to get an answer.

“If it’s service-specific, we encourage people to go to them, because they would know more than we would,” she said. The public will find contact information for various organizations at http://www.defense.gov/landing/comment.aspx, she added.

“Our team does its best to address the questions and concerns of the general public,” Kuck said, “because they have a voice, and we are there to answer them,”

U.S. Continues to Aid Search for Missing Malaysian Airliner

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 10, 2014 – The United States continues to assist the Malaysian government in the search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared the night of March 8 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing.

The USS Pinckney and USS Kidd - Arleigh Burke-class destroyers - are on station in the Gulf of Thailand conducting search-and-rescue operations, Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters today.

The ships are using a "creeping-line” search method, Warren said. The Pinckney investigated a possible debris field yesterday, he added, but it was not the missing aircraft.

Two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters are flying off the ships to aid the search, using forward-looking infrared pods to search at night. A P-3 Orion from Kadena Air Base, Japan, also is being employed in the search, Warren said. The Orion, operating in the western search area, brings long-range search, radar and communications capabilities to the efforts. It can loiter about nine hours at a time.

In addition, the USNS John Ericsson, a fleet replenishment oiler, is providing logistics support for the U.S. effort.

American ships are working with ships from Malaysia, China and Singapore in the search effort.

Air traffic controllers lost the signal about two hours after the Boeing 777-200 airliner took off with 239 people aboard.

Earlier reports of an oil slick in the Gulf of Thailand proved to not be from the aircraft, Malaysian aviation officials in Kuala Lumpur told reporters today.

Answering the call: Joint Task Force-Bravo's 1-228th Aviation Regiment battles blaze in Honduras, protects villages

by U.S. Air Force Capt. Zach Anderson
Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs

3/8/2014 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- When U.S. Army Sgt. Kelly Steckler first heard about the fire during the afternoon of March 4, he didn't quite believe it.

"We were out at the aircraft doing maintenance and were told there was a fire and we needed to get ready for firefighting operations," said Steckler. "At first I didn't think it was serious, but then I quickly realized this was the real deal."

Steckler, a standardization instructor and crew chief assigned to Alpha Company, 1-228th Aviation Regiment, quickly made his way to a briefing room where planning was underway for a real-world Bambi bucket operation to combat a fire that was threatening local Honduran villages.

"We got a call that the Hondurans were frantically requesting our assistance to put out a fire that was rapidly approaching the main highway between Comayagua and Tegucigalpa and was threatening some towns," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. E.J. Irvin, 1-228th Aviation Regiment Commander. "The fire was growing, and it was spreading much faster than it could be contained."

Running a Bambi bucket operation, during which aircrews use a collapsible bucket to pick up water and drop it on a fire, is nothing new for the aircrews of the 1-228th, and within an hour a UH-60 Blackhawk had already dropped two full buckets, more than 900 gallons of water, on the blaze.

But then, a new element of risk was added to the mission: It got dark.

"No one in the unit was qualified to fly Bambi bucket operations using night vision goggles (NVGs)," said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Justin Roland, a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot assigned to Alpha Company, 1-228th Aviation Regiment. "So when it got too dark we had to put the helicopter down in a landing zone. The other aircrew arrived and we began the process of qualifying to fly the mission under goggles."

To accomplish this, pilots and crew members had to "self-start" and qualify on the spot to fly the mission.

"When no one is qualified, we can take a standardization instructor and instructor pilots and essentially qualify ourselves," said Steckler. "We get out there and we do the task and we see what works, what doesn't work, and then create the standard for accomplishing that task on the fly. At this time, we were doing a real mission on top of self-starting, so things were pretty intense."

Once the pilot and crew chiefs had qualified for the night flying task, the mission resumed, now with the aircrews assuming the heightened risk of flying under NVGs while maneuvering with the full Bambi bucket attached to the helicopter.

"When full, that bucket holds about 4,000 pounds of water," said Irvin, who was flying the second aircraft at the scene of the fire. "It's a challenge when you are getting water from the lake, because even in daylight there are no references to hover when you are over the water. That is compounded at night because there are no references and it's extremely dark. So we were flying in the dark with low illumination, over water, and on the verge of maximum power pulling the water from the lake."

But these weren't the only dangers the aircrews were facing when battling the blaze.

"Flying under goggles with the brightness of the fire is a difficult task," said Roland. "The intensity of that light can shut down the NVGs. We had to think about how we were going to approach the fire to make sure we weren't blinding ourselves when we went in."

To mitigate this risk, Irvin said the pilots approached the mission from the east to the west in order to get more black reference and not come straight into the high intensity light.

Following this plan of attack, the two Blackhawks made continuous trips back and forth to a nearby lake, flying through the darkness and dropping more than 10,000 gallons of water onto the raging flames below. Finally, after almost four hours of nonstop aerial firefighting, the fire was extinguished and the helicopters were able to return to base.

Steckler said being a part of an operation that went above and beyond in helping those in need was a special experience.

"Knowing that we have this capability, and being able to reach out and help like we did, it just serves to strengthen the great relationship we have with Honduras," said Steckler.

Roland agreed.

"One of the reasons I wanted to be here was to be a part of real-world missions to help people," said Roland. "Once you get that call and you are able to help out people in need, it's an incredible feeling that I really can't even put into words."

For his part, Irvin said he is extremely proud of how his regiment responded to the challenge at hand and overcame challenges and risks in order to help the people of Honduras.

"They asked for our help and we had the ability to respond and provide that help. Anything we can do, anything we can give, we are going to do it. In this instance, it's a good feeling to know that we were able to help someone, potentially save someone's home, maybe saved their town, and stopped a fire that could have gotten out of control very quickly. It's something very special."

Face of Defense: Skills, Composure Earn Crucial Position

By Marine Corps Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr.

31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

ABOARD USS DENVER AT SEA, Mar. 10, 2014 – Marine Corps Cpl. Josh Fenstermaker is a data technician for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Command Element, but he currently serves as the data communications chief aboard USS Denver, one of three ships deployed with the USS Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group.

He holds this billet of responsibility, normally reserved for a staff noncommissioned officer, because of his exceptional skills and composure, said Marine Corps 1st Lt. Richard G. Sykes, the command element’s communications platoon commander for the CE

“He is a poised and confident individual -- he doesn’t get unsettled,” said Sykes, a St. Louis native. “He’s never too hot, never too cold, and he doesn’t let things bother him. That’s what you need from that supervisory position.”

Since boarding the ship and assuming the role of data chief, Fenstermaker has supervised a team in the creation of a data network that supports hundreds of Marines and sailors from all four elements of the 31st MEU’s Marine Air Ground Task Force. It is through his response to the operational demands across the task force, often from Marines superior in rank, that Fenstermaker demonstrates his composure.

The demands of being chief have added challenges to an already complicated job. A data technician’s normal duties include building servers, imaging hard drives, running cables, managing accounts, troubleshooting and more. But Fenstermaker said he never has viewed his regular duties as difficult.

“[Being a data technician] isn’t hard in itself. It’s a matter of effort,” the Columbus, Ohio, native said. “If you care about your work, it can be easy.”

Making the work look easy has earned Fenstermaker a reputation among the Marines in the communications platoon. It is common practice for the data technicians to refer Marines with complicated issues to Fenstermaker. And if they are having trouble solving issues on their own, they turn to him.

“He is the most knowledgeable Marine we have when it comes to anything data-related,” said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael A. Degregorio, a data technician and a native of Merrimack, N.H. “If we go to him, the problem always gets resolved.”

Fenstermaker is beginning his fourth deployment as a part of the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region. Building and maintaining data communications at sea as a leader of Marines, the 26-year-old Marine said he has come a long way from installing cable in Columbus.

