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Archive for the ‘Air Force’ Category

Questions Asked on the USAF Security Forces LEOSA Facebook Page

Saturday, November 29th, 2014

uestions we receive on a weekly basis…
1. I’m Army MP XX number of years can I apply to the AF. -NO.
2. What is LEOSA? -Really?
3. How does this benefit me? -See previous response.
4. I’m Guard/Reserve/IMA/Retired can I apply. -If AF, yes if qual’d.
5. Why do we have to pay? -No public tax dollars.
6. My CHL/CCW is better and this is a scam. -FALSE
7. This violates Posse Comitatus. -FALSE
8. Can I arrest people 24/7 as a cop. -Absolutely NOT
9. If I can’t carry on base what’s the point? -Really?
10. I already have a state issued LEOSA card based on my AF status. -You are in violation of the law because you must have an ID card issued BY YOUR EMPLOYER, ie. the USAF
11. Can I carry a weapon onto a plane. -NO, read the law!
12. I’m a SNCO and don’t have training records, am I eligible. -Seriously?
13. LEOSA/CCW insurance is a scam. -FALSE, its been around for years.
14. Can I carry my USAF issued M9? -NO
15. Can I carry an Uzi? Technically possible, sigh.
16. I’m an officer, but not SF or an MP, and I can apprehend based on my rank and the UCMJ; how can I apply? -NOT ELIGIBLE
17. I’m a First Sergeant but was never SF am I eligible? -NO
18. I was Air Police, do I qualify? -Yes
19. I was Security Police do I qualify? -Yes
20. I was a Security Police Security troop before the careerfield merged, do I qualify? -Yes
21. Does this apply in Puerto Rico? -Yes

By the way, the Air Force appears to be way out in front of the other services in issuing credentials to their LE personnel in accordance with the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act.

Shadow End

Sunday, November 23rd, 2014

Shadow End from Adam Taylor on Vimeo.

The MC-130P Combat Shadows have been retired from AFSOC service. This video was produced for the end party. Although they were a relic from a short lived Rescue/SOF amalgamation, their capability will be missed.

Super T in Brazilian Service

Tuesday, November 11th, 2014

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That’s just a cool pic.

Forces Focus – 24 Hours In AFSOC

Friday, October 24th, 2014

The Safariland Group Selected As Equipment Supplier For United States Air Force Security Forces In $17.7M Contract

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

The Safariland Group has announced they have received a contract from the United States Air Force to supply batons, holsters, and body armor to the Air Force Security Forces. The full release can be read below:

Air Force Security Forces to use Safariland Group batons, holsters and body armor

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Safariland Group (the “Company”), a leading global provider of safety and survivability products, announced today that its distributor, Garrett Container, was awarded a $17.7M contract from the United States Air Force for law enforcement equipment. As the majority equipment supplier for this contract, The Safariland Group products, including Monadnock® batons, Safariland® tactical holsters and accessory kits, and Second Chance® body armor, will be supplied to the Air Force Security Forces over the five-year contract period.

“We have been working diligently with our customer Garrett Container for several years to meet the U.S. Air Force Security Forces equipment requirements. Our high-quality products, experienced work force, and capabilities to meet large order requirements enabled us to be selected for this award by Garrett Container,” said Roger Cox, Vice President, Government Sales, The Safariland Group. “We are pleased to be the majority supplier of this contract for Garrett Container, a trusted industry distributor.”

The contract specifies a maximum quantity of 30,866 Monadnock® Detective® Series batons; 34,764 Safariland® Model 6005 SLS Tactical Holsters and holster accessories, and approximately 37,100 sets of Second Chance® BV02 Level IIIA body armor packages for both male and female.

All products included in this contract will be manufactured at the Company’s facilities located in Pittsfield, Mass.; Ontario, Calif.; and Jacksonville, Fla.

The Safariland Group is celebrating 50 years in business in 2014. For information about the Company and its life-saving products, visit www.safariland.com or follow The Safariland Group on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

JTAC Simulator – Close Air Solutions

Tuesday, October 21st, 2014

UK-based Close Air Solutions has been experimenting with the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality device for use in JTAC training. In this video, consultant Daniel Meeks wanted to try out the use of Head Mounted Displays for role players in Close Air Support scenarios. They used the Oculus Rift with MetaVR’s VRSG (Virtual Reality Scene Generator) for the aircrews but it can be used by the JTAC as well. As Oculus Rift decreases latency, it’s going to become a great tool for training and simulation.

