AF has money to rebuild Tyndall

The Air Force says it has all the money needed to rebuild Tyndall and Offutt AFBs struck by natural disasters in the past two years after lobbying Congress for billions of dollars. Congress allocated $5.3B for disaster relief through a patchwork of supplemental spending, reprogramming decisions, and the regular budget process in FY 2019-20. Rebuilding estimates for Tyndall, AFB, Fla., devastated in October 2018 by Hurricane Michael, range from $4.3B and $4.9B. Tyndall wants to host 72 F-35s starting in September 2023. It could also house MQ-9s as it evolves into “base of the future.” Col. Brian Laidlaw, 325th Fighter Wing commander, projects the base could grow from 4,000 people to 8,000 for full operations. In September, the AF awarded its first two military construction contracts to begin rebuilding Tyndall - $11.8M for a fire station and $17.6M for an air battle manager simulator building. Restoring Offutt, AFB, Neb., after historic flooding engulfed one-third of the base in early 2019 was slated to cost about $650M. That effort could take at least four more years. (Source: AF Magazine 02/1/20) https://www.airforcemag.com/usaf-fully-funded-for-tyndall-offutt-rebuilds/

GA-Tupelo gets 5% EMALS pact

General Atomics' Electromagnetics Systems Group of San Diego is awarded a $10,364,470 modification (P00047) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0037). This modification procures hardware and installation support services for the System Functional Demonstrator and Shipset Control Lab sites for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System. Work will be performed in San Diego (95%), and Tupelo, Miss. (5%). It is expected to be completed December 2021. FY 2018 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funds in the amount of $10,364,470 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 02/18/20)

CAFB's innovation flight flexibility

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Columbus Air Force Base’s innovation flight (IF) has continued its efforts to integrate virtual reality (VR) technology into pilot training while creating better AF pilots. Innovation flight created a flexible syllabus containing the essential building-block approach of basic mission elements to accommodate each student’s learning habits while hitting intangible aspects of a successful aviator. Lt. Col. Christopher Harris, 41st Flying Training Squadron chief pilot/director of innovation flight, said students have executed training requirements a little faster than an average pilot in the normal syllabus. One notable difference was the completion of the syllabus track for a T-1 Jayhawk. Traditional student completed the syllabus in 47 aircraft sorties, the innovation flight’s quickest student completed it with 42 sorties, while passing the same standards. IF aims to cultivate situational awareness, risk management, decision-making, and is designed to augment student training. Flight incorporates modern VR technology tools, such as Oculus Go, into its syllabus to make pilots more prepared and to drive farther a student’s airborne training. “The real link” to improving mission effectiveness at the base level starts in the classroom, Harris said. With VR, students see the inside of the aircraft while also being able to follow procedures, and given feedback and grading from instructors. “There are some things VR is good for and some things it is not,” Harris said. “VR does not replace actual flight training,” Harris continued, but using it in classrooms keeps experienced instructors on the flight line to train students in the skies. (Source: Columbus AFB 02/14/20) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2084928/14th-ftw-innovation-flight-augments-pilot-training-through-vr-technology/

UTC: MS, AL students to pay less

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga plans to offer discounted out-of-state tuition starting this coming fall for students from nine surrounding states. UTC officials say the goal of the new regional tuition program is to attract and retain diverse talent in the area as well as reach enrollment goals laid out for the University of Tennessee system, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. Under the program, students from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia would pay about $18,000 a year instead of about $26,000 a year as out-of-state students. (Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press 02/15/20) https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2020/feb/15/utc-offer-discounted-tuitistudents-nine-neigh/515810/

