Bataan Sailors, Marines Depart Kusadasi, Turkey

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark Hays, USS Bataan Public Affairs

KUSADASI, Turkey (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) departed Kusadasi, Turkey, Oct. 7, after a scheduled port visit.

Bataan's presence in Turkey reaffirms the United States commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and partners, while working toward mutual goals of promoting peace and stability in the region.

While in Turkey, Bataan's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation team hosted tours for Sailors and Marines to many ancient sights such as Ephesus, Pamukkale, Priene, Miletus, Didyma, Pergamon and the Virgin Mary House.

"I went on the Pamukkale tour," said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Christie, from Priory, St. Ann, Jamaica. "It was an amazing experience seeing the historical theatre, and swimming in a hot spring pool."

This was Bataan's first port visit since transiting the Suez Canal Oct. 2, and leaving the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Deployed since Feb. 8, Bataan is wrapping up an almost nine-month deployment and is returning to its homeport in Norfolk, Va.

"The Sailors and Marines of the Bataan and the 22nd MEU embarked aboard the ship has proven day in and day out that they can support any mission in front of them, and our port visit to Kudasi was no different," said Bataan Commanding Officer Capt. George J. Vassilakis. "While in 6th Fleet, we'll continue our mission and bring our Sailors and Marines home safely."

During its brief time in 6th Fleet, the Bataan's presence will help to strengthen regional maritime partnerships with our partner nations and help us maintain a safe and secure maritime environment. The U.S. Navy has historically maintained a presence in 6th Fleet.

USS Mount Whitney Departs Gaeta to Strengthen Maritime Partnerships

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (NNS) -- The U.S. 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) departed its homeport of Gaeta, Italy, Oct. 8 to conduct a routine underway within the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

Mount Whitney is conducting naval operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in order to advance security and stability in Europe. The mission will include routine training, maritime security operations and theatre security cooperation events.

"Working with allies and partners is the cornerstone to ensuring security and stability within the region," said Capt. Mark Colombo, commanding officer of Mount Whitney. "We will continue to train and operate as often as possible to reach that common goal."

The maritime partnerships amongst allies and partner nations are critical to the overall stability and safety within the region. The opportunities for multinational interoperability and combined operations play a key role in the overall mission of Mount Whitney and her crew.

Mount Whitney, forward deployed to Gaeta, Italy, operates with a combined crew of U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command Civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering and supply service operations, while military personnel support communications, weapons systems and security.

The U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with joint, allies and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Face of Defense: Brothers Serve, Prepare to Deploy Together

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Kyle Gese

52nd Fighter Wing

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany, Oct. 9, 2014 – A pair of brothers serving together with the 606th Air Control Squadron here is preparing to deploy together.

Air Force Senior Airman Edward Lomelin and Air Force Airman 1st Class Chris Lomelin grew up in Austin, Texas, and struggled early in their childhood after their parents’ divorce. The children moved in with their mother, and Edward stepped in as the role model for his younger siblings. This new responsibility forced him to grow up quickly to help his family through their struggles, he said.

Years later, Edward enlisted in the Air Force, and he serves as a radio frequencies transmissions systems technician with the 606th ACS. His mother said she was honored he made the decision to serve his country, and that she knew he would excel in his career.

Chris said he began to consider following in Edward’s footsteps after hearing stories of deployments and descriptions of military life from his brother, who encouraged him to join.

Hoping to be stationed together

Being stationed at the same base as Edward seemed unlikely when he was in training, Chris said, but he never gave up hope.

“I heard stories about my brother being in Germany, and I have been there once before,” he said. “I was taking a big chance by having Spangdahlem as my only preference for a station.” The Air Force takes stated preferences into consideration when determining airmen's assignments, but offers no guarantees.

But as it turned out, Chris -- a power production technician -- not only was stationed here with Edward, but also serves in the same squadron.

“This is great!” said their mother, Maritza Lozano. “Big brother will get to take care of little brother, little brother gets to look up to big brother, and we get to visit both of them.”

The 606th ACS is a self-contained mobile combat unit with airmen serving in more than 21 specialties maintaining more than $170 million worth of equipment.

Edward and Chris are preparing for a deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This will be Edward’s fourth deployment and Chris’ first.

“Not only are we stationed at the same base, … we are deploying together,” Edward said. “This is slim to none that this ever happens to anybody, and it’s completely boggling my mind how this all came together.”

Homestead begins next unit effectiveness inspection cycle

482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/9/2014 - HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla.  -- The 482nd Fighter Wing was rated "Effective" by the Air Force Reserve Command's Inspector General during a recent capstone event under the new Air Force Inspection System process.

A small team of inspectors from the AFRC Inspector General's office conducted Airman-to-IG Sessions. These are facilitated, structured discussions of small groups or an individual.

After these meetings, the inspector general provides the wing commander with reviews of their findings.

In an announcement to the base, Col. Chris Funk 482nd FW commander wrote, "The inspector general had high praise for our mission readiness and the men and women here at Homestead Air Reserve Base, and I would have expected nothing less."

While the IG team addressed areas for the wing to check into improving, the wing has now transitioned to focusing on its next two-year Unit Effectiveness Inspection, or UEI, cycle.

During the UEI portion of this new inspection construct, specially trained wing inspection team members will evaluate and assess units.

"The 24-month UEI cycle is the two year period in which we are inspected by AFRC periodically and randomly before they come back and let us know how we are doing by way of the Capstone," said Master Sgt. Richard Asberry, 482nd FW Inspections Directorate superintendent.

Asberry stressed the importance of WIT team members as providing essential subject matter expertise.

"Without WIT members, the UEI cycle cannot be accomplished," he explained. "For example, if the medical squadron requires an exercise and there are no medical individuals placed in the IGI office, it would not be possible to inspect an exercise. So as you can see, UEI effectiveness is based almost entirely on the WIT members' shoulders."

Another aspect of the newly implemented evaluation process is the establishment of the commander's inspection program. The wing commander executes this program through his IG office and the WIT. This replaces the former concept of sending a large group of inspectors.

The CCIP involves a continual assessment of four major graded areas: managing resources, leading people, improving the unit and executing the mission, which will allow the wing to focus on mission readiness and improve mission effectiveness rather than inspection readiness.

As part of CCIP, the Management Internal Control Toolset, or MICT, allows units to input data to provide a snapshot to leaders and headquarters staff counterparts regarding compliance with regulations and command guidance.

Asberry cautioned to not rely solely on MICT when inspecting your section and to 'reward the red' because that let the IG know you're working to improve deficiencies.

"Use and know your AFIs [Air Force Instructions] and other shop-level instructions," he advised. "Ultimately, MICT can be utilized effectively if you let it assist you instead of having it become just another thing you have to accomplish. Let it assist your shop in tracking the deficiencies that you see, and track it to completion."

Tracking deficiencies to completion demonstrates to the AFRC IG inspectors that we are in the business of spotting undetected non-compliance, he said.

"Ensure supervisors are not punishing sections who identify their non-compliance," he said. "Ensure you document your corrective action plans in MICT and follow-up with them according to your set suspenses."

JBPHH provides temporary home to Navy aircraft

by Tech. Sgt. Terri Paden
15th Wing Public Affairs

10/7/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft that have been temporarily relocated to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, due to airfield construction at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay commenced flying operations Oct. 1.

The 18 aircraft from Kaneohe Bay, which include 12 P-3 Orions, four C-20 Gulfstreams, two MK-58 Hawker Hunters and more than 175 maintainers and aircrew members, will perform their primary mission of anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from JBPHH for the next two months.

