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United States Air Force Crews of Shadow 77 and 78 Flight to Receive 2021 Mackay Trophy

Tuesday, July 5th, 2022

Washington, DC, June 30, 2022 – The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is pleased to announce that United States Air Force Crews of Shadow 77 and 78, 73d Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Joint Special Operations Air Component-Central, have been named the recipients of the 2021 Mackay Trophy.

Crew of Shadow 77:

Capt Lawrence S. Bria

Capt Sam B. Pearce

Capt Aaron M. Rigg

Maj Joshua T. Burris

Capt Michael G. Shelor

SSgt Daniel J. Mayle

SSgt Kevin P. Heimbach

SrA Denver M. Reinwald

SrA Timothy J. Cisar

Crew of Shadow 78:

Capt Culley R. Horne

1Lt William A. Bachmann

Capt Ryan M. Elliott

Capt Benjamin A. Hoyt

SSgt Dylan T. Hansen

SSgt Andrew J. Malinowski

SSgt Tyler J. Blue

SSgt Gregory A. Page

SrA Miguelle B. Corpuz

The Mackay Trophy was first presented by Clarence Mackay in 1912 and was later deeded to the National Aeronautic Association. Administered by the United States Air Force and NAA, the trophy is awarded for “…the most meritorious flight of the year by an Air Force person, persons, or organization.” The Mackay Trophy is on permanent display at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC.

As outlined in the United States Air Force nomination, the crews distinguished themselves in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel when in August 2021 they alert launched from Al Dhafra Air Force Base, United Arab Emirates, for a Close Air Support mission to protect the 2,000 Americans evacuating the embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The crews skillfully maintained visual custody of all American personnel enroute to Hamid Karzai International Airport and provided full-motion video in real-time to the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff as they watched the evacuation transpire. Overall, the crews of Shadow 77 and 78 flew the longest unaugmented AC-130J flight to date and their efforts to safeguard the embassy evacuation directly resulted in the successful rescue of 2,000 American diplomats with zero casualties.

The professional ability and outstanding aerial accomplishments of the crews of Shadow 77 and 78 reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.

“For more than a century, the Mackay Trophy has rewarded bravery, skill, and determination in recognizing the most meritorious flight of the year,” said NAA President, Greg Principato. “Some years, the feat defies imagination, as is the case with Shadow 77 and 78. There were a lot of moving parts during their mission, including 2,000 American souls, and the success of Shadow 77 and 78 will live forever in the annals of U.S. Air Force history. We are proud to award these amazing crews the 2021 Mackay Trophy and I look forward to joining with Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force General Charles Brown in presenting it.”

The Mackay Trophy will be presented on a future date to be determined. For more information or to view a complete list of previous recipients, please visit www.naa.aero.

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24 SOW Observes 10th Anniversary at Hurlburt

Sunday, July 3rd, 2022

Hurlburt Field, Fla. —

12 June marked the 10th anniversary of the 24 SOW at Hurlburt Field. The “at Hurlburt” is key here as the wing’s lineage dates back to its original establishment as the US Army Air Forces 24th Composite Wing (Special) 19 November 1942 and activation on 25 December 1942. Upon activation at Camp Olympia, Reykjavik, the wing’s first mission involved the defense of Iceland during World War II through 15 June 1944. The wing’s original weapon systems included P-38, P-39 fighter aircraft (1942-43), and P-40 and P-47 fighter aircraft (1944-44).

Prior to activation at Hurlburt in 2012, the wing is best known for its many mission areas in the Caribbean and the Panama Canal Zone where it served many years as the host unit at both Howard and Albrook Air Force Bases. Between 1946 and 1948 the wing supervised large numbers of major and minor bases and Air Force units in the Caribbean area from Puerto Rico to British Guiana. Organized again in 1967 in the Canal Zone, the wing assumed operation and maintenance responsibilities for Howard and Albrook Air Force Bases (1967-1987 and 1989-1999) and special operations mission sets that included air transport, paramilitary operations, exercise participation, civic actions in Central and South America, search and rescue missions, humanitarian operations, mercy missions, aeromedical evacuation; as well as the support of Army Special Forces, U.S. military assistance units, and training of Latin American air forces. From activation in 1967 until mid-1972, the 24 Wing also operated the USAF Tropic Survival School at Albrook.

From 1992-1999, the wing operated as the senior USAF organization in Panama, replacing the previous command and division-level Air Force host units. In June 1992, it began operating the only C-21, CT-43, C-27, and special mission C-130s in Air Combat Command (ACC). The wing also provided mission command and support to multi-service units directed by United States Southern Command and United States Southern Air Force, 1992-1999. Mission areas included counternarcotics operations, aerial command and control, intra-theater airlift, security assistance, and the general defense of the Panama Canal. During 1999, the wing conducted base closures and unit inactivations in compliance with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 that stipulated all U.S. military forces would depart Panama by 31 December 1999.

With the 24 SOW’s activation at Hurlburt 10 years ago, AFSOC selected the “24” from the inactive scrolls of Air Force historical units because of its long history of and close association with nearly all special operations mission areas. From the mountaintops in Afghanistan to the depths of an infamous cave in Thailand, the 24 SOW conducted operations ranging from the fiercest types of combat to the purest forms of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

At activation, the 24 SOW kept its awesome lineage alive and, as importantly, it inherited the history of Air Force Special Tactics. After being activated at Hurlburt Field and assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command, the wing comprised of two Special Tactics groups, a training squadron, and operational squadrons with a mission to organize, train, and equip Special Warfare Airmen for rapid global employment to enable airpower success.

Since 2012, the 24 SOW has been an integral part of every major joint operation in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, Africa, Europe, and Pacific theaters of operation. Special Tactics, from its beginning, has provided global access capabilities inherent to no other unit in the Air Force or its sister services – capabilities absolutely essential to effective military operations. The 24 SOW also provides unique rapid deployment, precision strike, personnel recovery, special reconnaissance and battlefield surgery capabilities. Today the wing’s primary weapon system is not an aircraft weapon system typical in most Air Force wings. Today, and since 2012, the 24 SOW’s weapon system is the men and women who provide and sustain these capabilities for AFSOC and the Joint Force.

Since its activation 10 years ago, members of the wing and its predecessor unit, the 720th Special Tactics Group, have been recognized with our nation’s highest valor awards including the Medal of Honor, 12 Air Force Crosses, 57 Silver Stars, and hundreds of Bronze Stars. This level of individual recognition makes the 24 SOW the highest decorated community in the U.S. Air Force in the modern era. On this special anniversary of the 24 SOW at Hurlburt, the wing remains a forever reverent organization and honors its members who made the ultimate sacrifice in both training and combat. Perhaps the AFSOC commander Lt Gen James Slife stated it best, “Within AFSOC – and the Air Force writ-large – no group [has] paid a greater human toll and carried a heavier deployment burden of the last two decades than AFSOC’s Special Tactics Force.”

By Charlie Newell, 24 SOW Public Affairs

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Air Force Operationalizes ACE Concept, Addresses Today’s Changing Threat Environment

Friday, July 1st, 2022

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —

The Air Force announced its vision for operating in modern, contested environments June 23, created to codify and synchronize agile combat employment tactics enterprise-wide.

Adversary threats to Air Force operations at forward bases can deny U.S. power projection, overwhelm traditional defense designs, impose prohibitive losses and lead to joint mission failure. To address these challenges, ACE shifts operations from centralized physical infrastructures to a network of smaller, dispersed locations or cluster bases.

“We must maintain the high ground, fighting from a position of advantage,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. “Fundamentally changing the way we generate airpower will complicate adversary planning and provide more options for our joint force and coalition commanders. Our approach to operations over the past 20 years has prioritized efficiency in an environment that is not highly contested. ACE puts the premium on effectiveness in an increasingly challenging threat environment.”

Operationalizing ACE will aid in: the codification of a repeatable and understandable process; forces that are suitably organized, trained, and equipped; theaters that are postured with the appropriate equipment, assets and host nation agreements; and robust joint service and partner nation integration and interoperability.

ACE looks somewhat different depending on the theater of operation and the types of forces involved, which necessitates a variety of approaches for the warfighter.

In Europe, it addresses what might be called the tyranny of proximity, or short threat timelines against Russian missile launches or other attacks, and an expectation that any flight operations are readily observable. The Pacific presents the tyranny of distance, or vast stretches of ocean between likely forward operating locations, with many of them in range of China’s rapidly advancing missile capabilities.

At the tactical level, the ACE playbook approaches and capabilities must enable dispersed forces to adapt and prevail despite uncertainty, using the best information available to local commanders. This will necessitate shifting between offensive and defensive operations in response to what is achievable with available connectivity and logistical support.

At the operational level for centralized command and distributed control, understanding what forces can achieve with available resources and trade-off risks becomes critical. Offensive and defensive capabilities and expertise available at each forward operating location may vary, as will available logistical support.

The ACE framework provides the Air Force the ability to develop, maintain, and share timely, accurate, and relevant mission information across dispersed forces despite adversary attempts to deny or degrade it. It also prepares leaders to make and disseminate risk-informed decisions with limited information.

“Adapting to this new paradigm shift ensures we maintain a combat-effective force,” Brown said. “Our Airmen can expect to conduct operations at a speed, scope, complexity and scale exceeding recent campaigns from distributed locations with increased survivability and enhanced effectiveness.”

In addition to streamlining tactics, developing the Airmen needed to execute core, functional and theater-specific requirements is crucial to operationalizing ACE.

The Air Force is evolving from the just-in-time expeditionary model to recognizing that any Airman, no matter where they are stationed or deployed, needs to be prepared for a world of increasing uncertainty and have the proper training to respond to any contingency.

Beginning with adjustments to foundational Ready Airmen Training requirements, Airmen will receive training more evenly spread throughout all four phases of the Air Force Force Generation cycle versus just-in-time training in advance of an expeditionary deployment.

Additionally, future training models will be adaptable to Airmen’s experience levels and need. Training multi-capable Airmen represents a shift from traditional, large force packages to a smaller footprint to provide combat support and solve problems with the resources at hand.

Those whose jobs are more directly connected to operations in general, and ACE in particular, will require more focused training on how to be multi-capable on an airfield. The exact breakout of Air Force Specialty Codes and required skills are still being determined.

The intent is to train Airmen to be more productive on discrete, wartime tasks that would reduce the number of Airmen in harm’s way in austere environments.

“The multi-capable Airman concept is not about doing more with less,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. “Instead, it’s about how we deliberately train and empower our Airmen to get after future high-end fights. Our Airmen are the competitive advantage we have over any adversary, and how we prepare them for future conflict matters.”

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

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137th Combat Training Flight Hosts First Female JTAC Student

Tuesday, June 28th, 2022

WILL ROGERS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Okla. —

The 137th Combat Training Flight (CTF) hosted its first female student in the joint terminal attack controller qualification course (JTAC QC).

The course, held March 21-April 22, 2022, in Oklahoma City, included two NATO students, an Estonian tactical air control party specialist and a German Air Liaison Officer, who was the first female participant in the 137th CTF JTAC QC.

“I enjoy the spectrum of coalition students we get through here because each one is a very different dynamic for instruction. Some are already trained, and for others it’s their first time passing a 9-line,” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Davis, 137th CTF instructor. “Our students essentially get seven or more full mission profiles in our simulator and three full mission profiles with live contract close air support (CAS) during our field week.”

Students go through three phases within the course over five weeks: two weeks of academics, two weeks simulator testing command and control skills in the Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller Training System (AAJTS), and field training that consists of daytime and nighttime calls for fire on a training range with contracted CAS aircraft.

“The contract CAS piece makes a big difference in training because it doesn’t have the same flight time restrictions as working with military aircraft,” said Davis. “Students have triple the time, in addition to in-depth instruction in the simulator where we can start and stop scenarios to adjust as needed. All that being said, I don’t know that there’s any one thing in particular that we’re doing right, but I know it’s the combination of things we’re doing right that initially brought NATO coalition partners here and why they continue to send students.”

The 137th CTF is one of two schoolhouses in the U.S. able to qualify JTACs and is one of three in the U.S. Air Force. Since 2016, the 137th CTF has hosted students from every U.S. military branch and a dozen NATO partner nations. It is unique as a schoolhouse for its manning ratio between instructors and students. Other class sizes can reach up to two dozen students with only a handful of instructors, whereas the 137th CTF class size allows for nearly a one-to-one ratio that provides time for more personalized and in-depth instruction.

“Several of our international students come here already qualified as JTACs and use our course as a stepping stone to become instructors back home,” said Maj. Jeffrey Hansen, 137th CTF director of operations. “Our instructors are also better for having our coalition partners, especially those already JTAC qualified, as students because their feedback allows us to expand on our training and improve how we teach. Plus, the relationships we have built with international students have been leveraged into continuation training, such as with Estonia through the State Partnership Program.”

Once graduated from the course, military members have a Department of Defense certification to go into a deployed environment and conduct CAS, which is the ability to provide joint fire close air support to ground forces, with any available U.S. or NATO asset.

“When it comes to military doctrine, especially on the NATO side, it remains vague because you have to incorporate 30 countries,” Hansen noted. “CAS is different because anywhere you go in the world, we all share a language, forming an intense bond. The diversity of our classes and the bonds we form with all of the students who have come through demonstrates firsthand that our shared language forges a connection that transcends any differences between branch of service or nation of service.”

By TSgt Brigette Waltermire

137th Special Operations Wing

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Air Force Selects Future Fixed Wing Aircrew Helmet

Monday, June 27th, 2022

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) —

The Air Force selected LIFT Airborne Technologies to continue with prototype development of a new helmet for Air Force fixed-wing aircrew.

The helmet prototype was chosen after Air Combat Command initiated the search for a next-generation helmet to address issues with long-term neck and back injuries, optimize aircraft technology, improve pilot longevity, and provide better fitment to diverse aircrews.

“The current helmet was based on 1980’s design. Since then, gains in aircraft technology and the demographic of pilots have changed,” said Scott Cota, ACC Plans and Requirements branch aircrew flight equipment program analyst. “The legacy helmet was not originally designed to support advances in aircraft helmet-mounted display systems, causing pilots to fly with equipment not optimized for them, especially our female aircrew.”

The implementation of helmet-mounted devices has added weight and changed the center of gravity, leading to discomfort for operators. In addition, a 2020 Air Force anthropometric study identified the need to add a size small helmet that better optimizes the fit for affected female aviators, Cota said.

The helmet requirement was one of the first initiatives to go through AFWERX, an Air Force organization focused on working with nontraditional defense companies to bring technological innovation, in 2019.

“To better understand advances in technology, seek innovative solutions to current helmet issues, and use vendor competition to drive the initiative, AFWERX was a natural choice,” Cota said.

As the lead, Cota worked with other major commands and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Human Systems Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to set the requirements of the new helmet for operators across the Air Force.

Key parameters identified were weight, pilot comfort, optimized fitment and protection, stability, optimized center of gravity, and integration with different helmet-mounted systems.

“Using a streamlined acquisition process to move the program, the AFLCMC took the AFWERX initiative and solicited over 100 different designs from industry. Promising designs were evaluated and submitted for further testing,” said Capt. Timothy James, AFLCMC Human Systems Division of Agile Combat Support Directorate program manager. “The innovative process has allowed us to move faster than a standard acquisition while providing checks and balances to ensure a quality product.”

The Air Force Research Laboratory performed a majority of the testing, but the AFLCMC also worked with the Airmen Accommodations Laboratory, the Life Support Systems Scientific, Test, Analysis, and Qualification Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB as well as the 46th Test Squadron and 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, to narrow the finalist to LIFT Airborne Technologies.

“These new helmets will offer greater applicability and better fit for operators of all sizes, genders and ethnicities,” James said.

The helmet will undergo additional research, testing and improvements prior to the Air Force confirming the prototype design is successful and offering a production contract in 2024. Following production, ACC plans to take a phased approach to deliver the new helmet to all fixed-wing aircrew members across the Air Force, beginning with the F-15E Strike Eagle.

By Lemuel Casillas
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

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Caption This

Sunday, June 26th, 2022

This image of an Air Force cadet attending a Special Warfare Orientation Course was recently posted to the USAF IG account.

Posted in Air Force, WTF? | 24 Comments »

DAF Launches Program to Issue Pregnant Members Free Maternity Uniforms

Thursday, June 23rd, 2022

Arlington, Va. (AFNS) —

The Department of the Air Force will soon launch the Maternity Uniform Pilot Program, or “Rent the Camo,” that will temporarily issue free maternity uniform items to pregnant Airmen and Guardians at 10 bases.

This program is a joint effort with the Army and details on how and where to apply are being finalized.

The Air Force installations participating in the pilot program are:

· Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

· Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia

· Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

· Joint Base San Antonio, Texas

· Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

· Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey

· Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina

· Shaw AFB, South Carolina

· Yokota Air Base, Japan

· Kadena AB, Japan

“The Department of the Air Force is focused on updating policies and instituting programs that remove potential barriers for all members to serve our nation,” said John Fedrigo, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “By temporarily issuing free maternity uniforms, we can improve our Airmen and Guardians’ quality of life so they can focus on executing the mission.”

