Defense budget proposal includes big changes for Tinker reserve units

by Maj. Jon Quinlan
507th Air Refueling Wing public affairs

3/10/2014 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla, -- Proposed Air Force structure changes resulting from the Department of Defense fiscal 2015 budget could result in big changes to reserve units here.

If enacted into law, the DOD budget request would direct an increase of four KC-135R Stratotankers to the 507th Air Refueling Wing and inactivate the 513th Air Control Group, whose personnel fly and maintain the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System.

"These force structure changes are significant, but they ensure the Air Force Reserve remains an integrated, flexible and combat-ready force," said Brig. Gen. William "Buck" Waldrop, director of plans, programs, requirements and assessments for Air Force Reserve Command.

The increase of four KC-135R's would bring the 507th ARW from eight to 12 total aircraft. The 507th went from 12 aircraft down to eight last year as a result of force structure changes from 2013 Department of Defense strategic guidance.

The 513th ACG is the only reserve unit that performs the AWACS mission. They are currently partnered with the active duty 552nd Air Control Wing in a classic association construct. The active duty unit maintains control of the E-3 Sentry aircraft while reservists from the 513th ACG provide qualified crews to fly with them. The inactivation of the 513th means the AWACS mission will continue with the active duty force solely flying all the required missions.

"The vast majority of our people serve locally on a part-time basis, and force structure changes pose significant challenges for reservists," said Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, commander of Air Force Reserve Command. "I will ensure that reserve leaders at every level are doing everything they can to help reservists through the transition."

The overall proposed authorized end strength for the Air Force Reserve in fiscal year 2015 is expected to decrease 4.7 percent from 70,400 to 67,100 authorized reservists. Specific manning number changes for reserve units at Tinker are not yet known.

"We understand the Air Force has to make tough choices in an extremely difficult fiscal environment. The inactivation of the 513th is part of these tough choices," said Col. David Robertson, 513th Air Control Group commander. "We currently have 345 citizen Airman in our unit who support and operate the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System. These citizen airmen have extended America's global power worldwide for over 15 years. Most of them work and live in the local Oklahoma communities and have for most of their career. Until the proposal is enacted into law, we will continue to perform our command and control mission while staying committed and focused on the future of our Airmen."

Some of those members in the 513th ACG could transfer to other reserve units if the 513th inactivates. Air Force Reserve Command will operate a clearinghouse to assist affected reservists in finding new assignments.

The annual fiscal 2013 estimated economic impact summary showed the total economic impact of the 513th ACG to Oklahoma was $32,901,438. That figure included an annual payroll of $17,807,519, local annual expenditures at $1,108,623 and dollar value of jobs created at $13,985,296. However, the possible loss of that economic impact to Oklahoma may be lessened by increases in other units or missions.

507th ARW staff agencies and 507th Mission Support Group administratively support reservists in the 513th ACG. That role is expected to continue regardless of other force structure changes.

"Our fellow reservists in the 513th ACG play a huge role in the defense of our nation providing quality command and control," said Col. Brian Davis, 507th ARW commander. "We stand ready to serve those reservists who may need assistance if this transition happens and we may have opportunities in our unit as Airmen look to transfer."

While the 513th ACG may shut down operations, the adjustment of the reserve mission at Tinker means more KC-135Rs in the 507th ARW and leadership is embracing this move.

"Our team looks forward to the possibility of more KC-135 'iron' on our ramp. The increase in aircraft will enhance our daily air refueling and alert mission capability," Col. Davis said. "The Air Force Reserve and this unit are very efficient and that will ultimately help as the Air Force maintains a smaller yet more capable force for today and the future."

The 507th ARW is currently authorized 1,010 positions and with the increase of four aircraft they anticipate total authorizations for the unit may increase although the exact numbers are not yet known. The fiscal 2013 estimated economic impact summary showed the total economic impact of the 507th ARW to Oklahoma to be $110,233,971.

AFRC announces 940th Wing to gain KC-135s

by Dana Lineback
940th Wing Public Affairs

3/10/2014 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Department of Defense budget request for fiscal year 2015 includes a major change for the 940th Wing here.

The Air Force Reserve Command confirmed today that proposed changes for the Air Force Reserve structure include the addition of eight KC-135R Stratotankers to the reserve wing's mission set.

"That's welcomed news," said Col. Kevin Cavanagh, 940th Wing commander. "We've been through a few difficult years of budget and manning uncertainties. We're extremely happy at the prospect of gaining the tankers."

