KC-46 critical design review officially closed

from Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

9/5/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force officially closed the KC-46 Weapon System Critical Design Review (CDR) on August 21, one month ahead of the Sept. 24 contractual date.

This formal closure of the July Weapon System Design Review represents the culmination of more than 10 months of component and sub-system design reviews, resolution of all resulting action items and completion of all CDR criteria established in the Air Force's contract with Boeing.

Closure of CDR formally establishes the KC-46 design and now allows the program to progress into its manufacturing and development test phases.

The KC-46 is based on the Boeing 767-200ER commercial aircraft. Design review activities blended best practices of commercial and Department of Defense frameworks, leading to overall improvements.

Boeing will now proceed with integration, verification, and production of four engineering and manufacturing development aircraft to support flight testing, scheduled to begin in mid-2014. The first fully equipped KC-46 tanker is projected to fly in early 2015.

"This build and test phase is another critical step toward meeting the KC-46 contractual Required Assets Available date -- a milestone requiring 18 KC-46 aircraft and all necessary support to be on the ramp, ready to support warfighter needs by the August 2017 timeframe," said Maj. Gen. John Thompson, Air Force program executive officer for tankers. "To succeed will require the focused efforts from all members of the team."

The Air Force contracted with Boeing in February 2011 to acquire 179 KC-46 refueling tankers to begin recapitalizing the more than 50-year old KC-135 fleet. Production will ramp up to deliver 179 tankers by 2028.

U.S., Russia Can Make Bilateral Progress, DOD Official Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2013 – The United States and Russia disagree on some aspects of their bilateral relations, but there are many areas where the countries can and do cooperate, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia told the Heritage Foundation yesterday.
The relationship has been marked by ups and downs, Evelyn N. Farkas said, and that is normal. The idea, she added, is to work through these disagreements.

“We will continue to work with Russia to find mutually acceptable solutions,” Farkas said in her prepared remarks. “We’ve been managing a significant disagreement with the Russians over Syria.”
Still, Farkas said, American officials want to bolster defense cooperation. The United States wants to work on counterproliferation issues with Iran, North Korea, and on counterterrorism and counternarcotics in regions adjacent to Russia.

“Our level of interaction with Russia has increased substantially with the establishment of the Defense Relations Working Group in September 2010,” she said. “The working group is intended to create mechanisms for discussion and exchange at the policy level between defense professionals on a range of issues, including defense reform and modernization, missile defense cooperation, defense technology cooperation, and global and regional security issues of mutual interest.”

Increased cooperation on Afghanistan tops the U.S. wish list, Farkas said. “Working to bring improved stability to Afghanistan is clearly in U.S. and Russian interests, and Russia continues to be supportive by expanding the Northern Distribution Network and allowing for diversification in the types of cargo that can pass through its territory,” she explained. “The U.S. and Russia continue working together to disrupt al-Qaida’s and other terrorist groups’ operational networks and undermine their access to financial resources.”

Continued cooperation to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa also is a U.S. goal, Farkas said.
Even in areas of disagreement there must be conversations, Farkas said. Both Russia and the United States agree that the civil war in Syria should end, she noted, but Russia supports the regime of Bashar Assad. “Both of our countries have been adamant that we remain committed to working with each other to bring the parties together to negotiate a political settlement,” she said.

Russia continues to express concern that U.S. and NATO missile defenses could pose a threat to Russia’s strategic deterrent, Farkas said, and Russian leaders also question whether Iran really poses a threat.

“We continue to assure Russia that our missile defense efforts are not directed against Russia, nor do they pose a threat to its strategic nuclear deterrent,” she said. “And we continue to make the case that the transparency and cooperation we are offering are the best way for Russia to gain the confidence it seeks that our missile defenses do not threaten Russia’s strategic deterrent.”

Continuing talks on nuclear arms reductions also is important, Farkas said. “We have made clear our willingness to discuss the full range of strategic stability issues of concern to both our countries, and we will continue to seek opportunities to make progress on this agenda,” she added.

Farkas echoed a statement President Barack Obama made yesterday in Stockholm on U.S.-Russian relations, citing areas in which U.S. and Russian interests overlap.

The president pointed to progress the two nations have made in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, in Russia joining the World Trade Organization, and in close cooperation on counterterrorism issues. Russia has also provided logistical support to U.S. and NATO forces based in Afghanistan.

Still, the president acknowledged, relations have cooled recently over Syria and over Russia granting asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. “But I have not written off the idea that the United States and Russia are going to continue to have common interests even as we have some very profound differences on some other issues,” Obama said. “And where our interests overlap, we should pursue common action. Where we’ve got differences, we should be candid about them --try to manage those differences, but not sugarcoat them.”

Forest Service Ends Military Firefighting Aircraft Activation

From a U.S. Northern Command News Release

BOISE, Idaho, Sept. 5, 2013 – The U.S. Forest Service, through the National Interagency Fire Center here, has decided to end current military C-130 Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System operations as of the end of the day today.

MAFFS aircraft and crews remain available for recall if the wildland fire situation dictates, U.S. Northern Command officials said.

In a notice to the Defense Department of Defense issued Sept. 3, the Forest Service said wildland fire activity had begun to moderate. That, along with the increased availability of civilian air tankers, has allowed the release of the military aircraft, their crews and ground support personnel.

Two MAFFS C-130s, both from the North Carolina Air National Guard’s 145th Airlift Wing, had remained on duty at McClellan Air Tanker Base outside of Sacramento, Calif., following the release of three others by the Forest Service. Those aircraft -- one from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing based in Cheyenne, Wyo., was slated to fly home yesterday. The other two, from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, will stand down at their home airfield at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, Calif., where they had operated in recent days.
Since the year’s initial activation June 11, MAFFS crews have flown 572 missions and made 535 drops using 1,375,981 gallons of fire retardant. This summer, they have fought fires in Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California and Nevada.

MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system owned by the Forest Service. MAFFS modules are loaded into the cargo bays of military C-130 aircraft. Following Forest Service lead planes, military aircrews can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant from the MAFFS modules along the leading edge of a forest fire in less than five seconds and cover an area a quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, ground crews at a MAFFS tanker base can refill the modules in less than 12 minutes.

An interagency Defense Department and Forest Service program, MAFFS provides aerial firefighting resources when commercial and private air tankers are no longer able to meet the needs of the Forest Service. A military air expeditionary group exercises control over MAFFS resources at the Forest Service’s direction.

Libraries Remain Centerpieces of Morale, Welfare Programs

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2013 – During World War I, troops deployed to Europe found they wanted more than just the beans and bullets the military logistics effort provided. The American Library Association stepped in, delivering books and magazines paid for through the war bond program to entertain and give them a slice of home.

A service member passes the time reading during a long flight to a military deployment. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The association’s war service committee raised a whopping $5 million in public donations, distributing more than 7 million books and magazines, erecting 36 camp libraries and providing library collections to over 500 sites, including military hospitals.

In the process, it laid the foundation for the Defense Department’s first and longest-running morale, welfare and recreation program.

The Navy established the first official military library program in 1919, Nellie Moffitt, the Navy’s general library program manager, told American Forces Press Service. The Army followed with its own program in 1920, and the Air Force quickly stood up its own library program when it was established as a separate service in 1947.

By World War II, the service library programs had developed “an incredible operation,” Moffitt said. The Navy alone had 275 permanent libraries ashore and 961 afloat, as well as 281 extension services in remote sites.

“Historically, reading has been an integral part of the morale effort across DOD,” she said. “That remains as true today as at any time in history.”

Most major military installation house a library, and the Navy outfits every new ship with a library while providing library services aboard every ship in the fleet.

And just as troops have enjoyed library services while deployed to every conflict since World War I, MWR officials take pains to provide those same services in Afghanistan, even at the most remote forward operating bases. The Army set up formalized library programs at the largest bases in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Air Force maintains seven learning resource centers across the U.S. Central Command region, Moffitt said.

While books and magazines remain popular, military libraries have stayed current with evolving technology. Through the years, military libraries have offered cassette tapes, phonograph records, compact disks and DVDs. Downloadable audio books were introduced in 2005, and e-books in 2007.
“We are no different than any other industry. If we don’t keep up with the times and what our customers want, we won’t be around very long,” Moffitt said.

Stop by any installation library, and it’s clear that hasn’t happened. Statistics show usage at the brick-and-mortar libraries has remained strong, and even experienced a slight increase, Moffitt said. Meanwhile, use of downloadable audio books, e-books and online databases has skyrocketed.

Last year alone, the services spent $12 million for digital library materials, Moffitt reported. Based on usage statics, those funds provided $725 million in materials and services.

“That’s a huge return on investment, $60 in value for every dollar spent,” Moffitt said.

That savings, and the fact that many military members who live on base aren’t entitled to use most local public libraries, makes installation libraries magnets for many service members and their families.

“A lot of different people use libraries for a lot of different reasons,” Moffitt said. “Some people may be coming into the libraries to enjoy the actual books and programs offered,” including storytelling sessions for military children and popular summer reading programs.

Others seek out references on everything from weight loss or auto repairs to recorded music and audio books, all provided to users at no cost.

“But an awful lot of military members are using our materials for professional reading and their professional military education,” Moffitt said.

Military members and their families tap their libraries to get transitional assistance, bone up on details about spouse employment and tuition assistance, and prepare for standardized tests, she said.

Online test preparation services are among the most popular offerings at many military libraries. Some use these programs to increase their Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery scores so they can change their military career fields, Moffitt said. Others use them to prepare for the GRE, SAT and other standardized college boards.

Based on the appetite, DOD invested more than a half-million dollars in digital test preparation services in 2012, Moffitt reported. This educational portal collectively saved library users more than $10 million in out-of-pocket costs, including $19 or $20 they would have paid for every practice test, she noted. But the true value of the library programs, officials agree, is their link to troops’ mental and emotional fitness and resilience.

“People get their energy and bounce back from problems in many different ways,” Moffitt said. “Some kayak or run triathlons. But others prefer to read a mystery novel and absolutely fade away, or listen to music they can get through the library by borrowing a CD. I believe the library program is an integral part of wellness and overall wellbeing, and that contributes to readiness.”

Air Force Col. Thomas Joyce, services director at the Air Force Personnel Center, agrees. When Air Force officials evaluated their MWR programs to identify the core activities that most directly impact readiness, libraries ranked among the top six.

“This is one of the hidden gems that don’t get talked about much, but that are a huge contributor to life-long learning and overall resilience,” he said.

“Libraries have long been one of our most forward thinking, professionally oriented programs,” noted Ed Miles, DOD’s morale, welfare and recreation policy director. “From installation level to headquarters staff, taking care of library customers has always been at the forefront of everything they do.

“That is evidenced in the high usage and outstanding customer satisfaction ratings we see in MWR customer service surveys year in and year out,” Miles said. “They always get high marks.”

Yet with budget cuts striking across the board and taking a big chunk out of many MWR programs, officials recognize that libraries aren’t immune.

“Like everybody else, we are going to have to take cuts, whether that is in hours, staffing or our materials budgets,” Moffitt said. “We know we are going to be taking cuts, but we will try to minimize the impact on the customer and if at all possible, try to maintain the services we provide.”

The service libraries have pooled their resources for decades to maximize what they can provide.

“We are a very cooperative program,” Moffitt said. A joint MWR library forum established in 1996 sets standards for all military libraries and policies to improve efficiencies. Five years ago, the services stood up a joint purchasing program so they could purchase digital databases together and share them among all their users.

“We try to do things jointly so we can be more efficient and more effective,” Moffitt said. “If somebody has a great idea, we will borrow it.”

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., for example, runs DOD’s only bookmobile, purchased with profits from the base recycling center to better serve Marines and their families. Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., plans to roll out an experimental library that does away with the Dewey decimal classification system and is organized like a retail bookstore.

Meanwhile, the military library programs continue to operate as they always have – quietly rolling out incremental improvements to better serve their customers, Moffitt said.

Those are services she said she’s confident will continue, regardless of what new budget challenges libraries face. “Just because you don’t have a lot of money doesn’t mean you can’t do a stellar job,” she said. “Military libraries stand as a testament to that.”

Breedlove Urges NATO to Tap NCO Corps Capabilities

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2013 – As new challenges and budget realities loom, the officer who serves as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of U.S. European Command has challenged those in his charge to tap the “vast reservoir of untapped potential” within the noncommissioned officer corps.

“NATO and our partner nations are standing atop a gold mine of capability,” Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove wrote today in his command blog. “We need to get better at mining it and refining it.”

Breedlove shared his own experience as NCOs shared their tactical and technical skills and leadership abilities with him throughout his Air Force career. “As I’ve risen through the ranks as a leader and commander, I’ve benefitted from the support, trust and wise counsel of my NCOs,” he said.

Now, he said, he continues to rely on the knowledge and insights of his command senior enlisted leaders at NATO and Eucom: Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Todd Small and Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Craig Adams.

“I believe our alliance abounds in NCOs like these two leaders,” he said. “And I believe we must fully engage our NCOs’ unique capabilities to strengthen NATO’s collective defense and assist its transformation.”

NATO has been made progress in better developing and engaging its NCOs, Breedlove noted. The alliance established command senior enlisted leader position across the NATO structure and published the alliance’s first NCO strategy and guidelines.

In addition, the NATO School and Swiss Armed Forces Professional NCO School joined forces to design and teach NCO education courses, he said. Allied Command Operations and Eucom command senior enlisted leaders also partnered with the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies to organize the annual International Senior Enlisted Seminar.

Meanwhile, Belgium, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Turkey and other allies established senior enlisted leadership positions, Breedlove reported. Other nations such as Slovenia and Croatia developed their own multinational NCO education and outreach programs.

“These efforts have proven beneficial by creating an NCO corps that is increasingly empowered and responsible for individual training, discipline and the health and welfare of their service members,” Breedlove said.

“In this era of fiscal belt-tightening, we must look for opportunities to better develop and employ the assets we already have, in particularly our NCOs,” he said. “When we sharpen our NCOs’ capability through exercises, training, experience and professional education, we sharpen our nations’ combat edge.”

Asian Leaders Welcome U.S. Rebalance, Official Says

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2013 – As leaders across Asia welcomed Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel during his recent trip there, they also welcomed the U.S. rebalance to Asia, the acting assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs told reporters here today. In a meeting with reporters to discuss the trip, Peter R. Lavoy noted that the secretary visited Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines during his nine-day trip. He also participated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers conference in Brunei. Joining the ASEAN ministers for a “plus” session were defense ministers from China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. “Each of his interlocutors was extremely positive about the rebalance,” Lavoy said. All of the nations appreciated the fact that the rebalance is a whole-of-government approach to the Asia-Pacific region that is not limited to the military sphere, Lavoy said, but focuses on trade, investment, diplomacy, political engagement and defense. “It’s important that we have balance within the rebalance as well,” he added. Asian leaders also showed satisfaction in the way the United States is resourcing and operating the rebalance, Lavoy said. President Barack Obama, Hagel and Secretary of State John F. Kerry all have spent significant time in the region. Hagel is returning to Asia next month, as is the president. Hagel’s trip also demonstrated U.S. global reach to the defense ministers, Lavoy said. As the secretary was in Asia, the Syria situation was heating up, he noted. The secretary held a full schedule of activities during the day with Asian leaders and also spent the nights dealing with interagency partners on Syria. “He was doing Syria by night and Asia by day,” Lavoy said. “It really impressed upon his interlocutors that the U.S. really brings incredible capacity wherever it goes. We’re able to walk and chew gum at the same time.” In Malaysia, the secretary discussed the deepening defense relationship, including possible sales of F-18s to the nation. They also discussed competing claims over the South China Sea. Malaysia is leading an effort to create a code of conduct for the region that would include China. Lavoy said the United States strongly supports the effort. In Indonesia, the secretary discussed the close military-to-military relationship between the two nations. The United States is selling AH-64 Apache helicopters to Indonesia, and one example of the closeness of the relationship is the creation of an alumni association for Indonesian and U.S. military personnel who attended each country’s military schools, Lavoy told reporters. This includes the president, who graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. In the Philippines, Lavoy said, Hagel discussed progress in the framework agreement to provide U.S. forces the opportunity to operate on a rotational basis on Philippine territory. This, he explained, will allow U.S. and Philippine forces to train together. “There have been two rounds of negotiations on the framework agreement, and we have two more rounds,” he said. “Our expectation … is we would try to get this done in the next few weeks.”

Military working dogs wag their tails and sharpen their skills at JBER

by Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Trent Harrington
JBER Public Affairs

9/5/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- The sun hung low over the morning horizon. The rumble of traffic melted into a muffled rustle of grass, damp and short, then of footfalls rushing closer and faster, faster, faster. The jangle of brass clinked in the chill air, punctuation marks for panted breaths. A single bark echoed, then another, pushed before the quickening paces like a sound wave of compressed air as it leaves a muzzle--here not a rifle but the slobbery, snarling muzzle of a dog.

A third bark was swallowed in a growl, the unmistakable, guttural vibration of a dog nearing its prey. The animal leapt and, ferocious and inescapable, closed the final yards in the air.

The target toppled to the ground in a flurry of sharp white canine teeth and sleek brown canine fur. He kicked. He flailed and struggled. The dog remained clamped, jaw shaking, eyes widened, as loyal to the task at hand as to his keeper. He ripped and pulled until a shouted "OUT" rang out. The dog obeyed on cue and instantly released its grip. The animal sat on its back haunches and waited patiently, tail wagging, tongue hanging to one side.

Dog handlers with the 673d Security Forces Squadron volunteer for a particularly ruff--rough, even--line of work. The road to becoming a military working dog handler is lengthy. Airmen must possess three years of experience in security forces and must be accepted for work with canines. Yet the road for the dogs themselves is nothing to wag a tail at, either.

A military working dog starts its Air Force life just like any other basic recruit, as a bouncy, helpless puppy at sunny Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. There, the 341st Training Squadron administers the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program, raising German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois breeds. Before being paired with a handler, the puppies are given to foster families who help the animal adjust to various social settings. Then they are monitored through various stages of readiness and training.

The initial period for a dog-and-handler team on base, known as the rapport phase, essentially involves military working dogs re-learning their most fundamental talent, and the one oftentimes most critical downrange--serving as (air-) man's best friend.

"The first phase involves taking the dogs around, playing with them, then working up towards mission-oriented tasks like explosives detection and building searches," said Senior Airman Shawn Witcher, 673d SFS MWD handler. "Everything we do starts--has to start, really--with mutual trust."

All the repetition and shared time helps mesh the two personalities. A well-trained dog can smell, hear and see better than any human under most circumstances. Teaching the dog to detect specific stimuli and communicate that information to a handler is equal parts art and psychology.

The threats facing them are as varied as the dogs themselves. Some are playful and loud, others more reserved. Witcher's military working dog, Ajax, is a curious seven-year-old German Shepherd, and has been on station at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for five years. But even dogs as social as Ajax share an uncommonly large responsibility for the safety of their teams. Early every morning, a handler runs his or her dog through a series of obedience tasks, obstacles and scenarios.

"One of the most rewarding things is to take a brand-new dog and watch them develop and improve," said Staff Sgt. Stacy Glass, 673d SFS MWD handler.

In a combat or crisis scenario, a handler must be able to trust his or her dog from the very first moment. Indeed, dogs tend to deploy frequently precisely because they can do what even the most sophisticated technology often cannot in terms of explosive detection, tracking and threat mitigation. The dogs do it all with an acute awareness of their surroundings and an anxious desire to protect their handlers that computerized equipment has not yet been able to replicate. Recently, a Belgian Malinois dog became the first military working dog to be awarded a medal for valor after she subdued a would-be ambusher in Afghanistan, despite receiving several bullet wounds at close range.

"The dogs themselves serve as a psychological deterrent, at the gate, around base, and while out on missions," Witcher said.

Thus, the dogs are oftentimes better at detecting potential hazards than, say, an electronic explosives "sniffer" and more likely to deter an incident from occurring in the first place.

Military working dogs and their handlers play hard and train harder. The four-legged guardians of the base community embody the best in all service members--loyalty, dedication, determination--and do it all without a paycheck.

Few would say no, however, to the occasional tennis ball.

Army Soldier Pleads Guilty in Denver to Bribery Charges for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan

Former U.S. Army Specialist Stephanie Charboneau pleaded guilty today to bribery charges for her role in the theft of fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Charboneau, 34, of Fountain, Colo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Phillip A. Brimmer in the District of Colorado to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one substantive count of bribery.
According to court documents, from approximately February through May 2010, Charboneau was involved in overseeing the delivery of fuel from FOB Fenty to other military bases.  As part of this process, documents generally described as transportation movement requests (TMRs) were created to authorize the movement of fuel.

Court documents state that Charboneau created fraudulent TMRs that purported to authorize the transport of fuel from FOB Fenty to other military bases, even though no legitimate fuel transportation was required.  After the trucks were filled with fuel, the fraudulent TMRs were used by the drivers of the fuel trucks at FOB Fenty’s departure checkpoint in order to justify the trucks’ departures from FOB Fenty.  In truth, the fuel was simply stolen.

Charboneau pleaded guilty to receiving payments from a representative of the trucking company in exchange for facilitating the theft of approximately 90 fuel trucks.  According to court documents, the loss to the United States as a result of the theft was in excess of $1.5 million.

At sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 12, 2013, Charboneau faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy and 15 years in prison for bribery.

Charboneau’s plea is the fourth guilty plea arising from this investigation of fuel thefts at FOB Fenty.  On Aug. 3, 2012, Jonathan Hightower, a civilian employee of a military contractor who had conspired with Charboneau, pleaded guilty to similar charges.  On Oct.10, 2012, Christopher Weaver, who also conspired with Charboneau, pleaded guilty to fuel theft charges.  Both Weaver and Hightower pleaded guilty in the District Court of Colorado.   On Aug. 29, 2013, Sergeant Bilal Kevin Abduallah, who succeeded Charboneau at FOB Fenty, pleaded guilty in the Western District of Kentucky to fuel theft related charges.

This case was investigated by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction; Department of the Army, Criminal Investigations Division; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Mark H. Dubester of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.      

33rd RQS Airmen awarded Distinguished Flying Cross with valor

by Tech. Sgt. Amanda Savannah
18th Wing Public Affairs

9/5/2013 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Five 33rd Rescue Squadron Airmen were recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor for their heroic actions during a deployment mission in 2012.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III presented Capts. Michael Kingry, Gavin Johnson and Matthew Pfarr, Tech. Sgt. Scott Lagerveld and Staff Sgt. Robert Wells with the award Aug. 20 during his visit to Kadena.

Capts. Matthew Carlisle and John Larson, former Kadena members, were also awarded the DFC with valor for the mission before permanently changing stations.

According to their citations, the members of PEDRO 83 and 84 distinguished themselves by heroism while participating in a two-ship HH-60G Pave Hawk combat rescue mission in Afghanistan on Aug. 4, 2012. On that day, the team demonstrated heroic actions during a seven hour, 320-mile rescue mission under direct enemy gunfire.

According to Pfarr, it wasn't just the mission that was different.

