Travis Tailwind: Friday, May 12, 2023

TRAVIS TAILWIND

Airman 1st Class Stephen Souza of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team tosses his rifle during a performance at the Joint Services Drill Exhibition, April 14, at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The team is an elite unit of 25 airmen who train, on average, five days a week for eight to 10 hours per day to obtain their level of mastery.

Kristen Wong/U.S. Air Force

349th AMW Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month profile: Staff Sgt. Steve Kwak

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Effective June 1, First Term Airmen can retrain into AFSCs under 90% manning in lieu of separation

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) — The Air Force is changing the process of how First Term Airmen can retrain to provide additional opportunities for airmen to stay in uniform instead of separating. Effective June 1, all FTA can retrain into any Air Force Specialty Code they qualify for that is under 90% manned prior to separation, even if their current AFSC is below 90% manned.

Qualified airmen must be within their retaining window and meet medical, Air Force Enlisted Classification Directory standards, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery score and physical fitness standards to be approved.

“Glad to see us make this change as it relates to retraining opportunities for the force,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. “Providing these opportunities for our airmen helps us keep talent on the bench. While this particular change impacts First Term Airmen, expect to see more initiatives like this as we evolve our policies and talent management to focus on the force of the future and building the Air Force our nation needs.”

Additionally, the FTA Retaining Selection Board is also no longer required during the retraining application process. This removes the racking-and-stacking retraining application process based on the number of quotas needed for a more streamlined ‘first in, first out’ process. Phase 1 FTA retraining quotas will be open to all FTAs entering their retraining window during Fiscal Year 2024.

The Exception to Policy will be reassessed June 1, 2024, unless it is rescinded earlier.

Altus, Travis airmen train to maintain

Airman 1st Class Miyah Gray

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. —

Members of the 97th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron trained maintainers from the 660th and 749th AMXSs at Travis Air Force Base, California on the KC-46 Pegasus at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, from February to May 2023.

The training provided maintainers who are familiar with the KC-46 a chance to share both classroom and hands-on experience with maintainers from Travis AFB, who are expecting the addition of KC-46s to their fleet.

“Since arriving at Altus, we’ve been able to both train and support some of the flying and refueling missions here,” said Master Sgt. Jeremy Green, 660th AMXS aircraft electrical environmental specialist. “We’ve been able to go out and fly with aircrew in order to prepare us for real world issues we may face while carrying out the 97 AMW’s mission.”

Green said, in addition to simulating scenarios in-flight, the group of maintainers have also had the opportunity to utilize static aircraft to simulate issues they may face in the field.

“We’ve also been using trainer aircraft to simulate using technical data to troubleshoot and identify parts that need to be changed in order to get the aircraft fixed and fully mission capable,” he said. “We are then able to prepare for some of the scenarios that aren’t as likely to occur on a day-to-day basis and we’ll be prepared to handle whatever technical issues we may end up facing.”

Blake Pewo, 97th AMXS KC-46 flightline expediter, said Altus

See TRAIN Page 15

ABOVE: Sean Robinson, 97th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron work leader, demonstrates on a KC-46 Pegasus panel at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 18.

BELOW: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Raiven Belisle, a 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron KC-10 Extender crew chief from Travis Air Force Base, operates a KC-46 aircraft jack at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 18.

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Airman 1st Class Miyah Gray/U.S. Air Force photos

Aim High, reservist family going for gold

Rossi D. Pedroza 349TH AIR MOBILITY WING

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Emily Bradley has been mining for medals across the world, father, and bobsled in tow. She is the daughter of TSgt. Michael Bradley, aviation manager, 301st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base. Emily has a goal to win gold, sliding fast down the track.

One year ago, the bobsled sport captured her interest during the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. At first, she was just trying it out, according to her father. She is currently ranked number two in the world in Youth Women’s Monobob.

“Emily has developed as an athlete. She has shown us how bad she really wants this. Emily wakes up early every morning, does her work out, prepares her meals, watches track videos, and this is something we do not tell her to do,” said her father, Bradley. “She has a lot of initiative and discipline and has taken this on as her own thing.”

The local Travis community first learned of Bradley’s achievements last April when she was featured on local area broadcast network and reported in Travis Tailwind publication.

The start of this year’s competition was in January. The first race was held on an intimidating European track in Austria. Her father said she was a bit nervous on how it was going to go and what the outcome was going to be. Emily did well. She won silver in the first race, and bronze on day two.

The trust and confidence in Emily’s ability, and her resilient attitude he instilled in her, would carry her through the rough spots.

“I was just blown away. She claimed two of the top three finishes. Emily was in disbelief as well,” said Bradley. “It was her first year of racing, and one girl she competed against had a bunch of racing experience in Europe, yet Emily set the tone.”

Her total time combined for the silver and bronze was 1:56:51.

Bradley recalled his time as a bobsledder, “First time I went to Europe, I was terrified.” Ironically, Emily and he have recorded family history. “We both have shared the fact that our first times (down the slopes) in Europe were down this same track.”

The senior Bradley represented the Unites States Bobsled Team in 2006 and 2010. As an airman, he was accepted twice for the U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program.

“We have a lot of military personnel around in this sport. We still have people who are world top athletes, who are competing in bobsled right now,” said Bradley. “Emily is getting exposure to that level of competitiveness and professionalism and tying the two together.”

The Bradley’s arrived in Pyeongchang, South Korea, after leaving Austria.

The schedule included two weeks of intense training. Emily finished seventh in the first run and came in fifth on the final run. Father and daughter were pleased with those run times.

The final stop of the competition ended at Lake Placid, New York, known as

ABOVE: Emily Bradley drives through the “kreisel” corner of the Igls, Austria bobsled course.

LEFT: Emily Bradley walking away from her sled after crossing the finish line in Lake Placid, on March 14, 2023.

Kevin Young courtesy photos

A look back at the Air Force’s evolving physical fitness standards

Dr. Joseph Frechette, Ph.D.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — May is National Physical Fitness Month and the Air Force Medical Service has been concerned about the fitness and overall readiness of its members throughout its history.In a chapter dedicated to the Air Service in the Army’s clinical history of the First World War, physical standards were noted as the first item of concern. In World War II, the Army Air Forces established its physical fitness program as a function of the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff for Personnel and charged line commanders to ensure the conduct of the program at the group level. This was where special service personnel with physical education qualifications acted as athletic instructors.

Studies under the supervision of the former School of Aviation Medicine sought to improve methods for developing and measuring physical fitness. Findings included the notes that group competitive sports were preferable since they would have the additional effect of supporting morale, the development of specialized “aviation calisthenics,” and the development of a standard test consisting of sit-ups, pull-ups, and a 300-yard shuttle run. Notes on these studies in the Air Surgeon’s Bulletin from 1945 indicated a debate regarding exercise frequency, suggesting that fitness scores were not much different in groups engaged in physical training six days per week versus three days per week.

With the establishment of an independent Air Force and then its own medical service in 1949, Air Force standards followed in 1951 replacing all the previous

Army physical standards. Nevertheless, a 1959 study suggested that the Air Force’s fitness programs were ineffective. In the early 1960s, the service adopted the “Five Basic Exercises” program for men, or 5BX, and the “Ten Basic Exercises” program for women, or XBX. These programs required no special equipment and could be accomplished in eleven minutes. Looking back on the era, former Air Force Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Alexander Sloan remarked, “A lot of guys played golf. There was really no fitness facility to make fitness easy.”

In the late 1960s, with greater numbers of personnel deploying to austere locations overseas, there was renewed concern regarding physical fitness and dissatisfaction with the 5BX program. A new round of studies at Wilford Hall led by former flight surgeon and the person attributed with coining the term, “aerobics,” Lt. Col. Kenneth Cooper, and championed by former U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Richard Bohannon, resulted in a new Aerobics Physical Fitness Program which was approved by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in 1969. The new program required a 1.5-mile run. With this new addition, debate reigned over the next two decades regarding what would qualify as a passing score, how often tests should occur, at what ages, how to prevent overexertion on the run, and whether it could be substituted with a three mile walk.In the early 1990s, the Air Force introduced bicycle ergometry as a safer and more reliable method of testing aerobic capacity. At the same time, there was a push to implement Health and Wellness Centers throughout

Kemberly Groue/U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training trainee Chris-Ann Wilmoth, 37th Training Wing Detachment

5, Flight 564, participates in a physical training session at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, July 1, 2020. This group of nearly 60 trainees, who graduated on July 24, made up the first female flight to complete the six-week BMT course at Keesler.

