-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! 992189. Chief of Staff speaks about issues during PACAF visit by Staff Sgt. Barb Lavigne 15th Air Base Wing Public Affairs HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) -- Pacific Air Forces has always been critical to the stability of the Pacific Rim, according to the Air Force chief of staff during his visit here recently. Gen. Michael E. Ryan said because of that, no major changes in force structure would take place in PACAF as the command enters the new millennium. "The ability to rapidly reinforce, particularly in Korea, from PACAF bases is critical and will be for a long time to come," he said. "The command is well set in size and shape for our forces right now. PACAF meets the needs that we see in the future. The command has great challenges and I'm proud of every person in PACAF for taking on those challenges. They're doing a wonderful job." Ryan also talked about the expeditionary aerospace force concept and its challenges. "We are still on a journey," he said. "EAF is a concept about how we apply aerospace power in a light, lean and lethal way. As a subset of that, the AEF (aerospace expeditionary forces) structure that we've set up is maturing." The first two AEF's have already deployed and Ryan said the third and fourth AEF's are in the midst of deploying to their forward locations in Southwest Asia. "I found that the troops have a very good understanding of the EAF concept," Ryan said. "They understand that AEF will give them some stability in their lives, so I think it's going fairly well. "AEF's five and six will be the first to use team effort in our expeditionary combat support elements," he said. "That is, instead of having Palace Tenure select people from all over the world and show up as 35 individual firefighters, we will have units come forward (which) have worked together before. I think that will give an added strength to the EAF concept. "We are learning as we're going into the concept. EAF is a journey, not necessarily a destination," he said. The Air Force chief of staff said that using all of the capabilities that Guard, Reserve and active duty have to provide combat support to these expeditionary units will provide more predictability for everyone. There are a couple of ways he plans to deliver that predictability. "We're adding 3,200 manpower positions to the combat support piece of our Air Force so that we don't take too large a chunk away from a base at any one time," Ryan said. "We're also addressing how we task; we're doing it by sharing the combat support task with the Guard and Reserve." Another hurdle for Ryan was getting airmen the biggest compensation package increase in more than 15 years. "The chiefs were very solid as a team in saying that we needed to fix pay and allowances for our forces," he said. "We thought that continued erosion of basic pay was not a very healthy way to provide pay for our forces, nor was the Redux retirement system a good reason for folks to stay in the service. There was no draw there for young people, so we asked Congress and the administration to fix those things and we got great support." Support from Congress and the administration led to the 4.8 percent pay raise military members will receive starting Jan. 1. "We're looking at pay raises through the next six years that go ECI (Employment Cost Index) plus .5 so that we'll make a dent in the difference in pay between what's offered on the economy and what our folks receive," Ryan said. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' ECI measures the growth of private-sector wages and salaries. "We've restored the option of the 50 percent top three for the retirement system," he said, referring to using 50 percent of a member's base pay averaged over the highest three years of pay for retirement. "And we've redone the pay scale so it makes sense. We also had many other things in this package, such as first assignment temporary lodging allowance and enlisted flight pay. I believe this legislation is very good for our folks. It's meaningful compensation for all the hard tasks that we ask them to do and the tough life that we ask families to participate in." The general also talked about the future of the F-22 Raptor, which is integral to the Air Force's tactical aircraft modernization program and key to dominating the skies in 2010 and beyond. "The House asked to have a pause in the program," Ryan said. "The airplane has passed all of its trials and has had more testing on it than we had for the F-18, F-16 or F-15 before making a production decision on those aircraft. The legislation that eventually passed allowed us to go ahead with building the next six aircraft, as we had planned to do. But what it required us to do was incrementally fund the airplane, which means instead of giving all the money up front, we only gave the money required in the first year, then next year we'll come up with another bill to pay. "But we are funding it, and it's flying great," Ryan said. "It is a requirement that no one can question the need for. Every service chief, every CINC (commander in chief), and almost every living secretary of defense has said we need this airplane -- and we're going to build it." As far as force retention