TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- ON-FINAL NEWS BULLETIN – September 8, 2023 (Vol 43, No. 9)
(Click headline to follow link to story and photos)
Mission Support Group welcomes commander
Col. Matthew Ghormley, 507th Air Refueling Wing commander, passes the command guidon to Col. Kelly Quidley as she assumes command of the 507th Mission Support Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 6, 2023.
‘Tinker and the Primes’ conference returns to talk sustainment, supply chain needs in a world with true competitors
Almost 2,000 aerospace representatives and defense officials recently gathered near Tinker Air Force Base at the Reed Center at Delta Hotels for the 17th annual Tinker and the Primes conference.
Command releases results from first Reserve-specific communications survey
The results are in from a first-of-its-kind communications survey targeted specifically at Reserve Citizen Airmen. Officials with the Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs Office here, in partnership with the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office, conducted an online communications
Brandon Act expedites mental health care referrals for Airmen, Guardians
The Brandon Act is intended to help identify and get care for mental health concerns by making it easier to access – and required of leaders to take seriously – mental health support by referencing “The Brandon Act” when they need a referral to mental health services.
AFRC Commander Issues New Task Order, Enlisted Force Development Strategy
The TASKORD lays out the steps each member of the Air Force Reserve enterprise needs to take to ensure the command is ready to deter, and if necessary, defeat a peer adversary.
507th ARW September Enlisted Promotions
507th ARW STEP II Promotion Selects
Message from Air Force Leaders
Airmen and Guardians,
Over the last two years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the Air Force and Space Force, and to appreciate both the capabilities we provide to the nation and the professionalism of our total force. I am in awe of and deeply proud of all our Airmen and Guardians from every component of the force, the Department of the Air Force civilians who support them, and the families that love and nourish them. We are second to none, but we cannot afford complacency.
Your senior leaders--myself, Honorable Kristyn Jones, General Brown, General Saltzman, Chief Bass, and Chief Towberman--each have our own way of expressing our priorities: one team, one fight; accelerate change or lose; competitive endurance; and what got us here won’t get us there. We are all saying the same thing, but in different ways. We must be ready for a fight unlike anything all of us serving today have ever seen, and that requires both unity of effort and change.
As I’ve said many times, it has been clear to me for over a decade that China is intent on fielding a force that can conduct aggression in the Western Pacific and prevail even if the United States intervenes. While China has focused on creating the regional conventional forces it believes it needs, China is also dramatically expanding its nuclear force and military space capabilities. We cannot sustain deterrence by standing still.
Integrated deterrence is a key aspect of our National Defense Strategy intended to prevent an act of aggression, and our Air Force and Space Force are essential to executing this strategy. For the last two years, we have focused on establishing the modernization programs we need to maintain our conventional superiority. The work we did under the “Operational Imperative” label produced the new investments and programs included in the FY24 Defense Budget. This work isn’t finished, but it is well begun.
However, we need to do more. We must also address the need for broader and more comprehensive change throughout the Department of the Air Force. It has become clear to the entire senior leadership team that we are not optimized for great power competition. Over more than two decades, we have optimized to support post-9/11 conflicts and demands; this is not what the nation needs for the coming decades of strategic competition. Accordingly, we will conduct a major initiative over the next several months to identify and implement the changes needed to meet our pacing challenge. This initiative will involve a comprehensive look at all aspects of how we organize, train, and equip the Air Force and Space Force.
This will not be easy; existing habits and structures are well established, but it must be done. A centralized planning effort will be led from the combined Department of the Air Force Headquarters with support and extensive input from our Major Commands and Field Commands.
It will conclude by January 2024 and be followed by an implementation phase. Fortunately, the movement to reoptimize for great power competition has already started; I see evidence of that everywhere I go. But we must move faster and more comprehensively. We must identify all the changes we need to make and accelerate them.
We start now. I have one piece of immediate direction for each of you. Every person and organization in the Department, starting today, needs to consider these questions; If asked to go to war today against a peer competitor, are we as ready as we could be? What can we change in each of our units and organizations to be more ready? These should not be looked upon as theoretical or academic questions. The fact is that this is why the Air Force and Space Force exist. This is why we all serve – to be ready at any time to undertake the most stressing mission we may be given. Deterrence is the goal, but deterrence rests firmly on our readiness and ability to win. No one wants a great power conflict, and no one can predict when one might occur, but come it may, and we must be as ready as we can be – now, tomorrow, and every day.
Change is hard, losing is unacceptable.
Frank Kendall
Secretary of the Air Force
One Team, One Fight
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Airmen,
The U.S. Air Force and our allies, with whom we train, represent the greatest airpower the world has ever known, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) wants to exploit your knowledge and skill to fill gaps in their military capability.
Our vastly superior capabilities and overwhelming airpower are key in deterring increasingly aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific and if necessary, defeating threats. I have made it clear since publishing the original CSAF Action Orders that I am committed to ensuring Airmen have what is required to compete, deter, and win in a high-end fight. However, as you may have seen in the news, foreign companies are targeting and recruiting U.S. and NATO-trained military talent across specialties and career fields to train the PLA abroad to fill gaps in their military capabilities.
By essentially training the trainer, those who accept contracts with these companies are eroding our national security, putting the very safety of their fellow servicemembers and the country at risk, and may be violating the law. Just as I am asking for your help, I have also asked for help from our allied Air Chiefs to address the same issue within their ranks. Protecting our national defense information is the responsibility of each servicemember and veteran.
If you or someone you know is being targeted for recruitment, or was recruited, to train foreign militaries, please report it to your local Office of Special Investigations detachment or submit a report via www.osi.af.mil/Submit-a-Tip/.
I am committed to protecting this great Nation, our Airmen and mission…Fly, Fight, and Win…Airpower anytime, anywhere!
As always, I am proud to serve alongside you.
CHARLES Q. BROWN, JR.
General, USAF
Chief of Staff
UPCOMING EVENTS
Hispanic Heritage Month Event
The Hispanic & Latino Heritage Club is hosting A La Calle Block Party!
DATE: Sep. 22 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
LOCATION: 552nd Maintenance Squadron Bldg. 230, Dock 2, then to Sentry Blvd
FEATURING: Guest speakers; food trucks; dance groups; DJ; low riders; other off base groups
Rising 6 Kickball Tournament
Sept 9 – 1630 – Tinker Softball Field
- Choose your own teams of 8-10 players & sign up to play or come support your fellow members!
- Pizza & water will be provided to all, while it lasts!
Sign up now! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CACA82CA4F8C61-507th
POC: Senior Airman Jaimesha Alexander, 507 LRS
Career Progression Opportunities
Commissioning Packages Due Oct. 3
Commissioning board to be held Oct. 15
If you are an enlisted member who has been considering commissioning now is your chance!
The 507 ARW Non-EAD ACP Board (formerly Deserving Airmen) will convene 15 October 2023. Interested candidates must submit a complete package using the attached snowflake (as one PDF document) to carlos.rodri@us.af.mil and Courtesy Copy 507.fss.workflow@us.af.mil with a standard subject line for 507 ARW Non-EAD ACP – Member’s Last Name. SrA Rodri will review all packages and prepare them for the board. Packages are due NLT 1600 on 3 October 2023.
POC:
507th Force Support Squadron
DSN: 339-4463
COMM: 405-739-4463
First Sergeant Vacancy; Accepting Applications through Oct. 8
This is a Traditional Reservist position
Required Grade: E-7
Suspense: 8 October 2023
Reporting Date: December 2023
Please contact CMSgt Darren Wiseman to apply or with any inquiries.
Darren.wiseman.1@us.af.mil | 618-616-6516
NOTEWORTHY UPDATES
RRPA Application is Available in myFSS
Instructions for submitting a Reduced Retired Pay Age application are included both in the below Frontline and myFSS link:
ARPC RRPA Frontline AFR/ANG Reduced Retired Pay Age myFSS Article
MILPDS is Down for Maintenance Sep. 9-10
MILPDS is scheduled for maintenance all weekend. This will affect our ability to pull SURFS, points, update eval information, positions, etc.
If you require any MILPDS updates please email Andrea Williams and SSgt Stowe, and they will work the updates as soon as the system is available: andrea.williams.3@us.af.mil; jaddie.stowe.1@us.af.mil
TINKER TRAFFIC ADVISORY
A portion of Tailfeather Drive will be closed from Aug. 7 to Dec. 2023.
The parking lot at the southwest corner of Bldg. 9201 will be accessible during the construction.
To see other construction projects, visit https://www.tinker.af.mil/Home/Traffic-Weather-Construction-Info/
Dress and Appearance Changes
As of April 1, 2023
- CDCs are No-Salute zones
- Cold weather headbands authorized
- Four operational badges authorized above USAF tape
See https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-uniform-regulations-purses-beards/ for all
AFI 36-2903 changes
Express III Shoppette open on UTA weekends
0630 to 1730 – Beginning May 13th the Express III Shoppette down the street from 507th ARW HQ will be open for the remaining drill weekends of FY23.
Chapel services available on UTA Sundays
Event: Chapel Service Date: Sunday UTA Time: 0715-0745, Location: Bldg 1094, 72nd MDG, Heritage Hall in the basement
Event: Chapel Service Date: Sunday UTA Time: 0730-0800 Location: 72nd APS Conference Rm.
Event: Bible Study Date: Sunday UTA Time: 0800 – 0830, Location: Bldg 1048, 507th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Conference Room.
Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program
Contact Tech. Sgt. Nicaela Garcia for more information about upcoming events at nicaela.garcia@us.af.mil
If you would like to submit information or photos to the On-final, email us at 507arw.pa2@us.af.mil