Public Affairs, Volume 64, Number 11
March 17, 2017
461st Flight Test Squadron tests U.K. weapons for F-35B
Eurofighter Typhoons and Panavia Tornado GR4s. The Paveway IV is an advanced and highly accurate, state-of-the-art precision guided bomb. It’s an all-weather bomb with inertial navigation and GPSand laser-guided bombing capabilities that is used by RAF and Royal Navy fighters. Collin O’Fallon, F-35 weapon integration engineer, said two tests have been conducted with the Paveway IV. The first test was executed at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and was a laser-mode employment of the guidU.S. Marine Corps Maj. Aaron Frey, 461st Flight Test Squadron, pilots an F-35B Lightning II and releases a United ed bomb against a tank on the ground. Kingdom Paveway IV precision-guided munition March 1 over Edwards AFB’s Precision Impact Range Area. The The second test was conducted over EdMarine Corps’ F-35B is the short takeoff/vertical landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, which will also be used wards AFB’s Precision Impact Range by the Royal Air Force. (Photo by Darin Russell/Lockheed Martin) Area to test the bomb’s GPS/inertial By Kenji Thuloweit The U.K. weapons used for the test navigation employment against a tank. 412th Test Wing Public Affairs “The two Paveway IV live-fires reprewere the AIM-132 ASRAAM (advanced The 461st Flight Test Squadron recent- short range air-to-air missile) and Pave- sent full end-to-end weapon-aircraft integration tests for these two significant ly conducted weapon delivery accuracy way IV precision-guided bomb. The 461st FLTS is responsible for the use cases of this weapon’s employment tests with two United Kingdom weapons. The weapons were released from a execution of all mission systems devel- modes,” said O’Fallon. On Feb. 24, one U.K. AIM-132 ASU.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning, opmental testing for U.K. F-35Bs. According to the Royal Air Force, the RAAM was fired at an unmanned drone short takeoff/vertical landing variant, which will also be used by U.K’s Royal ASRAAM is a short-range, infrared-guid- over the Point Mugu Sea Range. ed missile and is also carried by the RAF’s See JSF, Page 3 Air Force and Navy.
Indian Air Force Test Pilot School visits Edwards AFB
By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
The Indian Air Force Test Pilot School staff and current students consisting of 14 pilots and engineers, visited Edwards AFB March 8. The group’s visit was part of a North American field study trip according to U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School staff. The IAF members were given briefings on TPS programs throughout the morning and were given a base tour by 412th Test Wing Public Affairs in the afternoon. The following day, the group visited NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. The visit to Edwards was one of several stops around the United States and Canada that include a number of visits to aerospace companies. According to its official website, the IAF flies a variety of aircraft including Russian- and French-origin fighters, and several cargo planes including C-130Js and C-17s. The IAF Test Pilot School is part of the IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment. Most new aircraft types and major airborne systems must have ASTE’s approval to be considered fit for service in India.
Indian Air Force Test Pilot School staff members and students consisting of 14 pilots and engineers, pose for a group photo in front of the NF-104 outside the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School March 8. The visit to TPS was part of a two-day tour of Edwards AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kyle Larson)
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Edwards NCO among AFMC annual award winners From Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
Air Force Materiel Command honored its top Airmen of 2016 during the command’s Annual Excellence Awards Banquet March 8, 2017. Sixty-one Airmen from throughout AFMC’s headquarters, centers and wings were nominated to compete in nine separate categories — Airman, non-commissioned officer, senior NCO, first sergeant, company grade officer, field grade officer, civilian category I, civilian category II and civilian category III. Tech. Sgt. Amanda R. Esparza, 412th Security Forces Squadron, won the Non-Commissioned Officer Category. Esparza distinguished herself as the NCO winner serving in the 412th Test Wing’s largest squadron in the position of Cost Center manager. She readied 360 defenders enabling base defense Initial Operational Capability for F-15s. Additionally, Esparza restructured a 39-vehicle fleet, increasing patronage coverage of 308,000 acres. “I am grateful to my squadron, group and wing leadership for all their guid-
Air Force Materiel Command annual award winners are joined on stage by Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, AFMC commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jason L. France, AFMC command chief, at the end of the command’s annual awards banquet March 8 in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Tech. Sgt. Amanda Esparza, 412th Security Forces Squadron (fourth from right), was the winner in the Non-Commissioned Officer Category. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)
ance and support,” Esparza said. Almost 300 family members, friends, community leaders and command officials gathered in the Modern Flight Gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force to honor the nominees. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, AFMC commander, hosted the awards ceremony. After congratulating all the nominees and winners on a job well done, she commented on how fortunate she felt to be the commander of such Airmen.
