200 Years of Family Service: Midshipmen Enter Phase II

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Shayla D. Hamilton, USS George Washington Public Affairs

PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- Twenty midshipmen and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) members embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) for Phase II of their training.

Phase II is a two-week section of training that midshipmen enter during the fall semester of their first-class year.

In this phase, midshipmen formally designate officer communities that they prefer to be a part of, ranked in the order from most to least desired.

While aboard George Washington, midshipmen will get valuable shipboard training to include first-aid, damage control and small-arms weapons training. In addition, they experience shipboard damage control simulations during the ship's general quarters drills.

Among this group of future U.S. Navy officers was Midshipman 1st Robert D. Bishop from Vineland, New Jersey, a ROTC member studying Aeronautical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic College in Troy, New York. His family has more than 200 years of combined Marine Corps service, including his mother and father.

"Both of my parents are prior service members so you can only imagine the amount of impact their lifestyle had on my decision to join," said Bishop. "My mom is so happy about me being here on the ship. She's really been a team player throughout this process and I'm glad to have such a strong support system behind me."

During his training, Bishop went aboard U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships and destroyers. George Washington has been his first aircraft carrier experience.

"This time I was given the opportunity to shadow an officer, which is giving me a totally different perspective of the ship," said Bishop. "The hardest part about being on board is finding my place within the entire group of Sailors on board or just within my class."

Bishop hopes to become a pilot for the Navy after commissioning next year.

"My experience on board George Washington so far has been a learning one," said Bishop. "I'm looking forward to whatever else the GW training team has in store for us. I'm just excited to play the role given to me, whatever that might be."

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, are on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. George Washington will conduct a hull-swap with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) later this year after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.

USNS Comfort Reaches Mid-Deployment for Continuing Promise 2015 Mission

From Continuing Promise 2015 Public Affairs

PANAMA CITY, Panama (NNS) -- The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) celebrated the mid-deployment mark upon arrival in Panama City, Panama, June 30, for the crew's first liberty port during Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15).

The united effort of host nation participants and the CP-15 crew has reflected a mutual dedication to providing quality patient care and promoting the shared interests, values and commitment to the region. This has resulted in the treatment of more than 62,500 primary care patients and veterinary care to more than 3,600 animals during mission visits in Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador.

"The combined efforts and teamwork that the CP-15 crew has demonstrated working hand-in-hand with our many host nation friends and partners has made the first half of this mission both extremely successful and incredibly rewarding," said Capt. Sam Hancock, CP-15's mission commander. "We look forward to our five upcoming mission stops to continue to foster the partnerships and promote our shared interests throughout the region."

CP-15 host nation participants, partner nation participants, crew members, and non-governmental organization (NGO) volunteers have contributed to the seamless coordination of logistics, surgical screenings, patient care, engineering site projects, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), and community relations (COMREL) events.

The SMEEs have been a consistent joint effort between the host nation governments, ministries of health, local hospitals, clinics, labs and staffs. Each of the 730 SMEE topics has built upon relationships created in previous years' missions. CP-15 participants have used these opportunities to share best practices, covering multiple topics, including medical and dental care; veterinary care for all sizes of animals; men's and women's health seminars; disease pathology and treatment; vector management; biomedical repairs; and crisis response.

The CP-15 surgical team has worked alongside host nation surgeons and nurses to perform over 660 surgeries. Additional surgeries have been performed by the NGO, Operation Smile, in both Nicaragua and Panama.

"It has been a pleasure to work alongside the host nation surgeons and NGO medical providers. We have learned from one another, while building lasting relationships," said Cmdr. Timothy Powell, director of surgical services aboard Comfort. "Our greatest demand specialties have been general surgery, ophthalmology and [obstetrics and gynecology]."

The CP-15 team also includes an interventional radiologist who has performed several procedures, a new capability for the mission, according to Powell.

The engineering projects and COMREL events have played a large role in the continued commitment to Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Seabees attached to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Jacksonville, Florida, have completed 59 projects, including the construction of a library and two pavilions; the installation of doors and windows; and multiple electrical, fencing, and plumbing repairs.

The COMREL events have included dozens of visits to schools, orphanages, senior citizen homes, concerts, and sporting events alongside members of the community in each host nation. The U.S. Fleet Forces Band, Uncharted Waters, has shared their musical talents throughout the mission, performing 67 concerts at COMREL events, medical sites, and schools. The band has also taught masters classes to youths and held joint performances alongside host nation bands.

Although this port visit marks the halfway point in the mission, the crew continues to look ahead to the remaining CP-15 mission stops, which include Colombia, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Honduras.

Continuing Promise is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, subject matter expert exchanges, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support and disaster response to partner nations, and to show U.S. support and commitment to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Lt. Gen. Ray takes command of 3rd AF

by Capt. Lauren Ott
USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs

7/2/2015 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Lt. Gen. Timothy Ray took command of 3rd Air Force from Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson during a change of command ceremony here, 2 July.
Gen. Frank Gorenc, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, presided over the change of command ceremony and began with his farewell to General Roberson and his family.

