Today's stories include:
F-35s grounded as precaution after crack found in engine blade
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123337437
SecAF discusses sequestration impacts at AFA
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123337385
AF releases criteria for new combat medal
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123337305
TFSC-SA, AFPC Web applications unavailable for system maintenance
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123337281
Air Force Week in Photos
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123337287
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America's Air Force... Integrity, Service, Excellence
F-35s grounded as precaution after crack found in engine blade
by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- All F-35s have been grounded as a precaution after a routine engine inspection revealed a crack on an engine blade, Defense Department officials said Feb. 22 here.
Officials call this a "cautionary suspension of flight." The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fly F-35s.
Inspectors found the crack in an F135 engine installed in an F-35A Lightning II at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. This is the conventional take-off and landing version of the joint strike fighter.
Officials are shipping the engine and its associated hardware to Pratt & Whitney's engine facility in Middletown, Conn., to conduct more thorough evaluation and root cause analysis.
Officials said the grounding is precautionary. All F-35 flight operations have been suspended until the investigation is complete, officials said, and it is too early to know the fleetwide impact.
"The F-35 Joint Program Office is working closely with Pratt & Whitney and Lockheed Martin at all F-35 locations to ensure the integrity of the engine, and to return the fleet safely to flight as soon as possible," a Defense Department news release said.
SecAF discusses sequestration impacts at AFA
by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
AIr Force Public Affairs Agency
ORLANDO, Fla. (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed more than 500 men and women on the final day of the Air Force Association's 29th Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition Feb. 22 here.
During his address, Donley spoke about several issues that are on the Air Force's radar, including budget and planning challenges, and of particular interest, the looming sequestration.
"During over three decades now in Washington, I don't believe I've ever witnessed a budget process that is as dysfunctional as is the one we're experiencing today," Donley said.
Although the service has protected people and readiness to date, the impact of sequestration will ultimately force the Air Force to take actions that will impact readiness and its civilian workforce the secretary said. He also discussed the impact sequestration will have on Airmen's professional development, due to non-mission essential travel being frozen.
The secretary said sequestration could "delay the promotions of Airmen who rely on that training as part of their preparation for higher rank. It could lead to a loss of certification for Airmen in technical specialties that require regular training such as firefighters or explosive ordnance disposal specialists."
Donley also voiced his concern for the morale of the service's civilian force should a furlough take place.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta notified Congress on Feb. 20 that the Department of Defense civilian workforce could face potential furloughs in late April. This could impact up to 180,000 civilian Airmen for up to 22 working days, resulting in a loss of 31.5 million man hours of productivity.
"We're deeply concerned for our civilian Airmen and the mission," Donley said. "We'll keep working to prevent these actions, which would decimate morale and break faith with their service to our Air Force."
Among other significant challenges that the service will face under sequestration is the impact to flying readiness.
"Reduction of about 200,000 flying hours would impact our theater security packages," Donley said. "Those combat units not expected to deploy, will only continue to fly until depletion of their flying hours funds, which could occur as early as mid-May."
The secretary also spoke about the impacts to the defense industry, many members of which were widely represented in the audience at the symposium.
Impacts to the defense industrial base will grow in magnitude as reductions in resources ripple through the network of companies that support Air Force prime contractors and sub-contractors, according to Donley.
"We're concerned about the capacity of smaller or more specialized companies to successfully negotiate this challenging environment," he said, emphasizing the importance of their contributions to the Air Force. "What many of you do in industry is important to us. It makes a direct contribution to our capabilities."
In addition to the impacts of sequestration, Donley discussed the Total Force Task Force, a group of active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard members that he and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III assembled to discuss the right mix of Total Force capabilities for the service.
"The results of this task force will inform our strategic planning and programing for fiscal 2015 and beyond, and will also serve as a resource to the congressionally-directed national commission on the structure of the Air Force that will be examining total-force issues later this year," he said.
Despite the current challenges facing the Department, Donley made one thing clear -- America's Airmen are ready for any challenge.
"We came into this situation as the world's finest Air Force, it is our intention to come out of this as the world's finest Air Force, and we will," Donley said. "If we back them, Airmen will back our Air Force, and they will help us get through these challenging times."
AF releases criteria for new combat medal
by Senior Master Sgt. David Byron
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force officials released nomination criteria for the new Distinguished Warfare Medal Feb. 15, following defense officials' announcement of the new decoration days prior.
The DWM will be awarded to honor individuals for single acts of extraordinary achievement, not involving acts of valor, that directly impact combat or other military operations approved by the secretary of defense.
Unlike other combat-related medals, service members may be awarded the DWM for actions completed from either in or outside an actual combat zone.
The action must include hands-on employment of a weapons system, including remotely controlled assets, or any other activity, in any domain, that had a direct and immediate on-site effect on an engagement or operation against a target.
The domain is expansive in scope and includes air, land, maritime, space and cyberspace, according to Air Force Personnel Center guidance.
"In modern warfare, one individual can have a truly 'extraordinary' impact on combat operations, whether they are located on the front lines, elsewhere in the (area of responsibility) or half way around the world," said Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services. "DOD has authorized the DWM, allowing the services to recognize their members, in our case Airmen, whose single act of extraordinary achievement directly and significantly impacts critical combat operations."
Though involvement in a combat operation is required, the medal will not be awarded for acts of valor under any circumstances. Actions involving valor should be considered for other decorations.
Valor is defined as "an act or acts of heroism by an individual above what is normally expected while engaged in direct combat with an enemy with exposure to enemy hostilities and personal risk," said Senior Master Sgt. Diana Gonzalez, the AFPC awards and recognition chief.
The criteria needed to be considered for the medal requires that the extraordinary achievement must result in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from comrades or others in similar situations. The approval chain sets the bar high as to what meets the criteria.
"The approval level (service secretary), in our case the Secretary of the Air Force, testifies to the importance of this award and the importance of the action on combat operations," Jones said.
For Airmen, the final approval authority for the medal is the secretary of the Air Force. One step of the approval chain rests with the commander of air forces in the respective area of responsibility.
For an Airman nominated for action taken from outside the combat zone, the commander of Air Force forces will verify the direct impact of the action on the combat operation.
The DWM will immediately follow the Distinguished Flying Cross in order of precedence. Enlisted Airmen who earn the medal will receive five promotion points.
Eligibility for the medal is retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001.
Nominations for currently-serving Airmen will be processed through their respective chain of command.
"Former Airmen who have since retired or separated can contact us for information on how to submit the medal request," Gonzalez said. "The medal can also be presented posthumously, so family members can query us as well."
For more information and full eligibility criteria, go to the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil and enter "DWM" in the search window.
TFSC-SA, AFPC Web applications unavailable for system maintenance
by Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Total Force Service Center-San Antonio, A1 Service Desk and Air Force Personnel Center Web applications will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Feb. 23 to 8 a.m. Feb. 24 CDT for system maintenance.
The major personnel applications and systems affected by this maintenance event include all of AFPC's secure applications and other Web applications on the AFPC Public Web Services website at http://access.afpc.af.mil. The virtual Personnel Center-Guard Reserve, or vPC-GR, application will continue to be accessible to customers.
AFPC's public website at http://www.afpc.af.mil will also be online for general personnel news. For additional information about personnel services and programs, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil.