Washington Navy Yard Victims Honored at Memorial Service

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jennifer Lebron, Defense Media Activity - Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Family, friends and co-workers of the 12 people killed in the Sept. 16 shooting at the Washington Navy Yard (WNY) gathered for a memorial ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington Sept. 22.

The memorial honored the service and sacrifice those killed in the incident:

Michael Arnold, 59, of Lorton, Va.

Martin Bodrog, 54, of Annandale, Va.

Arthur Daniels, 51, of Southeast, Washington, D.C.

Sylvia Frasier, 53 Waldorf, Md.

Kathy Gaarde, 62, of Woodbridge, Va.

John Roger Johnson, 73, of Derwood, Md.

Mary Francis Knight, 51, of Reston, Va.

Frank Kohler, 50, of Tall Timbers, Md.

Kenneth Bernard Proctor,46, of Waldorf, Md.

Vishnu Shalchendia Pandit, 61, of North Potomac, Md.

Gerald L. Read, 58, of Alexandria, Va.

Richard Michael Ridgell, 52, of Westminster, Md.

President Barrack Obama joined Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on stage to speak and reflect on the tragedy that unfolded nearly a week earlier.

"You and your family, this Navy family, are still in the early hour of your grief," said Obama. "And, I am here today to say that there is nothing routine about this tragedy, nothing routine about your loss. Your loved ones will not be forgotten. They will endure in the hearts of the American people and the hearts of the Navy that they helped to keep strong, and the hearts of their co-workers and friends and their neighbors."

Vice Adm. William Hilarides, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command, gave the opening remarks at the ceremony.

"It has been an honor for all of us to serve with the 12 great Americans we mourn here today. They loved their country. They loved their Navy. They loved the fleet -- the fleet they helped build and sustain" said Hilarides. "These patriots designed and built our ships. They sustained and set the standards for our ships. They connected us to each other and to the fleet. And, they protected and sustained our headquarters. For that service we honor them. For that service we will never forget them."

In his remarks, Mabus noted the strong sense of family he has seen as he met with the victims and their families.

"We are a family, uniformed and civilian, we work together, serve together, overcome together. As a family we grieve together. Together we will assure that they, like those that have gone before them, will be remembered and honored as heroes," Mabus said. "Because that is what they are, heroes. Ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. An ordinary Monday became a day of extraordinary horror, but also extraordinary heroism."

Those sentiments were echoed by Greenert who said the Navy lost parts of its family. The Navy lost shipmates.

"These shipmates dedicated their careers to building and maintaining the finest Navy in the world. They worked alongside one another for a purpose greater than themselves," Greenert said. "The nature of our Navy family is that we serve together and we depend on each other in times of need. We celebrate each other's successes and triumphs. And, we grieve together in times of sorrow."

In the wake of the shooting, the Navy responded with support for those affected by the shooting - military, civilians, contractors and their families - by establishing Emergency Family Assistance Centers (EFAC).

The EFACs continue to provide services at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) and WNY. They are located at WNY Building 111, Commander, Navy Installations Command Headquarters (5th floor), and JBAB Building 71, Enteprise Hall.

Those needing information about the services offered by the EFACs should call 1-855-677-1755 for more information.

There has been an outpouring of support for the Navy and those affected by the shooting. The support is noted and appreciated by the men and women of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) which released the following statement Sept. 20.

"The employees and families of NAVSEA are grateful for the outpouring of help and support in recent days. We've received many inquiries from those wishing to offer support by making donations. Due to federal regulations, the Navy and NAVSEA cannot solicit or officially endorse non-federal organizations. Information on organizations offering support may be found at www.ourmilitary.mil."

Minuteman III test missile launches from Vandenberg

by Air Force Global Strike Command
Public Affairs

9/22/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched during an operational test at 3:01 a.m. (PDT) today from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

The launch team, under the direction of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, included members from the 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D., and 90 Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.

"The test launch is the culmination of months of hard work and preparation." said Col. Lance Kawane, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander. "The invaluable data we collect helps us to validate the functionality and performance of system components."

The ICBM test launch program supports U.S. strategic deterrence policy as outlined in the 2010 Department of Defense Nuclear Posture Review, by demonstrating the operational credibility of the Minuteman III.

Agencies across the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy will use the data collected from this mission to ensure a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent. The United States' ability to maintain a strong, credible nuclear deterrent is a key element of U.S. national security and the security of U.S. allies and friends.

The next test launch of the Minuteman III from Vandenberg is scheduled for Sept. 26.

Navy Helicopter Crashes in Red Sea

By U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

 

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (NNS) -- An MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 crashed in the central Red Sea Sept. 22, while operating with the guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110).

The status of the five personnel on board the helicopter is still being determined.

The crash was not due to any sort of hostile activity.

USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is providing aircraft and small boats for search and rescue assistance.

The incident is under investigation.

