conducts ﬁ rst heritage ﬂ ight formation · 2019-10-15 · remember gawking at elmendorf’s...

By Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs2/1/2015 — Crews from the 1st Special Operations Squadron and the 17th Spe-cial Operations Squadron came together to perform a formation fl ight that sym-bolizes the past, present and future of the 353rd Special Operations Group. Th e 353rd Special Operations Group conducted a unique heritage formation fl ight Jan. 26 over Kadena Air Base. Th e 3-ship formation consisted of one MC-130P and one MC-130J, both from the 17th SOS, and one MC-130H Combat Talon II from the 1st SOS. “Th is formation represents the mis-sion heritage these aircraft , and the air

commandos that fl y and maintain them, have embodied throughout the Pacif-ic theater in past decades, as they will do well into the future,” said Col. Ben Maitre, who fl ew the lead aircraft in the formation on his fi nal fl ight as the 353rd Special Operations Group commander. While the 1st SOS and the 17th SOS of-ten work side by side as the special opera-tions fl ying squadrons in the Pacifi c, it isn’t every day they fl y as one in a formation. “Th e SOG has never fl own a formation with these three versions of the MC-130 platform before,” said Maj. Kenneth King, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, assistant operations offi cer and the formation commander.

“Planning and fl ying this formation required all involved to understand the capabilities and limitations of each aircraft , and use that as a foundation for a historic opportunity.” With the changes in airframes, this formation demonstrates the unique mis-sion capability that each MC-130 variant brings to special operations and how the MC-130J will carry on the legacy and mis-sion of special operations in the Pacifi c. “It demonstrates what the MC-130J really means to AFSOC ... a new aircraft that is continuing the mission and heri-tage of all MC-130s that have come be-fore,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Bartlett, 17th Special Operations Squadron operations

offi cer. “For the SOG, this demonstrates the true nature of our transition with the mission shared and simultaneously exe-cuted by all the MC-130s in our invento-ry even as we retire the older aircraft .” Th e last group of Combat Shadows in the Pacifi c began to leave for the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., in October and the fi nal MC-130P from the Pacifi c is scheduled to retire in April. Th e fi nal MC-130P Combat Shadow in the Air Force is scheduled to retire May 2015. Th e fi rst MC-130J landed on Kadena in December 2014 and will continue to arrive as each Combat Shadow leaves for retirement.

353rd SOG conducts fi rst heritage fl ight formation

(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maeson Elleman)

(U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Airman Maeson Elleman)

From top, the MC-130P Combat Shadow and the MC-130J Commando II both from the 17th Special Operations Squadron along with an MC-130H Combat Talon II from the 1st Special Operations Squadron conduct a heritage formation of three MC-130 variants off the coast of Okinawa, Jan. 26.

909th ARS supports 18th AES, Marine Corps fighters

^A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet from the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., refuels from a U.S. Air Force 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker Jan. 23. The mission of VMFA(AW)-553 is to conduct joint and combined aviation operations in order to support a Marine Air Ground Task Force commander’s command and control, intelligence, fi res, maneuver and force protection warfi ghting functions. The 909th ARS is stationed on Kadena Air Base, and is a vital component to the extended reach of U.S. and allied forces within the Pacifi c theater.

Senior Airman Noelle Blanchard, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron technician, tends to Staff Sgt. Ryan Ishikawa, 18th AES technician and simulated patient, during a training fl ight onboard a KC-135 Stratotanker on Kadena Air Base, Jan. 23. The 18th AES maintains a forward presence and supports medical contingencies in the Pacifi c to include the only neonatal air facility in the region. The squadron’s area of operations is the largest in the military, reaching from the Horn of Africa to Alaska.

^

F E B R U A R Y 6 , 2 0 1 52 S A M U R A I G A T E

Acouple of feet and a half a second. Th ese may seem like insignifi cant measurements; but when combined with fatigue, a couple of feet

almost cost me my career, and that half a second almost ended my life. Th ere was a time when I was an enlisted aircraft electrical and environmental systems specialist and was part of the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. In the summer of 2008, while I was assigned to work in the support section, my supervisor and I were tasked to move much of the equipment from the 19th AMU hangar to the 12th AMU hangar because of renovation. We had a tight deadline and the NCO I was working for was determined to complete the task during our shift that night, even if it meant working more than 12 hours. Th at night wore on and turned into morning and I knew it would not be long before the recently set sun would peak up again over the Chugach Mountains. Th ings were going well for the fi rst few hours. I remember gawking at Elmendorf ’s very fi rst F-22 Raptor that had arrived only days prior as I hauled load aft er load of pallets and equipment across the hangar fl oor. I felt privileged to be able to get up close to this jet named aft er a Jurassic Park antagonist that all manner of military and civilian men and women of rank and position had been fl ocking to the base to see in the preceding days.

Th en, unexpectedly, I got a closer look than I ever hoped for. I wasn’t sure how I deviated so far off my well-established path down the centerline of the hangar. However, I was sure I saw the half-ton of palletized equipment I was backing into the hangar pass less than a yard from the nose tip of the $150 million pride of the base. I didn’t say a word to anyone about it at the time. All I could do was imagine what my fate would have been if I had destroyed the pointy end of that beautiful fi ghter jet. Th e thought made me sick to my stomach. My line number for staff sergeant — gone. My future in the Air Force — shot. Can you imagine being “that Airman” who smashed up Elmendorf ’s fi rst F-22? If I had still managed to promote and apply for offi cer training school, I can picture the conversation at the offi cer accessioning board going something like this: “and next up is a sergeant David Liapis ... wait, I know that name from somewhere. Oh, yeah, he’s the guy that cost the Air Force millions of dollars because he was an idiot — next applicant.” As you might have guessed, fatigue was the main contributing factor in the previously related incident; however, I was not the only one suff ering from too much work and too little rest that night.

