Engineers save money for other units

by Capt. Brian Maguire
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs

4/18/2014 - RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom -- Airmen with the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron developed and executed an innovative plan to save money for several mission partners at RAF Molesworth.

Refitting and reopening dormitory space on RAF Alconbury enabled the 501st Combat Support Wing's mission partners to significantly reduce lodging costs for personnel assigned on temporary duty here.

"The request for contingency bed space came from the commander of [U.S. Africa Command J2-Molesworth] and eventually the [Joint Analysis Center]," said John Barr, 423rd CES deputy base civil engineer. "We had a previous facility/dorm that was deactivated several years ago so we looked at the cost of restoring the facility to living quarters that were up to Air Force standards."

Before offering up the old dormitory space, the 423rd CES had to inspect the rooms and evaluate the facility to return it to acceptable living conditions.

"Mr. Barr came to us and asked us the feasibility of [reopening the rooms]," said Stuart Chalmers, 423rd CES heating, ventilation and air conditioning shop chief. "He asked us to go around and look at the scope of work and what was involved in reopening rooms that had been closed for five or six years, and reestablishing systems that had been offline for the same amount of time."

Determining the feasibility and laying out the plan involved approximately 42 people from different organizations to accomplish the necessary tasks to reopen the rooms.

"It was a team effort with CE, contracting, [Defence Infrastructure Organisation], U.K. contractors, and finance folks working to buy and install materials before year-end close out," said Barr.

Meeting the projects overall goal of saving money required each section worked diligently to find the best prices within the short timeframe, which often resulted in local purchases.

"I did a bit of research looking for the best prices to meet the needs of the dorm rooms, but also to get the best price with the funds we had," said Hubert Braganza, 423rd CES chief of furnishings management.

"All of the furnishings were bought locally," continued Braganza. "It was bought locally because in the timespan we had, we couldn't have bought anything from Europe or the states because of the shipping charges and it would take too long to arrive."

The team completed the project within 30 days, providing 30 rooms for personnel on temporary assignment and saving approximately $655,000 annually in lodging costs. The savings gained were almost as important as providing a homey atmosphere for the personnel on temporary assignment.

"It was really just trying to make it as comfortable as possible for people who have to spend a year of their lives in these rooms," said Chalmers. "The guys are always conscious of that, these are people's homes, so you want them to be good."

Deadly precision: Malmstrom's nuclear advanced designated marksmen

by Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

4/18/2014 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Editor's note: this is part three in a four-part series highlighting the Tactical Response Force at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

The mission of Malmstrom Air Force Base's Tactical Response Force nuclear advanced designated marksmen can be extremely stressful, demanding and in depth. In the words of two NADM snipers, it can also be one of the most rewarding careers a person could have.

To be prepared for any situation that may come up, the Airmen who are tasked with this mission train on a continuous basis. Almost every day of the week, a training session of some form is practiced and repeated until the nuances of what is needed to accomplish the mission effectively is engrained as muscle memory within these marksmen.

"We take our training seriously," said Staff Sgt. Richard Welty, 341st Security Forces Group TRF NADM. "When we are out in the field, we try to apply the skills we've learned in previous exercises and use them to accomplish the mission we have at hand while learning from our mistakes. Every time we go out we learn something new."

During an exercise at the Warrior Launch Facility at Malmstrom, two NADM snipers performed a two-hour "stalk" where they were tasked with a mission of positioning themselves within 350 meters of two simulated enemy targets and were required to call out an accurate kill shot.

During their "stalk," two highly trained TRF members performed "counter sniper" operations and attempted to spot the marksmen as they made their way to the specified range. Using equipment such as Steiner military 30x binoculars and a Leica Viper II laser range finder, accomplishing this task successfully is regarded as one of the most challenging exercises within the sniper community.

"I think our specific skill sets are very important," Welty said. "A lot of times we see things on the battlefield that no one else sees. We have the ability to move stealthily, either as a single unit or in a small two-man team. For us, teamwork is the key to success. In the field, we are a force multiplier and when you combine us with the defenses Malmstrom has in place, there's nothing we can't handle."

The first step TRF members take to becoming highly trained marksmen is undergoing a rigorous six-week training program at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. During the course, members are evaluated on weapons accuracy, camouflage, the ability to sustain themselves in a field environment and use of specialized spotting equipment. Only the top shooters and performers are selected to be certified while the rest are sent back to their home station.

Once back, two of the tools a TRF sniper team will utilize the most are ghillie suits and their rifles. Ghillie suits are custom made by the snipers who will be using them in the field. A ghillie suit closely resembles coveralls or a full-body suit with a thin fabric mesh on the outside wherein earth colored yarn and fabric are interwoven to serve as a three-dimensional camouflage. When a sniper is in the field, he or she will also pull foliage from the ground and stick it into the mesh to better blend into their specific surroundings.

For TRF snipers at Malmstrom, their specific weapon of choice is an M-24 rifle with a 10x power scope, which uses ammunition similar to what the .308 caliber hunting rifle uses.

