MOBILITYTHE MAGAZINE OF AIR MOBILITYFORUM COMMAND | SUMMER 2020

AMC Commander Gen Maryanne Miller: Investing in the Future, Reflecting on our Progress THE Volume 29, No. 2 MOBILITY Summer 2020 FORUM CONTENTS AIR MOBILITY COMMAND Gen Maryanne Miller

DIRECTOR OF SAFETY Col Brandon R. Hileman [email protected]

EDITORS Kim Knight [email protected] 3 7 22 26 Sherrie Schatz Sheree Lewis [email protected] FROM THE TOP RISK MANAGEMENT HEALTH AND FITNESS GRAPHIC DESIGN 3 AMC Commander Gen 12 How Slow Will You Go? 30 Rising Above Autopilot Elizabeth Bailey Maryanne Miller: Investing AMC NEWS SAFETY CULTURE in the Future, Reflecting The Mobility Forum (TMF) is published on our Progress 15 Answering the Call 32 Five Tips for Home four times a year by the Director of Safety, Air Mobility Command, Scott 16 Hindsight in 2020 Improvement Safety AMC PRIORITY AFB, IL. The contents are informative and 20 Risk to Military Aircraft 34 Prepare for the Worst ... not regulatory or directive. Viewpoints Developing the Force Decreases as BASH expressed are those of the authors and REGULAR FEATURES do not necessarily reflect the policy 7 Brig Gen John Klein: Plans to Increase of AMC, USAF, or any DoD agency. Overseas Locations Developing Airmen at 17 Air Force Aviation Contributions: Please email articles and the USAF Expeditionary 24 COVID-19 Coronavirus Well Done Award photos to [email protected], Center, Joint Base and United States Air fax to (580) 628-2011, or mail to 38 Mishap-Free Flying McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ Force Precautions Schatz Publishing, 11950 W. Highland Hour Milestones Ave., Blackwell, OK 74631. For 36 U.S. Transportation Mobility Operations in 39 Quickstoppers questions call (580) 628-4607. TMF editors reserve the right to make Contested Environments Command’s Mission Assurance Division 40 A Day in the Life editorial changes to manuscripts. 18 43d Air Mobility Assesses, Identifies, and DE denotes digitally enhanced photo. Squadron, Pope Army ON THE COVER Mitigates Risks to the Subscriptions: U.S. Government Airfield, Fort Bragg, NC: Organization, as Well Gen Maryanne Miller, Publishing Office: 2020-745-102/10020. Willing, Able, Ready as to its Operations and Commander, Air Mobility For sale by the Superintendent of Command (AMC), discusses Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Full Spectrum Readiness Personnel AMC’s six priorities and her Office. Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov. 26 Full Spectrum Readiness: vision for the future in this issue Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area MOTORCYCLE CULTURE of The Mobility Forum. (202) 512-1800. Fax: (202) 512-2104. Aeromedical Evacuation 22 An Honorary Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402-0001. Innovation Toward Rapid Commander and Resilient Response Fosters Community AMC RP 91-2. Dist: X ISSN 1559-159X 28 Enigma Code: Innovation Relationships at Joint that Saved 14 Million Lives Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, NJ Visit www.themobilityforum.net FLIGHT SAFETY for current and past editions of

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2 The Mobility Forum FROM THE TOP

AMC Commander Gen Maryanne Miller: Investing in the Future, Reflecting on Our Progress

Mobility Airmen, Thank you for the sacrifices you make every day to serve this great nation. You Mobility Airmen and your families have always been there for America, and it is an honor and privilege to serve with you! know how to pivot

When I accepted the guidon in September 2018, the nation’s defense climate was effort in the right changing. Our top defense officials took a hard look at the world and reevaluated which actors posed the greatest threat to Americans and our interests. With the direction. You have first National Defense Strategy (NDS) in 10 years, they put a target on revisionist plotted this new powers who seek to reshape the world by authoritarian models, and they set American defense efforts on a path to compete, deter, and when necessary, win. course, pushed up As our national command authority adjusted their focus, so too, Air Mobility Command (AMC) adapted to the new face of the security environment. In concert the throttles, and with this effort, I released a new Vision for Mobility Airmen the same autumn; a Vision you have heard me advocate ever since. not looked back.

Mobility Airmen know how to pivot effort in the right direction. You have plotted this new course, pushed up the throttles, and not looked back. Nearly two years later, I am proud to say we have made significant progress. Here are some highlights of your progress in the context of our six priorities.

FULL SPECTRUM READINESS

What it is. The lethality required by the NDS is a function of the four components of Full Spectrum Readiness. These components are the right amount of Airmen with effective leadership, armed with the right skills, and possessing situational awareness of their operating environment.

What it looks like. At the unit level it looks like a warfighting mentality intrinsic to every Airman and is spread across the Total Force. It looks like decision dominance enabled by constant awareness of the threat and streamlined command-and-control (C2) across each core mission. It also will increasingly look like operating with mission-type orders as we practice decentralized decision- making informed by commander’s intent.

Progress. Together we have examined the tiles of this mosaic to be sure each piece contributes to an accurate overall picture. Under the Readiness Driven

Summer 2020 3 FROM THE TOP

Allocation Process, we have pushed authority down to the several parallel efforts to develop the methodology and wings, providing ownership at the right level to custom-fit supply the equipment to guarantee this tanker is effective training to mission requirements. During the headquarters in the nuclear mission. transformation our team of experts overhauled the command’s mission execution direction. Consequently, we MOBILITY OPERATIONS IN now have Annual Training Guidance, an Air Operations CONTESTED ENVIRONMENTS Plan, and Special Instructions accurately driving our operations cycle in alignment with the NDS. What it is. The threats of tomorrow present an increasingly contested environment for the entire Joint As our crews step to a mission, they are shifting to an Force. Mobility Airmen will face access challenges in execution mindset based on their commander’s intent, so all domains—air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace—and when our C2 nodes are denied they are able to continue the must be accustomed to operating in and through those operation. The 618th Air Operations Center (AOC) is busy domains despite these obstacles. strengthening network defense capabilities and has exercised communications denial scenarios to test What it looks like. Conducting effective vulnerabilities and build experience operating operations in Contested, Degraded, and in degraded conditions. Operationally-limited environments requires integrating capabilities and SUSTAINING AN EFFECTIVE leveraging agility. For AMC, this looks NUCLEAR RESPONSE like integrating into the operational strategies of Joint All-Domain Command- What it is. America’s most visible leg of and-Control (JADC2) and Agile Combat the nuclear triad is kept aloft by Mobility Employment. It looks like advanced Airmen. Through airlift and air refueling, we sensors and communications systems to deliver strategic capabilities that underpin the gain battlespace awareness and to proliferate credibility of our nuclear deterrent. that awareness across a network of joint and allied partners. It also looks like self-protection and What it looks like. This response looks like our fleet of aircraft survivability. refueling tankers extending our global reach so that we can hold any target at risk, at the time and place of our choosing. Progress. Cyber Mission Defense Teams have emerged as It looks like airlifting nuclear weapons and support a nascent cyber defense capability as we develop stronger materials to guarantee an effective supply chain. It also looks defenses against peer and near-peer adversaries. AMC’s like 21st century C2 systems to ensure immediate dispersal JADC2 campaign plan is a coordinated, intentional effort of timely decisions and critical information. to rejoin the rest of the Air Force with redundant, secure beyond-line-of-sight communications and integration with Progress. As AMC’s C2 network evolves, our nuclear the Advanced Battle Management System. Our platforms C2 capability is receiving communications upgrades to will not only perform the primary missions of airlift, air keep pace with the latest technology. As we conduct Initial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation, but they will be Operational Test and Evaluation for the KC-46, we have connected sensors in a constellation of the JADC2 network.

4 The Mobility Forum FROM THE TOP

Rounding out this line of effort is the Next Generation for pregnant aviators, and the Defense Department’s AOC. The fiscal year 2020 President’s Budget fully funds comprehensive assessment of childcare needs. Strong a new facility that not only provides state-of-the-art C2, families yield mission-focused Airmen. but is intentionally designed to integrate operational planners, intelligence, and AOC personnel to increase MODERNIZATION AND information sharing and gain the synergies associated RECAPITALIZATION EFFORTS with real-time collaboration. What it is. In the simplest terms, modernization is getting DEVELOP THE FORCE the right stuff, and recapitalization is keeping the right stuff. To discern what the “right stuff” is, we consider the threats, What it is. While technology changes the face of warfare, risks, and costs to custom-fit our capabilities to the needs of its nature remains the same. The clash of wills cannot be our NDS and the Joint Force. separated from its human dimension. The requirements for moral strength and physical stamina demand that we What it looks like. Getting and keeping the right stuff spare no expense as we cultivate a lethal fighting looks like accelerating the acquisition process for force by developing Airmen. the capabilities we need and the tools required to keep those capabilities competitive. This What it looks like. This development looks approach involves off-the-shelf solutions as like arming Airmen with the experiences well as rapid acquisition authorities. It also and knowledge that will cultivate the looks like adapting employment methods strength and stamina required for this type by leveraging best practices and lessons of conflict. This includes education and learned so that our capabilities have the training, targeted development programs, sharpest edge for our modern environment. and intentionally managing assignment selection and timing. Progress. I mentioned previously that our platforms would need to do more than just Progress. Through efforts like the Mobility Air Force perform their core missions. The KC-46 is more Mentoring Facebook page, our personnel management team than just a refueling tanker. It comes complete with the has brought clarity to the assignment process for thousands tools needed for operating in future environments, such of Airmen. Intentional placement for squadron leadership as satellite communications, tactical datalinks, and threat and the expansion of career-broadening programs help us warning equipment. match the right Airmen to the right place at the right time. Our command is leading the Air Force with a capability In the fall of 2019, national legislation helped us realize gleaned from commercial partnerships known as Conditions several goals we have advocated for on behalf of our Airmen Based Maintenance-Plus (CBM+). Combining predictive and their families. We have improved support to military data analytics with advanced sensing equipment, CBM+ families through doubled reimbursement for state licensure yields higher mission-capable rates as we gain the ability to expenses for spouses, an establishment of a Tenant Bill proactively schedule maintenance repairs on fatiguing parts of Rights for privatized military housing, flying waivers before they fail, not after.

Summer 2020 5 FROM THE TOP

INNOVATION TOWARD A RAPID AND RESILIENT RESPONSE

What it is. In simplest terms, innovation is taking a good idea Tanker Association Convention. Of the 10 finalists since the and refining it by experimentation to put it to use, resulting program’s start three years ago, three Airmen have gone on in improved capability. This definition is intentionally broad to represent AMC at the Air Force’s Spark Tank. to encourage a variety of creative ideas to germinate. Not all ideas survive the experimentation process; however, Celebrating great ideas does not end with the stage however. cultivating ideas—even those that are not implemented— Sometimes it does not even start with the stage. Regardless of is essential in stimulating more ideas and expanding our where an idea places in the Spark Tank, AMC is devoted to thinking. All Airmen who share their ideas and innovative pursuing all ideas that bring increased mission effectiveness. concepts contribute to increased mission capability. Each of these initiatives represents a significant What it looks like. Supportive environments investment of insight, energy, talent, and time. They are a critical component for ideas to thrive. bring our enterprise up to speed for the current As Mobility Airmen you should feel the operating environment and lay the footings for freedom to voice your ideas to your us to build a lethal force for the future. The leadership and explore them through requirements of tomorrow will be different established processes. It is incumbent than today’s. We must seize this momentum on our commanders to cultivate this and move beyond the incremental next in environment and remove obstacles to order to make quantum leaps into the future. creative thought as Airmen explore ways The grasp of America’s defense will never to enhance mission capability. As always, exceed the reach of our mobility enterprise. Let our striving to innovate must remain mission- us commit to advancing our capabilities faster than focused because it is our path to increased agility anyone thought possible, and as we do, we will deliver and warfighting readiness. unrivaled strength for America’s global reach.

Progress. Our maintenance community has made use of Together, we wear the cloth of our nation and stand for a Augmented Reality devices to increase the rate by which purpose much more significant than ourselves. We believe Airmen absorb information. Using artificial but highly in and know the power of serving others, and of bearing realistic environments, they build muscle memory in various the weight of human need, no matter the cost. As Airmen, aircraft systems through task training without the need to we succeed. As Airmen, we invest our skills, talents, and keep an aircraft on the ground. lives serving this great nation and each other. As Airmen, we lead from the front, kneel beside those in need, share in I am immensely proud of the progress we have made the work of our teammates, respect their lives, and honor in promoting Airmen-led solutions. Each year at our their contributions. Phoenix Spark Tank, we bring the top ideas from across the command to compete for prizes on the stage at the Airlift/ As Airmen, we are never alone. We are America’s Airmen.

6 The Mobility Forum AMC PRIORITY

Brig Gen John Klein: Developing Airmen at the USAF Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ

BY MS. ALLISON ELLIOT, STAFF WRITER

he U.S. Air Force [USAF] them for deployment to hostile or does an excellent job contingency environments. at not only developing Brig Gen John Klein, Vice Commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint “Tleaders with expertise The USAF Expeditionary Center is Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL), NJ in their skillsets, but broadening leveraging its corporate knowledge to them as well,” said Brig Gen John help develop the Air Force’s response Klein, Vice Commander of the USAF to the requirements of the National is a crucial part of what Klein hopes to Expeditionary Center (EC), Joint Base Defense Strategy, specifically the accomplish in his current position. McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL), NJ. Dynamic Force Employment (DFE) concept. “DFE prioritizes the force In order to employ the “Developing the Force” is a vital structure and capability for major component of Klein’s job within combat, while providing options for Right Airmen at the Right Air Mobility Command (AMC). proactive and scalable employment of Place at the Right Time, “Developing Airmen gives us an the joint force,” said Klein. asymmetric advantage as a service we must first develop the and as a mobility enterprise. AMC Agile Combat Employment (ACE) is Right Airman.” does this in a myriad of ways the Air Force’s contribution to the DFE including education, training, concept. To enable ACE, the USAF “This [development] is a long process, exercises, developmental programs, Expeditionary Center is specifically but it’s something we must do at all and special assignments. The USAF concerned with developing Airmen echelons, across all career fields. That’s Expeditionary Center contributes to to be more agile and responsive in what makes our Air Force the best in all those efforts,” said Klein. the battlespace. One of the EC’s new the world—our Airmen,” he added. initiatives is developing the training In addition to overseeing several baseline for Multi-Capable Airmen— The Advanced Study of Air Mobility wings and groups distributed across “individuals trained in advanced (ASAM) degree program at the EOS is the globe, the USAF Expeditionary expeditionary skills able to accomplish an essential training curriculum for Air Center serves as the “center of tasks outside of their core Air Force Force mobility officers. For the officer, excellence for rapid global mobility specialty”—to support ACE. it is an opportunity to earn a Master and expeditionary agile combat of Science in Operations Management support training and education,” The evolving nature of the world with a focus in Logistics in 11 months according to Klein. requires these Multi-Capable Airmen. and have hands-on training in “solving Some of the Air Force’s posture and operational and strategic issues.” Klein The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary employment models date back to the added, “They are also earmarked Operations School (EOS), which Cold War, Klein noted. The time has with a permanent advanced academic offers more than one hundred courses come for an update in practices. “We degree code in their records identifying in advanced technical training and must become more adaptable to the them as ASAM alumni.” expeditionary skills, is a key part of uncertainty in the ever-changing global the EC. The EOS trains nearly every security environment,” said Klein. For the Air Force, the ASAM program Airman requiring pre-deployment is building mobility experts for all training in an ever-evolving Developing Airmen for adaptability in environments. The program not only curriculum designed to prepare diverse and challenging environments serves to build officers holistically,

Summer 2020 7 AMC PRIORITY

it is an important part of the USAF Expeditionary Center.

“ASAM was envisioned to mold future senior mobility leaders for the USAF and have graduates serve as key mobility advisors to warfighting commanders. The program builds a cadre of mobility experts steeped in concepts of air, sea, and land mobility,” said Klein.

The curriculum for the ASAM program involves classroom learning and real-world experience. Student officers “develop expertise in areas Brig Gen John Klein, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Vice Commander, fires an infrared of joint transportation and logistics missile simulator with assistance from TSgt Daniel Deel, Mobility Air Forces Intelligence Formal management, leadership, national Training Unit NCO in charge assigned to the 423d Mobility Training Squadron, Joint Base security, warfare studies, joint McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. forces and planning, and industrial USAF photo by Danielle Brooks entities with application to mobility,” according to Klein. “We broaden their perspective through developmental trips to [AMC], U.S. Transportation Command, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Pentagon, and the Indo- Pacific and European theaters.”

In addition to taking courses, the students also visit industry partners like CVS, Amazon, Atlas Air, and Boeing to study logistical practices in the commercial sector, Klein added.

Then, these officers are assigned to places like the Pentagon, Combatant Command headquarters, and AMC to apply their learning to challenging problem sets. “There, they gain TSgt Bennie Hall, Fieldcraft Contingency Response (FCCR) Instructor assigned to the 421st Combat Training Squadron, demonstrates a cross collar choke during during Air Force experience solving operational and Combatives Training in the FCCR course Aug. 23, 2019, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, strategic issues, further developing NJ. Airmen assigned to Contingency Response units receive combatives training to protect them as future mobility leaders,” themselves on their feet and on the ground in hostile situations. said Klein. USAF photo by TSgt Ashley Hyatt

For his part, the Air Force has afforded Klein with many opportunities for the Contingency Response Wing a the combat capability of our Air Force education, training, and experience, decade ago, I came into the USAF is inspiring—they always rise to the which he hopes to put to use in Expeditionary Center with a fairly occasion, no matter the challenge. developing the future of the USAF. good idea about its mission and We have incredibly talented teams, a structure. That said, it’s a rare day dynamic mission, and global impact— “I feel absolutely privileged to be that I don’t learn something new if you want to be part of making part of the USAF Expeditionary about what we do. The impact our important things happen, this is the Center team. Due to my time in Airmen and contractors have upon place to be,” stated Klein.

8 The Mobility Forum The Mobility Forum magazine provides a place for Airmen to share experiences, recognize accomplishments, and keep up-to-date on information important to the AMC community. Each issue is packed with articles and tools on emerging technologies, safety challenges and successes, and how AMC provides global response to developing issues.

Read The Mobility Forum online at https://themobilityforum.net/

Summer 2020 9 FLIGHT SAFETY

Learning From Our Maintenance Mishaps

BY MR. LALO MAYNES, HQ AMC FLIGHT SAFETY Normalization of

ecently within maintenance “intentional non-compliance” is called deviance means that safety we’ve seen investigations the normalization of deviance. people within the that fall into the area of human organization become Rfactors or behavior-based Dr. Diane Vaughan, a sociologist failures. In safety, we categorize and from Columbia University, coined the so much accustomed group these behavior-based failures phrase normalization of deviance when for the purpose of mishap prevention. writing about human factor failures to a deviation that This article will explore three examples in both the Challenger and Columbia they don’t consider and three different human factors: the Space Shuttle accidents: normalization of deviance, the halo it as deviant, despite effect, and groupthink. It will also “Normalization of deviance means that the fact that they far discuss ways to avoid these pitfalls people within the organization become so that you may encounter in your much accustomed to a deviation that they exceed their own rules maintenance career. don’t consider it as deviant, despite the for elementary safety” fact that they far exceed their own rules for During a recent mishap, critical elementary safety.” D. Vaughan, 2010. verbiage from the original discrepancy especially when under time was omitted when transferring Dr. Terrence Kelly of Saint Louis constraints and when similar past information into G081. A common University further explains, “What deviant behaviors did not result in practice during maintenance debrief begins as deviations from standard failure. This lack of failure reinforces is to summarize the pilot-reported operating rules become, with enough the bad behavior. discrepancy from the maintenance repetitions, normalized behavioral logbook to G081 (the maintenance data patterns. When this occurs, personnel no During another investigation, it was collection system). This intentional longer regard these acts as deviant, but discovered that two weeks before the non-compliance with standard rather as routine, rational, and entirely fatal mishap, a maintenance team procedures resulted in an inaccurate acceptable.” T. Kelly, 2018. was troubleshooting a pilot-reported representation of the discrepancy to discrepancy on the same aircraft. At the production staff and maintenance Many of you have witnessed or been that time the TSgt in charge told the leadership. Then, due to complacency, aware of deviations from policy or SSgt performing the engine run that the production staff failed to read the technical guidance. Maintenance he would sign off the discrepancy as original pilot-reported discrepancy personnel are empowered to make is. The SSgt then responded with, “Yes and did not properly update the airworthiness judgments and sir, as you say, sergeant.” The SSgt status of the aircraft or elevate the decisions, and they often rationalize performing the engine run may have seriousness of the discrepancy. This shortcuts in the name of production, perceived the more experienced TSgt

10 The Mobility Forum FLIGHT SAFETY

in a positive way, and therefore she did the spoiler, fatally injuring the mechanic. embrace diverse opinions, invite not question his authority. This is an This decision of the crew to continue inputs, and challenge individuals to example of the halo effect. to perform the unauthorized method “think outside the box,” all of which could be an example of groupthink. will decrease the probability of all Merriam-Webster defines the halo three phenomena. effect as “generalization from the Groupthink is defined as “… a cultural perception of one outstanding personality phenomenon in which people strive for “Create a culture of understanding that trait to an overly favorable evaluation of consensus within a group. It refers to some deviations are likely to occur, but the whole personality.” In the context a tendency for groups to reach a quick they require swift attention, [and that] of a mishap investigation, it is when decision without taking the time for such deviations are intolerable. Equip a novice (or typical worker) has an substantial feedback.” I.L. Janis, 1972 employees on how to address deviance in unconscious prejudice of a more real time.” T. Kelly, 2018. experienced or senior person, and “Cultures are vulnerable to groupthink because of that experience or rank, the when group cohesion is high, decisions Imagine a work culture where everyone worker makes a conscious decision to are deferred to the group, and the group involved in a mishap or close call was not question the senior’s action. works in relative isolation (minimal invited to solicit corrective feedback oversight and supervision). Sometimes without fear of reprisal or reprimand. Another classic example of multiple the supervisor or manager of a group As part of the Just Culture, AMC human factor failures in maintenance discourages disagreement and advocates has implemented and championed is when a maintenance crew continued unanimity to make an efficient decision the Airmen Safety Action Program troubleshooting a flight control reset and move a process along. This (ASAP). ASAPs are anonymous and malfunction. The access panel below way individuals may be unlikely to are responded to by SMEs at HQ AMC. the wing was stuck, and the senior challenge colleagues for fear of losing Maintenance personnel can also use member of the crew suggested an status. The result is a deterioration of an AFTO Form 22 to change technical unauthorized “method” to raise the thoughtful decision-making improvement guidance, and they may also use an spoiler. He suggested using the spoiler considerations.” S. Geller, 2019 AF Form 847 to submit changes to Air switch in the flight deck to hold up the Force Instructions. spoiler and depressurize a hydraulic What are some mitigation strategies to system while another mechanic “takes prevent these pitfalls? Hopefully this article has helped make a look” at the actuator under the open you a little more aware of the signs of spoiler. The unauthorized method was “When leaders admit vulnerability, own normalization of deviance, halo effect, quickly agreed to by the crew. While up to their mistakes, and solicit corrective and groupthink as well as armed you the mechanic was under the spoiler, feedback, they set the stage for continuous with some methods of mitigation. he disconnected a connector on the improvement and naturally stifle AMC Safety stands ready to answer actuator. This signaled a dual loss of groupthink.” S. Geller, 2019. any questions you may have about electrical power to the actuator. This these Human Factors pitfalls. Email: dual loss condition prompted the In your career, you’ve seen [email protected]. We are always here actuator to act as designed, and closed supervisors and managers who to help.

Summer 2020 11 RISK MANAGEMENT

How Slow Will You Go? BY MR. BILL KROUSE, AMC/A3TO

e have all heard the adage, many pilots may not have considered Photo above: A C-17 Globemaster III with the “The three most useless what speed limits they will use. I am 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, SC, things to a pilot are altitude referring to the MFOQA analysis of flies over southeastern United States, August 10, 2018. above you, runway behind predominately those Aircraft Mission- W USANG photo by A1C Tiffany A. Emery you, and gas still in the fuel truck Design Series (MDS) with missions back home.” Forty years of flying, that included aerial refueling and instructing, and studying aviation low-level operations, such as KC-135 component of lift that a crew has mishaps inspires me to add a fourth— flights cruising more than 40 knots ready control over is total drag. Total “The airspeed you don’t have,” which below endurance speed, C-17 crews drag is the sum of the induced drag, transitions to the question posited by triggering the aircraft deep stall directly related to lift productions, and this article: How slow will you go to prevention system below 750 feet, and parasitic drag, all drag not associated facilitate an enroute rendezvous, to C-130J crews decelerating to as slow with the production of lift (that is, drag meet your time over target, to enable as 104 knots during a CDS airdrop. caused by the aircraft form, airflow a Container Delivery System (CDS) This article outlines factors affecting interference by specific components, airdrop, or while holding for your high-altitude flight and highlights and skin friction) at a given airspeed delayed cellmate to rejoin? Preflight the extent to which some crews are (Figure 1). briefs will cover speed considerations slowing their speed. for departure and arrivals, emergency Figure 1 shows that as airspeed recoveries, and standard procedures for A cruise-related urban legend states, increases, induced drag decreases. This airdrop and aerial refueling operations; “The slower I go, the more gas I will reduction occurs because the aircraft’s however, since you cannot brief every save.” This expression is only accurate angle of attack decreases as airspeed possible scenario, do you have a general to a point. To understand why it increases. Inversely, however, parasitic minimum speed you will use when the is not a fact, review the principles drag increases in proportion to the best-laid plan falls apart? of drag and the relationship of the square of the aircraft speed. Therefore, drag components. Since the aircraft’s when the induced drag and parasitic Military Flight Operations Quality gross weight is relatively stable over drag curves intersect, it creates the Assurance (MFOQA) analysis shows short periods of time, the principal minimum total drag—sometimes

12 The Mobility Forum approach criteria. and lookedatflightdataoutside of already completedonapproaches considerable amountofanalyses expanded theirsearch beyondthe For thisarticle,theMDSanalysts often are thesesloweventsoccurring? during high-stress situations. How having tocompletementalgymnastics will notexceed,itprevents themfrom pocket” minimumspeedthatthey will stall.Whenthepilothasa“hip- lift—the result isthesame: theaircraft exceeds thestallangleforproducing to maintainlevelflight,orthewing there isinsufficientthrust available attack willincrease tothe pointwhere flight. Asthespeedslows,angleof of attackrequired tomaintainlevel than L/DMaxwillincrease theangle save fuel.More importantly, speedless than minimumdragspeedwillnot cost more fuel.Thus,goinganyslower traveling eitherfasterorslowerwill the mostenergy-efficient speed,and L/D Max,theaircraft willoperateat called Lift/DragMax(L/DMax). At

Figure 1. Induced Drag vs. Parasitic Drag Parasitic vs. Drag Induced 1. Figure Drag Airspeed

Minimum Drag Induced Drag Induced Lift/Drag (L/D) Max Total Drag to engagetheautothrottles, andupon altitude usingtheautopilotbut failed when crews setadescentto lower above stall.Otheractivations occurred to maintainanappropriate speed their availablethrust wasinsufficient climb onspeedcontrol functionwhen autopilot, and failed to transition to the vertical velocityholdfunctionofthe C-17 crews were climbingusingthe of thoseactivationsoccurred when additional layershowedthatsome peeling backtheanalysisonionan to aggressive low-levelmaneuvering, 176 ALS-activation eventsnotrelated level operations.Furthermore, ofthose maneuvering whileconductinglow- many activatingduringaggressive 750 feetaboveground level,with 10,000 feet,and74were below Of thoseactivations,16were above events captured intheflightdata. 2019, there were 176 ALS-activation the 12-monthcycleendingOctober is designedtoprevent adeepstall.In Alpha LimitingSystem(ALS),which The C-17analystsfocusedonthe Minimum Drag Speed

Parasitic Drag should notbe higher thanthecharted at whichthestickpusheractivates highlights “theindicatedairspeed collision. Furthermore, aDash-1note or theavoidanceofapossible midair whether itiscausedbyatactical threat drive theaircraft instantlyintoastall, unanticipated maneuveringcan or changeinGs.”Therefore, any inputs, powerchanges,flapsselection, decreases dramaticallywith elevator “Stall warningspeedincreases or take intoaccounttheDash-1warning: Unfortunately, this mindsetfailsto relatively closetotheStall SpeedCaret. appear tofeelcomfortableflying in theanalysis,someC-130Jcrews warning specialalert,andasobserved provided bythestickpusherandstall wing” effect. Add inthesafety pads additional liftduetothe“blown and thefourlarge propellers provide require alengthy“spool-up”period, and liftbecausetheenginesdonot engines produce near-instant thrust Caret, alongwiththeideathatC-130J to rely onthedynamicStallSpeed at highergross weights)thatappear the threat ofover-speeding theflaps flying techniques(likelytocounter have developed“reduced airspeed” analysis, someC-130Jcrews may Based onlong-termMFOQA mission computer. speeds belowthosecalculatedbythe system monitoringandnotflyat need toexecutecontinuousautomation To stayonthesafeside,pilotwill feet lastinglongerthantwoseconds. were sixstallwarningsabove10,000 addition tothe ALS activations,there The analysisalsorevealed that,in or lazy, thenotificationscanbemissed. display, andifthecrosscheck isslow activations onlyappearintheheads-up ALS’s limitationsisthatnotificationsof monitor theaircraft’s speed.Oneof the descent,crews were unableto reaching levelflightatthebottomof Summer 2020 RISK MANAGEMENT 13 RISK MANAGEMENT

The complexities of flying in the diverse and challenging arenas associated with aerial refueling and low-level operations subject crews to an intensely stressful environment where it is easy to lose situational awareness.

calibrated stall speed but may be Similar speed-related threats are addition, develop good Crew Resource as much as 12 knots lower due to present in the KC-135 community that Management and Threat/Error variations in entry rate, power setting, may have originated because of how Management techniques to mitigate center of gravity, stick pusher system KC-135 missions were executed during complacency caused by the lulls installation, and airspeed system the Gulf War. During the Cold War, between mission activities. accuracy near stall speed”—meaning tanker crews trained to takeoff and the stick pusher may not activate meet their bomber receiver enroute to As previously mentioned, none of these until after the aircraft has entered a their targets, fuel was offloaded, and MDS event examples were associated stall. With these additional factors the mission was complete. In today’s with an approach. Individual sortie in mind, is this “close to the caret” environment (Gulf War forward), the analyses of these non-approach events flying technique creating a dangerous KC-135 mission has morphed into a showed that some were attributed situation? Do aircrews realize that “hurry up and wait” mission. The crew to either misset aircraft automation when they are operating that close speeds to a location to meet a fuel- (where crews failed to ensure the to the stall, one or more unexpected starved receiver and then has to wait automation was functioning as forces acting on the aircraft could push for the next call for fuel. Naturally, intended) or overly aggressive them over the edge into disaster? crews slow to save fuel so they can maneuvering during low-level stay on station longer to support the operations. Analysis of the remaining Finally, the C-130J analysts looked for war effort. sorties, however, showed that crews all flights where the aircraft was not on were adjusting power and pitch takeoff or approach and flew slower KC-135 crews also have the same settings to maintain a specific speed. than 120 knots-calibrated airspeed challenges as other Mobility Air Did these crews understand just how (KCAS). The analysis showed 96 Forces crews in dealing with aircraft close they were to stalling the aircraft? events in the 12-month cycle ending automation and the monitoring of October 2019, with one incident said automation during the long wait The complexities of flying in the diverse as slow as 104 KCAS. To counter between aerial-refueling tasks when and challenging arenas associated this threat, most C-130J Stan/Eval boredom can lead to complacency. with aerial refueling and low-level pilots recommend 150 KCAS as the How bad is it? The KC-135 analysts operations subject crews to an intensely lower limit for a clean configuration looked at incidents that were below stressful environment where it is C-130J, and 125 KCAS when partial endurance speed, finding 44 events easy to lose situational awareness. flaps are selected for CDS airdrops. wherein the crews slowed more than Any additional “trick” in the bag that Although MFOQA analysis is not 30 knots below endurance speed can be used to help reduce this stress currently available for the C-130H above 20,000 feet. Furthermore, 14 will improve the odds of a desirable until the completion of the Avionics of these events were greater than 40 outcome. One of those tricks is knowing Modernization Program, these speeds knots below endurance speed, with how slow the MDS should be operated, are also relevant to the H-model the most serious being 71 knots below. thus removing one of the possible indicated airspeeds (please reference A good rule of thumb is not to slow “gotchas” and allowing the pilot to the applicable Flight Manual for lowest below endurance speed. Going slower focus on more daunting obstacles to a airspeeds at all specific configurations). will, in actuality, not save any fuel. In successful and safe sortie.

14 The Mobility Forum AMC NEWS

Answering the Call the job. He said it is very intense and distinct from being on the execution BY MS. JENNIFER YATES, 618 AOC CHIEF OF SAFETY side of operations. During execution, 1C3s help to get prior permissions required, review Giant Reports, and hen an aircrew calls the There is never a dull assess flight plans and diplomatic 618th Air Operations clearance requirements, but as a Center (AOC) at Scott Air moment on the floor, and planner, you are on your own. He WForce Base in Illinois for every day is different.” believes his experience as a DO will assistance, it is usually the Execution be helpful, and he will be able to Floor personnel who answer the call. – MSgt Christopher Sabecky share his knowledge as a planner with the execution floor, including The Execution Floor is composed of uploading the user, contact email, personnel from several divisions, all monitoring and ensuring accurate and discussion into the planning working together to make a mission data in the Global Decision Support system. This information can be vital successful. The mission execution System, including airfield operating to understanding the history and phase starts 24 hours before initial hours, significant airfield conditions, background of a mission or make departure (or earlier for nights, and Aviation Operational Risk it easier to contact someone in the weekends, and holidays) and ends Management (AvORM). Additionally, middle of the night. when the team records the final arrival Sabecky ensures timely updates of data and closes the mission. One of those requested by aircrews, such as weather In both planning and execution, team members is MSgt Christopher and notices to Airmen. DOs work Sabecky emphasized that 618 AOC Sabecky, an Instructor Duty Officer with a wide range of both internal and personnel make every effort to assist (DO). He transferred to the 618 AOC external agencies. Sabecky explained the aircrews. Unfortunately, the in 2018 after six years of experience as that a seasoned DO will reach out to as implications of slipping a mission a C-17 Loadmaster at Travis Air Force many agencies as necessary to ensure can have a domino effect. The 618 Base in California. He volunteered to the most up-to-date information is AOC strives to find some middle join the 618 AOC because the mission captured and relayed to the crew to ground between the user and the sounded interesting, and he was enable mission success. crew, or if possible, help them out looking forward to advancing his later. For example, Sabecky explained career and the “30,000-foot view” of Sabecky says his favorite part of that if a crew was stuck overnight at missions. Sabecky has already learned being a DO is being able to see the a location with less than adequate a tremendous amount in his short time big picture because he can observe crew rest facilities, a couple of legs at the 618 AOC and looks forward to multiple missions instead of flying afterward the 618 AOC might have eventually taking the knowledge with only one mission. “There is never a them remain overnight somewhere him to his next assignment. dull moment on the floor, and every with better lodging and food options day is different,” Sabecky said. “You and possibly an extended time for As a duty officer, Sabecky works closely never know what you are walking crew rest. The 618 AOC tries not to with the Deputy Directors of Operation into.” One of the most exciting burn crews out and uses AvORM to and Command and Control personnel missions he experienced was a double balance user vs. crew requirements (1C3s). DO training is 3 weeks of formal air refueling for an AE patient. “All to devise a workable plan, but classroom training followed by six hands [were] on deck and [it] required unfortunately, AvORM has drawbacks. training shifts before being certified. working hand in hand with tankers for It is a valuable tool, but needs to be Once certified, DOs act as the primary coordination.” Some of the challenges more user-friendly and adaptable. He focal point to ensure senior leadership a DO faces include customs holds and said the mission is always a balancing and other key members of the 618 loss of diplomatic clearances. act with diplomatic clearances, cargo, AOC receive appropriate and accurate users, aircraft, and crew. mobility information. The 618 AOC is transitioning to a single airlift planning directorate, His final parting comment to crews Sabecky executes 15 to 20 missions in and Sabecky is one of the first DOs is to work with the 618 AOC to a shift, managing challenges ranging in training as a contingency planner. develop a plan when a mission does from aircraft maintenance issues Because he has already attended not go smoothly. If it is actionable, to Aeromedical Evacuations (AE). formal DO training, he will complete 618 AOC personnel will do their Some of his primary duties include his planning division instruction on best to make it happen.

Summer 2020 15 AMC NEWS

Hindsight in 2020

BY MS. ALLIE BROWN, HQ AMC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

id you ever look back and think If you knew then what you a challenge? We innovate! Necessity your last decision might have may have been the mother of invention Dbeen a mistake? know now, would you have back in Plato’s day, but necessity has done things differently? nothing on a bored Airman. Maybe it was the time you decided to do something and the hairs on the As you face decisions which could back of your neck stood up in protest, increase your daily risk this summer, but you ignored it and proceeded Now summer 2020 is here, and it is look back on situations where you anyway. Possibly, it was something time to start planning new adventures may have made mistakes in the past. new, and the thought never crossed and exploring new places and You know the ones I mean; we all your mind that the outcome might activities. Kayaking? Count me in. have them. The decisions you are not be what you expected. Or maybe Diving? Definitely! Skydiving? Well, surprised you lived through. The ones you knew about the risks, but thought let us not get crazy… The point is, that still make you wince. How did your cat-like reflexes would keep you whatever your summer activity of those decisions affect you? If you knew from getting hurt (this may or may not choice is, there is probably some level then what you know now, would you apply to my entire youth). of risk involved. It is easy to get swept have done things differently? There is up in excitement and want to cram as no way to see the future and prevent This year, in our annual quest to much fun as possible into these fleeting every single potentially dangerous keep Airmen safe and healthy over warm months. Unfortunately, that situation. You can, however, use your the summer months, Air Mobility often leads to taking on unnecessary perfect hindsight to shape future risk Command’s safety focus is “Hindsight risk with hasty or ill-advised decisions. and devise smarter courses of action in 2020.” Our goal during this This summer, that risk may be which will increase the probability campaign is zero fatal mishaps. From compounded by the uncertainty the of safer results. Remember, the 2016 through 2018, AMC met this world faces during the COVID-19 unnecessary risk you take today might goal. In summer of 2019, however, pandemic. Between travel advisories be the regret you or your loved ones two AMC Airmen lost their lives. and social distancing, participation in live with tomorrow. Our hindsight tells us personal risk traditional summer events may not management could have prevented be possible in the coming months. So On behalf of Air Mobility Command, both of these mishaps. what do Airmen do when faced with have a safe and healthy summer.

16 The Mobility Forum AIR MOBILITY COMMAND WELL DONE AWARD Presented to MSgt TERRY J. WALL, JR. and SSgt JAMES M. ZORN

he Air Mobility Command Well Done Award is presented to MSgt Terry J. LL DON Wall, Jr. and SSgt James M. Zorn of the 317th Maintenance Squadron, 317th E E W ! H Maintenance Group, 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, TX, for their H H H actions on August 28, 2019. On that date, a C-130J aircraft reported an in- H

H

T MSgt WALL H flight emergency due to the left aft main landing gear failing to extend. Overhearing H

H

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the call on the radio, Sergeants Wall and Zorn contacted the aircrew and talked them SSgt ZORN H

H

H

H through the troubleshooting process. They promptly discovered that the quick- H

H

H

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H H H disconnect mechanism had liberated itself from the vertical torque shaft, preventing H the ball screw from turning to lower the gear, a scenario not covered by any aircrew emergency procedure. Sergeants Wall and Zorn instructed the crew to manually raise the gear and explained to the crew how to reconnect the vertical torque shaft, thus averting a possible accident. Without their guidance, the 317th Airlift Wing could have suffered a loss of five aircrew members and a $67 million aircraft.

Summer 2020 17 AMC PRIORITY

Photo above: Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, NC, prepare to load a C-17 bound for the U.S. Central Command area of operations on January 4, 2020.

Photo right: A1C Estevan Grajeda pushes a pallet of equipment belonging to the 1st Brigade Combat Team onto a C-17 destined for overseas. USAF photos by MSgt Katherine Novales

43d Air Mobility Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, NC: Willing, Able, Ready

BY MS. KATHY ALWARD, STAFF WRITER

he 43d Air Mobility Operations According to Jim Bove, Chief of the recent deployments, AMS loaded Group (AMOG) at Pope Army Public Affairs at Pope, they reflected nearly 90 aircraft with close to 3,000 Airfield, Fort Bragg, NC, was the AMOG’s motto—Willing, Able, tons of cargo including medical Trecently recognized by Gen Ready—for the large-scale deployment. equipment, Humvees, weapons and Maryanne Miller, Commander of the The squadron was notified on Meals Ready-to-Eat, ensuring they all Air Mobility Command, for its work New Year’s Eve to respond within met height and weight regulations,” with the recent United States Immediate 30 minutes if called. The IRF was said Bove. Response Force (IRF) deployment to the activated 18 hours after the notification, Middle East. Among those recognized and the 43d AMS was ready. MSgt Justin Davis and his team conduct was the 43d Air Mobility Squadron preflight inspections that include fuel (AMS), a group that often works behind “The AMS team is responsible for the loads, cargo, and maintenance of all the scenes to assure mission capability. safety of all cargo on flights. During aircraft. They must give the approval

18 The Mobility Forum AMC PRIORITY

Photo above: SrA Alex Bak signals to a C-17 loadmaster while ensuring a Humvee clears all portions of the aircraft ramp during an upload. USAF photo by MSgt Katherine Novales Photo right: Equipment assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, is loaded into aircraft bound for the U.S. Central Command area of operations from Fort Bragg, NC, on January 4, 2020. U.S. Army photo by SFC Zachary Vandyke before any aircraft departs. Davis Additionally, all cargo, including Dew-Williams said they operated explained that since the team normally hazardous materials, are jointly with 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a operates 24/7, they already conduct inspected, packaged correctly, and day. Blank oversaw the day shift numerous training exercises, which safe for travel. Dew-Williams said operations and Aubin oversaw the made it easier when the actual situation they exercise their capability of being night shift. Dew-Williams emphasized arose. They were notified of the able to conduct an IRF deployment that although it was a team effort, imminent deployment on December 31, regularly at Pope, but never on a Blank was recognized by leadership 2019, according to Davis, and the first scale comparable with this operation. for stepping up and assuming the aircraft arrived within 48 hours. Most of “The Army relies on the Air Force role of manager for a couple of the air traffic was loaded and deployed for inspections that are done safely weeks. “He was a crucial piece of this within 3 or 4 days. and correctly without delaying the operation and did an outstanding mission,” he said. There is a 72-hour job,” Dew-Williams said. “We all had Davis’s team includes 88 mechanics process in place that sometimes takes to work longer hours and be away with teams of 11 per shift. It requires weeks in advance to plan; however, from our families, even during the 44 to 50 of them to prepare each the 43d reduced the IRF process to holidays, but everybody wanted to aircraft, said Davis. They provide the a 3- or 4-hour process, according to do it, everybody was ready to do it, maintenance required for any airframe Dew-Williams. and everybody saw how important that arrives at Pope. Upon arrival, it was.” He added that, when asked the team conducts an inspection for At Pope, there are close to 200 “Port if they needed to bring others to damage or displaced panels and Dawgs,” the aerial port Airmen who assist, both cargo and maintenance checks computer equipment for inspect and palletize cargo before leadership said, “No, we got it.” malfunctions. Davis said his team was shipment. “One thing ‘Port Dawgs’ well rehearsed and educated, so when don’t like to do is sit still,” Aubin They all agree that the weather a large number of aircraft appeared on explained. “Every one of them was definitely did not cooperate while short notice, it went smoothly. willing and able, and they did their working the long shifts, at times best and did it well.” Aubin said the including heavy rain or below freezing TSgt Chad Dew-Williams, TSgt maintenance and cargo deployment- temperatures. The team remained Ronald Blank, and SrA Kyle Aubin ready exercises helped them prepare persistent and professional. According led the team of 50 joint inspectors for this mission. Normal training to Dew-Williams, when called to that provides the safety of all cargo includes the preparation, proficiency, serve, everyone stepped up, nobody on flights, making sure packages planning, paperwork, inspections, complained, and they accomplished are compatible with the aircraft. and loading of aircraft. Two of the the mission. Dew-Williams explained that his primary factors that led to a successful job is to ensure his crew is fully operation were communication and Indeed, the 43d AMS was Willing, trained to maintain and load aircraft. teamwork, according to Aubin. Able, and Ready.

Summer 2020 19 AMC NEWS

Risk to Military Aircraft Decreases as BASH Plans to Increase Overseas Locations

BY MS. KATHY ALWARD, hazards in a greater way. Mike had just in Kuwait will often sit and have tea STAFF WRITER done an overseas site evaluation for with a representative of the host nation BASH purposes in Afghanistan, and and discuss wildlife issues the Kuwaiti he U.S. Air Forces Central that’s when the program jelled,” said representative may be seeing. “We also Command (AFCENT) continues USDA communications specialist Carol have a strong working relationship to progressively move forward A. Bannerman. with the Smithsonian Institution’s Tto decrease the risk to military Feather Identification Lab, and our aircraft by managing wildlife on “There was a change in the wildlife biologists overseas have contributed airfields through the Bird Aircraft Strike strike reporting culture at airports after large amounts to their collection,” said Hazard (BASH) Program, according to Miracle on the Hudson where reporting Washburn. Jenny Washburn, a wildlife biologist wildlife strike[s] slowly took on a more with the United States Department of positive light,” added Washburn. “The civil program of Wildlife Services Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services airport work has been around since (WS). According to Washburn, the Although Bagram Air Base, about 1985 and has grown. We number of biologists assigned overseas Afghanistan, did not report any provide assistance at 869 military, will increase from the current three at wildlife strike injuries in 2009, a civil, and joint-use airports throughout existing foreign locations to include an single bird strike at the air base in the U.S.,” said Washburn, with the additional full-time position at Naval 2007 caused more than $1 million in work currently being conducted at Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Italy, in the damage, according to Bannerman. the request of specific airports and next fiscal year. “After incorporating suggestions made supported by that airport financially. at the time, the safety staff at Bagram “We have three biologists stationed reported bird strikes were cut in half USDA uses science-based, integrated overseas: one in Kuwait and two in for the first quarter of 2009. That methods to manage wildlife on Afghanistan, and they operate on was how the project took off,” said airfields, according to Washburn, and 4-month rotations,” said Washburn. Bannerman. Work at Bagram and other focuses on habitat management by “We’ve been assisting AFCENT locations include managing wildlife using tools such as anti-perch devices for the last 10 years, so we are well issues involving raptors (for example, or netting in hangars to discourage established.” She pointed out that the Black Kites), waterfowl, pigeons, and wildlife. Washburn emphasized work overseas actually started when mammals such as jackals. that, although habitat management her supervisor, Mike Begier, became may be more expensive, it is the best the National Coordinator of the Part of the job for USDA biologists long term measure to push wildlife Airport Wildlife Hazards Program. is to work with the Safety Office on farther away from the active services, establishing a relationship with the especially in the flight paths. “As “The overseas program began in 2009, host nation, if possible, in contested they teach in schools these days, the same year Mike became the lead, but locations. Washburn emphasized that every living being needs certain also the same year the commercial plane the biologists show respect for the host things. Shelter, food, and water,” landed in the Hudson River. It’s when nations and cultural differences are said Bannerman, as she added that everyone began to recognize wildlife honored. For example, the biologist biologists in the BASH environment

20 The Mobility Forum AMC NEWS

Mitch Oswald, USDA Wildlife Biologist for the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW), Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, takes wing leaders Col Rod Simpson and CMSgt Jason Colón, 386th AEW Commander and Command Chief, along for a survey of wildlife at the base, Sept. 6, 2019. USAF photo by SrA Lane T. Plummer ask how we can change food, water, and shelter for the protection of the wildlife and aircraft.

“Education and communication are the first steps. If everyone knows what you are doing, and why, then there is less conflict when management efforts are conducted,” said Washburn. An example is using pyrotechnics, which are sound- or light-scare devices used Mitch Oswald, USDA Wildlife Biologist for the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW), Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, gives a tour of the base to CMSgt Jason Colón, 386th AEW Command Chief, Sept. 6, 2019. to harass birds from an area. The USAF photo by SrA Lane T. Plummer educational aspect is learning to use pyrotechnics correctly, for example, taking precautions to avoid pushing of their biologist, Garrett Klimkoski, with bird identification along with birds into the path of oncoming who is studying a ponding issue in bird identification guide apps. aircraft. The communication aspect is Kandahar and weighing the pros and to make sure that operations and the cons of putting an environmentally More than 60 biologists have tower are aware pyrotechnics will be friendly dye in the water that would volunteered to deploy overseas in used, emphasized Washburn. kill some of the vegetation around support of the Military/AFCENT the pond to make it less attractive to project. Some of the biologists are The WS is currently researching bird waterfowl. To find the best solution, veterans themselves or have relatives behavior at the National Wildlife he is also reading scientific papers and who have served in Southwest Asia. Research Center (NWRC). This speaking with different parties, such as Bannerman noted, “Some biologists research helps identify such topics the safety office. that regularly work at CONUS as birds’ different reactions to light, [Continental United States] military which variety of grass is likely to Technology—such as Geographical bases have volunteered for AFCENT to attract certain species of birds, and Information System (GIS), radar, share the deployment experience and what types of lights or sounds have a and even cell phones—enhances support their military colleagues.” higher probability of dispersing birds. management according to Washburn. Using a GIS mapping system, According to Washburn, “A lot of “We don’t just act; we try and be her coworker, Jason Kougher, has volunteers go more than once. They proactive in our choices and how it developed an app to collect the accept the risks, and the safety offices will affect things down the road,” said data for mapping and data analysis there are great with our biologists. Washburn. The research conducted so biologists can show where the They just take care of our men and in the BASH program affects ongoing hotspots of wildlife activity are women that go over, and all they [the decision-making, according to occurring, said Washburn. Cameras biologists] want to do is help and Washburn. She described the work on cell phones also have assisted stand with the military.”

Summer 2020 21 MOTORCYCLE CULTURE

An Honorary Commander Fosters Community Relationships at Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, NJ

BY MS. BETTY NYLUND BARR, mortgages on their homes,” Borowiec Photo above: Barb Borowiec and Corporal STAFF WRITER reminisced. She eventually bought out Roland Scarinci, a local WWll Veteran. her two partners. Photo courtesy of Barb Borowiec ithout a doubt, Barb Borowiec understands the The dealership grew from a small importance of motorcycle enterprise with a staff of five into a Wriders attending safety 35,000-square-foot business, which firefighters, or all-women classes. We classes. At her Harley-Davidson, Inc. consists of two buildings side by side, do that so people can take the course dealership near Joint Base McGuire- one exclusively for used motorcycles. together.” After passing the written Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) in New Borowiec now has approximately and skills exams, students qualify for Jersey, she has offered state-certified 60 employees and sells 800 to 1,000 a Class M license. motorcycle safety courses to members motorcycles a year! “We try to keep of the military, Veterans, and the nearby active duty military at JBMDL in Together with nearly a dozen community for the past 14 years. mind,” she said. Her dealership neighbors, Borowiec was made a not only caters to the military as Meritus Honorary Commander for Borowiec’s love of motorcycles began customers, but she also hires many JBMDL. Such an honor is typically when she was young. She bought her Veterans as employees. bestowed on a civic leader in the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle at community for a specific wing of the age 20. A year later she found herself Borowiec provides motorcycle safety Air Force for a 1- or 2-year period. in need of a job, and she convinced the classes on weekends and during JBMDL, however, which includes all local Harley-Davidson, Inc. dealership the week. “We supply everything: five branches of the military (Army, to hire her. When the owners wanted the Harley [-Davidson] motorcycle, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and to sell, Borowiec, her boyfriend, and the helmet and rain gear if needed, Coast Guard), jointly awarded the title another employee bought the business. the learning materials, and the for multiple years to honor this group “The owners wanted to sell it, and the instructor,” she said. “We put of select recipients, who have been three of us sold our motorcycles and weekends aside specifically for active- exceptional supporters of Veterans and begged our parents to take second duty military, or police officers, or the Joint Base.

22 The Mobility Forum MOTORCYCLE CULTURE

What does being an honorary has your back.’ That’s what I do as an who grew up riding with their parents commander entail? “We support and honorary commander.” in the early years are now riding their learn,” explained Borowiec. “For me, I own motorcycles in the yearly event. like to take it back to the public. When The community clearly supports Although the ride has developed into I was with the 621st [Contingency the military at JBMDL. “There is a fundraiser for the base, Borowiec Response Wing, JBMDL], I would be a gentleman in his 80s,” Borowiec said, “For me, it’s all about bringing sure to go to all their events. If they related, “who takes lunch down to the two communities together and needed money for a Christmas event, the base almost every Thursday to getting out there and saying thank we were there to support or donate.” welcome those new to the base and let you. It’s become a great tradition and them know we care about them and lets the base know we are thinking “We make sure we are there for their well-being.” about them.” awards, trivia night, retirements, and change-of-command ceremonies,” In May 2007, Borowiec organized Borowiec recounted a particularly she continued. “As honorary an annual motorcycle ride with the heartwarming event held by the commanders, we go tour the base— military personnel at the Joint Base. “It community. “We used to have a but to benefit them, just bringing the starts at the dealership,” she said. “We Thanksgiving dinner, and buses would word back to the public if we have an ride up to the base, and they shut the come from the base. The troops didn’t event at the dealership.” flightline down for an hour. We ride know where they were going, and our motorcycles down the flightline, halfway down Route 95, they would As an example, Borowiec described [and] then we go have a barbecue and be met by 100 motorcycles that would a dinner that the dealership held at a encourage all the folks to come with escort them to the dinner.” When restaurant. They invited people from their families and eat with us so the the buses approached the restaurant, the base, including young Airmen and motorcycle and military communities the sight that greeted them was so Marines who were new to the com- can interact on base.” moving that they “would literally munity. “They are leaving the base be in tears because we would have and coming to this dinner to meet the Borowiec pointed out that a Boy Scout troops, Girl Scout troops, public, and we can say ‘Welcome!’ considerable number of people who retirement communities, and citizens and ‘We are glad you are here. We are participate would not otherwise have that lined the entrance down the hill here if you need us, and we are here access to the base except during open to the restaurant with flags and signs,” as a community. We know you are house when JBMDL holds an air recalled Borowiec. “A group would far from home, but this community show. She observed that some people stay and feed them dinner. I would do motorcycle trivia and give away T-shirts, and Vince Papale [former Philadelphia Eagles football player and subject of the movie ‘Invincible’] would come and do football trivia. That was the biggest surprise because [the guests] didn’t know anything was going to happen, so some of them cried.”

From housing an Airman’s motorcycle while he or she is deployed to raising money for orange safety vests, Barb Borowiec represents a community that appreciates and supports the military— not only in words but also in deeds.

Motorcycle riders fill the street in a long line while riding from Barb’s Harley-Davidson dealership to Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, NJ in the 12th Annual Armed Forces Freedom Ride, May 20, 2018. Photo courtesy of Barb Borowiec

Summer 2020 23 AMC NEWS

COVID-19 Coronavirus and United States Air Force Precautions

BY MS. KATHY ALWARD, STAFF WRITER

n Saturday, March 14, 2020, the Some restrictions at that time included Training School at Maxwell AFB, United States Air Force (USAF) official travel outside of the United Alabama, will continue individual and U.S. Space Force (USSF) States for USAF Academy cadets and commissioning ceremonies, the USAF Oresponded to the National cadet candidates. Personal/leisure suspended the presence of guests Emergency Declaration based on travel to countries with a CDC Level at the awards ceremony and the the recent outbreak of coronavirus. 2 (practice enhanced precautions) or graduation parade. According to Gen John W. “Jay” higher rating was also prohibited. The Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, USAF suspended family attendance at The USAF made additional USSF, “The World Health Organization the Air Force Basic Military Training modifications on March 13, 2020, identified COVID-19 as a global graduation until further notice. The to minimize the spread of COVID- pandemic, and the President has Colorado Child Development Center 19, including the suspension of all declared it a National Emergency due at the Buckley Air Force Base (AFB), outreach activities and support of to the speed and scale of transmission. Colorado, was closed for cleaning after community events through May 15. Because of this [pandemic], the a family member tested positive by the In hopes of maximizing the chances Secretary of Defense has directed state for coronavirus. of the senior class graduating on travel restrictions for the next 60 days time, the USAF Academy began for uniformed members, our civilian On March 12, 2020, modifications dismissal of a large segment of their teammates, and our family members.” were made to minimize the spread of cadet population. Military treatment COVID-19 and prioritize the health facilities around the world began Gen David L. Goldfein, USAF Chief and safety of Air Force personnel sending potential COVID-19 samples of Staff, emphasized, “Our approach after an active-duty Airman assigned to The USAF School of Aerospace is simple. We need to take care of each to Altus AFB in Oklahoma, and Medicine Epidemiology Laboratory other while we protect our fellow who had also traveled to Seattle, (USAFSAM Epi Lab) at the 711th Americans. If you show symptoms tested positive for coronavirus. In Human Performance Wing at Wright consistent with COVID-19, immediately addition, a contractor at Moody AFB Patterson AFB, Ohio. The Epi Lab seek medical care and evaluation.” in Georgia also tested positive for the will then send the samples to the Epi virus. Cancellations included the air Reference Lab or local public health Air Mobility Command (AMC) show scheduled for March 28–29 at lab to conduct the CDC-approved has been issuing regular COVID- March Air Reserve Base, Riverside test. Tests must then be confirmed as 19 updates to the Air Force as the County, California; family members positive or negative by the CDC with situation continues to change. were not allowed to attend Air Force strict guidelines. All information from Precautions were taken by the Air Basic Military Training graduation the tested samples is entered into Force as early as March 10, 2020, at Lackland AFB, Texas, until further the appropriate medical system by stating that “All Department of the Air notice; and the USAF Academy in the USAFSAM Epi Lab for medical Force personnel have been directed Colorado closed its campus to visitors decision-making, and daily updates to follow Centers for Disease Control even during home football games. are sent to the Defense Health Agency (CDC) levels for travel guidance.” Although the Air University Officer (DHA) for oversight.

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A public health emergency was sure that necessary measures are Honduras to Joint Base Charleston, declared on March 16, 2020, due to implemented to protect the health South Carolina. the evolving threat of COVID-19 for and welfare of the installation’s Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, along community. “We will continue to An 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super with various counties throughout the do everything possible to mitigate Hercules out of Ramstein Air Base, state who were in similar emergency the effects of COVID-19 to ensure Germany, in coordination with the situations. The Commander of the we continue providing rapid global Department of State and the Italian 11th Wing and Joint Base Andrews, mobility operations in support of government, transported 10 En-Route Col Andrew Purath, said, “Declaring the Joint Force and our partners and Patient Staging Systems (patient a public health emergency on Joint allies,” said Gen Maryanne Miller, Air holding/staging beds or ERPSS) to Base Andrews allows us a proactive Mobility Command Commander. the Italian Ministry of Defense Aviano approach to protect the safety Air Base, Italy, on March 22, 2020. The and health of our Airmen and the Travel restrictions due to the ERPSS can support up to 40 patients surrounding community. Our top coronavirus are regularly updated in a 24-hour period. priority remains mitigating the based on presidential proclamations effects and potential spread of this and, as of March 16, 2020, included AMC announced on March 23, 2020, coronavirus.” The emergency order, certain travel restrictions for entry to that Space Available travel aboard Air which can be terminated or extended and from China, Iran, South Korea, Mobility Command and contracted as required, is in place for 30 days. United Kingdom, Ireland, and the aircraft had been temporarily Also, as of March 16, 2020, Travis AFB, European Schengen area. The CDC suspended through May 11, except for California, was monitoring two positive raised England, Scotland, Wales, specific category I, IV, and VI travel. cases of COVID-19, while both Moody Northern Ireland, and the Republic AFB, Georgia, and Maxwell-Gunter of Ireland to level 3 warning to avoid “We will continue to post the latest AFB, Alabama, were each monitoring nonessential travel due to widespread, information and keep everyone one positive case of COVID-19. ongoing transmission. informed. You’ll know what we know. Let’s tackle this challenge AMC headquarters at Scott AFB, As of Friday, March 20, 2020, the as we do all challenges which Illinois, implemented precautionary first coronavirus cases inside the confront us,” said Raymond. measures such as teleworking and Pentagon were announced by the “Thank you for your continued staggering shifts to reduce exposure Air Force for an active-duty Airman service and your professionalism. while ensuring mission-essential and Air Force contractor who both Fight’s On,” added Goldfein. operations could still be executed. visited the building in recent weeks. These measures will continue To continue executing rapid global until the risk decreases. COVID- mobility operations combatting the Please reference the following website 19 developments that may affect coronavirus outbreak, the Air Mobility for Air Force related updates concerning Scott AFB will be monitored by an Command transported members of the new coronavirus: https://www.af.mil/ Operational Planning Team to be the U.S. women’s football team from News/Coronavirus-Disease-2019/

Summer 2020 25 AMC PRIORITY Full Spectrum Readiness: Aeromedical Evacuation

BY MS. BETTY NYLUND BARR, STAFF WRITER

n a previous issue of The Mobility using their own money.1 Its first—and Airmen from the 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Forum, we examined Full Spectrum last—flight occurred in 1910 at Fort Squadron Detachment 1 and 60th Medical Group Critical Care Air Transport Team treat Readiness as it applies to airlift Barrancas, Florida; the plane crashed simulated patients Dec. 18, 2019, on a C-17 Ioperations. In this issue, we will after flying only 500 yards. That flight Globemaster III from Travis AFB, CA. The 43d delve into Full Spectrum Readiness as may have been unsuccessful, but it was AES and the 60th CCATT practiced their AE it affects aeromedical evacuation (AE). just the beginning. capabilities during their first integrated mission. USAF photo by SrA Jonathon Carnell Under normal circumstances, people Air Mobility Command (AMC) who are sick, injured, or need oversees “an integral system of ongoing medical services can either command and control, training, crew must consist of Airmen who drive or have someone else drive communications, staging, and patient have the full spectrum of training, them to medical facilities. At times, care” and describes the mission of education, and character to meet those they may need to enlist the services the Air Force’s AE System as “to needs—medical, mechanical, and of an ambulance. provide fixed-wing movement of electronic—and who are brave enough, patients requiring supervision by confident enough, and focused enough In a war zone, however, or in an AE personnel to locations offering to dismiss thoughts of their safety and area that has been ravaged by a appropriate levels of medical care.” put the needs of their patients first. hurricane, wildfire, flood, or other An AE crew must be able to take care natural disaster, those modes of of not only the systems on a huge, The U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace transport may not be available. In highly sophisticated aircraft but also Medicine, Wright Patterson Air Force those circumstances, AE may be the the needs of critically sick or injured Base (AFB), Ohio, conducts a Flight lifesaving answer. people. That is where Full Spectrum Nurse and AE Technician Course that Readiness is needed. provides realistic, hands-on simulation AE began early in the 20th century— of possible events that AE crews may virtually as soon as fixed-wing aircraft A basic AE crew consists of two flight encounter. Course planners may even were invented. Dr. Bruce Green, 20th nurses and three AE technicians. That “seed” the training with Airmen, who Air Force Surgeon General, described create fictitious dangerous scenarios, how U.S. Army medical officers Capt to prepare trainees to handle all types George H.R. Gosman and Lt A.L. 1 Green, Bruce. “Challenges of Aeromedical of situations. Students must complete Evacuation in the Post-Cold-War Era,” Rhodes designed and built the first “air Aerospace Power Journal 15, no. 4 (Winter 40 hours of missions on a mock-up of ambulance” for transporting patients 2001): 14ff. a C-130H aircraft. Other AE courses

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When military personnel become sick or wounded in combat, medics administer first aid and then typically arrange for AE to transport them to the closest hospital abroad—away from the combat zone—where they can receive the care they need. If they cannot receive the care they need abroad, AE medi-flights them to a U.S. hospital.

The following examples are just a few of the lifesaving efforts that AMC AE crews have accomplished:

i In October 2017, three hurricanes ripped through the Caribbean in a relatively short time, leaving millions of people without safe drinking water, shelter, food, power, Airmen from the 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES) or a means of communicating with the world beyond Detachment 1 perform medical operations on Lt Col Michael Earl, their homes. The 375th Medical Group’s En Route Patient 43d AES Detachment 1 Director of Operations, who simulates having Staging System, Scott AFB, Illinois, deployed to the island a heart attack to test the team’s capabilities Dec. 18, 2019, on a C-17 of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and picked up 100 kidney Globemaster III from Travis AFB, CA. dialysis patients and delivered them stateside, where they USAF photo by SrA Jonathon Carnell could receive necessary medical treatment.

i In November 2017, the 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, picked up sick and wounded Soldiers in Iraq and transported them to hospitals with a higher echelon of care.

i In November 2018, a group of reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, was in Germany waiting for severe weather to clear so they could head home to South Carolina. A call came in for emergency medical evacuation for a Soldier in Turkey who had been electrocuted and was suffering from second- and third-degree burns on 40 percent of his body and also had a broken femur. “There was not one hesitation; the entire crew stepped up,” according to Capt Dennis Conner, the mission’s aircraft commander Capt Ivy Ramirez, 60th Medical Group critical care nurse, treats a from the 701st Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, South simulated patient Dec. 18, 2019, on a C-17 Globemaster III from Travis Carolina. “They put their civilian lives on hold to do AFB, CA. this; they missed work and school to get him home.” USAF photo by SrA Jonathon Carnell The team successfully delivered the injured Soldier to Texas after a brief refueling in Boston. may take place on a C-17 mock-up. Those “classrooms” simulate conditions on an actual mission, including i In August 2019, AMC’s 618th Air Operations Center the sounds of the aircraft engine, explosions, and crash (AOC), Scott AFB, Illinois, learned of a severely landings. They can also simulate decompression, complete wounded Soldier at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan with the necessity of the students to use oxygen masks as who urgently needed aeromedical evacuation. The they attend their patients. AOC devised a mission called REACH 797 to get that soldier to needed care. At any time of the day or night, an AE crew may be mobilized to respond to a medical emergency, whether it Regardless of the location or danger, Airmen on an AE team involves two or twenty individuals, so they have to be ready. are always ready, willing, and able to risk their lives to help They have to be willing to drop what they are doing and go save other people’s lives. Day or night, winter or summer, to the aid of others. rain or snow, these critical Airmen answer the call!

Summer 2020 27 AMC PRIORITY E NIGMA C ODE: Innovation that Saved 14 Million Lives

BY MS. KIM KNIGHT, STAFF WRITER

magine … the strongest military forces on earth are locked in a turbulent world war. In the fierce clash of titans, the darkest side of humanity emerged, resulting in great Isuffering and the loss of millions of lives. Now imagine that you have the capability to ease the suffering or even end the war without the use of weapons but, instead, through intelligence and extraordinary innovation. To accomplish your mission, however, you face nearly impossible odds of 1 in 158,962,555,217,826,360,000 for success to intercept and decipher an extremely complicated encrypted code—while the clock is ticking.

“Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine,” said British mathematician, cryptographer, and pioneer of computer science, Alan Turing. The Princeton- and Cambridge- educated scholar was recruited by the British government in 1939 to lead a group of cryptographers, known as Ultra, all housed for top-secret work at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, England. His crucial task was deciphering Germany’s highly encrypted classified messages that were generated by an Enigma Machine and transmitted to Nazi forces across the war front. The Enigma ciphers were thought to be unbreakable because there were 159 quintillion possibilities to correctly decipher one, and the combination for the code was changed every 24 hours. If Turing’s team could decipher the codes, it would give Allied powers an Alan Turing enormous strategic advantage in every battle, which would swiftly end the war.

The Allied powers had retrieved an Enigma Machine from As the father of computer the battlefields. It looked something like an elaborate, old- fashioned typewriter but was cutting-edge technology for science and artificial intelligence, the time. When messages were typed into the machine, the result would be a series of seemingly random letters, as well as war hero, Alan Turing’s such as MKRWQPO. Turing had to determine what the letter combination was to establish a key, but with so many contributions were far ranging possibilities, the ironclad system appeared impenetrable. The and path breaking. Turing is a great mind searched relentlessly for a flaw or weakness in the code and discovered—after much trial and error—that when giant on whose shoulders so a specific letter was typed in, it would never be itself in the code. For instance, when an “S” was typed in, it would never many now stand.”

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Enigma machine, model “Enigma I”, used during the late 1930s and during the war; displayed at Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, Italy. A rebuild of a British Bomba located at Bletchley Park Museum. Photo by Alessandro Nassiri Photo by Tom Yates

By 1943, the revolutionary machine was deciphering a staggering 84,000 messages every month, which meant the Ultra team cracked roughly two messages every minute. be an “S” within the coded message. Before the war, a Polish mathematician on its 50-pound note. “As the father To test his finding, he had to unearth a had designed a machine called the of computer science and artificial word or phrase the Germans used often bomba to break the Enigma ciphers, intelligence, as well as war hero, in Enigma-encrypted messages. The but the Germans caught on and Alan Turing’s contributions were far phrase he found was ‘Heil Hitler’ at added more rotors and completely ranging and path breaking. Turing the end of every code. It is ironic: their changed procedures, making the new is a giant on whose shoulders so tribute to a tyrant leader ultimately led machine obsolete. Turing used it as many now stand,” said Mark Carney, to their defeat. a foundation to redesign a machine Governor of the Bank of England. The to mathematically eliminate codes, back of the note featured a quote from Turing had the basic configurations which accelerated the timeframe for Turing: “This is only a foretaste of worked out, but he understood that he deciphering Nazi messages from what is to come, and only the shadow had to build a machine to quickly beat weeks to minutes once the team of what is going to be.” the complexity of the Enigma machine. streamlined the processes. By 1943, There simply was not enough time the revolutionary machine was It is estimated that Turing’s work for the Ultra team to work through deciphering a staggering 84,000 shortened the war by two years and the vast number of combinations to messages every month, which meant saved 14 million lives. Cracking reestablish a key each day when the the Ultra team cracked roughly the code was a silent victory for the code was reset and to decipher the two messages every minute. The war hero who never wore a military 3,000 to 5,000 messages the Nazis innovation changed the course of the uniform. Clearly, the hard work were transmitting daily. Time was of war and history. shrouded in secrecy at Bletchley was the essence because it literally meant not done for honor and glory but life or death for American and Allied In 2019, Britain announced that Turing simply out of duty—for the greater troops fighting on the front lines. and images of his work would appear good of mankind.

Summer 2020 29 HEALTH AND FITNESS

Rising Above Autopilot

BY MS. KATHY ALWARD, STAFF WRITER

ometimes life can be Oklahoma after living in California fading rapidly, and I began operating difficult, so much so that for 30 years. I had promised my on autopilot. we stop thinking and just mother I would be there for her if Sautomatically keep moving she ever needed me, and I learned I remember driving over Tucumcari forward, going through the one day, when I received a phone call Pass in New Mexico on my way to motions of daily life without much from a hospital in Oklahoma, that it Oklahoma when I was caught in the thought. We are in such a routine was time to help. The hospital said middle of a snowstorm and watching to accomplish our goals each day my mother had an infection, and as trucks pulled over to wait out the that we may forget about important while she was in the hospital they storm. I began praying aloud because priorities, such as our safety, our noticed she had a memory problem. the snow and ice started falling at a health, taking the time to grieve, She was tested for and diagnosed faster pace. It did not seem safe to or even sleep. We are fortunate to with dementia, so the hospital moved keep going, and it did not seem safe survive these periods of operating on her to skilled nursing, saying she to stay on the pass either. I took a autopilot. The unfortunate thing is, could not leave the nursing home chance and kept driving, and I made when we continue to move forward unless someone was at home to take it to Tucumcari just in time before the when we actually should be resting, care of her at all times. weather worsened. we accomplish less than what we would have achieved if we had taken Lucky for me, or so I thought, my When I arrived, I went straight to the a break. When this situation occurs, three sons, who I had raised as a nursing home because my mother was the primary goal becomes rising single parent for 20 years, were now quickly fading. She blossomed when I above autopilot. grown and I could move home to first got her home. Sadly, her dementia care for my mother. I gave notice deteriorated into Alzheimer’s, and Operating in autopilot mode has at work, packed up my things, and it became even more of a challenge many repercussions. My most was back in Oklahoma in 2 weeks to because I had never been around significant example is a time in rescue my mother from the nursing someone with this disease. One my life when too many tragedies home. My sons understood the thing I learned is that caring for an occurred simultaneously, and it was situation and were busy with college, Alzheimer’s patient is a 24-hour-a- hard to work through exactly what careers, or starting a family. It was day job. I also learned that a person had just happened in each instance. I imperative to immediately move to becomes sleep deprived when being had moved back to my home state of Oklahoma because my mother was on call 24 hours a day for two years.

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It took several years to work through the grief, recover from the sleep deprivation, and realize that I had been operating on autopilot for much too long.

Hospice helped me care for her as to, and after the funeral I flew back all be together again at this difficult her condition worsened. We put my home to Oklahoma. time. Unfortunately, my mother mother’s hospital bed in front of her passed away while I was taking care favorite picture window in the den A few months passed as I was of my son. When my son’s cancer so she could watch the birds outside. grieving the death of my oldest son treatment was over I returned to Although I had help, I was operating and trying to help his brothers grieve Oklahoma, and he was able to return on autopilot because I was living from a distance. I then received a to New York City. both my life and my mother’s life phone call from one of my twin since she had become incapacitated. I sons, who had recently graduated My whole family was operating on was still a mother to my sons, helping from college and moved to New autopilot at this point because that them from a distance, and taking York City to be a Certified Public is what you do when you are in care of my mother’s responsibilities Accountant. He was living his dream survival mode. It took several years as well as my own as her condition as he worked through the grief of to work through the grief, recover slowly worsened. losing his brother when he became from the sleep deprivation, and very ill. He learned he had cancer at realize that I had been operating on Just when I thought this situation the age of 25 years old. He started autopilot for much too long. Rising was already harder than when treatment but became too sick to above autopilot can be a challenge, I raised my three sons alone, care for himself, and at the same but I am grateful that rest, faith, I received a phone call from time my mother was getting very exercise, and a healthy diet brought California. It was the most painful close to death. I made the executive me back to a peaceful place. conversation I ever had because I decision to move my son back to received the most heartbreaking California for cancer treatment and It is important to remember that news a parent can hear. A car had have home health care take care of you are not alone if challenges hit my oldest son and he had died my mother for a month. My son and become overwhelming and we are instantly. I was already on autopilot, I were fortunate enough to move all in this together. There is help but I had to dig even deeper as I back into our old apartment a block available, so be sure to reach out arranged for help to stay with my from the beach until he finished his to others if you need assistance in mother so I could fly to California cancer treatments. His twin brother rising above autopilot. for the funeral service of my eldest also lived in California, and it was a child. I kept going because I had bright spot in our lives that we could

Summer 2020 31 SAFETY CULTURE

Five Tips for BY MR. MATTHEW LIPTAK, Home Improvement Safety STAFF WRITER

o-it-yourself home improvement projects can be a great way to cut labor costs while improving the value and usefulness of your home as well as potentially learning a Dnew skill. These projects, however, often involve power tools, climbing ladders, or putting yourself in other potentially risky situations. Here are a few tips to keep you safe while you tend to and enhance your home.

1. “KEEP THY SHOP AND THY SHOP WILL KEEP THEE”

That old adage is from none other than Ben Franklin. More than a couple of hundred years ago, he published those words as a saying in his Poor Richard’s Almanac. The line may have reminded farmers and merchants back then to be more organized and thriftier, but it may have just as much impact for the modern homeowner. Keeping your tools and supplies squared away and in good running order will help you save money, but it can also keep you safe. When you are using power tools, it is a good idea to give them a close inspection before use. Look for frayed power cords or cracked or broken casings. If you find issues and cannot have them repaired by a qualified repairman, you should probably get rid of the 2. DO NOT CLIMB THAT LADDER device. Losing out on a couple of hundred dollars in tools is nothing compared RIGHT TO HEAVEN with thousands of dollars in possible medical expenses! Never disable the guards on tools. They are there for a reason—to protect you. You may think you are being Ladders are safe if used thoughtfully more efficient without them, but you are putting yourself or others who may pick and as they are designed to be used. up your tools at unnecessary risk. Always throw away damaged saw blades and do Remember, however, gravity is one not leave unattended tools powered up or plugged in, especially where kids may of the primary movers and shakers of have access to them. Maintain your power tools as recommended in the owner’s home improvement physics. Use the manuals, and you should have a longer-lasting, safer device to work with for years four to one rule—for every 4 feet of to come. ladder height, the bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the object on which it is leaning. Have a person hold the base as you climb, if possible. Pick a ladder that is a few feet taller than the elevation you need to get to, and do not climb to the top rungs of the ladder. Standing on the top rungs is unstable because of weight distribution and makes it pretty likely you will take a tumble. Beware of electrical lines nearby, especially if you are using a metal ladder.

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It is always a good 3. NAILED IT! idea to keep a first Do not be a nail-gun nincompoop and become a victim of aid kit on hand just a nail gun accident. Nail guns are guns, so treat them with respect. Only use the full sequential actuation trigger (SAT) in case. Everybody function. With the full SAT function, the gun will only release the nail when the trigger and touch-point safety makes mistakes. at the tip of the tool are sequentially triggered. Although ways exist to get around this safety feature, you do so at your own risk. It becomes more likely you will nail yourself if you do an end-run around the built-in safety measures of the tool. Understand 5. BE LIKE AL, NOT TIM your gun and wear protective gear like boots, gloves, and eyewear to Follow instructions, not intuition. mitigate possible injury. Beware of Many people have watched Tim ricochet-prone work areas. If you are “The Tool Man” Taylor on the unfortunate enough to be injured by Home Improvement television a nail, get medical attention—nail show and laughed at his instinct injuries are likely to get infected. for “more power” and the predicaments in which he finds himself. How many of his trips to the hospital could have been 4. SAFETY AND THE SAW avoided if he had been more like his careful and controlled Use protective goggles. Make this precaution a disciplined assistant, Al? Following impulses and habit before any use of a saw. It is reported that there are intuition is no substitute for following directions and more eye injuries due to saw use than all other power educating yourself on the project at hand. Consider taking a tools and instruments combined. It is tempting to brush off class at a home improvement store or a community college. the use of eyewear before using your saw because of the At minimum, read the instructions on the correct way to inconvenience, but the gift of sight is not something that can operate your tools and watch an informative training video be replaced, and you will not be doing any future sawing on YouTube before you get your hands dirty. Never drink without it. Do not wear loose-fitting clothing. If a garment alcohol while you are working with power tools or putting gets caught on a blade it can pull you toward the saw before yourself in risky situations. Save the celebration for after you can do anything about it. Again, know the guards and the job. It is always a good idea to keep a first aid kit on safeties on your tool and how to use them. Do not disengage hand just in case. Everybody makes mistakes. Even a mild- them. They are there for a reason. mannered Al can look more like a Tim sometimes.

Successfully tackling a home improvement project can be an extremely rewarding experience that also leaves your wallet a little thicker at the end of the day. You are improving the place you live in with your own two hands, what is between your ears, and the necessary tools. One project can lead to another and another until, in a few years, you have the home of your dreams. Just remember to put safety first so you can make those dreams come true. Rome was not built in a day and neither was your house. A little extra time and care applied to your home improvement project will lead to a successful and safe outcome.

Summer 2020 33 SAFETY CULTURE

Prepare for FOOD AND SHELTER i Keep rent or mortgage and utility accounts in good standing. In a nationwide emergency, your home is your fortress. Make sure that if you lose the Worst … electricity, it is not because of nonpayment. i Have an agreed-upon place for your family to BY MS. BETTY NYLUND BARR, STAFF WRITER meet in case communications are interrupted. i Stock up on canned meats, such as tuna and chicken; canned vegetables and fruits; and dried goods, such as pasta, rice, and beans.

i Stash away several cases of bottled water or extra e have all been told from an early age to “Be refills for a water dispenser. Prepared.” Children in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts know that is the Scout motto. For Wpeople in the military, it is just part of life. With COVID-19 shutting down much of the world, being prepared is more than simply a way to avoid the inconvenience of not having what you need, when HYGIENE you need it; it is essential for health and survival. This article focuses primarily on preparing for a disease i Especially during a contagion emergency, wash outbreak or other public health emergency, although your hands with soap and water before and some suggestions are applicable to preparing for many after any activity, especially food preparation, types of crises. shopping, and any contact with other people. i Keep plenty of hand sanitizer in stock in case the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) water supply is unreliable. website has a plethora of information on preparing for and responding to various types of emergencies i Try to avoid touching surfaces that may have been (https://emergency.cdc.gov/hazards-specific.asp). touched by other people (just assume that they Sections cover recent outbreaks and incidents, all have been), and, again, use soap and water such as COVID-19 and Ebola, natural disasters and or hand sanitizer. Wearing rubber gloves, spray severe weather, radiation emergencies, bioterrorism, surfaces with disinfectant spray, wipe them down pandemic influenza, and chemical emergencies. with sanitizing wipes, or spray on a solution of Regarding public health emergencies, the site also bleach and water (3/4 cup of bleach to each gallon includes what to do if you believe that you are sick or of water), then wipe with paper towels. if you are caring for someone who is sick. i Particularly if members of your immediate The following are some considerations to help you household venture out and are exposed to other plan and prepare for a crisis situation. As you are people, do not interact with them physically. reading this article, you will probably be thinking— Even if they are not showing signs of illness, at least about some of the suggestions—“Why is they may have been infected but not even be the author saying this? Of course, I have done it!” If aware of it yet, and COVID-19, for example, you find just one or two suggestions that you had remains active on soft surfaces (such as clothing) not thought of, however, then I will consider this for up to 24 hours. article worthwhile.

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Make sure everyone in the family MEDICAL CARE has a list of emergency contacts on i Ensure that you have at least a month’s supply of any prescription or over-the-counter medication their phone or in a purse or wallet. that you and your family take regularly. i Assemble a first aid kit. If you already have one, make sure it is fully stocked. TRANSPORTATION

i Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full. During a nationwide emergency, fuel may be harder to acquire, and lines will likely be longer.

COMMUNICATION i Also, make sure you are keeping up with regular maintenance on your vehicles, such as oil changes i Keep cell phones charged so if you lose and tire rotations. electricity, the battery is more likely to last until the power is restored. If you play games on your phone, make an exception during this time and use an alternative form of entertainment. That phone may be your lifeline.

i Make sure everyone in the family has a list of emergency contacts on their phone or in a purse or wallet. Those numbers should include, of COMMON SENSE course, 9-1-1; phone numbers for immediate family members and an emergency contact, i Listen to what the official experts are saying about such as a neighbor; the family physician the situation—the CDC if it is a health crisis, the (including the emergency or after-hours military if the threat is from a foreign power, and number); and anyone who may be depending local authorities if there is civil unrest—and take on you, such as elderly parents and sick or their advice. They are the ones who know what is disabled friends. best in the current state of affairs.

i If you do not already have a battery-powered i Stay away from people who show signs of illness, radio, invest in one. If the crisis is not already and practice “social distancing” for your own stressful enough, imagine not knowing how good and the good of others. Do not interact with much better or worse the situation is becoming. people outside your home unless necessary, and, Also, you could miss out on critical information if you must interact, keep at least 6 feet of space that could save your life or the lives of your between you and them. family.

i If you are teleworking, or you think working from home may be a possibility, make sure Keep the faith! Do not forget that this too shall pass. If you your software is updated—most important, use good sense and plenty of caution and precaution, then of course, is security software—and restrict you are doing the best you can to stay safe and healthy. the use of your work computer to work only. Look at this period of challenge as a wakeup call to remind With more people using their home networks you of how much beauty is in the world and how sweet than during typical, non-crisis times, the freedom tastes—and do not take any of it for granted once vulnerability to cyberattacks increases. the crisis is over.

Summer 2020 35 AMC NEWS

U.S. Transportation Command’s Mission Assurance Division Assesses, Identifies, and Mitigates Risks to the Organization, as Well as to its Operations and Personnel

BY MR. MICHAEL P. KLEIMAN, decisive, and lethal. The division, Col Kenneth “Mike” Shirley, Chief, U.S TRANSPORTATION COMMAND part of the Operations Directorate MA Division. “We’re ultimately (TCJ3), consists of four branches: MA responsible for mitigating threats to ike a firewall security system Programs, MA Operations, Insider the defense transportation system, protecting a computer or network Threat Analysis, and Protection which moves the joint force from the from internal and external Programs, as well as one office, base to the battlefield.” Lthreats, the U.S. Transportation Information Operations. Command’s (USTRANSCOM) Mission One of the MA Division’s branches, Assurance (MA) Division identifies All five synchronize their efforts Protection Programs, manages several mission risks from inside and outside assessing and identifying risks, as distinct areas of emphasis, including the organization. well as providing recommended the defense security enterprise, mitigation measures to command antiterrorism, continuity of operations, As a result, USTRANSCOM’s critical senior leaders. In doing so, the MA and emergency management. In capability of projecting and sustaining team protects USTRANSCOM assets addition, the Defense Security combat power at a time and place of and infrastructure globally. Enterprise encompasses four realms the nation’s choosing remains robust. of security: industrial, information, “Due to the evolving and increasingly- personnel, and physical. Comprising more than 60 military complex global security environment, members, federal civil servants, and MA is a 24/7 operation, but it takes “Our branch provides multiple contractors, MA synchronizes all risk all of the USTRANSCOM team to be protection-related customer services. management programs and activities successful. We—continuously and For example, the industrial security across all domains with support from collaboratively—share information specialist ensures the appropriate the USTRANSCOM directorates. They with transportation stakeholders, security language is included in identify how known vulnerabilities, conduct ‘Risk to Mission’ and ‘Risk approximately 100 classified contracts threats, and hazards could result to Force’ assessments, and provide annually,” stated Steve Strait, in risk to the command’s mission recommendations to leadership so chief, Protection Programs Branch, of deploying the joint force to the they can make an informed risk USTRANSCOM’s MA Division. “Our right place, at the right time, and in decision to either accept or mitigate personnel security specialist works daily the required scale to be immediate, the threat(s),” said U.S. Air Force Lt to ensure our members have current

36 The Mobility Forum AMC NEWS

eligibility for classified access. The protection specialist of the Protection information security specialist also daily Programs Branch, USTRANSCOM’s identifies issues and actions associated MA Division. “Protection Programs with the protection of classified bring a more tactical flavor to our MA information. Nearly every week, we are efforts, as we’re jointly concerned with dealing with facility physical security security risks, hazards, and threats actions. Much of our effort is focused on to USTRANSCOM Headquarters’ developing or enforcing implementation facilities and personnel, as well as Lt Col Kenneth “Mike” Shirley, Chief, Mission measures to reduce security risks and locations worldwide.” Assurance Division, Operations Directorate, unauthorized disclosures.” U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Another Protection Programs Branch IL. Shirley leads a division consisting of more Protection Programs also focuses entity, the Protection Services Center, than 60 military members, federal civilians, and contractors who assess and identify risks, on emergency preparedness— located in the breezeway between provide suggested mitigation measures to providing active attacker response, the east and west buildings of the command leadership, and ultimately protect bleeding control, cardiopulmonary USTRANSCOM Headquarters the combatant command from internal and resuscitation, and automated external building, administers physical security external threats. defibrillator training for command access for command members and Photo illustration by Stephenie Wade, USTRANSCOM/PA members. In addition, the branch visitors within the facility. conducts mandatory travel security briefings for USTRANSCOM military, “Ultimately, the MA Division strives civilian, and contract personnel to ensure continuous global mobility place of the nation’s choosing. Powered traveling overseas for work-related or mission assurance for the command,” by dedicated men and women, we personal reasons. Shirley said. “We have the right underwrite the lethality of the joint people and programs in the right force, we advance American interests “MA is a synchronized construct. place to do so.” around the globe, and we provide There is a lot of crossover and our nation’s leaders with strategic information sharing between the USTRANSCOM exists as a warfighting flexibility to select from multiple five respective entities in the MA combatant command to project and options, while creating multiple Division,” said Andrew Daub, sustain military power at a time and dilemmas for our adversaries.

Summer 2020 37 MISHAP-FREE FLYING HOUR MILESTONESMILESTONES

7,500 HOURS 3,500 HOURS 2,500 HOURS 1 AS, JB Andrews, MD 1 AS, JB Andrews, MD 1 AS, JB Andrews, MD MSgt Joshua P. Erhard Lt Col Michael R. Couchman Lt Col Robert A. Smith Lt Col Joel Gorham Maj Clark H. Condict 5,000 HOURS Lt Col Jason T. Hansberger Maj David J. Greco 1 AS, JB Andrews, MD Lt Col David J. Klein Maj James E. Miller Lt Col Barry D. Crosby Lt Col Jocelyn M. Smith Maj William F. Poeschl Lt Col Tyler C. Tollman Maj Seth D. Ehrlich Capt Samantha A. Caszatt Maj Nathan J. Bubonic Maj Nicole M. Grenier Capt Jeffrey V. Riesterer Maj Matthew J. Mihalick Maj Tyler C. Sanborn TSgt Joshua D. Holmgren Maj David L. Plachno SMSgt Ryan M. Starkey TSgt Michael K. Perkins MSgt Russell L. Ticer TSgt Allen J. Efrem TSgt Devin L. Ramirez 155 ARW, Lincoln, NE TSgt Adam T. Renwick TSgt Jeterria E. Thompson Col John Williams 155 ARW, Lincoln, NE SSgt Sasha Glaser Lt Col Wade Holen Lt Col Edward Conner 155 ARW, Lincoln, NE Maj Jonathan Mosier Maj Troy Martin Capt Sean Cappel CMSgt Jeff Van Nortwick Maj Ryan McGrail MSgt Bryan Schuka TSgt Joshua Butts TSgt Cassie Balzer TSgt Shawn Gallagher 375 OG Oklahoma City, OK Lt Col Alex E. Krause

A Michigan Air National Guard KC-135T from the 171st Air Refueling Squadron at Selfridge ANG Base in flight on a refueling mission over central United States. USANG photo by Munnaf Joarder

TO SUBMIT MISHAP-FREE FLYING HOUR MILESTONES: Send your request to: [email protected] HQ AMC/SEE, 618.229.0927 (DSN 779) Please submit as shown in the listings above (first name, last name, sorted alphabetically within rank).

38 The Mobility Forum QUICKSTOPPERS

BY MR. KEVIN SLUSS, CSP, Connected AvORM EFB App HQ AMC FLIGHT SAFETY

The next level of access to Aviation Operational Risk portion of the app and perform any actions that were Management (AvORM) progressed to worldwide available in the earlier version of the app. While aircrews with the release of the AvORM Electronic Flight connected to Wi-Fi, users can update any previously Bag (EFB) App version 2.1. in February 2020. Since the loaded GDSS missions to the current online version. release of the first version of the app in February 2019, Users can now transmit updates to online AvORM aircrews could manually enter an itinerary, make risk through the app, particularly for the health/stress and factor inputs, and review the mission effectiveness fatigue risk factors when on a multi-day mission. This (fatigue) graph as a stand-alone event, and that capability access provides the Mobility Air Forces’ system with the remains. Now with the connected app, an aircrew can enhanced capability to monitor the status of missions securely download an itinerary from a mission built in in progress. For more information, review the help the Global Decision Support System (GDSS) any time document provided in the app or the AMC/SEF Air Force the EFB contacts a Wi-Fi signal. Users can save a copy of Portal AvORM page that now includes a short tutorial on those missions from GDSS into the local (stand-alone) the new app release.

AvORM Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) app screenshots

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE: 2020-745-102/10020. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office. Summer 2020 39 Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402-0001 A DAY IN THE LIFE

A1C Michael San Jose, 60th Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron Lab Technician, performs antibody titration inside the David Grant USAF Medical Center laboratory March 25, 2020, at Travis Air Force Base, CA. The lab, which supports Air Mobility Command, as well as the Pacific theater, is one of many services the medical center is providing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

USAF photo by TSgt James Hodgman