COMMANDER’S CORNER: DEDICATION TO COMPLIANCE - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Vol. 63 No. 28
MEET THE CHIEF: 544 ISRG change Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons of command
By Staff Sgt. Erica Picariello PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — On a rainy Friday afternoon, Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons, 21st Space Wing command chief had a 30 minute break in his schedule to discuss his journey, how he views our mission, what we can expect of him, and what he expects from the men and women of the 21 SW.
Please tell us about your background: I enlisted into the military because I wanted to do something that mattered; something I could be proud doing until I figured out which way was up for my life. Growing up at Fort Hood, Texas, I actually had every intention of joining the Army and would have been a soldier had I not listened to a still small voice during one life-changing event. While getting set to sign my very final piece of Army enlistment paperwork at MEPs, an Airman walked by in service dress. I stopped just shy of the Oath when I realized that in my eagerness to get “life” started I didn’t research all of my options – and I owed myself that. It wasn’t cold feet, I just knew the magnitude of what I was doing. So I turned to my recruiter and told him I needed to learn something about the Air Force before I’d be ready to swear in to the Army. One conversation with the Air Force recruiter back home and a good look at the career catalog, and I was sold! I came in “open-general” believing that any specialty the Air Force assigned me to could offer a future in or out of the military. Of course, like most Airmen, I didn’t think about serving down the road past my initial enlistment; I just needed to get the ball rolling faster in my life. As a brand new Airman Basic, I was accessed into the Aerospace Control and Warning Systems Operations (1C5) career field. It’s very similar to being a Space Operator (1C6) – they just operate in the air domain. In fact, the two career fields were so closely aligned at one time, you could hop between their jobs, tasks and locations. If you go to the North See Chief page 12
(U.S. Air Force photo by Craig Denton)
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Col. Matteo Martemucci (left), 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing commander passes the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group guidon to Col. Maurizio Calabrese (right) 544 ISRG incoming commander, who assumed command June 27, 2018. The ceremony was held at The Club on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
MAFFS ACTIVATION:
Reserve C-130s support Colorado firefighting efforts 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing flew multiple Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions today dropping fire retardant to draw lines of containment supporting the suppression efforts of the Spring Creek fire in Colorado. The 302nd AW received a request for assistance from the National Interagency Fire Center for two MAFFS-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft and aircrews to support fire suppression efforts in the Western U.S. MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system, owned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, which can discharge 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes on the ground. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command at Peterson AFB, provides unique military support to firefighting efforts when requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and approved by the Secretary of Defense. These diverse mission assets are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives, property, critical infrastructure and natural resources, and can include, but are not limited to, MAFFS, military helicopters and ground forces capable of supporting the firefighting efforts.
(Courtesy photo)
COLORADO — The view of the Spring Creek fire from an Air Force Reserve Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft in Colorado, July 2, 2018. The Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing received a request for assistance from the National Interagency Fire Center for two MAFFS-equipped C-130s and aircrews to support fire suppression efforts in the western U.S.
INSIDE News Briefs Classifieds Crossword
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Base Briefs
Tracking wildlife
AF week in review
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