Page 2 - Desert Lightning News 4-1-16

2 April 1, 2016 Desert Lightning News

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Robinson tapped to be first female combatant commander

Cheryl Pellerin staff at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
PACAF is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the
DOD News, Defense Media Activity
globe in a command that supports more than 46,000 Airmen serving
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter has mainly in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam.
named a new commander for U.S. Northern Command to be con-
firmed by the Senate. If confirmed, the new Northern Command Robinson also is a senior air battle manager with more than 900
chief will be the first woman to lead a U.S. combatant command. flight hours in the E-3B/C airborne warning and control system air-
craft and the E-8C joint surveillance target attack radar system air-
Carter made the announcement to pick Gen. Lori J. Robinson craft.
during a media interview March 18. President Barack Obama has
approved the choice and will nominate her to the Senate, the secre- The general, Carter said, “has very deep operational experience, is
tary said. now running the air forces in the Pacific, which is a very challenging
place for the Air Force and a very intense operational tempo.”
Robinson now commands Pacific Air Forces and is the air compo-
nent commander for U.S. Pacific Command. Naming the first female combatant commander, Carter added,
demonstrates “that we have coming along now a lot of female officers
She’s also executive director of the Pacific Air Combat Operations who are exceptionally strong. Lori certainly fits into that category.”

AFSVA gets ready for 2016 youth camps

NEWS Steve Warns attendees experience a week in STEM principles, especially said specialized activities are of-
the life of a cadet, from sleep- in the Robotics Academy and fered to the youth.
AFCEC Public Affairs ing in prep dorms to briefings Aviation Challenge.
on the workload and expecta- “In Georgia, the focus is on
JOINT BASE SAN AN- tions. There are also rigorous There are 80 positions avail- environmental sciences and
TONIO-LACKLAND, Texas physical training elements, able. The deadline to submit an ecosystems,” she said. “Activities
(AFNS) -- Teenagers look- such as a high and low ropes application is April 22. Selec- stay within the camp. They even
ing to cure those summertime course challenge. tions will be announced May 20. have sessions in herpetology
blues will have various camps and panning for gold.”
to choose from this year, thanks But it’s not all work and no Teen family members of Air
to central funding from the Air play at the camp, Hansen said. National Guard and Air Force Since the Adventure Sum-
Force Services Activity, also There are exciting elements, Reserve are eligible to attend mit borders Rocky Mountain
known as AFSVA. such as a whitewater rafting leadership summits. National Park, activities aren’t
trip, a tour of the U.S. Olympic confined to the camp. “The
Teen family members of ac- Training Center, and even flying Youth interested in becoming youth are offered adventure-
tive-duty military assigned to in a Cessna with an instructor. tomorrow’s leaders can decide type sports, such as mountain
or working or living on an Air to attend one of two leadership biking,” Dale said.
Force led/joint installation; re- The deadline to submit an ap- summits: the Classic Summit in
tired Airmen; Air Force civilian plication is April 22. Selections Dahlonega, Georgia, from July At the end of the camps, Dale
employees; Air National Guard; will be announced May 6. 17-22; or the Adventure Sum- said, a distinguished VIP speaks
or Air Force Reserve are eligible. mit in Estes Park, Colorado, to the campers. Last year, Air
Space Camp is for youth from Aug. 9-14. Force Reserve Lt. Gen. James F.
Teen Aviation Camp is of- who want to explore the final Jackson spoke to the campers.
fered June 17-24. Youth enter- frontier, Space Camp at the Each summit can accommo-
ing their sophomore or junior U.S. Space and Rocket Center date up to 120 youth, said Penny Interested teens of AFR and
year of high school in fall 2016 in Huntsville, Alabama, might Dale, from the 4-H/Air Force Part- ANG parents can go online and
can apply to attend the Teen whet their appetite. nership at Texas A&M University. apply here. The deadline for ap-
Aviation Camp at the U.S. Air plication is May 1, with selec-
Force Academy in Colorado Beginning July 31 and end- In addition to developing tions announced June 1.
Springs, Colorado. ing Aug. 5, youth ages 12-14 can youth leadership skills, Dale
apply for the Space Academy,
This isn’t your ordinary sum- Robotics Academy or Aviation
mer camp, said Kevin Hansen, Challenge Mach II. Youth ages
youth specialist for AFSVA. Sev- 15-18 may apply to attend the
eral camp attendees have gone Advanced Space Academy. The
on to attend the Air Force acad- Advanced Space Academy is
emy, other service academies or divided into two portions: the
pursued ROTC in college. Aviation Challenge, which is a
pilot track, and SCUBA diving,
“It’s extremely competitive,” which is a mission specialist
Hansen said of the camp. “There track to simulate space travel.
are 36 spaces available, and on
average 150 youth apply.” A common theme through-
out the camp is the applica-
During the application pro- tion of science, technology,
cess, academics and extracur- engineering and math, or
ricular activities are evaluated.
Once accepted, Hansen said,