Change the Outcome of Your Children's Lives

Lieutenant Colonel Geneva Turner, Ph.D., USA (ret.), “resides in Columbus, Georgia. She earned degrees in nursing from several colleges and universities, and an MA in biblical counseling, Luther Rice University/Seminary, Lithonia, Georgia. Dr. Turner taught nursing for nineteen years and owned several businesses from childhood to present. She authored or co-authored several professional articles. She retired from the army reserves as a lieutenant colonel and now owns What If LLC.”  Lieutenant Colonel Geneva Turner is the author of What if Our Father Were Not a Man: Change the Outcome of Your Children's Lives and Change How Your Story Ends.

More about Lieutenant Colonel Geneva Turner.

F-35 program chief cites steady progress

By Airman 1st Class Alexander W. Riedel, Air Force News Service

 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Citing changes to one of the Defense Department’s most ambitious acquisition programs, F-35 Lightning II development is making steady progress, the F-35 Joint Program Executive Officer said here Sept. 17.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan told military and industry experts at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition that the program has changed for the better over recent years.

“A number of years ago there was not a great balance of risk between industry and the government,” Bogdan said, noting that a year later, the progress, though accelerating, will still take time.

Among the improvements, Bogdan reported increases in flight testing, including plus-ups in testing locations and qualified personnel resulting in increased production.

“This program is slow because it is vast,” he said. “Progress takes a lot of time, but time is something we don’t have a whole lot of.”

The general said he was confident the U.S. Air Force will have what it needs by 2016 to declare initial operating capability.

“I’m also confident that ... our Italian partners and our Israeli friends will get delivery of their airplanes.”

Other changes include the establishment of a “cost war room,” an industry-financed office, which Bogdan said integrates industry and government experts in manufacturing, supply-chain and cost-analysis to monitor and control costs.

Also essential to driving down costs, Bogdan said, is increased buy-in and support from partner nations.

The general cited an example that the Netherlands recently announced their commitment to purchase the fifth-generation fighter as replacement for their aging fleet of F-16s.

“When we buy more aircraft, the price per airplane comes down,” Bogdan explained. “From a warfighting perspective, the ability for us to be side by side with our allies, flying the same aircraft with ... similar capabilities in an (area of responsibility), is a very powerful signal to the rest of the world that we are one team.”

Running with McGuire's dog whisperer

by Senior Airman Chelsea Smith
514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs

9/19/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- As the van rounded the corner into the vacant parking lot, five eager heads peered through the crack of its windows revealing large gaping eyes, the silhouette of wagging tails and a hyper-awareness of what was to come.

When the door glided open, frantic paws paced the van floor never exceeding the door seal as each anxiously awaited their turn to be leashed and released. With verbal assurance and the release of his hand, Lt. Col. Dean Owens gave the cue as they accelerated towards the parking lot to embark on a normal exercise routine, yet an aesthetically unique version of troop running.

The network of canines forged ahead and dispersed, instinctively assuming their self-designated slots while Owens kept pace behind their strides. Unified despite their size difference, each dog understood the cadence of its siblings as they pushed full throttle into their much anticipated run.

The crew can often be sighted running at various locations on base or in local neighborhoods, four times a week, drawing admirers and amazed spectators along the routes of their passages.

Owens, 514th Air Mobility Wing chief of wing safety and devout dog-lover, said he enjoys running three to four miles with his dogs to satisfy his love of running while simultaneously maintaining Air Force fitness standards.

Although he may feel exhausted after a long workday, once he straps on his running shoes he's motivated to start and maintains that motivation witnessing the dynamic of his dog pack, he said.

"When I come home at the end of the day and I've got those excited pairs of eyes staring at me, it's hard to deny them a run," said Owens. "Even if I don't feel like running that day, I feel guilty not taking them out because they walk me to the door in the morning and greet me when I return home in the evening."

Owens said he initially started running with one dog, but as he added more to the family it was a natural decision to include each additional dog to the expanding bunch.

Although he said he can't take credit for their ability to stay in sync, he can credit them for encouraging him to maintain high fitness standards and achieve excellent physical training scores on every fit-to-fight test.

"If I keep up with them, I'm able to keep a consistent pace--usually around a 7:30 mile," he said. "It's also fascinating to watch them naturally align so it diverts my focus from being tired."

With more than 28 years of combined active-duty and Reserve time in service, Owens said he has exceeded Air Force fitness standards largely due to routine runs with his dogs, but also due to innate qualities of his thin stature and love of exercising.

"I fully embrace the concept of keeping in good shape as a tenant of our roles as service members," he said. "Running is necessary, but as I get older and the joy of running diminishes, it's more motivation when I look at their expectant faces eager for a run."

Owens' motivators--all rescue dogs, include Lucy, a Jack Russell and Chihuahua mix, Cocoa, a Dachshund, Jake, a Boxer and Great Dane mix, Duke, a German shepherd, and Ivy and Wylie, both Chow and Rottweiler mixes.

Appropriately, Owens said he'd welcome adopting a seventh dog admitting there would be no problem handling another furry family member.

"I'm confident that any dog we take in would jump in and learn the routine" he said. "Each time I'd add a new dog there would be some confusion for the first half mile, but every dog eventually falls into place."

