AIR FORCE CHIEF SCIENTIST TALKS ABOUT FUTURE

Dr. Mica Endsley assumed her new duties and responsibilities as the 34th Air Force chief scientist June 3 in support of senior leaders and Airmen across the service. Endsley is the first woman to serve in this position. (U.S. Air Force graphic-Corey Parrish)

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
AF chief scientist addresses future 
Posted 7/11/2013 
by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

7/11/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force chief scientist addressed members of the Air Force Association about the Global Horizons study, which looks into the near and long-term application of science and technology in the force.

Dr. Mica Endsley, who was recently appointed as the 34th Air Force chief scientist, focused her talk around the future of air, space, cyber, and command and control.

"If we presume the future is going to look like today, I think we're going to be sorely mistaken," Endsley said. "The future environment in the next decade has some really significant potential threats that we need to be aware of and thinking of."

In the space environment, Endsley emphasized, the Air Force is not going to be the only player in the future.

"In space, we're not going to be operating with impunity," Endsley said. "It's going to be a much more congested, competitive and contested environment."

Speaking about air operations, Endsley noted that though the Air Force has enjoyed air superiority in recent operations, this may not always be the case as other nations use science and technology to continually develop their air forces.

"In air operations, I think over the past few decades, we've enjoyed pretty good air superiority in a lot of the theaters we operated in -- that's not necessarily going to be the case in the future," she said.

Endsley also suggested the potential for an attack on command and control capabilities.

"We believe our command and control and (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) operations are going to be targeted," she said. "That's something we're going to need to protect against very significantly."

Endsley emphasized the importance of protecting cyberspace and Air Force cyber capabilities from threats.

Cyber "is the thing that underlines everything that we're doing," Endsley said. "It's a very significant source of concern in terms of potential vulnerabilities."

As Endsley spoke, she stressed the importance of the ever-changing environment in which the Air Force operates in, and how the global horizons study identifies these future changes.

Endsley also made note that a key component of of Air Force efforts is to use science and technology to enable Airmen to carry out their duties more efficiently.

"One of our goals here is to develop technology that enhances the capability of our Airmen," she said. "My job is to enable our people to do their job effectively."

As Endsley concluded, a question from the audience brought up the impacts of sequestration, and how it is impacting in the Air Force.

In a field that is primarily comprised of civilian Airmen, Endsley said that with furloughs starting, a large part of her workforce will be out of the office, missing technical meetings that are vital to her researchers.

Furlough is "having chilling effects," she said. "If you look at who the researchers are in the Air Force, they are disproportionately civilians."

PREDATOR AND F-16 ACCIDENT REPORTS RELEASED BY AIR FORCE

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE
MQ-1B Predator accident report released

4/9/2013 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Shortly after losing its satellite data link Sept. 18, 2012, an MQ-1 B Predator crashed in a U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released today.

Based on the limited recovered wreckage and other available evidence, the actual cause of the power loss could not be determined by clear and convincing evidence. The board president, however, stated it is possible the crash was preceded by a catastrophic power loss. Other possible causes were ruled out on the basis of the available evidence.

The mishap crew was assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The mishap remotely piloted aircraft was destroyed with a total loss valued at approximately $4.4 million. There were no injuries or damage to government or private property.

According to the Accident Investigation Board report, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft satellite data link disconnected. The mishap pilot ran the appropriate checklist, but was unsuccessful in reestablishing a satellite link. The mishap remotely piloted aircraft impacted approximately 3.25 nautical miles south-southwest of the point where the link was lost.

The accident investigation board president determined that evidence rules out anomalies with the ground control station, mishap crew, maintenance and weather.


F-16C accident report released

4/9/2013 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The pilot's failure to recover the aircraft from an inverted stall, complacency and errors in applying recovery procedures led to an F-16C Fighting Falcon crash Dec. 27, 2012, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released today. The aircraft departed controlled flight during a training mission, and crashed on government land approximately 84 nautical miles east of Fresno, Calif.

The aircraft belonged to the 144th Fighter Wing stationed at Fresno Air National Guard Base and was operated by the 194th Fighter Squadron. The pilot assigned to the 194th FS and participated in an air-to-air training mission.

According to the results of the accident investigation, the pilot failed to properly recover the aircraft from a high-pitch, low airspeed state, resulting in an inverted deep stall. In addition, the pilot failed to properly apply out-of-control recovery procedures and was unable to recover the aircraft before ejection. The board president found three human factors primarily responsible for the accident: complacency evident throughout the entire flight; pressing the equipment beyond reasonable limits; and procedural error in the last few minutes of flight.

Based on the evidence, the board president also found other human factors that substantially contributed to the accident: lack of discipline, improper seating and restraints, sensory illusions, unrecognized spatial disorientation, channelized attention, and error due to disorientation.

The accident aircraft was destroyed upon impact with a loss valued at approximately $21.4 million. There were no military or civilian personnel injured, and there was only superficial landscape damage to government property.

