F-15C Ends Training, End of an Era

The F-15C Eagle, the US Air Force’s only dedicated air superiority fighter, has just seen its last class of students graduate, at least on the active duty side.  The five-man B-course graduated May 14th.  The Oregon National Guard will continue to train Guard pilots, at least until the Air Force finally retires the Eagle.

Their graduation speaker was retired Brigadier General Steve Ritchie, the only Air Force officer to become an ace in Vietnam.

The Tyndall B-course was also the scene for American Fighter Pilot (reviewed here), a short-lived “reality” series following a trio of students through training.

US Still Training Afghan Military in Basics

The US military has been in an “advisory” role to the Afghan military for years.  An interesting article at the Air Force Times notes some of the challenges occurring even now, as the deadline for removing forces from Afghanistan begins to approach:

Even after more than a year, the 500 Afghan airmen in Kandahar still grapple with the basics — even personal hygiene. The dining hall workers still have to be told to wash their hands before they handle food.  The pilots sometimes refuse to land their Mi-17s [helicopters] because they’re too tired, forcing their American advisers to take the controls.

Sounds like they still need a little work.

Air Force Chaplains will be Missed

An article at the Stars and Stripes talks about the impact to Airmen due to the Air Force’s decision to reduce the number of Chaplains (previously noted).

Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, Air Force chief of chaplains, said he understands the need for force-shaping, but laments trimming chaplains during wartime.

“We’re fully engaged in the desert,” he said, “and we’re fully engaged stateside.”

Interestingly, the Air Force has a mandated increase of “mental health positions” at the same time it is cutting Chaplains.  Also, the Army is actually increasing its number of Chaplains, and it already has a 350-1 Chaplain-to-Soldier ratio, while the Navy expects to increase its number of Chaplains from its current 700-1 ratio (compared to 785-1 in the Air Force).  As previously noted, Chaplains in some Air Force units are already stretched thin.

Christian Fighter Pilot, Astronaut Speaks at USAFA

As noted earlier, STS-131 pilot LtCol James Dutton was the top 1991 USAFA graduate, flew the F-22 as a test pilot, and is also a Christian and member of OCF.  On May 7th Dutton spoke to a dining out of the USAFA Astro department faculty and cadets.  Col Marty France, the Astro department head, had high praise for Dutton:

Col. Jim Dutton is exactly the kind of officer every cadet in this room should aspire to be… Read more

Troops Say Public Prayers on Baghdad Hilltop

The US military Chaplaincy staff at Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq, started a “Mountaintop Experience” to help local Americans “strengthen their resiliency.”  A significant group of servicemembers and civilians meets atop Signal Hill at 0500, overlooking the base, and prays together.

Col. Mike Lembke, the Chaplain, and Sgt Michael Lee, the Chaplain’s assistant, said:

“Spiritual resiliency is the individual ability to exercise your faith on a daily basis so you are able to understand, or you are able integrate the joys and sorrows of each day into your life,” Lembke said…

When a person has a solid, spiritual foundation, they understand that someone has everything under control and they can lean on that during the tough times instead of relying on themselves to make through, Lee said.

The group is made up of many from the base, including, as shown in the picture Read more

Alabama Guard Shows Need for Chaplains

The Alabama National Guard is a prime example of the shortage of military Chaplains (though the Air Force is currently reducing its Chaplaincy ranks).  With 5 Chaplains deployed, the 11,000 member state guard has 12 available Chaplains, or 1 Chaplain for every 900 troops.  It has no Roman Catholic priests or Jewish Rabbis.  A local newspaper article has a good discussion on how Chaplains can deal with the shortage of faith-specific leaders, and it demonstrates the pluralistic support of the military:  Read more

First Top Female Marine Chaplain Announced

The DoD announced that US Navy Captain Margaret Kibben, who was recently selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (lower half), will be the new head Chaplain for the US Marine Corps:

Capt. Margaret G. Kibben…will be assigned as chaplain of the Marine Corps/deputy chief of Chaplains/deputy director of Religious Ministries, N097B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.  Kibben is currently serving as executive assistant to the chief of Chaplains, Washington, D.C.

Kibben is apparently a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and represents the Presbyterian Church (USA).  She has also been a Chaplain at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Also noted at the Navy Times.

Troops Gather for National Day of Prayer

Despite a spate of controversy, American military members gathered for National Day of Prayer celebrations around the world. A Chaplain’s assistant in Iraq had a fairly basic explanation for the popularity of the chapel services in the combat theatre:

“I believe people are more passionate [in Iraq],” said [Sgt. Antonio Henderson, the brigade chaplain’s assistant]. “They get more into it. I believe prayer works, no matter where you are, but I believe people pray more when their lives are in danger.”

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