23d Wing welcomes new commander

by Airman 1st Class Ceaira Tinsley
23d Wing Public Affairs

7/24/2015 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- With eight simple words, U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas Kunkel assumed command of the 23d Wing from Col. Chad Franks during a change of command ceremony here, July 23.

Maj. Gen. H.D. Polumbo Jr., Ninth Air Force commander, officiated the ceremony for the legendary Flying Tigers.

Polumbo applauded Franks on his leadership and commended Moody's military and civilians for their successes over the past two years.

"Simply stated, Moody has it all and the Flying Tigers in particular have been on point in major U.S. combat operations the last two years due to the superb leadership of Col. Franks," said Polumbo. "Leading a wing is a team effort and somehow Kim and Chad made it look easy."

Kunkel will command the more than 6,000 Airmen who make up the wing's six groups and one detachment.

"With the departure of one command team, it's time to welcome a new one," said Polumbo. "Col. Kunkel brings a leadership style that enhances and promotes a commitment to service and he has an impressive record of success. He is uniquely suited to (command) this wing with his background leading Airmen.

"Without question, the 23d Wing is a formidable combat unit providing worldwide close air support, force protection and personnel recovery operations ... wherever and whenever called upon," Polumbo added.

Although they traveled more than 700 miles from Virginia, Kunkel and his family are no strangers to Moody as Kunkel was Moody's 41st Rescue Squadron commander from 2009 to 2011.

Addressing Moody Airmen for the first time, Kunkel challenged the wing to keep up their hard work and dedication to the mission.

"My guidance to you today is simple," said Kunkel, a command pilot with 2,700 flying hours. "Continue that pursuit of excellence as you execute our mission and take care of one another and your families. You have my trust and it is my sincere hope that I will earn yours along the way."

Before Franks officially relinquished command, he addressed the audience with some final words.

"I'm extremely proud of the work that you have done," said Franks. "I know you will continue to dominate the Air Force. I know you will continue to kill the bad guys and save the good guys. And I know you will continue to do the ordinary things better than anyone else."

After serving as Moody's commander for approximately two years, Franks will move to Washington, D.C., to become senior executive officer to Air Force vice chief of staff.

ANG trains with Bulgaria in Thracian Star 2015

by Master Sgt. Andrew Moseley
177th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/27/2015 - GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR BASE, Bulgaria -- Approximately 150 Airmen and eight F-16s from the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard traveled overseas to participate in Thracian Star 2015, a Bulgarian-led multi-national training exercise at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base, Bulgaria, from 13-24, July.

Thracian Star is a bilateral, total force training event to enhance interoperability with the Bulgarian air force and to bolster readiness to conduct combined air operations.

"I'm very happy that the representatives of the New Jersey Air National Guard are here," said Bulgarian air force Brig. Gen. Ivan Lalov, Graf Ignatievo Air Base commander. "It is always beneficial for the both sides, and it goes in two directions. First, in the air combat training such as basic flight maneuvers, to make our way of flying similar two each other's and second, while we're not flying, we succeed in developing new relationships, friendships, cultural differences and interesting facts about each other and each other's country."

Flying training deployments are tremendous opportunities for the 177th aircrews to hone their operational skills from a forward operating location.

"The 119th Fighter Squadron is excited to participate in Thracian Star and it is a great opportunity for us to interact with our Bulgarian counterparts, train with them and show them how flying with them will strengthen our NATO alliance," said Lt. Col. Timothy Hassel, 119th Fighter Squadron commander.

"We came over here primarily to do air-to-air training in basic fighting maneuvers and tactical intercepts," said Hassel. "With their aircraft being former Soviet Union designed aircraft, it will give our pilots a chance to fly against an actual MiG vs. a simulated MiG, which we usually have, and give them the chance to train against some NATO aircraft and observe those capabilities."

None of the currently tasked future missions of the 177th have been curtailed at this time.

Navy Chaplains Bring Church to Chattanooga Service Members

By By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael J. Lieberknecht, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (NNS) -- Navy chaplains from areas surrounding Tennessee held ministry services July 26 at the Air National Guard building for Sailors and Marines displaced from their offices after the shooting at Navy Operational Support Center Chattanooga July 16.

