20th CES wins conservation award

by Airman 1st Class Diana M. Cossaboom
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/4/2015 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.  -- The 20th Civil Engineer Squadron installation management flight, here, was awarded the General Thomas D. White Natural Resources Conservation Award for the large base installation category.

The Air Force level award recognized the team for their dedication and excellence in the conservation of natural resources.

"It's a great honor to win this prestigious award and receive recognition by the Air Force," said Nicholas Muszynski, 20th CES chief of environmental programs . "This award underscores the important work done by our professional and dedicated Natural Resources staff."

General Thomas D. White, the fourth Chief of Staff of the Air Force, provided leadership in the establishment of Air Force environmental programs, and the purpose of the award is to promote excellence in every aspect of the Air Force environmental programs.

The Natural Resources Conservation Award is given out every other year and encompasses a two year time period.

The award overarches everything the Natural Resources team does, said Ronald June, 20th CES chief of natural and cultural resources.

One of the main focuses of the natural resources team is the conservation of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, an endangered species.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker does well on the bombing range and is unaffected by the air to ground bombing mission. The target areas are so small, and there are such large buffer areas, it's a good place for promoting endangered species without ill effects to them, said June.

The Natural Resources team has been able to increase the Red-cockaded Woodpecker population on Poinsett Electronic Combat Range by 800 percent.

"(The award) highlights the importance of our efforts to protect and enhance the environment; but most importantly, how we support the mission of Shaw AFB," said Muszynski. "I am extremely proud of our Natural Resource staff in their achievement and accomplishments."

Shaw's natural resources team was the first to create a Regional Wildland Fire Team in the Air Force which has been used to provide prescribed burns throughout Poinsett.

The prescribed burns reduced wildfires on the range by 95 percent which resulted in minimizing negative impacts on Shaw's flying mission while enhancing the timber and wildlife habitat.

Prescribed burning and the conservation of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker are just a few of the plethora of programs the Natural Resources team has.

"We put forth a team effort with a lot of passion and we believe in what we do, and we work hard to make it better," said June.

The team is also being submitted for the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards, Natural Resources for a large installation where their package will be reviewed against award winners from other branches of the military.

The 20th CES Natural Resources team has received the Natural Resources award twice, in 1995 and again in 2006, and was also awarded the Natural Resources Team Award in 2001.

The teams' dedication and commitment to the conservation of Natural Resources is shown through their past and present accomplishments in achieving the goals they set while supporting the flying mission, ensuring the safety for both Airmen and endangered species combined.

NATO allies pay final respects

by Airman 1st Class Erin R. Babis
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/3/2015 - ALBACETE AIR BASE, Spain  -- Two ceremonies were held at Los Llanos Air Base, Spain, to honor the 11 airmen from the Greek and French air forces who lost their lives following an aircraft crash at Tactical Leadership Programme 2015-1,  a flying training course that develops interoperability amongst NATO  allies.

During the French memorial ceremony Jan. 29, Liberty Airmen came together with military members of several NATO nations to pay their respects.

"Part of TLP's mission is to bring our NATO partners together on a single stage and train the way we fight - as a coalition," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Douglas Sirk, TLP academic and doctrine branch chief.  "Even though this flying course ended prematurely with this tragic event, it helped to further strengthen our bond between our allies in arms. These events also were able to bring closure to those personnel who worked with, socialized with, and lived near their fallen comrades."

After words of encouragement and prayers from both a Spanish priest and U.S. Air Force chaplain, Capt. James Bond, the Liberty Airmen and NATO allies carried the fallen French airmen to the aircraft that would take them home.

Family and friends, followed by all the service members in attendance, formed a procession out to the aircraft to say goodbye and to honor the fallen with a final salute. Service members from every NATO nation in attendance stood at attention in one formation as the aircraft took off for France.

"The memorial ceremony was a very somber event where everyone involved showed a significant level of strength and community with our NATO partners," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Caleb Guthmann, 492nd Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations.

The leadership program began Jan. 19. It was at the start of the second week, when the aircraft crash occurred, Jan. 26.

"Our Airmen created many new friendships that, in some cases, were tragically cut short," Guthmann said. "Going through a travesty such as this, our team here in Albacete has tightened the bonds and shown incredible fortitude and bravery in the midst of a horrible tragedy."

"Through this experience we have seen our airmen rise up in highly stressful and incomprehensible situations," Guthmann added. "They have shown amazing courage, and I could not be more proud of our 48th Fighter Wing team."

Many Liberty Airmen became heroes the day of the accident, rushing to the crash site to save the lives of fellow NATO airmen who were unable to escape on their own.

"I am very proud of our USAF team; the members who helped save people from the burning wreckage, the folks driving the injured to the hospital, the individuals carrying out my directives, the Airmen doing a head count to ensure all people were accounted for, and the volunteers who served as pall bearers and honor guard," Sirk said. "You are all heroes and I am very proud to have had you on our team that fateful Monday afternoon."

US Airmen clean Greek beach during training deployment

by Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/4/2015 - SOUDA BAY, Greece  -- Fifteen Airmen assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, cleaned a beach near Chania, Greece, Jan. 30.

The Airmen volunteered to clean up the beach during their downtime from a bilateral flying training deployment between the U.S. and Hellenic air forces at Souda Bay, Greece.

"One weekend, we came here, saw the water and thought it was very beautiful," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Marcee, a 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels journeyman and event coordinator. "Three of us went rock-climbing along the sides, and we came on a part of the beach that we decided to clean up."

Marcee said organizing the cleanup while on temporary duty had its limitations when compared to organizing an event at your home base. Yet he said the support of his first sergeant and chaplain's staff as well as through word-of-mouth exceeded his expectations for the day.

"We gathered about 20 bags and I'd say about 150 pounds of trash," he said. "More people showed up than I thought, even with it being a Saturday."

Marcee's drive to help out during the FTD also matched the enthusiasm of his wingmen, like U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Wells, a 52nd LRS fuels distribution supervisor.

"We came here for work, but we can also give back to the local community," Wells said. "We saw it last time here on a trip to relax on the beach, and that's how we came up with the idea. Greece is the most beautiful country that I have visited."

Wolf Pack Airmen provide 100% safety, accuracy at Buddy Wing 15-2

by Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/4/2015 - DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea  -- Hours before aerial formations can be seen flying over Daegu Air Base, Republic of Korea, 8th Fighter Wing crew chiefs taxi to the runway to prepare for pre-flight inspections. Sortie after sortie, they marshal the pilots and conduct pre- and post-flight inspections with 100 percent accuracy, every time.

To meet the 7th Air Force operations tasking requirements for Exercise Buddy Wing 15-2, enlisted personnel from the 8th FW deployed with four F-16 Fighting Falcons to provide security, maintenance and operations support with their ROK Air Force counterparts.

"Crew chiefs are the first and the last person to see the F-16s before they're in the air," said Senior Airman Randi Stroup, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "At the end of the day, the aircraft is our responsibility. Not only are we performing pre-flight and post-flight inspections during Buddy Wing, it is our job to coordinate all servicing, so we have to be extremely broad subject matter experts."

While some Airmen deployed to Daegu were joined by many from their squadrons and units, others were the sole member from the Wolf Pack deployed in their career field.

"As an aircrew flight equipment journeyman, 100 percent accuracy in my job is crucial to the safety of the aircrew," said Senior Airman John Temple, 8th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman. "I only work alongside two ROKAF members [during this exercise], and it's been great to see that even though we come from two different cultures, when it comes to our job, we all take pride in providing safe and reliable equipment. This way, at the end of the day, the pilots always make it home safe."

Conducting Buddy Wing exercises quarterly enables U.S. Air Force and ROKAF Airmen to increase interoperability by overcoming various cultural and language barriers.

"Exercises like Buddy Wing give junior enlisted Airmen an opportunity to see the application of pilot training with our international partners," said Senior Master Sgt. Jason Pedone, 80th Aircraft Maintenance Unit lead production superintendent and Buddy Wing maintenance project officer. "This is a good opportunity for the handpicked 'best-of-the best' in the unit to go on a small deployment and to operate without their full support structure. In my mind, this exercise epitomizes excellence in all we do, and I'm proud of the work our Airmen are doing in this exercise."

Carter Pledges to Help Resolve DoD Budget Issues

By Cheryl Pellerin

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2015 – President Barack Obama’s defense secretary nominee this morning pledged to protect the nation and its allies in a turbulent world and to work with Congress to find a way through defense budget turmoil and the looming spending cuts of sequestration.

Ash Carter, who served as deputy secretary of defense from October 2011 to December 2013 and was the Pentagon’s acquisition chief before that, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee considering his nomination that he very much hopes to find a way with them out of the “wilderness of sequester.”

Sequestration spending cuts are scheduled to take effect in 2016 unless Congress changes current budget law.

“Sequester is risky to our defense,” he said. “It introduces turbulence and uncertainty that are wasteful and conveys a misleadingly diminished picture of our power in the eyes of friends and foes alike.”

Carter said that if he is confirmed as defense secretary, his responsibilities will be to protect America and its friends and allies in a turbulent and dangerous world.

Dangers to the Nation

The dangers include continuing turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, “malignant and savage terrorism” emanating from the region, an ongoing war in Afghanistan and a reversion to old-style security thinking in parts of Europe, Carter told the Senate panel.

Dangers to the nation and its allies and friends also may arise from long-standing past tensions and rapid changes in Asia, a continuing need for the stabilizing U.S. role in that region, a continuing imperative to counter the spread or use of weapons of mass destruction, and dangers in new domains such as cyber, he said.

“Strategy,” Carter added, “needs to keep all these problems in perspective and to craft lasting approaches to each of them.”

Despite these challenges, he said, “I never lose sight of the fact that the United States remains the strongest, most resilient and most influential nation on earth.”

World’s Finest Fighting Force

The United States has the finest fighting force the world has ever known, and an innovative economy that has long set the pace for the rest of the world, he said.

“Our country has friends and allies in every corner of the world, and our adversaries have few,” Carter said. “This is clear testimony to the appeal of our values, our principles and our leadership. All this makes me proud and hopeful and determined to grab hold of the bright opportunities in front of us, as well as to counter the very real dangers we face.”

Carter said he promised the president that as defense secretary he would offer Obama his most candid strategic advice.

“In formulating that advice, I intend to confer widely among civilian and military leaders, including [those] on this committee, and among experts and foreign partners,” he added. “And when the president makes a decision, I will also ensure that the Department of Defense implements it with [the department’s] long-admired excellence.”

Carter said he also would ensure that the president receives candid professional military advice, as is consonant with the law and with good sense, “since our military leaders possess wide and deep experience and expertise.”

Supporting Relief from Sequester Caps

On the fiscal year 2016 budget proposal submitted this week, Carter said he’s unfamiliar with the details. But he pledged, if confirmed, to come back before the committee for a full posture hearing to discuss those details.

“But I strongly support the president’s request for relief from the sequester caps in [fiscal] 2016 and through the future-year defense plan,” he told the panel.

Carter said he would do his part if confirmed to help the president work with Congress to resolve the defense budget and other issues of the country’s fiscal future.

“But I cannot suggest support and stability for the defense budget without at the same time frankly noting that not every defense dollar is spent as well as it should be,” he said.

Making the Defense Budget Work

“The taxpayer cannot comprehend, let alone support, the defense budget when they read … of cost overruns, lack of accounting and accountability, needless overhead and the like,” Carter said. “This must stop.” Every company, state and city in the country has had to lean itself out in recent years, he added, and it should be no different for the Pentagon.

Carter said he began his career in defense in connection with implementing the Packard Commission’s recommendations.

The commission, formally called the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management, led by David Packard, was a federal government commission created by President Ronald Reagan’s Executive Order 12526 to study areas of defense management, including procurement.

Needed Changes in the Pentagon

“Issues and solutions change over time, as technology and industry change. They extend from acquisition -- and this is important -- to all other parts of the defense budget, [including] force size, compensation, and training as well as equipment,” Carter said.

If confirmed as defense secretary, Carter said he’d work to make needed changes in the Pentagon and to seek support from Congress, which holds the power of the purse.

“I look forward to partnership with this committee in what can be a period of historic advance,” Carter said.

Missile field defenders receive multi-cam uniforms

by Airman 1st Class Brandon Valle
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

2/3/2015 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo.  -- Security forces Airmen across 20th Air Force began receiving the new Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern uniform Feb. 2, 2015.

The OCP includes cold-weather gear, which provides seven levels of protection against the extreme conditions encountered at northern-tier bases, as well as new duty gear and personal protective equipment that has been redesigned with the missile field mission in mind.

The defenders at Minot AFB, North Dakota, Malmstrom AFB, Montana, F.E. Warren AFB and Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, are no strangers to the harsh weather those bases can bring as well as challenges typical with missile field terrain.

