COMMANDER’S CORNER: BE GRATEFUL - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, January 4, 2018 Vol. 62 No. 1 INSIDE News 1-14 Malcolm Air Force Briefs 4 GSUs Grow legacy Medicine usher in still strong in the Crossword 19 the New in Air Force Korean Classifieds 18 Year medicine War Page 7 Page 8 Page 12 SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, January 4, 2018 www.peterson.af.mil 21ST SPACE WING COMMANDER’S CORNER Be grateful in the New Year PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — team to play against Grand Forks AFB and Happy New Year to the outstanding men defend (translation: win) The Dakota Cup and women of the 21st Space Wing and the By Maj. Shawn when I came across a huge billboard that Colorado Springs community! “Happy” Green simply said, “Be Grateful.” One of my best Over the past four months, I had the friends had told me of this sign, so I pulled privilege to serve as the commander of a my truck to the side of the road, stared at forward deployed space squadron as part of 21st Space Wing it, and recounted why things had gotten so a joint, coalition team at an austere location miserable. Legendary NCAA Coach John in Northern Syria. Our elite team of Airmen, Wooden once said, “Things turn out best Soldiers, Sailors and Marines continue to for the people who make the best of the work by, with and through regional part- way things turn out.” As soon as I decided ners such as the Syrian Democratic Forces to take control of my situation by changing to militarily defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in support my perspective, my life drastically improved. In short, I decided to take of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). I am ownership, hold myself accountable and lead. forever grateful to serve my country alongside such an amazing team – it’s As I reflect on that moment, I realize that the change began with me. been the experience of a lifetime. This holiday season, I’d like to share Bestselling author Simon Sinek shares, “Leadership is a choice. It is not some personal stories with you to help your New Year be just that much a rank.” Regardless of our age, rank, position or title, each of us has the more enjoyable. choice to (or not to) lead each and every day through our personal example, attitude and commitment to others. I’ve encouraged leadership at every BE GRATEFUL level within the units I’ve served and on Team Pete, leadership does not When I began my career at Minot AFB in the ICBM community, I just sit with the Wing Staff; it has many faces. It’s seen by the server at made the mistake of allowing my attitude get in the way of my happiness, the Deployed Family Dinner. It’s seen by the gate guard who cheerfully performance and well-being. I played the helpless victim and instead of says, “Welcome to Peterson Air Force Base” and checks your ID. It’s seen focusing my efforts on doing a good job and helping others, I blamed by the spouse who pours their effort into the family and the children who all of my problems on external factors – the career field, my friends, my help with chores around the house. It’s seen daily by countless professional family, the -40 degree weather, the assignment. However, I had the power Airmen, on and off base, on and off duty. to change this, as evidenced in this Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: “What Our Air Force culture is unique and I cherish the fact that I serve lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what alongside people who believe in the same core values. In Miguel Ruiz’ lies within us.” See Grateful page 14 One February day, I was driving across North Dakota with our basketball FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY Robinson & Henry would like to honor our military personnel by o ering a % DISCOUNT 25ON FAMILY LAW SERVICES CALL US AT 719-632-1919 TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER To get the discount you must book your consult by 1/31/18 and bring this ad to your consult. JAMES TOWNSEND is the lead family law attorney for residents in Colorado Springs and Castle Rock. As an award-winning attorney, James has fought and helped clients navigate the Colorado court system for over a decade. COLORADO SPRINGS OFFICE: 1975 Research Pkwy., Ste. 100 Colorado Springs, CO 80920 SPACE OBSERVER www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, January 4, 2018 3 In their words: Missile defense crew recounts intercontinental ballistic missile target flight test Sgt. Zachary Sheely 100th Missile Defense Brigade at Schriever 90 percent just to be qualified to join a mis- tually performing their wartime mission. 100th Missile Defense Brigade and the 49th Missile Defense Battalion at sile crew. Once assigned to a crew, they are “We at the brigade can do this in our mul- Fort Greely, Alaska, control the system and immersed in an environment where daily tiple training runs every single shift, but also the unofficial motto of the 100th Missile training runs and no-notice evaluations to when the homeland is affected.” COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Defense Brigade is “300 soldiers protecting maintain gunnery-table certification from 1st Lt. Alberto, current operations officer Ground Based Midcourse Defense Element 300 million Americans” higher headquarters are the norm. 1st Lt. Alberto has spent the entirety of of the Ballistic Missile Defense System is In no particular order, this is the story of Daniel said that the crew on FTG-15 re- his post-West Point Army career with the the United States Anti-Ballistic Missile FTG-15, from the perspective of five crew lied on their training and tactics, techniques 100th Missile Defense Brigade and named Safeguard, designed to intercept incoming members, who executed the launch. Their and procedures. He said his crew performed his role in FTG-15 as the highlight of his enemy warheads in space that’s been in op- last names have been withheld for security flawlessly and any of the other missile defense career, thus far. eration since 2004. In May, 2017, it achieved purposes. crews would have achieved a similar result. “I feel extremely fortunate to be part of this perhaps its greatest success to date in its “We got it,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel, read- “The system that we have to ensure that unit, to be part of that crew,” said Alberto. toughest test yet. iness officer. we’re proficient works because I was able to “It was a quiet confirmation of what we al- Flight Test Ground based interceptor-15 Daniel said that while his initial reaction do it, so I know that anybody else here would ready knew to be true. The system works, showcased the system’s capabilities, as it was was that of excitement once the crew real- be able to do it,” Daniel asserted. “I’ve got our operators are trained and proficient. It the first successful interception of a simulated ized that they had authored the successful 100 percent confidence in the system and all was exciting. We were proud of ourselves, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile target by a intercept, their overall response was subdued. of our operators.” the crew, the system, and the developers. Ground Based Interceptor launched by the “For us, it was just another day at the of- “The reason that it’s exciting is not because GMD system. fice,” said Daniel, who has served in mul- we doubted it would work,” Alberto added. The test, which took place May 30, 2017, tiple roles within the air defense artillery “The reason it’s exciting is because it’s not was the culmination of complex integrated enterprise. “Being in a Patriot unit, you get “Testing is important, something that happens every day. It was a planning by a number of military agencies live fire opportunities. Being a Joint Tactical I’m glad we do test,” Jeffrey unique opportunity to test the system in a and materiel developers. At its heart were Ground Station operator, you’re constantly continued. “It helps build real way that validated what we knew it was five 100th Missile Defense Brigade soldiers seeing missiles launched and intercepts from faith and confidence. It’s going to do.” operating the system inside a secure “node” other countries.” only going to help improve Alberto described ground-based mid- at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. “This is what I’m trained to do, this is my the system. As we see more course defense as a “system of systems,” The 100th MDB, a multi-component job,” said Daniel. “My job is to defend the complex threats, we need to which comprises a global network of space-, Brigade consisting of active-component homeland. I’ve had 100 percent confidence in ground- and sea-based sensors. His role as U.S. Army and U.S. Army National Guard the (GMD) system since even before coming create more complex tests. the current operations officer is to commu- soldiers in Colorado, California and Alaska, out here.” It would be a mistake to not nicate with and monitor the various GMD is the only military unit with a 24/7/365 mis- Skeptics have knocked the “lack of realism” continue testing, developing, system sensors. sion of defending the homeland from ICBM of FTG-15. However, Daniel said while the and refining our system.” “Those sensors are feeding information attacks with Ground Based Interceptors.