Combat Skills Prepare Airmen for Deployment Staff Sgt
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Farewell to the Chief! Come out to the Fitness Center Annex Friday starting at 9 a.m. to wish 50th Space Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Russell Kuck a fond farewell! VOL. 8, NO. 14 APRIL 6, 2006 Colorado Springs, Colo. www.schriever.af.mil Combat skills prepare Airmen for deployment Staff Sgt. Don Branum 50th Space Wing Public Affairs What difference does Expeditionary Combat Skills train- ing make for Airmen who are preparing to deploy? For one satellite systems operator with the 4th Space Operations Squadron here, the answer is: a big one. “I feel better prepared now than before,” Senior Airman Dale Harris said. “If your career field doesn’t deploy, you should get this kind of refresher training every couple of years.” Airman Harris was one of 100 Airmen who participated in a Wing Expeditionary Readiness Inspection here March 14 to 16. He will deploy with Aerospace Expeditionary Forces 3 and 4. The WERI was the first deployment training environment Airman Harris had experienced since Basic Military Training’s Warrior Week at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The ECS training included convoy training, improvised explosive device awareness, individual tactical maneuvers, M-16 familiarization, rifle fighting and integrated base defense. “They made it realistic—like it would be out in the field, not like we were sitting in a tent all day,” he said. Airman Harris’ appraisal is not the only positive review the combat training has received. Several Airmen photo by Kim Kruis-Johnson approached Lt. Col. Paul Scholl, 50th Security Forces Airmen practice individual tactical maneuvers during a Wing Expeditionary Readiness Inspection here March 14 to 16. Squadron Commander, and the 50th Space Wing Inspector Airmen with the 50th Security Forces Squadron here presented Expeditionary Combat Skills training during the WERI. General team with glowing feedback. Tech. Sgt. Brian Johnson and Staff Sgt. Joshua Ernst, The IED portion of the instruction took on special mean- thing that could not have happened without the team mem- 50th SFS, were responsible for planning and conducting the ing for Sergeant Ernst, who had worked alongside Staff Sgt. bers’ and leadership’s full buy-in, Sergeant Ernst said. training. The ECS training resembles ground combat skills Brian McElroy. Sergeant McElroy, 3rd SFS at Elmendorf Airman Harris put his newly refreshed knowledge to use training that security forces Airmen receive during technical AFB, Alaska, was killed by an IED in January while during the WERI’s third day—a day packed with simulated training. deployed to Iraq. mortar fire, chemical warfare attacks and an enemy advance “We teach the same individual tactical maneuvers that we “As a trainer, you want your guys to have the best and toward the base. learn,” Sergeant Ernst said. “And the rifle-fighting tech- most up-to-date knowledge they can possibly have,” “It was realistic—it felt like I was actually in-theater niques are the same throughout the military, period.” Sergeant Ernst said. because of all the smoke grenades and ‘explosives,’” Planning the ECS course for Airmen in the WERI took As a result, the IED awareness class offered more than Airman Harris said. approximately two months and involved taking a lot of work the Air Force requirement as part of ECS training. Sergeant Ernst’s goal is for Airmen to have more than just home, Sergeant Ernst said. A team of 50th SFS NCOs conducted the training during a basic ability to function in a deployed environment. “This was kind of our baby. We put a lot of work into it; the WERI’s second day. “I want not just for them to be able to function but to have we wanted to make sure it went off without any hitches,” he By splitting Airmen into smaller groups, the team com- an idea of how to react in a situation, whether it’s an IED, a said. pressed the 19-hour course into one 12-hour day—some- convoy, direct or indirect fire,” he said. Navigation, timing more robust through SIPRNet GPS signal Staff Sgt. Don Branum he continued. “When placed into a network 50th Space Wing Public Affairs environment, GPS service makes a leap for- ward into a more robust, more available, War fighters now have a new way to more accurate, more anti-jam-capable sys- receive Global Positioning System location tem.” and timing data: they can get it online. Bill Feess of Aerospace Corporation and The 2nd Space Operations Squadron here Dr. Art Dorsey of Lockheed Martin, both is delivering Zero Age of Data Navigation advocates of net-centric GPS service, have Message Replacements, or ZAOD NMR, on long encouraged the operations community the Secure Internet Protocol Router to move toward a net enabled end-state of Network. placing precision GPS information into net- The ability to deliver GPS position and works, but only recently has the effort been time information through the