Tech. Sgt. Peter Terault, 446th Maintenance Squadron engine mechanic, checks a C-17 Globemaster III engine thrust reverser during a routine inspection at McChord Field. The thrust reversers divert an aircraft engine's exhaust so that the thrust produced is directed forward, rather than aft. This acts against the forward travel of the aircraft, providing deceleration, slowing the aircraft after touch-down which reduces wear on the brakes and allows for shorter landing distances. Sergeant Terault is also a full time engine mechanic in his civilian job here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody)    

Several year groups and competitive categories no longer will be required to meet the September 2011 reduction-in-force board. 

Air Force officials announced that RIF-eligible officers from previously announced competitive categories for chaplains, medical service corps and 1999 and 2000 judge advocate general year groups will not meet this year's RIF board.

The RIF board will now only consider officers in the grade of captain and major in the following year groups and competitive categories:

Captains: line of the Air Force, 2000 and 2003 through 2005 only.

Majors: line of the Air Force, 2000; judge advocate general, 2001 through 2003; and biomedical service corps, 2000 and 2001

According to Air Force officials, the RIF board will consider approximately 9,000 officers to retain at least 95 percent in the year groups and competitive categories listed above. 

Answers to specific RIF and voluntary separation pay questions are available at the FY11/12 Force Management Programs section on the Air Force Personnel Services website. Type "15766" in the search by keyword box to go directly to the FAQs. 

For information about specific skills needed by the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard select embedded links. Detailed RIF eligibility criteria, to include the latest information on year groups and competitive categories eligible for the RIF board, are on the AFPERS website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/app/login; do a keyword search for RIF. First time users will need to create an account with a username and password.

(Courtesy of the Air Force Personnel, Service and Manpower Public Affairs)    

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - More than 130 Airmen from the McChord Field 

are due to return Thursday to Joint Base Lewis-McChord after a 120-day 

deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn 

and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

During their deployment, the C-17 squadron moved more than 33,984 passengers 

and delivered more than 81 million pounds of cargo to include 9,635 bundles 

with a combined weight of more than 15 million pounds on 280 drop zones.

The Airmen, comprised mostly from the 7th Airlift Squadron, were deployed as 

the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.  Their mission was to provide global 

strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief, to 

create an air bridge for personnel, equipment and supplies throughout the 

assigned areas of responsibility.

The 62 Airlift Wing's four active duty flying squadrons share responsibility 

for the deployed squadron and rotate operating the 816 EAS continuously.  The 

deployments allow Air Mobility Command to consistently position assets closer 

to the action.

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash.- Emmy Award-winning host of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno will perform Saturday, May 7th in Hangar 4 at McChord Field, as part of the Air Force Reserve's Tour for the Troops. Reserve Generation from the Band of the Air Force Reserve will open the show starting at 7 p.m. performing a variety of popular music. The show is free and open to only military ID holders and their guests.

Military personnel will represent all of the military installations in the Puget Sound area including: Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen from the Reserve, Army and Air National Guard, and active-duty components but not limited to: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Naval Base Kitsap, Camp Murray, and U.S. Coast Guard Base Pier 36 in Seattle.   The performance is a gesture of appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices they make day-in and day-out.

Tour for the Troops is a concert series sponsored by the Air Force Reserve that visits military bases around the world.  This is the second Tour for the Troops for Jay Leno, who performed last year at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Leno joins a list of entertainers including Kid Rock, John Legend and Ludacris who have appeared in past concerts as a way of showing their support for our military service men and women.

Emmy Award-winning host of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno will perform May 7 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's McChord Field, as part of the Air Force Reserve's Tour for the Troops. 

Reserve Generation from the Band of the Air Force Reserve will open the show starting at 7 p.m., performing a variety of popular music. The show is free and open to only military ID holders and their guests.

A T-shirt give-away event will take place at the Exchange on JBLM Lewis Main from 11:30 a.m., to 12:30 p.m.  (EDITOR'S NOTE): PX FOLKS SAID TO ARRIVE AT LEAST BY 11 A.M.  1000 SHIRTS TOTAL TO GIVE OUT.

Tour for the Troops is a concert series sponsored by the Air Force Reserve that visits military bases around the world. This is the second Tour for the Troops for Jay Leno, who performed last year at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Mr. Leno joins a list of entertainers including Kid Rock, John Legend and Ludacris who have appeared in on the tour as a way of showing their support for our military men and women. 

Before replacing Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show in 1992, Mr. Leno began his career doing stand-up comedy. Mr. Leno's love for stand-up has not diminished and he regularly performs to sold-out venues around the country.

Keep updated with the latest information regarding Jay Leno's Tour for the Troops 2011 performance atwww.AFReserve.com/JayLeno

NEW AL MUTHANA AIR BASE, Iraq - As the war on terror rages and assassinations grab headlines, airmen serving with the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air and 447th Air Expeditionary Group are focusing their efforts on building the foundation of the Iraqi air force. Equipment transfer and technical training are important, but a small group of non-commissioned officers are also teaching enlisted professional development as part of U.S. Air Force efforts to rebuild the Iraqi air force as a strong, regional air power partner.

Master Sgt. Brian Carter, ITAM-Air medical advisor, is the lynchpin for the current class and said a committee of about 15 people planned the course, which covered Iraqi air force core values, professionalism and training. 

"We had 51 students for each night," said Carter, who is deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. "The students were divided into three small groups based on rank... warrant officers, NCOs and airmen."

According to Carter, the enlisted corps of the Iraqi air force is similar to the U.S. Air Force, but there are differences. For example, the Iraqi air force has many highly-experienced enlisted airmen and new airmen with about a year or so on active duty. However, there are very few serving in mid-level enlisted positions.

"The senior NCOs, or warrant officers they call them, have been in many years. Some had even served in the Iraqi army and served under Saddam's regime [during] Desert Shield and Desert Storm," said Carter, who is originally from Wilson, N.C. "They face many challenges, such as training issues and lack of resources. However, they are not as empowered by their officers to solve these problems on their own as our senior NCOs would be."

Master Sgt. Daryl G. Baldosser, 447th Expeditionary Communication Squadron Cyber Transport Systems section chief, volunteered his time as an instructor for the professional development course. Baldosser, deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., said he was impressed with the experience and knowledge the Iraqi senior NCOs exhibited.

"The first group we addressed was the senior NCOs. We asked the question, ‘What part of your training program needs the most help?' The Iraqi senior NCOs were very passionate with their responses," said Baldosser, a native of Republic, Ohio. "They cited issues like ‘lack of training on the newer, digital aircraft platforms' and obstacles like officers not being responsive to their training requests or needs. We tried to get them to focus on the items within their span of control."

Tech. Sgt. Rebecca McKeever, 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge, also volunteered to teach. McKeever, originally from Winchester, Va., taught during the second night of the course and focused on the four Iraqi air force core values, which are: learn English, integrity, loyalty to country and military discipline.

"I volunteered to teach the class so I could find out how the enlisted members of the Iraqi air force compare to our enlisted members. I also wanted to meet the airmen we are here to help develop and grow into an independent force," said McKeever, who is deployed from Buckley AFB, Colo.

Master Sgt. Christina Riegel, 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Traffic Management superintendent, who is deployed from Ramstein AB, Germany, said she was amazed at how much the enlisted corps of the U.S. Air Force and Iraq Air Force have in common.

"We are the same! Both would like to make improvements to their processes and sometimes we encounter the same challenges in making those improvements," said Riegel, a Greeley, Colo. Native.

As with any good training, the communication was a two-way process. The Iraqi NCOs who participated in the training said they enjoyed the opportunity and felt the small-group discussion method of instruction was highly effective. Several also mentioned they felt the long term benefit of the training would build a strong foundation for the Iraqi air force.

A secondary goal for this training was to give the Iraqis a chance to interact with Americans and practice their English language skills.

"A lot of the aviation training and operations require English, and understanding the language is crucial to building their capabilities as an air force," said Carter.

McKeever said everyone here should seize opportunities to work with the Iraqi air force.

"They have an energy and willingness to learn that is refreshing to see. They seem to enjoy talking to the U.S. airmen and working on their English skills the most," McKeever said. It was a great experience and memory that I will enjoy reminiscing about for years to come!"