Home Care In Kirtland AFB, NM

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – With an unwavering voice, the Air Force vocalizes its foundational motto- Fly, Fight, and Win! With an emphasis on the win, Airmen from all around the world who are currently serving or have served prior, have all heard this phrase.

Fly, Fight, and Win not only guides the Air Force mission, but also serves as a guide for Airmen who actively utilize this motto within their personal lives, whether they are aware of it or not.

Senior Airman Bianca Mendoza, 377th Security Forces Group defender and a Colorado native, is an Airman who exercises the Fly, Fight and Win motto within her life. Mendoza was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she was an athlete for most of her life. She shared how despite being involved in sports growing up, Mendoza felt she was little on the bigger side when it came to her weight.

With her goal set to become a United States Airman, she knew she had to lose weight prior to joining the Air Force because of the military’s height to weight ratio standards. Overcoming the first obstacle of her career, Mendoza never strayed away from the path of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Serving in military, Mendoza found a bigger reason to remain fit-to-fight. She discovered a community within the Air Force that would allow her to maintain her physical fitness and accomplish things she never thought possible.

“I started my powerlifting journey here, at Kirtland,” Mendoza shares. “My flight chief, Master Sgt. Spears, was big into powerlifting. So, I took the initiative in expressing my desire to get into the sport. One thing led to another, and he became my coach for the next year and a half.”

Mendoza currently holds the New Mexico’s Junior Women 56Kilogram powerlifting record in the 20-23 age bracket and is aiming to become a professional powerlifter. Standing at an empowering 4 feet 10 inches tall, and weighing in at 120 pounds, Mendoza is dedicated to placing in the Top Five at a national level where she will compete against others in the United States.

“I am training hard for my upcoming national powerlifting competition,” Mendoza expresses. “After that, the United Sates Powerlifting Association Military Competition is something I am looking to represent the Air Force well in.”

FLY. FIGHT. WIN.

To fly with Mendoza’s wings is to train religiously in her on and off season. “I spend over an hour and a half in the gym, five days a week when I am in season,” says Mendoza. “Even when work has me working late, I am grateful for the Westside gym on base that’s open 24/7 because I can always make time to get my workout in.”

Sacrifices are a norm to Mendoza. Blood, sweat, and tears are aspects ingrained into her and only make her stronger.

Her fight is showcased when she steps onto the platform to compete against others who are after the same title. Butterflies in her stomach, all eyes on this small but strong young lady, gripping the bar with intensity and lifting over double her body weight, Mendoza makes a lasting statement to all who are watching, that she is there to compete.

“It’s dumbfounding realizing I am lifting over 10,000 pounds at my meets,” Mendoza reflects.

To win, is for her to take home another title. “I’m amongst the ranks of the world’s greatest powerlifters,” declares Mendoza. “Aside from being ranked globally and nationally, winning pushes me to continue pursuing better things, not only in lifting, but other things in my life as well.”

Months of training has paid off for Mendoza as she reflects on the good and bad in her powerlifting journey. She shared how she does not let good days or bad days define her or affect her mentality.

“My motivation stems from my desire to represent my family and the Air Force proudly,” Mendoza remarks. “My siblings look at the life I live, both professionally and personally, so I have to show them what they can achieve.”

In Mendoza’s workplace, she prominently displays a quote that she looks at every day. “You don’t have problems; you have work to do.” This quote along with the guiding beliefs of Fly, Fight, and Win give Mendoza the perspective to see her challenges not as problems, but as opportunities to work through.

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --

The Department of the Air Force selected Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, as the preferred location to host the Space Training and Readiness Command Headquarters, along with Space Delta 10. Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the preferred location for Space Delta 11 and Schriever SFB, Colorado, is the preferred location for Space Delta 12.

STARCOM, one of three U.S. Space Force field commands, is responsible for the deliberate development, education and training of space professionals in addition to the development of space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures, and the operational test and evaluation of Space Force systems.

Space Delta 10, which is responsible for doctrine and wargaming, is expected to also be located at Patrick SFB, Florida. This delta develops Space Force doctrine and tactics, conducts the service’s Lessons Learned program and executes and supports wargames to adequately posture space forces and designated joint and allied partners.

Space Delta 11 is expected to be located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and is responsible for all ranges and aggressors. This delta delivers realistic, threat-informed test and training environments through the provision of live, virtual and constructive range and combat replication capabilities.

Space Delta 12 is expected to be located at Schriever SFB, Colorado, and is responsible for test and evaluation. This delta prepares space forces to prevail in contested, degraded and operationally-limited environments through the independent test and evaluation of Space Force capabilities and delivery of timely, accurate and expert information in support of weapon system acquisition, operational acceptance and readiness decisions.

The decision to host STARCOM HQ and the three deltas at their respective bases came after conducting site surveys at each location to assess their ability to facilitate the mission and infrastructure capacity, while accounting for community support, environmental factors and cost.

The Department of the Air Force will now conduct environmental impact analyses at each base, which are expected to be completed later this year before final decisions are made.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

Kirtland Air Force Base has served as a hub for aviation excellence for decades, which is what brought members of the 357th Airlift Squadron to New Mexico. The 357th Airlift Squadron, the flying unit of the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, recently dispatched six of their members for specialized training under Kirtland’s 512th Rescue Squadron in preparation for the arrival of their new aircraft.

