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Source: United States Air Force
FORT GEORGE G. Meade, Md. (AFNS) —
In this week’s look around the Air Force, Enlisted Professional Military Education courses have new uniform wear and physical fitness requirements, Airmen from Creech Air Force Base work with Marines in California, and a new proving ground for automated flight has its first successful test. (Hosted by Staff. Sgt. Milton Hamilton)
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For previous episodes, click here for the Air Force TV page.
Source: NATO
The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will travel to New York from Monday 18 September through Thursday 21 September 2023 to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
On Tuesday 19 September, the Secretary General will participate in the opening of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He will also have meetings with world leaders and high-level officials
On Thursday 21 September, the Secretary General will participate in a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations. He will also attend the Transatlantic Dinner hosted by the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. Antony J. Blinken.
Media coverage
For general queries:
Follow us on Twitter (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress).
Source: NATO
From 12 to 14 September 2023, the NATO Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS) convened its 60th plenary in London, United Kingdom. The COMEDS received keynote addresses from Mr. Angus Lapsley, Assistant Secretary General of the Defence Policy and Planning (ASG DPP) Division and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), Admiral Sir Keith Blount. Further briefings were delivered by the Ukrainian Surgeon General, Major General Tetiana Ostashchenko, NATO Command Structure military medical officers, as well as COMEDS Working Group and Panel representatives.
Organised to coincide with the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) trade exhibition, COMEDS’ delegates toured the exhibition and met with leading medical industry representatives on disruptive and digital technologies. Throughout the three-day plenary, delegates from Australia, Austria, Israel, Switzerland, New Zealand, Serbia, Ukraine and Invitee Sweden attended different sessions in person or via Video Teleconference.
The COMEDS Chair, Major General Tim Hodgetts, the United Kingdom’s Surgeon General, opened the official plenary session by welcoming participants from Allied Nations, partner organisations and countries as well as NATO representatives. In his opening remarks, the Chair stressed the committee’s mission to ensure that NATO’s Deterrence and Defence is underpinned by effective medical support and enablement. Major General Hodgetts then highlighted the four domains of particular interest to COMEDs following NATO’s Vilnius Summit:
“As NATO moves forward translating these commitments into actions and activities, COMEDs needs to increase its support to both civilian and military entities across the organisation,” said Major General Hodgetts.
Delivering his keynote speech, Mr. Angus Lapsley, ASG DPP explained the role of the Defence Policy and Planning Division, NATO’s Defence Planning Process, and the significant impact of the Regional Plans for the military medical domain. Commending the COMEDS work, the Assistant Secretary General said: “You are playing an important role in positioning your community to strengthen medical planning and policy at the NATO level, raising awareness and providing advice on critical capability shortfalls, working hard to strengthen civil-military medical cooperation”.
Admiral Sir Keith Blount, DSACEUR focused his keynote remarks on the medical challenges facing Allied forces in the event of Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO), in light of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the challenging global security environment. DSACEUR further stressed the importance of the COMEDS Surgeon Generals engaging at the national level as the Regional Plans and tactical plans are further refined and developed.
The extraction of medical lessons from the Ukraine war is underpinning COMEDS ongoing work regarding medical capabilities and requirements for warfighting at scale. Briefing the Committee, Major General Tetiana Ostashchenko, Ukraine’s Surgeon General, explained the current situation in Ukraine and stressed the importance of continued support from Allies and partners. The Ukrainian Surgeon General went on to highlight the importance of NATO –Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package for the development of Ukrainian rehabilitation services, especially regarding a substantive project that will be decisive in returning injured Service Personnel back to active duty.
The COMEDS plenary saw sessions focused on medical support for Ukraine, the implementation of the Concept for the Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA), Patient Flow Management guidance, Global Partnership, and Strengthened Resilience through civil-military collaboration. In addition, progress reports from selected COMEDS Working Groups and Panels were briefed to the plenary. The Chair remarked that many current work strands from the Blood Panel to the Military Mental Health panel were now at a level that required cooperation and support from external stakeholders such as the Joint Health Group, the European Union Military Staff, and the NATO Command Structure.
Concluding the plenary, COMEDS delegates took advantage of the DSEI trade exhibition, to engage with Industry Partners and to participate in a planned DISruptive TECHnology discovery trail with subject matter experts and medical industry partners. “Interoperability and multi-nationality in medical provision assures common and best standards as well as buys out mutual risks of capability shortfalls”, stressed Major General Hodgetts.
Source: NATO
On 14th and 15th September 2023, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer visited Norway at the invitation of its Chief of Defence, General Eirik Kristoffersen. The visit occurred in the run up to the Military Committee Conference for Allied at Invitee Chiefs of Defence. During his visit, Admiral Bauer met with HRH Crown Prince Haakon, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt and Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram. He also travelled up to Ørland air base, home to Norway’s F-35 aircraft.