The unit is one of only three across the command slated to add a mission under the force structure changes Air Force officials presented to Congress this week.

"Whenever possible the Air Force leveraged opportunities to rebalance personnel and force structure into the Reserve Component. For that reason, at most Reserve Component locations where we divested aircraft, we replaced existing flying missions with a new mission and preserved the majority of the manpower to ease the transition," said Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James, in an Air Force website article posted today.

The 940th Wing, a classic associate unit at Beale, has provided command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as mission support, since July 2009. This past fiscal year, the wing's two intelligence squadrons were realigned under a new intelligence group. The reserve unit's Global Hawk squadron is still slated for deactivation in September.

Historically, the 940th Wing flew the KC-135 Stratotanker for more than three decades until the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission re-missioned the unit. An air refueling wing since 1977, the unit moved from Mather AFB, Calif., to McClellan AFB, Calif., in 1993, and then here in 1998.

The Air Force's proposed FY15 force structure plan balances capability, readiness and capacity and prioritizes global, long-range capabilities and multi-role platforms required to operate in a highly contested environment, according to Air Force officials.

The proposed force structure changes ensure the Air Force Reserve remains an integrated, flexible and combat-ready force, said Brig. Gen. William "Buck" Waldrop, director of plans, programs, requirements and assessments for Air Force Reserve Command.

"The men and women of the 940th Wing are proud to continue a heritage of dedicated service to our nation here in Northern California," said Cavanagh. "The Reserve Command's proposal to bring the tankers back to this unit is a testament to the outstanding community support for this base and recognition of the commitment of the citizen airmen who serve here, along with their families and civilian employers."

Budget: Colorado Reserve wing would lose four C-130s, active duty association

by 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/10/2014 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  -- The Air Force force structure proposal for fiscal year 2015 includes a decrease of four assigned aircraft for the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing and the end of the wing's association with the active duty 52nd Airlift Squadron.

The proposal would decrease wing's inventory from 12 to eight C-130H3 aircraft. This reduction is part of the Air Force's plan to realign its overall C-130 inventory.

"We will continue to train, fly and deploy -- keeping in perspective this is a proposal in the very beginning stage," said Col. Courtney J. Arnold, 302nd AW commander.

The defense budget proposal also calls for the association with the 52nd AS which began in October of 2009 to end. During the nearly five-year association the approximately 200- member 52nd AS has become fully operational capable and fully integrated its training and flying operations, aircraft maintenance and aerial port with the Reserve wing.

"We have a mission today," said Lt. Col. Jason Terry 52nd AS commander. "We will continue to integrate with the 302nd AW and meet our nation's airlift requirements."

Challenging rescue mission provides inspiration for children's book

by Master Sgt. Luke Johnson
943rd Rescue Group Public Affairs

3/10/2014 - DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  -- A challenging, multi-day mission in the backcountry of Alaska tested the limits of one U.S. Air Force rescue team and provided the inspiration for a unique, nonfiction children's book.

During the summer of 2010, the Alaska Air National Guard was tasked to rescue a family after their plane crash-landed high on a remote Alaskan glacier during blizzard conditions.

An HH-60 Pave Hawk and an HC-130 Hercules quickly launched to provide assistance. Once overhead, they attempted to drop emergency supplies to the survivors below. Unfortunately, hurricane-force winds blew each of the bundles down the glacier and the packages disappeared into crevasses.

The Guardian Angel team on the Pave Hawk helicopter consisted of a Combat Rescue Officer, Maj. Jesse Peterson, and three Pararescuemen; Senior Master Sgt. Alan Lankford, Master Sgt. Christopher Uriarte and Tech. Sgt. Angel Santana. These Airmen, specially trained in rescue and recovery operations, knew the survivors needed assistance quickly. They volunteered to pack emergency supplies into sleds, land beneath the storm and ski upwards towards the family in distress.

"Initially, we estimated it would take six to eight hours to cover the four miles up to the crash site," said Peterson, now assigned to the 306th Rescue Squadron at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

It ended up taking the men nearly twenty-four hours of constant climbing to get there. Tied together for safety, they avoided crevasses in pitch black, whiteout conditions and overcame numerous challenges during their ascent.

Peterson, an experienced endurance athlete, compared it to "competing in two Ironman triathlons back-to-back. It was the most physically challenging event we had ever tackled, and most of the time we couldn't see past the tips of our skis."

