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Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)
Jan. 31, 2024
Release Number 20240131 – 01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 31 at approximately 3:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), USCENTCOM forces struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that it presented an imminent threat to U.S. aircraft.
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
Sailors assigned to Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (NMFL) hosted a Sailor 360 stress management training for mental wellness on board Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads – Portsmouth Annex, Jan. 24, 2024.
The training began with a presentation of resources available locally to Sailors to assist with stress management and the life factors that cause stress. Sailors then participated in breathing exercises and stress relief exercises consisting of sand gardens, putty, croqueted stress balls and calming music.
“When we were discussing the idea for this training, originally we wanted to coincide with the monthly theme, stress management seemed obvious,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Mykayla Mack-Allen, an assistant reserve program director assigned to NMFL. “Stress affects how a person functions. If you are overly stressed, you can’t do the best you can at work. Getting to the bottom of that and learning to manage that will help you move forward in life and be the best Sailor you can be.”
The training finished with a visit from two service dogs, Capt. Patty and Capt. Charlie, and their handler Cmdr. Tracy Krauss, the officer in charge and public health specialty leader of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) Norfolk.
“Dogs have a unique ability to draw Sailors out and get them to talk about their problems,” explained Krauss. “Working with Patty and Charles, I can instantly see how what they do impacts the Sailors, it’s instant gratification and incredibly rewarding.”
Sailor 360 is a program that gives leaders the flexibility to tailor existing source material to fit their needs. The program allows Sailors of all ranks to speak candidly towards improving their personal and professional cooperation and focus on specific topics of training to support professional development.
“I think this has been one of the most effective trainings that we’ve had in quite a while, and maybe that I’ve seen ever since this program started,” concluded Senior Chief Personnel Specialist Carson Seibert, the command climate specialist assigned to NMFL. “The tools that they had and then bringing on the dogs itself was amazing. [The team] went over everything in there, from the importance of stress management and what stress does to everything or how it affects everyone. It was well made and well executed.”
NMFL, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, delivers operationally focused medical expertise and capabilities to meet Fleet, Marine and Joint Force requirements by providing equipment, sustainment and maintenance of medical forces during combat operations and public health crises. NMFL provides oversight for 21 NMRTCs, logistics, and public health and dental services throughout the U.S. East Coast, U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba, Europe, and the Middle East.
Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.
Source: United States Air Force
A recent Pew Research study concluded that nine in 10 Americans are aware of the use of artificial intelligence in their daily lives. As one might expect, 61% of Americans 65 and older are concerned about the growing use of AI.
What might not be as obvious is that 42% of Americans, the digital generation aged 18 to 29, have reservations about the proliferation of AI.
Across all ages, the percentage of Americans with concerns about the development and deployment of AI is growing.
However, very few people can accurately describe what artificial intelligence is and is not. Likewise, many do not have a firm grasp of AI’s current capabilities and uses.
Perceptions of AI are greatly influenced by media, particularly within the arts and social media, where AI is often anthropomorphized as replicated humans that develop feelings and violently express their angst against their creators.
The other common portrayal is that of super AI that does everything better than humans and eventually becomes a tyrannical overlord.
These depictions are sources of preconceptions about using artificial intelligence within the military.
Airman Magazine recently interviewed Col. Tucker Hamilton, 96th Operations Group commander at Eglin AFB and Air Force AI test and operations chief, to discuss the current state of AI within the Air Force, ongoing research, development and testing and AI’s place in building the force of the future.
Hamilton is an experimental fighter test pilot in the F-35 Lightning II program and was previously the director of the Department of the Air Force – MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator.
Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)
Jan. 30, 2024
Release Number 20240130 – 01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla. – On Jan. 30, at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. The missile was successfully shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo hosted the Ninth Multilateral Maritime Virtual Key Leadership Engagement from Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2024.
Representatives from 16 nations participated in the engagement, including 10 heads of navies within Oceania, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South America and the Indian Ocean regions.
