Category: Aviation

Source: United States Air Force

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

The Department of the Air Force selected Beale Air Force Base, California, as the home of a new Battle Management Control Squadron. 

Source: United States Air Force

GULFPORT, Miss. (AFNS) —  

Military members from all departments of the U.S. armed forces participated in the Southern Strike 2024-1 joint combat exercise at Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center March 4-15.

The two-week exercise included approximately 425 military personnel from all over the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska, California, Minnesota, Texas, New York and Puerto Rico.

There are two iterations of Southern Strike 2024: The first, in March, is air-focused, while the second prioritizes ground operations and will occur in April.

During Southern Strike 2024-1, joint forces conducted training missions, preparing personnel for contingency response operations, aeromedical evacuation, security forces airfield protection, specialized fueling operations, and rotary aviation medevac and airlift.

“Contingency response is a function of the Agile Combat Employment concept that Southern Strike got after last year,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Albert Germany, exercise deputy director. “CR teams are designed to rapidly deploy personnel to quickly establish and expand air bases and coordinate air operations.”

The ability to quickly open an airfield from scratch for combat use in an austere environment will be a force multiplier if the United States faces great power conflict in the Indo-Pacific or European theaters. A contingency response team includes personnel from all career fields required to set up and sustain combat airpower and domestic operations.

The annual exercise provides valuable training scenarios to prepare fighters for various threats.

U.S. Airmen from the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, spent the first week of Southern Strike 2024-1 training at Gulfport CRTC and spent the second week at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in a simulated hostile environment.

“We are training to rapidly pack up, airlift, and set up mobile air traffic control and landing systems equipment. We temporarily relocated 37 Air National Guard personnel from Hawaii to Mississippi to operate, maintain, and sustain that equipment,” said Capt. Eric Korpi, the director of operations of the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron. “Gulfport CRTC and Camp Shelby provided a one stop shop for the type of services, logistical support, expertise, and numerous training locations we need to simulate a real-world deployment setting that we might encounter during conflict with a near-peer or peer competitor.”

Aeromedical evacuation operations training was another core training set at Southern Strike 2024-1.

“AE is the feel-good story of the Air Force. We can go to the point of injury in the new Agile Combat Environment as well as provide patient movement in well-established theaters already in existence,” said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Buresh of the 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Minnesota Air National Guard. “Coming to Southern Strike allows us to polish our ground and air operations to provide the best care for our fellow service members. Plus, coming to Mississippi during the winter is always welcome for us, too!”

The 109th AES and 146th AES, California Air National Guard, will use their Southern Strike 2024-1 training to provide casualty care and expedited medical airlift in combat environments, saving the lives of forward-deployed Americans, allies and partners.

Gulfport CRTC can accommodate up to 100 fighters and approximately 75 larger airlift and refueling aircraft. Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, 60 miles north of Gulfport, is the largest state-owned mobilization and training site in the United States.

“The Southern Strike exercise allows our joint force from across the U.S. to deploy to the CRTC, Camp Shelby and other Mississippi training sites and operate in an expeditionary austere setting,” said U.S. Army Col. Christopher Cooksey, exercise director of Southern Strike 2024. “From start to finish, this entire exercise is preparing our Airmen and Soldiers for future deployments throughout the worldwide operating environment.”

Source: United States Air Force

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —  

The 2024 Department of the Air Force Art Contest opened March 1 and runs through April 30.

Any authorized patrons of DAF morale, welfare and recreation programs and facilities – beginning at age six – can participate in the contest.

Following the success of last year’s introduction of three-dimensional art, this year’s contest, managed by the Air Force Services Center, again includes both 2D and 3D works of art.

“We’re excited to have 3D art be a part of our annual art contest,” said Abbie Pollard, AFSVC Community Programs team lead. 

With 3D art, the contest now includes items such as hand-made sculptures, basket weaving, jewelry, pottery and quilting, as long as it’s three dimensional.

For 2D art, artists can create submissions in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, mixed media, gouache, egg tempera, pen and ink, charcoal, colored pencil, scratch board, markers, and metal point. Digital art isn’t included in the contest.

Artists can submit one or two photos of their entry at https://forcesupport.awardsplatform.com no later than April 30 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.

“This is a great opportunity for our Air Force and Space Force families to showcase a talent that reflects the beauty of their creativity,” said Naybu Fullman, AFSVC art contest program manager.

