Face of Defense: DOD Employees Flex Muscles at Competition

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

ARENDSEE, Germany, Aug. 2, 2013 – Three Americans demonstrated their weight-lifting prowess at the German Strongwoman and the Arendsee Newcomer's Cup competitions here July 20.

Aryn Lockhart performs a frame dead lift of 220 pounds. Photo by Lisa Bauer   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The U.S. competitors at the event included:

-- Aryn Lockhart, team lead for graphics at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Lockhart hails from Woodbridge, Va.;

-- Lockhart’s spouse, Matthias Martin, who’s an Army and Air Force Exchange Service concessionaire; and

-- Holli Van Camp, who works at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Van Camp hails from Panama City, Fla.,
The trio represented the American community as they competed against 27 of the top amateur strength athletes in Germany.

Eighteen men and nine women battled it out through four events, including a keg toss, tire flip, overhead log press, and frame dead lift.

Although it was her first competition, Van Camp took an impressive third place among the women. Lockhart finished 8th, while Martin took 16th place.

"This was an amazing competition," Van Camp said. "Everyone is out here to have a great time and move a lot of weight. All of the athletes are amazingly supportive of one another."

Alternating between the men and women, each event required unique strength. The keg toss for the women consisted of three kegs weighing 22 pounds and one keg weighing 26 pounds that had to be thrown to a height of about 10 feet.

The men's event included five kegs ranging from 22-33 pounds that had to be thrown over a 17.8-foot bar. Technique and explosive power were critical skills in this event.

Next up was the tire flip. The women's tire weighed approximately 353 pounds, while the men's weighed twice as much. Competitors were required to flip the tire six times.

During the log press, participants had one minute to press an 88-pound (women) and 198-pound (men) log over their heads as many times as possible.

The final event was the frame dead lift. The women began the competition with 220 pounds and increased 44 pounds with each successful lift. The men began their dead lifts at 440 pounds, with 44-pound weight increases.

“The field was extremely competitive and athletes battled the heat and temperatures close to 90 degrees to compete during the four-hour event,” Lockhart said.

"This sport has always been an underground favorite," said Martin, who has been competing for 17 years.

"We're always hoping to find more competitors to welcome into this unique world. There really is nothing like it," he added.

The competition was sponsored by the German Federation of Strength Athletes.

17th SOS retires first Combat Shadow in Pacific

by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer
353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs

7/25/2013 - KADENA AB, Japan -- A crew from the 17th Special Operations Squadron began the final flight of MC-130P Combat Shadow, tail 69-5825, July 18 from Kadena Air Base to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

"After having executed a wide variety of missions in the aircraft over the last 13 years, I have mixed emotions seeing her headed to retirement" said Lt. Col. Daniel Kobs, 17th Special Operations Squadron, operations officer. "While it is sad to see an aircraft that has accomplished so much leave operational service, it marks the beginning of an important AFSOC transformation in the Pacific as we usher in a new era of SOF airmen and capabilities."

With nearly 19,000 flying hours, tail 69-5825 has a long history in the European and Pacific theaters conducting both special operations and rescue missions. The aircraft is most noted for its participation in the evacuation after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo near Clarke Air Base, Philippines, in June 1991.

At that time, this aircraft was designated as an HC-130N. The HC-130N "King" was the only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform in the Air Force inventory.

In addition to its history, tail 69-5825 has a solid reputation among not only those who flew the aircraft but also those who maintained it. Senior Airman Robert Brown and Tech. Sgt. Anthony Rutt, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron 69-5825 designated crew chiefs, accompanied the aircraft to the Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Center, often called "the boneyard."

"I've been with the aircraft since it arrived in Kadena four years ago.  It's hard to watch it go," Brown said. "You get attached to these aircraft. You have pride in your own plane and the work you have put into it."

The retirement of tail 69-5825 begins the 353rd Special Operations Group's transition period for upgrading the MC-130 fleet.

Emerald Coast pays tribute to Air Force legend

by Airman 1st Class Christopher Callaway
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

8/2/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Nearly 1,000 service members, veterans and citizens from across the nation paid their respects to the life and legacy of a retired Air Force colonel during a funeral service at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Aug. 1.

Col. George "Bud" Day, a Medal of Honor recipient and combat pilot with service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, passed away July 27 at the age of 88.

Airmen and Marines alike lined the sides of the solemn lowly-lit room. The sounds of soft classical music set the mood of a somber day. Attendees gathered together in one large line to pay respects to a man that gave everything and more to support the United States of America at all cost.

"The last word that was spoken to the love of his life, Dory, was 'home.'" said George Day Jr., son of Day, during the service. "This is a celebration of his life, and we are so thankful that you are here honoring him."

According to Day's biography, the Sioux City, Iowa, native enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 and served 30 months in the South Pacific. At World War II's end, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve until he later completed training to become a fighter-bomber pilot with the U.S. Air Force in 1950.

On perhaps one of the most fateful days of Day's life, the North Vietnamese shot down his F-100 Super Sabre Aug. 26, 1967. Day, who suffered multiple injuries, would be captured and held captive for nearly six years during which he endured torture on a daily basis.

One of his fellow prisoners of war, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, attended the service and remarked on the colonel's dedication to service and devotion to his country.
"I had the privilege of being Bud's friend for almost five decades of his 88 years," McCain said. "He was a hard man to kill and expected the same from his subordinates, but more than that, he taught me how to save my self-respect and my honor, and that is a debt I can never repay."

McCain shared a story of Day's perseverance in the face of the struggle and possible death during one of his darker days of captivity.

"He could not be broken in spirit no matter how broken he was in body," said McCain. "Knowing him in prison, confronting our enemies day in and day out, [we never yielded] in front of men who had the power of life and death over us. To witness him sing the national anthem in response to having a rifle pointed at his face--well that was something to behold."

On March 14, 1973, the North Vietnamese released Day, and he reunited with his wife and four children three days later. He later retired from the Air Force in 1977.

For Day's actions as a POW and for upholding the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force, President Gerald Ford presented him with the Medal of Honor in March 4, 1976, making Day the only recipient of the Medal of Honor along with the Air Force Cross. Of the nearly 70 military decorations and awards Day earned, more than 50 were the direct result of combat.

After returning home, the colonel dedicated his life to directly impacting the well-being of those who serve the country by advocating for military medical benefits as an attorney.
"What is it about a man who suffered more than any of us can even imagine," said Congressman Jeff Miller. "And yet was willing to take on so much more so others would not have to."

After the funeral service, a vehicle procession transported the colonel for burial at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla. Along the way, thousands of well-wishers lined the sides of U.S. Highway 98 to render a salute of honor to one of the most highly-decorated combat veterans of the last century.