"We are here because we want to be here for the Sailors and Marines," said Lt. Cmdr. David Hicks, Navy chaplain from Charleston, South Carolina. "They don't have the choice of going down the street to their regular church, so we come here to give them that which they cant have."

Services were offered in two different rooms for Catholic service and Protestant worship. The focus of the services was coming together for healing.

"The uniform of faith is not about our differences, but our unity as people," said Lt. Joel DeGraeve, Navy chaplain from Columbus, Ohio. "To reach out to each other and build each other up when we're having life struggles is the real church."

The supporting chaplains arrived in Chattanooga shortly after the shooting to provide any peace of mind to the service members.

"Through counseling, prayer, encouragement and good solid advice and being able to comfort them at a time like this are things we have been doing everyday," said Lt. Cmdr. Dan Reardon, Navy chaplain from Meridian, Mississippi.

The chaplains will continue to work 14 to 18 hour days with Sailors and Marines affected by the events on July 16.

"In this situation we're focused on supporting our families, Sailors and Marines in this community," said Reardon.

Air Force Secretary Addresses Priorities at Aspen Security Forum

By Amaani Lyle

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2015 – The Air Force secretary yesterday discussed her top national and homeland security issues, as well as current personnel challenges, during a question and answer session with Fox News at the sixth annual, three-day Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.

Regarding her perspective of the current top U.S. threats, Secretary Deborah Lee James said Russia tops the list, followed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Al Qaida and general extremism in the Middle East, China, North Korea and Iran.

“We have had budget cuts and we’re the smallest Air Force we’ve ever been,” James said. “Whatever we are called upon to do, we will step up to the plate, we will send our most effective and our best trained personnel and most modern capabilities, and we will get the job done.”

The secretary also noted the significance of cyber threats and space investments not only to the Air Force, but the Defense Department.

James also recounted that while the U.S. Air Force once enjoyed decades-long absolute control of the skies, other countries are catching up.

“My job is not to pick a fight with anybody … but my job is to make sure we’re ready,” James said. “We’ve got to have the right people, the right training, the right capabilities today, and … invest in the future.”

According to James, the 1980s and 1990s were the first decades in which the world at large saw the fruits of stealth and precision-technology investments, particularly during the Persian Gulf War. “Ever since that time, countries have been investing, testing … and replicating to the greatest extent possible.”

They’ve also been investing in asymmetric capabilities, James added. “I don’t ever want a fair fight; if I have to fight, I want to be one or two or three steps ahead of the competition.”

Vulnerabilities Out there

But the secretary acknowledged she remains concerned about cyber security, and hopes for ongoing collaboration with industry to buffer against attacks.

“We probably have the best protections in the world, but are they good enough? Are the vulnerabilities out there?” James asked. “We are constantly serving [and] looking and when we find issues that concern us, we try to plug the holes.”

Confidence in Iran Nuke Deal

Regarding the United States’ recent deal with Iran to potentially lift the arms and intercontinental ballistic missiles embargo in 5 to 8 years, James expressed confidence in the arrangement.

“It’s the best deal that we could hope for under these circumstances,” James said. “The totality of the deal takes off the table the various paths that Iran might have to develop this nuclear weapon over the next decade or so.”

Domestic Issues

Of domestic nuclear issues, James acknowledged the fallout from the 2011-2013 Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, debacle in which some 100 missile officers cheated on a nuclear proficiency test via cell phone.

“We never found evidence of cheating beyond that one base, but we did find evidence of systemic problems across the board,” James said, adding that the Air Force opted to take a holistic approach in addressing the problem as a “people” rather than “cheating” issue.

James said the service therefore redirected money and manpower to bolster training, incentive and development opportunities for the nuclear force. “I think we’re making good progress … so we just have to keep on it.”

Sexual Identity and Gender

Following Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s recent order to implement a six-month study reviewing what he called “outdated” barriers to military service based on sexual identity and gender, James emphasized that her concerns focus primarily on a military member’s job capability and adherence to their service’s core values.

“If you are doing your job capably and if you’re living those core values, then you’re the type of person I want in my Air Force,” James said. “Times have changed.”

Similarly, James said her former membership on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, helped her better examine the issue of gender-neutral opportunities in the military.

“We were tracking on closed specialties and efforts to open up those specialties,” James said, adding that the standards might be of a mental nature, physical nature or both. “We need … gender neutral standards for all of these jobs in military, because that will tell us whether or not an individual, be it a man or a woman, can do the job.”

Currently, the Air Force offers the greatest number of open jobs with only six or seven positions closed to women, and those positions, James said, are “closely aligned to the special operations world.”

James said the Air Force will open remaining currently closed jobs for women, provided gender neutral standards are in place, and the service will allow people to compete.

“If there is a request coming up to me for an exemption, the burden of proof would be heavy to demonstrate to me why that should be if we’re talking about gender-neutral standards and simply requiring that all sorts of people be able to meet those standards.”

Each summer, senior government and industry leaders discuss current key security issues in order to foster leadership at a nonpartisan venue. The Aspen Institute has campuses in Aspen, Colo., the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, offices in New York City as well international partnerships.

Pacom Chief: China’s Land Reclamation Has Broad Consequences

By Terri Moon Cronk

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2015 – China’s land reclamation in the South China Sea could have far-reaching U.S. security and economic consequences by disrupting international rules and norms that have supported the global community for decades, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command said today.

In a security forum panel discussion in Aspen, Colorado, Navy Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. said China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea is an issue the American public must know about and the United States must address.

“While Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan have also conducted land reclamation in the South China Sea, their total -- approximately 100 acres over 45 years -- is dwarfed by the size, scope and scale of China’s massive buildup,” Harris said. “In only 18 months, China has reclaimed almost 3,000 acres.”

Each year, he noted, more than $5.3 trillion in global sea-based trade relies on unimpeded sea lanes through the South China Sea, adding that the Strait of Malacca alone sees more than 25 percent of oil shipments and 50 percent of all natural gas transits each day. This is made possible through the regional countries’ adherence to longstanding customary international law, which protects freedom of navigation, he added.

Fundamental to Global Economy

International recognition and protection of freedom of navigation are fundamental to the global economy and the U.S. way of life, Harris said, and unilateral attempts by any nation to disrupt freedom of navigation place the international system and global economy at risk.

“The South China Sea is front and center in the tug-of-war between the majority of regional nations that want to maintain the status quo and China that wants to change it to suit its narrow self-interest,” he said. “This is why Deputy Secretary of State [Tony] Blinken recently compared the aggressive actions of China in the South China Sea to Russia’s actions in Crimea. They both demonstrate desire by individual actors to change the status quo.”

China Not Using Diplomacy

Rather than pursing diplomatic actions to address their disputes, China is changing tactics “through aggressive coercive island building without meaningful diplomatic efforts toward dispute resolution or arbitration,” the admiral said.

Harris said China is building false sovereignty as it builds man-made islands on top of coral reefs, rocks and shoals, which destroys surrounding underwater environment.

“That severe environmental impact is one aspect of China’s land reclamation that I don’t believe has received enough attention, because protecting our fragile environment is a global responsibility,” he said. China’s has actions have led to “the most rapid rate of permanent loss of coral reef area in human history,” he added, citing University of Miami marine biologist John McManus.

And while President Barack Obama is designating an additional 490,000 square miles as marine sanctuary in the Pacific, “China’s destructive activities will result in the permanent loss of coral reef in one of the most important reef systems in the Pacific,” Harris said.

China’s Destruction Exceeds Environment

But more damage is taking place because of China’s land reclamation, the Pacom commander said. The shared principles that ensured security and prosperity in the region for decades also are threatened, he noted.

“Secretary of Defense [Ash] Carter stated at last month’s Shangri-La Dialogue that China is out of step with both the international rules and norms that underscore the Asia-Pacific’s security architecture, and the regional consensus that favors diplomacy and opposes coercion,” Harris said. “These are the reasons that the U.S. has called for peaceful resolution of South China Sea disputes, an end to attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, and an immediate halt to land reclamation by all claimants.

“We call on China to use the mechanisms of international dispute resolution in good faith,” he continued, “and to abide by those decisions as so many of its regional neighbors have already done.”

China’s actions are inducing its South China Sea neighbors to build stronger relationships with each other and with the United States, the admiral said, “driven not by a sudden U.S. effort to increase stability and security within the region, but by China’s conspicuous failure to do the same.”