AHI works on trainer despite CRs

The Navy’s TH-73A trainer helicopter contract award is to be delayed by at least a month as the U.S. government continues to function under a Continuing Resolution (CR) that prevent FY 2020 new-start programs from beginning. November 2019 had been the original plan for industry competitors to receive a $900M contract for 130 on the rotary wing trainers to replace the legacy TH-57 Sea Ranger fleet. But, until an approved appropriations act for FY-20 has been signed into law, no such developments will take place. A current CR lasts until Dec. 21. A third CR would be mean an even longer wait for the helicopters, but Naval Air Systems Command “will continue to coordinate with industry and adjust requirements accordingly,” a NAVAIR spokesperson confirmed. Airbus Helicopters Inc. (AHI) of Columbus, Miss, is offering the H135 light twin, followed by Bell and its 407GXi light single and Leonardo’s TH-119 light single, all of which meet a compulsory US Navy IFR requirement. AHI “stands ready at any moment to fully support the Navy’s (Advanced Helicopter Training System) requirement with the best-value solution … and technically mature H135,” the Airbus spokesperson said in a statement. AHI-Columbus has already begun production of the first helicopter at its production line in Columbus, which has delivered more than 450 Lakota helicopters to the Army and Navy, and which is easily augmentable for H135 production. (Source: Shepard Media 11/28/19) Gulf Coast: Navy helo-pilot training is done at NAS Whiting Field, Fla. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-helicopter/us-navy-trainer-helicopter-award-schedule-slips/

Inspiring story for SUPT grads

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Col. Clinton ZumBrunnen, 437th Airlift Wing commander at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., spoke to the Air Force’s newest aviators during Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 20-03’s graduation ceremony here Nov. 15. ZumBrunnen’s speech embodied inspiration for the new pilots. He told the graduates of a story about retired Army Staff Sgt. Dan Powers, a former squadron leader of the 118th Military Police Company, and how an aircrew’s skillful tactics helped save his life while deployed in 2007 in Iraq. Powers responded to a vehicle bombing with orders to keep pedestrians from the blast site. As he was guiding bystanders away, an assailant stabbed in the back of the head with a 9-inch blade, ZumBrunnen said. “He should’ve died instantly,” but over the next 32 hours, a careful symphony of modern medicine, advanced communications, unquestionable logistics and an air bridge across the Atlantic Ocean, provided by the Air Force would come together to save his life. … (Source: CAFB 11/27/19) https://www.columbus.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2028566/airlift-wing-commander-delivers-inspiring-story-to-supt-20-03-graduates/

AFMC duo compete for Spark Tank

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio - The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) named two finalists to compete against other major command-selects in the Air Force for the 2020 Spark Tank competition: AF 2nd Lt. Justin O’Brien, a flight chief at the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patt, and Tech Sgt. Maevemallory Kaneakalau, a member of the 96th Security Forces Squadron at Eglin AFB, Fla. O’Brien's Liquid Cooled Plate Carrier and Kaneakalau’s Virtual Visitor Control Center projects were selected from more than 15 submissions from across the AFMC command as having the highest probability of delivering game-changing impact for Air Force needs. The AFMC duo will compete in the finals at AFWERX against the winners from other AF major commands. The AFWERX judge’s panel will then choose six MAJCOM finalists and two wildcard selections who will present their project ideas to AF senior leaders, industry experts and investors during the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. (Source: AFMC 11/26/19) https://www.robins.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2027233/afmc-announces-spark-tank-2020-finalists/

Aerospace conference May '20

SpeedNews’ 8th Annual Aerospace Manufacturing Conference (AMC) will bring together leading manufacturers and suppliers in the aerospace industry to present updates and developments in manufacturing operations, capabilities and processes, innovation within manufacturing, modern machining technologies, and industry automation. May 12-13 in Charleston, SC. https://speednews.com/aerospace-manufacturing-conference?utm_rid=CPEN1000002255725&utm_campaign=22310&utm_medium=email&elq2=8a05ec7deadd455b800b95970459cd2e

CNO ‘trailblazer’ passes away

WASHINGTON - Adm. James L. Holloway III, former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), died Nov. 26 in South Carolina. He was 97. Holloway, a native of Charleston S.C., served as the 20th CNO from July 1, 1974 until July 1, 1978. "Our Navy mourns the loss of Adm. James Holloway," said current CNO Adm. Mike Gilday. "He was a trailblazer who led the Navy through difficult times and a visionary leader who profoundly impacted the naval aviation community of today.” Holloway's far-reaching impacts included advocating for the Navy's future F-18 aircraft and developing the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) program, which is still used today. Holloway relieved the legendary CNO Adm. Elmo Zumwalt in 1974. He served at a time of great transition for America, as the nation was healing from the Vietnam War, and transitioning from the draft to an all-volunteer force. Holloway served as CNO under three presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. He and his father, Adm. James L. Holloway Jr., both served as four-star flag officers while on active duty; and the only son and father to do so to date. (Source: Naval History and Heritage Command 11/26/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111543/

SECDEF: Reset ethics, conduct

A day after Defense Secretary Mark Esper asked SECNAV Richard V. Spencer to resign, he told reporters that Spencer had broken crucial rules of trust and was publicly dishonest on multiple occasions about his plans and intentions. Speaking to reporters on Nov. 25, SECDEF said Spencer's termination was not ultimately about the handling of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was publicly championed by President Trump, but faced a review board and the loss of his prized trident pin after being found guilty of taking a photo with a corpse in a war zone earlier this year. It was about Spencer's honesty regarding the matter, Esper said. "A senior White House official took [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and me] aside and said, 'Oh, by the way, did you know that ...' and then told me what had happened, that this proposal had been brought by Secretary Spencer, and we had no knowledge whatsoever," Esper said. "We were flabbergasted ... and quite surprised, and caught completely off guard." According to Esper, Spencer had approached Trump with a deal regarding Gallagher: He would be guaranteed to keep his trident if the president allowed the Navy to proceed with a review board on the matter in a nod to proper procedures and protocol. "This proposal was completely contrary to what we agreed to, and contrary to Secretary Spencer's public position," Esper said. When approached, Esper said Spencer had been "forthright" and acknowledged his proposal. Spencer, who has not yet spoken in public, maintained in a termination letter that his resigning was based on a principled stand. "Unfortunately it has become apparent that ... I no longer share the same understanding with the Commander in Chief who appointed me, in regards to the key principle of good order and discipline," Spencer wrote. "I cannot in good conscience obey an order that I believe violated the sacred oath I took in the presence of my family, my flag and my faith to support and defend the Constitution of the United States." While SECNAV publicly and vocally denied that he had threatened to resign over Trump's intervention in Gallagher's case, Esper said Spencer's comment "was not true." (Source: CBS News 11/25/19) UPDATE: Esper wants the "SEALs and the Navy to move beyond this now and get fully focused on their war-fighting mission" ... and resetting professional standards, ethics and conduct, after asking for SENNAV's resignation and citing several rules of conduct he'd violated. (Source: DoD 11/25/19)

AF innovative challenge in 2020

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Center for Rapid Innovation is sponsoring the Service Academy and University Design Challenge to tackle some of the Department of Defense’s top urgent needs while focusing on highly visible and challenging war-fighter problems. The competitive environment stimulates crosstalk innovation with an invaluable opportunity for professional development to seek creative, cost-effective solutions. This year’s senior capstone design project is to perform in-depth research, consultation and exploration to engineer, design and build a prototype system to locate personnel and assist in survival during water rescue and recovery missions in hostile environments. “We partner with the best schools in the nation to provide relevant ideas and concepts that are fabricated into working prototypes and then demonstrated as a final exam,” said Mike Lazalier, program manager for the SAC/UDC. AFRL, assisted by Rally Point Management, is hosting the 2020 challenge, forecast to be held in April 2020 near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. AFRL-sponsored challenges provide a low-cost conduit to develop innovative solutions while tapping into energetic and bright ideas of college seniors, their mentors and university staff. (Source: AF Research Laboratory 11/22/19) https://www.dvidshub.net/news/352950/afrl-sponsors-service-academy-and-university-design-challenge

Tyndall AFB will be first to get 5G

AT&T will start bringing fifth-generation (5G) wireless networking to Tyndall AFB, Fla., in early 2020, according to a Nov. 21 company media release. “AT&T is comprehensively rebuilding and modernizing communications infrastructure and capabilities across Tyndall,” the release states. “It is providing future-forward networking capabilities … to support augmented and virtual reality … and a broad array of innovative technologies.” Tyndall’s infrastructure was basically destroyed by Hurricane Michael in October 2018. AT&T was awarded a $23.6M sole-source contract Sept. 30 – the last day of FY 2019. AT&T will progress through a “rolling plan” based on how quickly the Air Force and other vendors are able to rebuild Tyndall. The AF is also planning to place 5G at bases on a regional basis. AT&T spokesman Bob Hallman declined to say when work would begin in 2020. The Defense Department is launching its own effort at select facilities to explore the possibilities of next-generation wireless. AT&T said it will also provide “FirstNet,” a nationwide public safety communications platform, for disaster-response operations at Tyndall. (Source: AF Magazine 11/22/19) http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/November%202019/ATT-Announces-Start-of-5G-Network-Rollout-at-Tyndall-AFB.aspx

UPDATE: Braithwaite new SECNAV?

Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper demanded the resignation of Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer on Sunday, an abrupt move aimed at ending a dispute between President Trump and his own senior military leadership over the fate of a SEAL commando in a war crimes case. In a statement, Esper said he had lost trust in SECNAV Spencer because his private statements about the case differed from what he (Spencer) advocated in public. Esper added that he was “deeply troubled by this conduct.” (Source: The AP 11/24/19) https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/esper-demands-resignation-of-navy-secretary-over-seal-case/ar-BBXh04d?ocid=spartandhp UPDATE: Ken Braithwaite will be nominated as the new SECNAV, according to the Pentagon, breaking a pattern where President Trump elevates a deputy and keeps him as acting instead of nominating someone new. Braithwaite is the Ambassador to Norway, a graduate of the Naval Academy, and a retired Navy rear admiral. Navy Undersecretary Thomas Modly will take over as Acting Secretary for the second time this year. (Source: Breaking Defense 11/24/19) https://breakingdefense.com/2019/11/spencer-fired-as-secnav-three-different-stories-as-to-why/

Air University has new leader

MAXWELL AFB, Ala. - Lt. Gen. James B. Hecker took command and the presidency of Air University (AU) here during an assumption of command ceremony Nov. 22. Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, Air Education and Training Command commander, presided over the ceremony and emphasized the importance of AU’s mission. “Ground zero for doctrine and development resides right here at Maxwell,” Webb said. “I’m counting on Air University to ensure we lead out of the gate and pave the way for future leaders.” Before arriving in Maxwell, Hecker served as vice director of operations for the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. (Source: Air University 11/22/19) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2024985/air-university-welcomes-lt-gen-hecker-as-commander-president/

Columbus superfund site cleanup

COLUMBUS, Miss. - After removing some 50,000 tons of contaminated soil, trustees of a federal superfund site here are asking area residents about redevelopment proposals for the 90-acre site – the former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. creosote plant. Some of the concepts may include open public spaces, residential, light industrial uses, and a town center concept. The Greenfield Multistate Trust is using $68M from a federal court settlement to clean up the property and prepare it for redevelopment of the site, where Kerr-McGee and Tronox Corp. treated railroad cross ties with creosote from 1928-2003. Many KM employees and nearby residents developed health problems linked to exposure to creosote. The main site's southernmost area is located in a flood plain, and likely to be used primarily for floodwater retention in some type of park. The western area, where contamination is highest, will have more restrictions, which means it will most likely be open space or limited development. All three concepts featured a community center in the NE corner. Charles King, project manager for EPA's Superfund cleanup work, said cleanup of this first area is 95 percent complete. The land could be available for redevelopment within six months. Concepts include residential and light industry. King said the main site is still in the early stages of cleanup. Sampling has begun in order to get “information on risks," he said. "I would expect the physical work … to begin around the end of 2020 or beginning of 2021." (Source: The AP 11/24/19) https://www.djournal.com/news/around-mississippi/as-cleanup-continues-new-uses-eyed-for-contaminated-site/article_377fee08-4700-5874-9845-c2921bee9ba3.html

Reeves new boss at VT 86

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The “Sabrehawks” of Training Squadron (VT) 86 held a change-of-command ceremony Nov. 14 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, where Cmdr. Eric Reeves relieved Cmdr. Joshua Fuller as commanding officer. During his tenure, Fuller saw 224 Naval Flight Officers received their Wings of Gold and together accumulated more than 19,000 hours in the T-45C Goshawk jet trainer. Fuller, a graduate of Samford University in Alabama, earned his Wings of Gold in December 2001. Reeves is a native of Baldwinsville, N.Y., and a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate earning his commission through the Navy ROTC program. He earned his Wings of Gold in 2003 as a naval flight officer. Cmdr. George Zintak, a native of Chicago, will assume the role of executive officer. (Source: Chief of Naval Air Training 11/22/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111501

Update: BBC will refund $, if guilty

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee leaders on Nov. 20 demanded the Air Force investigate reports that Balfour Beatty – one of the major military privatized housing providers - falsified maintenance records for years at Lackland AFB, Texas, in order to gain millions in performance bonuses, according to a joint CBS-Reuters report. The report alleges that Balfour Beatty employees routinely doctored records. Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) “urge the Air Force and appropriate federal law enforcement agencies to investigate this fully so we can truly understand what is going on and how pervasive this problem is,” according to a statement from the two lawmakers. “If the Air Force substantiates allegations that Balfour Beatty perpetrated widespread, illegal fraud, the Air Force must take every action appropriate to hold Balfour Beatty accountable and recoup every last dollar stolen from the taxpayers,” the statement adds. Earlier this year, Reuters alleged that Balfour Beatty faked records at Tinker AFB, Okla., to make it appear more responsive to maintenance complaints. Balfour Beatty was also accused of falsifying maintenance reports at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. (Source: The Hill 11/20/19) Gulf Coast Note: Balfour Beatty’s military housing sites among bases of the Gulf Coast includes NAS Meridian and NCBC Gulfport, Miss.; and NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field and NSA Panama City, Fla. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/471384-senators-want-air-force-probe-into-allegations-military-housing-provider-faked UPDATE: On Dec. 5, Balfour Beatty Communities' (BBC) Rick Taylor told the House Armed Service Committee's readiness subcommittee that the firm promises to refund performance bonus money the company received from the AF, if an investigation finds that the landlord’s employees committed fraud. BBC has fired 17 employees this year for failing to comply with its code of conduct that included reports of falsified maintenance documents to earn extra money for its management of AF homes. (Source: AF Magazine 12/05/19)

UPDATE: Pilots of T-38 mishap ID'd

Two Air Force pilots in training at Vance AFB, Okla., were killed in a mishap between two T-38s during a routine training flight on Nov. 21. Two personnel were in each of the aircraft. The incident occurred during the “landing phase” of a formation training mission around 9:10 a.m., according to 71st Flying Training Wing Commander Col. Corey Simmons. Local TV station KOCO aired video on one T-38 upside down on the side of the runway with its landing gear lowered. The other T-38 was upright and further down the runway. Airmen in the upright T-38 were not injured, Simmons said. No additional details on the incident have been released, pending an official safety investigation. The names of the airmen will be announced after next of kin have been notified. The 71st FTW operates T-1s, T-6s, and T-38s for pilot training. Flying operations have been halted. Col. Simmons said he expects to make a decision on when to return aircraft to flight over the weekend. (Source: AF Magazine 11/21/19) Gulf Coast Note: Columbus AFB, Miss., is a similar unit under the 19th Air Force. CAFB is home to the 14th FTW. The 14th FTW’s mission is specialized undergraduate pilot training in the T-6 Texan II, T-38C Talon and T-1A Jayhawk. http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/November%202019/Two-Vance-Airmen-Killed-in-T-38-Mishap.aspx UPDATE: The pilots have been identified as instructor-pilot Lt. Col. John “Matt” Kincade, assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron, and 2nd Lt. Travis B. Wilkie, assigned to the 71st Student Squadron. Kincade had previously served as a Navy pilot and was an Afghanistan war veteran. Wilkie was from San Diego and played baseball at the Air Force Academy. (Source: Daily Oklahoman 11/22/19) https://oklahoman.com/article/5647905/pilots-identified-in-vance-air-force-base-mishap

Engineering mil.pact for La., Miss.

Schmidt-Prime Group of Pensacola, Fla., is awarded a $30,000,000 maximum amount firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for professional architectural and engineering services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of operations (AO). The work to be performed provides for preparation of professional architectural and engineering services for preparation of design-bid-build documents and design-build request for proposals for various project types at Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD activities in the NAVFAC Southeast AO. Initial task order is being awarded at $441,467 to provide engineering services to update the installation DD Form 1391 project documentation and prepare the region team final DD Form 1391 for the Advanced Helicopter Training System at Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by March 2020. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installations in the NAVFAC Southeast AO including, but not limited to, Florida (20%); Georgia (17%); South Carolina (15%); Louisiana (10%); Mississippi (10%); Texas (10%); Andros Island, Bahamas (5%); Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (5%); Tennessee (3%); Alabama (1%); Arkansas (1%); Kansas (1%); Missouri (1%); and Oklahoma (1%), and is expected to be completed by November 2024. FY 2019 military construction (MILCON, Navy) contract funds in the amount of $441,467 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance and MILCON, Navy. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 26 proposals received. NAVFAC Southeast of Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/20/19)

L-3 Vertex $77M T-1A contract

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $77,247,414 firm-fixed-price contract for contractor operated and maintained base supply for the Air Education and Training Command's fleet of 178 T-1A trainer aircraft. Work will be performed at Randolph and Laughlin Air Force Bases in Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; Columbus AFB, Miss.; and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The contract is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. FY 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount $15,787,799 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center of Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 11/20/19)

‘Chutist bring attention to Miss.

Eighty-seven paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Team of the 25th Infantry Division based out of Alaska parachuted into high winds above the Camp Shelby (Miss.) Army Base in early October, which garnered national media attention, Maj. Gen. Janson Boyles, adjutant general for the Mississippi Army National Guard, told the Columbus Rotary Club on Nov. 19. The jumpers were trying to hit a drop zone about the size of a football field, Boyles said, when they encountered a gust of wind at about 700 feet that "pushed them into the trees unexpectedly." The temporary miscue, Boyles said, drew attention to a first-time training mission that’s a positive for the State of Mississippi. The 650 active duty 650 had earlier off-loaded equipment at the Port of Gulfport, spent three weeks training at Camp Shelby. Before completing training at Fort Polk, La. The purpose was readiness training for an overseas mission, but the impact for the state was monumental, he said. Boyles, a Mississippi State University gram, who Gov. Phil Bryant appointed adjutant general in 2016, lauded the National Guard as a significant economic impactor for the Magnolia State, and one that is playing an increasing role across the globe. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 11/20/19) https://cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=77450

House OKs bill to avert shutdown

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation Nov. 19 to avert a widespread government shutdown later this week with a bill extending temporary federal funding through Dec. 20. (Source: Reuters 11/19/19) https://www.reuter.com/article/us-usa-congress-budget/u-s-house-approves-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown-this-week-idUSKBN1X2ND Update: Senate approved, and Prez has signed it.

Learn lessons from chute accident

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Air Force Special Operations Command will "see what lessons we need to learn" from what the Air Force is calling an airman's "unplanned parachute departure" from a C-130 combat aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico near Hurlburt Field during a Nov. 5 parachute training mission, according to a recent Facebook post from AFSOC commander Lt. Lt Gen James C. "Jim" Slife. (Source: NW Fla. Daily News 11/21/19) https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20191120/afsoc-commander-slife-addresses-parachute-training-incident

ST airman upgraded to Silver Star

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - What began as a typical reconnaissance patrol during a brisk November in Afghanistan took a turn for the worst. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Chris Grove, a Special Tactics combat controller assigned as the 720th Special Tactics Group based at Hurlburt Field, delivered thousands of pounds of munition, securing the safety of his joint and partner forces, and 12 years later received the Silver Star Medal. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, presented the nation’s third highest medal against an armed enemy of the United States to Grove during a ceremony Nov. 15. “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” said Slife. In November 2007, Grove was the “right Airman at the right place, at the right time, who rose to the occasion brilliantly,” he continued. Grove was originally awarded the Bronze Star Medal in with Valor in 2008 for his actions, but due to a recent review of awards within the 24th Special Operations Wing, his package was resubmitted for an upgrade. (Source: 24th Special Operations Wing 11/15/19) The 720th STG is comprised of more than 800 Special Tactics combat controllers, pararescuemen, special operations weathermen, tactical air control party and support personnel. https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2019204/special-tactics-chief-awarded-silver-star-for-countering-overwhelming-afghan-am/.

Marines training around Gulfport

The Marine Corps will continue to conduct training exercises in the Gulfport, Miss., area around Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport ‪through Nov. 20. These exercises are not in conjunction with any training currently being conducted at NCBC, but the Marine Corps has coordinated the exercises with local law enforcement. The training will include devices that can produce noises that sound like gunfire and explosions, and military tactical vehicles and helicopters will likely be used during this event. Once training begins, it should last between two and three hours. This training poses no public safety threat, and Gulfport law enforcement personnel will be on site, according to the NCBC Facebook page. (Source: NCBC Gulfport 11/15/19)

New bosses at reserve Seabee units

Capt. Cyril Carandang passed command leadership of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 27 to Cmdr. Shawn Galbraith during a change of command ceremony Nov. 15 aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss. Navy Reserve Seabees participate in quarterly Readiness Training Platforms in support of asset training, unit readiness requirements and execution of forward deployment capabilities. NMCB 14 held a change of command ceremony Nov. 16 at the Training Hall onboard NCBC Gulfport. Cmdr. Kevin Coyne took command of NMCB 14 that day, taking over for the previous commander, Cmdr. Brian McFarland. NMCB 27 and NMCB 14 are the only two Navy Reserve Seabee battalions onboard NCBC Gulfport. ((Source: NMCB Gulfport 11/18/19)

LINK CEO blasts state, MDA

Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins updated Starkville-area business owners on the state of economic development in the region, and he didn’t mince words. Higgins led the Nov. 15 conversation by telling attendees that Mississippi was not a leading destination for businesses it has been billed to be due to mismanagement from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA). "We've been told for at least the last four years that Mississippi is winning, right?" Higgins said. "We're not winning … on a national level." The last four years have hit the Golden Triangle especially hard, he said, while pointing to a 40 percent drop in the average amount of capital investment and jobs since 2015. The downward trend has removed the Golden Triangle from development consultant's radars, he claimed. He also expects Gov.-elect Tate Reeves to appoint a new head of the MDA after being sworn in to his office in January. "First of all, shoot me in the head if we don't," Higgins said. (Source: Starkville Daily News 11/16/19) https://www.starkvilledailynews.com/link-provides-economic-development-update-results-of-workforce-survey/article_f844f032-087e-11ea-9eeb-3b4a6aab79d7.html

Practicing live fire training at KAFB

Keesler AFB, Miss.'s 81st Infrastructure Division firefighters took part in five-day joint agency training, which allowed the Keesler Fire Department and the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center Fire Department to meet semi-annual training requirement to practice aircraft rescue and live fire training evolutions. They used a mock C-123 training device to extinguish an aircraft rescue fire fighting training exercise. (Source: Keesler AFB 11/18/19) 

https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/2019060/keesler-firefighters-semi-annual-live-fire-training/

MIA returning home to Mississippi

GREENWOOD, Miss. - A Mississippi family will hold a funeral on Dec. 13 for a soldier, Army Cpl. Joe T. Avant, who died during the Korean War, and who was identified in September by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Hawaii. “He will have the same military honors of someone who is killed in war today,” said his younger sister, Delores Moore. Avant was 20 when he was reported missing in action in 1950. He was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. After the battle, his remains could not be recovered. He was declared dead in 1953. In July, the U.S. received 55 boxes from North Korea containing remains of U.S. service members lost during the war. Avant’s remains were identified. Avant’s remains will arrive at the Jackson airport a few days before the funeral. There will be a ceremony by Army personnel from Fort Polk, La. A convoy of vehicles and the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcycle riders consisting of active and retired military service members, will accompany the hearse from Jackson to Greenwood. Avant deployed in late 1950 and served in the Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. His unit was part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. (The AP 11/16/19)

Progressive expanding in Meridian

JACKSON, Miss. - Progressive Pipeline announced Nov. 14 it is expanding its operations, and moving its headquarters, to Meridian. The project is a $5.143M corporate investment and will create 25 jobs. “East Mississippi is primed for economic growth with its ideal location, skilled workforce and support of local and regional officials who work together to help companies like Progressive Pipeline grow and create jobs in our state," Gov. Phil Bryant said. Progressive Pipeline provides complete construction services for the installation and maintenance of gas and liquid pipeline systems. The company's expansion is the result of its continued growth and success and need to acquire, refurbish or build a new facility to serve as its corporate HQ. Progressive Pipeline employs more than 300 workers in Mississippi. "Progressive is pleased that the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, the city of Meridian, Lauderdale County and the Mississippi Development Authority came together as a team to support our goals and vision to locate and develop our new corporate headquarters in downtown Meridian," said Progressive Pipeline President Mike Castle, Jr. (Source: Meridian Star 11/15/19) https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/progressive-pipeline-celebrates-plans-for-new-corporate-office-in-meridian/article_0e76e272-4893-56f9

UPDATE: WF's 35,000th helo pilot

MILTON, Fla. – Training Air Wing Five will celebrate a significant milestone in naval aviation when the 35,000th rotary wing student pilot walks across the stage on board Naval Air Station Whiting Field on Nov. 22. The aviator will receive his or her coveted wings of gold. The last such milestone occurred in 2009 when Marine 1st Lt. Michael Brown received his wings, marking the 30,000th “winger” produced at NASWF. Whiting Field is the backbone of Naval Aviation training, supporting about 60 percent of all primary fixed-wing flight training and 100 percent of all initial helicopter training for the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. (Source: NASWF media advisory 11/15/19) Update: Lt. j.g. Robert Woods, a native of Northlake, Ill., walked off the stage at the Lassen Auditorium as the Navy’s newest helicopter pilot and Whiting's 35,000th rotary wing graduate. He was joined by 22 other students in achieving the greatly sought after designation. (Source: NASWF 11/22/19)

EPA youth, educator noms

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that its Office of Environmental Education is accepting applications for the 2020 Presidential Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). Winners will be invited to Washington, D.C., in mid-2020 to be honored by the agency and present their work in a poster session. Applications are due by January 15, 2020. (Source: EPA 11/07/19) https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-andrew-wheeler-calls-nominations-2020-presidential-environmental-0

AFSOC’s Ghostrider brings the pain

It's been more than four months since the Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) newest AC-130J Ghostrider began combat operations above Afghanistan, and it is bringing pain to the enemy with daily runs, said Col. Terence Taylor, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component–Afghanistan commander told Stars & Stripes. The Ghostrider has flown more than 218 sorties (1,380 hours over about 130 days) since arriving in late June in support of NATO's Resolute Support mission. U.S. forces fighting the Taliban downrange simply can't get enough of the new battlewagon, he continued. "Every night, the AC-130J is flying," he told Stars & Stripes on Nov. 5. Ghostrider first arrived days before the June 28 change of command ceremony for new AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. James Slife, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News. It deployed to relieve the AC-130U Spooky following that aircraft's final combat sorties in June. The gunship comes equipped with the standard 105mm cannon and an additional 30mm GAU-23/A cannon, along with wing pylons designed to haul both GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. AFSOC headquarters is located at Hurlburt Field, Fla. (Source: Task & Purpose 11/08/19) https://taskandpurpose.com/air-force-ac-130j-ghostrider-afghanistan-sorties.

AF’s new helo arrives at Duke Field

The first of two of the Air Force’s newest aircraft, the HH-60W Rescue helicopter, landed at Duke Field, Fla., Nov. 6 to begin developmental testing at its new home with the 413th Flight Test Squadron. A second HH-60 arrived Nov. 7. The initial helo arrived via a five-hour flight from the Sikorsky Developmental Flight Center in south Florida with pilot Maj. Evan McNeal of the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron Detachment 2. The HH-60W's current experimental flight clearance does not allow instrument flight or the use of its transponder. The aircrew flew the entire trip visually or VFR. “We had to pick our way carefully through densely trafficked airspace while avoiding typical Florida fog and precipitation without the tools that many of the most basic modern aircraft have available,” said McNeal. The aircraft, based on the Army’s UH-60M, is modified to perform missions locating and rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory. The AF is contracted to purchase 113 HH-60Ws to replace its aging fleet of HH-60Gs. “Getting an HH-60W is very exciting not only for the 413th Flight Test Squadron, but also for the 96th Test Wing" (at Eglin AFB), said Lt. Col. Wayne Dirkes, the squadron’s operations officer. (Source: Eglin AFB 11/08/19) https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2012152/new-hh-60-helicopter-arrives-at-eglin/

Blue Angels change of command

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Navy’s Blue Angels demonstration team has a new commanding officer. On Nov. 10, Capt. Eric Doyle handed over the reins to Cmdr. Brian Kesselring at the Naval Aviation Museum during a change of command ceremony following the team’s “homecoming” airshow to end this year’s season. Kesselring, a native of Fargo, N.F., comes to Pensacola after serving as commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. He will serve as commanding officer and flight leader for the 2020-21 air show season. The 2020 show season includes stops at Millington, Tenn., on June 20-21; and Pensacola Beach on July 11. (WEAR TV 11/09/19) https://weartv.com/news/local/change-of-command-ceremony-held-for-new-blue-angels-commanding-officer

New documentary on Midway battle

On Monday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. CST, the Smithsonian Channel will be premiering a new documentary on the Battle of Midway. Parts of the documentary were filmed at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard NAS Pensacola, Fla., over the summer. https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/battle-of-midway-the-true-story/0/3475927?fbclid=IwAR08ktQ1WGP2nIpOBj2dpy_FFfm3elZ19OiylJ7lGIahAw-6TN72Zbjimgw.

$1B NOLA airport terminal opens

The first passengers departed from New Orleans’ new $1B airport terminal on Nov. 6. Flights were on time, security lines went quickly, and the traffic was manageable as travelers navigated and complimented, the new terminal. The airport was eight years in the making, but will deliver a massive entryway to the city for New Orleans-area residents and the millions of annual travelers-to-be. However, some travelers that left on Nov. 7 from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport's new terminal reported arriving at destinations without their luggage. The airport blamed a computer glitch. (Source: NOLA.com 11/06-07/19) https://www.nola.com/news/article_16cdd362-01a8-11ea-bef8-8721be523668.html

CNATT-Keesler IoYs

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) announced its domain-wide 2019 Instructors of the Year (IoYs) on Nov 5. “The fierce competition between these outstanding professionals demonstrates the strength of our aviation training community, and their selection speaks highly of their hard work, dedication and professionalism,” said CNATT’s Commanding Officer Capt. Nate Schneider. Among some of the Gulf Coast instructors of the year were: Senior IoY - Chief Aerographer’s Mate Jimmy A. Frattle of CNATTU-Keesler, Miss.; Mid-Grade IoY - Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class Ian J. Smith, CNATTU-Keesler; and Junior IoY - Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Patrick D. Heffner, CNATTU-Keesler. (Source: CNATT 11/08/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111386.

23rd FTS hidden away in Ala.

MAXWELL AFB, Ala. - The 23rd Flying Training Squadron is using virtual-reality (VR) technology to increase their numbers without having to sacrifice excellence. Hidden away at the Army's Fort Rucker in Alabama, where the 23rd FTS is responsible for training helicopter pilots and enlisted aircrews, preparing them for their next assignments. While the AF's rotary-wing community is small, the 23rd FTS has a tall order to fill as the AF’s one-stop-shop for helicopter aircrews. Currently, the squadron produces anywhere from 74 to 85 pilots per year. With the arrival of the new Air Force HH-60W “Whiskey” helicopter, however, those numbers are needed to increase to more than 120 by the year 2023. This is where the “da Vinci” project comes into play. The project, named after famed polymath, Leonardo da Vinci, supplements hours within a flight simulation that translates over into flight hours in an actual aircraft. The idea for project da Vinci was created during the AFWERX conference in Las Vegas in January. (Source: Air University 11/07/19) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2011043/23rd-flying-training-squadron-revolutionizes-pilot-training/

COL increase to mil.retired pay

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced Nov. 7 an annual cost of living adjustments that will benefit military retirees and survivors during CY 2020. Most military retirees will receive a 1.6 percent increase to their retired pay beginning with the pay they receive on Jan. 1. Likewise, survivors of members who died on active or inactive duty, or survivors of military retirees who participated in the Survivor Benefit Plan will, in most cases, see a 1.6 percent increase to their annuities beginning in January. Survivors who are eligible for the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) will also receive an increase to their SSIA payments that reflects this 1.6 percent adjustment. The maximum amount of SSIA payable will be $323 beginning in January. These cost of living adjustments are calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the four quarters ending with the third calendar quarter of 2019 (July, August, and September 2019), and generally go into effect for all pay received beginning in January 2020. Those military retirees who retired during calendar year 2019, and all military retirees who retired under the REDUX retirement system receive a slightly different annual cost of living adjustment. The complete list of updates to military retired and retainer pay, and survivor annuities, allowances, and premiums can be found at https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/Cola.aspx.

Even in shutdown, mil-raises safe

WASHINGTON – Military service members – and retired civil service workers - are scheduled to get a 3.1 percent pay raise in January despite the bickering on Capitol Hill, and threats of a fourth government shutdown under President Trump’s administration. Those pay raises seem safe, though benefits could be impacted if lawmakers fail to make a deal by Nov. 21. “We’ll see what happens,” President Donald Trump said Sunday about a shutdown before Thanksgiving. The pay raise for service members goes into effect Jan. 1, regardless of lawmakers’ partisanship maneuvering. The pay raise is mandated by federal statute unless Congress or the president intervenes, which is not likely. Service members aren’t expected to immediately feel much impact if the government shuts down, but a long shutdown could raise some issues regarding benefits. At least one Democratic lawmaker, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), believes it’s possible Trump could use another shutdown as diversion from an impeachment investigation in the House. Some Congressmen seem confident the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which directs policy and spending plans for the Defense Department, will ultimately pass despite the clock’s ticking down to Nov. 21. The federal government has been funded since Oct. 1, the start of FY 2020, by a continuing resolution that is set to expire before Thanksgiving. There’s also a “skinny” NDAA fallback plan that essentially funds the military without siphoning military money for Trump’s border wall. One senior Republican aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, called it the “break glass in case of emergency” plan. But it might be dead on arrival in the Dem-led House. The 3.1% pay raise is the largest annual increase in compensation for service members since 2010. (Source: Stars and Stripes 11/05/19) https://www.stripes.com/news/us/as-possible-shutdown-looms-troop-pay-raises-seem-safe-but-benefits-could-be-interrupted-1.606161

SECNAV visits trainers in Pensacola

NAS PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Pensacola-area MyNavy HR force development team hosted Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spenser on Nov. 5. SECNAV met with Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) senior leadership and the information warfare (IW) training staff and students. “I was impressed to see how NETC and the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT, at Corry Station) not only equip our Sailors with the specific skills they need to do their jobs, but how they are pursuing modernized training,” said Spencer. “The momentum behind incorporating innovative technology that more effectively aligns with the fleet’s requirements and how today’s Sailor learns best is refreshing.” Spencer met with NETC commander Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, who provided SECNAV updates on the MyNavy HR pillar of force development, the command’s philosophy and implementation of culture of excellence, and NETC’s work with delivering Sailor 2025 through Ready, Relevant Learning (RRL). Under force development, NETC is now charged with the entire “street-to-fleet” process that spans recruiting and training Sailors in an increasingly competitive talent market. (Source: NETC 11/05/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=111366&utm_source=phplist4090&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=Headlines