During their climb, all available rescue assets from the 176th Wing were diverted to another challenging rescue mission; one that took the life of former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. For that reason, an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was sent up the glacier to evacuate the family and PJ's.

"As it hovered about 100 meters from our location and tried to land, its rotor blades smacked the surface of the glacier and it fell out of the sky, rolling a few times before coming to a stop," said Peterson. "Amazingly, all three crew members were ok, and after a quick medical assessment we set up another tent for the Army personnel."

Once the weather improved slightly the next day, Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawks from the 210th Rescue Squadron were able to fly up to 8,500 foot elevation to pick up all eight of the survivors and the PJ's.

When the mission was over, Peterson looked forward to telling his daughter about the events that unfolded on the glacier. As a two year-old toddler, she enjoyed hearing about the adventure while falling asleep at night.

Two years later, Peterson was deployed to the Joint Personnel Recovery Center, which is an agency that oversees rescue and recovery operations of isolated service members.

"I had some time on my hands and decided to write the story down for her," he said. It started out as a make believe story about a rescue dog on a mission to save a family stranded high on a mountain."

As he began to share drafts of it with friends and family, everyone seemed more intrigued by the actual rescue mission.

"People encouraged me to tell the story as it is really happened," said Peterson. "I went back and changed it to reflect the actual mission as accurately as possible."

He finally found the perfect way to convey the team's mission to his young daughter; he would self-publish a nonfiction, illustrated storybook. The next step was to find a talented, reputable illustrator to bring his team's experience to life. After researching dozens of candidates, he settled on a very talented Italian artist named Manuela Soriani.

"As the book came together over the next year-and-a-half, one image at a time, I became more excited about sharing the story with kids, since very few children have heard any stories about the Air Force rescue community," he said.

As completion of the project neared, Peterson reached out to the "That Others May Live Foundation," a non-profit organization that provides tragedy assistance and resources to those involved in the U.S. Air Force Rescue community. Together, they came up with a lofty goal of raising $10,000 for the foundation through the sale of the book.

"In the months leading up to the holidays, we made $1000 for the foundation through the sale of approximately 200 books," said Peterson. "Everyone seemed to enjoy the unique, adolescent twist on the glacier rescue."

"It may take a few years, but I believe we will eventually reach our goal," he said. "Even if we don't come close, we know that the story has already opened the eyes of many youth to opportunities within the Air Force rescue community."

The civilian pilot of the downed aircraft, Mr. Don Erbey of Wasilla, Alaska, purchased 50 copies of the book and is in the process of disseminating them to middle schools and public libraries.

"A lot of people don't know that we exist," said Peterson. "What is a PJ? What is a CRO? What do SERE Specialists do? Answering questions like those and sharing adventurous stories from our rescue community with children is what has made this project worthwhile," said Peterson.

Guardian Angel is the Air Force's only non-aircraft, human based weapon system. Made up of Pararescuemen, Combat Rescue Officers, SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) Specialists and a combat support team, they specialize in conducting personnel recovery operations across the entire spectrum of military operations.

The children's book by Maj. Jesse Peterson called "Guardian Angel, Rescue on Glacier," is available online and can be found by doing a search for the title.

Turkish students visit base facilities

by Senior Airman Nicole Sikorski
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/11/2014 - INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey  -- With wide eyes and smiling faces, Turkish students from the 10th Tanker Base Child Development Center, visited the 39th Force Support Squadron fabric care facility and the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department Feb. 27 and March 6, here.

The children received a tour of the entire dry cleaning and washing facility, to include the machine workshop where the hanger machine was made. During their visit to the fire department, the children got to climb inside of a fire truck and tour the fire department, as well as visit a fire fighter who was fully dressed in his fire protection gear.

"Seeing the fireman was a great experience," said Dora, 6. "I imagined myself as a firefighter when I got on the fire truck."

The speed and urgency of how fast the fire fighter got dressed to respond left the children in awe.

"I had lots of fun today," said Damla, 5. "The fireman looked big and strong when he dressed up! I wish I could get dressed so quick."

As well as the experience of visiting a fire department, the children were given hats for souvenirs.

The Turkish students visit an on-base facility every Thursday to get a better understanding of what happens on the installation.

U.S. Paralympic Team Includes 8 Army Veterans

By Gary Sheftick

Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 11, 2014 – An active-duty soldier and seven Army veterans are competing this week in the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Staff Sgt. Jen Lee of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program is backup goalie for the USA sled hockey team that beat Italy, 5-1, and South Korea, 3-0, over the weekend and faces Russia today.

