http://www.beready.af.mil/news/video/index.asp?cid=3 Air Force Report Video en-US 2013 Official Site of the U.S. Air Force Mon, 20 May 2013 02:38:14 GMT Mon, 20 May 2013 02:38:14 GMT Air Force Link RSS Generator Secretary Hagel Makes Furlough Statement]]>
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHUCK HAGEL ANNOUNCED THAT BUDGET CUTS WILL REQUIRE MOST DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES TO BE FURLOUGHED STARTING JULY.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF OTHER EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE SHORTFALL, ONLY HALF OF THE 22 DAYS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED AS TEMPORARY LAYOFFS ARE NECESSARY. SECRETARY HAGEL ALSO SAID THAT IT MAY BE
POSSIBLE LATER IN THE YEAR TO "KNOCK THAT BACK" TO AN EVEN LOWER NUMBER, BUT THAT HE COULD NOT PROMISE SUCH AN OUTCOME. EMPLOYEES SET TO BE FURLOUGHED WILL BEGIN RECEIVING WRITTEN NOTIFICATION MAY 28TH TO JUNE 5TH.

...AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER TO STAFF SERGEANT BRAD SISSON FOR A WARRIOR GAMES UPDATE.

THE FINAL DAY OF THE WARRIOR GAMES SAW ONE EVENT AND THE CROWNING OF THE ULTIMATE CHAMPION. WE'LL START OFF AT THE POOL....
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IN MEN'S SWIMMING, COREY CARTER LED THE TEAM'S EFFORT WITH THREE MEDALS, INCLUDING GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE, IN THE BELOW ELBOW AMPUTATION CATEGORY FOR THE 50 METER BACK STROKE, AS WELL AS THE 50 AND 100 METER FREESTYLE EVENTS.

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THE AIR FORCE CONTINUED TO PICK UP MEDALS IN THE WOMEN'S COMPETITION, INCLUDING A SILVER AND BRONZE BY JENNIFER KYSETH, IN THE 50 AND 100 METER FREESTYLE OPEN.

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AND FINALLY, IN THE TEAM SWIMMING COMPETITIONS, THE AIR FORCE CONTINUED THEIR MEDAL PUSH WITH A BRONZE PERFORMANCE IN THE MIXED 200 METER FREESTYLE RELAY.

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AFTER THE SWIMMING EVENTS WERE RECORDED THEY TALLIED UP THE SCORE TO CROWN THIS YEAR'S ULTIMATE CHAMPION.

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THE AIR FORCE'S OWN MITCHEL KEEFFER CAME OUT VICTORIES IN THE MULTI-EVENT COMPETITION, BEATING THE SILVER MEDALIST BY A SINGLE POINT.

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SO AFTER FIVE DAYS OF COMPETITION THAT SAW THE AIR FORCE TEAM'S BEST WARRIOR GAMES PERFORMANCE TO DATE, WE PLACED THIRD IN THE OVERALL MEDAL COUNT WITH THIRTY.

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SO AFTER FIVE DAYS OF COMPETITION THE AIR FORCE PLACED THIRD IN THE OVERALL MEDAL COUNT WITH THIRTY.


OUR LAST A FINAL WARRIOR GAMES ATHLETE PROFILE HIGHLIGHTS SWIMMER MARTIN SMITH'S TOUGH LIFE ALTERING DECISION THAT LEFT HIM NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY CHANGED BUT EMOTIONALLY AS WELL. HERE'S THE 3 TIME BRONZE Medalist' s STORY...

It was a normal day, I was coming home and I was riding my motorcycle. They had construction going down from two lanes to one. And it looked like the cars were moving so I was slowing down. It was a millisecond to late and I caught the back right corner of that car with my left leg. The doctor came in and said, we can save your left leg but you're going to have problems with it for the rest of your life, or, we can try now, to save as much as we can by amputating the lower part, so we went ahead and did that. Then all of a sudden out of the realization just bloomed. I got down in a pretty dark hole. My wife, she said this is not you, you always overcome everything. The biggest thing I can take out of this Warrior Games so far, is that there is no question that every one of them has some kind of pain. I haven't heard one person yet, one of these athletes yet say, "I'm not going to do that, I'm not going to play today, it just hurts to bad." Which is a testament to their spirit. And uh, it's humbling to be around them.

OVER THE LAST WEEK WE'VE BEEN HIGHLIGHTING THE TOP ATHLETES IN THESE WARRIOR GAMES BUT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE OF MINE KATIE ROBINSON. SHE MAY NOT BE THE FASTEST OR STRONGEST PERSON AROUND BUT SHE HAS THE SPIRIT OF A CHAMPION. HERE'S A FACEBOOK POST AFTER HER SWIMMING EVENT. SHE SAID THAT SHE "JUST SWAM THE 100 METER IN 2 MINUTES AND 27 SECONDS." SHE ADDED THAT SHE "CAME IN LAST BUT IT TOOK 22 SECONDS OFF HER TIME FROM LAST YEAR." THIS POST IS THE EXACT REASON WHY THE WARRIOR GAMES ARE HELD, FOR THESE WARRIORS! WHILE IT'S CLICHE, IT'S AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THESE GAMES, NO MATTER THE MEDAL COUNT, EVERYONE WINS AT THE WARRIOR GAMES.

THAT'S IT FOR OUR WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE. BACK TO YOU AIRMAN RICHARD.

THANKS SERGEANT SISSON... FROM THE AIR FORCE BROADCASTING SERVICE, I'M SENIOR AIRMAN ALINA RICHARD.]]>Fri, 17 May 2013 17:08:07 EST 2013 Warrior Games Swimming]]>
THE FINAL DAY OF THE WARRIOR GAMES SAW ONLY EVENT BUT IT WAS A HUGE EVENT WITH A VERY LARGE COMPETITOR FIELD...

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IN MEN'S SWIMMING, COREY CARTER LED THE TEAM'S EFFORT WITH THREE MEDALS, WHICH INCLUDED GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE, IN THE BELOW ELBOW AMPUTATION CATEGORY FOR THE 50 METER BACK STROKE, AS WELL AS THE 50 AND 100 METER FREESTYLE EVENTS.

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THE AIR FORCE ALSO CONTINUED TO PICK UP MEDALS IN THE WOMEN'S COMPETITION, WHICH INCLUDED A SILVER AND BRONZE BY JENNIFER KYSETH, IN THE 50 AND 100 METER FREESTYLE OPEN EVENTS.

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NOW, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE TEAM COMPETITIONS, THE AIR FORCE TEAM CONTINUED THEIR MEDAL PUSH WITH A BRONZE PERFORMANCE IN THE MIXED 200 METER FREESTYLE RELAY.


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THAT'S IT FOR OUR WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE, FOR MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES VISIT AF-LINK, FOR THE AIR FORCE BROADCASTING SERVICE, I'M STAFF SERGEANT BRAD SISSON.]]>Fri, 17 May 2013 14:29:53 EST 2013 Warrior Games]]>
AFTER FIVE DAYS OF COMPETITION THE WARRIOR GAMES FINAL CAME TO AN END BY CROWNING THE ULTIMATE CHAMPION AND ADDING UP THE MEDAL TOTALS.

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THE AIR FORCE'S OWN MITCHELL KIEFFER CAME OUT VICTORIES IN THE MULTI-EVENT COMPETITION SUITABLY TITLED THE ULTIMATE CHAMPION, BEATING THE SILVER MEDALIST BY A SINGLE POINT.

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IN THE OVERALL MEDAL COUNT, THE AIR FORCE POSTED THEIR HIGHEST TOTAL YET, WITH THIRTY MEDALS AND A THIRD PLACE FINISH.


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OVER THE LAST WEEK WE'VE BEEN HIGHLIGHTING THE TOP ATHLETES IN THESE WARRIOR GAMES BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE SPOTLIGHT TO A PERSON WHO MAY NOT BE THE FASTEST OR STRONGEST BUT A CHAMPION IN SPIRIT, KATIE ROBINSON. RIGHT AFTER ONE OF HER SWIMMING EVENTS, SHE POSTED ON FACEBOOK THAT SHE MAY HAVE CAME IN LAST BUT SHE IMPROVED FROM LAST YEAR. IT'S A CLICHE BUT IT'S AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THESE GAMES, NO MATTER THE MEDAL COUNT, EVERYONE WINS.
]]>Fri, 17 May 2013 14:24:04 EST Life Changing Event]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 14:05:23 EST Rescue 4 Visits Airmen]]>
Billy Morris
Dyess Fire Dept Captain
"The purpose is really a remembrance. It's a remembrance and also to acknowledge and recognize the sacrifice that these guys made. Not just the crew members of rescue 4, the 343 other firefighters that died that day as well."

For the firefighters this truck represents the ultimate sacrifice.

Billy Morris
Dyess Fire Dept Captain
"You never know when that call will come in, whether it will be your last, and unfortunately for these gentlemen on Rescue 4, that morning, that was their last alarm."

For some it was a meaningful experience.

SrA Shayne Anglin
Fire Protection
"Being next to something that survived, and they were able to refurbish it the way they did and have it tour the different cities is just something else and the cause is awesome."

Rescue 4 is touring the western United States and visiting various fire departments. Airman First Class Jonathan Farwell, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.]]>Fri, 17 May 2013 13:29:32 EST This Week in the Headlines - 13-17 May 2013]]>
AIRMEN AT SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE LAUNCHED THE FINAL A-10 THUNDERBOLT TWO TACTICAL SORTIE IN EUROPE. THE AIRFRAME BELONGS TO THE 81'S FIGHTER SQUADRON...WHICH WILL INACTIVATE IN JUNE DUE TO THE TERMINATION OF THE CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS PROVISION AND THE ENACTING OF THE 2013 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
... A PLAN DEFINING THE BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES OF THE D-O-D.
THE AIRCRAFT ARE RELOCATING TO MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA WHERE THEY WILL HELP FULFILL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND FORCE AUGMENTATION.

THE 2013 WARRIOR GAMES KICKED OFF AT THE U-S OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO. MORE THAN 200 SERVICE MEMBERS COMPETED FOR MEDALS IN EVERYTHING FROM TRACK AND FIELD TO SHOOTING, TO SITTING VOLLEYBALL, AND WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL.

YOU CAN FIND FEATURE STORIES ON SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS ON THE AIR FORCE'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE, AFLINK.

AND MAYBE SOME OF THEIR STORIES WILL INSPIRE YOU TO RUN THE AIR FORCE MARATHON! BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED YET... YOU BETTER START TRAINING FOR THE FULL MARATHON BECAUSE THE HALF AND THE 5K HAVE ALREADY SOLD OUT. THE ANNUAL MARATHON WILL TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER FIRST AT WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, WITH RUNNERS STARTING AND FINISHING AT THE NATIONAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM. YOU CAN REGISTER TO RUN OR TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE... U-S-A-F MARATHON-DOT-COM.
FOR MORE ON THESE STORIES AND OTHERS AFFECTING AIRMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES, CHECK OUT THE AIR FORCE'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE, AFLINK.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THE HEADLINES, I'M SENIOR AIRMAN RENE CARBERRY.

]]>Fri, 17 May 2013 12:18:47 EST This Week in Photos: 13-17 May]]> Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Zach Wood arches his back as he clears the pole during a men's Track and Field high jump event in Las Vegas, Nevada
Security forces airmen guard a building during an urban operations training course at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Brian Easterling, a 96th Test Wing firefighter, extracts an injured pilot from an F-35 Lightning II during a major accident response exercise Eglin AFB, Florida.
And that's this week in photos, I'm staff Sergeant Michael Brady]]>Fri, 17 May 2013 12:16:11 EST Changes to TRICARE Payment Methods]]>
BENEFICIARIES ENROLLED IN TRICARE RESERVE SELECT OR TRICARE RETIRED RESERVE WHO PAY MONTHLY PREMIUMS BY CHECK MUST SWITCH TO AN ELECTRONIC FORM OF PAYMENT BY MAY 31ST. ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS STREAMLINE ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT AND
ENSURE CONTINUOUS COVERAGE FOR BENEFICIARIES. THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT ESTABLISHED BY THE DEADLINE WILL HAVE THEIR COVERAGE SUSPENDED AND POSSIBLY TERMINATED FOR 12 MONTHS COME JUNE 1ST. TO SET UP AUTOMATIC
PAYMENTS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW. TRICARE .MIL FORWARD SLASH CONTACTS

FROM THE AIR POLICE OF YESTERDAY TO THE SECURITY FORCES OF TODAY, DEFENDING THE BASE IS A KEY MISSION FOR DEFENDERS AT KUNSAN AIR BASE, SOUTH KOREA. TSGT ALEX GRIFFIN TAKES US AROUND KUNSAN AS THE 8TH SECURITY FORCES SQUADRON
RUCKS TO REMEMBER THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THESE DEFENDERS AT KUNSAN ARE RUCKING ACROSS BASE AND THEN UP ITS HIGHEST POINT. ACROSS HOT PAVEMENT AND AROUND DIFFICULT TERRAIN, STEP BY STEP, THEY ARE REMEMBERING ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
JUST AS IMPORTANT, THEY'RE BUILDING UNIT COHESION, A TRAIT THAT'S CRITICAL IN A LOCATION LIKE THIS.
SB.
EVERYBODY S AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES DOING THE SHORT TOUR. ITS GOOD TO COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER SO CAMARADERIE IS EVERYTHING IN THIS UNIT.
THE AIRMEN MARCHED NEARLY 4 MILES THROUGH THE BASE AND UP TO THE PEAK OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS "BIG COYOTE HILL". BECOMING A STRONGER UNIT THROUGH EVERY DROP OF SWEAT.
SOC


...AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT OVER TO STAFF SERGEANT BRAD SISSON FOR A WARRIOR GAMES UPDATE.

THE AIR FORCE WARRIOR GAMES TEAM ONLY SAW ONE EVENT FOR DAY FOUR, ARCHERY. SADLY, THE AIR FORCE WAS KNOCKED OUT OF BOTH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL AND SITTING VOLLEYBALL ON DAY 3.
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ON TO THE COMPOUND OPEN COMPETITION, COREY CARTER LED THE TEAM'S EFFORT WITH A FOURTH PLACE FINISH. HIS EFFORT WAS JUST A POINT SHY OUT OF MEDAL CONTENTION.

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NEXT CAME THE TEAM COMPETITIONS, FIRST UP WAS THE TEAM RECURVE CATEGORY. SOCOM TOOK GOLD WITH A 137 POINT OUTING, WHILE THE AIR FORCE FINISHED FOURTH WITH A 1-0-6.

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AND FINALLY, THE AIR FORCE CONTINUED THEIR EFFORT WITH THE COMPOUND BOW…THE TEAM WAS JUST ONE POINT SHY OF CAPTURING GOLD INSTEAD OF THE MARINES, WITH A 157 TO TAKE SILVER.

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SO, AFTER FOUR DAYS OF COMPETING THE MARINES ARE IN THE LEAD WITH 55 MEDALS BUT THE ARMY IS CLOSE BEHIND WITH 52, AND THE AIR FORCE IS TIED WITH SOCOM FOR FOURTH WITH 15 MEDALS A PIECE. WITH SWIMMING UP NEXT,
THE MARINES CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE YET.

I CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF OUR RECURVE ARCHERS GWEN SHEPPARD ABOUT HER TIME WITH THE WARRIOR GAMES AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HER, PERSONALLY.

You help other folks, and by helping other folks, you help yourself. You know, if someone is having a bad day, "Yo man, what's going, what's up?" You just sit there and listen to them for 5 or 10 minutes.
"I got that off of my chest. Let's go back and do what we were doing." I'm going to get out there to not let my teammates down. You get out there and start working out, you do little bit more, and a little bit more.
"Yeah man, I got this. I can do things, I can compete." You don't feel the pain, it's irrelevant what I'm feeling because I'm out there competing.Then I get back to my room. "WHere's the ice pack, where's the heat pad?"
and then the next day, "Yeah, I'm cool man, I don't know what you're talking about." Whatever has got me going up here or in the body, it not defeating me, I'm defeating it.

UNFORTUNATELY GWEN DIDN'T MAKE THE RECURVE OPEN FINAL BUT DID SHE HELP THE RECURVE TEAM TAKE FOURTH. SO, THAT DOES IT FOR TODAY'S WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE. FOR MORE VISIT AF LINK. BACK TO YOU AIRMAN RICHARD.

THANKS SERGEANT SISSON... FOR INFORMATION ON OTHER TOP AIR FORCE STORIES VISIT THE AIR FORCE'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE AFLINK. FROM THE AIR FORCE BROADCASTING SERVICE, I'M SENIOR AIRMAN ALINA RICHARD.
]]>Thu, 16 May 2013 18:09:18 EST 2013 Warrior Games Archery]]>
THE AIR FORCE WARRIOR GAMES TEAM ONLY SAW ONE EVENT FOR DAY FOUR, ARCHERY. SADLY, THE AIR FORCE WAS KNOCKED OUT OF BOTH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL AND SITTING VOLLEYBALL ON DAY 3.
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ON TO THE COMPOUND OPEN COMPETITION, COREY CARTER LED THE TEAM'S EFFORT WITH A FOURTH PLACE FINISH. HIS EFFORT WAS JUST A POINT SHY OUT OF MEDAL CONTENTION.

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NEXT CAME THE TEAM COMPETITIONS, TEAM RECURVE COMPETITION. SOCOM TOOK GOLD WITH A 137 POINT OUTING, WHILE THE AIR FORCE FINISHED FOURTH WITH A 1-0-6.

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AND FINALLY, THE AIR FORCE CONTINUED THEIR EFFORT WITH THE COMPOUND BOW…THE TEAM WAS JUST ONE POINT SHY OF CAPTURING GOLD INSTEAD OF THE MARINES, WITH A 157 TO TAKE SILVER.

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SO, AFTER FOUR DAYS OF COMPETING THE MARINES ARE IN THE LEAD WITH 55 MEDALS, AND THE AIR FORCE AND SOCOM ARE TIED FOR FOURTH WITH 15 MEDALS A PIECE.

FOR MORE COVERAGE OF WARRIOR GAMES CHECK OUT AFLINK.]]>Thu, 16 May 2013 17:38:42 EST Defeating the Pain]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 17:34:44 EST Weapons Issue]]> SB: SrA Todd Wester, 455 ELRS Armory Journeyman
What we do here is we store small arms such as M-16s and M-9s and what we do is we in-process; we issue the standard issue weapons to Air Force individuals who have not brought their weapons.
REPORTER
A key element of making sure Airmen are properly armed is conducting minor maintenance that will improve the overall function of each weapon. One of the most common quick fixes an Armory Journeyman can provide for airmen is changing the handedness of a weapon
SB:SrA Ernesto Roybal, 455 ELRS Armory Journeyman
This is turning a weapon from a left handed to a right handed or reverse. I had to go ahead and switch the magazine release which allows if you were right-handed a right-handed person to release the weapon magazine faster but if you were left-handed it would make more trouble for you.
REPORTER
In addition to issuing and maintaining nearly three thousand weapons members of the 455 ELRS are also responsible for guaranteeing each weapons is clean and functioning upon receiving it prior to each Airman out-processing the base. So the Armory will likely be one of the first and last stops for all deployed Airman. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bagram Air Field.
Keywords: SSgt Shawn Bryant; Bryant; Air Force; Gun; Weapons; M-16; M9; Bagram; Deployed; Airman; Todd Wester; Ernesto Roybal]]>Thu, 16 May 2013 15:39:52 EST Engine Manager]]> SB: TSgt Christopher Poole, 455th Expeditionary Air Maintenance Squadron Engine Manager
At home station I’m a jet engine mechanic. I work flightline jet engines on B-52s. Out here I keep track of spare engines.
REPORTER
Sergeant Poole was extremely modest about his current position. In addition to tracking and inspecting spare engines he also spends a large portion of his time ensuring engines leaving or entering the area of operations are clean and prepared to clear customs.
SB: TSgt Christopher Poole, 455th Expeditionary Air Maintenance Squadron Engine Manager
The whole process takes about for days if everything goes smoothly.
REPORTER
While being the primary person responsible for delivery of each spare engine under his charge involves more office work than most mechanics would prefer, he is confident he can do the job well.
SB: TSgt Christopher Poole, 455th Expeditionary Air Maintenance Squadron Engine Manager
I mean I like the flight line work. I like going out and getting my hands dirty turning wrenches. It’s what we do. The office work, it’s not that bad.
Even though Sgt. Poole isn’t elbows-deep in grease turning wrenches, he and the engines he manages are assets that are vital to the flying schedule to more than 30 aircraft. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bagram Air Field.
Keywords: SSgt Shawn Bryant; Bryant; Air Force; Engines; C-130; Hercules; A-10; Warthog; Mechanic; Aerospace; Propulsion; Engine Management; Customs; Barksdale; Shreveport; Newelle, West Virginia; Pittsburg; flightline; flight; line; aircraft; Christopher Poole; Christopher; Poole; 455th EAMXS; 455th AEW]]>Thu, 16 May 2013 15:35:18 EST 2013 Warrior Games Volleyball & Basketball Day 3]]>
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IN BASKETBALL THE AIR FORCE FACED THE 1 AND 1 NAVY. ON DEFENSE, KEN GESTRING'S QUICK REACTIONS CAUSED A TURNOVER WITH AN ATHLEITC GRAB, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE DOWN THE NAVY

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AT THE END OF THE GAME, THE NAVY BEATTHE AIR FORCE 33 -18. THAT WAS THEIR SECOND LOSS OF THE TOURNAMENT ... OFFICIALLY ENDING THE AIR FORCE TEAM'S HOPE FOR A MEDAL.

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ON THE SITTING VOLLEYBALL COURT... THE AIR FORCE STARTED OFF THE NIGHT VERY SLOW WITH A 25 -5 LOSS TO THE U.K. BUT IN THE SECOND GAME AIR FORCE'S KEITH SEKORA BROUGHT THE HEAT... HIS DYNOMITE SPIKE COULN'T BE HANDLED BY THE U.K. AND HELPED THE AIR FORCE COME BACK TO WIN THE SECOND GAME AND FORCE AN ILL-FATED THIRD GAME.

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SO AFTER SPLITTING THE FIRST TWO, THE AIR FORCE LOST THE THIRD GAME BY JUST TWO POINTS PUTTING AN END TO THEIR WARRIOR GAMES TOURNAMENT RUN.

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CHECK OUT AFLINK FOR FULL WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE.
]]>Wed, 15 May 2013 16:32:36 EST 2013 Warrior Games Track & Field]]>
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DAY THREE OF WARRIOR GAMES WAS SO FAR THE BUSIEST DAY ... AND THE MOST PRODUCTIVE FOR THE AIR FORCE. THE TEAM MANAGED TO QUADRUPLE THEIR MEDAL COUNT THANKS TO THEIR TRACK AND FIELD PERFORMANCE.

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ON TO THE FIELD COMPETITION, FOR THE MEN, DAMIAN ORSLENE LED THE TEAM'S EFFORT WITH TWO MEDALS, INCLUDING HIS 29.24 METER DISCUS THROW THAT EARNED HIM SILVER IN THE "OTHER SEATED" CATEGORY

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AND FOR THE WOMEN, CANCER SURVIVOR MONICA FIGUEROA ALSO TOOK TWO MEDALS. SHE EARNED BRONZE IN BOTH THE SHOT PUT AND DISCUSS OPEN COMPETITIONS.

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OVER ON THE TRACK, AIR FORCE CONTINUED TO ADD TO THEIR MEDAL COUNT... THIS TIME IT WAS THE LIGHTNING QUICK, LARA ISHEKAWA WHO LEAD THE EFFORT

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SHE CAME AWAY WITH A GOLD AND A SILVER IN THE 100 AND 200 METER OPEN COMPETITIONS WHILE SHAWN SCHWANTES AND SCOTT PALOMINO BOTH TOOK HOME SILVERS.

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FOR MORE IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF WARRIOR GAMES AND A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR ATHLETES BACKGROUNDS CHECK OUT AFLINK.]]>Wed, 15 May 2013 16:24:29 EST Joint Search and Rescue Exercise in Guam]]>
BEING STATIONED AT ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM MEANS SUBJECTING YOURSELF TO MANY NATURAL HAZARDS THAT TROOPS STATIONED ELSEWHERE MAY NOT EXPERIENCE. AIRMAN FIRST CLASS ADAM HARDER TELLS US HOW SERVICEMEMBERS DEAL WITH ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISINGLY HAZARDOUS... GUAM'S WATERS.


...AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT OVER TO STAFF SERGEANT BRAD SISSON FOR A WARRIOR GAMES UPDATE.

DAY THREE OF WARRIOR GAMES WAS SO FAR THE BUSIEST DAY ... AND THE MOST PRODUCTIVE FOR THE AIR FORCE. THE TEAM MANAGED TO QUADRUPLE THEIR MEDAL COUNT THANKS TO THEIR TRACK AND FIELD PERFORMANCE

TAKE VIDEO
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BUT LETS START WITH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL... THE AIR FORCE HAD A HARD TIME HANDLING THE NAVY'S IMPRESSIVE OFFENCE.

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THE AIR FORCE LOST 33 -18. THAT WAS THEIR SECOND LOSS ... OFFICIALLY ENDING THE AIR FORCE TEAM'S TOURNAMENT RUN.

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IN SITTING VOLLEYBALL, THE AIR FORCE STARTED OFF THE NIGHT VERY SLOW WITH A LOSS TO THE U.K. BUT A DYNAMITE SPIKE BY KEITH SEKORA THAT THE U.K. COULDN'T HANDLE HELPED THE THEM COME BACK IN THE SECOND GAME.

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SO AFTER SPLITTIN THE FIRST TWO, THE AIR FORCE LOST THE THIRD GAME BY JUST TWO POINTS ENDING THEIR TOURNAMENT RUN.

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OUTSIDE THE AIR FORCE TEAM DID MUCH BETTER... THEY MANAGED TO TAKE SEVEN MEDALS IN DISCUS AND SHOTPUT

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DAMIAN ORSLENE LED THE TEAM'S EFFORT WITH TWO MEDALS, INCLUDING HIS 29.24 METER DISCUS THROW THAT EARNED HIM SILVER IN THE "OTHER SEATED" CATEGORY

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OVER ON THE TRACK, AIR FORCE CONTINUED TO ADD TO THEIR MEDAL COUNT...

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THIS TIME THE IT WAS LARA ISHEKAWA WHO LEAD THE EFFORT WITH A LIGHTNING QUICK PERFORMANCE WHERE SHE CAME AWAY WITH A GOLD AND A SILVER IN THE 100 AND 200 METER OPEN COMPETITIONS.

TAKE ANCHOR

DURING TRAINING CAMP, I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE GOLD MEDALIST ABOUT HER BATTLE WITH CANCER.

I've always been in good shape. I realized something was wrong in December of 2009. So I went to my PCM and said "I have a problem here," and he said, " Yeah, you do, we need to get you an ultrasound immediately." About a week later, we found out it was mammary carcinoma.
I had no family history of it, and no one expects you to get cancer. It was a shock, but you learn to cope and you move on. I am in remission and have had multiple surgeries. A double mastectomy and reconstruction. Part of the Warrior
Games here is, I always have something to look forward to and if I don't, I feel empty. I feel lost, so a lot of these other people need to look something to look forward to as well.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR TODAY'S WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE. FOR MORE VISIT AF LINK. BACK TO YOU AIRMAN RICHARD.

THANKS SERGEANT SISSON... FROM THE AIR FORCE BROADCASTING SERVICE HERE AT FORT MEADE MARYLAND, I'M SENIOR AIRMAN ALINA RICHARD.]]>Wed, 15 May 2013 15:49:40 EST Ultra-marathoner]]> Dr. O’Hara
I'm always trying to reach higher I’m always trying to push the human limits, just see how far I can go
Reporter
Dr. Reggie O'Hara works at the Seven-Eleventh Human Performance Wing on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, testing equipment for Special Forces. And on his personal time, he is an Ultra-marathoner!
Dr. O’Hara
I'm will to be quite honest, running 150 miles is quite painful!
Reporter
Dr. O'Hara runs extreme distances to raise money for military charities, his next event and furthest distance so far, is a 200 mile run from Maryland to Virginia.
Dr. O’Hara
It’s because you’ve got a soldier an airman that goes overseas they get hit by an IED. They don’t come home. They’ve got kids waiting for them to come home, and they don’t ever get to see their mom or dad again so when out there running I’m running for a specific cause I'm not running because I enjoy it
Reporter
He runs to better the lives of families in need, but he is continuously challenges himself to go further
Dr. O’Hara
Ya I'm going to do between 4 and 5-hundred miles in about a month/month and a half over the course of about 8 days



Reporter
Dr. O'Hara runs the first 200 miles at the end of this month, and his goal is to complete it in 66 straight hours, the rest his trek will follow next month
Dr. O’Hara
You have to have kind of an iron clad mentality and go into it with kind of a warrior spirit especially if you’re doing it not really for yourself but you’re doing it for somebody else or for a cause
Reporter
Col Glenn Hover who works with Dr. O’Hara says between work, running and his charity he really shows excellence in all that he does
Col Glenn Hover
His spirit, his friendly affable relationships that he builds plus the intensity that he brings to his mission and his seriousness he does at work it’s the perfect blend, and he’s the perfect mentor because it shows you can accomplish anything you want as long as you set the goal and you focus on it ”
Reporter
After running four to five-hundred miles anyone would be exhausted! But it won’t slow Dr. O'Hara down one step!
Dr. O’Hara
I'm going to continue till they put me in a box, um - I wouldn't mind dying while I'm running
Reporter
Reporting for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Public Affairs I'm Senior Airman Richard Ware!
]]>Wed, 15 May 2013 15:25:48 EST Running to Recover]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 14:46:01 EST 2013 Warrior Games Volleyball & Basketball Day 2]]>
DAY TWO OF THE WARRIOR GAMES HAS COME AND GONE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AIR FORCE SITTING VOLLEYBALL TEAM CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE.

(PAUSE)
TAKE SLIDE

THEY ENDED UP LOSING TO THE MARINES IN THEIR FIRST MATCH, LOSING 25-15 AND 25-16. THE SECOND MATCH SAW THE AIR FORCE PLAYING SOCOM, WHERE THE AIR FORCE FELL 2 GAMES TO 1.

CHANGE SLIDE

AFTER DAY TWO THE MARINES ARE STEAMROLLING THROUGH THE COMPETITION, SITTING 2 GAMES AHEAD OF THE NEXT BEST TEAM.

(PAUSE)
TAKE ANCHOR
THE AIR FORCE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAMS FORTUNES HAVE CHANGED AS WELL...

(PAUSE)
TAKE SLIDE

THE AIR FORCE LOST TO THE ARMY 59-9. THOUGH THE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL COMPETITION IS A TOURNAMENT, IT'S DOUBLE ELIMINATION SO THAT MEANS THE AIR FORCE IS STILL IN IT!

FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE COVERAGE ON THE WARRIOR GAMES, VISIT THE AIR FORCE'S Official WEBSITE AF LINK. FROM THE AIR FORCE BROADCASTING SERVICE, HERE AT FORT MEADE, MARYLAND, I'M STAFF SERGEANT BRAD SISSON. THANKS FOR WATCHING.]]>Tue, 14 May 2013 17:03:06 EST 2013 Warrior Games Shooting]]>
THE SHOOTING COMPETITION JUST WRAPPED UP AND OUR AIRMEN WERE ABLE TO ADD TO THEIR MEDAL COUNT...

TAKE VIDEO

IN THE PISTOL OPEN CLASS THE AIR FORCE HAD 9 SHOOTERS STEP UP TO THE FIRING LINE... AND STEPHEN OTERO AND JOSH ROBISTOW WERE ABLE TO SHOOT THEIR WAY INTO THE FINAL ROUND.


TAKE SLIDE

AFTER THE FINAL TARGETS WERE SCORED, ROBISTOW'S 429.4 POINTS LANDED HIM IN FOURTH.


TAKE VIDEO

THE AIR FORCE HAD THE LARGEST TEAM IN THE AIR RIFLE COMPETITION...OF THE SEVEN AIRMEN COMPETING IN THE PRONE OPEN CATEGORY, MITCHELL KEEFFER LEAD THE AIR FORCE EFFORT...


TAKE SLIDE

HE WAS THE ONLY TO MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL ROUND OF SHOOTING... AND HIS SCORE OF 496 WAS ENOUGH TO TAKE SILVER.


CHANGE SLIDE

IN THE PRONE S-H-1 CATEGORY, SARAH EVANS QUALIFYING ROUND SCORE OF 372 ALLOWED HER TO TAKE 10TH PLACE.

IN STANDING OPEN, GWEN SHEPPARD AND JAEL HANSEN PLACED 6TH AND 7TH.

TAKE ANCHOR

FOR FULL WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE AND CLOSER LOOK AT ONE OF OUR SHOOTERS, VISIT AF LINK.
]]>Tue, 14 May 2013 16:47:58 EST Retrograde Ops and Warrior Games updates]]>
THE RETROGRADE OPERATION IN AFGHANISTAN IS IN FULL SWING AND SERVICE MEMBERS ARE WORKING HARD TO MEET THE DRAW DOWN DEADLINE. COL MICHAEL CANNON TELLS US ABOUT THE GRAN-U-TECH MOBILE SHREDDER AND WHY IT'S EXPECTED TO SPEED UP THE RETROGRADE PROCESS AT FORWARD OPERATING BASES THROUGHOUT AFGHANISTAN.

"Unlike places like Iraq where we're allowed to leave some bases in place and turnover the base to the Iraqi population, most of our FOBs in Afghanistan we can leave nothing standing."

NAT SOUND
Col Michael Cannon - DLA Support Team Commander
"We use the Shredder to get ride of almost all of the electronics, the armor plating, the ballistic glass and turn it into unusable condition so we can leave the other FOBs as we found them."

Col Michael Cannon - DLA Support Team Commander
"The people here are real pros in getting it on the airplane, getting it off the other end is going to be a big challenge, but the capability that the CDDOC gives us to get it airlifted into Afghanistan is really going to be a force multiplier for our retrograde operations."

"Being the first to do it. That's going to be a sticking point for the guys back at the squadron. We were the first one to load it, take it and drop it off."

...AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT OVER TO STAFF SERGEANT BRAD SISSON FOR A WARRIOR GAMES UPDATE.

DAY TWO OF THE WARRIOR GAMES HAS COME AND GONE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AIR FORCE'S SITTING VOLLEYBALL TEAM CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE.

(PAUSE)
TAKE SLIDE

THEY ENDED UP LOSING TO THE MARINES IN THEIR FIRST MATCH, LOSING 25-15 AND 25-16. THE SECOND MATCH SAW THE AIR FORCE PLAYING ARMY, WHERE THE AIR FORCE FELL 2 GAMES TO 1.

CHANGE SLIDE

AFTER DAY TWO THE MARINES ARE STEAM ROLLING THROUGH THE COMPETITION, SITTING 2 GAMES AHEAD OF THE NEXT BEST TEAM.

(PAUSE)
TAKE ANCHOR
THE AIR FORCE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAMS FORTUNES HAVE CHANGED AS WELL...

(PAUSE)
TAKE SLIDE

THE AIR FORCE LOST TO THE ARMY 59-9. THOUGH THE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL COMPETITION IS A TOURNAMENT, IT'S DOUBLE ELIMINATION SO THAT MEANS THE AIR FORCE IS STILL IN IT!

(PAUSE)
TAKE VIDEO

DAY TWO SHOWCASED THE SPORT CLOSEST TO OUR MILITARY BACKGROUND, SHOOTING! THE AIR FORCE HAD A SOLID DAY

(PAUSE)
TAKE SLIDE

MITCHELL KEEFER LED THE WAY WITH A SILVER MEDAL AT PRONE-OPEN AND JOSH ROBISTOW WAS JUST OUT OF MEDAL CONTENTION WITH A 4TH PLACE PERFORMANCE.

(PAUSE)
CHANGE SLIDE

AND.. JUST LIKE THE OLYMPICS, THE WARRIOR GAMES KEEPS TRACK OF MEDAL COUNT. THE ARMY IS CURRENTLY IN THE LEAD WITH 17 AND THE AIR FORCE HAS CLAIMED 4.

APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT TO THE AIR FORCE WARRIOR GAMES' SELECTION CAMP IN COLORADO SPRINGS. THAT'S WHERE I MET UP WITH WILLIAM BJORNES, WHO PLACED 22ND IN THE PRONE-OPEN SHOOTING CATEGORY AND IS RECOVERING FROM AN EXTREMELY RARE BRAIN DISEASE. HERE'S A LOOK AT HIS BATTLE.

IT TAKES A LOT TO KEEP THIS YEARS WARRIOR GAMES GOING. STAFF SERGEANT MIKE HUTCHINSON GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK AT A WARRIOR GAMES BIKE MECHANIC.
SB - Royce Riggen "This one during training yesterday they tore up the front derailleur. So I need to realign the front derailleur and make sure the shifting is right in the front. And I think there's an issue on the front derailleur here, and they're missing a shifter."
Royce Riggen is one of the mechanics who takes pleasure in making sure the athletes of the 2013 warrior games have equipment that's operating at peek performance.
SB - Royce Riggen "For me it's mostly self-taught. Been working around the bike industry off and on ever since I was 8 years old."
And all those years of experience have made him an expert at what he does - But Royce isn't done learning yet, he's always picking up new tricks to help wounded warriors compete.
SB - Royce Riggen "Most crank arms, they spin like these, they stay in sync with each other at all times. But if you can't have the ability to bend your left leg, this company here at San Diego - they made a clutch system so that you can turn independently your own crank arm. It may seem simple but for these guys that's a big deal, now he can ride. Could you ride before that? So before he couldn't be on an up-right bike, but now because of somebody thinking outside of the box, now he can ride.
Being prior service himself... for Royces it's about much more than fixing their bikes...
SB - Royce Riggen "I don't want anything for it, I just want to help them out, because these guys have given so much and sacrificed so much. It's just like the Ranger's Creed, never leave a man behind, and I'll live by that creed till the day I die. I'll never leave one of these guys behind. We owe it to 'em... we really do...It's just family helping family"
Staff Sergeant Mike Hutchinson, Colorado Springs - Colorado.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR TODAY'S WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE. FOR MORE VISIT AF LINK. BACK TO YOU AIRMAN RICHARD.
THANKS SERGEANT SISSON...
FROM THE AIR FORCE BROADCASTING SERVICE, I'M SENIOR AIRMAN ALINA RICHARD.]]>Tue, 14 May 2013 16:06:34 EST A Shooter's Story]]> “It's considered a brain injury but it's an illness as well. Antibodies form to protect your Thyroid, but instead of protecting my Thyroid, it jumps into your cerebral spine fluid goes up and wherever it lands in your brain... it just kills it. They did some pretty invasive surgery. They took out eight parts of my frontal lobe.”

“I used to be able to just pick up a rifle and hit whatever I needed to hit... and then I shoot a 27... You almost have to try to shoot that low.”

“But you know I have improved through that, looking for opportunities through the VA to be around people that have injuries, that are other wounded warriors. You feel more normal... even though I'm not missing a limb, I'm missing a pretty good chunk of my brain.”

Nat Sound Pop: "That's the first set of my sights."

“You don't realize how much sports or recreational activities are part of your life and part of your norm until they're taken away.”
]]>Tue, 14 May 2013 14:17:16 EST Bike Mechanic]]> Royce Riggen - Bike Mechanic

SB - Royce Riggen "This one during training yesterday they tore up the front derailer. So I need to realign the front derailer and make sure the shifting is right in the front. And I think there's an issue on the front derailer here, and they're missing a shifter."

Royce Riggen is one of the mechanics who takes pleasure in making sure the athletes of the 2013 warrior games have equipment that's operating at peek performance.

SB - Royce Riggen "For me it's mostly self-taught. Been working around the bike industry off and on ever since I was 8 years old."

And all those years of experience have made him an expert at what he does - But Royce isn't done learning yet, he's always picking up new tricks to help wounded warriors compete.

SB - Royce Riggen "Most crank arms, they spin like these, they stay in sync with each other at all times. But if you can't have the ability to bend your left leg, this company here at San Diego - they made a clutch system so that you can turn independently your own crank arm. It may seem simple but for these guys that's a big deal, now he can ride. Could you ride before that? So before he couldn't be on an up-right bike, but now because of somebody thinking outside of the box, now he can ride.

Being prior service himself... for Royces it's about much more than fixing their bikes...

SB - Royce Riggen "I don't want anything for it, I just want to help them out, because these guys have given so much and sacrificed so much. It's just like the the Ranger's Creed, never leave a man behind, and I'll live by that creed till the day I die. I'll never leave one of these guys behind. We owe it to 'em... we really do...It's just family helping family"

Staff Sergeant Mike Hutchinson, Colorado Springs - Colorado.]]>Tue, 14 May 2013 13:05:08 EST Warrior Games Strong]]> in some last minute work as they prepare for the week's events. I had the
chance to speak with Corey Carter who'll be representing the Air Force in
Archery, Seated Volleyball, and swimming. Archery is his strongest event,
but right now putting in some time in the pool, an area where he's working
hard to improve.

SB "My breathing in the hardest thing I'm working on. Luckily I'm only doing
the 50 meter which I should be fine at that. If I end up doing the hundred
it may be a little bit of a struggle but I think I'll be fine."

Corey say's what he's most excited about are the team sports.

SB "Last year I sat up in the stands wanting to be out there. This year I'm
on the floor so it's king of exciting being able to feel that joy of maybe
beating someone or being second, third, it doesn't mater - I'm just here to
compete and have fun and enjoy the company of everybody else."

Events take place through-out the week at the Air Force Academy and at the
Olympic Training Center.

Staff Sergeant Mike Hutchinson, Colorado Springs - Colorado.]]>Mon, 13 May 2013 17:54:15 EST 2013 Warrior Games Cycling]]>
IN THE MEN'S 10-K HANDCYCLE, CHRISS WOLFF LED THE AIR FORCE'S EFFORT AND FINISHED 14TH.

AND IN THE WOMEN'S 10-K, JENNIFER KYSETH CROSSED THE LINE SECOND TO CLAIM SILVER.

THE AIR FORCE HAD TWO ATHLEATS IN THE MEN'S 20K RECUMBENT RACE... DAMIEN ORSLENE AND SCOTT BULLIS WHO WAS ALSO SERVING AS A COACH. AFTER STARTING A LITTLE OFF OF THE PACE, BULLIS MANAGED TO TAKE THE LEAD, WINNING GOLD WITH A TIME OF 39 MINUTES 4 SECONDS...

SB "....."

IN THE 30-K OPEN CLASS, MITCHELL KIEFFER WAS ONE SECOND SHY OF PLACING, HE FINISHED FOURTH...

AND IN THE TANDEM VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMPITION, WESLEY GLISSON POWERED TO THE FINISH LINE SECOND.

CHECK OUT AF-LINK FOR FULL WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE.]]>Mon, 13 May 2013 17:33:27 EST 2013 Warrior Games Volleyball & Basketball Day 1]]>
THE AIR FORCE'S SITTING VOLLYBALL TEAM STARTED OFF THE ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT BY FACING THE NAVY.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T EVEN CLOSE FOR THE AIR FORCE FALLING TO THE NAVY, 25-13 AND 25-10.

IN THE SECOND SET OF MATCHS THE AIR FORCE TOOK ON ARMY. THIS TIME, THE AIR FORCE GOT THE HELP OF MONSTER BLOCK BY ORION ORE-EE-ANNA AND VERY SMART PLAY BY KEITH SEKORA HELPING THEM WIN THE FIRST GAME, BUT IT WASNT ENOUGH...

THE AIR FORCE WENT DOWN TO THE ARMY 2 GAMES TO 1

OVER ON THE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL COURT THE AIR FORCE TOOK ON SOCOM.

JASON ELLIS KEPT SOCOM ON THEIR HEELS WITH GREAT FREE THROW SHOOTING, WHILE KEN JESTRING HAD AN AMAZING DEFENSIVE PLAY WHERE HE STOPPED A BREAK-AWAY BY BOXING OUT HIS OPPONENT.

THESE TWO PLAYS HELPED AID IN THE AIR FORCE'S 37-25 WIN. THE AIR FORCE WILL TAKE ON ARMY NEXT.

CHECK OUT AF-LINK FOR FULL WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE.

]]>Mon, 13 May 2013 17:31:40 EST 2013 Warrior Games Open]]> HELLO AND WELCOME TO AROUND THE AIR FORCE, I'M SENIOR AIRMAN ALINA RICHARD.

THE ARMED FORCES INSURANCE SPOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS LUNCHEON WAS HELD AT JOINT BASE MEYER HENDERSON HALL,VIRGINIA.

THE EVENT RECOGNIZED THE COMMITMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MILITARY SPOUSES. THIS YEAR THE NATIONAL GUARD SPOUSE OF THE YEAR, ALICIA HINDS WARD TOOK THE TITLE. SHE IS THE SPOUSE OF TECH SGT EDWINSTON WARD OF THE 113TH FIGHTER WING AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND.

MRS. HINDS WARD CO-FOUNDED HER BASES BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP AND HOLDS NUMEROUS SOCIAL EVENTS FOR FAMILIES OF HER UNIT.

THE NOMINEES WENT DIRECTLY TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOLLOWING THE LUNCHEON TO HAVE TEA WITH FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA.

THIS YEAR'S WOUNDED WARRIOR GAMES ARE NOW UNDERWAY. HERE IS STAFF SERGEANT BRAD SISSON TO START OUR INDEPTH COVERAGE OF THE GAMES.

ALL YEAR LONG WOUNDED WARRIOR ATHLETES FROM AROUND THE WORLD TRAIN FOR THIS WEEK.... WARRIOR GAMES OFFICIALLY GOT UNDERWAY WITH AN OPENING CEREMONY THIS WEEKEND IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO. PRINCE HENRY OF WHALES, NAVY LIEUTENANT BRADLEY SNIDER, AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST MISTY FRANKLAND LIT THE COLDRON OFFICIALLY STARTING THE OLYMPIC STYLE GAMES THAT GIVE WOUNDED AND ILL WARRIORS AN ARENA TO COMPETE, REHABILITATE AND HEAL THROUGH ADAPTIVE SPORTS LIKE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, AND SITTING VOLLEYBALL.

THE FIRST EVENTS AT THIS YEAR'S WARRIOR GAMES WERE THE CYCLING COMPETITIONS.

HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW OUR 23 AIRMEN CYCLISTS FAIRED...

IN THE MEN'S 10-K HAND CYCLE, CHRISS WOLFF LED THE AIR FORCE'S EFFORT AND FINISHED 14TH.

AND IN THE WOMEN'S 10-K, JENNIFER KYSETH CROSS THE LINE SECOND IN 25 MINUTES 31 SECONDS TO CLAIM SILVER.

THE AIR FORCE HAD TWO ATHLETES IN THE MEN'S 20K RECUMBENT RACE...

DAMIEN ORSLENE AND SCOTT BULLIS WHO WAS ALSO SERVING AS A COACH. AFTER STARTING A LITTLE OFF OF THE PACE, BULLIS MANAGED TO TAKE THE LEAD, WINNING GOLD WITH A TIME OF 39 MINUTES 4 SECONDS... A FULL MINUTE 41 SECONDS AHEAD OF
SECOND PLACE.

SIB "....."

IN THE 30-K OPEN CLASS, MITCHELL KIEFFER WAS A SECOND SHY OF PLACING, HE FINISHED FOURTH...

AND IN THE TANDEM VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMPETITION, WESLEY GLISSON POWERED TO THE FINISH LINE SECOND.

IN ADDITION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPORTS, THERE ARE TWO TOURNAMENTS GOING ON THIS WEEK.... SITTING VOLLEYBALL AND WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL.

THE AIR FORCE'S SITTING VOLLEYBALL TEAM STARTED OFF THE ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT BY FACING THE NAVY.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T EVEN CLOSE FOR THE AIR FORCE FALLING TO THE NAVY, 25-13 AND 25-10.

IN THE SECOND SET OF MATCHES THE AIR FORCE TOOK ON ARMY. THIS TIME, THE AIR FORCE GOT THE HELP OF MONSTER BLOCK BY ORION ORE-EE-ANNA AND VERY SMART PLAY BY KEITH SEKORA HELPING THEM WIN THE FIRST GAME, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH...

THE AIR FORCE WENT DOWN TO THE ARMY 2 GAMES TO 1

AT THE END OF THE FIRST DAY, THE MARINES AND ARMY LED THE TOURNAMENT WITH TWO WINS EACH .

OVER ON THE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL COURT THE AIR FORCE TOOK ON SOCOM.

JASON ELLIS KEPT SOCOM ON THEIR HEELS WITH GREAT FREE THROW SHOOTING, WHILE KEN JESTRING HAD AN AMAZING DEFENSIVE PLAY WHERE HE STOPPED A BREAK-AWAY BY BOXING OUT HIS OPPONENT.

THESE TWO PLAYS HELPED AID IN THE AIR FORCE'S 37-25 WIN. THE AIR FORCE WILL TAKE ON ARMY NEXT.

AROUND THE AIR FORCE WILL BE COVERING THE GAMES ALL WEEK LONG AND BRING YOU IN-DEPTH FEATURE STORIES ON A FEW OF OUR 53 AIR FORCE ATHLETES . AND, IN CASE YOU MISSED SOMETHING, WE ARE POSTING OUR WARRIOR GAMES COVERAGE ON AF LINK. BACK TO YOU AIRMAN RICHARD.

THANKS SERGEANT SISSON.. IF YOU ALSO WANT TO CATCH UP ON TODAY'S TOP STORIES AFFECTING AIRMAN AND THEIR FAMILIES, CHECK OUT THE AIR FORCE'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE. FROM THE AIR FORCE BROADCASTING SERVICE, HERE AT FORT MEADE, MARYLAND, I'M SENIOR AIRMAN ALINA RICHARD. THANKS FOR WATCHING.

]]>Mon, 13 May 2013 17:12:07 EST Retrograde Shredder]]>
Col Michael Cannon – Defense Logistics Agency Support Team Commander
“Unlike places like Iraq where we’re allowed to leave some bases in place and turnover the base to the Iraqi population, most of our FOBs in Afghanistan we can leave nothing standing.”

Col Michael Cannon – DLA Support Team Commander
“We use the Shreader to get ride of almost all of the electronics, the armor plating, the ballistic glass and turn it into unusable condition so we can leave the other FOBs as we found them.”

THE PROCESS TO LOAD THIS EQUIPMENT IS CAREFULLY PLANED AND EXECUTED DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL. THE CARGO HAS ONLY INCHES TO SPARE AS IT MAKES ITS WAY UP THE RAMP.

Col Michael Cannon – DLA Support Team Commander
“The people here are real pros in getting it on the airplane, getting it off the other end is going to be a big challenge, but the capability that the CDDOC gives us to get it airlifted into Afghanistan is really going to be a force multiplier for our retrograde operations.”

THIS SHREDDER IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE AIRLIFTED TO AFGHANISTAN. THE C-5 IS ONLY ONE OF TWO AIRCRAFTS IN THE WORLD CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING AN 87,000 POUND SHREDDER THE SIZE OF A TRUCK TO KANDAHAR AIRFIELD…AND ITS BECOME A NEW SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THESE A-M-C AIRMEN.

TSgt Antonio Little – Air Mobility Command Loadmaster
“Being the first to do it. That’s going to be a sticking point for the guys back at the squadron. We were the first one to load it, take it and drop it off.”

THE LEVEL OF PLANNING, DETAIL, AND TEAMWORK THAT GOES INTO LOADING AND UNLOADING SUCH A LARGE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS IMPRESSIVE AND A FEET THESE AIRMEN CAN BE PROUD OF.
AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT YOSHI SHINZATO, SOUTH WEST ASIA.]]>Mon, 13 May 2013 16:25:26 EST Texting and Driving]]> THE LAWS ON TEXTING AND DRIVING DIFFER FROM STATE TO STATE; HOWEVER, IT’S THE SAME ON ALL AIR FORCE BASES.
(SRA CHRIS STITCHER/MILITARY WORKING DOG HANDLER) “IF YOU DO NEED TO TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE, YOU DO NEED TO HAVE A BLUETOOTH IN YOUR EAR. OR JUST PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OR WAIT TILL YOU GET TO WHERE YOU’RE GOING.”
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, TEXTING AND DRIVING IS THE SAME AS DRIVING AFTER FOUR BEERS AND MAKES YOU 23 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CRASH.
(SRA CHRIS STITCHER/MILITARY WORKING DOG HANDLER) “IF YOU’RE TEXTING, OBVIOUSLY YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO ANY KID WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOU HAVE KIDS RIDING BIKES SO THEN IF THEY’RE TRYING TO GO ACROSS THE ROAD AND YOU’RE TEXTING, SAME THING. YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM AND YOU COULD POSSIBLY ENDANGER THEIR LIFE.”
SO, REMEMBER THE DECISION YOU MAKE BEHIND THE WHEEL COULD MAKE A WORLD OF A DIFFERENCE. AIRMAN FIRST CLASS DANIELLE BRYANT, MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMA.
]]>Fri, 10 May 2013 16:34:39 EST Holloman’s Design Engineers]]>
Michael Rubanka:

So my job title is rocket sled design engineer and primarily I’ve been working on one rocket sled since I showed up nine months ago. It is completely different than anything I’ve worked on outside the test track, because we have such a unique mission out here.

Neil Grigsby:

So the process we have out here at the test track is pretty unique Air Force wise and I think industry wise. We have everything we need to build and fabricate sleds. We have heat treat, sheet metal, engineering, drafting, machine shop—pretty cool machine shop, paint shop. We can do everything out here from design to fabrication to launching a sled.

Jim Daniel:

We provide a test environment for weapons systems that simulate what they might see in the real world. An example of that would be the weapons we use to destroy underground bunkers. We have the ability to test each component one part at a time until everything works together as designed. One of the unique things about working at the Holloman High Speed Test Track as a lieutenant is that they have to tailor their designs to individual munitions that our customers want tested. By that I mean you have to know the dimensions—not only the mass but the length, the diameter—whatever those critical dimensions are that define the weapon so they can define the carriage vehicle that will take it down the track into the target.

Hedison Doe:

So before commissioning at Iowa State University I was basically working on design projects. We worked on a power train and to compare the level of work to what I am doing now running systems that are going at super sonic speeds that is something I didn’t even think about before commissioning and even as a young engineer. The test track really gives you that unique opportunity to expand your engineering knowledge.

Neil Grigsby:

I was not at all expecting what we have out here. I wasn’t expecting at all to work on stuff. Probably think you are going to go to a program office and you are going to go sit in meetings all day. Write test plans and stuff. But actually out here I get to do real design work. One thing I like about the job out here is that we are directly impacting the people that are going to use it in the field. So I think that is a pretty cool aspect of out job.]]>Fri, 10 May 2013 16:30:53 EST Annual Medicine Turn-In]]>


SrA Mark Riley - Pill Collector - Show the sign (We're doing Drug take back day. It's for the community, for them to bring in prescription drugs that's expired or they're not using around the house)



NO QUESTIONS ASKED... JUST DROP OFF THE PILLS



nat snd - dropping pill bottles 3X



(shot of moving table) - HERE IN WEST TEXAS, IT GETS WARM QUICKLY, AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO RELOCATE...(use the beep, beep, beep as nat snd)



MOVING LOCATIONS DIDN'T STOP THE COMMUNITY FROM BRINGING PILLS FROM HOME.



SSgt Joe Lara - Pill Collector (We've collected anywhere from children's medication to a guy said he had a pill bottle from 1978.)



(shot of hand stuff bag into box) - nat snd



my stand up



NAT SND



ITS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AHEAD OF TIME THE AMOUNT OF LEFT OVER DRUGS PEOPLE HAVE...



SSgt Joe Lara - Pill Collector (It's really exceeded my expectations by a lot, considering how much we collected and what we collected. Its gonna be a good deal for the community.



SrA Mark Riley - Pill Collector(It's a 100 times than I thought we were gonna get. I was expecting a little small box, were already on our 4th or 5th box of stuff)



NAT SND





IN ONLY A FEW HOURS ON A SATURDAY THE TURN OUT FROM THE COMMUNITY FILLED THESE BOXES... MAKING THIS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DRUG TURN IN SEVERAL YEARS.



AIR FORCE SERGEANT ROBERT SMITH, GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS.
]]>Fri, 10 May 2013 16:24:44 EST B-1 Engine Test Cell]]>

MSgt Christopher Sullivan

Test Cell Section Chief

"The primary duty of T-9 test facilities is to check the integrity of the engines after being rebuilt, the engines come into the shop, they're torn down and rebuilt, they're sent to us at the test cell, we'll ops check them, and then they'll be placed on the spare line, ready to go into an aircraft when needed."



The upgrades will help insulate the facility, making it quieter and keep Dyess in compliance with EPA.



TSgt Steven Gauche

Aerospace Propulsion Craftsman

"We're swapping out the seventy-five hundred gallon fuel tanks to get those in compliance with the EPA, we're also doing some modifications to the door strips to help insulate the building better."



The facilities test about 80 engines every year. Reporting from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, I'm Airman First Class Timothy Kirchner.]]>Fri, 10 May 2013 16:20:09 EST RAF Mildenhall Rocks Out ]]>
Transcript:
WHEN THE UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS BRINGS A SHOW TO TOWN THEY RELY ON VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MAKE THEIR EVENT A SUCCESS.

SSgt Christenbury – “Came out today to just kind of help set up and everything like that for Drowning Pool, you know they came out to do a USO tour. One of my favorite bands of all time so as soon as I found out that these guys were going to be here doing the USO tour, I had to jump all over it. Was like hey what do you need help with? Let me come out, let me do something, I don’t care what it is.”

DROWNING POOL PLAYED ON TWO U-S-O TOURS AND DIDN’T HESITATE WHEN ASKED TO DO ANOTHER ONE.

Drowning Pool – “Anytime we’ve been given the offer to come over and play for our guys and girls, it’s been a no brainer. We’ve been given the opportunity to give back to the troops by way of USO.”

THE 20 OR SO VOLUNTEERS FROM MILDENHALL GOT THE STAGE BUILT… BUT IT WAS DROWNING POOL WHO HAD THEM ON THEIR FEET AND SINGING THE ENTIRE NIGHT. TECH SERGEANT LANCE DAIGLE, RAF MILDENHALL, UNITED KINGDOM.
]]>Fri, 10 May 2013 16:16:35 EST Cadet Airman Takes Flight]]>
THIS IS NOT CADET AIRMAN SETH WOODROW’S FIRST FLIGHT BUT IT IS THE FIRST ONE HE IS CONTROLLING

SB: Cadet Amn Seth Woodrow- Cessna 172 Co-Pilot

Flying today was my first day out and it was amazing. It was cool to see the world from a different perspective then what we’re used to seeing on the streets.

THE PILOT FLYING NEXT TO HIM UNDERSTANDS THIS FEELING BEST. NOT BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN FLYING HIS ENTIRE MILITARY CAREER, BUT BECAUSE THIRTY-TWO YEARS AGO HE SAT IN THE SEAT OF THE SAME AIRCRAFT AS A CIVIL AIR PATROL CADET.

SB: Lt. Col Andreas Wesemann- Osan AB Cadet Squadron Deputy Commander


I told my mom I want to join Civil Air Patrol and she said, “what’s that?”
“I’m going to learn how to fly airplanes march and keep my hair short,” and she said, “okay”
“and I’m going to say yes Ma’am and no sir,”
“okay, great, you can do it.”
I did my first cadet orientation ride a few months later I don’t remember who my pilot was but it was a Cessna 1-72 the same type of airplane I’m flying today with these cadets and I got to go up for an orientation ride and the first time you ride you’re at the controls. You’re not just a passenger you’re at the controls flying, and I had a great time and I was hooked and I decided that day that I wanted to be a pilot

SB: Cadet Amn Seth Woodrow- Cessna 172 Co-Pilot

I’m setting myself up this early to fly is an amazing opportunity that I get through Civil Air Patrol and that not a lot of people get to experience so I definitely feel like I’m moving in the right direction if I would want to join the military to fly aircraft. Irritated

SO FOR NOW HE IS CONTROLLING A PROP PLANE BUT SOON ENOUGH...

SB: Cadet Amn Seth Woodrow- Cessna 172 Co-Pilot

I’m looking up to the F-16….best airplane in the world.

SENIOR AIRMAN DESTINIE CHAVEZ, OSAN AIR BASE, KOREA.
]]>Fri, 10 May 2013 16:07:09 EST Students Celebrate Asian Culture]]>
SOUNDBITE: Yvette Andrews, 4th Grade Teacher
What it entails is the study of the different cultures that exist here in the Pacific. So we had representation from the Japanese community, Chinese community and Hawaii.

THE STUDENTS TOOK PART AN INTERACTIVE CELEBRATION, GETTING TO TOUCH AND TRY-ON SOME OF THE GEAR. MILITARY SPOUSES FROM YOKOTA'S TANABATTA DANCERS PERFORMED AN OKINAWAN FLOWER DANCE. JESSICA STEPHENS THINKS EVENTS LIKE THIS HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTRY THEY'RE LIVING IN.

SOUNDBITE: Jessica Stephens, Dance Instructor
I think it's important so that young kids while they're living in Japan can experience Japanese culture. This is a traditional style of dance very important and they get to experience that and so that tradition can go on and on.

JAYDA HELLYER AND HER 4TH GRADE CLASSMATES TOOK PART IN A DIFFERENT STYLE OF DANCE - A HAWAIIAN-INFLUENCED HIP-HOP HULA.

SOUNDBITE: Jayda Hellyer, Student
I thought it was fun because we got to dance and we got to learn new moves and we got to listen to music, with our whole class. I think the boys thought the hula was hard. I think the girls liked it.

MISS ANDREWS SAYS HER STUDENTS REAP BENEFITS NOT AVAILABLE TO THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS IN THE STATES.

SOUNDBITE- Yvette Andrews
Our military students are so blessed that they get to live in different parts of the world. And so to bring this kind of activity to our school is just awesome.

YOKOTA WEST ELEMENTARY IS JUST ONE OF MANY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. AND IT'S A CELEBRATION THAT ENJOYS AN ADDED SENSE OF REALISM BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IN JAPAN. PETTY OFFICER STEPHEN JACKSON, YOKOTA AIR BASE, JAPAN.
]]>Thu, 9 May 2013 15:30:07 EST CSAF on FY 2014 Budget]]>
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE MICHAEL DONLEY AND AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL MARK WELSH THE THIRD SPOKE BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ABOUT THE FISCAL 2014 BUDGET. GENERAL WELSH SAID THAT WHILE THE REQUEST DOES NOT FULLY ACCOUNT FOR THE NECESSARY RECOVERY FROM SEQUESTRATION, IT DOES PRIORITIZE REVERSING THE DECLINING READINESS TREND.

SB GEN MARK WELSH III - CHIEF OF STAFF, AIR FORCE (:33)

THE KC-46, THE F-35 AND THE LONG RANGE STRIKE BOMBER REMAIN OUR TOP THREE INVESTMENT PRIORITIES. WE NEED THE F-35. IT REMAINS THE BEST PLATFORM AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE PROLIFERATION OF HIGHLY CAPABLE INTEGRATED AIR DEFENSES AND NEW AIR TO AIR THREATS. THE LONG-RANGE STRIKE BOMBER WILL GIVE OUR NATION A FLEXIBLE, CREDIBLE CAPABILITY TO STRIKE GLOBALLY WITH PRECISION ON LIMITED NOTICE SHOULD THE NATIONAL INTEREST REQUIRE. THE KC-46 REMAINS OUR HIGHEST INVESTMENT PRIORITY AND WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE A THIRD OF OUR CURRENT TANKER FLEET.

]]>Wed, 8 May 2013 14:34:00 EST Crew Chief Sings]]> I actually joined the Air Force because I had been singing for a while. After I graduated from high school I sang on a cruise ship for 2 years and then I was in California singing. At some point it clicked and I was like, I don't know if I want to do this anymore, it's hard. You know my grandpa, and my uncle's in the Air Force, it's probably a good fit. You get to travel the world and show patriotism for your country. So I decided to sign up and... now I'm back... doing singing.
I've been getting paid to sing since I was like 14 years old. I've grown and learned a lot about the business and then when I stopped doing it at 21 I was tired and beat down and thought I didn't have what it took to make it. And it was kind of surreal how I came in the military, threw that life away and it's like, no - you're not done singing. It was like God or somebody put it in my path, you need to sing, this is what you're supposed to do. So this time when I got signed I said I'm doing this all the way because I don't want to have regrets.
It's not the challenge because I am a member of the US Air Force and that is my primary mission. I'm doing the singing and glad it's doing well but it still has to come second. So because of my job I'm very busy, since we work long hours and 12's all the time. So it's a struggle but it's one I'm glad to make. If you want something badly enough you'll sacrifice for it.]]>Wed, 8 May 2013 12:17:58 EST Heritage of America Band]]> SB: SMSgt Mike Marshall, Band Manager
One of our goals is nation partnership building. And this is a perfect opportunity to engage with other ensembles from around the world in different countries, different services and strengthen those ties.
REPORTER
Hearing a wide variety of instruments from different countries is what makes the International Tattoo such a huge event. Whether it’s a bagpipe from Australia, Norwegian drummers, or saxophone from our very own Air Force jazz band; the Tattoo brings a cultural sound like never before. Staff Sergeant Dandrick Glenn discusses how he feels about sharing this experience with other nations.

SB: SSgt Dandrick Glenn, Trombonist
I was part of the scene featuring the music of Major Glen Miller and we had the dancers from Australia help us out. So it was great to see them get into it, and things of that nature. And we feed off the crowd, especially the kids. They have an enthusiasm unlike any other.
REPORTER
Despite the language barriers and diverse military backgrounds, the International Tattoo participants find ways to work together at this huge event. In between practices, they trade techniques and share stories to put on the best show possible for their viewers. In the finale, every band joined forces to play and sing multiple anthems. The purpose of the bands paying each other’s respect is to help the listeners and participants feel more at home.
SB: Norwegian Pvt Atle Ingebretsen, Drill Member, His Majesty the King's Guard
It's very cool here. And I feel like home here, but I love Norway as well, right? No place like home.
REPORTER
Airman 1st Class Jordan Garner, Virginia International Tattoo, Norfolk, Virginia.



]]>Wed, 8 May 2013 12:12:29 EST WiFi in the Dorms]]> A1C ANDREW NEELY (8)
IT GIVES AIRMEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT SPEND THE MONEY, THE 40 TO 80 EURO, WHATEVER IT IS A MONTH THAT IT COSTS FOR INTERNET IN YOUR OWN ROOM.
BUT IT WAS ALSO INSTALLED TO HELP AIRMEN FIND NEW WINGMEN. (RADIO ID: COLONEL BRIAN PUKALL, 31st MISSION SUPPORT GROUP COMMANDER, EXPLAINS THE IDEA BEHIND THE FREE WIFI PLANS.) (3)
COL BRIAN PUKALL (8)
WELL, I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT AIRMEN WILL FIND THAT THEY HAVE SOME THINGS IN COMMON AND THEY WILL STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION AND THAT WILL LEAD TO PERHAPS A FRIENDSHIP.
THE INSTALLATION PROCESS ALSO BROUGHT TOGETHER AIRMEN OF DIFFERENT JOBS TO ACCOMPLISH ONE MISSION. (4)
COL BRIAN PUKALL (12)
I WOULD SAY IT WAS A VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. INSIDE OF THE MSG FOR SURE, WE NEEDED 3 DIFFERENT SQUADRONS TO BE INVOLVED. WE HAD CONTRACTING, WE HAD THE COMMUNICATION EXPERTS AND WE HAD CE AS THEY MANAGED THE DORM COMPLEX.
BEING A PART OF THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND A DORM RESIDENT, AIRMAN NEELY SAYS HE CAN SEE HOW THIS NEW ADDITION WILL BENEFIT AIRMEN. (6)
A1C ANDREW NEELY (4)
DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE MADE THE TRANSITION A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR ME, I THINK PERSONALLY, AND I IMAGINE IT WILL FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
DORM WIFI IS JUST ONE THING TEAM AVIANO IS DOING TO MAKE AIRMEN’S LIVES THAT MUCH BETTER.
AIRMAN FIRST CLASS JOSH BLACKBURN, AVIANO AIR BASE, ITALY. (4)
]]>Wed, 8 May 2013 12:09:46 EST Airmen Killed in KC-135 Crash Identified]]>
A KC-135 STRATOTANKER CRASHED MAY 3 IN NORTHERN KYRGYZSTAN. THE CREW AND AIRCRAFT WERE ASSIGNED TO THE TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS NEAR BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN. THE CRASH TOOK THE LIVES OF THREE AIRMEN : CAPTAIN MARK VOSS OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, CAPTAIN VICTORIA PINCKNEY, OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA AND TECH SGT HERMAN MACKEY THE 3RD OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRMEN WERE ASSIGNED TO THE 93RD AIR REFUELING SQUADRON, FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, WASHINGTON. COLONEL BRIAN NEWBERRY, THE 92nD AIR REFUELING WING COMMANDER SAID "WE WILL FOREVER HONOR TYLER, TORI AND TRE AS PATRIOTS AND HEROES. TEAM FAIRCHILD WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS DURING THIS PROFOUNDLY DIFFICULT TIME. THESE AIRMEN LEAVE BEHIND AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY OF SERVICE AND HONOR IN PROTECTING OUR NATION AND THE WORLD. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

]]>Tue, 7 May 2013 14:01:27 EST Load Crew Competition]]> WELL, WHEN YOU’RE AN E-3 AND YOU’RE REPRESENTING YOUR SQUADRON IN A WEAPONS LOAD COMPETITION, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO.

SB: A1C Nikolaus Kosakowski
Just the sense of pride you get from beating someone at your job, from being the best. It’ll be great to bring home a win.

Reporter:
FOR AIRMAN FIRST CLASS NIKOLAUS KOSAKOWSKI, WINNING ISN’T THE ONLY MOTIVE FOR DOING HIS JOB.

SB: A1C Nikolaus Kosakowski
I just love the rush of loading. It’s just something about their power is just exciting. Part of my job is going to to the end of the run way and pulling all the pins, our safe pins which make the bombs live so they can drop and you’re right there with their engines running. They’re about to take off and you see the engines running, it’s ready to kill stuff.

Reporter:
MORE THAN LOADING WEAPONS, AIRMAN KOSAKOWSKI ENJOYS BEING AROUND AIRCRAFT.

SB: A1C Nikolaus Kosakowski
“It’s pretty cliché but you know growing up you go to air shows and things and you just want to fly. I’ve always wanted to fly aircraft and I really wasn’t aware of how to do that prior to enlisting. So I was like, what can I do to become a pilot, and so the Air Force Academy was my way to do that “

Reporter:
AIRMAN KOSAKOWSKI IS COMPETING FOR A CHANCE TO COMMISSION AS A PILOT, BUT FOR NOW, HIS FOCUS IS EXCELLING AT HIS JOB AND TAKING HOME THE WIN FOR THE BEST WEAPONS LOAD CREW.

SB: A1C Nikolaus Kosakowski
I’m not going to have words. It’s just going to be great. This will probably be the last load comp that I have here. Last time that my crew and I are going to be together, I’ll be pcsing soon, hopefully. It’ll just be great to bring home a win.

Reporter:
SENIOR AIRMAN NANCY KASBERG, OSAN AIR BASE, KOREA.

]]>Tue, 7 May 2013 14:00:14 EST Learning to Fight and Win]]> This isn’t your typical classroom setting. These students are learning about combat… their teacher: SSgt Aaron Alvarado from the 99th Ground Combat Training Squadron on the Nevada Test and Training Range. Knowing that his teachings could mean the difference between life and death, SSgt Alvarado tries to keep the training as realistic as possible to prepare his students for any combat situation.
-SSgt Aaron Alvarado SB: “I’d rather them make mistakes over here, in the training environment, where I can correct them, rather than overseas where harms in their way or there’s actual threat over there. It’s a rewarding job. Knowing that your training Security Force members to go down range and to work in the A.O. the Area of Operations, (Student: “How you guys doing in there?”) and knowing that you’re training them to keep them safe, so they can come back to their families. It’s definitely a different experience in the career field.”
(SSgt Aaron Alvarado: “Make sure you maintain your security when you’re falling back.”)
Thanks to SSgt Alvarado’s teachings, these Airmen are equipped with the knowledge and confidence they’ll need to return safely. Airman First Class Rachel Maxwell, Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada.

]]>Tue, 7 May 2013 13:53:21 EST Demolition Project]]> The mammoth tent went up in 2001 to keep wind and rain out of a landfill being excavated.
When McClellan was an active Air Force Base, the landfill received a variety of industrial waste, including radiological waste from radium painting operations.
When excavation halted in 2003, the tent remained to keep rainwater out while the Air Force and regulators worked to determine a final cleanup remedy for the pit and 10 other similar sites.
The centerpiece of that remedy is an engineered consolidation unit, or CU, at the site. Once constructed, the CU will be filled with contaminated soils from this landfill and other sites at McClellan.
But first, the big, white tent, longer and wider than the California Capitol Building, had to go.
Demolition began with removing the last contaminated soil in the pit and safely stockpiling it elsewhere at McClellan.
The entire surface of the pit and the tent itself was then scanned to ensure no radiological contaminants remained.
Next the fabric and clamshell ends were removed.
Then, after loosening stabilizing rods and foundation bolts, two excavators tugged on wires tethered to the top.
And with that, a McClellan monolith is gone, clearing the way for the cleanup and reuse of McClellan.
In fact, local firefighters already use the area for training and have detailed plans to expand their facility at the site once the cleanup is complete.
For the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, I’m Linda Geissinger.
]]>Tue, 7 May 2013 13:50:59 EST Bioenvironmental Engineering]]> Mon, 6 May 2013 15:44:17 EST Base Defense]]> THE SECURITY OF AN INSTALLATION IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING MISSION SUCCESS. FROM AIRMEN WORKING AT THE VEHICLE SEARCH AREA TO A QUICK REACTION FORCE APPREHENDING AN INTRUDER, EACH LAYER OF AIR BASE DEFENSE WORKS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO ENSURE A BOLSTERED BASE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

SB:
WE HAVE OUR FORCE PROTECTION ESCORTS THAT TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE FROM THE INSIDE AND OUR DEFENDERS OUT ON THE POSTS AND TOWERS THAT TAKE CARE OF THREATS FROM THE OUTSIDE.

(NAT SOUND POP)

SB:
WE’RE HERE TO PROTECT NOT ONLY THE FLIGHT LINE BUT THE PERSONNEL ON BASE AS WELL.

AIRMAN FIRST CLASS ERVIN ANDUHA TOUCHES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING VIGIL.

SB:
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN SO WE DO NEED TO STAY ALERT AT ALL TIMES. SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL HERE.

COLLECTIVELY, SECURITY FORCES AIRMEN ARE WORKING TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN, ENSURING AIRMEN CAN DO THEIR JOBS AND GET THE PLANES IN THE AIR.

SENIOR AIRMAN LINDY PATA, 380TH AIR EXPEDITIONARY WING, SOUTHWEST ASIA.

]]>Mon, 6 May 2013 15:41:51 EST Bataan Death March]]> SB: A1C Robert Hart, Cardiopulmonary Technician
This is the Bataan Death March, 16.6 mile ruck march in memorial for the thousands of Americans and Filipino prisoners of war that were captured and transported over 80 miles, were doing this in memorial for them.
REPORTER
In April of 1942, retired Army Master Sergeant John Leroy Mims became a prisoner of war for three years after 75 thousand American and Filipino Soldiers were surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army in Bataan, Philippines. The already malnourished troops had to march upwards of 80 miles to Camp O’Donnell in what would become the Bataan Death March. With little food or water, they were beaten, tortured, and killed along the way. Mr. Mim’s witnessed heat exhaustion, friends bayonetted for not keeping up, and much more. During the march, Mr. Mims suffered as well.
SB: John Mims, MSG (Ret), Bataan Death March Survivor
A Sergeant on a motorcycle dropped a bottle of coke where I was supposed to march and I picked it up and give it to him and he called me back because I didn’t bow to him and busted all my teeth out.
REPORTER
There were also marches of five miles and one mile for families and people who didn’t think they could handle the 16.6 miles.
SB: Marine Sgt Courtney Jones, F-18 Instructor
I’m a pretty fit Marine and this is definitely challenging me. We are 11 miles in, maybe 11.3 in right now, so we have about five more miles left to go and my knees are a little sore, my hamstrings definitely hurt but the pain is worth it for what the actual cause is for.
REPORTER
Those who participated in the memorial walk found themselves with sore feet, sore knees, and blisters, but that was only a small part of what those in the Bataan Death March actually had to endure. During Mr. Mim’s time as a prisoner of war, he suffered many injuries including a broken neck, broken back, and having his legs broken by a bulldozer blade. Even after going through so much and being the last survivor from his company, you could feel the love and appreciation from Mr. Mims.
SB: John Mims, MSG (Ret), Bataan Death March Survivor
I lost a lot of buddies in the Philippines and I’m doing this everytime I go give a lecture any place in the United States or like I did in Japan many times, is in honor of my people that didn’t make it back. And the ones that made it back that already died, I wanted to show my grace for them, I love them.
REPORTER
Senior Airman Anthony Hetlage, Dismal Swamp Trail, Chesapeake, Virginia.]]>Mon, 6 May 2013 12:04:12 EST Hands-on Training]]> SB: TSgt Clayton Lochman, Student
“The reason people go to this class is to get a very slow and detailed process of how to break down an engine into its core components and do the inspections very slowly and get as much information and detail as possible about the rebuild process.”
THE DETACHMENT CONSISTS OF INSTRUCTORS LIKE TECH SERGEANT LEIF KUESTER. HE KNOWS WHAT APPROACH WORKS BEST FOR THESE STUDENTS.
SB: TSgt Leif Kuester, Aerospace Propulsion Instructor
“By the book, but informative and engaging. I try to get the students involved in the learning as well so they are more personally invested. Maintainers are typically hands on learners, so we try to give them what they need to learn and succeed.”
AS FAR AS KUESTER IS CONCERNED, THIS HANDS-ON APPROACH BEATS TRYING TO TEACH IN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.
SB: TSgt Leif Kuester, Aerospace Propulsion Instructor
“Teaching hands-on is much easier for the maintainers as well as the instructor, cause I don’t have to refer to something on a Powerpoint, don’t have to find a picture. We can hold it in our hands and demonstrate exactly what’s going on in a 3D space.”
AND KUESTER UNDERSTANDS THE LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION THAT IS BEST SUITED FOR HIS STUDENT.
SB: TSgt Clayton Lochman, Student
“He’s an excellent instructor. He’s very informative, he’s very patient. He explains everything in the detail the younger students especially need. He’s really attentive to the experience of us older members. We don’t need a breakdown of the core basics, we need a little bit heavier information to keep us interested and keep us learning.”
THE FIELD TRAINING DETACHMENT AT YOKOTA IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST UNITS ON BASE. BUT WITH INSTRUCTORS LIKE TECH SERGEANT LEIF KUESTER, THEIR SMALL SIZE DOESN’T DIMINISH THE LARGE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THE ROUGHLY 200 AIRCRAFT MAINTAINERS THEY SERVE EACH YEAR. MARINE CORPORAL CRYSTAL KUESTER, YOKOTA AIR BASE, JAPAN.

]]>Mon, 6 May 2013 12:01:09 EST This Week in Photos - 29 April - 3 May 2013]]> Staff Sgt. Kyle Shaughnessy and his Military Working Dog Jaga take a moment to prepare for an odor detection exercise at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.
Master Sgt. Donnie Bogan saws cutting lines in concrete at the construction site of a Primary School in Crooked Tree, Belize, as part of exercise New Horizons.
(bay-leeez)
Senior Airman Eric Halchak marshals in a brand-new C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Airman 1st Class Bradley Kessinger from the 99th Logistics Readiness changes the oil on a multi-stop truck at Nellis Air Force Base, Navada.

]]>Fri, 3 May 2013 13:46:57 EST Beyond the Horizon]]> "You get people who don't have a treatment facility near them and most are near the big cities so they can't get access. So when we have something like this they come from miles and miles around and try to get as much treatment in that time as they can. So we get swarmed like this."
The types of doctors range from pediatric to geriatric.
"This is busier that I've ever been. On an average day I see maybe 20 kids. But I love it, these kids are great."
Many of these families have walked great distances just for the chance to be seen by these doctors.
SOC]]>Fri, 3 May 2013 11:34:46 EST Life Changing Decision]]>
SB: "I grew up in Michigan, we spent alot of time out in the woods, on dirt bikes - hunting... fishing. My Mom and Dad own a construction company. I joined the Air Force because I grew up makng model airplanes. Because of all these model airplanes I realized that I actually wanted to work on real planes. One of the main parts is that I'm constantly moving, not doing the same thing twice everyday, always moving. I live for that moment, hey we gotta get this, go, go, go. About six months ago I was thinking about getting out, But then, I went to Vegas for Red Flag, TDY. And when I was there, I had the time of my life. I decided I'd do another four years, stick with it for a while, see how well it could turn out.
SB: "Doing my job actually brings me joy I wake up in the morning not dreading going to my job. I enjoy the people I work with.

Airman 1st Class Tory Cusimano, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.]]>Fri, 3 May 2013 11:31:49 EST Dogs at Play]]> AIR FORCE AND NAVY CANINE HANDLERS CAME TOGETHER ON NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE FOR SOME JOINT TRAINING. DURING MY VISIT I LEARNED THAT MILITARY WORKING DOGS TRAIN HARD AND WORK HARD, BUT ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES FOR A BAD DOG DAY. THAT’S WHY THESE DOGS GET REWARDED WITH TOYS. ARMED FORCES CANINE HANDLERS USE TOYS AND AFFECTION TO MOTIVATE THEIR FOUR-LEGGED PARTNERS. WHETHER ON DUTY OR AT TRAINING, THESE SERVICE MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF THEIR HANDLERS.
MA3 Facloner
My favorite part about playing with the dog is playing with the dog all day. I mean you really can’t beat that as far as a job.

Reporter:
THESE DOGS WORK HARD SO THEY CAN PLAY HARD. AIRMAN RACHEL WEBSTER, NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA.
]]>Fri, 3 May 2013 11:29:28 EST