The B Street pedestrian bridge, constructed as part of the Fort Carson rail yard expansion project, provides a safer means for Stratmoor Hills Elementary School students to get to and from school.

Story and photo by Susan C. Galentine

Directorate of Public Works public relations

Stratmoor Hills Elementary School students have a new bridge to walk across on their way to and from school. The B Street pedestrian bridge, part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Carson rail yard expansion project, opened Jan. 20.

The $12.5 million expansion project, which began in October 2010, includes stronger metal rails, building a holding spur parallel to the main line to increase loading ability during deployments, and the “wye” track — a Y-shaped track arrangement used for reversing the direction of a train — being extended to increase rail car turnaround capabilities.

“The project will allow Fort Carson to deploy a brigade within 72 hours,” said Justin Scherzberg, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project engineer for the rail yard expansion. “Previously, Fort Carson was not capable of meeting this Army standard.”

During the planning stage of the rail yard expansion, the need to provide a safer means for local students walking to the nearby elementary school became obvious and the new bridge was included in the project.

“The primary purpose of the pedestrian bridge is to provide children a safe method of crossing the railroad tracks to and from their homes and Stratmoor Hills Elementary School,” said Michael Mayline, Directorate of Logistics Transportation Division chief.

“In addition, the bridge allows continuous rail operations. In the past, operations had to cease from (7- 8:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:15 p.m.) These hours were usually the peak hours for the commercial rail companies picking up or delivering rail cars.”

The bridge also eliminates the need for children to cross B Street and Loomis Boulevard to get to school. Approximately 240 students, 80 percent of the school’s population, and some of their parents, walk to the elementary school each day, said Jennifer Sprague, Harrison School District 2 public information officer.

The 249-foot, fully-enclosed bridge spans over B Street, Loomis Avenue and the rail road tracks. The pedestrian bridge is accessible by two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps, each ramp consisting of six flights. The main bridge span’s structural steel is comprised of weathering steel, which will change colors as it weathers with time.

As combat operations overseas scale back, the expanded rail yard will continue to play a critical role for the installation in meeting other mission requirements.

“The future use of the expanded rail yard will continue with deployments of military units to training locations within the United States,” said Mayline. “On a rotating basis, we are moving units to and from Southern California, Louisiana, Kansas and Piñon Canyon. In addition, we will continue to deploy units to and from American seaports in support of the U.S. military mission Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.”

El Paso County is responsible for general maintenance on the new pedestrian bridge, including snow removal.

Participants learn yoga poses during the Fitness Expo at The Hub Jan. 27.

Story and photos by Samantha B. Koss

Special to the Mountaineer

Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation officials held a Fitness Expo at The Hub Jan. 27 to showcase fitness opportunities available on and off post.

“A lot of times (Soldiers and Families) don’t know what we offer, so it’s important to do these kinds of events,” said Jennifer Pearson, event coordinator. “We want them to know that we have four gyms on post, that we have an Outdoor Recreation Center, yoga, spin … and tons of other things.”

The event reached out to those interested in making fitness a part of their lives and who wanted to learn more about what is available.

“I think people see our gyms and think we just have a gym … they don’t know we have personal trainers, group classes, ski trips, golf and bowling,” Pearson said. “Recreation goes far beyond the gym.”

Gyms on post conduct group classes throughout the week to include weekday spin classes at Waller Physical Fitness Center and Total Resistance Exercise training weekday mornings at Garcia PFC.

“We want to help them find what their passion is,” Pearson said. “You may enjoy rock climbing, but that doesn’t mean you will like running.”

The expo featured 15-minute classes of Zumba, yoga and spin.

Family member Marcos Zurita learned how to use the TRX training system at the Expo.

“It is a lot harder than it looks,” Zurita said. “It is definitely a workout.”

Nick Nicholson, personal trainer, taught participants, like Zurita, TRX beginner exercises and explained the benefits of the system.

“The TRX system works very well with the new Army regulations on Army fitness,” Nicholson said. “This equipment goes from the battlefield to the training room and back again.”

Nicholson coaches Soldiers on the TRX system for physical training at Garcia PFC. The system focuses on improving core strength, endurance and mobility.

“It is core all the time, anywhere anytime,” he said. “Many installations have included TRX into their training programs.”

Along with TRX, participants were introduced to the fitness benefits of kickboxing. Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping, an off-post sponsor of the event, provided boxing gloves and punching bags to teach participants beginner kickboxing methods.

