DOD SAYS FURLOUGHS AFFECTING BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE 
Furloughs affect Buckley; changes hit home
by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

7/8/2013 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The day many civilians and military partners have anticipated is here as furloughs kick off at Buckley and around the Air Force July 8.

Furloughs place an employee in a temporary non-duty, non-pay status because of lack of work, reduction or lack of funds, or other non-disciplinary reason. The furlough will affect approximately 800,000 Department of Defense employees and save about $1.8 billion across the DOD. This decision was enacted to address the $37 billion sequestration cuts.

"After extensive review of all options with the DOD's senior military and civilian leadership on how we address this budget crisis ... I have decided to direct furloughs of up to 11 days for most of the department's civilian personnel," stated Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. "I have made this decision very reluctantly, because I know that the furloughs will disrupt lives and impact DOD operations. I recognize the significant hardship this places on you and your families."

Until the end of the fiscal year, most civilian employees will lose 20 percent of their pay due to the furlough. This amount could range anywhere from a monthly grocery bill to a mortgage payment.

"My suggestion to anyone feeling the budgetary constraints is to go see our professionals in the airman and family readiness center and our civilian personnel office for help," said Thomas Hoag, 460th Operations Group unit deployment manager. "There are many avenues out there to help someone get through these turbulent times."

Though fiscal concerns are crucial, attitude and morale are equally important in accomplishing the mission.

"My opinion of the furlough is one of acceptance; it is out of my control," Hoag said. "Hopefully the powers in charge of our budget fix some issues. I hope that this furlough actually contributes to fixing our fiscal deficiencies in our government. I would hate to think that this fiscal hardship is all for naught."

With 90 percent of civilian Airman working in the field alongside their military counterparts to accomplish the mission, a significant increase in workload can be expected for uniformed members.

"I think that the furlough is going to have an impact on my military co-worker," the deployment manager stated. "We only have a two-person shop. Sometimes we have very busy days, so he'll be hustling on those days that I'm not there.

"One way or another, the mission is going to be accomplished, because that is what we do as professionals," he said. "Although it will come at a cost."

U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND ANNOUNCES SECOND SPACE-BASED INFRARED SYSTEM LAUNCHES

Photo:  Atlas V Launch.  Credit:  NASA/Wikimedia 

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND

SBIRS GEO-2 launches, improves space-based capabilities
3/27/2013 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- In support of the Buckley missile warning and awareness mission, the second Space-Based Infrared System geosynchronous earth orbit launched into space March 19 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

The satellite, called GEO-2, provides more advanced space-based capabilities than Defense Support Program satellites, which are being replaced by the GEO satellites after more than four decades in operation.

"While DSP has been the workhorse for missile warning and missile defense for the last 40-plus years, SBIRS GEO takes us into the next generation with a revolutionary increase in detection capability," said Col. DeAnna Burt, 460th Operations Group commander. "The successful launch of GEO-2 continues to bring greater detection capability to the Overhead Persistent Infrared enterprise. GEO-2 will allow the 460th to provide near real time, high fidelity OPIR data to warfighters around the world."

The capabilities of the GEO-2 involve a new era of overhead infrared surveillance that will deliver unprecedented global, persistent and actionable infrared surveillance. Such resources enable the U.S. and its allies to continuously maintain global situational awareness.

SBIRS persistent surveillance capabilities enable detection and reporting of missile launches around the globe, support the nation's ballistic missile defense system, expand technical intelligence, and gather and bolster situational awareness for warfighters on the battlefield.

The GEO-2 was carried by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The launch team consisted of military, government civilians and contractors from the 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

"The successful launch of GEO-2 is a testament to the partnership between industry, the SBIRS Space Program Office and the 460th Space Wing," Burt said.

The U.S. Air Force Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., leads the SBIRS development and acquisition. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime contractor; Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., is the payload integrator; and the 14th Air Force operates the SBIRS system.