COMMANDER’S CORNER: ONLINE SAFETY - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Vol. 61 No. 34
Maj. Gen. Maas visits with remote Guardsmen By Steve Kotecki 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
CLEAR AIR FORCE STATION, Alaska — Known as the “Guardians of the Last Frontier,” Alaska Air National Guard members assigned to the 168th Air Refueling Wing defend the U.S. and its allies 24/7 through missile warning and space situational awareness. Maj. Gen. Paul Maas, Air Force Space Command, ANG assistant to the commander, led a group including Col. Kelvin Gardner, AFSPC command chaplain, and Lt. Col. Pete Zalewski, ANG assistant chaplain, to Clear Air Force Station, Alaska, July 12, 2017. The visit offered an opportunity for Maas to visit with Alaska Air National Guardsmen to understand and unique challenges they might encounter being in such a remote location. Clear AFS is home to the 13th Space Warning Squadron, and 213th Space Warning Squadron, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Alaska Air National Guard. “The missile warning and space surveillance missions being conducted 24/7 by the Alaska Air National Guardsmen at Clear (AFS) is truly an Air Force Space Command Total Force Initiative,” Maas said. “In addition, all security forces, services, and quality assurance for the site is being conducted by dedicated Alaska Air National Guardsmen.”
“Many of them travel every week from their families in Anchorage, driving five hours before the start of four days, working 12-hr shifts,” said Gardner. “Some of these Guardsmen have contributed to the mission for over a decade.’ The two squadrons are located about 100 miles west of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Clear AFS has been essential to missile warning since 1961 when the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System first became operational. The Alaska Air National Guard provides the bulk of the force supporting the mission, and the active duty element is essential for coordinating the mission to overall homeland defense plans. Clear AFS is the last operational station of the Subarctic BMEWS. Though elements of the original system have long since been replaced, Clear AFS is scheduled to receive new capabilities which will maintain its contribution well into the future. What won’t change is the necessity for dedicated Airmen supporting the mission. “The contribution of these Alaska Citizen Airmen is an example of why our recent strategic ministry plan prioritizes being in touch with Air National Guard squadrons supporting the space mission,” Gardner said. “We want to make sure they know the command and the nation appreciate their efforts.”
(Courtesy photo)
CLEAR AIR FORCE STATION, Alaska — Master Sgt. George Bender, Alaska Air National Guard, gives Maj. Gen. Paul Maas, Air Force Space Command, ANG assistant to the commander a run down on daily operations at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska, July 12, 2017. Maas’ visit to Clear AFS was part an on-site visit to some of the more remote locations under his command.
MAFFS surge support continues as national preparedness advances to highest level By Ann Skarban 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Thomas Freeman)
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Smoke and the start of a fire retardant containment line dropped by a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft near California’s South Fork Fire, south of Yosemite National Park are visible from MAFFS 5, Aug. 14, 2017. Three MAFFS-equipped C-130s and aircrews from the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard are providing support to the U.S. Forest Service fire suppression efforts from Air Tanker Base Fresno, California.
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard continue supporting wildland fire suppression efforts as the National Preparedness level reaches its highest level. The three federally activated MAFFS equipped-aircraft and crews from the Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo., the 152nd AW, Nevada Air National Guard and 153rd AW, Wyoming Air National Guard are providing support to fire containment efforts from Air Tanker Base in Fresno, California. MAFFS operations there began July 30. On August 10, the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho announced the National MultiAgency Coordinating group raised the National Fire Preparedness Level to its highest point, PL-5. The PL ranges from one, indicating minimal activity to five, which signals very high activity. According to a NIFC news advisory announcing the PL increase, “A significant amount of initial and extended attack and large fire activity has occurred
over the past several days as a result of lightning storms that have intensified local and geographic response,” said Dan Buckley, chair of NMAC. “Yesterday was a huge day for MAFFS,” said Col. James DeVere, commander of the 302nd Airlift Wing who is currently serving in the MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group, referring to the MAFFS sorties from August 14. “This was the busiest day since MAFFS was activated,” said DeVere. On August 14, the three MAFFS-equipped C-130 employment totals included 24 sorties, 24 drops with 68,822 gallons of retardant. “There is a lot of fire activity just south of Yosemite National Park,” said DeVere. “All of our drops [on August 14] were just south of Yosemite on the South Fork fire protecting the park — supporting an early detection fire. We had a big impact on it yesterday.” As of August 14, the federally activated MAFFS cumulative employment totals grew to 110 drops disbursing 279,350 gallons of retardant on more than a dozen fires throughout California. The last time the National Preparedness Level raised to its maximum was on August 13, 2015. The National Preparedness Level remained at PL-5 for 24 days until it was dropped to 4 on September 6, 2015. This is the fifth time that PL-5 has been reached since 2007.
INSIDE News Briefs Crossword Classifieds
1-14 4 23 22
Not a pilot, but still flying Page 3
A show of appreciation for employers Page 11
Reenlistment is a bright spot in the eclipse Page 12