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Show B prepares for evolutionary changes AEF VSf IIMJTON l.fte cvcIch fn.uwJ Air ! li.e - M11Ie the first to aerospace expeditionary on early rmcfication, predictability and stability peop'c- - Cycle 3 will tuncentruie on tearrHnnented We prctn niu.h relied n "hrute force' U) get off the ground and vtciii nKt uito ihe execution pruie On the first aerospace expedi-iii..clei." said Col. Walter Bums, commander of the ar f.te Aenruce l AjvJiUoiiary orce Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va. 120-dadeployment notification goal was aikJ we've improved on that during Cycle 2." month Cycle 2 began in December and runs through f "Hy the end ol Cwle I. the . IV I y February t olfkuK m tilled in Cycle 2 that the current "unit type codes" np,i!iiis grouped together to provide specific vvarfighting capabili-- n were designed to meet the nation's strategy of being able to fight am ma theater wars at the same time. '1 all very large UTCV Colonel Bums said, and were in were hey l I loiiirjit to the much smaller needs of ongoing requirements like operation-. Southern Watch and Northern Watch. So LTCs are being reik signed to reflect the demands of the current world environment. Ihe redesign effort focuses on building modular, scalable LTCs that allow force providers to respond to the full spectrum of military ojvrations. With smaller, scalable LTCs, many of the teams deploying for Al Cycle 3 will come from a single base, rather than individual members deploying from many bases. Colonel Bums said. "Before, you would have seven or eight different bases providing one or two or three people to go over to do the work in a particular shop." Burns said. 'The team developed after they got off the plane and reported for duty. There was no coherent team aspect there. That's what we're try ing to fix right now." Currently, deployment taskings for a large Air Force w ing are spread that make up a cycle. across all 10 AF-F"A base like Langley would have people on the road all the time," Colonel Bums said. "But now, our goal is to tap a w ing hard once, and then not so hard during a second period. This w ill keep bases such as langley and Shaw from being deployed all the time." Ihe teaming concept also means most expeditionary combat support troops will travel at the same time as the aircrews and maintainers I- - on-ca- ll in their unit. 'We want to be upfront and tell the field that, yes, there may be some impact, but this is an evolutionary improvement in the AEF process. " By Kelly Kirsteatter Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. '. . LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. Children of military families AKA brats know the one question in life that's probably the hardest to answer. It's not "What's for dinner?" or "What am 1 going to do today?" It's "Where are you from?" f or most people, the answer comes right out, no hesitation, no thought required, just a simple "Florida" or "California." But for us brats, it takes time and thought to answer. My answer is usually something like, "I grew up in an Air Force family, so I've lived many places." The asker, who's trying to help me figure out where I'm from, says, "Well then, where were you born?" I answer "Nebraska," but I must explain that I only lived there for three months of my life, so how could I be "from there"? Next comes, "Well, where did you graduate from high school?" I say "Panama" which normally gets a response of "Oh, Panama City, Florida?" To which I must reply "No, Panama, the country." I can't really be "from there" either, because I'm not Panamanian. Next comes the question, "Where did you graduate from college?" I tell them Florida, but I was only there for four years, so that doesn't really constitute being "from there" either. In fact, I've never lived anywhere longer than four years. A seemingly simple question requires a five-horesponse from me. And they don't hear about the places in between that I had the wonderful opportunity to experience. Maybe I'm from one of those states. For instance, maybe I'm from Delaware, where I spent the first four years of my life, ur said. Additionally, AEFC officials are working to expand the number of people in the AEF library or pool - who are available to deploy from 20,01 X) to 200,000 airmen. This leaves a larger number of people to choose from, reducing the impact on individuals and bases. Colonel Bums said. The current effort to expand the AEF library will make it easier for the Air Force to support joint exercises out of the library, said the AEFC commander. Once the 200,000 goal is reached, the AEF w ill be able to source large-scaoverseas exercises, such as the biennial exercise Bright Star, from the AEF libraries. The Air Force will test this concept this fall by ' forces in Bright Star. using some ll "If you are in your AEF window and you're available to deploy, it could now mean your deployment could be to Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch, the Balkans or Bright Star," Colonel Bums said. Security forces deployments highlight one example of the benefits of this change. Prev iously, security forces would deploy for about 70 days for Bright Star during their training cycle and then turn around and have to deploy to the desert when they were in their AEF window. This blew their personnel tempo goals out the window," Colonel Bums said. "When you're a security force troop, the last thing you w ant to do is go to a large-scaexercise like Bright Star and then a few months later go to an extensive deployment in the desert." With the Cycle 3 kick off in March 2002, there are many pressing challenges ahead. Getting the UTCs sized correctly and expanding the AEF library are top priorities. "We want to eventually get the AEF into a repeating rhythm of activity. We want to continue to improve quality of life, enhance our retention efforts and make deployments better for our airmen," he said. Colonel Bums said that education is also part of improving AEF operations. This summer, the AEF center's outreach teams will travel to Air Force bases to talk about the changes for Cycle 3. This will be an opportunity to get direct feedback from the field and highlight key AEF updates. When it's available, a schedule of base visits will be posted on the center's Web site. ( Courtesy of A ir Forte Print News) - 1 le on-ca- Col. Walter Burns commander Force Center Aerospace Expeditionary Colonel Burns said one of the challenges is to define the maximum team contribution a wing can provide before home operations are affected. "We're telling folks that you have to expect some pain, but we don't want to break a wing, he said. Colonel Bums said airmen need to be aware of the changes. As the Air Force transitions to the Cycle 3 teaming concept with more specific assignments, some people who are in AEF 5 and 6 may be moved into AEF 7 and 8, or AEF 9 and 10, said Bums. "So there will be a short-terimpact on predictability and stability," Colonel Burns said. "But wing officials can help mitigate this issue." For example, he said, if an airman is moved to an earlier AEF and that creates a problem, the squadron commander could identify a replacement The commander could then put the airman in an "available to deploy" category. "We want to be upfront and tell the field that, yes, there may be le m Hill Air Force Where I'mfront: No easy answer Editor's note: This article is adapted from comments Kelly Kirsteatter made at her father 's retirement ceremony. Col. Gary Kirsteatter served us chief of the combat support division at the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Center, Langley AFB, Va., before retiring after 27 years ofsenice. Ms. Kirsteatter is the deputy director of the child development center at Kirtland AFB, N.M. some impact, but this is an evolutionary improvement in the AEF process. In the long run, this will benefit everyone." Colonel Bums where I learned that my dad was an Air Force pilot and his office was in the sky. My mom says every time I saw a plane I would say "There goes Daddy's office!" Or maybe I'm from Illinois where I learned to ride my bike with my dad holding on to my belt, of course. Then again, maybe I'm from Alabama, where I lost my first tooth, or it could be Virginia, where I was able to pick the color of my room in our new house. I picked sunshine yellow, and my dad painted my yellow room so that it was waiting for me when I arrived. Living a military life was the best thing that could have happened to me. I have moved 1 1 times and experienced seven different states, two different countries, and I won't even count how many different schools. I was given the opportunity to experience the world and meet many people. I learned to make friends, say goodbye, keep memories, and appreciate differences. I learned the importance of family when you move to a new place, they're all you've got! Mom and Dad were always positive when it came to moving. The fun, new, exciting things were always emphasized, like a new house, new school, new friends, and of course, a new room color! Their upbeat attitude shaped the way I felt about moving. It made me look forward to my next challenge rather than dreading the fact that we were once again leaving. All of my moving experiences made me who I am. I consider myself to be an outgoing "people" person, someone who can adapt quickly. I had to become these things. These are the traits that 1 carry today and will need in the future as I begin to start my own Air Force family. You see, I liked it so much that I chose to do it all over again! (Courtesy ofACC News Service) Subscribe to receive the latest command news to by sending an Put subscribe in the body of the message and leave the subject block blank. You will receive an from the list server software "majordomo" notifying you of being added to the list. Airman Against Drinking and Driving 586-223-3 Call for a safe ride home. Member is responsible for full reimbursement to AADD of cab fares incurred for rescues. e rescues are free. off-ba-se On-bas- Career guidance tailored to your needs. Staying in or getting out, I have the answers you're looking for you. Call Senior Master Sgt. Larue Campbell, your 388th Fighter Wing Career Assistance Advisor at or visit him in the 388th FW headquarters Bldg 120 Room 21 8A. 5-ST- AY Fighter Country Published for People Like... J Name:Tameka Knazee Rank: airman 1st class Job: apprentice Unit: 421st Fighter Squadron Time in Service: 1 year Goals: To do the best job can Most Recent Accomplishment? Living on my own and surviving aero-propulsi- Base - dpitry :. Editorial Staff Col. Steve Hoog Tech. Sgt. Sonja Whittinglon Senior Airman Cindy Huston Commander NCOIC, Public Affairs Chief, Command Information I Fighter Country is a supplement to the Hilltop Times, published by MorMedia. Inc., a private firm in no way connected with Ihe U.S. Air Force, exclusive written contract with the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of Fighter Country are not necessarily the official views of. or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. 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