Air Force Marathon seeks more volunteers

By Rick Perron, Air Force Marathon Office / Published August 12, 2014

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- The Air Force Marathon is still in need of volunteers to assist with the upcoming race, the desired number of volunteers is 2,300, according to Jeanette Monaghan, the Air Force Marathon volunteer coordinator.

"Volunteers are vital to the success of the marathon," Monaghan said. "They do everything from handing out bibs and shirts to participants to manning hydration stations.

"Volunteers have such a good time working the race or the Sports and Fitness Expo,” Monaghan continued. “Whether it's a business, a civic group or even a student group, volunteering creates great team building opportunities. It's also a good way for organizations to get exposure to the public.”

Areas in which volunteers are still needed include the Sports and Fitness Expo for morning and afternoon shifts on Sept. 18 as well as the morning shift on Sept. 19. Some race day positions also need volunteers.

"Many of our volunteers come back year after year because they have such a good time working on race day or at the Sports and Fitness Expo,” Monaghan said. “Our volunteers take pride in helping us put on a world-class event."

Volunteer registration closes Aug. 31. Volunteers can view a list of open positions and register at www.usafmarathon.com.

Military Health System Protects Global Health, Official Says

By Claudette Roulo

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2014 – The Military Health System is under-recognized as a strategic asset to the United States, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs said yesterday.

Through immunization programs, collaborative research efforts and the promotion of global health and goodwill, the Military Health System contributes to the security of the nation and the world, Dr. Jonathan Woodson said.

"We have always been about prevention of disease, and so we've been involved with campaigns and research to identify and prevent emerging infectious disease, really from our beginning," he said.

From its outset, the system has been focused on promoting public health, Woodson said. Dating back to the late 19th century, researchers such as Walter Reed -- who discovered the means by which typhoid and yellow fevers were spread, saving countless lives as a result -- have worked to prevent the development and spread of disease both in the United States and abroad.

As a consequence, he said, the Military Health System has labs positioned around the world, allowing U.S. personnel to partner with host-nation doctors and scientists to build public health capacity and to identify emerging infectious diseases.

"That results in what we call bio-security for not only those host nations, but for the world," Woodson said.

One way of ensuring bio-security is through immunization programs, he said, adding that because August is National Immunization Awareness Month, it's a good time to recognize the positive effects those programs have had on security and quality of life around the world.

"We're two centuries since the first development of the effective smallpox vaccine," Woodson noted. "That's just an amazing statement in and of itself. And in that time, vaccines and immunizations have saved countless lives -- millions of lives."

And just as importantly, he said, vaccines and immunizations have reduced the illness caused by disease. Even now, despite two centuries of advances in health care and medical science, vaccines and immunizations remain one of the most effective public health tools in reducing disease and death, Woodson said.

"Americans today can celebrate the fact that diseases that caused death a century ago, that caused a great deal of illness a century ago, [are] a distant memory," he said.

As deadly diseases become less common in the United States, Woodson said, it becomes even more important that people are educated about the importance of vaccinations and immunizations, and about how they work.

In a time when someone infected with a disease picked up anywhere in the world could arrive in the United States just a few hours later, international outreach efforts are critical to protecting public health, he said.

When large populations are vaccinated against disease, they develop community, or "herd" immunity. This protects more vulnerable members of the community -- such as infants, pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals -- by containing the spread of contagious disease.

"Be it certain types of influenza, or even the current focus of activity, Ebola, the … U.S. military has a repository of experts, a history of public health [and] a research apparatus that contributes very significantly to public health, both in this nation and around the world," Woodson noted. And it's done in partnership with host nations, he added.

One goal of this work is to build public health capacity to prevent and identify emerging infectious diseases, he said. This allows host nations not only to protect their own populations, but also to prevent diseases from becoming international or global health crises. "It's good for the host nation, it's good for the world, it's good for us," Woodson said.

The Military Health System is just one part of the nation's collaborative approach to disease prevention, he said. "Institutions like the Centers for Disease Control have point for many of the policies that are developed as part of that whole of U.S. government action, but the Department of Defense, the Military Health System, is an important contributor to this effort," Woodson said.

Woodson acknowledged that some people are concerned about vaccines and their association with certain other health-related problems. But, he said, "what one cannot deny is that the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing death and disease is far greater than any possibility of side effects."

It's easy to become complacent in the 21st century, when many diseases have virtually disappeared in the United States, Woodson said. But as recently noted with the uptick in polio -- mainly because some parents have decided not to have their children vaccinated -- there can be a resurgence of these diseases," he added.

ANG partnership makes PANAMAX possible

by Jessica Casserly
12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Public Affairs

8/13/2014 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Ariz. -- Approximately 65 members of the Air National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Illinois are renewing a longstanding partnership with 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) members during PANAMAX 2014, Aug. 8-15.

The annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise, which focuses on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal, is a collaborative effort between Air Force, Army and Marine personnel, as well as partner nations. But the relationship between 12 AF (AFSOUTH) and 183rd FW members is a particularly vital one.

The 183rd FW provides a welcome source of experience to draw from, according to Mr. Thomas Cheatham, the 12 AF (AFSOUTH) Operational Planning Team lead for PANAMAX 2014.

"With the amount of experience the 183rd has from participating in exercises like these over the years, they are able to not only fall in with, but also lead some of the efforts," Cheatham said. "They don't just augment [12 AF (AFSOUTH)], they compliment us."

Filling roles in the Combined Air Operations Center, intelligence, air mobility operations and the Crisis Action Team, the 183rd FW is providing significant support for PANAMAX 2014.

"We filled all of the positions [12 AF (AFSOUTH)] asked for our support with," said Lt. Col. Karen Hendrickson, Operations Director for the 183rd Air Component Operations Squadron and 12 AF (AFSOUTH) Crisis Action Team A3 for PANAMAX 2014. "Either they didn't have the personnel to fill it or they wanted to give the experience to our folks."

After at least four years of taking an active role in PANAMAX exercises, the 183rd FW has been able to develop proven rules of engagement that help ensure PANAMAX is successful.

"The military personnel here turnover on a regular basis and [guard members] have the potential to stay longer," Hendrickson said. "So [183rd members] might have some standing ROE of how we normally operate together. We've already got that interoperability."

While they bring a lot of experience to the exercise, Hendrickson and her fellow 183rd FW participants also benefit from the opportunity to exchange ideas with 12 AF (AFSOUTH) personnel and strengthen current methods of operation.

"I think both 12 AF (AFSOUTH) and 183rd personnel, because of their previous experience, may have another way of doing things and if you can combine that knowledge together then we can pass on information to someone who is new and doesn't have it," Hendrickson said. "Or if [12 AF (AFSOUTH) personnel] have figured out a better way to present it, then we can take that and pass it back to our folks. So, it's a sharing of experiences, processes and products."

As she comes to the end of her first PANAMAX exercise, Hendrickson said she will use her experiences from the exercise to better her unit and future PANAMAX exercises.

"I'm always looking for how the unit can operate better, how can we take lessons from this and train our next team that comes down," Hendrickson said. "I've identified skill sets from our personnel where I think, this person in this area can influence how we operate."

Greece partners with U.S. for bilateral training

by Staff Sgt. Daryl Knee
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/12/2014 - SOUDA BAY, Greece -- Nearly 20 U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, deployed Souda Bay, Greece, for bilateral training with the Hellenic air force Aug. 11-23, 2014.

The Hellenic air force is Greece's air force, and the flying training deployment includes large-force training events aimed to gauge the compatibility between the two nations with a focus on strengthening joint readiness.

"We very rarely go into combat just by ourselves, so this gives us an opportunity to go in with our NATO partners and train in the large-force exercises and see all the different moving parts that happen," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Taylor Blevins, 480th FS chief of weapons and tactics. "We gain some knowledge from our NATO partners, they gain some knowledge from us, and overall we gain some experience in airmanship working together."

Souda Bay is located on the island of Crete southeast of Athens. One of the station's primary functions is to support airborne operations in this strategically critical area of the world. Throughout the next two weeks, the Hellenic air force's 115th Combat Wing pilots will train with their U.S. counterparts here to enhance their capabilities with different flying roles: air-to-air combat, suppression of enemy air defense, air interdiction, counter-air and close air support.

This training is made possible through the efforts of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, the command which governs all U.S. air assets in Europe with the duty to train, equip and deploy combat-ready Airmen. Their posture is to continuously hone skills during peacetime, poise to address any security threats, and ensure regional peace and stability.

"Working with our NATO partners now allows us to train with these guys in a training environment," Blevins said. "So the next time we're working with them -- potentially in a combat environment -- we've already worked with them, already kind of seen their act and know what to expect. It makes us more ready for the battlefield, which obviously helps our combatant commanders and makes us more lethal as an overall fighting force.

"The training itself is going to be invaluable," he continued, "and it's going to be a great opportunity for us and the squadron."

B-52 aircrews hone long-range ISR capabilities during PANAMAX 14

by Charles Ramey

Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

8/12/2014 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command recently took advantage of a multinational U.S.. Southern Command-led exercise to hone their long-range reconnaissance capabilities.

The 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, flew a B-52 Stratofortress bomber on a nonstop mission from the United States to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations Aug. 12 during PANAMAX 2014 - an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise series that focuses on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal.

An almost entirely simulated exercise, the 15.5-hour long-range B-52 sortie, which originated at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and ended at Barksdale Air Force Base, was the lone exception. Flown by the 96th Bomb Squadron, the seven-person aircrew exercised providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to forces defending the Panama Canal from a myriad of threats.

"The Panama Canal is one of the most strategically and economically crucial pieces of infrastructure in the world," said Col. Gregory Julian, U.S. Southern Command spokesman. "The 17 partner nations participating in this exercise benefit from the collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and security of the Panama Canal and this exercise is designed to test their responsiveness, foster cooperation, and increase interoperability among them."

For Air Force Global Strike Command, PANAMAX is an opportunity to familiarize aircrews with the U.S. Southern Command region and train in a unique mission set not normally associated with bomber operations.

"The B-52 can be modified with additional equipment that allows it to be an especially valuable ISR platform because of its ability to conduct long-range surveillance flights," said Lt. Col. Robert Bender, chief of AFGSC's Current Operations Branch. "PANAMAX is an excellent opportunity for our aircrews to exercise these capabilities in an operational training environment."

For aircrews, the ability to work in an unfamiliar environment, hone ISR capabilities, and test aerial command and control capabilities during PANAMAX were invaluable.

"I had only worked in the SOUTHCOM AOR once before this exercise," said Capt. Jonathan Morse, one of two aircraft commanders on the mission. "[PANAMAX] allowed crew members that have not operated in a different area of operations to gain valuable experience and bring that back to the B-52 community. I believe it also made SOUTHCOM better aware of our capabilities and confident that they can call upon our B-52s when in need."

Morse's fellow aircraft commander during the mission, Capt. Michael Marchand, agreed the training was valuable. "Going down south, working with our partners and helping build the global reach of our platform is a great experience," he said. "It's great to work outside a familiar AOR, build upon our expertise and be able pass that on."

"In order to maintain the readiness of our forces, it is important to provide the opportunity for them to train and operate their capabilities in various geographical locations and environments," said Maj. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, commander of 8th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), located at Barksdale Air Force Base, and the Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, located at Offutt, Air Force Base, Nebraska. "Having a U.S. bomber presence and participation in a variety of multinational and joint exercises also demonstrates U.S. commitment and capability and contributes to security at home and abroad."

Football legend Herschel Walker tackles mental health at JB Charleston

by Senior Airman Tom Brading
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

8/12/2014 - Joint Base Charleston, S.C. -- Herschel Walker, Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back, arrived at Joint Base Charleston, Aug. 6, 2014, as part of a full day visit of tours and speaking engagements.

The College Football Hall of Famer shared his struggles of tackling mental illness with Airmen and Sailors. Walker has battled dissociative identity disorder for years, but turned his struggle into strength by sharing his story to help others get help.

Walker was born in Wrightsville, Georgia, in March, 1962. He grew up in a Christian family, and was one of seven children. Unlike his siblings, it was difficult for the two-time pro bowler to fit in with his peers.

"I didn't love myself or who I was," said Walker. "I had a stuttering problem; kids would pick on me because of the way I talked or because of my weight."

Things changed in Walker's life through the strength he found spiritually and socially. His mother was influential in his early development. She would say, "If you're going to do anything, do it well."

He did. He fought back against the struggles of adolescence by pushing himself to be better, both academically and athletically. He was valedictorian of his high school class and earned a scholarship to the University of Georgia. From there, the rest is history. He led the Georgia Bulldogs to a national championship and a three-year record of 32 wins and only two loses, winning the Heisman Trophy along the way. His jersey has since been retired at the University of Georgia.

He went on to have a celebrated professional career, dedicating many seasons to professional football. He is still ninth in NFL history with 18,168 all-purpose yards, and if his three seasons in the United States Football League were taken into consideration, he would surpass Jerry Rice as the best of all time.

However, in the whirlwind of accomplishments ... something was wrong.

"Everyone was telling me I was doing great things, but, I couldn't see it," said Walker. His larger than life presence and list of accomplishments has now become a driving force against the stigmas often associated with seeking help for mental illness.

"Hershel Walker is an extraordinary individual who achieved success despite his external and internal challenges," said Maj. Sonia Pons, 628th Medical Group Mental Health flight commander and JB Charleston Director of Psychological Health. "His intent is to disseminate how unaddressed stressors and issues can impair your mental health. Acting sooner than later is the best prevention to mental illness or catastrophic outcomes."

In addition to sharing his story with service members, Walker was able to experience the mission at JB Charleston by touring the Air Base and Weapons Station to see first-hand how diverse the Team Charleston mission is.