The purpose of and accident investigation board is to provide commanders and other officials with a comprehensive look at the factors contributing to an accident. The report does not suggest or recommend any actions related to accountability or liability, although such options are available to commanders under applicable laws and regulations.

U.S. ACTIVE SERVICES REPORT MEETING OR EXCEEDING RECRUITING TARGETS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Recruiting Remains Strong Through November
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2013 - All four active services met or exceeded their target recruiting numbers for the first two months of fiscal 2013, Pentagon officials reported today.

Here are the specific numbers by service so far for the fiscal year, which began Oct. 1:

-- Army: 11,685 accessions, 101 percent of its goal of 11,550;

-- Navy: 5,299 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 5,299;

-- Marine Corps: 4,293 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 4,307; and

-- Air Force: 4,452 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 4,452.

The Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps exhibited strong retention numbers for the second month of fiscal 2013, officials said, adding that the Navy exhibited strong retention numbers in the mid-career and career categories. Its 88 percent retention rate in the first-term category is the result of the Navy's transition from a downsizing posture to a stabilizing posture, officials explained.

Meanwhile, five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their fiscal 2013 recruiting goals for the first two months of the fiscal year. Here are the numbers:

-- Army National Guard: 8,453 accessions, 118 percent of its goal of 7,146;

-- Army Reserve: 4,013 accessions, 86 percent of its goal of 4,667;

-- Navy Reserve: 877 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 877;

-- Marine Corps Reserve: 1,768 accessions, 113 percent of its goal of 1,569;

-- Air National Guard: 1,414 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 1,414; and

-- Air Force Reserve: 1,279 accessions, 100 percent of its goal of 1,279; 100 percent.

All reserve components met their initial fiscal-year-to-date attrition goals. Officials said that although they expect this trend will continue, attrition numbers for November are not yet available.

100 YEARS OF AIR CONFLICTS

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCEThrough Airmen's Eyes: Maxwell officer builds historical database

by Staff Sgt. Sarah Loicano
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) -- What started as a solution to an information collection problem six years ago has grown into a substantial database that documents air power through almost 100 years of conflicts.


The database, known as Theater History of Operations Reports, is the brainchild of Lt. Col. Jenns Robertson, who says the database provides a bigger picture of aerial bombing campaigns, demonstrating how useful air power can be, especially when combined with ground forces.


Still being developed and updated, THOR combines data from paper mission reports from World War I and digital databases from recent conflicts to create a central pool of bomb history. The database can be searched for certain criteria and output data can be integrated into charts, spreadsheets, graphs or even onto a map.


In 2006, Robertson was working at the Pentagon for the Air Force Operations Group. He and his team were required to put out daily briefings for senior Air Force leaders, including a bi-weekly report with current bombing activity. With no one localized source for information, Robertson said it was taking his team 20-40 man-hours a week to pull all the data together from the sources in the area of operations.


"I said there had to be a collective database out there," Robertson said. "'This is the 21st century, we are the Air Force, there has got to be a system out there where we have all this data.'"


After lots of searching, Robertson came up empty, so he set about creating one with the help of Ryan Burr, a computer programmer who also worked at the Pentagon. Initially, they were just concerned with using current bomb data from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, but after some time they wanted to be able to answer questions such as how many bombs have been dropped since the start of the war, or by specific aircraft. So Robertson began digging for more information, learning that much of the data prior to 2005 had been deleted in the area of responsibility as server space became an issue. They contacted the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base and were able to find all the copies of the old mission reports, filling in the bomb data gaps for OIF and OEF back to 2001.


"We were able to have the entire war from the start to the current date and just update it every couple of days," said Robertson.


In the research process, Robertson learned of another database with bomb and flight information collected during the air war over Serbia in 1999. Robertson and Burr were able to get copies of that database and import it into THOR.


"And then we started hunting around to see how far back we could go, because we thought if we had the current war, the previous war, could we get the first Gulf War?" he said.


And that's when they were able to locate the Gulf War Air Power Survey data at the Historical Research Agency, detailing every sortie flown in the Gulf War. It was at this point in his research that Robertson started to notice a pattern in the data he was collecting, which he says only emphasizes the importance of the information.


"The thing that I thought fascinating is that the databases they were creating were almost identical each time; so the same data, in the same format, in the same content is needed for each war," he said.


In 2008, after leaving the Pentagon, Robertson went to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., as the 4th Space Launch Squadron operations officer. During his free time, he worked on decoding almost 4 million Vietnam War entries gathered from the National Archives in Washington. Then Robertson was assigned to the Air Force Research Institute here, where he was able to locate strategic bombing survey information from World War II and battlefield raid reports from World War I, again noticing similarities in the data collected.


Looking at the World War I carbon copies filled out on typewriters and the still classified digital reports from today's front lines, Robertson said the material is almost identical in terms of the format and content.


