British pipes and drums come to Pentagon

Filed under Air Force by on September 28, 2009 at 12:53 pm {one comment}

It’s not every day one can hear bagpipes. Sure, you can hear them at a Highland games or Scottish/Irish festival. Some people loathe bagpipes. Not me, I love listening to them; must be my Scottish ancestry. Sept. 25 was a special day for me.

The 1st Battalion Scots Guard Pipes and Drums Band from the British Army came to the Pentagon at lunchtime to perform a concert to celebrate the close relationship between both nations’ armed forces.

The unit’s performance is “an expression of admiration and appreciation of our alliance,” said British Army Lt. Col. William Swinton, a liaison officer in Strategic Plans and Policy Office of the Joint Staff.

“We came to (the District of Columbia) for a specific reason,” Colonel Swinton said, “to demonstrate the admiration the British military has for the U.S. military.”

Wow, the band did not disappoint. It had eight pipers, seven drummers and four sword dancers. Each song brought rousing applause from folks who had been eating their lunch in the courtyard or lured outside by the pipes and drums.

Their uniforms, precision and musicianship were amazing. It reminded me of the time I saw the Royal Marines and Black Watch in Chicago during their Bicentennial tour of America in 1976. One thought came to my mind. Their 20-minute performance was almost over and they still hadn’t played the traditional bagpipe anthem “Scotland the Brave.” Next to “Amazing Grace” (which they didn’t play), “Scotland the Brave” is my favorite bagpipe tune. Would they play it? Surely, they would. No sooner had I thought that when the drummers rolled and the pipers began playing that awe-inspiring song. The band next rolled into “God Bless America,” to demonstrate the camaraderie between the United States and United Kingdom. Perfect.

The unit is the oldest infantry battalion in the British Army, Colonel Swinton said. Each member is a soldier and not a permanent musician. They return Sept. 28 to their base at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, England, to begin training for a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan. “These are front-line soldiers who will be fighting with U.S. Marines in Helmand (Province),” Colonel Swinton said.

Interviewing some band members afterwards was a bit difficult. I could blame it on the loud ambient noise in the courtyard café. But, in truth, my problem was with my inability to understand their Scottish accents. I especially had a hard time catching the spelling of the pipe major’s name. I eventually gave up and turned my notepad to him. He wrote out Brian Heriot. I was able to understand him when he talked about their month-long tour.

“The American crowd seems to love the bagpipes,” Sergeant Heriot said. “Everyone seems to have a Scottish ancestor.”

Thank you, 1st Battalion soldiers, for the show. Truly appreciated it. Stay safe while in Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Stan Parker took some excellent shots of the performance. (British band performs in Pentagon courtyard). There is also a YouTube video of “Scotland the Brave” and “God Bless America” of their performance. (video here)

Dispatch from a Pentagon Airman, 25 Sep 09

Filed under Air Force by on September 25, 2009 at 6:49 am {no comments}

Things are not always as they seem. Sometimes what we see is not, in reality, to what we can expect.

For example, the other day I was waiting at the barbershop for a haircut. There were nine barbers working and all engaged. There were four customers waiting. I was number five.

Sitting down, I noticed the barber next to me dabbing alcohol on the back of the neck of her customer. Not sure what happened, but he was bleeding. Not much, but blood nonetheless. There are two things I never want my barber to do while cutting my hair: say “oops” or draw blood.

After applying the alcohol, the barber applied a bandage and finished brushing off hair clippings. “Hope I don’t get that barber,” I thought to myself, fiddling with my ticket bearing 34.

Another barber had just finished and was calling out the next number. “Number 32?” No answer. “Number 33?” No answer. “Number 34?” Here, I replied. Whew, I didn’t get the barber who drew blood.

At this point, the barber noticed that a man bearing 33 was standing beside me. She didn’t notice him when she called my number. I sat down to wait for the next barber.

The barber who drew blood finished ringing up her client. She looked at the number counter and called out, “Number 34?” I raised my hand and headed to her chair, hoping my haircut goes better than the previous gentlemen.

Despite my apprehension, my haircut went smoothly. Actually, it was probably the best haircut I’ve ever received.

Now, from around the Air Force…

Life-saving Airman

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Sluss is an air traffic controller with the 20th Operations Support Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. However, he became a lifesaver when he helped save teenage boy struggling to stay afloat in the ocean off North Carolina.

As Senior Airman Matt Davis, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, wrote:

Within seconds, Sergeant Sluss was in the water alongside two other vacationers swimming out to help the person in trouble. As he and the others swam closer, they saw it was a teenage boy barely staying above the water.

When he finally got to where he could help, the boy panicked and struggled with Sergeant Sluss at first, not realizing what was going on. Sergeant Sluss and the others eventually got him calmed down enough to be pulled back to shore. As he asked the boy to kick to help swim, Sergeant Sluss realized the boy was exhausted from fighting the ocean for so long.

POW/MIA

Sept. 19 was POW/MIA day. Retired Brig. Gen. Norman Gaddis spoke at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., about his time as a prisoner of war in the “Hanoi Hilton.” (story)

As Airman 1st Class Marissa Tucker, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, wrote:

During a massive firefight on a mission to Hanoi, Vietnam, May 12, 1967, the engine of his plane ingested part of a missile and went down. Both pilots ejected, but the backseat pilot’s parachute never deployed.

“I remember calling on my radio after I ejected saying ‘Dager 4, I’m OK,’ but I didn’t say Dager 1, so they didn’t know the fate of the other pilot,” he said. “After calling on my radio, I looked around to see I was surrounded by the Vietnamese Army.”

He was taken to a prison, better known as the Hanoi Hilton, where he only gave his name, rank and service number. The Vietnamese knew he was of a high rank so he was continually questioned about American operations. Because he refused to talk, he was beaten and tortured for 67 hours until they decided to put him into solitary confinement for 1,000 days.

“I went 1,000 days without seeing a soul and not being able to yell or scratch to contact anyone,” he said. “Many thoughts run through your head in a situation like that. But I never doubted I’d make it home.”

Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff works in the Pentagon with Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs.

What does war sound like?

Filed under Air Force by on September 18, 2009 at 9:27 am {2 comments}

What does war sound like?

I don’t know. I do know what my experience of briefly coming under fire sounds like…

Like a metal filing cabinet falling on a concrete floor.

Earlier this year I deployed for six months to southern Iraq. I felt fortunate I was going to a base where news of combat or violence was less than in other areas.

Five days after arriving, it was Inauguration Day in the United States – the only day where this Pentagon Airman was glad he wasn’t in the Washington area. I didn’t have to deal with the folks coming to the nation’s capital to watch history unfold. I was content watching it on Armed Forces Network on the little television in my office.

On the television was the newly sworn-in Vice President Joseph Biden shaking hands with Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. As if on cue with the handshake…

BOOM!

A sound filled the building that resembled a metal filing cabinet falling on a concrete floor. A quietness lasted for several long seconds.

People stuck their heads out of their offices and asked each other what that was.  A cry of “get down!” filled the building. Airmen hit the deck.  After the required time, they donned protective gear and started doing their post-attack duties.

We learned enemy fire did strike about a half-mile away on the surrounding Army compound. Fortunately, the attack did not hurt anyone or damage anything.

I know my experiences don’t even come close to comparing what Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in contact with the enemy experience daily. During the Air & Space Conference and Technology Symposium, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz highlighted the heroism of two explosive ordnance disposal Airmen facing danger every day: Senior Airman Danny Williams and Tech. Sgt. (ret.) Matthew Slaydon. (CSAF addresses AFA convention). The Air Force’s “Portraits in Courage” series honors the extraordinary actions of Airmen who have faced and heard war.

This was my experience, though. Thought I’d describe it.

Air & Space Conference Daily Wrap-up (Day 3)

Filed under Air Force by on September 16, 2009 at 6:24 pm {no comments}

This is the daily blog from the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2009. Master Sgt. Russell Petcoff is blogging from the site.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

The third and final day of the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exhibition started big. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gave a speech. Word was the secretary was going to make a big announcement. He received applause after he commented on KC-X, the next generation aerial refueling tanker.

“Finally, I am pleased to announce that source selection authority is returning  to the Air Force for the KC-X refueling tanker,” Secretary Gates said. “I don’t need to belabor the importance of getting this done and done right, and my office will continue to have a robust oversight role. We are committed to the integrity of the selection process, and cannot afford the kind of letdowns, parochial squabbles, and corporate food-fights that have bedeviled this effort in the past.

“I have confidence that the KC-X selection authority is in good hands with the service’s leadership team of Secretary [Michael] Donley and General [Norton] Schwartz,” Secretary Gates added.

The secretary complimented the efforts of all Airmen during his address for their “achievements we cherish.”
“Since 9/11, hundreds of thousands of Airmen have gone about their duties – usually unheralded, and unrecognized by the usual metric of medals and media coverage,” the secretary said. “Often they are on the ground, in the dirt, and sometimes under fire – doing their jobs without fail and without complaint. More than 100 have made the supreme sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The secretary highlighted how Airmen who are supporting ground troops “have made a life or death difference.” To illustrate, Secretary Gates told the story of Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Horton, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

“Sergeant Horton destroyed more than seven tons of enemy explosives while deployed to Iraq in the hair-raising vocation of [explosive ordnance disposal] technician,” Secretary Gates said. “His expertise with the tactics of enemy bombers led to the capture of six bomb makers in the Kirkuk region. In one instance, he pulled our injured soldiers from a vehicle after an [improvised explosive device] attack, and then cleared the extraction zone to medevac the wounded, earning a Bronze Star for his efforts.”

Briefings galore
Today featured a lot of briefings by Air Force leaders. Thirteen Air Force generals sat down and held a four-star forum. Later in the day, Chief Master Sgt. James Roy gave a briefing. The story about Chief Roy’s briefing is still being written. Check back at www.af.mil to see what he had to say.

Useful give-away
Picking up give-aways in the exhibition hall is one way to help pass the time between briefings. The other day I wrote about the “sticky brain.” The vendor today gave out mini lava lamps. An Air Force laboratory offered up pens in the shape of a giant chili pepper. One vendor had a big hit. They gave away protective rubber skins for a popular brand of smart phone that seems to be tethered to every officer. One lieutenant colonel said it was the best give away as she clicked away on another message. Now, that company really knows its audience.

Air & Space Conference Daily Wrap-up (Day 2)

Filed under Air Force by on September 15, 2009 at 5:25 pm {one comment}

This is the daily blog from the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2009. Master Sgt. Russell Petcoff is blogging daily from the site until Sept. 16.

Air Force public affairs professionals are working hard to get information out to Airmen concerning the Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2009. In addition to traditional methods of written stories, photographs and video stories, they are using such tools as this blog and Twitter.

“Social media is just another tool in our communication toolkit,” said Capt. Chris Sukach, Air Force Public Affairs Agency emerging technology chief. “Twitter allows us to provide real-time updates to our audience while receiving immediate feedback from them. It provides the opportunity for more people to engage in conversations about their Air Force.”

Tomorrow, we will be Twittering from a couple of presentations. They include:
• Secretary of Defense Update, by Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Robert M. Gates, 9 a.m.
• The Current and Future National Guard, by Gen. Craig R. McKinley, 11:25 a.m.
• The Enlisted Force, by Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy, 3:20 p.m.

All times are Eastern Standard Time.

People interested in following the tweets can look for one of several Air Force Twitter handles: http://twitter.com/US_Air_Force , @usairforce, @afpaa, @airforce, @airforcelive, @airforcenews and @USAFThunderbird.

In addition to Twitter, we will post updates of events to the Air Force’s official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/USairforce.

Chief of Staff’s keynote address
Gen. Norton Schwartz, chief of staff of the Air Force, gave his keynote address at the second day of the AFA Conference.

During his address, General Schwartz spoke on his vision for the future, jointness, the Year of the Air Force family and honored heroic sacrifices of Airmen.

“A year ago, I spoke of a ‘back-to-basics’ approach for the Air Force, a bit of triage in which we had to recalibrate in critical areas where we had lost focus,” General Schwartz said.

“We navigated through a challenging but ultimately healthy period of inspection and introspection with a recommitment to our heritage of excellence,” he added.

Read my story here.

At the end of his address, General Schwartz honored a Korean War veteran. He presented Dolphin D. Overton III with the Distinguished Service Cross. Mr. Overton’s military records were not accurate due to clerical omissions. Recently, the Air Force Board for Corrections of Military Records updated Mr. Overton’s military records.

Watching the giant video screens, it was easy to see Mr. Overton overwhelmed with emotion at the presentation.

The DSC citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, has awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to (then) First Lieutenant Dolphin D. Overton III, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations as Group Leader of twenty-five F-84 type aircraft, 49th Bomber Wing, Fifth Air Force on 28 June 1952. On that date, Lt Overton’s group was diverted against a target of truck convoys discovered by a previous recce flight. Working in and through an overcast, Lt Overton planned and executed a very difficult attack, sequencing his aircraft in such a manner as to provide maximum coverage of the target with minimum risk from heavy ground fire. With disregard for his own safety, Lt Overton remained in enemy fire under the overcast so that he could visually direct the attacks and withdrawals. So successful was Lt Overton’s direction of the attack, that one hundred fifty trucks were destroyed and confirmed by photograph, making it one of the largest such strikes of the War. Lt Overton’s command of this strike in such adverse conditions and with such devastating results highlights his superb flying skill and extraordinary heroism in the face of fierce enemy opposition. Lieutenant Overton’s actions reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, the United States Air Force and the United Nation’s Command. Signed, Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force and General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff.

Rock star general
Today there were a lot of Junior Air Force ROTC cadets in the hallways. For someone working in the Pentagon, seeing a general is somewhat old hat. Not for them. Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, received the rock star treatment. When he walked through the halls, cadets from Hampton (Va.) High School flocked around him to ask questions about the Air Force.

Meeting old friends
Opportunities to meet old co-workers continue on this second day of the conference. I ran into Lt. Col. John T. Thomas, public affairs officer for Air Force Global Strike Command. Colonel Thomas and I served together at International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2007. It was great meeting the colonel again. Gave him a “sticky brain” I wrote about yesterday which he seemed to appreciate.

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