However, taking care of his current brood is a priority for Owens. Taking his roles as owner, alpha dog and friend seriously, he often alters running schedules based on extreme temperatures and monitors each dog's physical condition, he said.

"Chaining your dog and throwing them a bone every now and then does not equate to responsible ownership," he said. "Find an activity to include them in because the relationship between dog and owner is symbiotic so it's mutually beneficial. Luckily, all my dogs share my love of running."

Lt. Col. Dean Owens' tips for running with your dogs:

• If you don't have a dog, get one. If you have one - get two. If you have two, what is one or two more?  
• Be a responsible pet owner. 
• Be mindful of extreme weather conditions when exercising. 
• Know their physical limitations - they've got aches and pains just like humans. 
• Running is a great way to bond, but you can also incorporate other activities to ensure their emotional and physical well-being. 
• Guaranteed way to improve your fit-to-fight scores.

ISAF Air Training Commander Describes ‘Delicate Balance’

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Sept. 20, 2013 – The commander of NATO’s Air Training Command Afghanistan admits that he has a public perception problem: while polls show Americans have largely dismissed the war in Afghanistan as an effort that’s winding down, his mission is ramping up in size and complexity and in the number of obstacles encountered.

Air Force Brig. Gen. John E. Michel’s command is responsible for training the Afghan air force, or as he puts it, building a minimum, sustainable air capability suited to Afghanistan’s needs, terrain, development and resources.

While visiting here this week to attend an Air Force conference, Michel spoke to American Forces Press Service about the challenges his command faces in ramping up a training mission to last through 2017 as the rest of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force looks to draw down troops by the end of next year.

He acknowledges that to accomplish his mission by December 2017, he’ll need every advantage he can wring from dwindling war funds.

“It’s very easy to lose this in translation, because most people don’t realize [air trainers are] staying [in Afghanistan] until ’17,” he said. “The mindset is, ‘We’re done in ’14,’ and I got that, but the biggest challenge is just where we are in time and space. The story has shifted to another direction.

“Everyone else is leaving, and we’re growing,” he continued. “We’re building an 8,000-person force that can do what they need for Afghanistan -- humanitarian [missions], basic intelligence, troop insertion, resupply [and] casualty evacuation.”

Michel’s coalition aircrews fly alongside their Afghan counterparts during training, combat and joint missions, conducting resupply, troop and passenger movements and casualty evacuation for the Afghan army. Coalition advisors also train in maintenance, logistics, finance and communications.

The Afghan air force is divided into three wings, located respectively in Kabul, Kandahar and Shindand. The command center is in Kabul, and the Shindand Air Base in Herat province is the main training area.

The Afghan air force’s fleet eventually will include 58 Mi-17 transport helicopters, six Mi-35 attack helicopters, 20 C-208 turboprop airliners, four C-130 transport aircraft and 20 A-29 light attack aircraft. The training command staff that will grow in the next few years as Afghan air capabilities come online, Michel emphasized, will shrink as the Afghan force develops its own experts.

“We’ve got to go from 649 to 1,114 people,” he said. That number will plateau for a time, and then gradually decline as Afghan air capabilities are ramped up, brought to sustainment and handed off, the general said.

Michel said the American people are the command’s “stockholders,” along with the coalition nations and the Afghans.

His trainers are “very good stewards of every dollar we spend, every person we bring in,” Michel said. He and his staff use detailed charts that show growing Afghan air mission capability to brief NATO International Security Assistance Force leaders. They demonstrate the progress made and justify future effort, he said.

Fighting for funding is becoming familiar again in military circles, Michel said, noting the importance of what he views as a mission vital to U.S. and Afghan security.

“My goal is, ‘Let’s use data to keep us on the intellectual high ground, instead of being pulled to the emotional low ground,’” he said.

Partner commitment is as important as economic commitment in mission success, the general noted.
“There are things the U.S. Air Force cannot build in an Afghan air force, because those skills aren’t requisite [to American needs],” he said. “Where are we going to get Mi-17 talent? Where’s my Mi-35 talent? Who’s going to turn wrenches?”

American pilots have learned to fly those Russian helicopters, Michel said, and the training command relies on ISAF coalition partners, including Croatia and Italy, to teach the Afghan force how to maintain and support them. But some partners are reluctant to pledge people or funds after the larger national security mission transition wraps up in 2014, he added, partly because of uncertainty over U.S. intentions in Afghanistan.

“There’s a series of concerns, realistically,” he said, listing partner questions about final troop numbers, funding and security concerns. All contribute to an environment in which partner nations postpone commitment, Michel said.

“So we’ve got this very perilous situation setting up that, without the coalition support -- if we don’t get the right people … for the right time frame -- then we’ll have to start de-scaling capabilities,” he added.

Among other metrics, Michel said, the charts his command keeps track growth in the Afghan air force’s overall and detailed capabilities, using a green-yellow-red legend. Given the state of development the Afghan forces have achieved to date, he said, “if we stop [training] today, the only things they could sustain is what’s green.”

Those capabilities all are in the “air movement” category, and about halfway mature there, judging by the green-yellow chart pattern, he said. The yellow areas, he added, “where we are currently improving slowly, would immediately start to diffuse and be unsustainable. And then if it’s red, we haven’t started it yet.”

Red areas on the chart include advanced combat capabilities such as close air support and close air attack, which now are mostly yellow.

Likewise, he said, the air training command is still building infrastructure which will continue through 2015 if current plans hold. It was just last month, he noted, that the Shindand Air Wing Training Complex opened, adding 32 facilities from aircraft hangars to flight simulators to Afghanistan’s training inventory.

“But now there are pressures to potentially reduce infrastructure,” Michel said, noting that a recent report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction drew media and congressional attention when it blasted an unused headquarters building that was built in Helmand for $34 million.

“Every [inspector general] report is killing us,” he said.

The general emphasized that all new Afghan air force facilities will be designed for Afghanistan’s needs and budgeted accordingly. But, he added, “if all of a sudden we change our minds on infrastructure, that significantly impacts our ability to build a sustainable air force.”

Michel and his staff also are preparing for a scaling-back in funding on Kabul’s part; he said the Afghan air force is projected to cost its government between $600 million and $620 million a year after coalition funding support ends.

“Let’s look at their overall defense budget,” he said. “Because of the Chicago accords, it’s fixed at $4.1 billion. So as a percentage, 3.5 percent of the force -- their air force -- is going to, now, absorb as much as 15 to 20 percent of their budget.”

Planning in true military fashion for likely contingencies, Michel said, he and his staff offered to plan force structure options at a number of funding levels for Afghan leaders.

“The smart thing to do is find efficiencies [and] recommend options,” he said.

Synchronizing the systems and subsystems that are working toward a self-sustaining Afghan air force with its own training, command, maintenance and support systems requires a delicate balance, the general said.

“We think [what they can pay for] is the right question,” he said. “Because we can go to the [Afghan] leadership and say, ‘It is affordable, therefore it’s sustainable.’ … They’ve got to steward their own resources when we leave. It’s our job to create the conditions, and advise, and train.”

Joint Task Force-Bravo hosts orphanage visit inb Honduras

by Spc. Ryan Stufflebeem
Joint Task Force-Bravo Joint Security Forces

9/20/2013 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- Joint Task Force-Bravo's Joint Security Forces welcomed more than 30 children from a local orphanage to participate in a day of fun and games at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Sept. 12, 2013.

Members of JTFB-JSF set up stations consisting of basketball, dodge ball, kickball, and soccer for the children of the CasAyuda orphanage. The children rotated through each station to ensure that everyone had a chance to participate in each activity.

"The event and planning took a lot of hard work and dedication, but the rewards of making a difference in the lives of children in an area where they often struggle to survive were worth every bit of work I put into the event," said U.S. Army Cpl. Lance Golay, who served as the overall coordinator for the event.

Following a morning of activities, the children were served pizza and juice for lunch. The children then participated in the day's grand finale, hitting two piñatas, one for the boys and one for the girls.

"These types of events are a core part of serving as a member of Joint Task Force-Bravo," said Golay. ""I believe in the JSF mission here and I am grateful for the outstanding support I received from the other MSC's on base. I could not have done it without their help."

The day ended with the children enjoying dancing to music along with members of JTFB. The children finally departed the base, smiling and waving goodbye to their new friends from JTFB.

A munition's guiding light

by Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/20/2013 - STUMPY POINT, N.C. -- When employing airpower down range, multiple units must work as a cohesive team to ensure the aircraft is properly equipped to successfully complete its mission.

To train for these missions, aircrew from the 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons along with joint terminal attack controllers from the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron, at Fort Stewart, Ga., recently teamed up for joint close air support training at the Dare County Bomb Range in Stumpy Point, N.C.

"[The training] allows us to test our capabilities to coordinate with aircraft and provide terminal guidance of munitions on the battlefield," said Staff Sgt. Robert Carrington, 15th ASOS joint terminal attack controller, or JTAC. "It helps us maintain our proficiency and makes us faster and more effective at taking out hostile targets."

Inside the wire and prior to takeoff, maintainers, logistics, munitions and aircrew all must communicate with each other , and outside the wire, ,aircrew members communicate with joint terminal attack controllers on the ground to employ successful airpower, eliminate threats and save lives. In the heat of battle, when time is of the essence, JTACs must be able to direct multiple aircraft, set precise coordinates for targets, and clearly communicate information to aircrew all while under enemy fire.

According to 1st Lt. Nathan Maxton, 15th ASOS air liaison officer, communication during CAS close air support , or CAS, missions is crucial for aircrew and JTACs. Being able to discuss the different perspectives from ground and air allows for a better overall picture of the battlefield and gives ground troops more fire power to get out of perilous dangerous situations.

The training aircrew and JTACs receive during the exercises provides both parties the opportunity to practice multiple combat scenarios that can be translated into real-world situations. It is through constant and rigorous training that aircrew and JTACs gain the confidence and capability to ensure airpower is deployed when and where it is needed.


During these scenarios, JTACs must communicate with multiple aircraft to take out a variety of targets, from hostile buildings to bunkered snipers to mobile ground troops. The aircrew also practices non-lethal tactics, such as a show of force, which requires flying at low altitudes to intimidate the opposing forces.
According to Nadeau , the practice situations give aircrew experience and the ability to handle different missions, such as over watch and convoy escorts, special operations, and troops-in-contact situations.

"The most important thing is when we have a troops-in-contact situation, where the enemy is bearing down on or shooting at our troops," Nadeau said. "It's imperative that we get there as quickly as we can, find out where the enemy is and then suppress them."

On the other end of radio, JTACs have the responsibility of communicating clear and precise commands to successfully direct aircraft to destroy targets during CAS missions.

Since JTACs can be responsible for several aircraft at a time, they use the help of a radio operator, maintainer and driver to spot aircraft and targets and maintain an organized airspace. Although they share the same skill sets, the operator, maintainer and driver are not yet fully qualified, and therefore cannot give the command to finalize the aircraft to drop their ordnance on a target.

However, simply communicating with ground commanders and aircrew is not why the Air Force classifies being a JTAC as a hazardous duty. Making accurate measurements and calculations for coordinates and the blast radiuses of different munitions in time-sensitive and stressful situations can be the difference between eliminating a threat and being one.

Carrington credits the training and mentorship he has received throughout his career for keeping him alive during a recent deployment. His team overtook a hostile building, but the enemy quickly tried to regain it back. Despite being under heavy fire, he said, they were able to maneuver aircraft to drop five, 500-pound bombs and thwart the enemy's retaliation.

"It puts a lot of things in perspective when you've been down range and put your training to work," Carrington said. "You have to be fully ready to handle a lot mentally to get the job done and to keep your team alive."

MC-12W airframe now boasts 'Buddy Lase' capability

by Airman 1st Class Bobby Cummings
9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

9/20/2013 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Beale Airmen are training to operate a new system which gives the MC-12W Liberty, an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, the ability to guide a bomb during the last part of its trajectory into a target using laser sensors.

Multiple airframes, as well as Joint Terminal Air Controllers and other ground units already have the capability to target bombs with lasers, but this is a new addition to the MC-12W's expansive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

"The new capability is extremely valuable," said Maj. Tanner, 489th Reconnaissance Squadron pilot. "This specific capability has been requested by ground force commanders and close air support aircraft downrange."

Tanner and others from the 489th RS and 427th RS are currently deployed to train Liberty aircrews. Once the crews have been certified, the Buddy Lase capability will become operational. It works across services, meaning the Liberty can guide bombs deployed by the U.S. Army and Navy.

The Buddy Lase instructors conducted the majority of their training at Mountain Home Air force Base, Idaho, with the 391st Fighter Squadron and the Idaho Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron.

"We have forged a great relationship with the 391st Fighter Squadron from Mountain Home (Air Force Base, Idaho) and the 190th Fighter Squadron of the Idaho Air National Guard," said Col. Robert Haines, 9th Operations Group commander. "These two squadrons have supported most of our training sorties and have provided valuable feedback to our initial instructors."

According to Haines, the Liberty, has flown more ISR sorties during Operation Enduring Freedom than any other aircraft.

The 391st FS operates F-15E Strike Eagles, and the 190th FS operates A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. Buddy Lase enables a shortened and more precise ordnance delivery from fighters like these. The Liberty's new capability gives the Air Force another accuracy-ensuring tool when dropping bombs, say operators.

"Previously, (MC-12W) Liberty aircrews would determine the target through use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and then pass the information to a joint terminal attack controller for coordination with a strike aircraft," Tanner said. "Buddy Lase allows the MC-12W to provide terminal guidance for laser-guided munitions. This increases the opportunities and timeliness of kinetic support available to the ground force commander."

Buddy Lase will provide valuable assistance during life-or-death situations on the ground. MC-12W aircraft fly directly over the battlefield, enabling aircrews to witness the events with heightened situational awareness.

"The MC-12W has been a valuable asset during our most recent conflicts," said Maj. Michael, 489th RS pilot. "Laser targeting is just one more tool we can use to keep the warriors on the ground safe and to neutralize targets."

"Warfighters have requested this capability to help ensure precise targeting," Haines said. "If the MC-12W is on station prior to kinetic strike platforms, the MC-12W aircrew to develop high situational awareness on both enemy and friendly positions."

According to Master Sgt. Thomas, 427th RS, the MC-12W has proven itself time and again to be a priceless asset downrange by finding and fixing high value targets and providing timely overhead support to friendly forces in harm's way. Using the MC-12W in a Buddy Lase capacity gives additional kinetic options to the warfighter and ensures a greater chance of success during kinetic strikes.

"Buddy Lase is a Tactics Improvement Proposal (TIP) success," Haines said. "The warfighter had a need, and we believed we could provide a capability to fulfill that need. We tested the capability, developed the tactics and syllabus, and are now ready to execute."

[Editor's Note: Last names of some ISR personnel were removed for operational security reasons.]

Military Flood Support Mission Shifts in Colorado

From a Colorado National Guard News Release

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 20, 2013 – Members of the Colorado National Guard, the Army's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Carson, Colo., and the Wyoming National Guard are shifting their support of civil authorities in Colorado flood evacuation operations.

Helicopters and crews of the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, prepare for a ceremonial flyby to mark the end of the unit’s rescue and recovery mission in Boulder, Colo., Sept. 19, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jonathan Thibault   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

As the state transitions from emergency response to recovery operations, the number of military forces will drop as civilian resources arrive, officials said.

 

A total of 555 troops, 20 helicopters, two ground search-and-rescue teams, a search-and-extraction team, an engineering team and 53 traffic-control points are operational.

"Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Peter J. Byrne, commander of Joint Task Force Centennial and director of the joint staff at the Colorado National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters. "Working directly with flood victims has been both heartbreaking and thoroughly rewarding for our troops, and the outpouring of love and support we've received from our neighbors has been overwhelming."

A team of Colorado National Guard civil and structural engineers is now supporting the Colorado Department of Transportation to assess the safety of roads and bridges in the affected area. All helicopters and crews from the Army's 4th Infantry Division are now staged at Fort Carson. A special Colorado National Guard search-and-extraction team is augmenting Colorado Task Force 1 in a wide-area search.

As of 11 a.m. MDT yesterday, National Guard and active-duty military members had evacuated 3,465 people and 887 pets. Aerial teams had evacuated 2,758 people and 887 pets -- 22 by hoist. Helicopters and crews also transported 39 tons of cargo, including critical food, water and clothing, as well as transportation and engineering supplies.

Colorado National Guardsmen evacuated 707 people by ground, along with a number of animals estimated to be in the hundreds. Two teams are on standby in Boulder. To ensure public safety and to protect property, Colorado National Guard members are manning 67 checkpoints in Boulder County, Larimer County and Weld County. About 175 military vehicles are being used to support missions.

Leaders Honor Missing, Captured Service Members, Families

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2013 – The Defense Department will never stop working to bring captured and missing service members home, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pledged at a Pentagon ceremony today.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel greets former prisoners of war following a ceremony to remember POWs and service members missing in action at the Pentagon, Sept. 20, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

That commitment extends to Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan more than four years ago, Hagel said.

“Our hearts today are with the Bergdahl family. Using our military, intelligence, and diplomatic tools, the United States is continuing its strong efforts to secure Sergeant Bergdahl’s safe release,” he said.

DOD’s commitment to leave no service member behind also extends to the more than 80,000 Americans who remain missing in action, the secretary said.

Hagel noted this year marked the 40th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, when hundreds of American prisoners of war returned to freedom from captivity in Vietnam. Retired Navy Rear Adm. Robert H. Shumaker, in the audience for today’s ceremony, was one of those prisoners, the secretary said.

“He, along with hundreds of other service members and civilians, endured unspeakable cruelty, attempts at political exploitation, and years of confinement,” Hagel said. “But through courage, resilience, and determination, they survived to return home to a grateful nation.”

The secretary said he admires the inner strength that enabled prisoners of war to survive harsh physical and mental abuse at the hands of their captors.

“Americans in uniform today are inspired by the fierce resolve of generations of American POWs,” Hagel said. “We also draw inspiration from the bonds of camaraderie, compassion, and love that prompted our POWs to care for each other, and sustain each other, through terrible, terrible months and years of hardship.”

Such bonds are fundamental to the American military and underpin “who we are and everything we do,” he said. “We protect each other. And we vow to never leave a fellow service member behind.”
Every day, Hagel said, hundreds of DOD staffers, including forensic anthropologists, underwater archeologists and other experts, scour the globe and work in laboratories to identify the missing.
“Since this time last year we have been able to account for 61 service members from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam,” the secretary noted. “Each case represents years of effort -- meticulous work piecing together evidence and clues from across many continents.”

Hagel said he’s deeply aware that many thousands of families are still waiting for a breakthrough.
“Words and promises cannot make the lingering uncertainty and heartache go away,” he said. “But I hope it provides comfort to know that as long as members of our armed forces remain unaccounted for, the Department of Defense will do whatever we can to find them and bring them home.”

Hagel said that as the black-and-white flag honoring America’s prisoners of war and missing in action is raised in communities across America today, “We pledge to live by its creed, ‘You are Not Forgotten.’ We as a country are committed to our former POWs, our missing, and their families, … just as we are committed to those who wear the uniform today.”

The POW/MIA flag is a symbol and a call to action, Dempsey said.

“For wherever our missing lie, wherever a prisoner waits, we will remain committed to freeing them,” he said.

More families deserve closure, the chairman said. “More of those who’ve worn our nation’s cloth deserve to come home,” he added.

Dempsey said the department will not rest or “call our mission complete, until our family is whole again.”

