Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 45
Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base California www.edwards.af.mil - www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
May 27, 2016
Total Force Integration significant in KC-46 support
By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
When the Air Force and Boeing launched the KC-46 Pegasus program, the 412th Test Wing was tagged as one of the prime players in testing and validation of the aircraft. Named the Air Force’s Responsible Test Organization, the 412th TW had to supply aircraft and support crew for testing at Boeing Field International Airport in Seattle, Washington. According to Lt. Col. Jennifer Barnard, Deputy Commander of the 412th Maintenance Group, supporting the KC-46 with three dedicated F-16s creates a support deficit at Edwards where the remaining F-16 aircraft and support personnel do not have the capacity to meet the current workload. Barnard was part of a team that started briefing [Maj. Gen. Michael Brewer, 412th TW commander] in spring of 2015 about potential solutions in Washington State. “There was a lot of doubt as to whether or not this would be successful,” she said. One solution was to ask for support from the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves. Barnard said they asked the Air Force for 7,300 MPA (military personnel appropriation) days. The Air Force agreed, basically authorizing Edwards 20 Guard or Reserve maintainers per day for fiscal year 2016. According to Maj. Lena Freienmuth, KC-46 test, F-16 support Air Reserve Component coordinator, an MPA day is basically a guard or reserve workday. “We use it to put people on orders.” “It’s basically how we get days in addition to our normal two weeks a year and one weekend a month,” explained her enlisted counterpart, Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Hunter. Barnard said the Major had to apply a little creative recruiting to find the right people to come here. “Because we know there’s a shortage of F-16 maintainers – active duty, Reserve and Guard – Major Freienmuth came up with the idea of asking Guard and Reserve units – that within the last five years had a mission
The KC-46 Tanker Program reached a major milestone Jan. 24, when it successfully demonstrated its first-ever aerial refueling contact and fuel transfer with an F-16C from Edwards Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandi Hansen)
conversion – for support.” The units used to have F-16s but were converted to other missions, such as RPA or intelligence wing, she explained. “Those maintainers’ training records are still good for five years, so she was able to find that resource,” Barnard said. Volunteers have or are projected to come from Buckley ANG, Colorado; McEntire ANG, South Carolina; Sioux Falls ANG, South Dakota; Nellis AF Reserves, Montgomery ANG, AL; Traux Field Wisconsin ANG, Egg Harbor New Jersey ANG; JBLM, WA; Niagra Falls New York ANG; Springfield ANG, Ohio; Seymour Johnson AF Reserves; Travis AF Reserves; Hill AF Reserves; March AF Reserves. The Guard and Reserve volunteers blend in with active duty and civilian and rotate to Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, based on KC-46 support requirements. There are three volunteers who stay at JBLM integrated locally in AGE, Fuel Systems and Supply.
See KC-46, Page 3
Hopping the Pond A white Gulfstream jet carrying Netherlands Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert joins up with two Dutch F-35As and a Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 refueler Monday on the final leg of a transatlantic trip that began here. Most of the Dutch component of the F-35 Joint Operational Test Team headed to their homeland where they will conduct test sorties and introduce their fifth-generation fighter to the Netherlands people, which falls in line with a promise made by Hennis-Plasschaert to bring the jets home for an up-close and personal viewing for the public. The two Dutch F-35As took off from Edwards May 21 and landed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. After fueling up and running some checks, the jets launched over the Atlantic followed by two RNLAF KDC-10 aerial refuelers and a NATO C-17 carrying gear and spare parts. The planes landed at Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands, which is one of two bases that will be home to the RNLAF's F-35s when they arrive permanently in 2019. The RNLAF plans to replace its legacy F-16A/B fleet with a minimum of 37 F-35s, split between two bases. (Photo by Frank Crébas/Bluelifeaviation)
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Tech. Sgt. Amanda Esparza, 412th Security Forces Squadron, plays Taps during the Police Week retreat ceremony May 20. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Monday is Memorial Day, a day to remember all the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.
Memorial Day a time to honor the fallen
Commentary by General Ellen Pawlikowski Air Force Materiel Command Commander
History is full of stories of service members who displayed exceptional valor. From World War I to WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio--For today’s engagement against terrorism, men and women many of us, Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. have served with courage and honor. But many did not return to their homes and Families will gather for families. More than a cookouts, go boating or swim Our fallen warriors deserve at the pool. While you enjoy our deepest gratitude and remembrance. million American Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, these activities, please be Their sacrifices Marines and Airmen made mindful of your safety. But as must never be forgotten. the ultimate sacrifice we spend time with friends defending our country. and family, let us be reminded of the most important meaning of this day. We can never repay these courageous patriots who Established in 1868, Memorial Day was a day set aside gave so much to protect our way of life, but we can use to honor those lost in the Civil War. But many wars have Memorial Day to honor them. And let us not forget to gripped our nation since and many lives have been lost. I remember the families of the fallen-- spouses, sons, ask that you pause to honor the fallen Americans who daughters, mothers and fathers. They too have served and died for their country. These brave men and sacrificed. women made the selfless choice to put service before self Our fallen warriors deserve our deepest gratitude and to protect our freedoms. remembrance. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.
May 27, 2016
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Performances, cuisine, highlight heritage month By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs May is Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States – and denotes several events in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) history, including the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States May 7, 1843. The finalization of the transcontinental railroad was accomplished May 10, 1869 by predominantly Chinese immigrants. At Edwards, the month has been observed with a series of events presented by the 412th Medical Group and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. The events are to celebrate the cultural traditions, ancestry, native languages, and unique experiences represented among more than 56 ethnic 1st Lt. Melvin Tsui of the 412th Medical Group performs a Haka – war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand – during the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Food Tasting and Cultural Performance Tuesday.
Dancers demonstrate traditional Hawaiian dancing during the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Food Tasting and Cultural Performance Tuesday.
groups (speaking over 100 languages) from Asia and the Pacific Islands who live in the United States. Opening ceremonies were May 3 at the Base Exchange, followed by several reading and culinary experiences. One highlight was the Ninja Obstacle Course May 11, which had a decidedly Pacific Island twist with Hula hooping as one of the obstacles. Wednesday’s AAPI cultural show and food tasting was the high point of the month’s events. Hundreds of people gathered in the Airman and Family Readiness Center to sample more than 20 foods based on cuisine from eight Asian and Pacific regions. Guests also enjoyed cultural performances ranging from music to dance to martial arts. 1st Lt. Melvin Tsui of the 412th Medical Group was one of the organizers for the month’s events. He
Corvias Foundation awards scholarship to Edwards student A Desert High School student earned a scholarship through a charitable foundation associated with military housing here. Jacob Wheeler of Edwards Air Force Base received the scholarship from the Corvias Foundation, a private, charitable foundation and the charitable arm of Corvias Group, which manages on-base housing here and at other Air Force bases. Wheeler will graduate from Desert High School and has been actively involved in National Honor Society, the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and fencing. Jacob plans to study psychology at Penn State-Harrisburg. His parents are Col. Christopher Wheeler of the United States Air Force Test Center and Mrs. Linda Wheeler. The Corvias Foundation has been committed to supporting military families in the pursuit of higher education since 2006. This year, its 10th, Corvias Foundation has awarded college scholarships of up to $50,000 to 11 outstanding high school students. The scholarships provide reliable, recurring financial assistance over each student’s four years of study, as well as a support network that is committed to his or her academic and professional growth. Students receive scholarships in the amount of up to $12,500 per year for four years to pursue a secondary education at colleges and universities around the country. “Each year, we are awed by the drive and determination in these military family members to reach high in their goals and dreams, and all the while, giving back to their communities,” said Maria Montalvo, Foundation Executive Director, “Being able to support our scholars financially and through ongoing mentoring and other opportunities is an honor we cannot quantify.” Corvias Foundation awarded the scholarships based on merit and need. Each student was required to respond to four questions that highlighted different aspects of their lives as students and as members of an active-duty military family. This fall, each student will be attending the four-year institution of his or her choice to pursue their academic careers. “The impressive background and equally strong ambition of the scholars never ceases to amaze me and we have another phenomenal class this year,” said John Picerne. “It’s exciting to see a group of kids from different parts of the country, coast to coast, in fact, share the common bond of a military background and also share the road to college. The college experience is about much more than academic success, and we look forward to seeing how these next four years, and more, help to shape these future leaders of America.” Since 2006, the Corvias Foundation has awarded more than $6.5 million through 349 educational grants and scholarships to spouses and children at 13 different Army and Air Force installations. Among this year’s scholarship recipients are aspiring anthropologists, journalists, cardiologists, dieticians and psychologists. The 11 graduating seniors are the children of active-duty service members stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, Fort Bragg and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, both in North Carolina.
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said the events went very well. “Every year it gets bigger and better. This is the ninth consecutive year, and every year we get from 300 to 400 people.” Tsui said [Brig. Gen. Carl Shaefer, 412th Test Wing commander] seemed impressed by the Haka performance -- a traditional war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand – and suggested seeing it at other events, including the newcomers’ briefings. The big attraction was the food, Tsui said. “I heard one Airman say this is the best seven dollars he had ever spent on lunch.” Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial group in our country, with their population growing more than four times faster than the population of the United States. Presently, there are 67,577 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders serving in the U.S. military (11,376 officers and 56,201 enlisted) and another 28,264 serve as civilians. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island). (Some information courtesy of http://asianpacificheritage.gov/
KC-46, from Page 1 Barnard said the key to success has been “creative, effective recruiting with detailed and persistent management.” She also said that the level of detail in management, both at the program level and in the Aircraft Maintenance Units has been tremendous. “It’s about relationships, community, and taking care of each other,” Barnard said. Freienmuth agreed, citing an example of a senior master sergeant out on the line turning wrenches. “He’s doing a lot of the training for the young 3-levels (trainees) we just got in,” she said. “He’s loving it. We take care of people up here from the program perspective, but he’s down in the AMU making sure those guys are taken care of.” Barnard added that some of the Guard and Reserve Airmen that have been turning F-16 wrenches for a few years are easing the training burden on our new F-16 crew chiefs that are retraining from C-130s. Caring for people is another key to success. The guard and reserve airmen are treated the same as active duty. One example is a Senior Airman who recently won an award from the active-duty side. “A National Guardsman won an AFMC quarterly award,” Hunter said.” “No one can remember this level of TFI (Total Force Integration) at Edwards prior to this,” Barnard said. “In eight months of flight testing (where F-16s were required) the KC-46 has not lost a test mission due to F-16 support—That’s incredible!” “We are one Air Force,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, in a recent article. “We’re committed to this idea and it’s foundational to the way we present our capabilities. We’re not going to be operationally successful any other way.
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This week in Edwards Flight Test History On May 26, 2010 at Edwards - The X-51A “Waverider” Scramjet Engine Demonstrator vehicle made the longest ever supersonic combustion ramjet-powered hypersonic flight in a mission performed off the coast of southern California. The approximately 150-second burn by the X-51A’s Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne-built air breathing scramjet engine accelerated the test vehicle to approximately Mach 4.9. The previous longest scramjet burn in a flight test was a mere 12 seconds. U.S. Air Force officials called the test an unqualified success. The flight was considered the first use of a practical hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet in flight. The X-51 departed Edwards AFB, carried aloft under the left wing of an AFFTC B-52H. Flying at 50,000 feet over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, the “Waverider” was released; four seconds later, an Army Tactical Missile solid rocket booster accelerated the X-51 to about Mach 4.8 before it and a connecting interstage was jettisoned. At that point, the X-51’s SJY61 engine ignited. The flight reached an altitude of about 70,000 feet. (Edwards History Office file photo)
Announcements
412th Force Support Squadron holiday hours: Today: Aero Club, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Auto Hobby Shop, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Club Muroc, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; High Desert Inn, open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day; High Desert Lanes Bowling Center, 10:30 a.m. to Midnight Information, Tickets & Tours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Joshua Tree Dining Facility, brunch 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., dinner 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., midnight meal 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Library, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Saturday); Muroc Lake Golf Course, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sandbagger Grill, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oasis Community Center, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Outdoor Recreation, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Panda Express, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Rosburg Fitness Center: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other facilities will be closed. Memorial Day: Aero Club, flying sunrise to sunset, office closed; High Desert Inn, open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day; Joshua Tree Dining Facility, brunch 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., dinner 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., midnight meal 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Muroc Lake Golf Course, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sandbagger Grill, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Rosburg Fitness Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other facilities will be closed. Club Muroc will close Monday through Wednesday. The Teen Center will close for summer, June 3 through August 12. Teen activities will be available at the Youth Center, Monday through Friday, 2 to 6 p.m. for all teen center members. For more information, call 275-TEEN. Oasis Aquatic Center will close for summer Monday. It will reopen September 6. Sonic Splash Pool is open 7 days a week from noon to 6 p.m. starting today. Early Morning Lap Swim: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 am - 8 am. Daily Lap Swim: Monday-Friday, 11 am - 1 pm Muroc Pool is open: Friday, noon to 8 p.m., beginning June 3; Thursday, noon to 6 p.m., beginning June 9; “Splash Night” is Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. The last “Splash Night” will be September 2. Upcoming Single Airmen Initiative upcoming events: Aero Club orientation flights for $5. For more information call Silke Eyles at 275-2376. Piano, guitar, Zumba, and Hula instructions at the Oasis Community Center for $5. For more information, call Greg Slay at 275-2687. Free bowling night at High Desert Lanes Saturday. For more information, call Tim Banks or Loretta Perdang at 275-2695 A baseball clinic with the Lancaster Jethawks is June 5. Participants can enjoy a game, learn from the players and play a three inning game. For more information, call Greg Slay at 275-2687. For more information on upcoming events, visit http://edwardsfss.com/wordpress/
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Commander, 412th TW ................................ Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer Installation Support Director, 412th TW.................... Dr. David Smith Command Chief, 412th TW ............... Chief Master Sgt. David Smith Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ................................... Ed Buclatin Editor ......................................................................... Christopher Ball Staff Writer ................................................................ Kenji Thuloweit Contributor ................................................................. Dawn Waldman To submit articles or upcoming events send an email to newsroom@edwards.af.mil
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