Deployed service members share meaning of July Fourth

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs6/27/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists sought total independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radicals.On June 7, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a five-man committee to draft a formal statement justifying the break from Great Britain including patriots: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Livingston. Then on July 4, the Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence heralding the birth of American freedom.Times have changed since America's early days, but one fact remains the same, Americans are willing to fight for their freedom. This notion holds true to the lyrics of the national anthem, "O'er the land of the free and home of the brave," as originally wrote by song writer, Francis Scott Key.Whether at home with family and friends or deployed around the world, service members celebrate their freedom and reflect on what July Fourth has come to mean to them."Not only is it a time of celebration for our country's independence -- it's the reason why we're over here," said Staff Sgt. Adrian Johnson, the 379th Expeditionary Comptroller Squadron finance customer service NCO in charge deployed from Joint Base Charleston, S.C. "I'm here fighting for not only our freedom, but for everyone else back home too so we all can have a choice."This sentiment resonates well with a state motto, "Live free or die." Some service members joined because they would rather live in a free country, they would rather their family not have to worry or live under a tyrannous ruler."Independence Day makes me think of my niece and working hard to make a better world for her to grow up in," said Staff Sgt. Nathan Walsh, a 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief deployed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.Many service members joined for this very reason: protect their loved ones back home."For me, Fourth of July means spending time with family, barbeques and fireworks," said Senior Airman Kelsey St. Clair, also a 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief deployed from McConnell AFB. "What we're doing out here is preserving the American way of life for our families."Over the years the celebration has become more and more about the fireworks, the hotdogs, the parades, spending time with family and less about why the country waves their flags."It's not just another day -- not just another holiday," said Staff Sgt. Ian Broz, a 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group maintenance analyst deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan. "It's a day to be thankful for what we have, because not everyone has the same opportunities we do."There have been many war posters created throughout the nation's history providing hope brandishing words saying things similar to one World War II poster, "We are of one mind--Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito shall never take from us the Freedom for which our forefathers sacrificed their lives and fortunes."Similarly, Broz added, "It's very important for us to keep alive our forefather's vision and not forget the sacrifices so many have made through the years to ensure we may continue to enjoy this, 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,' dream."[Editor's note: The television show, The History Channel, contributed to this article.]

Weather warns warriors, saves services silver

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

6/25/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- As the dust clouds roll in, 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather forecasters here analyze the intensity, direction and impact of the impending storm to base assets and the mission.

"Our radar allows us to notify maintenance crews out on the airfield that conditions are unsafe and allow them to take protective shelter from damaging hail and winds," said Senior Master Sgt. Scott Butler, the 379th EOSS weather flight chief deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. "[The radar] is extremely vital to our operations; in the event of a significant dust storm we'd be able to pick that dust up on this system, tell you exactly what the wind speeds are and how long before it hits the 379th [Air Expeditionary Wing] so we can in turn prep the base for emergency response."

Air Force weather forecasters analyze weather conditions, prepare forecasts, issue weather warnings and brief weather information to pilots by means of two duty sets: airfield and mission.

"With airfield, we monitor the 379th and what's going on over us," said Senior Airman Alicia Freedman, a 379th EOSS weather forecaster deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. "We issue weather watches, warnings and advisories, not to mention all the diverts for the base."

Freedman said the mission duty set includes the forecasting for operations.

"This is significantly important for the 379th's mission," she said. "We have several missions taking off daily and we have to make sure those pilots know what is going on weather-wise and make it to their destinations safely without any harm. If pilots don't know what their limitations are, what they encounter out there could be exceptionally fatal."

All this forecasting would not be possible, however, without weather's portable Doppler radar and their airfield sensor.

"Our portable Doppler radar serves an extremely important function as our key tool for reading and understanding the severity of thunderstorms," Freedman said. "We get the timing for when the thunderstorm will be in a specific location so we'll know where it may hit. We then forward this information up to the different wings, missions and flights so they can make an informed decision protecting base assets and personnel."

"Just last week we had a small pattern pushing more than 40 mph for five to six days straight," she added. "These were advisory level winds that potentially impact whether or not an aircrew can fly."

Freedman, Butler and more than 700 weather forecasters across the Air Force, read and interpret weather satellite imagery, climatology reports, computerized weather prediction models and Doppler weather radar imagery; operate a weather radar console and a high-frequency pilot-to-metro radio; analyze and forecast weather elements such as clouds, visibility, winds, atmospheric pressure and many other parameters.

"Our portable Doppler radar uses Next-Generation Radar, or NEXRAD, technology," said Butler. "We can tell you the intensity of the rain showers and their range with exactly where that shower is occurring."

During the thunderstorm months, Butler said his weather forecasters are able to find where the thunderstorms are, determine their direction, how strong they are and whether or not they'll be able to affect the 379th AEW's assets.

"Cost savings comes down to the amount of money we save with the resource protection," Butler said. "This radar increases resource protection for more than $68 billion in base assets not to mention personnel."

The 379th EOSS's weather flight is manned by eight active duty Airmen 24/7.

"We come from bases all throughout the world," he said. "We integrate as one team to provide resource protection and exploit the weather for battle."

Air Force Weather traces its heritage to two centuries of American military weather service. U.S. Army surgeons began recording weather observations regularly in the early 1800s as part of the Army's medical studies.

Today, weather Airmen deliver the highest-quality tailored weather and space environment information, products and services to the Nation's combat forces, anytime, anywhere.