The U.S. Congress passed the “Rent the Camo: Access to Maternity Wear Act” Bill in 2020, creating this new program. Under this bill, the Defense Logistics Agency will establish pilot programs within each military branch to issue maternity uniform items to pregnant service members. The bill also directs maternity uniforms not be treated with Permethrin, a chemical that helps repel insects such as mosquitoes and ticks. While there are no known health risk associated with the Permethrin, pregnant service members preferred that maternity uniforms not be treated with it.

The Department of Defense designated the U.S. Army as the service to maintain a stock of operational camouflage pattern maternity uniforms for the program, as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and U.S. Army wear the same OCP uniform. The ten bases selected for the pilot program are near Army installations that have a Central Issue Facility and can capitalize on the Army’s Occupational Clothing and Individual Equipment Direct Ordering system.

To ensure Space Force members are included in the program, several bases where Guardians are assigned were included in the pilot.

Once Airmen or Guardians at participating locations receive confirmation of pregnancy from their local Medical Treatment Facility, they can work with their first sergeant to complete the necessary documentation to obtain their uniforms. Reservists on Title 10 orders are also eligible for the program.

Expectant active-duty service members will be temporarily issued three sets of maternity OCP tops and bottoms, which they can wear up to six months post-partum per Department of the Air Force Instructions 36-2903 “Dress and Personal Appearance of United States Air Force and United States Space Force Personnel.” Members will then return their uniforms to the CIF to process the returned uniforms and complete a questionnaire. The returned uniforms will be shipped to a central facility where they will be inspected, repaired, cleaned, and prepared for re-issue.

The DAF “Rent the Camo” pilot program is expected to end Sept. 30, 2026.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

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First Columbus AFB Airman Selected for Sniper School

Tuesday, June 21st, 2022

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. —

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tarriq Releford, 14th Security Forces Squadron, installation entry controller, was one of four Airmen chosen to represent the USAF at the highly selective, United States Army Sniper School, Apr. 17, 2022, at Fort Benning, Ga.

Releford is the only Airman from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, selected to attend the course. The Airman is no stranger to working with snipers, as he has experience from a prior base.

“Releford was chosen because of his prior tactical experience, and for his weapons skills,” said Technical Sgt. Tanner Barber, 14th Security Forces Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge, antiterrorism section. “He continually strives to make the entire organization a better place with his positive, happy-go-lucky attitude and his willingness to train fellow airman on tactics that he has learned in other courses.”

U.S. Army Sniper School only allots a small percentage of their class slots to separate branches, so at any given time an Airman could find themselves being the only one there.

“Going into it I was super nervous,” said Releford. “Out of the 51 guys there, only four of us were Air Force. It was very humbling because you realize you aren’t the best. Everyone there had the skills it took to get selected.”

The 53 day course trains selected members with the sniper skills necessary to deliver long range precision fire and the collection of battlefield information. Day one, members complete the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), and must qualify as “expert” during a weapons qualification test with the M4 Rifle.

“You are about 50 meters away, shooting an M4 with iron sights,” said Releford. “You have to shoot 5 rounds and group them together within an inch and a half. You will shoot 25 rounds all together in groups of 5 and 3 out of the 5 groupings must be perfect. The first day 17 people were dropped from the course.”

The course is designed to ensure all selectees gain familiarity with all Sniper Weapons System characteristics, components and functions.

“This course has made me a better Airman because if, or when, the occasion arises that a sniper is needed to complete the mission, I will be ready,” said Releford. “Now that I have sniper capabilities, I can go on sniper missions to reconnaissance and take out the bad guys from distances with accuracy and precision.”

Upon graduation each student has gained experience in planning and executing without compromise, mission context problem solving and can demonstrate a higher understanding of commander’s informational needs during planning and action phases. Releford successful graduated the Basic Sniper Course, Jun. 3, 2022.

“Our goal is to always promote an environment for development and enrichment,” said Barber. “Releford has been equipped with a skill-set that most Defenders do not get the opportunity to attain. The expectation is for him to pass along his experience gained during the class to fortify the marksmanship of all unit members, and offer the Wing a long-range standoff capability that did not exist prior to his attendance.”

By Airman 1st Class Jessica Haynie, 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

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