Face of Defense: Airman Describes Military Journey

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C., Sept. 20, 2013 – She had a limited English vocabulary that made it difficult to understand and communicate with her instructors. Her family was thousands of miles away, though it felt even farther for her. Nothing came easy.

After spending the first 27 years of her life in Puerto Rico, earning two college degrees and working as a pharmacy chemist, Senior Airman Yesenia Camacho-Arce joined the Air Force as a nondestructive inspection specialist, but never forgets her Hispanic roots. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year and highlights the achievements and    (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

But after completing eight weeks of Air Force basic military training, there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

For Senior Airman Yesenia Camacho-Arce, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron nondestructive inspection specialist, the support of her family has encouraged her to reach the goals and dreams she has set for herself.

“I was so happy and proud that I made it,” Camacho-Arce said. “It was a very special moment when I graduated and got to see my family again and share it with them.”

Graduating from basic training was just the beginning of her transition into the blue.

Originally from Dorado, Puerto Rico, a small town on the northern coast, Camacho-Arce said her family has a very strong heritage and bond with each other. Puerto Rico has nearly 4 million residents, yet the island is only slightly larger than Delaware, a state with fewer than 1 million residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

With so many people in such a relatively small space, Camacho-Arce said, families and townspeople tend to be very close.

“The biggest difference [between Puerto Rico and the United States] is the people,” she explained. “I am very close with my entire family -- aunts, uncles and cousins. It made it really hard to leave them behind.”

During her last few years in Puerto Rico, Camacho-Acre spent her time earning two degrees from the University of Puerto Rico. She received an associate’s degree to become a pharmacy technician and quickly began putting her skills to work. While working full-time to help support her family, she also went to school to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial chemistry.

She spent more than a year working as a chemist at a pharmacy before the idea of military life crossed her mind. Her brother, a Navy chief petty officer and one of her role models growing up, influenced her to enlist, she said.

Camacho-Arce said she joined the Air Force in November 2010. As a nondestructive inspection specialist, she is responsible for inspecting jets, munitions and ground vehicles to ensure all moving parts are in working order.

The job is similar to a doctor taking an X-ray of a body to see exactly where the problem is, she explained, and it requires attention to detail. Spotting imperfections, such as wears and cracks, she said, is critical to the aircraft’s operational safety.

In her short time in the Air Force, Camacho-Arce has piled up a list of accomplishments. She earned a below-the-zone promotion to senior airman in June 2012, and was recognized as the Quality Assurance Top Performer later that year.

“She is the first to accomplish a job without anyone having to tell her to start the job,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Cinnamon Linkous, Camacho-Arce’s supervisor. “Her motivation is admirable, and I see a lot of potential in her with her leadership skills.”

With a bachelor’s degree on her résumé, Camacho-Arce originally considered becoming an officer, but she said the timing just wasn’t right. But as much as she enjoys her job now, she added, she’s still considering obtaining a commission in the future.

Regardless of her decision, Camacho-Arce said, her family has always supported her in whatever goals she sets out to accomplish.

“Every day I tell my wife that she is capable of doing anything she wants to, because she is so persistent,” said Evaristo Santiago, her husband of six years. “We are always going to be there for her and be so proud of her.”

Camacho-Arce said she looks forward to continuing to excel as part of the Air Force family.

“I never could have accomplished the things that I have without the support of my husband and family,” she said. “The Air Force has been a big change from my life in Puerto Rico. My family keeps me going, even though it’s hard sometimes, but it has been a great opportunity for us.”

"These things we do that others may live"

by Senior Airman Camilla A Elizeu
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/18/2013 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.,  -- Eight Airmen from Davis Monthan Air Force Base will receive two prestigious military awards Sept. 20, 2013 at the 55th RQS hangar.

Capt. Brian Dicks, Capt. Charles Napier, Master Sgt. William Fritsch and Staff Sgt. Joshua Reid will receive the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal with Valor, while Capt. Ryan Prince, Capt. Patrick Mount, Tech. Sgt. Justin Wilks and Staff Sgt. Jason St John will receive the Air Medal with Valor for their actions during a contingency operation Dec. 10, 2012.

According to the citations, while deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, the 55th RQS members distinguished themselves during a high-risk mission to rescue a four critically wounded coalition soldiers.

During the mission two HH-60G, Pave Hawks, Pedro 61 and Pedro 62,were responding to an evacuation site when both aircraft came under small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The plan entailed one aircraft landing while the other maneuvered to engage the threats.

Though two U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa attack helicopters attempted to engage the threat, they were unsuccessful because they could not positively identify the enemy positions. Pedro 61 and Pedro 62 maneuvered their formation, placing themselves between the enemy and friendly forces.This allowed them to engage the threats themselves, while marking the enemy for the attack helicopters.

Their actions allowed the attack helicopters to destroy the enemy position and give the Pedro crews enough cover to return to the hot landing zone to complete their mission of evacuating the critically wounded. Their actions also protected more than 25 coalition soldiers on the battlefield during this exchange.

