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AJapanAirSelf-DefenseForceC-130HHerculesassignedtothe401st TacticalAirliftSquadron,RoyalAustralianAirForceC-130JSuperHerculesassignedtothe37Squadron,RepublicofKoreaAirForceC-130HHerculesassignedtothe251st TacticalAirSupportSquadron,RoyalNewZealandAirForceC-130HHerculesassignedtothe40squadron,andU.S.AirForceC-130JSuperHerculesassignedtothe36thExpeditionaryAirlift SquadronconductmultinationalelephantwalkatAndersenAirForceBase,Guam,Dec.10,duringOperationChristmasDrop2022.JASDF,RAAF,ROKAF,RNZAF,andUSAFC-130Jcrewmembersdelivered209bundleswith humanitarianaid totalingmore than71,000poundsofcargoto22,000 remoteMicronesianislanders.

USTRANSCOM YearinReview

bySgt. VontraeHampton

U.S.TransportationCommand

SCOTTAIRFORCEBASE,Ill.—It’stimetoput2022inthe books. However, beforeweturnthepage, let’sreflectonwhat U.S. TransportationCommand(USTRANSCOM)accomplishedthispast year.FromdeliveringaidtoUkrainetodeliveringbabyformulafor ourmostvulnerablecitizens, USTRANSCOM’smilitaryandcivilian personnelhavecrushedit.

Ukrainesecurityassistance

USTRANSCOMdeliveredapproximately227millionpoundsofsecurityassistanceequipmenttosupportUkraineandNATO allies, enablingcriticalsuccessagainsttheinvadingRussianforces. Thisaid includesmissiles, artillery, tanks, helicopters, bodyarmorandmore.

“OurlogisticalsuccessisonfulldisplayasweensureUkrainereceivestheaidnecessarytodefendtheirnation,” saidGen. Jacqueline D. VanOvost,USTRANSCOMcommander.

“ThespeedandreliabilityatwhichwearedeliveringthissignificantassistancedemonstrateAmerica’sstalwartsupportforthe Ukrainiangovernment.”

Inadditiontosecurityassistance, USTRANSCOMhasalsoairliftedmorethan16,000troopsfromthe U.S. toEuropetoassureallies anddeterRussianaggressionagainstNATO.

CommandteamtourstheIndo-Pacific

VanOvostandFleetMasterChiefDonaldMyrick,USTRANSCOM seniorenlistedleader, visitedsixlocationsacrossfourcountriesinthe Indo-Pacificregiontodiscussinitiativesandoperationsimpactinglogisticsandcommunicationsthroughoutthetheater.

“Thistheaterisincrediblyunique–distancesarelong, operations aredispersed,andthepaceisquick,” said VanOvostduringhertripto thetheater. “WeareheretoensureUSTRANSCOMcanprovidewhat isvitaltodeploy, maneuver, andsustaintheIndo-PacificCommand warfighter, aswellasmeettheneedsofouralliesandpartners.”

Thetripprovidedopportunitiestostrategizewithseniormilitary and civilianleaders, showcasethecommand’ssupporttoalliesand partners, operationalizelogistics, andmeetwithpersonnelsupportingUSTRANSCOM’smissionintheregion.

OperationFly Formula

AfterPresident JosephBidenannouncedOperationFly Formula onMay18,2022,a U.S. Air ForceC-17GlobemasterIIIimported132 pallets, or78,000pounds, ofspecialtyinfantformula,fromRamstein AirBase, Germany, toIndianapolisInternationalAirport.TransportingproductsfromEuropetothe U.S. wouldtypicallytaketwoweeks; however, thisdeliverytookmeredays.

Photoby YasuoOsakabe

cticalAirliftSquadron,RoyalAustralianAirForceC-130JSuperHerculesassignedtothe37Squadron,RepublicofKoreaAirForceC-130HHercticalAirSupportSquadron,RoyalNewZealandAirForceC-130HHerculesassignedtothe40squadron,andU.S.AirForceC-130JSuperHerculesassignedtothe36thExpeditionaryAirlift SquadronconductmultinationalelephantwalkatAndersenAirForceBase,Guam,Dec.10,duringOperationChristmasDrop2022.JASDF,RAAF,ROKAF,RNZAF,andUSAFC-130Jcrewmembersdelivered209bundleswith

“Togetherwithourindustrypartnersandalliesand[nation]partwenotonlyprojectandsustainthe Joint Forcetohelpensure nationalsecurity, butwecontinuetodeliverhope, wheneverand wherever,” said VanOvost.

USTRANSCOMdeputytransition

Navy ViceAdm.DeeL.Mewbourne, the16thdeputycommanderof USTRANSCOM,retired June30,2022.MewbourneservedintheNavyfor40yearsandassumedtheroleofdeputycommanderin2019. nOvostpraisedMewbourne’sleadership.

