Ops tempo, modernization focus of State of Ellsworth address

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anania Tekurio
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  A demanding two-year period of large and small deployments and the importance of modernizing key Air Force assets were at the heart of an address by base leaders to area media Feb. 26.

Col. Kevin Kennedy, 28th Bomb Wing commander, took time to explain those topics as well as provide updates on other items tied to the base during his annual address.
   
"The men and women of the 28th Bomb Wing have had tremendous successes in the past year - both at home and abroad," said Kennedy, who has been at the Ellsworth helm since April 2013. "That is why we remain focused on making sure we are strengthening the team, increasing our combat capabilities and preparing for the future."
   
Since April 2014, base B-1 aircrews completed 381 combat missions totaling more than 3,700 combat hours and 946 training missions spanning 3,128 hours. On the MQ-9 side of the house, aviators flew 1,359 combat missions totaling more than 20,000 flying hours.
  
Currently, Ellsworth has several B-1 bombers and about 450 Airmen deployed to Southwest Asia, with an additional 200 deploying in the next several months as part of the Air Expeditionary Force Next deployment system. With no indication of the operations tempo slowing, ensuring Airmen are prepared and provided the necessary training and support required to accomplish their mission is vital, according to Kennedy.
   
"It is the Airmen who make things happen," Kennedy said. "That's why it is crucial we provide them everything they need to do their jobs."
   
Among those things are joint training activities such as the upcoming Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., the opportunity to conduct more realistic training scenarios through the proposed expansion of the Powder River Training Complex airspace, quality of life enhancements for Airmen and their families, and improved support through more sophisticated platforms tied to the base's mission.
   
"We'll be sending five aircraft and approximately 200 personnel down to Nellis for Red Flag," Kennedy said of the base's participation in the realistic combat training exercise involving the air, space and cyber forces of the U.S. and its allies. "They will fly various combat scenarios with members ...  getting higher end training that will help better prepare them for current and future operations. "
   
Another part of the training equation is the proposed expansion of the Powder River Training Complex airspace. Kennedy said the expansion would increase the training airspace three-fold, allowing base B-1 aircrews and B-52 Stratofortress aircrews from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to plan and conduct realistic training scenarios directly applicable to ongoing combat operations.
   
"Just as importantly, it would provide us with the opportunity to save training dollars," Kennedy said. "It would enable us to conduct up to 85 percent of our training locally, which is more cost effective and efficient."
   
The Air Force signed a record of decision Jan. 16, to expand the training airspace after an extensive review of environmental impacts and public concerns. Subsequently, the Federal Aviation Administration will issue its own ROD.
   
Kennedy added that efficiencies and effectiveness are also in focus with respect to improving the living conditions for the wing's dormitory residents.
   
Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Peterson, 28th BW command chief master sergeant, talked about a few of the improvements the base has done for its young, single Airmen.
   
"We upgraded several of the dormitories - enhancing the existing security systems, installing two new kitchenettes, replacing old furnishings with new items and repairing and resurfacing the dorm parking lots - and completed a $1.2 million upgrade to the Bellamy Fitness Center," said Peterson, the highest ranking enlisted Airman on base. "The dormitory renovation project not only provides a better quality of life for our Airmen, but was also was a training opportunity for our 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force team, which saved the base $110,000 in potential contractor costs."
Peterson said providing Airmen with modern, up-to-date living areas is important to their overall well-being.
   
As for modernization, Kennedy explained how the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, Long Range Strike-Bomber and the KC-46A Pegasus Tanker Recapitalization are all vital to the base being able to provide expeditionary combat power anywhere on the globe.
   
"Those are essential to our future success," Kennedy said. "For example, we cannot do our job without tanker support. The Air Force's tanker fleet is aging and it is important to upgrade as a way to operate more efficiently. The KC-46 is an example of that."
   
KC-135s have been the backbone of Air Force air refueling, and while they have been in service for more than five decades, will remain the backbone of the tanker fleet throughout the transition to the KC-46.
   
Kennedy concluded his address by highlighting the base's upcoming airshow - Dakota Thunder 2015 - Aug. 15 and 16, an opportunity to not only showcase airpower, but to thank the community for its unwavering support for the base and its Airmen.
   
"It's a great opportunity for our service members to show our friends and neighbors what they do while also strengthening the tremendous relationship we share with the local community and surrounding area," he said. "We have accomplished a great deal in the past year and have a great many things coming in the months ahead. We simply could not do our jobs without their support for us and our families."