goes, Ryan urges anyone currently making the decision whether to stay in the Air Force, to stick with the Air Force. "It's a great way of life," he said. "There are very few organizations in the world where you can find trust and camaraderie, and the personal reward of doing something that's meaningful to the country -- and do it with great people." (Courtesy of PACAF News Service) 992192. America, Russia partners in Y2K strategic center by Nicole VanNatter Air Force Space Command Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) -- For the first time since the Cold War, the United States has joined arms and information with Russia to safely operate both country's missile warning systems into the new millennium. U.S. Space Command will stand up the Center for Y2K Strategic Stability here Dec. 30 through Jan. 15. The center is a joint venture between the United States and Russia to make certain there are no misunderstandings about world events during that timeframe, said Lt. Col. Randy Blaisdell, CY2KSS program manager. "The public should feel safe in knowing, should something go wrong, experienced teams of Russians and Americans will be there in the established communication network to fix the problem," said Lt. Col. Gregory Boyette, chief of the U.S. Space Command International Affairs Branch. "A lot of time and effort has gone into exhaustive testing of the systems here to make sure they do exactly what they are advertised to do," said Blaisdell. Even with a comprehensive system in place, there will always be a person in the loop, said Boyette. "If something goes down with either country's computer systems, the country is blind. But with the Center for Y2K Strategic Stability, each country regains that sight by talking with their international counterparts and ensuring they know what's going on," he said. Although the official language of the center is English, the United States and Russia will have a total of 12 translators working around the clock in the center. "The translators will be available in the event there are any misunderstandings. They are the best trained translators in the Department of Defense," said Blaisdell. In any case, Space Command officials don't expect communication to be a problem. "The first couple of days you may have some stilted conversation, but by three weeks of '24-seven' operations, the communications barriers will break down, and everyone will get along fine," said Blaisdell. "We're looking forward to having them, because it really is a cultural exchange that occurs every time we get together with the Russians," said Blaisdell. Prior to the arrival of the two teams, the United States and Russia discussed security concerns. "We have very specific data disclosure rules that have been agreed to by the United States and Russia on what information we are allowed to exchange, so I think we will be in good shape," said Blaisdell. There will be more than just work for the team of 18 Russians while in Colorado Springs. The team will also have an opportunity to experience the culture of Colorado. The Air Force is working to set up tours of popular Colorado Springs' attractions, and Air Force members are also inviting the Russians to their homes for Christmas. "We are going to have people standing by to help the Russians," said Boyette. "They are our guests." An advanced team of Russians visited in late September to go through the process in preparation for the millennium rollover. "Everything worked like clockwork and we expect the same to happen in December," said Boyette. The U.S. team, a collection of about 23 people from the Air Force, Army and Navy, began training together Nov. 31. This was the first time the American team had formally met. The Russians will train with the American team Dec. 27 for three days prior to the start of the center. "We will train everyone on what they need to know, but each person was required to have a space and missiles background," said Boyette. The trained American and Russian teams, along with their interpreters, will begin the eight-hour shifts in the $4.5 million center Dec. 30. Contracted computer technicians will be on-hand 24 hours a day to make sure there are no software malfunctions. "This is truly a joint and combined operation," said Blaisdell. "The Russian and American professional military is there to make sure nothing goes wrong and everyone else can go out and enjoy the millennium." (Courtesy of AFSPC News Service) 992191. Elmendorf fighters, AWACS team up in desert by Staff Sgt. George Woodward 3rd Wing Public Affairs ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) -- Whenever 3rd Wing fighters from Elmendorf Air Force Base take to the skies over Alaska, the "Eyes of the Eagle" watch over them. So when 19th Fighter Squadron pilots pointed their F-15Cs toward Iraqi airspace, it was a comfort to hear the familiar voices of the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron on the communications network. The Elmendorf AFB squadrons joined forces from September to November during a deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch. The marriage of Airborne Warning and Control System E-3s and fighter assets was a first, according to 19th Commander Lt. Col. Tod Wolters. This was the first time in