Laughlin civilian wins NOMAR award

by Airman 1st Class Jimmie D. Pike
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

7/18/2013 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Bree Pelham, 47th Civil Engineer Squadron project manager, has recently won the National Organization for Mexican American Rights Meritorious Service Award for 2013.

The NOMAR award honors military members and Department of Defense civilian employees, who show role-model-like qualities and support the DoD mission.

"It's a volunteer award but it's given to people that have shown exemplary service and promotion of rights, things of that nature," said Pelham.

Pelham worked 450 community service hours during the allotted time frame, from June 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

"I was fortunate to be in such a heavily populated community. In the Laughlin and Del Rio communities, life moves at a slower pace so you can appreciate the things that matter like helping people."

Her public service works include: nursing home visits, children's book readings, career panels, mentorship and college preparation sessions, career fairs, park clean-ups and more.

"In April I helped the Laughlin's Youth of the Year prepare for a regional speech competition in San Antonio, Texas, by helping with her technique by putting on a mock interview," said Pelham

Pelham has been at Laughlin for three years and quickly showed she had reason to be successful and stand out.

"Ms. Pelham is an outstanding employee," said Ben Graf, 47th CES engineer flight chief and Pelham's supervisor, "After only six months she was working full time and doing all the extra volunteer work."

With all the public service Pelham has done, she was the ideal candidate for submission.

"She is heavily involved with the base and the community," said Graf. "She's a hard-working volunteer and when I read the criteria for the award, she instantly came to mind."

Pelham believes in dedication to her work and plans to continue serving the community and helping others through self-less service.

"People don't work for awards, we just do what we are able to," said Pelham. "I do everything I do partly because of my upbringing, it is part of my belief system and it's also just right to work hard and give back."

15th CMSAF visits Altus AFB, talks core values

by Airman 1st Class Klynne Pearl Serrano
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

7/19/2013 - ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (ret.) Rodney McKinley shared his experiences and gave advice to Airmen during his visit to Altus AFB, July 19, 2013.

After meeting with Altus AFB's senior leaders, McKinley met with the Senior NCO inductees who are to be honored at the SNCO Induction Ceremony scheduled to take place later this evening.

During his time with the inductees, McKinley shared his experiences as CMSAF and emphasized the importance of having a good relationship with the Airmen they lead.

"It's how you can motivate and inspire other Airmen," McKinley said. "It basically boils down to relationships and getting the mission completed. When I look at a Senior NCO, it's not just about them. I look at who they are leading and how successful those people are. Our job is to make our people better and build more leaders."

McKinley then spoke with Altus AFB's First Sergeants. Since McKinley spent approximately 10 years as a First Sergeant during his time in the Air Force, he shared his thoughts on how rewarding it is to be a First Sergeant.

"Probably the most rewarding part of this job is seeing my Airmen be successful--to see them succeed," McKinley said. When I had Airmen who were going down the wrong path and I knew I just needed to get their attention. When you're able to grab those Airmen and shake them up a little bit. Then point them to the right direction and to see them succeed and become very successful Airmen, what can be better than that? You had the effect on someone's life in a positive way."

Later, McKinley offered his insight to the future leaders and supervisors attending Airman Leadership School.

"It is tough transitioning from a junior enlisted to a supervisor," McKinley said. "One day you have some friends who may be your peers and the next day you may be their supervisor. That's a very difficult transition to make. You don't necessarily have to give up that friendship with the people who you may now be supervising, but there is a line you need to be careful not to cross. When you are a supervisor, you have to be able to lead. There has to be that respect and your Airmen should want to follow you. It's about your character, living your core values every day, and treating people right."

McKinley's vision for the future of a well-grounded enlisted force focuses on the Air Force's core values.

"At the end of the day, it really boils down to our core values--Integrity, Service and Excellence," McKinley said. "If we live by those core values, we treat people with dignity and respect, we will get through any issues that we have--even money issues. We're still going to be the premier Air Force in the world and taking care of America's needs."

Drones Over the USA - Who's Watching You

We have never published an "infographic" in this blog. This was is interesting and thought provoking.

Mission Fulfills Sacred Pledge, POW/MIA Official Says

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2013 – No matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, the nation must continue to fulfill its sacred pledge to account for its missing warriors, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for prisoner of war and missing personnel affairs said today.

“We honor the sacrifices of our missing and the sacrifices of their families," W. Montague “Q” Winfield told attendees at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Louisville, Ky.
Winfield, also the director of the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, leads the national effort to achieve the fullest possible accounting of the more than 83,000 warriors lost while serving the United States. He also is responsible for limiting the loss and capture of Americans serving abroad in current operations.

In the last year, Winfield said, the Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command has accounted for 64 missing warriors -- seven from World War II, 40 from the Korean War and 17 from the Vietnam War.

Additionally, the White House recently approved the charter for a joint U.S.-Russia commission. "This is a wonderful, wonderful advancement," he said, "because it will allow us to increase our bilateral relationship with our Russian counterparts as we seek to get more access to their archives."

One of the most important aspects of his job is meeting with family members of missing service members, Winfield said. One of those family members recently showed him a letter written from Vietnam in late 1970 by Army Sgt. George C. Green Jr., a radio operator in the 5th Special Forces Group.

"In the last paragraph of what was to be his last letter home to his mom, he wrote, 'If I am killed, no one will ever recover my body, because I don't want anyone to risk their life for this worthless piece of clay,'” Winfield said.

In December 1970, Green’s reconnaissance patrol in Laos was engaged by an enemy force, and he was killed during the firefight.

“Because of the intensity of that firefight, his team had to leave his remains behind,” Winfield said. “Like thousands before him, Sergeant Green answered the call to duty. Like thousands before him, Sergeant Green was a humble soldier. Like thousands before him, Sergeant Green laid down his life for his brothers in arms. Like thousands before him, Sergeant Green paid the price for our freedom with his life.

“Sergeant Green may have felt that he was a worthless piece of clay, but to us, he was and is an American hero, deserving our nation's highest priority and enduring effort,” Winfield continued. “He is not forgotten."

A widow once told him that people don’t appreciate a funeral until there isn’t one, Winfield said.
“The men and women of the accounting community are dedicated [and] committed to doing everything humanly possible to account for America's heroes -- those who are still missing. We believe in that mission,” he said.

Agencies Work to Bolster Vet, Family Education Outcomes

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2013 – Several government agencies are working on initiatives to improve educational success rates for service members, veterans and their families, senior Department of Veterans Affairs and consumer protection officials told lawmakers today.

Curtis L. Coy, deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity for VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration, testified with several other witnesses before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on educational outcomes for military members and veterans. Holly Petraeus, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s assistant director for the Office of Servicemember Affairs, also testified.

A central question was whether veterans and serving troops are unscrupulously recruited by some for-profit schools. As Petraeus explained, a “90-10” provision in law that is meant to protect students actually creates a loophole some schools are exploiting.

She said the rule requires for-profit colleges to get at least 10 percent of their revenues from a source other than Title IV, which covers federal student financial aid programs. The rule is meant to ensure that a college does not exist solely on federal funds, Petraeus said, but although tuition assistance and the Post-9/11 GI Bill are federally funded, they fall into the 10-percent category of the 90-10 rule.

“This means that for every service member using [tuition assistance] or GI Bill funds, as well as the spouse or child of a service member, in the case of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, that a for-profit college recruits, the college can then go out and enroll nine other students who are using Title IV funds,” Petraeus said. “And that can be a problem.”

This has given some for-profit colleges an incentive to see service members as “nothing more than dollar signs in uniform,” and to use unscrupulous marketing techniques to draw them in, Petraeus added.

Coy said that while VA defers to the Education Department on the 90-10 calculation, “we recognize the argument for including the [GI Bill] in the 90 percent limit on federal funding.” He also noted, though, that a change in the 90-10 rule could leave some schools ineligible to receive federal funds.

“Our concern is to ensure that veterans are not adversely affected by any proposed changes,” he said, “or to mitigate them to the extent possible.”

VA and the Veterans Benefits Administration have collaborated with multiple agencies since 2001 to inform veteran students about their educational opportunities, he said, and resources are available online from VA, VBA and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help potential students assess aptitude, plan a course of study and compare education costs.

VA also has placed vocational rehabilitation counselors at military installations across the country, Coy added, and will have counselors on 90 college campuses by the end of the fiscal year.

Coy noted VA has greatly increased oversight of all schools, including for-profit schools, and has this year completed more than 3,000 compliance reviews on schools as of the end of May. Nine institutions with a total of 177 veteran students were disqualified from receiving federal aid because of erroneous or misleading practices following those reviews, he said.

Petraeus noted a number of initiatives and online resources are in place to help troops and their families navigate post-secondary education.

“The wonderful education benefits provided to our military and their families through [tuition assistance] and the GI Bill should not be channeled to programs that do not promote -- and may even frustrate -- this outcome,” she said.

Reservists stay mission ready while delivering humanitarian aid

by Maj. Wayne Capps
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/23/2013 - EL SALVADOR  -- Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing delivered more than 86,200 pounds of humanitarian aid this weekend while conducting a vital training mission.

The mission delivered donated food, clothing and medical supplies to orphanages and schools in Haiti and El Salvador and is estimated to help 11,200 people in need.

Amid budget woes, overseas training missions like this one are now few and far between and this is the first mission the 315th Airlift Wing has flown delivering humanitarian cargo under the Denton program since sequestration was enacted.

"Training missions like these are a win-win for everyone," said Lt. Col. Mike Phillips from the 701st Airlift Squadron and one of the pilots on the mission. "Not only do the aircrew members on the trip get some valuable training, we are able to help a lot of people in need."

Training missions like these are made possible by the Denton Amendment, a state department/U.S. Aid program allowing the delivery of donated humanitarian aid to fly on Air Force assets on a space available basis.

This mission was especially important to Capt. Jackie Bergey, a 5-year pilot who is a traditional reservist and is currently in upgrade training to become an aircraft commander. "With a mission like this that is focused on training, you get to explore all the boundaries and do things that you just can't do on an active mission," she said. "Some of our most experienced reserve pilots can only fly on weekend trips and without these trips we lose the benefit of their knowledge and experience."

Capt. Trey Hamilton, a civilian banker and one of the reserve pilots on the mission understands first hand what it is like to have limited availability and rely on these types of missions. "I am a traditional reservist with minimal availability," he said. "With a demanding civilian job, I have to rely on these weekend missions to stay current and keep my readiness up."

While the pilots where conducting training, the loadmasters on the crew had additional challenges they had to face. Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Piccione, one of the loadmasters on the trip, from the 701st Airlift Squadron, stressed the importance of conducting these types of missions. "These are important for a couple reasons. First, you get to see an upload and a download of the aircraft cargo and all the challenges that comes along with that," he said. "Then you get to interact with people and equipment from a foreign country, which presents a whole new set of challenges." Referring to broken down forklift used to unload the aircraft in Haiti.

Besides the vital training being accomplished on the mission, the C-17 delivered aid helping a lot of people, said Sergeant Piccione. "I think this is great and very fulfilling to know that this cargo is going to help so many people who need it."

Mario Alberto, the donation coordinator from the El Salvador first lady's office was happy to greet the crew when they arrived with clothing and medical supplies bound for the La Palma region in El Salvador, a place with limited resources and work opportunities. "We are very happy that you are doing this for the people of El Salvador," said Alberto. "Donations like these work to create stronger bonds between our people."

Tammy Dipenti, a volunteer aid worker with the Children's International Lifeline and teacher from Cincinnati, OH. was on hand with a number of volunteers to receive the food and clothing in Haiti. "The Denton program is very important for the children in Haiti," she said. Seeing that airplane being unloaded with supplies that will help all of these people makes me proud to be an American," said Dipenti.

As the empty C-17 headed back to Charleston after a long mission, Senior Master Sgt. Piccione smiled and summed up his thoughts on the flight. "Today we just helped feed over 8,000 kids. Now that is cool."

Joint AES training mission highlights AF Reserve efficiency

by 1st Lt. Jeff Kelly
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/23/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- When personnel are injured in Afghanistan, help is no farther away than a medic's tactical field care, a nine-line medevac request and a helicopter flight to a forward operating base. Depending on the severity of an injury, a wounded service member might be sent to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, or stateside for follow-on treatment. But getting these wounded warriors from a field hospital to a fixed facility halfway around the world can be a challenge.

This is where the Air Force's aeromedical evacuation squadrons step in.

The 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, part of the Air Force Reserve's 315th Airlift Wing based at Joint Base Charleston, and the 36th AES from Pope Army Airfield, N.C., recently held a three-day joint training exercise for its aeromedical technicians that took them to JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and back to JB Charleston. The training exercise re-certified many of these Airmen to safely transport casualties out of the combat zone.

With flight hours curtailed these days because of budget short falls, this was a fantastic opportunity for both units to team together and get a large volume of training accomplished on one long C-17 mission ensuring that the Air Force got efficient use of the time the aircraft was in the air.

"This three-day mission accomplished an incredible amount for the Air Force in a very short time," said Capt. Cory Kemble, 701st Airlift Squadron pilot and aircraft commander for the mission. "Our aircrew members were able to log hours necessary to stay proficient, we hauled troops and cargo where the Air Force needed them and of course our aeromedical evacuation team members on board were able to train for extended periods of time while we were in the air. The benefits of a mission of this type for the Air Force are far reaching."

It is important for AES technicians to train while in flight in order to closely simulate the conditions they face when saving the lives of our wounded warriors at 30,000 feet in the air. The benefit of this particular joint training mission was evident when discussing it the Airman who participated.

"Missions like this with longer flight times allow us to get very detailed in our training," said Second Lieutenant Jason Foster, a flight nurse with the 315th AES. "Being able to focus on premixing our drugs, intensive drip rates and several realistic scenarios gives us the ability to train like we fight and there is no substitution for that."

Members of the 86th AES agreed with Foster's sentiment and the usefulness of this particular joint training mission was echoed by everyone who participated. The 86th AES normally flies on C-130 aircraft so the extended training time on a C-17 was unique and very beneficial.

"One of the many benefits of training with the 315th AES is being able to rainbow or blend the AES crew members," said Capt. Donna Olson, flight nurse with the 86th AES. "We often fly with techs or nurses while in deployed locations that we may not have met before. This mission has been another way of training for that real world scenario. It also gives us an opportunity to view how other units manage their programs and to be able to learn from their strengths. It gives us the opportunity to fly dissimilar aircraft as my primary airframe is the C-130. This has been very beneficial. The crew members from the 315th AES are extremely knowledgeable and they are eager to share their expertise and experiences with our crew."

The benefit of training with a blended AES crew from multiple units was gained by both squadrons involved.

"Although the concept of tactical versus strategic AE is out of vogue, there remains an underlying culture in the C-130 community of no nonsense, pragmatic, get-it-done attitude which is both valuable and refreshing," said Lt. Col. David Ball, 315 AES director of operations. "With flight hours at a premium it is especially important to get all the training possible. This mission serves both squadrons well. Squadron members from Pope get time on the C-17 which improves their readiness. As they transition to the C-130J we look forward to flying with them more often."

CSAF thanks Team Schriever, addresses importance of every Airman

by Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

7/23/2013 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III visited Schriever Air Force Base July 19 to thank the team as well as provide some insights on current Air Force issues.

As part of a two-day visit to Colorado, Welsh and his wife, Betty, met with Schriever Airmen and their families at a key spouse meeting, hosted an Airman's call and had lunch with Airmen from across the wing

"I am here to say thanks for who you are, for what you do, for how well you do it, for enabling the entire rest of our Air Force to do its job all [around] the world and enabling the entire joint team to get the job done all [around] the world," Welsh said.

Additionally, he highlighted the importance of Team Schriever to the Air Force and the joint mission.

"There is not a single weapon that gets dropped anywhere on the planet precisely without you. There is no secure [communication] on the Osama Bin Laden raid without you," Welsh remarked. "There is no ability to move people, equipment, keep things on time, without you. There is no ability to do nuclear command and control, communication, anything without you. In every mission we do in the Air Force, and there are five core ones that we do where the rest of the Air Force is involved, you enable every one of them."

Team Schriever performs its mission well and people understand how critical it is to everything the Air Force does, he said. There is no success the military has had that doesn't integrally involve Team Schriever.

The Chief reminded the team that each member is critically important to what the Air Force does whether "you are a commander, supervisor, civilian Airman, uniformed Airman, a spouse or a key spouse."

"This team doesn't operate well without everybody operating well; it just doesn't work that way," he said. "You've got to know each other and care about each other."

Welsh, who was born into the Air Force family as the son of a veteran pilot, talked about his love and pride for the service.

"One thing [my father] taught me was people plus pride equals performance," he said. "Our Air Force recruits the best people possible. We've always educated them and trained them better than anybody else does. And we've always tried to keep them proud because they come in that way."

The Air Force needs to remind itself that performance is "our only bottom line," the general said.

"If you don't treat your people well, you'll never get that performance and that pride that produces the incredible capabilities that we have in our Air Force," he said

And one of the issues that puts that at risk is civilian furloughs. Currently, civilian Airmen are furloughed one day per week from the pay period that began July 8 until Sept. 21.

"To the civilians in the audience, I just want to say I am sorry," Welsh said. "The [Secretary of the Air Force] and I are doing everything we can to ensure that this does not happen next year. We've got to figure out a way to avoid this. This is a breach of faith with you and I apologize."

Welsh also issued his keys to success - common sense, communication and caring.

"If you are doing something that wastes your time, if you are doing something that doesn't make your people better, take better care of them and their families or improve the mission, then quit doing it," he said.

Additionally, he reiterated the importance of better communication. He said the Air Force needs ideas on how to get the information better and faster to its Airmen.

"Communication is key to us to move forward," the Chief said. "You need to know what's happening."

Moreover, the chief talked about how every Airman has a story and encouraged everyone to learn about each other.

"The stories are magnificent, some are sad, some are inspirational, some are uplifting, but everybody has one," Welsh said. "Please learn the stories. The simple fact is, if you don't know the story, you can't lead the Airman as well as you could otherwise."

He added that by knowing each other better, the easier it is for everyone to take care of each other. This will help combat problems such as a lack of respect for each other in the workplace as demonstrated by sexual assaults, he said.

"We'll have to work at those things," Welsh said. "The Air Force is a phenomenally good news story and these things are not. To be the Air Force we want to be, to build the workplace you want to work in, that's what we've got to do. I need your help."

Welsh emphasized that although everyone is not part of the problem, everybody has to be part of the solution.

"We talk to all of our people about standing side-by-side with each other, how we're going to go to war together, we'll fight with each other, we'll die with each other; but if we really feel that way, if you have the worst thing that's ever happened in your life happen to you, why wouldn't you come and trust me enough to let me help?'" Welsh said. "It's not your fault. It's my fault. If we can figure that out, we'll get ahead of this, but it's going to take everybody's effort."

Concluding the Airman's call, Welsh said he loves being in the service, everything about it and everybody in it.

"I really love the fact that I would die for you if I have to," he said. "I really like the fact that you will do the same for me if it's necessary. That is what this business is about, that's why we have to take care of each other, that's why we have to be able to trust each other and that's why it's important you wear your uniform. Thanks for choosing to serve, thanks for who you are, thanks for making me proud every single day."

(Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys contributed in the story)

Peterson pilot sets new world record in velodrome cycling

by Michael Golembesky
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

7/23/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The weather and track conditions were perfect early July 13 at the Colorado Springs Velodrome as cyclist, Lt. Col. James Lawrence, a pilot with the 200th Airlift Squadron Colorado Air National Guard, started his initial laps to bring his bike up to speed before making a world record attempt.

After more than a year of training and preparation, Lawrence's front tire rolled over the sensing strip that triggered the electronic clock to start. Pedaling furiously, his attempt was over in mere seconds. Wearing an aerodynamic helmet and traveling more than 40 mph, he was unsure if he had broken the record or just barely missed it.

Lawrence had unknowingly broken two records in the Flying 200 Meter Time Trial in the 45-49 age group. The current U.S. record time was 10.959 seconds while the world record was 10.927. Lawrence had stopped the clock at 10.713.

"I didn't know my time for a while; I couldn't see or hear anything. I knew I had gone fast, it felt really fast, but I had no idea," Lawrence said.

Lawrence knew he had broken the record when he saw his oldest daughter Victoria, who was volunteering at the event, jumping up and down giving her dad a thumbs up.

Lawrence never intended on becoming a competitive cyclist, let alone a world record holder. Riding bikes was a family affair with him and his family spending hours practicing at the velodrome to prepare for youth race competitions.