Duringhisretirementceremony, VanOvostconcludedherspeech bysayingofMewbourne, “Yourreputationasthemostthoughtful DCOM[DeputyCommander]isvalidated. Youarethefinestofficer andleaderIhaveeverworkedwith;I cherishedallofourmomentsto. Therecanbenodoubt,whenournationcalled,youdelivered!” ArmyLt.Gen. John P. SullivanassumedtheroleofUSTRANSCOM’sdeputycommander, becomingthe17thtoserveinthatcapac-

ThefirstanniversaryoftheAfghanistanwithdrawal

InAugust,wepausedtoreflectonthe one-yearanniversaryof thelargestnon-combatantevacuationoperationin U.S. history. USTRANSCOM,withthehelpofcommercialpartners, movedmorethan 124,000peopleandmarkedthefinalmissiontoendtwodecadesof operationsinAfghanistan.It wasonlythethirdtimein U.S. history

PhotobyAustinFraley

AU.S.Marinesecures anM777towed155mmhowitzertothecargoholdofaC-17 GlobemasterIII at MarchAirReserve Base,Cal.April22.

PhotobyScottRoss

AC-17GlobemasterIIIcarrying132pallets,or78,000poundsofspecialtyinfantformula,arrivedatRamsteinAirBase,German, kickingoffOperationFly Formula.

From Page 3 iness Center to meet with a financial advisor. Advisors provide service members with the opportunity to learn budgeting techniques for financial success.

“In the past, we would advise our single Airmen who are leaving the dorms to rent with a roommate,” said Kimberly Bromell, MacDill’s MFRC financial advisor. “Unfortunately, for our married service members, that isn’t really an option. This recent increase [in BAH] is going to allow them a bit more comfort in that situation, but we still urge Airmen to make a budget that adjusts for the difference while still allowing them to cover their monthly rent and expenses.”

MacDill’s MFRC hosts an assortment of courses at no cost to DOD employees across the installation. A “ditch-the-dorm” class is hosted monthly to advise junior enlisted service members with the tools to successfully move off base without placing themselves in financial duress.

“Typically we advise service members to spend no more than 25% to 30% of their income on housing,” said Dora Mays, MacDill’s MFRC flight chief. “However, this last year we’ve seen rates closer to 50% because of Tampa’s inflated cost of living. This rise in BAH is allowing Airmen to get a little closer to that optimal percentage.”

According to Mays, the MFRC’s goal is to educate every service member in financial literacy. Frequent financial counseling is a way for service members at every point in their career to continue to grow and learn as challenges arise.

“One of the things that the NDAA does that assists in establishing a personal financial mindset is the creation of financial touch points across the military lifecycle,” said Mays. “Financial counseling is now required at major focal points like deployments, moves and marriage.”

The raise in BAH is projected to reduce the level of financial stress for service members assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing.

“When I worked as a financial advisor, we were seeing Airmen as a disciplinary action for missed credit card or car payments,” said Mays. “Recently, it’s been rent. We are interested and hopeful to see the impact this BAH adjustment will have on the community.”

For more information on MacDill’s MFRC and their resources call 813-828-0145 or visit https://macdillfss.com/military-family-readiness/.

The 6th ARW is committed to ensuring the healthy financial wellbeing of their service members and the surrounding community.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster

Dora Mays, Military and Family Readiness Center flight chief, left, and Kimberly Bromell, MFRC financial advisor, pose for a photo at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Dec. 19, 2022. MFRC staff provide free financial consultations to all Department of Defense personnel across the installation.

Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil

From Page 10 that USTRANSCOM activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, which requires participating airlines to provide civilian aircraft to support military operations.

The mission required a total of 2,627 sorties, involving 1,927 military flights and 700 commercial flights. U.S. citizens and personnel, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other at-risk individuals were evacuated from Afghanistan.

NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting

The 2022 Fall Meeting, sponsored by the National Defense Transportation Association and USTRANSCOM, hosted five keynote sessions, two roundtable discussions, 64 interactive Transportation Academy sessions, and vendor booths filling four halls of the historic Union Station.

Van Ovost kicked off the event with a keynote address where she discussed the importance of the conference.

“This year’s Fall Meeting has already generated important conversations,” said Van Ovost during her opening comments. “This year’s theme of ‘evolving the strategic advantage’ is well timed, and I cannot overemphasize the need for our organizations to rapidly adapt to the realities of strategic competition. We need you with us, all the way.”

Van Ovost highlighted the opportunities and challenges that the transportation enterprise faces. She also called upon those in attendance to assist with overcoming those challenges,

Van Ovost visits St. Louis University

Van Ovost spoke with ROTC cadets and faculty involved in science, technology, engineering & mathematical programs during her visit to St. Louis University on Nov. 30, 2022.

The USTRANSCOM commander also listened to several undergraduate and graduate students present their research and special projects, including additive manufacturing (3D printing), machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Van Ovost’s trip to Europe

Van Ovost met U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) commander and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, at the NATO headquarters in Belgium on Dec. 12, 2022. During her trip to Europe, Van Ovost also met with deputy commanders, logistics officers and other senior staff members throughout USEUCOM and U.S. Africa Command.

In addition to touring U.S. military installations, Van Ovost also took the opportunity to meet foreign counterparts like Polish students attending the Warsaw University of Technology.

“I look to the talented individuals in this room to advance the disciplines of science, math engineering, to help grow a more digitally literate workforce that will defend against emerging threats – especially in cyberspace,” Van Ovost told the students, which included cadets who will join the Polish military upon graduation. “Your success and the success of your nation will closely follow. This, in turn, will influence and benefit other countries seeking to preserve the hard-won liberties so precious in our cultures.”

Van Ovost visited Europe to better understand and align USTRANSCOM’s ability to deploy, maneuver and sustain forces, and address evolving security challenges in an integrated manner.

Looking ahead

“As an organization, USTRANSCOM recently celebrated our 35th anniversary. And after over three decades of operations, there is one constant: we must maintain our readiness to fight tonight while keeping a keen eye on our ability to do so into the future,” Van Ovost said during her marks at the National Defense Transportation and USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting in October.

As busy as 2022 has been, the men and women of USTRANSCOM won’t rest on their laurels. The command must and will be ready to take on any challenges in 2023 and beyond.

USTRANSCOM exists as a warfighting combatant command to project and sustain military power at a time and place of the nation’s choosing. Powered by dedicated men and women, USTRANSCOM underwrites the lethality of the Joint Force, advances American interests around the globe, and provides our nation’s leaders with strategic flexibility to select from multiple options, while creating multiple dilemmas for our adversaries.

From Page 3 said Major General Matt McFarlane, commander of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

ISIS maintains malign intentions regarding the al-Hol Displacement Camp and the more than two dozen detention centers in Syria secured by the Syrian Democratic Forces. ISIS also maintains the desire to strike outside of the region and continues to work with affiliates around the globe, most significantly in Afghanistan and Africa.

“CENTCOM sees ISIS in three categories,” said Kurilla. “First, ISIS at large. This is the current generation of ISIS leaders and operatives we are currently fighting in Iraq and Syria. While we have significantly degraded its capability, the vile ideology remains unconstrained. We must continue to pressure ISIS through our partnered operations.”

“The second category is ISIS in detention. There is a literal ‘ISIS army’ in detention in Iraq and Syria. There are, today, more than 10,000 ISIS leaders and fighters in detention facilities throughout Syria and more than 20,000 ISIS leaders and fighters in detention facilities in Iraq.” The January 2022 ISIS prison breakout in Al-Hasakah, Syria is a reminder of the risk imposed by these prisons. The ensuing fight to contain the breakout resulted in more than 420 ISIS killed and more than 120 partnered forced killed.

“Finally,” Kurilla continued, “we have the potential next generation of ISIS. These are the more than 25,000 children in the al-Hol camp who are in danger. These children in the camp are prime targets for ISIS radicalization. The international community must work together to remove these children from this environment by repatriating them to their countries or communities of origin while improving conditions in the camp.”

“CENTCOM remains focused on supporting these security forces as they diligently work to improve conditions at the camp. However, the only viable long-term solution remains the successful repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of the camp residents back to their country of origin.”

The mission to defeat ISIS will continue in 2023 as CENTCOM and its Coalition partners remain committed to the enduring defeat of the terror group in order to maintain and enhance global security, stability, and human rights.

“We are committed and, more importantly, our partners in Iraq and Syria are committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS,” said McFarlane.

Union Representation and Weingarten Right: Bargaining Unit Employees are reminded that under Section 7114(a)(2)(B) of Chapter 71, Title 5, U.S.C., employees have the right to be represented at any examination in connection with an investigation if: a. the employee reasonably believes that the examination may result in disciplinary action against the employee, and b. The employee requests representation. *Please note an employee’s Weingarten right does not apply to OSI independent investigations, performance counseling, and issuing of discipline.

Grievance Procedures: All employees have the right to file a grievance and request personal relief in matters of concern relating to conditions of employment within the control of Air Force management. The negotiated grievance procedure for bargaining unit employees is contained in the applicable union agreement. For non-bargaining unit employees, DODI1400.25-V771_AFI36-706, DOD CIVILIAN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ADMINISTRATIVE GRIEVANCE SYSTEM, contains the applicable grievance procedure.

CHILD CARE

From Page 7 grams. “These child care fee changes will ensure military parents can continue to be mission-ready knowing their children are safe, nurtured and receiving quality child development services,” said Heidi Welch, director of Children, Youth and Families for the Office of Military Family Readiness Programs.

About Military Community and Family Policy

Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for establishing and overseeing quality-of-life policies and programs that help our service members, their families and survivors be well and mission-ready. Military OneSource is the gateway to programs and services that support the everyday needs of the 5.2 million service members and immediate family members of the military community. These DOD services can be accessed 24/7/365 around the world.