3D rocketry factory hiring

Hancock County, Miss., will soon become home to a 3D printing rocket factory. In a few years, the rocket company Relativity says it plans to have manufacturing operations up and running at Stennis Space Center. The company is now hiring to find the right men and women to make it all a reality. (Source: WLOX 09/10/19) https://www.wlox.com/2019/09/10/relativity-continues-expand-hancock-county-hiring-positions/

CAFB duo march to 9/11 memorial

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Two Airmen from Columbus Air Force Base will begin a 100-mile marching journey with an American flag beginning the morning of Sept. 10 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and will travel through the day arriving at the 9/11 memorial in New York City on Sept. 11. Maj. Jonathan Leetch, T-6 instructor pilot with the 41st Flying Training Squadron, and Capt. Matthew Carpenter, graduation officer with the 14th Student Squadron of the 14th Flying Training Wing, are managing the setup of this year’s march which is in its seventh iteration. For Leetch, it’s his fifth year being involved; and it’s year two for Carpenter. The goal of the group is to bring awareness to remembering the victims of 9/11, while also fund-raising for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in NYC. Last year, the group raised $10,500. All proceeds help to preserve the memorial and museum. “We’ve forgotten what it feels like to all come under attack and to all pull together” Leetch said. (Source: Columbus AFB 09/09/19) https://www.columbus.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1955531/columbus-afb-airmen-to-march-100-miles-to-ground-zero-in-honor-of-911/

SASC sets confirmation hearings

WASHINGTON - The White House officially sent to the Senate on Sept. 10 the nomination of Barbara Barrett to be the next Secretary of the Air Force. Trump announced May 21 that he intended to nominate Barrett, but the vetting process was not completed until August, when Congress was in recess. Barrett was spotted in the Pentagon recently and received unclassified briefings as preparation for her confirmation hearing. Sources told SpaceNews that Barrett was briefed on space issues, including the potential reorganization of the AF if Congress authorizes the establishment of a space service under the Air Force. The Senate Armed Services Committee scheduled a joint confirmation hearing on Sept. 12 for Barrett and for Ryan McCarthy, Army secretary nominee. McCarthy would fill the post vacated by Mark Esper, now secretary of defense. (Source: Space News 09/09/19) https://spacenews.com/white-house-sends-air-force-secretary-pick-barretts-nomination-to-the-senate/

ECSC gets $45M CAFB contract

ECSC of Columbus, Miss., has been awarded a $45,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Columbus Air Force Base paving and civil works. This contract provides for repair and construction of asphalt and concrete pavements including sub-base and base course, installation of associated utilities, drainage structures, sidewalks, curb and gutters, rubber removal and painting of runways, taxiways, and aprons, and turf. Work will be performed at CAFB and Auxiliary Field at Shuqualak, Miss., and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $621,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The 14th Contracting Squadron at Columbus AFB is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 09/09/19)

9/11 commemoration at NASP

PENSACOLA, Fla. - NAS Pensacola will hold a commemoration in remembrance of (9/11) on Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. in the National Naval Aviation Museum. NASP Commanding Officer, Capt. Timothy Kinsella Jr., will speak at the event; and there will be a special tribute from Chief Petty Officer Class 126. The ceremony will include the traditional "Two-Bell Ceremony," and the playing of "Taps" by the NASP Honor Guard. The public is invited to attend. (Source: WEAR 09/06/19)

VA Biloxi violates policies

BILOXI, Miss. - Federal inspectors found that the VA hospital in Biloxi, Miss., was in violation of several policies, according to a report filed last week by the VA's Office's Inspector General office, which said the Biloxi hospital hired a thoracic surgeon in 2013 who lacked proper credentials. The 53-page report says leaders made the hire despite being aware of licensure and malpractice issues. The surgeon resigned in December 2017, but Biloxi VA leadership did not follow procedures, such as notifying external reporting agencies. The federal review additionally found several physician files lacked evaluations needed to grant privileges. VA Acting Public Affairs Officer Cindy Dorfner says the facility has made improvements and the Gulf Coast VA Health Care System has taken action on all 18 of the OIG's recommendations, according to The Associated Press. Those recommendations were not mentioned in The AP story.

