Page 28 - Aerotech News and Review, April 7, 2017

Spouses get inside look at emergency operations
by Kenji Thuloweit
Edwards AFB, Calif.
With periodic exercises and experiences from real-world events, Edwards Airmen and civilian responders are well-trained on response and re- covery procedures during an emergency.
However, Airmen and civilian workers are just one part of Team Edwards. That’s why a special training event was held March 27, 2017, to give 40 spouses an inside look at emergency operations. The training took place at the Crisis Action Team building located by Bldg. 1.
The night began with a look back at the time- line of an Edwards T-38 crash in 2009. The pre- sentation showed everything from the time of the crash to when and how a notification team is assembled in the case of a death. This unique training event was the idea of Pauline Schaefer, wife of Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test
Wing commander.
“Many years ago, I was part of a notification
team and felt completely unprepared for the task placed before me,” said Mrs. Schaefer. “Through the years, I have had dear military spouses re- ceive the devastating news that their spouse had died. My Gold Star friends and I were able to get together and discuss our various experiences and what we could do to help prepare our spouses should they ever be placed in this difficult situ- ation.”
With these conversations, Mrs. Schaefer and General Schaefer decided to put together a one- of-a-kind training that teaches spouses what takes place when the Crisis Action Team is ac- tivated.
“Thanks to Mrs. Janice Hollen (412th Force Support Squadron director) and Maj. Jane Dunn of the FSS, we were able to facilitate the training and cover everything from notification, mortuary
Air Force photograph by Kenji Thuloweit
Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, gives opening remarks to 40 military spouses at the Crisis Action Team building March 27, 2017. The training event gave spouses an inside look at emergency operations.
affairs, casualty assistance, chaplain and mental health services, and how to best support a family in crisis,” said Schaefer.
Subject matter experts from the base gave briefings on the various subjects involved throughout an emergency. The spouses were well engaged in the training, bringing up questions and comments about the time it takes to receive an official statement from the base and how so- cial media can be both helpful and harmful in regards to communicating and rumors.
“I believe the most challenging thing for base members during an emergency is waiting. Wait- ing for information, waiting to take action, wait- ing to hear from our spouse. Most importantly, waiting to post on social medial before we know what is going on. Waiting can be torture,” said Mrs. Schaefer.
Air Force addresses pilot shortage
Forty military spouses learned about emergency operations at the Crisis Action Team building March 27, 2017.
One item that was heavily emphasized was
Air Force photograph by Kenji Thuloweit
the importance of Airmen keeping their Virtual Record of Emergency Data (vRED) updated to ensure everything is accurate in the event something tragic may happen. Spouses of other branches of the military in attendance were en- couraged to remind their military members to do the same with their respective services.
The spouses finished the two-hour training event with a tour of the Edwards Command Post. “This type of training has never been offered to spouses at Edwards AFB and I believe the in- formation the training team provided will equip spouses to better support future families in cri-
sis,” Mrs. Schaefer said.
To read more about vRED, visit http://www.
af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Arti- cle/486040/airmen-encouraged-to-review-vred. aspx.
Air Force photograph by Scott M. Ash
Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, testifies before the House Armed Services subcommittee on Military Personnel about the nation’s pilot shortage March 29, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Grosso testified with Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Mark Brilakis, the deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs; Navy Vice Adm. Robert Burke, the chief of naval personnel; and Army Maj. Gen. Erik Peterson, the director of Army aviation.
by Staff Sgt. Jannelle McRae
Air Force News
Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, the Air Force manpower, personnel and services deputy chief of staff, testified on the pilot shortage before the House Armed Services subcommittee on Military Personnel in Washington, D.C., March 29, 2017.
At the end of fiscal year 2016, the total force made up of the active duty, reserve and guard, was short 1,555 pi- lots across all mission areas. The Air Force is addressing the aircrew crisis via monetary and non-monetary initia- tives in three main areas: pilot produc- tion, reduction of demand for pilots in non-flying positions, and retention.
According to Grosso, the primary drivers for the shortage of pilots are the high operational tempo across the last 26 years, and the commercial in- dustry demand for Air Force pilots.
“The Air Force is committed to a holistic strategy to maintain our pilot inventory as we face external and in- ternal challenges,” she said.
Part of the holistic effort to increase retention of seasoned pilots is raising
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the aviation bonus to $35,000 a year; the first increase in 18 years.
“Through a tiered business case analysis we will identify areas of greatest need to retain pilots in ex- change for a commitment beyond their initial service commitment,” she said.
The increase in available bonus was approved in the National Defense Au- thorization Act for fiscal year 2017. The actual bonus levels are deter- mined by considering current and pro- jected manning, current and projected retention levels, replacement training costs, and replacement training time, which are the same factors used to determine all bonus needs across the Air Force.
The importance of the retention bo- nus is that it directly relates to build- ing the trust with Airmen by buying time while the Air Force works to further improve quality of life issues in the aviation community, she ex- plained.
Another effort to remedy the short- age includes reducing additional du- ties, the elimination of non-mission- essential training courses and out-
sourcing select routine administrative tasks in operational squadrons to give aviators more time to focus on flying, Grosso added.
The deputy testified that the Air Force is also exploring options that allow aviators to work for commer- cial airlines through the Career Inter- mission Program. This is the program that allows Airmen to take a break in service to meet personal or profes- sional needs.
“We are also starting to look at, can we allow aviators to fly part time on their own,” she continued. “I think those are just two ideas, and there are many more.”
“The Air Force reduced the number of pilots filling operational planning positions in order to prioritize man- ning at flying squadrons,” Grosso said. “We are also leveraging our total force partners to bolster staff in operational planning positions, deployments and in training units as appropriate.”
This effort to improve manning at the squadrons directly correlates with the Air Force Chief of Staff focus area number one, revitalizing the squadron.
Aerotech News and Review
April 7, 2017
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