According to Glen Bailey, 15th Wing Plans and Programs support agreements chief, this is the fourth time K-Bay has deployed its fixed-wing aircraft to JBPHH in the past six years due to an ongoing runway construction project. The units are expected to return in 2015 and 2016 as well.

While at JBPHH, the unit will continue to execute 24-hour operations, providing maintenance and aircrew support as normal.

"We wouldn't have been able to do our mission if we had not relocated here," said Navy Cmdr. Katrina Hill, VP-9 commanding officer. "With the runway work going on at K-Bay, we could not do what we do as an air wing without the help of the JBPHH team."

Hill said the move required support for ground equipment and personnel and training on local security and safety procedures.

"The relocation has gone great, because we are continuing to work on the relationships we built last time we were here," she said. "We could not have asked for more hospitality from the Air Force."

Navy Capt. Lance Scott, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Two commander, said the temporary relocation has provided the two units an opportunity to strengthen the working relationship between services.

"We had no concerns coming into this based on the strong relationship we share with the wing," he said. "This is another opportunity for us to reinforce our joint relationship and interoperability which is critical to how we fight as a military."

Scott attributes the unit's seamless transition from K-Bay to JBPHH to the strong partnership between the units.

It took a combined effort between the 15th Wing, Joint Base and 735th Air Mobility Squadron personnel to make the bed-down a success.

"We're happy to help out our Navy counterparts during their airfield construction," said U.S. Air Force Col. Randy Huiss, 15th WG commander. "This is what being a mission partner means ... that we're all part of one big defense team."

First SB-16 flight by operational squadron

by Senior Airman Peter Thompson
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

10/8/2014 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Aircrew from 7th Bomb Wing flying squadrons took part in the first flight of a B-1B Lancer upgraded with the Sustainment-Block 16 upgrade outside of operational testing, here Oct. 2.

A pilot and weapons system officer from the 9th Bomb Squadron were joined by aircrew members from the 337th Test and Evaluations Squadron, who provided oversight and information on the new system during the milestone flight.

Eight initial cadre from the 7th BW operational flying squadrons will spend the next three months learning the new systems. When the 9th BS returns from its current deployment, 7th BW cadre will train those pilots and weapons system officers.

In January, the 337th TES received the Air Force's first SB-16 upgraded aircraft. For nearly the past year, they worked to validate technical orders, references, procedures and tactics for operating the aircraft.

"We wanted to make sure we are maximizing the way we employ the aircraft," said Lt. Col. William Alcorn, 7th Operations Support Squadron Mission Training Center director.  "We also want to be sure we are properly applying all the capabilities that SB-16 has to offer and the new ways the displays present information to us, helping us to make sound tactical decisions."

The way pilots fly and weapons system officer's access on-board systems has changed because of physical improvements to the aircraft.

"Information is presented to aircrews in a different manner than it was in the past," Alcorn said. "However, situational awareness provided by the new system is substantially enhanced. Now the entire crew can work more effectively together."

SB-16 is the largest B-1 modification in the aircraft's history. It has increased the jet's warfighting capabilities and improved it's functionality with other aircraft.

"This upgrade impacts our mission significantly," said Maj. Brian Ranaudo, 9th Bomb Squadron director of operations. "It improves our ability to integrate and communicate more effectively with other aircraft in a strike package; by doing so it increases the lethality of the aircraft."

The SB-16 upgrade has increased the survivability of the B-1 Bomber by eliminating many of the aircrew's out dated systems and procedures. Additionally, it has provided a gateway for future upgrades to the aircraft.

"There are only so many options we have with the systems we are replacing," Alcorn said. "This upgrade was critical. Now that we have this new system we can do almost anything."

The 7th BW will continually train pilots and weapons system officers with the new systems while rotating its B-1 fleet to be upgraded. The 7th BW aims to be ready to deploy with a completely modified group of aircraft and aircrew capable of employing by the fall of 2016, if called upon to do so. If so, the 7th BW would be the first unit to operate an SB-16 upgraded B-1 in support of combat operations