A solution to the briefing problem

by Airman 1st Class Sean D. Smith
Minot AFB Public Affairs

12/9/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- It's not a commander in uniform on the stage; it's an Airman in civilian clothes. There are candles on the tables, and a buffet of free food. Everything is quiet and relaxed. Curiosity is in the air.

The Storytellers program, originally hosted at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, has a simple premise: Airmen share their stories and other Airmen learn from them. The program made its debut at Minot Air Force Base Dec. 5th, 2014 as a part of the base's Wingman Day lineup, but it's intended to become a recurring event.

Storytellers was conceived as an alternative to the mass assemblies and lectures traditionally used to address serious issues throughout the Air Force.

The intent is to bring more immediacy to the message by engaging Airmen through a more personal narrative in a more intimate setting. Key characteristics of a Storytellers event include low lights, free food, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Storytellers emphasizes that the speakers are peers, not leadership. The people doing the speaking are real Airmen stationed at the same base as the audience, and the stories focus on issues relevant to military life with an underlying message of resiliency.

The program doesn't want its audience skipping slideshows or tuning out under fluorescent lighting while someone simply talks at them. Storytellers takes a different approach.

"There's such a powerful human element in it," said Cindy Whitesell, Community Support Coordinator. "I think it's a refreshing change from what we're used to."

A common theme in the stories is help and support; the speakers urge Airmen to make the most of the resources that the Air Force offers to help people who are going through hard times.

"It took me fifteen years before I got help for myself," said one speaker at the event. "Sometimes you need someone to lean on."

"I didn't really want help, I didn't think I needed it. I thought that if I ignored it then it would just go away," another speaker said. "No matter what you're going through, there's someone there to help whether you think there is or not."

The Storytellers program is open and upfront with talking about darker life issues, but the overall message is one of hope and empowerment. The speakers urge the audience to maintain perspective, get help when they need it, and not try to tackle their problems alone.

"I want to tell my story, because I want people to know that there is help at the end of it all," a speaker said. "I want people to see what we go through, I want more people to understand the importance of resiliency."

Reservist receives award from U.S. Attorney General

by Senior Airman Daniel Phelps
94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/10/2014 - DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Special Agent James P. Colraine, a captain in the Air Force Reserve, was honored in Washington, D.C. Oct. 16 by Attorney General Eric Holder for his efforts supporting the nation's counterterrorism efforts.

Colraine was awarded the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security. The honor was in recognition of his exemplary service to the FBI in support of a national online counterterrorism program.

"Captain Colraine is a prime example of what it means to be a Citizen Airman," said Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris, 22nd Air Force commander. "He is making tremendous contributions to the security of the nation, not only in his capacity with the Air Force Reserve but also through his  civilian employment."

Commander Marc Fryman has been attached to Colraine's organization, the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, for the past two years. The two worked on the same team from the JECC to support an Africa Command exercise at U.S. Army Africa in September.

"When the Ebola crisis unfolded, my team, which including James, transitioned from an exercise to an operational support mindset to assist" the United States Army in Africa," said Fryman, who served as the team lead for JECC's Operation United Assistance.

"Jim provided U.S. Air Force air mobility planning subject matter expertise, as well demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the Joint Operational Planning Process," said Fryman. "This aided our planning efforts immensely and helped turn United States Army Africa "from a U.S. Army Service Component Command into a Joint Command."

Colraine has been a key player on the JECC and USARAF team and has performed his duties in an exemplary manner, Fryman continued. He is professional, motivated, and has demonstrated a very strong work ethic.

"In short, he has been a stand out player during a crisis planning effort to help a lot of sick people in a very austere environment," said the commander.

Colraine, when performing his reserve duties, is assigned to the 953rd Reserve Support Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.  

Office looks to keep Airmen safe

by Staff Sgt. Andrew McLaughlin
434th ARW/Public Affairs

12/10/2014 - GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind.,  -- While juggling a chainsaw isn't safe, sometimes juggling everyone's safety is just as complicated.

The 434th Air Refueling Wing's safety office juggles ground, flying and weapon systems to ensure Grissom's workforce gets the job done without getting hurt.

"At regular Air Force bases whole divisions are dedicated to the individual components of our triad," said Lt. Col. Doug Perry, 434th ARW chief of safety.

"Because of our smaller installation, we don't have that luxury," Perry said. "We must cover all three areas with a fraction of the people, - and get the same results.

"We may run the commander's program, but people put the mission into action, and its inherent they have the knowledge and tools they need to get the job done right and without harm," he added. "But ultimately its everyone's responsibility."

Grissom's mission is to provide aerial refueling, and that starts with the boots on the ground and works its way into the cockpit and flight operations.

"Before jets are launched, people have to get to their work spaces and do all that encompasses supporting our aerial refueling mission," Perry said.

"It starts on the ground," said Johnny Armes, 434th ARW ground safety manager. "We have to ensure that people are doing their jobs safely, and I take pride in ensuring people have the tools they need to get the job done and return home to their families at night."

"Fall protection is getting a lot of attention now," Armes explained. "We must ensure that people are doing these critical tasks with the safety net that is in place."

Work on the ground sometimes isn't quite on the ground, and it's a point of emphasis for the safety staff.

Once all the tasks are done on the ground to get the aircraft off of it, another facet of the safety program takes off - flight safety.

Within flight safety, one of the largest programs is aviation maintenance safety.


"I routinely work with our local maintainers on trending mishaps, incidents, in-flight emergences and both air and ground aborts," Perry said. "This often requires coordinating with outside agencies such as the Air Force Safety Center and depot-level engineers."

That thoroughness helps the staff to identify potential trends.

"If a particular part, process or human factor is trending in a negative direction it is critical we identify and track that to prevent future mishaps," he added.

"Our maintainers provide us fantastic jets," Perry said. "They are reliable and remarkably well maintained. We control what we can control very well."

What the workforce at Grissom can't quite control are the feathered friends that we share space with - birds.

"People think birds aren't a big deal, but they have caused accidents in the past and will cause them again in the future," Perry said.  "We have to deal with them the best that we can."

To do that Grissom has a bird aircraft strike hazard program. BASH uses a variety of measures to help minimize the risk of sharing Grissom's airspace.

From maintaining a standard height of grasses to discourage nesting, to noise deterrence and more, aircrew members can rest assured that safety is doing all they can to lessen the danger, Perry said.

However, sometimes sharing the same airspace at the same time does occur, and when it does pilots must submit bird strike reports. Safety collects the feathers and sends them to the feather identification lab at the Smithsonian Institute to help identify wildlife trends.

"I never thought I'd become a bird expert," Perry said. "But it comes with the job."

The third area of responsibility is weapon safety.

While the KC-135R Stratotanker isn't an airframe that carries weapons, the need for weapons safety has always been in place.

"The Air Force mandates that every base must have a safe-haven area for vehicles transporting explosives in the event of an emergency," said Jerry Skiles, 434th ARW weapons safety manager. "We have an identified area on the airfield we use that would minimize damage in the event of a weapons related accident."

The recent addition of an explosives ordnance unit also shaped Grissom's involvement.

We ensure that EOD has the proper facilities to store sensitive and vital equipment, Skiles said.

"We have also been involved in planning the best location for a new EOD proficiency range which evolved into a land acquisition process," Perry explained.

"This will let EOD conduct their training with minimal disturbance to the rest of the base," Skiles added.

Even with their three-pronged approach to keeping Grissom safe, accidents do occur. When they do, the safety team looks to learn from it.
"Proactive safety in all areas is essential," Perry said.  "Many times we find ourselves in a reactive situation, but we investigate and learn to ensure future mishap prevention."

"We look at trending factors of mishaps locally and Air Force-wide," said Master Sgt. Zachary Chapin, 434th ARW noncommissioned officer in charge of ground safety. "We want to identify potential problems if they exist and alert leadership so we can take preventative actions."

"The bottom line is we have to get the mission done," Perry added. "We can't take shortcuts. We can't cut corners, and we can't take unnecessary risks."