"We use a variety of gear," said Senior Airman Isaac Lau, 341st SFG TRF NADM. "The type of gear we use can vary from mission to mission but the basics stay the same. Our job here on Malmstrom is very specific so the tools we have are catered to what we need. Everything comes into play when we are out in the field and having the tools we need to get the job done correctly helps us a lot."

In addition to these, a sniper's most valuable tool is his mind. According to TRF's marksmen, being able to keep calm and focused is essential to having an outcome in their favor.

"A lot goes into doing what we do," Lau said. "It's a challenge we take on every day to perform at our best. Sometimes it can be rough but the rewards far outweigh the negatives. I love doing what I do, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Introducing the 'unnamed conspirator'

by Senior Airman Cortney Paxton
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

4/18/2014 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a briefing was held to help educate Team Malmstrom members on the impact of sexual assault across the service and the nation, and how they can get involved in the fight to change the culture that supports it.

Speaking during the briefing was Anne Munch, the owner of Anne Munch Consulting, Inc., and a recognized subject-matter expert in speaking, training and consulting on sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. During her brief time with Airmen, she spoke of a third-party influence on sexual assault crimes - beyond the victim and offender - who she
named the "unnamed" conspirator.

"It's an honor to have such a phenomenal speaker come in that is so highly sought after in the sexual assault prevention field," said Holly Wick, 341st Missile Wing sexual assault response coordinator. "It was great to be able to get her here and have her relay the message in a different way - other than the normal PowerPoint slides we get in our briefings."

Munch's presentation started with a brief introduction and a little bit of her background, which included a job as a lawyer.

"In law school, they taught me that there were two people involved in [an interpersonal] crime - you've got the victim and the offender, and what they tell in you law school is that justice will be determined based on what happened between these two players..." Munch said. "As I started trying cases of sexual assault ... I realized that there was a third party that was involved in each and every one of them. This third party wasn't listed in the police reports, didn't come into the court and testify, didn't go back into the jury room and deliberate - they never did any of those kinds of things, but they were involved in each case to the point where they were having an influence over the outcome of the case even though they weren't named as a party. Not only were they having an influence over the outcome of the case, they were having the lion's share over the outcome of all of my cases."

Munch told the story of the 'unnamed conspirator' through various anecdotes she knew from personal experience either within her personal life or the work that she has done in the past. Eventually, she announced the unnamed conspirator as the society within the United States.
According to a Times/CNN Poll conducted in 1991, 38 percent of men and 37 percent of women said that a raped woman is partly to blame if she dresses provocatively, she said.

"A lot of people think that way, and it's alive and well in the military," Munch added. "And I have a problem with that. The unnamed conspirator is you and me - it's the way that we think... It's the thoughts and things that we have all kind of consumed as we have been raised in this culture."

Munch presents the story of the unnamed conspirator to audiences nationwide, and encourages them all to change the way they think in an effort to change the culture that supports sexual assault.

"The most important message to take home from Munch's presentation is to realize that we all have some type of prejudice or bias, and that sometimes we need to look outside the box or our comfort zones to see the subliminal messages we impact on a daily basis," said Holly Wick, 341st Missile Wing sexual assault response coordinator. "We need to not to always take the easiest option to blame the victim and to think about the whole situation instead of singling out an individual before coming to a conclusion."

Munch encouraged each Airman to stand up and take part in changing the culture that supports sexual assault in the Air Force. She also spoke of the importance of letting the victims know that, even in today's culture, sexual assault is never their fault.

"It's something that we don't like to think about, but typically, you'll have people ... who have experienced [sexual assault] and are dealing with it at one level or another," she said. "So one of the most important things I feel about my work is just acknowledging them and getting them, especially the silent survivors, to understand the concepts around the unnamed conspirator and especially to communicate that it's not their fault - that perhaps they've experienced self-blame or even blame from other people and that that blame is misplaced."

But sexual assault doesn't stop at the victim. A sexual assault crime can affect the victim's family and friends directly as well as coworkers. In some cases, the impact a sexual assault has on the victim's closest relatives is something that they may need to seek help for.

"I've had men who have girlfriends or wives who were assaulted in their lives [talk to me about] how much it impacts them in their relationships and in their marriages," Munch said. "They ask about things they can do to be more supportive because unfortunately, this is a really traumatic event for any human being and it continues. The trauma has a life of its own, and it continues to effect people into the future."

As she spoke of the future, Munch explained that every Airman has a place in a future that supports a culture against sexual assault. The unnamed conspirator - everyone - has the ability to impact the justice of sexual assault crimes, so by stepping up and saying something, or enforcing the Air Force's zero tolerance policy on sexual assault, everyone can have a positive impact on a culture change.

"This is something that the men and women in the Air Force who are right beneath the surface, maybe not talking to us but are suffering from this crime need," Munch said. "They need you, they need the program, they need Holly and they need people to help them understand that they can get help. That's an important mission because that is a game changer in the life of any male or female or child that experiences it."

