Top Air Force Stories for March 27, 2012

Today's stories include:

Coaches selected for 2012 Warrior Games 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123295575

General: Space capability integral to all military operations 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123295528

Air Force ends pilot travel card program 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123295338

U.S., African nations share techniques in partnership exercise 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123295477

Pararescue Airmen aid avalanche victims 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123295444



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



Coaches selected for 2012 Warrior Games

by Eric M. Grill
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- An Air Force orthopedic surgeon has been tapped to be the head coach for the U.S. Air Force 2012 Warrior Games team during the competition slated for April 30 through May 5 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Maj. James Bales, 2010's Air Force Male Athlete of the Year, from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., will coach the 2012 team assisted by Cami Stock, from Colorado Springs, who is returning for her third year of Warrior Games.

Bales, the 2011 upright cycling coach and team physician, called it an honor to lead this year's team.

"I have always had a huge respect for the sacrifices our wounded warriors have made," he said. "Being the head coach for Warrior Games combines my passion for sports, medicine and coaching."

Bales maintains the games are not about medals but helping wounded warriors recover from injury.

"At the end of the day, it is about looking back and seeing how far wounded warriors have come and celebrating their triumph over their injuries," he said. "Warrior Games is about each wounded warrior competing at the best of his or her ability."

Besides the head and assistant coaches, there are different coaches for the individual track and field, cycling, swimming, archery, shooting, volleyball and basketball competitions.

The 2012 coaches are:

Cycling Recumbent/Shooting (Assistant) -- Maj. Scott Bullis, Peterson AFB, Colo.
Cycling Upright -- Master Sgt. Anthony Milunas, Lackland AFB, Texas
Swimming -- Anthony Boettcher, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
Sitting Volleyball -- Capt. Nicki Marino, U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colo.
Field -- Capt. Steven Lizzol, Hurlbert Field, Fla.
Track -- John Zavada, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Wheelchair Basketball -- Willie Jackson, Rockdale, Texas
Shooting (WCAP-Air Pistol) -- Senior Airman Alex Callage, Peterson AFB, Colo.
Archery -- Gary Fooshee, Colorado Springs, Colo.

"From professional-level athletes and recovery care coordinators for the athletes, to the wounded, ill and injured themselves, we have a very diverse group of volunteers," said Master Sgt. Elisha Abercrombie, the Warrior Games action officer at the Air Force Services Agency. "This is an experience of a lifetime for all involved."

The 2012 Air Force Warrior Games team will be determined after the services' Warrior Games selection camp, being held March 25-31 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

The Warrior Games was created in 2010 as an introduction to Paralympic sports for injured service members and veterans.

More than 200 competitors from the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard are expected to compete in 2012 Warrior Games.

For those interested in competing or coaching in the 2013 Warrior Games, the Air Force will put out a call for participants through the Air Force Wounded Warrior website, www.woundedwarriors.af.mil, when the 2013 Warrior Games are announced.

For more information about the 2012 Warrior Games, visit 2012 Warrior Games. For more information about Air Force wounded warriors, visit www.woundedwarriors.af.mil.

General: Space capability integral to all military operations

by Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Space capabilities have become integral to all military operations, the commander of Air Force Space Command told reporters here during a Defense Writers Group breakfast March 22.

"It's hard to imagine what life was like before we had ... GPS providing very accurate targeting capability, military satellite communications providing all the reach-back that's needed, (and) missile warning providing cover for our deployed forces," Gen. William L. Shelton said.

The Air Force maintains the 34 satellites that make up the GPS constellation. The all-weather, 24-hour system was intended for military use, but in 1983 President Ronald Reagan made it freely available to civilians, for the public good, after a Korean Air Lines flight carrying 269 people was shot down for straying into Soviet airspace.

The first GPS satellite was launched in 1989, and the most recent in 2011. In 2000, Congress authorized a modernization effort called GPS-III that will improve position, navigation and timing services and add advanced anti-jam capabilities to the constellation.

"The biggest concern is that GPS's signal is a very weak (one)," Shelton said. "It's a spread-spectrum signal, and it is not difficult to jam. ... In fact, you can buy (a GPS jammer) online, and we're starting to see even criminal elements use GPS jamming to cover their tracks. The game afoot here is to continue to drive a no-kidding adversary to higher powers of their jammers. Once you get to a significant power level, those are called targets."

The Air Force is cranking up power on the satellites to force adversaries to use higher-power jammers that can then be found and targeted, Shelton said.

"One of the design features of GPS-III is higher power," Shelton said, "and we also can do some things with antenna technology and the way we operate our platforms to protect ourselves from jamming."

For the Air Force satellite effort, space launch -- getting satellites from Earth to orbit -- is truly foundational, Shelton said. In 2011, the Defense Department and intelligence community succeeded in all 49 attempts to launch evolved expendable launch vehicles that carried satellites into orbit.

The Air Force EELV program, replacing the existing launch fleet with two families of vehicles that use common components and infrastructure, seeks to make space launch more reliable and affordable, the general explained.

United Launch Alliance, which Shelton called "the only supplier of the full gamut of launch capabilities," now handles space launches for the Defense Department, NASA and the intelligence community -- including the National Reconnaissance Office, the government agency that designs, builds, launches and maintains U.S. intelligence satellites.

ULA, formed in 2006, is a joint venture by Lockheed Martin and the Boeing Co. that uses Atlas V and Delta II and IV launch vehicles to support strategic U.S. space initiatives.

"We are very proud of our success record in the launch business, unprecedented in the history of space flight, ... but at the same time, with costs spiraling like they are, we have to take action to reduce the cost," Shelton said.

One action, he said, is to ask ULA to come in with priced options for booster cores, or rocket stages, over three to five years. "Somewhere in there," the general added, "we believe there will be a sweet spot for us."

The other action, Shelton said, is to use commercial services whenever possible, citing military use of wideband communications as an example.

"If all I'm concerned about is volumes of data moving around in space and ultimately down on the ground, commercial space knows how to do that very well and very economically," he explained. "If you look at the bandwidth coming back from Afghanistan, somewhere in the 70 percent to 80 percent range is commercial satellite communications. We've already proven in warfare that we can rely on commercial satellite communication."

But the services must be assured of worldwide capability, the general said.

"If you tell me where I'm going to fight, it's easy," Shelton said. "But if I have to protect the capability to fight anywhere, anytime, can I do it commercially, or do I have to have a dedicated military capability to do that? Those are all the kinds of things we are exploring with the commercial community."

Using commercial space launch services for national security satellite launches is not an option today, he said, because the capability doesn't yet exist in the commercial world.

"A national security payload on top of a commercial asset has to be a proven capability," Shelton said. "When you're talking $1 billion for a satellite, as well as the national security capability that satellite represents, as well as how long it would take you to get replacement capability for that, you just don't want to take the risk."

Two U.S. commercial space companies, Orbital Sciences Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp., have the potential to launch national security assets.

Orbital, based in Virginia, has delivered or had under contract 1,000 satellites, launch vehicles and other space-related systems since 1982. The company says it provides full-service engineering, production and technical services for NASA, DOD, and commercial and academic space programs, and is supplying commercial cargo resupply services for the International Space Station.

SpaceX, established in 2002, reports that it has developed two new launch vehicles; has a manifest for light, medium and heavy-lift space launches into 2017; and has received commercial off-the-shelf funding from NASA to demonstrate delivery and return of cargo to the space station.

Shelton said the Air Force distributed a step-by-step guide to certification for national security launches in October. Commercial companies, he said, "just need to give us adequate insight to (their history of) commercial missions so we can assure ourselves that no corners were cut, that we understand their process, the reliability of the components (and) their capabilities."

"Once they've proven that with a number of missions," Shelton added, "they'll be ready to go."

(Editor's note: Air Force Space Command Public Affairs contributed to this story.)

Air Force ends pilot travel card program

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force recently decided to transition existing Controlled Spend Account travel cards to an enhanced Government Travel Card by the end of fiscal 2012.

"The CSA, a pilot travel card program, provided some enhancements for travelers, but also brought about significant challenges for our most frequent travelers and those with unique mission sets," said Mrs. Joan Causey, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Operations. "We recognized that for any travel card program to work, it has to work for all travelers. In the end, we were not satisfied that any proposed changes to the CSA program would get us to the desired state for our most frequent travelers."

The actual transition will occur in August and September and current CSA cardholders should continue to use their cards as normal. The transition strategy allows travelers to continue using their "blue cards" without interruption. The card functionality will be converted to a GTC by CitiBank without the need to get a new card. Also, travelers will once again be provided with a permanent credit limit, and there will be no need to call for "temporary spend limit" increases.

One of the enhancements being pursued for the GTC program will be via the Defense Travel System. Default settings will be changed to automatically align most non-mileage expenses to the card. Additionally, the traveler can split-disburse any residual funds to his/her personal account. Finally, as a carryover from the CSA program, Citi will upgrade their GTC online system to allow travelers to request electronic fund transfers of credit balances directly to their bank accounts.

"The CSA to GTC transition plan is already in motion," Causey said. "We're planning a brief test in July to ensure all systems are a go. If all systems perform as expected, roughly 300K cardholders will be converted during the August/September timeframe."

Citi will not process any early transitions and should not be contacted to do so. Further questions by Airmen regarding the transition should be directed to local Agency Program Coordinators or comptroller squadrons.


U.S., African nations share techniques in partnership exercise

by Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
U.S. Air Forces Africa Public Affairs

ACCRA, Ghana (AFNS) -- Ghanaian, Benin, Togolese, Senegalese, Nigerian and U.S. air force members hit the flightline loading, guarding and marshaling aircraft March 21 during the African Partnership Flight 12-2 capstone event here.

The capstone gave all nations involved in the partnership-building flight the opportunity to share lessons learned through the exchange of ideas, techniques and practices to improve each air force's capability to secure peace and stability in the region.

"I think today's activities were a fantastic example of what can be accomplished when we bring a bunch of nations to partner together on a multinational level," said Chief Master Sgt. David Williamson, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe command chief. "It was just incredible to see those different uniforms from different nations all work together toward a common purpose and a common goal.

"The professionalism and skills displayed left me with a very good impression of our African partner nations," Williamson said. "It also made me very proud of our Airmen as well because they're down here doing a fantastic job and being incredible ambassadors for not just our Air Force, but our nation."

The event kicked off with load-crews building a pallet to load onto a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules guarded by security forces members. The security forces members used skills attained throughout APF 12-2 to guard the aircraft and crew against unauthorized personnel, and inspect loads and vehicles on the flightline.

U.S. Air Force security forces put their partner nations' knowledge to the test, approaching the flightline to challenge the partner nations' flightline security. As soon as the the flightline's security was threatened, the APF security members used challenge techniques to put the unauthorized personnel on their faces, eliminating them as a threat to the aircraft and enabling the continuation of the mission to load the aircraft.

"Our African partners took the techniques we exchanged with them to heart," said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Griffith, a U.S. Air Forces Africa anti-terrorism officer. "They far exceeded my expectations today by conducting textbook-perfect challenge and search procedures."

Once partnered nations' security forces confirmed that the flightline was secure, the load team began using international marshaling -- honed during APF 12-2 -- to move pallets, passengers and a vehicle onto the aircraft.

"We all use the same common language now," said Master Sgt. Mark Larmony, of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron. "Using these international hand-signals to load aircraft is a faster and safer way for these neighboring nations to work together."

Load members from partnering nations were not only happy to use their new skills, but said they look forward to improving upon these skills for important partnering missions now and in the future.

"The techniques we have exchanged in this partnership are very valuable to the standard we operate and transport aircraft in the Ghanaian air force," said Cpl. Ken Mohammed, a Ghanaian air force flight engineer. "We appreciate what we have learned from one another so far and hope to learn more. It is especially valuable to us now because the Ghanaian air force has an official unit working with the United Nations in the Ivory Coast and our mission there is to provide transport of troops and load. (APF 12-2) will go a long way to help me share my experience and use what I have achieved here to deliver my job."

Cpl. Amodu Usman agreed, saying he was ready to take the skills he's learned back to his fellow Nigerian air force air policemen and use them in the field.

"The new vehicle searching techniques I learned can be used to defend against the Boko Haram -- a terrorist group in Nigeria," Usman said.

Partner nation airmen also said the techniques and skills shared here go beyond the boundaries of the flightline.

For example, Sgt. Christopher Chukuweumeka Udeh, a Nigerian air force aircraft technician, said that skills he attained in this military-to-military event will help him not only conduct regional search and rescue missions with his partner nations but will also aid his communication with French-speaking partners because they now know all the same signals and procedures.

Tying in with the communication skills learned, the airmen here said they have also gained another powerful tool in regional stability: camaraderie. As Lance Cpl. Lydia Opoku, with the Ghanaian air force, said, the partnership building helped develop friendships between the six different nations, and she hopes this is the first of many times they get to work together.

Pararescue Airmen aid avalanche victims

by 2nd Lt. Leslie Forshaw
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -- A pararescue Airmen who went to the aid of avalanche victims nearly became a victim himself when the rescue helicopter dragged him and his patient across the steeply sloped mountain March 18.

Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Darrell Williams, a pararescueman with the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and the patient in the rescue basket, were dragged twice when the 22,000-pound helicopter hovering overhead encountered visibility issues on Chugach Mountain, south of Anchorage.

The aircrew was unable to tell that Williams and the patient were connected to the hoist. In an instant, the helicopter jerked Williams and the injured skier about 20 feet through the snow, but never lifting them off the ground. Then it happened again - another 20-foot drag through the snow.

"We were trying to get reestablished on the ground when the flight engineer, who couldn't see if we were still attached or not, cut the cable for safety reasons," Williams said. "We were still on the ground so it wasn't like we fell from the air."

Three skiers were trapped by the avalanche: Ian Lacroix, 20, was buried with a broken leg, but managed to dig out to reunite with his brother, Nathan, 28, who stayed with him while the third skier, Connor Maloney, 23, made his way down the mountain and found a state trooper.

The 11th U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center called the Alaskan Air National Guard's 176th Air Wing to help.

Imbedded temporarily with the ANG, Williams is serving a two-week tour in Alaska to hone his cold weather rescue skills and augment the ANG Guardian Angel Airmen.

"It was really dark but clear when we took off," said Williams. "We pretty much immediately saw the state trooper who flashed on his car head lights as a reference point on where to start the search."

At 1 a.m., and about a half mile up the mountain, the Airmen spotted the two skiers. They were waving their headlamp lights at the approaching Pave Hawk.

The lights were immediately visible against the darkness, said Williams. "So we circled a few times to see if we could land."

Due to the slope of the mountain they decided to hoist Williams and fellow ANG Guardian Angel Airman Tech. Sgt. Kristofer Abel, to the snowy ground below.

It took a while to hoist the two PJs down to the awaiting skiers. All reference points for the aircrew were obscured by the dense snow, said Williams. The rotor blades kicked up the mounds of snow below; and because it was such a clear night with no wind the snow just hung in the air like powder blinding the aircrew with a "white-out."

Finally on the ground, Williams and Abel detached the hoist cable and approached the skiers

"I immediately went over to the patient and medically assessed him to make sure there were no other life-threatening injuries," said Williams. "The younger brother had a broken leg inside his boot right above his ankle. Williams splinted his leg and gave him pain medication before attempting to move him.

First, Williams and the injured patient were to be hoisted together; then Abel would follow with the patient's brother.

"Once he [the injured skier] was good-to-go, I put him in a rescue strap and attached myself to him in preparation to hoist," said Williams.

The PJs were trying to work fast because they were still in an avalanche zone and both skiers had been in the elements for approximately six hours.

The GA Airmen had to reassess their situation after the hoist cable was cut. While Williams stayed with the injured skier, Abel trudged through deep, heavy snow to find a suitable spot for the helicopter to land.

Abel found that spot about 100-150 yards from where Williams was caring for the patient and was able to guide the pilots safely to it with his headlamp. Although, the landing zone was treacherous as the Pave Hawk's rotor tips were within feet of cutting through the rocky mountain.

By now, the routine hoist-in and hoist-out mission had turned into an hour-and-a-half of battling with grim conditions. Working in the deep snow challenged the men, said Williams.

"It was exhausting," said Williams which led them to use the snow to their advantage.

The two PJs splinted the injured skier's leg, packaged him up in a hypothermic bag then slid him on a rescue sled to the awaiting helicopter for transport to the hospital.

Onboard the helo, "I was glad to be out of the elements and not sinking in the snow anymore," said Williams who furthered medical treatment on the patient. "I could get the patient more comfortable, get his vitals and a more detailed assessment ensuring nothing else was wrong."

On the flight they raised the patient's body temperature with a warming pad and they also talked to the brother to find out exactly what happened on the mountain and if there were any medical conditions they needed to know about.

"I'm not really experienced with deep-snow avalanche rescues," said Williams who gained valuable cold-weather skills from the situation. And the whole time it was in the back of his mind that there could be another avalanche, he said.

This was Williams first day serving on alert with the Alaskan National Guard.

"It was definitely exciting. It was eye-opening," said Williams.

Editor's note: Some data in this article was compiled from a March 18th Reuters story.