Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 6, No. 23
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, June 19, 2015
NMC partners with AF to build inert mines for BALTOPS 15
By Senior Airman Malia Jenkins Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England – Minemen from the Navy Munitions Command Unit Charleston, S.C., and Airmen from the 5th Munitions Squadron out of Minot Air Force Base, N.D., built 18 inert MK-62 Quick Strike Mines, June 10, 2015 to be loaded onto two B-52H Stratofortress participating in the BALTOPS 15 exercise. The B-52 used the inert MK-62 Quick Strike Mines to train and test the aircrew's ability to precisely drop munitions into a target zone. "These bombs are configured for the B-52 internal bomb bay," said Petty Officer 1st Class David Toyloy, Navy Munitions Command Unit Charleston mineman. "We build them up, and once they're built up and quality assurance signs off on them, we turn them over to the Air Force for delivery." This is Toyloy's second time participating in BALTOPS, which provides an opportunity for personnel from different services and nations to engage in realistic maritime training to build experience and teamwork and strengthen interoperability. "It's important to participate in this exercise because it prepares us to work better with our allies and in a joint military environment," Toyloy said. NMC Unit Charleston participates in the BALTOPS exercise yearly. "NMC Unit Charleston provides training aids, training on mine warfare and anywhere from four to six Sailors to support the exercise," said Lt. David Alverson, NMC Unit Charleston executive officer. "This exercise provides NMC Unit Charleston with a unique opportunity to participate in and conduct inter-service training and operations. It affords the Sailors, Airmen and other nations services the chance to interact and learn from each other on a scale that is unprecedented." The Air Force's strategic bomber participation in BALTOPS 15 emphasizes the conventional, long range, global strike and precision attack capabilities in a joint environment from a forward-deployed location. "We train with our sister services because it shows we are capable of working with any armed forces: the Navy, Army or Marines," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Cassady, 5th MUNS munitions systems technician. "It shows that as we work together we're able to accomplish more." Although this is Cassady's first time working with the Navy in a joint-military environment, U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Malia Jenkins he said he knows everybody has a part to play, and the point of all this is to show the United U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Alex Sanchez, Navy Munitions Command Unit Charleston minemilitary is capable of working with their allies and standing up a "warm" base from day States man, greases a piece of equipment for an inert MK-62 Quick Strike Mine at Royal Air Force one and generating missions. Fairford, England, June 10, 2015. The inert mine was loaded onto a B-52H Stratofortress participating in the BALTOPS 15 exercise. BALTOPS demonstrates America’s shared commitment with NATO allies and partners to promote peace and security in the region.
Trisha Gallaway, Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs contributed to this article.
AF focuses 3rd round of VERA/VSIP for civilians
From Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON – In an effort to lead its force management actions with voluntary programs, Air Force officials announced a third round of civilian workforce shaping measures beginning June 15. The measures are necessary to meet the Air Force's headquarters organization and staffing reductions, which were designed to eliminate redundant activities, improve efficiencies and satisfy previous secretary of defense direction to reduce management headquarters costs and staff levels by 20 percent. Voluntary early retirement authority (VERA) and voluntary separation incentive pay (VSIP) will be used to realign and rebalance the civilian force during the third round of the program. The final round of voluntary measures focuses primarily on Headquarters Air Force-assigned civilian employees. "As in past years, we will continue to offer voluntary
early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay to the maximum extent possible before we implement a reduction in force," said Debra Warner, the director of Civilian Force Policy. "The Air Force is committed to sustaining excellence, meeting fiscal requirements and minimizing negative impacts on our current permanent civilian workforce and their families." Civilian employees will receive VERA/VSIP interest surveys from their local civilian personnel sections (CPS) on or about June 15, with responses due by June 26, unless an earlier date is established by local CPSs. Applicants approved for this final round of fiscal year VERA/VSIP programs must separate no later than Sept. 30. "Our civilians are an integral part of our force, and their contributions are instrumental in our mission success," Warner said. "Our challenge, in a fiscally constrained environment, is to maintain the ready and capable civilian force today
and a modern workforce tomorrow." The processes available to rebalance or reskill the workforce includes using reduction-in-force procedures to determine overage employee priority placement rights into positions, as well as, providing the flexibility to waive qualifications and provide retained grade and pay if placed in a lower graded position. In that regard, the Air Force headquarters and other participating bases will begin their preparations for submitting requests for approval to use reduction-in-force procedures in an effort to place employees in continuing permanent positions. "The Air Force is committed to using voluntary separation programs as much as possible before pursuing involuntary options," Warner said. For additional information about civilian employment, voluntary separation programs and other personnel actions, visit myPers.
841st Transportation Battalion 2014 Charleston Water Quality report available online receives new commander By Airman 1st Class Brandon Lane 628th Medical Group
U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. AJ Hyatt
INSIDE
Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Major (left) assumes command of the 841st Transportation Battalion from LTC Brian Memoli during a change of command ceremony, June 12, 2015 at Joint Base Charleston – Weapons Station, S.C. Colonel Jason Vick, 597th Transportation Brigade commander out of Fort Eustis, Va., presided over the ceremony. Memoli is headed to the Army Business Transformation Office at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
A Look Back: Part 1 of 4
VIETNAM
Page 4
Retired Master Chief passes the test
76 AND FIT
Page 5
If you have ever wondered about the quality of water in your home or where it comes from, look no further, the Charleston Water System's Quality Report was recently released! The Charleston Water System is a publicly owned water utility that provides clean drinking water to more than 400,000 people in the greater Charleston area, including all of Joint Base Charleston and its housing areas. Per the report, the Charleston Water System met or exceeded all quality standards and regulations in 2014. The entire report is available online at www.charlestonwater.com/2014report. Also, a limited number of physical copies will be distributed to the Child Development Centers, Youth Centers, and Housing Offices on both the Air Force Base and Naval Weapons Station.
Be safe with summer grilling
HOT TOPIC
Page 7
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC Mostly Sunny
Friday, June 19
(20% precip)
High 97º Low 76º
PM T-Storms Saturday, June 20
(40% precip)
High 97º Low 78º
See Joint Base Charleston on Facebook! - Follow Discussions, Connect With Your Base! CYAN-AOOO
MAGENTA-OAOO
YELLOW-OOAO
BLACK 01/29/08
Partly Cloudy
Sunday, June 21
(10% precip)
High 97º Low 79º