Military Well Positioned a Year After Benghazi, Official Says

By Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2013 – The U.S. response to the deadly attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, a year ago would have been faster if military assets now in place to deal with such a crisis had been forward postured and placed on alert status at that time, a senior Defense Department official with responsibility for special operations told Congress yesterday.

Gary Reid, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, told a House Armed Services Committee subcommittee that additional Marine security guards have been dispatched to U.S. missions in high-risk areas, and that the Marine Corps has stood up a security augmentation unit to provide trained detachments available for worldwide deployment on short notice when requested.

“At the request of the Department of State, Marines from these units were sent to eight posts in advance of the Sept. 11 anniversary last week,” Reid said, adding that the deployment reflects a shift in strategy “from simply reacting to crises to proactively addressing potential crises.”

Yesterday’s hearing was held to review changes DOD has made to ensure the military is positioned to respond quickly to threats or attacks like the one on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi a year ago that killed the American ambassador to Libya and three other Americans. In February, Leon E. Panetta, who was defense secretary at the time of the Benghazi attack, told Congress “this was, pure and simple, a problem of distance and time,” in explaining why military assets were not able to provide quick assistance.

Reid was asked to list the most significant changes that have emerged from the lessons learned since the Benghazi attack.

“Putting tailored response forces in closer proximity to the area of a most anticipated need [and] dedicating airlift to those assets,” he replied, adding that he believes significant progress had been made in getting the balance right.

“I want to underscore that we are more ready than ever to respond to a crisis or attack if one occurs without warning,” he added.

A year after the tragic events in Libya, Reid said, the chiefs of mission at U.S. outposts where threat levels are considered high “have our best estimate of response times to inform their decisions about adjustments to staff presence in times of increased security threats.”

In addition, he said, the United States continues to work with forces from less-capable host nations to help them carry out their obligations to protect U.S. missions.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Darryl Roberson, vice director for operations for the Joint Staff, said at the same hearing that some countries that have experienced the Arab Spring, including Libya, are incapable of providing any security for American facilities.

“We are working very hard to try to increase the capacity of the host nations,” said Roberson, who also noted that because of gaps in security, the United States recently withdrew personnel from embassies in several Middle Eastern countries.

Laughlin NCO saves life in Houston

by Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

9/20/2013 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- One Laughlin Airman has lived up to the military's motto of being on duty 24/7.

Nearing the end of his leave in Houston on Sept. 12, Staff Sgt. Robert Niter III, 47th Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of optometry, and his girlfriend, Rita, had planned an afternoon trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science before they realized there would be a slight detour on the way.

On their way to the museum, Niter noticed a man lying on the ground with a crowd of people around him.

"It took a second for things to sink in before I told Rita to turn the car around," Niter said, who hails from Memphis, Tenn. "When we turned around, I had Rita stop the car in the middle of the road where the victim lay on the other side of the road. I sprinted across the street and asked folks what had happened. They stated how the man was jogging, then he sat down with his water bottle and proceeded to pass-out."

After gaining an understanding of what took place, Niter instructed someone to call 9-1-1 immediately before he began to perform CPR.

"I checked for a response and I asked the young man if he was okay, but got no response," the Laughlin NCO said. "I then opened his closed eyelids and saw his eyes were rolled in the back of his head. I checked inside his mouth to ensure nothing was lodged in it and checked if he had a pulse. The gentleman did not have a pulse, he was not breathing, and he was a bluish purple color in the face with cold, clammy and wet skin. I then began administering CPR."

While performing CPR, his girlfriend elevated the feet and loosened the footwear of the downed pedestrian.

Niter explained, as people were beginning to pray for the unconscious man, an older gentleman began to assist him in the CPR process due to fatigue beginning to set in for the airman.

"After about 25 minutes of continuous CPR, the man began gasping for air and elevating his right arm," Niter said. "He opened his eyelids but his eyes were rolling all around. The man began coming back to life after appearing dead for a few minutes. His color was still abnormal, but had improved since arriving."

Approximately 30 minutes after noticing a crowd of people around a man lying down, the emergency medical technicians arrived on scene and took control of the situation.

"We placed the man on a stretcher and into the ambulance where the EMTs continued to perform CPR, hook him up with an IV and use an automated external defibrillator," Niter said. "The patient slowly began to stabilize under the care of the EMTs."

The patient didn't have any identification as he only carried a water bottle and cell phone, Niter said. The EMTs used the patients phone to call the most recent contacts to notify them of what had occurred, he added.

"After speaking with the lead EMT firefighter, he said that without us performing CPR, the guy would have died," Niter said. "Many of the people standing by thanked us for bringing him back. I really just saw myself as a vessel being called on at the right time. It is something any airman or military member would have done in that case."

Even though Niter was lauded by on-lookers and rescue personnel, he said he took something away far greater than recognition.

"Sure it's nice to be recognized," he said, "but it's not about an award or a medal. The feeling of knowing that you saved someone's life is truly an amazing feeling. Knowing that our actions that day prevented someone from dying and gave them another chance."

Niter said since the incident, he was told that the patient had recovered and was stable with no issues.