USS Green Bay Departs for Forward Deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Elizabeth Merriam, USS Green Bay Public Affairs and Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Green Bay (LPD 20) departed San Diego Jan. 26 for Sasebo, Japan, where the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship will join U.S. 7th Fleet's Forward Deployed Naval Forces.

Green Bay is replacing the decommissioned Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9), previously forward-deployed to Sasebo, and will enhance amphibious presence in 7th Fleet as part of the U.S. Navy's long-range plan to send the most advanced and capable units to the Asia-Pacific region.

"The crew has worked hard to get Green Bay ready," said Commanding Officer Capt. Kristy McCallum. "By my count, we completed a total of 23 training, certification and maintenance cycles in six months. As we've trained, we have prepared ourselves to be ready for a dynamic security environment and diverse missions."

In addition to the many capabilities inherent to amphibious transport dock ships, Green Bay will bring a host of new technological advancements and warfighting capabilities to 7th Fleet.

Green Bay is equipped with an advanced command and control suite, increased airlift capacity, substantial increases in vehicle and cargo carrying capability and advanced ship survivability features. The ship supports the rapid transfer of personnel and equipment via landing craft, helicopters, and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, making this ship a critical element for amphibious ready groups and expeditionary strike groups.

In 7th Fleet, Green Bay will become part of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The ARG integrates regularly with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to ensure the services are trained and ready to operate together to provide the most efficient amphibious fighting force in the Asia-Pacific region.

Green Bay was commissioned in January 2009, embarked on its maiden deployment February 2011 and completed a second deployment in 2013. The ship has since undergone a year-long maintenance availability in British Aerospace Engineering (BAE) systems shipyard and a dry dock period at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in preparation for forward deployment to Japan.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line.

5 CES Airmen build refueling station

by Airman 1st Class Sahara L. Fales
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

1/26/2015 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Airmen from the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron and the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron teamed up to build a new fuel station on Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota in January 2015.

The idea first came about after the heavy equipment engineers began constantly running into difficulties whenever they needed to re-fuel their machines.

"Just getting on and off of the flightline would take 30 minutes," said Senior Airman Adam Rivers, 5th CES water and fuels system journeyman. "That doesn't include the time it takes to get to the fuel station and back."

Also the heavy machinery drained diesel tanks faster, causing more work for the petroleum, oil and lubrication section, said Rivers.

Another challenge the Airmen faced while driving the heavy equipment was navigating the roads on base and maneuvering around traffic.

"In order for these vehicles to refuel, they must travel approximately two miles to the base fuel
station," said Master Sgt. Aaron Carroll, 5th CES water and fuels systems maintenance section chief. "Not only is this an unnecessary waste of time, as the driver has to complete two rolling foreign object and debris stops, it is also a huge safety concern with traffic on the road ways."

"The brooms on the plows take up both lanes, so there's no way to get around them," Rivers added.

Not only do they occupy both lanes, but they can also be hazardous while waiting in line to refuel.

"The plows and brooms aren't meant to be in traffic," said Airman 1st Class Ricardo Naranjo, 5th CES water and fuels system apprentice. "Especially if a pump is being used by someone else; they back up traffic while they wait."

The 12,000 gallon tank was refurbished out of an old tank that was originally used at Dock 7 for fueling a boiler.

"Since the boiler is no longer in use we thought it'd be a good idea to repurpose the tank for use out on the flightline," Naranjo said.

Four CES Airmen worked on re-piping the issue line and dispenser, all in all assembling around 100 ft. of black iron pipe. In addition, the electricians laid down about 200 ft. of wiring.

After approximately two weeks of working in below zero temperatures, the re-fueling station was finally completed.

Positioned for easier access, the new station will allow heavy equipment on the flightline to receive much needed fuel without ever having to leave the flightline.

Now that the tank is filled with fuel, the pump is slated to be ready for use by late January.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force visits Lajes

by Staff Sgt. Zachary Wolf
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

1/27/2015 - LAJES FIELD, Azores, Portugal -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and his wife, retired Chief Master Sgt. Athena Cody, stopped at Lajes during a tour of remote locations across the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Jan. 26, 2015.

This was the second stop on Cody's tour after visiting Morón Air Base, Spain.

During his stop at Lajes, he recognized outstanding performers and received a 65th Air Base Wing mission brief from Lajes' Fabulous Five.

Cody then held an Airman's Call to hear from Airmen and address their concerns. A great deal of the discussion related to the upcoming changes to the enlisted evaluation and promotion system.

He highlighted a few of the changes and addressed a question on the new process for promotion to master sergeant. Technical Sergeant who are eligible for promoting to master sergeant will meet a board this Spring.

"The board will do just what they do with seniors and chiefs," Cody said. "They will look at your record and give you a board score."

