Home Care In Kirtland AFB, NM

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

In a powerful demonstration of leadership and commitment to the welfare of Airmen, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass, visited Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Jan. 22-24, to listen and address the concerns of today’s Airmen.

The primary objective of her visit was to engage directly with Kirtland Airmen during an all-call, listen to their concerns, and collaborate on solutions to significantly impact Airmen’s work, personal lives, and retainability. This initiative seamlessly aligns with the top priorities of Kirtland’s Installation Commander, Col. Michael Power, 377th Air Base Wing commander, and the 377 ABW command team, in their efforts to prioritize the well-being of Airmen and their families.

“Our purpose for coming out to spend time on your installations is to share what we're thinking from where I sit, but I really want to hear from you all,” expressed Bass. “I want to know what are some of the challenges you have, the great things you’re doing, and things that you need our help with.”

Engaging with Kirtland Airmen not only allowed Bass to connect with Airmen, but to also understand their unique perspectives and challenges. Her enthusiasm to actively listen and address questions and concerns during this all-call highlights her leadership and the value of the input from Airmen who execute our Air Force mission.

“As the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, I have been focused on the people piece,” emphasized Bass. “I don't just represent the enlisted force; I represent all Airmen. We've got to focus on pay and compensation, development opportunities, health care, childcare, housing, and anything that could be a distraction to Airmen doing their job. By continuing to develop and support the Airmen, we will be able to be the force that we're going to need in the future.”

The discussions from this engaging all-call ensured Airmen are heard and supported which will positively contribute to the resilience and strength of our force.

“Chief Bass’s all-call message reminded me why I choose to serve,” said Airman 1st Class Joshua Taylor, 377 ABW military justice paralegal. “Initially I joined for my own personal goals, but after meeting her I understand I’m serving a bigger purpose than I imagined.”

Bass concluded her all-call with a heart-felt message of appreciation for Team Kirtland and our service members.

“To the leadership team and Team Kirtland, thank you for the invite and for all hospitality these past few days,” Bass expressed. “Thank you for wearing this uniform, thank you for being part of the 1% who courageously does so, and thank you for holding the line as part of this amazing force that we serve in.”

This visit by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass serves as a testament to the Air Force’s commitment to its most valuable asset, the Airmen, and reflects a dedication to actively listen, engage and address the needs of those who selflessly serve their nation.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BACE, N.M. --

In the vast landscapes of Gallup, New Mexico, Darrell Charlee’s journey began, shaped by his Navajo culture. Born into a community deeply rooted in tradition, Charlee, a Tech. Sgt. from the Kirtland Air Force Inspection Agency, found himself straddling the delicate line between his cultural heritage and the call to serve his country.

Growing up, the elders in Charlee's community honored long hair, a symbol of cultural pride and wisdom. For him, embracing this tradition became a personal journey, one that mirrored the values of balance and harmony deeply ingrained in Navajo beliefs.

Charlee's path led him to the Air Force, where he became part of an initiative called INET—Indigenous Nations Equality Team. As a spokesperson for the Navajo people, Charlee embarked on a mission to integrate more Native American values into military life. His efforts ranged from securing religious accommodations for growing out hair to advocating for the inclusion of Native American regalia in military ceremonies.

"Joining the Air Force gave me opportunities to travel the world, becoming an ambassador not only for the military, but also for the First Nations and American Native Americans," Charlee explained.

In places like Poland, he found himself immersed in conversations that transcended cultural boundaries. His unique background allowed him to break down stereotypes and share the stories of Navajo traditions.

Charlee's experiences abroad weren't just about showcasing his culture; they were opportunities to learn from others. In a local gym in Poland, practicing jiu jitsu, he discovered a shared interest that became a gateway to deeper conversations.

"I saw people drawing dream catchers and used that as a segue to share the significance of these symbols in Navajo culture," Charlee recounted.

As he continued his journey, Charlee faced the challenge of explaining the diversity among Native American tribes to those unfamiliar with their intricate differences.

