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Air Force Moves F-35s from Utah to Germany as Ukraine Faces Possible Invasion

A crew chief from the 388th Fighter Wing marshals an F-35A Lightning II as they launch for deployment to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Feb 15, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kip Sumner)

17 Feb 2022

Military.com | By  Thomas Novelly

A dozen F-35A Lightning II fighter jets and 350 airmen from Hill Air Force Basein Utah have arrived in Germany, marking the latest deployment of American aircraft to Europe as tensions mount between Russia and Ukraine.

The airmen from the active-duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Wednesday, according to an Air Force Reserve statement.

Despite the recent movement of U.S. forces and military hardware into Europe, American troops are far outnumbered by the estimated 150,000 troops Russia has sitting on the Ukrainian border. U.S. officials have described the movement of American forces as an effort to reassure NATO allies that the U.S. will help defend fellow NATO members.

Read Next: 'Candy Bomber' Who Dropped Sweets During Berlin Airlift Dies

Col. Matt Fritz, commander of the 419th Fighter Wing, said his airmen "train specifically for moments like these" and they're ready to join the growing show of force.

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"A group of Reserve F-35 pilots and maintainers have joined our active duty counterparts in a deployment to the region and stand ready to support increased security for our NATO allies," Fritz said in a press release.

The F-35s sent out of Utah are the most recent deployment to Europe and the latest assistance the U.S. Air Force has provided to help bolster NATO's defenses against Russia.

On Monday, eight F-15E Strike Eagles from the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina deployed to Lask, Poland.

Biden: 'Very High' Risk of Russian Invasion in Days

President Joe Biden said Thursday there is a "very high" risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and that could happen within "several days." (Associated Press)

Additionally, six KC-135 Stratotankers from the 100th Aerial Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall in the U.K. have been deployed to Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Airmen with the 435th Contingency Response Group, which helps set up makeshift airfields in combat locations, have also been relocated from Germany's Ramstein Air Base to Poland for possible assistance with Ukrainian evacuees.

B-52 Stratofortress aircraft and personnel from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, arrived at RAF Fairford in England on Feb. 10 for a scheduled training exercise, but also add to the growing American force in Europe.

Earlier this month, C-17 Globemaster III transport planes from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, delivered supplies to help the U.S. with the Ukraine mission. Additional planes are coming out of Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina, a base spokeswoman told local media.

Flight paths shared on social media by aviation enthusiasts have also shown large numbers of American surveillance aircraft in the region over the last week. These have included RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper drones, as well as Air Force RC-135V/W Rivet Joint planes used for electronic surveillance.

This past weekend, three U.S. P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft flying over the Mediterranean Sea encountered "unprofessional intercepts" from Russian aircraft, the Navy told media outlets.

Increased American flights in Europe come as military officials wait for a potential invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.

Despite Moscow claiming it was deescalating its forces, NATO reiterated this week that doesn't appear to be the case as an estimated 150,000 Russian troops are gathered near the Ukrainian border.

Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa and head of Allied Air Command, said in a press release that the F-35s will deter Russian actions as the threat of an invasion looms.

"We are facing a dynamic environment, and this deployment significantly enhances our support to NATO's defenses," Harrigian said.

This week, it was announced that hundreds of troops from the Army's 101st Airborne were deploying. In total, roughly 6,000 U.S. soldiers are expected to be in place in Europe in the coming days and will join troops from other NATO partners, including the United Kingdom and France.

Mission Bar-B-Q

 

WWII Movie 12 O'clock High

 click on link to open

https://youtu.be/yyUgqk6z7rY

F-15EX Shows Capabilities Absolutely Crazy for a US Air Force New Version (Video)

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https://youtu.be/r41wcbl9EgU 

Steven H. Spickelmier OBITUARY

Steven H. Spickelmier

Monday, January 31, 2022 5:45 PM

Steven H. Spickelmier, 77, formerly of Huntington, IN, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022.

Mr. Spickelmier graduated in 1962 from Huntington Township High School. He was a member of the basketball teams that won the County Tourneys in ‘61 and ‘62. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1962. He trained as a torpedoman and became a plank owner of the submarine tender USS Holland AS-32 in Rota, Spain. After completing his Naval service, he returned to Indiana and attended Indiana University. He then joined the Air National Guard 122nd Tactical Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne. He retired in 1987 as a MSgt from the 482nd Fighter Wing in Homestead, FL with 26 years of military service. In addition to his military service, he retired from AT&T (Indiana Bell, Southern Bell, BellSouth) as a Network Operations Manager after 32 years.
He was past chairman of the Veterans Council of Duval County, past chairman of the Support Committee at Jacksonville National Cemetery, past president of Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) Chapter 559 and past Field Operations Director for Missing in America Project (MIAP) for the State of Florida. He was also a part of Wreaths Across America, POW/MIA, Vets 4 Vets of Northeast Florida, Vietnam Veterans of America, and “Gathering in the Pines” at Cecil Field. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including The Legion of Honor Award at The Chapel of Four Chaplains at Cecil Field. He was a past Commodore of the Navy Jax Yacht Club. He was a member of Mandarin United Methodist Church and served as an usher for many years and church van driver for residents of Wesley Manor retirement home. He also served his community as Chairman of the Brierwood Neighborhood Association.

He was born on July 16, 1944, in Huntington, to Marion and Edra Hillegas Spickelmier. He was married to his wife, Glenda Spickelmier, for more than 33 years. She survives.

Additional survivors include five children, Angela Spickelmier, Jon (Kristin) Spickelmier, Christopher (Wendy) Green, Eric (Linda) Green and Scott (My) Crooker; a sister, Jorja (Steve) Smith, of Fort Wayne; a brother, Jeff (Cheryl) Spickelmier, of North Webster; and 10 grandchildren.
 
Calling will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL.

A funeral service will take place on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, at 1 p.m., at Mandarin United Methodist Church, 11270 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville.

Interment will take place at Jacksonville National Cemetery during a private ceremony at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Jacksonville National Cemetery - Support Committee, P.O. Box 57695, Jacksonville, FL 32241, or National POW-MIA Memorial Museum, 6112 POW-MIA Memorial Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32221.

 

P-38 Video

 

RAO BULLETIN UPDATE 15JAN

RAO’s latest Veteran Newsletter has been posted online.  To read this issue click on http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/uploads/3/4/5/7/34578163/bulletin_220115__pdf_edition_.pdf. For the current plus three editions prior to this one click on http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/emos-rao.html.  If you are unable to open the PDF edition online or use it in that format let me know and I will add you to the separate HTML limited direct mailing list. 

 

 

RAO BULLETIN

15 January 2022

 

PDF Edition

 

 

THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES

 

Pg                   Article                                                Subject

.                                                   * DOD *                                              .

 

04 == DoD Appropriations ---- (Biggest Problems with a Continuing Resolution Come From Congress)

06 == U.S. Nuclear Policy ---- (Angst over China, Russia Lessens Chance of U.S. Nuke Changes)

08 == Russia Ukraine Situation ---- (Biden, Putin Talk Nearly an Hour as Alarm Rises Over It

11 == Iraq’s U.S. Troops ---- (Drones Bound for the Iraqi Base Housing Our Troops Shot Down)

12 == Navy Vaccine Mandate Lawsuit ---- (Judge Blocks DoD from Taking Action Against Sailors)

13 == Guantanamo Bay Navy Base [06] ---- (Pentagon Building New Secret Courtroom)

15 == GITMO Prison [03] ---- (Another 5 Detainees Approved For Transfer)

18 == AAFES Product Ban Policy ---- (Line on Vulgarity Crossed at Alaska Exchange)

19 == DoD Housing Program [03] ---- (Officials Responsible for Fraud Scheme Walk Away Unscathed)

21 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported JAN 01 thru 15, 2022)

23 == Army Email Transition [06 –-- (Change Allows Personal Device Document Up & Downloads)

24 == POW/MIA Recoveries & Burials ---- (Reported JAN 01 thru 15, 2022 | Four)

 

.                                                 * VA *                                                   .

 

26 == VA COVID-19 Cases [12] ---- (Cases within VA Hit New Pandemic Highs)

27 == VA COVID-19 Testing ---- (Vets Should Call Ahead to Limit Wait Times)

28 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [91] ---- (When Will All Victims Finally Get Veterans Benefits?)

29 == VA Mental Health Care [45] ---- (Copays Would Be Waived Under New Rule)

30 == VA Homeless Programs ---- (For At-Risk Veterans and Their Families)

34 == VA Home Loans [76] ---- (D.C. Sellers Are Rejecting Qualified Veteran Homebuyers)

35 == VA Medical Records [06] ---- (Veterans Can Now Identify As Transgender, Nonbinary on Theirs)

36 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 JAN 2022)

 

.                                                 * VETS *                                               .

 

38 == Civil Service [03] ---- (Why Federal Employment after the Military Is a Great Option)

40 == Vet Unemployment 2021 [09] ---- (Drops to Lowest Level in Two Years) 

41 == WWII Vets 275 ---- (Mariya Oktyabrskaya | Act of Revenge)

43 == WWII Vets 276 ---- (Mel Brooks | Combat Engineer & Actor/Comedian)

44 == Obit: Betty White ---- (31 DEC 2021 | WWII AWVS)

46 == Military Retirees & Veterans Events Schedule ---- (As of JAN 15, 2021)

46 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of JAN 15, 2021)

 

.                                      * VET LEGISLATION *                               .

 

47 == National Guard & Reserve [01] ---- (H.R. 1836 | Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021)

48 == Military Sexual Trauma [09] ---- (H.R. 6064 | VA’s MST Claim Exam Process Review)

 

.                                             * MILITARY*                                          .

 

50 == Military BAS ---- (Basic Allowance for Substance 2022 Rates)

52 == Navy Personnel Policy ---- (Some Changes Sailors Can Expect In 2022)

55 == Army IgnitED Program ---- (Congress Demands Answers on Army’s Tuition Assistance Failure)

57 == Army Recruiting [16] ---- (Now Offering Up to $50K Bonus for 6 Year Enlistment)

59 == Air Force Recruiting [01] ---- (More People Are Joining In Their Late 30)

60 == Drone Defense [06] ---- (Military’s New Challenge: Defeating Cheap Hobbyist Drones)

64 == Navy Hawaii Fuel Leak [03] Military Families File Lawsuit over Water Contamination

66 == Army NGSW-FC Optic ---- (The Optic for Next Generation Squad Weapon Is Finally Picked)

67 == China’s Navy ---- (Lhasa Guided-Missile Destroyer Reported Combat Ready)

68 == Navy Terminology, Jargon & Slang ---- (‘Arse Bandit’ thru ‘AWOL Bag’)

 

.                                    * MILITARY HISTORY *                               .

 

70 == WWII Continuation War ---- (How the Finns Won the Day in Viipuri City with the Polka)

71 == Dachau Concentration Camp ---- (Execution of SS guards at KZ Dachau, April 29th, 1945)

75 == Medal of Honor Awardees ---- (Harold Bauer | WWII)

79 == Medal of Honor Awardees ---- (James Stone | Korea)

79 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (16 thru 31 JAN)

80 == WWII Bomber Nose Art [90] ---- (Diamond Lil!)

80 == Every Picture Tells A Story ---- (Guadalcanal Island Defenders)

 

.                                         * HEALTH CARE *                                    .

 

81 == Hospital Charges [08] ---- (CMS Issues 335 Noncompliance Notices but No Fines)

82 == Tricare/CHAMPUS Fraud [27] ---- (Marketer Gets 30 Months in Fraud Scheme)

82 == Medicare Premiums ---- (Planned Premium Increase for Part B 2022 Services to Be Reassessed)

84 == Scurvy ---- (Hasn't Gone Away Altogether)

86 == Alzheimer Disease [22] ---- (Medicare Coverage for Controversial Drug Aduhelm)

87 == Gastritis ---- (Inflammation of the Stomach Lining)

89 == Stress [01] ---- (Coping with Paced Breathing)

90 == Human Body Facts [01] ---- (Some More You Most Likely Do Not Know)

 

.                                              * FINANCES *                                         .

 

  92 == Inflation [02] ---- (Things That Will Cost More in 2022)

  95 == GI Bill Student Loans [09] ---- (Even With It Many Student Vets Still Need Loans for College) 

  95 == Money Moves [04] ---- (Smart Ones for the New Year)

  97 == Coupon Scams ---- (Don't Trade Personal Info for Coupons)

  99 == Hotel Scams [02] ---- (Common Ones to Be Aware Of)

100 == Quick Scam Favor ---- (This is really a Clever New Con)

101 == Child Care ---- (Tips for Working Parents to Navigate While Climbing Out of Debt)

103 == Tax Friendly States for Retirees [02] ---- (5 More States Make Military Retirement Tax Free)

105 == Money Trivia ---- (A few Things You Might Not Have Known)

106 == Tax Burden on Tennessee Vets ---- (As of JAN 2022)

 

.                                   * GENERAL INTEREST *                               .

 

111 == Notes of Interest ---- (JAN 01 thru 15, 2022)

112 == Year That Was 2021 ---- (Things We Know Now That We Didn’t Know Last January)

115 == Syria [08] ---- (Chemical Weapons Issues Remain After 8 Years)

117 == Afghan Taliban [07] ---- (Pressing for Prisoner Swap with U.S.)

120 == Guantanamo Bay Navy Base [07] ---- (Biden's Low Profile on GITMO Rankles as It Turns 20)

122 == Population ---- (U.S. & World as of 1 JAN 2022)

123 == Useless Cleaning Products [01] ---- (More That Are a Waste & What to Try Instead)

126 == Home Security [02] ---- (Signs Your House Is Being Watched By Robbers)

128 == Age-Old Advice ---- (From Seniors to Millennials)

130 == Lies [05] ---- (Eight More Untruths You Learned in School)

133 == U.S. Capitol Riot [22] ---- (Charges, Convictions in 2021 for 725 Arrested)

134 == News of the Weird ---- (2021 in Review)

136 == Vocabulary ---- (Some Words to Enhance Yours | 220115)

137 == Have You Heard or Seen? ---- (Potpourri #8 | Think Toons | Senior Citizens 5)

 

.                                      * ATTACHMENTS *                                      .

 

Attachment – Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 JAN (Updated) file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/military_history_anniversaries_0116_thru_013122.pdf

 

NOTE

1.  The page number in which an article is located is provided to the left of each article’s title.

2.  To read the articles, open the website and slew to the page number of the article you are interested in.

3.  Numbers contained within brackets [ ] indicate the number of articles written to date on the subject.   To obtain previous articles send a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net ‘or’ raoemo77@gmail.com.

4.  Recipients of the Bulletin are authorized and encouraged to forward the Bulletin or articles to other vets or veteran organizations.

5.  The current and previous 3 Bulletin issues can be viewed at http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/emos-rao.html  

 

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-o-o-O-o-o-

 

TO READ and/or DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE ARTICLES, ATTACHMENTS, OR PAST BULLETINS GO Online To:

 

-- http://thearmysecurityagency.com/rao.html  (PDF Edition w/ATTACHMENTS)

-- http://frabr245.org (PDF Edition with no attachments)

-- http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/emos-rao.html  (PDF w/ATTACHMENTS + Last 3 issues)

-- https://www.cgretirenw.org (Listed under VET & RETIREE LEGISLATIVE & GENERAL NEWS) 

-- http://www.nhc-ul.org/rao.html   (PDF Edition w/ATTACHMENTS) Undergoing restoration after $1k Ransomware Attempt

 

 

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