Like driving the Batmobile into the future: Air Force uses JLTV in mission for 1st time, Refreshed US-Philippine relations revive fighter jet training paused 3 decades ago, Victims of Army helicopter collision in Alaska include 2 chief warrant officers, Reports of sexual assaults increased in Navy, Air Force and Marines in 2022; Army saw decline, New bill aims to expand mental health care for military families, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. The service began investigating Widman on Sept. 29 to ensure Air Force standards for professionalism and culture are upheld by leadership while affording all members due process, Cashin told Task & Purpose. Melody W. Howley), U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing outgoing commander, renders his final salute to the 52nd FW during the wings change of command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Careerism and cronyism are a cancer in the Air Force that is causing retention issues, he said. New commander takes charge of 52nd FW. [10], On 18 June 2013, the 81st Fighter Squadron was inactivated at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany. When that trust is lost it affects good order and discipline, unit cohesion and ultimately risks mission accomplishment.. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. Hauck comes from Aviano Air Base, Italy, where he served as the commander of the 31st Operations Group. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) to reach a trained counselor. I was made to feel like I was a second-class citizen and a piece of shit for things outside my control., By higher suicide rate among those career fields. For example, he kept his supervisors aware that he was taking medication to treat his depression. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. Rating: command pilot Flight hours: more than 2,100, including 146 combat hours Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-38, F-15E, F/A-18F, F-35A, and F-16, Distinguished Flying Cross with valor device, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. The squadron commander was the only person strong enough to break Retkas hold on the pilot, witnesses said. The assigned F-16 aircraft can be tasked to suppress enemy air defenses, provide close air support, carry out air interdiction, counter-air, strategic attack, and combat search and rescue. We still don't know what the cause was behind the firing, but it has come to our attention that the commander who did the deed made a very low-brow video with his squadronmates while deployed to Kunsan Air Base in Korea during the mid-2000s. U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, taxi off at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, to participate in a large force exercise within the North Sea airspace, U.K., on May 27, 2020. The member of Key Spouses managed to get those orders on her own, and she worked with the Airmen and Family Readiness Center to make sure the other spouses had access to the right resources. This line of thinking is the same as the Air Forces bomber deployments that have become prevalent in the Pacific. The culture within the USAF has changed to some degree since its inception, but it stands as an incredibly stark reminder that really talented and valuable people can make really dumb decisions. The Public Affairs office is unable to redirect calls or provide phone numbers. Two commanders in the military unit in which leak suspect Jack Teixeira worked have been suspended, the Air Force said Wednesday. It thrust me forward.. The 52d Maintenance Group provides peacetime and combat maintenance support for the 52d Fighter Wing. But at the same time, I wish I had [said] Tony, what is your goal? The squadron oversees $60 million in annual obligations, co-leads with CPTS the wings end of fiscal year operations, manages the FWs $25 million Government Purchase card program and Quality Assurance Program (as it relates to contracts), and provides all contracting authority for Theater Security Package operations. The former commander of the 52nd Operations Group at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany was disciplined after an investigation into accusations that he rubbed his crotch against the rear end of a lieutenant colonels wife at a dinner last year. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the administration for failing to be more consultative in drafting the plan. His official bio, which you can read in full here, states his responsibilities as such: "He is responsible for the mission readiness of the wings aircraft, 17 wing staff agencies, stewardship of Shaw, and the health and welfare of 6,576 active duty Airmen and civilians and more than 8,000 family members. The group consists of 7 squadrons providing communications, security, contracting, transportation, supply, deployment planning and execution, education, lodging, food services, recreation, personnel support, fitness programs, engineering, housing, disaster response, explosive ordnance disposal, fire and environmental protection for more than 15,000 personnel in the local community and geographically separated units, all while preparing combat ready forces for US and NATO missions. The 52d Force Support Squadron (52 FSS) supports the wing with Airman & Family Services, Community services, Force Development, Manpower & Personnel and Sustainment services. The 52d Mission Support Group delivers world class mission support ensuring the wing is able to conduct wartime and contingency missions. Additionally, they support 16 geographically separated units by providing administrative, personnel, contingency response, force sustainment and quality of life support. The 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, provides Airpower options to deter and combat aggression. Here is the Colonel's letter announcing her dismissal: I removed Capt. Spangdahlem wing commander relieved of duty | Stars and Stripes The spouse then stepped down from the Key Spouse organization, but Widman continued to target her husband, CL said. This new way of operating is still developing, but with the innovation and flexibility in your blood, Saber Nation leads the way in this new way of fighting, and the rest of us are following you.. -Deterrence During that assignment, he was chastised by his wing commander for making an inappropriate joke after a skit on sexual harassment. Id say single digits [of billions], but thatll be spread out over time, he said. Commanders are taking appropriate action as information becomes available, the Air Force said. 2015 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science degree, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Pa. 1. Retka said he was also carrying a tall glass of beer in front of him, and told someone else that Kennedy may have felt the glass against her. The 52nd FW supports the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe with mission-ready personnel and systems providing expeditionary air power for suppression of enemy air defenses, counter air, air interdiction, and close-air support. The colonel asked the group, Did somebody just touch my butt? and Kennedy replied, Yeah, mine too, the report said. Other airmen shared negative experiences regarding Widman on social media. I was done, no more dreams of commissioning and doing 20 years in the service. And while they are deployed, they are able to sustain a much more fixed focus on their mission and their capabilities., Wolters said EUCOM aims to rotate units in perpetuity in multiple locations. He said the flexibility that this affords us certainly complicates a potential enemy against us, and it dramatically improves our operational capability to more effectively deter and defend.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. In concert with USAFE wings at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, the 52nd Fighter Wing directly supports the strategic mobility mission once conducted at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. Looking back, I realize that instead of being asked how we can make this happen, Im basically told what is going to happen. The 52nd Fighter Wing includes more than 5,500 military and civilian personnel who help maintain and deploy the units F-16 fighters and other military hardware. Calling from CONUS: Though the investigation of Widman is still ongoing, two airmen who served under her spoke with Task & Purpose about their experience under her command. DSN: 314-452-1110, An official website of the United States government. To make matters worse, their spouses needed support from base agencies, but the commander did not allow their deployment orders to be distributed to the members, which would have allowed the spouses to get that support. Ultimately, the wing supports the Supreme Allied Commander by providing credible deterrence, delivering combat capabilities, executing joint reception, staging, onward movement, and integration, facilitating inter-theater airlift, and building partnership capacity. David Roza She was very unfair and unethical to members going through medical treatment and those who sought mental health, said an airman who served with 317 AMXS for five years who agreed to speak with Task & Purpose under the pseudonym CL.. As good people, like Capt. In January 1973, a Wild Weasel defense suppression mission was added. But on July 3, exactly two months after the incident at the dinner, Kennedy took command of the 480th Fighter Squadron. Within one month the wing had deployed people and equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in and around Afghanistan. We applaud leaders like those in the 317th [airlift wing] and [maintenance group] that opened channels and empowered people to come forward, they added. Hauck will be taking command over the 52nd Fighter Wing, which has a total population of 5,000 Airmen and civilian personnel. Calling from CONUS: CL was undergoing medical treatment and started a medical evaluation board (MEB) when Widman took command of the 317 AMXS in the summer of 2020. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. They were suspended pending further investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified information, the Air Force said. Even now, 75 years after the wars end, Germany hosts one of the largest contingents of U.S. troops in the world. Moving F-16s from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem to Italy will better increase security along NATOs eastern flank and help preserve peace, Air Forces Europe said in a statement. Read the full fact sheet. The move came on the order of the 102nd Intelligence Wing commander at Otis Air National Guard Base, Mass. It flies the F-16CJ fighter aircraft. The 52d Operations Group Detachment 2, located at Miroslawiec AB, Poland, operates MQ-9 aircraft and delivers persistent airborne ISR capabilities throughout the theater. Unfortunately, this airman may not the first to be served paperwork after a suicide attempt. The wing is comprised of approximately 5,000 military and civilian personnel spread across nine geographically separated units and thirteen real property sites in five different nations. Shortly after the Kennedys arrived and began chatting with other guests in the center aisle of the dining room, the report said, Retka walked up to the group and pinched or touched a male colonels rear end. On February 12, 2019, news that the first woman to lead an Air Force demonstration team was fired after just two weeks in the position sent shockwaves through the aviation community and made headlines in the mainstream press. Colonel Derek "Maestro" OMalley is the commander for the 20th Fighter Wing. But plans accelerated after President Donald J. Trump said in June he intended to pull U.S. forces from Germany because that nation had failed to invest enough of its own money in defense. The Air Force has suspended leaders of the Massachusetts Air National Guard unit involved in the leak of a trove of classified documents, the service said April 26. We had more than 2 dozen people reach out and tell us about how she, the first shirt, and other [senior enlisted leaders] were abusing folks going through issues that required treatment (both with mental health and other medical), wrote The Salty Crew Chief 2.0, an Instagram page popular among Air Force maintainers, in a Dec. 3 post about Widmans firing. -Integrated Base Defense. Dynamic operations and force employment deliver joint force commanders the critical capability to move forces fluidly into and across the . Air Force suspends commanders from unit where Jack Teixeira worked We have thousands of Airmen across our Air Force serving our country, and not one of them is perfect. She spoke with Air Force Times Jan. 9 and agreed to be identified by name. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. Additionally, they utilize combat-ready Airmen with 36 different Air Force career specialties, to oversee a $6.3 million operating budget and provide sustained support across 23 functional areas while maintaining 16 facilities. The Air Force is investing to improve other bases across the region, including facilities in Poland, Estonia, and Romania. It received F-15 Eagles in 1994 but lost its F-4Gs. The current mission statement of the 52d Fighter Wing is to deliver Airpower options to deter and combat aggression. When people see the Airpower portion of this, they often times assume this means flying, but the mission goes well beyond that. They provide housing assistance to accompanied and unaccompanied Airmen/families, support all wing environmental programs, provide Fire, HAZMAT, and emergency response through their fire protection flight, provides emergency management and disaster preparedness through their readiness and emergency management flight, and provides aircraft, force protection and range clearance for through their explosive ordnance disposal flight. The wing participated in numerous tactical exercises, operations, and tests of USAFE and NATO and provided close air support, interdiction, and base defense operations. It's stupid and maybe funny in an immature way, and I mean real immature. The 480th Fighter Squadron (480th FS), nicknamed the "Warhawks", is an active United States Air Force unit operating the General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon.The 480 FS assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany is the only United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa flying unit performing the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission. In these types of situations, I never forget that were dealing with real human beings, that I care deeply about, and that we are charged to take care of. Jordana Kennedy said having to be around Retka and his wife was crushing and super-stressful. She began to skip group events with spouses to avoid running into the Retkas, and said she recently had a panic attack when she thought they might show up. By the time Retka returned to Spangdahlem as a group commander, he was viewed by some as a bully who had a tendency to mock, disparage or undermine his subordinates. Criminal charges were not filed against Retka, Myers said. Comm:011-49-6565-61-1110 The commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was relieved of command Tuesday over a loss of faith and confidence in his leadership. Teixeira, 21, an airman first class, was assigned to the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. The change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit to a commanding officer. Esper estimated the cost to be several billion dollars, but did not provide a formal estimate. The 52d Operations Group Detachment 1, based at ask AB, Poland, represents the United States Air Force's first permanent presence in Poland and continues to foster bilateral defense ties, enhance interoperability and increase capacity to conduct military operations with Allied nations. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. He said on Twitter that the Pentagons plan is consistent with his view that the Pentagon needs to maintain a strong forward presence, sustain force projection, and take care of our military families.. It is a slap in the face at a friend and ally when we should instead be drawing closer in our mutual commitment to deter Russian and Chinese aggression, Romney said in a statement. IE 11 is not supported. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. A female officer at Spangdahlem told investigators that in October 2018, Retka tried to sidestep her authority by saying he would solve a particular issue with another male officer, and said, We will talk about this as men later, over cigars and scotch.. Kotnik, but shes surrounded by wingmen that will help her every step of the way. And the time when it was OK to pinch someones butt or rub up against someone or make a derogatory or misogynistic comment, I really want to see those days go away and be behind us.. The Public Affairs office is unable to redirect calls or provide phone numbers. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. Widmans removal from command comes as the Air Force struggles to confront a mental health crisis within its ranks, especially in the maintenance and security forces (the Air Force equivalent of military police) career fields. Saber Nation, I know we are going to face trials and tribulations, but we will continue to conquer them and be 100% mission-ready, whether that be to execute the dynamic force employment on the fly or lead the Air Force in Agile Combat Employment with multi-functional Airmen advancement, Hauck said. The commander of the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron, part of the Massachusetts Air National Guard in which the 21-year-old Teixeira served, was suspended from his leadership position, as was . Col. Leslie Hauck accepted responsibility of the 52nd FW from Col. David Epperson in front of Airmen, local leaders and family, making him the 30th commander since its activation as the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing in December 1971. The five groups within the wing are responsible for operations, maintenance, mission support, medical operations, and munitions maintenance. All five 52d FW groups directly support the mission to provide strategic, theater and contract commercial air mobility capability for Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. If youre thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. vehicle registration & drivers license testing, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. The deployment of rotational forces from the United States we have observed whether its the BCTs going from the United States to Korea, to Poland, or the bomber task force, were finding that they are deploying at a much higher level of readiness, Esper said. Its clear that this whole entire wing is flying in formation, and its apparent from your three consecutive trips to the finals of the Air Forces Spark Tank innovation contest, and it is truly impressive what youve done there. I thought things were going to be good, I was coming back to work and was still looking to prove my value to the Air Force and that I could still continue to serve at this point. Hauck is a command pilot with more than 2,400 hours in the F-16, including 285 combat hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Air Force did not provide details on how such a move would impact force support at the base. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. On 1 April 2017, the 606th Air Control Squadron, Detachment 1 was inactivated at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany following the relocation to Aviano Air Base, Italy. This video shows how The 52d Fighter Wing accomplishes this mission, while also taking care of the other two pillars: Airmen and Community. Specifically, the wing maintains and employs F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft and $6 billion of United States Protection Level 1 assets in support of NATO and national defense directives. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was more supportive. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. The 52nd Fighter Wing held a change of command ceremony at Hangar 1 here July 15. The video includes song, dance, repeated references to genitalia, a big penis and testicles puppet, and is based around discomfort of the male genitalia while flying on missions and a particular brand of talcum powder that is a solution to those issues. Use that same number and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. A second Air National Guard unit has its first F-35s, as three of the fifth-generation fighters arrived at Truax Field, Wisc., on April 25. Pentagon leaders on July 29 sought to highlight the strategic goals of the moves, but Trump said the impetus is largely to punish Berlin. [11], In December 2014, the wing commander, Col. Peter Bilodeau, who had commanded the wing for six months, was relieved of his command for "a loss of faith and confidence in his leadership. Waters, last seasons Viper Demo pilot has resumed command, so the team is in great hands, and the show will go on. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, said she was looking into an incident of an airman in Colorado who was sent a Letter of Reprimand and a Letter of Counseling shortly after attempting suicide. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Bilodeau was relieved of command and Hubert, the wing vice commander, was again named interim commander. If Congress agrees with the Air Forces request to retire 32 Block 20 F-22s as part of its fiscal 2024 budget, the aircraft be used as trainers a while longer, then stored for an undetermined period at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Bases Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) Boneyard in. Esper estimated the cost to be "several billion dollars," but did not provide a formal estimate. The Air Force relieved an officer of command who served separation paperwork to an airman in a mental health clinic for treatment after a suicide attempt, made one airman feel like a piece of shit for going through a medical evaluation board, and retaliated against an airmans spouse. In late September, Jordana Kennedy said in a memo to reviewing authorities that Retka should not be retained on active duty, and should be removed from command and leave the service. The squadron consists of two flights, Operations and Plans/Implementation, and has quality assurance and communications focal point elements. The wing also supports contingencies and operations other than war as required. At the end of the day, our Air Force culture is one of professionalism, safety, and success achieved only through teamwork and accountability.. Making mistakes is a part of life. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. Hauck is a command pilot with more than 2,400 hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, including 285 combat hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Many of the more than 50 leaked documentsNBC News obtainedwere labeled Top Secret, the highest level of classification. The 52d Mission Support Group delivers world class mission support ensuring the wing is able to conduct wartime and contingency missions. Retka returned to Kunsan in 2012 as a squadron commander. The 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron began flying operations at a deployed location in support of the war on terrorism within 100 hours of tasking notification. Mosheh Gains is a Pentagon producer for NBC News. They support on-going contingency operations by deploying fully trained members for traditional security missions and joint expeditionary taskings. The White House approved the reorganization in June, and Pentagon officials began briefing Congress last week. DSN: 314-452-1110 She told investigators that about 30 people had previously passed through the center aisle without any physical contact, and that there was eight to 10 feet of open space behind her. Coming out of treatment, I went to this meeting with her, the shirt [Air Force term for first sergeant], and squadron chief, CL said. Myers said retiring was Retkas choice, and that he was not ordered or pressured to retire early. classified documents that were leaked on the internet, Allies criticize U.S. handling of top-secret documents after massive leak. Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, was arrested April 13 in connection with the investigation ofclassified documents that were leaked on the internet. As Saber Lead, Hauck now commands five groups, 23 squadrons and nine geographically separated units spread across five countries, with approximately 5,000 dedicated military and civilian personnel. The base primarily handles C-17 and C-5 aircraft that carry fully equipped, combat-ready military units to any point in the world on short notice and provide field support to sustain the fighting force. New commander takes charge of 52nd FW - Spangdahlem Air Base Esper said the strategic goal is to move away from permanent basing in favor of dynamic force employment, enabling the military to proactively move troops as missions demand. Additionally, LRS is responsible for the commercial movement and storage of personal property and provides ticketing for PCS, TDY and emergency leaves for DoD passengers; ensures quality petroleum and cryogenics products are acquired/produced/issued safely and efficiently to using organizations and executes vehicle maintenance, management and operation of more than 875 vehicles. The wing provides United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa and/or the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe with mission-ready personnel and systems. Then-Lt. Col. Anthony Retka, who was then commander of the 35th Fighter Squadron, boards an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the Max Thunder exercise at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea in 2012. But the distance did not stop Widman and the assistant first sergeant of the 317 AMXS from making the drive down to the hospital to serve the airman separation paperwork. The 52d Medical Group consists of Operational Medical Readiness, Health Care Operations, and Medical Support Squadrons. If reports from members are made, they are taken seriously through due process.. U.S. to End Spangdahlem Air Base's Mission, Remove 11,900 Personnel Other pilots also engaged in steamrolling at the Kunsan dorms in the early 2000s, witnesses said, describing a frathouse-like atmosphere rife with pranks and heavy alcohol use that was more tolerated in the Air Force at the time. This whole incident sparked an investigation and we know what came from that., Though Widman declined to comment for this story, when asked about the accusations that Widman had retaliated against subordinates, the 7th Bomb Wing replied: Retaliation is illegal and not in alignment with our Air Force core values for integrity, Lt. Cashin wrote. After 20 years of war you think the Air Force wouldve figured it out by now, he said. May 1997 September 1998, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla. 3. It cost him a star. I talked to my supervisor and he said that was pretty extreme, the airman said of the demotion. The video features song, dance, lots of talcum powder, and a big male genitalia puppet. She turned her head and saw it was Retka, who walked away. June 2017 June 2018, Vice Commander, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah. Commander That Fired First Female USAF Demo Team Leader Made This Crass