Vides Support to Airmen and Their Families When Needs Arise
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On the cover: U.S. Air Force Airmen from the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing board a commercial aircraft on the ramp at the Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J. on Feb. 2, 2017, bound for Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, in support of the U.S. Pacific Command Theater Security Package. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley/Released) FEBRUARY 2017, VOL. 51 NO. 2 THE CONTRAIL STAFF 177TH FW COMMANDER COL. JOHN R. DiDONNA CHIEF, PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAPT. AMANDA BATIZ EDITOR/SUPERINTENDENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS MASTER SGT. ANDREW J. MOSELEY PHOTOJOURNALIST TECH. SGT. ANDREW J. MERLOCK PHOTOJOURNALIST SENIOR AIRMAN SHANE S. KARP PAVIATION HISTORIAN DR. RICHARD PORCELLI WWW.177FW.ANG.AF.MIL This funded newspaper is an authorized monthly publication for members of the U.S. Military Services. Contents of The Contrail are not nec- essarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the 177th Fighter Wing, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of On desktop computers, click For back issues of The Contrail, the Air Force. The editorial content is edited, prepared, and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the 177th Fighter Wing. All photographs Ctrl+L for full screen. On mobile, and other multimedia products are Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. tablet, or touch screen device, from the 177th Fighter Wing, tap or swipe to flip the page. please visit us at DVIDS! Collaborative, synergistic group effort facilitates TSP deployment by Col. Diana Brown, 177th Mission Support Group Commander compose the largest numbers. However, Support functions Benefits, Veteran’s status and much more. Upon completion, deploy with the TSP as well; such as Supply, Communications the actual physical work of the deployment starts; publishing "For once you have and Personnel. Administrative Orders, CED Orders, moving cargo, and Person- tasted flight you will walk nel Deployment functions. the earth with your eyes We are very proud of our Airmen who are deploying to support our National Strategy. It truly takes a team to make turned skywards, Family Support is involved in the entire process as this happen, and we at the 177 Fighter Wing have an outstand- well. After all, the real reason we “do what we do” is for our for there you have been ing team. All of you are dedicated and compose a passionate country, our families; and without their support, our jobs and there you will team of professionals. would be much more difficult. Family Support’s main goal is to long to return." be sure the families of the Airmen deployed are prepared and I would like to recognize those left behind to perform ready for their loved ones’ absence. After all– if things are Leonardo da Vinci our home station mission and most especially the people who going well on the “home front” the deployed member can rest are responsible for getting everyone “out the door” – their job easy and totally concentrate on the mission at hand. is essential to the mission…job well done! The 177th Fighter Wing is a shining example of a team Let us not forget the massive and complex efforts of effort paradigm. The synergy of the airmen from Mission Sup- There is a huge effort that goes on behind the scenes our Medical Group, who by ensuring high medical readiness, port Group, Maintenance Group, Operations Group, Medical for a successful TSP. This is where the Mission Support Group guarantee all our Airmen are mentally and physically healthy. Group and Fighter Wing Staff as well as their families working (MSG) makes magic happen. We want to share together in classic textbook interconnectedness typifies a suc- a miniscule amount of information about how the MSG sup- A special thanks to all of you, who made it possible for cessful group effort. Our goal is to provide highly qualified/ ports the team effort. us to fulfill our National Objectives! Community Based, Global Impact, ready always to Fly, Fight and Win! combat-ready citizen airmen, mission-capable aircraft/ equipment to support national and state objectives. The col- "The strength of the team is each individual member. The lective effort of all Jersey Devils is an integral part in meeting our objectives. Together we are composed of the best the Air strength of each member is the team." Phil Jackson "Since the Nation's birth, it has been the constitutional du- ty of our military to ensure national survival, defend lives Force has to offer. and property, and promote vital interests at home and We have been very busy over the last few months preparing It all starts long before deployment day with abroad. The enduring responsibility of the United States Air for a deployment known to us as TSP. TSP stands for “Theater the Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS). The LRS initiates the Force is to provide strategic deterrence for the Nation and Security Package”. It primarily consists of the 177th’s aviation effort in the Installation Deployment Office; these are the Air- fly, fight and win as an integral part of the Joint Team. To- package, both the people and equipment, and is designed to men who identify requirements needed to perform our as- gether with our brothers and sisters in arms, we under- bolster US forces on a rotational basis. This initiative was creat- signed mission. They work hand in hand with the Forces Sup- ed by the US Pacific Command (PACOM) and signifies “a con- port Squadron (FSS) who put “names” to those require- write the national strategy of defending the Homeland and tinued commitment to regional stability and security, while ments. Then, they must request the resources, the days and assuring allies, while dissuading, deterring and defeating allowing units to train in the Pacific theater” (Dorr, dollars, as well as research the benefits the deployers will re- enemies." 2013). Those that support this aviation package touch every ceive. The deployment authority, Title 10 code authorized, Air Force General Norton Schwartz area of the Wing. Obviously, maintenance and operations and length of the tour all determine medical benefits, GI Bill Theater Security Package DEPLOYS Story an photos by Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley, 177th FW Public Affairs prepared and shipped to Osan to support the flying opera- Approximately 200 pilots, maintainers and support personnel from tions of the 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard, locat- ed at the Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey, de- U.S. Air Force Lt. Col Matthew Crill, commander of the ployed to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, in support of the U.S. 119th, shared a few comments with Osan Public Affairs, pri- Pacific Command Theater Security Package (TSP) on Feb. 2, 2017. or to the deployment. “Our wing project officer and various unit leaders have worked well with the Osan team in prepa- Theater security packages, which help maintain a deterrent against ration for our arrival, and our ADVON (Advance Echelon) threats to regional security and stability, are routinely utilized by personnel team is experienced at preparing for our aircraft the U.S. Air Force for the U.S. PACOM and Pacific Air Forces re- and main body arrival.” gions. U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Shelton, with the egress According to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs, shop, was happy to deploy on a TSP and shared some advice “Movement of theater security packages into the region has been a with some younger unit members. “Work hard, stick togeth- er and use the buddy system, “ said Shelton, a twenty year routine and integral part of U.S. PACOM’s force posture since Above: U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Cun- March 2004. These packages demonstrate the continuing U.S. com- veteran at the 177th. “If you see something that needs to be niff, The Adjutant General of the New Jersey mitment to stability and security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.” done, do it, don’t wait for someone else to step up and vol- National Guard, left, speaks with 177th Fighter unteer. Enjoy the culture.” Wing and 119th Fighter Squadron ADVON per- Almost 100 increments, or large palletized pieces of equipment and sonnel preparing to deploy to Osan Air Base, cargo weighing approximately one third of a million pounds, were Several 177th unit members from various sections volun- Republic of Korea, in support of the U.S. Pacific teered to help move increments onto contract commercial Command Theater Security Package, Jan. 26, aircraft at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, brought their 2017. by the 177th Logistics Readiness Squadron by tractor trailer. On his first deployment with the 177th, Senior Airman Jor- Right: U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Shel- dan Tavarez, munitions systems specialist, said he was also ton, NCOIC with the 177th Fighter Wing egress shop, fills out some medical forms provided by looking forward to the deployment. “I’m amazed at the Master Sgt. Patricia Hughes from the Medical amount of work that goes into getting the TSP package de- Group at the Atlantic City Air National Guard ployed. From the Logistics Readiness Squadron to the Medi- Base, N.J. Feb. 2, 2017, in preparation for the cal Group, it is amazing to see the Wing come together as unit's deployment to Osan Air Base, Republic of one to make sure everything and everyone is prepared to Korea. accomplish the mission overseas.” “I am humbled and proud to be in command of the women Below: Airmen from the New Jersey Air Nation- and men who chose to serve in the New Jersey Air National al Guard's 177th Fighter Wing load luggage Guard,” said Crill.