"They're a camouflage uniform that blends with our operating environment to provide better concealment, functionality and survivability advantages," said Lt. Col. Michelle Stringer, 20th AF director of security.

The OCP uniform is part of the Model Defender Program which provides new optics for weapons and 40 other pieces of equipment, Stinger said.

These items include ballistic glasses, new pouches, knee and elbow pads, multi-tools, plate carriers and extreme weather clothing.

"Our Airmen are vital to our national mission, and the initiative makes them the best equipped defenders in the world," she said.

When receiving the new uniforms for the first time, many Airmen expressed their excitement to get the improved uniforms.

"I think the new uniforms are really cool," said Airman Dean Fedrizzi, 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron Security Support Team. "I wasn't excited at first, but now that I see them, I'm really psyched to get them."

The first group of defenders will begin wearing the uniform Feb. 9, 2015. Distribution of the gear is expected to be complete by the end of March.

The Model Defender Program is one piece of the Force Improvement Program where leadership made wholesale changes to better empower the Airmen to ensure they had the resources needed to be effective in their jobs. The command collected more than 300 FIP recommendations from the Airmen in the field and the roll-out of the OCP uniform is one of the ideas being implemented.

A-10s provide close air support for Green Flag exercise

by Airman 1st Class Cheyenne Morigeau
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/4/2015 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Members of the 357th Fighter Squadron were given a unique opportunity to participate in Green Flag-West 15-03 during these past two weeks.

Green Flag-West 15-03 is a joint close-air support exercise with the U.S. Army taking place at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

"This is a really unique opportunity for us because we are a training unit, and do not typically go on TDYs for exercises," said Capt. Christopher Anthony, 357th FS A-10C Thunderbolt II instructor pilot.

The 357th currently trains pilots to fly the A-10C Thunderbolt II, as well as plan, coordinate, execute, and control day and night close-air support, battlefield surveillance, and reconnaissance in support of friendly ground forces.

A total of 133 personnel left for the two week temporary duty assignment, to include members from the 357th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 19 instructor pilots from the 357th FS and 355th Operational Support Squadron as well as six A-10 student pilots.

"The Green Flag-West exercise is about the joint interoperability between the U.S. Army and the Air Force," Anthony said. "We provided close-air support to the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division from Fort Wainwright, Alaska at the National Training Center."

The NTC is located at Ft. Irwin Calif., where realistic, unified land operations with unified action partners are being conducted to prepare Brigade Combat Teams and other units for combat while taking care of soldiers, civilians, and family members.

"This was great training for the instructor pilots because it gets us out of our daily routine," Anthony said. "Instead of building a tactical scenario for the students where we script everything, we didn't know what to expect until we flew out and coordinated with the joint terminal attack controllers on the ground, which is more realistic."

Not only did the 357th support the Army operations at the NTC, but they also flew four sorties in support of the U.S. Navy off the coast of San Diego. The Air Operations in Maritime Surface Warfare operation were a part of the Green Flag West exercise.

"Our pilots were able to work with our U.S. Navy assets to defend a navy surface vessel from a swarm of boats operated by the simulated opposing forces," Anthony said. "Our pilots were able to develop tactics and hone their skills in a new mission set for the A-10 Warthog."

The student pilots from class 15 ABD of the A-10C Pilot Initial Qualification Course were also given the opportunity to go TDY to train at Leach Lake at Ft. Irwin.

"We were able to take the students out of their comfort zone of Tucson and put them in a new environment," Anthony said. "They had to learn a completely new set of local area procedures as well as airspace for a two week period."

While flying their syllabus sorties, the students were able to work with JTACs for the first time to seek out targets on the ground in accordance with the close-air support joint publication.

"The TDY was an awesome opportunity," said 1st Lt. Nikki Yogi,355 Training Squadron A-10C Thunderbolt II student pilot. "It was pretty cool to hear the JTACs calling out 'good hit' after firing the gun at a tank on the range."

Anthony believes that this TDY will help these students once they reach their operational units.

"Now that these students have already gone TDY and know what to expect," Anthony said. "They will be able to help their operational unit get things set up at the TDY location, know what to expect for TDY operations, as well as know what to do to help the squadron get home."

The 357th AMU also played a huge role in the TDY. From the start of the exercise on Jan 20 to the end of flying operations Feb. 1, the 357th FS flew 118 of 118 scheduled sorties because of the tireless efforts of the crew chiefs and maintenance support personnel.

"They worked incredibly hard to support our 11 days of flying operations," Anthony said. "During the second week of operations, personnel were showing up at 0100 to accept and load the daily munitions delivery on the jets for the 0730 launch."

After being given the chance to participate in the Green Flag-West 15-03 exercise, Anthony hopes to be able to continue to participate in upcoming classes.

"It was great training for our students and our instructor pilots," Anthony said. "If we were asked to do it again, we would look forward to the opportunity."

Incirlik hosts first-ever International Customs Day event

by Senior Airman Krystal Ardrey
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

1/30/2015 - INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey  -- The 39th Air Base Wing hosted an appreciation luncheon for Incirlik Air Base's customs officials from the Ministry of Customs and Trade as part of an International Customs Day celebration, Jan. 26, here.

International Customs Day is celebrated every year on the 26th of January by the World Customs Organization to recognize international customs organizations and to focus on customs matter. The wing used this day of celebration to host Incirlik AB's first-ever ICD event, an appreciation luncheon for The Ministry of Customs and Trade staff on-base.

The Ministry of Customs and Trade is responsible for customs and trade related affairs in Turkey. The organization has an office on-base that focuses on, assists and supports the base's military customs needs, which is integral to the wing's mission.

"As a largely enforcement agency, we sometimes forget that they are the only Customs office on a military installation in the country, and that their presence on Incirlik Air Base greatly affects the accomplishment of our mission in a positive way," said Maj. Daniel Nigolian, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander.

The base's customs office supports the exporting and importing of pertinent goods and shipments to and from the 39th ABW. In particular, they support the processing and shipment of military equipment as well as ensure that Airmen and their families receive their household goods shipments and vehicles in a timely manner. Thus, the luncheon was held to show the wing's appreciation for the office's contribution to the wing.

"At the local level, it is important for our customs partners to feel that we value and respect what they do for us," Nigolian said. "A great deal of our interaction is hashing through rules and regulations, which makes the fact that we took the time to celebrate this event all the more meaningful and important to these nine local nationals."

During the luncheon, the wing also welcomed Incirlik AB's new customs director, Kerem Korkmaz. He will be the principal officer in charge of clearing all customs requests for military cargo, household goods and privately owned vehicles of U.S. personnel at Incirlik AB.

Overall, this important event served as a great step in building and strengthening customs relations on base. When asked about the significance of the event, Col. Mark Anarumo, 39th ABW vice commander, stated the event was all about showing commitment and appreciation.

"Turkish customs is a critical member of the overall Incirlik Team," Anarumo said. "We wanted to demonstrate our commitment to our partnership for the customs officials that work alongside our Airmen every day." 

Supporting Wounded, Ill and Injured Troops a DoD Priority

By Terri Moon Cronk

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2015 – It is a Defense Department top priority to provide support to wounded, ill and injured service members, their families and caregivers with support for recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into society, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for warrior care policy told a House panel today.

James Rodriguez outlined DoD’s latest wounded warrior program initiatives before members of a House Armed Services subcommittee. The director of each service’s wounded warrior program also testified on their progress.

“Today, our major combat operations are declining, but our national security challenges and responsibilities ensure all the needs of our wounded warriors are met,” Rodriguez said.

“They have the best available care and administrative management while being treated with dignity and respect from point of injury or illness to return to duty or transition from service,” he noted.

DoD Warrior Care Initiatives

DoD provides “concise policy oversight” so the services can deliver consistent, high-quality care and support for recovering service members, Rodriguez said.

Another DoD initiative includes visits to wounded warrior programs at various installations to ensure DoD policy compliance for recovery care, he added.

The department also established a quality-assurance program to standardize the services’ disability evaluation requirements, he said.

Offering more than medical care, Rodriguez said, DoD provides service members with opportunities to take part in adaptive sports and activities, professional skill-building programs, internships and employment preparation to help them transition back into civilian life.

Other DoD accomplishments include information technology systems that streamline case management. Caregiver support provides peer-to-peer forums. And an interagency care-coordination committee stretches across DoD and other agencies, he noted.

“Even as our nation reduces combat operations, our wounded, ill and injured service members will continue to exist and we must ensure our commitment to these individuals is not compromised,” Rodrigues told the panel.

“The American public and our leaders require it, and our service members and their families deserve the best services and support we can provide,” he said.