Leaders Must Prepare Troops for Society, Battaglia Says

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 22, 2013 – The military and its leaders have a responsibility to prepare service members to become productive members of society, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told enlisted sailors and Marines here today.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to sailors and Marines at Naval Support Activity Annapolis, Md., March 22, 2013. DOD photo by Claudette Roulo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Leading troops into battle is only part of the job for officers and senior enlisted service members, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia said. Troops eventually become civilians again, he noted, and when that time comes, it would be a disservice to send them out into the world without preparing them for the new challenges they will face.

"If we're not doing that, shame on us," Battaglia said.
In the past, the Defense Department didn't do a very good job of that, he acknowledged, but he said that's changing. The new transition assistance program called Transition Goals Plans Success, or Transition GPS, has made a big difference in the way service members are prepared for civilian life, he said.

Another facet of leadership is developing the ability to handle change and adversity, Battaglia said. Like physical and operational fitness, he told the sailors and Marines, resilience is a skill that has to be developed and maintained through hard work and with the help of others. Family members, fellow service members and military leaders are all part of maintaining the fitness of the total force, and resilience is the cornerstone of that effort, he said.

Resilience also is part of the Defense Department's response to fiscal uncertainty, Battaglia said. The department will "have to be innovative and be creative to find other ways to train … until we come out of this fiscal cellar," he told the service members. For example, he said, rather than shutting down a service-specific professional school, schools that teach similar skills could combine and conduct cross-service training.
This isn't the first time the Defense Department has gone through a period of fiscal austerity, the sergeant major said, adding that the department will endure.

Battaglia also noted that part of the call to service members to renew their commitment to the profession of arms by Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey is reviewing the deeper meaning of that commitment.

"The profession you're in is more than just a job," Battaglia said, noting that every service member, officer or enlisted, is linked by the oath to protect and defend the United States. "That's the beauty of it," he added.

Uniformed Services University Ranks Among Top Medical Schools

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2013 – The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. -- the only university of its kind dedicated to educating military doctors, graduate nurses and other specialized health-care professionals -- has earned distinction as one of the top-ranked U.S. graduate schools.

U.S. News & World Report identified the university’s F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine as a top-tier medical school in its “Best Graduate Schools 2014” rankings released last week.

USU’s primary-care program ranked 39th among 126 medical schools, and its research programs ranked 55th.

In addition, the university’s nurse anesthesia master’s degree program ranked fifth in the nation. Its partner program, run by the Army in San Antonio, maintained the No. 1 ranking it has held for the past several years.

Dr. Brian V. Reamy, USU’s associate dean of faculty and family medicine professor, said during a telephone interview that the medical school’s first appearance on the respected graduate-school rankings list is further affirmation of its accomplishments over the 40 years since its founding.

The American Academy of Family Physicians, the largest U.S. physician specialty society, has recognized the university’s family medicine department has one of the nation’s top 10 for the past three years, he reported.

USU is unique among medical schools, as it produces highly trained medical professionals for both the military and the Public Health Service, Reamy said. Students arrive with a commitment to military or federal service and the men and women in uniform they will care for, often in harm’s way.
About 40 percent of USU’s graduates go into primary care, about twice the percentage of those at other medical schools, Reamy said. “From its founding, the Uniformed Services University has really had a focus and attention to excellence in primary care – family medicine, pediatrics and general international medicine,” he said. “Over the years, that focus has not changed, but it has become a little more publicly known.”

In addition, the university distinguishes itself with a heavy emphasis on preventive medicine and research directly relevant to the military: traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, emerging infectious diseases and combat casualty care, he said.

The National Science Foundation recognized USU as one of the nation’s top medical schools to receive federal research funding over the past 10 years. Reamy called that a testament to the quality of its programs. “You get federal research funding because you are doing excellent research,” he said.

The U.S. News and World Report ranking, he said, “recognizes the unique role that USU is playing in terms of providing research in areas that directly affect the health and welfare of the military, but also have secondary benefits across medicine in the United States.”

Navy Cmdr. Robert Hawkins, director of the nurse anesthesia program within the Graduate School of Nursing, also spoke by telephone with American Forces Press Service and said the program’s high rankings in the new report recognize the quality of the professionals it produces.

A demanding curriculum that combines scientific concepts and extensive clinical practice prepares students to operate as independent practitioners. That will be critical, he said, particularly because most students deploy within nine months of graduation.

While savoring recognition for its masters-degree-level nurse anesthesia program, USU is preparing to transition to a doctoral program this spring, Hawkins reported. That transition, based on American Association of Colleges of Nursing recommendations, will extend the program from 30 to 36 months.

The first doctoral-level class will arrive at USU in May and graduate two years later.
Hawkins said he’s optimistic this next step in the program will further enhance the bedside care military nurse anesthetists provide – whatever care their patients need, and wherever that care is provided.

One individual at a time, he said, they will have a profound impact on military medicine.
“When you have practitioners with the best skill sets, trained in the best way in the best environment, the chances of changing the health-care system one patient at a time will have a profound impact overall,” he said.

B-52 gets new Sniper Pod

by Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  -- The 2nd Bomb Wing made its first live run with a new addition to the aging bomber.

With constant upgrades bringing the more than 60-year-old bomber into the 21st century, the addition of the sniper pod gives the B-52H Stratofortress better integration with ground forces and laser guided bombs for precision strike capability.

"This flight was the first time that the 2nd Bomb Wing has used the sniper pod with live ordinance like the LGB," said Capt. Ryan Allen, 20th Bomb Squadron radar navigation instructor. "This pod gives a faster response time to our targets. What would normally take me 30 to 40 button presses in five minutes now only takes me a few seconds to actually target and drop munitions."

This new capability also allows the aircrew to coordinate with ground forces in a new way that is beneficial to their safety and planning.

"With the pod we can integrate with the guys on the ground and let them see what we see. This way we are on the same page," said Allen. "It also gives us a greater visibility range over that of the previous one."

With technology constantly moving forward this new pod gives its own set of challenges to the B-52.

"The way the pod can interact with our avionics system is state of the art," said Allen. "Most of the systems had to be radically improved to give us total interaction between the new and old."

With constant improvements on the aging plane, the 2nd Bomb Wing can complete its mission of providing global deterrence anywhere and anytime.