"The whole day started differently," he said. "There's a set time when we'd go preposition all of our gear (each day). We actually got the scramble call during that time. It was a little bit of a strange day."

On a typical day during their deployment to Bagram Air Base, Kingry said the team would show up, put their gear on their helicopters, receive update and mission briefs on the current status, and would then be on standby, waiting for the call.

"As I put my gear on the aircraft, I was halfway getting all my stuff situated when the call came in," Kingry said. "The call we listen for comes across the radio as 'Attention on the net, attention on the net, scramble, scramble, scramble.' As soon as you hear that scramble call, you know there's somebody out there who's basically in a life or death situation, and we've got to get off the ground as quickly as possible."

Two New Zealand coalition forces members had sustained gunshot wounds.

Again the day would prove "strange," as the pickup location was farther than usual and was nestled within a steep mountain range, which the HH-60s could not climb because of the weight of the aircraft. Kingry had to first plot a course through valley passes, making the trip longer.

The lead officer, in PEDRO 83, contacted the operations center and requested an HC-130 for refueling support, realizing the team would need fuel during the extended mission.

"About halfway there we got an update from our operations center that was saying it's now five total patients," Kingry said. "Our understanding was, 'Ok, the area is probably still hot, still sustaining casualties. There's an ongoing firefight.' So that definitely led us to step up our game."

The operations center also advised there was a B-1 providing close air support overhead and gave Kingry the frequencies to contact the aircraft.

"We were about 30 minutes out, and I was able to coordinate with him for what the picture looked like on the ground," Kingry said. "He was in contact with the JTAC (joint terminal air controller) on the ground. The story we got from him was they had five casualties all located in the same spot that had sustained gunshot wounds and were in an ongoing firefight from multiple points of origin."

Kingry developed a game plan with the B-1 and JTAC for the team to get in and get the casualties out. As they got closer, they got another update -- the casualty number was now seven.

As the team arrived, they located the patients within a valley flanked by very steep cliffs. Kingry and Pfarr remained overhead to provide watch while PEDRO 84 landed and picked up three patients. Kingry then landed PEDRO 83 in the same spot to pick up the other four before the team left the location.

They were too low on fuel and the patients were too critical for the team to return to Bagram. They had to fly to the nearest forward operating base.

The operations center notified the FOB to be ready with facilities and gas. Kingry said he landed PEDRO 83 with about 300 pounds of gas, the lowest he'd ever seen. The team had a few moments to reflect on what had happened, when another call came in.

There were three more casualties at the same site and the site's observation post. The team gassed up and returned to the location.

Now covered overhead by an F-16, the team returned to the site.

"It was taking a while to package this patient just due to the fact that it was very difficult terrain. They were under fire, and basically the slope of that terrain made it difficult," Kingry said. "It was starting to take more and more time, and we were burning more and more gas. So at that point I instructed my wingman to land at the other site and pick up the remaining patient."

As PEDRO 83 and 84 were picking up their patients, they came under fire.

"As we came to a hover over the incident site and started the hoist down, the copilot came on the radio and said, 'Muzzle flashes at 10 o'clock.' I was holding the aircraft in a hover and looked out to my 10 o'clock and basically I saw five or six just bright, flashes of light all aimed at our aircraft," Kingry said. "I immediately started pulling the power in to go around and my first call to the gunner ... was '10 o'clock, 300 meters burst.' I said it again, '10 o'clock, 300 meters burst.' Finally I said 'Shoot 'em, shoot 'em, shoot 'em,' so that he ... just started pouring 50-cal back into their position.

"At that point PEDRO 84 was still on the ground ... so I immediately called to them the weapons pattern, that we needed weapons support, and probably the best thing I heard the whole time as we came into the weapons pattern was 'PEDRO 84 calling in hot.'"

Kingry said the two aircraft spent about 500 rounds combined covering the area, with Lagerveld and Wells delivering most of the rounds.

Though the enemy threat was suppressed, the aircraft were then facing the threat of "bingo" fuel, meaning they had the lowest amount of gas possible to complete the mission, and the pararescue men were still on the ground with the casualties. Kingry maneuvered PEDRO 83 to pick up the PJs and the casualties, while PEDRO 84 called for the tanker to move as close as possible.

Soon the tanker met up with the team. The next mission would be to perform helicopter air-to-air refueling, which is done by the tanker aircraft dragging a hose with a small basket behind it, which the receiving pilot then directs his or her probe into, Kingry said.

"It was high altitude so it (the basket) was bouncing around quite a bit," Kingry said. "I remember taking the controls and looking at the fuel gauge and seeing that we had about 300 pounds of fuel. Previously we had landed with 300 pounds, and we were still about 20 to 30 minutes out. We had to get gas or we weren't going to make it back. Luckily for me ... it kind of got calm, the basket just kind of sat there in front of me, (and) I was able to make a run in on the first try and get gas."

PEDRO 84 wasn't so lucky. The turbulence returned, and the aircraft failed at a few attempts to connect to the hose.

"I could see how much gas they had; I knew that they weren't going to be able to make it back unless they were able to plug," Kingry said. He began discussing a plan to land PEDRO 84, move some of the crew to PEDRO 83 and return to the FOB, but finally Johnson was able to pilot the aircraft and connect to the tanker.

"The time that I was most afraid was ... waiting for our wingman to take fuel," Pfarr said. "We were thinking about how to PL -- precautionary land -- that aircraft in the middle of Afghanistan, and then PEDRO 83 would have to ferry crew members and patients out of there. That was a very real possibility that we had begun to look at, and fortunately right before we had to make that decision they were able to get the fuel they needed. That was the scaredest I felt during that day."

The team returned to the FOB, unloaded their patients and waited for more news before returning to Bagram.

Reflecting on the day, Pfarr said it was the type of day he expected when joining the Air Force.

DOD Focuses on Ending Assad Regime’s Chemical Weapons Use

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2013 – The Defense Department leadership is focused on what President Barack Obama has defined as the objective of a proposed military operation in Syria: ending Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little answers reporters' questions regarding possible U.S. military intervention in Syria at the Pentagon, Sept. 5, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Little spoke with reporters after two days of Senate and House foreign affairs committee hearings and testimony before both panels by Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E Dempsey.

Obama favors limited military action against Syria, but wants Congress to decide if the nation will stand behind it. That process is underway.

“We're focused right now on what the president and others have said about what this military operation -- if it takes place -- would try to achieve,” Little told the reporters. “And that is a clear objective of stopping the Assad regime using chemical weapons [and] deterring and degrading the ability of this regime to murder innocent Syrian men, women and children.”

The operation would be of limited scope and duration, and there would be no boots -- of American or allied troops -- on the ground, he added, describing the scope of the proposed operation.

But more broadly in Syria, others have been working on a track beyond the military part of the equation, Little said.

“The State Department, in particular, has been heavily involved in diplomatic efforts with the Syrian opposition to try to move toward an ultimate political solution in Syria that's driven by the Syrians,” he explained. “That's what we want at the end of the day. That's what the Syrians want.”

In terms of getting help with Syria from the international community, Little said the department believes some countries will provide support if the United States takes military action.

“But international participation does not need to be vast in order for us to succeed,” he added.

Little was unable to offer details on the cost of an incomplete and so far unapproved Syrian military operation, but he did respond to questions about continuing budget constraints in the upcoming fiscal year.

“We have said that this is in the national security interests of the United States. And if this operation goes forward, if we're asked by the president to conduct a military mission, we will conduct it,” the press secretary said.

“When it comes to sequestration and budget uncertainty,” he added, “when this country decides to come together and take military action for a just cause that's rooted in the legitimacy of a very strong international norm, then we'll find a way to fund it.”

During Hagel’s recent four-country trip to Asia, during which he engaged in bilateral meetings with several counterparts from the region, including South Korea, Little said the defense secretary learned about North Korean stockpiles of chemical weapons, underscoring this week’s discussions about Syria’s use of chemical weapons on its own citizens.

“If we sit idly by and allow the Syrian regime to perpetrate atrocities the likes of which we've seen recently, then what signal does that send to countries like North Korea?” Little said.

If the Syrians are allowed to get away with it, then perhaps that sends a signal that others might be able to get away with it, the press secretary added -- not just North Korea, but Iran, Hezbollah and other rogue actors in the international community.

“This is very serious business,” Little said. “And it is very important not just for the United States, but for other countries, to step up and say this international norm is worth defending.”

In response to a question about whether the long U.S. discussion about such a military strike would give the Syrian army an advantage during such an attack, Little said the United States is the strongest military power in the world and one of the most flexible and adaptable, with access to information that will enable it to take effective action at the appropriate time, if called upon.

“No one in the Syrian regime should take solace from the deliberative process that we're undertaking right now with the United States Congress,” he observed.

Little said there will be time to adjust, given conditions on the ground and given what the Syrian regime may or may not do in terms of moving equipment.

“So the Syrian regime does not get a strategic or a tactical advantage from the time we, if called upon, will carry out a military mission effectively,” he added, “and we will meet our objective of deterring and degrading their chemical weapons use.”

Veteran receives Bronze Star with Valor for declassified mission

by Senior Airman Daniel Hughes
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Not many people can say they served in three different branches of the military. Not many people can say they were involved in one war and two conflicts. Not many people can say they went into a foreign country, took care of a U.S. hostage for nine months and gave vital information that led to a U.S. Army "Delta Force" extraction. One man can say all those things and can say he has a Bronze Star with Valor for his efforts.

U.S. Air Force retired Col. (Dr.) James A. Ruffer was getting ready to attend medical school when the Vietnam War began and knew right away he would have to put aside his medical school dreams and join the cause. He went to a Marine recruiter with the intent of becoming an officer and shortly after commissioning he attended flight school.

His leadership came into the classroom one day and told the Marines attending flight training there was only one fighter pilot position open, and all the rest of the students would be trained to become helicopter pilots. To be chosen for that one position, Ruffer would have to be the "student of the week" out of 388 Navy and Marine pilots. Ruffer always wanted to fly a jet and knew, in order to achieve his goal, he would have to give his all. When the day came and student of the week was announced, he found out that he was selected for the lone fighter pilot position.

"I wasn't shocked; I knew I was doing the best I could at my studies and during my training flights," Ruffer said. "I learned at a young age to give everything I had in everything I wanted, and I would find a way to [earn] what I wanted."

After graduating fighter pilot school he was thrown into the "fire" in Vietnam, providing close air support for his fellow Marines on the ground.

"We flew so low; we used our own eyes to target where we wanted to drop the bombs," Ruffer said. "I knew while flying over those Marines that if I could pave a clearer path for them, they would be safer. That was always my goal."

Ruffer served five years as an active-duty Marine then six years in the individual ready reserve. While on IRR, he attended medical school. He wanted to stay close to the Marine Corps after he earned his medical degree, but the Marine Corps didn't offer him a position and ended up joining the Navy as a flight surgeon.

Ruffers claimed his greatest accomplishment in the Navy was a day in the emergency room where he delivered eight babies in 24 hours.

"That day was a handful," he said. "I was running around taking care of patients and pregnant women kept coming in. In those days, if you were due, you went into the base emergency room. It truly was a blessing to be a part of bringing those children into the world."

Ruffer served with the Navy for six years before he left the military to become a civilian doctor. That lasted for only a few months before he missed the military life, so he called an Air Force recruiter and asked if the Air Force had any need for a doctor. He joined the Air Force shortly after that call and was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. He was the flight doctor for the civilian flight crew, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, who flew the Rutan Model 76 Voyager aircraft around the world without stopping or refueling.

"Working with those two was a pleasure. I take pride in knowing I got to meet and work with them," Ruffer said.

Shortly after finishing his work with the Voyager crew, he was looking for a new challenge. Ruffer knew American forces were being sent to the Republic of Panama, and he wanted to be where the action was. He applied for the assignment, and a couple months later, his family moved to Panama City, Panama, where he would be the deputy command surgeon for the United States Southern Command in the Republic of Panama.

During that time, U.S. civilian Kurt Muse was arrested and held in the Carcel Modelo Prison, Panama, for transmitting a radio station critical of the country's dictator, Manuel Noriega. The American was beaten and interrogated, so Ruffer was sent in to the prison by the Department of Defense to ensure he was still alive and to try and stabilize him.

"I have never seen a man be made into nothing," Ruffer said. "When I started treating, him I couldn't stop praying for him."

He was debriefed by Delta Force members and commanders on the captive's condition each day. He made the commanders aware he needed to see Muse as much as possible. Ruffer went back to the prison the next day and talked to the captors and negotiated treatment sessions for Muse. "Every other day for as long as you have him," Ruffer demanded of the captors.

The prison guards granted him access to Muse for the next nine months. Ruffer worked with Delta Force intelligence officers discussing the prison's floor plans to include where the guard shacks were, how thick the cells were, if the prisoner would be strong enough to get out, and if he would be willing to risk escaping.

Operation Acid Gambit took place Dec. 20, 1989, to rescue Muse. The operation was a success.

"Being able to say I helped in the plans to extract an American held hostage is something that brings me a great sense of honor," Ruffer said.

Ruffer and his family moved out of Panama a couple months after the extraction, and he was slated to deploy in support of the Persian Gulf War, but his orders were cancelled.
"I knew we needed to have someone over there to assess the casualties for chemical traces," he said. "I went to the commander and told him I need to get over there to make sure we know how to treat and protect against chemical warfare."
After the discussion, Ruffer was sent to an Air Force forward operating location as a consultant for "Chemical Casualty Medical Management" to the Tactical Air Command and served as an air transportable clinic commander.

"My tour in the desert was great," Ruffer said. "Being able to help implement protective steps during a chemical attack was something that needed to happen. That's why I pushed to go on the deployment, so I could help potentially save the brave men and women of our country."

After completing his six month deployment, Ruffer was soon transferred to serve as an emergency room physician at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, where he retired in 1995, but his time in the military still didn't feel complete.

"I never sought medals in my career; it was always about the mission and country before self- glorification but something was missing," Ruffer said. "I always felt I should have received a medal for my efforts in Panama."

Twenty-three years after his part in the operation was declassified, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Lofgren, United States Air Force Warfare Center commander, presented him with a Bronze Star with Valor for heroism.

"What a great opportunity for our Air Force to recognize this true hero; for me, I was humbled and excited to officiate over such a significant event," Lofgren said, "Being able to recognize a true American hero was a thrill. What an amazing story."

After the ceremony, Ruffer recognized his wife and family for supporting him through the thick and thin.

"I couldn't have asked for a better support team than them," he said.

Growing up wanting to be a doctor, then joining the Marine Corps becoming a pilot, joining the Navy as a doctor, leaving the military for a civilian practice, and then coming back to the military to join the Air Force as a doctor is a rare military career path.

"When my Bronze Star with Valor ceremony was complete, my wife and I walked to the car," Ruffer said. "But I didn't want to go home; I knew when I took that uniform off my military career was over, and the decoration I thought I deserved for so long was finally on my chest. I hadn't prepared myself for the emotions that took place during that walk to the car."

Investigation report details February fatal accident at Joint Base Andrews

from Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Air Mobility Command officials released the Ground Accident Investigation Board report details, following the Feb. 17 Airman death stemming from a warehouse accident at Joint Base Andrews, Md.

Senior Airman John E. King II, 21, of Sarasota, Fla., was fatally injured as he was struck by a vehicle inside the base aircraft services warehouse. He was assigned to the 89th Aerial Port Squadron at JB Andrews.

