AFA's 12 Days of Christmas

Here's a recap of AFA's 12 Days of Christmas -- that is, 12 reasons we love AFA!

On the first day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: access to the award-winning Air Force Magazine, the USAF Almanac, and the electronic news brief Daily Report which already reaches more than 130,000 readers worldwide. Be a part of that readership!
http://www.airforce-magazine.com/Pages/default.aspx

On the second day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: The Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies! This world class aerospace and cyberspace think tank continues to influence the national security debate. For more information about the Mitchell Institute go to http://www.afa.org/Mitchell/

On the third day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: discounts on travel deals! AFA offers two travel programs to our members: Government Vacation Rewards and RCI. For affordable timeshares, cruises, flights and more, AFA knows you deserve a vacation!
http://www.afavba.org/travel.asp#vets

On the fourth day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: an advocate on Capitol Hill! We brief Congressional staffers on airpower issues, educating as we go! Through policy papers, debates, and interaction with people who can make a difference in the Pentagon and on the Hill we make sure that AFA is a presence that is heard!


On the fifth day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: concerts, ceremonies, and other events at the Air Force Memorial . AFA was instrumental in the vision and creation of the Memorial, a site of reverence and remembrance. Come visit! http://www.afa.org/grl/

On the sixth day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: great deals on holiday gifts! Discounts are available through our online mall for members only! (http://www.afavba.org/shopping/default.asp#mall) offers discounts and rebates at some of your favorite stores and starting at the AFA Online Mall earns you rebate dollars from 1-20% of your purchase.


On the seventh day of Christmas, AFA gave to me (and many others for that matter!): more than $1.5 million in scholarships, grants, and awards annually. These programs and scholarships encourage Air Force members to continue their education, provide funds to Air Force spouses working toward a degree, and administer gr...ants that develop programs math and science skills. For more on these programs go to http://www.afa/. See more here: http://www.afa.org/aef/default.asp?pm=asg

On the eighth day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: the perfect gift to give, membership in AFA! Keep up-to-date on what AFA is fighting for! Each year we put out a Statement of Policy and Top Issues Brief to inform our members—and the world—of what we’re doing with the Air Force and on Capitol Hill. We want to share these tools with you! http://www.afa.org/AboutUs/PolicyIssues.asp

On the ninth day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: the chance to help future generations further their studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)—subjects that are vital to our security! Programs we sponsor--like CyberPatriot and Visions of Exploration (http://www.afa.org/aef/visions/)--reach kids nation...wide on a daily basis and show them an attainable and fun future!

On the tenth day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: the opportunity to make tax-deductible donations that make a difference! At its core, the Air Force Association is a grassroots membership organization. Starting with the gift of membership, a donation, or the presentation of one of our Fellowships, you are allowing us to ...further our mission! For more information on contributions or gifts in honor of a loved one, check here: http://www.afa.org/aef/cntrbtns/

On the eleventh day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: four world class conferences! As a member, you have the opportunity to attend our conferences and symposiums at a heavily discounted rate. At these events you will hear from the top leadership of the Air Force, academia, industry and historical Air Force icons. http://www.afa.org/aef/events.asp

On the twelfth day of Christmas, AFA gave to me: a growing network of Air Force officials, policy-makers, industry experts, and other members who, like you, care deeply about airpower and the mission of AFA. Join today, and start taking part the benefits we’ve listed! As our holiday gift to you, join, or give the gift... of membership for the discounted price of $39/yr, $90/3 years. Use promo code "12"!

CyberPatriot, Beyond the Bell Strive to Further Students’ Education Experience

“Five, four, three, two, one.”

A countdown is in play to silence the auditorium of high school students. Then at 7 a.m. PCT, on Saturday, December 11, a whistle is blown and a password is read out loud, enabling the seven teams from the Los Angeles Unified School District competing in CyberPatriot to log in to the system.

Teams from LAUSD’s Locke High School, Kennedy High School, Los Angeles High School and Franklin High School came together in one auditorium to participate in the nation’s largest and fastest growing cyber defense challenge.

CyberPatriot is the Air Force Association’s education initiative geared toward exciting teenagers about careers in science, technology, engineering, and math and toward instilling cyber responsibility in today’s youth. Created in 2008, it is the first-ever cyber defense competition designed for high school students.

Nationwide, hundreds of teens were performing a similar task, as CyberPatriot’s Open Division underwent its second round of competition. With several schools participating in this year’s competition, LAUSD is among the highest represented CyberPatriot school district in the nation.

LAUSD’s Beyond the Bell (BTB) Branch may have a lot to do with that.

“[CyberPatriot] allows our students to become much more familiar with technology that they are already utilizing in our schools and at home,” said Alvaro Cortes, assistant superintendent of LAUSD’s BTB. “We depend on it, that what we are doing is for the future of our country.”

BTB proposed this competition as part of their Take Action campaign, which was a program implemented to ensure that all youth in LAUSD have access to high quality academic, enrichment and recreation programs.

This year was the first year of full national deployment of the CyberPatriot competition. Previously it was only open to All Service teams, which include JROTC units of all the Services and the Civil Air Patrol. Now that it is open to all, LAUSD BTB is seizing the opportunity.

As a new component of the LAUSD Beyond the Bell’s Take Action Leadership Campaign, the CyberPatriot program has become a popular opportunity for LAUSD students to exercise civic responsibility while learning how to fight cyber crime and computer-related attacks. Other civic programs of BTB include “Kick Butts Day”, a smoking cessation campaign; Denim Day, a campaign against domestic and sexual violence; and community service days.

“We hope that every high school in our district will become engaged in the CyberPatriot program in the future,” Cortes said.

New Opportunities

Cyber security is perhaps the most critical national security imperative for the US today. The U.S. relies on the Internet for its defense, economy and daily life, leaving a level of vulnerability to disruption or exploitation of those vital connections. This is where Cyberpatriot steps in, recognizing the need to prepare today’s generation to be tomorrow’s leaders.

“These students are really starting to understand the competition and the tasks being asked of them,” said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. “This competition is about the future of America and meeting a demand that will continue to grow. We need this generation to be great cyber defenders for tomorrow.”

The competition reveals the inner workings of computer infrastructures, teaching students how to improve computer systems. The competition involves several rounds of virtual challenges, where students must find and correct vulnerabilities or weaknesses in simulated computer networks. Students are learning how to improve computer networks, strengthen password security, and properly configure ports and routers – some topics even new to the coaches.

“Some of this stuff I already know, because I thought I really knew computers, but our students find things that I would never have thought of,” said Ben Fernandez, the coach for the Kennedy High School team. “Just how they put things together is really impressive.”

“I’m the guy who turns on the computer,” jokes Gary Warnecke, a chemistry teacher and CyberPatriot coach for Locke High School.

Aside from gaining technological skills, CyberPatriot is teaching the students the value of cooperation, discipline and leadership, Warnecke added.

“The teamwork is fantastic,” he said. Throughout the competition, he has watched his team take great initiatives on their own to improve. “I can see changes in our students.”


CyberPatriot advisors/coaches Mark Lupfer (left) and Gary Warnecke (right) help oversee the competition.


Not Your Average Geek

The participants of CyberPatriot don’t necessarily adhere to any of the common stereotypes. The competition attracts a wide spectrum of students. From football players and soccer players to gamers and artists, students find the competition intriguing, embracing the challenges presented in front of them.

Skylar Rojas, a 17-year-old senior at Franklin High School, was driven by the competitive nature of the challenge.

“I recognized how important it is to be computer savvy in this day and age,” he said, but added that it didn’t hurt that it was a national competition. “Competition drives me.”

Rojas said the competition is providing him skills he didn’t have before. His involvement with computers before the competition was limited to essays, spreadsheets, presentations and assignments for school. But CyberPatriot has opened a whole new world of computer knowledge to him, developing analytical skills, developing proper research skills and increasing his patience level.

As to the key in succeeding in Cyberpatriot, “remaining calm when the server crashes,” he said. Also, to say focused and determined.


Team Captain Sklyar Rojas (middle) and his fellow teammates from Franklin HS work closely together to solve a problem.

Carmen Maldonado, a 17-year-old senior at Locke High School and captain of her school’s soccer team, immediately recognized the value of CyberPatriot. Anticipating community college next year, Carmen felt the analytical skills being offered would prove to be very useful.

“…I came in because I heard about it from my computer teacher, and then I invited a friend, and then we decided to get in the program because it will be important at university, and maybe help us get into a good school.”

With music blaring from her computer, Carmen diligently worked throughout the competition, having just one other teammate to work with this round.

Maldonado cites “an ability to multitask” to be the key to succeeding in CyberPatriot.

Even though they were not competing, two students from Gardena High School showed up to practice and get a better understanding of how the program works to be ready for next year’s competition.

“I thought [CyberPatriot] would be a good opportunity,” 18-year-old Jahar Ali said. “I like trying new things.” Ali is a stepper, member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and an artist.

Pushing the boundaries

“CyberPatriot is getting them out of one environment and putting them into a new one. It’s the main benefit I see,” said Morris Phillips, a coach for one of the three Locke High School teams. It prepares them for a world that will need their abilities, he added.

Phillips, a technology and physical education teacher at Locke High School, claims the program helped his students become more united with peers of different backgrounds.

“They are interacting with other students that would never be in their neighborhoods,” he said.

The next round of competition for the advancing LAUSD teams will be January 8, 2011, the semifinals for the Open Division. CyberPatriot is presented by Northrop Grumman, with founding partners SAIC and the CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio. More information can be found on CyberPatriot at www.uscyberpatriot.org.

Helicopter Losses in Viet Nam

AFA members, Congressional staff members, Civic leaders, DOCA members, my last note to you listed aircraft losses in VN. [see: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_12-18-10.pdf]
Many of you rightly took me to task for not including helicopter losses. I left them out because the data were too overwhelming. Much of the following comes, again, from Dr. Richard Hallion.

There are several statistical sources for helicopter losses that are readily available, and each are discussed below.

(1) The most extensive listing of VN helicopter losses is from a study done by Gary Roush of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. His study shows that there were at least 11,827 helicopters from all services deployed to SEA, and of these 5,086 were lost (fully 43%). This study includes, of course, all Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force, and Air America helicopters. The data is sobering—for example, of 7,013 UH-1s in SEA, fully 3,305 were destroyed, with 2,177 crew fatalities. Not all of these were combat losses, of course.

(2) Based on data in Office of the Secretary of Defense, SEA Statistical Summary (Washington, D.C.: Department of Defense, April 1973), Table 353, the U.S. Army, from January 1962 through March 1973, lost 4,867 helicopters, an average of 1.19 helicopters lost per day. Of these, 2,587--fully 53%--were combat losses, the remaining 2,280 being operational losses.

(3) For the USAF, we are fortunate that Jim Henthorn, a former Sgt with the 21st SOS, has assembled a data base both on USAF Helicopter losses, and losses of USAF Helicopter crews. He shows the following data:

USAF SOS or Rescue Helicopter Losses/Causes in SEA

Type -- Combat, Operational, Logistical, Unknown
CH-3 -- 15, 5, 0, 9
HH-3 -- 10 4, 0, 3
HH-53B -- 2 0, 0, 0
HH-53C -- 9 9, 4, 0
CH-53C -- 6, 1, 0, 0
HH-43 -- 8, 4, 1, 0
UH-1F/P/N -- 8, 4, 1, 0
Subtotal -- 58, 27, 6, 12
TOTAL 103

(Incidentally, since his listing is concerned with SAR, he also includes 4 Grumman HU-16 Albatross that were tragically lost, it being, of course, a fixed-wing amphibian).

(4) It is important in context to remember that this is about people, and that while the USAF lost a total of 2,254 aircraft in SEA combat and routine operations, together with 1,763 aircrew killed, captured, or missing, fully 3,883 lives were saved, at the price of those 103 losses, involving 106 killed. [Source: Earl H. Tilford, Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia (Washington: Center for Air Force History, 1992 ed.), p. 155; human casualties from Henthorn, “USAF Helicopter Crew Losses—the Southeast Asian War 1962-1975,” (2007) p. 32.

(5) I would add that my observation on the last note that low and slow is a dangerous environment ... is further solidified based on this data.

(6) Some of the other observations are relevant here. Namely that fleet size has to accommodate attrition reserve and must account for non operational losses. Further, CSAR is an important mission area -- one for which there has to be a dedicated (in my view) force. It is not a pick-up game. It is important for the safety and morale of the force ... especially when fighting an enemy that does not believe in POW camps.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Spreading the holiday cheer

AFA chapters around the nation are greeting the holiday season with various events and community activities:

In Kansas...
Dec. 4 - The Kansas Fry Chapter provided logistics meals for a FREE KS National Guard Band Concert and Soup Supper to approximately 250 community members. Chili, Ham and Beans and corn bread, and Vegetable Beef soups were donated by VFW, American Legion, Lions Club and AFA. A freewill donation collected $1,100 for the local Honor Flight trip to DC for WWII vets!

In Kentucky...
Dec. 5 - The General Dougherty Chapter (Louisville, Ky. Chapter 407) in conjunction with AFSA 482, donated to the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard’s Family Support Group's annual Christmas party for the Children of the Air Guard. Chapter President Jack Giralico described the event as “a real treat.”

Some of the children have a parent deployed and will be missing them for the holidays. And nearly all of them have had a parent deployed at least once in the past year. But the annual Christmas party gave them a special event to participate in.






*****

In Wyoming...
Dec. 6 – The Cheyenne Cowboy Chapter participated in the F E Warren Spouses’ Club Cookie Launch, which provides cookies for airmen who remain in the dormitories during the holidays due to mission requirements.

The Cheyenne Cowboy Chapter is the catalyst for providing this multitude of cookies, over 6000, to facilitate this effort. The efforts is a superb way to demonstrate to the support and care and that they are being thought of during the holiday season.

The cowboy chapter is a regular participant in recognizing veterans. On Christmas Eve, several of the chapter members visit all the residents and patients at the Veteran’s Administration Center and present poinsettias, candy canes and canteen certificates. This program is a great program that highlights the chapter’s respect, appreciation and support for our veterans.

The Cowboy chapter also hosts a program called “Treats for Troops,” furnishing more than $1,000 worth of treats for personnel on duty in the capsules and at 24-hour work centers on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The 90th Missile Wing traditionally hosts a Christmas event for the entire base and civilian invitees. The Cowboy Chapter proudly hosts many of the airmen to attend this holiday function. This one-of-a-kind function is attended by more than 700 individuals.

The Cowboy Chapter virtually hosts all functions involving the spouses and children of deployed personnel. On Dec. 13, the Warren Spouses Club held their annual Christmas Function, and the AFA Cheyenne Cowboy Chapter presented each participant with a gift to take home.
*****

In Utah...

Dec. 9 - The Salt Lake City Chapters 235, 236 and 237 collaborated with Air Force JROTC cadets from Clearfield High School and Northridge High School; and Air Force ROTC cadets from the University of Utah in the annual Caroling at VA SLC Regional Hospital and Utah Veterans’ Home.

Clearfield High School SASI and former State President Kit Workman played the part of a well-stuffed Santa, handing out new white socks filled with fruit and hospital-approved "goodies" to many, many patients and residents, and, as always, a "good time was had by all!"


*****

In Arizona...
Dec. 14 - The Prescott Goldwater Chapter in Arizona, along with members of the Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings organization from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, decorated the Extended Care Unit at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care Center. This is an annual event that has been going on for the last ten years and is much appreciated by the patients and the VA staff.
*****

A/C Losses in Vietnam

AFA Members, Congressional Staff members, Civic Leaders, DOCA members,

Dr Richard P. Hallion, former AF historian, sent me the information below. In it, he describes – by aircraft type – US Air Force losses in Vietnam. A few quick observations.

1. Low and slow is dangerous. We lost 150 Skyraiders, 34 C-130s, 22 A-37s, 21 C-123s, 47 OV-10s, 82 O-2s, and 122 O-1s. That's a lot of CSAR support, political risk via POWs, and general projection of vulnerability. Are we planning for this sort of attrition with our buy of C-130Js, C-27s, and even the C-17?

2. We need to plan for attrition on high-end systems. We lost 382 F-4s, 198 F-100s, 283 F-105Ds, 37 F-105Gs, 76 RF-4s, and 33 RF-101s. What sort of fleet do we have today with mostly 4th gen aircraft and other legacy systems? Are we in a position to execute effective combat ops against a near peer? Do we have the industrial base capacity to replace combat losses in a timely fashion (we lost 15 B-52s in 12 days during Linebacker II—today, that would be over 20% of the fleet)?

3. Numerous aircraft were lost for other non-combat reasons — including 2 SR-71s. While there are few guarantees in combat operations … we do know we will suffer unexpected accidents. We need to plan for an inventory that accounts for this basic reality. These losses will be increasingly hard to sustain as we stretch small fleets over increasingly longer service lives.

It is easy to point out that many of the losses in Vietnam were due to the ROE, etc. While that is true, I think it is also important to anticipate that war is generally muddled, and ROE is often constrained by numerous factors that are hard to predict (note the two current conflicts). This further highlights the need to plan for redundancy and a flexible range of options.

This list reminds me of a quote from General (Ret) Richard E. Hawley:

"But institutions can have short memories too. And in the early 60s we entered another Asian war, this time in Vietnam, without a capable air-to-air fighter -- without pilots schooled in the fine art of air-to-air combat -- and without weapons to neutralize the emerging threat of surface-to-air missiles -- and we paid a terrible price against a third-rate power.

In the six months from 23 August 1967 to 5 February 1968, Vietnamese MiG-21 pilots racked up a 16 to 1 kill advantage. In all, we lost 2,448 fixed wing aircraft to a third world military whose Air Force deployed fewer than 200 aircraft.

How easily we forget."

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

USAF losses in Vietnam

USAF Douglas A-1 Skyraider, 191 total, 150 in combat

-First loss A-1E 52-132465 (1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th TG) shot
down during the night of 28-29 August 1964 near Bien Hoa, SVN

-Final loss A-1H 52-139738 (1st Special Operations Squadron, 56th
Special Operations Wing) which was shot down 28 September 1972 (pilot
was rescued by an Air America helicopter).

A-7D Corsair II -- 6 total, 4 combat

-First loss 71-0310 (353d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th TFW) on 2
December 1972 shot down on a CSAR mission in Laos (Capt Anthony Shine
KIA).

-71-0312 (353d TFS) mid-air collision with an FAC O-1 Bird Dog in Laos
on 24 December 1972, (Capt Charles Riess PoW)

-71-0316 (355th TFS) operational loss (non-combat) crash in Thailand on
11 January 1973 (Pilot Rescued)

-70-0949 (354th TFW) shot down Laos on 17 February 1973 (Maj J J
Gallagher Rescued)

-71-0305 (3rd TFS, 388th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on 4 May 1973 (1Lt T
L Dickens Rescued)

-Final loss 70-0945 (354th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on 25 May 1973
(Capt Jeremiah Costello KIA)

A-26 Invader --22 total

-First loss B-26B 44-35530 (Detachment 2A, 1st ACG) shot down in IV CTZ
on the night of 4-5 November 1962 killing the 3 crew..

-Final loss A-26A 64-17646 (609th SOS, 56th SOW) lost over Laos on the
night of 7-8 July 1969 killing both crewmen.

A-37 Dragonfly --22 total

-First loss 1967; final loss 1972

AC-47 Spooky --19 total, 12 in combat

-First loss 1965, final loss 1969

AC-119 Shadow/Stinger --6 total, 2 in combat

-First loss AC-119G 52-5907 (Det.1, 17th SOS, 14th SOW) which crashed on
take-off from Tan Son Nhut, SVN on 11 October 1969 killing 6 of the 10
crewmen.

-Final loss 1971

AC-130 Spectre --6 total, all combat.

-First loss AC-130A 54-1629 (16th SOS, 8th TFW) hit by 37mm AAA over
Laos and crash-landed at Ubon RTAFB, 2 crewmen died (one died of
injuries before reaching Ubon) but 11 others survived.

-Final loss 1972

B-52 Stratofortress --31 total, 17 in combat

-First losses were operational (non-combat) mid-air collision 2 B-52F
57-0047 and 57-0179 (441st Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb Wing), 18 June
1965, South China Sea during air refueling orbit, 8 of 12 crewmen killed

-Final loss B-52D 55-0056 (307th Bomb Wing Provisional) to SAM 4 January
1973, crew rescued from Gulf of Tonkin

B-57 Canberra --56 total, 38 in combat

-First loss 1964, final loss 1970

C-5A Galaxy --1 total, 0 in combat. Crashed while attempting emergency
landing at Tan Son Nhut AB 4 April 1975, as part of Operation Babylift.
Five of the 8 US Military women killed during the Vietnam War, were
aboard this airplane.

C-7 Caribou --19 total, 9 in combat

-First lost C-7B 62-4161 (459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 483d Tactical
Airlift Wing) which was hit by a US 155mm shell on 3 August 1967 in SVN
killing the 3 crewmen. Note: there were two fatal crashes during
Operation Red Leaf transition training of USAF crews in Army CV-2's, on
4 and 28 October 1966[3].

-Final loss was C-7B 62-12584 (483d TAW) which crashed in SVN on 13
January 1971, all 4 crewmen survived.

C-47 Skytrain --21 total

-A C-47 was very first USAF aircraft lost in the SEA conflict, C-47B
44-76330 (315th Air Division) on TDY at Vientiane, Laos which was shot
down by the Pathet Lao on 23 March 1961 killing 7 of the 8 crewmen. The
sole survivor, US Army Maj. Lawrence Bailey was captured and held until
August 1962.

-Final loss EC-47Q 43-48636 (361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron,
56th SOW) shot down in Laos on the night of 04/5 4-5 February 1973
killing all 8 crewmen.

C-123 Provider --53 total, 21 in combat

-First loss was C-123B 56-4370 attached to the 464th TAW which came down
on an Operation Ranch Hand (defoliation) training flight between Bien
Hoa and Vung Tau, SVN on 2 February 1962

-Final loss 1971

C-130 Hercules --55 total, 34 in combat

-First loss was C-130A 57-0475 (817th Troop Carrier Squadron, 6315th
Operations Group) on 24 April 1965, a Blind Bat flareship that crashed
into high ground near Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand,
attempting to land in bad weather with a heavy load, two engine
failures, and low fuel, killing all six crewmen. This was the 14th
recorded loss of a C-130 to all causes.

-Final loss C-130E 72-1297 (314th TAW) destroyed by rocket fire at Tan
Son Nhut AB on 28 April 1975.

C-141 Starlifter --2 total, 0 combat

-C-141A 65-9407 (62d Military Airlift Wing) destroyed in a night runway
collision with a USMC A-6 at Danang, SVN on 23 March 1967 killing 5 of
the 6 crewmen.

-C-141A 66-0127 (4th Military Airlift Squadron, 62d MAW) crashed soon
after take-off from Cam Ranh Bay, SVN on 13 April 1967 killing 6 of the
8 man crew.

E/RB-66 Destroyer --14 total

-First loss was RB-66B 53-0452 (Det 1, 41st Tactical Reconnaissance
Squadron, 6250th Combat Support Group) which crashed 22-23 October 1965
west of Pleiku, SVN killing the crew.

-Final loss EB-66B 42nd TEWS, 388th TFS lost to engine failure on Dec.
23, 1972 during Operation Linebacker II. 3 crewmen were KIA.

EC-121 BatCat --2 total, 0 combat

-EC-121R 67-24193 (554th Reconnaissance Squadron, 553d RW) crashed 25
April 1969 on take-off in a thunderstorm from Korat RTAFB, killing all
18 crewmen.

-EC-121R 67-21495 (554th RS) crashed on approach to Korat RTAFB on 6
September 1969, 4 of the 16 men were killed.

F-4 Phantom II -- 445 total, 382 in combat

-First loss was operational (non-combat), F-4C 64-0674 (45TH TFS, 15th
TFW) which ran out of fuel after strike in SVN on 9 June 1965; first
combat loss F-4C 64-0685 (45th TFS, 15th TFW) shot down Ta Chan, NW NVN
on 20 June 1965. 9 of the losses were parked aircraft struck by rockets.

-Final loss 1973

F-5 Freedom Fighter --9 total

-First loss 1965, final loss 1967

F-100 Super Sabre --243 total, 198 in combat

-First loss 1964, final loss 1971

F-102 Delta Dagger --14 total, 7 combat

-First loss 1964, final loss 1967. 4 of the combat losses were parked
aircraft

F-104 Starfighter --14 total, 9 combat

-First loss 1965, final loss 1967

F-105D Thunderchief --335 total, 283 in combat

-First loss 62-4371 (36th TFS, 6441st TFW) written off from battle
damage over Laos 14 August 1964, at Korat, Thailand

-Final loss 61-0153 (44th TFS, 355th TFW) shot down Laos 23 September
1970, pilot Capt. J. W. Newhouse rescued

F-105F/G Thunderchief: "Wild Weasel," "Ryan's Raiders," "Combat
Martin"-- --47 total, 37 combat

-First loss EF-105F 63-8286 (13th TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by AAA RP-6
July 1966, Maj. Roosevelt Hestle and Capt.. Charles Morgan KIA

-Last loss F-105G 63-8359 (Det.1 561st TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by SAM
16 November 1972, RP-3, crew rescued

F-111A "Aardvark" --11 total, 6 in combat

-First loss mission-related TFR failure, 66-0022 (428th TFS 474th TFW,
Project Combat Lancer), 28 March 1968, Maj. H.E. Mccann and Capt. D.L.
Graham MIA

-Final loss 67-0111 (474th TFW) mid-air collision over Cambodia, 16 June
1973, both crewmen rescued

HU-16 Albatross -- 4 total, 2 combat

-51-5287 to unk cause 19 June 1965

-51-0058 to unk cause 3 July 1965

-51-0071 (33d ARRS) shot down by AAA 14 March 1966, two crewmen killed

-51-7145 (37th ARRS) disappeared 18 October 1966, 7 crewmen KIA-BNR

KB-50 Superfortress tanker --1 total, 0 combat

-Only loss KB-50J 48-0065 (421st Air Refueling Squadron Detachment) at
Takhli RTAFB which crashed in Thailand on 14 October 1964, all 6 crewmen
survived.

KC-135 Stratotanker --3 total, 0 combat

-Two crashes in 1968, one 1969, all operational (non-combat)

O-1 Bird Dog --172 total, 122 in combat

-First loss 1963, final loss 1972

O-2 Skymaster --104 total, 82 in combat

-First loss 1967, final loss 1972

OV-10 Bronco --63 total, 47 in combat

First loss 1968, final loss 1973

QU-22 Pave Eagle --8 lost, 7 in combat

-First loss YQU-22A 68-10531 (554th RS, 553d RW) crashed due to engine
failure on 11 June 1969

-Final loss QU-22B 70-1546 (554th RS) on 25 August 1972, pilot killed.

RF-4C Phantom II --83 total, 76 in combat

-First loss 1966, final loss 1972

RF-101 Voodoo --39 total, 33 in combat

-First loss 1964, final loss 1968

SR-71A Blackbird --2 total, 0 combat

-64-17969 (Det OL-8, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing) suffered engine
failure over Thailand on 10 May 1970, both crewmen ejected safely

-64-17978 (Det OL-KA, 9th SRW) crashed on landing at Kadena, Okinawa on
20 July 1972, both crewmen survived

T-28 Trojan-- --23 total

-First loss 1962, final loss 1968

U-2C "Dragon Lady" --1 total, 0 combat

-Only loss 56-6690 (349th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 100th SRW)
which crashed on 8 October 1966 near Bien Hoa, SVN, Maj. Leo J Stewart
ejected and was rescued.

U-3B Blue Canoe --1 total, 1 combat

-Only loss 60-6058, destroyed on the ground during a VC attack on Tan
Son Nhut, SVN on 14 June 1968.

U-6A Beaver --1 total, 0 combat

Only loss 51-15565 (432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing) which crashed in Thailand 28 December 1966, both crewmen survived.

AFA Remembers Wright Brothers

On this day in history (December 17, 1903), Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful, piloted flight in history, flying 20 feet above a beach in N.C. The flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. Today, AFA remembers the significance of the Wright Brothers and their grand contribution to modern aviation.

To honor the 107th anniversary of this historic event and the accomplishments of Wilbur and Orville Wright, the Air Force will celebrate at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where Stephen Wright, great-grandnephew of the Wright brothers and Col. Amanda Gladney, 88th Air Base Wing Commander, will lay a wreath at the Wright Brothers Memorial.

An official will also read a proclamation on the significance of that first flight in 1903 - and how "two young men from Dayton, Ohio, changed the world with their invention of the airplane."

KITTY HAWK, N.C. -- The Wright Brothers the first flight by man with a motor driven, heavier-than-air machine.
(Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)

2011 Annual Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando

Earlier this week, we announced our 27th Annual Air Warfare Symposium, to be held in Orlando, Florida. Our winter symposium has a great list of speakers already scheduled, so don't forget to plan early for the opportunity to explore air warfare with senior Air Force leadership.

This year's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition will be Feb. 17 – 18, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Scheduled speakers include the top echelon in Air Force leadership, including Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Norton A. Schwartz and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy. The symposium will include topics and discussions that adhere to this year’s theme, “Resetting the Force for the Future.”

Scheduled Speakers:

* Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley
* Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
* Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command
* Gen. William M. Fraser, Commander, Air Combat Command
* Gen. Craig McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau
* Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
* Gen Gary L. North, Commander, Pacific Air Forces
* Gen Edward A. Rice, Commander, Air Education and Training Command
* Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy
* Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Chief of Air Force Reserve
* Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, Director, Air National Guard

Exhibits highlighting aerospace technology and education, sponsored by leading aerospace companies, will be on display as part of the Technology Exposition.

The Symposium will also be held in conjunction with the semifinals of the All Service Division of CyberPatriot, AFA’s education initiative designed to increase students’ awareness in cyber security and technology. Results from this round of competition will determine which six teams compete for the Commander-in-Chief Cup and scholarships at the finals on April 1 – 2 in Washington, D.C.

Over the next few weeks, look for additional speakers, upcoming scheduling specifics and other information updates at www.AFA.org.

In the news: Air Force Strives to Limit Access to WikiLeaks

New York Times
December 15, 2010

Air Force Blocks Sites That Posted Secret Cables
By Eric Schmitt

WASHINGTON — The Air Force is barring its personnel from using work computers to view the Web sites of The New York Times and more than 25 other news organizations and blogs that have posted secret cables obtained by WikiLeaks, Air Force officials said Tuesday.

When Air Force personnel on the service’s computer network try to view the Web sites of The Times, the British newspaper The Guardian, the German magazine Der Spiegel, the Spanish newspaper El País and the French newspaper Le Monde, as well as other sites that posted full confidential cables, the screen says “Access Denied: Internet usage is logged and monitored,” according to an Air Force official whose access was blocked and who shared the screen warning with The Times. Violators are warned that they face punishment if they try to view classified material from unauthorized Web sites.

Some Air Force officials acknowledged that the steps taken might be in vain since many military personnel could gain access to the documents from home computers, despite admonishments from superiors not to read the cables without proper clearances.

Read MORE >>

In the news: Senate Proposes $10 Billion Defense Budget Cut

DefenseNews.com
December 14, 2010

U.S. Senate Proposes $10B Defense Budget Cut
By Rick Maze

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed a $10.3 billion cut in the 2011 defense budget as part of its consolidated federal budget plan.

The cut is included in a $1.1 trillion one-year federal funding measure unveiled Tuesday as lawmakers are trying to wrap up work before the end of the year.

Because Congress had not passed any of the 12 appropriations bills needed to keep the government running for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, federal agencies have operated under temporary funding that expires at midnight on Saturday.

Under the Senate's consolidated bill, defense spending for fiscal 2011 would total $667 billion, including $157.8 billion for contingency operations.

The 2011 full-year funding bill approved by the House of Representatives on Dec. 8 includes $513 billion in basic defense spending plus the $157.8 billion for contingency operations. This combines for funding that is about $4 billion more than the Senate bill.

While those differences make it appear that Congress is close to an agreement, it is far from a done deal.

Read MORE >>

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Today the nation remembers the events at Pearl Harbor that took place 69 years ago.

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a devastating air raid against the U.S. Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In less than two hours, the United States suffered more than 2,000 casualties. The events of that day launched the U.S.’s involvement into World War II.

Today, we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor, a date which will live in infamy. We remember the sacrifice and the loss. We remember and honor those who served on that historic day, and we thank those who came to the nation’s defense following the attack. We also show gratitude toward those who continue to serve our nation, and those who have already given their lives for the cause of freedom.

As many are still in harm’s way, we owe them our support and appreciation.

If you're in the DC area, visit the U.S. Navy Memorial today. The Navy Memorial will honor the memory of the 69th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor with a wreath-laying ceremony outside on the plaza. There will also be speakers and survivors of the attack on hand.

The ceremony will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center.

Stuxnet, National Museum of the AF

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, an area that is receiving a good deal of attention lately is cyber security. We are now by any measure a cyber nation. Our national defense, banking, commerce, public safety, and most every aspect of our lives is touched by cyber systems, and we-far more than most any other nation-need assured and reliable access to computer systems and networks to function and compete globally. Predictably, those systems are now under attack. In some cases, the attacks are the work of hobbyist pranksters. In others, they are probes from nation states that want to steal information from us. And in others yet, they are malicious efforts to do us harm. A good piece was written recently regarding a particularly pernicious bit of "malicious logic" named "Stuxnet" that is regarded by many-because of its sophistication-as a "game changer." The best piece I could find on this is from Foreign Policy Research Institute (www.fpri.org). You can find the piece at: http://www.fpri.org/enotes/201011.picciotti_montanaro.cyberwar.html

Secondly, one of our former Vice Chairmen reminded me of a great collection of airplanes at the National Museum of the Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. If you are an airplane buff, take a look at the photos on their website: http://www.cdsg.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=381 … and if you ever get near WP, you should consider the Museum a must-visit.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

C-17 Med Evac, Arnold -- AFM

AFA Members, one of you recently sent me this link, http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1407952648?bctid=1664436922, hosted by the San Francisco Chronicle. It links to a 6 minute video of a C-17 crew, along with our AF medics, doing what they do every day, without fanfare, and behind the scenes – saving lives. As many of you know, in most conflicts, the ratio of wounded to dead is about 3 to one. However, due to the great work by our people in this video (as well as improved armor), this ratio today is above 9 to one. Let me know what you think about the video.

Secondly, with the holiday season nearing, I want to remind you to consider a gift of Air Force Memorial Edition wines. We have an agreement with Mr. Robert Arnold of Chandelle Winery where a purchase of their Air Force Memorial Edition Wines provides a monetary donation to the Air Force Memorial Foundation. When you purchase any of their Two, Three, Six or 12 Bottle Packs with the beautiful silver embossed blue label featuring the Air Force Memorial spires a portion of the purchase price returns to the Air Force Memorial Foundation. Many of you may know that Robert is the grandson of General of the Air Force Hap Arnold.

To purchase on-line go to www.airforcememorial.org and click on the Air Force Memorial spires wine label. Or, to order by phone call the Chandelle Winery directly at 800.544.8890.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

North Korea, Latin America, NATO

Many of you might recall that I claim to be an “expert” on North Korea. It’s really not that difficult as all one has to do is to listen to their rhetoric – especially those press pieces which are intended to send a message – and imagine the worst. They usually do what they threaten to do. Also, some of you recall that I had penned a piece a few years ago that is still relevant. [See: http://merln.ndu.edu/archive/MilitaryReview/dunn.pdf ]

Well, NK has been in the news over the past week or so, and there have been several good op-eds on the situation and way-ahead. The best of the op-eds is written by Edward Luttwak [http://www.afa.org/edop/2010/edop_11-30-10.asp]. I think it’s the best because he states things very clearly and understands the nature of the regime very well.

Another one that is very good is by Steve Hayes [http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/advance-copy-sixty-years-war_519596.html] In it he points out the obvious, we have been involved thus far in a 60-year war. If any of you have ever served in the ROK, you innately know how ready US and ROK forces are and must be … and that you never use the phrase “peacetime” to describe the present condition. Instead you use “Armistice.”

The final piece is by Stephen Peter Rosen [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704693104575638671591044484.html?KEYWORDS=the+emperor%27s+nuclear+clothes]. In it he argues that the real world is different that the one inhabited by the policy community.

Secondly, Latin America has long been a region to which the US does not pay enough attention. Two pieces by Andres Oppenheimer were recently published in the Miami Herald. The first points to threats to Latin American democracies: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/21/1936135/latin-american-militaries-playing.html. The second (to me) is more worrisome. It points to the longest democracy in South America -- Colombia – distancing itself from the US and getting closer to Venezuela. In a previous note, I urged, as a matter of national security, that the Senate should move quickly to ratify the Free-trade Agreement with Colombia. It still has yet to act. You can find the second piece on our website at: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/28/1946294/colombia-takes-a-step-back-from.html

Finally, Anne Applebaum, in the Washington Post, has some solid recommendations to keep the NATO alliance vibrant. She posits that there are indeed threats to the borders of NATO nations and much work remains to build the plans to defend some of the newer members. While I don’t necessarily agree with her recommendations, both Europe and NATO are important to the US and need attention. I cringe when I hear many in Washington use the term “NATO” interchangeably with “Europe” – almost as if the US and Canada are not members of NATO. You can find her piece at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/22/AR2010112206403.html

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
Lt General (Ret), USAF
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Long Range Strike, Mitchell Study and Hollow Air Force

In our last symposium in Los Angeles, Bob Elder and Mark Gunzinger participated on a panel which discussed the need for a new long range strike system. I found the discussion interesting for two reasons. First, Gen Elder made the cogent point that the "purpose of the military is not just to fight and win our nation's wars … but to prevent them in the first place." He maintained a long range bomber shows our strength and capability to put at risk targets all over the world … and the evidence shows that the wars we have not fought and the lives we have not lost are missed in the decision process on whether to replace our aging bomber fleet. Mark Gunzinger presented a comprehensive study done at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. I cannot do the study justice here - so you should review it at: http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/R.20100914.Sustaining_America/R.20100914.Sustaining_America.pdf.

Perhaps an even better review can be found with Mark's slides at: http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/S.20100914.Sustaining/S.20100914.Sustaining.pdf.

One thing you might note on the slides is exactly how many studies we have had on this issue … and Mr. Gunzinger leaves out lots of them. In September, the co-chair of the Air Force Caucus in the House of Representatives, Cong. Jim Marshall (D-GA) said:

"It's time to quit the studies and proceed. We've spent millions on studies. At some point, there's nothing left to research. We have to make a decision. … My support is to proceed with the Next Generation Bomber program. The Air Force needs it. … We've enjoyed this strategic advantage since the end of World War II. We can't wake up some day and have let it go."

Last month, the Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies met to discuss its most recent report. The report was entitled: "Arsenal of Airpower, USAF Aircraft Inventory, 1959-2009" and was written by Col. James C. Ruehrmund Jr., USAF (Ret.) and Dr. Christopher J. Bowie. I believe it will become a great reference for historians of the future.

A few tidbits:
(p. 5) USAF experienced a highly significant growth starting in 1950 with the outbreak of the Korean War, rising to a peak level of more than 26,000 aircraft by 1956. The Air Force's growth was the result of a unique set of factors:
• The threatening posture of the Soviet Union combined with tensions from the war in Korea;
• The push from the Eisenhower administration to reduce overall military expenditures by relying on nuclear air and missile power provided by the Air Force;
• The shifting of roughly 50 percent of the military budget to USAF accounts; and
• A masterful USAF public policy advocacy campaign in Congress on the value of airpower in the new security environment.

(p. 7) The Air Force strove to eke out every last measure of efficiency to keep force levels at the "agreed upon" level. Historical budget analysis indicates that the spending on "overhead," such as bases, service schools, training, etc., has been reduced 16 percent since the early 1960s. While a significant achievement, the ability to extract more from overhead is probably limited. Most of the "low hanging fruit" has already been plucked.

(p. 12) As we move to the future, the force structure procured primarily during the Reagan buildup is reaching the end of its life; the average age of most elements of the force structure is reaching unprecedented levels. When front-line combat aircraft break apart during training missions, as occurred with an F-15C in November 2007, the nation is facing greater strategic risk.
You can find the report on the Mitchell Institute Website at: http://www.afa.org/Mitchell/Reports/MS_TAI_1110.pdf

Finally, I ran across an excellent and thoughtful piece by Dr. Michael Auslin, American Enterprise Institute. In it he warns against a "hollow Air Force" and says, among other things, this is a result of Air Force successes over the past 50+ years. If you read only one article per month, this one is a must-read. You can find it at: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/253487/beware-hollow-air-force-michael-auslin

For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

In the news: DADT

The Pentagon's long-awaited report on gays in the military concludes that repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" law would pose little risk for armed forces' ability carry out their mission.

Read MORE >> http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0610_gatesdadt/

In the news...New START Continues to Spur Debate

According to an article by the Wall Street Journal, White House officials and Senate Republicans have shifted debates on New START, now focusing on treaty verification and nuclear weapons modernization.

The new question is whether the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty contains robust enough verification measures to catch potential Russian cheating and whether the remaining nuclear arsenal can be modernized and maintained.

Check out the article here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703785704575642711321446070.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Acquisition, A/C age, Deficit

AFA Members, Congressional Staffers, Civic Leaders, DOCA members,

I made contact with a former professor at Yale who works at a “think tank” in Wash DC and who wants to write about Airpower – especially as it relates to Asia. In the discussion, he noted that PACOM often says that 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water … and then he said: “Last time I checked, 100% of the earth’s surface is covered with air.” [I added the obvious – “and space … which stretches to the stars and beyond.”] Anyway, I offered to help get him smart on some of the issues … and sent him some dozen of my past Notes that I have sent to you. I was amazed that many are still true today more than two years later … and I thought many of you might benefit from seeing select ones of them again.

The first one presents an issue I see almost every day. And almost every day, the press, the critics … and even SECDEF get it wrong. It is how the Air Force buys aircraft. Most see the cost, but get no explanation of what type of cost, nor why are the numbers the way they are. The note tries to answer the question without getting too complicated. The example the note used was the F-22 … and this was originally written before Sec Gates made the decision to terminate production. As you read the note and pay attention to the news, you can tell the same techniques are being used on the F-35. We now hear of fewer numbers being bought, stretching out the production line, delaying until more testing is accomplished, etc. These type of activities will raise the cost. You can find the note here at: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Note-2-29-08.pdf

Second, another note regarding the age of Air Force aircraft cannot be stated enough. We listed how old are the aircraft but we also came up with a good way of illustrating just how old. This note is still relevant and I’m sad to say it doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon. You can enjoy this here at http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Note-2-20-08.pdf

[The second link in the note is “broken” – use the following one instead.]
http://www.afa.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/contrast/contrast-cars.pdf

Finally, I wrote a series of pieces in Jan and Feb 09, arguing for a lower deficit and for DOD to be included in [a smaller] stimulus package. This one from 16 Jan is appropriate to today … as we look to cut federal spending: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_1-16-09.pdf

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Threat, Technology, China

AFA Members, Congressional staff members, Civic Leaders and DOCA members:

Several new op-eds recently on current events have gotten my attention. First, the bombs recently discovered on a flight bound for the United States only proves that we face a thinking enemy who adapts to changes in our security countermeasures. This proves once again that Al-Qaeda does not sleep, and we have to remain vigilant to this threat. ADM James Loy, former Commandant of the Coast Guard and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, wrote a good piece on this in the Washington Post. You can read the piece here at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110507632.html.

Second, new and improved weapons such as high imagery satellites and unmanned drones have not only changed the nature of warfare but their accessibility to other nations (and non state actors) in fighting their own insurgencies may lead to new rules regarding targets and targeters. [Reportedly Hizbollah has used remotely piloted aircraft to gather intelligence on Israel.] Another Case in Point, Saudi Arabia reportedly used high-tech imagery satellites from France to target insurgents in Yemen. The Saudis, according to the author, now want their own satellite capability, and they will soon request bids from Western companies for such a system. The piece says they also want drones that can see and attack enemy targets in remote places. You can read this here at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111005500.html [may require a one-time free registration]

Third, fear of the growing influence of China has spurred a deeper relationship between the United States and some South Pacific nations such as Australia. According to Secretary of State Clinton, “The US was 'determined to strengthen and deepen' its 'strong alliances' with Australia, Japan, South Korea, The Philippines and Thailand.” This is just an example of the issues facing these Pacific nations who want to do business with both the U.S. and China but are mindful of China’s military modernization and claims to the South China Sea. You can read the article here at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/deeper-us-alliance-in-response-to-strident-china/story-e6frg6zo-1225950377275.

All three pieces expose the risks to our security in this century. Terrorism, the rise of peer nations and the spread of military technology should cause us to proceed carefully and cautiously with defense cuts and policies regarding our allies. We are reminded that the world is still a dangerous place.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

AFA Exchanges Coast for Global Warfare Symposium

Later this week, AFA is hosting the 2010 Global Warfare Symposium on the West Coast in Los Angeles, CA.

The two-day symposium will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, located approximately 15 miles outside of Los Angeles AFB, home of the Space and Missile Systems Center and the 61st Air Base Group. For a list of the Symposium Agenda, go to http://www.afa.org/events/NatlSymp/2010/GWS2010_Agenda.asp.

But our unique symposium will center on the global role of the Air Force in the world today and will cover topics ranging from the nuclear enterprise, cyberspace, expeditionary forces and space. This November symposium, accompanied with the Air Force Ball, is a special part of AFA’s heritage and provides an opportunity to share ideas with highly skilled aerospace and Air Force professionals.

We have invited multiple speakers from the Air Force, defense-related industry, and government. As always, our national symposiums attract the top echelon of USAF senior management and commanders, the aerospace community and academia.

A list of featured speakers with their bios can be found here.

Deficit Reduction

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, and DOCA members, the subject of deficit reduction is a tough one to write about. Our current deficit this past year was $1.4 trillion. To put that in perspective, the total amount of personal income tax that is collected each year amounts to approximately $1 trillion. Thus to close the gap, it will take extraordinary measures – ones that will hard politically and will incite our citizens.

As you know, President Obama formed a bi-partisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. This commission is headed by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson. You can find its membership here: http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/members

On Wed, 10 Nov a draft briefing and paper were released by the two co-chairmen. The steps it recommends – including cutting the defense budget by $100B, as well as many domestic discretionary steps will be very controversial. Take some time to go through this briefing carefully. I believe it shows the depth of the challenges facing us as a nation. You can find this briefing here: http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/CoChair_Draft.pdf

Additionally, a draft paper helps to point out more details than just the briefing. You can find the paper here: http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/Illustrative_List_11.10.2010.pdf

I must point out that these documents are still in draft … and there will be much dialogue before any or all of these recommendations are accepted and turned into law.

For your consideration.

Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

USMC, Veterans Day

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, today is the 235thbirthday of the US Marine Corps. The Air Force Association wishes our brothers and sisters in arms – many in harm’s way – the very best. Thank you for your valor and service to our nation. Secretary of the Air Force Donley and Chief of Staff, Gen Schwartz also sent their best to the Marines. You can find their message at: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123230190

Tomorrow is Veterans Day – a day to honor the veterans of all branches of our Armed Forces. Most, but not all, celebrate this national holiday. [I note the US stock markets and many businesses are not closed on Veterans Day.] It’s worth our time to consider the historical roots of this day. On Nov 11th, 1918 the Armistice was signed at 1100 AM. The original concept for Armistice Day was a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 AM on November 11th, to honor veterans of World War I. The federal holiday we recognize today was approved by Congress in 1938, but it wasn’t until 1954 that Congress replaced “Armistice” with “Veterans” – amending the original Act to commemorate November 11thas a day in America when all veterans are honored. So, tomorrow, we come together to honor and recognize all of our American service members, past and present, and salute you for your service to our country, both in uniform and out.

Veterans Day is also an important one for two other reasons. In remembering the slaughter of World War I, soldiers and airmen around the world posited that there must be a better way to conduct warfare. There were 37 million casualties in the “War to end all Wars.” Trench warfare was both cruel and de-humanizing. They say one learns very little from one’s successes … and a great deal from one’s defeats. Even though WWI was not technically a “defeat,” it had the effect to spur strategists to look to the third dimension for a better way. Coming out of the war, Airpower began to spread its wings and start down the road to realize its potential.

Secondly, there was a view – perhaps it’s better to call it a “hope” – that WWI was so tragic; that so many people had died; and so many others had suffered – that it would be the last war ever fought … certainly the last one on that scale. What followed was a general disarmament in the West, a series of arms control initiatives – contained in the Armistice itself and sought later, and the view put forward that the US is protected by two great oceans; that we can return to a period of “live and let live” … or isolationism. Of course all of this proved to be a mirage.

The reason I mention both is these is we should learn from history and guard against a degradation of American Airpower and a weakened American defense.

Finally, AFA has put out a press release honoring our veterans: http://www.afa.org/media/press/VeteransDay.asp

So has President Obama: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/05/presidential-proclamation-veterans-day

And Secretary Gates: http://www.defense.gov//speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1518

However, perhaps the most heartfelt and poignant piece on this day comes from one of our members -- MSgt Angela Tristan, Acting first Sergeant, 14thWeather Squadron. The piece appeared in the Asheville Citizen Times, and we have put a link to it on our website: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20101107/OPINION03/311070019/Remembering-veterans-who-keep-us-safe

I’ve read the piece 3 times … and every time brings both a tear and swelling of pride for the great sacrifices of those who have and are serving. Well done, MSgt Tristan !!!

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

In recent news...

Here's an interesting article regarding a federal hiring program that may or may not have violated statutory preference given to veterans seeking U.S. government employment.

Federal Hiring Ruling Goes In Veterans' Favor

Printed by the Washington Post
by Joe Davidson
November 9, 2010

Just in time for Veterans Day, the Merit Systems Protection Board has sharply undercut a federal hiring program, saying it violates the employment preference Uncle Sam gives to those who have served in uniform.

The MSPB decision last week is a victory for organized labor, which has long complained that some agencies use the Federal Career Intern Program to circumvent the statutory preference given veterans seeking U.S. government employment.

The program has been the target of much high-level attention, including a union lawsuit against it and congressional hearings. At President Obama's direction, the Office of Personnel Management has evaluated the program and made confidential recommendations to him about it.

Yet for all of that, it was a tenacious Department of Veterans Affairs file clerk in Columbia, S.C., Larry Evans, who threw what could be a major blow to the way the program functions.

It was his case against the VA, and another brought by David Dean against OPM, that led MSPB to find "a violation of appellants' veterans' preference rights" in the operation of the intern program.

The decision has serious implications for a program widely used by some agencies to fill vacancies.

"Since 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has used FCIP as its exclusive method for hiring all incoming customs and border protection officers," Maureen Gilman, legislative director of the National Treasury Employees Union, told Congress in May. Other agencies use the program to hire financial experts, tax collectors, engineers, claims representatives, accountants and contracting specialists.

To Max Stier, president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, the widespread use of the program is an indication of how valuable it is. But if its days are numbered, he said, "the critical thing is to move to an alternative quickly." (The non-profit Partnership has a content-sharing relationship with The Washington Post).

About 15 percent of FCIP hires are veterans, compared with 25 percent in the federal workforce generally. Since 2003, the number of FCIP employees jumped from 400 to 27,000.

"Untold numbers of veterans are potentially being shut out of job opportunities for which they would have preference because the agencies are filling the positions under FCIP without public notice," said MSPB.

That's odd, or at least should be, since veterans' preference does apply to the intern program. Because it is part of the "excepted service," positions filled through the intern program do not have to be publicly advertised, as is the case with jobs in the "competitive service."

That lack of advertising, which hindered the preference, is what led to the violation of the veterans' rights, said Jim Green, a former OPM lawyer.


To read the full article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/08/AR2010110805887.html.

Check out some of AFA's events this week!

This week, AFA has several events taking place!


Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7:00 a.m.:

AFA will be hosting its monthly Air Force Breakfast Program, with General William M. Fraser III, Commander of Air Combat Command, presenting as the November speaker. The Air Force Breakfast Program is a monthly series that provides a venue for senior Air Force and Department of Defense leaders to communicate directly with the public and the press.

This event will take place at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington VA, 22202. Please register online at http://afanovbreakfast.eventbrite.com/. For additional information, contact Lizzie Carver at 703-247-5800, ext. 4877 or e-mail her at ecarver@afa.org.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.:

Dr. Rebecca Grant, Director of the Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies, will be presenting the latest Mitchell Study, entitled “Downsizing USAF: A 60-Year Analysis of Air Force Aircraft Inventory.” This informative report illustrates force structure trends for USAF aircraft and helicopters covering the years 1950 to 2009.

Dr. Grant will present the report with James C. Ruehrmund Jr., retired Air Force Reserve colonel, and Christopher J. Bowie, Corporate Director of the Northrop Grumman Analysis Center. This event will take place at AFA Headquarters, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209, next to the Key Bridge Marriott.

Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.:

AFA and the Air Force Memorial Foundation will host an 11 a.m. Veterans Day ceremony at the Air Force Memorial. A two-minute moment of silence at 11 a.m. will be observed to commemorate those members of the U.S. armed forces who died while servicing our nation. During this ceremony a wreath will be placed at the Memorial in memory and in honor of the veterans of the United States Air Force and its heritage organizations.

This ceremony is open to the public, with the hope that both military and civilians will come out and support the Air Force and all the armed forces on this day of honor.

Directions to the Air Force Memorial may be found online at www.airforcememorial.org.

Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.:

AFA’s education initiative CyberPatriot will begin competitions for their Open Division in this two-track youth cyber defense challenge. CyberPatriot is a high school competition aimed to educate students about the cybersecurity field and inspire students to consider STEM-related studies. The All-Services Division, comprised of Junior ROTC programs from all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons, successfully competed last Saturday. The Open Division is made up of teams registered from public, private, parochial and home schools.

The 100+ teams in this division will virtually compete across the nation Saturday morning for an opportunity to win scholarship money and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

**Don't forget, AFA's Global Warfare Symposium is less than two weeks away, November 18 - 19, in Los Angeles, Calif.

CyberPatriot Prepares for Round Two:

Junior ROTC, Civil Air Patrol Teams Get Ready for Next Round of CyberPatriot

The nation’s largest youth cyber defense challenge is now preparing for its second round of competition, taking place this Saturday, November 6, at 10:00 A.M., EDT.

CyberPatriot is the premier high school cybersecurity challenge in the nation produced by AFA that was designed to inspire students to consider science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields in their studies.

The Saturday competition will have nearly All-Service teams virtually “face-off” for a chance to win scholarship money and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

The competition’s first round took place Saturday, October 23, 2010, with more than 400 All-Service teams setting out to competitively ward off a series of cyber attacks and defend a virtualized network of computers. Teams are expected to be scored based on how quickly and effectively they establish and maintain secure networks.

Many teams were able to successfully compete, but due to exceptional high server demand, technical challenges impaired some teams’ ability to compete. As a result, every team was advanced to the second round of the competition. But the teams that were able to display exceptional performance received a “bye” for the second round of competition and will be advanced directly to the third round.

For a list of the 34 teams who have advanced to the third round, click here.

The Open Division begins competing on November 13.

CyberPatriot is presented by Northrop Grumman, with founding partners SAIC and the CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio.

More can be learned about CyberPatriot at http://www.uscyberpatriot.org.

Germany, Kaplan, Dunlap

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, in my last note [http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_10-22-10.pdf] I described to you the cuts announced by the UK regarding their defense budget. This week, German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said the country would begin budget-drivenrestructuring of its military. A commission studying reforms and expected to make recommendations public in January may recommend cutting the Defense Ministry staff in half and reduce by 25 percent the number of troops. Coupled with the recent UK announcement and possibly our own defense cuts, it appears we naively believe peace is right around the corner. I am reminded of a quote by President Reagan: “Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.”

In light of these defense cuts, a new book, Monsoon, The Indian Ocean and The Future of American Power, by Robert Kaplan, explores the rise of China and India and how this area will be a test of American Power in the 21st century. He also warns that our military mission in today’s wars is diverting us from properly reacting to the rise of China as a power in East Asia. Remember—spending tomorrow’s money on today’s threats invites tremendous strategic risk. The future is very uncertain, and it is vital that we preserve a strategic range of options for the nation. You can read an interview Kaplan gave to Foreign Affairs Magazine here: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/66205/robert-d-kaplan/the-geography-of-chinese-power [requires a free one-time registration.]

Finally, last week in the Washington Post, an op-ed ran that was written by Maj Gen (Ret) Charles Dunlap. The piece was entitled: “Could Airstrikes save lives in Afghanistan?” The simple answer to the question is: Certainly. Airpower is doing this every day. However, the piece cited new studies that show: (1) Since airstrikes were limited in Jun 09, Afghan civilian deaths have risen 31% (2) Only 6% of the civilian casualties attributed to ISAF were caused by Airpower (3) the Taliban are responsible for more than 75% of civilian deaths.

To quote a portion of the op-ed: “Airpower reduces the need to put our precious soldiers in the path of the improvised explosive devices that are killing and maiming more ISAF troops than anything else. And airpower works: The surge in Iraq in 2007 succeeded only when it was accompanied by a fivefold increase in airstrikes.” You can find the piece at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/21/AR2010102105936_pf.html

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

DHS: Cyber defenders will respect civil rights

An article on Department of Homeland Security-military partnership in regards to protecting the nation's computer networks by The Associated Press:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A high-ranking Homeland Security official says the agency will protect Americans' civil liberties and privacy while it partners with the military to protect the nation's computer networks.

An agreement with the military announced two weeks ago "in no way changes our respective departments' promises to protect civil liberties and privacy," Rear Adm. Michael Brown said Wednesday at the National Symposium on Homeland Security and Defense in Colorado Springs.

Brown is assigned to Homeland Security as assistant secretary for cybersecurity and communications.

Homeland Security announced Oct. 13 that computer experts from the super-secret National Security Agency, part of the Defense Department, will work with DHS to protect the computer networks that have become the backbone of financial, communication and transportation systems.

That agreement raised concerns among civil liberties groups, which said safeguards would be needed to protect civil rights.

Brown said the partnership won't infringe on civil rights or expand the military's role.

The military has a legal obligation to protect citizens' privacy and civil liberties, said Air Force Maj. Gen. David Senty, chief of staff at U.S. Cyber Command, the Defense Department command responsible for military actions in cyberspace.

"We do not see Cyber Command and NSA as a balance between liberty and security. We work to protect both," Senty told the symposium Thursday.

For the full article and to see related articles, click here.

Cybersecurity in the News

Hackers shopping malware network
By Washington Times' reporter Shaun Waterman

According to a Washington Times article, a hacker group calling itself the Iranian Cyber Army is gathering a network of infected computers, and selling it to cybercriminals to spread spam and malicious software.

Aviv Raff, of the computer security firm Seculert, told The Washington Times that the group was exploiting a vulnerability in the popular blogging software program WordPress to gain control of unsuspecting Internet users' computers and add them to its network — known as a botnet, or robot network — of infected machines. He said the botnet, one of hundreds controlled by hacker gangs and cybercrime syndicates all over the world, could be used to launch cyber-attacks against Tehran's enemies.

Most researchers regard the Iranian Cyber Army (ICA) as "hacktivists" — politically motivated pro-Iranian hackers — and there is no evidence they are linked to the Tehran government. Almost a year ago, a group using that name attacked U.S.-based social networking platform Twitter, and then Chinese search engine Baidu, briefly diverting visitors to those Web pages to a different page decorated with an Iranian flag, nationalist slogans and anti-U.S. and anti-Israel images.

"We are not sure if they are really Iranians," Raff said of the ICA, "but they are supporters of the Iranian regime."

He said his firm was trying to identify the geographical origin of the attacks, but such tracing is notoriously difficult in cyberspace, where hackers can launch attacks from computers they control half a world away from their own location.

"At the moment, there is no way of knowing who these people really are," said Jason Glassberg, of the computer firm Casaba Security.

"They could be Iranians," he told The Times. "It could just as easily be a 13-year-old in New Jersey."

Politically motivated cybervandalism like the ICA defacement of the Twitter and Baidu sites is relatively common, and usually no more than a nuisance. For example, Islamic hacker groups, many of them apparently based in Turkey, defaced Danish websites after a newspaper there published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in September 2005.

But ICA's most recent hack appears to be much more aggressive, said Mr. Raff. He said European newsblog site TechCrunch, and "hundreds" of other smaller sites that use WordPress had been compromised over the past two months. Visitors were surreptitiously redirected to a hacker-controlled website, where they were infected with a so-called Trojan downloader — a kind of malicious software that allows hackers to take control of the user's computer.

The Trojan was placed on the visitors' computers by exploiting well-known vulnerabilities in several widely used software packages, including Adobe PDF, Java and Internet Explorer.

Read the full article at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/oct/26/hackers-shopping-malware-network/

Common Cybersecurity-themed Myths

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has debunked several commons myths associated with cybersecurity that may influence online security practices.


Myth: Anti-virus software and firewalls are 100% effective.
*Truth: Anti-virus software and firewalls are important elements to protecting your information (see Understanding Anti-Virus Software and Understanding Firewalls for more information). However, neither of these elements are guaranteed to protect you from an attack. Combining these technologies with good security habits is the best way to reduce your risk.

Myth: Once software is installed on your computer, you do not have to worry about it anymore.
*Truth: Vendors may release patches or updated versions of software to address problems or fix vulnerabilities (see Understanding Patches for more information). You should install the patches as soon as possible; some software even offers the option to obtain updates automatically. Making sure that you have the latest virus definitions for your anti-virus software is especially important.

Myth: There is nothing important on your machine, so you do not need to protect it.
*Truth: Your opinion about what is important may differ from an attacker's opinion. If you have personal or financial data on your computer, attackers may be able to collect it and use it for their own financial gain. Even if you do not store that kind of information on your computer, an attacker who can gain control of your computer may be able to use it in attacks against other people (see Understanding Denial-of-Service Attacks and Understanding Hidden Threats: Rootkits and Botnets for more information).

Myth: Attackers only target people with money.
*Truth: Anyone can become a victim of identity theft. Attackers look for the biggest reward for the least amount of effort, so they typically target databases that store information about many people. If your information happens to be in the database, it could be collected and used for malicious purposes. It is important to pay attention to your credit information so that you can minimize any potential damage (see Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft for more information).

Myth: When computers slow down, it means that they are old and should be replaced.
*Truth: It is possible that running newer or larger software programs on an older computer could lead to slow performance, but you may just need to replace or upgrade a particular component (memory, operating system, CD or DVD drive, etc.). Another possibility is that there are other processes or programs running in the background. If your computer has suddenly become slower, you may be experiencing a denial-of-service attack or have spyware on your machine (see Understanding Denial-of-Service Attacks and Recognizing and Avoiding Spyware for more information).

Check out more information from the DHS here.

UK Defense Review

Last August I posted a piece in which the headlines read: "The RAF will shrink to its smallest size since the First World War, under unprecedented cuts being proposed at the Ministry of Defense." [See: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_8-12-10.pdf] Many of my UK friends mildly (and rightly) chastised me for spreading press stories about the review … and urged I wait to see what comes from it.

This week the UK published its final report. [See: http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf ] (Warning: it’s 75 pages long).

A fairly good summary of it comes from a Defense News piece by Andrew Chuter:

"The Strategic Defense and Security Review, unveiled Oct. 19 by Prime Minister David Cameron, stripped the armed forces of various capabilities, reduced military and civilian personnel numbers, and ushered in a restructuring of the Army.

Cameron told lawmakers that the 36.9 billion pound ($53.1 billion) defense budget was being cut in real terms by 8 percent over the next four years, but that he envisaged a possible increase in spending beyond that. The review said that Britain will in the future deploy no more than 30,000 troops overseas, including maritime and air support - two-thirds of the force deployed to Iraq in 2003. It will reduce the civilian MoD work force by about 25,000 and military personnel by about 17,000, both by 2015."

"All three services will see capabilities reduced, but the British Army has come off the lightest, mainly because it is embroiled deeper in the war in Afghanistan."

"The military's is heading toward a fast-jet fleet consisting solely of Typhoons and Lockheed Martin F-35s. The Harrier GR9 is being withdrawn from service beginning in 2011; the number of RAF Tornado GR4 strike aircraft will also be reduced as Eurofighter Typhoons arrive. The government decision to withdraw the GR9 and only start operating the F-35 in 2020 means the Royal Navy will have to take a capability holiday on carrier strike for the next 10 years.

The review said the MoD intended to operate a single type of F-35, not different land and naval variants."

"One of the two carriers being built by a BAE-led consortium for the Royal Navy will be fitted with catapult and arrestor gear, and is slated to arrive in 2020. The second carrier being built will be mothballed in a low state of readiness."

Several reactions to these cuts have come from a number of people whom I respect. Below my name is a compendium of their talking points.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association


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"The first thing that hit me was that the UK approach to developing future forces is similar to that of the US. Both countries are emphasizing force structure designed to deal with current conflicts (such as Afghanistan and Iraq) rather than the much more challenging and dangerous ones that will almost certainly occur in the future."

"Very high tech weaponry provides huge advantages to the United States and the UK and allows them to fight asymmetrically against enemies such as the Taliban rather than on a face-to-face basis where the advantage is minimal. And it actually turns out that the weaponry developed for demanding conventional conflicts has great utility in wars such as those in Afghanistan. One need only think of long range bombers and fighters, precision weapons that not only have great military utility but also reduce collateral damage dramatically, Global Position Systems, Imaging Satellites, and long duration unmanned vehicles to name just a few."

"The tone is similar to that of our Secretary of Defense [Robert Gates]. He talks about focusing on today’s wars and avoiding what he calls “next war-ite- is.” This is an extraordinarily dangerous approach for it assumes that the future will be like the present—which it has never been. And lying in the future are certainly enemies who are far more difficult threats than those of today.”

"I don't see, in the medium term (3-5 years), that the new UK posture will have any adverse affects on the US and British relationship. But it puts us on a joint course for the future which it makes it difficult to overcome serious threats with serious capabilities which will likely arise beyond the mid-term. I find this almost myopic focus on today to be quite troubling."

“The RAF has to be interoperable with the US … not just in systems, but doctrine, training, thought and strategies. It is in the US interest to have a strong “left wing” [to quote a former boss] to oppose oppression and safeguard freedom and democracy."

“The RAF has to be able to accomplish a wide range of missions … and continue to be a “Full-Service Air Force.” Right now many of the world’s Air Forces rely on the US for such things as … transport, intelligence, smart munitions, AAR, etc. We cannot be expected to embrace 2nd or 3rd world efforts from the UK and still call them a dependable ally.”

“There comes a time when the UK reaches a “Tipping Point” – when one of their elements of national power decays such that we no longer see them as having the same or similar world view as the US. It may be that it occurs in the military instrument of national power … and we just can’t define when that might be. If it happens, it will be bad for both the US and the UK. This force takes us much closer than before … as the overall level of forces is so small as to possibly make the UK a “bit player” on the world stage – especially against a regional power that might challenge Western interests.”


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