"It is the least I can do to pay my respect to a man who has done so much for our county," said Airman 1st Class Heaven Carroll, from 1st Special Operations Contracting Squadron. "Col. Day was a hero, and it is an honor to serve in his footsteps."

"Bud and I stayed close through all the years that had passed, talked often, saw each other regularly--I am going to miss him terribly," McCain said. "I could never imagine Bud yielding to anything even the laws of nature, but he is gone now to what I would expect an Iowa cornfield during the winter filled with pheasants. I will see him again, I know I will. I will hunt the fields with him, and I look forward t

Air Force seeking ideas to solve real-world challenges

by Air Force Recruiting Service

8/1/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas  -- For the first time in its history, the U.S. Air Force is seeking input from the public to help solve three real-world, unclassified projects.

Known as "The Air Force Collaboratory," the Air Force's newest STEM initiative goes live Thursday on www.airforce.com/collaboratory. The educational online platform will offer the public an opportunity to engage with Airmen.

"We are excited to showcase this newest initiative for open collaboration with the public," said Col. Marcus Johnson, Strategic Marketing Division chief. "The goal of this project is to inspire STEM-inclined students and educators to engage, collaborate and solve real-world challenges faced by our Airmen today."

This experience will also highlight the breadth and variety of technologies the Air Force works with.

"These real world projects will highlight current and future Air Force technologies," said Johnson. "Technology changes the way we fly, fight and win. We want to illustrate the high-tech nature of the Air Force through this project."

The Air Force Collaboratory features three projects that will challenge participants to be creative and inventive as they work to find solutions.

· The first project, "Search and Rescue 2.0," which will be active for collaboration from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, solicits participants to develop new technologies through rapid prototyping for search and rescue operations to help save lives trapped in collapsed structures.

· The second project, "Mind of a Quadrotor," which will be active for collaboration from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, challenges participants to help build a system that allows a quadrotor to navigate its surroundings with minimal human interaction.

· The third and final project, "Launch of GPS IIF," which will be active for collaboration from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, tests participants to determine the most effective location within the GPS satellite constellation to launch the Air Force's newest GPS satellite.

"We seek the best and brightest to help the Air Force develop innovative and unique ideas that will enhance our Airmen's capabilities to accomplish their missions," said Johnson. "Through collaboration, we can create solutions using creative thinking and problem solving skills. There are no bad ideas, so we ask those involved to voice them. Your ideas can help save lives."

301st Fighter Wing begins flight operations at Alliance

by Senior Airman Melissa Harvey
301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - ALLIANCE, Texas -- The 301st Fighter Wing will begin flight operations at Fort Worth Alliance Airport July 31 and continue through August, as much needed repairs are made to Carswell Field on Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

Aircraft began moving from the base to FWA Monday and the runway portion of the construction project will begin soon, canceling all but a select few local flights while the runway is under repair.

"Our runway is beyond its service life (normal is 10 years, we are at 14) and requires major repairs," Capt. Jason Kitchen, 457th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. The runway "...is breaking up creating a FOD (foreign object debris) hazard to all aircraft that use our runway."

This move is the most economically responsible way to continue the 301st FW's mission and provide training. Some of its Airmen are scheduled to deploy later this year, says Brig. Gen. Ronald B. Miller, 301st Fighter Wing commander.

"The wing is preparing for a deployment and both the operations and maintenance groups have many flight related requirements to complete in August," said Miller.

During the runway maintenance period, more than 100 servicemen and women from the 301st FW will perform duties at Alliance Airport to secure, operate and maintain the 20 aircraft at their temporary home.

In order to minimize impact on the local community the 301st FW does not intend to conduct night flights and will transport many of the personnel to Alliance to ease congestion.

Devildog 101: Airman completes Corporals Course

by Airmen 1st Class Victor J. Caputo and Jarrod M. Vickers
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Joint professional military education is quickly becoming a more common event at many military installations across the Department of Defense.

One Airman here at McConnell Air Force Base decided to follow the joint-route by taking the U.S. Marine Corps Corporals Course as part of her preparation for promotion to staff sergeant.

"They told me there were going to be a lot of classes," said Senior Airman Shalamar Coleman, 22nd Air Refueling Wing knowledge operations manager. "It was going to be two weeks, including weekends, so I thought I was going to be very, very busy. At the same time, I didn't know we were going to be writing papers like we did. It was awesome. I definitely learned a lot."

Coleman spent two weeks working in tandem with Marine corporals from across the nation, learning about Marine traditions, land navigation, guidon etiquette and the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.

"There's a lot of practical application that we need to do after each class," she said. "For the operations portion of the class, we had to learn how to do different hand signals, different formations like fire team, squad team formations."

The group was also taught how to hand draw maps of the terrain in order to navigate unfamiliar territory at night, one of Coleman's favorite parts of the course, she said.

The opportunity to participate in MCMAP, which does not have an Air Force equivalent, was not wasted on Coleman.

"It's awesome, I absolutely loved it," said Coleman. "I got to 'belt-up.' They said if I want to keep belting-up, I could actually come back and train with them more, so I will definitely take them up on that."

The course did offer her many challenges, whether it was managing her time between the Corporals Course and her college classes or keeping pace with the Marines in the physical activities.

A particularly challenging part was a four-mile run with the group's sergeant major.

"It was the first time we did a formation run instead of breaking us off between a slow group and a fast group," she said. "We ran the first mile in about seven minute and 15 seconds and I was like 'Oh no, I can't do this.' So I fell back a little bit and that's when the instructors were like 'Oh, so this is what you're going to do? You better catch up; you better catch up!' So of course I did. I finally caught up and finished the run."

Not only did she overcome the physical training differences of the braches, but she also didn't let the fact she is an Airman and they are all Marines get in the way of the group's training.

"She adjusted to us well, we adjusted to her well," said Marine Corps Corporal Joshua Ellenburg, Corporals Course student. "The rivalry between branches was always there, but it was all fun and games and she held her own well."

Just as Coleman was the lone Airman in a Marine course, a Marine sergeant will soon be enrolled in an Airman Leadership School class here.

Joint enrollement is one of the ways PME instructors are seeking opportunities to diversify each Airman's education, training and career.

"If any Airman has the opportunity to take this course I highly encourage it," said Coleman. "It's something that you'll never be able to experience in your lifetime again. How many times are you able to go to a Corporals Course?"

A tribute to a warrior, patriot and hero to all Airmen

by Gen. Mark A. Welsh III
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff

8/1/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- I am the very proud son of an American fighter pilot, one of that treasured group who served in three wars, built an Air Force, and gave it an enduring example of courage and mission success.