Cody testifies to quality of life in the Air Force

by Master Sgt. Jess D. Harvey
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody testified on quality-of-life issues in the Air Force before House Appropriations Committee members March 19.

The biggest challenge currently facing the Air Force is the nation's fiscal situation, Cody said, citing the looming furlough of 180,000 civilian Airmen due to sequestration as a threat to the service's readiness and the overall quality of life of our Airmen and their families.

"There is no question our Airmen are nervous and concerned with the current fiscal environment that affects our nation and Air Force," Cody said.

"The impacts of sequestration and the past six months of operating under a continuing resolution authority are significant and detrimental to our Air Force and for all those serving," he said. "Our Airmen remain dedicated and committed to completing the mission around the world and ask for your leadership to ensure they're able to do so."

During his testimony, Cody also addressed several other matters affecting Airmen ranging from building resiliency to education and taking care of families.

"As we move forward and our force changes, we must adapt our programs and services to ensure we meet the needs of today's Airmen and their families," Cody said. One of the first topics on Cody's agenda was building the resiliency of Airmen.

"We believe an Airman's personal and professional successes depend on this resiliency, and feel it is our responsibility to provide the education and resources to help them and their families build it," Cody said. "To that end, we have created Comprehensive Airman Fitness, a construct built on four pillars or core tenets."

The tenets he addressed are mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness, which most Airmen are introduced to early on and the Air Force aims to reinforce throughout their career. Inherent to the tenets and resilience is fostering a stronger culture of mutual respect and trust, Cody said.

It is not enough for Airmen to be resilient; they must also treat one another with the dignity and respect each of us deserves," Cody said. "Every Airman must be respectful of those working with and around them, every Airman must be alert and able to recognize signs of distress, and every Airman must intervene in situations that could turn negative."

With that, he addressed the ongoing issue of sexual assault within the force and efforts to eliminate it.

"We understand the impact of this crime on the individual, their families, their friends, and other people in the units are tremendous and unacceptable," Cody said.

He emphasized that Air Force leaders have emboldened every supervisor and commander to be actively involved in eliminating this horrible crime from our ranks by highlighting the recent Air Force-wide health and wellness inspection, the establishment of a Recruiting Education and Training Council set up to eliminate sexual assault and that senior leaders are undertaking a more focused, direct communication with Airmen about this issue.

Cody also reaffirmed the Air Force's dedication to the education of Airmen before the committee.

"The Air Force has the most educated enlisted force in the world," Cody said. "Every Airman entering service is automatically enrolled in an associate of applied science degree program through the Community College of the Air Force."

Since April 25, 1977, CCAF has awarded more than 408,000 degrees that correspond to each member's career field. Additionally, more than 21,000 enlisted Airmen have bachelor's degrees or higher and 23 have earned a doctorate degree.

He pointed out that the CCAF program is currently engaged in developing credentialing pilot programs and policies that support the White House Veteran Employment and Credentialing Initiative and the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 558 mandate.

"We are convinced that opportunities like these directly increase Air Force recruitment and retention as well as enhance our Airmen's professional capabilities," Cody said.

Cody also addressed the needs of military families, to include senior leaders' dedication to providing quality housing to Airmen, because "quality housing ensures our Airmen and families have a strong supporting foundation."

Key to this are the military's ongoing privatization efforts.

"As we progress through 2013, we look forward to completing privatization of all housing in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii," Cody said. "Housing privatization allows us to deliver high quality homes to our members more quickly than ever before and at significant savings to the taxpayer."

He said senior leaders are also deeply committed to providing quality dormitories for our unaccompanied Airmen.

"Our focus remains on providing an environment of care, development, and mentorship for our Airmen," Cody said. "Our dormitory campuses are not just a place to sleep; they are a place for young Airmen to adjust to military life and build a strong sense of community."

Overall, he pointed out, Airmen are doing truly amazing work around the world every day, but it's not possible without the dedication Air Force senior leaders have for taking care of Airmen and their families.

"These men and women take care of the home front while our Airmen are employing and enabling airpower around the world; families stand strong while loved ones deploy to war zones in foreign countries," Cody said. "Their faith and support is critical to our Airmen and enable the focus and dedication our complex missions require."

Dempsey Speaks on What Nation Expects from Marine Corps

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C., March 21, 2013 – What does the United States expect from its Marine Corps?

A young Marine asked the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that question during a town hall meeting here today.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said that he has asked himself that basic question about all U.S. armed services.

“We need you to be exactly who you are,” the chairman told the theater full of Marines and family members.

He said the service is the “rock upon which this great military of ours rests.”

This consistency is needed as the fiscal situation becomes more confusing and uncertain, he said. The resources devoted to the military will go up and down – but the military and especially the Marines must be constant, the chairman said.

Dempsey said the Marine Corps is known as the nation’s ready force: Ready to go where the country needs them, via sea or air. But the service also has another image equally important to Americans – that of a new Marine receiving the eagle, globe and anchor in his or her grimy hands having just finished the final recruit test known as the Crucible. “You have to be that young man or woman walking through the airport who just looks like a Marine,” Dempsey said.

But it is more than looks; it is character, he said. The Marines’ Hymn is the only service song that specifically mentions a value. “I find that to be the most important thing about the United States Marine Corps, that you take it upon yourselves to commit to keep your honor clean,” the chairman said.

“What do I expect of the Marine Corps? I expect you to be Marines.”

The town hall was last event of the chairman’s visit to the air base and nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He visited with Lt. Col. Gabrielle Hermes, the commander of the 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds, the commander of the depot, drill instructors, support personnel and many others at the gateway to the Corps.

At the air base, he toured the F-35 pilot training facility that is nearing completion, as well as the new hangar complex for the aircraft.

Carter Quantifies Shift of DOD Resources to Asia-Pacific

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 21, 2013 – The Defense Department has begun to shift its intellectual and physical weight to the Asia-Pacific to reinforce longstanding military commitments to the region, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said here yesterday.

Jakarta was the final stop of the deputy defense secretary’s weeklong trip to Asia, which included visits to defense and government officials in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Speaking as part of an international panel at the third Jakarta International Defense Dialogue, or JIDD, Carter said the United States is serious about its commitment to the region and detailed elements now in motion of a rebalance called for in the department’s 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance.

Despite U.S. spending cuts and ongoing budget debates in Congress, the deputy defense secretary said, DOD is using whatever flexibility it has in managing its budget to favor and protect the rebalance.

“The rebalance will continue and in fact gain momentum for two reasons. First, U.S. interests here are enduring and so also will be its political and economic presence,” Carter told an audience of nearly 1,500 defense, government and security officials from around the world.

“This presence is accompanied by values -- democracy, freedom, human rights, civilian control of the military, and respect for the sovereignty of nations -- that America has long stood for and that human beings welcome and I think relate to,” he added, “So our interest in the region will be both believed and reciprocated.”

Former Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and President Barack Obama have made recent visits to the region, he said, as have former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon.

Secretary of State John Kerry will make his first trip here next month, Carter said, “ … and Secretary [Chuck] Hagel, who as a senator led the first U.S. congressional delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue, is staunchly committed to this region as well, [and] will be attending Shangri-La.”

Carter said each U.S. leader visiting the region, in his or her own way, emphasized the central importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the United States, “and our commitment to making sure that this region remains safe, secure and prosperous.”

He said the rebalance means that a higher proportion of defense assets will move to the region.
“Secretary Panetta announced last year that 60 percent of our naval assets will be assigned to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020,” Carter noted, “a substantial and historical shift.”

The Air Force, he noted, will increase its presence in the region with tactical aircraft like the F-22 stealth fighter; space, cyber and bomber forces; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets like the MQ-9 Reaper, the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft; and the Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

“We will be able to leverage more capacity from our ground forces, including the Army, Marines and special operations forces, now that they are coming home to the Pacific from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Carter said, adding, “Also we are modernizing and enhancing our forward presence across the region in cooperation with our allies and partners.”

Beginning with Northeast Asia, Carter said DOD is modernizing and updating alliances with Japan and South Korea.

“In Japan we’ve added aviation capability, we are in the process of realigning the Marine Corps presence in Okinawa, and we are upgrading our missile defense posture,” he told the audience. The department is also working to revise defense guidelines there to meet 21st century challenges, he said.

On the Korean Peninsula, DOD is implementing the Strategic Alliance 2015 agreement and taking steps to advance the alliance’s military capabilities to meet the North Korean threat.

Under the SA 2015 roadmap, wartime operational control of Korean forces will transition from the U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command to the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff in December 2015, according to a January statement by U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim.

U.S. Forces Korea will become the U.S. Korea Command, or Korcom, and provide manpower for a supporting relationship with the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff. The United States will continue to back the defense of the Republic of Korea with the full might of the U.S. military, Kim added.
The Defense Department also is enhancing its presence in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region, Carter said.

“We are not only rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific but also within the Asia-Pacific, in recognition of the growing importance of Southeast Asia to the region as a whole [and] emphasizing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, capacity building and multilateral exercises,” the deputy secretary added.

In Australia last year, the initial company of Marines rotated through Darwin in the first step toward using this presence to engage in bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional partners.
In the Philippines, the department is working to enhance the capacity of the Philippines Armed Forces and increase DOD rotational presence and partnerships with that key treaty ally, Carter explained.

In Singapore, the first of four littoral combat ships will arrive early next month, providing a key capability to work bilaterally and multilaterally with partners in the region, he added.

“Next, while we will preserve and integrate the counter-insurgency capabilities that we have worked so hard to develop over the last decade in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Carter said, “we are giving priority in our … budget to development platforms and capabilities that have direct applicability and use in this region.”

Such investments include the Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine, the fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighter, the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, the Broad Area Maritime Sensor, a new stealth bomber, the KC-46 tanker replacement, cruise missiles and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, the deputy secretary said.

“We are also protecting our investments in future-focused capabilities that are so important to this region,” he added, “such as cyber, science and technology investments, and space.”

DOD is also investing in its people, Carter said, in language and cultural skills and regional and strategic affairs to ensure that the department can cultivate the intellectual capital that will be required to make good the rebalance.

The United States is also making critical investments in training ranges and bases such as Guam, which the department is developing as a strategic hub for the Western Pacific, he said.

“Fourth, finally and most importantly,” the deputy secretary noted, “we are revitalizing and expanding our partnerships across the region. That’s the key. I’ve mentioned the work we are doing with Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore and the Philippines, but we’re doing many other things in other parts of the region as well.”

- Last November DOD worked with treaty ally Thailand to update the U.S.-Thailand Joint Vision Statement for the first time in 50 years.

- With New Zealand, signing the Washington Declaration and related policy changes opened new avenues for defense cooperation in maritime security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and peacekeeping support.

- In Burma DOD has resumed limited military-to-military relations and is working to ensure that the Burmese military supports Burma’s ongoing reforms.

- With the Vietnamese, through a new memorandum of understanding, DOD is expanding cooperation in maritime security, search and rescue, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

- In Malaysia and Indonesia, the department is working to build partner capacity and conduct maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

China and India also are a critical part of the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, Carter said.

DOD has invited China to participate in the U.S.-hosted RIMPAC exercise, the world’s largest multinational maritime exercise, involving 22 nations during its most recent iteration in 2012.

“We are delighted to have their participation in what will be a strengthening and growing military-to-military relationship with China, which matches and follows our growing political and economic relationship with China,” the deputy secretary said.

Carter called India “a key part of our rebalance and, more broadly, an emerging power that we believe will help determine the broader security and prosperity of the 21st century.”

U.S. security interests with India converge on maritime security and broader regional issues, he said, “including India’s ‘Look East’ policy, an attempt to forge closer and deeper economic integration with its eastern neighbors.

With India, Carter said, the department is also working to deepen defense cooperation, moving beyond defense trade to technology sharing and coproduction.

Multilaterally, he added, the department recognizes the importance of strengthening regional institutions like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which plays what the deputy secretary called “an indispensable role in maintaining regional stability and resolving disputes through diplomacy.”

The United States can and will succeed in rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific in the years to come, Carter told the audience.

“As we succeed in this,” he added, “we look forward to doing it with all of you represented in this room.”

Nellis accepts delivery of F-35 with ceremony

by Master Sgt. Kelley J. Stewart
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/20/2013 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev.  -- In the Thunderbird Hangar filled to capacity, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Lofgren, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, formally accepted delivery of three F-35A Lightning IIs March 19.

The aircraft will be assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron where they will undergo operational testing.

During the ceremony, the general focused on the importance of the F-35 program to the Air Force and the USAF Warfare Center by tying the aircrafts' arrival to the center's three priorities.

The first priority of the warfare center is developing capabilities and leaders who can fight in a contested environment. One of the focus areas for the 422nd TES will be operational testing to develop tactics for the aircraft and pilots.

"What lies ahead for the 422nd TES and the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group is no small task," said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "You will forge the F-35 into the fighter of the future and test it to the limits."

Carvalho went on to say the group's and squadron's pilots and maintainers "would take the F-35's performance to new heights and define the very tactics the F-35 will one day use to defend freedom around the world."

Lofgren expects to see the same dramatic new tactics development with the F-35A as was seen with the F-22.

"The aircraft has so much more capability than our current aircraft," he said. "It will be exciting to see our experts develop innovative new ways to use the F-35 that have not been thought of yet."

The second priority of the warfare center is integrating the capabilities of air, space and cyberspace to achieve greater warfighting effect in the battlespace.

"Integration of the F-35's incredible sensors, and its ability to operate anywhere in the battlespace, will make the whole of all our forces more survivable and lethal," Lofgren said.

Using the F-35A in tandem with the F-22 Raptor increases this lethality.

According to Gen. Mike Hostage III, Air Combat Command commander, the Air Force needs the fifth generation of capability it's leveraging with the F-35A and F-22.

"No amount of fourth-generation capability is going to be able to survive in the environment that will be presented by our adversaries in the next decade without a fifth-generation capability to open up the way, to basically beat down the threat," he said. "Having the F-35s at Nellis brings the test and evaluation of the aircraft closer to operational conditions. I can't think of a better place to take the F-35 through the steps needed to reach initial operating capability for our Air Force."

The final warfare center's priority is to use the triad of live flying, virtual or simulator flying, and the constructive or synthetic threats and battlespace to test and develop tactics and conduct advanced training of future leaders using the F-35A.

This final priority is driven by the fact the aircraft's capabilities are so advanced that "we cannot develop our warfighting edge with live flying alone," Lofgren said.

A simulator complex to test and develop tactics and to conduct advanced training is being built at Nellis AFB and will provide F-35A pilots with realistic threat scenarios they could face in real-world combat.

The F-35A will be doing its live-flying training over the Nevada Test and Training Range.

"The F-35, with its advanced electronic warfare and integrated avionics, is able to locate and identify real and fake targets and jam with unmatched precision which will present a challenge for the NTTR to replicate the threat," Lofgren said.

Combining virtual and live training will allow the Air Force to "link and integrate current and future combat systems," the general said.

The F-35A Lightning II blends the capabilities of seven legacy aircraft into one. As a stealth aircraft, it can enter areas without being seen by radar and this capability will also allow the pilot to see other aircraft first. The F-35 can also penetrate deeper into enemy territory allowing it to find and destroy ground targets while evading hostile surface-to-air weapons.

"Not only is it deadly in the air, it is easy to work on and sustain," he said. "Great improvements have been made in sustaining this aircraft so our world-class maintainers can fix and ready the F-35 faster."

Nellis is scheduled to receive 36 F-35A Lightning IIs by 2020.

Twin Brothers Join Army National Guard

By Jennifer Archdekin

Missouri National Guard
KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 20, 2013 – All of their lives, Taylor and Tyler Adair, twin brothers, have made a conscious effort to be different. All of that is beginning to change.

While drilling at the Kansas City armory with the Missouri Army National Guard, Pvts. Taylor and Tyler Adair receive guidance from their recruiter, Army Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence Rucker. The twin brothers will attend basic training together this summer at Fort Jackson, S.C. Missouri National Guard photo by Jennifer Archdekin   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Recently the brothers, who look nearly identical but are fraternal twins, now share a common bond and will resemble each other even more so from their combat boots to the name on the their uniform. The juniors from Southwest High School here recently joined the Missouri Army National Guard.

“I thought it was a good opportunity,” Tyler said. “It sounded like a good deal. Two days, pay, benefits -- it was all there. That, added on to the enjoyment of it -- it was a no-brainer for me.”

Tyler takes the credit for being the first to have the idea of joining the military, which somewhat negated the brothers’ plan to stay out of each other’s way.

“I accidentally talked him into it,” Tyler said. “I was trying to gloat about my decision and I ended up talking him into it. I didn’t think he would actually join.”

Taylor, the older brother by seven minutes, said it is common for people to lump the two together and consider them as the same individual.

“I was already thinking about joining but we try our best not to get into each other’s way,” Taylor said. “For instance I was in debate so he didn’t try to be in debate. This is the first time that, wow, I actually joined the same thing as him.”

Though they strive to be different in all things, there will be a lot of similarities between the brothers, at least initially.

Both soldiers leave in May, one day apart, for basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and both will later train to be unit supply specialists though they will ultimately drill with different units in different cities.

Taylor will serve with Detachment 1, Headquarters Company, 35th Infantry Division in Lexington. Tyler will be with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1-138th Infantry Regiment in Kansas City.

It’s possible the brothers may be in the same unit during basic training, but they are not sure how that will pan out.

“They may actually put us together,” Taylor said. “We’re not sure.”

“A lot of people like to get a laugh by putting us together and comparing us to each other,” Tyler said. “So, I wouldn’t be surprised if we had the same room even.”

Tyler said he’s simply looking forward to the experiences he will encounter at Fort Jackson.

“I think of it as a win-win,” Tyler said. “If I bunk with Taylor then I don’t have to change my style too much, but if I bunk with someone else then I have the chance to make a new friend.”

As coincidence would have it, the Adairs also share the same military job in supply but for different reasons.
“I chose my job first because he couldn’t make up his mind,” Tyler said, jokingly. “I went with supply because I can handle guns. That is a thrill for me because I want to be a mechanic one day. I thought that’s a great idea and I can be around machinery more.”

“I went with supply because I like doing inventory,” Taylor said. “I can do inventory all day.”

With one more year of high school still to complete, the Adairs will go to basic training this summer and upon high school graduation in 2014 they will attend their advanced individual training to become supply specialists.

Both have aspirations of becoming officers and plans to attend college.

Children Need Routine Environment During Moves, Official Says

By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 20, 2013 – Service members and their spouses who will travel to new duty stations this summer might face the added concern of keeping life routine for their children, the director of the Pentagon’s office of family policy and children and youth told American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel. “Just as adults are affected by change, so are children,” Barbara Thompson said, noting that if a parent is stressed about a move, a child can sense it and also feel stressed. Military children can go through six to nine household moves while they’re growing up, and even more in many cases, Thompson said, so their parents must be sensitive to how the disruption affects them. “Military families with a wide range in age among their children should think of each child individually, and consider the nuances of their personalities” to help them adjust to their new homes and schools, Thompson said. It’s important to keep children on a routine as much as possible during the transition from their existing home to the new community, Thompson said. “It’s hard, because [military] children always are the new kids on the block,” she said. They also might start school too late to get on a team or join a group, so parents should be aware of how this would affect their children, she added. The “Military Youth on the Move” page on the Military OneSource website is geared toward helping children make military move transitions, Thompson said. One video offered on the site is about bullying, she added. “Because we recognize being the new kid in the school is a position of vulnerability,” Thompson said, “we want to arm our children with tools on how to speak up and be a part of the solution and not continue to see [themselves] as bullies, or another child who is being bullied. It’s a critical tool for our military children to have.” The site is interactive, and it caters to three age groups: children from 6 to 8, “tweens,” from 9 to 12, and teenagers. “[It] has a lot of resources so kids can learn about the new installation,” Thompson said. “It also recognizes their feelings about the changes that are happening in their lives, and gives them ideas on how they can integrate themselves in the new community.” A discussion board on the site also allows military kids to communicate with other military kids, she said, emphasizing that parents can be sure the site is safe for their children to use. Additionally, before children arrive at a new installation, youth sponsorship programs match them up with children at the new location, Thompson said, so the new child has someone who’s already a friend to be counted on to help with the adjustment to the new location. But even if parents do all that they can to help their children adjust, but they still feel stressed about their new environment, numerous resources exist to help, Thompson said. “Parents can contact Military OneSource and get telephone or face-to-face counseling,” she said. “A licensed clinician can help walk parents through how they can help their child adjust.” Installations also offer child and youth counselors who can support children who are having a tough time adjusting. “While relocation can be stressful, it also can be a wonderful opportunity to go to new places, see new things, meet new friends, and have an adventure,” Thompson said. “Our military children gain a wealth of information as they move from place to place, and they are open to new experiences, new cultures and new languages. It can be very rewarding.”

Barksdale Reserve unit passes critical test

307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

3/20/2013 - BARSKDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 307th Bomb Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command unit, is now nuclear certified following an Initial Nuclear Surety Inspection here, March 14-18.

The 343rd Bomb Squadron and 707th Maintenance Squadron, units under the 307th BW, are tasked to support the 2nd Bomb Wing's nuclear and conventional missions through the auspices of the Total Force Initiative. The 307th BW airmen underwent five days of intense inspection to certify it is qualified to perform the U.S. Air Force nuclear mission.

The inspection team, headed by Lt. Col. Hank Jenkins, team chief, presented the results of the inspection to Col. Jon Ellis, 307th BW commander, March 18.

"This certification is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our people," said Ellis,  "This historic milestone could not have been reached without their hard work and the great support we received from the 2nd Bomb Wing."

The inspection process, which involved the Air Force Global Strike Command Inspector General's office and the Air Force Inspection Agency, examined five major areas for the 343rd BS and 707th MXS. Inspectors evaluated the management and administration, technical operations, safety, personnel reliability program and nuclear control order procedures.

The successful completion of the INSI is only the first step for the 307th BW. In June, the 2nd BW and the 307th BW will accomplish the Defense Nuclear Surety Inspection as an integrated team.

The newly nuclear certified 307th BW will also participate in Global Thunder with the 2nd BW and the 5th BW from Minot Air Force Base, N.D, in October 2013.

Commander: Northcom Increases Crisis Response Capabilities

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2013 – U.S. Northern Command is working with its partners to improve its ability to support civil authorities during disaster responses, and is now better postured to do so through a new construct that improves coordination among the forces involved, the Northcom commander told Congress today.

Pointing to the command’s role when Hurricane Sandy dealt a devastating blow to the Atlantic coast in October, Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. told the House Armed Services Committee that Northcom gained valuable insights and experience that will pay off in the future.

“Hurricane Sandy offered us a glimpse of what a complex catastrophe which spanned several states and regions could look like,” he told the panel. The challenge now, he said, is to build on lessons learned to improve the processes Northcom provides the Federal Emergency Management Agency or other designated lead federal agencies.

Jacoby called partnerships the strength of the paradigm that enables Northcom to collaborate in ensuring the homeland’s safety, security and defense.

He noted in his prepared remarks that Northcom responded to multiple requests for assistance during 2012 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service, the FBI and other agencies along the U.S. Southwest border.

“This last year speaks to the critical nature of our strong interagency partnerships and the continued requirement to support our partners,” said Jacoby, noting contributions the Defense Department is able to provide during crises to complement those provided by state and local communities.

“DOD has capabilities that can save and sustain lives, reduce suffering, protect property, mitigate the damage to critical infrastructure and get citizens quickly and solidly onto the path of resuming their daily lives,” he said.

During the Hurricane Sandy response, Northcom helped with power restoration, dewatering, fuel distribution, transportation and public health safety.

The challenge is “not to be late to need,” Jacoby said, and recognizing that DOD assets can be useful only if they’re accessible and responsive to relief requirements. To ensure they are, he said, Northcom’s staff works closely with state and local officials to plan for disasters before they occur.

Jacoby called the so-called “dual-status construct” first authorized in the 2012 National Defense Appropriations Act a major step in improving support the military is able to provide.

The arrangement authorizes a designated National Guard flag officer to command active-duty, reserve and National Guard forces when states request federal forces during a crisis response. This, Jacoby said, provides a unified response not possible when military forces report to separate commanders.

Northcom successfully applied the construct during its response to the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colo., in June and during Hurricane Sandy, in both New Jersey and New York, Jacoby reported.
“We will continue to mature the successful dual-status command construct … so that we will be ready to act swiftly and with unity of effort when the unthinkable happens and we are called,” he told the House panel.
Northcom’s core mission of defense support to civil authorities falls second in priority only to the mission of homeland defense, Jacoby said.