"If the information we are providing to our leadership has not changed in 100 years, there is probably something to be said that the information is important to the leadership to make decisions," he said. "Perhaps having the ability to reach back and look at what was decided in previous wars when faced with certain challenges, you can learn something from that and apply that before it happens now."


Robertson points to an example comparing a particular scenario in World War I and the Gulf War. In 1944, London and Antwerp were facing rocket attacks from Germany. Allied forces diverted 15 percent of all bombing missions to stop the attacks. Jump forward to 1991 when Scud missiles were being launched from the western desert of Iraq into Israel. Again, Robertson said it worked out to be about 15 percent of allied air power sent to hunt the Scuds. Both missions were unsuccessful at stopping the launch of attacks until the aircraft started targeting transportation systems -- the trains in Germany and the bridges and roadways in Iraq.


"It turns out that after (World War II), we find out that the liquid oxygen that the rockets needed to launch was being transferred by rail because it was the only way to move it fast enough before it boiled off," Robertson explained.


In Iraq, enemy forces were using roads to move around and hide after launching attacks, and if they couldn't escape, they weren't willing to launch because they knew they were drawing attention to their launch location, Robertson said.


"So your motivation is different in both cases, but the fact is that regardless of the technology of the time, (when) going after a mobile missile system, don't go after the missile, go after what makes it mobile," he said.


That is a lesson, Robertson said, the military can take forward into future conflicts, but added that the potential to learn from THOR's data is unlimited.


"I don't know what other kinds of lessons like that hide in this mountain of data," Robertson said. "Or how many questions people have that they don't even know how to ask and they don't even know if there is any value in asking because they can't get to the data. So that is part of what is driving me to dig up these older databases and put them all in one location. To be able to look at that comparison across history and see if you can find enduring truths that can help guide future leaders to make decisions."


Although THOR is not yet ready for public release, Robertson's primary goals during his time at the research institute are to finish collecting data from the Korean War and get the database up and running on the Internet.


"I don't know what the future holds, but I know I wanted to get this done so that the Air Force could make better decisions, make better informed strategies and educate the future generation of leaders to be able to know what air power can do, has done and the innovative ways we've solved problems in the past that could be useful in the future," he said.

WILDFIRE HALTS MOVES TO AIR FORCE ACADEMY

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
Wildfire stops moves to Air Force Academy
by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel Center

6/28/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials have temporarily halted permanent change of station moves and most temporary duty assignments to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., as Air Force members join the fight to extinguish the 29-square mile Waldo Canyon wildfire burning northwest of the installation, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

The stop movement order, initiated by the 10th Air Base Wing commander, is in effect through July 1 and affects more than 200 military members, said Cristi Bowes, the AFPC assignments advisor.

"The order does not affect cadets, who are required to proceed to the Academy," Bowes said. "However, active-duty members with a permanent change of station report date in June, July or August are affected, and they need to know what the restrictions are."

Stateside-based Airmen projected to move to the Academy and those who have out-processed but have not departed from their current duty station must not depart or proceed. Airmen stationed overseas who have a projected assignment to the Academy and a June or July 2012 return from overseas date who have not yet departed the overseas area have options, said Bowes.

"Airmen planning to take leave outside the stop movement area may proceed, but if the stop movement order is still in place when their leave ends, they will not be able to sign in at the Academy, and any additional time will be charged to their leave account," she explained.

Members who do not intend to take leave en route and who have not yet signed out of their unit will not be allowed to proceed until further guidance is provided. Voluntary return from overseas extension requests will be considered, and some affected Airmen may be authorized additional temporary lodging allowance.

Airmen, including technical school graduates, who have already departed their last permanent duty station will not be allowed to proceed to the Academy. To ensure they are aware of the situation and have instructions, military personnelists from their former assignment will contact them, Bowes said.

Air Force civilian employees are also affected by the stop movement order, said Robbie Brown, the AFPC workforce effectiveness and compensation chief. Civilians who need information and guidance can contact their previous installation civilian personnel section or email the AFPC program management and evaluation branch at afpc.dpiec.af.programs.oversight@us.af.mil.

Temporary duty assignment moves are also affected, and members who are scheduled for a TDY to the Academy must consult their Academy point-of-contact for guidance, said Bowes.

"The gaining unit must approve the travel before the member may proceed," Bowes said. "Those whose travel is not approved should remain in-place until further notice. Members assigned to the Academy who have been deployed, on temporary duty or leave, may return."

All Airmen assigned to the Academy and the area affected by the wildfires must also log in to the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System to ensure they and their family members are accounted for, AFPC officials said. Read more at the AFPC news article released June 27: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123307786.

For more information about the stop movement order, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil. Select "search all components," and enter "stop movement" in the search window.

F-16C TAKES OFF DURING COMBAT TRAINING IN ALASKA

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft takes off for a combat training mission during Red Flag-Alaska 12-2 on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 12, 2012. The pilot is assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron. U.S.D Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE WILL "GO FOR GREEN"

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
Schriever members urged to 'Go for Green'
by Senior Airman Patrice Clarke
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

6/13/2012 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  -- Team Schriever members dining at the award-winning Satellite Dish dining facility are now urged to "Go for Green" and choose healthier foods with the use of a new labeling system.

The Air Force wide mandated program is a nutritional recognition labeling system designed to provide a quick snapshot of the nutritional value of food choices.

"This is just another effort to help Satellite Dish customers choose wholesome meals," said Chuck Dietz, dining facility manager.

Food items in the dining facility are labeled green for high performance foods, yellow for moderate performance foods and red for performance limiting foods. Patrons are encouraged to eat green foods often, yellow foods occasionally, and red-labeled foods rarely.

"I think this program is a step in the right direction," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Mahoney, 50th Space Communications Squadron. "This program will definitely help me to make healthier food choices."

Green-labeled foods are entrees with less than 300 calories and 10 grams of fat; starchy sides with less than 200 calories; and whole fresh or frozen fruits without added fat, sugar or sauces, or fruit canned in its own juices. Other green-labeled foods include vegetables with less than 100 calories; desserts with less than 150 calories and 6 grams of fat; diary from fat-free to 1 percent fat; and low calorie or calorie-free beverages.

The new labels were a surprise to Master Sgt. Karen Rouse, 7th Space Operations Squadron, who thought her food was healthier than it was.

"This program opened my eyes," said Rouse. "I was a little surprised about my baked chicken because it was labeled red. I honestly thought that since was baked, it would be green or at least yellow."

Sodium content is also a factor in what makes a food green or red. The high sodium content earned the baked chicken its red category label.

"I absolutely think it's going to be something that I am going to be paying more attention too," said Mahoney. "If I see a red card, I'm going to be a bit more weary. If I see a green card, I'll think, ok I can eat this and not feel guilty about it."

The new labeling system is just one more way the Satellite Dish is helping Team Schriever make healthier choices.

"We recently changed our salad bar and removed some less healthy items and replaced them with items that are Health and Wellness Center recommended such as raisins, sunflower seeds, chow main noodles and bean sprouts," said Dietz.

Items on the main, grill and specialty lines all carry the new labels. Upon request, patrons can also get a list of green-labeled condiments.

"The new signs are very helpful," said 1st Lt. Jeffery Brown, 4th Space Operations Squadron. "I know what to get to stay on my diet. I'm getting fit and eating better now. I love the new signs."

COLOMBIAN AIR FORCE TO PARTICIPATE IN RED FLAG EXERCISE

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
Air advisors prepare Colombian air force for Red Flag
by Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

6/8/2012 - BOGOTA, Colombia (AFNS) -- A broken aircraft and several delays at the airport didn't stop the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron from arriving in Colombia on June 3 to begin its building partner capacity mission here.

The squadron's air advisors are currently working with the Colombian air force to promote regional stability by fostering key relationships, enhancing partner nation capabilities and preparing the Colombians to participate for the first time in this year's Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 16-27.

In addition, the mission of the squadron, which is based out of Travis AFB, Calif., supports the continued engagements of the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Red Flag provides a peacetime battlefield to better prepare and train each nation's air forces. Each Red Flag exercise normally involves a variety of interdiction, attack, air superiority, defense suppression, airlift, air refueling and reconnaissance aircraft.

"We are here to assist the Colombian air force in preparing to operate at Red Flag," said Maj. Brian Symon, the 571st MSAS Colombia mission commander. "The U.S. and Colombia enjoy a long history of friendship and cooperation focused on enhancing stability and security within our countries, and the Colombian air force's participation in Red Flag will bridge the capabilities of our two air forces to better meet the challenges of the 21st century."

During the month-long building partner capacity mission, the 571st MSAS, which is a group of Air Force air mobility experts, will travel within the country to several locations working side-by-side with the Colombian air force fighter and transport aircrews. The goal is to develop the four core competencies of aerial support; command, control and communications; airfield operations; and flight management to aid in Colombia's success at Red Flag. The 571st MSAS Airmen will participate in a mutually beneficial forum for the exchange of ideas between U.S. and Colombian Airmen via interactive classroom seminars and hands-on exchanges at the base and surrounding areas.

The Colombian air force will add its name to the 28 other countries who have participated in these exercises since 1975. Red Flag has provided training for more than 440,000 military personnel, including more than 145,000 aircrew members flying more than 385,000 sorties and logging more than 660,000 hours of flying time. The mock battle in the skies over the Nevada Test and Training Range has yielded results that will increase the combat capability of each country's armed forces for future combat situations, officials said.

"Our military's future success in the world's complex, uncertain and competitive operating environment will increasingly rest on a partnership that builds on supporting regional and global security," said Master Sgt. Aaron Carrillo, the 571st MSAS Colombia mission team sergeant.

