Air Guard families build resiliency through 'Strong Bonds' retreat

by Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot
185th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

9/22/2014 - OMAHA, Neb. -- Twenty Airmen and their spouses from the Iowa Air National Guard attended a marriage retreat held here Sept. 19-20 as part of an effort to improve resiliency among Airmen and their families.

Iowa ANG chaplains from the185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, and 133rd Test Squadron at Fort Dodge, Iowa, and the132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted the two-day event dubbed "Laugh You Way to a Better Marriage."

The program's aim is to get those in attendance in a non-threatening environment and strengthen relationships by using laughter. "Laugh You Way to a Better Marriage " is a Strong Bonds event sponsored by the Chaplain Corps of Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard military services.

Air Force Chaplain Maj. Steve Peters of the 185th ARW says he loves facilitating Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage because he says it's a lot of fun.

"I love to watch couples engage with each other ... almost like seeing a light bulb go on over their heads as they begin to understand their spouse in a new way," said Peters.

Peters says that a marriage seminar is not the first thing most men think of when they think of a fun way to spend a weekend. But he explained that the approach is well received by men and women alike.

"Though this event is fun, it is anything but light and ineffective," said Peters. "Couples get to know and understand each other more deeply no matter how long they've been together and their relationship is stronger and blessed by the experience."

Unlike many traditional marriage seminars that tend to be overly serious, technically and emotionally taxing, the "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" retreat is different, according to Peters. He says the difference is that it helps couples deal with tough issues in a way that is fun.

"Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" is a video based program that features Mark Gungor who is a pastor of Celebration Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

While it may not have come as a surprise to those in attendance, a main theme of the program explains how men and women are unique and different and why that is great.

Senior Master Sgt. Rick Irwin of the 185th ARW and his wife Angel attended the event and said they would encourage anyone to sign up for a future event.

"I really didn't know what to expect when I first signed up, but the program was really well done," said Irwin. "It was a really good opportunity to spend some quality time having fun with just my wife and me."

Peters said Iowa Guard Chaplains plan to offer more Strong Bonds events in the future including another "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" retreat, a family retreat, and a singles retreat.

Chaplain Peters says events like this are a good opportunity to work with their counterparts from within the state while working towards a common cause, building resiliency.

"I think it's great we are working together for a common goal ... caring for our Airmen and their families," said Peters. "Though we are from different Major Commands and we have different wing missions, our state mission as the Iowa Air National Guard draws us together. After all, our mission and purpose as a Chaplain Corps is the same!"

Meet the 37th HS Global Strike Challenge team

by Senior Airman Jason Wiese
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

9/22/2014 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- High in the sky, Airmen competed to see who in the nation's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile force is the best at helicopter operations.

Global Strike Challenge is the world's premier bomber, ICBM, helicopter operations and security forces competition with units from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.

This year's GSC helicopter squadron competition took place Sept. 9 through 11 at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, and the 37th Helicopter Squadron represented the Mighty Ninety.

"Everyone's competent and capable at their mission," said Capt. David Skelly, 37th HS aircraft commander. "It's just to see who stands out."

The competitors were graded on three overall tasks: search and rescue, security response and tactics, he said.

In the search and rescue portion, the teams retrieved an individual who simulated a person who had fallen from a cliff. In the security response portion, the teams surveyed a simulated launch facility for threats and inserted tactical response force teams to secure the site. Finally, in the tactical scenario, the teams flew tactically at low-levels to a landing zone, picked up simulated TRF personnel and moved tactically to another LZ.

"Throughout the three, we were graded on our ability to hold the correct altitude, hold the correct airspeed, meet our time on targets and efficiently and safely execute our helicopter mission," Skelly said.

The tasks they perform during the challenge are actions helicopter operators take every day or train for throughout the year, so performing their usual mission prepared them for the challenge, said Staff Sgt. Marke St. Hill, 37 HS special mission aviator.

Helicopter operations are standardized across the 20th Air Force, but there is room for helicopter operators to share ideas and exchange new ways of doing things, he said.

"There's always a good crossflow," Skelly said.

In November, GSC competitors will attend a scoreposting at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to find out who the winners are.

Everyone in the competition did very well, St. Hill said.

"It was that even," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if everyone tied. We're capable of completing any mission [AFGSC] gives us."

Skelly was not so modest.

"F.E. Warren's for sure going to win," he said. "We definitely did the best."

Team members

Capt. Michael Carter

Capt. David Skelly

Staff Sgt. Timothy Nissen

Staff Sgt. Marke St. Hill

Injured Idaho hiker rescued by Fairchild crews

by Scott King
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

9/22/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Fairchild Airmen rescued a 36-year-old female rock climber Sept. 20 near Priest Lake, Idaho, after she suffered injuries to her face, lower leg and foot.

The victim, Ammi Midstokke, had just summited the west side of Chimney Rock and was making her way across the Talus Fields on the afternoon of Sept. 19 when her leg got entrapped by a 1.5- ton boulder pinning her down and causing a fracture to her foot.

Her friend, who was accompanying her, was able to call 911 at 5:30 p.m. prompting rescue efforts. An eight-person Priest Lake Search and Rescue ground party began a hike at 8:20 p.m. negotiating steep, narrow and rocky terrain finally reaching Midstokke at 12:49 a.m. The PLSAR ground party used a web and pulley system to free her from the boulder in less than one hour. Her injuries were stabilized and she was kept comfortable as the situation was assessed.

It was determined hiking her out would be too dangerous in the night time hours considering the remote location and the unforgiving nature of the terrain. Efforts went underway to contact the 36th Rescue Flight at Fairchild.  

At 7:10 a.m., a four-member crew from the 36th RQF and the 336th Training Support Squadron 'Rescue 13' was dispatched to the area in a UH-1N Iroquois helicopter.

They arrived on-scene at 7:45 a.m.

"A hover was the only possible way of extraction as the terrain was far too treacherous to land," said Capt. Josiah Hart, 36th RQF co-pilot. "We made our initial approach, but the aircraft started to sink due to excess fuel. To get more power, we burned off some fuel for 25 minutes and reengaged to a 30-foot hover over the scene.

The crew then lowered Maj. David Oldham, 336th TRSS flight surgeon, down to Midstokke and the ground party delivering water and preparing her for extraction on a Stokes Litter. At 8:35 a.m., Oldham signaled to 'Rescue 13' in the skies above that she was ready for extraction. Due to favorable winds, the approach was made to an 80-foot hover over the scene. Midstokke was hoisted out followed by Oldham. Rescue 13 then transported her to Sandpoint, Idaho, where she was transferred via-ambulance to Bonner General Hospital.

The Fairchild crew was happy they were able to assist in this rescue as they have so many times in the past.

"Having this training and capability to perform rescue missions provides a valuable service to Inland Northwest residents," Oldham said. "All the pieces fit together for this rescue. The ground team worked very hard through the night and when we arrived it was a seamless transfer from ground to air - the whole experience was very humbling."

"Overall, our crew for this mission was well practiced in this kind of scenario and they all performed extremely well during the extraction," said Capt. Erik Greendyke, 36th RQF aircraft commander. "We, in the rescue community, push ourselves extremely hard in training to make sure that we can do all that we are capable of in order to help out victims."

"There are always people who will need help, and if we have the ability to help, we should," Hart said. "Without our capabilities, Ms. Midstokke may have had a difficult time being rescued. It was truly a team effort to rescue her on Saturday. We believe in our mission, and it is reflected in the Air Force Rescue motto 'That Others May Live!'"

Recovering from her injuries at home today, Midstokke is extremely thankful for the Fairchild crew.

"I feel extremely grateful for the Air Force crew rescuing me," she said. "They were all very competent and compassionate in a traumatic situation. The rescue itself was technically very challenging and the fact that the Air Force was able and willing to do this is testament to the professionalism of our U.S. military -- thank you for your commitment to service and everything you did to keep me safe and well!"

This was the 36th RQF's 688th rescue.

The crew consisted of: Maj. David Oldham, 336th TRSS flight surgeon; Capt. Erik Greendyke, 36th RQF aircraft commander; Capt Josiah Hart, 36th RQF co-pilot and Staff Sgt. Jeremy Burnite, 36th RQF special missions aviator.

Construction on largest building Kingsley Field begins

by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson
173rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/21/2014 - KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. -- At the 173rd Fighter Wing two things mark the beginning of each day, the sun comes up and a parade of contractors begin making their way to any number of projects across the base.

At the moment the operations group is expanding their vault, the flight simulator is enlarging their building, workers are expanding the arm and dearm areas for the south runway, phase maintenance buildings 400 and 404 are under construction, and now the largest building on base-hangar 219- is getting a needed renovation as well.

"This is most definitely a balancing act," said 2nd Lt. Oscar Ayala, the deputy base civil engineer. "With the additional aircraft already on-base and new active duty personnel arriving soon, we have to be creative in ensuring that our facilities can accommodate the expansion--as it is happening."

Consequently, while the hangar is under repair the tarmac is a parking lot, every available space either has an aircraft on it, or is waiting for its return from a sortie. That is because the 173rd Fighter Wing is training more pilots at a faster rate than ever before, and with more aircraft than ever before.

"The loss of parking areas for aircraft is a challenging choke point," said 1st Lt. Richard Schuster, the maintenance operations flight commander. "We currently have no hangar access, and with the added iron, we are now using almost every parking spot possible on the ramp. This forces many repairs to be accomplished on the ramp that would normally occur indoors."

Schuster anticipates further complications by impending winter weather which forces maintainers to de-ice aircraft while attempting not to slow jet launches.

Though these complications could hamper the wing's ultimate mission, producing trained Air Force F-15C aircraft pilots, Lt. Col. Jeff Edwards, 114th Fighter Squadron commander, says these measures are working and that the flying training schedule is unaffected. He credits the close coordination with civil engineering, maintenance, and operations.

But these are encouraging problems, says Schuster.

"The awesome part of this is we are growing when the entire DoD is trying to shrink; growing pains come when you get bigger and stronger," he added. "We're gaining efficiency and the Air Force top brass have identified the extra capability as a key to America's continued air superiority."

Meanwhile contractors tend to their projects, maintenance personnel have moved all of their gear, office furniture, supplies, and anything else not physically attached to the building, to new spaces scattered around Kingsley Field.

Many anticipate a better facility when the project reaches its scheduled completion next summer.

"The renovated [heating, ventilation, and air conditioning] should provide more energy-efficiency," said Master Sgt. Mike Shirar of maintenance training. "This, combined with some new carpet and paint, will breathe some renewed energy into the heavily-used facility which has not gone through any major renovation in nearly two decades."

As these projects draw to a close, civil engineers are planning more large scale projects ranging from the construction of a new fire station to constructing a new fuel loading and offloading station located adjacent to the south gate. The old alert facility now converted to phase maintenance will undergo further construction and all base waterlines will receive an upgrade as well.

So as Kingsley Airmen arrive at the base each day, they will join hard hatted construction crews, trucks of building supplies and equipment at the front gate, for at least the next several years.

Naval Hospital Bremerton Experts Closely Tracking Severe Respiratory Illness

By Douglas H. Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Along with the annual influenza season just a sneeze away, Naval Hospital Bremerton population health officials are also closely tracking a severe respiratory illness with several cases confirmed locally.

There are an estimated 15 children from various locales in Washington currently being treated and tested at Seattle's Children Hospital and as of Sept. 19, there have been two confirmed cases of the respiratory illness, enterovirus 68 (EV-D68), that has also affected hundreds across the Midwest.

Along with testing the Washington cases, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to gather information to better understand the quickly evolving situation of EV-D68 and how widespread the infections may be and the population affected.

According to the CDC, the virus likely spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches surfaces. People can also get infected by having close contact with an infected person, as well as also getting infected by touching objects or surfaces that have the virus on them and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.

Most people who get infected do not get sick. Or, they may have mild illness, like the common cold. Just as influenza is not the common cold, enteroviruses is a respiratory illness that can initially feel like a bad cold. And like influenza, enteroviruses can be severe enough to hospitalize some of those impacted, especially younger children who already have a respiratory condition like asthma.

The first lines of defense involves simple processes that everyone can implement to not only help themselves, but also family members, co-workers, friends and even strangers.

"Past experience with dealing with the any type of respiratory illness and/or viral infection always reinforces the need to protect ourselves," said Tom Shirk, NHB Infection Control coordinator, who strongly recommends that proper personal hygiene is imperative to help limit getting any virus. "It's important and it's up to us to set the example and ensure our family and friends do the same. Little things, such as hand washing, covering a cough and staying home if ill, really helps out."

Shirk also attests there are also multiple steps that can be done daily to mitigate the potential spread of such a respiratory illness.

"Besides hand washing with soap and water, we encourage everyone who visits our main facility or any branch clinics to use our alcohol-based hand sanitizers. They are phenomenally effective in eliminating the transfer of a virus. We have increased the number of dispensers in NHB so anyone entering and leaving, or waiting by the elevators can use them," commented Shirk, citing that hand-washing is a basic step that everyone should continually practice.

"Practicing good hygiene to keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is just good sound common sense. It is a very simple and effective measure," stated Shirk.

According to Dr. Dan Frederick, NHB Population Health officer, enteroviruses are very common viruses. There are more than 100 types of enteroviruses and it is estimated that 10 to 15 million enterovirus infections occur in the United States each year.

"This type of viral infection has really been around for a long time and we have been in contact with others such as Kitsap Public Health and the Washington State Public Health office also concerning this development. Most enterovirus infections in the U.S. occur seasonally during the summer and fall, and outbreaks tend to occur in several-year cycles," said Frederick.

Seattle and King County Public Health notes that if EV-D68 does appear locally, large numbers of children could develop respiratory infections in a short time period, as the virus spreads much like the common cold.

With most enterovirus infections, the vast majority of children have a mild illness that does not require medical attention. However, parents of children with asthma should be aware that their children appear to be more susceptible to serious illness.

Frederick sites that the groups most susceptible to EV-D68 are infants, children and teenagers.

Most infected people have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, but some infections can be serious. EV-D68 has been reported to cause mild to severe respiratory illness, especially in those already with some type of respiratory issues such as asthma or lung disease.

What can people do to protect themselves against Enterovirus D68?

Although there are no vaccines for preventing EV-D68 infections, Naval Hospital Bremerton follows CDC recommendations to:

*Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers

*Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

*Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick

*Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially when someone is sick.

*Don't go to day care, school or work - stay home if feeling sick and consult with your health care provider.

*Children and adults with asthma should be sure to have their asthma symptoms under control and see a health care provider if they develop a respiratory infection and their asthma worsens.

Commander of China's Navy Visits SWOS

By Lt. Jason Bilbro, Surface Warfare Officers School Command Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) hosted the commander of China's People's Liberation Army Navy Sept. 18.

Adm. Wu Shengli was accompanied by seven officers from the PLA Navy staff and given a tour of schoolhouse trainers by Capt. Dave Welch, SWOS commanding officer. They also participated in a roundtable discussion with 12 prospective commanding officers in class at SWOS.

The tour included stops at a Full Mission Bridge (FMB) simulator which provides students a 360-degree virtual environment that can simulate every Navy homeport and other ports regularly visited around the world. Also on the tour were the guided missile destroyer (DDG) full-size engineering trainer, the two littoral combat ship (LCS) Full Mission Bridge Trainers, and the Multi-Mission Tactical Trainer facilities that provide students with hands-on training of ship engineering systems.

Throughout the tour Welch briefed Wu on the continuum of SWO training and discussed the science of learning strategy employed by SWOS.

"It was fascinating to sit next to Admiral Wu as he engaged with our prospective commanding officers," Welch said. "He was candid, provided thoughtful and detailed responses, and took much more time than was originally planned. He clearly enjoyed the opportunity for this dialogue."

Welch also noted that the roundtable discussion provided a unique opportunity for direct interaction between future American commanding officers and China's CNO-equivalent. The admiral provided a summary of his background and experience, then fielded a wide variety of questions over the course of an hour and a half.

Wu's PLA Navy career spans 50 years. He joined the PLA Navy in 1964 and within 10 years was serving as deputy captain and subsequently as captain of a PLA Navy frigate. Following his frigate tour he served as captain of a PLA Navy destroyer for eight years. He began an assignment as deputy chief of the PLA general staff in 2004, prior to assuming his current position as commander of the PLA Navy. He has held the rank of admiral since 2007.

SWOS uses a mix of blended-learning techniques comprised of instructor-led classes, hands-on labs, high fidelity, physics-based simulation and computer-based training. Courses include specialized training supporting all enlisted engineering ratings, and surface warfare officers at every level. Building maritime partnerships, the command also provides training to international students. SWOS oversees nine learning sites, providing more than 1,000 courses a year to 67,000+ Sailors.

Strike Group Hones Anti-Submarine Warfare Skills During Valiant Shield Torpedo Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Declan Barnes, Commander Task Force 70 Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Ships assigned to the George Washington Carrier Strike Group conducted a complex, live-fire anti-submarine torpedo training evolution as part of exercise Valiant Shield, Sept. 17-18.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS Stethem (DDG 63), and USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54), and USS Shiloh (CG 67) along with embarked helicopter detachments, fired ordnance at simulated targets during the exercise.

"We did two discrete events -- one with two ships, Shiloh and Fitzgerald, and one with three, Mustin, Antietam and Stethem," said Lt. Geoffrey Biegel, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 submarine operations officer. "This one was unique in the fact that we had a lot of exercise training weapons to use. We were able to execute vertical launch anti-submarine rockets, over the side torpedoes and torpedoes from helicopters.

"It was exciting that we were able to execute all of that training in such a short period of time. Another thing that was great about this training is that we were able to use the MK 30 training target. It's a better target, it's larger and has a longer run time, so one MK 30 target can be used for a whole three-ship, four-weapon event."

Anti-submarine warfare is a major focus area of naval operations. By honing those skills, the strike group further supports Valiant Shield's goal of having a highly capable and well-trained joint combat force in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The value of these exercises is testing the firing chain, evaluating tactics, techniques and procedures," said Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, Commander, Task Force 70. "It also allows outside evaluators to assess the efficiency and accuracy with which Carrier Strike Group 5 and Carrier Strike Group 1 employ their weapons systems."

Conducting this type of realistic, relevant training increases the strike group's ability to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations.

"I was very excited to be part of the team that executed the torpedo launch from our ship," said Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Elatia Zaffke, assigned to Antietam. "We train all year to successfully complete exercises like this, and it was a nice feeling to be able to put all that training into action."

The targeting torpedoes used during the exercise were specifically designed for this type of training. They mimic the size and weight of its active counterpart but are inert, allowing them to be recovered and used again.

Valiant Shield comprises much more than just anti-submarine warfare events. It is a biennial, U.S.-only, field training exercise with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces. It enables real world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. This is the fifth exercise in the Valiant Shield series that began in 2006.

"Valiant Shield 2014 is a large joint military exercise, one of the largest anywhere in the world this year. It combines a series of vignettes to test our operational and tactical capabilities against high-end adversaries along with operations that allow us to asses and improve out interoperability between joint forces" said Montgomery. "It also serves as [Task Force 70's] major two-year certification where we not only demonstrate our capabilities as a strike group, but our ability as a task force to manage multiple carrier strike groups during complex operations. This is an extremely complex exercise for the George Washington and Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Groups."

Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating an estimated 18,000 Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps personnel, more than 200 aircraft and 19 surface ships, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners.