Top Five Air Force Stories for Jan. 18, 2011

Today's stories include:

U.S., coalition nations form Wideband Global Satellite partnership 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123286621

AMC passenger travel to be more predictable 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123286617

Burning rubber helps land U-2 safely  
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123286352

The heat is on ... Afghan style 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123286353

Supervisor resource center moves to AF Portal 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123286415



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U.S., coalition nations form Wideband Global Satellite partnership

by Tech. Sgt. Chris Powell
Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Senior defense officials from six countries announced a multilateral partnership in wideband global satellite communication, which is valued at more than $10 billion, Jan. 17 here.

The officials from Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the U.S. held an initial WGS partnership steering committee meeting prior to the announcement.

"This new WGS partnership provides an example of how the U.S. plans to continue exploring opportunities to strengthen our existing cooperative relationship and to build new partnerships," said Heidi Grant, the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. "These activities will bolster our mutual trust, help to achieve further interoperability for our warfighters, and will increase the capabilities and capacity of all partners."

Currently, there are three WGS satellites in orbit, with six additional satellites scheduled for launches from 2012 through 2018, including a ninth satellite that is enabled by the new partnership.

"With this arrangement, each partner's unique level of requirement will be accommodated corresponding to each partner's level of contribution," Grant said. "The United States' contribution to the agreement includes the development, fielding and operation of eight satellites, and the launch services and operations for a ninth satellite."

According to Grant, the multilateral partners contributed $620 million of the approximate $1 billion cost to expand the WGS System with a ninth satellite.

"This is a model of a good way to do business," said Maj. Gen. John Hyten, the director of Space Programs in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. "From an Air Force acquisition perspective, it improves our ability to acquire the constellation in an efficient manner because it keeps an active production line going, it allows us to achieve efficiencies in the production line (and) it saves us money in the long term by having a very efficient program.

"From an operational perspective for our Air Force operators, it puts (them) on the same system as the coalition partners," he said.

The general explained that Air Force operators receive air tasking orders via wideband communications, and now each partner nation has access to the system and can receive ATOs through that same system.


AMC passenger travel to be more predictable

by Jeremy Webster
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Select passenger terminals across Air Mobility Command are establishing pages on Facebook to provide passengers more predictability when it comes to space-available and space-required passengers.

The overall goal of the AMC Space-A Facebook program is to use social media to expand knowledge about Space-A travel, while providing a more predictable travel experience and making AMC the preferred travel choice for eligible personnel.

"As a Department of Defense asset, Air Mobility Command is unique in the fact that we are responsible for transporting eligible DOD card holders and their families around the world," said Col. William Zeck, Air Mobility Command's air transportation chief. "What we want to do is provide our travelers with enough information to plan their trip and enjoy their Space-A traveling experience."

In order to help travelers plan accordingly, passenger terminals will post historical flight information on individual pages on Facebook. Customers can expect to see the number of flights, destinations, number of seats available, number of seats filled and lowest Space-A category reached posted to the passenger terminal's page.

For example, the passenger terminal page of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, displayed the previous day's historical flight information as:

"For Jan. 8, the Ramstein passenger terminal had two flights going to the United States with 71 seats available and 27 seats filled. Category six was the lowest category selected with the date and time sign-up of Dec. 22, 2011, at 1:05 p.m. The flights were destined for Jackson IAP, Miss., Dover, Del., and Joint Base Andrews, Md."

Travelers will also be able to the see their local terminals tentative flight schedule 72 hours in advance. The same information available via the local terminal's answering machine will also be posted on the passenger terminal's page on Facebook. This information will be displayed as a screen shot of the terminal's display board, which will show date of departure, roll call/show time, number of seats available and destinations scheduled for the next 72 hours.

"In order to address the operational security concerns, AMC held several meetings, including a major command Security Advisory Group, beginning in January 2011," said Master Sgt. Chris Alexander, the command manager for the passenger policy branch. "Personnel from the information protection, Office of Special Investigations, public affairs, communications and transportation offices got together and thoroughly evaluated the risks of posting any type of future or historical information on the Web. The threat risk for travel data was analyzed and approved for posting on Facebook."

Not only will the new pages help travelers plan accordingly, it will also serve as a customer service tool, officials said. Anyone who posts a question on a terminal's page on Facebook can expect a passenger service agent will answer within 24 hours.

"The AMC space-available and (space-required) program believes these pages will be a big win for both the travelers and the passenger service agents," said Capt. Mitchell Parker, the deputy chief for the passenger policy branch. "These sites will allow users to read previous posts, interact with other travelers and allow them to make more informed decisions regarding AMC travel."

Interested travelers can find their local passenger terminal's page on Facebook by entering the base's name followed by "passenger terminal," for example: "Andrew's passenger terminal." Each page will have a picture of the installation's passenger terminal as their profile picture to help followers "like" the correct page. Airmen should remember that even with the launch of these new Facebook pages, all flights are subject to change without notice, officials said.

For a complete list of AMC passenger terminals that have a Facebook page, visit the Space-A website at www.amc.af.mil/amctravel.

Burning rubber helps land U-2 safely

by Airman 1st Class Michael Battles
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- Going 100 mph down the flightline might be normal for an F-16 Fighting Falcon, but for the drivers of the U-2 chase car it's also a daily event on the ground.

As an instrument of safety, pilots use the U-2 chase car to monitor take offs and landings of the aircraft in an attempt to warn the pilot of any possible complications or dangers.

"The car is really important as a margin of safety," said Maj. Alex Scott, a 5th Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 pilot. "Actually, in the past they tried using other aircraft as chasers, but they couldn't fly slowly enough, so as a result they started using high-performance muscle cars."

Due to its large wing span, the U-2 is notorious for being one of the most difficult aircraft to land, he said.

During a routine flight, U-2 pilots fly eight hour missions on average.

"While it may seem frivolous to be tearing up and down the runway in a sports car, the (vehicle) is the U-2 pilot's primary source of mutual support and ensures the safe operation of a national asset," said Maj. Carl Maymi, a 5th RS U-2 pilot.

As the aircraft lifts off or lands, pilots in the chase car radio the pilot about wing angles and ground distance.

"We can land the aircraft without it, but if you can take every precaution possible you're going to do it," Scott said.

Along with flight training, U-2 pilots are also required to take a secondary course that teaches them how to properly maintain high-performance cars at top speeds.

"Flooring it and pushing the car to its max speed as fast as you can to catch up to the U-2 is something not many people can say they've done," Scott said.

The chase car can reach speeds of more than 100 mph, but the speed ranges depending on the needs of the outgoing or incoming aircraft.

"The best thing about being a U-2 pilot and chase car driver here in Korea is the relevant information that we get to gather on a day-to-day basis for (United States Forces Korea) and for joint coalition partners," Scott said.

If the thrill of flying at heights of 70,000 feet isn't enough for these pilots, they may also have a career as a race car driver someday.



The heat is on ... Afghan style

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

KABUL AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- As alarms sound and flames roar from the burning building, they run in while others run out.

For years and years, firemen have trained for the eventuality that one day, they may have to save an innocent victim from the intense heat of a raging inferno.

In Afghanistan, military fire training is no different and although snow covers the ground, 850 degrees Fahrenheit flames present an obstacle for the Afghan air force and army student firefighters who have hopes of one day becoming professional firefighters.

Recently, deployed Airmen from the 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron conducted a structural live-fire exercise at the Air University's Fire Academy at Kabul International Airport, geared at improving the Afghan air force  and Afghan National Army ability to react quickly and effectively to fire protection scenarios.

With lights flashing and sirens wailing, this was a new experience for active-duty Afghan air force and Afghan National Army student firefighters who have participated in the fire academy training process together.

"This was the first time that the students were able to interact with Afghan fire academy firefighters in their environment," said Master Sgt. Kile Stewart, a Kabul Air Base fire emergency services adviser with the 439th AEAS. "Our goal with this training is to help the (Afghan air force) and (Afghan National Army) become fully independent and operationally capable of providing fire protection for their assets and personnel."

The three-day training course consisted of approximately 15 students that received a taste of the fire academy's 80-day training course that included vehicle operations, use and donning of fire protective equipment and safety procedures used in a controlled live-fire environment.

"Many of the students have never experienced being on a fire team or the heat and smoke of a live fire situation so this is very beneficial to them," Stewart said.

The students were given the opportunity to experience each of the fire team positions and the pressures they present to better familiarize themselves with the challenges that they may face in a future situation.

"I found today's training outstanding; we had firefighters from many different units and detachments here so I'm confident that they will take this training and the lessons they learned back to those locations," said Col. Qayoom, the director of fire services for the Afghan air force and Afghan National Army.

The combined efforts of U.S., Portuguese and Afghan officials have proven effective in Kabul commented Col. Qayoom.

Stewart added that the training would help not only the AAF and ANA, but also the Afghan people in general.

Currently, most Air Force firefighters are filling six-month deployment billets to enable this advisory training role. The Portuguese rotate on a one-to-two month rotation but the advisory role varies based on the mission and the locations.

Airman 1st Class Anthony Grochowski explained why he felt this training and interaction was important.

"This being my first experience with the Afghan people, I realized that they are here to help me as much as I'm here to help them," he said. "It has definitely been an experience I'll remember looking back at my career."

