career field DOEHRS reports. Re-building this capability contin-ues to be a challenge, but is one we remain committed. We also recently stood up a DOEHRS Functional Users Group to focus our efforts on improving the effectiveness of DOEHRS as an Air Force occupational and envi-ronmental health management and reporting tool. Finally, ef-forts to corporately adopt many reports that ACC produced in their DOEHRS Reporting Suite are ongoing and should con-clude near the end of the year.

It is no secret our country as a whole, and the Department of Defense specifically, are fac-ing serious fiscal challenges. It is incumbent on all of us to en-sure that we are doing every-thing we can to continuously improve bioenvironmental engi-neering operations and make them as efficient and effective as possible. To a certain extent that is

Since the last newsletter CMSgt Reid has retired and CMSgt Mindy Patrick is now on board and has assumed the Career

Field Manager duties. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating her on her appointment to this criti-cal senior leadership position. Also, I want to thank CMSgt Reid for the truly outstanding “caring and feed-ing” he provided our career field.

In my initial correspondence, I discussed that I would focus in the near-term on producing an officer development plan to guide and as-sist officers in managing their ca-reers, enhancing DOEHRS support and AF functionality, and emphasiz-ing the importance of and encourag-ing the effective implementation and use of the Occupational and Environmental Health Management System. I can report progress in

each of those areas, but there is still much work to do.

The officer development plan was a bit more of a chal-lenge than I expected, having gone through several draft versions that vacillated be-tween a mentoring plan, ca-reer management plan, and education and training devel-opment plan. We have now settled on producing a combi-nation of the three plans pri-marily targeted to the com-pany grade officer level and secondarily targeted to the field grade officers serving as mentors. We expect to have a final draft for broader career field review within 30 days. If the product does not hit the advertised mark please let us know.

We’ve made a significant investment in DOEHRS recon-stituting a support office at USAFSAM that will include the ability to produce validated

F R O M T H E D E S K O F T H E A S S O C I A T E C H I E F — C O L A S H W O R T H U

SA

F B

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 2

V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 1

B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

A R T I C L E S F R O M T H E T O P & O F F I -C E R R E T I R E M E N T S

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S C H O O L H O U S E N E W S & S N C O M O V E S

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S U P P O R T & A F I S

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B E R E A D Y ( A F C E N T ) &

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O F F I C E R / E N L I S T E D P R O M O T I O N S &

B E O F F I C E R M O V E S

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S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T :

AFIT AAD applications due 6 Aug

AFIT AAD selection board meets 8-9 Sep (projected)

AFIT short course application period is 1 Jul - 15 Aug

(Continued on page 2)

C H I E F ’ S C O R N E R — C M S G T P A T R I C K

I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue making a difference for the Air Force and for our career field voicing and addressing critical issues affecting our bioenviron-mental engineering (BE) enlisted force and Aerospace Medicine Enterprise. It is excit-ing to work even more closely with our outstanding Air Force leaders here on the Air Staff and more importantly to work for all of our BE men and women serving around the globe. Our BE enlisted have a his-tory of making great things hap-

pen, and a legacy of selfless service plus sacrifice and excel-lence in all we do! As the “human at the end of every task making things happen,” we must continue balancing both personal and professional individual needs consistent with the AF mission. To do this, my top focus area is deliberate development through a formal-ized 4B career plan of educa-tion, training, and experience. So, over the next month or two, MSgt Selina Hamblin, 4B Force Manager, will lead an effort to capture as much useful infor-mation in a plan for release to

the field. Formalizing the elements our career plan guaran-tees the right 4B, with the right compe-tencies, is delivered at the right time to support the current and future AF missions and requirements.

In an effort to clarify career development and pathway op-portunities for all 4Bs, this plan centralizes the progression portion, which applies to

(Continued on page 2)

Page 2 B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

Airman Basic through Master Sergeant, and the succession portion of the plan, that typically happens at the Senior Master Ser-geant and Chief Master Sergeant grades. It provides transparency on the who, what, where, when and how of existing 4B special duty opportunities, and suggests other non-4B special duties (PME or Military Training Instructor, Career Advisor, Dorm Manager, Courier, Military Attaché, recruiter, etc.) to compliment your desired career goals whether that goal is a strategic leadership posi-tion in the careerfield, the AFMS, and/or line of the AF.

A large majority of inquiries received from the field are from 4Bs looking for more responsibility and a change of pace from tactical level BE flight operations. Mostly, 4Bs seek opportunities to step out and be a leader in both the technical and military leadership performance areas. A great deal of consideration and career planning is necessary to succeed; therefore, deliberate development centers on competence, and in the AF, competence includes your primary duty and expands from there to include leadership. Leadership is influence. In order to influence others, learn all the elements of your primary AFSC—your job, consis-tently do your job, teach others to do your job, and then be an advocate for your job, duty, or mission. Ultimately, the pathway for 4B’s career progression allows all individuals, first line supervisors, and mentors to know and to do their part to build better 4B leaders. Our nation counts on our competence. Sometimes it may be hard to "connect the dots" from the events of Sep 11th to your day to day jobs, but make no mistake about it - what you do every day matters. All the things done now and the path taken develops and prepares us and the forces...we will be counted on to support current and future problems, emergency response, and war operations.

Remember, most if not all of the greatest leaders in the AF or military history started off in their primary AFSC and did exceed-ingly well, were recognized for it, and moved onto bigger responsibilities, i.e., Rickenbacker, Mitchell, Doolittle, LeMay, Kenny, Marquez, Vandenberg, and Fogelman all started as enlisted or junior officers who went on from there because they were extraor-dinarily competent at their primary AFSC. You too can make history and can be a great AF leader if you have a plan to succeed and follow that plan.

C H I E F ’ S C O R N E R ( C O N ’ T ) — C M S G T P A T R I C K

(Continued from page 1)

what we expect to gain from our investment in DOEHRS and to a larger extent what the key attributes of a fully functioning management system can help deliver. You will soon be see-ing more details on the Occupational and Envi-ronmental Health Management System and hopefully recognize how you are already operat-ing inside a management system and identify areas where improvement and focus are needed to achieve desired outcomes. Two ar-eas where we will spend time corporately ad-dressing efficiency and effectiveness will be in standardization and in our capabilities.

It is my belief there are areas where our career field would benefit from more standardi-zation. I certainly fall short of wanting stan-dardization to the point that everything you do is prescriptive.

prescriptive. We are, and must remain, creative problem solvers; too much prescription is coun-terproductive. On the flip side, a lack of stan-dardization can be very inefficient. We must seek the right balance.

Finally, as we transition out of 10 plus years of continuous of engagements across the globe, with little fiscal constraints, we must re-examine our capabilities. Our emphasis on bioenvironmental engineering capabilities will not, and should not, go away. It is however very prudent to re-examine those capabilities in con-text of the larger geopolitical and financial envi-ronment. Efforts are underway to do just that. Thank you again for all that you do, and most importantly, how you do it!

F R O M T H E D E S K O F T H E A S S O C I A T E C H I E F ( C O N T . ) — C O L A S H W O R T H

(Continued from page 1)

S E N I O R O F F I C E R S R E T I R E D !

WWe would like to extend a “Farewell” and “Thank You” to our retired/retiring Bioenvironmental Engineers:

Col Rebecca Brown (LakenHeath Grp/CC) Col Don Hickman (Hill MedGrp/CC) Col Dulcie Weisman (Tinker AFB) Lt Col Craig Bias (USAFSAM) Lt Col Phil Brown (ACC) Lt Col Larry Calabro (AFMSA)

Lt Col Greg Frick (Elmendorf) Lt Col Todd Joachim (Spangdahlem) Lt Col Steph McCorrmick-Brown (711HPW) Lt Col Tim Mukoda (AFSPC) Lt Col Scott Nickolson (711 HPW)

N E W S F R O M T H E S C H O O L H O U S E —

C A P T V E R O N I C A B R O W N H E I M & M S G T D A I R A H A L L ( U S A F S A M / O E D )

Page 3 B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

The Force Development Division has been in our new home for almost a year now here at USAFSAM, Wright-Patterson, AFB. We are proud to share that the BE Apprentice course (BEA) was the first course to kick-off here at USAFSAM after our BRAC move from Brooks City Base, TX. We currently offer two in-residence AFSC awarding courses: BE Apprentice course (4B0X1) and BE Offi-cer course (43E3A). We also offer two in-residence advanced train-ing courses: BE Site Assessment (BESA) and BE Emergency Manage-ment Response (BEEMR). Furthermore, we offer a specialized radia-tion course, the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) course, via distance learning, purposely directed towards deployers and those in duty-specific positions. In addition, we present the following enhance-ment training tools available on Med+Learn: RSV tool, Hapsite Smart, Radeco, EPD, CDS Kit, Sam 940, HAZMAT and HAZWOPER refreshers.

We are also excited to announce the BE Advanced Work-shop from 24-28 Sept, 2012. This workshop is aimed for new or newly appointed flight/element commanders and chiefs. The work-shop will be four days in length and will be offered no less than twice per calendar year unless minimum class size cannot be met. The workshop consists of a combination of facilitated discussion as well as limited presentations. Student allocations will be prioritized based on the following categories: Category 1 students - those within one year of assuming, or having assumed an flight com-mander or flight chief/NCOIC position, and Category 2 students - those who have already held the flight commander or flight chief/NCOIC position.

We have also been working very hard to further develop the BE Officer course. For our third installment of BEO here at WPAFB starting on 2 Aug, we will be instructing with improved and

sequenced course materials.

As you may or may not be aware, the Utilization & Training Workshop (U&TW) for 4B0X1 (3,5,7) took place here at USAFSAM 30 Jan – 3 Feb 2012. BE leadership identified ways to synthesize BE capabilities, especially to bolster CDCs, QTPs, BEA course as well as advanced skill level courses. As we antici-pate changes to the BEA Specialty Training Standard, we were called upon to morph our two existing advanced courses (BESA and BEEMR) and make them more relevant and also create two new advanced courses to enhance our capabilities. A specific example of bolstering our BE skills would be to incorporate a more focused effort towards nuclear enterprise, an annual train-ing plan for all base level BE shops, an updated 886H equip-ment listing, and deeper level of proficiency in our existing line items.

Furthermore, we are creating mini-tutorial movies de-picting common sampling strategies/protocols (water, swipe, etc) to encourage consistent sample collection and decrease frequent sampling errors and refresh skill sets in garrison as well as deployed settings.

Lastly we have been working hard on providing addi-tional RSV training tools for base levels. This resource will con-sist of RSV training slides and lesson plans available for bases to use verbatim or as a reference to conduct current RSV training. This resource will be available on the knowledge exchange late 2012. Moreover, we are working in concert with the ePAC/QUSI team to present realistic scenarios/samples for homeland de-fense equipment usage.

S E N I O R E N L I S T E D L E A D E R S O N T H E M O V E !

HHAF/AFMSA — CMSgt Melinda Patrick—June ‘12 transitioned from Travis AFB, CA and MSgt Selina Hamblin—March ‘12 PCSed from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling to Defense Health Headquarters (DHHQ) in Falls Church, VA AFCENT — Jun ‘12 CMSgt Valeria Richardson returned to Langley AFB, VA safely from deployment; replaced by SMSgt Dawn Kolczynski PACAF — Jun ‘12 CMSgt Andre Parker PCSed from JB Elmendorf-Rich to Luke AFB, AZ to lead MDG as Group Supt (9G); SMSgt Paul Hagarty is at Osan AB; (S)MSgt Keith Scott returning to 4Bs PCSing to Hickam AFB, HI after serving at Tinker AFB’s A&FRC AFSPC — Jun ‘12 (C)MSgt Vivienne Davis PCSed from Peterson to JB Elmendorf-Rich to replace CMSgt Parker as PACAF MFM; new AFSPC MFM is SMSgt Joseph Candaso (Vandenberg AFB, CA) USAFE — Aug ‘12 SMSgt Sally Perez PCSing to Robins AFB, GA to lead as AMDS SQ Supt; (S)MSgt Scott Moran (AMC MFM / Scott AFB, IL) will replace her in USAFE (Ramstein AB, Germany) as USAFE MFM; (S)MSgt Alavaro Magana returning to 4B PAFSC after 4+ years serving as 1st Sergeant...will assume the BEF Supt position at Ramstein AB AFSOC — May ‘12 MSgt Thomas Terry PCSed to Lackland AFB; new AFSOC MFM is MSgt Jason Henning AMC — (S)MSgt Jan Menard PCSing to Charleston AFB, SC since returning to 4B career field after serving at Buckley AFB, CO as the ALS Commandant; (S)MSgt Angela Suafoa PCSing from McCord AFB, WA to MacDill AFB, FL

DOEHRS is one of Col Ashworth’s top priorities. He wants to see DOEHRS standardized [data entry] where appro-priate, utilized efficiently, and support-ing the career field more extensively (data out locally). To support this prior-ity, we have stood an AF DOEHRS Sup-port Office (DSO). We (with your help) are still defining what support the ca-reer field needs. But for now, here is a little of what support is available.

TThe DOEHRS Help Desk. The DoD DOEHRS Program Management Office (PMO) contracts with Northrop Grum-man to provide help desk support. The MHS Help Desk acts as the DOEHRS Tier I help desk; they simply assign a ticket number and pass the question on to the Tier III help desk, which is staffed by the DOEHRS experts from Northrop. However, the DOEHRS Help Desk only deals with system IT issues and “purple” questions, those that can be asked and answered the same regard-less of whether you are Army, Navy, or Air Force.

For system issues, if a DOEHRS user gets an error message, cannot reset their Discoverer password, needs to delete data, or finds what they be-lieve to be an error in DOEHRS, then they should email the MHS Help Desk.

Examples of “purple” questions include how to add a shop, how to import fit test records, and what happens to sample data if you stop date a process. Many “how to” ques-tions can be answered by looking in the DOEHRS Student/ User Guide, the manual used in the 40-hour IH and EH training courses. The user guide, CBTs, Automated Scenarios, and slides from the DOEHRS Monthly Refresher Training held on DCO can all be found in DOEHRS under the links in the “DOEHRS Documentation” menu tile.

The ESOH Service Center & the AF DOEHRS Support Office. Questions about business practices and Discoverer reports can be sent to the ESOH Service Center. If you send such a question to Tier III, as ex-perts in DOEHRS and not necessarily risk assessment or “Service-specific” operations, they will forward it to the ESOH Service Cen-ter on your behalf. (And the ESOH Service Center may pass IT issues and “purple” questions to Tier III.)

The DOEHRS Support Office works through the ESOH Service Center to answer all user questions in a timely manner. Some user issues may require the DSO to work with the Tier III help desk, submit a change request, or elevate the problem to the FUG, AFMSA, or the DOEHRS PMO.

In addition to DOEHRS user consulting, the DSO also:

- Serves as the Air Force’s DOEHRS Service Level Administrator

- Updates DOEHRS drop down pick lists, such as for IH hazards and methods

- Generates and maintains AF DOEHRS user guidance, to include the DOEHRS Help Page on the AFMS Knowledge Exchange

- Creates and maintains all AF-owned DOEHRS Discoverer reports

- Approves and prioritizes change requests

- With AFMSA/SG3PB, participates in DoD design teams to add functionality, like the Incident Reporting and Radiation modules

Again, for your DOEHRS "purple" ques-tions, contact the DOEHRS Help Desk at 1-800-600-9332 (option 4, 4) or mhssc@tma.osd.mil (and courtesy copy DOEHRS@ngc.com). For all your AF-specific DOEHRS and Discoverer report questions, contact the ESOH Service Center at 1-888-232-ESOH (3764), DSN 798-3764, or esoh.service.center@wpafb.af.mil. Regard-less of what kind of question you ask or where you send it, we will work together to make sure you get the information you need.

D O E H R S S U P P O R T I N T H E A I R F O R C E — M A J D A N S C H N E I D E R

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A I R F O R C E I N S P E C T I O N S Y S T E M ( A F I S ) - W H A T D O E S I T M E A N T O Y O U ? M A J K E N D R A F L E T C H E R

With the new inspection process taking effect 1 October 2012, there are some things BEs need to be aware of. First, you should review AFI 90-201, Air Force Inspection System (AFIS), to better understand this new inspection process. AFI 90-201 explains the framework of the new inspection process. During a Phase 0, Compliance Inspection (CI), BE will be inspected during an external OH-CAMP. This will last approximately one week., and will be conducted by MAJCOM appointed IG Inspectors (a fully trained BE or civilian industrial hygienist.) MAJCOMs have the option to use contractors as subject matter experts or “sensors” to collect and provide informa-tion to the IG inspector. A 2012 HSI counted as an external OHCAMP; however, this will no longer be the case when the new inspection process goes into effect in October. The HSI will be conducted in the same time frame as the CI, but will have separate inspectors (from AFIA) and a separate final report. With the emphasis on a decreased inspection footprint, the HSI will only last two and a half days, and the HSI will now be more of a programmatic look. But, programs can be explored further if problems are identified. Phase I and II are Readiness inspections, and will follow Phase O (within the same inspection window). The current CI target is every two years, and the scope is defined by the MAJCOMs.

The foundation of the new AFIS is a robust self-inspection program. The emphasis is on commanders taking responsibility for their people and programs. Self-Assessment Checklists (SACs), both BE and shop-level, have been developed which cover each AFI-mandated program or supplement requiring unit compliance. BE will complete the BE and shop-level SACs located on the Management Internal Control Toolkit (MICT) website and identify any areas that are not in compliance. The frequency for running the checklists will be determined by WG/CCs. However, AFI 44-119, Medical Quality Operations, still requires BE to conduct a self inspection and score all applicable HSI elements in MedFACTS. For the time being, there will be some duplication in the BE self-inspection process, but until there is a policy change, both AFI 90-201 and AFI 44-119 drive mandatory inspection requirements for the BE community.

Still confused or have more questions? Contact Mr. Patrick Newcomb (DSN 761-7626, comm. 703-681-7626) or Maj Kendra Fletcher (DSN 761-7104, comm. 703-681-7104).

The new members of AF DOEHRS Functional Users Group (FUG) have been announced! For those of you who are not familiar with the FUG, it is an essential component of the DOEHRS governance process for the AF. It is used to identify requirements and validate AF needs that enhance DOEHRS effectiveness as an OEH management and reporting tool. This twelve member group is compromised of the following individuals:

CChairperson: Lt Col Freeman Holifield (HQ ACC/SGPB, Langley AFB) Alternate Chairperson: Capt Thomas Gormley (Tyndall AFB) USAFSAM Consultative Services Division: Mr. Dan Moore (USAFSAM) USAFSAM DOEHRS Support Office : Maj Daniel Schneider (USAFSAM) Air Force Medical Support Agency: Maj Kendra Fletcher (AFMSA) ANG: TSgt Gary Fletcher II (Martinsburg ANGB) AFMC: Elizabeth Dinger (Tinker AFB) Base Level Members:

1Lt James Reilly (Little Rock AFB) Ms. Lori Gray (Davis Monthan AFB) SSgt Jennifer Coviello (Cannon AFB) SSgt Denise Chinchilla (Patrick AFB)

Other Members: (S)MSgt Scott Moran (AMC/SGPB, Scott AFB) These members have been selected for this minimum two year commitment based on their experience and ability to link DOEHRS use to AF and DoD policies. In a change from previous FUGs, members are no longer MAJCOM representatives; they are AF repre-sentatives. They are working on behalf of the best interests of the AF and the career field. The ANG and the AFMC were assigned individuals members due to their unique roles in the AF. The ultimate goal of the FUG is to maximize DOEHRS use and quality of data. We will continue to build DOEHRS into a system that achieves the needs of base-level users and the needs of the DoD. If you have a request or identified a need, the DSO is the gateway. Please utilize the DSO to get your concerns voiced to the right group where those validated needs can be addressed at a higher level. This way we can continue to develop as a career field and take better care of our Airmen, past and present.

D O E H R S F U G – S S G T J E N N I F E R C O V I E L L O

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A F M A N 4 8 - 1 5 3 H E A L T H R I S K A S S E S S M E N T R E S C I N D E D — M A J K E N D R A F L E T C H E R

AFMAN 48-153, Health Risk Assessment, is in the process of being rescinded and there are multiple reasons for this. BEEs were conducting health risk assessments (HRAs) long before AFMAN 48-153 was first published in 2007, however at the time we may not have been using HRA terminology consistently throughout the career field. Many BEEs were surveyed and confirmed they have re-viewed the AFMAN, but have not found the AFMAN useful for assisting with tactical execution of HRAs. The AFMAN is very good at explaining the conceptual framework of how to perform HRAs. This concept needed to be communicated to the career field when BE starting using the HRA terminology and the framework to describe our capabilities. Now that this concept and related terminology has been fully incorporated into our formal training courses and other publications, this AFMAN is no longer needed.

HRA is now thoroughly taught at USAFSAM in the BEA and BEO courses and is covered in the 5-level CDCs. Also, AFI 48-145, Occupational and Environmental Health Program, describes how OEH risks are communicated to leadership by utilizing risk man-agement (RM) and it illustrates and describes the 5-step the RM process. Additionally, the AF BE Risk Communication Guide pub-lished in 2011, defines the risk communication process and BE’s role in health risk assessment. AFMAN 90-202, Operational Risk Management Guidelines and Tools, and AFI 90-901, Operational Risk Management, thoroughly describe the RM process that the HRA process mirrors. Furthermore, the AFMOA 2003 CWA HRA Guidance Package provides tools to assist with HRA following a chemical weapons attack. Two Army publications, Technical Guide 230, Environmental Health Risk Assessment and Chemical Expo-sure Guidelines for Deployed Military Personnel, and Technical Guide 248, Guide for Deployed Preventive Medicine Personnel on Health Risk Management, also provide valuable information about how to perform HRAs in deployed environments. So as you can see there is an abundance of guidance that already exists should you need assistance or information about HRA.

The rescinding of AFMAN 48-153 will not affect inspections. Although multiple HSI elements reference AFMAN 48-153, there are other mandatory publications such as AFIs or the CFR that are also referenced. The HSI guidance will be updated to remove all ref-erences to AFMAN 48-153 in the future.

If you still have questions about HRA, the ESOH Service Center is the BE resource for all OEH related questions, including HRA. They are available 24/7 via email (esoh.service.center@WPAFB.af.mil) or phone (1-888-232-3764 or DSN 798-3764).

Available DOEHRS Self Training:

Monthly Refresher Trn’g — 3rd Thurs of mnth (DCO)

Past Refresher Trn’g PowerPoint— Available in DOEHRS

DOEHRS CBTs—Available in DOEHRS

Student Exercise Guide—Available in DOEHRS

Enhanced Env Health Module Trn’g—Multiple DCOs

— EH, Radiation, and Incident Report Modules

DOEHRS Demo—For practice and training

Where do I find publications and consultative reports from USAFSAM? Is there a forum where Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) technicians can go to communicate with one another from different angles of the job, whether it is finding a solution or even just networking? If you have asked yourself these questions or even heard anything similar, search no more! Here are a few websites that every BE and BE Technician should know about: the Bioenvironmental Engineering Community of Practice (BE CoP), the Bioenvironmental Engineering Knowledge Exchange (BEE Kx), the Environ-mental Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) Service Center, the 711th HPW Technical Publications Library the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), and of course, Google™ search engine.

The BE CoP is an online forum focusing around the BE career field and set up specifically to enhance communication and knowledge collaborating of any material affecting BEs across the Air Force. There are a number of templates, files, reports, projects and additional websites posted throughout the BE CoP for engineers and technicians to reference when working their own taskings, training or even emergency response. Users must request access to the site first, fill in the appropriate information and provide a justification for access. Once access is approved, the user will be able to search through any folders posted on the CoP and to other helpful and related websites pertaining to Bioenvironmental Engineer-ing career field. Note that some folders on the BE CoP are restricted and permission to access these folders must be requested through the CoP Knowledge owner. The BE CoP is a helpful source to reference when searching for quick answers. It is an easy access to material provided by individuals or units throughout the BE career field, from equipment listings, flight programs, tools and references. All of this material is provided within the folders located on the homepage of the BE CoP. Access to the BEE Kx and the ESOH Service Center is located under “Related Sites” on the left-hand side of the BE CoP homepage.

The BEE Kx is compiled of documents such as additional references and guidance, links to the Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) Program, the BE Vision and Mission Statement, along with the most recent 43E and 4BOX Newsletters to keep all BEs and BE technicians up-to-date. The Environmental Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) Service Center website located within the Kx, is a one-stop shop for all your needs concerning USAFSAM consult letters, recently published base tech guides, and many other documents, just follow the ESOH Service Center link. Follow the navigation bar on the left side of the page to review the different sections of the center, whether it is Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM) Assessments, the Defense Occu-pational Environmental and Health Readiness System (DOEHRS) Help Page, or just scan the Frequently Asked Questions section.

Another useful site to find these publications is the 711th HPW Technical Publications Library. Here, you can retrieve current and archived technical publications. To access this site, simply click the USAFSAM Tech Pubs link at the bottom left hand side of the ESOH Service Center website. This will open up the tech pubs portal, and allow you to browse all the current and ar-chived publications.

The Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) website is also a great site to find technical publications. DTIC allows users to access over 4+ million technical reports and research summaries. In order to gain access, click the registration tab at the top of the page. Then click register now. This will allow you access with CAC or ID and password. Once registered, access should be automatic. For the majority of resources you are looking for, simply type in a topic in the “Search” box and click “Go”.

The popular Google™ search engine can almost be overwhelming when you don’t know what you’re looking for. There-fore, these handy sites and directions should guide the customer, our fellow BEs, to a new world of knowledge, resources, and results.

U S A F S A M / O E C U P D A T E —

S S G T S E R I E N N E C R U Z & L U C A S S N I D E R

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I N T E G R A T E D C B R N E X E R C I S E & T R A I N I N G ( I C E - T ) — M R . T R A C Y H A N C O C K

This year’s Air Force Integrated CBRN Exercise & Training (ICE-T) will be held at the Center for National Response, Gallagher, WV from 17-21 Sep 2012. ICE-T will train the Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering, Emergency Management, and Fire Services career fields through a series of classroom instructions, reinforced with practical application training. It is designed to hone technical skills, demon-strate proficiency, and bring together complementary capabilities. ICE-T will provide the opportunity for the three career fields to operate together and solve complex problems. Each training evolution will target specific skills directed by Air Force instructions, and guidance and exercises will have pre-identified objectives that provide the foundation for the practical application training. Objectives are de-

signed to reflect the validity of plans, procedures, and systems; provide the basis for exercise control, simulation, and evaluation of procedures.

Since the focus of this year’s event is training, each MAJCOM will be given a total of 7 training slots (1 BE Officer, 2 BE technicians, 3 EM technicians, and 1 Firefighter). The selec-tion process for each of the training slots is at the discretion of the MAJCOM. Prerequisites to attend are as follows: BE officer must be a fully qualified 43E and BE technicians must be at least a 5 skill level. All attendees must be current in RSV, PATS, Level A certified, and have no physical profile that would prevent full participation in an 8-10 hour CBRN response sce-nario. Level A safety protocols will be followed, therefore all participants will be medically monitored prior to entry and upon exit of the hazard zones.

Any questions can be directed to tracy.hancock@pentagon.af.mil, DSN 761-7179, COMM 703-681-7179.

A F I T F U N D E D E D U C A T I O N — L T C O L C H R I S C U T L E R

There are significant changes to the application process for the AFIT FY13 Continuing Medical Education (CME). The biggest change is that application forms will not be submitted until after a member is selected for a quota. What has not changed are the requirements for officers to attend: - Individuals who attended an AFIT-funded course in FY12 are not eligible - Courses have a maximum cost covered by AFIT and must be 2-10 days - Courses must start between 1 Nov 2012 and 30 Sept 2013 - There are geographic req’ts based on officer’s permanent duty station

These are not all of the requirements, but cover the majority of the questions. There are also several factors that go into our prioritization - priority will be given to requests that are necessary for certification maintenance points, mission support (current job requirement) and certification preparation in that order. Formal courses are preferred over conferences, but conferences are not automatically denied. Rank will also be a factor in selection, with Captains and Majors given the highest priority. These individuals are often at the point in their professional development where they are either preparing for initial profes-sional certification or beginning to meet their requirements for maintenance points.

While the application package is no longer due to AFMSA prior to submission to AFIT, we are still required to rack and stack our requests. In order to do that, we will need the information on the course, submitted through the officer’s supervisor (to validate ap-proval of the member’s attendance) to Lt Col Cutler NLT COB Tuesday 4 September for review and submission of our prioritized list to AFIT. Additional eligibility and course criteria along with application procedures will be posted soon at https://kx.afms.mil/afithced.

The ‘Original’ Ice-T — called and he wants his name back!

Page 8 V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 1

Perhaps the most important lesson BE personnel should have learned over the last 22 years from operating continuously in the Middle East is to be ready. Regardless if our personnel deploy to the desert of Al Udeid, the mountains near Bagram or in support of a US NORAD/NORTHCOM operation in the CONUS the constant expectation is to deliver required capability upon request in an adequate manner. The supported customer, e.g., COCOM or JTF/CC, will look to BE to provide a clear, concise and coherent assessment of the health risks posed to the members of his/her team.

Delivering BE capabilities in a mission-focused manner is the key to consistently meeting customer expectations. You may ask, “How can a small unit comprised of 1 or 2 BE personnel fully deliver all of the BE capabilities?” The answer to this question lies in having a thorough un-derstanding of the BE capabilities and providing a solid foundation of training that engrains this understanding. The leaders in our career field need to ensure the youngest Airman comprehend the link between collecting a sample and the AFMS desired effect to “ensure a fit and healthy force”. It is critical for every member of every flight or element to tie routine BE work to a capabil-ity. It is a supervisor’s responsibility to teach and mentor individuals who are unable to make this connection on their own. If the point of a task relative to a BE capability isn’t intuitive to anyone in the flight then the obvious question is, “Why are we wasting time?”

BE personnel must understand the interoperability of the capabilities. These are not pro-grams that are mutually exclusive. The ability to identify, analyze and control hazards directly support OEHSA, SG related vulnerabili-ties, response, approving water systems/sources, and predicting exposures. All of that data goes directly into our responsibility to match exposures to personnel and managing the health risk. Our ability to view the intertwining of skills makes for the strongest most dependable fielded risk assessor in the DoD.

Finally, I implore all of the flight and element leaders to organize your flights and elements in accordance with the 2010 policy memo on office structure. This structure drives BE personnel to be exposed to all of the aspects and skills of being a BE and the com-ponents to delivering our capabilities. You will set your personnel on the path for success in their current duties, future leadership roles, deployed environments and every other aspect of a career.

B E R E A D Y — M A J M I K E S K I N N E R ( A F C E N T B E )

A F I 4 8 - 1 3 9 L A S E R & O P T I C A L R A D I A T I O N P R O T E C T I O N P R O G R A M - M A J E D K E L L Y

Extra! Extra! Be on the lookout for the publication of AFI 48-139 “LLASER AND OPTICAL RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAM!”

Published 25 July 2012, AFI 48-139 replaced AFOSH 48-139 “LASER RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAM” published December 1999.

The document was completely revamped; the following bullets summarize some of the changes:

For more information on laser and optical radiation topics, go to our radiation protection Kx page at https://kx.afms.mil/rad_prot.

Closer coupling to ANSI Z136 Relaxation of medical exam requirements IAW ANSI Z136

Refinement of Laser/ESOH Hotline Guidelines More direction on AF approval of laser and laser systems

A F R R A D H A S A N E W W E B S I T E : https://eis.af.mil/cs/edash/afmc/wright-patterson/Pages%20%20Program%

Page 9 B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

On 2 May 2012, the EPA published the final rule for the third round of Unregu-lated Contaminant Monitoring (UCMR3). Air Force bases that have a Public Water System (PWS) serving a population greater than 10,000 ("large" sys-tems) are required to participate in the UCMR3. This requires sampling for a list of 21 chemical contaminants within a 12-month period during 2013-2015. The base is responsible for the associated sampling costs (if not already pro-grammed for, AFMSA/SG3PB will provide funding).

APPLICABILITY - UCMR applicability hinges on the PWS population served - 10,000 people or greater. Bases can verify their PWS offi-cial population record in the EPA database, SDWIS, located at http://www.epa.gov/enviro/facts/sdwis/search.html

IMPORTANT DATES - By 1 Oct 2012, affected PWSs must submit contact information to the Safe Drinking Water Accession and Re-view System (SDWARS), which is the database EPA uses to collect the UCMR3 sampling results. SDWARS can be accessed through the EPA's electronic reporting system, Central Data Exchange (CDX) http://cdx.epa.gov/epa_home.asp

Sampling has to occur within one consecutive 12-month period during the timeframe of January 2013 - December 2015.

LABORATORIES - Affected PWSs must use an EPA-approved laboratory. Once approved, the labs will be listed on the UCMR website at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/laboratories.cfm

COST - AFMSA/SG3PB has funding available to cover the cost of sampling under the UCMR3 requirement. The EPA estimates the cost to be $50-$470 per sample, per method, on average. One of our bases who is potentially affected has estimated that their sam-pling bill for UCMR3 requirements will be approximately $15,000.

REPORTING - If any unregulated contaminants are detected, these results must be included in the annual Consumer Confidence Re-port. The laboratories will input the sample results to SDWARS (within 120 days of sample collection); bases are required to go into SDWARS and review/approve the submission (within 60days after the lab inputs them).

E P A D E V E L O P I N G N E W P E R C H L O R A T E S T A N D A R D — M S M I R A N D A B R A N N O N ( A F M S A )

EPA has decided to regulate perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). EPA will publish the proposed regulation and analyses for public review and comment by February 2013. The final regulation is expected to be published within 18 months of the proposal. The regulation will go into effect three years after it is finalized. Based on this estimated timeline, the new perchlorate standard will be effective approximately August 2017. There is no action required at this time, this information is provided for awareness only.

Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring and man-made chemical that is used to produce rocket fuel, fireworks, flares, and explosives. Perchlorate can also be present in bleach and some explosives. EPA’s perchlorate webpage is located at http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/unregulated/perchlorate.cfm .

U N R E G U L A T E D C O N T A M I N A N T M O N I T O R I N G ( U C M R ) - M S M I R A N D A B R A N N O N ( A F M S A )

Is jet fuel carcinogenic? After the switch from JP-4 to JP-8, the much lower levels of benzene suggested “not so much.” But JP-8 has a constituent whose toxicity is being reviewed, naphthalene, and if proposed regulatory changes are made, could result in JP-8 being consid-ered carcinogenic.

A natural component of petroleum-based products such as fuels, lubes and asphalts, naphthalene is a constituent of both jet fuel and its exhaust. This chemi-cal, two benzene molecules fused to-gether, is an important industrial chemical as a feedstock for the production of plasti-cizers, dyes, and carbamate pesticides. It is also found in cigarette and wood smoke, barbecued meats, foodstuffs, breast milk and toilet deodorants. Mothballs, avail-able at your local supermarket, are 99.95% pure naphthalene -- the chemical represents both an everyday household product and a widespread environmental pollutant found in the air shed around our airbases as well as the groundwater under-neath them. Now, after decades of use, a problem emerges.

Between 1992 and 2000, the Na-tional Toxicology Program (NTP) published two long-term bioassays in rodents one of which revealed the emergence of an un-usual cancer (neuroblastoma) in the olfac-tory epithelium (where the sense of smell resides) of laboratory rats. The data sug-gested a dose-response relationship. The Program’s “Report On Carcinogens” then stated that naphthalene is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” As a consequence, the USEPA, under its Integrated Risk Information System pro-gram (IRIS), targeted naphthalene for at-tention and in 2004 released what be-came a controversial draft risk assess-ment. In the assessment, the Agency pro-jected that the exposure presenting the equivalent of a de minimus (E-6 or 1:1,000,000) risk was ~2 ppt. The expo-sure to benzene, an established human carcinogen, presenting the equivalent risk was 41 ppt. The ratio between these num-bers suggests that naphthalene might be ~20X as potent as benzene -- and there is ~20X as much naphthalene in jet fuels like JP-8.

How might such a cancer determina-

tion impact on USAF interests? In part, the answer rests on the statutory authorities of two federal agencies. EPA-Office of Re-search & Development, through its NCEA and IRIS programs, is tasked with the au-thority for proposing guidance. On the other hand, OSHA is tasked with the au-thority for promulgating regulation, includ-ing regulations governing the communica-tion of hazards in the workplace - here is where the “Report On Carcinogens” can have impact. Under OSHA 29CFR 1910 and its paragraphs, if a carcinogen is pre-sent in a mixture (jet fuel is a mixture) at a concentration = / > 0.1%, then the mixture is considered to be carcinogenic and must be so labeled. The situation these assess-ments present has not gone unremarked or unchallenged.

The Department of Defense uses ap-proximately 5 billion gallons of jet fuel per year; the USAF consumes about half of that amount. US commercial aviation con-sumes another 20+ billions of gallons each year. If JP-8 and Jet-A, as mixtures, serve as vehicles that convey a carcino-gen, then these consumption rates also represent a significant potential for human exposure. Anecdotal evidence in humans (we are just not seeing lots of unusual nasal cancer) and epidemiologic surveys, while not yet definitive, suggest we accept naphthalene’s risk assessment with some caution. Independently, Industry as well as DOD expressed reservations about this chemical’s cancer assessment. If we got cancer the way rats got cancer, how much cancer should we expect to see? And, in the present case, is the rat the pertinent and predictive model for human risk as-sessment?

In response, industry stakeholders established the “Naphthalene Research Coalition” (NRC) and, together with some EPA administrative support, organized the “Naphthalene State of the Science Sympo-sium” (NS3) to delineate the data gaps and uncertainties that attend the NTP and EPA assessments. USAFSAM, together with OSD, offered its own evaluation and rec-ommendations for addressing the gaps and uncertainties. The NRC designed, with input from USAFSAM, a phased, 5-year / $5M research program to better describe naphthalene’s mode of action with the ultimate goal of comparing and contrasting rodents with primates and humans. The data argue that, metabolically, rats and man process this chemical differently. In parallel, USAFSAM, together with AFRL’s Fuels Directorate (RZPF), analyzed the naphthalene content of our fuels (they exceed the OSHA labeling threshold); re-cruited and hosted a joint industry/USAF epidemiology workshop to help clarify the extent of the human exposure data at hand; conducted an epi-based study for elevated rates of invasive cancer among fuel handlers (the rates were normal); and, co-authored a peer-reviewed paper that successfully contrasts the actual rates of human upper respiratory cancer with that seen in the NTP studies.

We began this article with a warning and a question. Are our fuels carcino-genic? The answer is a work in progress - the results to date say that they may be to rodents, but not so clearly to humans. Should we handle them with care? Cer-tainly - flammable mixtures command re-spect. Gasoline, jet fuel, and kerosene are irritating to both skin and eyes and toxic to the respiratory tract. This we already know. Use and handle them prudently.

T H E C O N T R O V E R S I A L R E L A T I O N S H I P B E T W E E N N A P H T H A L E N E A N D J E T F U E L — M R . J O H N H I N Z ( U S A F S A M / O E C )

Page 10 V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 1

V E C T O R A D J U S T M E N T F O R E S T I M A T I N G N O I S E A T T E N U A T I O N L E V E L S F O R H E A R I N G P R O T E C T I O N — L T C O L J E R E M Y S L A G L E Y ( T I N K E R A F B )

Page 11 V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 1

BBLUF: Follow OSHA & AFOSH Std 48-20…no need to cut your estimated NRR in half.

In the Summer ‘11 BE newsletter (Vol 5, Issue 1), I recommended using the NIOSH and OSHA recommendation of “de-rating” estimated attenuation of hearing protection devices (HPDs) by one half. This practice is NOT required by OSHA (29 CFR 1910.95) or the Air Force (AFOSH Std. 48-20), but is suggested by NIOSH and recommended in the OSHA Technical Manual. The 50% de-rating of published Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) tends to estimate a very conservative attenuation, but should be sufficient for the vast major-ity of AF workplaces given current DOEHRS dosimetry data. I also advised BE flights that have used the USAFSAM manikin-derived HPD attenuation data to calculate at-ear exposure levels to change to the manufacturer attenuation data.

The required NRR labeling on HPDs is based on attenuation tests following the ANSI S12.6 Real-Ear Attenuation at Threshold (REAT) method. The research in the ‘90’s which supported the guidance to de-rate estimated NRRs by half was an honest effort to try to match the observed at-tenuation achieved by average workers on hear-ing conservation programs (HCPs) while working on the shop floor. On aver-age, workers tended to get far lower attenuation than the NRR or octave band analysis (OBA) attenuation rating on the device. The HPDs can deliver the listed attenuation when properly worn. The lower achieved attenuation would appear to be linked to behavior influenced by internal (motivation) and environmental (noise levels, work demands) factors. For instance, if the task demands communi-cation between workers in a high noise environment, workers sometimes remove one ear plug or adjust their muffs for lower attenuation but better communica-tion. Also, if noise levels are relatively low (85-90 dBA), workers may use their hear-ing protection less often or improperly fitted if the perceived threat is lower.

Recently, NIOSH published a study looking at HPD user behavior. The re-

searchers varied training and recorded attenuation performance. The study used naïve subjects with different orders of training (package instructions, video, and then expert training). The study also looked at the proposed NRSA attenuation labeling that reports 80th and 20th percen-tiles of expected worker attenuation. The reported attenuation levels and private discussion with the lead author would tend to support NOT using the 50% de-rating for motivated workers on Hearing Conservation Programs. In effect, moti-vated users can get good attenuation, and individual instruction gives significant attenuation improvement. During annual audiograms, HCP members demonstrate proper wear. Supervisors are tasked to give care and wear training annually as well.

Further study is needed to examine threshold shift data across the AF as a surrogate of HPD wear behavior (Do high noise-exposed workers tend to comply with proper HPD wear better and thus suffer fewer than expected threshold shifts?) However, a recent anecdotal shop at my current base could be enlight-ening.

A shop with 1100 workers has their high-est measured dosimetry ECL at 96.6 dBA. The STS rates and PTS rates are well below 10% (a sort of action level) and are trend-ing downward over time. The change in BE

attenuation data (from manikin to manu-facturer REAT data) does not change the actual performance of the HPDs or the workers. Given some of the noise sources in the shops, double protection with the 50% de-rating scheme would not be suffi-ciently protective. The low threshold shift rates might be partially explained by bet-ter HPD/worker performance, similar to the implications in the user training article above.

Lovely. So what does this mean to the base BE?

IAW AFOSH Std 48-20, use OBA data to look for engineering noise controls when esti-mated exposure is above 94 dBA. You can then use that OBA data to estimate HPD at-tenuation as an interim control.

Over the course of your next shop visits, re-place the previous USAFSAM manikin-based HPD attenuation estimate data with manufac-turer ANSI S12.6 NRR or OBA attenuation data. You could also elect to do a “worst first” review of those category I casefiles with high noise (>94 dBA) as a special project over a shorter time period.

However, there are still work places with high noise exposure where more attenuation from HPDs is needed to control exposures while BE works with unit engineers to implement engi-neering controls. For shop situations where single hearing protection is insufficient to reduce the estimated at-ear exposure below 85 dBA, and double hearing protection may be required, there are three options:

IAW AFOSH Std 48-20, take the higher NRR of the plugs and muffs and add 3 dB.

Use the higher attenuation estimated by the OBA method and add 3 dB (Note that this is not in the guidance, but is a reasonably con-servative estimate of double hearing protec-tion attenuation).

Request AFRL perform the ANSI S12.6 REAT test for that particular double hearing protec-tion combination. AFRL has a contract set up to perform the test for a reasonable cost charged to the unit requesting the test.

I have for many years been wary of trust-ing too much in worker motivation and com-pliance with HPD wear, especially given the sometimes extremely demanding nature of Air Force work tasks. This is a bit of a rever-sal for me. I must re-emphasize that engi-neering controls should always be the first option, but HPDs are an absolute necessity in many instances. The point of the matter is not just the program management of making sure you’ve calculated the correct at-ear noise level. The point is that when the BE-recommended hazard control is PPE, it be-comes a constant worker-behavior-cultural influence program to protect health. The BE and PH encounters with HCP personnel should always be cognizant of reinforcing HPD use culture. PPE can protect, but when PPE is the answer, the struggle has just be-gun. Murphy, W.J., M.R. Stephenson, D. C. Byrne, B.Witt, J. Duran. Effects of training on hearing protector attenuation. Noise and Health 2011; 13:51, 132-141.

Cannon Air Force Base is undergoing something unusual in today’s economic environ-ment. Whereas most military bases are seeing money, man-power and resources decline, Cannon’s footprint is growing every day. Contractors are every-where at Cannon constructing new hangars, buildings, and roadways. With all of the con-struction, contractors are dig-ging in areas that probably have-n’t been touched for 50+ years.

In March, contractors were excavating when they uncovered an unmarked rusty metal con-tainer buried in the ground. As contractors typically do, one of them decided to take a closer look. He didn’t realize that they had punctured the container and he immediately began to experience dizziness and vomit-ing. Three other contractors in the immediate area also began to experience lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting. After the initial 911 call, Bioenvironmen-tal Engineering was requested at the scene.

Using an all hazards and team approach, BEE requested EOD support. During initial entry, BEE attached the TVA-1000 and an LEL meter directly to the EOD robot. The robot was able to complete reconnaissance of the immediate area and the con-tainer. TVA-1000 levels elevated up to 58 ppm near the con-tainer. Based on the initial re-connaissance, BEE recom-mended that the entry team should enter in Level C. SSgt Coviello and SSgt Taylor (base level BEE technicians) used a 10 micro liter syringe with tygon tubing attached to drop into the punctured area to collect an air sample. The sample was brought back out of the scene and analyzed by the HAPSITE to determine that the material was presumably diesel fuel due to the chemical constituents found in the air sample. Soon after

B E E I N A C T I O N A T C A N N O N A F B — M A J C H A R L I E T O T H

Page 12 B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

identification, Civil Engineering was able to find archived maps that indicated that in the 1950s there was an old fuel container sitting approximately where the unknown container was found.

All of the contractors quickly recovered with fresh air and minimal medical care. Their initial signs and symptoms likely were due to the buildup of VOCs inside the container for 50+ years. Although new ROEs have been established for the con-tractors, Cannon AFB cannot stop curious individuals if they unearth something out of the ordinary but BEEs will be ready to respond!

SSgt Coviello and SSgt Taylor return after collecting an air sample.

Bio TVA-1000 Reading

Exposed Container

A W A R D W I N N E R S A N D R E C O G N I T I O N

Page 13

SSgt Isaac Concey

52 AMDS/SGPB, Spangdalem AB (USAFE)

Outstanding Base Bioenvironmental

Engineering NCO of the Year Award

SrA Richard Riley

66 MDS/SGOJ, Hanscom AFB (AFMC)

Outstanding Base Bioenvironmental

Engineering Airman of the Year Award

22011 79th MDW Team of the Year (AFDW)

Joint Base Andrews BEE Flight

Please supply the editors with photos of award recipients, special recognition, etc. if you’d like them to be recognized for their hard work and dedication across the BE career field.

The Andrews BE team won the award for their superb work show-cased by garnering a 100% HSI score/best practice/2 SQ Top

Performer awards = ‘OUTSTANDING’ MDG rating. They also won the MDW CI ‘Superior Team’ & Performer awards

Pictured from left to right: SrA Ribbens, Maj Gen Caron (79

MDW/CC), 1Lt Lathbury, SrA Madrigal-Zamora, A1C Brzezinski, SSgt Ford, TSgt Connolly, SSgt Kurban, Lt Col Fea,

TSgt Bowens, SSgt Seaton, A1C Green, SSgt Baptiste, SSgt Particini, Chief McCoy (79 MDW/CCC), and

SrA Forsythe

2011 AFMS Enlisted Award Winners

B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

U S A F E M B A S S Y I M M E R S I O N P R O G R A M H I G H L I G H T

Page 14 B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

The USAF Embassy Immersion Program (EI) has concluded its most successful year to date. The program enabled over two dozen airmen, ranging from cadets to colonels, to serve in a wide variety of overseas positions and significantly enhance their international

and interagency experience. It is one of the best values in the Air Force in terms of expenditure input and experiential output, and should be maintained, and hopefully expanded, as one of the best Building Partnership training tools in our arsenal.

Mr. Eric John who serves as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the CSAF highlighted the outstanding contributions made by SSgt Mouhamed Gadiaga (a fellow International Health Specialist (IHSer) and Bioenvironmental Engineering Technician assigned to AF AFRICA (former 17th AF) during his Embassy Immersion Fellowship in Kenya. Mr. John’s letter (dated 31 May 2012) to General Schwartz (AF/CC) stated, “Staff

Sergeant Mo Gadiaga, a bioenvironmental engineer from 17AF/SG, was embedded with USAID in Nairobi and was the first IHS and enlisted participant. In just five weeks, he gained experience working with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Peace Corps, the Presi-dent's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), DART (Somalia Famine Relief) and a joint civil-military medical exercise. His poise and professionalism during this pioneering program not only helped break down the barriers between State and Defense, but paved the way

for future enlisted and IHS immersions by providing a positive, mutually-rewarding experience to draw from. As a result, USAID Nairobi has requested to be a standing Embassy Immersion site, ensuring future training opportunities for many years of airmen.“

We are very proud of SSgt Gadiaga!

AF members pictured left to right: Capt Reann Cornell (Aviano 31st DS, SSgt Mouhamed Gadiaga (HQ USAFE SGX), Lt Col Enrique Rosado (HQ USAFE SGX) & TSgt Yolanda Mickens (Aviano, 31st DS)

TTo MSgt:

TSgt Jody Brown TSgt Kevin Brown TSgt Hector Delaconcha TSgt Michelle Eckes TSgt Patty Edwards TSgt Joseph Guerrero TSgt Sean Hasty TSgt Christopher Hughes TSgt Adam Lloyd TSgt Luis Magana TSgt Shayne Miller TSgt Erik Robbins TSgt Jeremy Roberts TSgt Maria Rodriguez TSgt Jeffrey Rolls TSgt Jacob Romero TSgt Jason Scott

TSgt Joseph Scott TSgt Keumsuk Seo TSgt Amy Sharpe TSgt Ronnece Spencer TSgt Celia Watson TSgt Michelle Wolff TSgt Wyll Yabut

Page 15

SSgt Shane Campbell SSgt Tavin Carr SSgt Isaac Concey SSgt Ronald Cruz SSgt Ryan Dewey SSgt Stephanie Dickson SSgt Nicole Dunlap SSgt Ambree Evans SSgt Mario Falcone SSgt Kris Ferro SSgt Sergio Garcia SSgt Tara Gibson SSgt Phillip Heil SSgt Halder Hernandez SSgt Steven Hilton SSgt Brent Jnoffin SSgt Zalman Kosofsky SSgt Lewis Carter SSgt Dudley Lykins SSgt Raymond Madayag SSgt Maurice Madril SSgt Markus Manuel SSgt Thomas Mata SSgt Sterling McClennon SSgt Allen Mendiola SSgt Shaun Odell SSgt Miller Pabon SSgt Shane Polk SSgt Marcus Poulos SSgt Kevin Rivera SSgt Lucas Snider SSgt Ashlie Steele SSgt Joshua Suggs SSgt Benjamin Sybert SSgt Daniel Thornton SSgt Terrance Tolbert SSgt Dietlin Willedavis SSgt James Wood

To TSgt:

MSgt Gabriel Almario MSgt Jeffrey Compton MSgt Stephen Hart MSgt John Hearn MSgt Curtis McGehee MSgt Shannon Moffett MSgt Scott Moran MSgt Angela Suafoa

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S T O O U R R E C E N T O F F I C E R & E N L I S T E D P R O M O T E E S !

To SMSgt:

To Capt:

1Lt Andrew Bostic 1Lt Trevor Sleight 1Lt Ryan Eiswerth 1Lt Gregory Lathbury

B E C A R E E R F I E L D N E W S A N D E V E N T S

B E O F F I C E R S O N T H E M O V E !

T O S Q / C C T O M A J C O M / A F I A T O A F I T / P M E

AFMC: Lt Col Tasha Pravecek AFSOC: Lt Col Joe Costantino AFSPC: Lt Col Michael (Brian) Peake AFRC: vacant; Maj Kan retires PACAF: Col Joel Almosara USAFE: Lt Col Vince Falls USAFE Dep Dir of Staff: Lt Col Rich Woodruff AFIA (H S I): Maj Johanna Rentes

Col Headen to Moody MDG/CC Col Gillen to Cannon MDG/CC Col Nelson to WPAFB 88 AMDS/CC LtC Pat Castle to Ellsworth MDSS/CC LtC Robert Eninger to Kirkland AMDS/CC LtC Michael Fea to Hickam AMDS/CC LtC Phil Goff to Cannon AMDS/CC LtC Theresa Medina to DM MDOS/CC LtC Krystal Murphy to Sheppard AMDS/CC LtC Randy Smith to Barksdale MDOS/CC LtC Darrell Sumrall to Mt Home AMDS/CC LtC Jay Vietas to MacDill MDSS/CC LtC Joe Silvers to Det 3/CC, USAFSAM

Maj Roger Lee (ACSC in residence) Maj Anthony Cagle (NLTFP Argonne Lab) Maj Goldie Boone (PhD Med Phy) Maj Chris Edwards (MS-IH line funded) Capt Tiffany Heline (MS-IH) Capt Tho Tran (MS-Env Eng) Capt Scott King (MS-Env Eng) Capt Marc Sylvander (MS-IH) Capt Lisa Scallan (MS-HP) Capt Jennifer Lepper (PhD IH) Capt Leonardo Somara (MS-Bio) Capt Chris Bates (MS-IH) Capt Amber Allardice (MS-IH) Lt Phillip Lopez (MS-HP) Lt Juan Zuniga (MS-Chem)

AAs we continuously try to improve the newsletter for the career field, the editors would appreciate your feedback, pictures from your award winners, special events, etc. Also, if you have any suggestions for an article or would like to insert one into the

newsletter, please feel free to contact the editors at any time.

We’re on the web: Knowledge Exchange: https://kx.afms.mil/kxweb/home.do CoP: https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=OO-SG-AF-06

Congratulations to Lt Col Lawrence ‘Larry’ Calabro who retired on 6 Jul 12 after 30 years of faithful and dedicated service! We wish Larry and his wife the best as they start a new life as our retired military family.

Lt Col Shannon McDonald Shannon.mcdonald@pentagon.af.mil DSN: 761-7605 Comm: 703-681-7605

MSgt Selina Hamblin Selina.hamblin@pentagon.af.mil DSN: 761-7851 Comm: 703-681-7851

Pictured (left to right): Lt Col (ret) Lawrence Calabro, Lt Col Christopher Cutler, MSgt Selina Hamblin, Ms. Miranda Brannon, Mr. Patrick Newcomb, Mr. David Cessor-Culver, Col Richard Ashworth, CMSgt Melinda Patrick, Maj Ryan Danley, Dr. Ram Bhat, Lt Col David Smith, Ms. Laurie Dowell, Maj Ed Kelly, Ms. Davey Short, Mr. Tracy Hancock, Lt Col Shannon ’Scott’ McDonald, Maj Kendra Fletcher (unavailable for photo Maj Claudia Eid & Maj Daniel Shaw)

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