Last Blues air shows of season

The 2019 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is Friday and Saturday at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Guests will be treated to three shows over the two days. (Source: News Journal 11/06/19)

New: GoFund Me for airman family

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Almost 24 hours after an Airman from the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field is still missing Nov. 6 in the Gulf of Mexico after falling from a C-130 about four miles south of Hurlburt Field during a jump-training exercise. The Coast Guard told WEAR-TV/Pensacola on Nov. 5 a Staff Sergeant, who has not been identified, was training when he fell from the C-130 about 1,500 feet over the GoM. The CG, Air Force and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are searching for the service member south of Destin. Units involved in the search are from the 1st and 24th Special Operations Wings at Hurlburt; an HC-144 and MH-60 from CG Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala.; two CG Station Destin Response Boats; 86th Test Wing at Eglin AFB; Army 7th Special Forces Group from Duke Field; Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; and Florida Fish and Wildlife. The CG is asking for anyone who may have seen something around the time the airman went missing Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. to call CG Station Destin’s Command Center at (850) 244-7147. (Sources: WEAR, WKRG 11/06/19) https://weartv.com/news/local/coast-guard-airman-falls-1500-feet-during-training-jump-search-continues UPDATE: Search continues Nov. 8. Reserve rescue airmen, two HH-60G Pave Hawks, and one HC-130 Combat King from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., joined in the search. UPDATE2: The Air Force Special Operations Command is changing its search for a missing special tactics airman into a mission of recovery. The airman has been identified as SSgt. Cole Condiff, 29, a special tactics combat controller with AFSOC's 24th Special Operations Wing, the wing said Nov. 9. The Texas native served in the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron. “Cole was a man with deep-rooted beliefs who dedicated himself to God, our freedoms, peace, and his family. He was a devoted family man within our squadron, focused on teaching his girls to be adventurous like he was,” Lt. Col. Steven Cooper, 23rd STS commander, said in a Nov. 9 release. He was a "static line jump-master, military free-fall jumper, combat scuba diver, air traffic controller, and a joint terminal attack controller" who deployed to Africa and Afghanistan and received two Air Force medals, according to the Air Force. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, sister, and two brothers. (Source: AF Magazine 11/10/19) UPDATE3/NEW: A specialized Navy team is searching the Gulf of Mexico near here in an effort to recover any remains or personal effects of Air Force Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff, a Special Tactics airman who on Nov. 5 fell from a C-130 combat aircraft during a parachute training mission. In the meantime, a GoFundMe effort aimed at helping to support Condiff’s wife and young daughters has expanded its goal to $200,000, after surpassing its initial $100,000 goal. Navy personnel continue to search for Condiff, who is missing and presumed deceased. In a sign of community support for those involved in the search, an effort is underway to prompt local restaurants to feed those Navy personnel who are using Hurlburt Field as a base for their ongoing recovery operations. Condiff was serving as jumpmaster aboard the C-130 on Nov. 5 when his parachute deployed and departed the aircraft. According to Condiff’s father, who has praised the AF for their openness, the younger Condiff was performing safety checks on other airmen when his parachute deployed about two (2) miles south of Hurlburt Field. The initial search covered 700 square miles, extending 30 miles into the Gulf from Destin to Pensacola. (Source: News Herald 11/17/19) https://www.newsherald.com/news/20191117/navy-searching-near-hurlburt-for-missing-airman

Base protection & civ-infrastructure

As the US. House and Senate work to complete defense appropriations and the National Defense Authorization Act, they need to prioritize resilience efforts at military installations and surrounding communities, writes John Conger in an opinion piece for the Defense One website on Nov. 4. (Conger is director of the Center for Climate and Security, and a former Principal Deputy Defense Undersecretary (comptroller).) The National Defense Strategy published in 2018 declares that the “homeland is no longer a sanctuary.” The U.S. can’t assume that military installations can consider themselves free from harm, especially as technological advances allow service members on bases to have direct impacts in war zones. The Pentagon has been increasing its focus on installations to ensuring they will be able to continue operating even in the face of threats. NDS does not specify climate change as a threat, but it’s clear that Mother Nature imposed severe costs, such as the 2018 hurricane that devastated Tyndall AFB, Fla. DoD needs to widen its eyes to look for vulnerabilities beyond the fence line that may impose risks. Over time, communities have become indispensable to their bases by providing electricity, water and wastewater services, housing, education, specialized medical capability, and emergency response. Most bases would not be able to function long without those local services. Both the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act include new requirements for DoD to scrutinize each of its installations for vulnerabilities. One critical program Congress has not yet funded is the Defense Civilian Infrastructure Program (DCIP), created last year to fund improve community infrastructure that benefits installations. Bases cannot assume they can be an island and continue to function unimpeded. Civilian communities are true partners, proud of their roles in supporting their military neighbors. DoD can – and should - work with them to address resilience together, to their mutual benefit. (Source: Defense One Commentary 11/04/19) NAS Whiting Field, Fla., and the Santa Rosa County Commission. has been among the more effective in providing protective measures of any base in the nation to keep NASWF’s primary aviation training intact. https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2019/11/protecting-us-bases-increasingly-means-hardening-civilian-infrastructure/161061/

GTRA sets passenger records

The Golden Triangle Regional Airport near Columbus, Miss., set a new record for the number of passengers traveling from the airport during the month of October. With more than 5,000 passengers, it exceeded last year’s October total by 25 percent. Those flights were more than 90 percent full. Mike Hainsey, the airport’s executive director, attributed the growth to an additional flight added by Delta Air Lines in June, as well as an expanded marketing program used to advertise that flight. (Miss. Business Journal 11/04/19) https://msbusiness.com/2019/11/gtr-airport-sets-all-time-passenger-record/