Additionally, Cody said the new Enlisted Performance Report will  remove the current numbered rating system and use word pictures to document job performance and promotion recommendations.

While he recognized that these changes will be a challenge, he believes that over time it will move the enlisted force in the right direction.

During the Airman's Call, Cody also offered advice for young Airmen serving today. He said many Airmen may be uncertain if they want the Air Force to be a career. He acknowledged that was their choice, and gave some advice that he was given when he was a young Airman.

"Work hard every day, work like you are going to stay in the Air Force for 20 years and then along the way if you decide to get out you will be in a place to make the right decision," Cody said.

Cody ended his Airmen call by acknowledging a smaller military presence at Lajes Field, but emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and Portugal.

"We have been talking about getting smaller at Lajes. However, we have had a tremendous relationship with the Portuguese for decades, since before our Air Force was an Air Force and that relationship will continue into the future. The relationship we have here is not going away. We have to find the right balance to project combat power with our partners in the future."

COPE SOUTH 15 launches in Bangladesh

by 1st Lt. Jake Bailey
Pacific Air Force Public Affairs

1/26/2015 - BAF BASE BANGABANDHU, Bangladesh  -- U.S. Air Force and Bangladesh air force personnel took to the sky Jan. 24 for the launch of Exercise COPE SOUTH 15, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, bilateral tactical airlift exercise at BAF Base Bangabandhu, Bangladesh.

Eighty U.S. Airmen along with three U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft from the 36th Airlift Squadron, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan, integrated with approximately 200 Bangladesh Air Force Airmen and one Bangladeshi C-130B during the exercise, which is scheduled through Jan. 30.

"COPE SOUTH provides valuable training for U.S. and Bangladeshi Airmen in air-land and airdrop delivery," said U.S. Air Force Lt Col Andrew Campbell, 36th Airlift Squadron commander. "Our work here is vital in contingency and disaster-response operations.  We build the personal relationships that, at a tactical level, enable us to help when disaster strikes and people are in need, not just in Bangladesh, but across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region."

Campbell said COPE SOUTH, and his squadron's activity with Indo-Asia-Pacific partners throughout the year, builds bonds that enable the region's forces to rapidly respond and operate shoulder-to-shoulder during any crisis.

The first day's operations built on previous COPE South exercises. U.S. Air Force crews safely airdropped Bangladeshi commandos using their host nation's airdrop procedures.

"My crews arrived in Bangladesh only 18 hours ago, and today, we airdropped supplies and personnel using our host's procedures," Campbell noted. "That's an uncommon capability made possible by our regular and enduring engagement that builds trust between my crews and our joint Bangladeshi partners. It's a capability unique to PACOM's assigned forces."  

BAF Group Captain Awal Hossain said exercises such as COPE SOUTH are particularly important to BAF response capabilities.

"Bangladesh is a flood-prone country, and we have been enhancing our capability, so we can drop men and materials in a disaster zone quickly and easily to support locals," Hossain said.

In addition to cooperative flight operations, during the exercise U.S. and BAF Airmen will conduct several subject matter expert exchanges focused on aircraft generation and recovery, day and night low-level navigation, airdrop and air-land tactics, aircraft maintenance procedures and rigging techniques.


"Already, it's clear this year's exercise is further advancing our mutual understanding of each other's capabilities and enhancing our ability to operate together," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Adam Staubach, COPE SOUTH 15 mission commander.

Samurai Readiness Inspection tests focused capabilities

by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marasky
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

1/26/2015 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen from the 374th Airlift Wing here recently underwent a Samurai Readiness Inspection that tested the wing's capabilities in a unique way.

Instead of a week-long scenario that tested the whole spectrum of contingency responses, the Wing Inspection Team focused the inspection on a few large, specific capabilities of the wing.

"In the past, exercises were designed to take specific scenarios and react to them, performing all the required tasks concurrently in response," said Maj. Gregory Kantz, 374th Inspector General director of inspections.  "This year, we developed an inspection calendar based on evaluating the Wing's ability to perform specific tasks because we understand that you can never know all of the possible scenarios that could occur."

While the focused inspections still use generalized scenarios to set the stage for inspections, the new format didn't test the entire spectrum, allowing the WIT team to more specifically target their efforts, Kantz said.

"We've intentionally removed some capabilities from the exercise scenario so that we can focus on fewer at a time," he said.  "This allows us to inspect at a much deeper level than we've been able to in the past."

The new inspection method was driven the by the 374th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Douglas DeLaMater, who wanted to test large, base driven plans and capabilities.

"We've seen in the past that we can test a number of capabilities at one time in small doses, by sampling off the top," DeLaMater said.  "What I wanted to do was to have our WIT focus on some of our larger tasks and capabilities, and to exercise those in a robust way that allows the Wing to really test its ability to carry out those missions."

Testing the larger and more robust capability in the more intensive manner created unique challenges for the WIT, who had to change their mindset for creating the exercise parameters.

"Due to the challenges associated with evaluating the plans that we did, we had to think outside of the box," Kantz said.  "This inspection was unique because we developed two sets of objectives; one was testing the Wing's ability to respond at the tactical level, while the other was more of an academic exercise to provide greater understanding of the base plan and to see where that would slowly go."

With the Super Bowl fast approaching, Kantz likened the new inspection model to training to play football.

"You don't learn how to play football by throwing on some pads and scrimmaging every day," he said.  "You practice the required skill sets first, and after you're proficient in those tasks, then you start to put it all together and play games."

As the wing continues to focus on testing the larger, fundamental pieces of its mission and slowly builds towards larger, more robust inspections in the future, DeLaMater has been impressed by the results so far and the motivation of the Airmen.

"As we've focused on these larger pieces in depth, we've learned a great deal that we can apply to our future exercises," he said.  "I'm excited to move forward, building larger, more robust inspections that allow the Airmen of the 374th to continue to show why we're the best Wing in the Pacific."

4 countries to participate with PACAF, USN during COPE NORTH 15

Release Number: 150126

1/26/2015 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force will conduct the 86th iteration of the annual exercise COPE NORTH 15 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 15 through 27.

Exercise CN15 is part of an annual, long-standing multilateral exercise, designed to enhance each countries' air operations. As part of COPE NORTH 15, additional participants from the Republic of Korea and New Zealand will join with the U.S., Japan and Australia forces to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training.

The U.S. Air Force and Navy will have approximately 1,300 participants; JASDF will have approximately 430 participants; RAAF will have approximately 240 participants; ROKAF will send approximately 20 participants; and RNZAF will send approximately eight. Approximately 100 USAF, USN, JASDF, and RAAF aircraft from 23 flying units will participate in the exercise.

CN15 marks the first year of Royal New Zealand Air Force participation in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief portion of the training and the second year for the Republic of Korea Air Force's participation. This will also be the first time during a Cope North exercise that the USAF, ROKAF and RNZAF will conduct multilateral personnel recovery and search and rescue operations.

The first week of the exercise will consist of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training and air combat training. During the second part of the exercise, the focus will shift to large force employment training, fighter versus fighter air combat tactics training and air-to-ground strike mission training over the Farallon de Medinilla Range, 160 nautical miles north of Guam.

Since the first COPE NORTH exercise in 1978 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, thousands of U.S. and Japanese Airmen have honed skills vital to maintaining a high level of readiness, inherent to the stability of the region. CN15 is the fourth iteration that COPE NORTH will be a trilateral exercise with the U.S., Australia and Japan.

COPE NORTH was previously held in Japan as often as four times a year, and was moved to Andersen AFB, Guam, in 1999. The exercise is now held once a year, and continues to serve as a keystone event to promote stability and security throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Aircrew flight equipment saves lives

by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Condit
173rd Fghter Wing Public Affairs

1/23/2015 - KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. -- The mission of the 173rd Fighter Wing is the training and support of Air Force military professionals that can successfully serve our state and nation in times of war and peace. This mission cannot be accomplished without the dedication and skill of its Airmen, such as Staff Sgt. Christopher Hernandez.

Hernandez is an Aircrew Flight Equipment specialist tasked with the maintenance and quality control of flight equipment. He is responsible for the equipment that sustains a pilot's life both inside and outside the aircraft.

Hernandez duties range from preventive maintenance, post flight equipment inspection, to fitting of equipment for new pilots--including the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System. JHMCS is a helmet designed to provide the pilot with real-time alerts and weapons information in their visor, similar to the one warn by the Apache helicopter pilots.

Hernandez says he chose to become an AFE specialist because he wanted the challenge and liked the idea of being hands-on.

"I liked the fact there was a lot to take care of, diversity of duties, and providing support for vital systems that keep our pilots alive; it keeps the job interesting and free from monotony," he said.

Hernandez's training extends from technical school to Survival Evasion Resistance Escape and water survival training. This training provides first-hand knowledge of what a pilot may go through in an emergency. This is also the reason AFE specialist fly in the backseat of the jet whenever they get a chance.

"Attending SERE, water survival, and conducting familiarization rides gives us an opportunity to put ourselves in the pilots boots letting us experience how the equipment functions in a operational environment," he said.

In the span of an hour Hernandez performs a quality control check on a harness, survival kit, and a parachute attachment point.  He ensures a calibration check on the JHMCS helmet, while accessing no less than four separate technical orders.

Hernandez notes that there are numerous pieces of equipment he is responsible for, each one providing a different life-sustaining function for the pilot.

