Top Air Force News for March 7, 2012

Today's stories include:

Panel aims to boost support to special-needs families 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123292998

U.S. advisors teach self defense to Afghan Air Force women 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123292983

Air Force invests in robust Spice testing 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123292954

Air Force leaders discuss modernization in budget hearing 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123292871

High year of tenure change continues to affect assignments 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123292887



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.

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Panel aims to boost support to special-needs families

by Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- Military families with special-needs members would benefit from better communication and education, members of an exceptional family member panel concluded yesterday.

"We're working some great programs up at the (office of the secretary of defense) level," said Charles E. Milam, the principal director for military community and family policy, during an interview following the panel here. "I think the key is how do we take that information and deliver down to the very lowest level."

The panel, chaired by Milam, was composed of nearly a dozen military family members with special needs -- from children with educational or physical challenges to adults with medical problems -- with representation from all services, as well as the active duty and reserve components.

The panel first met in the fall of 2011 to cite ongoing challenges. At the time, they pointed to three key areas of concern: communication, consistency of programs across the services and health care. This follow-on panel was intended to track progress in each area and offer information on available resources, officials said.

Communication is key to aiding military families with special needs, Milam said, noting this issue is a personal one for him. His wife is active-duty Air Force and they have a special-needs child.

"What I find when I go out to installations and I speak to families and our service members, they're not aware of some of the things we're doing," he said. "We need to make these processes as easy as possible for these families."

A one-stop source of information would be a step in the right direction, noted Rebecca Posante, the deputy director of the Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs, which oversees the department's Exceptional Family Member Program. Officials would like to use the Defense Department's Military OneSource website for that purpose, she explained.

But first, they must ensure they're providing the most relevant and accessible information, she said.

Posante said she handed out a list of key words to panel members to see if they match up with how families search for online information. For example, families are more apt to use the term "moving" rather than "relocation" when seeking resources. Officials will use this feedback to build content for the site, she added.

Having readily available information is vital for families seeking answers, she noted.

"We want to educate families on: Where do you go when you need something done?" she said. "Where do you go if you don't think you're getting the correct answer?"

Posante cited progress her office already is making on this front. They've created a new information kit on the Exceptional Family Member Program that's been sent military-wide, she said, and they have also sent books and videos on special needs to all installation libraries and family centers. They're launching online modules to aid families with special-needs children and adults and to explain how EFMP works, she added.

Families also are concerned with the consistency of programs and resources across the department, Posante noted. She meets with service representatives quarterly to tackle this issue and will continue to push for progress, she said.

Across the board, panel members raised issues about health care, such as being able to see a specialist in a timely manner at a new duty station, Posante said.

Her office is working with health affairs, she said, to address as many of these issues as possible. Posante noted the presence of Dr. Jack Smith, the director of clinical and program policy integration for health affairs, who attended the panel to provide information and address concerns.

"We really want to approach how we can answer their questions on medical care and help communicate to the families when there are answers already," she said. "People at the highest levels are really listening and trying to figure out what these issues are and how to address them."

Panel member Army Maj. Charlotte Emery, a mother of twin boys and a military lawyer at Fort Belvoir, Va., cited the importance of "knowing the system." Her sons both are enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. One was diagnosed with autism at 18 months and his brother with developmental delays for speech, language and socio-emotional behavior.

"Many of us today were learning stuff for the first time about things that have been in the system, especially in regard to TRICARE," she said, referring to the military's health care program.

Military families often are hesitant to "rock the boat," she noted, which can result in unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses. However, there are people they can go to for information or better answers, she explained. Emery said she plans to take the information from these panels and disseminate it to other families.

This information sharing is one of the key purposes of the panel, Posante said. With that in mind, these panels will be ongoing, she added, and she's also forming smaller working groups to tackle specific issues.

The department will continue to "chisel away" at these issues, Milam said. Officials are engaged with Congress and also are looking at policies to discern which ones work and which need to be deleted or refined, he added.

"We're writing a book one chapter at a time," he said, noting there's been considerable progress in recent years.

"Just listening to some of the concerns from the different services and from the different families, just speaks volumes to what we had before," Milam said. "The fact that we are listening to them through this panel as they represent families from all over the services is very important."

Milam said he hopes this panel and future efforts send a clear message to families with special needs.

"We care, the department cares (and) Congress cares about these programs," he said.

U.S. advisors teach self defense to Afghan Air Force women

by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Advisors from the 439th and 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadrons recently taught four Afghan Air Force female personnel about the importance of using self-defense to escape a violent situation.

The training prepared the students physically and mentally for what they could experience if placed in a dangerous scenario.

The students learned that true self defense is more than just personal protection and learning a set of techniques to escape from an attacker, training officials said. U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kenneth Tatrai, a 738th AEAS Pohantoon-e-Hawayee lead security forces advisor and self-defense instructor, discussed the potential benefits that would come from learning self-defense.

"I think that it's important for everyone to know how and when to defend themselves and to have the confidence to do so," Tatrai said. "Even though we are in a more civil world, there are people who look for weaker men and women, so it's extremely important to have the tools for self-defense and to know when to use them."

The course consisted of the basic principles of personal security and self-defense in order to help the students mitigate risk in their lives whenever possible.

Simulated yells and actual laughter filled the training room as the students used strike pads to demonstrate how they would react. The training included strikes, break holds and demonstrations of sensitive areas of the body at which to aim when engaged with an attacker.

Afghan Air Force Lt. Arezoo Azizi said she appreciated the opportunity to attend the class and enjoyed working with the mentors in a relaxed and fun environment.

"All the moves we learned during the class were my favorite," Azizi said. "Self-defense is very good for all women to learn, especially the women in Afghanistan, and I appreciate the mentors for offering us something we don't normally have."

Tatrai said that he was very impressed with the students and that, by using their new found skills, the Afghan women will be better prepared to respond to an aggressive assailant.

"It was a good class and we had great students," Tatrai said. "I definitely feel that they learned a lot today and are better prepared to defend themselves if the situation presents itself."

Among the participating advisors, one particularly shared the women's concerns about size and capability against someone twice their size. Capt. Vanessa Vanden Bout, a 439th AEAS force support officer and gender integration point of contact for the Afghan Air Force, works closely with the women. Vanden Bout said that she was excited to give back to the students.

"The ladies expressed interest in learning new skills, and this is one that I thought was important for them to have in their tool kit," Vanden Bout said. "It increases their self-confidence and also increases the likelihood that they can escape safely from a dangerous situation."

Vanden Bout, who organized the training, stepped up and demonstrated exactly how the training would work in the real world if attacked by taking down her large simulated attacker.

"Many women aren't as strong as men, making it easier for them to be subdued and potentially injured," Vanden Bout said. "Our Afghan ladies are smaller in stature and are fairly slender so we wanted to teach them that you don't have to be the biggest or the strongest to fight back and protect yourself."

Afghan Air Force Lt. Nafisa Adeb said the class alleviated some of her fear of being in an assault situation.

"I feel more confident in what I learned and in myself," Adeb said. "Today has given me the confidence to know that I can really do this if I had to. I know I'll remember today and what I learned when I need it."

Air Force invests in robust Spice testing

by Tech. Sgt. Jess D. Harvey
Air Force Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force is currently conducting urinalysis testing for Spice chemicals through a civilian laboratory and will field an in-house urinalysis testing capability for Spice in mid-March.

Spice is a name brand and also a generic term for a large family of chemically unrelated "synthetic cannabinoids" functionally and biologically similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

These chemicals are typically found in powder form or are dissolved in appropriate solvents, such as acetone, before being sprayed on plant material often contained in packages labeled as "herbal incense" and smoked by users.

The use of designer synthetic chemicals, such as Spice, and other intoxicating substances, other than alcohol and tobacco, are strictly prohibited for Airmen according to Air Force Instruction 44-120, Military Drug Demand Reduction Program, and AFI 44-121, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, but the Air Force and the rest of the Department of Defense hasn't had a robust way to test for these synthetic chemicals, said Maj. Seth Deam, an Office of the Judge Advocate General special counsel.

"While the Spice chemicals may mimic the effects of marijuana and have been termed a 'legal' high, a number of these chemicals have been banned by countries around the world, by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and by at least 40 states here in the U.S.," Deam said.

Not only is the use of these synthetic-cannabinoids illegal for Airmen, it can also be extremely dangerous, said Dr. Aaron Jacobs, the program manager of Air Force Drug Testing.

Studies have shown that the concentration of the chemicals varies, even within the same brand. The chemicals are typically much more potent than THC, and the number and type of chemicals and their concentration varies considerably in these unregulated products, Jacobs said.

And, according to Jacobs, the side effects, including hallucinations, rapid heart rate, paranoia, agitation and vomiting, may have long-term health consequences.

That's why Air Force officials have focused efforts on deterring and enforcing the policies against using Spice chemicals.

"Prior to us being able conduct urinalysis testing to detect Spice use, we relied on ordinary investigation methods such as interviews and searches," Deam said. "These methods led to a significant number of prosecutions, nonjudicial punishments (Articles 15) and adverse administrative actions -- including administrative separation."

When the ability to detect Spice use through urinalysis first became available, the Air Force relied on the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to do the tests, Jacobs said.

"They could test up to 30 specimens per month for each of the services based on consent or probable cause arising from a law enforcement investigation," he said.

"It was a limited test, but at the time, they were the only Department of Defense laboratory with the special equipment to conduct urinalysis testing for Spice," Jacobs said. "In order to increase both its capacity and the scope of urinalysis testing for Spice, the Air Force contracted with a civilian laboratory to conduct Spice testing."

Testing for Spice at the civilian laboratory was initially reserved for only commander-directed cases, but by the end of fiscal 2011, it had expanded to include inspection testing, including unit, dorm and gate sweeps. Air Force installation commanders are now ordering Spice testing of Airmen.

