Air Force Print News Update for July 30, 2013

Today's stories include:

No decisions yet on cutting furlough days, official says
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123357779

Academy ranks among US top colleges
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123357748

EOD Warrior Foundation supports wounded warriors, grieving families
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123357714

Two Joint Base Langley-Eustis firefighters earn national designation
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123357735

Airmen deliver ideas for IT improvements through 'Every Dollar Counts' campaign
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123357739



All stories in this message as well as any referenced images are in the public domain and do not require copyright release. Story submissions should be sent to afnewsdesk@dma.mil. To unsubscribe from this service, scroll to the bottom of this message for instructions.

America's Air Force... Integrity, Service, Excellence



No decisions yet on cutting furlough days, official says

by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Despite media reports that say Defense Department civilians may face up to five fewer furlough days, "no decisions have been made at this time," a Pentagon spokesman said July 30.

More than 640,000 civilian employees are being furloughed one day a week for 11 weeks, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen said. These unpaid days are in response to the Budget Control Act of 2011, which mandated significant cuts in the fiscal 2013 defense budget.

The furloughs began July 8. Most employees now have taken four unpaid days, or will have by the end of the week. Christensen said DOD leaders did not "take these actions lightly, or in a matter-of-fact fashion."

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reluctantly made the decision to furlough the civilian workforce, which will save around $2 billion this fiscal year. "He recognizes the significant hardship this places on DoD civilians and their families," Christensen said.

The guiding principal behind the furlough "was the preservation of the readiness of the force to accomplish the Department's mission to ensure our national security," the commander said. The DOD applied furloughs as consistently as possible across the department, he added.

When Hagel announced at a May 14 town hall meeting for civilian employees that officials had been able to reduce the originally expected number of furlough days from 22 to 11, he promised a continued effort to reduce the number further, but he emphasized that he could not promise such an outcome.

"I won't promise that," he said. "You deserve fair, honest, direct conversation about this, and I'm not going to be cute with you at all. This is where we are. We'll continue to look at it, (and) we'll continue to do everything we can."



Academy ranks among US top colleges

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Academy is ranked today as one of the top universities in the nation with the latest rankings from Forbes.

Forbes released its annual best college rankings July 24, listing the Academy as the 31st best university in the nation. The U.S. Military Academy ranked 7th and the U.S Naval Academy came in at 28th in the nation.

"The U.S. Service Academies all scored well in the Forbes list alongside some very impressive schools," said Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost, the Academy's Dean of the Faculty. "I think that's a great testament to the kind of students and faculty we draw to the military academies. We continue to focus on offering our students a world class education that is combined with leadership development unmatched on the planet."

The top-ranked school is Stanford University, with Pomona College coming in second and Princeton University ranking third.

The rankings are calculated by Forbes and the Washington, D.C.-based Center for College Affordability and Productivity and are based on a numerical formula which assesses each school in the following categories: post-graduate success, student satisfaction, student debt, four-year graduation rates and competitive awards.

(Courtesy of U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs)

EOD Warrior Foundation supports wounded warriors, grieving families

by John Burt
AFCEC Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- No warrior left behind - a commitment at the heart of every member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal community. Now, two groups that have supported EOD families in times of need have joined to expand their outreach and strengthen that promise.

The EOD Warrior Foundation was founded in March 2013 through the merging of the EOD Memorial Foundation and Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. In addition to maintaining the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., this not-for-profit group helps wounded EOD heroes and the families of EOD fallen by providing financial, emotional and social support. The foundation also provides scholarships for family members, and organizes retreats and events to raise awareness of the sacrifices EOD servicemen and women make.

"It's a joint community effort to look after those families whose loved ones have paid the ultimate price, as well as our wounded," said Chief Master Sgt. James Brewster, Air Force EOD career field manager. "The fallen, the wounded and the families are the beneficiaries. We're fortunate to have this organization to help care for them."

Approximately 7,000 men and women serve in what is considered one of the military's most stressful and dangerous jobs as EOD technicians in the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy.

Over the past decade, EOD technicians have been in high demand as their role has expanded beyond traditional bomb disposal to include disarming and destroying improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. The hazards EOD men and women face can all too often result in severe and life-changing physical and emotional wounds.

"Our wounded EOD technicians can suffer a variety of serious injuries from loss of limbs to traumatic brain injury," said Nicole Motsek, EOD Warrior Foundation executive director. "The wounds often result in extended medical treatment and care. We're working with the active-duty force and building relationships with the families to understand those needs and be in position to respond now and in the future."

EOD Warrior Foundation members meet each of the EOD wounded at the hospital and provide an initial financial grant to help pay for early expenses not covered by Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.

"We also provide an iPad and connectivity," said Motsek. "We've seen it's critical for them to be able stay in touch with the outside world, especially with their brothers and sisters still deployed.

The foundation's involvement with the wounded EOD member and their family is on-going, Motsek said. They also provide opportunities to apply for additional financial grants and organize retreats for both the wounded as well as their caregivers as a chance for each to bond and share experiences with others.

"We believe part of the healing process for them is to be able to find support from people in similar situations," said Motsek. "Providing caregivers with an opportunity to step back from the day-to-day care of their loved one and talk to each other is beneficial."

The group also offers similar retreats for the families of the EOD fallen, Motsek said.

Last year, the foundation provided $97,000 in college scholarships to EOD family members with a priority given to those of EOD fallen and wounded.

"We are still very active in the scholarship arena and are looking at ways we can offer more," said Motsek. "In addition to tuition or tuition assistance, we hope to have resources in the near future to enable us to walk applicants through the post-9/11 GI Bill. We want to be able to connect them with additional resources that will help them secure as much assistance as possible to further their education."

The care of the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin AFB is one of the group's most sacred missions. Currently, the wall displays 298 names of EOD warriors killed since World War II. Each May, names of EOD warriors killed in action during the past year are added during a memorial service and the foundation provides travel expenses for the families of those being memorialized. The organization has also created a virtual memorial of EOD killed since 9/11 on its website.

"The EOD Warrior Foundation remembers those who have made the ultimate sacrifice as well as honors and supports their loved ones through this hardship," said Brewster. "It's not something that ends. They offer support to the families down the road as well. They understand the EOD family is for life."

For more information on the EOD Warrior Foundation, visit www.eodwarriorfoundtion.org.

Two Joint Base Langley-Eustis firefighters earn national designation

by Staff Sgt. Wesley Farnsworth
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) -- Seventy plus pages, multiple character references, years of professional development, and six to nine months of grueling waiting while the application is reviewed, is what it takes for a firefighter to be awarded the national designation of Chief Fire Officer.

Only 913 firefighters in the United States are able to claim this designation; two can be found at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

Douglas Faber, Fort Eustis, Va., assistant chief of prevention and public education, is one of two Langley firefighters to earn the CFO designation, putting him among an elite group not only in the Department of Defense, but nationally.

"I worked as a firefighter for 20 years in the DOD, starting out as a firefighter in the Navy, and switched over to the Air Force Reserve where I retired as a firefighter," Faber said. "However, prior to working for the DOD, I was a volunteer firefighter for 10 years."

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Matthew McQuaig, Langley Air Force Base, Va., deputy fire chief of fire and emergency services, also holds the CFO designation.

"I've been a firefighter in the Air Force for 18 years and I'm proud to have earned this designation," McQuaig said. "This is a new program for the Air Force and it's an honor to be part of such a limited pool in not only the DOD, but nationally."

The CFO designation program was created to recognize fire officers who have demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievement throughout their career. The designation recognizes those individuals who have developed a strategy for continued career improvement and development. The highly competitive CFO designation assures departments their leaders have the educational and technical competencies necessary to meet today's demands.

The selection signifies diligence and devotion to accomplishing the mission, and serves as a professional development tool in advancing future leaders.

The National Professional Development Model, supported by the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Program, maps an efficient path for fire service professional development. It is supported by collaboration among fire-related training, higher education and credentialing. The model shows CFO designation as a credential to consider in the career progression to fire service executive.

The application process includes an assessment of the applicant's education, experience, professional development, technical competencies, contributions to the profession and community involvement.

In addition, all applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan and submit three letters of recommendation, which are reviewed by peers who currently hold the CFO designation.

Faber recalls that the entire process took nine-months before he was notified his application was accepted.