"I went to Masters Nationals, and figured I would go out there and get crushed but I wound up taking fifth," he said when talking about his first cycling competition.

Lawrence's official time was more than two-tenths of a second faster than the current world record set by an Australian cyclist two years ago. The two-tenths difference is a large margin in such a short race.

"If I had been able to beat it by 17 one-hundredths of a second, that would have been a pretty good thumping. But to beat it by two-tenths is unheard of, it's ridiculous," he said.

"The guys at the track are like, 'dude, that is going to stand forever,'" Lawrence said when recalling reactions from fellow cyclists at the event.

As a C-21A Learjet pilot and assistant director of operations for the 200th AS, Lawrence had a full schedule to balance when making time to train and prepare for his world record attempt.

"It's tough, especially with the kids and all of us racing and training. It's difficult but basically every minute that I am not here (at Peterson) we are doing something cycling related," said Lawrence.

"Altitude is absolutely a key factor in our track being fast because the air is thinner, there is less resistance so you go faster," he said when asked if altitude played a factor in the large margin of his time.

The official paperwork and results have been submitted to the Internal Cyclist Union office in Switzerland, the governing authority that verifies and maintains all world records associated with cycling.

188th's Neal earns NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award for ANG

by Senior Airman John Hillier and Senior Airman Hannah Landeros
188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/23/2013 - FORT SMITH, Ark. -- For his long career of service and mentorship to others, Lt. Col. Anderson Neal, Jr., 188th Maintenance Group commander, 188th Fighter Wing, Fort Smith, Ark., was presented with the 2013 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award on July 16, 2013, at the organization's annual convention held this year in Orlando, Fla.

"The mentoring Lt. Col. Neal does is huge," said Lt. Col. Judith Mathewson, 188th Mission Support Group deputy commander. "He mentors individuals all around the base, not just people who work for him in Maintenance Group. He is a role model, not only for African Americans but for all individuals in the unit so they can perform at their best. He does the same things for people working for him at USDA that he does at the 188th: Mentors people who want to be leaders."

Named for noted civil rights advocate and former NAACP executive director Roy Wilkins, the award honors military members and Department of Defense civilian employees who have made a significant contribution to civil or human rights and exhibit the core values of their respective military service. Neal was presented the award during an Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Awards luncheon in Orlando, where the NAACP recognized military members and civilians for their contributions to equal opportunity, human relations and America's veterans.

Neal is a soft-spoken leader known for his personable manner and warm smile. Those traits also served him well when he began his career at the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1987, he was promoted to the Soil Conservation Service's regional office in Hope, Ark., and saw his opportunity to make needed changes in the organization.

"That [position] was my first leadership role at USDA," Neal said. "In that role was the first opportunity I got to do some things as far as making a difference, being able to hire a diverse staff, that kind of thing. When I started there I was 27 years old and all of my employees were probably 45 and up - and all white. The entire agency was primarily white, so I took it upon myself to try and make a difference as far as diversity, and really do some things to make sure that people of color were actually participating. When I left there, I had the most diverse staff of anybody."

Guest speaker Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, called diversity a military necessity and an asset that will make the National Guard and the military stronger.

"In the National Guard and the United States military we have adopted many of the principles the NAACP holds dear in order to build a more diverse, and therefore stronger workforce," Clarke said.

Neal grew up on an Eastern Arkansas farm as one of 11 children. His parents were sharecroppers who had little opportunity for formal schooling, but impressed upon him and his siblings the values of hard work and education.

"We've got one doctor, one accountant and two school teachers [among my siblings]" Neal said. "Most of the others have a few years of college as well. When I went off to college, I knew there were several things I didn't want to do: I wanted to get away from farming, I didn't want to teach and I didn't want to do anything with the military. Now, I have 28 years in the military and almost 37 years with the Department of Agriculture. I started to work for USDA right in my hometown. I actually went out to advise people that I used to work with as a sharecropper."

The Guardsmen who have worked alongside Neal attest to his willingness to make connections and forge relationships between people of differing backgrounds.

"I had an opportunity to work with Lt. Col. Neal on some personnel issues for the Maintenance Group," Mathewson said. "At the time, he had an individual who was in a crisis situation. Lt. Col. Neal was able to talk to that person and using his personality, his mentorship and his leadership, help that individual through their crisis. What I saw in Lt. Col. Neal was that not only was he personable, but through his leadership he was giving his Airmen good guidance and was understanding of the personal crisis that individual was going through."

Maj. Lionel Riley, 188th Equal Opportunity Office chief, said Neal was a strong mentor to him early in his career as an officer.

"I was a first lieutenant, just made Services Flight commander," Riley said. "Lt. Col. Neal took me aside and said 'Don't hesitate to let me know what you need. This job can be hard to do when you don't know everyone.' That mentoring continued through my career. He would sometimes stop me on base and ask if I knew so and so - some random person, it seemed - and then would give me their contact information and encourage me to call.

"He knew that I worked for Wal-Mart and would get me in touch with people there, too. He's always been proactive about relationships. He's always providing tidbits of advice without me seeking him out and he's open that way with everybody, really. Anyone who approaches him, he's going to address candidly and sincerely and that goes a long way with the younger troops."

Whether it was helping farmers increase their crop yield in rural Arkansas, counseling Airmen on how to advance their careers, or working to ensure a more level playing field for the people around him, Neal has made building bridges between people his primary focus.

"When I was enlisted out here, our commander would always be standing on the catwalk overlooking the hangar," Neal said. "You never saw him out on the flightline or in any of the shops. I don't want to be remembered like that. I'm trying to make a difference."

62nd AW Airmen support massive U.S.-Australian exercise

7/23/2013 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.  -- Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing here, along with other Mobility Airmen from across the U.S., will join more than 28,000 of their fellow Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Australian counterparts in northern Australia for Exercise Talisman Saber 2013.

Talisman Saber is a biennial training activity jointly sponsored by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Joint Operations Command and the U.S. Pacific Command to train forces from both nations to operate as a combined joint task force. The Air Mobility Command contribution to the team will include C-17 air crews from the 62nd Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. and the 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., supported by KC-135 Stratotankers from the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

The commander of the 62nd Operations Group here, Col. Andrew Hird, will be the overall U.S. Air Force mission commander during the exercise.

As part of the exercise, Mobility Airmen, comprised of C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker crews, will support the airdrop of more than 400 U.S. Soldiers as well as a combined airdrop of cargo alongside the Royal Australian Air Force. Australian Talisman Saber 2013 spokesman Brigadier Bob Brown said the exercise would mobilize both nation's forces to react to a "peace enforcement" scenario, with the combined task force setting the conditions for hand-off of responsibilities to a follow-on United Nations peacekeeping force.

"Talisman Saber is a unique and invaluable opportunity to exercise combined and joint Defence capability between Australia and the US. As with the previous Talisman Saber exercises, this activity is a major undertaking reflecting the Australian and US alliance and the strength of the military-to-military relationship," said Brown .