Close Air Solutions has a developmental simulator called iCASS (Immersive Close Air Support Simulator). It’s a lower cost solution for countries that may want something greater than a desktop simulator and less than the full Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Training System (AJTS) dome simulator used here in the US. The software in the simulator is almost identical, however it uses a MACE/VRSG based sim. This is the software used by all the STSs, JTACQC, and soon to be all active duty ASOS’s. The ANG, as usual, is using something a little different, AAJTS.

Any JTAC will tell you, nothing beats doing the real thing like going to the range and controlling live aircraft, but the reality is that will happen less and less over the next few years for just about everyone around the world. Close Air Solutions is working on solutions that will keep a JTAC tuned up so he will get the most out of any actual range time.

The simulator is only going to get better over the next coming years as Virtual Reality consumer products come online making training very affordable and dependable. The software is continually improving as well. Meeks has suggested that omnidirectional treadmills and motion tracking will eventually be incorporated leaving a student sweaty and tired after a session in the dome, yet hopefully, smarter.

Until we get there, this video from Exercise Ample Strike 2014 in the Czech Republic shows you what is possible in the now with iCASS.

www.closeairsolutions.com

Forces Focus – Pararescue Rodeo

Sunday, October 12th, 2014

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Thirty-four pararescuemen from active duty, guard, and Reserve recently participated in a competition hosted by the pararescue schoolhouse, Detachment 1, 342nd Training Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, on September 22nd through 27th.

The pararescuemen were split into 8 teams, and were tested on land navigation skills, high-angle rope rescues, survival techniques, medical skills, weapons operations and overall physical endurance.

To see the rest of the photos, visit www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/sets/72157648485594032

TACP-Modernization

Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

This Air Force News Service story offers a good update on the Tactical Air Control Party – Modernization effort.

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(Photo: Tactical air control party specialists with the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron survey an enemy-controlled landing zone before calling in close-air support Aug. 14, 2014, at Operation Northern Strike in Grayling Air Gunnery Range, Grayling, Mich. Northern Strike was a 3-week exercise that demonstrated the combined power of joint and multinational air and ground forces. TACPs with the Air National Guard’s 169th ASOS from Peoria, Ill., and more than 5,000 other armed forces members from 12 states and two coalition nations participated in the combat training. SSgt Lealan Buehrer, Air National Guard)

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) — Embedded deep within an Army maneuver unit lies an Airman. Charged with orchestrating critical close-air support, it’s often the effort of this combat maestro that means the difference between life and death on the battlefield – this specialist is known as a tactical air control party, or TACP for short.

However, the success of close air support doesn’t depend on these Airmen alone, but also the equipment and communication tools they use.

TACP-Modernization, an Air Force Life Cycle Management Center-owned program, is the driving force responsible for acquiring and equipping battlefield Airmen with such tools. This technology has the capability to interface with ground forces, CAS aircraft, UHF satellites, remotely piloted aircraft and command and control intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.

To meet the needs of a modern day ground and cyber battlefield, the 46-member TACP-M team focuses on reducing reliance on voice transmission and replacing analog equipment with the latest data link and streaming video technology. They do this by addressing three main areas — mounted, dismounted equipment and communication software.

Mounted and mobile

“Mounted mobile communication is a top requirements priority for us,” said Rob Bubello, the Battlespace Communications Branch chief and TACP-M program manager.

TACPs, who advise ground commanders on employing airpower and control aircraft to put bombs on target, utilize two different types of mounted equipment: fixed and mobile.

The mounted, fixed element integrates computer and communications equipment into re-locatable vehicle, rack or transit case-mounted systems for use in tactical operation centers and air support operation centers. This includes the Humvee-mounted ASOC Gateway, Gateway Lite, as well as Dismounted Communication Packages known as DCPs.

Today, TACP-M’s sights are set on producing the next generation of on-the-move technology — Mobile Communication Systems or MCSs.

“The MCS offers a much more robust C2 capability since it provides four channels of voice or data as well as video streaming,” said Maj. Jason Huff, MCS program manager. “In addition, the system is tailored to the vehicle and allows for more room within, which provides easy access to the equipment and more importantly, it offers easier egress access allowing members to exit the vehicle in an emergency.”

The mounted, mobile element, which is very similar to its fixed counterpart, integrates hardware into mobile tactical vehicles employed by the Army and provides on-the-move voice and data capabilities. To date, the program office has fielded 45 communication pallets, which are integrated onto Stryker vehicles that operate within the U.S.’s area of responsibility.

“Another large requirement for us includes DCPs,” Bubello said. “It’s essentially a docking kit, which allows you to combine your existing equipment.”

DCPs, considered part of the mounted equipment component, are comprised of existing hardware such as computers, keypad displays, headsets and antennas. Those items are then coupled with equipment found in air support and tactical operation centers.

Since 2007, TACP-M has managed to acquire and equip 224 Humvees and 45 Strykers with TACP communication systems and plans on integrating 400 more systems into vehicles over the next five to 10 years. They have also fielded 17 operation center Gateways, four Gateway Lights and procured 144 DCPs to date.

Essentially, all these components help modernize digital voice and data communications, allowing for machine-to-machine interface and ultimately reducing what is commonly known to warfighters as “the kill chain.”

Dismounted operations

However, it isn’t solely mounted equipment that TACPs use in the field; therefore, the program team also focuses on acquiring state-of-the-art dismounted technology as well.

For example, multiband man-pack radios began fielding in late 2010, followed by small wearable computers in 2011. Within the same year, pocket laser range finders, handheld laser markers and mini thermal monoculars also entered field testing. Later in 2013, equipment such as full motion video receivers and TOC light/heavy computers found their way onto the battlefield.

Master Sgt. Jeff Kennedy, a battlefield Airman who’s currently assigned to the Hanscom AFB program office, is one of approximately 2,000 TACPs in the Air Force; he and others like him know all too well the importance of having the latest technology.

“It is crucial to have the most up-to-date tools,” said Kennedy, looking back on a recent tour in Afghanistan. “Being able to quickly and efficiently communicate out there is a life or death situation.”

According to the TACP, it’s not only the efficiency of the equipment that has an impact, but also the size and weight. “We have a saying … things should be smaller, lighter, faster,” Kennedy said. “Ounces equal pounds, pounds equal pain. It’s something the program team takes into consideration when procuring new equipment.”

With this in mind, TACP-M moves toward acquiring more efficient pieces of dismounted equipment.

To instance, the team recently introduced 202 additional Soldier ISR Receivers, or SIRs, that will help bring full motion video capability to dismounted TACPs like Kennedy.

In addition, small wearable computers are being replaced by TACP computer kits, which are comprised of an integrated computer, vest and cable systems.

“We’re building cheaper, more specialized kits,” Bubello said. “In this case, a larger, ruggedized, tactical body-worn computer system with simpler message-focused software is the direction we’re headed. It will ultimately provide the operator the means to accomplish their task at a much faster and efficient pace.”

Staying connected

The final piece of the puzzle, and the team’s third area of focus, is close air support system software, commonly referred to as CASS.

The purpose of CASS is simple – to develop and sustain a common software application, one that establishes a baseline across all TACP systems.

“What’s the point of having high-tech gear if we have outdated software?” Kennedy said.

The Air Force currently uses CASS version 1.4.4, but Rockwell Collins, acting on a recently awarded contract will produce version 1.4.5 by October. It was a selection that led to a 60 percent savings for the service from the previous contract.

With CASS playing a substantial role in TACP-Modernization, the Air Force is optimistic that the new version will be fielded in fiscal year 2015.

So what’s to be expected? A software version that improves TACP mission effectiveness via Human Machine Interface, data that can be exchanged between dissimilar air and ground platforms and a dismounted simplified interface environment for battlefield Airmen. The 1.4.5 version will also focus on software applications for the dismounted operator as well as a more complex scale software capability found in air operation centers.

On the ground, TACPs are a safety net for Soldiers, their frontline mission is essential. Through the use of CASS, mounted and dismounted equipment, TACP-M ties it all together by balancing the operators’ present day needs with tomorrow’s modernization.