“Art increases social interaction, allows for open conversations and expressions of all types of topics, creating a bridge of understanding between diverse groups,” Pollard said. “It opens a space for people to feel confident in sharing who they are and expressing their personality. 

After the competition closes, a panel of judges will look for impact, creativity and technical expertise when deciding the winners in each of these categories: Adult novice and adult accomplished for those 18 and older at the time of entry.  Adult novice category is for new or inexperienced artists while accomplished is for those with knowledge based on education, training, experience, or those who operate as professional artists. Youth categories, based on the age of the artist at the time of submission, are ages 6-8, pre-teens ages 9-12 and teens ages 13-17.

AFSVC will announce the top three winners in each category this summer.

Source: United States Air Force

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) —  

The time is coming! Days will be longer and warmer soon which means more outdoor activities and motorcycles on the road. Understanding motorcycle safety is essential for all motorcycle riders. Awareness of hazards, personal protective equipment and safety precautions all contribute to mitigating risks. This Motorcycle Preseason, March 21 through May 16, motorcycle riders need to be aware and prepared to ensure 2024 is the safest riding season yet.

Motor vehicle mishaps are the most common threats to road safety. In 2023, there were 22 motorcycle fatalities across the Department of the Air Force. Of those, 16 were in excess of 25 miles over the speed limit, and seven involved an intoxicating substance. This preseason, the Department of the Air Force intends to contact and register 100% of its riders, then schedule and train all riders, followed by a unit sweep to identify any unregistered riders and get them up to code.

The Motorcycle Unit Safety Tracking Tool was designed to provide training data for DAF motorcycle riders. Ten of last year’s fatalities were found to have inactive MUSTT accounts or no account at all. This mandatory training and tracking system is vital to serving motorcycle riders and could save lives.

“Untrained riders, regardless of age or years of riding experience, are most susceptible to unsafe practices,” said David R. Brandt, Traffic Safety deputy branch chief. “Riding and training are two separate things. Training and practice help to make riding safer.”

As the motorcycle safety program manager and a 25-year rider, Brandt recommends that riders build skills through diligent practice and training. With training, riders will be able to avoid dangerous situations and prevent themselves from getting hurt, or worse.

Risk takers, who deliberately break rules, is another serious issue when riding. Lack of compliance to regulatory guidance is a main area of concern. Riding under the influence, riding with no personal protective equipment or proper training, directly leads to unsafe practices. When a member does break the rules, they are subject to a Line of Duty determination where they could lose benefits or must pay their own mishap costs.

Proper training gives Airman and Guardian riders an avenue to acquire skills, build a rider’s mentality, and educate other riders on current standards and techniques. Every DAF Rider should be physically capable, mechanically sound and mentally prepared to mitigate risks before riding a motorcycle.

Brandt’s top tip for riders is learn how to brake effectively.

“With all the data and research we have, effective braking could solve 75% of all motorcycle mishaps,” Brandt said. “Emergency braking and learning to trail brake in the corners would completely change the way you ride.”

The DAF Rider website is a one-stop shop for all things motorcycle in the Department of the Air Force. For questions that aren’t answered on the site, each unit also has a motorcycle safety representative who is knowledgeable of all requirements. Riders can also contact their Wing or MAJCOM Safety offices with questions. The Traffic Safety branch here at the Air Force Safety Center is also here to help answer any questions you may have. There is no reason a DAF member should be lost regarding motorcycle requirements.

For more information see the DAF Rider page at https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Occupational-Safety-Division/Air-Force-Rider/ or contact your motorcycle safety representative.

Source: United States Air Force

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) —  

In this week’s look around the Air Force, the 20th chief master sergeant of the Air Force assumes his new role, the DoD Housing Survey is out, and Maryland’s Air National Guard takes on a new cyber mission. (Hosted by Senior Airman Saomy Sabournin)

Watch on DVIDS | Watch on YouTube
For previous episodes, click here for the Air Force TV page.

Source: United States Air Force

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) —  

Air Force officials have selected 1,734 master sergeants for promotion to senior master sergeant out of 15,151 eligible for a selection rate of 11.44 percent in the 24E8 promotion cycle, which includes supplemental promotion opportunities.

The average overall score for those selected was 398.97. Selectees’ average time in grade was 4.42 years and time in service was 17.68 years.

