Top Five Air Force Stories for Jan. 4, 2011

Today's stories include:

New law eases airport screening for troops, families 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123285104

Static F-86 display dedicated to Korean War ace 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123285101

'Today's Air Force' looks back at 2011 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123285050

Nondestructive inspection technicians showcase abilities to Afghan maintainers 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123285040

JTF-Bravo delivers medical care to 1,400 Guatemalans 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123285038



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New law eases airport screening for troops, families

by Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- President Barack Obama signed a bill into law Jan. 3 to streamline airport screening procedures for service members and their families traveling on official orders.

The Risk-based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act gives the Transportation Security Administration six months to develop and implement a plan to expedite screening services for service members on orders and in uniform and, "to the extent possible, any accompanying family member."

The act, in part, calls for the agency to establish standard guidelines for the screening of military uniform items, such as combat boots.

In a statement released Jan. 4, agency officials said they're in the process of reviewing options for these new procedures in consultation with the Defense Department.

Even before this law, the agency had several measures in place to aid troops through the screening process. For example, troops in uniform with a military identification card aren't required to remove their boots or shoes unless they set off an alarm, according to the agency's website.

The agency also seeks to accommodate family members. Families who would like to accompany a deploying service member to the boarding gate or greet them upon their return may receive passes to enter the secure area of the airport, the site said. Family members, agency officials advise, should contact their air carrier representative at the airport for local procedures.

The agency also expedites the screening process for Honor Flight veterans, and partners with the Defense Department to expedite screening for wounded warriors and their families. The Honor Flight Network organization transports veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit their war memorials.

Also aimed at expediting screening procedures, the agency is testing a new program at the airport in Monterey, Calif. In mid-November, troops traveling out of Monterey Peninsula Airport began presenting their DOD identification to a document checker for card-reader scanning.

The pilot program is designed to test the technology to verify service members' status. If successful, it could pave the way for service members to be included in the agency's expedited screening program, agency officials said, enabling them to use special lanes at participating airports to pass more quickly through airport security. These expedited procedures could involve not having to remove their shoes, belt and jackets or their laptops from bags.

Programs such as this one strengthen security, officials said, explaining that separating out low-risk people, such as members of the armed forces, allows the agency to focus its resources on travelers who present a higher risk.

(Tonya Townsell of the Presidio of Monterey public affairs office contributed to this article.)

Static F-86 display dedicated to Korean War ace

by 1st Lt. Robert Howard
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) -- Pacific Air Forces and 15th Wing leaders dedicated a newly repainted static F-86E Sabre fighter aircraft to a former PACAF vice commander during a ceremony here Dec. 29.

Gen. Gary North rededicated the aircraft here to retired Lt. Gen. Winton W. "Bones" Marshall, who was also a combat commander and Korean War ace.

"It is a tremendous pleasure for us to honor the courage, professionalism, airmanship and the achievements of Lieutenant General 'Bones' Marshall by dedicating this F-86E Sabre jet to him, renaming it 'Mr. Bones V,'" North said. "As we just marked the historic 70th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attacks on Oahu (Hawaii), this is the perfect moment to continue to honor our heritage and recognize the sacrifice and service of those who came before us. Lieutenant General Marshall exemplifies this proud tradition; it's Airmen like him who made our Air Force the best in the world."

While assigned as the 335th Fighter Squadron commander at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Marshall deployed to Korea and became the fifth U.S. jet ace of the Korean War. He is credited with 6 1/2 enemy aircraft destroyed, seven probable aircraft destroyed and six aircraft damaged.

Marshall's career spanned 35 years and included assignments as Allied Air Forces Southern Europe chief of staff, Seventh Air Force vice commander and U.S. Readiness Command deputy commander in chief. He permanently resides in Beverly Hills, Calif., with his wife, Millie, who served in World War II as one of the original women pilots in the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

'Today's Air Force' looks back at 2011

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- On a special end-of-year edition, "Today's Air Force" takes a look back at the top stories for 2011.

This week's show kicks off with TAF reporter Airman 1st Class Jimmy Moreland covering the rebuilding efforts in Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Later, the show pays tribute to one Airman who died during the 9-11 attacks, while the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds honor those who died downrange. Finally, TAF takes a look back at a couple of stories from Defense Media Activity journalists.

The 30-minute, weekly news show can be seen every day on The Pentagon Channel and American Forces Television Service stations around the world. The show also airs on more than 140 public cable-access stations within the United States. To request that a local public access station to carry this program, send the request to aftvradio@dma.mil.

To submit a story idea for "Today's Air Force," or for any Air Force News products, send an email to storyideas@dma.mil.  

This week's line-up includes:

Block 1
- Operation Tomodachi - Six Months Later: A look into the rebuilding of Japan and some personal recounts from people who experienced the earthquake.
- Hurricane Hunters: TAF reporter Staff Sgt. Shannon Ofiara takes a ride into the eye of Hurricane Irene.
- Coming Home: A day in the life of one Airman coming home from a deployment to Iraq.

Block 2
- Jerome Dominguez: Family and friends recount the life of one heroic Airman who died saving lives during the World Trade Center attacks.
- Thunderbirds Honor: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds honor those who died downrange by flying their names over their hometowns.

Block 3
- Basic Trainee Barber: Meet a man who's cut the hair of more than 1 million Air Force basic trainees.
- East Timor Leste: Civil engineers help create a better learning environment for school children in East Timor Leste.

(Courtesy of Air Force News Desk.)

Nondestructive inspection technicians showcase abilities to Afghan maintainers

by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- The physical stress on an aircraft and its components in flight can be quite substantial. The different forces can cause the aircraft to break in many different ways, and sometimes, the breakage cannot be easily seen by the naked eye.

This is where nondestructive inspection technicians come into play. NDI is a form of analysis or techniques used to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage. These technicians can often find a problem long before it becomes a risk, and it's skills like NDI that will be vital for the Afghanistan air force as the its airmen rebuild their service.

They were able to take the first step in accomplishing this recently, as a group of Afghan maintainers spent six days shadowing Air Force NDI technicians at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan.

During the visit, the technicians demonstrated ultrasonic and eddy current testing techniques and procedures on both A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and C-27 Spartan components, said Tech. Sgt. Yohana McPherson, an adviser with the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group.

"The trip to Kandahar was extremely beneficial to the Afghan air force as nondestructive inspection is a new aircraft maintenance capability to the AAF," McPherson said. "The Afghan technicians got to see on-aircraft nondestructive inspection procedures."

The sergeant said a lot of good information was passed on to the afghan maintainers.

"The Afghan technicians were able to shadow highly trained nondestructive technicians," she said. "It was a very rewarding and successful trip."

JTF-Bravo delivers medical care to 1,400 Guatemalans

by Capt. Candice Allen
Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs

CHAMPERICO, Guatemala (AFNS) -- Twenty-two members from Joint Task Force-Bravo provided medical care to more than 1,400 residents Dec. 8-13 in an isolated region of southwest Guatemala.

JTF-Bravo members teamed up with their Guatemalan medical partners, including the Guatemalan Ministry of Health and the Military Group in El Codo and Champerico.

During the medical readiness and training exercise, medical professionals treated illnesses including respiratory infections, skin infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis, diabetes and high blood pressure in the region.

"This was a great opportunity to enhance our partnership with the Guatemalan government and its' Ministry of Health," said Col. Matthew Rettke, commander of Medical Element, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras.

The service members set up clinics, screened patients, checked prescriptions, taught prevention health classes and provided dental care.

"These types of missions provide the opportunity to work as a team with partner nations, allowing us to provide health care to underserved populations," said Dr. Guillermo Saenz, a Honduran medical officer from MEDEL.

By the end of the four-day mission, U.S. and Guatemalan medical staff assisted nearly 150 dental patients and screened more than 1,000 people.

More than 650 Guatemalans received items from the pharmacy who otherwise may not have received prescriptions.

"I'm very thankful and happy that they're here," said Juan Reyes, a Champerico resident who attended the medical readiness training exercise. "The medicine is hard to get (here) or they don't have enough supplies."

In addition to the medical care, JTF-Bravo service members established a command and control function at the MEDRETE. Six JTF-Bravo members established and maintained communication with Soto Cano Air Base via satellite during the exercise.

JTF-Bravo's medical professionals are slated to conduct another MEDRETE in Honduras next month. In fiscal year 2011, JTF-Bravo medical members conducted 15 MEDRETES treating more than 41,000 patients throughout Central America.