Following the building partner capacity mission in Colombia, the 571st MSAS and the Colombian air force will head to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for additional preparation and hands-on exchanges before arriving at Nellis AFB to participate in Red Flag.

TARS ACCIDENT REPORT RELEASED BY AIR FORCEr

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
TARS accident report released
Release Number: 120629

5/30/2012 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- A delayed recovery caused a tethered aerostat radar system (TARS) to break away and crash during high winds Feb. 14 in Marfa, Texas, according to an accident investigation board report released by Air Combat Command May 29, 2012.

The aerostat was assigned to and operated by ACC at the Marfa TARS site, as part of an intraservice support agreement.

The AIB president found the cause of the mishap to be the mishap flight director's late decision to recover the aerostat despite receiving a six-hour weather forecast predicting high wind gusts.

According to the report, turbulence and winds on the mishap aerostat during rapid retrieval efforts caused a 40° left roll and a 60° nose-low pitch over. This coupled with the severe cable tension caused the aerostat to nosedive and impact private property approximately 100 yards northeast of the Marfa TARS site.

Additionally, the board president found the mishap flight directors' lack of training on weather data interpretation and weather equipment use as well as an erroneous surface wind warning cancellation substantially contributed to the mishap.

The total loss is estimated at $8.8 million. There were no injuries or significant damage to government or private property. Less than one gallon of diesel fuel spilled, and the mishap crew disposed of it immediately.

THE MEMORIAL REUNION DURING A BRAVES GAME

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
Airman has 'Memorial' reunion during Braves game
5/30/2012 - ATLANTA (AFNS) -- An Air Force reservist hit the proverbial grand slam by surprising his family at the Atlanta Braves Memorial Day baseball game here May 28.

Master Sgt. David Sims returned from a six-month deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan with a plan to surprise his loved ones.

His family, thinking he was still overseas, attended the Braves game at Turner Field. They were called onto the field at the top of the fifth inning to represent military families as part of the Braves' Memorial Day ceremonies.

They were watching a video message from Sims, who at the end of the video told them to "wait a minute." He then suddenly appeared from the other side of the Braves dugout, and the family raced across the baseball field for the heartwarming reunion, witnessed by thousands of applauding fans.

Sims is assigned to Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command's Communications Directorate at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

AN AIR FORCE HUSBAND AND MILITARY SPOUSE OF THE YEAR

AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Family Matters Blog: Air Force Husband Works for Future Families
By Lisa Daniel
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2012 - Military families have gotten a lot of attention lately for their sacrifices for the nation and for their volunteerism, which research shows runs well above the general population. And while it always is hard to focus on just one person, even in a crowd of 1.1 million, Jeremy Hilton stands out.

Hilton was recognized as the 2012 Military Spouse of the Year at Marine Corps Barracks here yesterday – becoming the first husband to receive the award -- at a ceremony that included five other service-level finalists and many senior military officials' spouses. Deanie Dempsey, wife of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, presented the award, which was founded by Military Spouse magazine in 2008.

Hilton is married to Air Force Lt. Col. Renae Hilton, who serves with the Office of Special Investigations, and the family is stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Renae nominated Jeremy for the Air Force Spouse of the Year award for his work in advocating for military family members with disabilities, while being a stay-at-home dad to their two children: 9-year-old Katie, who has severe disabilities, and 2-year-old Jack.

In addition to handling the child care, doctors' appointments, school issues and everything else he has to do, Jeremy has become a force on Capitol Hill, coordinating a national push for legislation to help military families. After countless letters and phone calls, he has spoken before the Congressional Military Family Caucus and with numerous congressional delegations and staffers on the Armed Services committees, HELP Committee, Judiciary Committee and in the White House – all to ensure that military families are treated fairly in spite of any special needs.

But public policy, advocacy and disability issues are not in Hilton's background. He and Renae graduated together from the Air Force Academy in 1995, he with an aeronautical engineering degree. He then cross-commissioned into the Navy and the couple went their separate ways in their respective training pipelines.

In 1996 they managed to be stationed near each other in Washington state – he at what was then Naval Submarine Base Bangor, she at what was McChord Air Force Base –and got married in December that year.

The couple was stationed together in the Washington, D.C., area in 1999, and their first child, Kate, was born in 2002. Amid the joy of welcoming their daughter, there also was despair. Kate was born with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid that causes brain swelling and multiple medical conditions.

Facing Kate's severe medical needs, the couple knew one of them would have to leave the military. Because Jeremy was a submariner facing a high rate of deployment, they decided it would be him who separated.

"We knew with the extent of her injuries that it would be that much more stressful if someone were gone all the time," he said.

To say the next five years were rough is an understatement. The couple left Washington in 2004 and moved five times before returning in 2008. Renae had two deployments in that time, and through it all, Kate had multiple, major surgeries.
"The first five years of Kate's life were about surviving," Jeremy said.
It was during one of Renae's deployments that Jeremy's advocacy work began. He disagreed with the conditions of Kate's care at a child development center and took the case to the Air Force inspector general. The experience gave him a window into the self-advocacy of parents of children with disabilities, connected him to others, and made him aware of their rights.

Jeremy fought successfully to get more staff for the Air Force exceptional family member program and provided feedback on whether policies adopted in Washington were benefitting families the way they were meant to.

"I became a professional letter writer," he said, and "I've had to become a special ed expert."

In 2009, Hilton turned his attention to Congress. "We're a federal institution," he said of the military. "The only way we're going to get these issues solved is to go up to the Hill and get laws passed."

Hilton has seen progress:
-Every service has an exceptional family member program and increased staff;
-Most installations have child development centers;
-Families increasingly get respite care;
-The Defense Department Office of Special Needs was created out of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.

Like so many spouses with competing demands on their time, Hilton struggles to strike a balance. "It's hard to say 'no' when you know how important this is, and how many people are impacted – thousands of families, tens of thousands of children."
He remains frustrated by the slow pace of change. "We have to have ways to change policy faster than every five years," he said.

But Hilton has accepted the fact that not everything will change during his wife's military career. "We're not going to fix these things for ourselves," he said. "We'll be gone. But we have an obligation to fix them for the people who come behind us."

AIR FORCE AIRMAN 1ST CLASS BECOMES CITIZEN

FROM AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Face of Defense: Airman's Dream of Citizenship Comes True
By Air Force Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
92nd Air Refueling Wing
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash., May 3, 2012 - A contracting specialist from the 92nd Contracting Squadron here fulfilled his dream March 27 when a Spokane, Wash., judge swore him in as a U.S. citizen.
"The most important thing about citizenship for me is that I can finally get a secret clearance to better serve the Air Force and my country," said Air Force Airman 1st Class Abraham Garduza, who is responsible for Air Force contracts totaling more than $1 million.

"I always wanted to do something important with my life," added the 23-year-old Matamoros, Mexico native. "I wanted to do something I could be proud of doing while continuing my education."

Garduza was one of more than 32,000 people serving in the military as a legal resident in hopes of attaining citizenship. While most airmen focus on on-the-job training and career development courses, airmen like Garduza also study U.S. history, government and language to pass their citizenship examination -- material most Americans haven't touched since grade school.

"Since getting my citizenship, I have felt so incredibly humbled," said the volunteer soccer coach, who is proud to own a Mexican national soccer team jersey his girlfriend gave him. "I thoroughly enjoy what I do and the people I work with."
Passing a 100-question-plus examination and successfully completing an interview was only part of the process. Service members like Garduza also must be able to read, write and speak basic English, must be of good moral character and must have continuously lived in the United States for at least five years.

"Now I feel like I belong," Garduza said. "Not only does getting my citizenship allow me to better serve America, but it also allows me to vote -- a right I now have under the Constitution as a U.S. citizen."

It would have been much harder for Garduza to become a citizen had it not been for the generosity of another person who helped him attain his residency, he said.
"It was tough," said Garduza, who has maintained a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend. "I was a poor college student when I first decided to start the process toward citizenship."

Working toward his bachelors of arts degree in psychology from the University of Texas in Austin, Garduza was befriended by a generous law professor, Ramiro Canales, who fronted the $1,000 cost of Garduza's residency application.
"To have someone so generous at that stage of my life meant the world," he said.
However, Canales wasn't the only influential player in Garduza's development. His mother, Beatriz Martinez, also was pivotal in his ability to seek a higher education and eventually serve in the Air Force.

"My mom has been really helpful," he said. "Her guidance and support -- I just don't know where I'd be without her."

In Mexico, families must pay tuition for their children to attend high school. Garduza and his family moved from Mexico to the United States when he was 11 years old, he said, because his parents wanted to ensure he had access to better education opportunities than he did in Mexico.

"My parents weren't the wealthiest," he said, "but still wanted to ensure my siblings and I had a chance to excel in our lives."

Garduza said he also wants the same education opportunities for his children when he starts a family.

"I definitely believe that as human beings we want the best for our kids' futures," he said. "So I'll do whatever I can to also facilitate a powerful educational future for my kin."
The new U.S. citizen said he has future goals.

"I'd like to become an officer in the future, too," Garduza said. "I think it's important for me to see and understand what life is like on the enlisted side."

Garduza needed his citizenship to become an officer -- something he wasn't able to do even though he joined with a bachelor's degree.

"They're all stepping stones to becoming the best man I can be," he said. "I've always wanted to do something I love and be proud of who I am along the way."

SPACE CAMP AWAITS TWO SISTERS

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
Space Camp awaits Schriever sisters
by Scott Prater
Schriever Sentinel
5/2/2012 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  -- A pair of teenagers From Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., beat out more than 100 competitors to attend this year's Space Camp on scholarship.

