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The Patriot • November 4, 2011
JB CHS NEWS
15 AS deploys, Global Eagles take flight By 2nd Lt Leah Davis Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs Airmen from the 15th Airlift Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing, along with their families and friends, said their farewells Oct. 28 as more than 130 members left for operations in Southwest Asia. For approximately 120 days, these Airmen, known as the Global Eagles, will deploy and operate as part of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in and around Iraq and Afghanistan. The 816 EAS supports intra-theater airlift, airdrop and aero-medical evacuation missions. “The Global Eagles have a long history of deployments dating back to World War II. For the recent conflicts, we began deploying as an Expeditionary Airlift Squadron to Frankfurt, Germany in October 2002 as the 817 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. Locations and detachments have changed somewhat through the past 10 years, but the constant support of all Charleston C-17 squadrons has remained constant,” said Lt. Col. Rebecca Sonkiss, 15 AS commander. The Global Eagles have replaced The Pelicans of the 14th AS, 437 AW, who have completed another deployment. The 15 AS’s mobility mission is to constantly be in the air supporting national interests across the globe. In order to do this, hours of training are conducted before the deployment. Much of the required pre-deployment training has to be compressed into a very short time period, so it remains current throughout the deployment. Additionally, the squadron must complete numerous ground requirements, including flight
Air Force BDU officially history By Tech. Sgt. Leisa Grant National Guard Bureau Public Affairs ARLINGTON, Va. – There are two things you should not see after Nov. 1 – Halloween costumes and the Air Force Battle Dress Uniform. In 2006, the Airman Battle Uniform became authorized for wear and a date was set for final phase-out of the woodland camouflage-patterned BDU's. Previously announced to be effective Oct. 1 of 2011, a more recent Air Force Instruction 36-2903, "Dress and Appearance of Air Force Personnel" pushed the date back to Nov. 1. This applies to all Air Force components. Other items will simultaneously enter retirement with the BDU's effective Nov. 1 including the desert camouflage uniform, black T-shirt, black combat boots and tan boots with the ABU outside theater of operations. The almost 30 year-old duty uniform, originally designed for wear throughout Europe and the Cold War, was worn by all branches of the service until 2005. Starting Nov. 1 only the Navy will be authorized to wear the BDU until its set phase-out date. Aside from its appearances, one of the major differences between the ABU and BDU is the maintenance. The new uniform requires very little care, needing only to be washed
and hung for drying. Furthermore, the boots, now a sage green, full-grain leather boot with rubber heel and toe reinforcements, do not require polishing. Not all Airmen embraced the changes immediately. "The (BDU's) featured solid, good-looking creases that looked great with well-shined boots," said Master Sgt. Sam Macaluso, a member of the Nevada Air National Guard 152nd Airlift Wing. But, even for those who like the creases and the spit-shined boot look, the appeal of less maintenance grew on them. "We'd often spend our entire guard duty at night getting the perfect shine on those boots," Macaluso said. "It's nice to have boots you don't need to shine and a uniform you don't need to press constantly." With less time spent on up keeping their uniforms, Airmen are afforded more time to focus on other aspects of their military lives. "A big benefit is the ABU gives Airmen at schools more time to study, "Macaluso said. "Discipline and standards are important, but I believe Airmen have a lot more than their uniforms to focus on these days."
simulator training, chemical warfare training and survival training. “I was impressed by our crew member's great attitudes and willingness to meet their deployment requirements weeks ahead of schedule,” said Master Sgt. Rene “Red” Delarosa, acting 816 EAS first sergeant. “The entire squadron was ready to deploy ahead of schedule and eager to assume the responsibilities of their deployed missions.” As with any deployment, family support is always a concern. “There is nothing that can completely prepare families for the separation of a deployment, particularly during the holidays,” said Sonkiss. “But the families of the Airmen have prepared by attending briefings by the Airmen and Family Readiness Center to ensure even the newest spouses have an expectation of what to expect for the deployment. Fifteenth AS leaders are optimistic about the months ahead. “Our talons are sharp and we are ready for another superb deployment. Eagles Lead the Way!” said Sonkiss.
E-4 Sailors can become Command Financial Specialist Assistants Courtesy of Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs
WASHINGTON – Commander, Navy Installations Command announced Oct. 26 they will begin a Navy-wide pilot program to enable E-4 Sailors to become assistants to the Command Financial Specialist. Details of this program were released in NAVADMIN 318/11. Sailors participating in this program will be trained to assist Fleet and Family Support Center Personal Financial Management counselors. "These young Sailors will assist our counselors with outreach and training to the millennial generation (18-23 year-olds)," said Fred Davis, CNIC PFM program analyst. "We feel that if we can have financially successful E-4's to augment our training program that they can mentor and provide peer-to-peer influence for other Sailors. Recent studies indicate today's 18-23 year-old Sailors make financial decisions based largely on peer recommendations. "E-4s account for more than 57 percent of total counselees, and more than 44 percent of them ask for budgeting help or advice on credit issues during that counseling session," added Davis. The program is voluntary, and volunteers will be screened at the local FFSC with the PFM counselor and their command CFS. Only those with the highest command endorsement will be allowed into the program, according to Davis. Sailors approved to participate in this pilot will receive an abbreviated CFS course (minus counseling training). They may not be appointed or serve as the financial counselors but will serve as co-facilitators to FFSC PFM counselors. The pilot program will be conducted Oct. 1, 2011-Sept. 30, 2012. Applications from interested E-4's are now being accepted through March 1, 2012. Sailors are encouraged to contact their local FFSC for more information. For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit (Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Eric Ritter www.navy.mil/local/cni/. of the Nevada Air National Guard contributed to this article.)
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