USS Carney Joins Other FDNF Ships in Rota, Spain

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain, joining three other destroyers as part of the Forward-Deployed Naval Force, Sept. 25.

Carney will be forward-deployed in Rota to fulfill the United States' phased commitment to NATO ballistic missile defense (BMD) while also carrying out a wide range of missions to support the security of Europe.

Quotes:

"Carney joins USS Donald Cook, USS Ross, and USS Porter as the fourth, and last, of our forward-deployed destroyers in Rota. With the arrival of Carney, we have reached a milestone in our nation's commitment to station multi-mission capable warships to support the ballistic missile defense of Europe." - Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa

"We're excited to finally be in Rota. We look forward to forming lasting relationships with the people of Spain and with our maritime partners throughout Europe." - Cmdr. Ken Pickard, commanding officer of USS Carney (DDG 64)

Quick Facts:

Carney departed Mayport, Sept. 6 and joins USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS Ross (DDG 71) and USS Porter (DDG 78). The four ships provide a mobile missile defense option and are a key component of the U.S. European Phased Adaptive Approach.

Developing and integrating new forward capabilities - The purpose behind Carney's and the other destroyers' forward stationing in Rota is to enhance the security of the European region. While operating in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, these ships will perform numerous missions including NATO ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations, bi-lateral and multi-lateral training exercises and NATO operations and deployments.

Phased defense - The U.S. European Phased Adaptive Approach is the U.S.'s contribution to NATO ballistic missile defense. The phased approach enables us to deploy capabilities at a pace matched to the threat, and offers Europe an effective defense against short and medium-range ballistic missile attacks originating from the Middle East.

Deterrence - Ballistic missile defense is a key defensive capability for the U.S. It allows our deployed naval forces to directly contribute to extended deterrence by providing protection against the threat of ballistic missile attack to our allies and partners.

Together we are ready to defend - U.S. Navy Aegis ballistic missile defense provides scalability, flexibility and mobility. These systems are equally beneficial to U.S. assets, allies and regional partners in all areas of the world. Stationing four ballistic missile defense ships in Spain provides an umbrella of protection to forward-deployed forces, friends and allies, while contributing to the larger architecture planned for defense of the United States.

Building strong alliances - This deployment supports the commitment made by NATO allies at the 2010 Lisbon Summit to provide full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territories and forces against the increasing threats posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles. Hosting these four ships is the Spanish contribution to NATO ballistic missile defense.

More than just ballistic missile defense - The U.S. 6th Fleet conducts specialized training so we can engage in theater security cooperation at the individual unit level. In the coming years, Porter will support regional maritime security initiatives with numerous maritime partners throughout the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Tasks include: NATO ballistic missile defense, the full spectrum of maritime security operations and bi-lateral and multi-lateral training exercises and operations.

The U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

US bomber fleet unifies under 8th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command leadership

By Maj. Phil Ventura, 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs / Published September 29, 2015

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- Two bomb wings from the Air Combat Command ceremonially realigned Sept. 28 to Global Strike Command's 8th Air Force, bringing all of the service's bomber fleet under a single command.

The move strengthens the Air Force's entire long range strike fleet by joining B-1B Lancers from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, B-52H Stratofortresses from the 28th BW at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, and B-2 Spirits from the 8th Air Force, and will will be official Oct. 1.

"All five bomb wings and the long range strike capability they provide to our nation are stronger today as a result of this homecoming," said Maj. Gen. Richard Clark, the 8th Air Force commander.

While the transfer of authority involves 63 aircraft and approximately 7,000 personnel, most Airmen will not perceive an immediate change to the way they do business, according to the general. Instead, benefits will be realized over time as crosstalk increases and new opportunities arise for aviators and maintainers in the bomber community.

Still, as a career B-1B command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the airframe and multiple assignments across the bomber community, Clark realizes that the transfer of commands has caused some apprehension.

"Change of any kind can be tough at first," Clark said. "However, this realignment makes practical sense and is grounded in our past as an air force."

Re-enforcing the general's point, both the 7th and 28th BWs have been assigned to the "Mighty Eighth" at several points -- the first time in the late 1940s and most recently as 2002, according to 8th Air Force Historian Lane Callaway.

At the strategic level, the consolidation will "provide a unified voice to maintain the high standards necessary in stewardship of our nation's bomber forces," Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said in an April news release announcing the move.

In addition to the consolidation of the bomber fleet at 8th Air Force, the Global Strike Command is also taking lead on the Long Range Strike Bomber program from Air Combat Command and, with the arrival of Gen. Robin Rand in July, was elevated from a three to four star-led command.

Reflecting on all of these changes, Clark said, "Whether it is in the B-1, B-2, or B-52, it is a great time to be a bomber Airman. We are standing on the shoulders of giants and have great days ahead."

69th BS: Deterrence lives on

by Senior Airman Stephanie Morris
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

9/29/2015 -  MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Three B-52H Stratofortress' took off for a training mission from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Sept. 23.

The mission took place to ensure the 5th Bomb Wing remains fully capable of providing a full, simultaneous spectrum of devastating global strike options to combatant commanders anywhere, anytime, said Capt. Margaret Ingerslew, 69th Bomb Squadron assistant director of operations.

Ingerslew explained, the 69th BS is tasked with both conventional and nuclear mission sets, and maintains the capability to perform both mission sets simultaneously.

"Specifically for the conventional mission, we have a wide arsenal of weapon types that we're capable of employing," Ingerslew said. "This group of sorties is the perfect example of making sure we're able to successfully employ multiple weapon types on multiple targets with minimal time and exposure to threats.

One pass the aircraft made included six weapons on four different targets, another pass included four weapons on four different targets.

"The ability to respond to multiple contingencies at once, worldwide, with a broad set of capabilities to bring to a given scenario, is the reason Minot succeeds in its deterrence mission," Ingerslew said.

This mission was not the first of its kind, Ingerslew stated. However, the base is only allotted a small amount of these precision guided munitions.

"We train to all of these various tactics and weapon types every day, but to employ them with actual weapons, instead of using the simulated mode of our aircraft offensive avionics system, is a way for crews to get more realistic training," said Ingerslew.

For Ingerslew the most satisfying part of missions like this is verifying that the weapons system continues to function as advertised or better, and enabling B-52 crewmembers to foster greater confidence in their own abilities.

Maintenance Airmen who loaded the munitions onto the aircraft and maintained them before loading echoed her sentiments.

"Every time we load a jet the world sees that we will not back down, and I get to play a direct role in that show of force," said Staff Sgt. Mark Kelly, 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew team chief. "When munitions release from the aircraft, it is a testament to the hard work and many hours spent to ensure we win wars."

Members of the 69th BS prepared for the mission by conducting detailed mission planning, intensive study of the various weapons, employment procedures, standards and aircraft systems, as well as regulations governing the use of bombing and gunnery ranges.

"Mission planning and coordination started a month and a half prior to mission execution," said Capt. Michael Hansen, 5th Operations Support Squadron flight commander. "This is the proof and truth data of Minot's deterrence."

AWACS tragedy spurred safety improvements

by Staff Sgt. William Banton
JBER Public Affairs

9/29/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- "Lot of birds here ... We took one! We took two of them," called out Capt. Glenn Rogers Jr., aircraft commander, over the radio. "Elmendorf tower, Yukla two-seven heavy has an emergency ... lost number two engine we've taken some birds."

On Sept. 22, 1995, an E-3B Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System, call sign Yukla 27, crashed, killing all on board.  Upon investigation, it was determined that up to 33 Canada geese near the flightline struck the aircraft that day.