Walker has worked with numerous charitable organizations and in 1981, he became the first Academy of Achievement honor student to return to the annual program as a recipient of the Golden Plate Award. In 2002, he was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and selected as the second greatest player in college football history (just behind the legendary Red Grange.)

In addition to a celebrated football career, Walker found notoriety as a mixed martial artist in 2010-2011, when he joined STRIKEFORCE and made his MMA debut, compiling a 2-0 record.

Now, Walker remains a spokesperson for programs specializing in mental health and addiction treatment for service members. And he has visited more than 80 military installations, sharing his story of hope to more than 37,000 troops on behalf of the Patriot Support Programs of Universal Health Services.

Makin Island ARG, 11th MEU Arrive in 7th Fleet Area of Operations

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Lindahl, Amphibious Squadron Five Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- More than 4,500 Sailors and Marines with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Aug. 11, after departing San Diego July 25.

Sailors and Marines from the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted an emergent recovery of 11 researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from the Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument Aug. 8.

The operation assisted the researchers in retreating from imminent danger of Hurricane Iselle that is expected to impact Lisianski Island, Laysan Island and the Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

"We work with NOAA and we're out here almost every summer in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands working with Hawaiian Monk Seal pups doing mostly population assessment," said Carrie McAttee, a NOAA researcher. "We've been here since June and we were supposed to be here until September."

The recovery was prompted by the threat of Hurricane Iselle, the first hurricane to strike the Hawaiian Islands in more than two decades, which threatened the safety of the researchers, who were not equipped to withstand the extreme conditions of the looming storm.

USS Makin Island (LHD 8), USS Comstock (LSD 45), and USS San Diego (LPD 22) each deployed rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) that traveled more than four miles and endured challenging seas but safely reached their destination. Once the boats reached the coastline, they carefully maneuvered to receive the researchers and their gear without affecting the endangered marine life below.

Getting the researchers onboard safely was a top concern. "It was important to us to ensure this was a safe evolution for all involved," said Capt. Vic Cooper, commodore, Amphibious Squadron Five. "We carefully considered the safety of the researchers, our Sailors and Marines, equipment and the environment, every step of the way."

Once all researchers were accounted for, the RHIBs returned to their respective ships and the researchers were given a warm welcome, a place to shower, dry clothing and a meal.

"It was quite impressive how quickly it all happened," said Kristine Meise, a NOAA researcher. "You guys were really efficient in getting here and getting us on board. We definitely want to thank everybody that we've met on the ship."

All of the researchers were grateful for the Navy and Marine Corps' commitment to lending a helping hand.

"Anytime we have the opportunity to help those in need, we will do our very best," said Capt. Alvin Holsey, commanding officer, Makin Island. "Our Navy makes a difference everyday throughout the world, and today we were proud to be able to make a difference here."

Capt. John Menoni, San Diego's commanding officer, echoed those thoughts.

"This is what the Navy is all about, helping others in need and being ready when called upon," said Menoni. "The San Diego team has shown our ability to accomplish anything and work together to get the job done."

The researchers were then flown to Midway Island. Although remote, Midway provides shelter for the displaced personnel and access to a runway if further evacuations are needed.

"Keeping ahead of the storm required rapid planning and swift execution by our pilots and air crews," said Lt. Col. Jason Holden, commanding officer of the 11th MEU's aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced). "This was a great opportunity to render aid to those in need and to exercise our capacity to respond quickly to emerging events."

Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument is the single largest conservation area under the U.S. flag and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. It encompasses 139,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.

Makin Island ARG is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace and freedom of the seas by providing deterrence, humanitarian aid, and disaster response while supporting the Navy's maritime strategy in the U.S. 7th and 5th fleet areas of responsibility.

Vella Gulf Arrives in Romania

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Weston Jones, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment Europe

CONSTANTA, Romania (NNS) -- The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) arrived in Constanta, Romania, for a scheduled port visit, Aug 11.

Vella Gulf's presence in Romania and the Black Sea reaffirms the United States' commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and partners, while working toward mutual goals of promoting peace and stability in the region.

During Vella Gulf's second port visit to Constanta, the Romanian chapter of the Navy League will hold a barbeque for visiting Sailors. The port visit also coincides with Romanian Navy Day.

"Vella Gulf looks forward to a second port visit to Constanta, especially during Romanian Navy Day," said Capt. Robert Katz, Vella Gulf's commanding officer. "A dedicated relationship with partners, such as Romania, demonstrates our commitment to the collective security of our NATO allies."

Following her departure from Constanta, Vella Gulf is scheduled to participate in the at-sea portion of Romanian Navy Day.

Vella Gulf, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is conducting naval operations with allies in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in order to advance security and stability in Europe.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.