WW2 POW returned home

JACKSON, Miss. - The remains of a WWII soldier have been returned home to Mississippi, nearly 77 years after he died as a prisoner of war in the Philippines. Army Pfc. Harvey Andrew Nichols was a native of the small town of Braxton, near Jackson. He was taken prisoner in December 1941 when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. The Mississippi National Guard says Nichols survived the Bataan Death March to a prison camp. According to camp records, Nichols died of malaria and malnutrition on Nov. 19, 1942. He was 27. His remains were identified by DNA testing, and were returned to Mississippi on Sept. 5. A funeral is Sept. 7 in Braxton. He was one of 16 children. Ten of them served in the military during WWII, according to The Associated Press.

DoD bidders: Cyber-secure certs

Businesses intending to bid on Defense Department contracts will have to get certified as cybersecure before they can be awarded the work starting in 2020, according to Katie Arrington, chief information security officer for the assistant defense secretary for acquisition. Arrington told the Billington Cybersecurity Summit in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 5, that the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework (CMMC) is out in draft form for public comment. It would start appearing as a requirement in pre-solicitation acquisition documents like RFIs in June 2020. "In the fall, we will start putting it into (actual bid solicitation documents) RFPs," she said. (Source: AF Magazine 09/05/19) http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/September%202019/DOD-Contractors-Will-Need-Cyber-Certification-Beginning-Next-Summer.aspx

AF, Army noms' Sept. 12 hearings

The Senate Armed Services Committee has scheduled a Sept. 12 hearing to consider Barbara Barrett’s and Ryan McCarthy's expected nominations to become Secretary of the Air Force and Army respectively, according to SASC's website. In May, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Barrett but has not yet formally done so. (Source: AF Magazine 09/06/19)

Sister-generals make Army history

Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi have obtained the rank of general in the Army. It’s a first in Army history that two sisters have done it, USA TODAY reported. Women account for more than 16 percent of the military’s active-duty force, and make up 69 of the 417 generals and admirals. The 244-year-old Army first allowed women into the ranks in 1901 with the establishment of the Army Nursing Corps. Before that, women served unofficially. Barrett joined the Army to largely pay for school and attended the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Tufts University. Now a two-star general, she leads the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, which manages and defends the Army's information networks. Lodi attended Rutgers University’s ROTC program, received her commission in the medical services corps and planned to be a civilian dietitian. But she stayed beyond her 10-year plan of service. She excelled in the Medical Service Corps and is now the deputy chief of staff for operations in the office of the Army's surgeon general. (Source: The Hill 09/05/19) https://thehill.com/policy/defense/460127-two-sisters-become-generals-in-first-for-army

Ex-Duke b’baller turns Army Ranger

As a seven-foot basketball player, Marshall Plumlee's responsibilities on the court was to protect the rim. Now, he'll be protecting the country. Plumlee, who won a national title at Duke in 2015 and spent parts of two seasons in the NBA, graduated from Army Ranger School on Aug. 30 at Fort Benning, Ga. While at Duke, he was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. His college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, is a West Point graduate who served in the Army, too. When Plumlee signed with the New York Knicks for the 2016-17 season, he also enlisted in the New York National Guard. He played eight games with the Milwaukee Bucks the following year. Ranger school involves three phrases (Benning, mountain, swamp) and involves intense training, tactics and leadership skills for 62 days. (Source: USA TODAY 09/05/19) Gulf Coast Note: Camp Rudder, located on the Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., range serves as home of the third and final phase of Ranger School training before graduation.

KAFB delivers post-Dorian supplies

Airmen from the 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss., palletized emergency medical equipment, blankets, litters and beds on Sept. 4 and then drove more than 10 hours to MacDill AFB, Fla., as part of the relief efforts following Hurricane Dorian. The 81st LRS worked with the 6th LRS at MacDill to get the equipment shipped through ground transportation instead of through airlift therefore saving delivery time to get the life-saving equipment to those in need. (Source: Keesler AFB 09/05/19)

Minimal GC projects for wall

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department plans to divert funds, from military construction projects in nearly half the 50 states, three territories and 19 countries, to the southwestern border wall between the U.S. and Mexico as part of President Trump's signature campaign promise. Nearly every facet of military life, expect base housing, will be affected by the transfer of $3.6B in congressionally appropriated funds detailed by the Pentagon on Sept. 3.The cuts involve projects such as rifle ranges, aircraft simulators, hangars, port repairs and a cyberoperations center in Virginia. The biggest impacts will be in Puerto Rico, Guam, New York and New Mexico. The funds are to be taken from 127 projects across the globe for 11 projects in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas that includes new construction and fencing replacement. (Source: NY Times 09/04/19) Gulf Coast Note: Projects across the Gulf Coast states include the Anniston, Ala., Army Depot's weapons maintenance building ($5,200); Tyndall AFB, Fla.'s fire/crash rescue station ($17,000); NAS/JRB New Orleans' NORTHCOM construction of alert apron and alert facilities ($40,500); and a small arms range ($8,000) at Allen C. Thompson Field near Jackson, Miss. https://media.defense.gov/2019/Sep/04/2002178837/-1/-1/1/MIL-CONSTRUCTION-NECESSARY-TO-SUPPORT-THE-USE-OF-ARMED-FORCES-IN-ADDRESSING-THE-NATIONAL-EMERGENCYOSD009322-19-FOD-FINAL.PDF

Ensigns complete Air Force’s PTN

SAN ANTONIO - The first two student naval aviators graduated from the Air Force’s Pilot Training Next (PTN) program at Randolph Air Force Base (AFB) on Aug. 29. The PTN program is a course of instruction designed to train military pilots in a shorter period of time, at reduced cost, and with a higher level of proficiency in emerging technologies. The program individualizes training, adjusting to each student pilot’s strengths. It integrates virtual reality (VR), advanced biometrics, artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive training devices (ITD) with traditional methods of learning. “The most appealing part of this program is we step away from the … one-size-fits-all training that has to be done on a certain timeline,” said Det. 24 Commander Lt. Col. Ryan Riley. “With PTN we have been able to focus more on competencies” and have been able to “tailor the training” to the individual. Navy instructors selected Ensigns Charles Hills and Seth Murphy-Sweet for the PTN program in lieu of the standard Navy Primary Flight Training phase. This joint training effort is a step toward integrating emerging technologies into the Navy’s flight training curriculum. Hill and Murphy-Sweet will move onward to the advanced stage of flight training at Training Air Wing 2 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. (Source: CNATRA 09/04/19) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=110770&utm_source=phplist3409&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=Headlines

First AF female to earn Ranger tab

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas - The Army first began accepting Airmen into its Ranger school in 1955. Almost 300 Airmen have earned that Army Ranger tab. This week, Air Force 1st Lt. Chelsey Hibsch joined those ranks and became the first AF female to earn that tab. She pinned it on at the Army’s Ranger school graduation at Fort Benning, Ga. The Army Ranger Course is one of the Army’s toughest leadership courses, with a concentration on small-unit tactics and combat leadership. About 50 percent of those attending the Ranger School actually graduate. There are three phases to Ranger training: A Fort Benning phased basic on developing platoon-level leadership; mountain phase; and “swamp” phase at Fort Rudder onboard the Eglin AFB, Fla., range. Hibsch will take her leadership training as an acting flight commander with the 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron at of Travis AFB, Calif., which provided support to Tyndall AFB, Fla., after Hurricane Michael last October. Her previous assignment was with the 374th Security Forces Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan. She led PACAF’s 2018 Defender Challenge Team to six event trophies and the overall Defender Challenge Championship. (Source: JB San Antonio-Lackland 09/03/19) https://www.afimsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1948812/female-airman-earns-a-ranger-tab/