He explains how to perform a functionality check of the waterproof "poopie" suits, and how all the various components he is responsible for work together in the airframe to ensure the pilot is as safe as possible. He continues to explain the functionality of a new g-suit which applies pressure to more points of the body during high-g maneuvers helping the pilot stave off g-force induced loss of consciousness.

Attention to detail is emphasized as he holds up a harness logbook and points out, "this harness comes out of service in less than a month, so I need to be thinking about building a new one right now."

Hernandez never repeats himself and cites regulations, best practices and how important it is to document the work; he works like lives depend on it--they do.

Goodbye snow; hello 'Snowbird'

by 127th Wing Public Affairs

1/24/2015 - SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- About 200 Airmen and 10 aircraft from the 127th Wing here deployed to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Jan. 23 to participate in Operation Snowbird.

Operation Snowbird allows military flying units to take advantage of the optimal weather conditions and live-fire ranges available in southern Arizona during the winter months when home station training may be hampered by inclement weather such as snow and ice.

The men and women from various units of the 127th Wing support, operate and maintain the Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft mission.

By deploying to Arizona, Selfridge Airmen also have an opportunity to train and work together in a high-tempo environment. The 107th Fighter Squadron Airmen from the 127th Wing will have more opportunities for sorties during the two-week deployment, almost doubling the number of flights performed each day at Selfridge.  The Michigan Air National Guard unit's focus will be on search and recovery training with local rescue squadrons stationed at Davis-Monthan.

"Training at Davis-Monthan in Snowbird is like a srimmage before playing in the big game," Lt. Col. Shawn Holtz, 107th Fighter Squadron commander.  "Everybody gets a chance to sharpen their skills and build up the team."

The A-10, originally designed for close air support, provides an ideal platform to provide support to rescue operations in potential close proximity to opposition ground forces. The A-10 can also provide airborne command and control support to rescue operations, as well as serve in air interdiction and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacities.

Guard Soldiers, Airmen Respond to Northeast Storm

By Eric Durr

New York National Guard

LATHAM, N.Y., Jan. 26, 2015 – As blizzard warnings were being issued for the Northeast this morning, the New York National Guard put 260 soldiers and airmen on duty to assist in New York’s response to the storm.

Army and Air National Guard units on Long Island, in New York City and in the Hudson Valley were ordered to mobilize their initial response forces. Meanwhile, the 204th Engineer Battalion -- with headquarters in Binghamton and elements in the Hudson Valley and New York’s Southern Tier counties -- was directed to send snow-moving equipment and personnel to Long Island.

Initial response forces were stood up at:

-- F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base at Westhampton Beach on Long Island;

-- Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center at Farmingdale on Long Island;

-- The Manor Road Armory complex on Staten Island; and

-- The Peekskill Armory in the Hudson Valley.

Stewart Air National Guard Base at Newburgh in the Hudson Valley also prepared.

Teams Prepared for 24-hour Operations

Each initial response force unit consists of 20 soldiers and airmen with five Humvees. The teams are prepared for 24-hour operations.

The response forces can conduct traffic control in support of local police agencies or move critical personnel and supplies as required.

And additional 25 vehicles and up to 50 personnel have been assigned to support fire department emergency medical service locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. These military vehicles are on call to help move people and equipment as required by civilian first responders.

The 204th Engineer Company dispatched four front-end loaders, 10 dump trucks and seven small skid-steer front-end loaders, along with operators, to the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Farmingdale. The soldiers and equipment will be hand call if needed to assist in clearing snow.

Seventeen of the soldiers came from the 152nd Engineer Company in Buffalo. In November, the soldiers of the 152nd were among the first New York National Guard units to respond to a massive lake-effect storm that hit Erie County in November.

The New York National Guard stood up its Joint Operation Center here to coordinate the response, while dispatching liaison officers to New York City’s Office of Emergency Management and county and regional emergency management centers in Nassau and Suffolk County on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley.

The New York National Guard’s Joint Task Force Empire Shield, a security augmentation force operating in transportation hubs in New York City, remains on duty at LaGuardia Airport and JFK International Airport and at Pennsylvania Station, Grand Central Station and the Port Authority Trans-Hudson terminal.

Other Guard Personnel Poised to Respond

National Guard personnel also are poised today in other Northeastern states to assist local authorities during an expected massive snowfall, one described by the National Weather Service as a storm of “historic” proportions.

In Connecticut, 250 personnel were expected to be on duty by tonight, providing highway assistance. Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered a travel ban on state highways in response to the expected winter storm. That ban begins at 9 p.m. EST.

“Although storms can be unpredictable, this storm has the potential to have a significant impact on the state and we need to be prepared,” Malloy said. “Just as the state is monitoring and preparing, the public should do the same.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Steve Marshall of the National Guard Bureau contributed to this report.)