“I am the luckiest commander in the Air Force,” said Pawlikowski. “No other place in the Air Force other than AFMC will you find Airmen who have such a direct effect on protecting our freedoms.” Winners in the four enlisted categories will represent AFMC in the United States Air Force Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year competitions held later this year. For the complete list of winners, visit www.edwards.af.mil.
No bones about it, staffers get up-close look at Edwards K-9s
By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
St. Patrick’s Day may be March 17, but the week kicked off with National K-9 Veterans Day. According to several websites, the day is celebrated March 13 on the official birthday of the U.S. Army K-9 Corps, which was formed in 1942. Joseph White, a retired military working dog trainer, originated the idea for the day. To learn more about the day, and to see military working dogs up close, congressional staffers from U.S. Representa-
From left: Congressional staffers Alexandria Walker and Cynthia Barile; Staff Sgt. Grace Daniels with Rolf, 412th Security Forces Squadron; staffers Alison Martin and Narah Jayasekera; and Staff Sgt. James Ramsey, 412th SFS; pose for a photo at the 412th SFS Military Working Dog Section March 13. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kyle Larson)
Staff Sgt. Erick Hernandez, 412th Security Forces Squadron, is apprehended by Rolf, a military working dog, during a demonstration for congressional staffers at the 412th SFS Working Dog Section March 13. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kyle Larson)
tive Ed Royce’s office drove up the freeway to see K-9s from the 412th Security Forces Squadron. Royce serves California’s 39th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties. The four staffers were treated with a military working dog demonstration at the 412th SFS Military Working Dog Section. The visit was hosted by Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander. Staff Sgt. Grace Daniels and military working dog Rolf demonstrated subduing mock suspects played by Staff Sgt. Erick Hernandez and Staff Sgt. Zackery Hons.
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March 17, 2017
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412th Force Support Squadron upcoming events Force Support Squadron 275-3826
Easter Extravaganza is April 15. Enjoy a range of Easter events all in one day! Breakfast with the Easter bunny from 9-11 a.m. at High Desert Lanes. Price includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, juice or coffee and three games with rental shoes. Bring your camera to take pictures with the Easter bunny! Pre-registration is required. A free egg hunt will be held 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Wings and Rogers Fields. An underwater egg hunt will be from 2-4 p.m. at the Oasis Aquatic Center. Retrieve eggs from the surface and bottom of the pool. Call for prices. The hunts are open to all children. You never know what goodies the Easter Bunny has left! Attend all three events for a chance to win a giant chocolate bunny!
Airman and Family Readiness
277-0723 Women’s, Infants’ & Children’s Clinic is March 20, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Open for both walkins and appointments. Closed for lunch noon-1 p.m. For an appointment or voucher information, call toll free 866-327-3074. Pre-Separation Counseling is March 29, 8:3011:30 a.m. Counseling is a prerequisite for the five-day Transition Assistance Program. Spouses are highly encouraged to attend. Plan My Move is March 29, 2-3 p.m. Edwards’ “Plan My Move” seminar will assist you in ensuring you select the proper path for a successful PCS, whether it be planning for an OCONUS or CONUS move.
Arts and Crafts Center/Auto Hobby
275-ARTS/AUTO Basic vehicle maintenance class is Saturdays at 10 a.m. Participants will learn the basics of good vehicle maintenance. Learn how to operate a lift, change your oil and check and balance your tires. Call the Auto Hobby Shop at 275AUTO (2887) for more information. Oil changes and alignments are offered at competitive prices, as well as services in mounting and balancing. Wood Shop is available Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For the woodworking hobbyist, the Arts and Crafts Center provides a variety of equipment that includes band saws, table saws, a drill press and much more. A safety course is required to use the Wood Shop.