Army veterans on Team USA include:

-- Retired Staff Sgt. Rico Roman, of Portland, Ore., who also is on the USA sled hockey team;

-- Retired Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun of Clarksville, Tenn., who is competing in alpine skiing;

-- Former Spc. Joel Hunt, of Kokomo, Ind., scheduled to compete in the men's standing giant slalom March 15;

-- Retired Staff Sgt. Bryan Price of Belton, Mo., competing in Nordic or cross-country skiing;

-- Former Spc. Andy Soule of San Antonio, competing in biathlon and cross-country skiing;

-- Former Sgt. Jeremy Wagner of Nanakuli, Hawaii, who is competing in biathlon events;

-- Former Pfc. Patrick McDonald of Madison, Wis., who is competing in wheelchair curling, in which Team USA lost 6-4 to Slovakia and 9-5 to South Korea on March 8. On March 9, they beat Norway, 8-5. Yesterday, Team USA lost 7-2 to Canada and 6-5 to Russia.

Calhoun finished fourth in the Super-G-sitting skiing event March 9 with a time of 1 minute, 24.65 seconds, behind Japan's Akira Kano, who took gold with a time of 1:19.51. Japanese teammate Taiki Morii took silver with a time of 1:21.60, and Canada's Caleb Brousseau took bronze with 1:22.05. Calhoun will compete in the combined Super-G today.

Soule finished fourth March 8 in the 7.5-km sitting biathlon competition with a time of 21:48.5. Russia's Roman Petushkov took the gold with a time of 21:03.7. Ukraine's Maksym Yarovy took the silver, and Japan's Kozo Kubo won the bronze. Soule and the other top three finishers never missed a target, finishing with a perfect shooting score.

Soule finished fifth in the 15-km cross-country skiing event March 9 with a time of 42:53.8. Russia's Petushkov took the gold with a time of 40:51.6. Russia's Irek Zaripov won the silver, and Russia's Aleksandr Davidovich took the bronze.

Soule is scheduled to compete in the men's 12.5-km biathlon event today, as is Wagner, who finished 18th in the 7.5-km sitting biathlon competition March 8 with a time of 26:16.1.

On March 9, Price finished 19th in the men's 15-km sitting cross-country event with a time of 53:56.6. He is scheduled to ski the 1-km sprint tomorrow, the 4x2.5-km open relay March 15, and the men's 10-km on March 16.

The U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command congratulated all members of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic team last week and offered special encouragement to the eight Army athletes.

"The Warrior Transition Command encourages every wounded, ill and injured soldier to have a sport to call their own," said Army Lt. Col. Keith L. Williams, head of the Warrior Transition Command's adaptive reconditioning program. "When soldiers face injury or illness, they can still participate in sports and other physical activities. These activities significantly enhance their physical and emotional recovery … . The soldiers and Army veterans on this year's Paralympic team represent the enduring strength and resilience of the Army."

(A Warrior Transition Command news release contributed to this article.)

FAMU Hosts Annual Navy Junior ROTC Drill Meet

By Midshipman 2nd Class Taija McGeachy, FAMU NROTC

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (NNS) -- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's (FAMU) Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) recently hosted its annual "Rattler Challenge", a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Drill Meet competition for hundreds of high school students, Feb. 22.

The annual event provided the FAMU and Florida State University (FSU) midshipmen an opportunity to give back to the community for both the university and its Naval ROTC program.

More than 350 students from 16 high schools within two

NJROTC regions from Florida and Georgia participated in events such as close order drill, uniform inspections, and physical competitions, according to retired Navy Cmdr. Dirk Hebert, NJROTC Area 7 Manager and event coordinator.

The FAMU Professor of Naval Science (PNS), Col. Clarke Henderson, assigned Midshipman 3rd Class Yolanda Lopez as officer-in-charge. She planned and coordinated the event in conjunction with Herbert, who said the FAMU drill meet was the largest NJROTC event held in this region. FAMU faculty and friends were also in attendance. The Dean and Assistant Dean of the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Dr. Robert Taylor and Dr. Michael Thomas; plus over 150 parents, friends, and family joined the midshipmen and high school students for the event-packed morning and afternoon.

"It took me about three months of preparation for the drill meet. I like to think of myself as the behind the scenes person. I organized the event and made sure everything was ready to go and we had everything we needed," Lopez said. "There would be no event if it was just me. It was truly a full team effort of all FAMU and FSU Midshipmen who acted as liaisons between schools as well as organizing supplies, setup and cleanup, and judging events. Every midshipman had a vital role in the execution of the drill meet."

Following the event, Dean Taylor and his wife stayed on to assist in handing out trophies and medals to the winning individual participants and school teams. Escambia High School from Pensacola, Fla., won first place in overall score. The win brought pride for the high school students and current FAMU Battalion Rattlers who graduated from Escambia.

Midshipman Second Class Victoria Hill, Escambia graduate, assisted her alma mater as their liaison. "It's a great experience being from an NJROTC background and now being in NROTC. I feel very proud being able to see my high school win," said Hill. "I just wanted to jump on the field and be out there drilling again"

"The Rattler Battalion thanks Dean Taylor for his continued support of the unit, as well as to the FAMU Army ROTC unit and staff for the use of their facilities," said Henderson.

The NROTC program, overseen by Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) at Naval Station Great Lakes, was established to develop midship-men mentally, morally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values in order to commission college graduates as Naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the Naval service and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

2014 QDR Presumes Future Includes More Risk, Less Money

By Claudette Roulo

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 11, 2014 – The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review isn’t like previous reviews, a senior Defense Department official said here yesterday.

Christine E. Wormuth, deputy undersecretary of defense for strategy, plans and force development spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The QDR is a congressionally mandated review of DOD strategy and priorities. It is intended to set the course for the department to address current and future conflicts and threats. The review this year was completed in about half the usual time, Wormuth said, and in an environment marked by tremendous uncertainty.

The past 18 months of fiscal uncertainty have pushed the department into a near-continuous cycle of evaluation and planning, she said. A break usually follows the department’s annual program review cycle, the deputy undersecretary said, but last year, the department went straight into planning for sequestration.

“We then undertook the Strategic Choices in Management Review, and then … segued straight into the QDR 2014 process, as well as the next program review cycle,” Wormuth said. “So, it's been a very challenging time.”

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel thought it was important to take this QDR -- the first since he took office -- as an opportunity to look at the security environment and re-examine the strategy to lay out his vision for the department, she said.

"He gave us a lot of upfront guidance -- the day-to-day process was co-chaired by then-Deputy Secretary Ash Carter, and our vice chairman, Adm. Sandy Winnefeld, [and] they were very, very involved,” Wormuth said.

Carter and Winnefeld also were co-chairs of the budget review, she noted, which allowed for ideas to cross over between the two processes. And although it was a shorter, more compressed QDR than usual, she said, the department made every effort to continue the tradition of having the QDR be inclusive, transparent and collegial.

“We had representation from all of the services, all of the [Office of the Secretary of Defense] organization, all of the combatant commands, etc.,” Wormuth said. “So, we really tried to sort of involve everyone. That, of course, doesn't mean that every organization was happy with where we wound up, but I think it's fair to say that all parts of the building had a voice in the process, and that's very important to having a coherent … result at the end that has integrity.”

The final QDR report outlines three broad themes: an updated defense strategy, the rebalance of the joint force and the department’s commitment to protecting the all-volunteer force, she said.

The updated strategy is one that the department believes “is appropriate for the United States as a global leader,” Wormuth said. “It's a strategy that we believe helps us protect our interests and advance those interests in the world and helps us sustain our global leadership role.”

The second objective addresses managing the joint force given the current strategic and fiscal environments, Wormuth said.

And the third piece of the QDR report outlines how the department will continue to recruit and retain service members while becoming more efficient and effective, she said. In particular, the deputy undersecretary said, this section looks at reining in the growth of compensation packages to maintain a balanced force going into the future.

The underlying theme in the report is the kinds of risks that the department believes the return of sequestration in fiscal year 2016 poses to the defense strategy going forward, she said.

The 2014 QDR is an evolution of strategy as opposed to a revolution in strategy, Wormuth said.

“The administration had our strategic priorities pretty much right in the 2012 defense strategic guidance,” she said. “So we really went from the 2010 QDR, which was very focused on the two current wars at the time [in] Iraq and Afghanistan to the 2012 defense strategic guidance, where we tried to lay out some of the important defense priorities for the 21st century.

“And now, with the QDR 2014,” she continued, “[we are] building on that set of priorities to try to put the strategy in a slightly broader framework and really look forward to the kinds of challenges and opportunities we face in the future.”