Training continues for the advisers and the firefighters alike at units in Kandahar, Shindand and Mazar-e-Sharif.


Supervisor resource center moves to AF Portal

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

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Information, education and training critical to civilian supervisors is available at such online resources as the Supervisory Resource Center, which has moved to the Air Force Portal, SRC developers announced today.

Formerly located on the Air Force Knowledge Now platform as a community of practice page, Air Force Materiel Command has managed the SRC in some form since 2006. Effective Jan. 30, the AFKN site will be phased out and employees will be directed to the Portal site.

"We are continually additing content to appeal to wider audiences, based on their role - whether they are pre-supervisory, a new supervisor or an experienced supervisor. Then we introduce features focused on those roles," said Marti Paul, SRC program manager.

The SRC is not just for supervisory development, Paul said, explaining that it can also be used by supervisors to develop their employees.

For example, she explained, there is now a pre-supervisory development process that helps people prepare for their role as a supervisor. In addition, "knowledge nuggets" were added starting in 2009. Knowledge nuggets are short snippets of video that feature senior leaders talking about leadership topics, said Paul.

"We created learning programs based on Air Force institutional competencies and added those links to the SRC, and have continued to enhance its functionality based on Air Force topics of interest," Paul said.

The move to the Portal is beneficial for everyone, according to Paul. Now the SRC exists on a stable, well-known platform, and it will be easier for people to access areas that before required circuitous effort. To visit the SRC, go to the Portal, hover over the life and career tab, then force development, and select the SRC link on the top left side of the FD page.

In addition to the SRC, supervisors can quickly access valuable information on a wide variety of topics at the Air Force Personnel Services civilian supervisors resource page.

"If you're new to civil service, or a new supervisor, you'll find a lot of information that you need all located on one page. It's faster and more efficient ot go to the supervisors' resource page than to try to look up information every time you need it," said Jackie Holland, Air Force Personnel Center civilian future operations branch.

The page includes knowledge articles on filling vacant positions, pay and compensation, veteran hiring, and more. There are also quick links to reference guides, the supervisor's handbook, overseas employment and reduction in force.

"People might waste a lot of time looking for information that they could easily access on this page, so it's a definite benefit," said Holland. "And, there's a link on the page to the SRC, as well, so it's easy to visit the center for related information."

More formal education programs are also linked through the SRC, including Air University E-Learning programs, said Barry Waite, Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development.

"Air Force online supervisory courses have proved invaluable in preparing Airmen for their responsibilities," said Waite. "We must provide training to enable people to accomplish their mission and to achieve their goals, but the money required to send all supervisors to an in-residence program is unsustainable."

Prior to implementing the AU online learning environment, employing federal employees and contractor instructors to train new supervisors cost the Air Force more than $1.7 million annually.

"Some bases had a contractor visit once or twice a year to conduct training, which was inflexible and required new supervisors wait until a trainer visited," Waite said. "E-Learning brings the classroom to the student, and it's the same quality and technology major universities use for their online classes."

Three courses are available for civilian and military supervisors: USAF Supervisors Course (mandatory for all new supervisors), Civilian Personnel Management Course, and Military Personnel Management Course.

The USAF Supervisors Course - launched in the E-leaning format in 2009 - provides first level supervisors with leadership and management skills necessary in supervisory positons. Although it's mandatory for new supervisors, former military members who have completed certain military professional military education can request an equivalency.

CPMC is mandatory for all new supervisors of civilian employees, and MPMC is mandatory for all new supervisors of military members. They were launched in 2010 to replace courses taught by training professionals or travelling contractors.

"We do have some challenges, but overall the courses have compared fairly well to an in-residence course. About 85 percent of the students so far have reported favorably on the comparability, and we're saving the Air Force about $1 million annually," said Waite.

Challenges notwithstanding, the courses are popular with students who "are raving about the content and delivery," said Waite. "This course is the reason we received the AETC Learning Innovation Runner-up Award during the AETC Symposium last winter."

The courses are three of eight offered by the Air Force Human Resource Management School, according to Rebecca Sampson, HRMS future learning.

"I've been involved since 2000 in distance learning and I've never seen as much interest or growth in this medium as I have over the past year. It's refreshing," said Sampson. Go to https://www.my.af.mil/afknprod/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=AF-ED-00-38 for details.

"Education and training are critical for success," said Mike Hameroff, Headquarters Air Force training. He advises all Airmen to go to the different sites and browse the contents.

"These are great tools, but tools are only beneficial if you use them correctly. You can save yourself a lot of time, irritation and rework if you know what the tools are and how to use them before you need them," said Hameroff.

For more information about leadership programs and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.