My dad was a hero. As a young man, I asked him who his combat heroes were; he gave me only two names. One was Major General Frederick "Boots" Blesse and the other was Colonel George E. "Bud" Day. My dad was not easily impressed, so I knew that if they were his heroes, they were very, very special men. I was right.

Earlier this year, my wife Betty and I had the distinct honor of attending Boots Blesse's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. And earlier this week, I heard that Col "Bud" Day had also "flown west." Our Air Force is in mourning. We know we can never replace him, but today, as he is laid to rest, we can honor him.

Many of you know his story. He fought in the South Pacific as a United States Marine in WWII and later became the Air Force's most highly decorated warrior. He was a Medal of Honor recipient with nearly 70 decorations, which span three wars and four decades.

The medals say a lot about Bud Day, but they cannot capture his unbreakable spirit, the life-saving impact he had on his fellow prisoners during his time in captivity, and the inspiration he has been to countless Americans who've been fortunate enough to have heard his story or shaken his hand.

In Vietnam in 1967, Major Day commanded a squadron of F-100s, the "Misty" FACs (Forward Air Controllers). Theirs was one of the most dangerous combat missions of the war, and they suffered high casualties.

On August 26 Day was shot down and captured. Seven days later, despite having a dislocated knee and a badly broken arm, he escaped captivity and evaded the Viet Cong for 10 days. He was recaptured just two miles from a US Marine Corps camp at Con Thien. Getting so close to freedom only to be recaptured would have broken the will of most men. Not Bud Day.

He was eventually moved to a prison camp known as The Plantation, where he was tortured daily, and was later moved to the Hanoi Hilton. Due to his resistance and toughness, Day became an inspiration to other POWs. His roommate at The Plantation, Senator John McCain, wrote, "He was a hard man to kill, and he expected the same from his subordinates. They (his roommates) saved my life--a big debt to repay, obviously. But more than that, Bud showed me how to save my self-respect and my honor, and that is a debt I can never repay."

In 1973, after more than five and a half years in captivity, he was released. The damage by the enemy permanently scarred his body, but his spirit emerged unbroken. A year later he was back on flight status, he became vice commander of the 33th Tactical Fighter Wing, and retired from active service in 1976.

Col Bud Day spent a great amount of his remaining years sharing his story with our Airmen, young and old. Over the past 22 years, many of those Airmen have experienced multiple combat deployments themselves, leaning on the lessons Col Day passed on to all of us, including his two sons, who proudly serve.

He deeply understood the challenges we face as a military service, "trying to keep America aware of the fact that Airpower has been a substantial reason that we exist as a free nation."

I spoke with Col Day on the phone a couple of months ago, simply to introduce myself and thank him, on behalf of our entire Air Force, for his remarkable lifetime of service. I hung up feeling incredibly proud to be an Airman, and grateful that my real-life hero was even more impressive than I had imagined.

Future Airmen will honor his name and treasure his story, not because of the awards and buildings named in his honor, but for the legendary character, the unbreakable spirit and the values he demonstrated each and every day.

Airmen today strive to embody the same honor, courage, and integrity shown by Col Day and those who fought beside him. And we honor the sacrifices they made in the spirit of airpower and freedom.

"Push it up" Sir...we're still following your lead.

Face of Defense: Ghana-born Marine Realizes Dream to Serve

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joshua Grant Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Aug. 1, 2013 – Like so many before him, a personnel and administration student here once dreamed of coming to America for a better life. Marine Corps Pfc. Andrews Nsenkyire leads students in formation at Camp Johnson, N.C., July 26, 2013. Nsenkyire joined the Marine Corps soon after coming to the United States from his native Ghana. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Grant   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. That dream became a reality last year for Marine Corps Pfc. Andrews K. Nsenkyire.   Nsenkyire is one of only 5,832 applicants from Ghana, a West African country of more than 24 million citizens, who won the opportunity to apply for an immigration visa in 2012. Five months after graduating from high school, he received word from a teacher that he had won the immigration visa lottery. “I was happy,” Nsenkyire said. “I wanted to come to the United States to join the military so I could bring my mother, four brothers and sister here. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be here.” To pay for paperwork and travel expenses, Nsenkyire sold almost all of his personal belongings, including his computer, television and motorcycle. He even rented his room to raise money. He was able to pay for the paperwork, and his visa sponsor bought him the ticket for his May 4, 2012, flight to the United States. “The first thing I asked when I got here was, ‘How hard is it to join the Army?’” Nsenkyire said. “They told me it’s not like Ghana. In Ghana, you have to pay money for the forms to join the Army.” When he went to the recruiting station with a friend who was trying to join the Navy, a Marine Corps recruiter stopped and talked to him, Nsenkyire said, but he told the recruiter he wanted to join the Army. “It was the first time I had heard about the Marine Corps. We don’t have Marines in Ghana,” he said. “The recruiter tried to convince me, but I wasn’t really into it, until I asked my brother what he knew about Marines. He just said one thing; the Marines are the best fighting force in the world.” Just two months after coming to the United States, Nsenkyire began his paperwork to join the Marines. “I was supposed to go on April 8,” Nsenkyire said. “I was always talking to my recruiter -- I wanted to go early. One day he called me and said he got room in the schedule, and I was shipping out in January.” Nsenkyire graduated from boot camp and Marine Combat Training early this year, and he is slated to graduate as an administration specialist here tomorrow. “He is very focused. He’s wanted a leadership position since he arrived here and currently is a squad leader,” said Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Alondra Coiradas, one of Nsenkyires’ personnel administration instructors. “After finding out a little bit more about him, it amazes me that he just wanted to be a Marine.” Upon graduation from personnel administration school, Nsenkyire will serve at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.

Air advising in retrospect

by Staff Sgt. Torri Ingalsbe
Air Forces Central Command Combat Camera

8/1/2013 - KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- What do you get when you combine Afghan maintainers, American advisors, contractors and Russian helicopters? One of the most rapidly advancing mission sustainment capabilities in Afghanistan.

"The overall quality of maintenance, training and Afghan motivation has greatly increased," said Master Sgt. William Hensley, a 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron intermediate maintenance inspection adviser.

Hensley is currently serving his second year-long rotation to Kabul, Afghanistan, in an advisory role, working with Mi-17 Helicopter maintainers. Three years ago, he was a quality assurance adviser for the Afghan air force.

"When I was here before, I started the quality control/quality assurance process in place now," he said. "The idea of quality assurance just wasn't here before."

He emphasized the importance of QC programs in Afghanistan as well as stateside.

"The Afghans have accountability of the work they do," Hensley said. "They know someone will look at it, so they do the best work they can. It's no different than the QC process at home."

The process has allowed for more Mi-17's to be available for missions supporting ground forces, casualty evacuation and supply movement.

"We've established maintenance timelines as we've further developed the QC/QA process," Hensley said. "We're able to keep aircraft flowing in and out of the maintenance and QC schedule, so they're not all down at one time. This allows leadership to plan missions based on available aircraft."

Hensley uses his previous deployment as a building block to train and mentor the Afghan maintainers.

"About 85 percent of the Afghans remember working with me before," he said. "It allowed me to build on relationships I already had with them. That's a huge advantage when working in an advisory role."

Hensley has an optimistic outlook for the future of the Afghan Air Force, and said he hopes to be able to see how much further they will come.

"Progress is always going to be here," he said. "They are steadily improving all the time. I know they're going to get better, and maintenance is what they're doing the best. I would jump at the opportunity to come back."

Reserve rescue units converge for multifaceted training

by Staff Sgt. N. Daniel Delgado
304th Rescue Squadron Public Affairs

7/30/2013 - PORTLAND, Ore.  -- Reserve Airmen from the 304th Rescue Squadron at Portland International Airport, Ore.; the 943rd Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; and the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., conducted rescue training operations July 27, 2013 in the Portland, Ore., area. The 304th RQS and 943rd Rescue Group are geographically separated units of the 920th RQW, which is Air Force Reserve Command's only combat search-and-rescue wing.

Due to the diverse nature of the rescue mission, these Reservists are required to maintain operational readiness for any environment in the world--from mountain tops to ocean depths, the scorching desert to frozen terrain--as well as a broad range of different aerial platforms. This diverse readiness requirement poses a challenge, but because the 920th RQW is dispersed among three different regions, training together offers the ideal solution.

"We have the rescue triad right now, so it's a big deal," said Capt. Brent Watts, an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter pilot with the 943rd Rescue Group. "The tankers provide us fuel, they jump PJs (pararescuemen), and then we'll swoop in and pick them up. So it's nice to see all assets working together, to see the whole big picture and see how the complete CSAR (combat search-and-rescue) mission ties together."

During the training, a 920th RQW HC-130P/N King aircraft conducted high-altitude airdrop missions with 304th pararescuemen over Beaver Oaks, Ore., while two Pave Hawk helicopters conducted water operations in the Columbia River, near Rooster Rock State Park, Ore. Maj. John Graver, 304th RQS director of operations, was one of the Guardian Angels conducting water training.

"We have a couple currency items that are related to flying on helicopters: methods that you can get on and off a helicopter--other than just walking on them--using ropes, cables, ladders, et cetera," Graver explained.

He said the team set up a rescue scenario and pushed a Zodiac boat out of the helicopter. The boat was tethered with a belay line so the crew could control its descent into the river.

"The team then got to the boat, inflated it, and then motored over, picked up the survivor, and linked up with another boat to do a trans-load from a slower boat to a bigger boat equipped with a heater, monitors, and other medical gear," Graver said.

After the water training was complete, the HC-130 and HH-60s met near Mount Hood, Ore., to practice aerial refueling maneuvers near mountainous terrain. Training together is essential, as the geographically separated units have varied assets and capabilities.

"Training here gives a total encompassment of our training missions and our currencies that we have to maintain," said Command Chief Master Sergeant Timothy M. Bianchi, 920th RQW. "We basically got a lot of the 304th set with one shot, just in one day's mission. We greened-up Davis-Monthan with the aerial refueling, we greened up Patrick with the mountainous terrain flying, and we greened-up our GAs from the 304th."

Along with operating in a diverse range of environments, the rescue mission also employs a diverse range of weapon systems. Bianchi said the 920th RQW is unique because they have three weapon systems: the HH-60, the C-130, and the Guardian Angels, which includes PJs, combat rescue officers, and survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists.

"We're one of the very few units that have three weapon systems, and for all three of them to come together to train is paramount to what we do, which is rescue," Bianchi said.

The HC-130 P/N King is the only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform in the Air Force inventory and can be tasked for humanitarian assistance operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergency aeromedical evacuation, casualty evacuation and noncombatant evacuation operations. The HH-60G Pave Hawk's primary mission is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations into hostile environments to recover isolated personnel during war. The mission of the Guardian Angels is to rescue, recover, and return American or Allied forces in times of danger or extreme duress. Together, these weapon systems can provide search-and-rescue capabilities anywhere in the world.

But this coalescence takes months of planning to execute successfully. Graver said the 304th RQS overcomes the challenges of being a geographically-separated unit by forecasting a plan for their mission-ready currencies throughout the year. When Reservists come to each monthly unit training assembly, they must spend their time wisely by doing relevant, necessary training to keep them mission-ready. He said having a good schedule far in advance is key.

All this training, from the water operations to the mountainous flying, translates directly to the skills needed downrange when these Airmen deploy.

"We have a really good working relationship with those other rescue squadrons," Graver said "In the end, the training allows us to be proficient in our skills to save lives and aid the injured."

Memorial run unites tanker units around globe

by Lt. Col. Kimberly Howerton
507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- An idea to honor a friend, former co-worker and the members of his flight crew turned into an international outpouring of support from KC-135 Stratotanker units around the globe during the July 13 and 14 Unit Training Assembly weekend.

The Shell 77 Memorial Runs united KC-135 tanker units around the world over the July weekend and saw Air Force active, Reserve and Guard members and their families and friends pay tribute to three of their own.

On May 3, 2013 a KC-135 with a crew from the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron from Fairchild Air Force Base went down in Chon-Aryk, Kyrgyzstan. All three crew members, Capt. Mark T. Voss, 27, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Capt. Victoria A. Pinckney, 27, Palmdale, Calif.; and Tech. Sgt. Herman Mackey III, 30, Bakersfield, Calif. died in the crash. The three Airmen were deployed to the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing's 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The call sign for the aircraft was Shell 77.

When Sky Ablay, wife of Capt. T.J. Ablay, learned of the crash and realized their friend Mackey was among the crew she wanted to do something to honor him. She talked with another friend, Tech. Sgt. Sean Gilson, 465th Air Refueling Squadron member and a boom operator like Mackey about the possibility of doing a memorial run.

"I thought it was just going to be Tinker involved in the memorial event," Gilson explained but Ablay had much bigger plans. It evolved into a world-wide weekend event with refueling wings from around the globe participating.

Runs were conducted at more than 30 sites, she explained, including Kadena Air Base, Japan, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, United Kingdom, bases in Alaska and Hawaii, and two units in Southwest Asia.