According to numbers released by the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Military Justice Division, both Spice prosecutions and non-judicial punishment actions increased last year. The Air Force had 108 Spice courts-martial cases in 2011, more than twice as many than in 2010, according to the agency's report. Also, nearly one third of all Air Force drug courts-martial in 2011 included an offense involving Spice.

The agency also said the Air Force administered 448 Articles 15 in 2011 that included the use of Spice. That is more than half of all Air Force Articles 15 given out for all types of drug abuse in 2011, and a 37 percent increase over 2010 figures.

"To detect and deter the apparent rise in Spice use among Airmen, Air Force officials provided funds to stand-up an organic Spice testing capability," said Lt. Col. Michelle Ewy, the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory commander.

To get this capability, the Air Force spent approximately $480,000 to purchase two specialized instruments capable of detecting the unique metabolites in urine indicative of Spice ingestion. The Air Force has contracted for two forensic toxicologists and is in the process of contracting for five laboratory technicians all dedicated to the detection of the drug, according to Ewy.

"Bottom line is this: Every Airman knows that the use and possession of intoxicating substances, other than alcohol and tobacco, is prohibited in the Air Force," said Col. Don Christensen, the Air Force's chief prosecutor. "This added capability will provide an important tool to deter use of these dangerous drugs and to identify those who put themselves and others at risk by abusing them. Every Airman is now potentially subject to urinalysis testing for Spice."

Air Force leaders discuss modernization in budget hearing

by Tech. Sgt. Richard Williams
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz outlined the service's modernization efforts during testimony to the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense here March 6.

"Modernization is our most significant concern, especially as our fleets age and new technologies drive new investment needs," Donley said.

Protecting modernization priorities, including the Long Range Strike bomber, the KC-46A refueling tanker, and key space and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs, is vital to the future force, Donley said.

To support these efforts, Schwartz said the Air Force looks to divest nearly 230 fighter, mobility and ISR aircraft in fiscal 2013 toward a total retirement of 286 aircraft retirements over the Future Years Defense Plan.

"As part of the defense strategic guidance, we are structuring our force to be agile and responsive, even as we accept the risk associated with a smaller force," Schwartz said. "We project that targeted divestitures will achieve $8.7 billion in total force savings over the planning period, which then can be applied to our modernization strategy."

The Air Force is also emphasizing the use of multi-role capabilities that provide flexibility across the spectrum of conflict, Donley said. He pointed to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules as a prime multi-role example, as well as the service's choices in fighter force structure, which include a smaller A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet and plans for the F-16 Fighting Falcon service life extension.

Schwartz said the Air Force is also emphasizing common configurations for fewer support and sustainment requirements. By doing so, the Air Force will be "positioned to achieve greater efficiency in delivering Air Force capabilities," Schwartz added.

The focus on common aircraft configurations can be seen in adjustments to the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III mobility fleets, and in ongoing efforts to seek common configurations within the F-22 Raptor and F-15C Eagle fleets, Donley said.

With the adjustments to aircraft numbers, the Air Force took a holistic, interstate approach to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve force structure, Schwartz said.

"Clearly, the Air Force's vitality and effectiveness is dependent on the total force," the general said. "Therefore, the leadership of both the active and reserve components worked closely together in all deliberations and decisions affecting the total force."

High year of tenure change continues to affect assignments

by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The January return to pre-2003 enlisted high year of tenure rates continues to impact assignments, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced today.

High year of tenure is the maximum number of years enlisted Airmen in each grade may remain on active duty. In 2003, HYT was adjusted upward to retain experienced Airmen for a longer period of time during a period of a robust economy and lower retention rates.

In 2010, the Air Force began the process to normalize HYT, reducing senior airman, technical sergeant, master sergeant and senior master sergeant levels, effective in 2011 and 2012. In December, the Air Force announced that HYT would continue to be adjusted beginning in 2013 with changes to senior airman through technical sergeant limits.

As a result, approximately 1,000 assignments have been cancelled for Airmen who no longer have the required service retainability for their overseas or overseas follow-on assignment. Action is now being taken to cancel the remaining assignments of those Airmen affected by the HYT changes.

"For Airmen whose overseas follow-on assignments have been cancelled, military personnel sections will email us with each affected member's eight continental United States -- CONUS -- assignment preferences, and we will do all we can to assign them to a base on that list," said Ron Gallucci, the AFPC assignment programs and procedures chief. "Air Force needs must come first, though."

Assignment actions should be complete by mid-March, Gallucci said.

"Losing military personnel sections will contact affected members to determine if the cancelled assignment will result in a hardship for them," he said. "If a hardship is confirmed, we'll work with the member and the MPS to help resolve it."

HYT is one of several force management programs the Air Force uses to size and shape the Air Force to meet current and future mission needs.

"Normalizing HYT helps develop and maintain the right balance of experience in the Air Force," said Col. Jerry Couvillion, the AFPC personnel services directorate operations chief. "The future of the Air Force depends on balance in numbers, ranks, experience levels and career fields, so HYT is one way we can achieve that."