ALCOM, USCG District 17 host Arctic General Officer/Flag Officer conference

by Tech. Sgt. John Gordinier
Alaskan Command Public Affairs

5/12/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- Alaskan Command and U.S. Coast Guard District 17 hosted an Arctic General Officer/Flag Officer (GO/FO) Conference April 29 - May 1, which included flag officers and senior enlisted leaders from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska National Guard and Canadian Forces, to strengthen partnerships and discuss future Arctic and Alaskan challenges and joint capabilities.

"The GO/FO conference presents an ideal way to bring Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security leaders together to discuss current and future Arctic issues and challenges," said Lt. Gen. Russ Handy, commander of Alaskan Command.  "This is particularly pertinent for us, given the recent transition of the chairmanship of the Arctic Council to the U.S."

"Another purpose of the conference is to increase capabilities, bring forces together from a variety of different components, joint and coalition, in order to increase our understanding and collective capabilities," Handy continued. "That way, if a crisis occurs and you are thrust into a partnership and leadership responsibility, we will be better prepared and understand each other's capabilities to enhance our ability to save lives and shift the tide of a contingency."

For this GO/FO conference, the attendees visited U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Alaska, to better understand Alaska Coast Guard capabilities, assets, missions, as well as present and future challenges.

"Our units work very closely with District 17 on a daily basis," said Handy. "This conference will help us all understand what they do day-to-day. Also, our Canadian partners have a big area of responsibility and it's right next to ours, so we have to be ready at a moment's notice to partner on large issues in the context of an evolving Arctic environment. These issues are becoming more and more important so we need to build those relationships and it is better to build them in the context of a learning environment versus during a catastrophe or crisis."

The conference itinerary included briefings on Coast Guard missions, operations area, and assets and responsibilities by Rear Admiral Daniel Abel, District 17 commander, and Captain Jeffery Westling, Base Kodiak commander. The attendees toured Kodiak's North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center, which is a school house designed to educate Coast Guardsmen on their job responsibilities such as Alaska fishing rules and regulations, types of fish in Alaskan waters and proper emergency and water survival gear.

After the schoolhouse visit the flag officers and senior enlisted leaders toured the Cutter MUNRO and Buoy Tender SPAR maritime vessels. They were briefed by several Coast Guardsmen on ship performance, missions, capabilities and the daily life aboard the ships in Alaska.

After touring the Coast Guard's maritime assets, the group viewed air assets at the air station, with briefings and static displays of the C-130 Hercules, UH-60  Jayhawks and UH-65 Dolphins by aircrew and rescue swimmers.

"There is some heroic Coast Guard activity here in Kodiak," Handy said. "This was the perfect place to conduct the GO/FO conference. During the Coast Guard tour we were thinking, 'wow, I didn't know that' or 'that's interesting, how can that apply to this emergency situation?'  What the Coast Guard does in Alaska is very strategically important."

"As a leader, you never want the first conversation to be in the moment of crisis," said Royal Canadian Navy Rear Admiral William S. Truelove, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force-Pacific. "You want to have (relationships built) in advance and it's through mechanisms like these that make that happen. Whatever future (possible) scenarios we are talking about, when it hits, it's not going to recognize any borders."

Equipment specialist saves AF money building simulator

by Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

5/12/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- Jolly Tangog found his niche in a job he didn't even know the description of when he applied for it - but it fit his skill set perfectly and allowed him to build something new.

Just a few months into his work as equipment specialist with Air Force engineering and technical services for the 732nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Tangog, a retired Air Force Master Sgt., noticed his leadership was looking for ways to save money on training. At the same time, he had an idea - he wanted to build a C-5M Super Galaxy maintenance trainer to train Airmen at JBER instead of sending them to the Lower 48.

The aircraft doesn't stop by JBER often, but per Air Force Instruction 21-101 "Aircraft and Equipment Maintenance Management," the Airmen still need to be proficient at it when they do.

"We needed something to train our folks, but at the same time, we couldn't break the bank," he said. "We were just talking one day and I brought this idea up. We normally sent people [to the Lower 48] to train in a simulator where the flight instruments are panels hanging on walls. That's it; they teach that way."

Tangog noted that they couldn't bring the maintenance up to Alaska, and it was costing too much to send people to it. So he decided to build a simulator.

The stars appeared to line up again, the equipment specialist said, and his leadership saw his idea as exactly the type they had been looking for.

"This trainer allows us to keep our competencies up without sending people to training so they can better serve the mission," Atkinson said. "It's a home run all the way for a $600 investment. A trip for the training costs about $1,500 a person a class. Take that times however many people and you're saving thousands of dollars, and keeping the Airmen home with their families and working on the line instead of being away."

"I went one step further than the normal training does - I put it in the correct position by building the maintenance trainer," Tangog said, describing the desk-sized wooden cockpit with printed panels and instruments. "Jason Bradford, a 732nd AMS conveyor maintainer who welds and does wood work, helped me out a lot; he runs a wood shop. I drew out the diagrams and measurements. He had all the tools and we bought the materials through the proper channels. It took us about a month from the conception to building it. It was a team effort."

"I love it," said Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew Atkinson, 732nd AMS commander. "I thought Mr. Tangog had great initiative; the fact that he could start it by himself was awesome, and save us a lot of money and, more importantly, Airmen's time."

Because it's in its infancy, the simulator isn't intended to replace real training yet.