Each year, civilian and military aircraft report thousands of bird strikes. According to the Department of Defense Partners in Flight webpage, the Federal Aviation Administration annually reports approximately 2,300 wildlife related incidents involving civilian aircraft; the Air Force and Navy usually report an additional 3,000. The DoD is constantly striving to improve its aviation safety programs.

One of these programs, the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program, was created to preserve war-fighting capabilities and provide pilots with safe operating environments, through the reduction of wildlife hazards.

"After the Yukla two-seven accident, the BASH program went through a serious modification," said Rob Hahn, then-Elmendorf Air Force Base chief of flight safety, in a documentary produced by Morningstar Entertainment for Discovery Channel in 2003. "We went to the experts at the Department of Agriculture and had them do an assessment of the current BASH program and how we can make it better."

The program began to be managed by the USDA on Elmendorf Air Force Base in 2000. The USDA wildlife specialists coordinate with the airfield manager and other base officials to maintain consistent reporting of strike events while trying to identify the species involved.

The goal is to try and better understand why certain species are attracted to particular areas or training routes and to implement procedures which will keep pilots safe while preserving local wildlife.

"When I got here I was pretty much told not to mess with the birds," said then-Chief Master Sgt. Tracy Matthews, former 3rd Operations Group superintendent in charge of maintenance. "You look back and [the crash] changed everyone's attitude about that, and not just here, but throughout the community."

The immediate response to the crash was to bring in propane cannons, which put out a loud acoustic sound to scare off wildlife.  At that time a bird hotline, 552-BIRD, was also implemented to help pinpoint problem area around the base.

Since 2000 JBER added fences around the airfield and implemented a habitat modification, which has greatly reduced the numbers of wildlife in that area.

Habitat modification can be anything from removing low spots that create standing water to controlling grass height, said Jerry Morrill, USDA wildlife specialist.  Geese like to eat the new short grass, so if you keep the grass about 11 inches high there is no food for them to eat.

To limit bird strikes, flying limitations based on the migration patterns of common local birds are sometimes placed on pilots.

"A lot of birds will migrate in the evening or at night, so if you are doing low-level flying [then] you're going to have more bird strikes," Morrill said.
In recent years the installation has installed electric fences and removed unnecessary trees and foliage.

These have reduced the number of mammals on the flight line and eliminated nesting opportunities and black bear dens.

The USDA also has a raptor-trapping program, to help relocate large birds of prey off the runway. So far the USDA has yet to see relocated birds return to the area.

Similarly, the USDA worked with pest control and airfield management this summer to help decrease an unusually large number of grasshoppers on JBER, due to an overly dry spring. Grasshoppers are attracted to the flightline on warm sunny days, making an easy-to-find food source for birds.

Morrill said when all is said and done the BASH program is working toward a singular goal.

"Our focus is to get these guys down safe so they can get back to their families, we don't want more Yuklas " Morrill said.  "That was a terrible tragedy and unfortunately it should have never happened, but it did - and it was a valuable lesson learned."

Carter Directs Staff to 'Open Lines of Communication' With Russia

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2015 — Defense Secretary Ash Carter today directed his staff to "open lines of communication with Russia on de-confliction" of air operations in Syria, the Pentagon press secretary said today.

Peter Cook said the United States and Russia have a common interest in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria. Further details, including who will be involved and the scope of the subject matter, will be determined, he added.

"The purpose of these de-confliction discussions will be to ensure that ongoing coalition air operations are not interrupted by any future Russian military activity, to ensure the safety of coalition aircrews and to avoid misjudgment and miscalculation," Cook said.

Cook said the defense secretary spoke with senior leaders in the services and his policy team this morning. The development follows President Barack Obama's meeting yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the press secretary noted.

The key priority, Cook said, is to maintain the integrity of coalition air operations and the safety of coalition pilots.

"We do not want misjudgment and miscalculation. We do not want an accident to take place," he said.

It will take some time to work out specifics, including who are the "best and most appropriate people" to be involved in the talks, he said.