Approximately 30 runners signed in for the July 13 Tinker event. The runners ranged from 507th Operations Group leadership and members to small children and a small dog.

Gilson spoke to the group before they began to pay tribute to the three crew members, especially Mackey, his fellow boom operator and friend. The mood of the group took on a somber tone as they remembered the Airmen who brought them together that day.

Ablay and Gilson were pleased with the turn out and overwhelmed by the worldwide support for the Shell 77 Memorial Run idea.

Airman of the Month: striving for excellence

by Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del.  -- A young Airman from Henderson, N.C., wants to one day be a politician, but in the meantime is being recognized by her peers as a hard working professional here.

Airman 1st Class Tatjuna Talisa Johnson, 436th Contracting Squadron contracting specialist, is being recognized as Team Dover's Airman of the Month.

Master Sgt. Anita Walls, 436th Contracting Squadron NCO in charge of base operations flight and Johnson's supervisor, said her Airman will do anything you ask her to do and is eager to do it. She gets the job done fast and that allows them to do more. Walls also said Johnson's personality sets her apart from her peers.

"Johnson has displayed exemplary service on and off duty," said Walls. "She has administered several large dollar contracts on Dover AFB totaling $ 1.5 million. She also stays involved with our squadron activities as well as the local community. Johnson has been with us a year and continues to deliver timely customer support."

Johnson joined the Air Force in November 2011 and has been stationed at Dover AFB since May of 2012.

Johnson said she joined the military to experience something different from her friends back at home. The opportunity to travel influenced her the most. Her father is a retired colonel in the Air Force and that played a part in her joining the Air Force as well.

"I have been thinking about the military since I was in high school," said Johnson. "I have a friend who graduated from college and now works for a call center. That is definitely not something I envisioned for my life."

Before joining the military Johnson went to college and majored in Political Science.

"After the military I want to go to graduate school and get my masters in international affairs," said Johnson. "I want to work in Washington, D.C."

In Johnson's spare time she enjoys reading and learning new things.

"I read a lot," said Johnson. "I really want to get my brain working because sometimes if you are stationary you feel like you are losing some of what you have learned in the past. I like to read a lot of political and self-help books."

Johnson said the person that inspires her most is Beyonce Knowles, a popular female musician, because she is fearless, consistently excellent in her work and has amazing drive and resilience.

"She is a really hard worker and goes after what she wants," said Johnson. "I really respect that and I try to be more like that. She has a strong work ethic and doesn't let negativity get her down. She is just an all-around alpha female."

Johnson said she has definitely taken advantage of the base activities and community service that Dover AFB has to offer. She has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and the Special Olympic Cycling and said she plans to do it again this year.

"The community service has impacted me," said Johnson. "I am definitely more likely to help out my fellow peers than I was before. I want a more public type career in the future due to the community service I have done."

Senior Master Sgt. Nicola Natale, 436th Contracting Squadron superintendent, has recognized Johnson's hard work and dedication.

"She gives back to the local community through volunteer opportunities, strives to excel academically and has a positive attitude toward her work," said Senior Master Sgt. Nicola Natale, 436th Contracting Squadron superintendent.

Memorial Service Held for Fallen Airman

by Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Friends and family gathered at the Prairie Rose Chapel here July 30 to pay respects to the memory of Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hullman, 319th Medical Operations Squadron.

"Last week, we lost one of our warriors," said Lt. Col. Brett Nishikawa, 319th Medical Operations Squadron commander. "We are diminished for having lost him, yet we are far better for having known him."

Hullman was declared dead following a shooting incident on base July 21. That incident remains under investigation.

The ceremony began with a photo slideshow of Hullman, his family and friends.

Chaplain (Capt.) Ruben Covos sang the National Anthem and offered an opening prayer, followed by Nishikawa's remarks.

Hullman was remembered for his sense of humor, his talent for Texas Hold 'Em poker, and his dedication to duty, but above all he was remembered for his devotion as a father.

Hullman was born in Omaha, Neb., and grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa, and San Antonio. He graduated from William H. Taft High School in San Antonio.

He enlisted in the Air Force in the fall of 1996 as an aerospace medical apprentice and attended technical training at Brooks AFB, Texas. He later joined the public health career field.

140.6 miles of bliss

by Senior Airman Derek VanHorn
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/25/2013 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan  -- She can carry on full-fledged conversations in English and Spanish ... and Hebrew, French, Portuguese, Italian and Arabic.

She's accomplished more in the amount of years you can count on one hand than many people will attempt in a lifetime. And through it all, her personal apex was just recently reached ... for now. The only problem is she can't tell you why.

"I have no idea how it makes me feel," said Capt. Hila Levy, fighting back an enormous smile.

If the smiles were any indication, it's a feeling comparable to ascending the peak of Mount Everest - something Levy said is probably out of the question for her.

You can hold your breath on that one; she's great at deflecting attention and praise. But at least for now, she'll stick to conquering other slopes.

Levy qualified to take part in the 2013 Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - a grueling triathlon made up of a 2.4-mile rough water swim, 112 miles of bike racing and a 26.2-mile marathon to finish the event off. To top it off, black lava rock dominates the panorama, and athletes battle fierce crosswinds of 45 mph, 95 degree temperatures and a scorching sun.

In all, it's 140.6 miles, and Levy is one of nearly 1,800 athletes worldwide who qualified to take the plunge. Her first-place finish in her age group during the 70.3-mile Ironman in Tokoname, Japan, ensured her one of 30 qualification slots there for the Kona championship scheduled for Oct. 12.

The path she took to get here took more than crossing just one finish line.

Levy was raised in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and was born into a military family. Her father, Ramon, was also a captain who worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her aspirations to shoot for the moon - literally - began at 3-years-old when she set her sights on being an astronaut. By the sixth grade, Levy made attending the U.S. Air Force Academy her main goal.

Levy's mother, Rachel Salpeter-Levy, said she didn't give it much thought as a parent and figured she had plenty of years to get educated on the idea.

Not exactly.

On her 16th birthday, Levy's parents presented her with a certificate to begin flying school, where she dedicated countless hours to ground and flying lessons and obtained her pilot's license within a year.

"Uneasiness is an understatement to describe the feeling of sitting next to the pilot -- your child in an airplane," said Salpeter-Levy.

Levy took her pilot training and fulfilled her dream at the time by accepting a slot at the USAFA, where she enrolled in 2004 and became part of the academy's flying team.

During her time at the academy, where she eventually graduated at the top of her class, she picked up the sport of power lifting. By her senior year, she was competing nationally and locked in a top-10 finish at collegiate nationals.