Following the accident, Brig. Gen. Mike Minihan, 89th Airlift Wing commander, said, "The 89th, and all of Team Andrews are hurting after this tragic loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Airman King's family, friends and coworkers; our Air Force is a family, and they will not go through this alone."

King was standing at the rear of the vehicle and guiding an air transportation specialist driver as he was parking to create more room to move equipment in the warehouse.

The report indicated that the Airman driving the vehicle did not follow standard Air Force vehicle operating procedures and did not perform the proper corrective actions. Other factors include lack of communication between King and the driver when he went behind the vehicle.

The report is available on the Air Force Freedom of Information Act Reading Room web site, https://www.efoia.af.mil/palMain.aspx.

Sole searching: Army Spouse uses boots to remember fallen servicemembers

by Senior Airman Christopher Stoltz
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Public Affairs

9/3/2013 - TRIPLER HOSPITAL FISHER HOUSE, Hawaii -- 

Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen all have one thing in common: we all wear boots to work. Most lace them up in the mornings, while some cheat and purchase the ones with zippers on the sides. Regardless of how they are put on or what material they are comprised of, our clunky, often uncomfortable boots play a large role in our lives.

While boots are one of the first things servicemembers put on every day, it is one of the last things those killed-in-action ever wore.

This realization gave Theresa Johnson, Tripler Fisher House Manager and Army spouse, the idea to create the Fisher House Hero & Remembrance Run. While there are many events that commemorate the armed forces, this run comes with a unique take: attendees can both run and see more than 6,700 boots--one for each casualty in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

Although this year's run is only the second iteration, Johnson said she expects more than 5,000 attendees.

However, this year's event is of particular significance to Johnson, who said her son, who is about to deploy, inspired her to create the event.

"At any time, I could be laying down a boot for my son," she said.

For this and last year's event, the boots, badges and labor is based on donations from the local community. According to Johnson, the event is not used to raise funds for the Triple Fisher House, but is an event held only to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

"You see some really crusty old boots, but I honestly like it that way," she said. "We even have boots donated by families with stories attached to them, sharing the experiences of those who have worn them and the loved ones they left behind. We wanted to bring back names and faces, not just a number. You hear about casualty numbers all of the time on the news. We wanted to share their story, instead of 'there's another one, there's another one.' That number has a family, that number represents a person who sacrificed everything."

One of the stories on the boots was provided by former soldier Mark Eric, a six-year Army veteran who served from 2002-2008. While most families attending write stories for one boot, Mark is doing the same for 19.

"This event is a great way to honor and show respect to my friends," he said. "I donated a pair of boots I wore during both of my deployments. This is my first time volunteering for this event and it is an honor and privilege to remember the people I served with, the people who I considered part of my family."

Mark is not only a volunteer for this event, but also lives at the Fisher House as he recovers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The boots he donated are covered with photos and stories of his fallen friends in remembrance of better days and time he cherishes when they were more than a just picture and a memory.

"This is a good way to cope," he said.

Although the front lawn of the Fisher House resembles more of a boot factory and less of a grassy knoll, Johnson says she still needs more donations to ensure every sacrifice is represented.

When asked by a volunteer for an exact number of boots currently on the Fisher House property, she replied: "too many."

The Fisher House Hero and Remembrance Run is slated for Saturday, Sept. 7 on Ford Island. For more information about Fisher House or the run, contact Theresa Johnson at (808) 433-1291 or visit www.fisherhouse.org.

The Tripler Fisher House is a "home away from home" for families and patients receiving medical care at Tripler Army Medical Center, located in Honolulu.  Families served are from the Pacific area, including Korea, Japan, Okinawa, and Guam. Active duty and retired persons from all services are helped in their time of need. The Tripler Fisher House is run with donations and non-appropriated Funds.

Innovation integral part of 3rd Wing mission

by Air Force 1st Lt. Matthew Chism
JBER Public Affairs

8/30/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- In the 3rd Wing, innovation is the mission.

Airmen expect to encounter and overcome challenges. In the arctic environment, Airmen commonly compete with sub-zero temperatures, near 24-hour darkness, remote training areas, and rapid weather changes.

In addition to these challenges, Airmen continue to achieve mission requirements while working through the difficulty of sequestration, which reduced budgets and services while workloads increased due to cutbacks on our civilian teammates.

Regardless of unusual or extreme hardships, Air Force success has historically been a direct result of Airmen who possess the vision to develop new and improved solutions to the most challenging of scenarios. Two pertinent solutions implemented by 3rd Wing Airmen include the F-22 Raptor 3.1 upgrade implementation and the 3rd Wing Turkey Shoot competition.

Increment 3.1 upgrade
The Raptor 3.1 upgrade provides the 3rd Wing with the most advanced and, by extension, the most combat-capable F-22s in the entire Raptor fleet.

"The 3.1 upgrade gives pilots the ability to employ a more precise battlefield solution utilizing the ability to map an area, real-time ability to retarget weapons, among other capabilities," said Troy McCanless, 3rd Wing F-22 field services.

This upgrade directly spurred two 3rd Wing innovations. First, 3rd Wing Airmen developed a plan which kept the aircraft where they were needed most, in the 3rd Wing.

"Traditionally, depot bases like Hill Air Force Base, Utah would take on an installation like this," McCanless said. "You're talking about a large amount of money that was saved on costs like support tankers associated with performing this at another location. The wing also would not have had those aircraft available during the time of the install."

The 3rd Maintenance Group considered numerous planning variables for the F-22's capability expansion, identified scheduling deficiencies, and developed an organic upgrade plan to keep the F-22s at JBER.

The 3rd Operations Group have ownership of the second 3.1 upgrade innovation as, 3rd Wing F-22 pilots create the newest tactics to best optimize these new capabilities literally on the fly. Pilots from the 90th and 525th fighter squadrons, along with their 302nd Fighter Squadron Total Force Integration partners, are using each flying hour on the Alaska practice ranges to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for this newest upgrade, which will eventually become doctrine for the rest of the Raptor fleet when they become 3.1 capable.

"This upgrade gives combatant commanders a tremendous advantage. It provides a self-contained, precision strike capability combined with a low-observable fighter platform," said Air Force Maj. Nick "Conan" Sigler, 525th FS.

Turkey Shoot
During the 3rd Wing-wide Turkey Shoot competition, Airmen worked in teams to prosecute an attack on hostile air units to control the battle space.

"Teams rarely have an opportunity to integrate and compete with other squadrons across both groups in a complex training scenarios such as this, except for the two Turkey Shoots each year", said Air Force Capt. Herman "TC" Norwood Jr., 3rd Operations Squadron chief of E-3 Sentry tactics.

Innovative Airmen sought to take advantage of the 3rd Wing's unique integration opportunity. Previously, F-22s were the only airframe to compete in the Turkey Shoot Competition. Today, the 3rd Wing planners built a competition to incorporate nearly every maintenance and operations squadron within the Wing and across three airframes: F-22, C-17 Globemaster III, and E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.

"This combined event maximizes efficiency by aligning training over four days that would normally take weeks," Norwood said. "This training is exceptionally different because this is one of a very few wings where there are three different mission-designation series (aircraft type) to do this kind of integrated training."

The Turkey Shoot Competition was also an opportunity to incorporate 3rd Wing maintainers into the scenarios.

"The competition was the idea of innovative young captains who ran with it," said Air Force Col. David Nahom, 3rd Wing commander. "They turned their vision into an incredible opportunity for our Airmen to take advantage of unique training to showcase their talents. Perhaps most importantly, the competition also built camaraderie and teamwork between ops and maintenance."

During the past eight months, Air Force personnel have seen an increased emphasis on innovative ideas. The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Welsh, initiated the drive outlining his vision for the Air Force, "Powered by Airmen, Fueled by Innovation."

"It highlights Airmen as the source of our strength as a service, and it outlines the five enduring contributions that will continue to guide us as we move forward, no matter what happens in - with the fiscal realities of the future," Welsh said.

Nahom said encouragement for innovation should come from every level, adding "Our fiscal challenges will drive opportunity for our great Airmen to innovate and find solutions. which will ultimately better posture forces for the Pacific Air Forces commander. The Turkey Shoot was an incredible event to watch as it showcased the ability of 3rd Wing Airmen to succeed in the most challenging scenario."

Creech RPA Airmen earn Meritorious Unit Award

by Staff Sgt. N.B.
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - LAS VEGAS, Nev.  -- The 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing has been awarded the Air Combat Command Meritorious Unit Award for outstanding achievement in direct support of combat operations from June 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013.

The combat-ready Airmen of the 432nd employ the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, providing warfighters with long-endurance, real time intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision attack capability against fixed, mobile and time-critical targets.

"I'm continuously impressed and humbled by the amazing work you do every day to support joint warfighters around the globe," said Col. Jim Cluff, 432nd Wing/432nd AEW commander. "This award is not just for one individual squadron, it is a culmination of the entire wing's contributions to 24/7, 365 world-wide combat operations. Congratulations on a job extremely well done."

Squadrons that fall under the wing flew more than 100,000 combat hours in support of U.S. and coalition forces overseas during this time.

Other milestones include the creation of the first ISR video editing training program, creating the first Airmen Ministry Center for increased Airman resiliency, and secured the AF ISR squadron of the year for 2012.

The wing was also credited with five major command best safety practices and stood up the first combined multi-national training cell for ISR missions.

In March 2004, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the Meritorious Unit Award to recognize organizations for outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations.

To be selected, a unit must display outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks, setting it apart and above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit.

Columbian Air Force Jet Emergency Lands at JBER

by Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Trent Harrington
JBER Public Affairs

8/30/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Crack!

A deep, white spider web leapt across the windshield. The low rumble of engines on a Colombian Air Force aircraft was interrupted by the splintering sound of fractured glass. The pilots exchanged glances, checked safety lights, monitored their position and barked commands. Cabin pressure read normal, but the entire glass pane was split from end to end. It would be difficult to see, let alone safely fly. The aircraft had to descend. The plane radioed the control tower.

Onboard the twin-engine Boeing 767 aircraft that Saturday morning were 72 cadets from the Colombian Naval Academy, along with several supporting officers and 12 flight crew members. The cadets and staff were en route from Anchorage to Hong Kong, flying across the northern Pacific to embark on a three-month cruise aboard the Colombian Navy's flagship Gloria. The aircraft was expected to retrieve another group of cadets who had just concluded their sea tour at the Hong Kong port.

The plane had just taken off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport early Saturday morning when the situation developed. The aircraft commander requested permission to emergency land at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

As a safety precaution, the pilots circled for several hours to burn fuel before landing safely and taxiing to the Joint Mobility Complex on the JBER flight line.

The Colombians immediately ordered replacement parts, which arrived early Monday morning from Miami, Fla. JBER personnel facilitated the transportation and escort of civilian repair technicians to the flight line, where they installed the new glass with oversight from the Colombian air crew and members of the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron.

The mishap became an opportunity for the next generation of joint-force partners in South America. The majority of the cadets and officers had never seen an American military installation, especially one with the capabilities, mission variety and sheer size of JBER. The officers and cadets received a tour of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, during which they peered into stripped-down engine blocks, sat in the cockpit and listened to explanations from crew chiefs at the Alaska Air National Guard hangars. Many remarked they had never seen helicopters as formidable as the 20,000-plus pound UH-60.

The 517th Airlift Squadron hosted a tour of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft parked on the tarmac.

"The Colombians were most impressed with the size, capability and technology in the cockpit," said Air Force Maj. Darwyn Klatt, C-17 pilot, 517th Airlift Squadron. "Their pilots asked the most questions. The massiveness of the airplane, its capacity -- many of our foreign partners don't really have anything like this. Their largest craft is probably half this size."

Senior Airman Raul Gutierrez, crew chief, 517th Airlift Squadron, offered his bilingual capabilities while hosting the Colombians.

Besides refreshing his Spanish, "It was a privilege to show foreign military visitors what an Air Force unit is capable of," Gutierrez said.

Third-year Colombian cadet Felipe Cruz said while the group definitely wasn't expecting to see Alaska, the chance to meet U.S. Air Force and Army pilots was eye-opening.

"The difference in the scale of operations, the ability to see what's possible with the technology and the training, for us is great stuff," Cruz said.

Both sides of JBER pitched in to coordinate the 90 unexpected foreign military visitors. The group was billeted in the Army National Guard barracks on Camp Carroll. Army and Air Force officers, non-commissioned officers, and junior enlisted members from force support units, dining facilities, transportation, security forces and public affairs worked late into the evening escorting the group and easing the increased flow of personnel and questions their arrival brought.

The incident has attracted attention from throughout Pacific Air Forces, showcasing an unplanned opportunity for international cooperation immediately following other, highly-coordinated exercises like Red Flag-Alaska, which concluded last week.

The Colombian jet departed early Tuesday morning.

"The aircraft commander contacted us after take-off to thank the base for being gracious hosts," said Air Force Col. Frank Battistelli, 673rd Mission Support Group commander. "They appreciated all the support we were able to give them. Our allies would do the same thing for us if we were ever in need."

Partners in sky, on land, at sea

by Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- American and Korean F-16 Fighting Falcons took off from Kunsan Air Base on a friendship flight mission in the skies over Gunsan, Republic of Korea, Aug. 14, 2013.

Colonel S. Clinton Hinote, 8th Fighter Wing commander, led the U.S. Air Force aircraft while Col. Min-Oh Seo, 38th Fighter Group commander, led the ROK air force jets. The flight showcased the partnership and communication shared between the two air forces at Kunsan.

"It is an honor to fly with our ROKAF partners," said Hinote. "This friendship flight is a meaningful symbol of the deep, ongoing relationships we have with Colonel Seo and the 38th Fighter Group."

Embodying the partnership, the F-16s flew around several landmarks in the Gunsan area in different formations with both Hinote and Seo leading the way.

Seo agreed that the flight was a meaningful representation of the commanders' attitudes towards combined operation capabilities.

"The flight was not merely a ROK-US combined flight, but was more of a representation of the will of commanders of the 8th FW and 38th FG to enhance realistic combined operation capabilities, and we firmly believe it could serve as a role model for ROK-US combined fighting power," said Seo.

Seo believes the combined flight was meaningful training since both the 8th FW and 38th FG witnessed the possession of excellent combined air operation capabilities.

"We could successfully complete the mission if we needed to fight tonight," said Seo. "This flight also reaffirmed a solid alliance between the 8th FW and the 38th FG, both of which play a pivotal role in protecting the sovereign skies of the Republic of Korea."

Just as they fly in tandem in the sky, both commanders also agree when it comes to their combined mission capabilities.

"We will continue flying and training together," Hinote said. "If we have to, we will be able to fight and win together."

Airmen to be nominated for special duties

by Staff Sgt. Candice C. Page
Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - LANGLEY AFB, Va. -- Approved changes to the Air Force special duty program will require Airmen to be nominated and vetted through an approval process beginning Oct. 1.

Changes to the special duty program allow leadership and commanders to nominate their top performing Airmen for positions such as military training instructors, airman and family readiness noncommissioned officers, enlisted accessions recruiter, professional military instructors and honor guard noncommissioned officer positions, which were filled previously on a volunteer basis.

The10 special duties and T-prefix duties selected for the program have been identified as enlisted developmental positions due to leadership responsibilities and the ability to mentor young Airmen.

Airmen who have demonstrated a record of exceptional performance in their primary duties are being sought to fill the developmental special duty positions. Airmen selected for the positions may also have the opportunity to enrich their careers, gaining leadership skills and broadening their experiences.

"I think if we encourage Airmen through a nominative process and allow leadership to encourage them by saying you're ready and we believe that you are the quality person to go do this job then we will have a highly motivated and diverse group of developmental special duty personnel affecting our Airmen," said Chief Master Sgt. Rick Parsons, command chief, Air Combat Command.

Although the assignment selection process will change to a nominative process, Airmen motivated to volunteer for a developmental special duty may still have the opportunity to do so.

"Airmen need to make contact with their leadership, voice their desire to be nominated on one of the lists and if their leadership agrees that they are the right person or right caliber to go and do the job they will be nominated," Parsons said. "When we need to fill vacancies we will certainly go to the list and pick volunteers first."

Air Staff will provide major commands nomination quotas twice a year, in March and September, based on their enlisted population of staff sergeants, technical sergeants and master sergeants. ACC has received their quotas, which requests nominations for 98 staff sergeants, 106 technical sergeants and 115 master sergeants.

"Not everyone will be nominated for these positions. The Air Force is looking for the best qualified Airmen that have qualities of a leader and will be able to prosper in these positions," said Chief Michael J. Helfer, chief enlisted manager manpower, mersonnel and services directorate.

Commanders will be allotted 30 days to nominate individuals based on rank and developmental special duty quotas.

"Quotas have been set to establish a minimum of nominations for MAJCOMs so Air Staff can have a pull that will fit their needs, said Helfer. "The quotas received will be distributed equally amongst ACC wings, but if a wing does not receive a levied quota they should still be nominating the best of the best to serve these duties."

ACC has a deadline of Sept. 30 to have nominations submitted to the Air Force Personnel Center.

Although, Airmen will be nominated for developmental special duty positions by their leadership, they still have to meet basic eligibility requirements listed in Personnel Services Delivery Memorandum 13-62, as well as specific criteria for the special duty listed in the Special Duty Catalog, which is currently under revision.

"Once an Airman has been nominated and selected for an assignment they will need to meet the eligibility requirements, detailed in the assignment selection instructions, within 45 days of notification," said Helfer.

He said, no indication of a timeline has been set on when Airmen will receive assignment notification, but April 2014 is the month when most Airmen can expect to report to their new special duty assignments.

For more information about developmental special duties refer to PSDM 13-62 and the SPECAT.

Kerry, Hagel Urge House Panel to Support Syria Strikes

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2013 – Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today urged the House Foreign Affairs Committee to support President Barack Obama’s plan to respond to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons against its own people.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel testifies to support U.S. military intervention in Syria during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., Sept. 4, 2013. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, right, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, not pictured, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also testified. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Joined by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the two Cabinet officials explained the president’s position, as they did yesterday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Hagel acknowledged the gravity of the issue, describing the U.S. commitment to the use of force as “the most difficult and important decision America’s leaders can make.”

“The Department of Defense – our leaders -- have spent days and days going over every option, every contingency,” he said.

The primary responsibility, he emphasized, is to ask the “tough questions” before making any military commitment. “The American people must be assured that their leaders are acting according to U.S. national interests with well-defined military objectives and with an understanding of the risks and consequences involved.”

To better make an informed decision, Kerry said, the president and his national security team gathered facts following the Aug. 21 sarin gas attack by President Bashar Assad’s regime.

“Our evidence proves that they used sarin gas, and it proves that they used some of the world’s most heinous weapons to kill more than 1,400 innocent people, including at least 426 children,” he said. “The risk of not acting is greater than the risk of acting.”

Hagel said he shares Obama’s sentiment that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is not only “an assault on humanity” but a serious threat to America’s national security interests and allies.

The Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons poses grave risks to U.S. friends and partners along Syria’s borders, including Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, the defense secretary said.
“If Assad is prepared to use chemical weapons against his own people, we have to be concerned that terrorists groups like Hezbollah, which has forces fighting in Syria supporting the Assad regime, could acquire them and use them,” he said, adding that the risk of chemical proliferation also creates a direct threat to U.S. personnel in the region.

“We cannot afford for Hezbollah or any terrorist group determined to strike the United States to have incentives to acquire or use these chemical weapons,” Hagel said.

An emboldened Syrian regime, Hagel explained, portends possible erosion of the nearly century-old international norm against the use of chemical weapons, which has helped to protect U.S. forces and the homeland.

Weakening that norm could hearten other regimes to obtain or use chemical weapons, he said, citing North Korea’s massive stockpile that threatens the South Korea, a treaty ally, and the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed there.

“Our allies throughout the world must be assured that the United States will fulfill its security commitments,” Hagel said. “Given these threats to our national security, the United States must demonstrate through our actions that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.”

Key partners and allies such as France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pledge support for U.S. action in the region, he said.

Military objectives are not to put U.S. military “boots on the ground,” Hagel said, but involve actions tailored to respond to the use of chemical weapons.

“We have made clear that we are not seeking to resolve the underlying conflict in Syria through direct military force,” Hagel said. “A political solution created by the Syrian people is the only way to ultimately end the violence in Syria.”

Chemical weapons, Hagel warned, “make no distinction between combatants and innocent civilians and inflict the worst kind of indiscriminate suffering.”

U.S. forces will be ready to act when the president gives the orders, Hagel told the House panel.
“The word of the United States must mean something,” Hagel said. “It is vital currency in foreign relations and international and allied commitments.”

Kerry urged the representative to support the president’s plan.

“This is not the time for armchair isolationism. This is not the time to be spectators to slaughter. This is not the time to give permission to a dictator who has already used these weapons the unfettered ability to continue to use them because we stepped back,” he said.

Storytellers at Peterson

by Michael Golembesky
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

9/4/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Every Airman has a story, but in the shuffle and stresses of everyday life, many are simply lost or forgotten, which is why the Storytellers project was started.

Storytellers began in July 2012 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, by Master Sgt. Lee Hoover, Incirlik American Forces Network station manager, and Tech. Sgt. Kitsana Dounglomchan, 39th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School instructor.

So how did Storytellers make it from Turkey to Peterson?

"It really struck a chord with me ... I thought it would be very unique and something that we had never seen before at Peterson ... I really wanted to try it out," said Tech. Sgt. Kimberly McDougle, 561st Network Operations Squadron unit training manager and Storytellers event coordinator here.

Storytellers is designed to be a live event where fellow Airmen can share their amazing stories of resilience, motivation and professional pride in a relaxing environment that allows the audience to connect and learn.

"I watched Gen. Welsh speak to the cadets on YouTube -- every Airman has a story -- and to be a good leader, to truly care about your people, you have to know their stories," said McDougle. "There are so many amazing stories that have gone untold; this is a great opportunity to hear some of those stories from our fellow Airmen."

Storytellers is a learning experience for service members of all ranks with a emphasis on educating and mentoring younger Airmen.

"Especially for younger Airmen, it's not death by PowerPoint. It is gripping, you are there in person and they are going to tug at your heartstrings," said McDougle.

Peterson AFB is hosting its own Storytellers event from 8-10 a.m. Sept. 12 at The Club ballroom, building 1013, and will offer all attendees a complimentary breakfast and Starbucks coffee.

Senior Master Sgt. Alvey Brandon, 561st Network Operations Squadron, will narrate the event where those in attendances will hear uplifting and inspiring stories from the following Airmen:
· Capt. Mark Muller, 561st Network Operations Squadron
· Master Sgt. Benjamin Horton, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron
· Master Sgt. Walt McClung, 21st Force Support Squadron
· Master Sgt. Stephen Schexnayder, 561st Network Operations Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Cerrissa Witte, 21st Medical Operations Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Kyaw Min, 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron
· Airman 1st Class Janee Tamayo, 21st Dental Squadron

Go to https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=166582&k=0367440C7355 to reserve a seat for this event. For information about Storytellers, contact McDougle at 556-6769.