Page 2 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, February 2022

2 February 2022 Desert Lightning News Desert Lightning News February 2022 3
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Air Combat Command names Lead Wings Semper Supra — future Guardians making

By “Lead Wings in Extremis,” to pro-
ChRiSTopheR MooRe vide enabling requirements when history at the Pima Air and Space Museum
additional forces are required for
Air Combat Command Public Affairs
a designated Lead Wing:
The commander of Air Combat • 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base
Command has designated five Langley-Eustis, Va. By Staff Sgt. critical thinkers who aren’t afraid to
units as Lead Wings, as part of • 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, KRiSTiNe LegATe work outside of their comfort zones.
the combat air force’s transition S.C. Recruiting Guardians and building
to the service’s new force genera- • 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall 355th Wing Public Affairs a strong foundation within the force is
tion model. AFB, Fla. Character, connection, commitment and critical in supporting the U.S. through its
In a Jan. 5, 2022, memo, Gen. • 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, courage. These are the values the U.S. newest capabilities to protect the nation
Mark Kelly identified the follow- Utah Space Force embodies. and its ally’s interests in space.
ing wings to be ready to “rapidly • 633rd Air Base Wing, JBLE, Being the newest and smallest service, “We’re looking for those who can tell
generate combat power as a de- Va. they protect and defend the nation’s us a story,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt.
ployed force”: “This shift takes us from a reac- largest and most physically challenging Lindsey Harvey, 362nd Recruiting Squad-
• 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour tive force optimized for counter- operating domain. Their culture, created ron U.S. Space Force recruiter. “Those who
Johnson AFB, N.C. insurgency ops over the past by the union of cultures and identities are connected and committed to the Space
• 23d Wing, Moody AFB, Ga. twenty years in permissive en- from other services, focuses on creating Mission. Those who have character — the
• 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb. vironments, to wings ready to a team-centric orientation and inter- brightest minds. They don’t need to meet
• 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan deploy as high-performing, task- personal bond with a bold, new approach certain qualifications (in reference to en-
AFB, Ariz. organized combat teams, and op- to developing and managing its people. listing in other U.S. military branches),
• 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain erate in a contested environment U.S. Air Force Capt. Lauren Bauer, U.S. we’re just looking for those who have
Home AFB, Id. with joint and coalition partners,” Southern Command and 12th Air Force passion and want to go down and make
Naming lead wings builds read- Kelly said. (Air Force Southern), Space Forces deputy history.”
iness and sustainability for the The command is currently director, swore in six future Guardians The number of Space Force trainees will
Joint Force, and further refines working to standardize the re- during a USSF Oath of Enlistment cere- continue to increase over time as processes
Agile Combat Employment and quired force elements and or- Airman 1st Class William Turnbull mony at the Pima Air and Space Museum, for recruiting and training are solidified.
Multi-Capable Airmen concepts, ganizational structures for lead After receiving instructions from a 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron instructor, a group of Air- Tucson, Arizona, Jan. 15, 2022. Photos by Staff Sgt. Kristine Legate “Space Force is absolutely essential. The
according to the memo. wing implementation, and also men drape a cargo net over a container during Tier 3 Multi-Capable Airmen training at Davis-Monthan Being six out of the 521 Guardian en- U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Harvey, 362nd Recruiting Squadron, U.S. Space Air Force protects the skies, Army and
While not currently designated plans for several experiments and Air Force Base, Arizona, Dec. 1, 2021. With its ability to operate from austere locations and produce listees the USSF is selecting during the Force recruiter, poses for a photo with future Guardians of the U.S. Space Force at Marines protect the ground and the Navy
as lead wings, Gen. Kelly also exercises in 2022 to validate the airpower by utilizing trained MCA, the Dynamic Wing can fight from more locations than other wings, fiscal year of 2022, this ceremony marked the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, January 15, 2022. Recruiting protects the seas,” Harvey said. “What does
identified the following units as success of these changes. helping make DM one of five units recently designated by Air Combat Command as a lead wing. a momentous occasion not only for these Guardians and building a strong foundation within the force is critical in supporting Space Force do? It protects space and it’s
chosen recruits, but for the service as the U.S. through its newest capabilities to protect the nation and its ally’s interests essential that we have the capabilities to
well. in space. do so.”
rESCuE (from Page 1) Banner University Medical Center in “Maintenance is an intricate part “This feels like the true birth of the
Tucson, Arizona. of making sure our aircraft are able Space Force,” said U.S. Space Force Lt.
awareness and abilities in high “While it’s great to have a mission to perform at the highest levels when Col. Jonathan L. Whitaker, U.S. Space
density altitude and rough terrain where we bring strategic impact to the lives are on the line in less-than-ideal Force Director of Space Forces U.S. South-
operations. Air Force down range, it’s very reward- situations,” said Wood. “Without them ern Command. “For so many of us with an
“Communication between person- ing to be able to contribute to the local we would not have been able to per- Air Force background, we’re continuing
nel in the aircraft and on the ground community while at our home sta- form our mission and help others in something that’s happening… but this is
was paramount to a successful rescue tion,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Tyler need.” where it’s becoming something new. These
given the 20-minute time constraint Wilson, 55th Rescue Squadron pilot, This is the first rescue collabo- people are 100% Guardians. They will set
we were faced with too, due to fuel aircraft commander for the mission. ration for the 55th RQS and 55th the legacy, the culture and the dynamic
considerations,” said Wood. This mission wouldn’t have been RGS under Air Combat Command’s for the future and turn it into something
The hiker was rescued in time successful without the newly acti- Combat Oriented Maintenance Or- that is truly unique as a service.”
and regained consciousness in-flight vated 55th Rescue Generation Squad- ganization model, which expedited Since the start of its development in
after being unconscious for almost 17 ron’s maintenance Airmen, who got the response time to help save this Dec. 20, 2019, selected members from
hours. The hiker was transported to the HH-60 prepared in record time. hiker’s life. other U.S. military branches made up the
Space Force’s personnel. This created a
unique unification of cultures and identi-
ties and gave the USSF the opportunity
to create its own distinctive philosophy
and way to recruit its members.
“It’s a small, selective force,” Bauer U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Whitaker,
said. “And these members are some of the U.S. Southern Command Director of Space Forc-
first, and few, directly enlisting into the es, shares a few words during a ceremony at the
Space Force through the national selec- Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona,
tion process.” January 15, 2022. Since its development on Dec.
Joining the force is a highly competitive 20, 2019, selected members from other U.S. mili- U.S. Air Force Capt. Lauren Bauer, U.S. Southern Command and 12th Air
process. With its extremely complex and tary branches made up the USSF’s personnel, Force (Air Force Southern), Space Forces deputy director, swears in future
fast paced mission, those who are inter- but these recruits are directly enlisting into the Guardians during a ceremony at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tuc-
ested in serving must be highly-adaptable force through a national selection process. son, Arizona, January 15, 2022.

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