Healing deployed wounded warriors

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs7/31/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Established in 2008, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group's Intra-Theater Care Program here ensures no service member is sent home from the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility before having a chance to get back in the fight."We're here to ease the workload of our forward operating hospitals so they can focus on the critically ill patients, and in turn, ITCP takes care of the non-emergent combat and non-combat related injuries," said Staff Sgt. Shannon Maynard, the program's NCO in charge deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. "Our goal is to fix these soldiers and return them to duty within 30 days without them having to leave the AOR."On average, ITCP cares for 15 wounded warriors a month, returning 98 percent of patients to their units down range. The program's patient make-up usually consists of 80 percent Army, 10 percent Air Force and 10 percent Navy and Marines."The benefit of this program is pretty significant," Maynard said. "Patients who would normally go home and probably never return to the AOR, have the ability to come here, recover, relax and get the care they absolutely need before returning to duty without leaving their unit one man behind."This in turn saves the Department of Defense thousands of dollars that would have otherwise been used to locate another service member to take their place, no-notice, while they recover at hospitals in places like Germany and stateside."For me it was encouraging because we were told if you went to Germany that usually means you're going home or if you're home, you're just not going to come back from certain types of injuries or ailments," said U.S. Army Spc. Demetrius Payton, an ITCP patient who injured his foot while on convoy duty in Afghanistan. "It was encouraging for me because I wasn't ready to leave; I was so short in my deployment. But when the doctors at Bagram Air Base told me I was coming here, my hopes rose."Payton said he didn't want to leave his unit a man short and can't wait to get back to them, but said he couldn't have recovered as quickly as he has without the ITCP and the medical group's staff.The program affords patients access to fully qualified medical personnel 24/7. These patients are able to partake in all base activities going on pending it isn't harming their recovery. ITCP is capable of housing up to 20 patients at any given time. Behind the scenes, Maynard works hand-in-hand with the patient's units coordinating with the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility for their movement back down range and their direct line to the surgeons."Basically I am here to provide the best care and welfare I can for my patients, ensuring they make every appointment and adhere to their profile restrictions," she said.Maynard said this program benefits the warfighter by giving them a safe place to come and recover. They are given the care they need and a place to relax and decompress while they are here. Patients have access to all other services on base that wouldn't be available down range."Since being here I've had nothing but success as far as battling the infection on my foot," Payton said. "The infection could have invaded the bone and found its way into the blood system. But they settled my fears and treated me very well. Now the infection itself is basically beaten and I'm just going through the physical therapy process to get back in the fight."However, physical recovery isn't Maynard's only concern as she's also looking out for their mental recovery."They get to participate in absolutely everything here," she said. "When celebrities come by this is one of the first stops they make and I think it's good for their morale."ITCP also provides patients with a weekly pizza night, Sunday brunch in bed and numerous other activities throughout the week. Patients are also encouraged to make themselves at home and participate in other morale, wellness and recreation events here, like Karaoke night at Memorial Plaza, among others."You don't really feel like you're isolated from the regular personnel here or even from the other patients," Payton said. "It really feels good and makes you feel normal -- not just like a patient.""They've made me feel so special," added Marine Lance Cpl. Matt Zager, an ITCP patient. "I'm very appreciative for everything they've done to help me get better and back in the fight, not just physically, but emotionally as well."Maynard said she feels like the patients form bonds with other patients really helping in their recovery efforts."Even though they are from all different branches of the military, they form their own unit," she said. "It's nice to actually stand back and watch them bond and find out about different branches of the armed forces."As Payton completes his final steps to recovery he said he's so grateful for everything ITCP, Maynard and the hospital staff has done for him."They really make you feel like part of a family," Payton said. "You feel like you're cared for here and not just another number."From the moment patients, like Payton, get off the plane to the moment they head back to the fight, ITCP is with them every step of the way."I think the patients respond well to the program; there's always somebody there to take care of them," Maynard said. "We have a mission here to get them better and back in the fight as soon as possible."

8th EAMS: “Where’s the waste gone?”

