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Wanted to pass along a hat tip to the Colonel. Check out fromanairforcecolonel. I think he's the first Airman out there blogging on PA-type issues. Look back here, as we find more Air Force related blogs.

US Air Force C-17s recently delivered Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) to the Marines in Afghanistan. Technical Sergeant Cohen Young (who wrote about his experiences in Sadr City, Iraq) was on board the flight for the mission with the 535th Airlift Squadron as part of the Defense Media Activity, Hawaii. Below is his narrated photo slide show.

Posted by Paul F. Bove, Air Force Public Affairs.

Technical Sgt. Sean Arnold guides Rwandan defense force trucks on board a C-17 Globemaster III Jan. 13 at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. This is the first load of five airlifts to the United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur. Sergeant Arnold is from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet)

Below is the third part of our first-hand accounts of the U.S. Air Force Band's preparation for the upcoming Inauguration. Here, Master Sergeant Brian McCurdy (pictured) discusses Day 2 of the Band's rehearsals.




Well, today was similar to yesterday, except there were several media outlets present to document the occasion. Once again, the weather did not sympathize with our situation, and the band marched through the morning darkness against a cold, steady rain.

Because of the unique size of the ensemble (99 members), we rehearsed inside of a hangar at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. We went over some commands from our drum Major, CMSgt. Ed Teleky (below right). This will be Chief Teleky’s sixth Inaugural parade.

After the Chief’s briefing, our commander Col. Dennis M. Layendecker, gave us some musical pointers.

“Play the phrases expressively. Whatever we do in here we’ll lose 50% of in the parade,” the Colonel said.

He was referring to the fact that it is very difficult to march outside in the cold, maintain a perfect interval with the person in front of you, avoid the distraction of worldwide attention, and still play! With so much starting and stopping during a parade of this magnitude, the music needs to be second nature.

After the indoor portion of the rehearsal was complete, it was time to move out onto the flight line. In my experience, there is always a steady wind on the flight line, no matter what time of year or what the weather conditions dictate. I am no meteorologist, but I’m convinced that Air Force bases are magnets for wind gusts!

This was a great opportunity for members of the local media to get some video of the band. Throughout the morning, various local news programs were popping in and out of our rehearsal with live feeds, and they were also taping material for future use in late-day and evening news broadcasts. Colonel Layendecker appeared live in studio on our [DC] local News Channel 8.

We rehearsed the parade sequence outside several times, with each repetition getting a little better. Once we perfected our music and marching, Lt. Col. Alan Sierichs, the deputy commander of the USAF Band, gave some much needed words of encouragement. “I am amazed at your incredible professionalism, especially in these conditions!” I think many of us were amazed, too.


Below: CMSgt. Elizabeth Schouten, clarinetist, is interviewed by the media during rehearsal. This is her 7th, and final, inaugural parade, as she’s soon retiring after 28 years of service.


Posted by Paul F. Bove, Air Force Public Affairs

Below is a first-hand account of the U.S. Air Force Band's preparation for the upcoming Inauguration. Technical Sergeant Jay Heltzer (pictured) gives us his thoughts from the practice.

My name is TSgt. Jay Heltzer, and I am the bass trombonist with the United States Air Force Concert Band, from Bolling AFB in Washington D.C. Along with MSgt. Brian McCurdy, I will provide a bandsman’s perspective on preparing for, and participating in, the 2009 Inaugural Parade. We hope to give you as many details as we can--some trivial, some interesting, some historic-- on the USAF Band’s role in the events of Jan. 20, 2009.

Day 1 (Jan. 8) of the 2009 Inauguration Preparation -- When we reported to work, there was a definite buzz in the air. Everyone felt the excitement, curiosity and confusion in the air. When you see more than two Air Force buses parked in front of the band hangar for the daily mission, you know there is something big going on. Add to that the typical morning traffic in Washington, D.C., and you get a very edgy band member.

Once we arrived at work, we found our bus assignments and received our winter gear (like scarves and gloves). As we found out soon enough, we needed as much gear as possible on this cold, wet and rainy day!

After arriving at Andrews AFB, Md., (a short 9 mile drive from Bolling) we fell into the Hangar where we got into the traditional 99-piece formation, beginning with the familiar shout of our drum major: “Nine trombones!” (Trombones are always in the front row). Time to start building a band.

Once we were in place, Day 1 began with training. Five members of the Ceremonial Brass, who will perform with the band on Inauguration day, stepped out of the formation and helped out as our Marching Training Staff. These five Airmen have an extensive background in marching, from their own personal experience in school to marching with top-level Drum and Bugle Corps from Drum Corps International. They also teach local high school bands and other Drum Corps.