The review process started with a discussion of the security environment, Wormuth said. “And I think it's fair to say we see the security environment as … continuing to be quite challenging,” she added. “It's volatile. There are a lot of threats out there.”

But, she said, there is also opportunity.

“So, in that context, we've tried to lay out an updated strategy that has three basic pillars,” the deputy undersecretary said.

The first pillar is protecting the homeland, she said. This is a shift from the 2012 defense strategic guidance, Wormuth said, which didn’t cover the department’s role in managing the consequences of natural disasters, for example.

Building global security is the second pillar in the strategy, she said. This includes things such as building partnership capacity, joint exercises, military-to-military engagement and port visits, she explained.

“And really, the goal of that part of our strategy is to try to deter conflict at the earliest point possible,” Wormuth said, “to try to prevent coercive behavior, for example, and to sort of proactively and positively shape the environment, so that we're trying to prevent conflict rather than having to deal with it after it's already manifested.”

The third pillar of the strategy is projecting power and winning decisively, she said.

“Whether that's to be able to respond to conflict, or whether it's to come to the aid of a country like the Philippines when they were dealing with their typhoon,” she said, “we want to be able to do both of those, and, if necessary, to deal with aggression when and if it happens.”

The QDR report emphasizes innovation and adaptability, Wormuth said.

“I think in the past,” she told the audience, “the department has often talked about innovation or efficiency in the context of sort of better business practices. … Here, we're trying to think about that, certainly, but to go beyond that and thinking about how can we build in innovation into the strategy itself -- into how we try to execute that strategy.”

To that end, the department conducted an extensive review of the operational concepts for some of its war plans to try to push innovation in those areas, Wormuth said. “We've also done things like looking carefully at the way we deploy forces to conduct forward presence activities,” she added.

And, Wormuth said, the department is pursuing innovation with some of its closest allies and partners. “We've had extensive dialogue with the Brits, in particular, looking at how we can do more in terms of joint training, how we can leverage the fact that they will be buying joint strike fighters, and how we can do more to train for, say, carrier operations, but also to work with them on strategic planning activities,” she said.

The big-picture view, she said, is that at the president's budget level, which is $115 billion more than the cap imposed by the Budget Control Act of 2013, DOD can execute the strategy outlined in the QDR, “although we will experience increased risk in some areas.”

For example, Wormuth said, the department will have some challenges in terms of readiness that will cause it to be more selective in the kinds of engagement activities that it can do.

The report also talks at length about rebalancing the force to align it to the new strategic pillars, she said.

“What we're trying to do, given the fiscal environment, is to reshape the force in such a way that it remains in balance between capacity -- the size of our forces -- capability, which is sort of shorthand for the level of modernization of our forces, and also the readiness level of our forces.”

To do that, Wormuth said, the department will have to undertake some of the steps outlined in the department’s budget proposal, including reducing the size of the active Army and Marine Corps and cutting platforms such as the Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-support fighter.

The department will continue to make investments in capabilities important to executing the strategy, she said, such as counterterrorism and cyber.

And, Wormuth said, DOD remains focused on continuing to fight sexual assault and suicides and is making sure that programs that support families, transition assistance and wounded warriors are protected.

The current rate of growth for compensation programs is not sustainable over time, Wormuth said, and so the department has proposed a series of “relatively modest reforms” in the 2015 budget proposal to try to slow the growth.

“So, things like slowing the size of the pay raise, for example, or making some reductions to our base housing allowance program or reducing, to some extent, the subsidy for our commissaries,” Wormuth said. “Those are all things that we think we have to do in order to keep our force healthy overall.”

If sequestration spending cuts return in fiscal year 2016 and beyond, she said, “we believe that the risk to our strategy will rise significantly.” The department would have to reduce the size of the force further, Wormuth said, adding that the active Army would be reduced to about 420,000 personnel. The Marine Corps would come down to 175,000 personnel, the Navy would lose a minimum of one carrier, and the Air Force would lose the KC-10 Extender tanker.

“We would also have to go into the modernization accounts and cut those much more deeply,” she said, “which we think would put at risk our ability to keep pace with [anti-access/area-denial] developments, for example.”

In combination, all of those things would have a very damaging impact on the defense strategy and place the nation’s security at risk, both home and abroad, the deputy undersecretary said.

