AFCEA - Los Angeles

After weeks of review, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded budget cuts will require most of the department's civilian employees to be furloughed beginning in July, but that because of other efforts to deal with the shortfall, only half of the 22 days originally envisioned as temporary layoffs will now be necessary.

During a town hall meeting May 14 at the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va., Hagel told Defense Department employees that most will be required to take 11 furlough days beginning July 8, one per week, through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.
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Combat can take its toll on the body both physically and mentally, but for an Airman here his Warrior spirit is not limited by such things. For many wounded warriors, the tolls of combat could have diminished their abilities and reaction times, but the internal fire of the Warrior Spirit remains untouched and vibrant.

"When you are injured, people love to tell you what you can't do. I don't believe in that, I don't believe there is a box for me," said Master Sgt. Benjamin Horton, a 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician.
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Life can be described as a series of moments, seconds even, strung together to form experiences and memories. A split-second decision can mean the difference between life and death.

Senior Master Sgt. Martin Smith knows the impact just one second can make.

Smith, a seasoned motorcycle rider and Active Guard Reservist, was driving home from work just as he had done countless times before. A construction project on the interstate caused traffic to back up on the roadway. As he came around a sharp curve, he didn't realize the cars in front of him were actually at a stand-still.
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Officials at the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have produced three public service announcements to help families and friends recognize the signs of potential suicide in veterans and service members.

The television announcements have aired since April on the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Network, and are 15, 30 and 60 seconds in length, officials said.

"A veteran or service member returning from a deployment, (whether) at home or abroad, is subject to a certain amount of distress," said Jacqueline Garrick, the director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office. "Regardless of where they served, there still are challenges when they return home, and we want to encourage them to seek help."
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Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve who pay monthly premiums by check must switch to an electronic form of payment by May 31 to avoid losing coverage.

TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card, or by recurring electronic funds transfer from a linked bank account. To avoid confusion, beneficiaries should verify that their bank sends EFT payments electronically.
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Recently, a group of concerned Airmen and I had the chance to be involved in planning and recording a video series regarding sexual assault deterrence.

I felt this was a great opportunity for our voices to be heard and to be part of a solution for a problem that affects the entire Air Force family. Throughout this project we realized just how big an issue sexual assault is and how often it happens, even though many times it is not reported. The chemistry of the group was amazing. Many great ideas were brought up and we were all able to build off of one another's thoughts and ideas to create the concept for the series.
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Contracts valued at $5 million or more are announced each business day at 5 p.m.

 A program managed here that helps get supplies safely to warfighters was recently used in Afghanistan to help save an Airman's life.

The Dynamic Retasking Capability Urgent Operational Need provides the ability for C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130J Hercules to be directed to an alternative location with up-to-date information.

According to program officials, with the DRC the flight crew can receive data such as threat information, weather awareness and text messages, ultimately leading to a potential change to a mission.
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Airmen here launched the final A-10 Thunderbolt II tactical sortie in Europe here May 14.

The airframe belongs to the 52nd Fighter Wing's 81st Fighter Squadron, which inactivates in June.

"I'm proud to be a part of the last sortie," said Lt. Col. Jeff Hogan, the 81st FS director of operations and a pilot from today's flight. "It's definitely a sad day for the (81st) as we end 20 years of A-10 operations here. I'm just proud to take part in this historic event."
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Recognizing the value of multinational coalitions for operations in the land, maritime and air domains, officials at U.S. Strategic Command here hope to forge a coalition that shares assets and capabilities in space.

The U.S. and its allies are discussing details for the first agreement of its kind promoting combined space operations, Brig. Gen. David D. Thompson, the STRATCOM's deputy director of global operations, told American Forces Press Service.

The agreement could spell out specific areas in which the participating nations will work together, and what each will contribute to those efforts, Thompson said.
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The Air Force Marathon half marathon and 5K sold out last week.

Several of the Air Force Marathon charity partners have half marathon slots available for interested runners. The full marathon is more than 80 percent full and organizers anticipate filling the rest of the slots within the next couple of weeks.

"Our price for the full increases on June 2," said Rob Aguiar, the race director.

The Air Force Marathon organizers strongly urge runners to register as early as possible to make sure they have a spot in the race.
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Behind her bright brown eyes, easy smile and contagious laugh there is pain -- both physical and mental.

Retired Staff Sgt. Zuleika Cruz-Pereira joined the Army after Sept. 11, 2001, because she wanted to do something to help people.

"I wanted to go out there and do something big," she said. "I'm one of those people who it doesn't matter if I know you or not. I'm going to help you if you need help."

She enlisted as a water treatment specialist and served two tours in Southwest Asia before she joined the Air Force in 2008. During her time in the Army, Cruz-Pereira saw and experienced things that are still too painful for her to share outside of her closest confidants. Despite her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, which was undiagnosed at the time, she deployed again -- this time as a logistics Airman.
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Contracts valued at $5 million or more are announced each business day at 5 p.m.

Recently, I saw a commercial depicting what appeared to be a typical business meeting. An older man, clearly the boss, said something along the lines of "So, we all agree -- it's a good idea?" To which an employee responds "I think it's a stupid idea."

In the next scene, the employee who gave his opinion is out on the street with a box of personal belongings, the implication being that he was fired for speaking his mind.

I don't recall what the commercial was trying to get me to buy, but whatever it was, I don't need it. In fact, in the Air Force, we need the opposite. It takes courage to serve in the Air Force. Yes, obviously it takes great physical courage.
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It has been a long journey from the swimming pool at Colorado's Greeley Central High School to proudly representing the Air Force in the lanes at this year's Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy. But for Senior Master Sgt. Martin Smith, operations superintendent for the 380th Space Control Squadron, it is nothing less than an honor.

With the accident still fresh in his memory, Smith recalls the events that led to the amputation of his right leg just below the knee. It happened in August of 2012, while commuting from Peterson to his home in Parker, when he was involved in a motorcycle accident on Highway 83.
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Air Force cyclists took home three medals in the Warrior Games 2013 cycling competition at Falcon Stadium May 12.

Maj. Scott Bullis of Peterson Air Force Base took first place in the men's recumbent cycle race to win the Air Force's first gold medal of this year's Warrior Games.

"This is my first gold," he said after finishing the race. "I'm proud of my teammates."

The competition ended with Army dominating the medal count with nine. Special Operations Command and Marine Corps each took home four, Air Force three, and Navy won a bronze medal.
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On May 12, Mothers Day, my wife, retired Master Sgt. Candy Johnson and I listened intensely to the Pentagon Channel's viewing of two leaders I greatly admire, our Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF), Secretary Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF) General Mark Welsh, as they testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on May 9.

This necessary process, albeit painful at times, affords both the Air Force and Congress the opportunity to address and support its priorities, concerns and future of America's resources, whether equipment, people and/or money.
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The lieutenant lowered a tactical vest over his head with practiced confidence; his face displayed the cool composure born of constant training. As he straps on his helmet, an aircraft circles overhead, preparing for the first strike of the day.

Minutes later, ordnance begins raining down at the officer's command.

First Lt. Patrick Bonner and his team of tactical air control party members act as mobile air controllers, coordinating with pilots and ground commanders to deliver airpower, maintaining communications and providing precision close-air support, using aircraft and artillery. On this particular mission, 8th Air Support Operations Squadron TACPs worked with Slovenian military counterparts to direct Slovenian aircraft on specified training targets.
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Shredded paper, sawdust and water may seem unimportant to many people, but to others it can mean fuel to stay warm or cook food. These are small but vital comforts that members of NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan try to provide to the people of Afghanistan on a weekly basis.

As part of Operation Outreach, a community service organization, members of NATC-A spend every Friday and Saturday evening turning five parts shredded paper, one part sawdust and 10 parts water into pressed "fuel pucks" or "fuel bricks" that can burn for 20 and 40 minutes respectively.
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British royalty was on hand to kick off Warrior Games and to have a bit of fun with cadets here May 12.

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, also known as Prince Harry, made a stop in Colorado Springs and the Academy during his week-long visit to the United States to raise awareness for Warrior Games.

During the Games, more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as a team representing U.S. Special Operations Command and an international team representing the United Kingdom, will compete for the gold in track and field, shooting, swimming, cycling, archery, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball here and at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
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