Approximately 21,000 US and 7,000 Australian Defence Force personnel will be involved in the exercise, along with other Australian Government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAID, Australian Federal Police, and Australian Civil-Military Centre.

Talisman Saber 2013 runs from July 15 until Aug. 6.

Two special operations Airmen earn Silver Stars

by Mike Joseph
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Public Affairs

7/23/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND (AFNS) -- Two Air Force Special Operations Command combat controllers stationed in San Antonio were each presented a Silver Star for gallantry in combat during a ceremony here July 22.

The two combat controllers, Tech. Sgt. Ismael Villegas and Staff Sgt. Dale Young, were decorated by Lt. Gen. Eric E. Fiel, the commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

The Silver Star is the third highest award exclusively for combat valor.

"Gentlemen, your bravery and tenacity epitomize what being a warrior is all about," Fiel said during the ceremony. "Your brave actions under hostile fire at great risk to your lives not only decimated the enemy, but also saved lives of your teammates. Your unwavering gallantry and devotion to duty are an example for all of us to follow."

It was the second Silver Star awarded to Villegas, who is currently the only active-duty two-time recipient in the Air Force. Villegas is assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field and presently works as a recruiting liaison for the 369th Air Force Recruiting Group at Lackland.

Young is assigned to the 342nd Training Squadron at Lackland as an instructor in the entry level course for all special operators.

Both recipients expressed how humbled and honored they were by the award.

"I was surprised," Young said. "It was submitted as a Bronze Star with Valor and after statements from some of my team members, different boards recommended an upgrade to Silver Star. It's an honor."

Villegas, a 16-year veteran with eight deployments, used "surreal and shock" to describe his reaction.

"The first one (in 2011) you don't even expect -- that in itself is a shock," he said. "To receive two -- that's even more incredible. For me to be awarded a second one is even more of a shock."

Both men received their awards for gallantry in action during separate military operations near Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Villegas' citation states he risked his life from Feb. 6 - 24, 2011 during nonstop enemy engagements. In an 18-day mission riddled with trench warfare battles, Villegas controlled 40 aircraft that delivered more than 32,500 pounds of precision ordnance. The air strikes resulted in 21 enemies confirmed killed in action and destroyed eight fighting positions and two communication repeaters.

During the mission, Villegas gathered intelligence from fortified insurgent positions at great risk. He also protected, covered, then pulled to safety a teammate hit by shrapnel.

Col. Marc Stratton, the commandant of the Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Lackland, was one of Villegas' first commanders when both served in the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in 2002. Stratton is a special tactics officer who has spent 25 years in the career field.

He recalled that Villegas, then a senior airman, impressed his teammates in the field when directly engaged with the enemy on numerous missions during his first deployment to Afghanistan.

"Little did any of us know, at the time, that we would be here many years later at an event recognizing his courage under fire, not merely for one isolated incident, but for consecutive exceptional selfless actions during successive engagements over time," Stratton said.

"In short, this oak leaf cluster carries a great deal of significance," he said. "The award of a second Silver Star is very rare for good reason."

Young compared the award upgrade to "the kind of stuff you see in movies and TV."

"You never really see yourself in that position," he said. "The training we get is so good, so precise and key in building our skills.

"This is a tribute to my supervisors, the first controllers I met and the ones who taught me everything I know," Young said.

From May 19-23, 2009, near Helmand province, Young's citation states he served as the primary combat control joint terminal attack controller assigned to an Army Special Forces team. Young's element was under continuous enemy fire for 94 hours.

Young controlled up to 11 coalition aircraft and ensured safe and effective fires on enemy positions despite small-arms and rocket fire within 10 meters of his position. The mission also destroyed more than $1 billion in black tar opium.

During his remarks, the AFSOC commander cited the humility and training of special operations Airmen.

"Special operations is a community of quiet professionals," Fiel said. "If you ask these men or anyone who wears our berets their thoughts about decorations, I think they would all say, 'I was just doing what I was trained to do.'

"The citations detail your amazing acts of heroism and bravery," he said. "Your stories are truly inspiring."

WWII vet visits AAFB, recounts events that led to island liberation on anniversary

by Staff Sgt. Melissa B. White
36th Wing Public Affairs

7/18/2013 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- A World War II veteran visited the base July 17 as part of a trip to the island for a celebration of the historic event he was part of 69 years ago.

Former Marine Pfc. William Mays, an amphibious tractor crewman during the war, helped storm the beaches of Guam July 21, 1944, to liberate the island from Japanese control, and now he's back to honor the day during the island-wide Liberation Day events.

Japanese forces invaded the lightly defended island shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December 1941 and occupied Guam until 36,000 U.S. service members officially took back the U.S. territory Aug. 10, 1944, after a 21-day battle.

Mays took some time out of his busy schedule of attending village memorial events to come by Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and visit with some Airmen and Marines during his weeklong visit to the island.

"I learned a lot about what they did to take back the island during the war," said Capt. Mike Sydney, 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-52 Stratofortress copilot. "It's a humbling experience to bring him out here and show him what he has fought for, what we do and how we continue to defend this land he fought for during the liberation of the island."

Mays visited the 36th Operations Support Squadron, the three Marine units temporarily assigned here from Japan and South Carolina with their F/A-18 Hornets, and a B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd EBS, which is a unit deployed here from Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

"It's overwhelming to look at all of this," Mays said of current military operations on Guam. "These are the people out here protecting our country right now and it's just amazing."

While visiting with the Airmen and Marines, Mays also recounted some of his memories from the fateful day on the shores of Guam and the battle it ensued.

"They were intense things in my life," Mays recalled. "About the fourth day during the shelling, I was about the most scared in my life. We stood up and there was a big hole and the dirt and sand was still raining down on us afterward. So you can see, we thought we were going to die."

This is his second visit to the island since WWII for the anniversary of Liberation Day, and he also said it will probably be his last due to his physical limitations. His first return for the events was in 1994, an experience he said was much different compared to his visit this year where he is the only liberation veteran visiting this year as the guest of honor for Guam's memorials and celebrations.

" ... (My previous visit was) nothing compared to the attention they give me now," Mays said. "It feels good to be a part of that and these people are so appreciative that I just wanted to come down here and see it."

Mays said he feels honored to play an important role in this year's events, but he maintains he was just an average man doing his job who was put in an extraordinary situation. He also said he feels humbled by the experiences and appreciation.

Liberation Day events will conclude with an island-wide parade downtown July 21, the official 69th anniversary of the start of the battle to reclaim Guam as American land.

From Staff Sgt. to Stormtrooper: A sergeant's creative way to volunteer

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Zachary Wolf
JBER Public Affairs

7/17/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- In a galaxy not so far away, there is a special room in a children's hospital filled with children of all ages. Today, they have looks of excitement on their faces. Today, they get to meet Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers. The children's faces light up as more costumed volunteers walk in dressed like Imperial Officers, Biker Scouts, and even bounty hunters like Boba Fett.

