The Sector - In This Issue TAG receives COVID vaccination Air Force orders emblem and patch review 9/11 20th anniversary preparations - AF.mil
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Sector VOL 27 ISSUE 1 eastern air defense Sector January 2021 In This Issue TAG receives COVID vaccination Air Force orders emblem and patch review 9/11 20th anniversary preparations
2 January 2021 Commander’s Commentary THE SECTOR 2021: mission assurance and a 9/11 milestone Team EADS, Happy New Year! As we flip the blotter page on a year filled with dread and the loss of many lives, let’s pause for a moment and reflect on the incredible success YOU all accomplished at EADS last year. We kept our facility clean and disease-free for the 24/7/365 uninterrupted mission conducting Air Defense over America. You’ve adapted and innovated to creative scheduling and work center reconfigurations that built much-needed physical distancing from one another. While there’s no way to NOT have unit members infected, the safety precautions you’ve followed prevented mass work center spread. I am extremely grateful for your conscientious attitudes and actions, and am beyond grateful for the swift recovery of our members who tested positive, recovered, and are back in their work space. I know not all of our EADS families were as fortunate, and I pray for the solace of our unit members who’ve lost loved ones to this disease. “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.”—by Melody Beattie, author Col. Paul M. Bishop As we barge head-long in to 2021, little has changed from a Mission Assurance (MA) stance, except that nearly 30% of our unit has received the first of two rounds of the COVID-19 vaccine! Along with upcoming opportunities to vaccinate more unit members, we are attempting to get approval to vaccinate our RCAF partners and civilian Airmen, as well. Title 5 and contractors, please stay tuned for those details. We will continue executing the proven MA tactics, techniques and procedures and social distancing guidelines until the Centers for Disease Control or other competent authorities determine that it is safe to “de-escalate” those processes. With renewed emphasis on defeating this disease; I know that we can keep momentum driving forward through the rest of this winter and well in to 2021; here’s a brief list of upcoming unit events that I’m enthusiastically looking forward to! - We’ll publish updated EADS Mission/Vision/Priorities - Our HRA will facilitate Inclusion Discussions (2 scheduled in Jan) - Annual Awards Banquet honoring 2020 recipients will be held, virtually - Resilient Tactical Pause focusing on family fun, outdoors! - Council of Councils (JEC, CGOC, Top 3) will sponsor snowman contest, MTF Finally, and listed separately to convey the dignity it deserves, we’ve formed a committee to plan a week-long memorial event marking the 20th anniversary of the attacks that occurred on 9/11/2001. Please contact co-chairs Lt. Col. Erica Campbell or Senior Master Sgt. Jeremiah Martinez if you’d like more information on how to help and be sure to read Lt. Col. Campbell’s article on the committee on page 14. Proud of you all, Col. Bishop
THE SECTOR 224th ADG SEL January 2021 3 Virtual annual awards ceremony being planned Happy New Year!!! Though 2020 was challenging, I was thrilled to see how everyone adjusted to a new way of doing business and all the new ways to commu- nicate to get the mission done. I loved that recognition and promotion ceremonies, though delayed a bit in the beginning, still happened. It was great to see everyone working together to pull those off and today the ceremonies are looking very good. I want to say thanks for making the ceremonies happen to recognize and celebrate everyone’s accomplishments. Promotions and recognition are very important and I love that the families could still be involved. This leads me to our next endeavor, the recognition of our Annual Award winners. Though the Annual Awards Banquet will not happen this year, I am excited that a Virtual Annual Awards Ceremony will be done. We are in the planning phase at this time and there is still time to volunteer if you would like to be a part of this great event. If you are interested, contact Master Sgt. Eric Stone. Though scaled down quite a bit, the event will still be a good time. We will start this next year with recognizing our folks and then later pausing to Chief Master Sgt. honor the 20 year memorial of 9/11. A day in history that changed our air defense Tammy Weber world in so many ways. It is hard to believe all the changes and advancements that have been made since that day which shows that the men and women of the Eastern Air Defense Sector are always adapting to the needs of the mission. Each of you should be very proud of the piece you own in protecting our Homeland. There are so many people depending on you to keep them safe. I am looking forward to 9/11 memorial ceremony and hope that everyone has the ability to contribute in some way to ensure that special day is remembered appropriately. That day in history is very significant for us and the least we can do is be a part of it in some way. With all of this talk of recognition, promotions, and remembrance, I want to shift my thoughts to how important the front line supervisor is in making the above happen. None of this would be possible without supervisors ensuring members are doing the things needed for career progression by being engaged in promotions, upgrade training, and ac- tively involved in the unit and community. A strong front line supervisor ensures timeliness of promotions and provides feedback on career progression. Sometimes meaning that supervisors may set some expectations for you to meet and hold you accountable when they are not met. A strong supervisor knows when you are due for a promotion and en- sures you are being set up for success for that next level by using the enlisted scorecard. Supervisors also ensures their member is recognized for their accomplishments by submitting them for quarterly, annual awards, and reviewing their record and submitting them for medals or decorations, as appropriate. And when the time comes for retirement, the frontline supervisor should be a part of that transition too. In addition to the supervisor I must address the subordinate’s role too. You are your own advocate. If you are a subordinate and not getting what you need, let your supervisor know. The supervisor should be your go to person to help get the answers and get things done. Believe it or not, sometimes, supervisors do not have all the answers, but if you never ask, they will not learn. Thanks for everyone’s hard work last year and I do look forward to everyone’s accomplishments this next year. Know that your investments today will pay off tomorrow. Please do your part to prepare yourselves and others to be ready for the next challenges that this next year will bring. Stay healthy and please take care of one another.
4 January 2021 COVID-19 Vaccine THE SECTOR COVID message from the Adjutant General reprinted from New York National Guard Jan 7 Facebook post https://www.facebook.com/nationalguardny/posts/10159813172788974 New York was honored to be part of the Department of Defense pilot program designed to streamline the process of getting COVID-19 vaccines into the arms of Soldiers and Airmen in December 2020. The vaccine is tested, safe and effective. Our part of the effort was to work the logistics of delivering this lifesaver to our uniformed men and women on the frontlines of dealing with this pandemic. I am proud to say our work was successful and more vaccine is coming so more of our Soldiers and Airmen can get their shots. Medical readiness is a routine part of what we do as Soldiers and Airmen. It is a requirement of our job to be ready and able to defend the United Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields States, whether overseas or here at a COVID-19 testing center or standing a security post at Grand Central Station. I encourage all of you, especially those who serve as part of the COVID-19 Task Force and Joint Task Force Empire Shield to get this vaccination. It is good for you, good for our state and it is good for our country as we strive to end this pandemic. I’ve had my shot. Please get yours. On the cover: Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, receives his COVID-19 vaccination from 2nd Lt. Michaeljohn Lacson at the Camp Smith Training Site Medical Readiness Clinic, N.Y., on Dec. 17. The New York National Guard is participating in a Department of Defense vaccine pilot program in which 44,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are being administered to front line medical personnel at 16 locations around the world. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Michael Bezares.
THE SECTOR Emblem Review January 2021 5 Air Force directs commander reviews of emblems, mottos and nicknames Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, Jan. 5, 2021 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Department of the Air Force directed commanders to conduct a comprehensive review of official and unofficial unit emblems, morale patches, mottos, nicknames, coins and other forms of unit recognition and identity to ensure an inclusive and professional environment within 60 days from Dec. 23, 2020. Commanders, at the squadron level and above, will remove any visual representation, symbols or language derogatory to any race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, age or disability status to ensure an inclusive and professional environment. The directive came in the form of a memorandum from Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Q. Brown, Jr., and Chief of Space Operations John W. Raymond. “It is critical for the Department of the Air Force to embody an environment of dignity, respect and inclusivity for all Airmen and Guardians,” the memo stated. “Our core values demand we hold ourselves to high standards and maintain a culture of respect and trust in our chain of command.” According to Air Force Instruction 84-105, “Organizational Lineage, Honors and Heraldry,” emblem designs and mottos should reflect favorably on the United States Air Force, be original, distinctive, dignified, in good taste and non- controversial. “Their continued use (of derogatory symbols and language) ostracizes our teammates undermining unit cohesion and impeding our mission readiness and success … Our diversity of experience, culture, demographics and perspectives is a force multiplier and essential to our success in this dynamic global environment … We must ensure all our Airmen and Guardians are valued and respected,” the memo emphasized. Commanders should consider emblem and motto guidance in AFI 84-105 and consult their historians, staff judge advocates and equal opportunity specialists during the review. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2462678/department-of-the-air-force-directs-commanders-to- review-unit-emblems-mottos-ni/
6 January 2021 224th Air Defense Squadron THE SECTOR C2IMERA: Coming soon to an air defense sector near you by Dr. Brian Tuttle, 224 ADS Capabilities & Requirements (DOM) Think of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) as a Lego kit of apps, each of which could operate either independently, or within the entire system with its own roles and responsibilities on a human-machine team. Last September, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)/Northern Command held the second ABMS On-Ramp event (OR2), assisted by the Battle Control Center (BCC) Weapons System Council (WSC). During ABMS OR2, the system integrated several apps including Pathfinder, Adaptive Cross-Domain Kill Chain (DARPA ACK), and the Command and Control Incident and Emergency Management Application (C2IMERA). The team found that the NORAD enterprise could employ C2IMERA immediately as a stand-alone tool, even before the ABMS becomes a complete system. Kessel Run developed C2IMERA, a government-off-the-shelf software application designed to facilitate command and control for installation-level emergency management. It is a means of communication that offers “information age” advantages. Various units on a base can input their status to be displayed on C2IMERA. A command post can use that information to monitor an emergency situation and task units to handle it. C2IMERA is now fielded at several Air Force bases for that purpose, and the developers continue to improve upon it with new software upgrades every two weeks through Agile development. The BCC WSC imagined that C2IMERA could be used for yet another purpose. Instead of employing C2IMERA for base-level functions, what if we used it to communicate the status of various NORAD assets across several bases? Imagine if personnel at Airspace Control Alert (ACA) bases could input the status of their base, runways, and individual aircraft. These updates would be automatically displayed on C2IMERA at the BCC and Air Operations Center (AOC), thus eliminating the need for time-consuming “copy-and-paste” or error-prone “telephone game” reporting. What if C2IMERA then fed asset status information (via the ABMS’s Universal Data Library in a cloud) into an app such as DARPA ACK, whose artificial intelligence engine could then recommend scramble options versus a particular threat? And what if a BCC could then use C2IMERA to issue scramble orders to an ACA unit, rendering telephones a secondary means? These capabilities would facilitate decision superiority by buying time for operators to focus upon executing the mission and improving the quality of their decisions. The WSC tested this concept at ABMS OR2 and found C2IMERA to be a valuable information sharing and tactical tasking tool for air defense purposes. Employing it sped up the scramble process substantially, so much that Air Forces Northern (AFNORTH) decided that we should start working with it as soon as possible—even before ABMS is fully implemented. On Nov. 17, 2020, AFNORTH commander Lieutenant General Kirk Pierce signed a Letter of Intent to begin evaluating C2IMERA as a core C2 capability. The 224th Air Defense Squadron will respond by assigning a small group of mission crew personnel to gain C2IMERA accounts and experiment with it as select ACA bases begin to install it. The ABMS is coming. According to Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF), General Charles Brown, “ABMS is #1 modernization priority for the Department of the Air Force” (memo dated Sept. 17, 2020). It seems that it will come as pieces in a Lego kit, one app at a time, eventually to be integrated into a complete system. The WSC estimates that Pathfinder may replace the BCS-F no later than FY23. We may see C2IMERA fielded even sooner, functioning as a stand-alone software tool. Be ready for these changes, and get excited about them! They will affect the entire 224th Air Defense Group, transform the way we do the business of executing the EADS mission, and potentially enable us to expand our mission beyond air continued on next page
THE SECTOR 224th Air Defense Squadron January 2021 7 ...C2IMERA (continued from previous page) defense to multi-domain defense. As stated in the CSAF Action Orders (2020), we must “accelerate change or lose” the “high-end fight” versus China or Russia. C2IMERA Screen Shot 1 – Example of large-scale map view of an Area of Operations (AO). C2IMERA Screen Shot 2 – Example of a detailed map display of a base’s flight line. C2IMERA Screen Shot 3 – Example of a dashboard display.
8 January 2021 224th Support Squadron THE SECTOR Virtual Desktop: A revolution in IT management by Master Sgt. John McCormick 224th Support Squadron Cyber Operations Superintendent A virtual desktop means that a user’s desktop environment (the icons, wallpaper, windows, folders, toolbars, widgets, etc.) is stored remotely on a server, rather than on a local personal computer or other client computing device. Desktop virtualization software separates the desktop operating systems, applications and data from the hardware client, storing this “virtual desktop” on a remote server. The remote server that runs and supports virtual desktops uses software called a hypervisor to create a “virtual machine” that simulates the user’s desktop environment and capabilities. In a virtual desktop environment, users access their personal desktop anywhere on the network, from any client device. What are the benefits? Easy Access Anywhere - Applications are already installed - Same desktop environment everywhere you login - Move to another office with ease Desktop virtualization delivers on-demand desktops to users for anytime, anywhere, any device access. This provides employees with full access to their complete business desktop from multiple devices, such as their work or home PC. Easy access to a virtualized desktop can help people to be more productive, because all they need to work is a connection to the server. Increased cybersecurity - Fewer systems that are vulnerable - Fewer systems to update - Single data repository (with backups) - Quicker deployment of security updates Virtual desktops also provide greater security to the organization, since employees aren’t “carrying around” confidential company data on a personal device that could easily be lost, stolen or tampered with. For instance, in industries such as healthcare, where adherence to privacy regulations is of paramount importance, virtual desktops give medical personnel access to patient records without concerns about confidential information being downloaded. Since user data is backed up centrally and regularly, desktop virtualization also provides data integrity benefits. Lower information technology costs - Thin clients are ~80% cheaper - Less man-hours required to manage hardware/software updates. From an IT perspective, virtual desktops help reduce the time it takes to provision new desktops, and they also help to decrease desktop management and support costs. It is estimated that maintaining and managing PC hardware and continued on next page
THE SECTOR 224th Support Squadron January 2021 9 ...Virtual Desktop (continued from previous page) software accounts for 50 to 70 percent of the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a typical PC. Companies often turn to virtual desktops to cut these IT labor costs. Companies can also help extend the life of older client devices with desktop virtualization or use it to support thin clients. A thin client is a computing device that’s connected to a network. Unlike a typical PC or “fat client,” that has the memory, storage and computing power to run applications and perform tasks on its own, a thin client functions only as a virtual desktop, using the computing power residing on networked servers. Because thin clients lack hard drives, CD-ROM drives, fans and other moving parts, they’re smaller, cheaper and simpler for manufacturers to build, they are cheaper to buy and maintain, and require less energy than traditional PCs or notebooks. A major inconvenience to customers is for their computer to be out of commission during upgrades, patches, or other maintenance. Instead of system administrators taking multiple computers offline to update, they can now update one centralized server, essentially removing all downtime for the customer. Since everything is centrally managed, stored and secured, virtual desktops eliminate the need to install, update and patch applications, back up files, and scan for viruses on individual client devices. Maintenance times can be reduced by up to 68%.
10 January 2021 Detachment 1 THE SECTOR Lt. Daniel Steere first from Det 1 to be commissioned by Maj. Eric Miller, 224th ADG Detachment 1 On Dec. 11, 2nd Lt. Daniel Steere graduated from the Total Force Officer Training (TFOT). The eight-week course was a challenging combination of classroom academics, leadership exercises, and field exercises. His flight received the Honor Flight Pennant, which was awarded to the top ranked flight for class 21-01. Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, Lt. Steere was sworn in by his friend, retired Lt. Cmdr. Ricardo Tubbs, over a Zoom call. The ceremony was virtually attended by his wife, parents, coworkers and friends. Lt. Steere recently celebrated his 19th service year and has been a part of the New York Air National Guard for the entirety of his career. He originally enlisted at the 174th in Syracuse, then transitioned to the 222nd detachment Chantilly, Va. and continued his service in Washington D.C. with the 224th Air Defense Group Detachment 1. Lt. Steere will return to the Joint Air Defense Operations Center as the Chief of Cyber Systems, 224th ADG Det 1. 2nd Lt. Daniel Steere poses next to the Air National Guard statue at Meaxwell AFB, Ala. after his commissioning ceremony on Dec. 8. Photo courtesy of Lt. Steere.
THE SECTOR Detachment 1 January 2021 11 Maj. Christopher Nicklas joins Det 1 On Dec. 30, the 224th ADG Detachment 1 Commander, Lt. Col. Michael Pelphrey, administered the National Guard Oath of Office to the detachment’s newest AGR hire, Maj. Christopher “Soft-top” Nicklas. Maj. Nicklas was officially gained into the NY ANG on Jan1. He and his family are excited to join the 224th ADG family and Team JADOC! Article by Lt. Col. Joshua Jessup, 224th ADG Det 1 Director of Operations. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Janelle Acain, 224th ADG Det 1 CSS.
12 January 2021 Promotions & Awards THE SECTOR Two socially-distanced promotions were held on Dec 29. In the above left photo, Lt. Col. Rex Vernales, pictured on the right, received his new rank during a ceremony presided over by Col. Jeffrey Kerneklian, the 224th Support Squadron Commander. In the photo on right, Master Sgt. Jeffery Coleman poses with his promotion certificate. Photos by Michelle Leonard, 224th Support Squadron.
THE SECTOR Promotions & Awards January 2021 13 The 224th Support Squadron presented their annual awards during a ceremony on Jan 7. Award recipients are pictured on the right in each photo, with Col. Kerneklian on the left. 1st Lt. Nancy Peterson, the Support Squadron’s DSG Compady Grade Officer for 2020, is not pictured. Photos by Michelle Leonard, 224th Support Squadron. Capt. Tom Perkins, CGO of the Year Master Sgt. Jeremy Stanbro, Senior NCO of the Year Tech. Sgt. Frank Balash, NOC of the Year Airman 1st Class Matthew Cole, Airman of the Year Mr. Stephen Barry, Civilian of the Year
14 January 2021 9/11 20th Anniversary THE SECTOR 9/11 20th anniversary committee established by Lt. Col. Erica Campbell, 224th Air Defense Squadron September 11, 2021 marks the 20th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the homeland. This single event has shaped the course of our nation’s history and certainly our mission at EADS. A committee has been formed to plan a memorial that honors and recognizes the signifi- cance of the day. Our intent is to highlight the actions performed by our Airmen, honor the heroes that made the ultimate sacrifice, and involve the community while sharing our unique and important EADS experience. Planning is already underway for this week-long memorial event.We have a diverse team comprised of alumni, JEC, TOP III, CGOC, FGOs, and PA. Further- more, we welcome any and all volunteers who are passionate and committed to the project. If you are interested in joining this committee, contributing to this intiative, and being a part of history reach out to any committee member and/or the committee co-chairs Lt. Col. Campbell and Senior Master Sgt. Jeremiah Martinez. There are numerous tasks to complete and many hands make light work. We have created a group on Teams (CVR) and we typically meet every Friday at 0900. Most meetings will be virtual to accommo- date pandemic contingency ops, work schedules and personal schedules. Our CVR room can be found in the 224 ADG section directly under General. Additionally we have a working folder located here: P:\ COMMUNITY\9-11 Remembrance. At this location you can catch up on the meeting minutes or provide suggestions in the comment box. 9/11 resonates with many people, particularly here at EADS, our intent for this event is to treat the 20th Anniversary with the dignity and respect that it warrants. Forget Not “Ne Obliviscaris”
THE SECTOR Women’s Mentorship Group January 2021 15 EADS Women Lean In by Ms. Karen Silcott, 224th Air Defense Group Director of Psychological Health You may have heard that EADS started a Women’s Mentorship Group in December of 2020. You may be curious about what a Women’s Mentorship Group is about. The EADS Women’s Mentorship Group is also known as a Lean-In Circle. There are 35,000 “circles” all over the world and hundreds in the military. In 2015, the Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter and the Department of Defense Launched Lean In Military Circles. They are small groups that meet regularly (1x per month) to learn and grow together. Research shows that we are able to accomplish more in groups. Eighty-five percent of members attribute a positive change photo from 168wg.ang.af.mil in their lives due to Circles. Circles build connections, support career development, mentorship, build better leaders, increase employee satisfaction and so much more. Circles improve the health of the entire organization. Each group meeting will focus on building connections, skill building or educational topics such as leadership development, gender bias, art of negotiation, work/life balance and confidence building. If you are interested in joining the EADS Lean In Group reach out to Karen Silcott, Chief Master Sgt. Weber or Senior Master Sgt. VanDeusen or find us on CVR Teams Lean In Channel. Next meeting in Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. on Teams. You can also find more information at Leanin.org. Please support and encourage your AirWomen who are interest in joining. THE SECTOR The Sector is an authorized publication for mem- bers of the U.S. military services. Contents of The Sector are not necessarily the official views of or en- Editorial Staff dorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Col. Paul Bishop, Eastern Air Defense Sector Commander Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the Air Col. Joseph Roos, 224th ADG Commander National Guard. The editorial content is edited, pre- Tim Jones, Community Relations Manager pared and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Alicia Morales, Review Staff the Eastern Air Defense Sector. All photographs are Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated.
16 January 2021 Safety THE SECTOR Enjoy winter sports but respect the risks by Mr. Colt Brumm, 224th ADG Safety and Occupational Health Manager With all due respect to the crooners Vaughn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, for many of us “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” is not a warning to stay inside by the fire until the weather outside is less frightful. Instead, the snow accumulating is an invitation to enjoy some of our favorite winter activities. Snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, building snowmen, ice skating, hockey, sledding, downhill skiing, winter hiking, or cross country skiing -- my personal favorite -- are all great ways to enjoy the winter. While you definitely shouldn’t be afraid of winter weather, you do need to respect the risks that it can bring and make sure that you are prepared to stay safe when the temperature drops. The specifics will vary from one activity to the next, but in photo courtesy of Mr. Colt Brumm general when going outside in the winter you should: - Dress in layers. You want to stay warm enough, but you don’t want to get hot and break into a sweat. As my Army ROTC instructors in Vermont said frequently (ad nauseam?), aim for “comfortably cool.” - Stay hydrated. Breathing cold air can dehydrate you, and you might not notice the fluid loss the same way you do in the summer when you are drenched in sweat. Cold weather also leads to something called “cold diuresis,”which leads your body to produce more urine when your body temperature drops and can also lead to dehydration. - Tell somebody your plans. Let them know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Don’t forget to let them know when you have safely returned, too. Beyond those general tips, you also need to manage the risks of your specific activity. Internet research, advocacy groups, sport-specific retailers, and other resources can help to provide you with some good information, and don’t forget to make use of one of the best sources of info: your fellow Airmen. Our unit members have many years of experience in all sorts of outdoor winter activities and would love to share that experience to help keep their fellow Airmen safe. Reaching out to others gives you the chance to learn something the easy way that somebody else had to learn the hard way. If you don’t know who to reach out to, you can post a message on Teams, make use of the EADS Family Support and Events Facebook page, or just ask around. Now get out there and safely enjoy the season!
You can also read