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AF Surgeon General message to the Air Force Medical Service

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I am deeply honored to serve the Airmen and families of the world’s best Air Force as the 22nd Air Force Surgeon General. I could not be more proud of the outstanding medical professionals with whom I serve–officers, enlisted and civilian Airmen–and those who laid the foundation for today’s Air Force Medicine.

Our Air Force faces many challenges that require Airmen, including medical professionals, to be innovative, knowledgeable, adaptive, resilient, and disciplined. As we enter this crucial time in our history, we must prepare for and strive to deliver our vision of the best patient-centered, full-spectrum care to a rapidly changing and evolving Air Force. The people we serve place their trust in us every day–from permitting us to treat their wounds to delivering their babies and dispensing medication. That trust is something we must earn every day by keeping our duty to those we serve at the forefront and committing ourselves to Excellence in All We Do.

We have the solemn responsibility to support and enhance the health and performance of Airmen, the Joint Team and their families as we all meet these current and future challenges. I am excited about working with you as the Air Force Medical Service and the Military Health System continuously adapt our capabilities and performance to meet a dynamic mission.

I thank each of you for the care and support you provide to those we serve–your professionalism, resourcefulness, and expertise make “Trusted Care Anywhere” a reality each and every day.

Purple Heart Day, to celebrate the courage and sacrifice of combat-wounded Veterans

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Most people have never heard of Purple Heart Day, which takes place annually on August 7th to commemorate the medals origins and the more than 1.7 million combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients.   

In 1782, George Washington, then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, created the Badge of Military Merit, today known as the Purple Heart medal. It represented Washington’s respect and acknowledgement of veterans’ combat valor. Today, more than 232 years later, the medal is the oldest U.S. military decoration still in use, and the inventory of veterans’ stories blends both heroic and tragic distinctions.

Jim Blaylock, of Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, a Vietnam veteran and three-time Purple Heart recipient says, “The Purple Heart medal represents courage, sacrifice, commitment and ‘heart.’  The Purple Heart Foundation celebrates the heart of every veteran by providing emotional, physical, educational and financial support for veterans and their families.”

These three veterans share what the Purple Heart means to them.

Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, Afghanistan, on the needs of women warriors:

“As the population of female Purple Heart recipients grows, we have an opportunity to build support networks and increase awareness of the unique needs and challenges of women in the service of our country … With the recent announcement of opening combat positions to all genders, we can expect that women will take on more roles that will put them in harm’s way … The Purple Heart medal is a testament to their heroism, sacrifice and resilience.”

Donald Summers, Korean War, on surviving war:

“I am proud to have had a part in the forgotten Korean War, and I am proud of the officers and men of the 1st Cavalry Division.  But is with deepest humility that I share this part of my life, for I am a survivor.  Every survivor leaves a part of himself with the real heroes of any war.”

Murray Simon, WWII, on the award and reward:

“I believe that the guidelines for awards changed with each succeeding war, such as the Korean, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts … Nevertheless, with or without awards, we Dogface Soldiers did what had to be done on the ground to help make the world a better place for future generations.  Winning the war and living to tell the story was an awesome award.” 

On Aug. 7, Purple Heart Day, instead of waving a flag, take some time to listen to and share a veteran’s story of honor and courage. Through their stories we can truly celebrate this holiday and honor the sacrifice of all our veterans.

To learn more, visit www.purpleheartfoundation.org.

Happy 225th birthday U.S. Coast Guard!

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(The following is the official U.S. Coast Guard birthday message on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the service. The following post on the Coast Guard Compass blog was issued in lieu of the traditional ALCOAST message from the USCG commandant. August 4, 2015)

From the first lifesaving stations on the shores of Massachusetts where crewmen rowed small, wooden boats into overpowering surf in hopes of rescuing people from storm-battered ships to the Coast Guard’s newest, largest and most technologically advanced 418-foot national security cutters designed to conduct multiple Coast Guard missions around the world, the Coast Guard has been there.

Brave Coast Guard men and women like Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro, who died evacuating Marines from Guadalcanal during World War II, and Lighthouse Keeper Ida Lewis, who is credited with saving the lives of at least 18 people during her 39 years of service at Lime Rock Light in Rhode Island, have dotted the Coast Guard’s 225 years of service.

When President George Washington passed the Tariff Act on Aug. 4, 1790, he likely didn’t know that the bill submitted by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton would create a service that would outlast the trials and tribulations of the nascent country, growing into the nation’s premier maritime law enforcement service.

With the passing of this bill, Hamilton was given the authority to build 10 cutters to protect the Nation’s lifeblood, our revenue. These 10 single-masted sailing ships, estimated to cost only $1,000 each, became known as the Revenue Cutters that marked the creation of our sea-going service.

The Coast Guard traces its roots to this day and celebrates the foundation laid by these early revenue cutters and the crews that selflessly served to protect our shores and guard the revenue that kept our country strong.

As the Nation grew, so did the Coast Guard. Over the past 225 years, Coast Guard missions have grown from enforcing revenue laws to ensuring maritime safety, security and stewardship along our shores and across the globe.

“The Coast Guard is more relevant today than at any time in our 225-year history,” said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft. “Transnational criminal organizations use drug profits to destabilize governments in our hemisphere. Our nation’s resurgence in American energy production has increased the flow of maritime commerce on our waterways. There is increased human activity in the Arctic and cyber threats endanger our digital systems. We are evolving to meet these challenges and invest in a 21st century Coast Guard that will continue our service to nation that is 225 years strong.”

The Coast Guard continues to celebrate the legacy of its formative services and the heroism of those who served. Our missions may have changed over the years, but one thing has remained constant: the selfless service of each and every person that takes the oath to protect their country as part of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Comprehensive Airman Fitness has on-the-go app

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U.S. Air Force graphic

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) – —  The Wingman Toolkit, an outreach and communication tool designed to ensure Airmen have quick and easy access to the latest Comprehensive Airman Fitness programs and resources, now has a mobile app available to download.

The app provides resources to improve mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness, all at the touch of a finger.

“The toolkit provides resources like videos, stories and testimonies that help Airmen improve CAF,” said Jeffrey Maiette, a 2nd Bomb Wing community support coordinator. “It also has tools that help Airmen implement CAF concepts into their daily activities. They can track physical training workouts and scores, set up spiritual reminders that help keep a positive mindset and it even has tools that help track sleep patterns.”

Many Airmen are already taking advantage of the toolkit’s many resources.

“For me, the best feature is the ‘count your blessings’ portion of the app,” said Master Sgt. Joshua Copeland the 2nd Communication Squadron information technology project manager. “It provides a place to document all the great things that happen over the course of the day and gives me time to reflect back on why it was good and who helped make it good. I use this feature several times a day as good things happen.”

Airmen are also seeing benefits in their personal and professional life.

“The app has reminder options you can set,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Shay, the Air Force Global Strike Command fabrication functional manager. “I have pop-ups set for after the end of the duty day. I use this as a way to help me refocus on my family and the things they look to me for after a long day of work. The app has definitely helped me not bring the stress I feel from impending changes into my daily interactions with my wife and daughter.”

Overall, CAF concepts can result in more resilient Airmen, which means they can accomplish the mission more effectively.

“CAF isn’t about a program, it’s about a lifestyle,” Maiette said. “This new app gives Airmen a genuine hands-on way to apply CAF concepts and empowers them to follow through on things they’ve learned through CAF.”

Selva Confirmed as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2015 – The Senate last week confirmed Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva as the 10th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The nation’s second-highest-ranking military officer is a pilot and most recently was commander of U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

Also last week, the Senate confirmed Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Defense Secretary Ash Carter congratulated both leaders in a July 31 statement.

Strategic Perspective

Carter said both men had proved “their mettle throughout their careers, from Gen. Dunford’s first years as an infantryman to his leadership both in Afghanistan and of the Marine Corps, and from Gen. Selva’s early days as a pilot to his leadership of our military’s Transportation Command.”

The secretary added, “I know that President [Barack] Obama and I, and our nation’s security, will benefit greatly from their sage counsel and strategic perspective gained over years of operational experience.”

Selva is a command pilot with more than 3,100 hours in the C-5, KC-135A and other aircraft. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1980 from the U.S. Air Force Academy and later earned Master of Science degrees in management and human relations and in political science.

Passionate Advocate

From October 2008 to October 2011 he served as assistant to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen.

Selva expressed his gratitude and that of his wife, Ricki. The two met while attending the Air Force Academy, and Ricki also served in the Air Force.

“It is truly humbling to represent the men and women who wear the uniform of our nation and our civilian workforce,” Selva said. “You exemplify the best our country has to offer, and I promise to be a passionate advocate to ensure we remain the best-trained, best-led, best-equipped and most capable military in the world.”

Design the Airshow Poster Contest extended to Oct 1

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March Air Reserve Base’s poster design contest for the “March Field AirFest 2016: Thunder Over the Empire” has been extended to October 1, 2015. Everyone is eligible to enter. The winning designer will receive a 2016 AirFest package for a family of four. The package includes VIP parking for one vehicle (excluding RVs); four tickets to the pre-show dinner party on Friday, April 29, 2016; four tickets to the show-center, Chalet tent; a guided base tour between June – December 2016 to be scheduled with public affairs a minimum of 30 days in advance.

Keep in mind:

— March Field AirFest 2016 is the name; Thunder Over the Empire is the theme.

–The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds may be the headliner, and there will also be many other air and ground acts.

–March Field’s 452nd Air Mobility Wing is home to the C-17 Globemaster III and the KC-135 Stratotanker.

–March Field is the original name of the base and how it is sometimes referred to today. March Field was established in 1918. The current and complete name of the base is March Air Reserve Base.

–The design will be made into posters and post cards for marketing purposes. They will be available to local communities to post. The design will also be posted to the Internet, social media sites and print news, with attribution to the artist.

–The winning design will be selected by vote of the AirFest executive committee sometime in August 2015. Winner will be notified by the committee at that time.

–There is no entry fee and the prize has no value as our airshows and base tours are free and the pre-show dinner is sponsored and by invitation only.

–The winning designer must sign a statement giving up all rights and/or residuals to the design forever. The design will become the property of the U.S. Air Force.

–In the event of a cancellation, the contest and prize becomes null and void.

Contest rules:

1. All graphic art/photography used must be your original work. Do NOT use anything that is copyrighted, registered or developed by someone else in part or entirety. You will be required to sign a statement as to the validity of your work.

2. There is no minimum or maximum age to submit an entry. You may enter more than one design, but send each entry separately.

3. All entries must be submitted to 452amwpa.web@gmail.com (Subject: “Entry – AirFest 2016”) and received not later than midnight, October 1, 2015. Your entry MUST include your full name, address, email and phone number. We will respond with the validity of work statement and a request for further information if needed.

4. If you have any questions, please email them to 452amwpa.web@gmail.com (Subject: “Question – AirFest 2016”)

452nd Communications Squadron is tip of Joint C4ISR spear

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U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Patrick Liu

The 452nd Communications Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, was key to Vital Connect 2015, a USNORTHCOM-sponsored exercise led by the Colorado Army National Guard designed to test the interoperability of federal, state, county and city Mobile Emergency Communication plans and platforms.

Secure, high bandwidth, and redundant communications are vital to the Command, Control, Computers and Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), of complex joint operations like Vital Connect, held in Denver, Colorado, July 14-16.

The 452 CS employed its Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) suite, a deployable communications package designed to provide initial services in austere locations, in order to accomplish the mission. The JISCC delivers a lot of capability in a small package.