My supervisor was stacking some pallets with a forklift as I guided him forward. I’m not sure how I ended up between a moving pallet and a wall, but I did. I gave the hand signal for the sergeant to stop, but he didn’t. I managed to squeeze out of that tight spot just in time to avoid having the pallet pin me against the wall at my midsection. He was too tired and didn’t react quickly enough to my signal — again it was fatigue. Th e Air Force Safety Program is nothing new. All the right rules and guidelines existed that night as they had for years prior and have for years since. We just got so wrapped up in what we were doing that we failed to consider and put into practice what we had been taught and what common sense told us. We knew better, but the mission needed to be accomplished — or did it? Did it really all have to be done that night? It’s true, getting the job done is what we are all about; however, we need to make appropriate risk assessments and ensure we’ll be here to take on the next mission. Our line of work has inherent risks, but most can be easily mitigated. Th e goal, rather the quest, is for zero — zero fatalities, zero mishaps, zero dollars spent to repair or replace needlessly damaged resources. Th at night, failure to appropriately address fatigue almost cost me a whole lot ... times two.

Published by Eight Co., Ltd. a private fi rm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the 18th Wing. The civilian en-terprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services overseas. Contents of Samurai Gate are not necessar-ily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Eight Co. Ltd. of the products or services advertised. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Depart-ment of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Eight Co. Ltd. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political af-filiation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. For commercial advertising, inquiry, send Email to [email protected]

Offi cial Kadena Air Base inquiries: [email protected] DSN:634-3813

I really shouldn't be hereCommentary by Capt. David Liapis

92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

By 18th Wing Public Affairs2/4/2015 — Th e 18th Wing hosted the Pacifi c Air Forces Inspector General team for Kadena’s fi rst Unit Eff ectiveness Inspection Capstone visit Jan. 26-30. Th e UEI assesses a wing’s overall eff ec-tiveness relative to both readiness and com-pliance during a 24-month cycle to provide a lengthy “photo-album” of the installation, rather than a legacy snap-shot ORI/CUI. “For this inspection, Kadena had about 15 months, instead of the normal 24 due to timing of our last formal inspection in late 2012,” said Lt. Col. Chad Cook, 18th Wing Inspector General. “Much of that 15 months was spent learning the new inspection system, implementing [Man-agement Internal Control Toolset], and changing our way of business.” More than 50 inspectors validated the 18th Wing’s readiness and compliance

through four major graded areas, or MGAs, during their week-long capstone visit. As a new way of inspecting, the PACAF team also met with many of Kadena’s personnel for Airmen-to-IG Sessions, which discussed various topics relative to the base’s operational climate. At the inspection outbrief Col. Brent Vosseller, PACAF IG, awarded the wing with an overall “Eff ective” rating. “We’ve been closely monitoring Kade-na for 15-plus months, both virtually and via on-site inspections since your last ORI, and this grade refl ects the Airmen and personnel of the 18th Wing are an eff ective team,” said Vosseller. Of the four MGAs, Kadena received three “Eff ective” grades in Managing Re-sources, Leading People and Improving the Unit. Th e fourth MGA, Executing the Mission, was evaluated by PACAF as

“Highly Eff ective.” Additionally, no sub-ar-ea grade was evaluated below “Eff ective.” “I am very proud of our Team’s amaz-ing contributions these past 15 months,” said Brig. Gen. James Hecker, 18th Wing commander. “Our ‘Shoguns’ are an ef-fective team, specifi cally in our ability to execute the mission. Such grades com-municate our ‘Shoguns’ are highly ca-pable relative to our mission to provide unmatched combat power, provide a for-ward power projection platform and pro-vide for the common defense of Japan.” Typical with any formal inspection, the PACAF team found “Strengths,” “De-fi ciencies” and “Recommended Improve-ment Areas” which were published in a draft report for the wing, and dissemi-nated to the groups. Notably, there were a number of strengths, and no critical defi -ciencies identifi ed.

“Similar to our [Mission Focused Exer-cises], the wing now has a rebuttal period of 30 days to PACAF for the defi ciencies,” said Cook. As part of the Commander’s Inspection Program, the wing will work to close out defi ciencies once the fi nal re-port is published. Th e next UEI is not scheduled until January 2017, but regularly scheduled wing MFEs, group Unit Inspections, and other events will be inspected/evaluated and reported to PACAF by the 18th Wing Inspection Team. “Now that the UEI Capstone is fi n-ished, don’t let your guard down,” said the 18th Wing Inspection Planner Maj. Joe Schmitt. “Th e next UEI cycle has al-ready begun.” “Continue executing your mission,” said Cook. “Remember: Mission readi-ness equals inspection readiness.”

Unit effectiveness inspection complete; Kadena rates ‘Effective’

F E B R U A R Y 6 , 2 0 1 5 S A M U R A I G A T E 3

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By Airman 1st ClassZade C. Vadnais18th Wing Public Affairs2/3/2015 — If aircraft parts ar-en’t properly taken care of, the results can be disastrous. Lives can be lost, people can be se-riously hurt and the mission can be adversely aff ected. Th e same can be said for improperly maintained medical equipment. On a routine visit to the 18th Medical Group, a patient’s tem-perature, blood pressure and pulse may be measured and re-corded to give doctors a sense of their overall health. On a more serious visit, they may have X-ray images taken to check bones for fractures or breaks. Regardless of the equipment being used, in order for doctors, nurses and medical technicians to get accurate readings and make appropriate diagnoses, it must be functioning properly. Th at’s where the 18th Med-ical Support Squadron’s bio-medical equipment technicians come in. Acting as handymen for the Kadena clinic, the nine bio-medical equipment technicians assigned to the 18th MDSS are responsible for inspecting, calibrating and repairing about 21,000 pieces of equipment on Kadena. “Without properly calibrat-ed medical equipment, patients don’t get seen as they should,”

said Staff Sgt. Kasey Roy, 18th MDSS biomedical equipment technician. “If vital sign ma-chines aren’t calibrated cor-rectly, a doctor could prescribe something wrong, which could hurt the patient in the long run.” Th ese Airmen work with equipment from the 18th Med-ical Group and partner units as well as provide support to facili-ties belonging to other branches of service when necessary. Th ey also maintain medical equip-ment stored in warehouses for

future contingencies. Th e equipment they work with ranges from life-saving defi brillators to dentistry tool sterilizers and everything in between. If it beeps, hums or whirs, the biomedical equip-ment technicians are in charge of ensuring it continues to per-form up to standards. “We also work on a wide range of equipment that’s sent with people on temporary du-ties and deployments,” Roy said. “Every piece of equipment we

work on we treat with the same level of respect and accura-cy, whether it’s staying here or headed down range.” Th e team has a weekly meet-ing to determine the equipment that needs to be repaired or is due for routine calibration. Af-ter the work assignments have been divided among the tech-nicians, they handle the equip-ment in order of importance. Life-saving equipment takes priority over less vital tools, much like medical triage in

which patients with the most serious injuries are treated fi rst. Although the 18th MDSS biomedical equipment techni-cians spend most of their time working on some very expen-sive machines, they are ulti-mately caring for the Air Force’s most valuable resource. “Just like Gen. Welsh and others have said, people are our greatest asset,” Roy said. “With-out them, we don’t have a force so we’re here to help ensure that our people are ready.”

Caring for people by caring for machines

(U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais)

Staff Sgt. Kasey Roy, 18th Medical Support Squadronbiomedical equipment technician, performs routine maintenanceon an equipment sterilizer on Kadena Air Base, Jan. 28.Biomedical equipment technicians are responsible for the maintenance, repair and calibration of all medical equipment belonging to the 18th Medical Group and partner units stationedon Kadena, from defi brillators to X-ray machines.

^Airman 1st Class Chad McCoy, 18th Medical Support Squadron biomedical equipment technician, inspects the inner workings of a defi brillator on Kadena Air Base, Jan. 28. Kadena’s nine biomedical equipment technicians are responsible for the maintenance, repair and calibration of approximately 21,000 pieces of medical equipment belonging to the 18th Wing and partner units located on Kadena.

^


By Debbie GildeaAir Force Personnel Center Public Affairs1/30/2015 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTO-NIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — Enlisted evaluation and promotion changes announced in July 2014 continue with establishment of a May 31 enlisted performance report static closeout date - or SCOD - for regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve chief master sergeants, eff ective Feb. 2, Air Force Personnel Center offi cials said. Also eff ective Feb. 2, change of re-porting offi cial EPRs will be eliminated for all chief master sergeants. Enlisted Evaluation System and Weighted Airman Promotion System changes initiated in July 2014 for reg-ular Air Force will continue to be im-plemented in stages over the next two years for regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Compo-nent Airmen. Th e changes focus on en-suring job performance is the most im-portant factor when evaluating Airmen. Chiefs whose EPRs close out before Feb. 2 will get another EPR closing out May 31 that will cover performance during the months between their most recent EPR and May 31. For example, a chief whose EPR clos-es out Jan. 31, 2015 will get that EPR and another May 31 that will cover per-formance between Feb. 1 and May 31.

Chiefs whose EPRs would have closed out between Feb. 2 and May 31, includ-ing those who sew on aft er Feb. 2, will not get an EPR until the May 31 SCOD. Chiefs whose EPRs would have closed out aft er May 31, 2015 will have their EPR closeout date moved to May 31. For ANG chiefs only, drill status guardsmen, to include technicians, will receive an initial evaluation for June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2015. Active Guard Reserve and Statutory Tour Personnel mi-gration will be in accordance with ANG specifi c guidance provided through the National Guard Bureau Director for Man-power, Personnel and Services. Additional enlisted evaluation and promotion system changes will be an-nounced as they are approved for im-plementation. For more information about enlisted evaluations and promotions, and other personnel issues, visit the myPers web-site at https://mypers.af.mil. To read the chief master sergeant SCOD knowledge article, select “Search All Components” from the drop down window and enter “28616” in the search window. To vis-it the evaluation page for regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve or Air Nation-al Guard, select the appropriate com-ponent and corps from the drop down menu and click on the evaluations link under “Learn More About.”

Total force CMSgt evaluation static closeout date to be May 31

AF Assistance Fund in full swing

By Air Force Aid Society2/3/2015 - WASHINGTON — Th e 2015 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign has kicked off and will run until May 1. Air Force bases worldwide are participating in this fundraising event which raises money for four Air Force charities – Air Force Aid Society, Air Force Enlisted Village, Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.- Th e Air Force Aid Society: Provides

Airmen and their families worldwide with emergency fi nancial assistance, education assistance and various base-level community enhancement programs.

- Th e Air Force Enlisted Village: Supports Teresa Village in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Bob Hope Village in Shalimar, Florida, near Eglin Air Force Base. Th e fund provides homes and fi nancial assistance to retired enlisted members’ widows and widowers who are 55 and older. It also supports Hawthorn House (in Shalimar) which provides assisted living for residents, including 24-hour nursing care.

- Th e Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation: Donations support independent and assisted living needs for retired offi cers and their spouses, widows or widowers and family members. Communities are located in

San Antonio, Texas.- Th e General and Mrs. Curtis E.

LeMay Foundation: Provides rent and fi nancial assistance to widows and widowers of offi cer and enlisted retirees in their homes and communities through fi nancial grants of assistance.

Air Force offi cials are using a three-campaign grouping where all Air Force bases are assigned to one of the fol-lowing three six-week campaign periods:Group I — Feb. 2 - March 13Group II — March 2 - April 10Group III — March 23 - May 1 Group I bases, which already started, include Charleston Air National Guard Base, West Virginia; Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota; Keesler AFB, Mississip-pi; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Vance AFB, Oklahoma and Minneapolis-St Paul International Air-port Air Reserve Station, Minnesota. New this year is an updated Air Force Assistance Fund website, which features information about all of the affi liate char-ities, a link to the donation forms, videos, assistance stories and FAQs. Everyone is encouraged to check out the site and learn more about how your donations help the Air Force family. Whether active duty or retired, offi cer or enlisted, Air Force As-sistance Fund is there for the Airmen, by the Airmen to take care of our own.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Scott M. Ash)

^Air Force senior leaders review Air Force Assistance Fund affi liate websites while in the Pentagon, during preparation for the 2015 Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign. Seated are Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. Standing from the left to right are Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry O. Spencer, Under Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody.


By Tim Flack18th Wing Public Affairs2/4/2015 — Less than a beer — that was my challenge last weekend. I wanted to explore Okinawa and fi nd something cool to do that would cost less than one beer. Why? Because some people here are wasting their time being wasted. Some people are throw-ing away a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience this won-derful island we all live on. And a few people are threatening to ruin it for the rest of us with their alcohol-fueled stupidity. I wanted to prove that there are countless off -base adven-tures you can enjoy for less than the cost of a beer. My weekend challenge took

me about 300-feet above the coastline, peering out over limestone cliff s into the scenic distance from the ruins of Kat-suren Castle. Th e castle dates back to the 13th century, and was added to the World Heritage List in 2000. As my family and I slowly climbed our way through fi ve separate areas, we were able to trace the incredible history translated into English on vari-ous plaques. We learned that the castle had been passed down through 10 lords, from the original Lord Kat-suren through Lord Awamari in the mid-15th century. Awamari resisted the monarch of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and suff ered a crushing defeat attempted

when trying to take Shuri Castle. His own Katsuen Castle was destroyed in a counter-attack in 1458, and was never rebuilt. Standing atop the ruins, gazing out over Kin Bay to the north, and the Chinen Peninsu-la to the south, I was amazed by how majestic the site was. I like to think that I won my challenge last weekend with a free trip to this castle. And now I’ll challenge you to do the same.Getting Th ere- Exit Kadena Gate 3 and turn

right at the light on Route 74. (Th is is the road that follows the perimeter of the base).

- At the second light, turn left . (Route 74).

- Continue straight, and the road will turn into Route 16.

- Keep going straight; you’ll start seeing signs for Kaichu-doro and Katsuren-jo.

- Aft er about 10 minutes, you’ll

see the castle on the right side of the road. A parking lot and welcome center is located on the left side.

By Air Force MaterielCommand WellnessSupport Center2/4/2015 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — February is American Heart Month. Th e National Institutes of Health reports that more than one million people in the United States have a heart attack each year. Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of their fi rst symptoms and before they reach the hospital. When a heart attack happens, delay in treatment can be deadly. It is important to learn the warning signs and

symptoms of a heart attack and know the single most important thing you can do to save a life: call 911 immediately for emergency medical care. According to the American Heart Association, warning signs of a heart attack may include:· Chest discomfort that feels like

pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest

· Upper body discomfort that extends beyond the chest to one or both arms, back, shoulders, neck and jaw

· Unexplained shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort

· Other symptoms include: feeling of extreme fatigue, cold sweats, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, nausea and vomiting

Chest pain and discomfort are the most common heart attack symptoms for both men and women. But women may experience other common symp-toms. Th ese include shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back and jaw pain. Quick action can save a life. If you or someone you are with experiences chest discomfort or other heart attack symptoms, call 911 immediately. Do not

wait more than fi ve minutes to make the call. Contacting Emergency Medical Services as soon as possible will allow for the administration of clot-busting and artery-opening medications that can help stop a heart attack. During the month of February, Ci-vilian Health Promotion Services will be conducting educational briefi ngs on heart disease prevention and the warning signs of a heart attack. For more information regarding CHPS activities for American Heart Month, visit www.AFMCwellness.com or contact your local CHPS team.

Less than a beer: Katsuren Castle

AFMC promotes awareness of heart attack warning signs

(U.S. Air Force photo by Tim Flack)

^A group of local youth poses for photos in front of the Katsuren Castle ruins on Okinawa, on Jan. 25. The group dressed in period costume to perform dances and sing songs in honor of Lord Katsuren, the fi rst lord of the castle in the 13th century.


By 1st Lt. Jake BaileyPacifi c Air Forces Public Affairs2/2/2015 - BAF BASE BANGABAND-HU, Bangladesh — U.S. and Bangladesh Air Forces personnel joined together for the closing ceremony of Exercise COPE SOUTH 15 here Jan. 29. Airmen from each force took the op-portunity to thank each other for the team-work, pro-fessionalism and close coopera-tion that was displayed during the exercise. “COPE SOUTH is a prime example of how combined forces can rapidly respond and integrate with each other to execute airlift operations across the Pacifi c AOR during contingencies and crises,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Adam Staubach, 36th Airlift Squad-ron mission commander. “Like us, our Bangladesh Air Force coun-terparts value the peace and stability that airpower through partnership through can deliver to this region.” Th is year, U.S. and BAF Airmen fl ew 25 sorties, dropped 840 paratroopers and deliv-ered 20 low-cost, low-altitude and container delivery system airdrop bundles to forward drop zone locations. Eighty U.S. Airmen, along with three U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, joined approximately 200 Ban-gladesh Air Force Airmen and one Ban-gladeshi C-130B aircraft from the 101st Special Flying Unit during the exercise. Th is year featured the fi rst participation of F-7BG fi ghter aircraft from BAF’s 5th Squadron, which provided intercept and escort duties for C-130 fi ght operations. During CS15, U.S. and Bangladesh Air Forces exchanged airlift , air-land and air-drop delivery techniques aimed towards

advancing their combined ability to re-spond to re-gional disasters. Air Offi cer Commanding of BAF Base Bangabandhu Air Commodore Mo-hammad Obaidur Rahman said the tac-tics, techniques and procedures shared during the exercise are benefi cial for ensuring BAF and U.S. interoperability

during future opera-tions. COPE SOUTH participants placed emphasis on developing USAF-BAF re-lationships and continuing to seek addi-tional engagement opportunities, partic-ularly in areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, aviation safety, airlift and aviation mainte-nance and logistics.

“Our BAF counterparts are true pro-fessionals,” Staubach said. “We appreciate the close relationship we share and their willingness to host major events, exer-cises and opera-tions that are critical to advancing our mutual understanding of each other’s capabilities and enhancing our ability to operate together.”

Cope South 15 successfully ends

(Courtesy photo by Bangladesh Air Force)

Two Bangladesh F-7BG Defenders, a BAF C-130B Hercules, and two U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft prepare to take off from BAF Base Bangabandhu, Bangladesh, during Exercise COPE SOUTH Jan. 28. The U.S. C-130H is assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air base, Japan; the BAF F-7BGs are assigned to 5th Squadron and the BAF C-130B is assigned to 101st Special Flying Unit at BAF Base Bangabandhu. COPE SOUTH is a Pacifi c Air Forces-sponsored, bilateral tactical airlift exercise conducted in Bangladesh, with a focus on cooperative fl ight operations, day and night low-level navigation, tactical airdrop, and air-land missions as well as subject-matter expert exchanges in the fi elds of operations, maintenance and rigging disciplines.


By Claudette RouloDefense Media Activity1/30/2015 - WASHINGTON — Without donors, there would be no Armed Ser-vices Blood Program, Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, the program’s director, said today. National Blood Donor Month falls in January, Fahie said, which is the heart of a diffi cult season for blood organizations, as donations slow during the winter holidays. As the month draws to a close, he said, it is particularly important to recognize the donors who make the program possible. Th e Armed Services Blood Program is unique among blood organizations, the director said.Getting Blood to Where It’s Needed “Our strength is actually getting blood to where no other agency can,” he said. “We actually are the ones that are capable — because we have the assets to support our deployed troops all over the world — whether it’s a combat mission, whether it’s a humanitarian mission, whether it’s a military treatment facility overseas somewhere, we can get blood to wherever it needs to go.” Most healthy adults are eligible to donate blood, according to the ASBP website. For travel, medical or other do-nation restrictions, interested personnel should visit http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Donors/can_i_donate.aspx. Military personnel, their dependents, federal civilians and contractors are all eligible to donate to their local ASBP loca-tion. Even those with no connection to the military can donate to the ASBP, Fahie said.One Donation ‘Can Save Several Lives’ Blood donation is critical, he said, “Because one unit of blood can save several lives.”

Blood can be separated into three components — red blood cells, platelets and plasma, Fahie said. “We make and we process diff erent products from ... whole blood,” he said. “We can make red cells to support somebody that’s anemic, we have plasma for somebody who has clotting factor defi ciencies and needs factors to help with stabilization, and then also we have platelets that we can get from those products, and then there’s also other concentrates that we can manufacture from that blood product that we can give to patients that are ill or injured.” Since blood products have a limited shelf life, there is a constant need for donors. Red blood cells can be stored for 35 to 42 days, while platelets must be used within 5 days.Donors are Essential Th e whole blood donation process takes about 30 to 40 minutes, including completing a donor questionnaire and a brief interview, Fahie said. Donating platelets is a bit more com-plex, he said. During platelet donation, platelets are removed from whole blood by a machine, and the remaining prod-ucts are re-infused back into the donor. “It’s important for every donor to know that, no matter what, we are the one that is responsible for ensuring that our war fi ghters and their benefi ciaries have blood and blood products when they’re critical-ly wounded or they’re ill,” Fahie said. “We as the Armed Services Blood pro-gram appreciate all the support that we get from the donors, because wherever we need to get blood to, we won’t have a program if we don’t have a donor. “Our reliability and our strength really are with the donors,” he said.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jen S. Martinez)

Three CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters fl y past Mount Fuji, Jan. 24, during a two-day fl ight to Misawa Air Base, from Okinawa to support Exercise Forest Light 15-2. The semiannual exercise strengthens U.S. and Japan military relations. The CH-53E helicopters operate with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, currently assigned to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force.

Fuji formation

Donors make armed services blood program possible

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Seth Coulter)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Alexander Ramirez, assigned to Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, donates blood during a blood drive for the Puget Sound Blood Center at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash., Jan. 22.

^


By Breanne SmithAFCEC Public Affairs1/14/2015 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Tex-as — It was nearly 60 years since Th erese Sisson had lived on a military installation when she moved into her current home on Patrick Air Force Base, Flor-ida, four years ago. “I have a lot of newly married young people living around me,” Sisson said. “I’m the old lady on the street.” Sisson, an 86-year-old, twice-widowed former military spouse, lives by herself in her three-bedroom, two-story home on the base. “I feel like this is the best place for me, it all comes down to the security and the convenience,” Sisson said. “If you need any-thing, they take care of it.” Th ough her fi rst husband was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, it’s through her second spouse Donald, a retired Navy commander, that Sisson’s an eligible tenant for the base’s pri-vatized housing units owned and operated by Hunt Companies. “Opening base housing up to other eligible tenants when ac-tive duty occupancy levels drop is really an ideal solution,” said Robert Moriarty, Director of the

Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Installations Directorate. “It allows project owners to recoup the rent they need to continue maintaining the housing devel-opment, and it allows the Air Force an opportunity to take care of our veterans and military fam-ilies even aft er they’ve separated.” When military housing pri-vatization initiatives fi rst went into eff ect, Moriarty said private sector lenders recognized the loan repayment risk if the Air Force couldn’t guarantee steady occupancy rates. In response, the Air Force agreed to expand the pool of eligible tenants using a tiered, time-based priority list that triggers when occupancy rates drop below 95 percent. For Sisson, living on base al-lows her to be a part of a life she thought she’d left years before. “I enjoy seeing the young people. I have become a military wife even though I wasn’t mar-ried while (Donald) was in the service,” she said. “I’m so proud of what our men and women are doing.” In a neighboring communi-ty just a few miles away, retired Chief Master Sgt. John Neder-hoed enjoys his recently retired status in the same Hunt Compa-nies home he moved into with

his family while on active duty. “We wanted to stay because of my daughter’s senior year,” Nederhoed explained. “I didn’t want my retirement to create a situation where we’re uprooting her right before graduation.” Aft er talking with Hunt management, Nederhoed and his family extended their lease beyond his retirement, allowing his daughter to graduate high school and Nederhoed to con-centrate on his transition and post-retirement plans. As the former superintendent for the Air Force Technical Ap-plications Center, Nederhoed’s position, as well as his tenant status, allowed him to see fi rst-hand the improved effi ciencies generated by privatization. “Number one is mainte-nance,” Nederhoed said. “It’s no longer tied to the fi scal year. If an air conditioner broke in July (before privatization) and then the budget didn’t pass, too bad.” With privatization, Neder-hoed said it’s evident military family always comes fi rst. Further up the coast near the nation’s capital, nearly 17,000 personnel sustain an array of support operations at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Despite the large workforce,

not all personnel on JBA qualify as target tenants, said Lt. Col. Rockie Wilson, 11th Civil Engi-neer Squadron commander. “We have a large number of Air National Guard, reservists, civilian personnel and then retir-ees — they’re not active duty, but they’re still very viable tenants.” For JBA, housing occupancy currently sits at about 87 per-cent — eight percent below the occupancy rate at which the housing provider may begin allowing other eligible tenants on base and 11 percent below the Air Force-wide target occu-pancy rate. “It’s something we’re actively trying to improve,” Wilson said. “If we improve our occupancy rates by just one percent, that’s

$430,000 more in annual reve-nue that’s generated for the de-velopment.” From lawn care and snow removal, to refuse disposal and community amenities, Wilson said whether it’s rent paid from an Airman’s basic housing allow-ance or from the pocket book of a reservist or retiree, it all goes back into the development. “Th ere’s really great benefi t to having our civil servants, Na-tional Guard and retirees living on base,” Moriarty said. “It sig-nifi cantly improves the quality of life for our military members and their families — both past and present — and as valued members of our base housing community, we’re able to con-tinue to honor their service.”

Military retirees, families maintain service bond through AFCEC housing program

(Courtesy photo)

^ John Nederhoed and his family stand in front of their Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, home shortly after moving to the base in the summer of 2006. The Nederhoeds opted to remain in their base home following John’s retirement in Sept. 2013, providing a smoother transition and continuity for the entire family.

By Kevin L. RobinsonDeCA Public Affairs1/30/2015 - FORT LEE, Va. — Com-missary patrons in mainland Japan and Okinawa will continue to receive poultry products shipped from the United States amid a local embargo related to avian fl u discoveries in several U.S. states. Th e U.S. Department of Agriculture issued updated guidance Jan. 28 on Japan’s embargo, allowing U.S. shipments of poultry to Japan from ports in California, Washington State or Oregon as long as the product doesn’t originate from these states.

Th is guidance does not apply to the ongoing Korea embargo of U.S. poultry products. “Th is is indeed welcome news for our commissary patrons in Japan,” said De-fense Commissary Agency Director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu. “We are continuing to work all possible supply options to ensure our overseas patrons are able to maximize their commissary benefi t.” On Jan. 24, USDA direction regarding Japan’s embargo did not allow shipments of U.S. poultry that originated or were shipped from California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Japan’s embargo

did not extend to poultry shipments originating from U.S. states unaff ected by avian fl u detections. Th e Jan. 28 guid-ance rescinded this direction. Th e situation with poultry embargoes began in late December 2014, when Korea issued an embargo preventing the import of all U.S. poultry and poultry products on or aft er Dec. 20, 2014. Th e restriction resulted from the discovery of avian fl u, formally known as HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian infl uenza, traced to a poultry farm in Oregon. In eff ect, the embargoes restricted U.S.

shipments to 11 commissaries in Korea of poultry products such as chicken, tur-key, eggs and products that contain these ingredients, such as pot pies, lunch meat, hotdogs, meal entrees and egg rolls. DeCA continues to use various alter-natives to provide some poultry products for its patrons there. Th ese actions include interim local source suppliers for fresh chicken and eggs, increased deliveries of products containing beef and pork and allowances to ship some cooked poultry items if they have the required documen-tation from U.S. manufacturers.

Japan, Okinawa commissaries to receive poultry shipments from West Coast ports


Kadena Tax CenterThe tax offi ce is now open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seasonal services are offered at the Kadena Tax Center, Bldg 1460. Tax Center Appointment Line: 634-7418/098-961-7418. Appointments will be available for rental property, commanders, and teachers. The Tax Center does not prepare home business and sales of rental propertyTax Season Offi ce Hours:Feb. 4 – March 28:Tuesday – Friday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Walk-in Service Only)Saturday - 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Appointment Only)March 30 – May 15:Monday - Friday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Walk-in Service Only)(Appointments by availability) Closed Holidays and PACAF Family Days:Feb. 17: HOLIDAYApril 17: Closed ½ day for function.April 20-24: Limited Walk-in Services due to ExerciseMay 22: Closed PACAF Family DayMay 25: HOLIDAYBring in the following required documentation to completea Tax Return:- DOD/Military Identifi cation card (except contractors)- Power of Attorney (If electronic fi ling on behalf of your spouse)- Social Security Number(s)- Bank Routing and Account Number(s)- Forms W-2 and 1099 (from all employers and fi nancial institutions)- IRA*- Rental Property (includes total income, mortgage interest, taxes,insurance and other related expenses)*- Child Care Cost/Providers and their identifi cation numbers*- Foreign Earned Income Exclusion*- Sale of Residence (personal residence only)*- Sale of Stocks/Mutual Funds 1099B or 1099 Int/Div* * If applicable

Don’t have time to wait? They offer a drop off service for simple returns. Take all tax documents and they will call you when your tax return is ready for review. (Dropoff’s are not accepted during Exercise or inspection weeks.)For more information contact Christy Murphy at 634-7418. Blind date with a bookFrom now until Feb. 26 stop by the library and make a “date” with one of the books that are wrapped in plain wrapper. Pick up one, take it home and give it a good chance to make an impression. It could be a disastrous fi rst date or you could fall deeply in love with a new author or genre you have not tried before. For more information, contact William Niblick at 634-1502. Construction near Gate 2Construction will be taking place near Gate 2 until Feb. 13 which will affect the pedestrian walkway from the Gate 2 Visitor’s Center to Bldg. 337 (USO and Chili’s Too). Virtual Enterprise Service Desk (vESD) applicationThis application allows all users to troubleshoot any issues they are having without the hassle of long phone calls and even longer wait times with the ESD. The process begins when users open the vESD icon, which has been added to all users desktops. The software will automatically run a test or “health check” on the computer and display its current status along with the users computer information. After answering a series of questions about your specifi c computer issue, the application will attempt to solve the problem. An additional feature that is currently being vetted will allow users to create and submit a trouble ticket within vESD for issues that it cannot automatically resolve. We encourage everyone to try out the application, even if you don’t have a computer issue at this time. If you any questions or concerns, email the 18th Communications Squadron at [email protected] or call 634-2666 option 2, option 3.

Kadena and Camp Foster emergency numbersKadena Fire Emergency Services would like to remind everyone to program their cell phones with the emergency numbers. To report an emergency on Kadena via cell, dial 098-934-5911, and from an offi ce phone, dial 911. For Camp Foster via cell, dial 098-911-1911, or from an offi ce phone, dial 911. Civilian Personnel Office job trainingThe Civilian Personnel Offi ce will host a USA Jobs training class from 9:30-10:30 a.m. every fi rst and third Tuesday of the month at Bldg. 721-A in the Bruce Scott Training Room. This training covers the basics on creating an account and signing in, searching for a job, applying for a federal job through USAJobs, understanding different requirements, and explaining the different eligibilities available for applying in an overseas or stateside location. For more information or to sign up, call 634-2228 or email kadena.staffi [email protected] and include a contact number.

FCC new provider orientationThe Kadena Family Child Care Program is offering orientation classes to license individuals to care for Department of Defense/Military dependants in their homes. Programs include, but are not limited to, regular full day and hourly care, extended duty care, weekend care, subsidy program, returning home care, and special needs care. For more information, call Mary Bogar at 634-0514 or stop by Bldg. 1850 to pick up an application. 18th MDG Education & Training Office hoursThe 18th Medical Group Education & Training offi ce hours have changed, to include appointments. Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday 3-4:15 p.m., Monday-Friday (Appointments Only) To book an appointment, call 630-1994 or email [email protected].

School Zone traffic violationsAs a reminder, the speed limit in all school zones during school hours is 25 KPH. Speeding in these posted zones can have dangerous consequences and drivers caught speeding will be ticketed. Please park in authorized places only. Parking and leaving your vehicle unattended in the pick-up/drop-off zone is prohibited and will be ticketed. Parking in reserve housing spots will also be ticketed. Drivers caught making illegal U-turns will be ticketed. For more information, call Kadena Police Services at 634-1397. AFOSI Foreign Travel BriefingA foreign travel briefi ng will be held at 9 a.m. during the fi rst duty day of every week at Bldg. 705. Members planning personal foreign travel must report to the AFOSI lobby prior to the briefi ng and are reccomended to attend the briefi ng several weeks prior but no more than two months prior to the travel date. If you are unable to make the meeting due to mission requirements, call AFOSI to schedule an alternate time at 632-8996. Partial Road ClosureThere will be a partial road closure for installing drainage, sidewalk, and pavement on Collison Drive between the Fairchild Avenue intersection to Bldg. 865 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. until March 31. One lane will be opened for alternate two-way traffi c fl ow controlled by the fl aggers. For more information, call Eishin Hiyajo at 634-4285. WIC Overseas Okinawa job opportunityThe Women, Infants and Children Overseas program on Kadena has an open position for an administrative assistant. Applicants are required to have a high school diploma or equivalent with secretarial or business offi ce experience or education. Business training or Associate’s degree preferred. Experience in health-related fi eld desirable. Must type 40 to 60 words per minute. Job requirements include good computer skills and excellent customer service skills. Must

To submit an announcement for the base bulletin, please visit www.kadena.af.mil NO FEDERAL ENDORSEMENT OF PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS OR ACTIVITIES IS INTENDED.

F E B R U A R Y 6 , 2 0 1 5 S A M U R A I G A T E 11be a U.S. citizen. Please email your resume and cover letter to Michelle Viramontes at [email protected] or fax to 632-6262. Group CycleRisner Fitness Center is conducting a Group Cycle class every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:45 p.m. Come early and grab a bike in our state-of-the-art spin room. This class is led by volunteers, not Risner-contracted staff so cancellations may occur. For more information, call Risner Fitness Center front desk at 634-5128.

Tuition Assistance initial/follow-up briefThe Education Center will hold Tuition Assistance initial and follow-up briefs from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Education Center. For more information, call Sabrina Murray at 634-1500, option 1. April 2015 CCAF graduation submission cutoff Feb. 27The April 2015 CCAF graduation submission cutoff date is Feb. 27. To be considered for the April CCAF graduation, the CCAF must receive all documentation (i.e. transcripts and CLEP scores) for degree candidate submissions on or before that date. Students must also be enrolled in their degree program no later than Feb. 27. For more information, call the Education Offi ce at 634-1500, option 1. UPCOMING EVENTSAFSA Bowl-A-ThonThe Air Force Sergeants Association is slated to host a bowl-a-thon Feb. 13 from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Emery Lanes Bowling Center. For this year’s bowl-a-thon, AFSA is looking for 32 teams of four players (maximum number of players being fi ve) to participate in this event. The cost for each member is a mere $15, which includes 3 games and shoes. For more information contact Jimmy Turner at 634-1886 or Luis Costa at 634-5187. Lifeguard classes beginLifeguard class, which begins Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. at the Fairchild Pool, is accepting enrollment for the mandatory swim test. Individuals interested must be 15 years old to take the course and

be a strong swimmer. Sign-ups at Kadena Outdoor Recreation and requires a fee. For more information, contact Outdoor Recreation 966-7343. 18th MDG blood driveThe 18th Medical Group is scheduled to host a blood drive Feb. 17 in the 18th MDG’s 3rd-fl oor Shima-san conference room from noon to 4 p.m. For eligibility information, contact Staff Sgt. Jeremy Jackson at [email protected]. Education Center quarterly commissioning briefThe Education Center quarterly commissioning brief will be held on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. in Bldg 59, 3rd fl oor, room 332. Reservations must be made in advance by calling 634-1500, option 1. Freedom March on KadenaThe 333rd Signal Company is hosting an African American History Month observance in the Keystone Theater at 10 a.m. Feb. 19. At 10:30 a.m. there will be a 1-mile freedom march. Kadena Library digital workshopJoin the library Feb. 19 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the monthly digital workshop. This month they will show you how to use Tumble Books. This is an online resource for pre-K through high school. It includes read-alongs, early reader chapter books, young adult titles, audio books, puzzles, games and resources for home school families. For more information, contact William Niblick at 634-1502. African American Heritage committee presents Inagural Ball for a CauseThe African American Heritage Committee is hosting a fi ve-on-fi ve basketball tournament at the Risner Fitness Center to help raise funds for the Black History Month Gala. The tournament will take place on Feb. 21, starting at 9 a.m. This is a 10 team maximum with an entry fee. The tournament will be double elimination with two 10 minute halves. The fi rst and second place winners will receive trophies. The tournament is open to all personnel. To sign up call Master Sgt. Tony Bostic at 080-9715-4959 or via email at [email protected] or Master Sgt. David

Lukas at 080-6497-4385 or via email at [email protected]. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESAfrican American History Month CDC ReadingsThe African American Heritage Committee is hosting book readings at the Child Development Centers in recognition of African American History Month 2015. The reading sessions will take place every Friday until Feb. 27 (Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, and Feb. 27). Reading sessions will be held at 9:30 a.m. at Wakaba CDC and 2:45 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Niko Niko CDC. To volunteer, contact Airman 1st Class Brandon Hagler at [email protected] or Tech. Sgt. Nakoma Pratt at [email protected]. Amelia Earhart Intermediate School Homework ClubThe Amelia Earhart Intermediate School is looking for volunteers to help with the Homework Club, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3-4 p.m. The Amelia Earhart Intermediate School is looking for volunteers to assist, teach, and/or supervise students during recess activities from 11:15 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, email Airman 1st Class David Homan at [email protected], Senior Airman Greene Kyle at [email protected], or Virginia Turner [email protected]. Kadena STEM Outreach is looking for volunteersKadena’s fi rst STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Outreach Program is looking for volunteers as a Social Media/Marketing Manager, Community Coordinator, Administration Manager, Event Coordinator or STEM tutor/researcher. The Kadena Air Base STEM Outreach is an Air Force Research Laboratory sponsored program that is designed to increase STEM knowledge for Team Kadena’s military, civilians, dependents and DoDDS students. The program is open to all ranks and is accepting volunteers now. A STEM degree is not required. For more information, call Capt. Josh Barker at 632-0429 or email [email protected].

LEGO Team MentorsVolunteers with technical knowledge/experience are needed to meet with Kadena School LEGO Robotics Teams. Team meetings are held at Kadena Elementary from 3-4 p.m., Feb. 11 and 18 (every Wednesday until the competition). Team Mentors will answer questions and coach the Teams through the problem solving process. For more information, email Capt. Benjamin Switzer at [email protected]. Operation Snowball needsadult volunteersOperation Snowball is an in-school retreat focused on leadership development delivered in a fun and interactive format. Groups of teenagers are paired with adult facilitators for small group discussions and activities related to decision making, social skills and community building. They are looking for adult volunteers who can attend a two-day staff training from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 7 and Feb. 21 and the event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2. For more information, email Gail Wells at [email protected] or Sherri Powers at [email protected].


By Staff Sgt. Amanda DickHeadquarters Pacifi c Air Force Public Affairs1/30/2015 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Start-ing Feb. 1, the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine will be mandatory for active-du-ty Airmen who are either permanently stationed or who will be temporarily assigned for more than 30 days to Japan or the Republic of Korea. Th e implementation was signed into eff ect Jan. 9 by Air Force Surgeon Gener-al Lt. Gen. Th omas Travis. “Even though the likelihood of getting Japanese Encephalitis is low, the conse-quences of this disease can be real severe, including permanent disability or death,” said Lt. Col. Randy Langsten, Pacifi c Air Forces Surgeon General command public health offi cer. “In this case, we’re talking about mitigating a specifi c medi-cal threat. We’re placing an emphasis on keeping our force prepared to carry out the Air Force’s Pacifi c mission.” Th e current vaccine has been available since 2009 and, until now, has only been recommended for Airmen. Typically, the Air Force mandates any vaccine recom-mended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To help bring this vaccine in line with standard practice, the Air Force made it mandatory. Th e implementation also aligns with local country processes, which requires the vaccination for all host country chil-dren in Japan and the ROK.

“Th e CDC and World Health Organi-zation describe most of Asia, including the countries of Japan and the Republic of Korea as endemic areas,” Th omas said. Members currently stationed in Japan and the ROK will see their IMR turn yellow Feb. 1 and will have one year to receive the two-dose vaccination series. “Airmen are our most precious re-source; they’re the key to PACAF’s ability to provide a rapid response force capable of protecting and defending the Pacifi c region,” Langsten said. “Without our Airmen, we can’t get the mission done.” Although not required, the Air Force recommends family members and De-partment of Defense civilian employees in Japan and the ROK to receive the vaccine as well. “We encourage everyone to get this vaccine, Airmen and their families,” Langsten said. “Medical readiness is important to our Airmen, but so are their families. We want our people focusing on the mission instead of worrying about a family member being susceptible to Japanese encephalitis. Bottom line, we are committed to keeping everyone safe and healthy.” Although the threat of infection is less than one percent, for those who get the disease, there is a 20 to 30 percent fatality rate, and the risk of serious neurological, cognitive or psychiatric problems is 30 to 50 percent among those who survive the disease, Langsten said “Because of the serious consequence

and nature of the disease, we think it’s im-portant to get people vaccinated,” he added. For those who may not be able to get the vaccine right away, other options exist to help prevent infections until the vaccine can be received. “Th e mosquitos that transmit the JE virus feed mainly outside during cooler hours from dusk to dawn,” said Lt. Col. Maureen Farrell, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander at

Yokota Air Base, Japan. “It’s best to limit outdoor activities during these times. When you are outdoors, use an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, IR3535, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks can help.” For more information, contact your local medical treatment facility.(Th e 374th Airlift Wing Public Aff airs offi ce contributed to this article.)

Japanese Encephalitis vaccine mandatory for certain PACAF locales

(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Stewart)

^A Japanese Encephalitis vaccination is now mandatory for active-duty Airmen stationed to or traveling for 30 days or more in the Republic of Korea or Japan. While the likelihood of contracting the disease is low, the Air Force Surgeon General mandated the vaccine as part of their continuing efforts to protect and defend Airmen and their families from public health threats.

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