HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?
July 18, 2014
Volume 38, number 28
Airmen, Soldiers team up for airdrop Story and photo by Senior Airman Christine Griffiths U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Public Affairs POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland — A C-130J Super Hercules from Ramstein Air Base airdropped U.S. Army paratroopers from Grafenwöhr over Estonia during an initial training mission July 8. Aircrews from the 37th Airlift Squadron flew from Powidz Air Base, Poland, to pick up more than 50 Soldiers from the 1-91 Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), at Amari Air Base, Estonia. “We went over our basic sustain airborne training, where we go over exiting the bird and proper parachute landing falls — all in preparation for today, where we
rig up, load up into the bird and do a couple passes and exit the bird,” said Cpl. Brian James Rushford, B Troop senior line medic, 1-91 CAV, 173rd IBCT (A). The soldiers don’t get out of the plane by themselves, though. C-130Js require two loadmasters to assist in personnel drops to ensure the safety of the aircrews and the paratroopers. Before each drop, loadmasters prepare the aircraft by changing the configuration, setting up anchor cables and setting up a retrieval system. “This training helps us maintain our proficiencies and just being ready for any real world operations that we may have to do,” said Airman 1st Class Ralph Colas, 37th AS loadmaster. “Out of today’s training, I was able to log some currencies that we have to maintain for our
semiannual and as well as seeing all the rigging and all the things we have to do again and again. It helps keep it fresh in my mind.” Three C-130Js from the 37th AS are based at Powidz AB to conduct training and focus on maintaining joint readiness while strengthening interoperability. Through these relationships and engagements with our allies, the U.S. and NATO demonstrate their shared commitment to a peaceful, stable and secure Europe. “Without the Air Force we can’t do our operations. They have a crucial part to this,” Rushford said. “They check the air. They fly the plane. Basically all we have to do is jump out of it. We’re very grateful for them to come out here and fly the bird for us. They make sure it’s safe and allow us to jump out.”
Airman 1st Class Ralph Colas, 37th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, waits for the OK to allow U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1-91 Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), Grafenwöhr, Germany, to jump over Estonia July 8.
KC-135 crew completes three missions in a day Story and photos by Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England — Out of the quiet, clear blue sky, a KC-135 Stratotanker bursts through the clouds, racing toward its destination. Inside, a small swarm of people move swiftly through the cabin. The chatter is broken by an Airman shouting, “He’s crashing!” Another Airman rushes to her side and immediately begins performing chest compressions as the female Airman pumps oxygen into the unconscious individual. The Airmen work for several minutes,
attempting to revive the incapacitated passenger, when suddenly a faint beep suspends the action. The tension finally lifts as a series of beeps begin to become more frequent and the Airmen continue their work to sustain the patient. On June 24, this scenario was one of three missions supported by a KC-135 aircrew from the 351st Air Refueling Squadron on Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. Though the in-flight emergency was part of a training exercise, the crew also performed two other missions that day: transporting military personnel and their families and aerial refueling.
Staff Sgt. Taunee Tibbs (left), 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, pumps oxygen into a training dummy as Staff Sgt. Rolando Rodriguez, 86th AES medical technician, performs chest compressions on a KC-135 Stratotanker over Germany.
See TRAINING, Page 2
SABC rodeo rounds up lifesaving techniques, Page 3
SCHOOLS
Share the road. Look out for bicycles, ATVs and pedestrians.
FEATURES
Tip of the Week
FEATURES
FEATURES
Band honors nations during retreat, Page 9
Never leave children in car, Page 21