Members of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Force Reconnaissance Platoon, jump from a 17th Special Operations Squadron MC-130J Commando II during an airfi eld seizure exercise Aug. 24, at Wake Island. Jump Clearing Teams conducted this training to build interoperability between the two units and ensure when the time comes the two forces are able to execute a joint mission as smoothly as possible. (U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Airmen Stephen G. Eigel / collaged by Eight Co.) By Senior Airman Tactics Squadron special tactics offi cer. military freefall mission might look like.” rewarding experience,” added Dunn. Stephen G. Eigel “It enabled us to identify better ways to Th e realistic training of the operations “Th eir professionalism and high-level 18th Wing Public Affairs work together and ensure we are able to conducted allowed the units to address of technical profi ciency allows the 320th 9/8/2016 — Standing at the edge of the execute a joint mission as smoothly as any issues before taking on any real world and the Marines to work well together open ramp on an MC-130J Commando possible when the time comes.” tasking. every time we conduct joint training.” II, 13,000 feet above their target with the Th e mission of the exercise was for the “Th e entire force learned how we can Increasing interoperability with our joint cold wind whipping through the aircraft , Jump Clearing Teams (JCT), consisting better execute a time-sensitive tasking to partners during training exercises is they wait for the green light and the of a small team of Special Tactics Airmen deploy and perform an airfi eld seizure, essential for real world success. aircraft ’s loadmaster to give the go sign and the Force Reconnaissance Marines, to primarily what’s required for coordi- “Force Reconnaissance and Special allowing them to jump from the ramp jump onto Wake Island, seize the airfi eld nation between all the ground and air Tactics units pair extremely well.” said and parachute in to take their target. and provide air traffi c control allowing an players,” said Dunn. “Working with Capt. Joshua J. Chambers, 31st Marine August 23-27, the 353rd Special Op- MC-130J Commando II from the 17th outside units in training oft en highlights Expeditionary Unit Force Reconnais- erations Group along with the III Marine Special Operations Squadron to land. interoperability issues and allows us to sance Platoon commander. “Th e training Expeditionary Force, 31st Marine Expe- “Th is exercise is important for a address them before real world tasking event was an excellent opportunity to ditionary Unit, Force Reconnaissance couple reasons,” said Dunn. “It allowed come down.” showcase the enhanced capabilities Platoon conducted an airfi eld seizure our team to conduct a military freefall Both the Airmen and Marines were of our units when we team together. I operations exercise at Wake Island. jump onto an unmarked, uncontrolled able to take a lot away from the training greatly enjoyed working with the 320th “Th e 320th and the Force Reconnais- drop zone located on a small, geograph- and discover what they can do better Special Tactics Squadron, and I hope sance Platoon conducted this training to ically-isolated island. It is essential that together in the future. this is one of many future joint training build interoperability between our two we maintain this capability because it “Working with the 31st MEU Force exercises between Force Reconnaissance units,” said Capt. Dunn, 320th Special most closely replicates what a real world Reconnaissance Platoon is always a Marines and Special Tactics Airmen.” 2 SAMURAI GATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 #BeThere before the call Commentary by Master Sgt. Wendy Barraza Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization hen the phone rings in the middle of the how alone he felt in that moment, alone enough to see exhaustion, building our social, mental, physical and night, it’s like an alarm going off in your suicide as the only solution to end his pain. spiritual resiliency is at the core of our strength. W brain. No one calls at one in the morning to A few years aft er this, I became a fi rst sergeant Th e theme of this year’s Suicide Prevention Month say they were “just thinking of you.” and received extensive training on how to help those is #BeTh ere and it stresses the social pillar of resiliency. I received one of those calls 13 years ago and woke struggling with suicide. I also began counseling with Th is campaign resonates strongly with me because if my to my mom telling me my dad had died from a self- suicide survivors and victims. Th ese encounters dad had just one person to give him hope, he might still infl icted gunshot wound. Th e words didn’t sink in right educated me and gave me a new perspective on how be here today. It’s no one’s fault he is gone, but I believe away; I had to ask her to repeat herself. I can’t image the people think when they are considering suicide and how that if he felt the care from people who did care for him, diffi culty she endured to do this. to respond to them. When someone’s arm is cut off , we he would have given life another chance. My dad was a Navy veteran and a high performer. He don’t just tell them to change their frame of mind and My challenge to you this month is to spend time was incredibly successful as a nuclear power engineer. they’ll feel better. When someone is diabetic, we don’t building your community again. Reconnect with a friend Unfortunately, he was not able to tackle life’s challenges tell them it’s unhealthy to take medication every day to and spend time together. I know we all have limited without substance abuse or an addiction. Th ese varied survive. When someone has the fl u, we don’t ask them, resources that make it diffi cult to set aside quality time for over the years, from gambling to drinking, to smoking, “Have you ever tried not having the fl u?” one another, but those moments build the trust, loyalty and to overeating; he would replace one with another in a What I came to understand is that we should never commitment needed to open up to each other when things constant struggle to adapt to life. I don’t know for sure, but minimize someone’s struggle and that we need to be there aren’t going well. Th ink about who you feel comfortable I suspect he fi lled the void with those substances because for our wingmen when they are going through rough reaching out to, and ask yourself who feels comfortable he didn’t have anyone to help him. As the breadwinner for patches. Isolation and hopelessness are dark times, and reaching out to you. Let’s mean it when we say “I will never the family, I think he felt he had to appear strong and deal the permanent eff ects of decisions made in those times leave an Airman behind.” Let’s win the battle to save lives with things on his own. Th is left him alone with no one he can create a ripple eff ect of sadness through families so no one else has to answer that call in the middle of the could just open up to about how he was feeling. and organizations. If I were to hold a glass of water in night. Everyday connections with our wingmen matter. At the time of his death, it was very diffi cult for me my hand and stretch it out parallel to the fl oor, I could (Editor’s note: If you are struggling with thoughts of to process my dad’s suicide without resentment. I felt hold that glass for a while, but at some point, my arm suicide or depression, seek help immediately. Talk to he had damaged my mom. I felt he had committed would get tired and I would want to lower the glass. Life your wingman, chaplain or mental health professional. a horribly selfi sh act. I felt angry that my mom and is like this. Everyone has a diff erent point of exhaustion, Confi dential help is also available by contacting the brother missed him so much when I didn’t fi nd him to and we must be aware of our own breaking point and Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, Opt. 1, or www. be a particularly good person. It never occurred to me our wingman’s. While we all cope diff erently with this MilitaryCrisisLine.net.) Airman was at ‘Right Place, at the Right Time’ By Lisa Ferdinando everyone to be in the position Oneto said, explaining ap- Defense Media Activity that you’re in as a leader,” he proaches need to be tailored to 9/8/2016 - YOKOTA AIR told the airman. Th at includes the individual. It is important BASE, Japan — During a trip being able to assess whether to know your people, and be to visit sailors and airmen in someone has high risk factors someone your people can talk Japan, the chairman of the Joint “and then make sure you do to and trust, he said. Chiefs of Staff found himself at something about it when you Need a Hand? Just Ask. the right place, at the right time see it,” Dunford said. A message that Oneto has to recognize an airman who Oneto said he did not expect for anyone who is struggling: was also at the “right place, at a personal visit from the high- talk to someone and get help.