While the branch has a religious and medical exemption process like the one Ellis applied for, observers argue that the process is set up to drive waiver recipients out. Forces Morn Air Base was relieved of command in April, days after it emerged he pushed an airman to conceal their . An Air Force colonel has been relieved of command from the 317th Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas for creating a toxic environment, according to an Air Force announcement Thursday. To clarify, my religious beliefs prevent me from taking the vaccine, actively promoting the vaccine, and from administering the vaccine to others myself (Im a nurse), Ellis said in a text message. Col. Chris Boring was relieved of command of the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group on March 4 "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead and command a group," Hill spokesman Thomas Mullican said. Col. Chris Boring, commander of the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group, was relieved of command on March 3 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead and command a group, according to Hill. Maj. Gen. Peter Gersten also engaged in inappropriate personal relationships with two other women over a decade, the inspector general investigation found. Boring stepped into the role in June 2020 after the group's previous commander, Col. Randy Ackerman, also was relieved of command in May 2020. When he found out his wife once met Gersten in a Washington, D.C., hotel room, she claimed it was for work even though they didnt work together anymore. These objections were included in my religious accommodation request.. Army Col. Ann Meredith has been fired from her position as 89th Military Police Brigade commander. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The commander of a major maintenance group with the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, has been relieved of command for the second time in a year. Military.com was first to report the change. Did you also not take the smallpox vaccine? Bracknell said. An investigation substantiated five of Bodes nine claims, he said, but the wing commander dismissed the IOs findings and substituted findings of her own that unsubstantiated all issues, unilaterally declaring that all was well.. I am committed to a swift and comprehensive assessment of performance according to the core values, roles/responsibilities and standards in the ways they should enable optimum mission execution, Air Education and Training Command boss Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson said in a statement emailed to Air Force Times Friday. It could be a challenge for some service members to acquire religious exemptions, Butch Bracknell, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who served as a legal advisor for the 1st Marine Division, told Task & Purpose in August. Airmen are being told, No, you cant leave and go talk to a first sergeant. So we need to move on.. The training mission at Keesler Air Force Base builds airmen who are foundational to the future of the Air Force. The incident comes weeks after a commander of a lead training wing was removed from his post, also due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead. The Army made it clear that the airmen were guests in the building, a retired master sergeant who left Brooke Army Medical Center in 2015, three years after the 959th Medical Group stood up at the joint base, told Air Force Times. On Oct. 21, the colonel was relieved of command due to a "loss of trust and confidence in her ability to lead and maintain readiness of the men and women of the 14th Medical Group," Rita Felton, a spokesperson for Columbus Air Force Base, said on Oct. 22. Former Air Combat Command head Gen. Mike Holmes relieved Gersten of command in person at the Air Force's Corona meeting of top generals at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on June. The systemic flaws I encountered, and the unwillingness of those with the power to make necessary improvements, are what drive me now to resign.. All rights reserved. Gersten was relieved of command June 2, 2019, due to allegations of an unprofessional relationship. No investigation is being conducted into the matter. U.S. Air Force Col. Katheryn Ellis, 14th Medical Group commander, receives her first salute as commander, July 6, 2021, on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. Every single day, I had somebody who was crying, the retired senior NCO told Air Force Times. Want to write for Task & Purpose? He explained that any request for a religious exemption would go through rigorous scrutiny to determine if the religion in question is legitimate and why a service members faith is opposed to this particular vaccine. Col. Jay Johnson, 71st FTW's vice commander, temporarily assumed command of the wing. Another gripe deals with how the facilities are laid out. Air Force Col. Katheryn Ellis was relieved of command of the 14th Medical Group at Columbus Air Force Mississippi on Thursday, according to the Columbus-based 14th Flying Training. Ellis said the specific reason was because she did not issue the vaccination order herself. The deadline for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members is Dec. 2, and while 96.2% of the active-duty and 92.8% of the total force had at least one shot as of Oct. 18, that still leaves up to 12,500 active-duty airmen who may face possible dismissal from the service as of Tuesday. No, you cant leave to talk to your commander, because they arent in the same building, the retired airman said. Col. Ann Meredith, commander of the 89th Military Police Brigade, was relieved due to a loss of confidence in her judgment, Lt. Col. Tania Donovan, III Army Corps spokesperson, told Army Times. Their relationship began to degrade good order and discipline at the Warfare Center, the report said. His three-page complaint has spurred a joint investigation by the Army and Air Forces inspector general and staff judge advocate offices into the facilitys processes, command relationships and past investigations. On Oct. 21, the colonel was relieved of command due to a "loss of trust and confidence in her ability to lead and maintain readiness of the men and women. Ellis was relieved due to a loss of trust and confidence in her ability to lead and maintain readiness of the men and women of the 14th Medical Group, Rita Felton, a spokesperson for Columbus Air Force Base, told Task & Purpose. The structure and culture of JBSA/BAMC also helped undercut leaders ability to address the issues, which remains part of the problem.. Witnesses described Gersten as personable, charming, sensitive to womens issues, and one who frequently hugged or patted subordinates about the shoulders, the report said. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for their commitment and my opportunity to lead them.. These are systemic issues that have persisted for years, airmen said. Col. Katheryn Ellis, the former commander of the 14th Medical Group, told Task & Purpose that on Oct. 12 she was told by the commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing, Col. Seth Graham, to issue an order for two of her civilian employees to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. Before that, she was the Air Force Surgeon Generals Deputy Chief Nursing Consultant at Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Va, where she oversaw healthcare operations for 5,000 nurses across the Air Force. The 309th performs depot repair, modification and maintenance support on the F-35 Lightning II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-22 Raptor, the C-130 Hercules, the T-38 Talon and the A-10 Thunderbolt. Through his counsel, he admitted to the inappropriate relationship with the female officer, though he denied relationships with the two civilian women. He has many years of experience in journalism, digital media and broadcasting and holds a degree from the University of Utah. ", By Ellis had been in command for just four months. An Air Force colonel has been relieved of command from the 317th Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas for creating a toxic environment, according to an Air Force announcement Thursday. Army Special Ops Command welcomes first female command sergeant major, UN envoy says Sudans warring sides agree to negotiate, Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages homes, Turkey claims its forces killed ISIS chief in Syria, Committee votes on major defense policy bill expected in May, Your next tech and incoming AI | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.2023, Home Improvement Loans What are my options? Under federal privacy law, military officials are not required to disclose the reasons for removing or reassigning personnel. The 309th AMG is responsible for maintenance on aircraft from multiple military branches, including U.S. Navy and Marine Corps C-130Js, USAF F-22s, F-35s, F-16s, T-38s, and A-10s, according to a Hill release. According to the IG investigation, which was completed in September 2019 and released to Air Force Times on Friday, Gersten improperly had sex with a female subordinate officer in 2018, while he was still married. Lt. Col. Meghann Sullivan takes the 5th Battalion, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade guidon at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, June 28, 2021. They also sent multiple flirtatious text messages planning their encounters. But after every session, the ex-husband said, his ex-wife would immediately call Gersten. (SrA Joshua Kleinholz/Air Force). Want to write for Task & Purpose? In each instance, leaders throughout the chain of command were aware and did nothing to stop illegal, immoral or unethical actions, which was their responsibility, Bode wrote. When you cant issue orders you have been given. AWACS planes have distinctive rotating black radar disks with a range of 250 miles and are known as the "eyes in the sky" for U.S. and NATO forces. Former Oklahoma City police officer found not guilty in domestic violence case, AWACS planes have distinctive rotating black radar disks, Despite GOP claims, public did not favor carving up Oklahoma County. In other situations, airmen are told they have to go through soldiers to speak to physicians instead of contacting the doctors directly, the former senior noncommissioned officer said. This hurt Gerstens ability to lead, the report said. The witness warned Gersten afterwards. In July, three sorties were canceled over concerns about crew fatigue, according to Military.com, which provides news to service members, veterans and their families. Some people will be court-martialed., WORCESTER, Mass. The change removed Col. William Hunter as the wings training commander at Keesler Air Force Base, which is located on Mississippis Gulf Coast just west of Biloxi. Gersten was a 1989 Air Force Academy graduate who flew the F-16 Falcon, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, and other aircraft. "Our focus is on taking care of our airmen and civilians as we rebuild the command climate in the 317th Airlift Wing.. I am committed to ensuring we have the right leaders in place," Tuck said in the release. Apparently, the two civilians in question had already been vaccinated, but Bergin said the wing commander, Col. Graham, needed the order to be issued anyway, Ellis recalled. He previously served as the 31st Maintenance Group Commander at Aviano Air Base in Italy. It takes mutual respect to develop airmen, our most precious resource. When he returned to the Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, five days later to say goodbye to senior staff, he again acknowledged, I made a mistake.. But his marital status was uncertain and said to be a touchy subject during his tenure as commander of the Warfare Center, which began in July 2017, the report said. The group will next be run by Lt. Col. Aaron Rivers, who will assume command on Monday, Mullican said. Military and overseas voters will effectively get more time to return absentee ballots under a bill Gov. Air Force Reserve Takes 75th Anniversary Celebration to Talladega "This is a special day not only for the 70,000-plus