Argel, Crate, Fresques Memorial Push-Ups

Don’t forget your Memorial Push Ups for Capt. Derek M. Argel, 28, of Lompoc Calif. Capt. Jeremy J. Fresques 26, of Clarkdale Ariz.; and Staff Sgt. Casey J. Crate, 26, of Spanaway Wash. All were assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. These teammates were lost when their plane crashed May 30 2005 about 80 miles north east of Baghdad in the Diyala province.

OFFICER VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

VACANCY: Control and Recovery - Special Tactics Officer AFSC 13D3B Authorized Grade: Maj

CLOSE OUT: 15 July 2010

WHO MAY APPLY:
Commissioned officers in any U.S. Military branch, ORANG personnel who are eligible for commissioning, or personnel who are eligible to be appointed in the ORANG who meet the below requirements. All qualified applicants will be interviewed.

HOW TO APPLY:
All application packages submitted must contain the following information:

Officers: resume describing education and experience, reference listing, a vMPF Records Review RIP, and a current Physical Fitness Assessment. Non-Air Force component officers must also include an AF FM 24.

Civilians and Enlisted members: resume describing education and experience, reference listing, a vMPF Records Review RIP, a current Physical Fitness Assessment, college transcripts, AFOQT score, letters of recommendation and an AF FM 24.

For questions regarding the application process, contact MSgt Elaine Nguyen at (503) 335-4057, DSN 638-4057. Submit completed packages to 142 FSS/FSMP, 6801 N.E. Cornfoot Rd, Portland, OR 97218-2797.

1. Specialty Summary:
1.1. Provides assault zone reconnaissance and assessments, terminal control, and personnel recovery (PR). Manages day-to-day operations of PR activities to coordinate PR system and organize, train and equip assigned personnel to conduct rescue and recovery operations; manages survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) programs; and surveys, establishes, and controls the aerospace surface interface in objective areas. Deploys as team member, team leader or mission commander as a direct combatant or to command and battle staffs to provide subject matter expertise to plan for and manage command and control for special reconnaissance, terminal control and PR operations. Related DoD Occupational Group: 220500.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:
2.1. Plans missions and manages PR, SERE, and control of the aerospace interface in objective areas. Supports joint and combined forces engaged in conventional and special operations air, ground, and maritime military operations. Advises on readiness of forces based on force status reports, inspections, training exercise and evaluation results. Coordinates, plans, and conducts PR missions, emergency trauma care, movement and medical evaluation of personnel.

Must maintain physical fitness and water confidence standards IAW AFI 13-219, Special Tactics Operator Standards and Evaluation Program, and AFSOCI 36-2204, Special Tactics Operator Training, throughout the training pipeline.




//Signed//

STEPHANIE A. BAENEN, Lt Col, ORANG
Commander, 142 FSS

BGen Aderholt's Passing

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Harry C. "Heinie" Aderholt passed away May 20, 2010, at his home, surrounded by family, loyal friends and his devoted caregiver, Jamie Newman..He was born on Jan. 6, 1920, in Birmingham, Ala., to Forest Aderholt and Katie Banholzer and was preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Jessie; brothers, Roy Aderholt and Robert Aderholt; and sister, Cornelia Akin.He is survived by his wife, Anne; daughter, Janet Lynn Elliott and husband Chaplin Col. (Ret.) Richard G. Elliott Jr. of Panama City, Fla.; son, George Aderholt and wife Pat of Navarre, Fla.; one sister, Katherine McDaniel of Trussville, Ala.; two brothers, Warren Aderholt and his wife Bunny of Marietta, Ga., and Louis Aderholt of Huntsville, Ala.; grandchildren, Kevin Richard Elliott and wife Kathy Anderson Elliott, Stacie Lynn Elliott, Kellie Marie Elliott and Mark Randall Elliott; great-granddaughter, Annie Lynn Elliott; and several nieces and nephews.Heinie was one of seven children raised by his widowed mother (his father died, as a result of an accident, when Heinie was just a boy of nine), and he learned very early in life many lessons that would shape his future. Undoubtedly, his mother's influence from her strength, courage, love and strict discipline, provided him with the solid foundation that helped him to grow and develop into the remarkable man he became.Heinie's love of people was obvious and his sincerity and straight forward, up-front approach encouraged the development of many life-long friendships. None more enduring than the bond of love, loyalty and mutual respect that he shared with Maj. Gen. Richard Secord.We wish to thank his faithful friend, Joseph Caruth, who enabled him to continue his early morning ritual of working out at Aderholt Fitness Center.Until his final days he remained close to his brothers and sister and their families. As recently as late January, he made a trip to Birmingham, on to Huntsville, then to Atlanta, assuring all he would be back soon.Gen. Aderholt's 30-plus year military career is legendary. His status as a leader, his many accomplishments, awards and citations will be recorded in the annals of military history.His innumerable friends will remember him as a man of integrity with a loving heart who inspired and touched so many lives.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Gen. Aderholt be made to the McCoskrie Threshold Foundation, P.O. Box 67, Mary Esther, FL 32569, to support projects in Thailand and Laos.A special thank you to the staff at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be held at Hurlburt Air Park on July 2 at 9 a.m.

Air Force takes gold in pistol competition

Staff Sgt. Marc Esposito, a combat controller from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., brought home gold May 13 in the pistol-shooting competition at the inaugural Warrior Games here moments after earning bronze in the 20-kilometer upright bike competition.

"It's exactly what we're trained to do as U.S. Air Force special operators," he said. "The battlefield is as dynamic as the sports field, and you're going to have to go from one extreme to the other. And, you have to do it quickly, and you have to do it flawlessly, without fault.

"Sergeant Esposito is no stranger to shooting. His job as a combat controller often put him at risk in situations where he had to return fire on the enemy. He said he was able to use that experience to his benefit, despite the differences between shooting in combat and shooting competitively.

Link to article:

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123204558

Combat Controller to compete in Warrior Games

According to the Warrior Games Web site, "The Warrior Games provide a focal event to empower the incorporation of athletics into military wounded warrior programs, and provide an opportunity to introduce paralympic sports to injured service members, while at the same time building camaraderie and raising awareness of paralympic competition and adaptive sports in general.

"The games are a joint effort between the Department of Defense and the U.S. Olympic Committee and are part of an effort to inspire recovery, capitalize on physical fitness, and promote new opportunities for growth and achievement, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee Web site. Since 2003, the U.S. Paralympics Committee has worked in partnership with Veterans Affairs, providing adaptive sports therapy to veterans.


Link to the article below.

http://www.pope.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123204076

Lt Col Parks Hughes
Commander, 21st Special Tactics Squadron

CCT in Haiti Video

Ron

I found this Haiti rescue video on-line. I'd not seen it before. You might want to post it on the CCT Blog.

http://www.af.mil/news/video/index.asp?cid=252&sid=10872


Sincerely,GENE ADCOCK (Ak)

CCT WIA - Dalton

SSgt Travis Dalton, CCT from the 320 STS was injured Friday night. The vehicle he was a passenger in was struck by an IED. He was able to walk away and remained in the fight, but sustained several fragmentation injuries and some serious road rash from being thrown. All indications are that he will recover quickly and completely. He remains in great spirits and as you can imagine w/ most of our operators, is upset he can't remain in the fight. He has already been presented w/ the Purple Heart by the Commander, COMCJSOTF-A.

Please keep he and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he continues to recover.


HooYah-
TN

Extra SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT for those with active duty between January 1957 to December 31, 2001

From the C3F JAG: Recommend you print this out and put it in your financial files to ensure you collect additional social security payments based on your military service.

BLUF: When you apply for social security, bring your DD214 to the social security office and you may qualify for higher benefits. Additional payments based on military service are not automatic – you must request this benefit at the time of Social Security application in order to receive it. Additional details below.

Alcon,

See the web site & notes below to possibly increase your Social Security Benefits.

DD FORM 214 -- SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT Please share this with anyone who had active duty service between January 1957 to December 31, 2001 and planning for retirement. In a nutshell it boils down to this:

You qualify for a higher social security payment because of your Military service, for active duty any time from 1957 through 2001 (the program was done away with 1 January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security Office and you must ask for this benefit to receive it!

Service in 1978 through 2001
For every $300 in active duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1,200 a year. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, and didn't complete at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional earnings. Check with Social Security for details.

Soc Sec website: http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.htm

This is something to put in your files for when you apply for Social Security down the road.. It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served on active duty between January 1957 to December 31, 2001.

FYI - this benefit is not automatic, you must ask for it! We've all been on active duty between 1957 and 2001 or know someone who has.

Passing on good information for all you military folks when you apply for social security. I know this may be too early for some of you to think about social security but, keep living and you will get there...

Regional Resource Coordinator
Maryland's Commitment to Veterans Project State of Maryland- Southern Region Human Services Partnership Building La Plata, Maryland 20646

Captain Rory Suzuki, US Navy
Office of the Secretary of De

Chief Master Sergeant Tony Travis - The 2010 TIME 100 - TIME

When chief master sergeant Antonio "Tony" Travis arrived at the Port-au-Prince airport shortly after January's earthquake, there was only one usable runway, the air-traffic-control tower was structurally unsafe, and 42 aircraft were grounded in a space designed for 12. Time was of the essence: the Haitians were in dire need of supplies that had to be brought in by air, but the damage meant that far fewer planes could be accommodated.



Read more:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984949_1985270,00.html?artId=1984685?contType=article?chn=specials

125 STS AGR Hiring

We are hiring one full time CCT position within the next 45 days and another within approximately 90 days. We are trying to get the word out as much as possible. Can you post it to the CCT Blog and the CCA mailing address? We want to make sure as many guys hear about it as possible.

You can also find the listing at
http://www.142fw.ang.af.mil/resources/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=11866http://www.142fw.ang.af.mil/resources/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=11866>


Thanks for any help.

//SIGNED//

Luke W. Thompson, MSgt, ORANG

Squadron Superintendent

125 Special Tactics Squadron

DSN 638-5170 Com 503-335-5170

Cell 503-545-8293

NIPR luke.thompson@ang.af.mil

Grenada Vets

Gentlemen
An amateur military historian contacted me through the Spectre Association wanting signatures of Urgent Fury veterans on a lithograph. I agreed to take point for the FWB area and wish to get as many signatures as I can before I send it back to him. There are a lot of names on it already, but there is still room for more.

If you wish to sign, please contact me and I will bring it to you for your signature. Please forward this message to other Urgent Fury vets also.

Please advise,

v/r

Bill Walter
HQ AFSOC/A5K
Strike Requirements
AC-XX, AC-130, Dragon Spear
DSN 579-4184
Com: 850-884-4184

Announcement Message 2010 Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA)

1. The Air Force Sergeants Association, sponsor of the Pitsenbarger Award, has selected Staff Sergeant Joseph A. Byrne, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, North Carolina (AFSOC), as the winner of the 2010 AFSA Pitsenbarger Award.

2. The Pitsenbarger award annually recognizes an Air Force enlisted member who has performed a heroic act, on or off duty, which resulted in the saving of life or the prevention of serious injury. While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Sergeant Byrne executed multiple day and night rotary-wing infiltrations with his special forces team to capture high-value targets and disrupt a large drug and explosives nexus. His team was ambushed while operating in the objective area. Without regard for his life, Sergeant Byrne maintained an exposed position in order to identify, target and destroy the enemy with airpower. He called in one "danger close" air strike and several gun runs within 100 meters, preventing the element from being overrun.

3. SSgt Byrne is authorized the Air Force Recognition Ribbon in accordance with AFI 36-2805, Special Trophies and Awards.

4. The award will be presented to SSgt Byrne at the AFSA Honors Banquet, 18 August 2010, in Atlanta, Georgia


//SIGNED//

WILLIAM D. FOOTE, Colonel, USAF
Director, Personnel Services

UNCLAS