Col. Gibson assumes command of 349 MXG

Master Sgt. Jose Aquilizan

349 AIR MOBILITY WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — U.S. Air Force Col. Cade Gibson assumed leadership of the 349th Maintenance Group during an assumption of command ceremony, May 6, at Travis Air Force Base, California.

Col. Lee E. Merkle, 349th Air Mobility Wing commander, presided over the ceremony, handing the reins to Gibson.

Gibson will oversee the 349th MXG which is responsible for providing maintenance support to the 349th AMW, which is the largest associate wing in the Air Force Reserve. The wing is comprised of more than 3,000 reservists, Air Reserve Technicians - ARTS, and civilian employees.

Master Sgt. Jose Aquilizan/U.S. Air Force photos U.S. Air Force Col. Cade Gibson, right, assumed leadership of the 349th Maintenance Group during an assumption of command ceremony, May 6, at Travis Air Force Base.

U.S. Air Force Col. Cade Gibson assumed leadership of the 349th Maintenance Group during an assumption of command ceremony, May 6, at Travis Air Force Base.

571st MSAS tours Army advisor annual training assessments

621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE

BASE — Between April 1920, leaders of the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron assigned to Travis Air Force Base, met with U.S. Army advisor leaders with the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, to tour 1st SFAB’s annual training assessment events.

Additionally, both units identified operational capabilities and future joint training opportunities by introducing and connecting their respective mission sets and current operations in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

“We are beyond excited to collaborate with our joint counterparts so we can more effectively leverage our advisor networks, effects and access in SOUTHCOM AOR,” said Lt. Col. Robert Chance, the 571st MSAS commander. “The Army and 1st

SFAB have really set the example on what conventional advising needs to look like, and USAF Air Advisors have a lot to learn from them.”

From this meeting, both units agreed to explore cooperating on upcoming training efforts. For example, the MSAS is heavily involved in transforming its air advising mission-set through an iterative exercise series under Air Mobility Command’s Exercise Mobility Guardian 2023 umbrella. This includes a big lift in June at Exercise Advisor Edge 2023 which will also include Air Advisors from the other MSAS in the 621st Contingency Response Wing: the 818th MSAS at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Exercise Advisor Edge has evolved to be the premier annual exercise venue where Air Advisors push the envelope to test and validate tactics, technique and procedures that get after the high-end fight.

Additionally, the 1st SFAB

executes its own established exercise series that culminates in a deployment readiness certification event. According to Chance, cooperation at these exercises and other similar venues will only serve to enhance future joint advising efforts.

“Partnering with U.S. Army Advisors will surely help the entire advisor enterprise synchronize and develop capabilities to build partnership capacity and interoperability,” said Capt. James Hejna, the 571st MSAS readiness flight commander.

The 571st MSAS leadership team also met with the Army’s Military Advisor Training Academy schoolhouse cadre,

See MSAS Page 11

Lt. Col. Robert Chance/U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Capt. James Hejna, bottom middle, the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron readiness flight commander, fires a SIG Sauer M-18 pistol while a U.S. Army soldier with the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade supervises the firing range at Fort Benning, Georgia, April 19, 2023. For two days, the 571st MSAS and 1st SFAB cooperatively conducted a leadership engagement visit to identify opportunities for support and interoperability between the USAF and U.S. Army.

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Capt. James Hejna/U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Chance, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron commander, shakes the hand of U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Gallagher, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade executive officer, at Fort Benning, Georgia, April 20, 2023. For two days, the 571st MSAS and 1st SFAB cooperatively conducted a leadership engagement visit to identify opportunities for support and interoperability between the USAF and U.S. Army.

Togolese AF, MSAS air advisors train together during military engagement

621st Contingency Response

Wing Public Affairs

LOMÉ, Togo — Members of the 818th and 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons traveled to Lomé, Togo, last week to conduct the first military-to-military engagement between the Togolese Air Force and the 621st Air Mobility Advisory Group Air Advisors in 11 years.

The team, comprised of four 818th MSAS Air Advisers from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and one 571st MSAS Air Adviser from Travis Air Force Base, supported the TAF airframe program through a week of maintenance and logistics exchanges, aiding the TAF in effectively and efficiently conducting maintenance and logistical operations practices while strengthening the aviation-related partnership with the TAF.

Air Advisors, TAF maintainers and logistics specialists discussed practices focused on part acquisition and resourcing while exchanging tactics, techniques and procedures on the conduct of these operations in the execution of military-to-military engagements.

Multiple news reports from the area have brought to light the strategic and peacekeeping advantages of Togo for Africa in combating terrorist activities and groups, including the recent surge in attacks near the Burkina Faso border by Jama’at Nusrat alIslam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

“Throughout the assessment, it became abundantly clear that the Togolese Air Force is performing at a high level across many of its mission sets to secure its northern border from terrorist extremists,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sandre Lillington, 818th MSAS air transportation air advisor. “This engagement showed a willingness from the Togolese

TRAVIS AIR FORCE

BASE– The Travis AFB BX has launched a new online scheduling service for barbershop appointments.

Scheduling is available at GMEHair.com/locations, where

individuals can select their installation, preferred barber, services and appointment time.

“Online scheduling brings another level of convenience to service members and their families,” said Travis AFB BX

General Manager Cathie Byrns. “Haircuts and grooming options are an important part of military life, and we’re pleased to provide a more streamlined process for our communities.”

to grow its capabilities and work with the United States Air Force to ensure regional stability. This aligns directly with 818th MSAS’s mission of building partnership capabilities.”

The MSAS team assembled 16 members from the TAF to accomplish this engagement while also meeting with key leaders from the Lomé Air Base. These collaborative efforts resulted in a more comprehensive understanding of the TAF procedures, fortifying security cooperation efforts for both countries while opening the door for future collaborations and exchanges of expertise in other specialties between the TAF and Air Advisor teams.

“This was the first engagement with Togo in over 11 years and their wing commander was very eager to have us back soon to offer training courses,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Eduardo Aguas, 571st MSAS aircraft maintenance air adviser. “Having an impact on the day-to-day operations of an entire foreign military has been a very humbling and gratifying experience. This is the only job in the Air Force that will allow you this opportunity.

Tech Sgt. Sandre Lillington/U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Messan Atayi, 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron air adviser, discusses local acquisition processes and standard practices with logisticians from the Togolese Air Force.

CRW teams up with Project Arc to heighten innovation

621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J — The 621st Contingency Response Wing is driving innovative change through unit level capability development with the help of two Project Arc airmen from the Headquarters Air Mobility Command and the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Lt. Col. Joshua Neustrom and Airman 1st Class Hannah Garwood, both degreed engineers, were selected for Project Arc in November 2022 through the Office of the Chief Scientist to be placed at Joint Base McGuireDix-Lakehurst for six months to build and assist the ongoing efforts to develop and deliver capabilities directly into the hands of the warfighter.

Project Arc is an Air and Space Force wide program where active-duty airmen of all ranks across the globe are handpicked based on their skills and technical background. They are then temporarily placed in a unit desiring to accelerate change.

“Project Arc airmen around the world have saved the Air Force increasing amounts of time and money each year with the first two months of 2023 resulting in eight successful initiatives totaling $7.5 million and 30,000 man-hours saved,” said Maj. Jason Goins, Project Arc lead.

Project Arc fuses the user in need with the tech savvy airmen.

“Most solutions we need already exist in some airmen’s head,” said Neustrom. “Instead of expensive contracts, many airmen’s ideas just need a little technical expertise to make them a reality.”

“One of the problems our Air Force faces today is loss of technical talent due to under-utilization. Project Arc bridges this gap by allowing all ranks to apply, as well as placing us in units they believe are the best fit to utilize our skills. In our current cohort we have about half enlisted, half officers” stated A1C Garwood.

Project Arc has been supported strongly

See ARC Page 9

621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs courtesy photo Airman 1st Class Hannah Garwood, left, and Lt. Col. Joshua Neustrom, right, degreed engineers and Project Arc airmen, pose for a photo at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Both airmen were selected for Project Arc in November 2022 through the Office of the Chief Scientist to be placed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for six months to build and assist the ongoing efforts to develop and deliver capabilities directly into the hands of the warfighter.

ARC

From Page 8

by the 621st CRW in the last year in its efforts to heighten innovation.

“The 621 CRW provides an ideal testing environment for capability development due to the robust contingency exercise schedule, diverse missions sets and highly trained multiCapable airmen who are freed from traditional career field dayto-day duties,” Col. Aaron Walenga, 621st CRW Vice Commander. “We also benefit from extremely diverse squadrons consisting of over 35 different career field specialties in a single squadron.”

Airmen today are faced with the pressure of expediency which creates a need for practical solutions. A1C Garwood notes, “Some of the best projects and ideas have been low to no cost solutions, airmen built, and airmen maintained. This ensures future continuity and success of the effort.”

The following airmen-built innovations can be implemented by almost any squadron in the Air Force with minimal cost and time: fast and reliable cargo deployment process, compact and light airfield testing equipment, austere environment protection for radios, hands-on Tactical Awareness Kit app and Envision training and an armory check-in/ out system.

Among these efforts, the Project Arc team has brought not only expertise, but existing outside resources and connections the 621st CRW has leveraged. This has helped further the efforts to bridge the gap between the warfighter and higher headquarters.

For example, the 621st CRW is working towards implementing and deploying a contingency common operating picture that integrates with upgraded communications equipment. TAK was created by the Air Force Research laboratory and is currently being experimented with during exercises. TAK is an app that provides real-time situational

awareness and geospatial mapping for a variety of operational duties. Examples include, airfield surveys, capturing sensor feeds, weather tracking, aircraft parking plans, and cargo deployment tracking.

“With implementation of a new platform, comes the need for hands-on, in person training as well as practical guidance for field use,” said Garwood. “By stress testing the system ourselves and giving airmen handson time in a low-threat setting, they become more comfortable using TAK under pressure. In addition to training, ground rules need to be set on how this system will be used effectively across the different CR missions.”

“We have found numerous bases across the Air Force using TAK for a variety of missions,” Neustrom said. “Connecting with other units allows us to expand our knowledge on the system and train airmen more effectively. By sharing our training across the 621st CRW and at AMC headquarters, we lay the groundwork for seamless communication and situation awareness from the bottom to the top of the command during the next contingency.”

With these efforts in place, the 621st CRW can rapidly test a multitude of innovations spanning several missions that are widely applicable to many other Air Force units across the globe.

“In the Air Force there is a large gap between those who see the big picture, and those directly near the problems,” Neustrom said. “Instead of innovating from the top of the chain down, we have seen more success innovating from the bottom up, integrating airmen of all ranks and positions into these efforts. A contractor with a high price tag is not always going to fix the problem.”

“Both Project Arc and the 621st CRW have provided this open test bed for us to explore our ideas as well as help airmen with theirs,” said Garwood. “A big part of our success is from local leadership recognizing the bottom-up approach and supporting us along the way through the good, and bad.”

“Networking with other

airmen and bases is key in all of this,” Neustrom said. “Some of our Air Force challenges have been solved or thought about at another base. Bringing together technical experts passionate about these problems can bring about amazing change and progress.”

“What we have seen is that you cannot simply finish a project and leave it, you must capture the outstanding effect, and then document what is needed to build and maintain the solution,” said Garwood. “Then it can be shared to other bases and pitched to leaders across the Air Force.”

Another way to share ideas is by using online forums like afmaker.com and vision.il4.afwerx. dso.mil/.

A1C Garwood said a recipe of key innovation ingredients includes “a mix of technical and soft skills to include charisma, compassion for the airmen enduring the problems we face, critical thinking, and the acceptance

of failure along the way.”

“Similar to a fire requiring heat, fuel and oxygen; innovation requires resources, motivated expertise and time,” said Walenga. “Unfortunately, we often forget about time as a critical element of innovation in the same way we forget about oxygen needed to build a fire. The challenge for today’s leaders is, pending an existential threat upending our weekly battle rhythms, how do we prioritize our airmen’s time to ignite innovation. And it’s not just any airman...how do we target the motivated airmen, who can take ideas and leverage their experience, education, and resources to move fast and develop capability that previously did not exist.”

To help the innovation effort, a good starting place is the local Spark Cell.

“Having an idea or a drive to make something better is the first step, you then must put in the work to find those opportunities,”

said Garwood. “Airmen do not always have the resources on hand, but most bases have Spark Cells with like-minded individuals working innovation efforts.”

Spark Cells were designed to give every airman the opportunity to participate in growing ideas and approaches that foster a culture of innovation. They offer tools such as high-speed computers, 3D printers and various platform licenses to execute locally generated ideas and projects.

“With the help of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Spark Cell and the Travis Air Force Base Phoenix Spark Cell, many of our projects for the 621st CRW have been executed rapidly and turned over to the units ready to implement,” Neustrom said.

The 621st CRW plans to bring in two more Project Arc airmen coming this Spring 2023 and is hopeful for continued growth and innovative mindsets to enhance contingency operations.

349th AMW Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month profile: Staff Sgt. Kwak

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE —

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and throughout the month we celebrate the amazing men and women serving in the Air Force Reserve with the 349th Air Mobility Wing. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steve Kwak, from the 349th Recruiting Squadron, is one such airman proudly serving in uniform.

Born in South Korea, Kwak immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 11 years old. While attending community college, Kwak decided to do more with his life.

“I was wanting to do something where I could help people, but I didn’t know what career field,” said Kwak. “Then I realized I could join the Air Force. I did and that’s where my life really began.”

Kwak initially enlisted active duty in 1990 as a surface freight transportation troop. Toward the end of his enlistment, Kwak was stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea. This gave him the opportunity to revisit home and be close to family there.

“My main reason for wanting to go back to Korea was because I speak Korean and love Korean food,” Kwak joked. “But also, my grandmother was still there at the time, and it meant I could see her every other week.”

After separating active duty, Kwak worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs for several years, finding a way to assist fellow veterans. Wanting to find another way to help people, Kwak decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Washington State University using his education benefits.

“One of the reasons I chose the career field was that I had a family member who was suffering

from a mental disorder,” said Kwak. “I felt the need to understand what goes on with people who are suffering from mental illness. I wanted to be able to intervene and provide help for those who would need it.”

Kwak used his education to become a mental health technician when he came back to the Air Force 17 years later, but this time with the Air Force Reserve. Kwak then deployed to Al Udeid Air Base as a chaplain’s assistant, providing spiritual support to service members overseas. Now Kwak serves the Air Force Reserve and local community as a full-time recruiter for the 349 AMW. As an Air Force Reserve recruiter, Kwak is responsible for community outreach in and around Travis Air Force Base, to include Solano, Napa, Marin, and Sonoma counties.

“Getting somebody through the door to start a new chapter in life that I believe is going to be beneficial to them,” Kwak said. “No matter what career field, it’s just making them part of this Air Force Reserve community that is such a huge reward.”

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson/U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steve Kwak is a Korean American serving in the Air Force Reserve as a recruiter for the 349th Recruiting Squadron at Travis Air Force Base.

Readiness at risk because of stalled promotions, defense secretary says

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said a Republican senator’s delay of the quick approval of nearly 200 military promotions poses a “clear risk” to the nation’s military readiness and directly affects the lives of service members’ families.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (RAla.) in March promised to delay the approval of these promotions over his objection to the Defense Department’s abortion policy. His decision, Austin warned in a letter last week to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), “harms America’s national security and hinders the Pentagon’s normal operations.”

“The United States military relies on the deep experience and strategic expertise of our senior military leaders,” Austin wrote. “The longer that this hold persists, the greater the risk the U.S. military runs in every theater, every domain, and every Service.”

Austin has urged the Senate to move ahead with the promotions, telling members of the Senate Armed Services Committee in March that the blockade on military promotions caused a “ripple effect in the force that makes us far less ready than we need to be.”

His letter to Warren comes in

response to a request by the senator, who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on personnel, to outline how Tuberville’s hold is directly affecting national security.

The hold, he said, can lead to feelings of uncertainty among military families because it prevents rising officers from being able to “predict promotion and rotation windows.” This, he warned, can increase “the pressure to leave the military in favor of greater stability.”

Military children are unable to move to new schools until the promotions are confirmed, Austin said, and military spouses cannot accept new jobs “because they cannot predict when they could start.”