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Born in the military: One family’s legacy of service

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs7/26/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Military deployments are difficult for both the service member and the family members they leave behind. Being in a dual-military parent family doesn't make it easier, but after nearly 50 years of combined service, the current Wakefields are continuing their family's tradition."My great uncles served in the Army during WWII, my Dad was an Army mortar man, I'm an aircraft maintainer and now my son is an infantryman in the Marines," said Chief Master Sgt. Gary Wakefield, the 7th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit chief deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "As soon as my youngest graduates high school, he'll also join the Marines."For the Wakefields, the military has become a way of life that's been passed down through the generations and as if by fate, the chief found himself a wife whose family also has a strong legacy of service."My Dad spent 23 years in the Air Force as basically a security police officer," said Master Sgt. Dana Wakefield, assigned to the 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Dobbins Air Reserve Base and working for the Air Force Reserve Management Group's Training Management Branch at Robins AFB. "So I grew up in the life of the military child with father gone a lot and mom struggling to keep it all together."That sentiment is nothing new for (dual-) military families with at least one member gone every 20 months or less for various deployments, temporary duty assignments and unaccompanied one year "short" tours to places like Turkey and South Korea."I'm not going lie, it has been difficult at times leaving my family as often and as long as I have throughout my career," the 25-year chief said. "But we pulled through it as a family and I believe these experiences have made us stronger."Not only was it hard for the chief, but those times dad was gone, were difficult for the family as well."All the deployments, unaccompanied tours and moving every two to four years does make you earn your pay check in very unexpected ways," Dana said, who has served for nearly 23 years herself. "I thought it would be easier for me having grown up that way, but it has been just as hard, maybe harder as I struggle to balance being a mom and serve my country in uniform as well."Dana talked about how she's felt during deployments, especially now both her husband and oldest son are deployed at the same time."In the past deployments, I have felt every dark emotion known to womankind," she said. "You become needy in ways you can't understand and you can't explain. It is a strange situation because then they come back and while your new needs start to be filled, the deployment related needs stay unmet."Dana thinks this is why many spouses suffer from various forms of stress disorders and depression."You think all is fine when they come back and then another deployment comes and bam, you get it right in the kisser and it all comes flooding back and your fears return," she said.Deployments can be tough for military families, but Dana said the blessing is knowing they are coming home."While you are missing many areas of support from your spouse, your burden will lighten when they come home, especially if both of you work on the recovery after deployment," she said. "Having my husband and my son deployed at the same time is very strange. I think I am over my initial fear and anxiety, though I do get very weak in the knees whether I am sitting down or standing up when I say, 'They are both deployed.' But then I focus on how very proud I am of both of them."Marine Pfc. Seth Wakefield, currently deployed to an undisclosed location in Africa, said it was his parents who really got him interested in the family business."I was always fascinated with the military and when Mom and Dad would sometimes come pick me up from school in their battle dress uniforms -- I thought it was so cool," Seth said. "I think anyone who has family in the military, even distant relatives, when you tell someone about it, you fill with pride."Seth is the older of the two Wakefield boys, who beat his younger brother, Gage, to the "Semper Fidelis" way of life.But how do you go from growing up Air Force to joining the Marines?"I wanted a challenge," Gage said with a smile. "When I was little and my brother and I said we were going to be Marines, Mom would say, 'Ok, if you want to make your mother cry.' Now that we are older, she is happy with my choice, although she wishes I would be a linguist or Intel."Yet, like his brother, he plans to join the infantry."It gives me a sense of nationalism and pride," said Gage. "I see from my parents that being in the military is a wonderful way of life that grants amazing opportunities for my future."Echoing his brother, Seth explained what it means to him to have such strong figures in the home."My Dad is an outstanding example for a young man to follow and I often times find myself in situations where I think of him and what he would do," said Seth. "And just like any good Marine, I often find myself paving my own path right through the hardest route then thinking, 'Shoot, I should have listened to him!' No, but I'm thankful my Dad and Mom are such great examples of outstanding military personnel."That token holds true for how the chief and Dana feel of their son's continued commitment to the family tradition of service."I'm proud of my boys," the chief said. "What they've accomplished and plan to do with their lives -- that commitment to service, like Dana and I have had, it is truly humbling to know your boys want to serve their country because you served."Dana added the military is their family business; it is passed down from father or mother to daughter or son."It is the way our family gives back to our community and our country," she said. "I am very proud of the two patriots we have raised and my hopes for them are bright and shiny just like the stars on our flag. We have a great love of our country, and as my Mom would say, 'Worts and all.'"After more deployments, permanent changes of station, TDYs, etc., Dana and the chief said they couldn't have done it without their family, friends and often times, complete strangers."I am grateful for the many Americans I meet almost every day who say, 'Thank you for your service,'" Dana said.