The promotion list is available on the Air Force Personnel Center public website.  Airmen can access their score notices on the virtual Military Personnel Flight via the AFPC Secure page.

Source: United States Air Force

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

The Department of the Air Force announced the Key Spouse Program is changing to the Commander’s Key Support Program, at the annual major command spouse conference, March 13-15.  

The updated program expands opportunities for Airmen, Guardians, federal employees and family members to contribute to their units, allowing anyone interested, irrespective of marital status, to hold roles as long as volunteer duties do not conflict with primary responsibilities. Volunteers will now be identified as Key Support Liaisons, or KSLs.  

“The name change is only the beginning,” said Gina Allvin, the spouse of the Air Force chief of staff. “Our goal is to create a culture where support programs are ready to surge when needed. When service members and their families understand the resources available to them, it makes navigating challenging times easier for the entire base community.” 

The program originated in 2009 as an Air Force chief of staff initiative to enhance connection and communication flow from leadership to families. Over the past 15 years, it has gone through numerous changes, but volunteering remained available only to spouses of military members. 

“This update recognizes the diverse talents and contributions all members of our community can make and ensures that everyone feels included,” said Jennifer Saltzman, the spouse of the U.S. Space Force chief of Space Operations. “I’d like to thank every teammate who has worked hard to make this program what it is today, including our Space Force and Air Force Key Spouses of the year, Tauni Combs and Lina Arenas, who helped us shape this important transformation.” 

In addition to a new name, the program incorporates new readiness, resource and connectedness objectives designed to help commanders meet the needs of the modern family. Virtual training is expected to be available in mid-2024 through MilLife Learning. Attendees can expect to come away with updated tools and templates and a local resource connection to set them up for success. 

“We want to strengthen the sense of family readiness and resilience across our force.  While spouses remain central to the program, opening the aperture for others to fill these important roles increases our ability to get information on resources and support programs to families.” 

The changes came as part of a collaborative effort between the Air Force Personnel Center and current and past volunteers, who identified ways to align military family needs with strengthened programs, tools and resources. 

“By expanding opportunities for involvement, we strengthen our connections and enhance the readiness and resilience of our entire force,” said U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. “We’re at our best when we stand together, confident that our strong network of teammates is ready to offer support when needed.”

More information on the DAF’s Commander Key Support Program can be found here. 

 

Source: United States Air Force

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —  

AFWERX leaders met with technologists, startups and venture capitalists at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, March 8-11 to discuss national and global security challenges. As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, AFWERX plays a critical role in acquiring the cutting-edge technologies needed to meet these challenges.     

The three-day event featured panels and fireside chats focused on providing practical advice to small companies about topics such as artificial intelligence, autonomy, cyber security, venture capital, foreign ownership issues and navigating the defense innovation ecosystem. The event comes as the Department of the Air Force undertakes one of its most significant recalibrations in recent history, positioning the Air Force and Space Force to maintain supremacy in an era of Great Power Competition.

During his March 8 keynote speech, “Chasing Innovation: Lessons Learned,” Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and DAF chief commercialization officer, said the department’s transition to an enterprise focused on Great Power Competition will require a pipeline of cutting-edge technologies from startups and military personnel to AFWERX.

“We work contracts—we run the front end of the pipeline,” Leigh said. “We do prototypes, and we transition those technologies, but there are other elements of this. It’s really people that win the wars. It’s Airmen and Guardians, members of our armed services. It’s soldiers and sailors. It’s Marines. You’re going to see the whole joint community here this weekend talking about this.”

But, while it’s critical to innovate, Leigh added that the United States also needs to field technologies first, before its adversaries do, to have the greatest impact.

“We need to quickly move those and get them into the hands of somebody who can do something with them,” Leigh said. “That gives [warfighters] an advantage—what I like to think of as an unfair advantage—over their adversaries in a wartime environment.”

Leigh reiterated that American ingenuity is the country’s “superpower,” giving it an edge that helps it win wars. 

“We know our adversaries want to tap into that superpower of American ingenuity,” Leigh said. “It’s why they’re attending our universities. It’s why they’re trying to buy into your companies. It’s why they’re interested in your intellectual property. It is our superpower.” 

Leigh provided examples of the U.S.’s adversaries influencing its neighbors and projecting military and economic power. Additionally, he provided success stories for each of AFWERX’s four divisions: AFVentures, Prime, SpaceWERX and Spark.

Also, on March 8, Leigh joined leaders from the Defense Innovation Unit and NavalX to mark the launch of the Joint Defense Innovation Space in Austin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The joint workspace is located at Capital Factory, the home of AFWERX’s Austin Hub, in the Omni Hotel.

“This new space is a testament to the strong collaboration happening across the DOD’s innovation organizations,” Leigh said during the ceremony.

The co-location of these organizations is an effort to better scale the adoption of commercial technology across the Department of Defense, leading to greater strategic impact. Additionally, these coordinated efforts are part of the DoD’s focus on improving the demand signals to the commercial tech sector, making it easier for tech companies, particularly startups and small firms, to engage with the department.

Source: United States Air Force

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) —  

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin traveled to Maxwell Air Force Base, March 12 to participate in Air University’s wing and group command team courses.

The opportunity to speak in front of new command teams from across the force also served as the first opportunity for both Allvin and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi to discuss the strategic direction of the Air Force.

Allvin briefed on the status of reoptimizing the force and how leaders at the group and wing level are critical to generating readiness and projecting power in this era of Great Power Competition.

“The change in the character of war is in our wheelhouse,” Allvin said. “We know how to succeed in that environment.”

Allvin also charged the command teams to actively discuss the reasoning behind reoptimization with their Airmen. “You have to be able to understand and communicate to your youngest Airmen the why,” he said. “Their understanding of what’s at stake and our guiding principles will be critical as we all serve in this time of consequence.”

During the CSAF’s and CMSAF’s visit, they were able to interact with wing and group mentors for the course before briefing the commanders and senior enlisted participants. They also spoke about the importance of immediacy and generating momentum now to stay in motion.

“Where you spend your time is what you value. Time is the precious commodity,” Flosi explained. “We really are spending all of our time on Great Power Competition. We understand the need for change is now, and we are out of time. We are better off getting started and adjusting than staying still and trying to be perfect.”

The wing and group commanders courses are held on campus monthly and prepare select leaders to be empowered teams and effectively execute mission command designed for Great Power Competition.

Source: United States Air Force

KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Thailand (AFNS) —  

Airmen assigned to 80th Fighter and Fighter Generation Squadron and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft concluded participation in Joint Exercise Cobra Gold 2024 at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, March 8. The 43rd iteration of the exercise brought together service members from seven nations from Feb. 26 to March 9 to enhance regional peace and stability.

Throughout the two-week multinational exercise, 80th Fighter Squadron pilots flew 96 sorties and more than 160 flying hours over the skies of Thailand, executing 13 large force exercises that combined offensive and defensive counter-air measures as well as six combined joint all-domain operations with aircrew from the Royal Thai Air Force. The squadron, consisting of several young pilots, credits Cobra Gold 24 with equipping fliers from both sides of the Thai-American alliance with valuable experience with interoperability.

“This was a great opportunity to test mission planning procedures at the multinational level,” said Lt. Col. Brandon July, 80th Fighter Squadron commander. “Cobra Gold 24 allowed us to solidify what integration looks like on both sides of the alliance [Thai-American] and became a rather seamless process that proved we can come together to get after common objectives for the region.”

An annual exercise, Cobra Gold is designed to provide the U.S., its allies and mission partners a venue to execute complex and realistic operations. The 80th Fighter Generation Squadron and 8th Maintenance Squadron personnel benefited from the exercise’s realistic scenarios and change in location.

“Our team executed well in a contingency-like environment, with live munitions building and loading, and unconventional aircraft generation… all of which should give us a lot of confidence in our ability to execute the mission from anywhere,” said Capt. Sophie Rizzo, 80th Fighter Generation Squadron director of operations. “Whether it was collaborating with the Royal Thai Air Force maintainers to mitigate constrained resources, working with our 934 Air Wing reserve partners for military airlift, or coordinating with U.S. and Thai Army on munitions employment, the Juvats showcased commitment to partnership.”

Kunsan Air Base has maintained participation in Cobra Gold annually throughout the exercise’s 43-year history and looks forward to the training it provides personnel.

“This is an exercise we always look forward to,” July said. “Taking the team on the road, interacting with our international partners and weaving what we do into the larger picture… the combined force’s plan with the other services, is a highlight in the grand scheme of our tours at Kunsan.”