Firefighters get refresher on crash recovery rescue of vintage aircraft

by Airman 1st Class Chris Drzazgowski
355 Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/7/2014 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ.  -- Members of the 355th Fire Emergency Services flight engaged in crash recovery rescue training on the flightline here Feb. 27.

The training was in preparation for the several different aircraft that attended this year's Heritage Flight as well as those that will be present for D-M's open house in April.

"The training provides members of the FES flight with information on how to rescue the pilots from the warbirds," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Lumbreras, 355th FES flight deputy fire chief.

There were various aircraft at D-M during the Heritage Flight to include the F-86E Sabre, P-40 Warhawk and P-38 Mustang.

In case of an emergency, the pilot and passenger need to be removed from the cockpit as quickly as possible. Therefore, the FES flight needed to have an up close and personal look at each individual aircraft to insure they had a clear understanding of the extrication process.

"By and large the vintage aircraft do not have the electronic canopy releases and push-button controls that modern day aircraft have," Lumbreras said. "So, the firefighters have to know how to manually open the canopy to rescue the aircrew. Our crews do not typically work around fighter planes equipped with props. The time to learn these hazards is before the call for help, not during the emergency."

Aside from the differences in canopy releases, the priorities of the FES flight never change.

"There really isn't any difference in what we need to know and the level of training we receive," Lumbreras said. "Whether it's an A-10 or a P-51, we still need to know how to fight fire, cheat death and save lives."

The FES flight is always ready for any emergency no matter what circumstances.

"The Davis-Monthan Fire Emergency Services flight is always ready to take care of business," Lumbreras said. "Our vehicles, equipment and training are world class. There is always something new to learn and there is always a different way of doing something. We never stop training."

DOD official discusses nuclear deterrence in Congress

by Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

3/10/2014 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Defense Department's nuclear deterrent is the ultimate protection for the United States while also assuring distant allies of their security against regional aggression, a senior Pentagon official told Congress March 7.

Elaine Bunn, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy told the Senate Armed Services Committee's strategic forces subcommittee that while Defense Department modernization goals largely have not changed since 2010, some adjustments are on the horizon.

One such change, she reported, involves the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty force structure.

"The administration is considering how to reduce non-deployed strategic delivery vehicles to comply with the limits of the new START treaty by February 2018," she said. "And we will make a final force structure decision and inform Congress prior to the start of fiscal year 2015."

Bunn expressed concern about Russian activity that appears to be inconsistent with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

"We've raised the issue with Russia," she told the senators. "They provided an answer that was not satisfactory to us, and we told them that the issue is not closed."

With regard to recent ethical issues involving Air Force and Navy nuclear personnel, Bunn noted that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has created both internal and external special review panels.

"Those reviews are not about assigning blame," she said. "They're about identifying, assessing, and correcting any systemic deficiencies that we may uncover and in applying the best practices for carrying out our nuclear mission across the nuclear force."

Bunn also said the recently released 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review makes clear the key role of nuclear forces in the DOD strategy.

"It ... supports our ability to project power by communicating to potential nuclear-armed adversaries that they cannot escalate their way out of failed conventional aggression," Bunn said.

The department's budget request for fiscal 2015 supports DOD's nuclear policy goals as laid out in the 2010 nuclear posture review, in President Barack Obama's June 2013 nuclear employment strategy, and in the 2014 QDR, she added.

As a result, Bunn reported, Pentagon officials will continue to ensure that the current and future administrations have suitable options for deterring, responding to, and managing a diverse range of situations, including regional deterrence challenges.

"We continue to work closely with our allies, some of whom live in very dangerous neighborhoods, to ensure continuing confidence in our shared national security goals, including assurance of our extended nuclear deterrence commitments," she told the Senate panel.

Critical to maintaining a safe, secure and effective force is the preservation of the nuclear triad: strategic bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, Bunn said.