“Our citizens have high expectations of our ability to defend and support them here in the homeland, and rightfully so,” he said. “In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, U.S. Northcom meets those expectations by leveraging a tremendous capability and capacity of the Department of Defense to support a lead agency, such as FEMA.”

Jacoby also reported during today’s hearing that U.S. ballistic missile defenses are capable of protecting the nation against growing threats from North Korea and Iran. He emphasized, however, the need to continue improving these systems in light of “an increasingly complex and dynamic security environment.”

Responding to a question, Jacoby said he believes Iran is on the path to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile, and could feasibly begin testing that capability within the next few years.

Jacoby said he supports Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s decision to add 14 more ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely, Alaska. This initiative to expand the West Coast-based missile defense system by almost 50 percent would increase defenses against both Iran and North Korea, he said.

Jacoby said he also welcomes studies about the feasibility of a third U.S. missile defense site, on the East Coast, and other efforts to increase missile-defense capabilities.

Fit to fly: Generating aircraft

by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/20/2013 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- When it comes to the task of generating F-16 Fighting Falcons and the first line of defense, Senior Airman Teddy Longnecker, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics technician, said the rule is simple, "don't fail". 

One of thousands of Airmen, Longnecker, was put to the challenge of participating in an Operational Readiness Exercise, March 18.

ORE evaluations assess the wing' s ability to respond to accidents, disasters, increased states of readiness and deployments in support of worldwide contingency operations. Squadrons were stressed to see how well they would react to generating aircraft and preparing personnel and cargo processing for deployment.

Maintainers were required to generate multiple aircraft in less than 24 hours. Longnecker said the job was like preparing jets for war and that the main function of a generation is to load live ammunition, called combat loads, to prepare a jet to head into battle.

Longnecker added it's also an opportunity for maintainers to show that they're on their game and assess their readiness and execution.

While overseas, it may seem exercises happen often, but what is asked of service members is ever-changing.

"There is always something new and different; and the fact that we have new Airmen coming in fresh out of training and have never done a 12-hour shift makes it a good experience," said Longnecker, who is nearing his four-year point at the job. "Exercises prepare us just in case the real thing was to happen."

Gen. Jacoby remembers MAFFS Airmen, praises National Guard contributions, dual-status commanders

by Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

3/20/2013 - WASHINGTON -- Air National Guard members killed fighting wildfires in 2012 were remembered during U.S. Senate testimony Tuesday as U.S. Northern Command's commander praised the National Guard's contributions in his area of responsibility.

Army Gen. Charles Jacoby made a point of reminding Senate Armed Services Committee members of the sacrifice of four Citizen-Airmen who died and two who were seriously injured when a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System equipped C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft crashed during the 2012 wildfire season.

Jacoby testified at a hearing on the posture of his command related to the nation's defense budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins Oct. 1.

"We lost some Guardsmen this year fighting fires," Jacoby reminded senators. "Brave men and women of the North Carolina Air National Guard, 145th Airlift Wing. [It] reminds us that even supporting our citizens in the homeland can be a dangerous activity. [We] really appreciate the sacrifices that those Airmen and their families made on that behalf."

Air Force Lt. Col. Paul K. Mikeal, Maj. Joseph M. McCormick, Maj. Ryan S. David and Senior Master Sgt. Robert S. Cannon died after the July 1, 2012, crash as they battled a South Dakota wildfire.

The "National Guard is a great partner across all of my mission sets ... from homeland defense, where principally Guard units fly the Noble Eagle mission in defense of our skies 24/7, [to] our missile defense, [where] the 100th Brigade mans the command-and-control facilities for our missile launch capabilities," Jacoby testified.

"In defense support to civil authorities ... every day the Guard not only meets the needs of the citizens in the states, but [is] also available to support regionally through their emergency management capabilities," he said.

Jacoby also said the use of dual-status commanders will continue.

When agreed upon by the secretary of defense and the governor of an affected state, dual-status commanders can direct both federal active duty forces and state National Guard forces in response to domestic incidents. The unity of effort is intended to foster greater cooperation among federal and state military assets during a disaster.

"We'll continue to mature the successful dual-status command construct," Jacoby said, "so that we will be ready to act swiftly and with unity of effort when the unthinkable happens and we are called."

According to Defense Department officials:

The nation's governors led the creation of this new opportunity for collaboration. Dual-status commanders ensure that state and federal military forces work together effectively when states request federal forces. Through this improved partnership, military forces are better able to avoid duplication of effort and support the needs of the incident and the American people.

The dual-status commander concept was codified in 2011, with 10 USC - 12304 as the usual and customary command and control arrangement for missions involving the simultaneous deployment of active duty, Reserve and National Guard forces in support of civilian authorities during major disasters and other emergencies.

Dempsey Honors Survivors of Those Killed on Duty

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2013 – The nation’s top military officer addressed a group of some 600 people who gathered here last night to honor the families of service members who died on active duty.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sings “The Unicorn” with Gabrielle and Chris Pierson during the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Honor Guard Gala in Washington, D.C., March 19, 2013. DOD photo by Army Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered keynote remarks as the head of a star-studded Pentagon delegation to a gala hosted by and benefiting the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS.

Dempsey said he and his wife, Deanie, “made a commitment that this is one of those organizations that, if they ask, we respond. It’s everything that’s good about the military family and the way we try to care for each other.”

Bonnie Carroll founded TAPS in 1994 to care for grieving military families after her husband, Army Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll, was killed in a military plane crash in Alaska. The not-for-profit program offers a range of resources for surviving families, including survivor seminars, Good Grief camps for children and annual retreats each year tailored to different groups of grievers: widows, widowers and significant others; parents; and siblings.

Dempsey urged those in the audience to seek out and share the stories of the surviving family members who were among them, wearing red rose corsages or boutonnières. The chairman shared the inscription that accompanied one fallen soldier’s photograph in a yearbook from his earlier days at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

“Andrew’s quote in ‘The Howitzer’ was actually a quote from John Fitzgerald Kennedy,” Dempsey said. “And it went like this: ‘In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink’” -- and here, the chairman cleared his throat “‘from this responsibility.’”

All survivors have stories they want to share, Dempsey said. “At some level, that’s what TAPS does, actually,” he added. “It allows the stories, the more important stories in our lives, to keep us alive, to keep memories alive, to keep the people who have gone on to serve their country and paid the ultimate price … alive, and their families.”

TAPS embodies a commitment that is common to the nation and to the armed forces, the chairman said: “That bond of trust that we owe those who we ask to put themselves in harm’s way for their country.”

The challenge for their remaining military brothers and sisters is what marks the military as a profession, Dempsey said. “Trust that we will provide the young men and women we send into harm’s way with everything that they need, and that if they don’t come back, that their families will be cared for,” he said.

The chairman challenged the roughly 60 survivors in the audience to “celebrate our stories tonight.”
“I know each of you has a story that you not only want to tell, but should tell, and we’d like to hear … the stories of the young men and women and the not-so-young men and women who have given their lives in defense of their country.”

Southcom Chief: Iran Working to Expand Influence in Latin America

By Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2013 – U.S. Southern Command’s top officer told Congress today that Iran is actively working to expand its presence in Latin America to cultivate allies at a time when Tehran is facing tough U.S and international sanctions for its alleged nuclear weapons program.

Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly told the House Armed Services Committee that Iran “has been very, very active over the last few years” in cultivating diplomatic and cultural ties to the region, especially by befriending Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who died earlier this month.

“They’ve opened embassies, they’ve opened cultural centers,” he testified, adding that on the surface, all of this appears to be normal.

“But to what end is obviously the issue,” he told the House panel.

Kelly told lawmakers he could discuss details about what the Iranian government’s goals might be only in a closed session. He mentioned Bolivia, Ecuador and Argentina as countries that have been the target of Iran’s diplomatic and economic outreach.

Despite Iran’s outreach to countries that he said have interests unfavorable to the United States, the general cast Iran’s overtures as being far from successful and described a region as largely uninterested in Tehran’s diplomatic engagement.

“The region as a whole has not been receptive to Iranian efforts,” Kelly said in his prepared testimony. But he cautioned that Iran’s allies, including Hezbollah, have established a presence in several Latin-American countries to deadly effect, recalling that Iran and Hezbollah were blamed for the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that killed more than 80 people.

“Proselytizers with ties to global Islamic groups are attempting to radicalize and recruit among the Muslim communities throughout the region,” he said, adding that the United States and its partners “should be extremely concerned whenever external extremist groups or state sponsors of terrorism see the Western Hemisphere as attractive or, even worse, vulnerable.”

Kelly pointed out that Venezuelan government officials have been sanctioned for providing financial support to Hezbollah, as well as for supporting rebels in neighboring Colombia.

Kelly said China is another country far outside Latin America that wants to compete with the United States for influence in the region, and is very engaged economically, “buying commodities in a big way and also investing in port facilities.” This, he added, is all the more reason for the United States to continue working to strengthen partnerships in the region.

Grand Forks Wing commander relieved of command

from Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

3/20/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE Ill. -- The commander of the 319th Air Base Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., was relieved of command Mar. 20 due to failure to comply with physical fitness standards.

Col. Tim Bush was removed by Maj. Gen. William Bender, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander. Bush assumed command in July 2011.

Bush was not relieved for alleged misconduct or wrongdoing. Bender announced that Col. Christopher Mann, 319th Air Base Wing vice commander, has been appointed as interim wing commander until a replacement can assume the full-time duties of commander. Mann has been vice commander since August 2012.

As the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, Bender provides administrative control for six wings and two groups within Air Mobility Command, to include the 319 ABW.

The 319 ABW is comprised of 1,500 personnel, providing base operating and direct operations support to wing personnel, three tenant units and nine geographically separated units. The wing trains, deploys and redeploys more than 1,100 Airmen in support of Air Expeditionary Force and combatant commander requirements. It also provides facilities and equipment support for the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, the 69th Reconnaissance Group and North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Wing. Grand Forks Air Force Base also provides direct support to the 10th Space Warning Squadron Cavalier Air Force Station, N.D.

Development flight gives delayed enlistees headstart

by Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/19/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The sounds of civilians marching in lock step, the sidestepping of recruits in the dining facility and familiar commands being barked at gaggles of stunned humans. It's official: basic military training has moved from San Antonio to the high country of Colorado.

Well, sort of.

The 302nd Airlift Wing, together with Schriever Air Force Base's 310th Space Wing, launched in December 2012 the Development and Training Flight here for new Air Force Reserve recruits to prepare them for the rigors of basic training. The flight also aims to ease the recruits, who are assigned to the Air Force Reserve's Delayed Enlistment Program, into a military lifestyle. This instruction, that takes place during the monthly Unit Training Assembly weekend, provides the recruits with the opportunity to understand the military more in-depth before shipping out for basic military training at Lackland AFB, Texas, located on the outskirts of San Antonio. The new flight, according to Chief Master Sgt. Otis Jones, 302nd AW command chief, should "blue" the recruits, allowing them to be more successful at Lackland's training grounds.

"For people that go [to basic military training] for the first time it's a little bit of a shock to their system," Jones said. "This program is actually getting them ready for it. It allows them to learn some of the basics of the military up front. They learn how to listen, take directions and have a better understanding of military customs and courtesies. And we're seeing success from people going down there."

And the success of trainees is the flight's ultimate end goal. Jones explained that, on average, it costs the Air Force thousands of dollars to train a single recruit. This includes meals, pay, housing, clothing and the support personnel it takes to mold a civilian into an Airman. In the past, the AF Reserve has sent recruits to San Antonio, but for various reasons, a fraction may drop out of basic or have disqualifying issues. With the Development and Training Flight in place, units like the 302nd AW and 310th SW have been able to screen recruits under the Delayed Enlistment Program and provide them critical instruction to better succeed at basic training. Since the flight's inception, 12 trainees have gone to Lackland.

Helping to transition the trainees is Master Sgt. Elisha M. Olivas-Stewart, the single reservist on orders supporting the flight's implementation and operation. In her role as the flight's facilitator, Olivas-Stewart admitted she wished she had something like this before she went to basic training.

"I believe in this program," she said. "I know I had a long road of getting used to the Air Force Reserve way of life. There were so many times that I almost gave up and got out. I used to feel guilty, leaving my babies to accomplish drill weekends. I would have loved to be prepared mentally for what I was truly getting into so as to prepare the rest of my family."

Olivas-Stewart said the program has been a success so far, and hopes it will mimic that of the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB, Calif. Just after that flight's start up in 2010, 10 trainees were sent to basic training. Of those trainees, according to Olivas-Stewart, more than half either completed basic military training as honor graduates or were competitive for honorary recognitions.

"From a personal standpoint, I feel like for the first time in my life, I am truly making a difference in the lives and future of the Air Force Reserve," the master sergeant said. "We all play a part in the Air Force."

First Lady Visits Fisher House Families, Wounded Warriors

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

BETHESDA, Md., March 20, 2013 – Bearing a large Easter basket brimming with cookies, First Lady Michelle Obama visited seven families of recuperating service members at Fisher House No. 4 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here today.

First Lady Michelle Obama chats with Deryn Allen, left, and her younger sister, Ryann Allen, during her pre-Easter visit with service members' families at Fisher House No. 4, on the campus of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., March 20, 2013. The Fisher House Foundation donates homes built on the grounds of major U.S. military and Veterans Affairs Department medical centers to give family members home-like places to stay close to their loved ones during hospitalizations for unexpected illnesses, diseases or injuries. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

As part of her Joining Forces initiative -- a national movement for all sectors of society to support and honor America's service members and their families that’s co-sponsored by Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden -- today was the first lady’s second Easter celebration at one of Walter Reed’s Fisher Houses. She spent time with each family at tables decorated in the children’s Easter art.

Bo, the first family’s dog, was at her side, bringing squeals of delight from the children, who were eager to pet him.

“Bo is a sweetheart, but he's big,” Obama told the group. “Bigger than some kids realize. He's really a big baby. He can do tricks if he's paying attention.”

Though this was her second Fisher House visit herearound the Easter holiday, the first lady said, it's not her second time at a Fisher House.

“[Fisher Houses], as you all know, are just so important to families who are recuperating,” she said. “As you can see, the houses are beautiful. And all around the country, they are as beautiful, welcoming and comforting as you guys are experiencing here.”

The Fisher House Foundation donates homes built on the grounds of major U.S. military and Veterans Affairs Department medical centers. The homes give family members a comfortable place to stay close to their loved ones during hospitalizations for unexpected illnesses, diseases or injuries.

“We are so supportive of all the efforts that the Fisher Houses do, and we're grateful to the Fisher family,” the first lady said. “So, I like to come and hang out, and to bring cookies. Anybody like cookies here? I'm not sure if we have any cookie fans.”

Obama brought another surprise with her to the Easter event.

“We do this really cool thing at the White House around Easter every year,” she said. “Have you guys heard of the Easter Egg Roll? We do it in the backyard of the White House on the South Lawn, and there are thousands of people who come. We've got great entertainment, … athletes who come, … Easter bunnies, … face painting, bands playing, and lots of running right on the South Lawn. Does that sound fun?

“I brought tickets for all of you to come, … so, the Monday after Easter, you guys are invited to my house to hang out,” she said to the families who responded with enthusiastic “ooohs” and “ahhhhs.”

Obama spent about an hour greeting the families and asking the children about their Easter crafts and how they made them. She chatted with service members and military spouses under a handmade “Welcome, Mrs. Obama” sign made in crayon by the children.

Following her visit with the families at the Fisher House, the first lady visited wounded warriors hospitalized at the medical center on the Walter Reed campus.

AFA honors Air National Guard members

by Senior Master Sgt. Jerry R. Bynum
Air National Guard Special Staff Public Affairs

3/18/2013 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The Air Force Association's D.W. Steele Sr. Memorial Chapter hosted the 11th Annual AFA Salute to the Air National Guard recognizing personnel assigned to the National Guard Bureau during a recent ceremony in Arlington, Va.

"The AFA awards recognize your unsung heroes, the folks out there doing the grunt work and doing great things every day," said F. Gavin MacAloon, AFA chapter president.

This year, the AFA honored 26 members of the ANG staff for their leadership contributions and dedication to the overall success of the ANG and Air Force mission. The awardees were nominated for exceptional performance across a broad range of specialties including, personnel and manpower, intelligence, operations, logistics, plans and requirements, communications, installations and mission support, financial management, safety, medical services and human resources.

"I am really proud of the people who support the Air Force mission in the Air National Guard," said Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the ANG. "These are the best of the people who are doing the mission day in and day out."

Gen. Clarke went on to describe the important role the ANG staff plays in ensuring ANG units are combat ready by providing a critical channel of communication between the National Guard Bureau, the 54 states and territories, and the Air Force.

"When you talk about global power, reach, and vigilance, when you talk about nuclear and cyber, we are involved with all of it," said Clarke. "What that means to a staff like the Air National Guard is you are involved with everything at a MAJCOM level, a national level, state level and unit level. It's all tied together, and all of you on the staff have to pull this together every day to make it happen. There is not a single program or activity the Air Force is engaged in that we're not engaged in somehow."

The ANG is a great organization, Clarke added, and the opportunity to recognize our superior performers is integral to our continued success. Support from partners like the AFA helps strengthen the resiliency of the Total Force, he said.

The AFA is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association that promotes a dominant Air Force and a strong national defense, and honors Airmen and Air Force heritage.

34th Weapons Squadron begins terminal employment phase

by Senior Airman Brett Clashman
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office

3/18/2013 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev.  -- The 34th Weapons Squadron, assigned to the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., will begin the terminal employment phase of their class syllabus March 11 over the Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho.

Four students assigned to the USAF Weapons School will be put into rigorous training scenarios during the two-week phase and display maximum combat effectiveness to instructor pilots.

The "T.E." mission objective is to demonstrate and instruct HH-60 Pave Hawk weapons employment and landing zone options to maximize weapons proficiency and quickly recover survivors.

The USAF Weapons School trains tactical experts and leaders of Airmen skilled in the art of integrated battle-space dominance across the land, air, space and cyber domains. Every six months, the school graduates approximately 100 Weapons Officers and enlisted specialists who are tactical system experts, weapons instructors and leaders of Airmen.

The TE phase is one out of a series of advanced training programs administered at the USAF Weapons School. The 34th WPS terminal employment phase will continue to March 22.