SIPRNet is a realized. historic achievement, said Maj. Chuck “This was an amazing team effort.” Daniels, GPS Operations Center Director. Major Daniels said. “Our Overlook Systems “GPS signals in space are fragile,” Major Technologies, Inc, contractors, P.J. Mendicki Daniels explained. “Radio frequency noise from Aerospace and Dr. Dorsey from in the environment can disturb, disrupt or Lockheed-Martin were able to finish the even destroy those signals. work Mr. Feess started so long ago.” photo by Staff Sgt. Don Branum “But if you can deliver position and tim- The first end user of this new GPS data From left: Kyle Sperry, Capt. Jason Budnick, Maj. Chuck Daniels, Rob Gonley, P.J. Mendicki, ing data via robust networks into a net-cen- stream is Air Combat Command’s Small 1st Lt. Adam Fisher and Jesse Diaz are part of the Global Positioning System Operations tric environment, then in theory you’re no Diameter Bomb effort, where the bomb’s Center here. The GPSOC recently began sending GPS signal data through the Secure longer dependent on the signals in space,” See Navigation, Page 6 Internet Protocol Router Network. Dr. Art Dorsey, not pictured, is also a key member. Weekend Friday Saturday Sunday INSIDE Commentary . .2 Sports . .12 Outlook High 55 High 69 High 74 News . .4 Features . 14-15 Low 32 Low 39 Low 43 APRIL 6, 2006 2 SATELLITE FLYER COMMENTARY www.schriever.af.mil Guardian Challenge competition What is your favorite continues at different time, place event at Spring Fling? By Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz Air Force Space Command As we fight the Global War on Terror, the task of Vice Commander staging Guardian Challenge has come face-to- Over the years, Guardian face with the realities of limited funds, scarce Challenge has played an important military airlift, and competing demands on the Annie Pettit role in sustaining and enhancing the Child Development combat readiness of our space and time and attention of our people. Center missile forces. It has also served to — Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz “My family enjoys the promote the competitive drive and Air Force Space Command Vice Commander face panting.” esprit-de-corps so important to devel- oping world-class professionals. However, as we fight the Global War host the event at other locations Finally, we will continue to recog- on Terror, the task of staging Guardian depending upon conditions at the nize our finest professionals with all Challenge has come face-to-face with time. the ceremony that has become a tradi- the realities of limited funds, scarce Another significant change tional part of Guardian Challenge. military airlift, and competing involves the manner in which the This year’s Curtain Raiser, Contractor demands on the time and attention of competition will be conducted. Expo, Senior Leader Panel, Score Fourteenth Air Force has traditionally Chris Burns our people. To meet these challenges, Posting, Awards Ceremony, and Schriever LAN we are making some changes to conducted their competition at the Banquet will be held at Peterson AFB. Helpdesk Guardian Challenge, both this year local units. Conversely, Twentieth Air We are excited about this opportunity and in the future. Force has always conducted their “The Easter egg hunt to transform the way we conduct the The first and most significant competition at Vandenberg AFB. This is my family’s competition, meet our readiness change is a shift in location and dates year however, all competition events, favorite.” objectives, and carry on our tradition of the competition. This year’s with the exception of Security Forces Guardian Challenge will be held at and helicopters, will be held at their of camaraderie and teamwork that Peterson AFB from 14–18 Aug respective units. Evaluations in 14 AF have served us so well for over 35 instead of at Vandenberg AFB in May. are currently underway; the 20 AF years. I encourage all units to main- The close proximity of four of our evaluators’ travel schedule is already tain the true spirit of the competition Space Wings to Peterson AFB will being actively worked. Security Forces by showing off their competition uni- save us money and help us avoid will hold their competition in forms, mascots, “specialized equip- Staff Sgt. potential problems in securing mili- Colorado Springs during Guardian ment” (e.g. bully sticks) and, most of Michael Austin tary airlift. In subsequent years, we Challenge, while our helicopter crews all, the indomitable spirit that charac- 4th Space Operations may return to Vandenberg AFB, or will compete at Camp Guernsey, WY. terizes this magnificent command! Squadron “The food has to be the best event.” ‘Thank you’ vital to our daily lives Master Sgt. Carl Jenkins The benefit for others is having someone appreciate the 42nd Air Base Wing Deputy Inspector General little things they’ve done, which in turn causes people to be inspired to continue to contribute to the welfare of others.