McGinnis named 2018 Air Force Emergency Manager of the Year

Photo By Airman 1st Class Beaux Hebert | Master Sgt. Kevin McGinnis, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management Flight superintendent, stands in a training hazardous material suit Feb. 26, 2019, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The emergency management career field frequently deals with chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear materials during incidents and mishaps across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Beaux Hebert)

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, MS, UNITED STATES
03.01.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Beaux Hebert
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs


COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – Master Sgt. Kevin McGinnis, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management flight superintendent, was recently awarded the 2018 Air Force Emergency Manager of the Year in the military category.

On Feb. 5, McGinnis had just finished up his work for the day and was on his way out the door when Lt. Col. Peter Joo, 14th CES commander, delivered the news.

“When I found out, I was really excited because it’s an Air Force level award so it’s a pretty big deal,” McGinnis said. “I was especially happy to win this award at Columbus.”

McGinnis and his team are responsible for the base’s emergency planning for natural disasters; chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear attacks; certain aircraft mishaps; and other incidents. They are responsible for protecting Airmen, their families and the base’s multi-million dollars’ worth of equipment and infrastructure. They also ensure all personnel are fully trained to minimize casualties and damage in the event of a disaster or attack.

McGinnis’ flight commander, 2nd Lt. Riley Quinlan, recognized his hard work throughout the year and nominated him for the award.

“McGinnis is a very focused and driven individual,” Quinlan said. “He is a very high energy and motivational guy and, in my opinion, if he did not win the award, I’d say the system is flawed.”

McGinnis said some of his achievements that he felt contributed the most included his deployment to Syria in 2017. He was assigned to a two-man team who helped various units, including explosive ordnance disposal teams, safely navigate and work in their respected areas of operations.

McGinnis also had major involvement in the 2018 Wings Over Columbus Air and Space Show. He and his team were responsible for the safety of over 21,000 attendees if a disaster, natural or man-made, was to happen. Although it wasn’t utilized during the air show, his team was in charge of directing the emergency operations center.

McGinnis said the final catalyst on his package was the T-38C Talon mishap in May of 2018. He and his team directed emergency personnel to rescue the pilots, find their ejection seats and help contain the incident.

“We had a really ‘good’ year,” McGinnis said. “When your job involves disasters, it’s never really good to have a busy year, but it’s good for the experience.”

McGinnis is no stranger to winning awards. He won the same award twice at the major command level; the first in the Air Force Special Operations Command in 2014 and the second in Air Education and Training Command in 2017.

McGinnis, like all enlisted Airmen, started his career at Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland AFB, Texas, in November 2001. He said after high school, he floated around and didn’t really have any aspirations in life. Then, his mom told him she needed him to drive to a medical appointment. Little did he know, she was taking him to the Air Force recruiter.

From there, he went to basic and technical training and was assigned to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, where he spent his first five years as an emergency manager. While at Barksdale, he said he had some unique opportunities dealing with hurricanes and even responded to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Twelve years and numerous duty stations later, McGinnis plans on serving for a few more years to see his children graduate high school then he will retire.

McGinnis said the key to having a successful career is to not focus on the awards, instead focus on doing your job to the best of your ability and the awards then acknowledgement will come.

“Do the right things for the right reasons,” McGinnis said. “If you genuinely try and put forth effort, it will pay off.”

Video: Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton Capabilities

MCAS CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

03.08.2019
Video by Cpl. Juan Bustos and Cpl. Dylan Chagnon
Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton 

Established in 1942, Camp Pendleton's air facility was re-designated as Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in 1985, and honorably named Munn Field in 1987. The air station maintains and operates facilities designed to support flight operations of a Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine reserve aircraft wing, and a Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Juan Bustos and Cpl. Dylan Chagnon)

Shining a light on women in aviation

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY
03.09.2019
Photo by Airman 1st Class Milton Hamilton
86th Airlift Wing/Public Affairs 

Airman 1st Class Kayla Jerido, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter shows Lucena Hanna her fire protection gear during Young Women in Aviation Day on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March, 9, 2019. Jerido showed how fast she could put on her suit and equipment, while also showing the many instruments that protect her during a fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Milton Hamilton)

Full Story

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY
03.13.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Milton Hamilton
86th Airlift Wing/Public Affairs 

The first annual Young Women in Aviation Day just so happened to perfectly fall during Women’s History Month, March 9.

A group of approximately 100 students from various schools around the Kaiserslautern Military Community came to Ramstein to learn about the ranging careers of women working in the aviation field.

Brig. Gen. Mark R. August, 86th Airlift Wing commander spoke briefly to the students and highlighted some accomplishments and contributions of women in the Air Force and in aviation.

After August’s speech, students met several female air crew, toured static displays, the fire department, and the control tower.

“The main focus of us being here today is to grow interest in aviation, specifically for women, but there are more than just women here,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michelle Barker, U.S. Air Forces in Europe near term future plans branch chief.

Barker said there is a clear deficit of pilots, but the focus of the Young Women in Aviation Day is to shed light on the aviation career field as a whole, from the women who work for the 86th Security Forces Squadron’s “Ravens,” who fly with the pilots, to the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

“These young girls are asking questions and are able to see what’s possible in multiple aspects of aviation, such as fire-fighting, maintenance, flying the aircraft or working in the tower,” said 1st Lt. Ariel Brown, 480th Fighter Squadron wingman, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. “It’s really good they’re presenting not only the glorified version of being a pilot, but all aspects that go into it.”

When asked if this type of representation was available when she was growing up, Brown said, there was not a lot of representation for women in flying, in general, she was interested in it, but didn’t know the many possible career fields in aviation either.

Whether students wanted to be a pilot or not, the coordinators of Young Women in Aviation Day wanted to make sure each student that came to the event, could find something that peaked their interest.

Jordyn Kline, an 11 year-old Kaiserslautern Middle School student, said she came to the event for the airplanes, but after asking questions to a flight attendant, she decided that it is a career field she would like to explore.

“This is our opportunity to have an open house-like event that is geared towards specific folks, that affords them an opportunity to have really focused one-on-one conversations with experts in the aviation field,” said Barker.

The KMC students weren’t afraid to be hands-on or ask critical questions.

“I think this event makes a difference, you can see the sparkle in the children’s eyes,” said Barker. “They get to look in the airplanes, they get a patch, a goody-bag and get to ask questions.”

The Young Women in Aviation Day coordinators are hopeful they can hold this event in 2020, capitalizing off the momentum of a successful first run.

“I think this is something that should be enduring, something we can do annually to help people maintain interest in aviation,” said Barker.

The overall consensus of the coordinators and the parents of the students who attended, was that the event offered a much needed glance into the lives of professional women in aviation. It was an eye-opener for the young girls who were interested in any aspect of flight.

“I’m really glad this event is being held on Ramstein, it would be cool if in twenty years we see some of these girls flying,” said Brown.

South Carolina National Guard Implements Domestic Operations Initiatives

The South Carolina National Guard has implemented an aviation concept aimed at better preparing the state and region in aviation domestic operations and homeland defense, known as the Southeastern Army Aviation Training Site (SEAATS) comprised of the South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Training (SC-HART) team headquartered at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina, the RAVEN Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) certification also headquartered at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, the Aviation Maintenance Program (AMP) headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, and it also serves as a domestic operations hub for the East Coast for natural disaster aviation response. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Jorge Intriago)

COLUMBIA, SC, UNITED STATES
03.07.2019
Story by Capt. Jessica Donnelly
South Carolina National Guard 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina National Guard has implemented an aviation concept aimed at better preparing the state and region in aviation domestic operations and homeland defense, known as the Southeastern Army Aviation Training Site (SEAATS).

The South Carolina National Guard partnered with the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center and Greenville Technical College to offer training on the integration of aviation support to civilian authorities and Federal Aviation Administration-certified maintenance courses through SEAATS.

SEAATS is an aviation training concept comprised of the South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Training (SC-HART) team headquartered at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina, the RAVEN Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) certification also headquartered at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, the Aviation Maintenance Program (AMP) headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, and it also serves as a domestic operations hub for the East Coast for natural disaster aviation response.

SEAATS began as an idea in 2008 under now retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lester Eisner who served as the assistant adjutant general-Army for the South Carolina National Guard. In 2012 the concept was briefed to put into implementation and in 2017 SEAATS became a reality under U.S. Army Col. Andrew Batten, serving as the South Carolina National Guard 59th Aviation Troop Command (ATC) commander at the time, explained U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Sean Reynolds, SEAATS action officer and 59th ATC standardization pilot.

“Our goal is for South Carolina to be the subject matter expert in military and civilian aviation working together… This initiative requires military and civilian staff to coordinate and communicate prior to a disaster and create a standard,” said Reynolds.

In the past, military and civilian aviation authorities primarily responded separately to natural disasters, but with the help of SEAATS and the emphasis on aviation domestic operations, it has emphasized inter-agency partnership training and response during Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions, Reynolds added.

One of the pillars of SEAATS, is the RAVEN SUAS aircrew training program, which focuses on individual and crew training to ensure the combat proficiency of Army SUAS operators in the combined arms effort, as well as individual proficiency in tasks required to operate a SUAS. The training is conducted in multiple iterations throughout the year at McEntire Joint National Guard Base and is offered to any Military Occupational Specialty that operates the RAVEN. The RAVEN SUAS was recently used by the 43rd Civil Support Team, South Carolina National Guard, during the state’s response to Hurricane Florence in September 2018. The RAVEN was used to capture real-time video imagery of the flooding in the state and identify any areas with potential for additional flood waters.

A second pillar of SEAATS is the SC-HART team, comprised of South Carolina National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, crew members, pilots, and medical teams, as well as civilian rescue and medical personnel. SC-HART conducts frequent full-scale training events between the National Guard and civilian agencies implementing complex scenarios to ensure seamless response during real-world emergencies.

SC-HART also played a major role in conducting approximately 30 rescues during the flooding that impacted South Carolina in October 2015, as well as multiple rescues of injured hikers in the upstate in the past, explained U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tripp Hutto, SC-HART program manager and 2-151st Security and Support Aviation Battalion aviation mission survivability officer.

“SC-HART has civilian and military crews working together inside a helicopter, legally and safely…it has become synonymous with a natural disaster,” said Hutto. “When people talk about HART, they talk about North Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina…North Carolina was the first, Texas is the biggest, Pennsylvania is the busiest, and South Carolina makes the most noise.”

To streamline processes, the South Carolina National Guard is contributing to the creation of the the HART Standard Operating Procedure being compiled by the National Guard Bureau to help implement and train HART in other states, added Hutto.

The third pillar of SEAATS is AMP, which is a cooperative agreement between the South Carolina National Guard and Greenville Technical College and provides technical training for aviation maintainers. The AMP initiative is currently still being developed, explained Reynolds.

The final pillar of SEAATS is domestic operations. SEAATS prepares aviation domestic operation partnerships to be well organized, managed, standardized, highly capable, and cost effective, said Reynolds. SEAATS emphasizes building partnerships between the civilian organizations and South Carolina National Guard in response to DSCA missions. Under the concept of SEAATS, the South Carolina National Guard hosted the 2018 Aviation Domestic Operations Workshop, January 2018, where more than 40 states attended. The purpose of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for National Guard aviators, law enforcement, rescue operators, military and civilian planners, and emergency management leaders to discuss topics and issues pertaining to techniques, lessons learned, and integration during emergency response operations.

An additional aspect of SEAATS is incorporating the South Carolina National Guard State Partnership Program with the Republic of Colombia and teaching the partner nation processes and procedures in HART and DSCA response, explained Hutto. It also allows other aspects of the South Carolina National Guard to benefit from the concept.

“SEAATS is aviation oriented, but it deals with domestic operations as a whole with how we communicate with civilians,” said Hutto.

This includes providing South Carolina National Guard aviation liaison officers to work in the community emergency operation centers during natural disaster response missions to be able to communicate and cross-talk between organizations, he added. This allows for the military and civilian organizations to work hand-in-hand and understand operations and assets available from all organizations.

“We’re all working together now…the civilian agencies are in charge and [the South Carolina National Guard] executes the missions,” said Reynolds.

Biloxi students explore Keesler careers

BILOXI, MS, UNITED STATES
03.07.2019
Photo by Kemberly Groue
81st Training Wing Public Affairs 

Seth Corn, 81st Infrastructure Division driver operator, demonstrates to school-aged children how to quickly get dressed in firefighter gear during Biloxi School District Career Exploration Day on Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, March 7, 2019. The children also toured the 334th Training Squadron air traffic control school, 335th TRS weather facility and received a demonstration from the 81st Security Forces Squadron military working dogs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)