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Show 1 0 HILLTOP TIMES "fIME S Aug. 15, 2013 ACMI pods produce knowledge, keeps warfighters sharp SENIOR AIRMAN ZACHARY PERRAS/U.S. Air Force Wes Dear attaches an air-combat maneuver instrument pod to a Japan Air-Self Defense Force F-15.1 Eagle at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The pods are attached to aircraft to help monitor movement during flights, which can be reviewed during post-flight briefings. Dear is an electronic technician with Bering Sea Environmental North. BY SENIOR AIRMAN SHAWN NICKEL 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — Keeping track of 60 aircraft from U.S. and allied partners during a two-week exercise could seem to be an impossible task especially in a training space the size of Florida. To help with the giant task of tracking and collecting data, fighter aircraft are equipped with Air Combat Maneuver Instrument Pods to track actions ensuring pilots can learn from their flying experience and sharpen their warfighting skills. The ACMI pods, which look similar to the typical air-to-air missile in dimensions, collect data as the aircraft negotiate training scenarios in the 64,000-acre Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex while participating in Red Flag-Alaska. Back on the ground, the information is dissected and used to debrief the crew on what they did well and what they could improve on - education being the key. "Every participating jet gets a pod," said Randy Robertson a contractor from Bering Sea Environmental North, the company that provides and mounts the pods. "These 140-pound units are key to training. They give pilots the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and others." Robertson compared the information to a scene in the movie "Top Gun" where Navy pilots are debriefed about their performance. "This system is similar to the green shapes pilots saw in the film; however, our system is state-of-the-art," he said. With five countries and almost every branch of the U.S. military flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment, this information becomes invaluable on a daily basis. "The ACMI brings all the time and money spent on sorties to fruition," said Maj. Sam Stitt, 1st Annual OGDEN VALLEY ROOTS & BLUES FESTIVAL North Fork Park, Liberty, UT August 23 1a-25th * Bettye LaVette * Bill Kirchen * John Mooney * The Hillbenders * The Atomics * The Sister Wives is * The Legendary ri Porch Pounders uoa's best friend: K-9 veteran comes home after service BY SENIOR AIRMAN MADELYN BROWN 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — As Pepper leapt over a 5-foot fence to catch up with a "bad guy," his left hind paw was caught in one of the chain links. As the rest of his body catapulted forward, his paw remained snagged in the fence. When he freed his paw out from the fence, his leg hung distorted and lifeless. His handler knew something was terribly wrong with the K-9. "My initial reaction when I saw what happened was to run to his aid," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Smith, a 60th Security Forces Squadron kennel master. "The crazy thing was that Pepper was still more interested in chasing a ball than staying off his limp, injured leg." This injury shattered Pepper's leg from the knee down and tore all three tendons in his knee. There was no choice but to amputate the leg. This was the end of Pepper's time as a Military Working Dog. At the time of the injury, Smith was a staff sergeant stationed at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. He was new to the K-9 subsection of security forces, and Pepper was his first assigned dog. Just as Smith was new to this, Pepper only was operational as a MWD for six months and Smith as his first handler. Pepper was 2- years-old at the time. "It was scary bringing him home after his leg amputation," Smith said. "When he went out in the yard for the first time, he kind of stumbled with his first few steps. Then he was off like a rocket and was able to move naturally with three legs." After the surgery, Pepper adjusted to retirement and became a member of the family. the 354th Combat Training Squadron operations division chief. "We are able to take the information and accurately debrief." Stitt said some information can be lost with the fast-paced environment of Red Flag and describes the action in the field as chaotic. "Debriefing is like a film study in football," he said. "Every player has a job and even though you can't replace handson flying, it's extremely valuable to review information from the outside." * * * * * * The Wood Brothers Watermelon Slim Swamp Cabbage Lorene Greenwood Kap Brothers Band Joe McQueen TICKETS: Guitar Master Class led by Bill Kirchen, dubbed the "Titan of the Telecaster." 3-Day $50 / $55 at gate 1-Day $25 / $30 at gate Guitar Master Class $50 Class w/3-Day Pass $75 Kids 16 & Under FREE! Free outreach event with Bill Kirchen "Guitar through the Ages" Thursday, Aug. 22, 6:00pm Downtown Ogden Amphitheater I Presented by: Friends of Acoustic Music facebook.com/OFOAM FT! arts& 11..(S kr. SENIOR AIRMAN MADELYN BROWN/U.S. Air Force UTAH DIVISION OF Pepper, a 9-year-old retired Military Working Dog, stands on alert with his owner, Tech. Sgt. Chris Smith at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Pepper retired after a training injury resulted in a leg amputation. Smith was his handler at the time and adopted Pepper after the surgery. Smith is a kennel master assigned to the 60th Security Forces Squadron. "On my wedding day, Pepper was the ring bearer," Smith said. "He came barreling down the aisle on three legs and halted when he got to us. The ring was tied around his neck and when he gave me a high-five, his paw caught the necklace so it looked like he put the ring in my hand." Now 9-years-old, Pepper has maintained this agility. Pepper has the energy and playfulness of a puppy with the discipline of a retired military working dog, Smith said. He can do pretty much anything any other dog can do and then some. At a K-9 competition Aug. 2 in Alameda Calif., the Belgian Malinois had the opportunity to test his skills beside active police and MWD. The task was to sniff out narcotics in a cluttered garage, as well as in a lineup of four stationary vehicles. For a MWD to be sue- cessful in these tasks, an understanding between handler and dog must exist. "When a dog is on a scent that they've been trained to sniff out, they'll show you a change in behavior," Smith said. "You have to know your dog well enough to understand what they're trying to tell you." For example, when Pepper is on a scent, he will start to pitter patter his front paws on the ground and look back and forth from his handler to the scent, Smith said. In the narcotics garage, Pepper sniffed out cocaine, marijuana and heroin, which placed his performance better than many of the competing active working dogs. "Pepper was unbelievable," Smith said. "He was so excited to be working again. He was searching as hard as I have ever seen and he was sharp." For Smith, Pepper is more than just a former MWD. 1 II 4 I AeF'ro in For more info or tickets: la& "I love Pepper like he's my kid," he said. "He's an amazing dog." Getting the iiids - baGk to school Apply (1:77CbatP Platinum ard 6 Month Introductory with Cash Back Rewards WASATCH PEAKS 0,74 ,0m. 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