Master Sgt. Kent Baker, who fits in all the above categories, was in charge of the training and the agenda for the morning. He talked to the band about the fundamentals of marching, uniformity, appearance and focusing on all the details to make us look as good as possible for the big day, and hopefully all the days following.

Personally, I marched in high school and college, and when I joined the Air Force Band 4 1/2 years ago, I was a member of the Ceremonial Brass. Marching has always been a part of my life, and I thought I was pretty good at it. However, it’s very easy to take things for granted, because I had staff members coming up to me numerous times commenting on my toes during “marking time” (marching in place), and my horn angle, and how I line up with the people on both sides of me.

This is not just “another parade.” This is a parade the whole world will be watching, and we do not want details to be ignored or passed over. After a few hours of constant reminders, what do you know? I can now effectively keep my toes together when I mark time. The band can also move forward, stop, and make left and right turns as a unit. It may seem pretty elementary, but you try moving 99 people in sync, and see how easy it is. Mission Accomplished.

Check back for Part 2 with Master Sergeant Brian McCurdy.

Posted by Paul F. Bove, Air Force Public Affairs Agency

Posted by Paul F. Bove, Air Force Public Affairs Agency

Below is Part 2 of TSgt Cohen Young's account of an explosion at Sadr City District Area Council (DAC) Hall. Click here to see Part 1 of his story.

Explosion at Sadr City District Area Council (DAC) Hall--Part 2
By: Tech. Sgt. Cohen Young, Air Force Public Affairs Agency

Below: While on patrol in the Sadr City district of Baghdad with the U.S. Army, TSgt. Cohen Young takes a self portrait. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

I then shouted for my team. I didn’t hear anything the first few times that I did this and then suddenly I heard the words, “Let’s get the ‘expletive’ out of here.” I turned and thought everyone was OK and heading out the door. I still couldn’t really see anything and went where I thought the team went. As I got outside the door, I looked around and only saw a few people and then thought to myself that we were missing people. I thought that I, or someone, needed to go back inside and get people… I looked around and didn’t see where the team was… then I just sucked it up and went back inside the building, cautiously entering. I noticed an Iraqi man lying in front of the office door with his leg blown off. As I walked towards him, an Iraqi Lieutenant Colonel who was our liaison came out the door holding his right arm, which was bleeding heavily. He was also bleeding from his head as he screamed, “OH GOD” several times. I walked him towards the far wall that I had previously come from and calmed him down and let him know that he was going to be okay.

The team then came running through screaming again, “Let’s get the ‘expletive’ out of here.” I thought we had everyone and grabbed the Iraqi LtCol and went with them. I noticed some were not with us. I asked where they were. We were rushed to the vehicles, whereupon arriving, I said that we needed to get back inside and get the rest of our people. While in the vehicle, we performed first aid on the Iraqi LtCol because he had multiple wounds everywhere. To give an idea of the severity, I emptied my first-aid kit while trying to help him. The driver wanted to come back and help us with the first aid, but I directed her to stay in the driver’s seat just in case we needed to leave right away and I also made sure the gunner maintained awareness during this fast and furious few minutes. I had the driver call in the number of people missing from our group and the extent of the injuries of our liaison.

Time seemed like it dragged on and every second was an eternity. Just as we finished the vehicle door opened and some of the security team had Maj. Kelley on a stretcher and he was badly hurt. There was blood everywhere. We left the liaison in the vehicle as as we exited so that Maj. Kelley could be loaded on board. I saw they were having difficulty, so I took the head of the stretcher and helped load it into the vehicle. Mind you, I had all of my camera equipment and my weapon hanging from my vest, so I tore that off after we got back into the vehicle.

I saw that Kelley was somewhat conscious and I began talking to him. He heard me and was panicking: I tried to calm him down. He was in bad shape. We had a hard time getting him all the way inside the vehicle and couldn’t shut the door. Kelley was not a small man at all; he was about six four or five. I let him know that we were going to get him to the rear. Again time was moving so slow. He sat up and said that he couldn’t breathe…

During this time, the vehicle started moving and we continued to talk to him as I looked for wounds and started trying to stop bleeding and wrap him up. He then stopped talking and breathing and I yelled at him to get his attention and then started CPR. I saw his chest move and it seemed like it was working…I started compressions again and the medic checked for a pulse. We kept talking to him, but without a response. By then we arrived at our military compound in Sadr City, where we started our day. We carried Kelley on a stretcher to the medical area where the medics tried to work on him, but were unable to revive him.

In all, six people died that day; all of them coalition related. (At left: Major Dwayne Kelley, U.S. Army Reserve, in his NJ State Police uniform.)

In the beginning, it was very difficult for me to talk about what had occurred and sometimes it still is because I had gotten to know Maj. Kelley very well during his short time there. He was from New Jersey and I’m from Philadelphia, so we would talk about the east coast a lot. He was a reservist and a state trooper for his daily job. The majority of the people in his unit were from New York or New Jersey, so we all got along pretty well. We smoked cigars together the previous week. We routinely had a cigar a couple nights a week to end the day and talked about family, work and life experiences; so it was kind of hard for me.

Two things recently made me feel better and they were the fact that I had received a thank-you letter from Maj. Kelley’s wife. I had written Mrs. Kelley and informed her that her husband was a good man and was in a good mood the previous day. I let her know about some of our conversations and she was happy for that and sent me a card thanking me for that letter and that it helped her get through this and that she read the letter many times and continues to read the letter daily.

I was informed that both of Maj. Kelley’s lungs were punctured and that it was amazing that he was able to speak to me at all later. He assured me that there was nothing that I would have been able to do to save him.

We'd like to thank TSgt Cohen Young for sharing this story with Air Force Live.

Posted by Paul F. Bove, Air Force Public Affairs Agency.

As we mentioned a couple weeks ago, Airmen in the US Air Force's Combat Camera Squadron bring us the memorable photos from deployments around the world. Being in the thick of war zones, those Airmen have to be ready for anything. As promised in the post, we are fortunate to have a first-hand experience from TSgt. Cohen Young's deployment with Combat Camera in Sadr City, Iraq. His story stands as a reminder that no Airmen's job is typical and tragedy can strike at any time. It is also a reminder that although Warrior Care Month just wrapped up, we must think of our Wounded Warriors all year long. Especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Explosion at Sadr City District Area Council (DAC) Hall-Part 1
By: TSgt Cohen Young, Air Force Public Affairs Agency

The 24th of June began like any other day that I had experienced in Iraq, specifically in Sadr City, which was so non-typical in comparison to my fellow combat cameramen stationed in other locations. I was scheduled to go outside the wire twice on this day. I would have the opportunity to go to my first city leader meeting, which meant that I would get to take off my helmet and possibly enjoy some air conditioning while documenting a piece of history. My afternoon mission would take me out to the local community and amongst the Sadr City children and residents. I would have to be relentlessly on guard because of the constant threat of snipers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). My mission, though, was to document coalition, Government of Iraq and local resident interaction no matter what in the blistering heat, which at this time would easily reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit. (Above: Iraqi soldier stands guard at Sadr City DAC.)


I was looking forward to the laid back meeting coverage even though it didn’t seem like a typical combat camera mission. I was asked by Major Duane Kelley a week prior if I would want to come along to this meeting and I thought about it and agreed to accompany him. It would be his first meeting because he had only been at this location for two weeks. It would be my first meeting as well. I had also been asked by the Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team (EPRT) leader in Baghdad, to attend the meeting as it would illustrate some of the positive changes occurring in Sadr City.


That morning, Maj. Kelley, my videographer and I joined the team EPRT and his staff in going to the Sadr City District Area Council (DAC) Hall. We left around 0900 and would unexpectedly return around 0930. We arrived outside the Hall at 0905 and the security detail rushed us into the main building due to recent shootings. The security team immediately stepped inside the building and went to their left and did a quick walk through the office of the temporary chairman. I asked what went on in this particular room and was told that it was just an initial meeting place before continuing on to the meeting hall.

(Above: Iraqi's check information posted at Sadr City DAC.)

Maj. Kelley was standing by, so I told him that I would go outside the office door and get some coverage of people entering the building while he waited for the start of the assembly meeting. He was okay with that and decided to take a seat in the left corner of the room. We walked past a few people and made an immediate right as we stepped outside the room. I stopped at a table just feet from the office door. I looked at the entrance of the DAC Hall building and began taking photos.

(Iraqis file into the building to attend the meetings. This is from TSgt Young's vantage point right before the explosion.)

We had been outside the office for about 20 seconds or so and I was on my seventh or eighth photo when suddenly there was a loud boom as the room that we just stepped out of exploded. There was smoke everywhere and I could hear yelling and crying at this point. During this time, I stood in complete amazement and was stunned momentarily and I kept thinking, “What the hell just happened?” I then snapped out of it and took a knee against a far wall. I looked around to see where anyone was, but couldn’t see anything due to the smoke. I then switched my weapon to the “fire” position.

After that, I noticed some light coming from the front entrance and there was an Iraqi man meandering through the door and shouting with his hands on his head. I couldn’t tell if he was in shock or just acting and trying to get people to come in his direction. I immediately referred to my previous training in which after an explosion, suicide bombers routinely like to lure people in so they can set-off a secondary explosive; therefore, I raised my weapon and yelled at the man to go back outside the door and he did.

Come back next week for the conclusion of TSgt Young's story about Sadr City.
All photos courtesy of TSgt Cohen Young.

Posted by Paul F. Bove, Air Force Public Affairs Agency.