The defense secretary explained that officials serving in key positions – including the chief of staff of the Army and the director of the National Security Agency – are due to rotate out of their jobs within the next four months and that, without the promotions, the military can’t replace them. The tenure of service chiefs in the military is limited by law, which means incumbents must leave their positions at their appointed times.

which trains all advisors for all regionally aligned SFABs. By observing and participating in the 1st SFAB’s Fundamental Phase Assessment Training Event, the subsequent discussion with MATA cadre helped validate the need to provide sister service training opportunities: USAF Air Advisors at the Army training academy, and vice versa.

“Learning each other’s processes will help us improve our joint capacity to best serve our partner nations for the future,” said Hejna.

Lastly, the 571st MSAS met with 18 international

field grade officers studying joint planning at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. WHINSEC is a Latin Americanfocused Intermediate Developmental Education equivalent for the U.S. Army, sister services and SOUTHCOM partners. This engagement included a class covering the MSAS’s mission brief, conducted in Spanish, with follow-on dialogue on how to incorporate air advisors into partner nation respective capabilities through embassy engagement.

All of this serves as just another building block in the right direction for an already strong foundation and partnership between the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army.

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Dr. Claybon Lea, Jr. - Senior Pastor

Fairfield Campus

1735 Enterprise Drive, Bldg. 3 Fairfield, CA 94533

Sunday Worship Services

7:00am & 10:00 am Bible Study

Tuesdays at 12 noon (virtual)

Suisun Campus

601 Whispering Bay Lane, Suisun City, CA 94585

707-425-1849

www.mcbcfs.org for more information

First Baptist Church of Vacaville

The All Together Different Church

1127 Davis Street, Vacaville 707-448-6209

www.fbcvv.com

Holy Spirit Parish

1050 North Texas Street Fair eld, CA 94533-0624 707-425-3138

www.holyspiritfair eld.org

Weekend Mass:

Saturday • 5:00 pm & 7:00 pm (Spanish)

Sunday • 6:00am (Spanish),

7:30, 9:00, 10:30am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm (Spanish), 7:00pm (Spanish)

Daily: M-F • 7:00am & 9:00am Saturday • 9:00am; Tues & Fri • 7:00pm (Spanish); Wed • 7:00pm (English) OLPH

Confessions in English: Saturday • 3:00-4:30pm

CHURCH OF CHRIST

CHURCH of CHRIST Meetsat Rockville Cemetery Stone Chapel

4221 Suisun Valley Rd, Fairfield

9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study

9:50 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship

5:30 p.m. Sunday Evening Bible Study

7:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening Bible Study

We welcome and encourage you to come and hear the good news of the gospel of Christ, and to learn about eternal salvation for all mankind that is offered through Jesus. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Live Stream on:

Worship With Us… St. Paul Baptist Church

1405 Kentucky Street Fair eld, CA 94533

Rev. Dr. Terry Long, Pastor

Sunday

Sunday School: 11:00 a.m.

Morning Worship Service: 12:00 p.m.

Children’s Church: 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday Prayer Meeting: 6:30-7:00 p.m.

Bible Study: 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Web Site: www.stpaulfair eld.org

Email: stpaulbcfair eld@comcast.net

Church Phone: 707-422-2003

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Spanish: Tues & Fri • 4:00pm-6:00pm Join

Live stream at: itsallaboutfamilies.org

301 N. Orchard Ave., Vacaville 707.448.5848

SUNDAY

Classes for all ages..........10:00 am

Worship..............................11:00 am

CORE Bible Studies12:30 & 5:00 pm (2nd & 4th Sunday)

WEDNESDAY

Adult Studies........................2:00 pm

AWANA for Kids..................6:15 pm

Adult & Youth Studies.........6:30 pm

Sunday

Bring a heart and mind willing to hear God’s Word and to do His great will... For more information or directions, please visit our website at www.rockvillecofc.com

Fitness

From Page 4

the Air Force which could serve as “a one-stop-shop” for fitness assessment and health promotion services and link fitness and readiness. In the early 21st century, there was a new emphasis on muscular fitness and concern that the energy devoted to fitness be “consistent with the growing demands of our warrior culture.” This culminated with the Chief of Staff of

the Air Force, Gen. John P. Jumper’s “Fit to Fight” program which took effect in 2004 with the return of the 1.5-mile run as the cardiovascular test.

In 2014, a new Health Promotion Concept of Operations reinforced the notion that the Fitness Program is a commander’s program rather than an AFMS program. This moved the Air Force away from a facilities-based model and the Health and Wellness Centers in favor of shared responsibility for health promotion on the part of all medics as well as the line

leadership.

Overall, particularly given the recently released Body Composition Program, one might be tempted to sum up the history of Air Force fitness as a story in which the only constant is change. But that would be to overlook the sustained interest on the part of the AFMS, the line leadership and their predecessors over more than a century in ensuring the physical fitness of the force, with course corrections in the face of better data, practical experience, and changing circumstances.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Vacaville Church of Christ 401 Fir St., Vacaville, CA 95688 (707) 448-5085

Minister: Elliott Williams

Sunday Morning Bible Study

For advertising information about this director y, call Classifieds at 707-427-6973 or email: cgibbs@dailyrepublic.net

Church and School

1011 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687

Loving the Lord –

Learning the Walk – Living the Life

•

The Father’s House 4800 Horse Creek Drive Vacaville, CA 95688 (707) 455-7790

9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship

10:30 AM

Sunday Evening Worship

5:00 PM

•

•

www.tfh.org

Look us up on the web: GoBethany.com

•

•

Service Times

Wed. Evening Bible Study 7:00 PM www.vacavillecofc.com

•

Sunday: 9am & 11am

Live Stream at tfhvacaville

tfhvacavilletfhvacaville

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

“To know Him, and to make Him known”

490 Brown Street Vacaville, CA 95688 707-446-8684

Sundays:

Sunday School (9:45 am)

Worship Service (11:00 am)

Pastor Jon Kile 192 Bella Vista Road, Vacaville 707-451-2026

Sunday school for all ages is provided during both services. Visit

Fellowship Lunch (12:30 pm)

Thursdays:

Prayer Meeting (7:00 pm)

Bible studies throughout the week.

Pastor Ben Smith www.vacavillebiblechurch.com office@vacavillebiblechurch.com

If you would like to take a free Bible correspondence course contact: Know Your Bible Program 401 Fir Street • Vacaville, CA 95688 (707) 448-5085

UNITED METHODIST

“The People of The United Methodist Church™”

Airman 1st Class Mya M. Crosby/U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force airmen exercise at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., July 27, 2015.

No.

646

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For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

Train

From Page 2

AFB poses unique advantages due to having an all-civilian maintenance group.

“We build quite a bit of continuity here at Altus,” he said. “A lot of the general system knowl-

out. With that, and not having so much turnover as opposed to other bases, we have people that have worked with this aircraft since the first (KC-46) arrived at Altus AFB. We’re able to pass on all of the knowledge we’ve obtained to other bases who are receiving KC-46s.”

Senior Airman Raiven Belisle, 660th AMXS KC-46 crew chief,

daily operations versus classroom and virtual learning.

“It’s been really cool having hands-on experience and getting to know what I’ll be doing on a day-to-day basis,” said Belisle. “The (KC-)46 is very similar to the (KC-)10 (Extender), which made learning a lot easier. Being able to actually work on the jets on a daily basis gave me the confidence to ensure they’re

Airman 1st Class Miyah Gray/U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nasir Savage, a 660th Aircraft Maintenance crew chief from Travis Air Force Base, tightens an aircraft jack ram lock at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 18.

Gold

the most technically demanding track in the world. Emily walked away with two silver medals.

Emily is the only representative for the United States on the women’s team going into the youth Olympics.

“She knows if she doesn’t train or if she doesn’t eat right, it is going to affect her results, said Bradley. “The pressure that she

puts on herself is very healthy. It takes a lot for an adult to do those things, especially for a teen.”

Emily will compete in eight additional races to qualify for the youth games. She will participate in two scheduled during October in Korea, and two training races in Germany.

“Emily’s journey is so fun. She is literally following in my same footsteps, but she is surpassing me in every way,” said Bradley. “She is better than me. That’s what I hoped for.”

From Page 3

Kevin Young courtesy photos Emily Bradley pushes off from the start line in the first race in Lake Placid, New York.

Emily Bradley discussing race strategies with her dad, Mike Bradley, in Lake Placid.