The exercise provided outstanding training for the March communicators. They were able to quickly provide services in direct support of a real-world scenario without the added stress of a live-fire event. They were also able to share tactics, techniques and procedures with the other civilian and military units participating.

“Vital Connect provided an unique opportunity for the 452 CS to learn how the JISCC can interoperate with a mix of civilian, law enforcement, and first responder agencies, and to learn how these non-DOD agencies operate and communicate with DOD assets,” said Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Derr, 452 CS.

These Joint exercises are designed to demonstrate unified C4ISR in support of contingency operations. When it’s all on the line, you need to be online. That is what the 452 CS all about, providing the operators communication capability to direct and control resources needed in any event.

The 452 CS sent 16 of their finest cyber operators to provide full spectrum HF, UHF and VHF radio capability and Internet connectivity to civilian mobile emergency operations and dispatch vehicles. During the exercise, they were tasked to provide Jefferson and Arapahoe County Sheriff and the Colorado Springs Police Department with radio, internet, video-teleconferencing and phone capability.

“C4ISR is as vital to first responders and (Federal, State, Local) emergency management as it is to military joint operations,” said Maj. Richard Quinton, operations director, 452 CS.

Since 9/11, the issue to share and exchange data has been daunting to say the least. Many policies and legacy system incompatibilities hinder the process. Essential communications must be delivered to ensure that first responders and follow-on, sustained operations are able to direct resources efficiently to overcome local-, regional- or national-level events. The 452 CS delivered essential communications during Vital Connect-Denver.

There were more than 20 individual military and civilian units and 200 communicators and operators participating in the three-day exercise. Each unit was able to showcase and explain its capabilities.

The networking and cross-flow of information was invaluable for all participants. Such exercises allow each unit to understand what capabilities are brought to the fight before responding to an emergency.

News Briefs 07/31/2015

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EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS NEWS

Are you aware that if you plan on transferring any or all of your educational benefits to your dependents, you MUST have a minimum of four years left in the military at the time of the transfer? The exception is if you are getting out due to reaching your high year of tenure or something else that is beyond your control. Contact the education office or the local Veteran’s Administration office for specific details.

REGISTER FOR YELLOW RIBBON EVENTS

The August 14-16 and September 25-27 Yellow Ribbon events are now open for registration for eligible members. For more formation, contact 1st Lt. Shelley Lawrence, your 452nd Air Mobility Wing Yellow Ribbon representative, for details at 951-655-4615.

MILITARY DENTIST

The 452nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron will provide a military dentist available each Friday prior to the A and B UTAs through the September joint UTA. The dentist’s hours are 8 – 11 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m. If you or anyone in your squadron needs a military dental examination, please go to the dental clinic during the hour of operation. Individuals must be on military status to be seen.  No appointments accepted. Walk-ins will be seen on a first come, first served basis.

HAP ARNOLD CLUB’S  BONANZA BINGO

The Hap Arnold Club invites you to play Bingo for prizes. Visit the cashier’s cage or a bartender at the club or call 951-655-4920 for details. Winning numbers for the week of July 27 through Aug 2 are: B10, I28, N44, G52, O61. (Winning numbers are displayed weekly on the information screen in the lobby next to the Grande Ballroom.) Good luck!

FREE UTA MOVIES FROM OUTDOOR REC

Outdoor Recreation is pleased to announce their summer movie series. All movies are free and start at dusk on the “A” and “B” UTA’s.  Bring your own chairs, blankets, snacks, etc., and join us on the lawn behind the Outdoor Recreation/Tickets and Tours – Bldg. 434. Be sure to take all of your belongings and properly dispose of your trash before you leave. Movies are open to anyone with base access. For more information, call Outdoor Recreation at 951-655-2816.

Aug. 8: Woman in Gold (PG-13) – Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family. Stars: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl

Aug. 22: Insurgent (PG-13) – Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side. Stars: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Theo James

Sep. 12: McFarland USA (PG-13) – A cross country coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders. Stars: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Ramiro Rodriguez 

AUG/SEP TRIPS OUTDOOR REC

March Outdoor Recreation plans the following trips for the remainder of the fiscal year:

August 1 – Hang Glide in Devore for $45 per person

August 15 – Couples hot air balloon rides in Temecula for $20 per person

August 29 – Bungee jump of the Bridge to Nowhere in Azusa for $32 per person

September 5 – Three-hour couples sunset sail in San Diego for $35 each

September 19 – Skydive in Perris for $50 per person

September 26 – Three-hour Alpine horseback tour in Big Bear for $42 per person

Call them at 951-655-2816 for further details or to sign up.

RIDE A BIKE ON UTAs

Outdoor Recreation, in conjunction with the Fitness and Sports Center, offers FREE bike rentals to UTA members from now through September. Male and female beach cruisers, including helmets and locks will be located in front of the Fitness Center and issued by Force Support Squadron fitness personnel. Due to a limited supply, only 10 bikes will be made available each UTA weekend. Mountain bikes are available by special request only through Outdoor Recreation. For more information, call ODR at 951-655-2816 or the Fitness Center at 951- 655-2292.

BACK STREET CAFÉ UTA SCHEDULE

The Back Street Café has begun renovation of the dining area. Food operations have relocated to the Wright Brothers Bar located on the east side of the Hap Arnold Club. Entrances from Adams Ave. can be used as well as available parking across from the Ballroom entrance.

Monday – Friday there will be buffet style food service in the Wright Brothers Bar at 6:30 – 10 a.m. for breakfast and 11-1:30 p.m. for lunch. No dinner will be served during the week.

All UTA food operations will continue throughout the renovation. A limited menu will be available with most of your favorite items, excluding pizza. An express food service will be available in the Atrium as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner in the dining room. The UTA operating hours are 5:30-9 a.m. for breakfast; 11-1 p.m. for lunch, 4-8 p.m. for dinner.

In addition, Sally’s Alley and Aces Sports Bar will be open on UTA Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The newly renovated state-of-the-art facility will feature new lighting and furniture, an improved serving line, digital menu boards, a revamped menu, and new stations such as a self-serve salad bar and Starbucks coffee stations.

We appreciate your patience during this renovation and are committed to continue to provide quality service and support to the Team March community. Visit MarchFSS.com or “Like” them on Facebook at “MarchFSS” to stay up-to-date.

FITNESS CENTER NEWS

The March Fitness Center has received the Wellbeats Virtual Group Fitness Kiosk. This kiosk allows members to participate in virtual fitness classes.

Daily Fitness Schedule is:

Mondays: 6 a.m. — Virtual Fusion Yoga; 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. — Intro TRX; 11 a.m. —Virtual Spin

Tuesdays: 11 a.m. — Virtual Strength “Fit for Duty;” 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. — Circuit Training

Wednesdays: 6 a.m. — Virtual Fusion Yoga; 11 a.m. — Zumba; 12:15 p.m. — Virtual Fusion Yoga; 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. — Battle Ropes Circuit Training

Thursdays: 11 a.m. —Virtual Spin; 12:15 p.m. — Virtual Strength “Fit for Duty;” 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. — Circuit Training

Fridays: 10 a.m. — Zumba; 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. — Intermediate TRX; 11:15 a.m. — Virtual Cardio

UTA Saturdays: (A UTA) 5 p.m. — Virtual Strength “Fit for Duty;” (B UTA) 5-7 p.m. — Pick-up Basketball

For more information, visit the Fitness Center, www.marchfss.com or call 951-655-2284.

CONSTRUCTION AT CACTUS AVE & RIVERSIDE DR:

The City of Moreno Valley has removed the “No Right Turn” sign at Cactus/Riverside (east bound) and will see how it goes. They warned that during construction, the turn radius is not enough for tractor trailer/delivery trucks and it will be a problem for those vehicles. Please have your delivery trucks use the Heacock/Meyers entrance to the area to avoid problems with the construction crew. If a problem arises with the vehicle traffic while the construction crew is relocating the traffic signal and installing traffic modifications at the Riverside/Cactus intersection the “No Right Turn” sign will be put up again and enforced. Hopefully this will make things easier for all while the street widening project is going on. If you have any questions contact the March Community Planner and Liaison at 951-655-2236.

GRILL NIGHT AT SALLY’S ALLEY

Every Wednesday night starting at 4 p.m., Sally’s Alley is open for business with Grill Night. Sally’s Alley is also now open every Pre-UTA Thursday at 4 p.m. For more information, call them at 951-653-2121.

MOTOWN REVIEW AUGUST 29

The Hap Arnold Club presents The MoTown Review dinner and show, featuring the Men of Motown, Saturday, Aug. 29, 6 p.m. Call the club at 951-655-2121 for more information.

THE 452ND AIR MOBILITY WING’S 2015 MILITARY BALL

The 452nd Air Mobility Wing’s 2015 Military Ball is scheduled for Saturday, November 21. This year’s location remains the Riverside Convention Center, and this year we will have a Holiday Theme. This will be a fantastic evening and one you do not want to miss.  Ticket prices dropped to $60 per person. See your first sergeant to purchase tickets or contact SMSgt. Griffin at 951-655-3999. There are 40 rooms available at the Marriott for $110 each, and 50 rooms available at the Hyatt Place for $105 each (the Hyatt Place price includes breakfast). When you call to make a reservation, mention the 2015 Military Ball to get the correct rate. You can contact The Marriott at 1-800-228-9290 or (951)784-8000 for reservations and The Hyatt Place at 1-888-553-1300 or (951)321-3500.

Commander shows off Team March at Capitol Hill

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U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Russell S. McMillan

Col. Russell A. Muncy, commander, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, visited with seven lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday to discuss base mission priorities and to communicate the important impact our active duty, Guard and Reserve members make in support of national defense.

During a meeting with Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Mark Takano’s delegations Muncy spoke of how the 163rd Attack Wing, formerly the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, provided unprecedented support to incident commanders of CAL FIRE by allowing access to 24/7 real-time video from their MQ-1 Predator to help battle the Rim Fire in Yosemite National Park, Calif.

Muncy also explained some of the important military construction projects that would add base capability and create efficiencies, such as the new Joint Regional Deployment Processing and Cargo Facility, a fire station at the north end of the base to respond to emergencies faster and the potential movement of existing mission partners such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Air and Marine Operations Center’s investigations unit inside the base perimeter.

During each of the congressional visits, Muncy articulated the cost-effective capability citizen Airmen provide to mission sets while also advocating the priorities of base tenant partners.

The program that enabled these meetings to occur is known as the Air Force Reserve Capitol Hill Visit program. The AFRCHV program provides an annual opportunity for wing commanders to discuss base-level issues and opportunities in person with members of Congress, and to advocate top priorities of the Air Force Reserve Command.

“It’s one of the most impactful ways we engage with [Capitol Hill],” said Lt. Col. Will Vaughn (left), legislative liaison officer, Policy Integration AF/REI at the Pentagon, District of Columbia.

The AF/REI staff has more than 100 individual directorates, from planners to programmers, who help support the program so wing commanders may have annual access to tell the Air Force Reserve story.

The list of congressional offices Muncy visited, in order of first visited include:

Rep. Mark Takano – District 41

Sen. Barbara Boxer

Rep. Norma Torres – District 35

Rep. Ken Calvert – District 42

Rep. Darrell Issa – District 49

Sen. Feinstein

Rep. Raul Ruiz – District 36

Yellow Ribbon program supports Airman inspired by family history

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U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Megan Crusher

“When they shoot at you, you don’t hear it like in the movies,” said Almira Pasic. “You just feel it zip by you, it’s really kind of like a loud fly.”

Almira is reminiscing on her life in Bosnia in 1992, when war broke out shortly after Bosnia declared its independence. It’s a far cry from her present life as a U.S. citizen living in Jacksonville, Florida and attending an Air Force Reserve Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program training weekend with her two sons, in Chandler, Ariz. Her oldest son is preparing to deploy to Southeast Asia for the first time in the fall.

Due to her background, she has a heightened sense of uneasiness with her son deploying because she remembers the brutality of war. She recalls with ease what it was like being two months pregnant with her oldest son, with an 8-month-old daughter to look after, and having to hide behind buildings to avoid flying bullets and enemy soldiers.

“They were taking people to the hospital and killing them. You didn’t know at the time, but found out later,” she said. “You couldn’t trust anybody.”

She and her husband immigrated to Germany, shortly before her son Mehmedalija was born. A second son followed two years later. After seven years in Germany, the family was going to be sent back to Bosnia because the war was over.

Even though the fighting had ceased, there were still problems in the region so the family decided to apply to immigrate to the United States. After background checks, medical screenings and interviews they were accepted and arrived in late February 1999. Almira and her husband found work and the whole family became legal citizens three years later.

It was no shock to Almira when her son decided to join the Air Force Reserve because he had always been interested in aviation. He said he knew he wanted to fly aircraft or work on them, and recalls telling his recruiter to get him as close to the aircraft as possible.

Within two months of talking to a recruiter, Airman 1st Class Mehmedalija Pasic was shipping out to Basic Military Training, followed by technical training school as an integrated avionics technician. He has been in the Reserve for 3 ½ years, is stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and looking forward to deploying.

“I’m nervous mixed with a lot of excitement,” he said. “I finally have the opportunity to put into effect my training and actually accomplish the mission out there.”

Pasic said his parents shielded him from a lot of the history regarding what happened in Bosnia, because of the horrors. He admits he still doesn’t fully understand all the facts, but is aware of there being a connection between his family’s past and his service.

“When I revisit that topic it upsets me and I get angry,” he said. “It’s definitely connected, just being from a war-torn country and trying to prevent that from happening anywhere else.”

Pasic said he looked forward to the Yellow Ribbon training weekend because it’s his first deployment and he realizes there may be questions he hasn’t thought of, plus the program also provides information to family members. He brought his mother and younger brother, Memsudin, with him for support and also to help them understand what to expect.           

“It’s difficult to speak to them sometimes because I understand how the military works and they really don’t have a clue,” he said. “Here, they can actually get the information and it’s broken down for them.”

The Yellow Ribbon Program promotes the well-being of reservists and their loved ones by connecting them with resources before and after deployments. It began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist reservists and National Guard members in maintaining resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles. Each year, the Air Force Reserve program trains 7,000 reservists and those closest to them in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more.

Almira and Memsudin attended to support Mehmedalija, but also because they wanted to learn more about the deployment and resources available for help.

The family attended a total of five breakout sessions on various topics pertaining to the deployment and everyone was surprised at the amount of information and support given to the service member and the family.

“It’s really amazing, this has been so much more than I expected,” Almira said. “It’s much bigger than I thought and everybody is so friendly and there to help you.”

Younger brother Memsudin echoed his mother’s sentiments by saying how happy he was to see the Air Force treat his brother and brother’s family so well.

Pasic was also pleased with Yellow Ribbon and the services made available to him and his family.

“When I found out I was deploying I was really excited, but at the same time I had my concerns, but now my concerns are being addressed and it’s making the whole thing a lot easier,” Pasic said.

While he knows he can’t prepare for everything, he feels he’s at a much better place having gained so much knowledge and resources. He’s also grateful for remembering how being from Bosnia during a time of war correlates with his military service and why he’s doing what he’s doing.

“I don’t want what happened there to happen anywhere else, so being in the Air Force, I do have the ability to make a difference,” Pasic said.