Citizen Airmen of the Air Force Reserve, but also for NASCAR, as we're both celebrating our 75th anniversary this year," said Lt. Gen. John Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command. Col. Chris Boring (center), 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group commander, Utah's U.S. Rep. Blake Moore and Hill leadership discuss F-16 aircraft maintenance during a visit to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Feb. 16, 2021. An unidentified witness expressed concern to OSI that Gersten was at risk of blackmail over the relationship. When asked about the conversation, Graham declined to comment. The commander of a key depot maintenance group at Hill Air Force Base in Utah has been fired, and is under investigation by the Office of Special Investigations, the base confirmed Thursday. Felton declined to go into specifics as to what led to the relief, and Ellis herself declined to comment for this story. According to taskandpurpose.com, another site dedicated to news for active-duty military members, veterans and their families, the crews that showed up exhausted for the training sorties were not given no-go pills that help airmen rest. The website will no longer be accessible to Airmen and Guardians starting April 30, and the old features used in myPers are being migrated to, The Air Force is poised to get a new commander in the Indo-Pacific, as the Pentagon announced April 24 that President Joe Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider to lead Pacific Air Forces. He was promoted to his current rank in August 2015. I tried to explain that its part of the religious accommodation process. He said, ok, well, thats not going to work in this wing. "The position of command is a position of trust," said Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of the Air Education and Training Command. By By HQ ARPC Public Affairs. While Gersten and his then-wife were living apart and in the process of separating, they were still married during several months of Gerstens relationship with his girlfriend, which violated the Uniform Code of Military Justices prohibition against adultery. Ellis first received her commission in the Air Force in December, 1997, according to her command biography. At the end of the day, I ensured the orders were issued in a timely manner that didnt compromise my integrity or my religious beliefs and rights, Ellis, who first joined the Air Force in 1997 and has deployed to Afghanistan, told Task & Purpose. Learn more here and be sure to check out more great stories on our homepage. Bode, an orthopedic spine surgeon, said he repeatedly raised problems to his chain of command but that his superiors downplayed or ignored the concerns. What Happens to the Air Forces Oldest F-22s if Congress OKs Their Retirement? I cant express to you the level of disappointment I have right now., More:All-Hispanic flight crew takes off at Tinker AFB to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month. The 14th Medical Group enhances the flying mission through medical responses to flying emergencies, delivery of aerospace and operational physiology training, and optimization of human performance. Former Air Combat Command head Gen. Mike Holmes relieved Gersten of command in person at the Air Forces Corona meeting of top generals at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on June 2, 2019. He said, I think you know what this is about. Because if its limited to this vaccine, thats a bad argument, right.. 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She previously held command and staff positions at the company, battalion, and brigade levels, Army officials said. Hunter was introduced as the wings training commander in June 2021. The Air Force and the Space Force had a significant increase in reports of sexual assault last year, according to figures released April 27. And they will ensure we remain the most lethal and ready force in the world.. Click below to pay our consultation fee and book your meeting with an attorney today! Col. Jay Johnson, vice commander of the 71st, has assumed command of the wing temporarily after Danielson's removal. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. The data is clear the vaccine is the best tool to fight this disease. News. The Army did not respond to a request for comment. Spurred by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, the Army and Air Force took on shared responsibilities at the freshly renovated Brooke Army Medical Center a decade ago. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. We need committed, engaged commanders that drove me to take command, he said. Boring stepped into the role in June 2020 after the groups previous commander, Col. Randy Ackerman, also was relieved of command in May 2020. A colonel at Tinker Air Force Base has been relieved of his duties after an investigation found he failed to foster a culture of safety and berated crews for not flying training missions on short rest. Felton could not answer specific questions about what led to the loss of trust and confidence. Bode declined to be interviewed. The retired master sergeant argues that the Army and Air Force officials in charge are more concerned about self-preservation and looking good at promotion time than creating a healthy work environment for the troops under them. The military did not answer questions about multiple formal investigations mentioned in Bodes letter. Col. Christopher Ayres was removed by Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg, the 20th Air Force commander. | I havent seen that much suicide [on deployment] as I saw in a nine-month period of time at BAMC.. The investigation into Boring is ongoing, he said, and declined to comment further. No specific reason for Hunters removal was given, but Edmondson noted a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to effectively command the training wing. A missile wing commander at North Dakota's Minot Air Force Base was relieved of command for a loss of confidence in his command abilities following a series of recent incidents that included the rollover of a semi-trailer carrying missile parts, an accident caused when the driver tried to swat away a large insect that had landed on his back. As commander of the 317th Airlift Wing, Owens, a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, was responsible for organizing, training, and equipping 1,200 personnel to operate, maintain, and sustain C-130J aircraft engaged in combat operations worldwide. Did you also not take the Hep B? Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets UPDATE: Air Force Reserve Colonel Promotion Announcement. Is it limited to this vaccine? 475 students are trained at the school every year on average, as of 2016. The Air Force saw it differently. Ellis further clarified that her beliefs do not compel her to prevent, delay or undermine efforts to ensure the vaccines are available and administered to others, they just prevent her from taking it herself or actively promoting or administering it to others herself. Related: Air Force Wing Commander Fired Due to 'Loss of Trust and Confidence'. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby seemed to echo that sentiment in a statement on Monday. (Kemberly Groue/U.S. (AP) The Massachusetts Air National guardsman accused of leaking highly classified military documents kept an arsenal of guns and said on social. BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the number of service members who have a waiver is very, very small.. Donovan was moved to other responsibilities at Tinker, according to the report. While the branch has a religious and medical exemption process like the one Ellis applied for, observers argue that the process is set up to drive waiver recipients out. So he tried to make a point by quitting Tuesday, his final day on the job before his replacement took over Wednesday. There was always some half-story to explain the calls from Gersten, he said. More:Former Oklahoma City police officer found not guilty in domestic violence case, This means living by core values every day and empowering subordinate leaders to promote these values through teaching, coaching and mentorship, Koscheski said. As commander of the 14th Medical Group, Ellis was in charge of the medical care of the 14th Flying Training Wing, where Air Force pilots in training pick up aviation basics in T-6 Texan II training aircraft before moving on to specialized tracks for fighter, bomber, tanker or airlift pilots. Afterwards, Gersten admitted the relationship, the report said. The Army did not comment further on the investigation, citing a service policy that protects administrative information. Apparently, the two civilians in question had already been vaccinated, but Bergin said the wing commander, Col. Graham, needed the order to be issued anyway, Ellis recalled. And, bring Air Force leadership under the same roof as their subordinates. Col. David Owens was removed from command Wednesday by Lt. Gen. Giovanni Tuck, commander of the 18th Air Force at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, which oversees the 317th Airlift Wing, due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command, the release stated. March 1, 2023, 12:18 PM. Col. Chris Boring, commander of the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group, was relieved of command on March 3 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead and command a group, according to Hill. He previously worked at Foreign Policy and Ufahamu Africa. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. Still, Kuhn hoped commanders would take a compassionate approach if any of their subordinates refused the COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of the Air Force partnered with suicide researchers to compile over 1,000 data points for each person who. Though they tried to keep this relationship secret, it soon became common knowledge at Nellis and then the rumors spread through the Air Force and Defense Department, the report said. He can be found on Twitter @zamoneperez. Because if its limited to this vaccine, thats a bad argument, right.. On February 12, 2019, news that the first woman to lead an Air Force demonstration team was fired after just . At the end of the day we want to make sure we do the right thing for the Air Force and for airmen, Felton said. Air Force Reserve Command provides the U.S. Air Force about 14% of the Total Force for about 4% of . Lt. Col. Aaron Rivers, the units deputy commander, assumed command of the group. While military leaders and lawmakers have spent much of the past year or so fretting over low recruiting numbers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Space Force has been an anomaly, having to turn away thousands of applicants eager to join the newest military service. 475 students are trained at the school every year. About 4,000 patients visit the its campus and six outpatient clinics each day. In this photo from Aug. 25, 2022, Allen delivers remarks during an event at the base. Col. Calvin B. Powell is the Commander of the 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. For example, if an airman is classified as non-deployable because they are not vaccinated, and if they are considered non-deployable for more than a year, the airman would be evaluated to be administratively or medically separated, the Air Force explains on its COVID-19 website. Capt. Before he arrived at the Warfare Center, the female officer was thriving and eager to learn, witnesses said. The service even kicked out nearly 40 basic military and technical trainees for refusing the vaccine. At the end of the day, I ensured the orders were issued in a timely manner that didnt compromise my integrity or my religious beliefs and rights, Ellis, who first joined the Air Force in 1997 and has deployed to Afghanistan, told Task & Purpose. The vaccines, he said, will protect you and your family. A colonel at Tinker Air Force Base has been relieved of his duties after aninvestigation found he failed to foster a culture of safety and berated crews for not flying training missions on short rest. 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