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Defenders Memorialized During Police Week, DAF Expands Security Forces Training

Monday, May 22nd, 2023

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —

The names of three Department of the Air Force defenders were among the 556 fallen officers read aloud during the 35th Annual Candlelight vigil May 13 as part of the many events that take place across the country during National Police Week, May 14-19.

The three defenders honored during the vigil were Tech. Sgt. Jason Norton, Staff Sgt. Brian McElroy and Senior Airman Jason Nathan.

“It is important to honor their memories and celebrate the achievements they made to the defense of our nation,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Sherman, director of Security Forces. “National Police Week in general is a time to reflect on those we lost, as well as a time to come together as law enforcement professionals within the Security Forces career field.”

At this year’s vigil, Timothy Gerald, deputy director of Security Forces, attended the vigil to represent the Department of the Air Force defender family.

“Our Department of the Air Force civilian police officers have worked alongside uniformed defenders for more than a decade. Together, our active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian defenders conducting law enforcement make us a stronger fighting force,” said Gerald, who also serves as the senior Air Force civilian and functional manager overseeing all matters concerning the utilization, development and career field management of the 4,600-person DAF civilian security and police force. “Thank you to our Total Force defender family for their dedicated service.”

National Police Week is a time to reflect on the challenges that law enforcement officers face every day. The Security Forces Air Staff continues to support law enforcement officers by ensuring that they have adequate resources and training.

Law enforcement is an important aspect of Security Force’s larger mission of base defense. Defenders protect Airmen, Guardians and their families; defend resources, equipment and capability; and assure that air and space missions supporting the DAF are carried out successfully and securely.

Law enforcement is not only important for the safety and well-being of Airmen—it is also a key force-multiplying capability vested in base defense.

As the Air Staff recognizes law enforcement professionals during Police Week, it also reflects on the major efforts underway to support civilians within its law enforcement community. In 2022, the Security Forces enterprise launched an effort to build the law enforcement specialty directly within the civilian career field. This required selecting a subset of the 43,000 Total Force Security Forces population to be uniquely identified as law enforcement practitioners.

Building on that effort, the Air Staff expanded the Police Officer Training and Standards Accredited Academy to accept military students. This enables the Security Forces enterprise to establish a foundation of base defense training, creating base defense-focused defenders within the basic courses while later selecting Airmen for specialized law enforcement training at the academy.

The Air Force Security Forces Center facilitated funding to increase course availability to 500 students per year. All graduates are credentialed and badged federal law enforcement officers. Finally, to sustain officer skills, the AFSFC will introduce a 40-hour annual recertification course and additional instruction for field training officers, sergeant/supervisors and deputy directors.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, LE, Memorial | Comments Off on Defenders Memorialized During Police Week, DAF Expands Security Forces Training

Chief Master Sgt John Bentivegna Selected as Next Chief Master Sergeant of the US Space Force

Saturday, May 20th, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) — Chief Master Sgt. John F. Bentivegna was selected May 5 to become the next Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force.

Bentivegna is currently serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief Operations Officer and the Enlisted Space Systems Operations Career Field Manager at Headquarters Space Force, Washington D.C.

In making his selection, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said, “I needed someone that would bring a perspective on our future that was articulated differently from mine.”

“Someone who could (and would) challenge my assumptions and ensure that important issues were evaluated from multiple angles and would catch things I missed,” Saltzman continued. “All the candidates had tremendous experience, skills, and expertise and it made it a close run.”

This was an open selection process and any Space Force chief master sergeant with 22 years’ time in service and three years’ time in grade could apply.

Saltzman selected Bentivegna from a group of five candidates who underwent a four-day evaluation process that vetted their skills and leadership capabilities. The process, along with personal interviews with each candidate, helped Saltzman make his final decision by giving him data on how the chiefs performed in various exercises and assessments.

“Chief Bentivegna brings a wealth of operational experience, a dedication to caring for our Guardians, and the spirit needed to take our service to the next level,” Saltzman said.

Bentivegna has been a space operator for more than 25 years, and has held positions at the squadron, group, wing, Numbered Air Force, Field Command and Headquarters Air and Space Force levels.

“It’s overwhelming and incredibly humbling to be offered the opportunity to become the next Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force” Bentivegna explained. “I am really excited to have that opportunity to work next to General Saltzman to help fulfill his vision for where the service needs to go.”

“We have run really fast to develop the service and shape what it’s going to be,” Bentivegna continued. “We have charted a vision for the future, and I want to deliver that vision to our Guardians and the joint force. I know this is going to take collaboration, communication, policy and processes to make that happen. I am humbled that I get to be the one to champion these efforts for them in the future.”

As the next CMSSF, Bentivegna will be appointed as the Space Force’s highest noncommissioned officer position, making him only the second person in history to hold the title.

“Chief Towberman was the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, and there was no one better to guide us through that initial launch phase of the Space Force. Just like actual space launch, there’s a lot of anticipation, it’s exciting, it’s energetic, it’s violent, but it was also so critically important,” Bentivegna said. “He was the enlisted leader that got us out of the atmosphere and into orbit. Now I’ll have the opportunity to work with our Guardians to continue getting them combat ready.”

“He’s been right here with us every step of the way,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman. “He knows where we’ve been and believes in where we’re going. I couldn’t be happier for our Guardians or more proud of how it’s all coming together. He’s exactly who we need right now.”

Bentivegna joined the U.S. Air Force August 1994, and transferred into the U.S. Space Force September 2020. He started his career as a Precision Measurement Equipment Lab Technician in McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., before cross-training to become a space operator in 1998. He eventually went on to serve in several command chief assignments and served as the senior enlisted leader for Space Operations Command at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado before his current position.

As the CMSSF, Bentivegna will act as the personal advisor to the CSO and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization, and development of the Space Force. He will also provide direction for the enlisted force and represent their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government.

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Posted in Guest Post, Space | 1 Comment »

Coming Soon – Field Ethos x Jim Green Footwear African Vellie

Friday, May 19th, 2023

The Field Ethos African Vellie is made in Africa…by Africans. In fact, the African who makes them risked life and limb today to take this photo.

We worked with legendary African boot maker, Jim Green Footwear, to bring our version of the perfect Vellie to our customers. We took their existing design and reinforced key areas with thicker leather. Then we reshaped the toe, changed the sole and altered the stitching to bring you a truly indestructible boot that performs as well in the street as it does when you’re running for your life in the African bush.

The boots launch on 5/22/23 at 3pm Eastern.

Posted in As Seen On Instagram, Boots, Guest Post | 5 Comments »

FirstSpear Friday Focus – Rash Guard

Friday, May 19th, 2023

Constructed from a high-performance USA poly/spandex, the Rash Guard is designed for a compression fit that dries extremely quick.

Smooth flat seams help protect skin from rubbing and abrasion commonly found in a maritime or watersport environment. It is great for protection against extended exposure to the sun. Integrated low-profile thumbhole help keep sleeves in place when putting on equipment or garments.

Order your standard t-shirt size for a compressed fit and consider stepping up 1-2 sizes for a more relaxed fit.

100% Made in the USA

83% Polyester, 17% Spandex

Check out FirstSpear to find American Made kit and accessories, Built For The X.

Posted in Advertiser, Clothing, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Maritime | Comments Off on FirstSpear Friday Focus – Rash Guard

Arctic Angels Put Freeze-Dried Plasma to the Test

Friday, May 19th, 2023

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska — Team members with U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity participated in an arctic conditions assessment of its freeze-dried plasma, or FDP, program recently, partnering with the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska to assess performance of its plasma kits as part of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercise last month.

During the assessment in Alaska, 11th Airborne Division medical providers, conducted scenario-based training for casualty treatment in real-world conditions. These scenarios included mass-casualty training, frontline field treatments and airborne operations to test the FDP kits in conditions paratroopers may face during combat operations.

Assessments of treatments, products and devices, including FDP, are critical to the development process of the lifesaving technologies designed for the rigors of U.S. combat operations. Exposure to extreme elements, like the blistering cold found at Fort Wainwright, help serve as proof-of-concept for products like FDP, according to Andy Atkinson, FDP product manager with USAMMDA’s Warfighter Protection and Acute Care Project Management Office, known as WPAC PMO.

“We really value the input from individual Soldiers on FDP’s performance during an airborne operation in the Arctic,” said Atkinson. “Freezing temperatures create unique challenges for medical products which can degrade with repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The Soldiers didn’t see that with FDP and the overall resounding feedback from the field was positive, with Soldiers eager to get their hands on this product. That’s really valuable feedback for the program office.”

USAMMDA’s WPAC PMO has been developing both human and canine FDP since 2010 as part of its modernization efforts in support of medical providers in the U.S. military joint forces — plasma and other blood products are a key focus of the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense’s medical development efforts to help prepare warfighters for tomorrow’s wars.

A distinct advantage of FDP over similar blood products designed in previous years is its durability and suitability for use as close to the point-of-injury as possible — placing expeditionary FDP in the hands of medics, corpsmen and medical officers to begin blood replacement in the critical minutes and hours after injury, according to Lindsey Garver, Ph.D., deputy project manager with WPAC.

“FDP provides a shelf-life and storage conditions that allow it to be used as far forward as Role 1,” said Garver, referring to medical care provided by first responders at the unit level. “It could be stockpiled offering a significant logistical advantage over whole blood for hemorrhage control. It is one of several blood components USAMMDA has in development to supplement the blood supply on the battlefield.”

The WPAC team is leading the development efforts for both human and canine FDP, partnering with stakeholders across the Department of Defense and non-DOD medical development partners. A critical component of the FDP development process is the feedback gained through touchpoints to assess both the current needs of the frontline medical providers and the utility of FDP in its current state of development. Responses from potential end-users like the medical providers with 11th Airborne Division help the WPAC team refine their approach during all phases of development, according to Garver.

“FDP is one component of blood that can be used for transfusion; it can also be used to maintain a service member at or near the point-of-injury as a bridge to transfusion,” said Garver. “In the case of the 11th Airborne Division partnership, it allowed us to understand how FDP would be used in an Arctic environment, how the product and packaging held up during airborne operations with combat medics, ease of use and if it performed to standard at both the point-of-injury and battalion aid station level of care. There is significant interest in ensuring a safe and substantial blood supply is available to our warfighters in environments with contested logistics and evolving battlefield scenarios. FDP is a critical part of that.”

Blood plasma, the liquid part of blood, “contains important proteins and other substances crucial to one’s overall health,” according to the American Red Cross. U.S. military medical providers have used plasma since at least WWII due to its lifesaving properties when no or limited supply of whole transfusable blood is available.

Given the wide range of possible future battlefields, it is important to develop, test and field blood products, including FDP, that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration; user-friendly; and expeditionary, according to Kendra Lawrence, Ph.D., the WPAC program manager with USAMMDA. Near real-time feedback from intended end users, including the evaluation of FDP in partnership with 11th Airborne Division during JPMRC, gives the WPAC development team insight into current progress of FDP and to cater the product with the end-user in mind.

“The JPMRC exercise and collaboration with 11th Airborne Division was a unique opportunity for the program office to gain real-world user feedback on the performance of a life-saving blood product in an artic environment,” said Lawrence, herself an Army and Iraq War Veteran. “Importantly, they showed that freeze-dried plasma is resilient, transportable, and easy to use under austere freezing conditions.”

By T. T. Parish

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Medical | 3 Comments »

Exercise in Philippines Assesses Progress of 1st Multi-Domain Task Force

Thursday, May 18th, 2023

CAMP MAGSAYSAY, Philippines — As one of Army Futures Command’s first forays into in-theater persistent experimentation, a team of observers/assessors were in the Philippines looking at the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force’s capabilities in the Pacific.

This Joint Warfighting Assessment, or JWA, team observed the 1st MDTF’s concepts and capabilities during Balikatan 23, a Marine-led exercise. The JWA23 team is led by the U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command and includes experts from various capability development integration divisions. The assessment is meant to build on the lessons learned during past Joint Warfighting Assessments and Project Convergence capstone events. With persistent experimentation, regular assessments like this throughout each year will allow Army modernization and transformation efforts to maintain momentum and speed.

Brig. Gen. Bernard Harrington, commander of the 1st MDTF, underscored the significance of initiatives like JWA23 in shaping the future of the Army in the Indo-Pacific.

“JWA23 is an opportunity to get multiple teams together to figure out how we get the Joint force into position in the Indo-Pacific” Harrington said. “Over the last two years, [U.S. Army Pacific] has steadily increased investments in the first island chain, placing combat-credible forces on key terrain to build interoperability with key partners. JWA23 is one feedback mechanism to evaluate how we prevent conflict and prevail in competition.”

The MDTF is the newest formation in the Army and is at the forefront of Army experimentation. Many of the new capabilities the Army is looking to in the future would come from the MDTF. During JWA 23, the JMC-led team assessed the 1st MDTF’s ability to integrate with joint partners and allies, joint sensor-to-shooter efforts, joint networking and joint force protection. As part of preparing for future conflict, the MDTF is being asked to do things the Army has never done before.

Balikatan is the largest annual bilateral exercise conducted between the Philippines and the United States. This year’s exercise, which took place in late April, was the largest to date, with more than 17,600 participants. Balikatan advances combined military modernization and capability development efforts by providing realistic rehearsals of concept, as well as numerous subject matter expertise exchanges.

From the beginning, the build of the MDTF was designed to be a joint force enabler. Looking specifically at the Pacific, adversaries have spent the past 20 years designing a network to keep out the Army’s joint force partners, focusing on high-flying aircraft and large maritime vessels, said Lt. Col. Ben Blane of the 1st MDTF.

“When we talk about the Balikatan exercise, we do have this relationship with the partners here in the Philippines,” Blane said. “But we’re also bringing in our partners from the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marines. We’re connected with our partners afloat in the Pacific and also in our main operations center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord who are helping us with some of these concepts. It’s that partnership, and then together, really building those capabilities forward in the Pacific. So, if we do rise to the point of conflict, we have some survivable positions here that can support the joint force.”

The Joint Modernization Command and its Joint Warfighting Assessments have been important to the MDTF’s experimentation and development from the start, Blane said. And as part of AFC’s persistent experimentation efforts, JWAs continue to be an integral part of developing the right capabilities with the right people for the future of competition and warfare.

“To take you all the way back to JWA19, the assessors saw the value in filling some of these gaps that we were talking about,” he said. “There was a quote in the final document that said the Army needs to immediately prioritize this formation and get into both PACOM and EUCOM as fast as possible. You saw the activation of the MDTF soon after.

“Bringing in this team here during JWA23, we refine these ideas, talk about these concepts, talk about the things we’re learning, and then get it through that other lens where we’re bringing in experts with the JMC team and all of the Army Modernization Enterprise,” Blane said. “We’re really honing in on what we’re doing here, why it’s important and then taking that refined message and then being able to push that back out to the rest of the force. That’s huge. And I’ll tell you what, the Soldiers are super excited about what they’re doing.”

MDTF experimentation is critical to getting the formations and capabilities of future warfare correct. Joint and Combined multidomain operations are key to the future, and the MDTF is at the cutting edge of that concept.

By Jonathan Koester

Posted in Army, Forces Focus, Guest Post | Comments Off on Exercise in Philippines Assesses Progress of 1st Multi-Domain Task Force

Emerald Warrior 23 Hones Mission Command in Environment of Competition

Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Air Force Special Operations Command concluded the 16th annual Emerald Warrior exercise which provides realistic and relevant, high-end pre-deployment training encompassing multiple joint operating areas to ensure preparedness of Special Operations Forces, conventional force enablers, partner forces and interagency elements.

This annual exercise allows AFSOF to integrate with and execute full spectrum Special Operations in a complex and evolving security environment using all aspects of live, virtual, and constructive training assets – spanning multiple geographic locations. This year locations included Hurlburt Field, Homestead Air Force Base and Puerto Rico.

The EW 23 planning team applied lessons learned from last iteration and real-world operations to train and ready AFSOF with sister service and partner forces, while keeping focus on security priorities laid out in the 2022 National Defense Strategy, specifically, pacing strategic competitors.

“In this year’s iteration of Emerald Warrior, we continued to improve on AFSOC’s new approach to mission command of Air Force Special Operations Forces through the continued employment of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) and Special Operations Task Units (SOTU),” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David Allen, Emerald Warrior exercise director. “The geo-separation of leadership created within the EW exercise scenario, allowed for real-time, on-the-ground decision making from the SOTG and SOTU commanders.”

Not only was the objective for EW 23 to hone the processes for mission command of SOTG’s and SOTU’s with geo-separated AFSOF, but also, to incorporate agile combat employment movements through austere, more complex environments.

“Honing AFSOC’s rapid ACE capability was a priority set for Emerald Warrior this iteration and the last as we continue to develop this concept through our mission sustainment teams or MSTs,” said Allen. “Being able to bring AFSOF and our partner force allies to the island of Puerto Rico allowed us to really get to exercise this rising capability in environments that we don’t typically get to in the states, and for that we are very appreciative of the government and people of Puerto Rico.”

MSTs established forward operating bases for a SOTG HQ and SOTUs to operate out of, providing initial site security, receiving cargo and personnel and setting up shelter.

In addition to exercising employable command and control structure, EW continued to exercise the incorporation of non-kinetic effects (NKE) and capabilities. This year’s iteration brought a more robust NKE fusion cell than previous exercises, incorporating information related capabilities such as information operations, intelligence, intelligence support to IO and public affairs.

“Synchronizing Information Related Capabilities (IRCs) across intelligence, information operations, cyber, space, and public affairs subject matter experts allowed us to further educate our SOTG and SOTU commanders on the capabilities they can provide when down range,” said Maj Jessica Vogle, Emerald Warrior J2 and Non-Kinetic Fusion Cell lead. “Whether it be the utilization of cyber effects to create complex dilemmas for our adversaries, space capabilities to get a site picture of the operation area or using IO and PA to get strategic messaging out, fusion cells create operational effects in the information environment and strategic advantage for AFSOF, our allies and partners through unique access and placement.”

A key part of Emerald Warrior is having partners and allies training alongside US forces. This year France, Germany and Lithuania participated in the three-week exercise.

“Interoperability with partner forces is always a priority mission set here at Emerald Warrior,” said Allen. “Training together makes all of us stronger, so we are appreciative that France, Germany and Lithuania were able to participate this year and are looking forward to having them back again in the future.”

Story by Capt Jantzen Floate, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

Photos by SSgt Joshua De Guzman and SrA Stephen Pulter

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, SOF | Comments Off on Emerald Warrior 23 Hones Mission Command in Environment of Competition

“Mentions In Dispatches: An Infantry Platoon in Viet Nam, June 1966 – June 1967”

Tuesday, May 16th, 2023

I just found out about a brand-new book by Battle of Long Tan / Vietnam veteran, 2Lt Dave Sabben MG. According to the website, “It offers an extraordinary and fascinating, detailed insight into a one year tour of duty in Vietnam.” I’ve already ordered my copy but it would make a great gift or addition to your personal collection.

Dave Sabben was 20 years old when he volunteered for conscription in the Australian Army in 1965. He completed officer training at the Scheyville National Service Officer Training Unit and in January 1966 was posted to 6RAR in Brisbane and appointed commander of 12 Platoon, Delta Company aged 21.

Dave was recommended for a Military Cross for his leadership and actions in the Battle of Long Tan, but that was downgraded by higher echelons to a Mentioned In Despatches (MID). In 2008 this was upgraded to a Medal Of Gallantry (MG).

This high-quality coffee-style book, chock full of 500+ images, maps, letters, tables, diagrams, and will take you into an average Australian infantry platoon across a 12-month tour of duty in the year the 1st Australian Task Force was set up at Nui Dat, in Phu?o??c Tuy Province, South Vietnam.

It will take you from the early days – June 1966 – when a bare rubber plantation was occupied in the middle of the ‘enemy’ controlled province, while a new operational base was established.

Hundreds of soldiers enduring six two-hour sleep periods every three days for weeks on end. In between those periods of sleep, they patrolled with heavy kit in dust-dry or monsoonal-wet and dangerous conditions to clear the enemy from their own bases. And when not on patrol, they were digging pits, trenches, latrines, command posts, clearing the undergrowth around Nui Dat, and erecting barbed wire fences.

All proceeds go to Dave Sabben and the book is available directly from him at sabbenmidbook.com. Click on the cover to add it to your basket.

Posted in Guest Post, History, International | 2 Comments »