"Today we say goodbye to General Roberson and his wife Cheryl. They leave an incredible record of mission accomplishment."

Gorenc went on to talk of the future of 3rd Air Force under Ray. "Yet another chapter in 3rd Air Force history comes to a close, but the good news is that under the leadership of General Ray, a new chapter begins," said Gorenc. "His experience as a bomber pilot will provide a unique view for both EUCOM and AFRICOM requirements."

Roberson, who has been selected for reassignment to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, as commander, Air Education Training Command, reflected on his time at 3rd Air Force.

"It has been a tremendous privilege to work with all the Airmen of 3rd Air Force, 17th Expeditionary Air Force, to be a part of this great USAFE-AFAFRICA staff, and to be back in Germany."

He went on to say of Ray, "I know what you're getting as your new commander, and I can tell everyone that you will see a steady, competent, and proficient general officer."

Ray comes to 3rd Air Force from the Pentagon where he served as the director of Global Power Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition.  He is a command pilot with over 4,000 flight hours in seven different aircraft.
The general expressed his gratitude toward Roberson and thanked him for his leadership.
Ray then addressed the men and women of the 3rd Air Force, 17th Expeditionary Air Force, "we stand at the strategic crossroads of the world, at an incredibly important time," he said. "You will be the difference between peace and stability, and the success and failure of the combined and joint team, and I believe that to my very core. I just pledge to you my utmost leadership in these coming years."
As 3rd Air Force Commander, Ray will be responsible for the headquarters operations directorate, the 603rd Air Operations Center, and 10 wings consisting of more than 32,000 personnel.

Flat tire

by Staff Sgt. Jarad A. Denton
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs

7/1/2015 - RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom  -- A steady stream of cars and trucks sped past along the highway as she looked down at the flat tire which seemed to embody everything going wrong in her life.

She felt her belly move, as the baby inside shifted position. Not long to go before the big day, and her husband was in the hospital with pneumonia.

"Perfect," she sighed, as cars continued to pass her.

Squaring her shoulders, Janet Driggers set her gaze down the road and started walking. It was a long way to the nearest service station, and it didn't look like help was coming.

Years later, the memory is still powerful for Driggers.

"When I think back on it, it seemed to happen all in a day," Driggers, the 501st Combat Support Wing key spouse, said, as she sat across a table from Katy Shipman inside the Stukeley Inn on RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom. "It seemed like the events just fell like dominos. Everything just went wrong and the chips kept falling."

Shipman, a key spouse with the 423rd Medical Squadron, smiled and nodded. Adaptability and resiliency seem to be common themes associated with military permanent change of station moves, she said.

"I don't think we were mentally prepared for the challenges we would face right before we PCS'd here," Shipman said. "We have only been here for a year, and it's just starting to feel comfortable. As a key spouse, that is a goal for me - to help other spouses get through that."

As part of a standardized program across the U.S. Air Force, key spouses like Driggers and Shipman volunteer their time to establish personal and continuous contact with military families, while promoting individual, family and unit readiness. For Driggers, the motivation to serve as a link between spouses and wing leadership came from what she called her, "nightmare PCS."

"I just kept saying, 'when's the next thing going to happen," Driggers said. "It was almost laughable, at some points. We kept wondering what else could go wrong. We made it to Tyndall Air Force Base, in Florida - they lost our luggage, of course, so we end up camping out in temporary lodging. There were issues closing on our house - the first one we had ever bought, and boy did we make every mistake I think you can make."

She laughed for a moment, reflecting on the absurdity of the compounding situation. However, the smile soon faded as Driggers paused and looked down.

"Then we found out that some of our best friends from our squadron back at RAF Lakenheath were killed in an F-15 crash," she said. "We couldn't get back. I couldn't fly because of my pregnancy, and I was just completely stressed with it all."

Driggers recalled sitting in her bare house on an inflatable mattress, waiting for their household goods to arrive and trying to figure out how she was going to solve all the issues that seemed to keep popping up.

"My water broke, of course," she said. "I remember thinking, 'I can't have a baby because our household goods are showing up in the morning.'"

Unsure of where to turn, the couple reached out to their squadron and explained the situation. All they asked, all they expected, was for someone to be there and accept their household goods.

"Come to find out, these people we barely knew opened their arms and welcomed us," Driggers said. "They finished painting the nursery, hung chair rail, left a 'Moses' basket, because we didn't even have a crib at that point. These strangers put our furniture together, filled our fridge with food and brought baby clothes."

She shook her head, still unable to believe how much the squadron did to help her family through a difficult time.

"How do you pay that back - you can't pay that back," she asked, rhetorically. "I was so touched by how they all came together it instills the belief that the Air Force is my family. There was no way I could ever pay that back, but it did inspire me to do the best I can for the rest of our Air Force career to pay it forward."

Since that day, Driggers has dedicated her time as a key spouse - helping and mentoring wherever and however she can. She has worked with fellow spouses at the 501st to raise awareness of the program and get more people involved.

"It's tough sometimes," Shipman said. "We run into problems trying to get people involved, especially when their spouses are deployed. I think it's important they know we all go through this together."

Driggers nodded. Having faced the same issue in the past, she said one of the best ways to reach out to spouses is to explain what a key spouse is, and what they can do for Air Force families.

"We are tethers to information, resources and people who can help spouses when they need it," Driggers said. "I also think every unit has an identity, and it's up to us to instill a sense of pride with the spouses of that particular unit."

Shipman agreed, as the pair exchanged ideas on how to genuinely build a social network of spouses within the 501st community. From business cards, to welcome letters and social media engagements the two key spouses discussed a plethora of ways they could reach out and support their Air Force family.

"I think it's important to think back to when you first got here," Driggers said. "What would you like to have known? Providing spouses with a 'pre-arrival' and 'post-arrival' plan could be really helpful, especially when trying to settle into a new country."

Reaching out to spouses without pressuring them was a primary concern for Shipman.

"They talk about how you marry into the military," Shipman said. "The military really becomes your lifestyle, but I want to make sure and respect the spouses who have separate lives outside the service. Maybe the spouse doesn't want to get involved, but I at least want to give them the option."

Driggers smiled and nodded. Looking toward her next move, Driggers said she was glad the 501st key spouse program was in good hands. She and Shipman both walked away from the table with realistic and sustainable ideas.

"I care about the Air Force, I care about our country and I care about our people," Driggers said. "If I can just do something to matter, even if it's helping one person, I'll be happy. I want to help in a way that continues to pay it forward."

Smiling again, Driggers said it was hard to believe that one flat tire and a series of unfortunate events could have led to one of her family's best assignments, and a future devotion to ensuring her family and the Air Force family are taken care of with equal care and passion.

"I am so grateful for where we are, and the people we met at the 501st," Driggers said. "I always try to bloom where I am planted, and the people at this wing really made it easy to do that. I am going to miss them all terribly."

Weeks later, as Driggers packed the last of her household goods into her car, she paused and looked down at the vehicle. She smiled and shook her head at the flat tire that now seemed to embody great days on the horizon.

"Perfect," she said, as she loaded the box into the car - ready to meet this new adventure head on.

Dempsey Releases National Military Strategy

By Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2015 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff cannot predict exactly where the next threat to the United States and its interests may come from, but he knows it will happen faster than in the past and the U.S. military must be prepared.

The National Military Strategy released today by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey provides the blueprint for how the military will use its forces to protect and advance U.S. national and security interests.

“Globalization, diffusion of technology, and demographic shifts are driving rapid change as state actors and trans-regional networks challenge order and stability,” said Dempsey. “This strategy addresses these dynamics and our strategy to ensure that our force remains the best-led, trained and equipped military on the planet.”

The National Military Strategy follows the release of the 2015 National Security Strategy in February this year, as well as the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review.

Strategic Outlook

The strategy recognizes that the application of military power versus traditional state threats is far different than military power against non-state actors. It also posits that the most likely scenario is prolonged campaigns rather than short, intense battles.

The strategy also states that as a “hedge against unpredictability with reduced resources we may have to adjust our global posture.”

According to the strategy document, the U.S. military also must be ready to counter “revisionist states” such as Russia that are challenging international norms as well as violent extremist organizations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

“We are working with allies to deter, deny and -- when necessary -- defeat potential state adversaries,” the document says. But at the same time, the U.S. military is building and leading an extensive network to take on ISIL.

Globalization Complicates Security Strategy

Globalization is allowing people and technology to move around the world in a way never seen before, complicating an already complex security situation, according to the strategy. Globalization has positive effects in stimulating trade and making many nations prosperous, but it also can exacerbate social tensions, cause competition for resources and may engender political instability.

Technology speeds everything up. The strategy noted that individuals and groups, today, have more information at their beck and call than governments had in the past.

Concerns About Russia, Iran, North Korea

While the document notes Russia’s contributions in some security areas such as counternarcotics and counterterrorism, it also points to that nation’s willingness to use force to achieve its goals.

“It also has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not respect the sovereignty of its neighbors,” the strategy states. “Russia’s military actions are undermining regional security directly and through proxy forces.”

But Russia is not the only country of concern in the strategy document.

Iran’s nuclear program worries American allies in the region and beyond, according to the strategy. Iran sponsors terrorist groups in the region and is active in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.

North Korea remains an outlaw state that has developed atomic weapons and is building missiles capable of reaching the United States.

China a Question Mark

China is in a different class, but could be a threat to the United States, according to the strategy. It is a rising great power and the strategy encourages China “to become a partner for greater international security.”

Still, Chinese actions in the South China Sea are worrisome.

It is a complex strategic environment and the U.S. military cannot focus on one threat to the exclusion of all others, according to the strategy.

“[The U.S. military] must provide a full range of military options for addressing both revisionist states and [violent extremist organizations],” the strategy says. “Failure to do so will result in greater risk to our nation and the international order.”