CFACC visits with deployed Airmen

379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

7/24/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The new Combined Force Air Component Commander visited with Airmen at various units across the wing here July 23 as they showcased to the general what they do to support the joint war fighter downrange.Lt. Gen. John W. Hesterman III, the CFACC and U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, toured the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing visiting with Airmen from the Emergency Communications Center, the 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Centralized Repair Facility and Silent Sentry with windshield tour elements along the way.The general is responsible for developing contingency plans and conducting air operations in a 20-nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia.

8th EAMS ramp services load “tons” of cargo

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

QA: 379th EMXG commander’s “eyes and ears”

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

7/18/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Aircraft maintenance requires a high level of proficiency and job knowledge to fulfill mission requirements prepared by combatant and coalition commanders. These skills are monitored and inspected regularly by some of the career field's most knowledgeable maintainers found in the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group's quality assurance agency here."We cultivate a foundation of safety and compliance by providing leadership and subject matter experts an assessment detailing the proficiency and quality of maintenance personnel," said Master Sgt. Christopher Wilson, the 379th EMXG quality assurance chief inspector deployed from Joint Base Charleston, S.C.With 14 inspectors from 12 bases across five major commands, quality assurance has the wing covered as they're responsible for training and inspecting the more than 1,100 maintainers rotating through every six months on five different airframes.Wilson added QA evaluates the quality of maintenance accomplished and performs necessary functions to manage the wing and group's Maintenance Standardization Evaluation Program. The MSEP provides an objective sampling of the quality of equipment, the proficiency of maintenance personnel, and the compliance of lead command and unit MSEP focus areas, programs and processes."Maintenance is dynamic here," Wilson said. "With so many Airmen coming from so many different organizations and major commands, it's truly a testament to the effectiveness of the total force integration concept."The master sergeant said QA has four main programs they maintain for the wing. These include technical order distribution for all the maintenance units across the wing, production improvement management, the maintenance standardization and evaluation program and the wing foreign object damage and dropped object prevention programs.Not only is the 379th EMXG's QA shop accountable for maintenance Airmen here, but also for nearly 40 accounts across five forward operating locations in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility."As updates to technical orders come down from the major command and higher headquarters, we work with every joint task force agency across the AOR to get them the TOs they need to complete their missions," said Master Sgt. Kevin Nolan, the 379th EMXG QA production improvement manager deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.Relating technical orders to Chilton manuals for cars or "How-To" videos on YouTube, Wilson described their processes like he would to his teenage son:"Simply, we inspect people doing their job, their equipment and the job's processes," Wilson said. "When we do an 'over-the-shoulder' inspection or personnel evaluation, we determine how well people are accomplishing their job, how well they're trained and how closely they're following those 'Chilton' manuals or TOs."These inspections allow production improvement managers to develop trend analysis reports that evaluate deficiencies and/or malfunctions within the job or processes in order to come up with a solution effectively saving the Air Force money.QA serves as the primary technical advisory agency in the maintenance organization, assisting maintenance supervision at all levels to resolve quality problems. The evaluation and analysis of deficiencies and problem areas are key functions of QA that highlight and identify underlying causes of poor quality in the maintenance production effort."These reports allow us to analyze what caused the malfunction and figure out how to fix it for the future," Nolan said. "By finding these errors we're able to save the Air Force money."Nolan said during 2013's second quarter, QA saved the Air Force $12.4 million."It's like Wal-Mart," Nolan explained. "Wal-Mart doesn't make the things they're selling, but have vendors supplying them with their goods and when a customer has an issue with something they purchased, Wal-Mart works it out with the responsible vendor."In the same way, the Air Force acquires tools, equipment, supplies and aircraft parts from various vendors across the world to complete the mission. If supply receives a part that doesn't meet the specifications contained within that aircraft's TOs, then QA steps in to figure out how to address the issue."Wal-Mart has the second largest supply chain in the world," Nolan said. "That's second only to the U.S. Department of Defense."At the end of the day, QA briefs the 379th EMXG commander as the inside experts in the field working around the clock to make sure maintenance Airmen are operating under the "safe, secure and reliable" theme that has become commonplace across the Defense Department."We're the maintenance group commander's eyes and ears across every maintenance facility on base," Wilson said. "We make sure the 379th EMXG are the best and proudest professionals in the Grand Slam Wing."

