6 | Wednesday, September 02, 2020 | THE SOUND OF FREEDOM AFPC matches frst child custody assignment

BY TRACI HOWELLS, AIR FORCE’S PERSONNEL CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RAN- DOLPH, Texas -- A Luke Air Force Base Airman was granted the frst court-ordered child cus- tody assignment recently, just one day af- ter the application process opened. Master Sgt. William Rotrof, an F-35 in- tegrated section chief with the 756th Air- craft Maintenance Squadron, was notifed that his application was approved less than 24 hours after he submitted his package. “I was in shock,” he said. “I know the assignment process is busy, with a lot of moving parts. I’m just so grateful to the assignments team and everyone that was involved with making this happen.” Rotrof’s commander, Maj. Joseph Lan- gan, said he had the honor of delivering the good news in person and that Rotrof was overjoyed. “One of the greatest parts about being a squadron commander is that I have the ability and authority to fx many problems for my Airmen relatively quickly,” Langan said. “Sometimes the problems are messy and have complex solutions, but this was one of the easiest and most satisfying wins I’ve had during my time in command.” Rotrof said he found himself in a unique position when his overseas orders cancelled unexpectedly, after he already helped relocate his ex-wife and their four- year-old son to Florida, where she would have a stronger support system in his ab- sence. He remembered that the Air Force re- COURTESY PHOTO cently announced a change in policy that Master Sgt. William Rotroff, an F-35 integrated section chief with the 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and his son, Chevvy, now considers child custody agreements pose for a photo in Jacksonville, Florida, April 2020. Rotroff recently received the frst approved application for a court-ordered when granting Airmen assignments and child custody assignment and is scheduled to join his son in Florida this fall. deferments, so he contacted his local Mili- tary Personnel Flight for more information. He went through the requirements care- enable the process to be swift for Airmen look forward to this program running on eryone’s urgency is diferent, but it’s a fully to ensure he was a qualifed applicant and their families,” she said. all cylinders and becoming normal muscle blessing this program exists,” Rotrof said. and submitted his package, expecting to “This program truly shows how the Air movement for our assignment functional “I’m thankful my son will be able have his receive a decision back in approximately Force cares for their Airmen and families,” managers in our operations execution di- mom and dad; his happiness means the 30 days. she said. “It provides an opportunity for rectorate.” world to me.” Cristi Bowes, Military Assignment Poli- Airmen to continue serving in the great- He added that it takes a team of experts The Court-Ordered Child Custody As- cy and Procedures at the Air Force Person- est Air Force in the world and not have working behind the scenes to ensure these signment or Deferment consideration pro- nel Center, credited Rotrof for being pro- to choose between their career and their programs are successful. gram is applicable to ofcer and enlisted active and having all of his documentation children.” “The assignment functional managers Regular Air Force Airmen on active duty readily available, which she said contrib- Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Hoglund, and policy experts are merging art with for those that meet the program eligibility uted to the quick turnaround time. Addi- AFPC command chief, said he commends science to create positive outcomes for our requirements and when manning at cur- tionally, she said assignment teams were the Air Force for taking bold action to get Airmen,” said Hoglund. rent and gaining location will support re- trained and ready to accept and review where it is today. Rotrof said he expects to arrive in Flor- assignment action. requests immediately after the application “The ability to take a vision and turn ida just in time for his son’s ffth birthday Airmen can click here to view the was made available to Airmen. it into reality has set a mark for future and said that it would be a huge gift to myPers article and Personnel Services De- “We deliberately designed the process programs to continue to generate wins both of them. livery Guide to learn more about the pro- to have minimal required coordination to for our Airmen and families,” he said. “I “Everyone’s situation is diferent, ev- gram, eligibility criteria, and how to apply. Fourth Fighter Squadron wraps up training in Alaska

cuting at a high level, was a testament to er with aircraft and personnel, we don’t “It was a little overwhelming, just the BY MICAH GARBARINO, the adaptability and resilience of the en- normally fy with on a regular basis, we sheer number of aircraft and the size of 388TH FIGHTER WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS tire squadron and aircraft maintenance learn how to best capitalize on everyone’s the training range is amazing,” Best said. unit, said Lt. Col. Joshua Arki, 4th Fighter strengths to create an imposing force of of- “I am confdent in the F-35’s capabilities. Squadron commander. fensive counter-air.” But, the bigger takeaway for me was the HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFNS) -- “This was the frst time the F-35 par- First Lt. Alex Best graduated the F-35 caliber of all the Airmen I’m fying with. The 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter ticipated in Red Flag Alaska. Our jets and basic pilot training course in June and That’s what makes me confdent we can Squadron, along with Reservists from the integrated operations and maintenance joined 4th FS. Six weeks later he was fy- win any fght. Their skill and preparation 419th FW, returned to Hill Air Force Base, team performed phenomenally,” Arki said. ing with a large, integrated force in the Air is unmatched and a large exercise like this Aug. 22, after three weeks of training in “Coupled with our joint team – consisting Force’s premier combat exercise. really highlights that experience.” Alaska, including Red Flag 20-3 at Eielson of the F-22 Raptor, command and control Air Force Base. elements, and special operations forces on Red Flag is a large force combat exercise the ground – the enemy did not stand a that takes place several times each year at chance in the training scenarios. We ex- both Eielson AFB and Nellis AFB, Nevada, pect the same outcome if called upon to where a friendly “Blue Force” takes on an execute this mission in combat.” enemy “Red Force” over several days in a The squadron generated and few up variety of taxing, combat-realistic scenar- to 16 sorties each training day during the ios. exercise, but fying is just half the battle Red Flag was originally designed after for young pilots at Red Flag. The real test the Vietnam War to provide younger pilots often comes in mission planning and de- experience before heading into combat. It briefng. still does, but it also provides a validation A typical mission-planning day starts of an entire squadron’s readiness – from pi- at 5 a.m. and lasts for approximately 12 lots, to maintainers, intelligence and other hours. support personnel. “That’s where we fnd out what the During this exercise, the 4th FS in- objective is, what other assets we have to tegrated with F-35A Lightning IIs from work with and decide what our game plan Eielson AFB and F-22 Raptors from Joint will be,” Lindenberg said. Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; B-1B The day of the mission starts with an- Lancers from Ellsworth AFB, South Da- other pre-dawn brief from the mission kota; KC-135 Stratotankers from Fairchild commander and fight leads, and then it’s AFB, Washington; and special operations time to go “kick down the door” with a forces on the ground. mass of joint air power, Lindenberg said. This was the frst all ffth-generation After the mission is complete, the most fghter force at Red Flag, and included critical training element for pilots begins – scenarios that focused on “Day One of reviewing and deconstructing the mission. the war,” said Capt. Christian Lindenberg, “It is the most valuable part of any sor- F-35 pilot and the 4th FS project ofcer for tie,” Lindenberg said. “It’s where we pin- Red Flag. point what we could’ve done better even if Preparing and deploying in the mid- the mission was a success. In an environ- dle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and exe- ment like Red Flag, where we work togeth-