Miss. not yet out of flood danger

JACKSON, Miss. - Days of heavy rain have created a dilemma for authorities managing dams along swollen rivers in Mississippi and Tennessee. The water must be released at some point, which will worsen flooding downstream. Dramatic video from a Tennessee fire department showed the impact: Two houses tumbled off a bluff over the Tennessee River. Others have been swamped to the rooftops, and neighborhoods disappear into the waters below Tennessee Valley Authority's Pickwick Reservoir. “We have engineers on duty 24-7 trying to figure out what's the most effective way to move this water downstream with the least impact,” a TVA spokesperson told The AP. February's rains have been “400 percent of normal, and we have more coming in this week,” he continued. Mississippi's Pearl River crested on Feb. 17 at just under 37 feet - well short of its historic worst-case scenario - 43.2 feet on April 17, 1979. It should begin draining soon, Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday. There have been no reports of flood-related injuries. Only 16 search and rescue missions have been necessary, he said, even though as many as 1,000 homes were flooded. But Reeves cautioned that rainfall is expected to continue through the evening of Feb. 19. No one should return to a flooded home until authorities say it's safe to do so, the governor warned. Forecasters expect more rain between midday Tuesday and Wednesday across the region. "We as a state are not in the clear yet," Reeves said. (Source: The AP 02/17/20) TVA's Pickwick Landing Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River in Hardin County, Tenn. The dam is only a few miles north of the point where Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi meet. Pickwick Lake stretches nearly 53 miles to the base of Wilson Dam at Muscle Shoals, Ala.; includes parts of Hardin County; Lauderdale and Colbert counties in Alabama, and Tishomingo County in Miss. In Jackson, Miss., Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said power had been shut off to 504 residences for safety purposes. Some city homes have been flooded by the Pearl River over-running its banks; and about 30 people are at a shelter, he said.

Airbus challenges Navy helo award

Airbus Helicopters has challenged the Navy’s contract award decision to Italian helicopter manufacturer Leonardo to replace its aging helicopter training fleet at NAS Whiting Field, Fla., with the TH-119 helicopter. The helicopters would be used to train Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard pilots, and would replace the current fleet of TH-57s, which have been in service for 35 years. Leonardo would be paid $176M for 130 helicopters. In their challenge, Airbus said certain technical aspects of their proposed H135 design were not accurately assessed. The Navy has 30 days to respond to the complaint. (Source: WCOA 02/17/20) Airbus is a French-based company with a North American facility that builds training helicopters for the Army at Columbus, Miss.

MSU part of GoM research team

An 11-member team of researchers from Auburn, Mississippi State, and NC State universities, plus the Dauphin Island (Ala.) Sea Lab, has launched a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association study to strengthen several declining species in the estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), and to understand damaging environmental factors on their sustainability. The $2.8M study, “Building Resilience for Oysters, Blue Crabs and Spotted Seatrout to Environmental Trends and Variability,” is part of the NOAA RESTORE program, which awarded about $15.6M to research teams studying trends in coastal and marine resources, and the processes, driving them in GoM region. “Oysters, blue crabs and spotted seatrout populations in the Gulf have suffered substantial declines,” said Latif Kalin, professor of hydrology at Auburn. But, the relationship between population trends and environmental factors are not well known. Through the project, “we hope to disentangle this relationship and provide an end-to-end perspective,” he is quoted in an AU news release. The results of the research, a partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, and other stakeholders, will feed into resource management and restoration decisions toward holistic ecosystem management of Mobile Bay. The information will help resource managers in Mobile Bay, and the Gulf Coast, to make evidence-based decisions and best management strategies for estuarine ecosystem restorations under current and future climates. Lead researcher John Lehrter, a senior marine scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
and an associate professor at the University of South Alabama, said he hopes the project leads to a better understanding of environmental variability and trends; and have an impact on the environment and economy. (Source: Alabama News Center 02/16/20)

https://alabamanewscenter.com/2020/02/16/auburn-university-usa-researchers-seek-to-ensure-resilience-of-gulf-species-to-environmental-changes/ 

1st woman to lead NASM squadron

Navy Cmdr. Meghan Angermann never imagined she’d have a career in the military, but on Feb. 14, after 20 years of service, she became the commander of Training Squadron Nine (VT-9) at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss. “I'm thankful for this opportunity and thankful that women are able to serve in more positions,” she said. She is the first woman at NASM to command a squadron. Angermann, who was previously executive officer, and assumed the role at a change of command ceremony. Her interest in aviation was piqued by her father, who was a pilot. Years later, Angermann said she enjoys teaching young pilots to fly. “My favorite part” is seeing the “light bulb come on and know that they're absorbing and learning. Out-going CO, Cmdr. Brian Baumgaertner, retired Friday after 20 years of service. (Source: Meridian Star 02/14/20) https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/nas-meridian-welcomes-first-female-commander-to-training-squadron/article_3f99d1a3-d4f8-5e49-b339-edd3a819f749.html.