AF realigns missions to enhance nuclear support

12/10/2014 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In response to a directive from the secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff of the Air Force, the 377th Air Base Wing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will realign under Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) will reorganize, combining the AFNWC commander and Air Force program executive officer for strategic systems positions into a single two-star (O-8) position.

The realignment of the 377th ABW and reorganization of the AFNWC under Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) are designed to enhance support to the nuclear mission. The transition will phase in gradually and is scheduled to be complete in fall 2015.

"The nuclear mission is the Air Force's top priority," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. "The U.S. Air Force provides the U.S. president and our nation ready and reliable nuclear forces. Maintaining the credibility of our nuclear deterrent requires a long-term, visible commitment to sustainment, and modernization."

The AFNWC will reorganize into three directorates, two of which focus on the two Air Force legs of the nuclear triad, intercontinental ballistic missile systems and air delivered capabilities. The third directorate will focus on unique nuclear requirements and interagency engagement.

"The Air Force is always seeking to improve the ways we do business through the innovation of our Airmen and the Nuclear Enterprise is no different," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "We have identified and are in the process of improving critical mission shortfalls to ensure we remain the most credible, capable and reliable Air Force on the planet."

The 377th ABW is the host wing for Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and provides installation support to all mission partners on the base; that role will not change with this realignment under AFGSC.

"We expect the transfer to be imperceptible to the majority of Airmen at Kirtland AFB as they will continue to work for the same supervisors and units," said Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, the Air Force assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration.

Realigning the 377tg ABW and reorganizing the weapons center is one step of many the Air Force is taking along with the AFGSC and AFMC Force Improvement Programs. Force Improvement Programs are aggressive grass-roots feedback programs designed to quickly provide senior Air Force leaders with actionable recommendations for improvement.

"As long as nuclear weapons exist, there will be no mission more important than maintaining the nation's nuclear capability, ensuring strategic deterrence and assurance," James said. "The Air Force will continue to maintain this strategic capability and guarantee its credibility, as American Airmen have done for more than 60 years."

(Information courtesy of Air Force Public Affairs Agency Operating Location - P)

Recording history: One man records Laughlin's heritage

by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

12/10/2014 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Laughlin has a rich history. Her story is written by the thousands of Airmen who have lived, worked and flown here in the base's 74 year history, and Laughlin's lineage and honors can be traced to several key moments in U.S. history.

Helping to preserve these stories and the legacy of the world's second largest pilot training base for future generations, is one man.

Casey Connell, 47th Flying Training Wing historian, is responsible for crafting the wing's narrative each year for the Air Force, and for helping anyone interested in Laughlin's, and the Air Force's, history.

"History is important to all of us," Connell said. "It's important to our sense of place, where we are at, and where we are from. When people think of Air Force history they usually think of things such as the Doolittle Raid and the bombing of Nagasaki, but history is also about the guy just looking for his old service record. Finding an old photo of one's service is important to a person who thought it was lost forever, and that personal history means more to them then Doolittle."

Connell arrived at Laughlin two months ago from Kadena Air Base, Japan, where he worked as the historian for the 18th Wing. Now, Connell calls Laughlin, a town much larger than his birth place of Luverne, Minnesota, home.

"I like Laughlin," Connell said. "I like the idea that I'm learning about how we train pilots. I'm going backwards, I've seen how pilots perform their duties and now I'm seeing and recording where they come from. Without pilots and planes there is no Air Force and no story."

As the wing's historian, Connell must interview personnel and research reports, memos and other various documents to help him breakdown the base's organizational structure, mission, training, aircraft maintenance, safety issues, exercises and awards, into a massive report each year for the Air Force.

"This is a comprehensive look at the base in totality," said Connell. "It's everything that goes on at the base."

This report is only a small part of what Connell considers his real responsibility here, which is helping to ensure no Airmen's legacy is lost, no matter how simple or insignificant it may seem, he explained.

"I think about all of the stories that might never be told," Connell said. "We are in the Air Force, but obviously not everyone is, so we have to promote our history and tell these stories. History provides the frame work for the heritage and institutional memory of the Air Force and all of us are a part of that record. Even if you just worked in the military personnel flight for 20 years, you provided a piece of history that lets us move forward."