Joint STARS: Flight deck enabling mission crews

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

7/17/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Deployed to the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron flight deck members flying the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System here get mission crews to the fight supporting U.S. and coalition ground forces.

"We are responsible for getting the weapon system to the fight so the mission crew can support our forces on the ground," said Maj. Eric Patton, a 7th EACCS aircraft commander. "Maintenance gets us started, the communications technicians load our mission data and we put the aircraft where combatant commanders have decided we can best support the war effort."

All personnel assigned to the Joint STARS are deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., the U.S. military's only Joint STARS installation. The jet's flight deck consists of two pilots, a navigator and a flight engineer.

"It's an honor to take part and be involved in a platform that provides such vast capabilities to our ground forces in theater," said Capt. Jared Swindle, a 7th EACCS pilot. "The products our jet passes down to the guys on the ground keeps them safe as they go after the enemy."

And while it's a team effort across all the squadron's supporting agencies, Lt. Col. Claude Archambault, the 7th EACCS commander, said their mission is contingent on successfully working alongside their Air National Guard counterparts in a true total force integration unit.

"TFI -- that's the key," the colonel said. "The guard has been deploying for this mission since 2003 and they bring a host of continuity to our team. Since we train together at home, we're used to working together."

Flying one of the oldest airframes in the Air Force, Joint STARS flight deck members don't have a lot of the newer navigation and avionics technologies airframes like the C-17 Globemaster III have.

"You can manage everything on the jet from the pilot's seat on a C-17," Patton said. "But our jet requires a flight engineer as well. They're the aircraft's systems expert and manage the fuel and mission equipment panels."

"Flight engineers have a more intimate knowledge of the aircraft," added Maj. Scott Hazy, a 7th EACCS mission crew commander. "Because they know how to fix things they're like the crew chief on a race car making sure all systems are operating safely and efficiently."

But by the end of the day, it's all about the joint war effort and overall team dynamics.

"I believe it's the total team effort that equals success for us and the mission crew," Patton said. "When we have success, they [mission crew] have success, because we got the jet where the joint war fighter needed it."

[Editor's note: This article is part two of a three part series highlighting the E-8C Joint STARS deployed mission.]

8th EAMS ATOC coordinates deploying cargo, passengers

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

7/12/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Moving cargo and personnel from location to location within the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility can be quite the feat, but for 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron Airmen in the air terminal operations center here, it's their "bread and butter."

"We have the most diverse mission sets transit through here every day," said Staff Sgt. John Hubicsak, an 8th EAMS ATOC information controller deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

On average, the ATOC handles more than 7,000 tons of cargo, 6,600 passengers with 250 tons of baggage and more than 725 aircraft each month making them the busiest mobility hub in the AOR.

"Coordination is our game," Hubicsak said. "We gather information about every aircraft's mission from the flight manifest as they make their way through here and disperse the pertinent information out to the work centers that need it."

ATOC is responsible for constantly monitoring airlift missions and providing updates to various agencies across 8th EAMS and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

"We coordinate with 379th AEW agencies, handle aeromedical evacuation patients and ship a lot of blood to medical units in Afghanistan," said Hubicsak. "We support all the tankers and fighters coming through here with cargo and passengers of their own, as well as C-130 [Hercules] crews who hop in and out of the smaller forward operating bases in theater."

Hubicsak said not only is ATOC responsible for informing the "Mighty Ocho's" maintenance operations center of requirements, but also complete load planning as they organize the cargo for movement to tell load masters what to expect from the load.

"They're very helpful in providing us the information we need to know to accomplish our mission," said Airman 1st Class Brittany McGarrity, an 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster deployed from Joint Base Charleston, S.C. "The technical data they provide is instrumentally important as we mathematically preplan the correct placement of the load on the airplane to ensure it can safely fly."

McGarrity added the information ATOC provides enables her and the cargo jet's aircrew to deliver the supplies, equipment and people to their destination so the joint warfighters down range have what they need to perform their duties, wherever they may be.

"What's most fulfilling for me is being so involved in something and knowing your decisions directly impact the quality of life for folks down range," said Hubicsak. "Our cargo provides deployed service members with things like power and fuel to keep air conditioners running in living quarters so they have a comfortable place to rest their head at night after hours in the sweltering heat of the desert."

But it's not just the forward deployed service member relying on these ATOC Airmen.