After some time, Levy felt her cultural background provided more abilities to serve her country, so she switched career fields to become an intelligence officer where she works as the chief of the combat intelligence cell for the 35th Operations Support Squadron here. Having spent time in more than 35 countries and being fluent in seven languages, intelligence is a fitting term to classify Levy.

"We always knew Hila was very bright; her ability to read, comprehend, analyze and absorb is astounding and admirable," said Salpeter-Levy. "We just didn't anticipate how bright she'd shine in the bigger skies."

Another prestigious opportunity arose at the twilight of her academy career, when she was one of only 32 Americans selected as a Rhodes scholarship recipient to the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom -- one of the most well-known and respected opportunities in the world of academics. Levy was the first Puerto Rican-born recipient in the scholarship's existence, and went on to complete two master's degrees in biology and historical research.

After a few months at Oxford, fumbling with finding her place, tragic news came that changed her life. A roadside bomb in Afghanistan violently captured the life of a friend and mentor she spent time with at USAFA; exposing the fragility of the contract we call life.

Levy was rattled, in search of some way to release all the emotions that had relentlessly been building up.

"What am I doing?" she asked herself rhetorically, internally sifting through immense inspiration and desire for purpose. "I needed to do something, anything."

What'd she decide?

She rode a bicycle across the entire United Kingdom, alone.

All 956 miles, from a town called John O'Groats to Lands End, most of the time directly into the heart of a headwind. It was her first time on a bike, and it took her 11 days - a blink of an eye compared to what the spontaneous trip unearthed in the coming months and years.

Her mother called the journey harsh, lonely and daring. Levy called it an amazing experience.

It was an experience made less lonely by the aid of one of her five "children" - all of whom instead of traveling by two legs, roll around on two wheels and were purchased at cycling shops around the world. This time she was escorted by the aptly named "William the Conqueror" as she conquered the English countryside.

On top of falling in love with a newfound activity -- or a healthy addiction, as Levy puts it -- she found a way to make it about others. She raised around $4,000 for British and American wounded veterans along the way.

The U.K. trip sparked a deep-felt passion, and since then Levy has completed double-digit triathlons, marathons and cycling races. She's finished in the top three in more than half of them, along with notching two first-place finishes.

Levy belongs here; she's earned it -- even though she still doesn't quite know how.

"I don't feel I was gifted naturally with any athletic abilities," said Levy. "I'm not tall, I have legs of uneven length, and I have shoulder and knee problems. I have to work hard every single day."

The Ironman mantra is "Anything is Possible," and Levy said she's living proof it's true.

"I would have never dreamed of running a half marathon a year ago ... now I am running that distance at least once a week."

She can thank her coach, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chase, for some of that. Chase, an Air Force triathlon team member himself, met Levy at an Ironman competition in her birth country, and referred to her as "the most intense woman I know."

"It's hard to think about now, because it's all become so normal to me," Levy said.

"She's unique in that she really will not quit and puts a hurting on plenty of men who think themselves worthy," said Chase. "She's always pushing her results and my expectations as a coach higher and higher."

Chase and Levy are both part of Team Red, White and Blue, an organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

The duo communicate through online technology, where they mainly discuss nutrition and a training routine that consists of workouts like 3-hour bike rides, 5,000-yard swims and 16-mile runs. Some weeks run upwards of 20 hours of pure training.

Like anyone else, Levy has her low points, but it's never enough to make her quit.

"There are some days when you just feel slow, and you know you are," she said. "The great thing about having a coach is having a focused workout. If I lose focus, I won't accomplish anything."

It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but Levy doesn't leave much room for excuses. Or any room, for that matter.

"You can't say 'I got injured' or 'I got fat' -- everyone can do this. I have seen people with missing limbs, no vision and traumatic brain injuries compete. I don't want to speak for other people, but there's a lot you can overcome no matter how big the challenge.

"When a guy with one leg passes you during a race, the pain seems to hurt a little less than you thought it did."

For many, the question remains: Why would someone want to voluntarily put themselves through something so demanding?

As a 15-year-old, Levy was highlighted in a student profile. In a section titled "What's important to me", her response was "Achieving my goals and upholding my beliefs."

In that aspect, not much has changed in 11 years.

"What drives me is accomplishing tasks - really following through on accomplishing a goal," said Levy. "I don't question my innate motivations to do it."

She also said the overwhelming support she has received from her leadership at Misawa to pursue these dreams provides positive pressure to give everything she has day in and day out.

"This lifestyle has changed my perspective on life," said Levy. "Working with all these people who challenge themselves and who have overcome so much is so inspiring. It makes you worry a lot less about little things in life.

"It's really nice to be able to bring someone along and be there for someone who needs encouragement. We all started somewhere."

For Levy, it started as a hobby, and ended as - well, let's be realistic. It's far from over. It's only just begun.

US Air Force, RAAF command airfield in Talisman Saber 2013

by Airman 1st Class Marianique Santos
36th Wing Public Affairs

7/25/2013 - WILLIAMSON AIR FIELD, Australia -- U.S. Air Force 36th Contingency Response Group (CRG) Airmen from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, worked hand in hand with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 382nd Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (ECSS) from RAAF Base Amberley on an airbase opening and sustainment mission during Talisman Saber 2013.

The 36th CRG's key mission was to open up the initial airhead for the surge that would bring in the remaining ground forces for Talisman Saber. Airhead is a military term used for an area secured in hostile territory used as a base for the supply and evacuation of troops and equipment by air.

"We sent an advanced echelon team to Amberley to finalize coordination that has been going on for almost a year," said Lt. Col. Bill Percival, 36th CRG mission commander for Talisman Saber 2013 and 36th Mobility Response Squadron commander. "From Amberley, we boarded Australian C-130Js and infiltrated Williamson Airfield."

The 36th CRG assumed command and control of the airfield from the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Airborne), who seized the airfield shortly after their airdrop July 20.

"In this phase, we are focused on pushing out enemy forces so that we can quickly transition to the next phase," said Percival. "We just received the main body of the 382nd ECSS, led by Wing Commander Andrew Lancaster. Their task is to make the airfield more robust for sustainment and move toward the humanitarian support phase of the exercise."

Though the airfield transitioned to Royal Australian Air Force Command on July 22, Airmen from the 36th CRG continue to perform integrated airfield functions with the RAAF.

"One of the interesting things about this exercise is we're totally integrated, which shows our great partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force," Percival said. "Our guys are manning the entry control point and defensive fighting positions with RAAF security forces, providing scenario-based and real-world security. The RAAF air load team is working side by side with our aerial porters. Our engineers are working with their engineers to maintain the camp. Every function that we do for airfield management -- from intelligence to command and control -- is seamlessly integrated with our allied partners."