Kicking ‘one-use’ plastic habit

Jim and Woody Walker own the OK Bicycle Shop and Liquid Lounge eateries in downtown Mobile, Ala., where they serve fares of gourmet Mexican cuisine and sushi. The brothers consider themselves environmentally conscious; and began this year to make strides by ordering paper straws instead of plastic - like it or not. “It’s amazing the kickback we’ve gotten from straws," Jim Walker told Alabama Public Radio. Environmentalism is one thing. Economics is a different animal. A “to-go” container made of Styrofoam cost less than 1-cent before the duo replaced it with paper ones at a cost of 98 cents each. Mississippi State University and the federal government seem ready to help. “We just want people to make whatever changes they can, no matter how small they seem, every time that we skip the plastic, we make a difference,” said Elizabeth Engelbretsen, a public interest landscape designer with MSU’s design studio, and works with its Plastic Free Gulf Coast initiative. MSU is teaming with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to hand out Marine Debris Prevention Grants. Plastic Free Gulf Coast decides who gets the money - about $14,000 in total. One business in each of the five Gulf States gets one. The Walkers were a good fit for Alabama. At the Mockingbird Cafe in Bay St. Louis, Miss., the grant helped owners wean themselves off of single-use plastics over seven months without raising prices to its customers. “We’re helping them make up the overage until we can figure out how they’re going to do this long term,” says Engelbretsen. Plastic Free Gulf Coast can’t yet tackle major issues, but the single-use of plastics is a positive start. The Marine Debris Prevention Grant is one local application of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s expansive Gulf Star program. (Source: Alabama Public Radio 09/03/19) https://www.apr.org/post/kicking-one-use-plastic-habit-mobile

FNG staging for Dorian aftermath

SEBRING, Fla. - About 4,400 personnel from Florida National Guard units have been activated, primarily from the south and western parts of the state, in preparation to respond to east coast-affected areas hit by Hurricane Dorian. Among those units are soldiers from Bravo Company of the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion that has been deployed from Pensacola to Jacksonville in anticipation of response missions. FNG’s Helicopter Search & Rescue Team has been on standby in Miami, with eight different types of aircraft, prepared to provide search and rescue (SAR) capabilities. A Brigade Engineer Battalion unit is stationed at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce for SAR missions. (Source: Highland News-Sun 09/04/19)

Flying into the eye of storms

Most all the information you’ve heard about Hurricane Dorian, as it slowly meanders along the east coast of Florida, wouldn’t be possible without the work of the Hurricane Hunters, a group of about 100 Air Force reservists who fly straight into the eyes of storms. “We are it. We are the only operational unit in the world that does this,” said Lt. Col. Sean Cross. “Flying into a hurricane is very dangerous. Ships avoid it, everybody avoids it, everybody evacuates. And here we are in the 150,000-pound aircraft,” he affirmed. There are only 10 WC-130J’s in the world that can do this job and they’re all at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. (Source: WWL 09/03/19) https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/biloxi-based-hurricane-hunters-keep-the-world-informed-about-hurricane-dorian/ar-AAGLcDH?ocid=spartandhp

Maxwell staging for Dorian

MAXWELL AFB, Alabama - Maxwell AFB has opened as an Incident Support Base in advance of Hurricane Dorian at the request of the Department of Homeland Security through U.S. Northern Command on Aug. 29. Personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Defense Logistics Agency arrived at the central Alabama base to begin preparations for receiving trailers of food, water and other necessary supplies FEMA may use after the hurricane passes. “As we have for the last several hurricane seasons, Team 4-2 and Maxwell Air Force Base are ready to support whole-of-government efforts to provide Americans emergency relief,” said Col. Patrick Carley, 42nd Air Base Wing commander. “While we don’t know what will happen when Dorian makes landfall, we can be ready to provide assistance.” In addition, Maxwell received helicopters from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., that evacuated in advance of the storm. “Maxwell is a prime location to provide emergency relief support and a safe haven location during severe weather,” Carley said. “With increased activity and equipment on base, I ask that people stay away from the work sites out of safety concerns.” (Source: Air University 09/03/19) As of Sept. 3, Patrick AFB, Fla., entered Hurricane Condition, or HURCON, 1, which indicates surface winds in excess of 58 mph could arrive in the area of Patrick and Cape Canaveral within 12 hours. Joint Base Charleston, S.C., entered HURCON 2 Sept. 3. Shaw AFB, S.C., entered HURCON 3 Sept. 2. Moody AFB, Ga., declared HURCON 4 Aug. 29, and began preparations to relocate aircraft for the incoming storm. https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=110767

Start-up earns VR pact for AF

Baton Rouge, La., software development startup King Crow Studios (KCS) was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant for virtual reality (VR) training software for the Air Force. The $50,000 phase one grant is for the company to begin creating VR prototypes for the AF's training program. The business was founded in 2015 by Cody Louviere to initially build video games. This year, it was also selected to assist with VR training tools for ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge plant. KCS plans to compete for phase two funding of the AF contract, which could be worth up to $1.5M. (Source: The Advocate 08/30/19)