"There are over 500 tribes in the United States, and they all have different ideas, beliefs and languages," he shared.

Educating others became a crucial aspect of his mission, a dialogue that aimed to grow understanding and get rid of any misconceptions.

Charlee's passion extended beyond the Air Force. As part of a historic movement, he addressed over 700 recruiters, aiming to reshape the narrative for Native Americans interested in military service.

"We're making headway," he emphasized, highlighting the strides made to preserve cultural identity while breaking down barriers that once hindered recruitment.

For Charlee, the journey isn't just about personal growth; it's about paving the way for future generations.

"What I appreciate most is the effort to keep our cultural identity, while still serving our country," he reflected.

In his eyes, the balance between tradition and progress is not just a personal struggle, but a collective effort, a journey where honoring the past becomes the key to a more inclusive future.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

The Innovation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base focuses on finding creative solutions for everyday problems and exploring new ways to improve existing practices.

Currently, the Innovation Center is focusing its efforts on issues affecting training, such as asset availability and the challenge of bridging the gap between classroom instruction and real life scenarios. To test possible solutions, the center has begun exploring the use of 3D printers and virtual reality (VR).

3D printers allow instructors to create models for demonstration purposes in place of a real asset. The center at Kirtland has recently used the printers to create a cut-away model of a jet engine to show students how the engine functions. Models like this are cheap and easy to create, eliminating the need to have a real piece of equipment for teaching purposes. This saves the Air Force the man hours required to free up a piece of equipment while also eliminating the potential of damaging the equipment when handled by inexperienced students.

“We have a couple different types of 3D printers, and they’re open for anybody to learn and use,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Leeson, 58th Maintenance Group program security manager. “The software in itself is challenging to learn, but I find that learning it will make you a bit more computer literate.”

In conjunction with 3D printers the Innovation Center has started offering training using virtual reality to help students bridge the gap between classroom instruction and a real scenario. While in VR students can work through an exercise while listening to step-by-step instructions from the instructor.

“Not everyone learns well while reading,” said Leeson. “Being able to translate what’s written into something students can visually see in VR has been a great help every single time.”

VR allows instructors to simulate, and even create their own scenarios for students to complete. Instructors can also place students in any given situation and create custom problems to challenge the student to adapt and overcome in the moment.

“VR lets you test procedures in all sorts of unusual or stressful scenarios,” said Staff Sgt. Drake Higgins, 58th Maintenance Group design and instruction chief. “In less than five minutes, I can have you in a simulation doing a pre-flight inspection on a C-130 or place you in a convoy where the truck in front of you hits an improvised explosive device.”

VR and 3D printers together have offered Kirtland the ability to conduct immersive training, regardless of circumstance, with the only limitations being the creativity and resources available to instructors. With the technology already showing great promise, and improvements being made every day, Leeson and his team are looking forward to the future.

“This is all still getting off the ground,” said Leeson. “But, the more people talk about the program, the more resources we get, and the more people we get in here to nerd out on an issue, the better we’ll be.”

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

Leaders of the 377th Air Base Wing recently took a trip to the 377th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Ground Transportation Office in order to gain a firsthand look into what it is like to be a ground transportation Airman. The ground transportation element is comprised of 36 civilian and military operators led by 2nd Lt. Elena Brady, 377 LRS ground transportation officer in charge, and Tech. Sgt. Alan Graham, 377 LRS non-commissioned officer in charge.

During the visit, Col. Elizabeth Keller, 377 ABW deputy commander, Col. Jason Gale, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the 377 ABW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Antonio Cooper, 377 ABW command chief, all had a chance to speak with Airmen and civilians. They also made time to get their hands dirty learning about how ground transportation keeps the mission moving. For the first stage of the visit the leaders learned how to secure down a standard forklift to a tractor trailer combination. With the help from the ground transportation’s lead trainer, Senior Airman Kenneth Sapanza, and two brand new airmen to the career field, Airman 1st Class Trinity Sutton and Airman 1st Class Dillon Rosenberg, they made quick work of securing the asset and preparing it for transport. They then learned how to operate chains and binders in order to secure the vehicle while at the same time learn how valuable communication was when it came to teamwork.