"I depend on these guys every day," said Master Sgt. Travis Crane, the 8th EAMS ATOC superintendent deployed from Joint Base Charleston, S.C. "I've only been here a month and the continuity and experience my guys provide the mission every day is phenomenal. Without them, we couldn't complete the mission as efficiently and flawlessly as we do it."

Units across the base, in some form or another, support the "Ocho's" vast mission set, but it's one office coordinating, talking, gathering and dispersing the information around to get the mission done.

"It's really gratifying that I can make so many different agencies come together to support the joint warfighter in the way we do it," Hubicsak said. "We're always forward thinking in order to save the Air Force time and money."

[Editor's note: This article is part two of an eight part series highlighting the unique missions accomplished by the Airmen of 8th EAMS.]

Grand Slam Wing rocks July Fourth

379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs7/11/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Service members deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing celebrated July Fourth participating in activities throughout the day culminating in a ceremony and rock concert in Memorial Plaza.After posting the colors, a few words of motivation by Brig. Gen. Roger Watkins, the 379th AEW commander, and invocation by the wing chaplain, Col. Steven Keith, event band, The Ringers, put on a "show-stopping" performance putting the "Slam" in Grand Slam Wing.The Ringers are a wedding and event band on tour from Minneapolis, Minn., and are back by popular request. After the first few songs, 379th AEW service members packed the stage, participated in a dance-off, and hung on every note until the band could play no more.Grand Slam service members enjoyed music in genres ranging from Rock and Pop to Country and Rhythm and Blues with titles tailored for celebrating America's freedom.

Canadian controller works alongside American ABMs

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs7/10/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The cool breeze gently lifts a bright red maple leaf off the ground whipping it into the air during an autumn soccer scrimmage in Ontario, Canada ... wait a second, rewind. The hot desert wind whips and whirls the sand in every direction as Canadians battle their way from work to home during their deployment at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here, a rotation that occurs every six months.While this scenario may seem extreme to some, it's an opportunity many Canadian controllers can't wait to be a part of. As there are few deployments they can be a part of, Capt. Alexandre Brault jumped at the chance to come here."As a controller, I don't deploy very often," the 25-year-old French Canadian said, who joined the military at 17 years old, right out of high school. "This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I knew I had to be here. It's been an amazing experience for me."Brault is the Royal Canadian Air Force 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron weapons director deployed from Bagotville, Quebec. The Canadians are currently six-strong here and expect up to eight by the fall."We may be a small force, but we're a strong force," she said.In her position, she oversees what the U.S. Air Force calls air battle managers who directly support Operation Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan."As an ABM, I control intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, aerial refuelers, as well as several different fixed wing airframes all across the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility," Brault said. "We are basically a tactical command and control agency and we help dedicate various air assets to the joint warfighter in order to support our troops and the overall missions in Afghanistan."ABMs are primarily responsible for command and control and battle management. Their primary duty is to ensure the day-to-day air mission is executed. These duties depend on the overall military operation. For air-to-air engagement, using either airborne or land-based radars, ABMs ensure combat aircraft find, identify and destroy their targets by providing the pilots with a "big picture" that increases their situational awareness."We do air-to-air engagements back home, however, in this theater of operations we perform air-to-ground operations more than anything," she said.Brault said working here has been a great challenge for her, but she's proud of how the Canadians have contributed to the mission. While having other Canadians around was nice, Brault also enjoyed engaging with the Americans."It's been fun working alongside my brothers and sisters from the 'South,'" she said with a smile. "We work closely with the Americans in NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] back home, so while this was a different mission and a different environment, I loved every bit of it."But it wasn't all business for this controller, as Brault made sure to experience what the local culture had to offer her."My favorite experience here overall was the culture," she said. "It was definitely a shock at first, but the smells and the atmosphere -- they're like nothing I've ever seen or felt before. I love going off base and exploring."During her tenure at the 379th AEW, Brault was reminded why she signed up to serve in the first place."I knew I was going to a university for higher education as a soccer player, but didn't even think about the military as an option at the time," she said.Her first run-in with the military as a career path was when a soccer coach from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, visited a soccer tournament her team was attending. The RMC is to Canadians as the U.S. Air Force Academy or the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is to Americans."They offered me an education and in return, I was to serve my country," she said. "So it was a win-win. I decided it would be a great way to give back to Canada and get an education along the way."More than eight years later, the first in her family to serve, she's still here and isn't looking in the rear view."If I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing."