Category: United States Defense

Source: United States Air Force

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) —  

The United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Office of the Command Surgeon hosted a medical knowledge exchange with NATO allies Denmark and Bulgaria as well as U.S. partner nation Serbia, at Ramstein Air Base Germany, Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 2023.

The exchange granted the participants a chance to trade information and experience with one another to further integrate with their unique missions and form best practices.

“This workshop is more than just a meeting of minds,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Lyubormir Angelov, USAFE-AFAFRICA Office of the Command Surgeon international health specialist. “It’s a testament to the unwavering commitment to advancing military medicine and solidifying an alliance that transcends borders. We are proud to have NATO and partners here to make us stronger together.”

The medics from the four nations participated in multiple scenarios to discuss how each nation achieves their intended results and ways to combine them into the best practice. They visited locations such as the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Theater Patient Movement Requirement Center, 86th Medical Group Simulation Center and 86th MDG Flight Medicine Clinic. 

“The aim of this assembly is significant, offering an unmatched opportunity for partnership nation members to collaborate with U.S. subject matter experts,” Angelov said. “Collectively, we explored the intricacies of aerospace medicine, aeromedical evacuation, patient movement, and enhanced our simulation centers, creating a fertile ground for events like these.”

Participants also toured aeromedical facilities around the base and Kaiserslautern Military Community, including the Landstuhl Medical Simulation Center, Ramstein En-Route Patient Staging Flight, and 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

“The event is designed to showcase the latest aeromedical evacuation procedures and equipment on a U.S. airbase to our partner nations,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Nicola Morrison, USAFE-AFAFRICA Office of the Command Surgeon Europe Global Health Engagement Team Chief.

This opportunity helped strengthen bonds and foster interoperability as well as helped members network with one another.

“This is a great chance for key medical personnel in Serbia, Bulgaria and Denmark to make lasting connections with each other and with U.S. personnel to develop a sustainable relationship that serves as a starting point to share best methods for many years to come,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joel Foster, USAFE-AFAFRICA Office of the Command Surgeon global health engagements branch chief. “In this way, each country benefits from advancements in technology, processes and procedures for patient care and movement across the battlespace.”

Each of the participants from the four nations walked away from the knowledge exchange with something different. For Angelov, it was about the medics coming together to learn from each other and strengthen ties and partnerships.

“This is important for us to compare and contrast how we do business in our aerospace medical program,” said Bulgarian air force 2nd Lt Boryana Ralcheva, medical simulation training center instructor. “We want to see what works here and see if we can apply it to our program. We do not want to invent something new if it is already in service. This is a great opportunity for us and I look forward to the next knowledge exchange.”

Source: United States Air Force

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall made it clear that the Air Force and Space Force are fully committed — and pushing hard — to develop and deploy artificial intelligence as a key element in meeting security challenges posed by China and other adversaries Dec. 2.

Kendall’s remarks were not new, but by voicing them during a session at the influential Reagan National Defense Forum, he added additional weight to the Department of the Air Force’s efforts to use AI as part of a larger push to modernize.

“I care a lot about civil society and the law of armed conflict,” Kendall said. “Our policies are written around those laws. You don’t enforce laws against machines, you enforce them against people. Our challenge is not to limit what we can do with AI but to find how to hold people accountable for what the AI does. The way we should approach is to figure out how to apply the laws of armed conflict to the applications of AI. Who do we hold responsible for the performance of that AI and what do we require institutions to do before we field these kinds of capabilities and use them operationally.”

Kendall pointed out that China and other adversaries are aggressively using AI, and while the U.S. maintains an edge, it is shrinking. Kendall’s comments dovetailed with those from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, who said at a separate session during the conference that the Air Force must modernize to properly meet the security threats of today.

Part of that effort, Allvin said, is diligently working to integrate AI and machine learning into new capabilities that mesh seamlessly with mission needs and proven technologies, while understanding performance tradeoffs.

“I do believe the future is going to be about human-machine teaming,” Allvin said. “Optimizing the performance and being able to operate at speed. That investment in our collaborative combat aircraft program is what is going to get us there.”

Speed and automation of AI systems have vastly shortened decision timelines. That’s why the DoD’s National Defense Strategy focuses on accelerating decision making and the way information is analyzed and shared.

“We are leveraging algorithms and starting with data fusion and being able to gain insights,” Allvin said. “The changing character of war is speed. If we are going to be privileging speed and have massive amounts of data, the ability to have algorithms and the tools that support and let the analysts do what only humans can do which is make that human decision.”

“Our job on the government side more than anything else is to thoroughly understand this technology, have the expertise we need to really get into the details of it and appreciate how it really works,” Kendall said. “To be creative about helping industry find new applications for that technology and developing ways to evaluate it get the confidence we’re going to need to ensure that it can be used ethically and reliably when it is in the hands of our warfighters.”

Replacing obsolete, legacy systems by harnessing emerging information, communications, and AI technologies to provide operational targeting and decision support with the speed, adaptability and resilience needed to fight in a highly contested environment is a priority for DAF and falls under Kendall’s Operation Imperatives.

“The critical parameter on the battlefield is time,” Kendall said. “The AI will be able to do much more complicated things much more accurately and much faster than human beings can. If the human is in the loop, you will lose. You can have human supervision and watch over what the AI is doing, but if you try to intervene you are going to lose. The difference in how long it takes a person to do something and how long it takes the AI to do something is the key difference.”

Rapid AI development requires DAF to be agile and adaptable in its approach, focusing on rapid testing, experimentation and deployment. The Department of Defense continues to maintain a robust regulatory and ethical framework to ensure the responsible use of AI in defense.

Both men stressed the importance of innovation. Allvin said that innovation is a critical element of modernization and is necessary for maintaining readiness.

“War is a human thing and the ability to leverage technology with human innovation is something we can never walk away from as we’re continuing to develop and more sophisticated systems,” Allvin said.

The Reagan National Defense Forum, celebrating “10 Years of Promoting Peace Through Strength,” brings together leaders from across the political spectrum and key stakeholders in the defense community, including members of Congress, current and former presidential administration officials, senior military leadership, industry executives, technology innovators and thought leaders. Their mission is to review and assess policies that strengthen America’s national defense in the context of the global threat environment.

Source: United States Air Force

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS)  —  

In this week’s look around the Air Force, the application window for Airmen to become rated officers is now open, the Air Reserve component launches a direct commissioning program for cyber career fields, and commercial aircraft refuel Air Force fighters for the first time. (Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Vernon Young)

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

Source: United States Air Force

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

The Air Force recently announced the opening of two Regular Air Force FY24 Aviation Bonus programs – the FY24 Experienced Aviator Retention Incentive, formerly known as the Aviation Bonus, and the FY24 Demonstration Bonus. 

Eligible active-duty aviators have until Aug. 1, 2024, to apply for EARI and the FY24 Demonstration Bonus; however, the program eligibility window will close early if the budgetary maximum number of contracts are met before Aug. 1. 

Additionally, eligible Guard and Reserve aviators continue to have until Dec. 31, 2023, to apply for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve’s current 2023 Aviation Bonus programs. 

EARI builds upon the previous years’ offers to deliberately shape and retain experienced rated officers to meet Air Force retention, training, and mission readiness requirements to maintain the lethality of the force. Information will be announced separately in the future regarding the Reserve Component offering the FY24 EARI. 

“In today’s strategic environment, the requirement to preserve critical skills in our Air Force has never been more important,” said Maj. Gen. Adrian Spain, Director of Training and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters, Air Force. “Specifically, aviation-related skillsets, formed through the crucible of combat and daily execution of high-intensity operations, is the foundation necessary to continue to effectively deliver warfighting capability to the Joint Force and the American people. Retaining these professional aviators’ experience and expertise within the Total Force is imperative in order to outpace future challenges that may emerge throughout the spectrum of conflict.” 

EARI, combined with the Rated Officer Retention Demonstration Bonus, offers specific rated officers with experience in flying critical weapon systems, both monetary and non-monetary incentives to extend their service commitment.  The monetary options range from $15,000 per year to $50,000 per year for contracts ranging from three to 12 years of additional service.  Non-monetary options continue to include an assignment of choice, assignment declination, or remain in place. 

EARI will be available for RegAF, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve rated officers. However, the Rated Officer Retention Demonstration Program will be only available to select RegAF rated officers. 

Complete eligibility requirements and application instructions is available on the myFSS website Welcome Page at myFSS (or by copying/pasting the following link into your browser: https://myfss.us.af.mil/USAFCommunity/s/knowledge-detail?xid=34479)