The joy and excitement in the room are very real, and it's that reaction that inspires a Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Airman to suit up and head out to volunteer in the community.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Patrick Walsh, a Fitzgerald, Ga. native, works at the 673d Communications Squadron as a cyber transport supervisor. The 11-year veteran joined a local chapter of the 501st Legion, "Vader's Fist" initially due to his interest in the Star Wars movie franchise, but it morphed into something more.

"Back in 2002, I was stationed at Ramstein (Air Base, Germany) and got word of a gaming conference down at Leipzig, so I went down there and right outside, I ran into a group of Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader," Walsh said.

Walsh asked where they got their costumes and learned they had made them themselves.

"After I left, I searched online for a costume and over the years, it never materialized," Walsh said. "It's always been 'One day I will be a Stormtrooper.'"

Two years ago, Walsh bought a Stormtrooper kit on impulse and decided to look up the 501st Legion to get help setting it up.

Walsh introduced himself to the local 501st Alaskan Outpost, Aurora Borealis, to get some local help. While he was getting advice, he also got to know the people in the group.

During his first two years at JBER, Walsh started attending events as a handler, where he would make sure the people in costumes had what they needed, like water, and help them put on their costumes and walk around as some of the costumes have limited visibility.

"In these two years, I learned what the 501st actually does, which made me want to be an official member even more," Walsh said.

But the defining moment that cemented his desire came on Halloween 2011.

"It was Anchorage Trick-or-Treat about two and a half years ago and I was doing handler duties," Walsh said. "It was this little girl, maybe 2 or 3 years old, who walked up to Lisa, an outpost member at the time, who was wearing Boushh-which is the bounty hunter outfit Princess Leia wore when she went to go save Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. This little girl walked up and just stood there for a second. I was like 'What's going on?' Lisa got down to one knee and the little girl gave her a huge hug."

"Just seeing some of the reactions when you are at an event, you've got some kids where you can just see the wheels turning-- their imaginations are just going wild. You have some who are scared and run off and some that just stare at you. It's not just kids. You have adults, too, that say 'Ooh a Stormtrooper! Let me get a picture with him.'"

So Walsh officially became one of the 6,400 active members worldwide. In the Legion, he is known as TK 56537.

There are three basic goals for the Legion. The first is to promote interest in Star Wars. The creativity of the members building replica costumes encourages fans to get together and share their love of Star Wars with the public and other fans.

The second goal is to use the costumes they create. They encourage wearing the costumes rather than just having them sit on a shelf somewhere. Some people collect things and want them to stay in "mint condition," for value, but for the 501st, the value is in wearing the costume and sharing that joy with others.

The third goal is to contribute to the local community. Members do this through fundraising, charity work and volunteering. The most recognized work the members of the 501st do is with the Make-A-Wish foundation, bringing a light of happiness to the lives of children who are ill.

It's the volunteerism that draws a lot of people to be a part of "Vader's Fist."

"The 501st is 100 percent volunteers," Walsh said. "No one gets paid anything."

According to 501st officials, in 2011 they raised more than $270,000 in direct charitable donations and participated in events that helped raise $11.6 million worldwide.

"The volunteer portion appeals to me more than actually creating the costumes, going to the conventions and all that," Walsh said. "It is that aspect that really made me want to get into the 501st."

Walsh has participated in different local events around the Anchorage area as part of the Aurora Borealis Outpost. He volunteered for multiple Anchorage Trick-or-Treat celebrations, the Military Appreciation Day Picnic, Star Wars Read Day, and even a fundraiser for an animal shelter.

"It's a hobby, it's fun, and it's just one of those things where I found a way to volunteer in a way I actually enjoy," Walsh said.

This sentiment was echoed by Master Sgt. Paul Thomas, 673d Communications Squadron cyber transport section chief. Thomas said that he was not initially aware of how much of a role Star Wars played in Walsh's life, but after talking with him about it, it became very apparent.

"I became aware that he would volunteer his off duty time wearing his costume to support fundraisers and provide entertainment," Thomas said. "If you talk to Sergeant Walsh about the events he supports, your initial thought is 'Wow, you are engaged in an event almost every month; this is like a year-round gig.'"

Volunteering looks great on an Enlisted Performance Report in the Air Force, but that's not why Walsh volunteers these days.

"I was one of those guys that just did whatever volunteer events I needed to do just to fill the spot on the EPR, but since I started working with the outpost members, the 501st, I found myself doing a lot more volunteer stuff and actually enjoying it," Walsh said.
"One of the things I admire about Sergeant Walsh is that he volunteers because he enjoys it, and because of this, he inspires others," Thomas said.

Not only do his actions inspire others, but Walsh encourages the Airmen he supervises to take a page out of his book.

"There are a lot of volunteer opportunities out there and I have always told the Airmen that I supervise that I am not going to push you to go volunteer just because I want something for your EPR," Walsh said. "I want you to find something that you actually enjoy and volunteer because if you enjoy it, it's actually meaningful to you."

Hagel Calls on Vets to Partner in Reshaping Military

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2013 – Opening his address today to the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention with a tribute to Korean War veterans, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called on the nation’s 22 million veterans to become partners in helping the Defense Department work through “historic transition and change.”

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivers remarks to attendees of the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Louisville, Ky., July 22, 2013. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Every major conflict in U.S. history has been followed by a period of “realignment and redefinition,” with “enormous ramifications and consequences for our entire defense enterprise,” the secretary noted at the convention, being held in Louisville, Ky.

 

As the Defense Department undergoes the latest realignments and reshapes the military for the future, Hagel called on veterans “who helped build our military into the strongest, most capable and most respected on Earth” to help ensure it remains that way.

“All of us at the Pentagon, and across this administration, value your perspective and devotion to our military men and women,” he told the group. “We will need your help and partnership as we manage through a period of historic transition and change.

“As I look out across this audience, I see thousands of veterans whose lives have been committed to helping our service members, their families and our veterans succeed, and to ensuring this country honors their legacy with policies that are worthy of their sacrifices,” Hagel continued. “All of you, and the roughly 22 million veterans across this nation, have an important role to play in the debate over our country’s future national security priorities.”
Hagel pointed out that veterans of past wars depended on their elected representatives to ask the right questions and establish the proper policies before sending them into conflict. “You all have fought and put your lives on the line for this country,” he said. “You did so with the expectation that you would be given the equipment, training and support you needed to succeed.”

The secretary noted that many of the veterans, particularly those of the Korean War, have seen firsthand the human toll of sending a hollow force to war.

“Not one American should ever be ordered into battle without our leaders being as sure as they can be that their decision is worthy of the sacrifices that will be made by our sons and our daughters,” he said.

The secretary began his address leading a thunderous applause for veterans of the Korean War whose service led to the armistice agreement signed 60 years ago this week. Hagel noted that he will join President Barack Obama and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki for a July 27 ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial here to commemorate the formal signing of the armistice on July 27, 1953.

The armistice agreement ended the fighting in a three-year conflict between North Korea and China and South Korea and United Nations forces led by the United States.

