Top Air Force Stories for March 20, 2012

Today's stories include:

AF extends retroactive stop loss application window  
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123294623

National Public Service Award nominees sought 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123294611

CMSAF visits Incirlik AB, talks Air Force changes  
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123294481

Colonel promotes soccer for Afghan girls 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123294465

Air Force changes name of MC-130J 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123294461



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AF extends retroactive stop loss application window

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

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Airmen eligible for the Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Program who did not apply before the fall deadline will have another opportunity to do so, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

Airmen who were unable to submit a claim will be able to do so through Oct. 21, including active duty, retirees and separated Airmen, as well as some Reserve members, said Col. Jerry Couvillion, the AFPC personnel services directorate operations chief

The retroactive stop loss program benefits retired and former Air Force members who were involuntarily held on active duty beyond their enlistment period or their approved retirement or separation date. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Air Force has used stop loss on two occasions. The inclusive periods are Oct. 2, 2001 to Jan. 31, 2003 and May 2 to Dec. 31, 2003, Couvillion said.

More than 8,200 applicants received a total of $20 million-plus between 2009, when AFPC started accepting claims, and October 2011, when the program ended, the colonel said. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 has authorized an extension of the application window to ensure all affected Airmen have ample opportunity to complete and submit a claim.

"Airmen who qualify may be eligible for $500 per month compensation for each month they were affected," the colonel explained. "But they will need to complete the DD Form 2944 and submit it with required documentation before the October deadline."

Documentation will include records supporting the claim, and some people may need to request copies of those records from the National Archives. Eligible Airmen should to act quickly to ensure they meet the submission deadline, Couvillion said.

For detailed eligibility and claim submission information, and a link to DD Form 2944, Claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Payment, go to the Air Force Personnel Center website at http://www.afpc.af.mil/stoploss/index.asp. For more information about the program and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.

National Public Service Award nominees sought

by Gloria Kwizera
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force is seeking nominations for the 2013 National Public Service Award, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced today.

The National Public Service Award recognizes individuals at all levels of public service who have agency-wide responsibility; exhibit the highest standards of excellence, dedication and accomplishment over a sustained period of time; and are creative and highly skilled career managers.

This award is open to both military and federal employees who have spent a significant portion of their careers as public service practitioners at the federal, state, local or international government levels or in nonprofit organizations that provided direct public service.

Organizations and base-level personnel must contact their major command, field operating agency or direct reporting unit for applicable suspense dates and additional information regarding nomination procedures.

Each MAJCOM, FOA or DRU may submit one nomination, due to AFPC by Aug. 1.

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

CMSAF visits Incirlik AB, talks Air Force changes

by Staff Sgt. Kali Gradishar
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFNS) -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited here March 15-16 to meet Airmen performing 39th Air Base Wing missions and discuss current and future Air Force changes.

Roy spoke to Airmen about topics such as education and training, Air Force budget cuts and resiliency.

At one point he addressed necessary adjustments following the release of the National Defense Budget, which outlines a significant decrease in funding to all military services. While the Air Force is shaping to best meet its mission requirements, Roy emphasized a commitment to operations at Incirlik AB and beyond.

"What we need people to understand, specifically here at Incirlik and across Europe, is we're here to stay; it's an enduring mission," said the chief master sergeant of the Air Force. "The mission set that this particular command has is one that is relied upon by many combatant commands and many other agencies, and it's going to stay.

"We also want our NATO allied partners to understand that we're in this with you," he said. "We're not going anywhere."

As budget constraints affect the entire Air Force mission, so too does the change in high year of tenure, a term used to define the time period by which an Airman must reach the next rank before he or she must separate from the Air Force.

"This makes the second change made to the high year of tenure during my time as chief master sergeant of the Air Force," Roy noted. "As we continue to shape the force, this was a necessary piece that we needed to do. It is a very competitive Air Force ... and it's going to be more competitive in the future."

Roy stressed the amount of control Airmen have over their own fates regarding high year of tenure, stating the key to reaching the next rank is a clear focus and motivation to study for the Professional Development Guide and specialty knowledge tests under the Weighted Airman Promotion System.

Beyond high year of tenure and WAPS testing, the chief master sergeant of the Air Force highlighted the new adaptation of enlisted professional military education -- EPME Next.

"What we have found over the past few years ... is there's a huge gap in our enlisted professional military education," he said, referencing the average 10-year gap between airman leadership school and NCO academy. That time frame is "a very important era for Airmen because that's the time in which they find themselves as first-line supervisors."

EPME Next is "not just another box of books," Roy said. The change involves providing Airmen with earlier and more consistent exposure to Air Force institutional competencies through distance learning in addition to, and in some cases in lieu of, in-residence courses. The goal is to provide development at an earlier stage in an Airman's career to better meet the Air Force mission requirements of the future.

Roy encouraged Airmen to maintain a resilient attitude, not only as Airmen transition to a leaner force but also in day-to-day life.

"Resiliency to me means not just the ability to be able to work through a situation -- it's the ability to work through it but also continue to grow through it," Roy said. "So as you're faced with other challenges throughout life, you're able to manage those."

Following the chief master sergeant of the Air Force's tour around Incirlik AB, greeting and speaking with Airmen, he claimed the greatest thing about Airmen here is "just the simple motivation. ... The mission sets that are here -- as they have grown -- our Airmen are trained (and) motivated to do those things."

He also observed "the professionalism of our Airmen every single day and the fact that they are motivated to do their jobs and work with the host nation here. I just would caveat that by saying it's our family members, as well.

"This being a short tour, if you will, a lot of our family members come here and they find that it may not be the same as 'Hometown, USA,'" he said. "What I would ask of all the family members is to ... get out and be a part of the activities."

As he departed Incirlik AB, he expressed thanks to U.S. and Turkish airmen and emphasized the importance of building and maintaining host-nation partnerships.

Colonel promotes soccer for Afghan girls

by Army Sgt. April Campbell
International Security Assistance Force

KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- On a sunny day nearly six months ago, Air Force Col. AnneMarie Fenton witnessed a sight on the International Security Assistance Force helicopter landing zone here that reminded her of home: Afghan girls playing in a soccer tournament.

While the girls were talented and clearly enjoyed the games, Fenton, who serves as the director for the ISAF and U.S. Forces Afghanistan Joint Visitors Bureau, could not help but notice a few differences from the many games she had watched her daughter play back home in Burke, Va.

"Those girls who had cleats were sharing them between players," Fenton said. "None of them had shin guards, and the goalies played without gloves. They were patient when they had to stop play to accommodate helicopter landings and takeoffs. Still, they were all enthusiastic about playing and looked like they were having a great time."

After noticing the need for soccer gear, Fenton spoke to Zahra Mahmoodi, a right midfielder for the Afghan national women's soccer team, who was heading up the tournament.

"It's really hard for some people to imagine that there are 16 girls teams playing soccer in Kabul," Mahmoodi said. "Colonel Fenton was really impressed that these girls loved soccer so much that they would play with so little equipment."

Wanting to help the Afghan girls, but knowing she would need help, Fenton contacted one of her most trusted confidants: her daughter Caitlin, an eighth grader who plays fullback for her Springfield-South County Youth Club girls soccer team, Xplosion, in Springfield, Va.

"I was surprised at the lack of equipment my mother described," Caitlin said. "If you don't have cleats and shin guards, you could really hurt yourself."

Caitlin, 13, led an effort that resulted in donations of about 1,100 items, including soccer balls, apparel, cleats, shin guards and goalie gloves, Fenton said.

"I sent out a letter and it was passed on to the other soccer teams in our league," Caitlin said. "We collected donations at the beginning and end of our practices and games. The visiting teams also donated gear."

In addition to donations from Xplosion and other girls soccer teams, U.S. and Afghan companies also made significant contributions, she said.

Once the gear arrived at ISAF Headquarters, Fenton and her team at the Joint Visitors Bureau worked with Mahmoodi to find a way to distribute it to the Afghan soccer teams. Throughout the next two weeks, more than 50 girls in Kabul received the new gear. Mahmoodi identified the Allahuddin Orphanage team, known in Dari as Ayanda-Sazan, or Future Makers, as the first group of girls to receive the donations.

"The first team that came to mind was the orphanage team, because the girls on this team didn't have cleats, they didn't have shin guards, but they were always participating in the tournaments," Mahmoodi said. "It was really encouraging for the girls, because now they know that somebody appreciates that they play soccer in spite of the challenges they may face."

A week later, Mahmoodi brought several girls to the Afghan army gym next to ISAF headquarters. They played soccer with ISAF women from the Joint Visitors Bureau who later helped to distribute more donated gear.

Their next opportunity to deliver gear occurred at a field in Kabul. People from the Joint Visitors Bureau watched many of the girls who had received the gear play, and one of the girls came up to Fenton to express her appreciation.

"I'm glad to see you here," the young soccer player told Fenton. "It makes me feel strong."
While the equipment was passed out to individual players based on size and need, Mahmoodi said he is optimistic that the efforts will have an impact on the girls as a whole.

"When girls are playing as a team, they learn to work together to become friends, and even like sisters," Mahmoodi said. "This helps them to see that there is no reason for war and violence. Learning to be as a team for soccer helps them learn to be as a team for the country and for the future."

Fenton said she hopes the Kabul soccer players also see the team that extends across their national borders.

"I want these girls to know that the United States' involvement here is not just a military effort," she said. "The kids their age in the States are genuinely interested in them and their well-being, and they want to make contributions to these girls' success."

Caitlin, who will see her mother later this month when she returns home to Virginia, put it more simply: "Soccer helps girls exercise their freedom."

Air Force changes name of MC-130J

by Ashley M. Wright
Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- Officials announced a popular name change for the MC130J here March 9 that honors the Air Commando legacy and capitalizes on the versatility of the aircraft.

"Air Force Special Operation Command MC-130Js will be equipped to fly various missions and will be called Commando II," said Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, the AFSOC commander, in the memorandum requesting the change. "This name best reflects the multi-mission role of the aircraft and the units that will fly them."

The Commando II flies low-visibility, low-level air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, and infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories, according to the official Air Force factsheet.

The aircraft's popular name previously was Combat Shadow II. Alternate names considered included Combat Knife and Combat Arrow. A popular name, according to the joint service Air Force Instruction 16-401(I), "characterize aerospace vehicle missions and aid communications and media references."

The process for requesting the popular name change began in September 2011, said Don Purvis, an AFSOC logistics management specialist. The memorandum from the AFSOC commander was sent to the asset identification flight at Air Force Material Command headquarters. From that point, a review was conducted by several agencies, including the Air Force Judge Advocate General and Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs.

"This is one of the first name changes we approved," said Keven Corbeil, a Defense Department popular name control point in the flight. "I think 'Commando' had historical (significance for AFSOC)."

In addition to reflecting the current missions of AFSOC, the name change honors the legacy of the C-46, the original Commando. According to the AFSOC commander's memorandum, the new name "embodies the broader linage of special operations force aircraft."

The C-46 was used extensively during the Cold War and Korean War by various government agencies, said Herb Mason, the AFSOC historian. It doubled the payload and range of the C-47, which it replaced.

Just like its descendent, the original Commando performed a variety of missions. The C-46 was most famous for its operations in the Far East. The Commando was a workhorse in 'flying the hump' over the Himalayan Mountains, transporting desperately needed supplies from bases in India and Burma to troops in China. A variety of transports had been employed in the effort, but only the C-46 was able to handle the adverse conditions, according to an executive staff summary sheet for the popular name change request.

Commando II replaces the aging special operations forces fleet of 37 MC-130E and P tankers. The first aircraft arrived at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Sept. 29, 2011.