Club Muroc
275-CLUB Club Member’s Appreciation Breakfast is Monday, March 20, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Kids Klub is March 21, 5-7 p.m. Games, prizes, complimentary kids meal (ages 12 and under). Adults must supervise their children. Club Members only. Air Force Club Scholarship Program is going on now until May 12. Over the past 19 years, the Air Force Club Scholarship Program has provided college tuition assistance to 446 Air Force club members and/or their eligible family members. This program is one of the many
benefits of membership that Air Force Services Activity is proud to continue in fiscal year 2017. Written essays should be 1,000 words, but we will accept essays between 980-1,020 words (no more, no less). Video essays must be five minutes, but four-and-a-half to five-and-a-halfminutes (no more, no less) will be accepted. Anything under or over this requirement will be disqualified. To apply visit www.myairforcelife. com. Prior to announcing winners, membership/eligibility status will be verified using Club Works. Your account must be active and in good standing.
hour guided Segway tour of the area plus plenty of time to explore on your own. You must be 18 years or older with a valid driver’s license. Single Airmen are personnel permanently assigned to a base without a spouse.
Education and Training
Information, Tickets and Travel
277-2713 2018 Civilian Force Development Program Call — CDP’s goal is to competitively identify promising employees, select them for the CDE that best suits their career goals and the needs of the Air Force, and then place those employees in a follow-on assignment that will utilize their CDE and experience. The deadline for application nominations to AFPC is May 1 each year, and the selection boards meet in September and announce selections. Civilian Developmental Education submission guidance will be available at Brown Bag Lunches at the Education Center Bldg. 2453 from noon to 1 p.m. March 24, April 7 and 14. No pre-registration is necessary, just bring your lunch. Some of the discussion topics will be how to prepare your resume, understanding mobility agreements, CDP, and understanding the different civilian education program requirements. Additional time periods and topics for discussion can be arranged by calling Mo Yates at 277-6105. Air University PME Correspondence Courses help prepare high-potential employees for increased responsibility and shared leadership roles. Civilian applications are accepted year round for Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College (non-master’s) and Air War College. Civilians must have a minimum of two years of federal service, a bachelor’s degree and complete an AF Form 4059 to enroll. No mobility agreement is required for correspondence PME learning programs. This is a separate program from the Annual CDE call. Call Mo Yates at 277-6105 for information.
For more information about 412th FSS offerings, visit www.edwardsfss.com/wordpress
275-TRIP Auto Club Speedway 2017 is March 24-26. Contact ITT to get your tickets and pre-race pit passes for qualifying day, XFINITY Series NXS 300 and Auto Club 400! ITT Pricelist & Other Events - To see the current ITT price list for events, parks, hotels and discount information, visit www.edwardsfss. com/wordpress/travel/itt.
Oasis Community Center
275-CNTR “America’s Got Talent” trip is April 29, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Come to an audition taping of “America’s Got Talent” with Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Mel B. and host Nick Cannon. Drop by Oasis to sign up. Must be 12 years or older to attend the taping. Under 18 needs to be accompanied by a guardian. Participants will get there early so they can enjoy lunch and sites in Downtown Pasadena. Sign up at the Oasis Community Center by April 21. Single Airman Venice Segway Trip is May 20 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sign up by April 4 at the Oasis Community Center. Separate prices for single Airmen and all others. Explore Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. This trip includes a two-
Adopt me! Pluto is 3-year-old friendly guy who enjoys the company of humans. He is all about getting love and giving it back. Pluto is an outgoing friendly kitty waiting on his forever home. Call APET at 258-9525 for more information.
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www.edwards.af.mil Outdoor Recreation
275-CAMP Hike Devil’s Punchbowl is March 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Register by March 21. Price includes transportation and guide. Join ODR for an extraordinary hike at Devil’s Punchbowl. This is where earthquake faults collide, creating upward-jutting vertical walls as high as 300 feet. Minimum age requirement is 8 years. Anyone under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Alcoholic beverages not permitted. Swim Program Session 3 is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, March 13-April 7. Thirty-minute lessons for pre-school and bluefin levels. Call for prices. Land sailing program operates by private bookings only. Must be cleared with flightline one week prior to scheduled event. If you have any questions, call ODR. Paintball field is now open! The paintball field is open by reservation only. If you have any questions, call ODR at 275-2267. Adult swim lessons are Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Tuesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Ten sessions, ages 15 and older. Lessons focus on people terrified of water and extreme beginners. For more information and prices, call ODR.