AF pilots land 1st F-35B on amphib

EASTERN PACIFIC - Hundreds of Marines and sailors embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). Among the contingent were two Air Force pilots: Captains Spencer G. Weide and Justin J. Newman, both assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. They made history as the first operational AF pilots to fly the F-35B Marine variant aboard an “amphib” as part of an integrated training exercise back on Sept. 27. “This is a unique opportunity for the Air Force to integrate with Marines and sailors overseas,” said Weide, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122. The two-week exercise allowed the pilots to refine their skills and apply their training to an integrated naval environment. “Integrated training like this is important because we operate off of a ship, and we get to learn the naval and Marine warfare functions.” said Newman, with VMFA-122. “This will allow us to return the knowledge back to the Air Force for better future integration.” Amphibious assault ships provide flexibility to the joint force by supporting a spectrum of air operations from the fifth-generation jets to heavy lift helicopters. Integrating the MAW’s combat power with the capabilities and skills of the Navy and Air Force leads to an armed force team that is better trained, equipped and ready to respond to crises across the globe. (Source: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar 11/01/19) Gulf Coast Note: USS America is one of many “amphibs” built at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard.

USM #9 for serving mil-students

University of Southern Mississippi (USM) President Rodney D. Bennett issued a challenge about six years ago to develop a program that would actively care for the needs and interests of military students. Not long afterwards, USM established the Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families, reaching out directly to those who have served the nation. USM’s efforts continue to pay when Military Times’ most recent ranking for 2020 places USM at No. 9 nationally in providing services to military students. Last year, USM was No. 15. Mississippi State University registered at No. 21, and the University of Mississippi at No. 63. (Source: USM 11/04/19) https://www.usm.edu/news/2019/release/top-10-ranking-military-publication.php

Ripping rule book for F-22 upgrades

The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are rolling out a new set of software and hardware improvements for the F-22 Raptor using agile development, an iterative approach that the AF is applying to a growing number of programs. The first release will include Link 16 updates, with a handful of data messages and new hardware to transmit them, which is expected to begin flight testing in early 2020. (Source: AF Magazine 11/04/19) www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/November%202019/F-22s-Agile-Developers-to-Deliver-First-Link-16-Capability-Next-Year.aspx.

NASM XO speaker at MCC vets’ day

Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., Executive Officer CDR John-Paul “JP” Falardeau will be the keynote speaker when Meridian Community College pays tribute to veterans with a public ceremony Nov. 7 in Graham Gymnasium. “This is our way of honoring all veterans of the United States military, especially our faculty, staff and student veteran community at MCC,” said Pam Baranello, MCC military/veterans services coordinator. MCC has 30-plus faculty/staff members that are military veterans she said. Twelve are serving in the Air and Army National Guard. Also, 270 student-veterans and dependents are using veterans' education benefits at MCC. Falardeau is a naval academy graduate with a degree in history. He holds a master's degree in organizational leadership from Brandman University. He earned his ‘Wings of Gold’ in June 2005 at NAS Meridian. His shore assignments have included a tour with the "Warbucks" of Training Squadron 4 at NAS Pensacola, Fla. He was the 2010 Chief of Naval Air Training’s Instructor Pilot of the Year. (Source: Meridian Star 11/01/19)

Defeating the silent enemy

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The enemy gains its power in the silent world that can lead to increasingly loud results. The Air Force loses more personnel to this enemy than from combat. In 2019, nearly 80 people have chosen to end their lives. The enemy is hopelessness. For Tyndall Air Force Base, identifying the enemy has taken on heightened urgency since Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10, 2018. The storm leveled the base, and wreaked havoc on the lives of personnel, workers d both their families displaced and impacted. The struggle toward recovery has been physical, mental and emotional. The aftermath of Michael was devastating, but also has led to the belief the AF is “dealing with a lot of ‘storms’ that have the capacity to knock us out, if we don’t change our approach to the issue of hopelessness, connectedness, camaraderie,” said Karen White, Air Force Civil Engineer Center Judge Advocate Office staff attorney. In August, AF Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein directed all units to implement a Resilience Tactical Pause that’s primary focus is to strengthen connections and share the load in supporting one another. The AFCEC team at Tyndal began a program of small group tactical pauses designed to reconnect teammates and build resiliency. “It’s important to encourage others and look out for signs; not just the obvious ones we are always told about,” said Lt. Col. James Duke, AFCEC Readiness Directorate deputy director. “The key is to find ways to overcome these stresses and provide connectedness with those around you.” Breaking the ice, forming small groups to venture outside the workplace to manifest connections and no longer suffering in silence – those were just some of the objectives of the tactical pause. In an area where the healing process is organically playing itself out on a daily basis, the initiative represents a giant leap in the right direction. (Source: Tyndall AFB 11/02/19)

40 years: Embassy takeover in Iran

On Nov. 4, U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will host an event in Washington, D.C., honoring the service and sacrifice of the former hostages on the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran, Iran. The event commemorates the bravery of all former hostages and families have shown during unimaginable circumstances. (Source: Dept. of State 11/01/19) The U.S. Embassy in Tehran is frozen in time - 1979 - on the 40th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis. The diplomatic compound was overrun by students angered when Washington allowed ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi into the U.S. for medical treatment. What initially began as a sit-in devolved into 444 days of captivity for 52 Americans seized in the embassy. Today, the embassy remains held by the Basij, a volunteer wing of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, partly as a museum and a space for student groups. The Iranian Embassy in Washington remains empty as well since then-President Carter expelled all of Iran's diplomats during the crisis. (Source: The AP 11/01/19)

Edwards named CIWT SoY

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) announced its domain-wide 2019 Sailor of the Year (SoY) on Oct. 31. CIWT selected Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (CTR) 1st Class Brittney N. Edwards, a Uniontown, Ohio, native, assigned to the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) here at Corry Station. “I am incredibly honored to be selected as the CIWT domain Sailor of the Year,” shared Edwards. “I know how challenging the competition within our domain is, and I could not be more proud to be selected to represent the hard work that we all put forth daily.” As the CIWT SoY, Edwards will join other Sailors within the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) enterprise as a candidate for NETC’s SoY honors. NETC is headquartered aboard NAS Pensacola, Fla., and one of the larger training commands of the Navy. (Source: CIWT Pensacola 11/01/19)