"My peer reviewer called me on the phone to let me know he was going to recommend my package [to] be approved, and it was like a weight was lifted off me," Faber said. "It's very satisfying to know that someone else thought I was good enough to make the cut."

This designation may be new for the Air Force, but according to Randy Caratachea, Air Combat Command fire chief, it's something that they hope to see more of.

"This whole process made me figure out where I was with my career and what I want for the future," McQuaig said. "It also helps me grow in partnership with the civilian fire departments because it shows that I'm equivalent to the national standard of a CFO."

Both Faber and McQuaig credit and thank their supervisors and Caratachea for their designation because of the push he gave them to submit the packages.

"They are both outstanding individuals and have led from the front in terms of training and getting their college degrees completed," Caratachea said. "We are always trying to build great leaders and this designation will not only help them personally but have a great impact on the Air Force."

Since completing this designation Faber hopes to attend the Executive Fire Officer Program with the National Fire Academy. McQuaig hopes to continue on into the civilian sector when his military career comes to an end.

To learn more about the CFO designation, visit www.publicsafetyexcellence.org



Airmen deliver ideas for IT improvements through 'Every Dollar Counts' campaign

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- As the Air Force continues to adapt to current fiscal challenges, the service is scrutinizing every dollar spent on mission, personnel, and readiness.

To do this, the Air Force is examining every policy, purchase, practice and procedure to identify potential cost savings.

Lt. Gen. Michael Basla, the Air Force Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, said Airmen are up to the challenge.

"What a great opportunity to make positive changes for our Air Force, and who better to do that than our innovative Airmen," Basla said.

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer, recently spearheaded an Air Force-wide campaign titled "Every Dollar Counts." The goal of this initiative was to collect and evaluate ideas and suggestions to save money.

Basla, the leader responsible for reviewing 1,172 information technology-related submissions, is impressed with the response his office received. "My staff and I are evaluating every suggestion and are committed to implementing each idea that saves money or helps us to work smarter," Basla said.

While it will take time to plow through all inputs, Basla said he and his staff are already making progress by directing cost-cutting measures through the use of enhanced technology to meet mission needs.

Several of the suggestions offer simple solutions to operate more efficiently, offering short implementation times with long-term benefits. Many Airmen noted the Air Force could cut costs associated with unnecessary or inefficient printing.

Capt. Kevin Huwel, from Osan Air Base, Korea, proposed the use of hand-held IT systems to reduce printing costs and improve the environmental footprint of the Air Force.

Lt. Col. David Short, the 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, submitted his idea to increase the use of digital signatures to reduce copying and printing associated with "wet" signatures on official documents such as memos and some enlisted performance reports.

Tech. Sgt. Rhonnell Singleton, from the Air Education and Training Command's Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development, urged the automation of the Junior ROTC application process -- an idea that has been reviewed and is ready to implement at the Holm Center.

Basla commented, "At home, most people limit printing and use digital interfaces to the maximum extent possible. We must adopt the same culture at work and find ways to operate more efficiently in the digital world."

Other ideas are more complex, but have great potential for savings and increased capabilities.

Russ Mayes, who supports the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, proposed a modification to modem software used in remotely piloted aircraft, specifically the MQ-9 Reaper. The improvement would reduce the amount of bandwidth needed to distribute video feeds. The modification, if applied across the MQ-9 fleet, is estimated to save up to $14 million within the first two years of implementation.

Several Airmen offered ideas on how to cut back on energy costs, such as switching computers to "sleep" mode during periods of inactivity.

Basla said he understands that each cost-cutting idea must be evaluated against mission needs and operational security. For example, reducing the power settings on computers would certainly reduce energy costs; however, some technical hurdles must be overcome so that network security patches and antivirus updates could still be installed on computers.

"We have to balance operational risk against efficiencies," Basla said.

Basla encourages Airmen to continue "outside the box" thinking, which was evident through their suggestions during the Every Dollar Counts campaign.

"These ideas represent fresh perspectives on efficient ways to do our business," he said. "Each time we are confronted with a challenge, our Airmen continue to provide smart alternatives to overcome it. This effort is no different. Our innovative Airmen will not rest with the status quo. They creatively seek to find efficient solutions to do the work necessary in defense of this nation."

(Courtesy of Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs)