Thracian Fall exercise kicks off in Bulgaria

by Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (AFNS) -- Service members from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Bulgarian air force are participating in a two-week jump exercise here from Oct. 9 through 22.

Operation Thracian Fall 2011 is part of a semi-annual, off-station training that gives U.S. and coalition jumpers and pilots an opportunity to hone their battlefield skills together.

"We are here to further the U.S., Bulgaria ties through cooperative training with Bulgarian forces," said Capt. Beau Tresemer, the mission commander for Thracian Fall 2011. "It's a great opportunity to see how other countries train and prepare to fight."

C-130J Super Hercules from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, along with Bulgarian C-27 Spartans will continue to drop more than 100 coalition service members near a designated drop zone the rest of this week, he said. A plus to the training is the added benefit of working alongside Bulgarian service members, giving them a broad spectrum look at how the Air Force prepares for contingencies.

"Our pilots are accomplishing day and night flying with simulated combat drops in unfamiliar mountainous terrain," said Tresemer. "At the same time. we are helping Bulgarians get their personnel airdrop qualifications."

"The Bulgarian airspace allows us the training we can't get in Germany," he said. "There are less restrictions on altitudes. Here, we are allowed to fly as low as what our regulations say we can."

However, training isn't the only thing getting accomplished in Bulgaria. The relationship built from the jumpmasters from the U.S. and jumpers from Bulgaria is a bond that solidifies with each jump.

"It gets easier when we have a solid foundation of jumping with them in the past," said Staff Sgt. Myron Austin, an airborne planner assigned to the 435th Contingency Response Group and the jumpmaster for the operation. "This is my third trip to Bulgaria, and I have made plenty of friends that know me by face; the trust is there."

21st Operational Weather Squadron equipment 'forecast' saved millions

by Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- As the Sembach Annex realignment plan pushes forward to transfer control to the Army of the former Air Force base, members of the 21st Operational Weather Squadron are making smart resource choices to save taxpayer dollars in unnecessary equipment moves.

As one of the last Air Force assets left on Sembach Annex, 21st OWS leaders are working hard to ensure the scheduled 2011 move to Kapaun Air Station, Germany, is completed as efficiently as possible.

Project managers from the 21st OWS hosted leaders from U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron, 86th Communications Squadron, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during a ribbon cutting for the new MARK IVB Meteorological Data System at Kapaun AS, Nov. 5.

The MARK IVB is an Air Force meteorological satellite system that comprises a set of three weather satellites that receive data from polar orbiting and geostationary meteorological satellites managed by the Department of Commerce and Department of Defense.

In layman's terms, the $2.5 million system enables members of the 21st OWS to provide real-time satellite imagery to support pilots and combatant commanders throughout Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.

Currently, there are MARK IVB systems operating in locations worldwide including Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan; Lajes AB, Azores; Kadena AB, Japan; Joint Region Marianas Andersen AB, Guam; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Although 21st OWS officials had some of the equipment for the MARK IVB operating at Sembach Annex prior to the Nov. 5 ceremony, leaders found themselves faced with a challenge of either upgrading the equipment at its current location and paying to install and move the system twice within two years, or paying for a one-time move and install.

"We knew we needed to upgrade the system." said Buzz Kandler, a MARK IVB installations manager. "The new system takes us from an L to X band, which allows a much larger data flow. It was absolutely a financial decision and a responsible one at that."

Mr. Kandler explained that setting up the system at the squadron's future home saved the Air Force more than $500,000, as it would cost $250,000 to set it up at Sembach Annex, then $250,000 more to move it to Kapaun AS 12 to 14 months later.

The actual physical process of moving the system and setting up the new antenna was a seven-week task involving the support of contractors from Lockheed Martin's Integrated Systems and Global Services.

"This type of forward thinking only makes sense," said Scott Gibbins, the 21st OWS Technical Services director. "When the squadron moves here in late 2011, we will be collocated with the equipment."

Until that time, weather technicians will still be able to use the MARK IVB system to assist Airmen worldwide.

"These satellites are essential to unmanned aerial vehicle pilots, who fly from Nevada," Mr. Kandler said. "They can't simply look out the cockpit window to see the weather, they rely on our systems images."

C-130 arrival in Poland marks end, new beginning

Capt. Tyler Robertson performs a walk around inspection prior to engine start up before piloting the last E-model C-130 Hercules Nov. 2, 2009, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to Powidz Air Base, Poland. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Scott Wagers)

by Master Sgt. Scott Wagers, Defense Media Activity-Ramstein

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Ramstein Air Base Airmen delivered the base's last E-model C-130 Hercules Nov. 2 to Powidz Air Base, Poland, marking the end of 38 years of service to the U.S. Air Force but the newest addition to the Polish air force's blossoming fleet of strategic airlifters.

C-130 tail No. 1299 touched down and as the aircrew exited the aircraft Polish air force Brig. Gen. Tadeusz Mikutel, the 33rd Air Base commander, and Lt. Col. Mieczyslaw Gaudyn, 14th Airlift Squadron commander, welcomed the American Airmen with warm greetings and a firm handshake.

"The main task for the C-130s is to support our contingency operations in Afghanistan, Chad, Africa and everywhere Polish troops and supplies are needed," said Colonel Gaudyn, who along with his squadron's airmen will be flying the C-130.

Colonel Gaudyn, a former MiG fighter pilot who transitioned to the Antonov 26 cargo transport aircraft, said Poland has approximately 2,000 troops operating in Afghanistan's Gozni Province. Until now, all of these soldiers were transported into theater and subsequently resupplied using U.S. and Ukrainian airlift.

"Now we have much more capability to transport cargo and supplies to our troops which is very important for them, and much quicker," he said adding that Polish troops will no longer have to wait for available transportation from other nations.

"If you have your own (airlift), you can just react when there is a need," he said.

The primary air transport platform used by the Polish air force has been the Spanish-made CASA C-295, a twin turboprop tactical transport aircraft. The sleek fuselage design fits up to 70 passengers or a payload of approximately 7.5 tons but is not well suited for bulky cargo, Colonel Gaudyn said.

By comparison, the E-model Hercules can carry 90 fully equipped passengers or a payload of 17 tons.

Prepping Polish aircrews and maintainers for the transition to the larger Lockheed-Martin built Hercules has been accomplished with a blend of English language and specialty knowledge training at bases in Texas and Arkansas and through a type of work mentorship exchange between U.S. and Polish air force personnel.

In January 2009 a pair of C-130's and the 86th Wing commander from Ramstein AB visited Powidz AB to give personnel there an overview of the aircraft as a part of European Command's military-to-military program, said Capt. John Szczepanski, an affairs officer based at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland.

In March 2009, Powidz AB officials received the first of five donated U.S. C-130Es. Three months later, the Illinois Air National Guard's Peoria-based C-130 wing visited Powidz AB to conduct a two-week flying and maintenance engagement under the auspices of the state partnership program, Captain Szczepanski said.

In the seven months since the first C-130 arrived in Poland, aircrews have successfully flown more than 100 sorties.

C-130 tail No. 1299 is not a part of the four remaining donated aircraft slated for future delivery to Poland. It was transferred to Powidz AB under a Foreign Military Sales lease agreement between Air Force Materiel Command and Poland in support of building partnership capacities and teamwork amongst United States' allies.

According to Capt. Szczepanski, the entire donation of five totally refurbished aircraft, support equipment, supplies, training, and contracted logistics support, is valued at $120 million and 100 percent funded through bilateral military assistance grant money.

After the engines of 1299 came to a rest on the Powidz AB tarmac, Polish air force ground crew and commissioned officers moved in closer to unload pallets and lay eyes on their new plane. Some ventured inside the crew door to survey the interior while others posed for personal pictures in front of the plane.

The 14th Airlift Squadron currently has 25 qualified aircrew to fly the C-130E and growing.

USAFE officials stand up air ground operations wing

by Capt. Megan A. Schafer, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The stand up of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's first wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen took place during a July 16 ceremony at Ramstein Air Base.

The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing takes over the mission previously performed by two 86th Airlift Wing units here -- the Contingency Response Group and the Air and Space Communications Group -- along with the 4th Air Support Operations Group out of Heidelberg, Germany.

"This is a historic day for Ramstein and for USAFE," said Col. Tom Gould, who took command of the 435th AGOW during the ceremony. "This wing's new capability is certainly one of a kind, from calling in airstrikes to opening bases, the capabilities this wing brings to the European and African theater is tremendous."

The wing consolidates the tactical air control party and battlefield weather specialties of the 4th ASOG, the contingency communications support of the ACOMG, and the expeditionary support to assess, prepare and operate airfields for air expeditionary forces of the CRG. Both of the groups from the 86th AW will now perform their mission under the 435th AGOW.

"The 435th AGOW provides these specialized Airmen with a single command and control structure," Colonel Gould said. "By consolidating these units under one wing, we will be able to standardize our organizational processes and streamline how we train, equip and employ our battlefield Airmen."

As part of the reorganization ceremony, the 435th Air Base Wing was redesignated as the AGOW. The 431st Air Base Group was also officially inactivated during an earlier ceremony. The remaining mission areas of the 435th ABW will merge with the 86th Airlift Wing.

"Realigning our mission under one wing meets the Air Force chief of staff's intent of structuring units by mission," said Brig. Gen. William J. Bender, the 86th Airlift Wing commander. "Our dual-wing team worked extremely well together -- even garnering a dual 'Excellent' rating during our recent Unit Compliance Inspection. We look forward to continuing that great cohesion as we combine our efforts under one wing."

Lt. Gen. Philip J. Breedlove, the 3rd Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony, and remarked on the changes as being a positive step for not only the wings and USAFE, but the Air Force.

"There is nothing wrong with change if it's in the right direction. This reorganization and stand up represents another step in streamlining our operations," the general said. He also challenged Colonel Gould to "find the balance between preserving the proud heritage of this wing and embracing the changes necessary to move forward into today's fight."

The 435th AGOW is the second of its kind in the Air Force. The 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing resides at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Officials activate 617th Air and Space Operations Center

by Master Sgt. Jim Fisher, 17th Air Force Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Officials at 17th Air Force took another big step toward full operational capability May 29 with the activation of the 617th Air and Space Operations Center here.

The new AOC gives leaders at 17th AF, also known as Air Forces Africa, an increased command and control capability integral to their function as the air component for U.S. Africa Command. Since 17th AF officials declared initial operational capability Oct. 1, 2008, command and control has been conducted by Airmen in the Command and Control Center, or "C2C," a precursor to the AOC.

Col. Andy Redmond, who led the C2C, became the 617th AOC commander during the activation ceremony. He said that while funding and resources are a challenge, the group of people running the new unit will make sure of its success.

"We are looking for ways to get what we need to make sure our capabilities are state of the art, and that we have access to all the tools necessary to execute command and control of the air domain for U.S. Africa Command," Colonel Redmond said. "We have an excellent group of people, and they've done a great job making our C2C run, and they'll do a great job to make our Air and Space Operations Center run."

The colonel explained that while about 60 people are now on-station in the AOC, 17th AF officials expect to have about 130 on board around Oct. 1, when plans call for them to declare full operational capability. The expanding team not only will execute overall command and control for 17th AF, but will flight-follow and support U.S. air operations within the African area of activity. A combination of Air Force specialties comprises the center, including but not limited to command and control, communications, and intelligence.

"We are building a complete air picture for Africa, which includes acquiring new systems, training and continuing to build on relationships with partner units," Colonel Redmond said.

As the AOC team continues to build and expand in personnel and capacity, Colonel Redmond said they will continue to rely on partners like the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center. The 603rd AOC has a similar role for 3rd Air Force under U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. European Command. Before 17th AF stood up, they were also responsible for operations in Africa.

"The 603rd has been outstanding since 17th Air Force stood up last October, and we couldn't have arrived where we are without their support," Colonel Redmond said.

He also lauded 17th AF leadership, and the other leadership in the C2C for working together to on the execution and progression of command and control.

Superintendant Senior Master Sgt Mike Topps, who also participated in the activation ceremony, received praise from the colonel for his leadership and hard work.

Maj. Gen. Ron Ladnier, 17th AF commander and presiding official at the activation, said support from senior leaders in USAFE and by both the former and current Air Force chiefs of staff also has been crucial.

"We really have to thank General (Roger) Brady, General (Michael) Mosley, and General (Norton) Schwartz for their support in building 17th Air Force," Gen. Ladnier said. "They really care about making us the best we can be."

Colonel Redmond and his team at the 617th are focused on the same objective, the general added.

"We are very fortunate to have a leader like Colonel Redmond and a group of professionals who are focused on building a team of experts to make sure that we are providing U.S. Africa Command with complete expertise and robust support in the air domain," General Ladnier said.

The 617th AOC is collocated with 17th AF headquarters at Ramstein.