“The upcoming observance is a chance for the country to fully express its profound gratitude for your service and sacrifice,” Hagel told the veterans. “The Korean War veterans here today, and all across the country, should know that your fellow citizens are proud of what you accomplished, and what your generation has contributed to our security and prosperity.”

Extraordinary medical breakthroughs; Air Force makes them possible

by Alexis Culver
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

7/19/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Imagine a world with no cellphones, computers or electricity; no television to watch your favorite sitcom, and no cars to meet up with your friends or medicine to cure you when you're sick.

Many aspects of our lives would cease to exist without science and technology; the lives of today's warfighters are no different. They rely on the 59th Medical Wing's Chief Scientist's Office, more commonly referred to as the Science and Technology Division (ST), to sustain their health and performance.

Located at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, ST employs innovative technologies to sustain service members' health and performance. These warriors devote their lives to fighting for our country while 59th MDW Chief Scientist Dr. Debra Niemeyer and members of the Science and Technology Division devote their lives to improving care for them.

"We help support and drive research that changes how we conduct medicine and transform health care," Niemeyer said. "We support our clinicians, staff, and many investigators in performing research that will actually change how we care for our patient population."

The office supports research in several areas such as statistics, program management, scientific reviews, and budget analysis. Additionally, it ensures both major commands and principle investigators are up to date on the latest Air Force and wing research policies, submission processes, and opportunities for funding.

A recent breakthrough involves saving the critically ill who are being flown half-way around the world to more definitive care here in San Antonio.

ST helped Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jeremy Cannon, the chief of trauma and acute care surgery at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, located at nearby Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, to obtain funding for the Defense Medical Research and Development Program. The program supports adult extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Commonly known as adult ECMO, it's a heart-lung bypass system that keeps patients who are severely wounded or extremely ill alive during global transport.

The ECMO mission here is the only one in the Department of Defense. A joint military medical team recently completed the longest ECMO patient transfer ever recorded - a 5,000-mile mission and the first transatlantic flight of an adult patient hooked to an external lung.

"The Science and Technology Division was able to identify the capability gap and then the source of funding; then match my proposal together with the capability gap and use this funding to establish the initial capability to support our Air Force and Joint Medical Combat Causality Care needs," Cannon said. "We would not have been able to do any of this, meaning proof of concept - setting up an adult ECMO team for the Department of Defense and saving the lives of now five patients."

Niemeyer said the adult ECMO program allows our medics to transport severely injured or ill patients from overseas battle zones to medical facilities here, and then from these facilities to others within the United States or around the world.

"We've been able to transport both wounded warriors and beneficiaries because they receive in-transit medical care that ordinarily would not be available if the technology did not exist," she said.

It is also through education, training and research that ST improves patient care, and the division continues to make progress.

"We have numerous protocols funded with two-year research dollars that have resulted in improvements to patient care. For example, working with Lt. Col. (Dr.) Chad Hivnor, 59th Medical Wing dermatology residency program director, in supporting fractionated laser technology to help improve movement for wounded warriors who have experienced burn injuries," Niemeyer said. "He's been able to use a laser approach to help improve mobility and reduce scarring so that individuals can have prosthetic devices that are fitted more appropriately."

The most rewarding aspect of being able to use laser technology to treat wounded warriors scars is building relationships with them, Hivnor said.

"Our inclusive care of amputations with laser hair removal and Botox as well as our lasers afford full encompassing care to our warriors," he said. "The relationships formed with these individuals allow me to help them recover by the subtle things I can do, but more importantly to care about them as an individual and an American."

Niemeyer said teamwork was critical in achieving any of breakthroughs.

"I have a very talented team of individuals with a tremendous amount of expertise who are here to assist our investigators in ensuring that their ideas get the paper. We are here to help them find the dollars to get their research funded," she said.

"We've had tremendous support from our senior-most leadership, from General Travis (U.S. Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Thomas Travis) and General Hepburn (Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, commander of the 59th MDW and director of the San Antonio Military Health System)," said Niemeyer. "They are strong advocates for ensuring that people understand research is a very important part of our medical mission."

"Furthermore," she said, "without strong coordination across the wing from resource management, logistics and contracts support to the staff at the 59th Clinical Research Division, and collaboration with our SAMMC partners, particularly the Department of Clinical Investigations, these breakthroughs in patient care would not be possible."

Deployed Marine Aspires to Be Drill Instructor

By Marine Corps Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE AT SEA, July 22, 2013 – A 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit noncommissioned officer hopes to gain experience in his deployment aboard USS Kearsarge that will benefit future Marines.

Marine Corps Sgt. William Repass joins a working party securing lines between the USS Kearsarge and the USNS Patuxent in preparation for a replenishment at sea, July 20, 2013. Repass aspires to be a Marine Corps drill instructor. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Sgt. William Repass, 26th MEU assistant headquarters commandant said he plans to become a drill instructor to infuse the military mindset of leadership, initiative and discipline into the hearts of Marine Corps recruits.

“I wanted to be a drill instructor ever since I set foot on Parris Island,” Repass said. “Ever since I saw them, I knew I would spend time in my Marine Corps career as a drill instructor.
“I love everything about them,” he continued. “I love how it is the first thing you see when you first get off the bus and you think to yourself, ‘That is what a Marine is.’ I want to train recruits to be Marines -- to take an ordinary civilian and mold them into what the Marine Corps’ expectations are. I think there is no greater thing you could do for the Marine Corps than to actually make people into Marines.”

Repass said one of the biggest things he hopes to impart is the importance of integrity.

Passing up traditional re-enlistment incentives, such as money or the option to choose one’s duty station, Repass chose to deploy with the 26th MEU in order to gain the skills he needed to be better able to teach Marines in the future.

“In my eyes, in order to teach people how to be a Marine, you have to have certain things accomplished in your career, and deploying for me was one of those things,” he said. “Now, when I become a drill instructor, I’ll have a deployment under my belt, and when the recruits ask me questions about deployments I will be able to answer it from firsthand experience.”

During his deployment, Repass is coordinating and controlling groups of Marines, something he said is crucial for a drill instructor to be able to accomplish.

“As police sergeant, he is responsible for all life support activities for the MEU,” said Marine Corps Master Sgt. John Collins, 26th MEU headquarters commandant. “He coordinates trash removal, maintenance requests, cleanliness, ships taxes and any other tasks that affect cleanliness by reporting of maintenance issues. ... [Repass] has become my right hand man and can assist me with many of my tasks.”

Since joining the 26th MEU shortly before their deployment, Repass has made his presence known. His preferred leadership style is leading from the front. If he is not giving instruction or passing information, it is not unusual to see him working side by side with everyone else.

“When you are trying to get a group of people to do the exact same thing, it is kind of hard, because not everybody understands what needs to happen,” Repass said. “If I show them firsthand what exactly needs to be done by actually doing it, there is far less room for error. I find it is also encouraging to show the Marines the job needs to get done, regardless of who is doing it. If I can do it, they can, too.”

Bolstering Spirits in the Year of the B-2

by Airman 1st Class Joseph Raatz
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

7/22/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Air Force's fleet of B-2 Spirit multi-role bombers will receive defensive system upgrades that will further increase the survivability and effectiveness of the aircraft.

The Defensive Management System Modernization program, or DMS-M, will upgrade or replace the Electronic Support Measure suite, passive antennas and display processors, as well as address sustainability concerns.

"The new antennas are going to increase the frequency coverage," said William Keen, B-2 deputy program element monitor and program analyst.

This increased coverage will provide the B-2 with greater threat detection and identification capabilities, Keen said.

Greater ability to detect and identify potential threats will aid in keeping the aircrew and aircraft safe.

The antenna arrays included in the DMS-M will be coupled with new avionics graphics processors, give the pilots a visual display of the information provided by the antennas.

According to Keen, the current processors will not be able to meet the performance needs of the new antenna system, so they must be replaced.

"The graphics processors allow the visual display to cue the pilots to react to threats," said Master Sgt. Domnick Janitell, B-2 command avionics manager. "The new threats we face today are more complex and the new receiver processors will be able to analyze those more complex signals."

The DMS-M will also remedy the sustainability concerns of the B-2.

"The currently fielded system has a lot of sustainment issues," Keen said. "We need more spare parts and we need better repair capabilities."

The B-2 uses line replaceable units, or LRUs, which are modular components that are designed to be quickly repaired or replaced at an operating location. However, many of these LRUs have been consumed over the life of the aircraft.

Janitell added that there are 20 year-old components used in the platform that are no longer able to be repaired.

"We just don't have the parts we need," Keen said.

The upgrades covered by DMS-M aim to address these sustainability issues in part by streamlining the LRUs from a current total of 23 to 15 new, more capable versions. This reorganization may make repairs easier and less time consuming for maintenance crews.

Once completed, the DMS-M program will provide the Joint Force Commander and the B-2 fleet with advanced situational awareness, improved supportability, enhanced lethality, increased platform survivability and networked battlespace awareness.

Under the project's current timeline, a contract is projected to be awarded in mid-2014, Keen said. The DMS-M program will then enter a phase known as Engineering and Manufacturing Development wherein the components will be required to meet certain standards before going into full production.

The B-2 Spirit is considered one of the world's most advanced and formidable aircraft. Projects such as DMS-M keep the B-2 viable as THE platform that ensures no adversary can find safe haven anywhere, Keen said.

Beale removes fuel storage tanks that kept Blackbird soaring

by Staff Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo
9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

7/22/2013 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Beale is conducting a four-month deconstruction project to remove Cold War-era fuel storage tanks that once fueled the SR-71 Blackbird.

The project is a part of the Air Force's "20/20 by 2020" initiative, which aims to reduce excess capacity by reducing a base's footprint, as well as reducing operating costs by 20 percent by the year 2020.

Three of the storage tanks have already been removed, and the remaining two are scheduled to be demolished in the upcoming months.

During the mid-1960s, Beale was home to jets that required massive amounts of fuel including the Blackbird.

Five tanks at Beale's fuel terminal held between 400,000 and 657,000 gallons each of specially designed JP-7 jet fuel. This fuel was developed by the U.S. Air Force to power the SR-71 and was brought to the fuel terminal via a locomotive system.

The fuel was then pumped through a 4.5 mile-long pipeline to the flight line where the Blackbird consumed approximately 36,000 to 44,000 pounds of fuel per hour of flight.

The tanks became cold war relics with the retirement of the SR-71 in 1998 and coupled with the transfer of the B-52 Stratofortress bomber and KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling missions to other bases.

"They're kind of historic structures," said Robert Nordhal, 9th Civil Engineer Squadron flight chief of programs. "We just don't have the need for high capacity fuel storage anymore."

Nordhal said that unused structures cost the Air Force in maintenance and repairs as well as pose safety concerns.

"These tanks were not fitted with modern safety features," said Mark Hoover, fuels terminal superintendent with AKIMA Technical Solutions. "It would cost more for us to upgrade those tanks then to build new ones."

In addition to maintenance and repair costs, Beale will also save in the demolition of the tanks themselves.

"The scrap metal from the tanks is being recycled and is being used to fund the demolition," Hoover said. "It's essentially saving the Air Force tens of thousands of dollars.

Face of Defense: Quality Surveillance Techs Safeguard Fuel, Oxygen

By Air Force Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones
379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 19, 2013 – Aircrew members depend on several moving parts to ensure an aircraft is properly maintained and prepped for a safe mission. A part of this preparation is ensuring that the fuel and oxygen within the aircraft are safe and free of contaminates that could negatively affect the mission.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Thomas Capaldo inserts test tubes into a device that conducts a sulfur analysis on fuels at the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Air Force Petroleum Laboratory in Southwest Asia, June 12, 2013. The test is one of 15 conducted to ensure the quality of fuels used on aircraft throughout the area of responsibility. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Airmen at the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Air Force Petroleum Agency laboratory, or ELRS/AFPA, have a critical mission analyzing aircraft fuel and oxygen samples in support of U.S. Central Command missions.

"Our lab is a world-class facility containing more than $750,000 in equipment, and has the capability to detect trace amounts of contaminates in fuel and oxygen samples," said Air Force Maj. Joshua Kittle, the 379th ELRS/AFPA chief, deployed from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Fuels-lab airmen conduct tests to ensure the fuel and oxygen is clean, which helps flight crews breathe easier. Once the lab obtains the samples, they run a series of tests to check for signs of contamination. For fuels, they run a total of 15 different tests, and for gases, up to eight. The tests take several hours to complete.

One test requires running fuels through a Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Tester, or JFTOT. The JFTOT is intended to simulate the pressure and temperature environment experienced by the fuel as it circulates through an aircraft.

"If we see pressure build-up, it's a sign of contamination," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Thomas Capaldo, the 379th ERLS/AFPA noncommissioned officer-in-charge of fuels, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

After the samples are analyzed, any test failures are reported to the AFPA technical division at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, which interprets the results and provides corrective action back to the area of responsibility.

"If we weren't here, it would take weeks to complete mission-critical tasks," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rocky Sasse, the 379th ELRS/AFPA noncommissioned officer-in-charge of gases, deployed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.

"Each sample we test saves the Air Force time and money," Sasse said.

Without the 379th ELRS aerospace fuels lab, the process to have fuels tested would take up to four weeks, and delay critical missions within the area of responsibility, or AOR.

"Fuel can't be used until the area lab says it's okay to put in the aircraft," Kittle said. "If our lab wasn't in the AOR, it could take weeks for that sample to arrive stateside and get tested. Meanwhile, the aircraft would be burning up the fuel already cleared, resulting in a situation where there is no more cleared fuel."

This is the first all-military rotation in the fuels laboratory as the AFPA is typically staffed by civilians.
"[The] AFPA mission is new to us ... this rotation has presented us with some unique learning challenges," Kittle said. "It's given us a chance to see a different side of the Air Force, and opportunities to bring our experiences to the AFPA mission."