Participating in Talisman Saber 2013 provided the Airmen the opportunity to communicate with their Australian counterparts, allowing them to learn different aspects of their job and skills for working in a combined environment. The units learned about each other's organizational processes, acronyms and equipment.

"Working with the Australian Defence Force, particularly the RAAF 382nd ECSS, has been simply outstanding," said Staff Sgt. Sydney Okagu, 36th mobile command and control (C-2) controller. "Not only do we work well together, both teams have learned a lot from our interaction in the field."

Percival said that 382nd ECSS and the 36th CRG create a complementary team. The key differences in how each team deploys their airbase opening elements allow the units to build on each other's strengths and mitigate weaknesses.

"Both units are separately very good, but together, unbeatable," he said. "In a lot of other ways - functions, mentality, mission set - we're still the same. It's remarkable to see everyone work together. We're all one team."

Despite donning different uniforms and conversational vocabulary, members of the Royal Australian Air Force and U.S. Air Force continue to move forward together in Talisman Saber 2013 to improve combined force integration for future operations in the Pacific area of responsibility.

"We have gained an operational and tactical understanding of a key skill set and expanded the operational capabilities of U.S. Pacific Air Forces CRG," Okagu said. "Working side by side with our Australian partners will enable future coalition operations in a critical region."

Security forces BEEF up engineers' capabilities

by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Bradley
36th Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Trainers from the 736th Security Forces Squadron paired up with the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron in a unique training opportunity to increase expeditionary skills of the prime Base Emergency Engineer Force, or prime BEEF, July 29 on Northwest Field.

The purpose of the training was to increase the 36th CES Airmen's abilities to respond to global threats and provide them with the most up-to-date tactics and procedures used in deployed environments.

"This training will help our Airmen survive in dangerous situations and in high-threat environments like Afghanistan," said Master Sgt. Jacob Tefteller, 36th CES readiness NCO in charge. "Another benefit is the Airmen who learned these skills can pass the knowledge to others in our squadron."

Master Sgt. Eduardo Zepeda, 36th CES electrical systems NCO in charge said the training was important because, while prime BEEF Airmen keep their numerous specialty skills sharp by assisting in maintaining the base, the course served as a refresher on the tasks unique to a deployed location.

Prime BEEF Airmen spent time in the classroom to learn a variety of ground combat skills which included night vision, mission planning and development, various fighting positions, and base security operations. After the class finished, the Airmen applied the skills in the field.

"Each of these new skills the Airmen learned raises their level of knowledge of deployment operations," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Dirner, 736th Security Forces Squadron combat skills instructor. "When it comes time for them to perform, they will remember what they learned."

Prime BEEF Airmen must complete dismounted operations training, where Airmen leave tactical vehicles and patrol in formations on foot, as part of their home station training requirement.

"It's really nice to have hands-on training and a facility to work in, provided by the 736th SFS, that will keep our Airmen ready to deploy," Tefteller said.

62nd APS Airman receives Spirit of Service Award

by Staff Sgt. Jason Truskowski
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/30/2013 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Tech. Sgt. Christopher Javier, 62nd Aerial Port Squadron passenger service supervisor, was recently awarded "The American Legion's Spirit of Service Award for the state of Washington" at a ceremony in Yakima, Wash., July 19.

This award recognizes military members who excel in their performance on-duty, and who are also actively involved in their local community. Javier received this award for his exceptional military service throughout his 11-year Air Force career.

"I have always had good leadership and mentors and I am never afraid to go out there and get involved," said Javier. "The strong support of my leadership and peers has always pushed me to excel into that next level in my career."

Javier, a native of Millington, Tenn. has been a hard charger as far back as he can remember, excelling in high school sports and academics as a student at Granada Hills Charter School in Southern California. After the events of September 11, 2001 unfolded, Javier felt his family's military heritage calling him.

"At that point in time I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. My father and grandfather were in Navy, so I was looking at that path," said Javier. "I just wanted to get involved to do my part like my father and grandfather and 9/11 was my calling."

During the three years Javier was stationed at his first duty location, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, he garnered four quarterly awards, an Airman of the Year award at the wing level, and was a Senior Airman Below-the-Zone recipient.

Later, he found himself stationed at Pope AFB, North Carolina, assigned to the 3rd APS, where he continued his award-winning trend by picking up two Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter Awards.

It was after a 376-day deployment to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan and Al Asad Air Base, Iraq in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom that he found himself with orders in-hand, headed to Maxwell AFB, Ala., where he was selected as 1 of 15 NCOs to be an instructor at the Air and Space Basic Course.

This course was part of an Air Force Chief of Staff initiative that created a common Airman experience for all commissioned officers.

During his three-year tenure as an instructor at Maxwell AFB he trained more than 6,600 company grade officers in various field tactics as well as co-authored the Air Force Combatives Program. These milestones helped earn him three NCO of the Quarter Awards and the Air University Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award.

"I've never liked talking in front of people," said Javier. "Being urged and motivated to get out there and face what I was uncomfortable doing by my fellow instructors really changed things for my Air Force career."

In November of 2011, Javier and his wife moved to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. where he became the passenger service supervisor at the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron.

Since his assignment to McChord Field, Javier has spent countless hours helping Airmen and soldiers in need at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and residents in his local community through such programs as Habitat for Humanity, local food drives, and the Deployed Airmen Care Program, to name a few.

Chief Ordena Willis Jr., 62nd APS air terminal director, commented on Javier's recognition by saying, "We are extremely excited to have him represent the Air force and Washington state because he truly does personify the spirit of that award."

93rd ARS earns AFA Shilling Award

by Staff Sgt. Michael Means
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

7/30/2013 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash., -- The Air Force Association announced recently that the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron earned the 2013 David C. Schilling Award.

The 93rd ARS is the second refueling squadron to receive the award in its 65 year history.

"We had an incredible year in 2012. Not only the 93rd but the whole Operations Group," said Lt. Col. Patrick O'Brien, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron commander. "We couldn't have done this without the support of Team Fairchild and I couldn't be more proud of the men and women of the 93rd ARS."

The 93rd ARS provided aerial refueling support on more than 1,300 overseas combat missions offloading 82-million pounds of fuel while sustaining over 6,000 hours of ground alert supporting Operation Noble Eagle. The units accomplishments, too many to list, also include maintaining a tremendous operations tempo with more than 7,000 man-days deployed at locations around the world.

"The 93rd Air Refueling Squadron received the Schilling Award for the most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of flight," said Col. Brian Newberry, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "This is a victory for all of Team Fairchild and the first class work we do. We fuel the fight with unmatched professionalism and passion!"

According to the AFA the Schilling Award recognizes an Air Force military member, Department of the Air Force civilian, unit or group of individuals for their contribution in the field of flight in the atmosphere or space. The award was first given in 1948 as the Flight Trophy and renamed in 1957 in honor of Col. David Schilling.

Schilling, one of World War II's most decorated fliers, was a quadruple ace and credited with destroying more than 23 enemy aircraft. He was also key in the development of aerial refueling techniques for fighter aircraft.

"For our unit to receive an award named after someone who was responsible for the early development of aerial refueling is truly an honor," said O'Brien. "We would not be where we are today without his contributions."

In 1950, Schilling went to Manston, England, where he flew a British jet to test the probe-and-drogue system in a refueling operation.
After he landed Schilling said, "Couldn't have been simpler."
Upon his return to the U.S. he personally sold the Air Force on a research and development contract to modify two F-84s to utilize the United Kingdom's Flight Refueling Limited, probe-and-drogue system.
Schilling used this system to make the first non-stop, air-refueled flight by a fighter across the Atlantic Ocean.

According to O'Brien, the 93rd would not be able to achieve the award without the leadership of Lt. Col. John Pantleo, former 93rd ARS commander who led the squadron the first half of the year.

"We are lucky to have been a part of a squadron with such hardworking and dedicated Airmen but this award not only recognizes the hard work that our men and women do every day in the squadron but also the support that Team Fairchild has given us," said O'Brien. "We would not have achieved any of this without their tremendous support."

O'Brien will accept the award on behalf of the squadron Sept. 16 at the 2013 Air and Space conference in Washington, D.C.

(Lt. Col. Clarke Newlon contributed to this story)

Past, present rescue Airmen reunite in Portland

by Tech. Sgt. Anna-Marie Wyant
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Ore. -- Former and current members of the 304th Rescue Squadron reunited in Portland July 26-28 to reminisce, learn and enjoy the camaraderie of wingmen, friends and family.

The 304th RQS, which originally stood up in 1957, is a geographically separated unit of the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.--Air Force Reserve Command's only combat search-and-rescue wing. Previously, the squadron was part of the 939th Air Rescue Wing, which has since been deactivated.

The reunion included a social, banquet, tours, static aircraft and equipment displays, picnic, and most importantly, a time and place for past and present members of the 304th RQS to see familiar faces, meet new friends and share the squadron's great heritage.

"In the rescue family, being able to capture those experiences and show that long tradition of saving lives is pretty amazing," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Rescue Wing commander, who was an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter pilot with the 304th RQS from 2001 to 2002. "It's important to share the heritage, especially some of the folks who were around since 1957, hearing their stories."

Retired Master Sgt. Sam Barnett, a former jet engine mechanic and quality assurance technician with the 304th from 1970 to 1993, said he enjoys sharing the stories and heritage with his rescue family at reunions.

"A lot of us have been retired for twenty years, but we still come back to see old friends, old commanders, and see that the PJs (pararescuemen) and HH-60s are still flying," said Barnett, who initially enlisted in the military in 1956. "I miss the camaraderie with the people I got to know over the years. It was a great career."

Barnett's great career included responding to the major eruption at Mount St. Helens, Wash., in 1980. He said the squadron was responsible for saving 67 lives following the eruption, adding that helping people was the most fulfilling part of the mission for him.

Although there have been many changes during the last two decades since his retirement, Barnett said he enjoys meeting the new generation of rescue Airmen in the squadron, and he respects and admires what they do.

"We're all family," Barnett said. "I'm glad to see somebody else has carried on our tradition, especially in rescue."

One of the members carrying on the rescue tradition is Maj. Chris Bernard, a combat rescue officer with the 304th RQS. Bernard, a prior-enlisted pararescueman, has been with the squadron since he joined the Air Force in 1987. Bernard said having squadron reunions is important for him and his fellow Airmen because of the common heritage and bond shared by those in the rescue community--a relatively small community within the Air Force.

"There is already a special bond among military veterans, especially those who have served in combat," Bernard said. "I believe there is an additional bond of those who serve in rescue; rescue has its own special purpose and higher calling."

Bernard said the 304th RQS is a devoted team where Airmen of all specialties are deeply dedicated to rescue and come together to get the job done. He said the reunion was a great opportunity for those currently serving in the unit to learn the lessons from their predecessors and feel proud to be part of an elite squadron with a noble mission.

"In my opinion, it has always been and will always be the most amazing mission in the Air Force," Bernard said of rescue. "We have always been and will always be a tight-knit community who does what is necessary to complete mission. Anyone I know who has been a part of the 304th family holds such fond memories of being part of a team that saves lives."

Bernard said he is grateful for the former 304th RQS members who paved the way for him and his fellow rescue Airmen.

"As the quote by John of Salisbury states the sentiment of those who have come before us, 'we see things that are more distant not because our sight is superior ... but because they raise us up and by their great stature add to ours,'" Bernard said. "We are indeed 'standing on the shoulders of giants.'"

Pro football team honors Bronze Star recipent

by Tech Sgt. Carlos J. Trevino
433 Airlift Wing

7/29/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Lackland -- The final regular season game for the Arena Football League's San Antonio Talons was supposed to be about thanking the fans on Fan Appreciation night, but instead it was Bronze Star recipient, Master Sgt. Robert Mott, who stole the show.

Mott, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Program Manager at the 433rd Civil Engineering Squadron, was honored during the game in the San Antonio Alamodome, when his story of bravery was read to more than 9,000 in attendance.

"This is an incredible experience," Mott said after the ceremony during a timeout in the game.

As a television camera beamed his image to big screens throughout the dome, and the American flag held up behind him, the EOD technician stood at parade rest.

While his team was going through the wreckage, he discovered a hidden room in the foundation of the building. Under the incessant threat of booby traps, Master Sgt. Mott spent the next five hours searching the cramped and dusty hole, and at one point in the recovery, he encountered a fully operational Improvised Explosive Device and disabled it by hand.

"The Arena Football League honors our men and women because they are serving our great country," Arena Football League Commissioner Jerry Kurz, himself a veteran, said via email.

With the crowd on their feet and the benches of both teams applauding, Mott was given a handshake and a game ball by Commissioner Kurz.

"Without their service, we could not exist as we have and will continue to do, due to their service, dedication and sacrifice," Kurz said.

"I have never been to one of these games before. It was one heck of a way to get introduced to the sport," Mott said. "It's been a lot of fun."