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Q&A: JCS Vice Roles and Missions Reboot? 48 | Pilot Training 44 | Cost-Per-Effect Calculus 60
Chairman
Gen. John
Hyten
14
THE NEW ARCTIC
STRATEGY
Competition Intensifies in a Critical Region | 52
September 2020 $8
Published by the
Air Force Association
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STAFF
Publisher
September 2020. Vol. 103, No. 9 Bruce A. Wright
Editor in Chief
Tobias Naegele
Managing Editor
Juliette Kelsey
Chagnon
Editorial Director
John A. Tirpak
News Editor
Amy McCullough
Assistant
Managing Editor
Chequita Wood
Master Sgt. Christopher Boitz
Senior Designer
Dashton Parham
Pentagon Editor
Brian W. Everstine
Digital Platforms
Editor
DEPARTMENTS FEATURES T-38C Talons Jennifer-Leigh
begin to break Oprihory
2 Editorial: Seize 14 Q&A: The Joint Focus away from an
the High Ground Senior Editor
By Tobias Naegele Gen. John E. Hyten, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs echelon for-
Rachel S. Cohen
of Staff, speaks with John A. Tirpak about strategic mation during
4 Letters instructor Production
requirements, roles and missions, space, and more. Manager
pilot training in
6 Index to
Advertisers 44 Reforging Fighter Pilot Training Southern Texas. Eric Chang Lee
By John A. Tirpak Photo Editor
13 Verbatim Mike Tsukamoto
The aim is better pilots and more combat capability.
18 Strategy & Policy:
The Training
The bonus is speed. Contributors
Renaissance Douglas A. Birkey,
48 Time to Rethink Roles and Missions? John T. Correll,
22 Airframes By Rachel S. Cohen David A. Deptula,
Robert S. Dudney,
30 World: New CSAF, Some see a need for revisions, but leaders aren’t Jennifer Hlad,
CMSAF; DOD there—yet. Alyk Russell Kenlan
leaving Germany?;
F-15EX basing; 52 Flexing in the Arctic
Space Force
doctrine revealed; By Amy McCullough
Hack-a-Sat; and USAF warms to a new strategy and increased
more ... competition in the vital polar region.
43 Faces of the Force ADVERTISING:
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Improv for Healing
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66 Rise of the Air Corps An F-35A flies over
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Air Force Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) September 2020 (Vol. 103, No. 9) is published monthly, except for two double issues in January/February and July/August, by the Air
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SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM 1
EDITORIAL
By Tobias Naegele
Seize the High Ground
I
n the opening scenes of the movie “Gettysburg,” the film adap- tion could conceivably involve manned space planes in the future,
tation of the brilliant Civil War novel “Killer Angels,” Union Brig. the near-term and foreseeable reality is that man’s role in space
Gen. John Buford gazes across the rolling Southern Pennsyl- will be to manage the domain via remote control, much as we do
vania hills and laments the plodding tactics of his commanders. today. While astronauts assigned to NASA man the International
Imagining the battle to come as an inevitable failure, he says: Space Station, our Space Force can expect to do its business from
“When our people get here, Lee will have the high ground and the familiar confines of our terrestrial atmosphere.
there will be the devil to pay.” Of course, some have more ambitious notions of what the
Buford did not wait for orders from above. Seizing the high Space Force should be and do. Last winter, when the Air Force
ground for the Union, he turned the tables on the Confederates Association hosted Elon Musk at the Air Warfare Symposium, he
such that it was the Union, and not Lee, that held the high ground not only silenced the room by declaring “the fighter jet era has
and the rocks when the battle began in earnest. Thus it was Lee, passed,” but also opined on the brand-new Space Force. It needs
and not the Union, whose forces withered and lost the ensuing “really cool” uniforms, he said, and should cast its gaze outward
battle. toward interplanetary travel, rather than back at Earth.
The war—and the preeminent place the United States has held Then we have the comedic Netflix series “Space Force,” which
in the world ever since—may well have hinged on that decision. presents a new service branch intent on “putting boots on the
The quest for the high ground is as old as war itself. A castle on moon.” And this summer, in real life, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas)
a hill was harder to attack and provided the early warning to spot managed to convince his House colleagues—overwhelmingly from
marauders while they were still a long way off. Attacking from on the opposite party—to agree to an amendment to the 2020 defense
high offered other advantages, including speed and range, factors authorization bill that would require the Space Force to adopt
that remain critical even today. Manned flight—from balloons and Navy ranks. Crenshaw, who was medically retired from the Navy
dirigibles to powered flight in and beyond the atmosphere—take as a lieutenant commander, is a combat-decorated Navy SEAL.
that concept to its natural conclusions. The appeal of naval ranks, of course, flows from the visions
“Spacepower,” the foundational doctrine of the U.S. Space Force, conjured up by science fiction writers in the 1950s and ’60s, the
was released in August. In it, the new military branch defines same romantic souls who scripted Captain Kirk to be a cosmic
space as “a critical manifestation of the high ground in modern Casanova with a star-crossed femme fatal on every planet. Our
warfare”—one might even say the ultimate high ground. Providing 21st century Space Force needs more appropriate role models.
a God’s-eye view of the world beneath, legal, permission-free Proponents argue a new rank structure is essential to help the
overflight, and the means to move and manage Space Force peel away from its Air Force roots. But
information globally at unparalleled speed, space Ignore the nonsense. if that’s so, why cleave to the Navy instead? How
is transformational. Seize the high ground. does that advance the cause of an independent
Space also is increasingly contested by other Space Force?
ambitious powers and crowded by commercial Win the fight. Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay”
and military ventures. It may not be crowded like Raymond is obligated to consider every possibil-
Times Square on New Year’s Eve, but as traffic increases, it is be- ity and deserves the freedom of maneuver to fashion the Space
coming more complex. Commercial operators are fixing to launch Force as a bold and innovative endeavor. He isn’t building just
constellations of thousands of satellites, creating a host of new today’s Space Force, but one that can stand a century onward.
business opportunities—and potential military targets. If the Space Force does indeed require a new rank structure, it
America does not own this high ground outright. The Space should invent one.
Force’s objective, according to the doctrine, is to ensure the But, do not be hasty. In an increasingly joint military, are more
freedom to operate where, when, and how we wish; to enable the ranks and more potential for confusion advantageous? Might they
remainder of the Joint Force with precision, strategic warning, and instead prove a distraction? If the rank insignia remain the same
global communications, and the ability to provide—independent for ease of recognition, ought not the names of the ranks remain
of the other services—military options in, from, and to space. the same, as well? How does changing the second lieutenants
To do this, the Space Force envisions five core competencies: into ensigns make the force more lethal? And if it doesn’t make
space security, to ensure a stable operating environment for both the force more lethal, why do it?
military and civilian space activities; combat power projection, to America needs a more effective Joint Force to deter aggressors
enable offensive and defensive actions to deter aggression and and, if necessary, fight and defeat them in short order. The Space
fight and win if necessary; space mobility and logistics, to enable Force was created for that very reason, to focus national attention
movement of people and equipment in space; information mobility, on the critical fourth domain and its impact on all the others. Every
to ensure timely data collection and transmission; and domain action to define its creed should advance this objective. Actions
awareness, to ensure effective identification and understanding that fail to advance that ball ought to be rejected.
of activity in space. Here, the Space Force’s motto—Semper Supra—Always Above—
It is instructive to note that only one of these core competencies offers inspiration.
explicitly describes people in space. While combat power projec- Ignore the nonsense. Seize the high ground. Win the fight. J
2 SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM
LETTERS
Air Force Association
On Unrest, Race, and USAF process, and I wondered what he was 1501 Lee Highway • Arlington, VA 22209-1198
I don’t know what it is truly like to be thinking about regarding the George
afa.org
an African American in our Air Force. Floyd inspired demonstrations. Then, I
But, I do know what it’s like to be an saw his powerful, brutally honest video Telephone: 703.247.5800
Air Force commander who thinks that … talk about a reality check. Toll-free: 800.727.3337
racism is not one of our main chal- With just a quick look at General Fax: 703.247.5853
lenges. Brown’s career, one can see that he
I recently watched Gen. Charles was “tested early and often,” and he AFA’s Mission
Q. Brown Jr.’s video as he candidly consistently excelled. Graduating at Our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air
described his thoughts on racism in the top of his pilot training class, he and Space Forces as the foundation of a
our country. I listened, really listened, was chosen to fly one of the USAF’s strong national defense; honor and support
to what he was saying. His “thoughts” premier fighters, the F-16. He quickly our Airmen, Space professionals, and their
were a punch in my gut. I am a White, advanced to instructor pilot and was families; and to honor and respect our
male American who proudly wore selected to attend the elite Fighter enduring heritage.
the blue Air Force uniform for over Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev. I
38 years. Before watching General was one of C.Q.’s instructors and was To accomplish this, we:
Brown’s video, I was engaged in a immediately impressed by his talent, ■ Educate the public on the critical need
virtual dialogue with members of my drive, and attitude to be the best F-16 for unrivaled aerospace power and a
family about the current racial crisis weapons and tactics instructor. Sub- technically superior workforce to ensure
gripping our nation. My family has sequently, our paths crossed many national security.
views from the far right to the far left, more times in our careers. I was ■ Advocate for aerospace power, and
and while all of us have been disturbed his squadron commander when he promote aerospace and STEM education
about the current state of affairs, we was a flight commander and an F-16 and professional development.
have different perceptions on the root Weapons School instructor pilot. I was
■ Support readiness for the Total Air and
cause. his wing commander when he was a Space Forces, including Active Duty,
In the dialogue, I told my family fighter squadron commander. And I National Guard, Reserve, civilians, families
about Gen. C.Q. Brown, who I have was his wing commander again when and members of the Civil Air Patrol.
personally known for almost 30 years. he was serving his group command
I told them about my certainty that this tour as the Commandant of the USAF Contacts
amazing fighter pilot, officer, and lead- Weapons School. CyberPatriot . . . . info@uscyberpatriot.org
er was the absolute best choice to be I have long believed that whatever Field Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . field@afa.org
the next Chief of Staff of the Air Force. success I had in the military was due, Government Relations . . . . . . . . . grl@afa.org
I also mentioned that while some in large part, to the amazing com- Insurance . . . . . . . afa.service@mercer.com
might think his selection, at this point manders like C.Q. that I was fortunate Membership. . . . . . . . membership@afa.org
in time, was racially motivated, I per- enough to have working for me. News Media. . . . communications@afa.org
sonally knew his nomination process Being raised in a military family, I StellarXplorers . . . . . . . . . STLX_info@afa.org
had started well before the current believed that if you applied yourself
crisis. I must admit, I was a bit proud and worked hard enough, particular- Magazine
Advertising. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kbrown@afa.org
that our “system” had selected C.Q. ly in the military, you could achieve
Editorial Offices . . . . . . . . . . . afmag@afa.org
based on his merits and his incredible anything you dream. I believed that
Letters to Editor Column. . . letters@afa.org
ability to lead our Airmen. I hadn’t the military was a relatively pure
talked to C.Q. in a few months since meritocracy—a “system in which the
Change of Address/Email
he was going through the confirmation talented are chosen and moved ahead In an effort to stay connected with AFA
on the basis of their achievement.” My and your local chapter, please update your
career as a single-seat fighter pilot mailing and email addresses. Change of
WRITE TO US taught me, very quickly, that if I wasn’t address requires four weeks’ notice.
competent enough to fly, kill, and sur-
Do you have a comment about a current vive in a high-performance aircraft, To update your contact information:
article in the magazine? Write to “Letters,” I could not only cause the mission ■ Email: membership@afa.org
Air Force Magazine, 1501 Lee Highway, to fail, but I put my life and the lives
■ Visit: The Members Only area
Arlington, VA 22209-1198 or email us at of my teammates at risk. In a fighter of our website, afa.org
letters@afa.org. Letters should be concise formation, the flight lead and wingmen
and timely. We cannot acknowledge receipt work as a team—everyone relying on ■ Call: Our Membership Department
of letters. We reserve the right to condense each other to do their job to execute at 1-800-727-3337
letters. Letters without name and city/base the tactic. In all my years of flying, I ■ Mail your magazine label, including your
and state are not acceptable. Photographs really didn’t care a bit about the race first and last name, to our Membership
cannot be used or returned. or sex or background of who was in my Department at 1501 Lee Highway,
formation, all that mattered was could Arlington, VA 22209-1198.
4 SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM
they fly the jet and do their job. Whether flight briefing, every sortie, every job, starting today. Our nation is in turmoil
I was writing his Weapons School grade every assignment, every command with because we are not where we should
sheet when he was a captain or his OPR a burden of doubt that others put on him be, with every American being afforded
(Officer Performance Report) or PRF solely due to his skin color. In the Air a fair and just opportunity to succeed
(Promotion Recommendation Form) as Force system, I was a fairly successful and make our country great. Don’t think
a colonel, I always rated officer Brown commander, but in this area of lead- your Airmen aren’t experiencing some
on his demonstrated abilities—to fly a ership, I was blind and deaf. As I was of the same frustrations that are being
fighter, command his unit, or lead his reminded by Chief Master Sergeant of highlighted by the protests across our
Airmen. He was such an intelligent, the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright in a recent country. Listen, and heed your next
thoughtful, and competent officer and article, as a White Airman, I truly didn’t Chief of Staff. Strive for “the wisdom
leader. It never surprised me as he have a clue of the challenges of being and knowledge to lead, participate in,
rose through the ranks. It reinforced an African American in our Air Force. and listen to necessary conversations
my belief that the Air Force was a fair When I was his commander, C.Q. never on racism, diversity, and inclusion …
meritocracy, and we were turning the shared his thoughts on racism in our and stay committed to sustain action
corner on racism. I naively thought service with me—because I never asked to make our Air Force better.”
that every Airmen starts with the equal him. I didn’t comprehend, because I Our Air Force is the smallest it has
opportunity to do their job well, gets couldn’t see what was right in front ever been in our history, and you are
promoted, and then is given increased of me. I didn’t hear, because I didn’t tasked with the enormous challenge to
responsibility to lead and motivate ask the right questions of the African be ready to fight and win against a peer
others to do the same—regardless of American Airmen under my command. competitor. We need you supervisors
the Airman’s race. Bottom line—I didn’t act to make our Air and commanders to establish that level
I was wrong! A meritocracy assumes Force better. playing field and create an environment
everyone is on a relatively level playing I am a White, male American who to get the absolute best out of every one
field. If one works hard to grow and proudly wore the blue Air Force uni- of your Airmen … period! I was extreme-
maximize their talents and abilities, form for over 38 years, but now I’m just ly privileged to be Gen. C.Q. Brown’s
and performs exceptionally, they are an old retired dude living on a farm in commander, and for a the first half of
rewarded. But what if, in sports terms, South Carolina. For me, there won’t be his career, one of his mentors. Now, he’s
you’re a runner who feels like, in every another opportunity to command and mentoring me, and more importantly, all
race, you’re carrying a 20-pound ruck- lead the best Airmen in the world. But for of you. Ask … hear … act!
sack that no one else has? How many you supervisors, from the newest staff Lt. Gen. William J. Rew,
times was C.Q. the one of very few sergeant to our most experienced gen- USAF (Ret.)
African American aircrew members in eral officer, you can make a difference Blythewood, S.C.
a packed Red Flag briefing room with
some questioning his comments not
(EXTREME)
on their tactical merit, but, because of
the color of his skin? How many people
questioned his ability to command,
before they heard him utter a single
word? In the past several decades, the
Air Force has made great progress in
reducing the crushing effects of racism
from our past, but we have a long way
to go before we truly get to a “level
playing field.”
As a commander, I tried to act swiftly
and decisively when I became aware
of acts of racism in my unit. I had zero
tolerance for such acts, but I now re-
alize those behaviors I acted on were Advanced thermal management
just the overt ones—the tip of the
iceberg. Much of what General Brown for extreme military environments
describes in his video were the more Meggitt has developed cooling solutions for the most challenging flight
subtle actions, comments, perceptions,
conditions, missions, and extreme environments. From low supersonic
and expectations that he lived with
flight, to high hot wet hover, to desert and arctic operations, our thermal
every day in uniform. He lived with the
management solutions are proven and ready to meet the challenge of
constant pressure of trying to perform
error-free for supervisors who expected the more electronic platform and battlefield.
less of him as an African American. I
was one of his supervisors who couldn’t Tel: +1 949 465 7700
comprehend this toll of existing racism, E-mail: gerry.janicki@meggitt.com
because it didn’t happen to me—I didn’t
live it. As an F-16 fighter pilot, the early www.meggittdefense.com
part of General Brown’s career was
similar to mine. But, he started every
reverse
SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM 5
LETTERS
[I was] on Active duty in the ’60s/’70s where only Black Airmen were promoted. should be judged on his integrity not
and retired in the ’90s. All of the military There is no doubt in my mind that these the color of his skin.
went through class after class of military Airmen deserved to be promoted, but This is the 21st century and the world
training concerning race relations. What it was clear to those who did not get has gone south because of a few bad
we are going through now is what we promoted what the AF was doing. apples. The Air Force led the way as
went through a generation ago. There Let’s fast forward to today. What was the first branch to integrate our Airmen,
is no difference. This generation hasn’t shocking to me was the fact that, in 2020, NCOs, and officers, under President
been taught the lessons of yesterday the U.S. Air Force still has a promotion Harry S. Truman. Lets continue to lead
and we (the older) have to take the problem with Black Airmen and women. the way, but manners, respect—all of
blame for not teaching our children I am appalled that the problem still exists this begins at home when you are a
the fundamentals of love and respect today. But it does not surprise me. Rac- young child. As former A1C, now actor,
for everyone. ism still exists in all the service branches. Morgan Freeman said, if your child is
CMSgt. Dwight L. Graupman, Having looked over the Air Force Spe- disrespectful, its not society’s fault,
USAF (Ret.) cialty Code (AFSC) 3E7X1 Fire Protection video games’, music’s fault, but yours.
Spotsylvania, Va. regulation, I would like to have read Clean up the mess in your own front
more about the missed opportunities yard before you tell someone how to
The tragedy of George Floyd should E-6 Miles Starr was referring to in the clean their backyard.
never have happened. An arrest should article. It is a shame that USAF missed Dean R. Martinez,
not have resulted in a death. What con- the opportunity to have her as the first USAF (Ret.)
cerns me is that the Air Force seems to Black woman fire chief. Litchfield Park, Ariz.
feel a responsibility for this. I was in the Let’s hope that in another 10 years
military for 24 years and learned to work USAF makes more progress. At least I served from 1966 to 1989. I am for-
with people of various backgrounds the Air Force admits there is a problem. ever grateful for the opportunity the Air
and races, and to look after each other, Now, do something about it. Force gave me to serve my country. I
regardless. It is for that reason, as well MSgt. Robert J. Wiebel, write this letter because I still believe
as others, that I do encourage people USAF (Ret.) in our mission. And I want our Air Force
to join the military. Melbourne, Fla. to be “the best of the best.”
I have studied military aviation history In the early ’70s our Air Force mir-
for many years, and, if anything, the Air I started in on the latest Air Force rored what was happening in our
Force has lead the nation in providing Magazine, and right off the bat you talk nation. Protests against the war in
opportunities for African Americans. about combating systemic racism, as Vietnam; racial conflict erupting in
An excellent example are the Tuskegee though it’s a given that it’s a real thing. cities and spilling on to our bases;
Airmen. Thanks to the Army Air Force, It is not a real thing in my opinion. drugs showing up in our barracks and
these men were given an opportunity Think about what you’re saying [with] in urine tests. Officers and enlisted
to prove themselves and made an “systemic.” I do not, I will not, believe having alcohol-abuse incidents and
invaluable contribution to our victory that my country is infested with systemic going to rehabilitation—or out the
in World War II. The Air Force was a racism. Is there racism, individually? Of
leading institution in combating racism. course, but it does NOT permeate the INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
It should be viewed as such, not a racist country, or the Air Force.
organization. You do a disservice to our country and American Hearing Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
TSgt. Joe Domhan, our military to buy into that lie. Chenega . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
N.Y. ANG (Ret.) MSgt. Ken Selking, Collins Aerospace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover II
West Babylon, N.Y. USAF (Ret.) Edwards AFB Civ Mil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Decatur, Ind. Elbit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
After reading the current edition of Air GE Aviation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29
Force Magazine, my experience with the Race relations were an issue in the General Atomics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
promotions system and race relations ’60s and ’70s, while my dad was Active Gulfstream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
came roaring back. I served between duty, and we as dependents saw this L3 Harris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1968-1989 in civil engineering. I rose to living off base; yet living on base and Lockheed Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cover IV
the rank of master sergeant (E-7) with attending base schools it was something Lockheed Martin/AFA vASC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
a short break in service in 1977 that put you never [saw]. Marvin Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
me behind my peers when I lost all my In a world where parents are friends Meggitt Defense . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
time in service points. I retired in August rather than being parents—holding Mercer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
1989, with three college degrees. USAF their children accountable—they are Pratt & Whitney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
was very good to me. allowed to be spoiled brats. I did su- Rheinmetall AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Throughout the ’70s, I attended race- pervise many young Airmen and NCOs Rolls-Royce . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37
relations classes and experienced the and was a part of their lives. We came SimpliSafe . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
quota system as the Air Force began to from many different backgrounds, col- Smart-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
promote Black Airmen to make up for ors, and creed nation origins. The late USAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover III
past promotion discrimination practic- Martin Luther King Jr. said it best in his
es. There were many promotion cycles “I have a Dream Speech,” that a man Aerospace Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
6 SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM
door. USAF’s response was to organize, formation. They confirmed the reports. loud and clear to me. Our new Chief
train, and deploy a small career field I presented this information to Air Staff of Staff has an opportunity to change
of volunteer enlisted and officers who personnel with a recommendation to the culture. I hope he will consider this
developed a social actions program to continue the program. The Air Force lesson of history.
help leaders deal with the racial and Assistant for Equal Opportunity and Lt. Col. Paul D. Raino,
substance abuse problems in the force. Treatment position was downgraded to USAF (Ret.)
It was controversial from the start. a lower organizational level at AFMPC Peru, N.Y.
In 1977, I volunteered to work in the and no longer reported directly to
field. I served for 13 years at wing, ma- the commander. To me, the message I just viewed the dialogue between
jor air command, and Air Staff levels. was clear. Top-level support for equal the CSAF and the CMSAF discussing
My last social actions assignment was opportunity and treatment had erod- the latest tragic death of a Black per-
as the Air Force Assistant for Equal ed. People at the top no longer felt son. I didn’t really hear a defined mea-
Opportunity and Treatment at Hq. the need to devote men/women and surable, step-by-step plan. The prob-
AFMPC (Air Force Military Personnel money significantly to confronting our lem is cultural. The two Chiefs can’t
Center) from 1984-87. The program institutional racial and gender preju- change that. It is a White problem.
was unpopular. We told people what dices and discrimination. I resigned Bigots raise bigots. As a first sergeant
they did not want to hear. Shortly after in 1987 and was replaced by a major. and enlisted adviser, I didn’t have any
I arrived at AFMPC, I heard rumors The Air Force today, as it was 30 years Black, brown, or White Airmen in my
that the social actions program was to ago, is a reflection of American culture. units. The uniform is the great equal-
be discontinued. Some senior officers We should remember that the social izer. Our military culture is already
believed “the race problem” had been issues of the day won’t disappear with more equitable in its treatment of all
solved. wishful thinking. races. I’ve talked with lots of young
Not so. Although far fewer in number, If, as CMSAF Gerald R. Murray, USAF people that feel that the Air Force
racial conflict incidents and discrimi- (Ret.) stated, this is a time for a “critical provides an opportunity for them to
nation complaints were still happening. reckoning,” whatever we do, whatever control their own destiny. I say to the
Sexual harassment issues were in- we call it, we must sustain the effort leadership, start on Day One at basic
creasing. Moreover, there was evidence to identify and eradicate systemic or the Academy identifying the folks
that the Ku Klux Klan and other White prejudice and bigotry. that bring that culture of poison into
supremacist groups were showing up I believe that what CMSAF Kaleth O. the Air Force. Give them the standard.
in our ranks and recruiting Airmen. We Wright had to say was also on target. Let them make the choice.
contacted the Southern Poverty Law The number of African-American offi- Josette Jarrett
Center’s intelligence unit for more in- cers in the force (6.16 percent) speaks Surprise, Ariz.
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SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM 7
LETTERS
Just received my July/August issue Schilling Air Force Base, Kan., as an Thanks for advancing the conver-
of Air Force Mag. Wanted to voice aircraft maintenance officer, and can sation on race relations in the July/
my displeasure and disappointment attest there was no racial bias in that August edition; this is long overdue.
with the cover. Not the fact there is a organization. My NCOIC, Chief Master In the same edition, I noted that all
Black aircrew member shown, who I Sgt. Albert Harris, was Black and one of nominees for [Air Force Association]
am sure is just as proud to be a part the most highly respected and capable National Office and Board of Directors
of the greatest Air Force on the planet member of the squadron, and there share three characteristics: old, White,
as I was from ’82-’92, but to use this were several other Black Airmen who and male.
forum, as so many other entities are were promoted as fast as was possible I’m both encouraged and impressed
doing today, to make political state- because they were such capable and by the superb credentials identified for
ments is wrong. dedicated individuals. Also in the wing each of the candidates for National
Enough already! The person respon- was one of the leading standardization Office and the Board of Directors. I
sible for the death of one of God’s team navigators, Maj. Nicolas Wash- can’t help but wonder, though, what a
creations is being held accountable, as ington, a Black man, a great person, lot of others of us might be thinking:
are his coworkers. And, it has started and fellow officer. Perhaps SAC was How can AFA get more former Air
a very much needed review of law atypical, but I can say the color of a Force pilots involved at the highest
enforcement circles, in the hopes of person’s skin was not a determinate levels of the AFA? It appears that only
weeding out even more bad apples! for advancement, only performance, one of the 13 nominees ever piloted
‘Bout time! But, we are being force- capability, and dedication to USAF Air Force jets. Our AFA founder, Gen.
fed daily, on every news channel, at mattered. Jimmy Doolittle, might have wondered
every broadcast, now in almost every Capt. James O. Gundlach, the same thing.
commercial, etc. ALL DAY LONG! This USAFR (Ret.) Col. David R. Haulman,
is being taken way too far. It needs to New Orleans USAFR (Ret.)
stop. As I see it, this constant bom- Ridgeland, Miss.
bardment being placed front and cen- The July/August 2020 magazine arti-
ter in everyone’s faces, in my opinion, cle “Black and Air Force Blue” electri- My parents raised us to judge people
is causing even further divide in our fies the need to resurrect a previously “by the content of their character,” not
country today. The more this is shown established Air Force wing administra- the color of their skin. Having tried to
and pushed, the more the anger grows tive office: Social Actions. Irrespective live my life by the wisdom of Martin
on both sides! of the U.S. Army Air Force’s forthright Luther King Jr., I find much of today’s
Because of this issue and the cover, and historical establishment of the racial unrest very disturbing. But it was
I may be forced to not renew my mem- policy that established the famous reading the June 2020 edition of Air
bership when it comes due. Tuskegee Airmen, episodes of racist Force Magazine that finally compelled
Chris Cintron and sexist attitudes were scattered me to speak out.
Parkville, Mo. through Air Force ranks from the A short clip of actor Morgan Freeman
1940s. A case in point is a situation being interviewed on “60 Minutes” by
I was distressed to read of the ap- that occurred during the early 1970s Mike Wallace is making the rounds on
parent bias against Black members at the 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Facebook. It displays the revealing ex-
of the Air Force. As I read the words Reserve Base, Ga. change when Wallace asked Freeman
I couldn’t help but take note of the There is a glorious sign above the his thoughts on Black History Month
photos of Gen. Charles Q. Brown, 94th’s main gate that reads, “Premiere (BHM). In short, Freeman responds
the incoming USAF Chief of Staff, Lt. Airlift Wing.” It developed when the that he does not support BHM and
Gen. Brian T. Kelly, Air Force chief of wing won in competition the award believes the answer to the question of
staff for manpower, personnel, and as being the best airlift wing in the how to go about healing the racial di-
services, Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, free world. But there was racial unrest vide in America is to simply stop talking
the deputy chief of staff for strategic among C-130 crews before this award. about race. He challenges Wallace to
deterrence, and retired Gen. Larry O. Thus the wing established a vigorous stop thinking of Freeman as a “Black
Spencer, former AF Vice Chief of Staff, training program to dismiss disparities man” and Freeman will stop thinking of
all of whom [except Kelly] are Black. in USAF life, culture, and race relations Wallace as “White.” They should think
The promotion rate charts indicate on base. This was given to the Social of each other simply as “Mike Wallace”
inconsistent differences, noting that Actions Office; I was chief of Social and “Morgan Freeman.”
in the upper NCO ranks Blacks were Actions at that time. Martin Luther King Jr. and Morgan
promoted faster than Whites. The lower Apparently the Social Actions ca- Freeman are true heroes; they had the
rates in the officer ranks certainly can reer field has been eradicated. It is courage to speak truth to power, and
be explained by the comment that not mentioned in the latest Air Force we should all learn from their wisdom.
“fewer Blacks pursue flying careers.” Almanac 2020. Perhaps, it should be George Floyd, Michael Brown, and
I do not believe the article makes a reestablished to contend with race Trayvon Martin were not heroes and
strong case that racial bias is rampant relations. are not martyrs either. At best they
in today’s Air Force. Lt. Col. Walter R. Jacobs Jr., were thugs and bullies who reacted
I served from 1959-1962 in the Stra- USAFR (Ret.) violently to the lawful actions of the
tegic Air Command, 310th Bomb Wing, Atlanta police (Floyd and Brown) or, in the
8 SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COMcase of Martin, reacted angrily to being but I offer the opinion below as its true age of Black children who grow up
questioned by George Zimmerman explanation. without a father’s love and guidance.
and was justifiably killed when he Even General Goldfein’s experience I submit my life experiences with my
attacked Zimmerman, knocked him to with the standard box of bandages loving, guiding father offer a better
the ground, and was in the process of being labeled as “flesh-colored” is not explanation why “only” 6.16 percent
pounding Zimmerman’s head into the sufficient justification to turn the Air of the USAF officer corps is Black and
pavement when Zimmerman unexpect- Force upside-down in search of the why a disproportionate percentage of
edly produced the unseen weapon and racial boogie man. Grown men and the Black enlisted members experience
shot him. Surely, a tragic and avoidable women who allow an experience like judicial punishment. I have no idea
death, but Martin initiated the violence. an innocuous product label to disrupt what the Air Force can do to replace
Even mentioning George Floyd’s their day are seriously underchallenged a fatherless childhood, no matter the
name in Air Force Magazine as justifi- and their leaders should be removed person’s color.
cation for pursuing further racial heal- from their positions of responsibility Like Morgan Freeman, I believe we
ing on behalf of those holding up Floyd preparing them to wage war and de- are not solving anything by continuing
as a martyr is an insult to all “decent, fend America. to talk about race as we are now; only
honest, and hard-working people” (my My father was largely responsible the race-baiters are profiting. Rather,
father’s words) who have tried to live for guiding me to my career in the Air we should turn the conversation to
honorable, loving, and prosperous lives Force. His strong leadership of our the accomplishments of Gen. Chappie
within the freedoms of America. family, love of America, and determina- James, Gen. Colin Powell, Condoleezza
I do not believe the United States Air tion to defend her as an officer in the Rice, Supreme Court Justice Clarence
Force has a “systemic” or “institutional” local Guard unit provided me a vision Thomas, Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Thomas
racial problem simply because only 6.16 of how I could live a similarly honor- Sowell, Dr. Shelby Steele, Frederick
percent of the officer corps is African able life. Without my father’s love and Douglass, Herman Cain, Harriet Tub-
American or even because a dispro- guidance, I do not know where I would man, Candace Owens, and the millions
portionate number of the 16.78 percent have landed. of others who have experienced the
of the USAF enlisted force—which Here are several more numbers for true American dream and wish it to
is African American—experiences a [Tobias] Naegele to consider: 70 per- continue. Their examples should be the
higher rate of judicial punishment than cent and 65 percent. The first is the center of this discussion, not those of
the remaining 83.22 percent. Indeed, approximate percentage of the total thugs, bullies, and criminals.
the disproportionately high incidents number of Black children born in Amer- Maj. Patrick J. Hoy,
of judicial punishment against Black ica who are born into a single-parent USAF (Ret.)
members seems to indicate a problem, family and the second is the percent- Billings, Mont.
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It’s disappointing to me that decades when I was nine and my parents took Base, Japan, was for a while a Black
after my own service, Blacks still feel us to see the 1949 movie “Pinky” and officer. There was never in my recol-
the resistance of racial intolerance. my mother said that was the focus of lection racial issues in any of those
There is no room in USAF, or any the film. units. The most specific racial refer-
military branch, for racial intolerance My first contact with any Blacks was ences were, on one hand, in the equal
or animosity. at the 1955 Civil Air Patrol summer opportunity classes that were stan-
Still, you open the article with a encampment at Portland Air Force dard in the early 1970s. They usually
quote from Lt. Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, Base. I became friends with Don Pedro opened with the admonition, “You are
who alludes to three Black individuals Colley, from Klamath Falls, Ore., and all racists and sexists.” On the other
who experienced untimely deaths at I’m sure there were other Blacks. I hand, there were the writings on walls
the hands of police, and another who recall no specific racial reference to across Pacific bases that were crudely
died at the hands of White civilians. any of them. The only such comments specific about racial issues and were
In the case of Breonna Taylor, that there might have been in the late never effectively addressed. Those is-
George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks, 40s would more likely have been about sues reflected the tensions that led to
while there was questionable policing the difficulties that members of the race riots May 21-25 at Travis Air Force
involved, an obvious lack of profes- Klamath tribe had when the reserva- Base, Calif. Interestingly, though I
sionalism, there is no evidence of ra- tion was dissolved. was not off station on a Military Airlift
cial bias, intolerance, or hostility. One Blacks were similarly “invisible” Command trip, I have absolutely no
can blame “implicit bias” but that’s during my college years at Oregon recollection of that event.
no more persuasive than blaming it and Oregon State. I’m sure there were For me, my Air Force career in
on pixies. Black students but I recall none, even retrospect was operating in a nearly
In the case of Ahmad Aubrey, Gener- in the AFROTC program. It was not all-White world. There was only a few
al Cotton has a valid point. Here was until the summer of 1962 that I was Blacks in any of my squadrons or
a young Black man minding his own sharply made aware of racial issues. during some years as an intelligence
business, killed by three White civil- When I debarked from the train in officer. My perspective was that there
ians for no apparent reason other than Waco, Texas, to attend ROTC summer weren’t any significant issues, though
racial hostility. In addition, it took 74 camp, there was a drinking fountain in I did not actually spend much mental
days to charge the three perpetrators. front of me with the sign “Blacks Only.” energy on the subject. That is pretty
Here, General Cotton has a reasonable Welcome to the new world! Even so, much how things were from 1963 to
fear, an out-of-control situation tinged those issues faded to the background. 1989. At this point, I have been retired
with racial animosity. When I returned to Waco a year later for 31 years and the world has changed
I bring this up only in the interest to begin undergraduate navigation a lot. I suspect that these issues will
of finding a way to a place where training (UNT), those signs had dis- be with us still in 2050 and beyond. I
the American republic can unite as appeared under the strictures of the can only wish for improvements.
individuals committed to the same Civil Rights Act. Lt. Col. Cal Taylor,
values—including racial equality, tol- At UNT, I had my first extended so- USAF (Ret.)
erance, and comity. It is important to cial interaction with Blacks. My john Hood River, Ore.
not overreact. It is important to un- mate, Rich, in billeting, was Black and
derstand the details of each of these I spent lots of time sharing study hours I have rarely been more disappoint-
errors and mistakes. They do not all with several Blacks. My consciousness ed in Air Force Magazine than I was
point to racial animus, and the dis- had become sufficiently elevated that I after reading the two articles from
tinction must be kept alive if we are to at least thought about the possibilities the July/August 2020 issue regarding
avoid turning Blacks into cynics about in the situation when Rich and I went presumed discrimination within the
the entire American project. And there one evening to a club mostly for Span- Air Force against Black personnel.
is little room in my own heart for [Black ish-speaking customers. Fortunately, The article was singular in its point of
Lives Matter], which appears to be a it was a pleasant evening. view and lacked in necessary investi-
Marxist group using Blacks as pawns During my flying career in bombers gation. The mission of the Air Force
in a game of collectivizing the U.S.A. and transports, there were few Blacks. is to fly and fight. Naturally, more
Ron Berti In that period, I recall one moment in senior leadership opportunities, and
Orlando 1965 at Castle Air Force Base, Calif., therefore promotions, will materialize
where I was crewed with a Black from the rated officer category. Do we
The focus on discrimination in Au- copilot. During flight planning, there really want someone without flying
gust’s Air Force Magazine prompts was a comment about “Watts bomb experience commanding a flying wing,
me to review the development of my plot.” The copilot let it roll off his back, or a numbered Air Force? Because of
experience with Blacks. I grew up in a but I’m sure that he did not feel at all the Air Force mission, that has to be
small eastern Oregon town, Lakeview, casual about the remark. where the majority of senior leader-
where there were no Blacks. In later In my subsequent assignments to ship billets reside.
years, I joked that discrimination there flying squadrons, there was a few Moreover, the bar charts showed a
was between the Methodists and the Blacks. Most were NCOs, though the vastly more nuanced reality. The sin-
Irish Catholics. The first time I heard operations officer of the 345th [Tac- gle greatest disparity was that Asian
the term “racial discrimination” was tical Airlift Squadron] at Yokota Air officers earned a vastly lower promo-
10 SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COMtion rate to O-6. Yet, the article only rates within rated categories. I suspect fall. The military needs to keep itself
wanted to specify allegations of sys- that one will find that the promotion above the political frays that often en-
temic racism against Black personnel. percentages of Black officers who are gulf society. The Air Force has a vital
Also, the overall rates for promotion to rated is at least as high as for officers mission, and needs to remain focused
SNCO were actually better for Black in other races, if not higher. And as on that success, above all else.
NCOs than for any other race. We we saw in the bar charts, the rates of Maj. Ken Stallings,
should presume that those advantages promotion for Blacks to SNCO billets USAF (Ret.)
were due to merit. was better than for other races. Douglasville, Ga.
All one can really do is comment One final point, the Air Force has
upon his or hers own experiences. In sometimes tried so hard to provide Get Real
my nearly 30 years in the Air Force, I increased opportunities for minorities John T. Correll’s article, “Japan’s Last
never once personally encountered, and women that it enforced actions Ditch Force” (June, p. 154), counters
nor witnessed, a racist action carried that were later sanctioned in federal revisionist fables concerning the fall
out by anyone against anyone. That’s court. One example was the successful of Japan in 1945. He also obliquely
a remarkable truth, and one that I feel lawsuit brought by officers who were highlights a persistent problem in
reflects far more about the reality of selected for involuntary reduction in overselling air power.
the U.S. Air Force. force in 1992. The selection board was “On a visit to Guam in June 1945,
Recruiters have long made special given instructions to assign preferen- Gen. Hap Arnold, commander of the
efforts to attract minorities to flying tial treatment to the records of women Army Air Forces, expressed his belief
billets. But the truth is, no one can and minorities, and was specifically that the B-29 campaign would ‘enable
be forced into an all-volunteer mil- told to do this due to reduced oppor- our infantry to walk ashore on Japan
itary, which the Air Force has been tunities for these officers. There was with their rifles slung.’”
throughout its history. If the percent- no effort made to justify this discrim- Demonstrating Army Air Forces hu-
age of rated officers in the Air Force is ination. A federal appeals court ruled bris is the dismal results from bombing
skewed, then one should not expect that the plaintiffs in that suit had merit, in Normandy that same month. “ The
promotion rates to deviate from that and this forced the Air Force to settle. U.S. Army Air Corps had made wildly
skew. The Air Force cannot promote The lesson is that the Air Force can- optimistic claims about their ‘preci-
people who are not in the ranks, with not use unfair methods to discriminate sion bombing.’ [But] in the 30 min-
the experiences to excel in the senior against any group of officers or NCOs. utes preceding H-hour, the Liberators
leadership billets being competed for. The Air Force has to promote based and Fortresses of the 8th Air Force
Therefore, a far more valuable analysis solely upon talent and experience, dropped 13,000 bombs; none fell on
would have been to look at promotion and let the results fall wherever they Omaha Beach. ‘That’s a fat lot of use,’
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SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COM 11LETTERS
[Royal Navy Captain] Scott-Bowden and the design and deployment history may be fascinated by their advanced
said. ‘All that’s done is wake them up. of the V-1/Fi 103 quite well. It explains technology, we must never forget that
The Air Corps might as well have stayed how this aircraft came about, and what these were terror weapons of a political
home in bed for all the good that their its shortcomings were. It is not without regime for which there was no human
bombing concentration did,’ one officer reason that the V-1 is sometimes called price too high to achieve its goal. Both
of the 1st Division observed angrily lat- the first “Cruise Missile,” or should I V-1 and V-2 were built by slave labor in
er.” (D-Day: The Battle for Normandy by write “Crude Missile?” some of the most appalling concentra-
Antony Beevor, p. 91) A couple of aspects from the article tion camps that Germany had during
Airstrikes are increasingly vital and raised my attention, though. In some WW II, amongst them the Camp Dora
effective, but we need to stay real. If places, the author, John T. Correll, in an underground tunnel system in the
only to maintain our credibility. simplifies the engine to be of “jet en- Harz Mountains in Central Germany.
Col. Ron Andrea, gine” design, although fortunately he The final tally is that more people (>
USAF (Ret.) explains the operational principle of 24,000 by conservative, i.e., low esti-
Elmont, Va. the engine to rather be a “pulsed jet.” mates) were killed in the process of
A small, but significant difference. The building these weapons than as a result
John T. Correll responds: The comment pulsed jet has very few moving parts, of their military use against Germany’s
from Beevor does not say how many especially no rotating parts, and thus, enemies.
of the bombs were supposed to fall lends itself to mass production by un- It is that legacy that we must remem-
on Omaha Beach and how many were skilled labor. ber in these days when we commem-
aimed at German defenses and forti- The article, however, conveys one orate—and rightfully celebrate!—the
fications inland. Leading up to D-Day, myth that can be found frequently. It end of WW II in Europe. Germany
nearly all of the U.S. bomber strikes were states that the V-1 “air log” (the little spent more money on the Vengeance
against airfields and other targets in the propeller in its nose cone) would count weapons than the U.S.A. spent on the
vicinity of the coast, which forced the the propeller’s rotation (i.e., a counter, Manhattan Project. Which is rather
Luftwaffe to withdraw from these forward not a timer!), and if the respective num- significant, if one considers that the
positions. German air power was already ber of rotations have elapsed, it would German economy even in peacetime
severely weakened by Allied strikes interrupt the flow of propellant, termi- was smaller than the American econ-
earlier in 1944 and was unable to put nating the flight. That is not correct. omy. I for one am glad that Germany
any significant force over the invasion The air log would actually sever the squandered its resources on these
beaches. On D-Day, the Allied soldiers lines of pressurized air that control weapons of questionable efficiency and
and ships strung out for 50 miles along the elevator to keep the aircraft at a did not build more Messerschmitts or
the coastline were not endangered by constant altitude, and in doing so, the U-Boats or Tiger Tanks.
German air attack. spring-loaded elevator would provide Dr. Dieter M. Zube
a full nose-down elevator input to Kirkland, Wash.
The 1970’s Thames TV series, “The let the aircraft dive for the ground.
World at War,” put deaths in Japanese This high negative-G maneuver would Everything Old is New Again
occupied countries at something like sometimes—unintentionally—interrupt I always look forward to the annual
15 million, mostly by starvation, which the flow of propellant, and it is this Almanac issue and this year’s, while
would make it likely that over 100,000 a observation that was interpreted as the more complex with the addition of
month were dying by starvation when reason for the flight termination. There USSF, is even better than previous
Japan surrendered. were, however, frequent reports that years! However, search as I did, I could
Even if it was just half that number, the V-1 engine continued to function not find the description of any bases
additional starvation deaths would have through the terminal dive. located in the state of NEW Mexico (p.
been several times those from the nu- The article also somewhat simplifies 103). I did discover several that I recog-
clear bombs had they not been used. the organizational structure of the nized (Cannon, Holloman, & Kirtland)
SSgt. Donald S. Schmick, test center in Peenemuende. There had moved to the state of “Mexico.”
USAF (Ret.) were always “Peenemuende East” and To quote an old New Mexico Maga-
Johns Creek, Ga. “Peenemuende West.” P. East was the zine regular, “One of our 50 states is
Army’s site, where [Wernher von] Braun missing!”
Hitler Buzz and [Walter] Dornberger worked on the Otherwise, really appreciate this is-
By way of introduction, I am one of the A-4 / V-2 ballistic missile since the sec- sue!
many volunteer docents at the Seattle ond half of the 1930s. P. West was the Maj. Alan D. Resnicke,
Museum of Flight, sometimes (although Luftwaffe’s site, with its large airfield. USAF (Ret.)
falsely) associated with the Boeing A wide range of development projects Silver City, N.M.
Aircraft Company. I am a satellite pro- were worked on on both sides of the
pulsion engineer of German origin. airfield. The two sides were cooperating Several sharp-eyed readers caught the
Another docent in our museum and and sharing resources, but were always gaffe, which was caused by a software
subscriber to your Air Force Magazine independent of each other. printing error. We apologize to the state
has provided us with a copy of the The article, and this is my main crit- of New Mexico, thank our readers for the
magazine article “Hitler’s Buzz Bombs” icism, neglects to mention one aspect (mostly) light-hearted ribbing we’ve re-
in the March 2020 edition. of the German Vengeance weapons ceived, and have corrected it online.—THE
The article describes the technology V-1 and V-2. As much as we engineers EDITORS
12 SEPTEMBER 2020 AIRFORCEMAG.COMYou can also read