After being welcomed to Ørland by the Chief of Defence, General Eirik Kristoffersen and the Chief of the Air Force, Major General Rolf Folland, Admiral Bauer received a tour of the air base, which houses Norway’s F-35A and the Air Defence Battalion, as well search and rescue helicopters that operate all along the Norwegian coast and beyond. Ørland is also the only air base in Scandinavia equipped to host NATO’s AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, who use it when patrolling in the area. During his visit, the Chair was briefed on Norway’s approach to Nordic air defence, which entails an even closer cooperation with Finland, Sweden and Denmark and by reinforcing its air capabilities and plans.
Arriving at the Akershus Fortress, the Chair joined General Kristoffersen for the traditional honour guard, led by His Majesty The King’s Guard, who have been protecting the Norwegian Royal Family since 1856. Admiral Bauer subsequently met with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Anniken Huitfeldt. The exchanges focused on the outcomes of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the implications for Nations and the military, as well as the agenda for the impending NATO Military Committee Conference.
In his meeting with the Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram, Admiral Bauer spoke about the Regional Plans and their importance to NATO’s collective defence. “The plans agreed in Vilnius Plans will impact the development of all our armed forces for decades to come. Never before have NATO and national defence plans been so closely interlinked. We are taking bold steps to further strengthen our deterrence and defence posture but a strong collective defence must be underpinned by even stronger national defence”, underscored the Chair.
The official programme concluded with an audience with the HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, at the Royal Palace in Oslo. Discussions centered on the importance of fostering leadership in younger generations, the role defence industry has to play, not only in helping the Armed Forces become greener, but ensuring that production demands can be fulfilled in a timely manner, with minimal impact on national security and defence.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley spoke with United Kingdom’s Chief of the Defence Staff Adm. Sir Tony Radakin and Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi on August 10th via video teleconference.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
August 7, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C., — Joint Staff Spokesperson Col. Dave Butler provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley spoke with Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi today by phone.
They discussed the unprovoked and ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and exchanged perspectives and assessments. The Chairman reaffirmed unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
Connect with the Joint Staff on social media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
LinkedIn and Flickr.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
August 7, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C., — Joint Staff Spokesperson Col. Dave Butler provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley spoke with United Kingdom’s Chief of the Defence Staff Adm. Sir Tony Radakin today by phone.
The military leaders discussed Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The United Kingdom and the United States share a long history of mutual support and cooperation, which are cornerstones of the strong alliance and special relationship.
For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
Connect with the Joint Staff on social media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
LinkedIn and Flickr.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
July 31, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C., — Joint Staff Spokesperson Col. Dave Butler provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley spoke with the French Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard today by phone.
The two leaders discussed the security situation in Niger.
The long-standing alliance between the U.S. and French militaries plays a critical role in maintaining peace and stability in Europe and other regions around the world.
For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
Connect with the Joint Staff on social media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
LinkedIn and Flickr.
Source: United States Air Force
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) —
Department of the Air Force leaders and their spouses discussed changes and challenges that have impacted military families during a panel at the Air and Space Forces Association’s 2023 Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 13.
Participating panelists included Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and his wife, Sharene Brown; Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman and his wife, Jennifer Saltzman; Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass and her husband, Rahn Bass; and Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman and his wife, Rachel Rush.
Lt. Gen. Caroline M. Miller, Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services deputy chief of staff, moderated the discussion and asked panelists to share their perspectives on changes they witnessed over time as military families. She also engaged the leaders and their spouses on their personal experiences in leveraging on and off-base resources to improve their quality of life as military families.
“When it comes to change, today’s military family looks a lot different than it did 30 years ago,” Chief Bass said. “You have more dual-working families, dual military, and single parents.”
Chief Bass also said leaders should continue to support initiatives and programs on military installations that help maintain family connections.
Sharene Brown said she witnessed several positive changes throughout her experience as a military spouse, especially regarding the availability of programs to support service and family members’ mental health, as well as resources to ease transitions for military-connected students and resources to assist Airmen and Guardians enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program.
“The fact that we can talk about this openly and connect to the resources out there is huge,” Sharene Brown said. “From my perspective, what’s now available on and off our installations for our families is overwhelming.”
Some of the resources highlighted included:
Gen. Saltzman noted that Airmen and Guardians are expected to do more with fewer resources as the department evolves.
“It’s a fundamentally different Air Force,” Gen. Saltzman said. “What’s impressive to me is we have shifted from an Air Force of over 500,000 to an Air Force and Space Force that is far less than that.”
Panelists also mentioned another dynamic affecting Airmen and Guardian families, the “deployed in place” concept. An increasing number of active-duty Airmen and Guardians support high-ops-tempo units and missions from home station. These Airmen and Guardians often face the same stressors and grueling hours they would during an overseas deployment, yet they still return home to their families daily.
“Because of what automation and remote capabilities have allowed, we can now create effects worldwide without leaving the safety of our garrisons,” Gen. Saltzman said. “As a leadership team, we have to recognize that this comes with a different set of challenges and stressors. We need to provide ways to mitigate that.”
The speakers on the panel shared strategies like scheduling regular quality time, having open communication, and allowing space to pursue individual interests as personal approaches to maintaining strong connections with their partners amid busy lives and careers.
“You really can’t ‘turn off’ in the positions we have here,” Rahn Bass said. “There will be messages and phone calls. Being realistic about that – present in the moment and deliberate about quality time is important.”
Towberman also shared his perspectives for looking at relationships using a different lens and how to be more connected.
“[It’s] about harmony,” Toberman said. “I think that harmony comes best … in undiluted moments. There’s too much of our life that gets diluted if we are not paying attention, and diluted experiences are hardly experiences at all. I think we try really hard to say ‘this is about us,’ and this is about a real moment.”
Rush spoke about an article she wrote for Military Spouse Magazine titled ‘Your Wild and Precious Life’, in which she spoke specifically to spouses about the importance of taking time to work on themselves, build personal connections, and find purpose beyond being in a relationship with their spouses.
“I think sometimes we [spouses] can lose sight of our life,” Rush said. “When I became a military spouse, I had friendships, I had connections, but I had to work so much harder to keep [them] … I think it’s important to really ground yourself in the life that you have and to make things real and pertinent. You have to do things for yourself because although you have the journey with this person you love so much, it is still this one wild and precious life. You have to do what makes you happy, and we all have to be there to support one another.”
Due to anticipated retirements and promotions, the 2023 AFA conference serves as the final time this group of leaders are expected to be on stage together, and they reflected on their experiences supporting military families across the Air Force and Space Force.
“One reason why I’ve enjoyed [this forum at AFA] is we’re able to show we are real people just like you,” said Gen. Brown. “We’ve got to remember how important [military families] are to what we do, and the sacrifices they make are tremendous.”
Source: United States Air Force
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) —
The Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen for 2023 were recognized and honored during the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 9-13.
The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (alphabetically listed, by rank and command of assignment when selected) are:
o Senior Master Sgt. Justin S. Cruz, Air Force Materiel Command – Airman supporting Space Force
o Tech. Sgt. Jennel L. Edwards, Air Force Global Strike Command
o Senior Master Sgt. Sedrick F. Evans, Pacific Air Forces
o Tech. Sgt. Michelle A. Fernandez, Air Mobility Command
o Master Sgt. Michael A. Galindo, Air Education and Training Command
o Senior Airman Ryan G. Hospelhorn, United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
o Senior Airman Kostiantyn Khymchenko, Air Combat Command
o Tech. Sgt. Micaela R. Mahan, Air Force Materiel Command
o Tech. Sgt. Kimberly R. Mastrocola, Air Force Special Operations Command
o Staff Sgt. Dhruva S. Poluru, Air National Guard
o Tech. Sgt. Theodore M. Sebsibe, Air Force District of Washington
o Senior Airman Jacob T. Tawasha, Air Force Reserve Command
Selected for their exceptional leadership, job performance and personal achievement, the 12 Airmen will spend the next year, and the rest of their Air Force careers, being distinguished representatives for the department.
“Don’t change who you are,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. “Who you are is what got you here. Looking forward, you are an ambassador to our Air Force. That comes with a lot of responsibility.”
These servant leaders embody Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s “One Team, One Fight.” Their character, leadership and experiences reflect the strength of the Air Force and will serve the 12 Airmen as they advocate for and work with Airmen across the force.
“I feel honored and humbled to be surrounded by Airmen at this level,” reflected Fernandez, 6th Security Forces Squadron Marine Patrol team lead at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. “They’re like-minded in the way they want the best for the Air Force and the best for themselves. Working with this team is always a great experience, and I’m looking forward to the work we will accomplish this year.”
Throughout their time at the conference, the honorees experienced Washington, D.C., with an immersion tour of the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and met DAF senior leaders, gaining insight into their key focus areas and intent.
During a sit-down discussion with the 12 Airmen, Bass conveyed her expectations and answered questions relating to their year-long journey.
“There is nothing that is on the minds of our Airmen and their families that we aren’t focused on,” Bass said. “We’ve got to work together to create irreversible momentum to get after these things while reoptimizing our Air Force.”
The event culminated with a ceremony celebrating all the achievements of the Airmen.
From senior master sergeant to senior airman, each member demonstrated how to lead, inspire others, and accelerate change around them. Their time at the conference will play a key role in the team’s ability to attract, train, and maintain the highest caliber of Airmen and Guardians in the year ahead.
The 12 Outstanding Airmen’s first official role will take place at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they will help mentor and guide future officers of the Air Force and Space Force.