Doolittle Tokyo Raiders: Anniversary event draws crowd to honor heroes

by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

4/21/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- It was April 18, 1942, and the United States was embroiled in World War II following the unsuspected attack on Pearl Harbor and the Imperial Japanese forces had rapidly extended their reach across the Pacific.

When called upon, 80 men volunteered for a "top secret" mission blindly - a mission that had never been accomplished before; one that would later prove to the Japanese high command that their home islands were not untouchable to the Americans and would cause them to go on the defense.

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph and community members recognized and honored the men from this daring mission, called the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, during a 72nd anniversary event that drew a packed house at the JBSA-Randolph Parr Club.

"These men taught us nothing is insurmountable," Gary Boyd, Air Education and Training Command historian, said. "In our bleakest moment we can always find a way out,"

Retired Maj. Gen. Mike Skinner, guest speaker, agreed with Boyd, adding, "My dad was a B-25 pilot, so to be here as a part of something bigger than me fills me with pride."

The ceremony was attended by one of the four living Doolittle Tokyo Raiders: retired Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" Cole, the copilot of Aircraft No. 1.

Cole was born in Dayton, Ohio, home of the Wright Brothers, in September 1915. As if drawing from the Wright brothers' fascination with flight, Cole was anxious to enlist in the Army Air Corps as soon as possible. After two years of college, which was the requisite to qualify for pilot training, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November 1940 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in November 1941. In February 1942, he volunteered with the other members of his squadron.

"It was a time when we needed to do something, our country was in danger," Cole said. "We did what needed to be done."

Family members of retired Lt. Col. James Parker Jr., co-pilot of Aircraft No. 9, were also in attendance.

Parker, a Texas native, was born in Houston, in February 1920. He attended Lon Morris Junior College and Texas A&M College before enlisting in the service as an aviation cadet in November 1940 and graduated from Advanced Flying School as a pilot in July 1941. Parker and his crew's target was the Tokyo Gas and Electric Company on the shore of Tokyo Bay. After the raid, he and his crew arrived over China after dark and in heavy rain. He bailed out of the aircraft 100 miles south of Pyong Lake.

"It means a lot to be here, to see all the men and women in honor of the Doolittle Raiders," said Connie Parker, daughter-in-law of James Parker.

The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders were a group of men from all walks of life who volunteered for the mission. They didn't even know the targeted destination until the 16 B-25 twin-engine bombers were loaded on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. These men would carry out the first attack of World War II on the Japanese mainland.

Because the planes were too large to be taken below deck on the aircraft carrier, they were stored at the end of the runway on top, resulting in the runway take off being very
short - 300 feet.

Although all B-25s successfully took off from the carrier and bombed their targets, most met with anti-aircraft fire and aerial enemy interception. All except one plane crash-landed or had crew bail out. After the mission, 65 men survived and were led to safe zones by Republic of China locals. Eight men were captured by the Japanese, but only four survived. Four landed in Russia and were held in captivity for a year before escaping to Iran. One died upon bailout of the North American B-25B Mitchell aircraft, and two drowned after bailout.

"On behalf of the Doolittle Raiders, I would like to thank you for your generosity and support on this special day," Cole said as he raised his toast in honor of the Doolittle Raiders.

After the toast, Gen. Robin Rand, Air Education and Training Command commander, presented Cole with a commander's coin among other certificates of appreciation and an American flag.

"We are standing in the presence of living history today," Rand said. "We stand on the shoulders of giants, of men like Cole. We use what the other Raiders did as inspiration to propel us to do the things we need to do for our country."

2nd AMXS Airmen build shop from ground, up

by Staff Sgt. Amber Corcoran
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

4/17/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Through potential blood, sweat and okay, maybe not tears, Airmen from the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron recently opened a new support section built with their bare hands to improve the flow of flightline maintenance activities.

From crew chiefs to weapons loaders and hydraulics to electronic warfare technicians, the Airmen who form the 20th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Support section come from several Air Force Specialty Codes who work on the flightline. The Airmen rotate periodically to gain a different perspective maintaining the support equipment rather than just working with it to perform maintenance on the B-52H Stratofortress.

All the equipment, such as non-powered and minor tools and servicing and test equipment, sets that are used to troubleshoot electronic and hydraulic faults, for the aircraft are located in the support section.

"Everything that goes out to the flightline has to be controlled on some level," said Staff Sgt. Cristopher Weinberg, 20th AMU Support consolidated tool kit custodian. "We're that control for the tools and test equipment that aren't personally issued by the squadron."

In the beginning, the room in mind for the new AMU support section, re-built by the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron into an office, was scouted to figure out a layout that would be cohesive for the flow of people moving in and out with potentially heavy equipment in their hands.

"After a plan was set, we went right in putting together the shelving that was bought and lining them with wood for security and rigidity and building the storage cabinets," said Weinberg, who is also an electronic warfare technician when working the flightline. "Mid-January, as many people as we could round together, started literally moving tools, finding a place for them and loading them into inventory, which we also had to create. It wasn't just physical labor, but also sitting at the computers making sure the electronic tracking system was ready to go."