With the forklift secured they went on to the next station where the command chief had the opportunity to ride along with Sutton as she performed the 90 degree alley dock maneuver in the tractor trailer combination. This maneuver is regarded as the toughest driving portion of the Commercial Driver’s License Program’s Basic Control Skills course.

Sapanza explained how he trains new Airmen like Sutton and Rosenberg on the basic control skills and driving mechanics for buses and tractor trailers in preparation for the course. Graham joined Sapanza by pointing out the major changes to the Commercial Driver’s License Program since the Air Force adopted the same CDL requirements in 2019. With the adoption, the Air Force became the first Department of Defense component to make this transition to have the same CDL requirements as off-base equivalents. They emphasized how the Basic Control Skills Course is a critical component to Airmen getting licensed and having a successful career path.

The last stop for the leaders was a cordoned off area that is used to facilitate rollover training with a 28,000 pound commercial wrecker. Wrecker operations are a large part of what ground transportation specialize in. In the event of vehicle accidents or incidents, the team responds to recover the vehicle. This particular training scenario started with a vehicle rolled completely over to its roof, with the goal of positioning the wrecker so that the vehicle can be recovered back upright on its wheels. The leaders were shown a quick demonstration before they gloved-up and took hold of the winch cables to start recovering the rolled over training vehicle.

After the hands-on demonstration was over Sutton went to the leaders’ vehicle to prepare their transport back to headquarters. However, they were not ready to leave just yet. Instead, they waved her back over to the group where Cooper then coined Sutton for her perseverance while working through the difficult obstacle course in the tractor trailer. She demonstrated that regardless of a vehicle’s situation or location, the ground transportation team will be there to make the recovery happen.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

The Air Force relies on its Airmen to be innovators that bring new processes and technologies to life. A group of 58th Special Operations Wing Airmen from the aircraft metals technology shop at Kirtland Air Force Base took up this challenge when they used their metals technology expertise to create a counterweight that would aid in the launching of satellites throughout the United States Space Force.

Capt. Ryan Erskine, a USSF mechanical engineer, initially reached out to the 58 SOW metal shop in 2021 with an urgent task to create a counterweight with very strict specifications and checklists that need to be followed. This counterweight was then attached to a rocket that launched six satellites into space.

“The counterweight we created was called a CubeSAT. Its purpose is to stabilize the rocket during its launch and flight course,” explains Senior Airman Isaiah Peabody, 58th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technologies journeyman. “Without this part, the center of gravity of the rocket would not be equal, potentially causing it to crash.”

Never having dealt with spacecraft materials or specifications, the team came together to brainstorm ideas and fused all their experience and training into crafting this counterweight. With limited materials and no room for error, the team had only one opportunity to manufacture this part and get it right the first time.

“Capt. Erskine had a timeline of three weeks to get this crucial part manufactured and shipped out to Florida in time for the launch,” as Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Jackson, 58th MXS aircraft metal technologies craftsman, remembers. “He was contacting a lot of machine and fabrication shops who either said they could not do it in that timeframe or gave him an outrageous price quote.”

Jackson recalls his shop chief being highly motivated and ecstatic when accepting the task. He immediately brought Erskine in to go over blueprint dimensions and everything that needed to go into this part.

The team had to ensure that the counterweight met specific tolerances without any defects and be coated in the chemical Alodine to protect the aluminum part from corrosion before it could be used in the launch. The team has had two other opportunities since creating the first CubeSAT in 2021 to recreate the part for subsequent launches of additional satellites.

“This was a whole different ballgame,” Jackson harkened back on. “But to look up at the sky and think that something we created here as a team at Kirtland is somewhere out there floating in outer space is just unthinkable. Never as a kid would I have imagined doing something to that affect.”