southwest Asia an AWACS squadron controlled a fighter squadron from the same home station," Wolters said. "The training we do back home has allowed all of our pilots to easily understand the comm and tactics required to accomplish the mission, so we've got a more efficient fighting team." That combination of training and efficiency anticipates one of the benefits of the expeditionary aerospace force, according to Lt. Col. Richard Smith, deputy commander of the 962nd. "The strong working relationships we've already established helped us transition smoothly into a combat situation. This is one of the benefits of the EAF concept -- when you deploy, you're working primarily with units you've trained with for months, so you already know how to work as an effective team. Having one of our aircrews controlling our fighters halfway around the world is like the EAF in microcosm." Under EAF, though, the 962nd would typically work with other 3rd Wing units; the 19th is tasked to Aerospace Expeditionary Force 1, while the 3rd Wing serves as the lead wing for AEF 3. "We generally expect to be working with other 3rd Wing units under EAF," Smith said, "but not exclusively. AWACS squadrons are what we refer to as 'high-demand, low-density' assets. Nobody flies if AWACS isn't flying, but there aren't that many of us. So, we may well find ourselves deploying outside our AEF." The 962nd's current deployment to Southwest Asia opens the door to that possibility, said Smith. "This was the first time the 962nd has deployed to the desert. We, along with the 961st at Kadena (Air Base, Japan), were tasked by the joint chiefs of staff to do a six-month rotation to take some of the burden off the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker (Air Force Base, Okla.). I think this gave us the opportunity to be more involved in operations all over the world." While the deployment was the first for the squadron, it was not new for many of the people who went, including 962nd Commander Lt. Col. James E. Eisenhart. "AWACS is a small community," Smith said. "A lot of our people have been to Southwest Asia with the 552nd so there were no real logistical or training difficulties with deployment. The only challenge our people faced was changing their mission perspective -- they had been supporting the JCS counterdrug mission in Central and South America; this mission refocused the 962nd on combat operations." The transition went smoothly, however, and operations for both units went well. "They integrated seamlessly into the AWACS mission there, just as we're trained to do. The 19th and the other units flying in the combat theater can rest assured that the 'Eyes of the Eagle' are watching." (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service) 992188. Reservists await instructions to use military leave for IDTs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- Air Force reservists need to wait for instructions before using federal employee military leave to perform inactive duty for training. The fiscal 2000 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by the president Oct. 5, authorizes the use of military leave for IDTs. However, two months later the Air Force still awaits guidance from the Department of Defense to establish procedures for using military leave for IDTs. The new procedures take effect when the Air Force changes Air Force Instruction 36-815, Absence and Leave, which outlines when members of Air Force Reserve Command can use military leave. Besides IDT duty, federal employees accrue 15 days of military leave each fiscal year to perform active duty or active duty for training. Air reserve technicians are entitled to 44 additional workdays of military leave in a calendar year when on active duty without pay for participation in non-combat operations outside the United States, its territories and possessions. ARTs serve in dual-status positions as full-time federal employees and reservists. (Courtesy of AFRC News Service) 992187. Operation Pacific Warrior deemed medical success by Margaret Tippy Tripler Army Medical Center Public Affairs TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Hawaii (AFPN) -- Operation Pacific Warrior, a recently concluded multi-service exercise on the island of Oahu, is the first exercise conducted by the Pacific Regional Medical Command in which actual surgeries were performed in a field setting here in the Pacific. Sixteen active-duty service members volunteered to have same-day surgeries in the 64-bed deployable medical systems hospital set up by members of Tripler Army Medical Center and other services at the Operation Pacific Warrior field site at Schofield Barracks Area X here. "Training is readiness and readiness is everything," said Col. (Dr.) Philip Volpe, Joint Task Force commander, Medical Command. "This is what we get paid to do. This is why we wear the uniform." The entire healthcare delivery system was tested and scored a success during Operation Pacific Warrior with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Reserve and active-duty elements working together, he said. The exercise tested three readiness components: individual soldier and unit readiness; clinical skills exercised in the field setting; and medical warfighting technology demonstrations, said Lt. Col. Dennis Schroader, Joint Task Force chief of staff, and chief, Reserve Affairs. More than 1,300 people from 29 units from all services came from South Korea, Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, California and Missouri to be integrated for the exercise, Schroader said. "The Reserve soldiers from Alaska and Colorado provided backfill at Tripler, allowing Tripler staff to train during Pacific Warrior," he said. Field medical capabilities included surgical, clinical laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, medical services, dental services, veterinary services and mental health teams, Schroader said. Air evacuations were conducted from five sites on the island, he said. Hickam Air Force Base and Wheeler Army Air Field assets participated in the evacuations. Naval assets, includiing the U.S. Naval Fleet Hospital, also participated. X-rays were successfully transmitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Md., from the field to test the capability of tele-radiology systems. "The motto of Operation Pacific Warrior is 'A Team of Teams,'" Volpe said. "Discipline, professionalism and teamwork -- we worked together and provided a platform for professional development for all. I think every unit got something out of this." "Exercises like this help our soldiers be ready to accomplish their mission and be ready to do what they need to do, day in and day out," said Sgt. Maj. Charles V. Stuard, acting command sergeant major for the exercise, and Tripler's chief clinical noncommissioned officer. He was responsible for overseeing setting up and tearing down the 64-bed hospital that was shipped in from Camp Parks, Calif., and for maintaining medical capabilities during the exercise "All the troops I spoke with told me what great training this is," Stuard said. Logistics was the biggest challenge to the exercise, Volpe said, "and all went well." "Planning for this exercise began a year ago," Volpe said, "to make sure everything was functional and planned correctly. The good news is units are already asking me 'What are the dates for next year's exercise?' They all want to play again." Exercises such as this allow analysis of how to perform the wartime and peacetime medical care missions to the best of a medical team's ability, Volpe said. "How do you manage the necessity to go to the field and train for our real mission ... versus the competition for managing the peacetime healthcare mission: access, productivity, quality of care, that goes on with (the) TRICARE era of managed care? (It is) very difficult to manage," he said. "We can use this exercise to find out what is the effect and how do we minimize that effect," Volpe said. "Everyone did a superb job and their performance was outstanding during this exercise," said Maj. Gen. Nancy R. Adams, commander of the Pacific Regional Medical Command and Tripler Army Medical Center. Since the majority of the staff hadn't performed actual surgeries in the field setting, "the learning curve was tremendous," Volpe said. "This was the first step, and I believe we are headed in the right direction." (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service) 992190. Nine lucky club members head to San Francisco by Pamela O'Brien Air Force Services Agency RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Nine Air Force club members won trips to San Francisco to see the Atlanta Falcons play the 49ers Dec. 12, all part of Air Force Clubs' "Football Frenzy." "Each winner received two game tickets, airfare for two, hotel accommodations, a rental car, and many other gifts," explained Frank Black, chief of the Clubs Division at Air Force Services Agency. "This is an example of how club membership really pays." The winners will be driven to the game and get to tour the city afterward, all in a limousine provided as part of the grand prize. This grand prize drawing was the first of three for this promotion. Two more drawings will be held at Air Force Services Agency in San Antonio, to award trips to the Super Bowl, to be played in Atlanta Jan. 30, and the Pro Bowl, to be played in Honolulu Feb. 6. "We'll draw winners for trips to the Super Bowl in December and to the Pro Bowl in January. Visit your Air Force club today for more details," added Black. The following nine winners from the first drawing will enjoy six days and five-nights in San Francisco from Dec. 9-14: Col. Edward Waddy, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. Tech. Sgt. Gladis Webb, Dobbins AFB, Ga. Senior Airman Jeffrey Copeland, Osan Air Base, Korea Vernon Yowell, Rhein-Main AB, Germany Tech. Sgt. Della Hamilton, Shaw AFB, S.C. Airman Basic Thomas L. Greenough, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Capt. John Garcia, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho Retired Maj. William Groesbeck, McClellen AFB, Calif. Master Sgt. Terrence N. Marr, McConnell AFB, Kan. Black said that without the support of the sponsors, Football Frenzy couldn't take place. "We're grateful to this year's Football Frenzy sponsors, SatoTravel, Miller Brewing Company, American Airlines and Best Western Hotels," added Black. **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. 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