Jenny Vohsman, Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping owner and instructor, said kickboxing is a whole-body workout.

“We guarantee results,” she said. “Kickboxing is a great way to have fun and improve fitness through a cardio workout.”

Vohsman taught participants proper standing, punching and breathing techniques.

“I think kickboxing is great to add to a physical training program,” said 1st Sgt. Stephen Roberts, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who donned the boxing gloves for a quick lesson with Vohsman. “Whatever keeps Soldiers on their toes and agile is very beneficial to the mission.”

Visit http://mwrfortcarson. com/physical-fitness-centers.php for information on upcoming classes, monthly activities and schedules.

Sgt. James Sund, 361st Aviation Detachment, 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, hugs his daughter, Allie, Jan. 19 before deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Craig Cantrell

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January.

Approximately 400 Soldiers deployed to support aviation operations in southern Afghanistan, marking the aviation unit’s first deployment from Fort Carson since it relocated to the Mountain Post from Camp Eagle, Korea, three years ago.

The “Attack Battalion,” part of 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, will rely on its seasoned veterans to lead first-time deployment Soldiers into combat, said Master Sgt. Jim Williams, senior aviation operations sergeant, 1st Bn., 2nd Avn. Reg.

“We have a lot of aviators and senior noncommissioned officers that have deployed before, that are throwing a lot of experience into the deployment,” said Williams.

The brigade prepared for its first deployment since arriving at the Mountain Post by conducting multiple field training exercises and a culminating training event — a month-long exercise testing the equipment the unit took on the deployment.

The battalion conducted High Altitude Mountain Environment Training, familiarizing pilots with flying at high altitudes and landing on rugged terrain in the Rocky Mountains, and sharpened its skills during four rotations in two years to the U.S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

The Attack Battalion deployed to southern Afghanistan to support ground forces, conduct reconnaissance missions and provide air transportation support, said Williams.

Once in theater, the battalion operations center will guide and consistently update more than 30 aircraft flying over Afghanistan at any time, said Maj. Nicholas Dall, operations officer, 1st Bn., 2nd Avn. Reg.

“We will watch the fight as it happens; we will give command decisions on aircraft lifts and movements,” said Cpl. Akeem Robinson, aviation operations specialist, assigned to Head­quarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 2nd Avn. Reg.

The battalion deployed a variety of aviation support-trained professionals, including repairmen, armament specialists and air traffic controllers.

“Anything that makes it fly, anything that has power running through it, anything that makes it shoot — that is what we fix,” said Sgt. Chris Maxwell, an AH-64D attack helicopter armament, electrical, avionics repairer, assigned to Company D, 1st Bn., 2nd Avn. Reg.

“We’re really excited about getting out of Fort Carson, heading downrange, conducting the mission and being part of the fight,” said Williams.

The Attack Battalion main body deployed forward, leaving a rear detachment to provide support for the deployed troops and handle the stateside mission.

The Family readiness group works directly with the Attack Battalion rear detachment to ensure all Family member issues are taken care of, said Capt. Aaron Rettke, rear detachment commander, 1st Bn., 2nd Avn. Reg.

The FRG provides Soldiers peace of mind knowing that the rear detachment and FRG will take care of business at home station, so the Soldiers can accomplish the mission, said Williams.

“My unit’s mission is to bring everyone back safe,” said Robinson. “Get over there, accomplish the mission and bring 100 percent (of our Soldiers) back.”

The 1st Bn., 2nd Avn. Reg., is slated for a 12-month deployment to southern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Arabian Peninsula Areas, beginning Jan. 17, 1991 — the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, the part of the Arabian Sea north of 10° North latitude and west of 68° East longitude, the Gulf of Aden, and the countries of Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Kosovo area, beginning Mar. 24, 1999 — Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Albania, the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea north of the 39th Parallel.

Afghanistan, beginning Sept. 19, 2001.

2. I am a member of the U.S. Armed Forces performing services in a combat zone. Is any part of my military pay for serving in this area excluded from gross income?

Yes, if you serve in a combat zone as an enlisted person or as a warrant officer (including commissioned warrant officers) for any part of a month, all your military pay received for military service that month is excluded from gross income. For commissioned officers, the monthly exclusion is capped at the highest enlisted pay, plus any hostile fire or imminent danger pay received.

3. My husband and I are both enlisted personnel serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in the combat zone. Are we each entitled to the income tax exclusion for military pay?

Yes, each of you qualifies for the income tax exclusion for your respective military pay.

4. I am a member of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed on a ship outside any combat zone. I fly missions over a combat zone as part of the military operations in that combat zone. Is any part of my military pay excluded from gross income?

Yes. The combat zone includes the airspace over it, so you are serving in the combat zone. See Q&A-2 above for a discussion of the amount of your military pay that is excluded.

5. If I am injured and hospitalized while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in a combat zone, is any of my military pay excluded from gross income?

Yes. Military pay received by enlisted personnel who are hospitalized as a result of injuries sustained while serving in a combat zone is excluded from gross income for the period of hospitalization, subject to the 2-year limitation provided below. Commissioned officers have a similar exclusion, limited to the maximum enlisted pay amount per month. (See Q&A-2 above.) These exclusions from gross income for hospitalized enlisted personnel and commissioned officers end 2 years after the date of termination of the combat zone.

6. My wife is currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in a combat zone and will be eligible for discharge when she returns home. If she is discharged upon her return, will the payment for the annual leave that she accrued during her service in the combat zone be excluded from gross income?

Yes. Annual leave payments to enlisted members of the U.S. Armed Forces upon discharge from service are excluded from gross income to the extent the annual leave was accrued during any month in any part of which the member served in a combat zone. If your wife is a commissioned officer, a portion of the annual leave payment she receives for leave accrued during any month in any part of which she served in a combat zone may be excluded. The annual leave payment is not excludable to the extent it exceeds the maximum enlisted pay amount (see Q&A-2 above) for the month of service to which it relates less the amount of military pay already excluded for that month.

7. I am an enlisted person serving in a combat zone. If I reenlist early while I am in the combat zone and receive my reenlistment bonus several months later when I am stationed outside the combat zone, is any part of my reenlistment bonus excluded from gross income?

Yes. The reenlistment bonus is excluded from gross income although received in a month that you were outside the combat zone, because you completed the necessary action for entitlement to the reenlistment bonus in a month during which you served in the combat zone.

8. My brother, who is a civilian in the merchant marine, is on a ship that transports military supplies between the United States and the combat zone. Is he entitled to the combat zone military pay exclusion?

No. Those serving in the merchant marine are not members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The combat zone military pay exclusion applies only to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Neither federal civilian employees nor civilian defense contractors deployed with U.S. forces qualify for an exclusion of income earned while working in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area. They may, however, qualify for an extension of deadlines to file and pay taxes.

9. My husband is serving in the Armed Forces outside a combat zone. Is any part of his military pay excluded from gross income?

Payment for service outside a designated combat zone is not excluded from income unless the pay is hostile fire/imminent danger pay for serving an area in direct support of military operations in the combat zone. The Department of Defense certifies areas that meet these requirements.

10. How do I certify my entitlement to the military pay exclusion?

Your service branch must certify your entitlement on the Form W-2 it provides you. If you believe you are entitled to the exclusion, but it is not reflected on your Form W-2, ask your service branch to issue a corrected Form W-2.

If you receive tax-free combat pay, you can include it as earned income:

• When determining the Earned Income Credit (EIC)
• When determining the additional child tax credit
• For purposes of making an IRA contribution

Other Excludable Income

Even if you received the income as a reimbursement or an allowance, you don’t include this income in your gross income:

Living Allowances

• Basic Allowance for Housing — However, you can deduct mortgage interest and real-estate taxes on your home even if you pay these expenses with your basic allowance for housing.
• Basic allowance for subsistence
• Housing and cost-of-living allowances abroad, whether paid by the U.S. government or by a foreign government
• Overseas Housing Allowance
• Family Allowances
• Certain educational expenses for dependents
• Emergencies
• Evacuation to a place of safety
• Separation
• Death Allowances
• Burial services
• Death gratuity payments to eligible survivors
• Travel of dependents to burial site
• Moving Allowances
• Dislocation
• Move-in housing
• Moving household and personal items
• Moving trailers or mobile homes
• Storage
• Temporary lodging and temporary lodging expenses
• Military base realignment and closure benefit

For the military base realignment and closure benefit, the excludable amount can´t be more than this equation:

95% of the fair market value of the property for which the payments were made (before public announcement of intent to close all or part of the military base or installation) — Property´s fair market value (at the time of sale) = Maximum military base realignment and closure benefit exclusion

The Department of Defense determines:

• 95% of the fair market value of the property for which the payments were made — before the public announcement of intent to close all or part of the military base or installation
• Property´s fair market value at the time of sale

Travel Allowances

• Annual round trip for dependent students
• Leave between consecutive overseas tours
• Reassignment in a dependent-restricted status
• Transportation for you or your dependents during ship overhaul or inactivation
• Per diem

You can deduct your travel expenses as an adjustment to income on Form 1040 rather than as a miscellaneous itemized deduction if both of these apply:

• You´re a member of the reserves.
• You travel more than 100 miles away from home in connection with your duties.

Other Payments

• Defense counseling
• Disability, including payments received for injuries incurred as a direct result of a terrorist or military action
• Group-term life insurance
• Professional education
• ROTC educational and subsistence allowances
• Survivor and retirement-protection plan premiums
• Uniform allowances
• Uniforms furnished to enlisted personnel
• In-kind Military Benefits
• Dependent-care assistance
• Legal assistance
• Space-available travel on government aircraft
• Medical and dental care
• Commissary and exchange discounts

You can’t exclude the value of personal use of a government-provided vehicle.

Source: HR Block

The Act for the most part extends the current tax regime for another two years (through 12/31/12), but some provisions are only applicable after 2011.

A short summary of the major provisions affecting service members and their families are as follows:

Marginal Tax Rates: The marginal rates applicable to a member’s taxable income will remain: 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 percent, 28 percent, 33 percent, and 35 percent (after 12/31/12, the rates become: 15 percent, 28 percent, 36 percent, and 39.6 percent).

Capital gain/Dividend: Capital gains and dividends will be taxed at 0 percent for those members below the 25 percent bracket and 15 percent for those in the 25 percent bracket or higher (after 12/31/2012, the rates for capital gains become 10 percent and 20 percent respectively and dividends will be taxed as ordinary income).

AMT Patch: The AMT exemption amount for calendar year 2010 is increased to $72,450 (married filing jointly), $47,450 (unmarried individuals), and $36,225 (married filing separately). The exemption amount for calendar year 2011 will be $74,450, $48,450, and $37,225 respectively.

Payroll Tax cut for 2011: For calendar year 2011, the tax rate for social security tax is reduced to 4.2 percent from 6.2 percent on basic pay under $106,800.

Relief from Marriage Penalty: The standard deduction for a married filing jointly couple will remain double that of individuals. The 15 percent bracket for married filing jointly couple will also remain double that of individuals. Both provisions will remain through calendar year 2012.

Personal exemption and itemized deduction: Personal exemption phase-out and itemized deduction limitation will remain repealed through calendar year 2012. The Personal exemption amount for 2011 is $3,700 per eligible person.

Educator Expenses Deduction: Qualified taxpayers will continue to be entitled to an above the line deduction of up to $250 for certain unreimbursed educator expense through calendar year 2011.

Tuition and Fees: Eligible taxpayers will continue to be entitled to an above the line deduction for qualified high education expenses.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense

There is a tax form or schedule to cover almost any tax situation that you may have faced this year. For example, said IRS officials, if you claim child care expenses, you need IRS Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. If you worked out of your home and are claiming expenses, file IRS Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, with your return.

Some of the most requested tax forms include:

• Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return;
• Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals;
• Form 1040V, Payment Voucher;
• Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Tax Return;
• Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income;
• Form 1310, Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Person;
• Form 2119, Sale of Your Home;
• Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Credit;
• Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative;
• Form 3903, Moving Expenses;
• Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund;
• Form 4070-A, Employee’s Daily Record of Tips;
• Form 4506, Request for Copy or Transcript of Tax Form;
• Form 4562, Depreciation and Amortization;
• Form 4684, Casualties and Theft;
• Form 4797, Sales of Business Property;
• Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return;
• Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions;
• Form 8452, U.S. Individual Income Tax Declaration for Electronic Filing;
• Form 8606, Nondeductible IRS Contributions;
• Form 8815, Exclusion of Interest from Series EE U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989;
• Form 8822, Change of Address;
• Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home;
• Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses;
• Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card;
• Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate;
• Form W-10, Dependent Care Provider’s Information and Certification;
• Schedule A, Itemized Deductions;
• Schedule B, Interest and Dividend Income;
• Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business;
• Schedule C-EZ, Net Profit from Business;
• Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses;
• Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss;
• Schedule EIC, Earned Income Credit;
• Schedule R, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled;
• Schedule 1, Interest and Divident Income for Form 1040A Filers;
• Schedule 2, Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040A Filers;
• Schedule 3, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled for Form 1040A Filers.

To request copies of these and other free IRS forms, call toll-free 1-800-829-3676 or write to:

IRS

Forms Distribution Center

PO Box 85627

Richmond, VA 23285.

Captain Edward F. Dice, Jr., a member of AFSPC/A7X, holds the Purple Heart he was awarded Jan. 13 for injuries he sustained five years ago from a blast of an improvised explosive device while he was serving in Iraq.

By Capt. Tamara Fischer-Carter

Air Force Space Command Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Nearly five years after he was injured by the blast of an improvised explosive device, Capt. Edward F. Dice, Jr. was awarded the Purple Heart Medal Jan. 13.

Air Force Space Command Commander General William Shelton, presented Dice the Medal before a standing room only crowd in the AFSPC Headquarters building at Peterson Air Force Base.

Dice received the award for wounds received in combat on June 23, 2007 while performing gunner duties during a convoy mission.

“I switched from convoy commander to gunner that day because it was June in Iraq and exceptionally hot,” said Dice. “We had been on the road for about 8 hours up until that point and my gunner was showing signs of heat exhaustion. I put him in my seat and took over gunner duties of the .50 cal (.50 caliber machine gun) in order to relieve him. Not 10 minutes later, we got hit.”

Deployed from the 820th Rapid Engineers Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. at the time, Dice’s logistics convoy was attacked by a roadside IED. The blast from the attack threw Dice against the vehicle turret causing a concussion.

During that deployment, Dice’s team performed 82 combat patrols covering more than 5,000 miles. “Iraq was very kinetic then. We took 10 IED hits and were in multiple firefights during that time, and in retrospect, we were remarkably lucky that we didn’t have more injuries,” said Dice.

“Essentially I was a convoy commander and project manager who had a team of 35 engineers who worked for me,” said Dice. His team traveled to 16 sites throughout Iraq repairing runways, building landing zones and Tactical Operations Centers.

The convoy included six up-armored high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, seven tractor trailers, and a heavy expanded mobile tactical truck recovery vehicle.

“We had two jobs: while convoying, we performed duties such as driver, truck commander, gunner, radio operator, medic, intel officer, etc. After we arrived at our mission location, we put our engineer hat on and performed the necessary work to complete the mission. It was a unique, but demanding job,” said Dice.

Why it took nearly five years to receive the award is a story in itself.

Dice’s award recommendation was previously denied. “Because the diagnosis and treatment (for Traumatic Brain Injury) can sometimes be difficult, it was overlooked,” said Capt. Dice.

Due to a new Department of Defense Baseline Standard for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, the award was reconsidered, resubmitted and approved on Dec. 5, 2011.

DoD now recognizes mTBI as a combat-related injury warranting award of the Purple Heart Medal and in turn, many who were previously denied are being recognized for their sacrifice.

“I am so honored,” said Dice wearing the freshly pinned Purple Heart Medal on his chest.

“I really want to thank retired Chief Master Sergeant John”JD” Olive for helping me resubmit my papers.”

“He earned it, he deserved it and it felt good to go back and correct that wrong,” said Olive.

Dice embodies selfless service as a five-time combat veteran and the recipient of three Bronze Star Medals.

“In RED HORSE, the ops tempo was high so deployments were frequent and if you were able, you were deploying,” said Dice. “I decided to volunteer to be a convoy commander again and perform a similar mission. I felt obligated, in a sense, to do this because I had so much previous experience that I could lend to the new team and mission. For that reason, and the camaraderie that developed within our team and the bonds that formed between us, I wanted to do it all over again. Those deployments were brutal, but also the most rewarding and memorable for me,” said Dice.

Despite optimistically volunteering for another year-long Provincial Reconstruction Team mission, Dice is still being treated for his injuries.

“I think that awareness in the lowest levels of the leadership chain is vital when initially diagnosing TBI,” Dice said. “When Airmen are subjected to a concussion blast, they need to be given a proper medical evaluation immediately to treat any possible brain injury or trauma in order to begin the recovery process. Awareness by an Airmen’s supervisor, friend, or even subordinate can turn a long, arduous recovery into a more fluid one,” said Dice.

“The recognition, acceptance, and understanding of the symptoms related to TBI have led to greatly improved science and technology when treating the injury and thus, improving the quality of life for our wounded warriors,” said Dice.

21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Sharing a runway has resulted in an innovative relationship between the 21st Space Wing, the 302nd Airlift Wing, a 21st SW mission partner, and the Colorado Springs airport.

According to Tech. Sgt. Amanda Callahan, 21st Space Wing Public Affairs NCO in charge, the wing and the airport had an informal agreement for years that in case of an aircraft emergency, the wing and the airport would work together to respond to media questions.

This inventive agreement was put to the test in 2011. Jeff Bohn, 21st SW PA chief of community outreach, was on call for the PA office that Sunday. Calls starting pouring in from local media outlets about a C-130 with a landing gear problem.

The PA staff quickly gathered in their office to collect information about the aircraft, put together media packets and release the information to the public, Callahan said. By the time the team arrived at the airport, droves of media had already flooded the airport lobby. The wing’s spokespeople took over the area, but in a way that was appropriate and appreciated by airport staff members.

Without the agreement between the wing and the airport, getting media to the scene would be a lengthy process. “Without the agreement, we would have to coordinate to meet media at the visitor’s center, get them media passes, and coordinate with the logistics readiness squadron to provide transportation to the scene,” Callahan said.

The C-130 incident ended without injuries, but it was apparent that the informal deal the 21st SW public affairs office had with the airport needed to become official.

Within weeks, a memorandum of agreement was drafted to officially create a partnership between the 21st SW’s public affairs office and the airport staff, and create efficiencies to quickly inform the public.

“In the event of a military aircraft incident or emergency, both agencies agreed the airport would be where media outlets would arrive due to its accessibility. However, the airport’s public information officers may not be the most appropriate spokespeople during a military aircraft incident. Therefore, it was important both sides agree the wing’s public affairs staff have some sort of designated area at the airport,” Callahan said.

And both sides agreed. After about six months of legal reviews, coordination and routing, a MOA was signed between the 21st SW chief of public affairs and the city of Colorado Springs’ director of aviation. The agreement will allow for quick, centralized and efficient public affairs response to aircraft emergencies at the airport.

“This agreement expedites the process of quickly and efficiently getting accurate information to the public,” Callahan said. “Instead of coordinating for media to have base access, the public affairs office is able to focus on its mission.”

(U.S. Air Force photo/Rob Bussard) The 16th Space Control Squadron and 380th Space Control Squadron, a Reserve Associate Unit, broke ground near the east gate Jan. 17 for a new RAIDRS space control facility. Turning the first ceremonial shovel of earth is (left to right) Lt. Col. Roger Sherman, 16th SPCS commander; Col. Jennifer Moore, 21st Operations Group commander; Col. Chris Crawford, 21st Space Wing commander; Col. Jeff Mineo, 310th SW commander; Lt. Col. Traci Keuker-Murphy, 310th OG commander; and Lt. Col. Robert Claude, 380th SPCS commander.

By Lea Johnson

21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The next step in establishing full Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection and Reporting System capabilities is underway at Peterson Air Force Base.

The 16th Space Control Squadron and 380th Space Control Squadron, a Reserve Associate Unit, formally broke ground near the east gate Jan. 17 for the new RAIDRS space control facility.

“This has been an incredible feat, especially when you consider the very challenging fiscal and manpower age in which we live,” said Col. Chris Crawford, 21st Space Wing commander.

The $14.3 million facility will be 47,427 square feet once completed and house personnel from the 16th and 380th SPCS. “With the birth of the new building we finally have the opportunity for the entire set of units to live together, to work together in one building,” Crawford said.

The RAIDRS prototype, the Satellite Interference Response System, was initially deployed to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility in July 2005 for a 120-day proof of concept. Out of this initial success, SIRS was redesignated as RAIDRS Deployable Ground Segment Zero and has been continually deployed to the AOR as Operation Silent Sentry. Airmen from the 16th and 380th SPCS have provided the preponderance of the required manpower for this deployed mission since January 2007.

The new facility will be the central operating location for the RAIDRS system. The facility at Peterson, along with various suites of transportable antennas deployed around the world, will be able to detect, characterize, geolocate and report sources of radio frequency interference on U.S. military and commercial satellites in direct support of combatant commanders.

“Basically the DoD uses satellites to communicate over vast distances, and these satellite communication links are vulnerable,” said Lt. Col. Roger Sherman, 16th SPCS commander.

The 16th and 380th SPCS monitor certain signals of interest from RAIDRS. If the operators pick up any interference, they start taking action.

Operators first characterize the problem, then geolocate, or pinpoint the location on the Earth, where the interference is coming from, according to Sherman.

“That will allow us to tell the user of that signal to go to a different frequency or satellite transponder. In the case of something hostile, we can provide decision makers with information as to where the hostile action is coming from,” Sherman said.

Completion of the facility is expected during fiscal year 2013.