Rosburg Fitness Center
275-GYM1 Intramural Basketball is beginning soon. See your squadron sports representative to sign up. All teams are due to the sports office by COB March 24. Extramural Golf Spring Golf season is beginning soon. See your squadron sports representative to sign up. All teams are due to the sports office by COB Friday, March 24. Extramural Disc Golf Handicap League begins April 16 at Mojave Greens Disc Golf Course by the gym. Join the free extramural disc golf league. Sign ups are due by April 13. Sign up by stopping by the fitness center or call 275-4961 for more information. Lunchtime Volleyball begins April 18. Sign up by April 12. Sign up as an individual and you will be placed on a team of three or four. Games will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. or noon. Sign up at the fitness center front counter or call. Run with History Half Marathon, 10K & 5K — The new date for the Run with History Half Marathon/10K/5K is Oct. 14. Registration is now available at active.com. For more information, please contact the Rosburg Fitness Center at 275-GYM1. Equipment orientation classes are Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m.; Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m.; and Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. Not sure how to use equipment or what it does for you? Stop by the front desk and sign up for this one-hour class. We are here to help you get the most out of your fitness routine.
Rod & Gun
275-CAMP “Big 50” Thursdays — The “Big 50” is an Amateur Trap Shooting Association registered shoot in which all participants shoot 50 single targets, 50 double targets and 50 targets from their handicapped position.
March 17, 2017
Announcements
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High Desert Lanes Bowling Center
include swimming and bowling among others.
275-BOWL Midnight Meal at Strike Zone Snack Bar — The snack bar will now be open until 11 p.m., Monday-Saturday due to the dining facility renovations. Call-in orders encouraged! Call-in orders taken up to 11 p.m. for pick up by 11:30 p.m. Birthday Bowl - Bowl up to three games free between 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on your birthday. Open to all ages. Bring your ID. Birthday party packages are available. Several price packages are available to include shoes and food.
Youth Programs
275-5437 Summer Camp Volunteers Needed from June 5-Aug. 11. The School Age Annex is looking for volunteers to help this summer with specialty camps. Volunteer as little as 30 minutes of your time. If you have a special talent or passion you would like to share such as for STEM, robotics, inventing/tinkering, photography, creating art of any kind, cooking, drama, music or dance, then contact the School Age Program at 277-8290. Summer Camp is Monday-Friday, June 5-Aug.11, from 6:15 a.m.-6 p.m. Sign-up begins 8 a.m. April 10 at The School Age Annex, Bldg. 6459. Ages are first graders to 8 years with separate camps offered for 9-12 year olds. Fees based on total family income. Breakfast, lunch and snack will be provided. Join us for a funfilled summer of field trips and activities. Several specialty camps will be offered such as culinary camp, art camp, sports and fitness, drama/ music/dance camp, space camp, STEM camp, nature camp, invention camp and photography camp. Field trips include visiting Discovery Cube L.A., Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Hurricane Harbor, Griffith Observatory, Dry Town, KidSpace Museum, ice skating and more. On-base trips
Youth Sports
277-8961 Track 2017 - Sign up March 6-31. Season runs April 25-June 2. Practices are Tuesday and Thursday, 4:30-6 p.m. at the gym track. Open to ages 7-14. Sports physicals and shot records required. Archery Classes are every Tuesday and Thursday, March 28-April 20. Youth will learn and develop great archery skills. Classes taught by Rafael Hernandez. Sports physical and shot records required. Sign up now at the Youth Center! Contact Emil Graves at 277-8961 for more information.
Aero Club
275-AERO Flight training - Private, instrument, commercial, ATP, CFI, CFII. and ATP. Call for aircraft rental prices and instructor fees. Rentals include Cessna 172s, Cessna 182s, and a Baron for rent. Contact the Aero Club for reservations and costs. Learn to fly - The sky is the limit at the Edwards AFB Aero Club. Experience the thrill of piloting an aircraft. Your local Aero Club provides many stages of flight training, from your first introductory flight through solo, then on to private, commercial, and instructor’s ratings. The choice is yours. The Aero Club will train you to the highest standard with safety always foremost.