Miss.-Chinese wary of coronavirus

On a late-January flight from Shanghai to Starkville, Miss., Ronghua Wu lost a lot of sleep. The woman sitting next to him wouldn't stop coughing. Passengers were wearing masks, including himself. “The atmosphere on board was depressing," Wu told the Columbus Dispatch. He wore that mask about 24 hours … “but I never dared take it off." Wu, a visiting scholar in agriculture at Mississippi State University, had just returned home to family in China for the Lunar New Year. The coronavirus outbreak has claimed more than 1,500 lives. Wuhan, China is the center of the epidemic, and is on lockdown. Other local governments have shut down highways, delayed schools and imposed restrictions. Rural Chinese are generally less informed of the severity of the virus, he said, and masks are hard to come by. "There are 12 people in my family," Wu said. "We had only two masks ... for whoever went out and bought groceries." The sense of urgency followed Wu back to the U.S. Governments were advising China travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days. As of Feb. 14, 15 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the U.S.: None in Mississippi, but Wu still stayed home for two weeks after arriving in Starkville. "I think none of the Chinese really enjoyed the New Year this time," Wu said. Zhan "Samson" Sun, pastor at the Starkville Chinese Christian Church, said the church has seen fewer people since the outbreak. The spread of the virus has made everyone wary of gatherings, Sun said. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 02/16/20) https://cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=79397.

Overrun Pearl causes evacuations

RIDGELAND, Miss. - Trash cans and mallard ducks floated through overrun neighborhoods here Feb. 14 along the rain-swollen Pearl River. Residents packed what they could and fled to higher ground in advance of a potential devastating weekend of flooding. The Pearl River, which flows through neighborhoods and businesses near Jackson, may reach a level not seen since 1979, forecasters warned. Nearly 12-inches of water surrounded dozens of mobile homes in the Harbor Pines Mobile Home Community. Lawn chairs, trash cans and ducks were floating around under  sunny skies Friday. The area is under a mandatory evacuation order. Police patrol for security. Firefighters went door-to-door telling residents they need to leave. Miles south, flood maps showed waters could cover downtown Jackson streets, and come within blocks of the Mississippi Capitol building by Sunday, when the Pearl was forecast to crest. (Source: The AP 02/14/20) https://www.djournal.com/news/nation-world/mississippi-residents-fleeing-floods-after-torrential-rains/article_90ad98bb-0f1c-54d2-9d59-40dc4ccd56ad.html.

New deputy for AFSOC-Hurlburt

The Chief of Staff of the Air Force announced Feb. 13, the assignment of Maj. Gen. Eric T. Hill, commanding general, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Central Command, Baghdad, Iraq, to deputy commander, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla. (Source: DoD 02/13/20)

14th FTW's annual winners

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - The 2019 14th Flying Training Wing’s Annual Award trophies were presented Feb. 7 in 17 categories. “It really takes every member of Team BLAZE to make sure we truly can make the world’s best pilots,” said Col. Samantha Weeks, 14th Flying Training Wing commander. The winners in their respective category: Airman of the Year: Staff Sgt. Dylan Fivecoate, 14th Operations Group; NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Quincy Harris, 14th Mission Support Group; Senior NCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Michael McElroy, 14th OG; Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Christy Martin, 14th OG; Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Erin McCormick, Wing Staff Agency; Flight Commander of the Year: Maj. Julianne Gillespie, 14th Medical Group; First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Nathan Sullivan, 14th OG; Honor Guard Member of the Year: Staff Sgt. Luis Serrano-Solano, 14th MDG; Non-supervisory Category I Civilian of the Year: Nemesia Gutierrez, 14th OG; Supervisory Category II Civilian of the Year: Jeremiah Story, 14th OG; Non-supervisory Category II Civilian of the Year: Kenneth Fleming, 14th MSG; Supervisory Category III Civilian of the Year: Allen Reed, 14th MSG; Non-supervisory Category I Civilian of the Year: Scott Shuttleworth, WSA; First Assignment Instructor Pilot of the Year: Capt. Matthew Thomas, 14th OG; Instructor Pilot of the Year: Capt. Julian Kinonen, 14th OG; Volunteer of the Year: Capt. Julian Kinonen, 14th OG; and Innovation Team of the Year: Readiness & Emergency Management, 14th MSG. (Source: CAFB 02/11/20)

CAFB, Keesler med mod pact

Titan Facility Services of Gilbert, Ariz., has been awarded a $10,012,679 modification (P00019) to contract FA8052-18-C-0009 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at Columbus AFB and Keesler AFB in Mississippi; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Barksdale AFB, La.; Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Tyndall AFB, MacDill AFB, and Patrick AFB all in Florida; Charleston AFB and Shaw AFB in South Carolina; Moody AFB and Robins AFB in Georgia; Altus AFB, Tinker AFB, and Vance AFB in Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed Feb. 13, 2021. FY 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,012,679 will be obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative value of this contract including Option One is $19,858,371. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 02/12/20)

TVA solar project for Lowndes

In its latest quarterly financial call, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced the addition of 484 megawatts of new contracted solar capacity since the end of 2019 – an increase of 44 percent. TVA’s five new projects, from its April request for proposals for renewable energy projects, have been matched to customer requests for renewable energy. The RFP called on developers to submit proposals to develop 200 mw of renewable energy that could be brought online by the end of 2022. A total of 3,700 mw of offers were received, and 484 were selected based on demand. In a first for TVA, 200 mw of solar has been contracted for its REC programs available to consumers, both large and small. The project was awarded to Origis Energy to construct, own, and operate a solar installation in Lowndes County, Miss.’s Golden Triangle region) The project includes 200 MWh of battery energy storage, making the power generated more efficient and useable when it’s most valuable. Four additional projects have been contracted under TVA’s Green Invest program. (Source: Chattanoogan.com 02/12/20)

AF, Space Force FY-21 budget plan

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Department of the Air Force released a $169 billion FY 2021 budget proposal on Feb. 10, which for the first time includes funding for the newly created U.S. Space Force. It also focuses funds to help both services modernize, address threats, and sustain readiness. The spending plan is $900M above FY-20. But unlike last year, 2021 funding is apportioned differently, with $153.6B to the AF and $15.4B for the Space Force. The F-21 budget proposal “helps drive irreversible momentum as we implement the National Defense Strategy” (NDS), said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett. “This budget allows us to meet today’s national security challenges while taking important steps toward the Air and Space Forces we need in 2030.” NDS is an overarching blueprint for the entire military for defending the nation and its interests. At the heart of the AF’s strategy is creating a resilient battle network that connects ships, ground forces, planes and satellites to fight together at speeds surpassing any adversary. and cyber. The proposal calls for spending $5.8B to buy 48 F-35A Lightning II aircraft; $3B for 15 KC-46A Pegasus tankers; and $1.4B for 12 F-15EX fighters. Research and development will grow by $1.5B to $26.9B, which includes increased investment in the Advanced Battle Management System – development and capability demonstrations connecting the joint force. In order to strike a balance between the capabilities of today and those required in the future, the FY21 plan anticipates retiring some planes for critical new equipment. The list includes 13 KC-135 Stratotankers and 16 KC-10 Extenders; 24 C-130H Hercules, 17 B-1 Lancers and 24 RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 20/30 aircraft. Threaded throughout the budget document is a focus on people and readiness. Funding to pay for flying hours increases to $6.6B. The budget envisions an increase in its force of active duty, Guard, and Reserve by 1,500 personnel. That would bring the uniformed force to 512,100. (Source: Secretary of AF 02/10/20) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2080164/air-forces-proposed-169-billion-budget-focuses-on-great-power-competition-readi/

Interim prez at JSU

JACKSON, Miss. - The Institute of Higher Learning named Thomas Hudson as the acting president of Jackson State University on Feb. 10. Hudson is the current special assistant to the president and Chief Diversity Officer at JSU. Hudson takes over for William Bynum, who was arrested this weekend in a prostitution sting and subsequently resigned. (Source: WBLT 02/10/20)