“Because of capacity challenges under permanent sequestration, it would be harder to build security globally,” Wormuth said. “We would have a harder time generating sufficient forward presence to do all of the partnership activities that we think are necessary around the world.”

It’s because of these kinds of risks that the president and the secretary decided to put forward a defense budget that is significantly higher than the Budget Control Act-level caps, Wormuth said.

“We think that the strategy we've put forward is the right strategy for the country,” she added, “and we think the additional resources are needed and warranted to be able to execute that strategy.”

440th Force Support Squadron is Reserve nominee for Eubank Award

by Senior Airman Melissa Dearstone
440th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/7/2014 - POPE FIELD, N.C. -- The 440th Force Support Squadron was recently named the Air Force Reserve Command nominee for the Air Force 2013 Major General Eugene L. Eubank Award.

The Eubank Award is presented annually to recognize excellence at small bases where less than 5,000 Airmen are assigned. The force support squadrons are evaluated in mission accomplishment, leadership, innovation, management, customer focus and customer impact.

"I was ecstatic when I heard the news," said Lt. Col. Selby Redman, 440th FSS commander. "When I got here in 2012 there were lots of challenges, high turnover and low morale, so winning this award really showed how much we overcame and accomplished. I am very proud of them all."

Accomplishments from the squadron include delivering backlog for more than 800 fitness assessments, standing up the Airman and Family Readiness Center, establishing child care for UTA weekends and refining the newcomer's program.

Redman said that they were up against 14 other bases in the command.

The award honors Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank, a highly decorated pilot who served more than 34 years in the Air Force. Eubank recognized the importance of morale and welfare for America's fighting forces to further the overall Air Force mission.

SJ teen recognized as Youth of the Year

by Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/7/2014 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Sitting in front of three judges, she had her doubts about the outcome; she stated a strong case, but the opposition was just as tough. She didn't think she was going to win.

"I was absolutely shocked," she said of the verdict. "It probably would not have been very professional to get out of my chair and start dancing around, so I had to keep myself composed."

Retired Master Sgt. Brian Buss' daughter wasn't on trial exactly, but her actions in the community were.

For her achievements, she was selected as Seymour Johnson's candidate for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year.

"Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys and Girls Club member can receive," explained Dawn Allen, 4th Force Support Squadron youth program manager. "As [the club's] premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year honors outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community, and Boys and Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome."

Since first getting involved in the BGCA four years ago, Buss' daughter said she uses the club's opportunities to develop into a leader and role model for her fellow peers.

"Once I started going to the Boys and Girls Club, I got involved with some other community events," Buss's daughter said. "It has slowly evolved to me finally discovering that I can do something for the world. I can make a change; my life can mean something. The Boys and Girls Club has brought so much meaning to my life."

She is currently the president of the youth center's Keystone and Teen Council, where she encourages others to advance personally, through leadership skills and community involvement. She is also involved in projects for the community soup kitchen, Ronald McDonald House of Eastern North Carolina and the Keystone National Project, which raised awareness for teen suicide prevention in 2013.

"She is a very versatile young lady," said Jasmine Carroll, 4th FSS youth director. "She is always available when you need a helping hand and knows the true meaning of responsibility and respect."

As Seymour Johnson's representative, Buss' daughter will compete against other nominees across the state for North Carolina Youth of the Year as well as Military Youth of the Year. If she wins at the state level, which will be held March 28, she will receive a $1,000 scholarship and advance to regional and then the national competition.

With each higher stage, she will be eligible to win more scholarship money to help meet her ultimate goal of achieving a degree in music therapy.

"It would be wonderful to receive a scholarship," Buss' daughter explained. "It would make life so much easier not to have so many student loans to pay off when I'm finally done with college."

As a military dependent, Buss' daughter has access to many different opportunities and resources on base, but said it's not always the easiest lifestyle. Dealing with deployments is especially strenuous, she said, because it's hard having one parent gone for months at a time.

As the eldest of three children, she has stepped up into a greater role of responsibility by helping take care of her younger siblings.

The juggling act of balancing her personal life as well as school and volunteering is difficult, she said, but her passion for being the best person she can be has set her above the rest and earned her the title of Youth of the Year.

"I have this drive to make a difference in the world," she said. "I finally know I want to do everything I can to make the biggest possible difference. It's not about me; it's about making sure the world improves while I'm here. It's about leaving the world a better place."


Editor's Note: The Boys and Girls Clubs of America is a Private Organization. It is not a part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and it has no governmental status.