While the move was happening, the 96th AMU Support section maintained operations for both AMUs with half the equipment until the new support section opened April 1.

"Communication was huge during this time since equipment and tools had to be split up between the two sections and tools were still coming back from the Red Flag exercise and deployments," Weinberg said. "We needed to make sure each AMU had the capabilities required to maintain and complete the mission."

The camaraderie and morale was also apparent throughout the move as the Airmen and NCOs worked together diligently to build the shop in less than three months.

"When we first walked in, there were just a few shelves and lockers- it was like a blank canvas," said Senior Airman Andrew Arnold, 20th AMU Support custodian, who is a crew chief when working the flightline. "In the first few weeks, [the Airmen] were able to give most of the input and create what we did here based on the design by the people who actually work the counter. We asked everyone's opinions on what could make things more efficient and with our supervisor's advice on the tech data to remain within regulations, we built this. Everyone worked really well as a team and we had a great time- we're close knit."

In the end, the move was no small task, said Weinberg. Even on paper, it was hard to explain what level of labor building the new AMU shop really consisted of.

"We physically moved between 1,500 and 2,000 different tools and equipment weighing anywhere between five and 250 pounds, built shelves, cut wood, relocated everything - it was a major tasking," Arnold said. "On top of moving everything, creating the database for the tools and loading every single item was time consuming. While everything was being identified and organized, the Airmen stayed late without being asked- they just wanted to work. I give them major credit for what happened here."

Not only did the large tasking allow the Airmen and NCOs time to build rapport with each other, working within the newly built AMU section gave them new appreciation for the tools that have always been around.

"I have a better appreciation for being on this side of the counter than being the one on the other side just taking the tools," said Senior Airman Audrick Dickson, 20th AMU Support custodian and an electronic warfare technician when working the flightline.
"Support has a lot of programs which I never knew about and the custodians aren't just issuing the tools, they're servicing and repairing them. I get to see a different side of the flightline and different aspects of the job, I really enjoy it."

The Airmen also get to see the task at hand for keeping more than 7,500 individual tools serviceable - meaning each tool requires some kind of maintenance on some kind of level at some point of the day, month or year.

"It's a constant, never-ending cycle," said Weinberg. "When new Airmen join the shop through rotation, they may not have a real respect for the tools they normally just get handed. A toolbox has about 150 different items in it and when they see the maintenance involved in keeping the toolbox rust free, making sure all the broken stuff gets replaced and getting wires repaired, they gain a new respect for what the tools and equipment are and when they cycle back out, they remember the pain of rust busting and repairing wires and they are more careful with them."

Since April 1, the 20th AMU Support section has been busy taking care of its almost 300 Airmen who constantly flow through the section to receive and return tools to support the B-52 mission.

"One benefit of us being open is that the wait time has decreased dramatically; the Airmen had to drive several hangars down the flightline to stand in line at the 96th AMU for tools and equipment to start their daily jobs," said Weinberg. "Now, they're able to walk out of their offices down the hall to us, and even the 96th has a smaller wait time with half the Airmen gone from their lines."

With the new 20th AMU Support section and the 96th AMU Support section's operations in full swing, it will provide better access for all the Airmen and drastically reduce customer wait times, said Lt. Col. Brady Wilkins, 2nd AMXS commander.

"Our squadrons [maintainers] have done an amazing job de-centralizing the support section and splitting it from one entity back into two flight level sections," Wilkins said. "The split will return authority and responsibility back to the flight level leadership, putting the span of control closer to where the rubber meets the ramp.

"These benefits improve the quality of life in our work environment and help us better support the 2nd Bomb Wing will fully mission capable aircraft for the nuclear and conventional mission. The achievements we've made is no surprise, I have the best maintainers in the Air Force Global Strike Command."

US, Romanian exercise comes to a close

by Staff Sgt. R.J. Biermann
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/19/2014 - CAMPIA TURZII, Romania  -- The week-long bilateral training exercise between the U.S. and Romanian air forces concluded at the 71st Air Base, Campia Turzii, Romania, April 17, 2014.

The exercise, which began April 10, enhanced interoperability and readiness between the NATO partners through combined air operations between F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base, Italy, and MiG-21 Lancers from the 71st AB.

"Combined training with Romania demonstrates that we share a commitment to promote a peaceful and stable Europe," said Lt. Col. Douglas Hellinger, 510th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and project officer for the exercise. "This exercise increased the level of cooperation between our militaries."

U.S. and Romanian Airmen joined together in a formation during a closing ceremony held at the base, which demonstrated the partnership built during the exercise.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta was also in attendance.

"We welcome your friendship," he said to the U.S. Air Force Airmen in attendance. "I came here today to praise this exercise and the importance of our partnership. Romania understands how impactful it is to us to be a partner of the U.S."

At the ceremony, Ponta took the opportunity to discuss the benefits of the F-16, which he had the unique opportunity to co-pilot just moments before.