Megan Maikell, 17, and her sister Marissa, 14, will attend the camp at the U.S. Rocket and Space Center July 22-27 in Huntsville, Ala.

"Annually, we work with the U.S. Rocket and Space Center and provide 64 scholarships for children of active-duty Air Force, retirees and civilians in the Air Force family," said Marcus Forte, Headquarters Air Force Services Agency youth specialist.

The process for earning an AFSVA Space Camp scholarship is very competitive. Applicants from Air Force bases around the world are screened at the base level and again at the major command level before moving on to the AFSVA level. Forte said AFSVA solicits volunteers to judge applications for school activity, non school activity, grade-point average and two written essays. The judges use a point system to determine the winners.

The Maikell sisters were informed of their scholarship offers last week.

"We were hopeful but not too surprised to find out both would be going to Huntsville," said the teens' mother Debra Maikell. "Megan earned a scholarship three years ago, so she'll be going again and we knew Marissa's GPA and other qualifications were very similar."

Megan knew little about Space Camp and the Space Academy course three years ago when her father Stephen Maikell, a contractor for the 50th Operations Support Squadron, came home with a scholarship application. But, after experiencing the Space Academy course as a 14-year old, she returned to Colorado Springs with a new passion for space.

She attended an aviation camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy the following summer and now, the Falcon High School junior hopes to earn an appointment to the academy, where she plans to major in either space operations or aerospace engineering.

Of course, Marissa, an eighth grader at Falcon Middle School, has heard everything there is to know about Space Camp just from listening to her sister talk about what goes on in Huntsville.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Marissa said. "Not only am I fascinated by how astronauts work and adapt in a weightless environment, but I want to meet all the new people. Megan still communicates with kids she met at Space Camp her first time."

Forte explained that AFSVA week at Space Camp is also international week, so the Maikells will be joined by youth from countries worldwide. Non-English speakers are even bringing translators along.

Marissa, along with her fellow 12 to 14 year olds, will be attending the Space Academy course, which covers the finer points of space exploration and the entire concept of NASA, according to Forte. All campers will work indoors and out, learning about supersonic flight, air-combat history and take on engineering challenges.

Megan will be attending Advanced Space Academy, which goes in depth on concepts like aviation and experiences such as astronaut simulators, space shuttle missions, rocket launches and robotics competitions.

"I was on the older side of the younger group when I attended Space Academy," Megan said. "I saw a lot of the things the older kids got to experience, so I'm excited that I'll be able to go scuba diving, run through the survival training and experience the advanced curricula."

INNOVATION AND MISSILE DEFENSE

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
The 6th Space Warning Squadron, located at Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass., operates a Pave PAWS early warning radar. Despite operating a 30-year-old system, Team Six has discovered a number of innovative initiatives to enhance operations and increase the radar’s mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Innovation in action
by 1st Lt. Christian Evans
6th Space Warning Squadron

4/25/2012 - CAPE COD AIR FORCE STATION, Mass. -- Early warning radars have been a work-horse of the United States' missile warning network for more than 30 years.

This network, called the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment network, is comprised of multiple systems which detect and track intercontinental and sea-launched ballistic missiles. These sites also work as collateral sensors in the Space Surveillance Network, tracking earth-orbiting satellites and reporting the information to the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
The Northern Hemisphere is home to six of these U.S. and allied ground-based early warning radar sites, which all contribute to the ITW/AA network. Of the six sites, the two radars located at Clear AFS, Alaska, and Cape Cod AFS, operate the Pave Phased-Array Warning System, initially designed for cold-war era threats and space traffic, while the rest have undergone major system modifications in the past decade.

To compensate for an older system design in the face of modern threats and a congested space environment, the 6th Space Warning Squadron, known as Team Six, at Cape Cod AFS, is continually innovating and executing a number of little-to-no cost initiatives to enhance operations and increase the radar's mission effectiveness.

For example, Team Six site analysts and tacticians have been searching for methods to increase the amount of radar resources devoted to space surveillance mission planning, without degrading missile warning capability. The team identified a default radar setting that might be adjusted and, after conducting a three-day test in November 2011, realized better than expected results. The radar acquired 9 percent more satellites and detected 28 percent more small objects.

The increase in smaller and total objects tracked provides more accurate data to improve space situational awareness, which helps protect both manned and unmanned space platforms and the national investment they entail. Improved space situational awareness is critical to achieving the wing's national security objectives in space.

The results from early initiatives have led to a micro-renaissance of ideas in Team Six and has encouraged personnel at all levels to contribute to innovation. For example, Team Six has moved many internal processes to SharePoint to improve knowledge management and sharing, and to streamline coordination and facilitate feedback from external organizations.
Sometimes, change is an internal idea; at other times, change is driven by pressure from outside or above the organization. Along with other ground-based radar sites and with the support of higher headquarters and functional staff, Team Six has undertaken an Air Force Space Command initiative to reduce the operations crew size from three to two operators.

This initiative is an innovation unto itself, requiring more efficient utilization of crew resources and weapon system interfaces. Operation and tasking of the Pave PAWS radar is more manually intensive than with the upgraded radar systems, so Team Six and the Sentinels of the 13th and 213th Space Warning Squadron at Clear AFS identified software changes to help crews excel in the new environment. Those software changes may take years to implement, and in the mean time, innovation will be the key to employing this system to the edge of its capability.
Some of these innovations are like sudden seismic movements, while others accumulate drop by drop, but promise a sea of change in culture.

Ever Aware is the 6th SWS motto, but with Team Six's taste for innovation, it might as well be Ever Aware, Ever Changing, and that's exactly the culture we need to dominate our high ground.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE, NATIONAL GUARD AND GOING GREEN WITH JET FUEL

The following excerpt is from a Department of Defense American Forces Press Service e-mail:

"By Tech. Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
Defense Media Activity

TOLEDO, Ohio (AFNS) – In a joint effort by airmen from the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, the F-16 Fight Falcon is currently undergoing a field service evaluation of biofuel.

As the largest consumer of energy in the Defense Department and $8 billion spent on fuel in fiscal 2011, Air Force officials are working toward making the fleet a little “greener” by researching, testing and ultimately implementing the use of alternative fuels.

Although other airframes, such as the C-17 Globemaster III, have been certified to use biofuel for unrestricted operations, this is the first evaluation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Two F-16s from the 180th FW fleet have been designated to test the 50/50 blend of Jet Propellant-8 petroleum and Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet fuel derived from the camelina plant. Camelina is essentially a weed that grows throughout the United States and requires very little horticulture.

The 180th FW was an ideal location for the fuel test because of its proximity to Wright-Patterson AFB, where the Air Force Research Laboratory is located, and its continued focus on green energy. In 2011, the wing was awarded the Reduced Energy Appreciation Program Award by the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency’s Air Force Facility Energy Center.

“It’s part of the Air Force’s strategic goals to be able to reduce energy across the Air Force, so we really embrace that,” said Col. Steve Nordhaus, the 180th FW commander. “We’re trying to do everything we can to reduce energy costs because we know that every dollar we save there, we can use to buy more aircraft that protect our country or help support Airmen who are out there doing critical missions that affect our homeland defense.”

The jets have been flying with the blend since mid-December and will continue until the test sample is depleted.

“Our ability to exercise and use this stuff on a small scale or case-by-case basis makes us ideally suited to test the fuel,” said Col. William Gieze, the 180th Mission Support Group commander.

The staff at AFRL worked with commercial fuel manufacturers to develop a blend that would meet Air Force specifications. Considerations such as the flash and freeze points of the fuel were some of the major factors when determining the specifications for the F-16.

“Manufacturers are making alternative fuels for both the military and commercial customers,” said Dr. Tim Edwards, a senior chemical engineer for the AFRL fuels division. “Typically, they’ll send samples of their fuel, and we’ll evaluate and say, ‘Yes, you’re on the right track, this could be a jet fuel.’ When they get to the point where they can make large enough quantities, we’ll hand them over them off to the Alternative Fuels Certification office.”

The Air Force goal, by 2016, is to have half of the fuel that is purchased domestically to be at least a 50/50 blend of conventional and alternative fuel, Edwards said.

Another goal for the researchers and developers was to make the transition as seamless as possible. To date, there has been no additional training, equipment or maintenance required to begin using the fuel.

“When we first started this we were a little concerned because a few years ago we made the switch from JP4 to JP8 jet fuel,” said Col. Scott Reed, the 180th Maintenance Group commander. “The difference between the two caused a few hiccups initially. Some of the gaskets and O-rings didn’t expand as they normally would in the presence of the fuel, so we had leaks.”

The colonel likened the process to driving a car from Los Angeles at sea level to the Rocky Mountains. Adjustments need to be made for the car to operate at peak performance at different elevations. But with the new fuel blend, the transition has been totally transparent.

After each flight, the pilots complete a debrief form and each week the fuels technicians complete a debrief form to provide data to the Alternative Fuels Certification office about how the jets are performing with the new fuel blend.

And just as in real world operations, the jets designated for the test can refuel from the same tanker as the rest of their fleet during mission. Since biofuels may not be available at every base, or some overseas locations, the fuel blend must be interchangeable with standard JP-8.

“The truth of it is there has been absolutely no noticeable difference whatsoever,” Reed said. “There have been no fuel leaks, no operational impact.”

Once all of the data is collected and analyzed and any issues are rectified, the fuel can be certified to be used for all F-16s.

“The fact that we’re going to be doing something that not only affects the Air National Guard, but the total force was really our end goal,” Gieze said. “We really want to see the F-16 get certified on this and allow our country some other avenues for fuel.”