"It's not enough to become proficient," he explained. "But it will get Airmen in the ball park; they'll be able to identify switches on panels and where they are located. They'll be able to follow a checklist, every graphic simulating a switch or dial is located exactly where it would be on the aircraft. I tried to make it as accurate as possible by using technical manuals and information from other sources."

Use of the trainer will be available by the end of the the year, Tangog said.

Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Course Kicks Off in Miami

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam Henderson, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

MIAMI (NNS) -- The Naval War College conducted a Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Officer Course at U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Miami Florida, May 4-8.

This year marks the second offering of the CFMCC Course for the U.S. Southern Command area of operation. The course is comprised of admirals and senior captains from Brazil, Canada, Chile Colombia, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, Netherlands, Uruguay and the United States. These senior naval leaders met in Miami to discuss topics such as command and control, multinational operations, information-sharing and maritime security.

Among the speakers were the commanders of U.S. Southern Command the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations and the Colombian Chief of Naval Operations.

"The CFMCC Course provides a wonderful opportunity for partner navies to network leading to a better understanding of each other's security challenges and concerns," said Rear Adm. George Ballance, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. "Forging such an understanding builds trust and confidence, which is an indispensable commodity as we work together to address our common security challenges."

Twenty-one executive-level attendees received a series of presentations and participated in advanced discussions with senior leaders and subject matter experts to develop perspectives for the effective employment of maritime forces in a joint, coalition and/or interagency environment.

The CFMCC Course gives these officers the chance to foster a network of international military leaders who can work together in support of theater and regional cooperation agreements.

The value of these relationships have been proven in recent years as the U.S. Navy and other countries participate in exercises and humanitarian missions such as Continuing Promise, UNITAS and PANAMAX.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet support U.S. Southern Command's joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Carl Vinson Strike Group Conducts Exercises With Royal Malaysian Military

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Travis S. Alston, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron 1 participated in various bi-lateral training events May 10 in the South China Sea with Malaysian air and surface units in support of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet theater security cooperation objectives.

The strike group conducted a photo exercise (PHOTOEX), a 5-inch gun exercise, dissimilar air combat training (DACT), and concluded with an expendable maneuverable acoustic training target (EMATT) exercise.

"We greatly value our relationship with the Royal Malaysian military," said Rear Adm. Chris Grady, Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group commander. "Exercises like these are mutually beneficial and show our commitment to nurturing and deepening our bi-lateral ties with partner nations throughout the region."

During the DACT portion of the training, CVW 17 F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets joined Malaysian SU-30, MiG-29N, and FA-18D Hornets to train in multiple combat scenarios. Events ranged from single aircraft engaging single aircraft to complex multi-aircraft combat scenarios. With the Malaysian SU-30s maneuvering at speeds estimated close to Mach 1, training was aggressive and realistic.

The EMATT exercise allowed the guided-missile USS Gridley (DDG 101) to work with their Royal Malaysian Navy counterpart, KD LEKIR (FGS 26), and practice dual-ship anti-submarine warfare.

"The EMATT exercise allowed both U.S. and Malaysian navies to track a live target that was threat representative," said Lt. Cmdr. Shelby Nikitin, DESRON 1 operations officer. "This was excellent practice for both. We were impressed with the capabilities of the Royal Malaysian Navy."

"Exercises like this validate our training and allows us to see what our aircraft can do," said Cmdr. Dwayne Ducommun, CVNSG operations officer. "When you're flying the same aircraft that you are fighting or training against, it comes down to the skill of the pilot, but when you have aircraft that aren't the same, both technology and the skill of the pilot are tested."

Ducommun explained the benefit of this type of training and the significance of its impact on future operations.

"It is very important for our military and our foreign counterparts to conduct this type of training routinely," said Ducommun. "It shows how devoted we are to our maritime partners, and how much we value the mutual training."

The United States and Malaysia share a diverse and expanding partnership and cooperate closely on a number of security matters, including counterterrorism, maritime domain awareness, and regional stability.

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Sunliners CO Achieves 1000th Trap

From USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- Cmdr. Brett "Spaz" Dresden, commanding officer of the "Sunliners of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81, flew a sortie that would garner him a career milestone and his 1,000th carrier arrested landing, or "trap," in an F/A-18E Super Hornet aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), May 9.

Capt. Matthew Leahey, CVW 17 commander, explained the significance and the dedication required to achieve this career milestone.

"Skipper Dresden's 1000th trap symbolizes a career dedicated to flying aircraft from carriers at sea, over a long period of time. Aircrew don't get to 1,000 traps without continually pursuing sea duty and spending the

majority of their career at sea, on cruise, away from their family," said Leahey.

"Hats off to the entire Sunliner family for achieving this milestone for their Skipper as they wrap up a fantastic combat cruise," added Leahey.

Dresden expressed his gratitude to the team and recognized them as an integral part in this achievement.

"This milestone speaks to the dedication of not only the "Sunliners" and Carrier Air Wing 17, but to

all of the fine men and women who serve, to include all the Sailors aboard aircraft carriers who make Naval

aviation possible," said Dresden. "Everyone plays an important role, and this moment couldn't be achieved

without them. It is truly an honor to serve."

Dresden and the "Sunliners" are in the home stretch of a nearly 10-month deployment assigned to CVW 17 embarked on board Carl Vinson. VFA 81 has conducted six months of combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve during this deployment.

Carl Vinson is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.