"I came to see the capability of the F-16 as a buyer of this unbelievable technology," Ponta said. "The F-16 is impressive. I feel safe in the F-16 and will feel even safer come 2017."

Romania recently signed a contract to acquire F-16s from Portugal within the next few years, a step forward in military capability.

"It proves that our security future can be relied on," Ponta concluded.

The exercise marked the first time Team Aviano Airmen have partnered with the Romanian air force.

McConnell Airmen, VA, local agencies assist homeless veterans

by Master Sgt. Brannen Parrish
931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs

4/18/2014 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- On a cold, overcast April day, Tech. Sgt. Stephen Hedden and other volunteers are quickly loading the bed of his pick-up with furniture and household items.

Hedden, seven McConnell Airmen and three Robert J. Dole Veterans Administration Medical Center employees, met up at His Helping Hands, a Wichita non-profit that provides household items for individuals and families to load furniture and household supplies.

His Helping Hands is an outreach program of Central Christian Church in Wichita. The non-profit works with local agencies to identify and assist families in need. Items are stored in a 30,000-square foot warehouse, organized in neat but eclectic rows of household furniture donated by citizens from the Wichita area.

"We have three donated trucks that we send out to pick up furniture and household items donated by members of the community," says Jackie Minnis, His Helping Hands warehouse operations manager. "We have several volunteers who will pick up items and bring them here."

When the last of the items are aboard and secured, Hedden, a quality assurance inspector from the 931st Air Refueling Group, climbs into the cab and prepares to depart.
The white script 'A' logo, which signifies his allegiance to a college athletics program, is affixed to the rear, driver's side window but is now blocked by furniture and household goods.

"Roll Tide!" says Hedden, as he shifts into drive and pulls forward.

For the past two years he has helped move veterans in Wichita. In October 2013, he was asked to begin coordinating volunteers from McConnell. Hedden stays in touch with the VA and sends out emails whenever assistance is needed.

"The Air Force encourages us to volunteer and I thought, 'If I'm going to do volunteer work, I want to do something that I can get behind,'" Hedden says. "I have a truck and I believe strongly in taking care of veterans, so this seemed like the best type of volunteer work for me."

On this day, the cadre of Air Force and VA volunteers is moving Albert White into a small apartment. White, a U.S. Army veteran, who says he joined the Army from his childhood home in Natchitoches, La., and served as a communications specialist from 1973-'75.

White says he fell on hard times recently and lost his apartment in Colorado. He moved to Wichita has been living out of his car for more than a month.

"I didn't have any money, so I would park near a wheat field in a remote area at night and sleep in my car," says White. "I didn't want to be where there were a lot of people because it isn't safe. You have to be careful. I camped out in the snow one night and some police officers found me and told me about a shelter. They suggested I go there so that I didn't have to be outside in the snow."

According to the VA website, www.va.gov, the agency served more than 240,000 veterans who were "homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless" in 2012. The site states that the VA identified more than 62,000 homeless veterans in January 2012.

"On average, we see about one homeless veteran a week," says Melissa Hodge, a social worker from the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita. "We try to get them into emergency housing when they come to us. We have 15 beds in contract housing, and Housing and Urban Development has another 135."

Hodges, is one of eight social workers at the VA in Wichita. She says the agency is making strides to assist homeless veterans but there are challenges.

"We have to be creative. The biggest challenge is getting them resources and finding a landlord who will work with them," she says. "We work with organizations like His Helping Hands for furniture and household goods, and volunteers from the Air Force, and the other services to get them moved."

About 15 minutes after departing His Helping Hands, Hedden, Hodges and Staff Sgt. Marcus Scott, a maintenance analyst from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, arrive at White's apartment complex near downtown Wichita.

Hedden and Scott grab the futon and maneuver it through the small doorway into a small studio apartment. Hodges begins carrying boxes and other items. In a few minutes the bed of Hedden's truck is empty and the furniture arranged.

"You never know what life might throw at you," says Hedden. "It's hard to see folks struggling but it's good to know this gentleman won't be in the street. I feel like I get something back out of doing this."

"The VA and the military have really helped me," White says, pointing toward the volunteers. "I really appreciate the service."

USS Anchorage Achieves Training Goals, Returns Home

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Lindahl

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) arrived at her homeport of San Diego, April 18, after disembarking Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF), ASEAN, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF).

Anchorage arrived after a vigorous 31 day underway involving a wide assortment of ongoing at-sea training evolutions and hosting the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, and other defense ministers from the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN), during part of the ASEAN defense forum.

"We showed the capabilities of the Navy-Marine Corps team in a physical manner," said Lt. Col. Mark T. Donar, commanding officer, SPMAGTF-ASEAN. "We were able to showcase our equipment and the Navy's ability to bring our equipment to the forefront."

Anchorage conducted training in nearly every aspect of Navy readiness including flight deck operations, well deck operations, medical response training, combat systems training, and engineering casualty training. Anchorage also hosted a variety of Sailors from her sister ship, USS Green Bay (LPD 20), and amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) to gain qualifications and train in an at-sea environment.

Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Nicholas Treser, assigned to Green Bay and embarked on Anchorage, led a team of six Sailors as they worked on gaining such qualifications as: underway lookout, helmsman, lee-helmsman, line handler, well deck petty officer-in-charge, and more.

"It was a great training opportunity," said Treser. "It allows Green Bay to have more flexibility with their watch standing and enhanced the overall qualification level of their deck department."

Essex Sailors got an opportunity to train on the flight deck, with four receiving landing signalman, enlisted qualifications and three receiving tractor driver qualifications.

The air department was also able to certify approximately 40 pilots and crew from the Marine Corps and Army with their deck landing qualifications, landing and launching Army CH-47 Chinooks, Marine MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53 Super Stallions, AH-1W Super Cobras, and UH-1Y Iroquois helicopters.

"The fact that Marines and Sailors from other ships can combine with our own flight deck crew and crash and salvage teams to work seamlessly makes the whole flight deck training process something to be proud of," said Yeoman 3rd Class Pedro Samame, assigned to Anchorage's crash and salvage team. "We all worked together and I feel like it was a total success."

USS Anchorage (LPD 23) is the seventh San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. She was built at the Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding site in Avondale, La. She was delivered to the U.S. Navy on Set. 17, 2012 and was commissioned in her namesake city of Anchorage, Alaska on May 4, 2013. She is homeported in San Diego.

U.S. Olympian, bronze medal winner visits 15th Wing

by Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez
15th Wing Public Affairs

4/16/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- As part of a morale tour sponsored by the American 300 Warrior Support Organization, U.S. Olympian and Sochi Olympics bronze medal winner Alex Deibold toured the 15th Wing and visited with Airmen April 15.

Deibold, a professional snowboarder from Manchester, Vermont, began his visit with a physical training session with Airmen from the 154th Operations Group, as well as Airmen from other operations support units.

"I appreciate you guys having me here," Deibold said. "Some people treat us kind of soft on these tours, so it's nice to get out here and actually work and break a sweat."

The tour also included a visit to the 15th Wing commander, Col. Johnny Roscoe, and stops at the 15th Medical Group, 15th Comptroller Squadron, 15th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosives Ordinance Disposal, the Binnicker Professional Military Education Center and the 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Col. Virginia Garner, 15th MDG commander, said it was an honor to have Deibold visit the medical group Airmen.

"You are an example of perseverance and resiliency for our Airmen and we appreciate you sharing your stories and time with us," Garner expressed.

With the coveted bronze medal in hand, Deibold spoke with many Airmen during the tour about his experiences with snowboarding, the Sochi Olympics and other physical activities he participates in.

For more information on Deibold and his accomplishments, visit http://ussnowboarding.com/athletes/alex-deibold.

Pumping life through the Wolf Pack

by Staff Sgt. Clayton Lenhardt
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/17/2014 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The Wolf Pack is fueled by an important flight on base - one that enables the Wolf Pack to defend the base, accept follow-on forces and take the fight North.

"[The fuels management flight] is important because we fuel the base by receiving, storing, sampling and issuing clean, dry fuel to all aircraft, vehicles, generators and support equipment," said Master Sgt. Rocky Sasse, 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron distribution chief.

The 41 Airmen in the 8th LRS fuels management flight work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide the fuel needed for the rest of the Wolf Pack to perform its mission.

"I deliver the fuel directly to aircraft, vehicles and generators," said Senior Airman Jacob Rickard, 8th LRS fuels distribution operator. "If I don't deliver the fuel ..., they're going to be incredibly hard pressed to get any part of that mission done."

While delivering fuel may seem like an easy enough task, this Air Force job is nothing like being a gas station attendant.

"Technical school was two months and upgrade training was four to six months," said Rickard. "You have to be able to operate different refueling units, but those different units can fill different types of aircraft."

The fuels management flight delivers more than 1 million gallons of jet fuel each month, which is equivalent to filling almost two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Given the amount of fuel this unit works with on a weekly basis, there are many hazards and challenges associated with this necessary career field.

"You need to know emergency procedures in case of a fire, which is the greatest risk in our job," said Rickard. "The machinery hazards [and] the fuel itself - we just get trained on it all the time."

This job may have its hazards and challenges, but Rickard still feels satisfaction in knowing his job impacts the entire base.

"My favorite part about doing my job isn't anything I do individually or anything one section in my career field does," said Rickard. "Without us, nothing could get accomplished; nothing could move."

Sasse has a similar viewpoint on how his flight impacts the mission.

"We touch virtually every organization on Kunsan," said Sasse. "Every time we hear or see a jet taking off, it's evident the importance of POL to this base and the mission."

Historian shares passion for self-defense

by Senior Airman Zachary Perras
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/17/2014 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- The thought of a historian often brings about the image of a scholar surrounded by dusty tomes, gathering information about the past to make decisions for the future.

In that sense, Jack Waid, 354th Fighter Wing historian, serves the part and has the responsibility to preserve the past in order to pave the path to the future. Outside of that realm, however, Waid isn't the typical historian.