Mil.fams, retirees med changes

Military families and retirees receiving care at 38 (unidentified) military hospitals nationwide will soon be forced to go off-base instead, and some pharmacies at those hospitals will stop providing drugs to those not on active duty, Military.com has learned. A 12-page memo was sent to the commanders of 50 military treatment facilities (MTFs) targeted for changes. It details planned MTF restructuring, the subject of an upcoming report to Congress. It also includes a letter explaining upcoming changes, signed by Lt. Gen. Ronald Pace, who directs the Defense Health Agency. The changes are a part of a review of MTF operations and a system consolidation under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) ordered by Congress in 2016 to eliminate medical personnel. But to do so, hospitals must cut out the number of family members and retirees to whom they currently offer care. The memo does not include locations of the 50 affected MTFs, or a timeline for the changes. Under a section of the document noted as "not for public release," the memo lays out a proposed plan to "reduce operations at 48 facilities and to expand or recapitalize operations at two others." At 38 of those 50 MTFs, "DoD recommends reducing the scope of operations to active duty and occupational health services only, while in many cases maintaining pharmacy services for all beneficiaries," it states. "It is estimated about 200,000 beneficiaries who receive care at those MTFs … will transition to civilian providers" in the Tricare network. That means some of those facilities may stop offering pharmacy support for users not on active duty. On-base pharmacies are currently the only way for all Tricare beneficiaries, including elderly Tricare for Life enrollees, to receive no-cost, same-day medications. Some military retirees and their families will also see increased out-of-pocket costs, the memo notes. (Source: Military.com 02/07/10) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/02/07/more-3-dozen-military-hospitals-stop-treating-retirees-families-memo-shows.html.

AHI protests TH-73A contract

The animus between Airbus (AHI) and Leonardo over government contracts continues in the wake of the Navy’s award of the TH-73A training helicopter program to Leonardo. The Navy announced on Jan. 13 it had selected Leonardo to provide up to 130 TH-73A training helicopters in a potential deal worth more than $680M. AHI proposed its H135 light twin for the mission – at Columbus, Miss., - and filed a protest on Feb. 3 contesting the award. In statement to AIN, an AHI spokesman said, “While we respect the Navy’s right to choose the asset that best meets its needs, we believe that certain technical aspects of our proposal were not assessed accurately.” (Source: AIN 02/10/20) https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-02-10/airbus-protests-leonardos-us-navy-training-helo-deal.

FY-21 budget asks for 3% pay raise

President Donald J. Trump's request for $705.4B to fund the Defense Department in FY 2021 prioritizes readiness and modernization, the strengthening of alliances, performance and accountability reforms, and service members and their families. The president released his FY-21 budget request Feb. 10. For those in uniform, the department has asked for a 3 percent pay raise across the board, along with increases to the allowances for housing and subsistence. (Source: DoD 02/10/20) https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2079745/fy-2021-dod-budget-request-seeks-3-pay-raise-for-service-members/

SG’s hospital of year: Keesler AFB

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Air Force Surgeon General announced the recipients of the Air Force Medical Service 2017 individual and team Annual Awards. The AF Surgeon General Award for Hospital of the Year: Keesler AFB. Among individual awardees from the Gulf Coast Region - Biomedical Specialist Category I Officer of the Year - Field Grade Category: Maj John S. Wu, Barksdale AFB, La.; Biomedical Specialist Category II Officer of the Year - Company Grade Category: Capt. Gina L McComb, Fglin AFB, Fla.; Enlisted Health Services Management Airman of the Year: SrA Francisca Aguilar, Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Medical Material Airman of the Year: SrA Robert A Cassidy, Barksdale AFB, La.; Cardiopulmonary Laboratory Airman of the Year: SSgt Kyle B Gabrielson, Keesler AFB, Miss.; Aerospace and Operational Physiology Airman of the Year: A1C Gabrielle D Achuff, Columbus AFB, Miss.; Physician of the Year - Company Grade Category: Capt Sabrina L. Silver, Eglin AFB; Physician of the Year - Field Grade Category: Maj David M Northern, AFSOC Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award - CGO Category: Capt Jennifer N Arce, Columbus AFB; and Civilian Nurse of the Year: Coral M Warren, Eglin AFB. (Source: AF Surgeon General 02/07/20)