Travis Tailwind: Jan. 27, 2023

721st CRS stands up at Travis PAGE 2 CRW rolls out new multi-capable truck to benefit Travis PAGE 6

TRAVIS TAILWIND

Staff Sgt. Zachary Lester, 8th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion craftsman, shines a light inside an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the ‘Hush House’ on Kunsan Air Base,

A TIGHT FIT

South Korea, Jan. 9. Before firing up an engine in the Hush House, airmen verify every aspect of the aircraft is in good working order to prevent mishaps.

721st Contingency Response Squadron stands up at Travis

Staff Sgt. Scott Warner

621 CONTINGENCY RESPONSE

WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE —

The 621st Contingency Response Wing held an assumption of command ceremony for the standup of a brand new unit, the 721st Contingency Response Squadron, on Jan. 12 at Travis Air Force Base.

Formerly the 6th Air Refueling Wing’s chief of safety, Lt. Col. D. Gifford Bloom spoke about how proud he is to become the new 721st Contingency Response Squadron commander.

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this organization,” Bloom said. “This is the culmination of a long and arduous process, from the decision to add a squadron, to where we are today. I am thankful for the incredible help we have received from throughout the wing and for the exceptional work done by the initial cadre in building the squadron.”

The 721st Contingency Response Squadron accomplishes quick-turn aircraft maintenance, airfield management, passenger and cargo movement in any environment at any given time. In addition to that, they perform command and control of personnel, aircraft, supplies, threat assessment, force protection, air traffic control, weather, airfield systems maintenance, finance and contracting.

The assumption of command is an official military tradition that bestows command

responsibility of a unit to the commanding officer. It is traditionally done in front of members of the unit, allowing each person to observe the placement of authority and responsibility onto the new commander and is symbolized through the passing of the unit’s guidon.

The exchanging of the guidon dates back in military history to the 18th century. The flag served as a rallying point, and as a reminder of a military

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service member’s allegiance to their leader during battle. The flag, which displays different color arrangements and symbols unique to each unit, was the ultimate symbol in which military members dedicated their loyalty and trust.

“With the activation of an additional CR squadron, we are elevating our capabilities to match our Air Force’s need for highly trained, multi-capable teams of talented airmen who can make

the mission happen,” Col. Jeffrey N. Krulick, the 821st Contingency Response Group commander, said.

Krulick added that the 721st Contingency Response Squadron is now the fourth squadron in the 821 Contingency Response Group with the “first responder” designation to assess, open and operate airfields across the globe, with small, highly capable teams ready to rapidly deploy. They are trained to deliver

air power anywhere, from international airports to isolated dirt landing zones wherever deemed appropriate.

“I’m excited for the airmen of 721 CRS and to see their ability to ‘Win the Fight’,” Krulick said.

Based out of Travis Air Force Base, the 721st Contingency Response Squadron emblem displays a phantom, which in common lore is an entity that can materialize anywhere, anytime and without warning. Similarly, the squadron materializes in remote locations where others cannot, projecting air power at a moment’s notice.

With the ceremonial standup completed, the team is excited and ready to move the mission forward, Bloom said.

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Staff Sgt. Scott Warner/U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Krulick, left, the 821st Contingency Response Group commander, hands off the 721st Contingency Response Squadron (CRS) guideon flag to Lt. Col. D. Gifford Bloom, right, the new 721st CRS commander for the 721st CRS Assumption of Command ceremony held at Travis Air Force Base, Jan. 12.

Staff Sgt. Scott Warner/U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. D. Gifford Bloom, the new 721st Contingency Response Squadron commander, renders his first salute to his squadron at Travis Air Force Base, Jan. 12.

App gets updated to help any airman become a recruiter

Leslie Brown, Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) — Air Force Recruiting Service’s Aim High application has a new update that will interest airmen around the Total Force.

The app, originally launched in June 2020, became a valuable recruiting tool during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic helping recruiters connect with potential applicants in a virtual environment. But with continual improvements, now the app has a feature that will help all airmen, or any of the app’s more than 270,000 users, to become a recruiter of sorts for the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

“The new feature allows anyone who has the app to play an important role in filling the uniformed vacancies in our force,” said Capt. Michael Bambarger, the Aim High app functional manager. “No longer does a military member approached in public have

to refer someone to the local recruiting office, or a friend or family member have to convince someone they know who’s interested in joining the military to seek out a recruiter.”

The app update, which was pushed Jan. 10, allows any app user to assist in the Air Force’s recruiting efforts.

“Users now have the ability to send that individual’s information directly to the Lead Refinement Center in San Antonio, where it in-turn will be sent back to the local recruiter in the area of initial request,” Bambarger said. “Anyone interested simply needs to go to their mobile device app store, and search “Aim High” and download the app. App users can send a referral on behalf of any interested party.”

In the “more” tab dropdown menu, users can click “refer a friend” to get the Refer a Friend Form that asks for name, email, phone number, ZIP code and advanced interest (optional).

AFRS hopes all airmen will consider

sharing the app while attending outreach events. For example, airmen who are ap proved for the We Are All Recruiters pro gram can use the app at the events they at tend and have a direct positive influence on recruiting no matter their geographical lo cation.

The Aim High app was developed to in spire users through a variety of unique ex periences, attracting the most talented in dividuals and educating them on Air Force career opportunities. Users can participate in events, share content, and invite fami ly and friends to follow their initial training experience.

U.S. Space Force career content will be integrated into the Aim High app soon. In the meantime, hopeful guardians can use the app to connect to a recruiter, learn about the requirements to join and get an idea of what they can expect at basic military training.

The Aim High app can be downloaded on Android or iOS.

Chrissy Cuttita/U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Bambarger, the Aim High app functional manager, displays the Aim High mobile application’s menu where a new feature called “Refer a Friend” was added Jan. 10, allowing any user to assist in recruiting efforts.

Air Force adopts safety slogan based on input from airmen, guardians

Air Force Safety Center

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE

BASE, N.M. — The Air Force Safety Center recently sponsored a department-wide contest to bring attention to off-duty risk management. Participants were encouraged to create both video and safety slogans of off-duty threats to the “human weapon system.” The contest ran from Oct. 8 through Nov. 27, and our airman and guardians answered the call.

“At AFSEC we are always looking for ways to bring attention to risk management. How do we best protect our most valuable resource . . . our people? Recently, we asked airmen and guardians to develop messages focused on defending the human weapon system from unnecessary threats and risks in the off-duty environment,” said Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, Department of the Air Force chief of safety, commander of AFSEC. “Our vision is to inspire a proactive mindset across the Air and Space forces in order

to safeguard our people, protect our resources and enable mission success.”

“I want to give a shout out to the participants for bringing their creativity to this contest,” Leavitt said. “A common theme in the videos and slogans was that each of us have an important role to play in avoiding unnecessary risk and making our force more lethal.”

The Department of the Air Force lost 172 service members to off-duty risk activities between fiscal year 2017 and 2022. In hopes of decreasing losses, the safety center wanted to know from airmen and guardians, what messages captured their attention best. Each Wing/Delta was encouraged to participate in creating videos and slogans that demonstrated the proper use of risk management, especially during off-duty activities.

The winning video was based on the amount of “likes” it received on Facebook. Capt. Devan Klein and Tech. Sgt. Ricardo

See LETHAL Page 9

U.S. Air Force graphic

Off-Duty Risk Management graphic.

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621st CRW rolls out new multi-capable truck to benefit Travis

Tech. Sgt. Luther Mitchell Jr.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — The 621st Contingency Response Wing is applying its motto of “multi-capable airmen” to its fleet of trucks in 2023.

The wing is scheduled to retrofit 48 trucks with several additional components to make them universally deployable for multiple career fields and Contingency Response missions.

Members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing are divided between Travis

Air Force Base on the West Coast and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, on the East Coast.

“This makes it the truck for the entire fleet, where no matter what truck you use, it can fit any mission,” Tech Sgt. Rex Russell, 321st Contingency Response Squadron vehicle mechanic, said. “They say multi-capable airmen, well we made a multi-capable truck that can fulfill multiple CR mission from one platform.”

The truck has new features for command and control, aircraft maintenance, ramp coordinators, aerial porters, aerospace ground equipment and power

production airmen.

The truck is currently in the testing phase and has been sent out on about six or seven exercises, including the Joint Readiness Training Center exercise and an exercise Twentynine Palms, Russell said.

Feedback has been positive, with people asking for only minor adjustments on the current prototype so far.

“We have received some adjustments for the bed itself, as far as more lights and more tie downs on it, but everybody loves it,” Russell said.

Some of the truck’s new features include increased storage capacity and

tie-down points, increased range for handheld radios and amplifiers, laptop stands, power inverters, infrared and amber strobe lights, and a public address system.

All of these have huge implications for future Contingency Response missions.

“We put a public address system in it to use it for crowd control,” Russell said. “If you’re at an entry control point, you don’t need to get out of the vehicle to communicate with other people, increasing standoff distance for improvised explosive device threats. You can use it for lightning

See TRUCK Page 7

From Page 6

within 5 miles notifications, and other important announcements.”

The truck is also certified for secondary loads, making it capable of being used to store assets during transport on aircrafts, eliminating and opening more pallet positions for more cargo.

“We made it so you can use aircraft tie-downs on the rear of the truck, decreasing the load time by 20%,” Russell said. “Were always talking about lighter, leaner, lethal. I can remove two pallets from an aircraft, two less pallets to take off, means a faster load and unload time, and you get more space to take more equipment.”

Russell, who started working on this project four years ago, is compiling data and preparing the paperwork to officially begin moving into the production phase.

“We took all the data, and we’ve built a statement of work for a final contract to build the entire fleet,” Russell said. “Contracting will review it for final approval and send it out for bids. We will review the companies that place bids to ensure requirements are met and contracting will award it to start the process of getting

them built.”

The project is estimated to cost $2.5 million, with contracts to produce the vehicles over a five-year period. The current trucks in invento ry will be sent out to two contractors to install hardware and electronics for fleets on both the West and East coasts.

Getting to this point hasn’t been without ob stacles. Russell lobbied for years for people to see his innovation, but now everyone is getting on board.

“Now that it’s finally built, and we have data and everybody has seen it in action, people see that it is beneficial and does a lot of stuff,” Rus sell said. “The CR is very supportive of innova tion and ideas that can make the job better and the mission more capable.”

Leadership in the Contingency Response Wing innovation office are proud of Russell’s accomplishments and what he has achieved.

“Of all the 621 CRW’s innovation projects, I am personally most impressed by the grass roots project by Tech. Sgt. Rex Russell,” said Maj. Jonathon Gebo, 621st Contingency Re sponse Wing chief of innovation. “This is a project where an airman with a good idea felt empowered to take action and to better our organization. In my opinion, this is what true innovation looks like.”

Tech. Sgt. Anastasia Tompkins/U.S. Air Force

A retrofitted light service support vehicle assigned to the 621st Contingency Response Wing sits parked near the flightline at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Jan. 12. It is the CRW leadership’s plan to retrofit the entire fleet of 48 vehicles over the next five years.

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Lethal

From Page 4

Sanchez-Crespo, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. They created a motorcycle awareness video showing the importance of wearing a helmet while riding. The video depicts the impact of losing a family member, a friend or a co-worker. In the video, the rider makes

the right decision to wear his helmet, not losing his life and mitigating the risk.

Air Force Safety Center leadership debated and by popular vote chose two campaign slogan winners that were altered slightly and combined. The winners are Aaron Edwards from the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, who submitted “If you see something, Do Something,” and Ronald Crabtree from 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico,

who submitted “Live to be Lethal!”

Combined they became “See Something, Do Something – Live to Be Lethal!” and will be used in Department of the Air Force publications and social media.

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Medical training made a priority during deployment

Capt. Brandon Janson 807TH MEDICAL COMMAND (DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT)

Working in a Role III hospital center overseas, the bulk of the work consists of routine medical care for soldiers, Coalition Forces and contractors, addressing a multitude of symptoms, including headaches, muscle pain, cold-like symptoms, upset stomachs, etc.

On a busy day, the EMT can see 11 or more patients, and on other days the hospital might not see any patients at all. However, when a complex patient comes through the door, just a single trauma, all sections of the hospital are activated simultaneously and must be on their A-game to provide lifesaving medical care.

To do this, training is made a high priority, offering multiple training opportunities for every level in the hospital. Currently, the Role III conducts weekly training events, what has commonly become known as “chalk talks,” rotating skills stations, live case study reviews, as well as recertification courses such as Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

“Education is always important in the medical profession,” said Maj. Nicola Scott, who regularly assists a number of the training events hosted by Joint Task Force Med 374. “Processes are always changing due to evidencebased research, and training is a good refresher.”

The Role III Hospital Center has extended training outside of the task force, conducting training with other trace-down units at other locations, as well as other Coalition partners including Spanish, Italian, Polish and Iraqi components, to name a few. Additionally, each of the components regularly participates in largescale patient movement exercises where mock patients are pushed through the medical evacuation

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process, testing the different assigned unit’s ability to move, treat and evacuate casualties in theater.

“We try to conduct frequent MASCAL (mass casualty) and trauma drills to ensure soldiers are working as teams and developing their medical skills,” said Master Sgt. Richard Hargraves, the hospital’s chief ward master, a position that oversees many of the medical operations and training events for the hospital.

“These different opportunities also help us identify areas we need improvement in. That way, we are not having to figure things out when we have a live patient, ensuring Soldiers receive the best possible care. In the Army Reserve, we have a lot of soldiers that have different jobs on the civilian side than their Army job –these consistent training events really help them practice their medical skills,” Hargraves said.

Some of the skills focused on during training include methods of equipment used for intubation, intravenous access techniques, fluid and drug administration using pumps, lab interpretation, chest tube insertion, suturing, suction equipment and operation, acquiring and reading EKGs, and ultrasound uses and techniques, to name a few.

See TRAINING Page 12

Staff Sgt. Michael Romero Joint Task Force Med 374 EMT provider Maj. Ronald Carroll demonstrates a medical technique as part of a course offered by the Role III Hospital Center to U.S. soldiers and coalition partners.

Training

From Page 11

“Medical skills are definitely something that is perishable, and if we are not practicing them enough, those skills deteriorate over time,” Hargraves said. “The other advantage of working in an Army hospital like ours is all the backgrounds we have on our staff. Our doctors and staff work in different medical facilities and areas all over the country, both civilian and on the Army side, and all of them are trained professionals teaching with different experiences and SOPs (standard operating procedures) they use from their facilities.”

It’s not often you get a respiratory or drug class taught by an anesthesiologist, or an ultrasound/ imaging class taught by a radiologist, Hargraves said.

“I also think these pieces of training help improve each of the Soldier’s level of confidence as well as the patient’s level of confidence in the care they receive.

It also incorporates good leadership skills and team building, which help build the team, improve cohesion, and get soldiers out of their shells and comfort zones,” Hargraves said.

Outside the Role III Hospital, training and sharing of medical knowledge has been extended to other Army units and Coalition Forces, hosting multiple training events to include walking blood banks, basic combat lifesaver courses, as well specific medical topics on prolonged field care to Role I medical care.

“I got to give a class to the 10th Mountain Infantry Division, one of our Role I sites, discussing medical documentation, tactical casualty field cards, flow sheets, and telemedicine,” said Sgt. Peter Lebron, combat medic specialist. “At first, I thought we were just teaching the Role I medics, but then the whole room filled up with doctors, physician assistants, nurses, special forces . . . It was a good feeling knowing that the information I shared could help other medical units and connect resources for future soldier care.”