Other than his love for history, Waid has an intense passion for martial arts, specifically Krav Maga, a self-defense system originally developed for the Israeli military.

Waid began his journey in Krav Maga after he enrolled his son into a class while he was stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, in 2011. While watching his son learn the basics, Waid said it piqued his interest.

"There's a certain ease and simplicity found in Krav Maga," he said. "It's not about fighting; it's about defending yourself and those who are around you. It teaches you to neutralize the threat while protecting what matters to you."

With nearly 15 years of various martial arts experience, Waid eventually elevated to a brown belt in Krav Maga and found himself in the position of assistant instructor at Laughlin, training newcomers and advising students on form and technique.

"I was able to take what I learned and give it back to others," Waid said. "I would be out there correcting people, watching over students to make sure they have control and that they're being aggressive with their control."

Upon arriving at Eielson, Waid made it a goal to begin a weekly Krav Maga class to pass along his passion to others and to teach them how to defend themselves should they ever come into a physical altercation.

"I like sharing self-defense with others," Waid said. "You can see a difference after the first class that people feel more confident. There's a spark in the eye and you see it - they walk out of there knowing they're bettering themselves."

Waid explained that Krav Maga isn't just something to remember at home; it could be beneficial for those who are in deployed environments as well. Regardless of where one might be, it's about knowing how to defend yourself, he said.

"Krav Maga is like no other martial art," Waid said. "It gets in your blood, and I want as many people as possible to learn this so they have something more to fall back on if the situation arises."

Waid teaches his class at the fitness center every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 p.m. For more information, contact Waid at 377-1136.

Airman consumed by alcohol fights back

by Airman 1st Class Alexis Millican
23d Wing Public Affairs

4/16/2014 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA. -- (Editor's note: This is the second article in a series highlighting the dangers of drinking and driving, alcohol abuse, and the negative effects those behaviors can have on someone's life. The Airman in this article wishes to share his story in effort to prevent it from happening in the future, but requests to remain anonymous.)

With his suicide note placed neatly on the bed, he got dressed and headed to work. His plan was to pretend everything was OK, arm up for training, and then take his own life.

In his note, the Airman wrote to his friends, family, supervisor, leadership and himself.
He apologized for taking his life and reassured everyone it was not their fault.

Following nine years of heavy drinking, the then 23-year-old Airman felt as if he had drank himself into a hole with no way out. He considered himself a failure and was ready to bring his life to an end.

He took his first drink when he was just 14 after hanging out with the "wrong crowd". Soon after, alcohol began to consume him.

"Before I knew it, I was too far under with no way up," he said.

He attended college for three years but failed out due to excessive drinking and partying. The constant drinking led him to gain nearly 100 pounds.

"Alcohol affected every aspect of my life ... especially my finances. I was spending nearly $600 on alcohol every pay check, which only left me with about $200 for my bills."

After failing out of college, he decided to join the Air Force. The local recruiter told him he needed to lose at least 60 pounds before he was eligible to join. After months of hard work and dedication, he lost 65 pounds and enlisted. Basic Military Training proved to be a struggle without access to alcohol, which his body depended on daily.

"Staying sober during basic training was a struggle," the Airman said. "A lot of nights I spent sitting in the bathroom stall crying. I wasn't crying because I missed my family, which was the bad part. I missed the booze. I would cry at times for 30 minutes. It was a very difficult eight weeks."

After completing basic training, he returned to his old drinking habits and steadily increased the amount ingested. By the time he recognized he needed help, he was drinking nearly 100 beers every week, in addition to a countless number of shots.

"It was such a routine to get up, drink, go to the gym, drink some more, go on lunch break, have a few, go back home and drink the night away," he said, adding if he woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, he would drink another beer before going back to bed.

Most days, he was legally intoxicated, yet needed the alcohol to perform day to day tasks. He said he could not park his car while sober, but rather filled his camelback with liquor and taped it to the back of his seat for a trip to Jacksonville, Fla. To mask the odor of alcohol, he shaved his body and coated himself in a mint-scented sports cream. To combat the smell on his breath, he shaved his tongue.

Aside from the alcohol, he was a model Airman who did what he was told and did his job well. His supervisor had no idea his Airman was literally drinking himself to death.

"The problem was serious," his supervisor said. "At one point in time, it was nothing for him to drink a case of beer a night. He told me he used to crave alcohol."

After years of hiding his secret, the day after writing his suicide note, it only took a matter of minutes for an NCO to notice something was off and sensed he was in desperate need of help.

"When I went into work the next morning, a sergeant ... noticed something was wrong," he said. "I had no intention of telling anybody. I was going to play it off as if it were a regular day. But for some reason that day, I just lost it, and I told him everything.

"My supervisor at the time took me to lunch, where I opened up about everything that I was going through. About 45 minutes later, I was in the ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment) program and later that day, I was in a detox facility for five days."

Alcohol was overpowering his life and beginning to take its toll. He credits the ADAPT program and his fellow wingmen for helping him overcome his alcohol addiction and for saving his life.

"There was a staff sergeant there that stayed by my side and believed in me," he recalled. "The people at work, my leadership, supervisor and close friends never let me put myself in a bad position. When I got two or three months sober, I finally realized I could do it without relapsing. That's really what pushed me: good leadership and a great program."

Alcohol was a key contributor to the Airman's daily routine, and although he no longer drinks he says he wouldn't be surprised if he needed a liver transplant one day.

Knowing the toll his addiction put on him mentally and physically, he now spends as much time away from his dorm as he can, and stays active by going to the gym multiple times a day.

"Seeing him now as opposed to before, I can definitely tell he has taken this seriously and is performing well," his supervisor said. "He is a role model for his peers."

With nearly two years sober, he's reenrolled in college and wants to use his experience to help others. He eventually sees himself in a career where he can help counsel people who are considering suicide and battling addiction.

"I want to be that guy who understands their burden and helps them," he said. "Talking about my problems helps me to realize how severe of a problem I had. It also helps me to never go back to the way I was when I was drinking."

President Awards Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to Naval Academy

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2014 – The U.S. Naval Academy football team visited the White House today to receive the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy from President Barack Obama.

The annual trophy goes to the team that wins the most games in head-to-head football competition among the Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The president noted that the Naval Academy team has some experience in this regard -- it’s the ninth time Navy has won the trophy in the last 11 years.

“This is the second time these seniors have come here to claim the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. If you guys have your punch cards with you, the next one is free,” the president joked.

The team had a good season, Obama noted, but he added that “the fact that for these outstanding young men, football isn’t even the main thing” is more impressive.

“When you sign up to play at Annapolis, you know you’re in for a different experience,” the president said. “A typical day starts at 6 a.m. in the training room. Breakfast is at 7 a.m. After that, it’s class, lunch and football meetings. Then more class, football practice, dinner. Free time starts at 8 p.m., which most players use to study until midnight. And when students at other colleges are enjoying summer vacation, these guys are busy with military training and summer school and offseason workouts.

“So, yes, it's about learning to be a good football player,” he continued, “but more importantly, it’s about learning how to be a good leader and to be a good man. And that’s what these outstanding Americans are and will continue to be.”

Obama noted that 14 of midshipmen on the football team will be commissioned as ensigns in the Navy next month, and eight others will become second lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

“That’s their commitment to service,” he said. “That's the commitment to country and to each other that sets this team apart.”

Battaglia Fields Questions on ‘Troop Talk’ Program

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2014 – Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, answered questions from the total force on the premiere of the Pentagon Channel’s “Troop Talk” program today, covering topics from women’s roles in combat to hiring veterans.

Battaglia answered questions submitted through social media outlets and from studio audience members.

One of the top queries from the audience concerned the extent of women’s roles in combat. Battaglia noted that full implementation of women into combat ranks is scheduled to take place in 2016.

“Everything is tracking fine,” he said of the services allotting billets for women in frontline positions. “Women are part of the team -- one team, one fight.”

In the arena of sexual assault, the sergeant major said the Defense Department is making strides toward eliminating the crime from its ranks.

“Sexual assault is a continuing challenge in the military,” Battaglia said. “We’ve made vast, significant efforts. We’ve equipped commanders with more investigation techniques to build evidence to help prosecute the perpetrators. We have a robust victim’s assistance program.”

Affording dignity and respect to sexual assault victims is important when cases are being investigated, he said, and officials are continuing to work the issue.

“We’re not going to give up,” he said.

Battaglia also emphasized the importance of hiring veterans, noting that “an appetite” exists among small to large corporations to hire former service members.

“Veterans are commonly known for their talents, skills and work ethic, whether they served four years or four decades,” he said. “They are an investment. [The military] teaches them to fight, and then how to re-enter society to do many great things. Our responsibility as military leaders is to mold and develop them to do our nation’s [work], and then prepare America’s sons and daughters to go back into society.”

Battaglia also discussed a book titled, “The NCO and Petty Officer: The Backbone of The Armed Forces,” which he published with the help of a group of noncommissioned officers. “It’s an easy read,” he said, adding that it is free, and available.

NCOs want to continue to be leaders, he noted, so sharing the book is important. Battaglia said he wants young enlisted service members to read the book to realize they can aspire to become NCOs.

He added that he’d like to see officer corps members read it as well, because it may provide ideas on how they can empower their NCOs. It’s also important for parents of service members to read it, Battaglia said.

“A civilian can read it,” he added. “It’s not filled with military jargon.”

“Troop Talk” host Scott Howe asked Battaglia what “We will never forget” means to him.

“That’s a very emotional topic [to all service members],” Battaglia said. The number of casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars might be small when compared with World War I and World War II, but the wars of the last 13 years have been “up close and personal,” he said.

Stationed here in the nation’s capital, Battaglia said, he’s reminded daily to “never forget” when he drives every day past Arlington National Cemetery.

“When I jog by the Korean and World War II memorials, I drop a knee and say a prayer,” he said. “The price of freedom is not free.”