The leaders engaged in a comprehensive discussion, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HA/DR) to affected nations in the Indo-Pacific and how we can strengthen our response together.
They discussed prospective opportunities to develop an effective and practical disaster response system within a law and rules-based international order. They acknowledged the delivery of HA/DR by military forces has become standard practice and one of many expanding areas of military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
The leaders agreed the demand for HA/DR is highest in the Indo-Pacific, and the common challenges incentivize strong, inter-regional partnerships for HA/DR operations. They emphasized the successful disaster relief involves the sharing of resources and interoperability.
They discussed the significance of training for disaster missions, stressing the value of integrating efforts to enable operations, and building trust among collaborators.
The leaders extended condolence to the people of Japan for the loss of lives from the recent earthquake.
The multinational maritime engagement program underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening alliances and partnerships for an enduring resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific.
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Near the Christmas holiday 2023, on a small island in the Pacific Ocean, a young woman prepared for her child’s birth, her emotions obscured behind an unreadable mask. At the same moment, a U.S. Navy midwife entered the delivery room at the last chance she had before going to the next island on her mission. When the day is done, they will share a remarkable bond as strong as steel.
During a fly-in only mission stop to Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia with Pacific Partnership 2024-1, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Cheryl Castro and other service members provided medical, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, host nation outreach events and engineering support to the island over a 10-day period.
“On the very last day, I was able to go to labor and delivery,” Castro said. “A young lady walked in who didn’t seem like she was in labor, but I thought I should stick around just in case.”
The young woman went in and out of consciousness while being questioned by local nurses. When Castro asked, the nurses told her that the patient was dilated at eight centimeters.
Ten centimeters of dilation is when the mother has to begin pushing. It didn’t take long before she reached that point.
The young woman was moved to the operating room in preparation for her delivery. She sunk into the mattress, her mask slipping, revealing the shift of her emotions as the time drew closer. In a single hour, the young woman was on the cusp of becoming a new mother.
Castro, representing the USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), Pacific Partnership and the United States of America as a whole, stood beside her in support throughout the delivery process.
“There were no vocal signs of pain, it was almost like she breathed the baby out,” Castro said. “I said happy birthday to him and asked the mother what the baby boy’s name was.”
The mother didn’t have a name picked out. Traditionally, mothers in Pohnpei don’t name their children at birth, Castro said. “Mothers often wait for the child to grow bigger before giving them a name.”
Castro jokingly mentioned that her only son’s name is Jacob, bringing some chuckles from the room. Immediately, the mother said, “That’s the baby boy’s name.”
“To have a baby named after your son creates a strong bond,” Castro said. “Jacob isn’t a common name in Pohnpei, so whenever he or his mom are asked where the name Jacob came from and they say ‘a U.S. Navy midwife came to Pohnpei when I was born to deliver me,’ I think that speaks volumes to the partnerships that we’re building.”
Now in its 19th iteration, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.
Source: United States Air Force
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
Beginning with the CY24 E6 promotion cycle in February, the Weighted Airman Promotion System test will be administered electronically, supporting a long-awaited modernization need in the Air Force’s personnel development efforts.
The eWAPS platform is a collaborative effort between the Air Force, the Personnel Data Research Institute and PearsonVUE. Airmen participating in the 2024 technical sergeant and staff sergeant promotion cycles will be the first to use this system.
“This initiative, along with others such as the myFSS applications, is just one of many human resources transformation efforts,” said Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services. “Transforming HR Information Technology is one of my five priorities and underpins the entire HR enterprise.”
Promotion-eligible Airmen can anticipate receiving invitational emails later this month, prompting them to visit the PearsonVUE website to establish an account by creating a username and password.
Test Control Officers or unit WAPS monitors will contact each eligible Airman to come into the base education and testing center to sign for their assigned official test date. During this time, they will review testing instructions and individual responsibilities, which include the requirement to have their username and password with them on test day.
Airmen will also receive instructions on how to create their PearsonVUE account if they did not receive the PearsonVUE email or did not create an account due to reasons such as not updating their email in vMPF or a deployment.
Airmen are required to arrive in uniform, punctually, and with their Common Access Card. Additionally, it is now imperative for them to remember their username and password.
Lack of preparation, to include not having or knowing their username and password, can result in being marked as a no-show for testing. Airmen can retrieve their username using their first and last name and their email account and will also be able to reset their password by responding to security questions they established during the account creation process. Airmen who cannot reset their password and access their PearsonVUE account will be marked as a no-show for testing.
“This is a transformative step that enhances the careers of our Airmen,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. “By aligning with industry standards, e-testing ensures a secure and innovative platform for a fair and equitable opportunity in promotion and career advancement. It also streamlines the process by allowing test responses to be submitted directly to the Air Force Personnel Center, eliminating the need for traditional mailing of answer sheets. This advancement not only instills total confidence in our Airmen but also provides unhindered access, empowering them to reach goals with greater efficiency and effectiveness. This is a much-needed change…and there are more to come!”
Airmen who are not co-located near a base testing center, such as Airmen assigned to a geographically separated unit, could test at one of many PearsonVUE centers, affording greater flexibility.
If eligible Airmen do not receive an e-mail or they can’t find it, they can go directly to the PearsonVUE website and create an account. Accounts can only be created through the PearsonVUE website after Jan. 30, 2024.
Source: United States Air Force
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) —
Over the past two weeks, Airmen from the 421st Fighter Squadron and 421st Fighter Generation Squadron have been launching and flying the nation’s most capable multi-role fighter in the Air Force’s premier combat exercise.
Hundreds of pilots, maintainers, and support personnel from the 388th Fighter Wing have deployed to Nellis Air Force Base for Red Flag 24-1 with more than a dozen F-35A Lightning IIs from Hill AFB, Utah.
Red Flag, which started after the Vietnam War to provide pilots combat seasoning, has grown into an integrated ultra-modern fight, testing various units’ capabilities in the air, space and cyber domains. A friendly “Blue” force takes on an enemy “Red” force in scenarios created by a host “White” cell, the 414th Combat Training Squadron.
Night and day, participants on the ops side are huddling together, mission-planning solutions to defeat the complex problem sets presented by the exercise planners, and then flying to defeat them. Each scenario could see more than a hundred Red and Blue participants fighting in linked airspace across California, Nevada and Utah.
“Red Flag is a valuable opportunity for us to integrate the F-35 with other platforms and allied nations and fight in very realistic, challenging scenarios against the most advanced threats they can replicate,” said Lt. Col. Nathan Heguy, 421st FS commander.
As a multi-role stealth fighter, the F-35A’s primary job in many of these missions is Offensive Counter Air. This could mean escorting and protecting stealth bombers or other fighters by detecting and picking off enemy aircraft before they attack. Or, tracking down and eliminating surface-to-air threats with a combination of technology and tactics that are unique to the F-35. The Nevada Test and Training Range, in particular, replicates surface threats “better than anywhere else in the world.”
In this environment, where target objectives are protected by radar and surface-to-air missile networks woven together in lethal aerial shields, legacy aircraft cannot survive. The F-35’s stealth, advanced sensors, electronic attack and communications capabilities make it ideal for quarterbacking the modern fight.
“So far, we have had success taking these threats out and surviving, which is notable when you combine them with the very robust air-to-air threats here,” Heguy said. “But, not every day is a win. Some days are harder than others, and if we’re not struggling in training, we’re not training hard enough.”
The F-35 has not only been holding its own in the air, but it’s been holding up on the ground as well, thanks to the maintainers in the 421st FGS.
“The jets have been performing extremely well. We haven’t lost a single sortie due to a maintenance issue,” said Maj. Bryan Butler, 421st FGS commander. “That’s a testament to our Airmen. Their ability to learn from this experience while executing the mission at the same time.
Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND
The main planning conference (MPC) for Tradewinds 24 (TW24) has begun in Bridgetown, Barbados, marking the continuation of detailed preparations for one of the largest multinational military exercises in the Caribbean.
The MPC, which convened on Jan. 29, brings together key stakeholders from various nations to strategize and coordinate the upcoming exercise sponsored by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and executive planned by U.S. Army South. Participants are set to deliberate on exercise details, refine training scenarios, assess resource requirements, and address logistical considerations crucial for the smooth execution of Tradewinds 24.
The MPC serves as a vital platform for collaborative planning and coordination with attendees hailing from numerous nations, including representatives from the Caribbean Basin, U.S., Canada, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
“The main planning conference for Tradewinds 24 underscores our collective commitment to fostering regional security and stability,” said Maj. Angela Valcin, the SOUTHCOM lead planner for TW24. “It represents a crucial milestone in the lead-up to Tradewinds 24, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation and readiness among partner nations in safeguarding the Caribbean region against evolving security dynamics.”
Tradewinds has been a cornerstone of Caribbean-focused military training since its inception in 1984. Designed as a combined, joint exercise, the exercise aims to enhance regional security cooperation and interoperability among participating nations.
This year’s iteration focuses on countering threats by way of a field training exercise, command post exercise, and table-top exercise and involves security forces from over 23 partner nations.
“By assembling representatives from a diverse array of nations, we aim to cultivate a shared understanding of emerging security challenges and refine our joint response capabilities,” said Valcin.
As discussions unfold over the coming days, participants will work towards finalizing operational plans and ironing out logistical complexities ahead of the exercise’s execution in May.
“The MPC is the best opportunity to look at solidifying a medical, logistics, and movement plans,” said Col. Charles Karels, U.S. Army South Director G3/7 Training and Exercises. “It’s far enough away from the actual exercise execution that you have the opportunity to identify problems, adjust to them, and still check them to final conditions check the fine print.”
The next pivotal juncture in the TW24 planning process will be the final planning conference in March.
“Looking into the future to the final planning conference, we anticipate the culmination of our efforts as refined strategies and operational frameworks are finalized,” said Karels. “Together, we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of our forces, paving the way for a unified and robust response during the upcoming exercise.”
Source: United States AFRICOM
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Ambassador Robert Scott, U.S. Africa Command Deputy for Civil-Military Engagement, traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Jan. 21-25 for bilateral meetings with Tanzanian leadership and to participate in a conference on maritime security.
Scott presented the opening remarks for the “Maritime Safety and Security: Shared Challenges and responses in the Indian Ocean” seminar hosted by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. The four-day seminar hosted about 45 participants from 15 Indian Ocean countries, along with international and regional organizations to dicsuss the security challenges affecting the region, including illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing.
“Maritime threats such as IUU fishing, piracy, and trafficking cross international borders and addressing those threats requires a collaborative approach,” Scott said. “Many of the countries participating in this seminar share borders and coastlines, and this provides the opportunity to foster the partnerships and approaches to work together to counter these threats.”
During his visit, Scott also met with Dr. Stergomena Tax, Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service; and Alexander Mnyeti, Tanzanian Deputy Minister of Livestock and Fisheries.
“Tanzania has been a longstanding partner to the U.S., and I had a very good meeting with Minister Tax to discuss security challenges and areas of collaboration,” Scott said. “I was also grateful for the meeting with Deputy Minister Mnyeti, and we talked about the maritime security challenges faced in the region, and how we could support Tanzania in addressing those.”
The ambassador traveled back to Stuttgart Jan. 25.
U.S. Africa Command is one of seven U.S. Department of Defense geographic combatant commands, and is responsible for all U.S. military operations, exercises, security cooperation, and crisis response on the African continent in support of U.S. interests and to promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.
The visit highlights U.S. Africa Command’s 3D approach, which leverages diplomacy, development, and defense collaboration.
For more information, visit our website, Facebook and Twitter pages, or contact U.S. Africa Command Media Relations at africom-pao-media@mail.mil.