Library
275-BOOK Children’s Story Time is every Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. Toddlers and pre-school children are invited to join us for a wonderful story time and create very unique craft projects. Volunteer readers are welcome!
412th Security Forces Squadron issues speeding citations
The 412th Security Forces Squadron issued 16 speeding citations and processed zero driving suspensions from March 6 through March 12.
Citations issued
1 to 10 mph.................................................3 11 to 15 mph................................................8 16 to 20 mph...............................................4 21 to 24 mph...............................................0 25+ mph......................................................1
Driving privilege suspensions (current)
15 days........................................................0 30 days........................................................0 60 days........................................................1 90 days........................................................3 180 days (six months).................................0 365 days (one year)....................................3 730 days (two years)...................................0 1,095 days (three years).............................0
Per AFI 31-218 and EAFBI 31-218, a DD Form 1408 Armed Forces traffic tickets (no-fine) are issued to military members. Military members receiving 1408s are subject to Uniform Code of Military Justice action. A U.S. District Court Violation Notice (USDCVN) (a fine) is issued to all civilians, dependents and retirees. If issued a USDCVN, violators may be required to be present at Magistrate Court in Bakersfield, California, receive traffic violation points against their state-issued driver’s license and potentially receive suspension of on-base driving privileges.
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Daughter visits crash site 59 years after father’s death By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
On Jan. 28, 1958, 33-year-old test pilot Tom Kilgariff was killed when his Douglas A-3D Skywarrior caught fire, broke apart and crashed in a field just west of Barstow, California. The wife and children he left behind eventually moved away and went on with their lives in other parts of the country. Fast forward nearly 60 years. A woman from Alabama is visiting her deceased father’s siblings in California when she gets curious about her father’s workplace and the job that took his life. Ceil Davis and her husband, Bob, decided they’d like to visit Edwards Air Force Base by taking the Friday public tour in February 2016, but found out that it’s not that simple. “I thought sometime I’d like to come out and see what it’s like,” she said. “We tried the public tour but found it was booked months in advance.” They signed up for the next available tour – October, 2016 – and planned their next trip to California around it. During the tour, the host, Steve Zapka of 412th Test Wing Public Affairs, happened to mention the restored A-3 the Air Force Flight Test Museum had in storage. “That was the plane my dad flew when he died,” Davis said. “So I asked him, “Where is the restored plane?” Zapka ended up introducing Davis to
Tony Moore of the Air Force Flight Test Museum, who offered to sponsor her back for a personal visit to the aircraft and an excursion to the crash site. Davis, who was four when her father died, said she wasn’t really sure she wanted to do that. She wanted to stay anonymous, but after her mother passed she found a bunch of old 8x10 photos. “They were official Air Force photos of people, aircraft and the like. They really connected me with my past and started all the research.” She eventually contacted Moore, who arranged last month’s visit. They visited the restored aircraft, where she got some pictures in the cockpit, and then they visited the history office. “We scanned all the photos, and we have some the history office didn’t have,” Davis said. “There was one of my dad with the F-5, and his wingman was Alan Shepherd.” Moore also took Davis to the decades-old crash site. “We know most of the crash sites in the area,” Moore said. “After some research, we found the site to within a few acres.” Moore said that some of the old crash sites are undisturbed and artifacts can be easily found, but this site had been farmed for the last 58 years. “After a couple of hours walking the area, we had nothing,” Davis said. As they were almost ready to give up
Ceil Davis and her husband, Bob, show a blistered piece of aircraft window found in a field near Barstow, California. The location was where her father, Douglas test pilot Tom Kilgariff, was killed when the A-3D Skywarrior, he was testing crashed. (Courtesy photo by Tony Moore)
and leave, they looked at the ground by their feet and there was a piece of charred and melted plexiglass, which matched the type used in the A-3D cockpit. “It was extremely surreal. A really weird, emotional thing,” Davis said. She added to the surreal statement, mentioning that her father was also one of the six founding members of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and that he was chairman of the equipment and safety committee.
From JSF, page 1 “The purpose of the test was to verify that the F-35 system could be used to target and engage an air target with an ASRAAM,” said Max Heald, 461st FLTS, F-35 weapon integration engineer. “The test also verified that the F-35 properly communicated to the missile and gave it everything it needed to prosecute a target.” Heald added the data collected in the test provided evidence to the weapon supplier they could use to certify AIM132 ASRAAM carriage on the F-35B. According to the Royal Air Force, the ASRAAM is a high-speed, highly maneuverable, heat-seeking, air-to-air An F-35B Lightning II from the 461st Flight Test Squadron fires a United Kingdom-built AIM-132 ASRAAM short range air-to-air missile) over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range in California Feb. 24. (Photo missile. It’s designed as a fire-and-for- (advanced by Chad Bellay/Lockheed Martin) get weapon, able to counter intermittent target obscuration in clouds as well as targets with several missiles simultane- Fighter Integrated Test Force conducts sophisticated infrared countermeasures. ously. Following release, the missile ac- developmental testing and evaluation Because the missile has a fire-and-forget celerates to speeds in excess of Mach 3. for all three variants of the F-35 LightThe 461st FLTS and Joint Strike ning II. capability, the pilot can engage multiple
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This Week in Edwards Flight Test History On March 15, 2007, the YAL-1 Airborne Laser conducted the first in-flight test firings of its Target Illuminator Laser. Multiple beams of photons were directed against an NKC-135E Big Crow target aircraft off the California coastline. The kilowattclass TIL tracks a potential target and measures atmospheric turbulence for the YAL-1’s main weapon, the megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser. (Edwards History Office file photo)
AF squadron revitalization leads to EPME changes From Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
The reenlistment and extension ineligibility requirement will be removed from the enlisted professional military education program effective March 15 according to Air Force officials. Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, approved the change, removing the automatic reenlistment or extension ineligibility status for Airmen who fail to complete their enlisted professional military education distance learning course tests by their suspense dates. “We continually review and evolve personnel policies to ensure it provides equity for Airmen, aligns with our Air Force strategy and supports our Airmen’s ability to execute the mission,” Grosso said. “While originally intended to drive increased development and professionalism, the previous EPME approach created a higher standard, particularly when compared to recent changes to our officer PME model. Additionally, as we grow the force the policy added unnecessary challenges and distractions to our Airmen. We certainly heard and listened to Airmen on this matter.” The former policy stated that if an Airman exceeded the suspense date for course completion the Airman automatically became ineligible for reenlistment or extension until the course was complete. This meant impacted Airmen were required to separate or retire on their date of separation. Although PME completion is expected and tied to promotion, non-completion is not directly tied to continued service under the officer system. This change brings both systems back into alignment. The need for this policy change was confirmed during the Air Force Chief of Staff’s Squadron Revitalization effort. The policy adjustment places authority and responsibility for re-
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enlistments back at the squadron level and provides flexibility for commanders to retain high-performing experienced Airmen who meet the Air Force’s mission needs, in line with revitalizing Air Force squadrons. “As we work to revitalize our squadrons, it remains important that commanders and supervisors who are closest to an Airman have a say in whether or not an Airman should be allowed to re-enlist,” Grosso said. “It has been a squadron commander’s decision, and this policy adjustment restores that authority, placing the retention decision back in the hands of the local commander.” With the change in policy, Airmen who were previously impacted due to EPME non-completion will now be eligible to re-enlist or extend (unless otherwise ineligible), and should see their ineligibility code removed from their record in the Military Personnel Data System within 24-48 hours. In line with placing the retention decision authority back in the hands of squadron commanders, the approval authority for EPME distance learning course deferments has also been changed and now rests with squadron commanders. No changes were made to the policy regarding promotion eligibility. Grosso said that was a deliberate decision as PME is critical to the development of all Airmen, both officers and enlisted, as leaders in the profession of arms. Airmen with questions about their individual situations are encouraged to contact the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102. The most current EPME information is on the Force Development page on myPers, or select “Active Duty Enlisted” from the drop-down menu and search “EPME.”
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Commander, 412th TW ................ Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer Installation Support Director ..................... Dr. David Smith Command Chief .............. Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ................... Ed Buclatin Editor ......................................................... Kenji Thuloweit Contributors ................... Christopher Ball, Dawn Waldman To submit articles or upcoming events send an email to newsroom@edwards.af.mil