In 2022, Maxwell was officially selected to standup the first Formal Training Unit for the new MH-139A Grey Wolf Helicopter. The MH-139 is designed to replace the current UH-1N Huey by providing an increase in speed, range, payload, and survivability, as well as other improved mission capabilities.

While on Kirtland, Airmen of the 357th trained with Squadron Aviation Resource Managers (SARM) on topics ranging from student management, scheduling, and data systems to flight training. Master Sgt. Larry Williams, 357th Airlift Squadron Aviation Resource Manager, shared the contrast between tactical airlift operations and the unique challenges of establishing and operating a rotary wing FTU, and what it’s been like training at Kirtland.

“There is a lot they can provide for us, and we can take back home to stand up our schoolhouse,” Williams said. “For us, going from tactical to converting to a schoolhouse are two totally different worlds, so we wanted to see how they do what they do and learn their processes.”

The primary objective of the new MH-139 FTU is to train pilots and Special Mission Aviators who will be responsible for ensuring security and provide support to the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile fields. The effects of this change will ripple well beyond the 908th, as Maxwell has been tasked with not only transitioning to an FTU, but also creating the first MH-139 training program largely from scratch.

“There are many reasons why this mission change is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, transitions the Air Force has ever undertaken. Foremost, this is a brand-new aircraft. The MH-139 is the military variant of the Leonardo AW139 used in the public sector for Emergency Medical Services and Search and Rescue missions. Therefore, a training platform for the helicopter does not currently exist within the Department of Defense,” said Maj. John T. Stamm, 908th Chief of Public Affairs.

The new MH-139’s are scheduled to arrive at Maxwell AFB in the Spring of 2024.

Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) is taking another step on its energy resilience journey with the announcement of a new direct current (DC) microgrid project.

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) recently awarded a $4.8 million contract to Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) to develop and implement DC microgrid technologies on the base.

Pennsylvania-based CTC is a nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional services organization that has previously worked with the AFRL to “improve the Air Force’s energy posture,” according to Edward Sheehan, CTC president and CEO.

Creating a road map for other military bases

“DC microgrids are an exciting next step in resiliency solutions,” said Kevin Merichko, senior principal chemical engineer/project manager at CTC.

In traditional alternating current (AC) microgrids, the direct current provided by solar, storage or other generation resources must be converted to AC.

What the AFRL and CTC aim to show with this demonstration project is that a DC microgrid can enhance energy resilience and improve system efficiencies by reducing the reliance on DC to AC inverters.

According to CTC, inverters are a common point of failure in traditional AC microgrids.

“This project will field a first-of-its-kind system within the Department of the Air Force, providing immediate benefits to the host site,” Merichko said.

He added that CTC will also be documenting opportunities to expand the technology to other military installations.

A hotbed of DC microgrid activity

Kirtland Air Force Base, located near Albuquerque, New Mexico, employs more than 23,000 active duty, guard and reserve troops, as well as contractors and civil service employees. It is home to the 377^th Air Base Wing, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center and the 150^th Special Operations Wing.

Kirtland also houses the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorates.

This is not the first DC microgrid project on the base. As previously reported, Sandia National Laboratories and Emera Technologies partnered on a DC/AC hybrid microgrid demonstration project at KAFB.

That project was designed to show how DC microgrids can be integrated into the existing AC electrical system to provide resilient power to homes and military installations.

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KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

Senior Airman Alix Hayes, 377th Medical Group public health technician, was awarded the Twentieth Air Force Airman of the Year award for the 2022 fiscal year at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 21, 2023.

Receiving the award came as a pleasant surprise for Hayes, who expressed her gratitude, saying, "I wasn’t looking for any recognition for my work, but I am glad I had the opportunity to represent the Group and the Wing well. My parents and grandparents taught me early on about working hard and having good work ethic."

Hayes took charge of the annual "Food Vulnerability Assessment," a task involving the inspection of six facilities to identify vulnerabilities. Her efforts successfully pinpointed 13 vulnerabilities that could have led to potential 'food fraud' items being sold by external vendors on the base.

Furthermore, Hayes played a crucial role in safeguarding a $20 million food supply, a contribution that contributed to the 377 MDG clinching the prestigious 2022 Air Force Global Strike Command Surgeon General Clinic of the Year award.

Hayes made significant improvements in the medical in-processing system, ensuring that 155 overdue items were addressed for 94 medics, guaranteeing their constant readiness for missions.

Simultaneously, she meticulously audited 119 shops, enabling Kirtland to surpass Air Force standards for the first time in two years. Demonstrating her leadership skills, Hayes led emergency/incident command training for 15 Airmen, and her efforts led to the updating of four contingency checklists, certifying the Group's preparedness for potential disaster relief missions.

Airmen nominated for the "Airman of the Year" award are chosen representatives from major commands, selected for their exceptional leadership, job performance, and personal achievements.

After receiving recognition, Hayes happily shared, “I especially want to thank my husband for always being there for me during the hardest workdays and I want to give an even bigger shoutout to my coworkers and leadership who always pushed me to do better.”

Hayes, who enlisted in the military in 2020, reflects on her journey with deep gratitude for the opportunities the Air Force has provided her. As she looks to the future, Hayes holds ambitious aspirations for her Air Force career, eagerly anticipating the next chapter.