From a woman who finds old photos of her grandfather's service in an attic, to the war journal of a vet, it's these small mementos that Connell hopes to collect, catalogue and pass on while here, he explained.

"Most people think it's my job to solely tell our story but story telling is only possible if you, the Airman, write your story," said Connell. "If you have photos or a journal from your service you might consider giving the Air Force those things. Those things show us a piece we might not otherwise see."

This storytelling is why Connell loves his job, and why he hopes to get out and show Laughlin what a historian is all about.

"I'm not an expert on the Air Force, I'm still learning," said Connell. "I need to know more about maintenance and flight operations, because my job is to become an expert at the Air Force. I need to, and want to, talk with you. How can I write about Laughlin's history if I don't talk and connect with people?"

If you have a story to tell or just want to talk history, Connell's door is always open.

"This isn't a job, it's a passion," said Connell. "I love history and talking to people about it. You learn more by talking to people about it. Help me build a bigger story from the little stories."

219th SFS: Good Samaritans

by Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

12/9/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D.  -- Once the black cloud of smoke faded away, the scene became clear again. Two vehicles, crushed into each other and a nearby telephone pole: a tangled wreck of metal and glass sitting on the side of the freeway with passengers inside.

Not sure what they would find when they approached the crash, two Minot Airman were the first to respond to the accident after they watched it through their own windshield. Calling out, and pushing back the debris, they found that miraculously, no one was hurt.

"All we saw was a collision, a cloud of smoke, and the telephone pole come down," said Master Sgt. Paul Skees, 219th Security Forces Squadron, who was returning from downtown Minot with Master Sgt. Cody Chick, 219th SFS, when they witnessed the crash.

Two pickup trucks, one northbound, another crossing the interstate traveling East, found each other in the Ruthville intersection.

"We came up on the scene, and all the airbags were deployed," Chick explained. "That was when we called the local authorities."

Expecting to find lifeless bodies, the Airmen were amazed to find all four passengers -- two women in one vehicle, and one woman with her dog in the other -- virtually unharmed.

"There was maybe a scratch on one person," Chick explained. "This was incredible for that collision."

Chick and Skees both explained their surprise at the minor injuries in the wreck, and how lucky all the passengers were to be alive.

Once authorities arrived one scene, Chick and Skees returned to their post on base, they took with the m an important lesson; and although it may be a safety briefing cliché, they understood the importance of vehicle safety.

"That was just a prime example of how airbags and seatbelts save lives," added Skees.

The Chairman, The Stars, The Cupcakes

By Lt. David Carter and Morgan Over, Naval Station Rota, Spain Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff joined several celebrities at Naval Station Rota, Spain, as their first stop on the USO Holiday Troop Visit tour, Dec. 6.

Gen. Martin Dempsey and his wife, Deanie, made their fourth USO Holiday Tour visit and were joined by celebrities including actor-comedian Rob Riggle, country music star Kellie Pickler, Washington Nationals pitcher Doug Fister, former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, and actresses Meghan Markle and Dianna Agron.

Not only did they bring talent, jokes, and motivation but they also hand-delivered nearly 200 dozen cupcakes from a bakery in Washington, D.C.

During the daylong visit the Dempseys and celebrities visited Sailors aboard USS Ross (DDG 71), dined with service members at the base galley, then entertained the crowd of nearly 1,500 with jokes, poems, songs, and words of appreciation.

"It's the holidays and we should remember all the things we are and should be thankful for, but I hope you're as proud of what you do as we are of what you do," said Dempsey.

Aboard Ross, Dempsey and the celebrities toured spaces and were briefed on Ross' capabilities as well as her recent patrol. Following the tour, Dempsey held an all-hands call during which he highlighted Ross' resolve and praised the crew's aptitude.

"I'm really, really glad you're on our side because when I see the kind of capability that we bring to bear and the technology we bring to bear I always remember that we can always have the best technology in the world but if it wasn't for you, the best and brightest of America who are willing to leave their homes and forward deploy, if we didn't have you willing to do that, we wouldn't be the country we are," said Dempsey.

Highlighting Ross' role in the NATO and European Phased Adaptive Approach of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), Dempsey left a message for those aboard the ship as well as providing support from the base.

"They're in such an incredible strategic location, nearly where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean ... and with all the challenges we have in the Middle East and North and West Africa in addition to the BMD missions, I want them to know they're in the right place at the right time for their country," he said.

The USO show was filled comedy, music, and heartfelt appreciation from the celebrities.

"You guys have gone out there, sacrificing for us and we wouldn't be able to do the things we do without you guys," said Fister. "It's something that doesn't go unnoticed and we're definitely supporting from home."

Markle echoed Fister's sentiments and remarked about how meeting the troops amplified the connecting she felt to the base.

"Hearing their stories, where they're from, who their families are and just having that connection to the base made it so real," said Markle. "Today has been a day filled with a lot of chills and a lot of tears."

The visit coincided with Morale, Welfare and Recreation Rota's Holiday Wonderland celebration, which brought a special visit from Santa via a Spanish helicopter. This year's event featured a train ride, games, and even snow.

"Holiday Wonderland is one of our largest annual events and we have been trying to raise the bar every year," said Paul Savarese, Rota's MWR director. "Two months of planning and coordination was evident in the execution, as an all-star team of professionals from a number of local departments and commands came together and created something very memorable for NAVSTA Rota. It was something we are all very proud to be a part of and will remember for the rest of our careers."

Louisville visits Singapore during Western Pacific deployment

By Ensign Hobart K. Kistler, USS Louisville Public Affairs

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Louisville (SSN 724) arrived at Changi Naval Base Dec. 5 for a port call as part of her deployment to the Western Pacific.

With an augmented complement of nearly 170 officers and men, Louisville showcased the latest capabilities of the submarine fleet in her latest mission.

"Louisville brings to the theater a very capable multimission platform with nearly unlimited endurance for independent operations," said Cmdr. Bob Figgs, Louisville's commanding officer. "My highly-trained crew is proficient in all core mission capabilities, from open ocean anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare; to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and precision land strike.

"They have worked tirelessly to prepare for and execute the first two months of our ... deployment, and I could not be prouder of their accomplishments. I know that my officers and crew are looking forward to some well-deserved liberty here in Singapore."

Measuring more than 360-feet long and weighing more than 6,000 tons when submerged, Louisville is one of the stealthiest, most modern attack submarines in the world. Louisville's stealth, mobility, endurance, and firepower allow this covert, multimission platform to operate independently or in conjunction with a carrier strike group or joint forces to support the interests of the United States wherever and whenever needed.

"Each and every member of our crew has devoted a lot of time, hard work, and energy towards preparing themselves and Louisville for this deployment," said Master Chief Fire Control Technician Larry Williams, chief of the boat. "It is only because of the crew members that we are successful as a team. I am excited for the crew to be able to do what a lot of them have joined the Navy to do: see overseas countries and represent the U.S. Navy well.

"This liberty port call is definitely well deserved by the crew, and each and every one of them has been looking forward to the visit," said Williams.

For many of Louisville's crew, this is their first time visiting Singapore.

"Growing up in rural California, I never dreamed I would one day find myself exploring Southeast Asia," said Machinist Mate 3rd Class Robert Hollister. "My shipmates and I cannot wait to try some hawker food, visit the famous Singapore Zoo, and hit the beaches!"

Previous deployments have earned Louisville numerous decorations and a place in submarine history. In 1991, Louisville supported Operation Desert Storm by traveling more than 14,000 miles to be the first submarine to launch Tomahawk missiles in a time of war. In 2003, she returned to the Red Sea to support Operation Iraqi Freedom with another successful Tomahawk strike.

Louisville is the fourth United States ship to be named for Louisville, Kentucky. Commissioned Nov. 8, 1986, at Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, she is the 35th nuclear powered fast-attack submarine of the Los Angeles class.

Louisville is homeported at Hawaii's Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.