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AFSOC Hosts Semi-Annual SAF/FM Executive Session

Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Carlos Rodgers, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller, recently met with senior leaders here to discuss the strategic issues and priorities impacting the financial management career field.

The meeting was hosted by Air Force Special Operations Command at the Joint Operations Planning Center for members of the Executive Session.

“The AFSOC team provided exceptional planning support and created an environment that drove the success of this session,” said Rodgers.

During the three-day executive session, FM leaders engaged in detailed discussions on the future design of financial management functions. The participants covered topics such as resource management optimization, budgeting in the garrison and deployed environments, and enhancing customer service.

“We need to achieve these goals while balancing audit requirements, automating processes, improving data analytics capabilities, and maintaining a highly trained, diverse, and inclusive workforce.” said Rodgers.

Events like these can help improve the future of the Air Force by ensuring commanders have the resources they need to properly handle the mission in today’s shifting operational and constrained financial environment.

Additionally, timely and accurate delivery of financial services allows Airmen and Guardians to focus on the mission instead of the cost of how to accomplish the mission.

Furthermore, these types of events can also improve business systems and processes that will lead to accurate financial statements, thereby driving increased confidence with Congress and the American taxpayer.

“The overarching intent of the session is to improve the delivery of financial management services and decision support across the DAF,” said Rodgers. “With a focus on driving progress toward the vision set out in the DAF FM Strategic Plan, the attendees reviewed the progress, re-vectored as necessary, and established a clear way ahead for each line of effort.”

Insights gained from this executive session are integrated into AFSOC and the Air Force’s overall strategy and operations.

Jeff Decocker, AFSOC director of Financial Management and Comptroller, pointed out that AFSOC stands at a strategic inflection point.

He also stated that the challenges that AFSOC face include great power competition, tightening fiscal constraints, and the accelerating pace of technological change. This ensures that AFSOC will overcome those obstacles, it starts with Airmen because they form the core of Air Force competitive advantage.

AFSOC efforts are focused on providing forces ready to generate advantage in competition, enable the joint force in conflict, and respond to crises while remaining engaged in countering violent extremist organizations.

“The Department of the Air Force must invest in operational capabilities that protect our ability to deter conflict and project power against pacing challenges,” said Rodgers. “Financial management is at the core of our ability to accelerate these investments.”

Innovation is an integral part of the Air Commando culture and that extends to the Comptroller community.

Hurlburt Field is leading an initiative to improve financial customer service across the Air Force. The 1st Special Operations Comptroller Squadron created an appointment-based system enabling a virtual face-to-face meeting between the customer and the member using Microsoft Teams. This innovative approach gives time back to the customer enhancing mission accomplishment.

AFSOC FM is also partnering with our U.S. Army and United States Special Operations Command counterparts to implement financial approaches to impose cost, reduce purchasing power, and decrease our adversaries’ operational efficiency. Understanding how our adversaries move, store, and use resources can be a powerful deterrent for our commanders to apply down range.

Many innovations are being brought to fruition by Airmen, Guardians, and senior leaders throughout the Air and Space Force.

“The DAF FM Executive Session is a critical element in maintaining the momentum toward building the future FM organizations and capabilities needed by the Department of the Air Force,” said Rodgers. “This executive session was an essential step in improving financial management across the Air and Space Force.”

By U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alysa Knott

1st Special Operations Wing

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445th AW Participates in Total-Force Trauma Care Training?

Saturday, April 22nd, 2023

CINCINNATI (AFNS) —

Airmen with the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron integrated with the Center for the Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills program to conduct trauma and critical care training at the Cincinnati Municipal Airport April 6.

The five-person AES team helped train critical care air transport teams who are part of the C-STARS program at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center while also maintaining aeromedical evacuation proficiency.

“Today was about getting CCATT crews to experience flying on the plane and what it’s like to be up in the air with patients,” said Capt. Brianne Koessel, 445th AES flight nurse. “It’s a lot different taking care of patients on the ground versus up in the air where it’s definitely a lot tighter quarters and limited supplies, and you definitely have to manage your resources very effectively for you to be successful in taking care of these patients.”

CCATT Airmen transported six mannequin patients from the UC medical center and provided care for them while working through several situations.

“There are different scenarios that will happen during phases of flight,” said Capt. Josh Boswell, C-STARS CCATT instructor. “There are different stressors that come along with patient care that happens on takeoff, once you get to altitude, on landing. There are different things that will be thrown at them for them to mitigate and respond to in flight, depending on what’s going on with their patient and the injury pattern that this patient has come with.

“They’ll have to be able to work through those problems and figure out what to do to safely keep that patient going through a flight,” Boswell said, who is also a critical care and emergency nurse. “Then we will land. We’ll load them back up into the bus. We’ll transition back here [UC Medical Center], and then they will hand off to a trauma bay as a simulated role for the facility.”

The Airmen exercised trauma care aboard an Air National Guard C-130J Hercules from the 123rd Airlift Wing out of Louisville, Kentucky, while also experiencing a combat takeoff and landing.

“It’s a lot different being in a simulator versus being on the ground,” Koessel said. “We did those tactical maneuvers, so we definitely felt things a little bit differently. Even if you’re in a fuselage where you have it all set up, you feel the stresses of flight because you get dehydrated a lot faster. You feel that vibration. It can tire you out.”

The training wasn’t only beneficial for medical Airmen but for the C-130 Guard crew as well.

“It keeps us up to speed in case we have to do this real world,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Geary, 165th Operations Support Squadron aircraft loadmaster.

Speaking about his unit, Geary explained, “We were doing an exercise in Guam recently, and we actually had somebody injured and had to do an evacuation of this injured person. Training like this does get us prepared for stuff in real world.”

This was the first time the 445th Airlift Wing trained alongside the C-STARS program with the hopes of more in the future.

“It’s really cool to have that partnership established,” Koessel explained.

A partnership that extends past a Reserve aeromedical evacuation unit.

“We had active duty. We had Guard. We had Reserve,” Koessel continued. “It was really a total force kind of thing today. It was really neat”

The C-STARS program is a 14-day course at UC that trains between 12 to 15 Air Force medical professionals each course with 14 classes held annually.

Story by Amanda Dick, 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Photos by MSgt Patrick O’Reilly

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Stories of Service: TACP turning the tide of battle

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —

Some missions require exceedingly specialized skills and knowledge to be successful in highly contested environments. To win in these environments, highly trained battlefield Airmen embed with Army, Navy and Marine units to provide lethal airpower in the fight.

During a deployment in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel and Resolute Support, one such Air Force Special Warfare Tactical Air Control Party Specialist Tech. Sgt. Cam Kelsch, put years of training and preparation into action by providing guided precision strike airpower as close as 35 meters away to turn the tide of battle against an overwhelming enemy ambush.

In the span of six hours, with no regard for his own safety, he stepped into heavy enemy fire, and directed dozens of 40 mm and 105 mm rounds, two 500-lbs. bombs and saved the life of a wounded teammate … even after being shot himself in the chest plate.

Kelsch, alongside Army Rangers and Afghan special forces, were directed to find a high-value target in enemy-held territory. With clear skies and the moon’s illumination sitting high at 90%, Kelsch’s team made first contact with enemy forces outside of the target compound.

According to Kelsch, the contact resulted in a small firefight that quickly neutralized the enemy.

As the team successfully secured the target compound and interdicted the targeted individual, the force continued to encounter small enemy forces. Intelligence gathered during the operation within the compound led Kelsch and his team to believe there was a second high-value target nearby.

Due to the brightness of the night, Kelsch utilized the oversight of an AC-130-U “Spooky” gunship to develop a low-profile route for the assault force to maneuver to the next target compound: a creek bed with a 1-foot-wide path.

“When we were down in the creek bed, it was pitch black because we were covered in trees, and there were high walls on either side of us,” Kelsch said.

Then … chaos.

“It was like a bomb went off,” Kelsch said. “It was so bright and looked like fireballs going off all around me.”

Kelsch and his team were ambushed by enemy forces using assault rifles, fragmentation grenades and belt-fed machine guns.

“The fire was so overwhelming, I couldn’t stick my head out,” Kelsch said. “Bullets were ricocheting; dirt was being kicked up.”

Another teammate called out the position of the attackers … a mere 40 meters away.

“I realized that I had to get eyes on target, so I had to leave the protection of cover,” Kelsch said.

With no regard for his own safety, Kelsch exposed himself to fire to conduct danger close air strikes from the AC-130 with 40mm rounds to suppress the threat, several only 35 meters away from his position.

“If it weren’t for the true competency of that AC-130 crew, I wouldn’t be here today,” Kelsch said. “The aircrew really brought their A-game that night and made sure we got out of there.”

With a moment without fire in all directions, Kelsch and his ground force commander seized the opportunity to recover their wounded teammate. While dragging him to safety, Kelsch took a direct hit to the magazine on his chest rack the plate in his armor caught the bullet.

Upon recovering his wounded teammate and receiving more enemy fire, Kelsch opted to upgrade to the 105 mm rounds from the gunship, still danger close to his fighting position. The effective munitions proved enough to allow Kelsch and his team to fall back roughly 100 meters, but not before suffering an Afghan casualty.

At that time, the team elected to call for extraction.

To ensure aircraft could land so close to the ambush site, Kelsch directed a coordinated attack from two F-16 Fighting Falcons using precision-guided 500-lbs. bombs, neutralizing all remaining threats.

In the end, Kelsch’s actions played a role in completing a successful mission, suppressing multiple prepared forces and saving the lives of the joint special operations forces members. In 2019, for his gallantry in action that day, Kelsch was awarded the Silver Star, the third-highest award for valor in combat.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, History | 3 Comments »

CSAF Visits 179th Airlift Wing Ahead of Historic Mission Conversion

Sunday, April 16th, 2023

MANSFIELD-LAHM AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. visited with Airmen and leadership at the 179th Airlift Wing at Mansfield-Lahm Air National Guard Base April 2, ahead of their historic mission conversion to a cyberspace wing.

During his visit, Brown met with Ohio National Guard leadership, conducted a roundtable with junior enlisted Airmen and hosted an all-call to express his support for the wing and highlight the vital role the 179th AW plays in accelerating change for the future.

“We are in the most dynamic environment we’ve ever faced so we have to be engaged in change and I can’t think of a place in our Air Force facing more change than right here in Mansfield,” Brown said. “Cyber engagements happen daily; they are happening right now. That’s why what is changing here and what you will do is so important, not just for our force, but for our nation.”

The Air Force selected the 179th AW to be the Air National Guard’s first cyberspace wing in the country, Aug. 25, 2022, and has been in the process of converting the wing, infrastructure and mission since.

“Mansfield has a unique opportunity. What you are doing here hasn’t been done. You can write the playbook for others to follow,” Brown said. “It’s important for us to engage here as you drive that change.”

Brown emphasized the important place Mansfield has in shaping the role of cyber operations in the Air Force. The theme of change and how Airmen must embrace and lean into it for future success was integrated into each part of the visit.

“A critical piece of my strategic approach is the key word … collaboration. As Airmen, we all need to be multi-capable to get the mission done,” Brown said. “We do not play to lose. I’m in it to win it and my job is supporting you so you can focus on doing your job.”

Before his departure, Brown gave Airmen the opportunity to ask questions before concluding his visit. He also thanked the wing for their resilience through the transitions they have made and will face. Brown reiterated his confidence in the wing’s ability to meet the needs of tomorrow.

“As you go through this historic change, don’t give up. It’s not about what we say that makes a difference, it’s about what we do,” Brown said. “I trust every one of you and I have your back.”

Story by Capt Jordyn Craft, 179th Airlift Wing

Photos by MSgt Joe Harwood

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Raptor Pilots Test AF’s Next-Gen Helmet

Saturday, April 15th, 2023

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Developmental flight tests are underway for the Air Force’s new Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet here.

Engineers with the 46th Test Squadron and the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron oversee the helmet’s testing. Approximately five F-22A Raptor pilots from the 301st Fighter Squadron, a Reserve unit with the 43rd Fighter Squadron here, fly with the new lighter, cooler and more readily equipped helmet.

The NGFWH program goal is to provide pilots a more comfortable, stable, and balanced platform to accommodate helmet-mounted devices usage without imposing neck strain and discomfort to the user.

“It is common knowledge fighter pilots have long term neck and back issues,” said Maj. Brett Gedman, from the 301st Fighter Squadron. “Therefore, having a lightweight helmet, designed with the operator in mind, will have positive long-term impacts on the health of our fighter pilots during and after service.”

This series of tests marks the second round of developmental tests with the LIFT-manufactured helmet since it was awarded the contract in 2022. The NGFWH is set to replace the more than 40-year-old current model, known as HGU-55, used by all Air Force aircrew except F-35 flyers.

After each flight, the pilots report any feedback they have about wearability, visibility, communication, etc. The engineers compile that data to provide to the manufacturers. So far, outside of minor tweaks, the feedback is positive.

“The design of the helmet allows for unparalleled visibility, mobility, and comfort in the cockpit,” “The increased visibility combined with the mobility it provides made it a massive improvement over what I am used to flying with. It is clear this has been a generational leap in technology that the fighter pilot deserves, which is long overdue.”

Gedman said those factors are critical when operating in a high-G within visual range environment.

“With near peer threats narrowing the gap daily, it is critical the fighter pilots have every tactical advantage possible,” said Gedman. “Details matter, and it is coming down to the smallest details including the gear we wear.”

Along with Air Force aircrew, the new helmet also has a great effect on Aircrew Flight Equipment technicians. They are responsible for preparing, equipping, and maintaining the helmets for the aircrew.

Many flight advancements are now standard on the new helmet such as like night-vision goggle mounts and an adjustable occipital basket. With the legacy helmet, HGU-55, these items are added manually, adjusted, and fitted to the aircrew and take hours to prepare. To add a NVG mount to the legacy helmet, an AFE Airmen uses power tools to drill into the helmet to secure the bracket.

“From a pre-flight and build up standpoint, the new helmet is much better,” said Airman 1st Class Matthew Crouse, a 325th Operations Support Squadron AFE technician responsible NGFWH maintenance during the testing here. “It makes our job much easier in the long run, but because its so easy to adjust, we can make corrections if they are needed.”

When the Raptor squadrons leave Eglin soon for Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, the test engineers will follow for a new round testing with new pilots. Eventually, the tests will spread out to other aircraft and aircrew. The next aircraft type scheduled to test the helmets will be the HC-130J and B-1B Lancer.

By Samuel King Jr.

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post, Helmets | Comments Off on Raptor Pilots Test AF’s Next-Gen Helmet

Reserve Command Announces $10K Bonus for Prior-Service Enlisted Airmen

Wednesday, April 12th, 2023

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) —

To remain competitive in a tight labor market and retain valuable talent, Air Force Reserve Command is offering a $10,000 incentive bonus to fully-qualified, prior-service enlisted Airmen who sign up to fill open positions and agree to a three-year service commitment.

One of several incentives available to those who join the Air Force Reserve, this particular program opens a wider aperture for recruiters to capture qualified Airmen separating from the active-duty Air Force.

“The Air Force Reserve affiliation incentive is a clear demonstration of how we value those who continue to serve and are ‘ready for more,’” said Brig. Gen. Lisa M. Craig, Air Force Recruiting Service deputy commander. “Ready for more time with family, work-life balance, community involvement, educational goals and connections. At the same time, we get to retain the knowledge and experience of that prior-service Airman.”

Historically, the Air Force Reserve has targeted a recruiting mix of 70% prior-service and 30% non-prior-service members. This incentive bonus aligns with helping to achieve this balance and helping the Reserve meet its annual recruiting goal and overall end-strength.

“This bonus is one of many policies and incentive adjustments to help the Air Force Reserve ensure we can recruit the quality Airmen we need to safeguard our combat readiness,” said Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, AFRS commander. “The move is also important to encourage our Airmen separating from active service to ‘stay blue’ and continue to use their skills and training for the nation as part of the Reserve.”

As recruiting continues to be a challenge across all services, the Air Force Reserve missed last year’s goal of 8,200 by nearly 2,000 accessions. Providing an incentivized opportunity for fully-qualified enlisted prior-service members or Inactive Ready Reserve members to transition to the Reserve Component is one tool to help close the gap in reaching this year’s goal of 9,300 accessions.

“In order to compete with the private sector and other military services in appealing to and retaining qualified talent, we need to have all available resources at our disposal,” said Col. Ephod Shang, 367th Recruiting Group commander and director of AFRC Recruiting. “The Air Force Reserve is such an attractive option to continue to fulfill one’s desire to serve and maintain some very tangible benefits, all while performing on a part-time basis. I highly encourage individuals separating from the active duty to engage with a recruiter to learn more about what additional benefits and incentives they may qualify for.”

Active-duty and IRR Airmen interested in joining the Reserve should contact a recruiter using the Aim High app, visit AFReserve.com or call 800-257-1212 to learn more about this and many other opportunities to serve in the Air Force Reserve.

By Master Sergeant Bobby Pilch, 367th Recruiting Group, Air Force Reserve Command

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | 2 Comments »

SecAF Visits Goodfellow Air Force Base

Tuesday, April 11th, 2023

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) —

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall visited Goodfellow Air Force Base to observe base operations and meet with joint service members assigned to the 17th Training Wing, April 4.

During his visit, Kendall got a firsthand look at the Joint All Domain Exercise known as JADE FORGE.

This exercise features a simulated joint deployment area to provide a training environment for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. JADE FORGE serves as an extension of Forward Operating Base Sentinel, empowering joint forces to enhance their skills and capabilities to operate in austere and contested environments.

“As our security challenges continue to evolve, so has our training curriculum and exercise venues,” Kendall said. “I was impressed by the professionalism and skill of the service members immersed in this emerging system—and I am confident our ISR professionals are prepared for their future service on behalf of the nation.”

Kendall also toured the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy. The DoD Fire Academy is home to the Fire Protection Apprentice Course and hosts numerous advanced fire protection courses. It provides training to all components of the DoD, including uniformed and civilian members, and trains students from allied and partner nations. The academy prepares firefighters to handle a wide range of emergencies including aircraft crashes, hazardous materials incidents and structural fires.

“Goodfellow [AFB] has the distinct honor of training all of the firefighters in the Department of Defense,” Kendall said. “The graduates of the Fire Academy are our own first responders, who rush when teammates are in peril or when disaster strikes. The skills developed here and honed in the field are critical to the Joint Force.”

Kendall met with service members from multiple branches, as well as DoD civilians, and conducted a question-and-answer session.

“The most important action a leader can take is to listen,” Kendall said. “Being able to hear the concerns of Airmen, Guardians, Marines and joint teammates is invaluable. These two-way conversations help me to understand where we’ve made progress in supporting our force and where there is still work to be done.”

By Airman 1st Class Zachary Heimbuch, 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

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Joint Effort Underway To Power Rocket Sleds Into The Future

Thursday, April 6th, 2023

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) —

Rocket sled testing is critical to bridging the gap between the laboratory and full-scale flight tests for weapon systems under development.

Keeping those sleds moving is the focus of a joint effort within the Department of Defense, which operates three sled track organizations, one each at China Lake, California; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; and Holloman Air Force Base. Two other non-DoD tracks, Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico and a track in Utah, round out what are considered the Big 5 sled tracks.

Holloman High Speed Test Track, a facility operated by the 846th Test Squadron, 704th Test Group, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, can achieve the fastest speeds among the five tracks and is used for a variety of tests, including munitions, crew escape systems, guidance systems, aerodynamics and environmental effects.

“At 50,000-plus feet, Holloman High-Speed Test Track is the longest and most versatile sled track, to our understanding, in the world,” said Bryan Sinkovec, Joint Economical Sled Track Rocket, or JESTR, project director and a test capabilities integration engineer with the Capabilities Integration Branch Operating Location – Holloman, Plans and Programs Division, AEDC.

Since sled tracks began operating, they have primarily used solid rocket motors and they have been the exclusive source of propulsion for more than three decades, according to Sinkovec.

The rocket motors currently in use are mainly sourced from surplus motors repurposed from Cold War assets, most of which were made in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The motors work for sled track testing because of their short burn times, enabling them to achieve fast acceleration over the relatively short track lengths. Not all the motors available, though, are compatible with sled track testing.

While the surplus motors are essentially free, they have their limits in both quantity and capability.

The JESTR project aims power sled testing into the future by developing new sled track motors purpose-built for high performance, short burn times and structurally stable under sled track conditions.

The Air Force is leading the joint effort by the sled tracks and other DoD organizations, including the Navy. Desiree Craig, deputy project director for JESTR and flight chief for program management in the 704th Test Support Squadron, led the effort to leverage a Navy run other transaction authority.

“An OTA allows us to collaborate with the contractors to better define the technical portions of the statement of work to get the best product in the end,” Craig said. “Every portion of this project is team based.”

Since surplus motors were never intended for sled track usage, sleds and testing had to be designed around the motors.

“When describing our requirements, we were able to design the motor to the sled track testing instead of the other way around,” Sinkovec said. “That was new and exciting. We’ve always had to design our tests around the motors.”

The project is developing multiple sled track motors that vary in size and capability – small, medium, large and high performance.

While developing new rocket motors is the central focus, as the effort got underway team members realized they couldn’t develop the motors in a vacuum.

“The program was initially focused on only developing four rocket motors for production, but to execute an actual test it requires motors and sleds,” Craig said. “One of the problems we were running into was being able to utilize some of the legacy sleds here at the Holloman High Speed Test Track and fitting the new motors to all those various sleds. Therefore, we had to change how we looked at this program, from just motors to delivering the total capability.”

Realizing the effort was bigger than just designing new motors, the team then began to develop scenarios or missions the motors would be used in as proof that they work in the unique environment. Three scenarios – hypersonic impact, hypersonic rain erosion and supersonic munitions – will be tested at HHSTT, with a fourth – transonic impact – slated to be tested at China Lake.

The effort now includes developing new sled types, one of which is being developed in-house by the 846th Test Squadron.

“This effort is exciting because we’ve always had this lingering over our heads and now, we think we have a long-term solution,” Sinkovec said.

The DoD effort will benefit all the sled tracks by leading to the development of the production means and creating a supply of sled track motors.

Story by Jill Pickett, Arnold Engineering Development Complex Public Affairs

Photos by Deidre Moon, USAF

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Navy | 4 Comments »