[10], On 18 June 2013, the 81st Fighter Squadron was inactivated at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany. This will be a difficult time for Capt. Wolters said Spangdahlems 52nd Civil Engineering Squadron could move soonest, at a time to be determined, bound for Italy. The detachment commander who was suspended was in charge of overseeing administrative support for airmen at the unit, the Air Force said. It served once more as an air defense unit in the southeastern United States. According to the report, Retka, the Kennedys and other staff and family from the 52nd attended a farewell dinner for the former vice wing commander at the Schloss Neiderweiss restaurant on May 3. I thought things were going to be good, I was coming back to work and was still looking to prove my value to the Air Force and that I could still continue to serve at this point. We have thousands of Airmen across our Air Force serving our country, and not one of them is perfect. This was unfortunate because theyre both wonderful people, but theyve continued to persevere despite it. New commander takes charge of 52nd FW. Its a commander-run program that fell under the oversight of the Airmen and Family Readiness Center, CL explained. When that trust is lost it affects good order and discipline, unit cohesion and ultimately risks mission accomplishment.. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. Kotnik make mistakes, I want them to have the opportunity to learn from them without being under public scrutiny, and to continue to be a part of this great service. In a written statement to OSI, Retka denied he inappropriately touched Kennedy and that any contact was incidental and not done with the intent to abuse, humiliate or degrade her or for his own gratification. For the New York Air National Guard unit, see, For World War II lineage and history, see, The emblem was updated 3 December 1996. O'Malley, a highly accomplished fighter pilot, also oversees the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team that calls the base home, the same unit that Kotnik was relieved from. Read the full fact sheet. Several witnesses said Retka then regularly engaged in the steamrolling pranks, sometimes while naked, the report said. Editors Note: This story was updated July 29 at 6:17 p.m EDT with additional details. Bilodeau, who was removed by Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, the commander of the 3rd Air Force, was not relieved for any misconduct or wrongdoing, according to USAFE. The 52d Communications Squadron (52 CS) provides war-ready Airmen, communications capabilities, and cyber services to sustain Saber operations and Air Force power projection anytime, anywhere. from around the world. Right out the gate she was extremely un-empathetic towards what I and my family were going through, the airman added. CLs experience was especially painful for him, considering how airmen are told from day one to be a good wingman, seek help if they need it, and to trust their first sergeants and chain of command, CL said. The MMG receives, stores, maintains, controls and employs $6 billion of U.S. protection level 1 assets in direct support of NATO contingency, wartime and strike missions. This was not an easy decision to make, but I believe it is in the best interest of the men and women of the 52nd Fighter Wing, Roberson said. CL soon realized that his physical wellbeing and the wellbeing of his family were a low priority for Widman, who told him that he would have to come back to work and fit his medical appointments around workdays. The wing is comprised of approximately 5,000 military and civilian personnel spread across nine geographically separated units and thirteen real property sites in five different nations. The inactivation marked the end of A-10 operations in Europe at that time. It received F-15 Eagles in 1994 but lost its F-4Gs. USAFE said Retka chose to retire several months earlier than expected. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. David Owsianka). Widman declined to comment. June 2012 June 2014, Commander, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev. 13. The Public Affairs office is unable to redirect calls or provide phone numbers. The Air Force relieved an officer of command who served separation paperwork to an airman in a mental health clinic for treatment after a suicide attempt, made one airman feel like a piece of shit for going through a medical evaluation board, and retaliated against an airmans spouse. The medical group operates an outpatient clinic at Spangdahlem which includes family practice, pediatrics, women's health, psychiatry, aerospace medicine and optometry with exceptional clinical laboratory, radiology, pharmacy and physical therapy support. In December 1971, it became the host wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and inherited tactical squadrons from the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at nearby Bitburg Air Base. If searching for a phone number on base, call the base operator. Costs would include military construction and permanent change of station moves for Airmen and their families. All aircraft were from the 22nd Fighter Squadron. -Agile Combat Employment
No matter what becomes of the investigation into Widman, wing leadership emphasized the value it places on leadership accountability. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. Personnel assigned to the 52nd FW continued to deploy for Operation Enduring Freedom circa 2020. This situation gives us an opportunity to reflect on the culture we need, where airmen understand their responsibilities as both leaders and wingmen, she said at the time. Wing commander relieved of post in Germany - airforcetimes.com Its clear that this whole entire wing is flying in formation, and its apparent from your three consecutive trips to the finals of the Air Forces Spark Tank innovation contest, and it is truly impressive what youve done there. Its no surprise to me that this team was the first in-theater to reach Initial Operation Capability for a new paradigm of deterrence that we call Agile Combat Employment, Reed added. The 52d Operations Group Detachment 1, based at ask AB, Poland, represents the United States Air Force's first permanent presence in Poland and continues to foster bilateral defense ties, enhance interoperability and increase capacity to conduct military operations with Allied nations. Looking back, I realize that instead of being asked how we can make this happen, Im basically told what is going to happen. July 2004 August 2005, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 35th FS, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea. Retka, who took over the operations group in August 2017, was in his third year in command, and had already been planning to retire at Spangdahlem, Myers said. The 52d Contracting Squadron (52 CONS) provides agile contracting support and solutions for Spangdahlem Air Base, its GSUs, and deployed operations. He was now working directly for Retka. Courtesy of U.S. Air Force (), In a 52nd Fighter Wing tradition, outgoing acting wing commander Col. Lars Hubert, right, passes a saber to incoming wing commander Col. Peter Bilodeau at the wing's assumption of command ceremony at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Friday, July 11, 2014. It's worth noting that the female pilot in the videois not Zoe Kotnik. 52 FW Pillars:
Wing Commander Col. David Epperson took administrative action against Retka after the Office of Special Investigations completed its investigation last September, Gabe Myers, a spokesman for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, said Tuesday. A second airman said he experienced similar treatment. Two commanders in the military unit in which leak suspect Jack Teixeira worked have been suspended, the Air Force said Wednesday. Copyright 2023. It is also the air component of the U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command. Making mistakes is a part of life. After 20 years of war you think the Air Force wouldve figured it out by now, he said. He is also the base commander. Widmans removal from command comes as the Air Force struggles to confront a mental health crisis within its ranks, especially in the maintenance and security forces (the Air Force equivalent of military police) career fields. The 52d Operations Group consists of a fighter squadron, an operations support squadron and two geographically separated aviation detachments, both located in Poland. The current mission statement of the 52d Fighter Wing is to deliver Airpower options to deter and combat aggression. When people see the Airpower portion of this, they often times assume this means flying, but the mission goes well beyond that. The 52d Contracting Squadron (52 CONS) provides agile contracting support and solutions for Spangdahlem Air Base, its GSUs, and deployed operations. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Two months later, he took command of Spangdahlems 480th Fighter Squadron, under Retkas command. The squadron commander was the only person strong enough to break Retkas hold on the pilot, witnesses said. The Public Affairs office is unable to redirect calls or provide phone numbers. Bilodeau, a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, flew F-16s at Spangdahlem for nearly three years in the late 1990s, when he served as an instructor pilot and assistant chief of weapons for the 23rd Fighter Squadron. Many of the more than 50 leaked documentsNBC News obtainedwere labeled Top Secret, the highest level of classification. Spangdahlem wing commander relieved of duty | Stars and Stripes Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was more supportive. All Rights Reserved. But plans accelerated after President Donald J. Trump said in June he intended to pull U.S. forces from Germany because that nation had failed to invest enough of its own money in defense. Melody W. Howley). Maj. April Widman, commander of the 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, stands for a photo at Dyess Air Force Base, March 17, 2021. Col. Leslie Hauck accepted responsibility of the 52nd FW from Col. David Epperson in front of Airmen, local leaders and family, making him the 30th commander since its activation as the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing in December 1971. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Without our airmen, our local community and our Allies, the 52d Fighter Wing would not be able to complete the mission or support these priorities. Mission: Deliver Airpower options to deter and combat aggression. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. Want to write for Task & Purpose? Hauck comes from Aviano Air Base, Italy, where he served as the commander of the 31st Operations Group. Immediately afterward, Kennedy told investigators and Air Force Times, she felt a man forcefully rub against her buttocks. "I'd say single digits [of billions], but that'll be spread out over time," he said. Teixeira is alleged to have used the online forum Discord to share the leaked information with his small community of online friends and to have taken photos of paper documents that he may have smuggled out of a secure facility. Read the full fact sheet. During that assignment, he was chastised by his wing commander for making an inappropriate joke after a skit on sexual harassment. Hauck will be taking command over the 52nd Fighter Wing, which has a total population of 5,000 Airmen and civilian personnel. Germany owes billions and billions of dollars to NATO, and why would we keep all of our troops there?. As good people, like Capt. It cost him a star. U.S. Air Force Chief Toby Roach, 52nd Fighter Wing command chief, (left), holds the guidon while Col. David Epperson, 52nd FW outgoing commander, (center), and Col. Leslie Hauck, 52nd FW incoming commander, listened to opening remarks from Maj. Gen. Randall Reed, Third Air Force commander, during the 52nd FW Change of Command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. A female officer at Spangdahlem told investigators that in October 2018, Retka tried to sidestep her authority by saying he would solve a particular issue with another male officer, and said, We will talk about this as men later, over cigars and scotch.. Further, he supervises the support of the 31,000 local military retirees and 29 geographically separated units across nine states.". U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is a major command of the U.S. Air Force. Comm:011-49-6565-61-1110 All suspensions are temporary pending further investigation.. Additionally, the squadron manages the execution and performance of $17 million in base-wide service contracts ranging from custodial services to military family housing change of occupancy. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. This line of thinking is the same as the Air Forces bomber deployments that have become prevalent in the Pacific. However, the medication was not working for the airman, which led to him oversleeping during a duty day and he was demoted from senior airman to airman first class as a result. U.S. European Command is broadly restructuring to better address the needs of the National Defense Strategy, which focuses on advanced military adversaries like Russia and China rather than insurgents in the Middle East. Money Minute, What's next for experimental AI projects in the C4ISR sphere, Russians seem to be baiting US jets to dogfight in Syria, general says, Biden awards football trophy to Air Force Academy, Commanders suspended at base where alleged Pentagon leaker worked, Military sex assault reports rise, even as Army numbers fall. The tankers were participating in MacDills Operation Violent Storm, an exercisedesigned to force, In the months following the reveal of Northrop Grummans B-21 Raider in December, several publications affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party or its Peoples Liberation Army published articles downplaying the aircrafts viability, saying the U.S. cannot afford enough of the bombers to make a difference in a possible conflict with, The Air Force will consider the Armys freshly-chosen Bell V-280 tiltrotor as a possible combat search and rescue platform for work in contested airspace, but will also look at other technical options, including the CV-22 as an interim solution, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q., Brown, Jr. told the House, The planned Special Operations Power Projection Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., will include MC-130s, AC-130s, and light attack aircraft, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Maj. April Widman, the commander of the 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, was fired at 9 a.m. on Dec. 2, after the commander of the 317th Airlift Wing, Col. James Young . All Rights Reserved. August 2005 June 2008, F-16 Instructor, Assistant Director of Operations, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev. 9. The 52nd FW supports the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe with mission-ready personnel and systems providing expeditionary air power for suppression of enemy air defenses, counter air, air interdiction, and close-air support. Maj. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The wing maintains and employs F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft in support of NATO and national defense directives. On 1 April 2017, the 606th Air Control Squadron, Detachment 1 was inactivated at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany following the relocation to Aviano Air Base, Italy. 2015 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science degree, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Pa. 1. It operated with other NATO forces in frequent "squadron exchange" programs and hosted US-based units on temporary duty in Europe. -Deterrence
But the system has been broken for a while, he felt. As the 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander, Roberson oversees 10 wings in Europe and one air expeditionary wing within USAFE. January 2003 - July 2004, student, U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, 16th . The 52nd FW maintains, deploys and employs F-16CM Fighting Falcons in support of NATO and the national defense directives. Saber Nation, I know we are going to face trials and tribulations, but we will continue to conquer them and be 100% mission-ready, whether that be to execute the dynamic force employment on the fly or lead the Air Force in Agile Combat Employment with multi-functional Airmen advancement, Hauck said. The venue was crowded, he said, and he turned his body sideways to move through a group of people. In addition to moving the F-16s, EUCOM will relocate its own headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany, to Belgium, where NATO has its headquarters. What you do is truly inspiring, and its extremely important in this theater as we think of all of Europe and all of Africa and all of the challenges that are before us, Reed said. CL was undergoing medical treatment and started a medical evaluation board (MEB) when Widman took command of the 317 AMXS in the summer of 2020. You delivered on each and every priority at an astonishing pace, Epperson said. The 52d Mission Support Group delivers world class mission support ensuring the wing is able to conduct wartime and contingency missions. Myers said retiring was Retkas choice, and that he was not ordered or pressured to retire early. DOD is also rethinking its brick-and-mortar infrastructure amid fears that permanent bases could be vulnerable to attack. Esper estimated the cost to be several billion dollars, but did not provide a formal estimate. From what we can tell, even in the mid-2000s, this video caused quite a stir, although we are unaware at this time of the exact disciplinary actions taken by higher-ups in the chain of command. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. Moving F-16s from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem to Italy will better increase security along NATOs eastern flank and help preserve peace, Air Forces Europe said in a statement.
Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. August 1999 July 2001, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 389th FS, Mt Home AFB, Idaho, 5. OSI investigators also uncovered reports of more questionable activity by Retka over the years, particularly while he was deployed to Kunsan around 2004. Members of those fields are widely understood to be the most depressed members of the service, and data leaked to the popular Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco in 2020 showed a higher suicide rate among those career fields than the rest of the branch. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that U.S. consultations with allies ahead of the announcement underlines the continued commitment by the United States to NATO and to European security., But in Washington, members of Congress from both parties criticized the decision. But the fact that the spouse got access to the orders set Widman off, CL recalled. Why would you put your privates beside my body?, She told investigators that Retka came up to her a few minutes later, apologized, and asked if they were OK, to which she responded Yeah, Tony, were good. The report quoted Kennedy as saying Retka then replied, Okay, good, because you were [indistinguishable] target. Kennedy told Air Force Times that Retka said she was the non-intentional target.. 2023 Stars and Stripes. The Pentagon will begin winding down U.S. operations at Germanys Spangdahlem Air Base, pulling out Air Force F-16s and canceling plans to move tankers and special-operations forces there, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper announced July 29. The 52nd has always been prepared to SEEK ATTACK DESTROY. Were looking forward to another amazing season with this team. Based in Stuttgart, Germany, he previously worked for newspapers in New Jersey, North Carolina and Maryland. 2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2004 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev. 2005 Masters degree in business administration, Trident University, distance learning program, 2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, 2009 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science degree, Special Operations & Low Intensity Conflicts, Naval Postgraduate School. DSN: 314-452-1110 Maybe O'Mally's approach to announcing what has to have been heartbreaking news for Kotnik, regardless of the circumstances, stems from the fact that he helped mastermind and starred in the video below while serving as the Chief Weapons Instructor for the 35th Fighter Squadron, a unit based in South Korea. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. The video features song, dance, lots of talcum powder, and a big male genitalia puppet. Kotnik from her position as the commander of the Viper Demo team yesterday, because I lost confidence in her ability to lead the team. Mission, Airmen and Community
The past year has been a busy one for the wing, which has been a part of U.S. European Commands efforts to reassure allies in eastern Europe in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine. Witnesses also revealed that in 2004, while he was a captain deployed to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, Retka engaged in a prank called steamrolling, barging naked into sleeping pilots dorm rooms and rolling over them in bed until they woke up. While the airman at Dyess submitted a rebuttal against the separation paperwork to try to stay in the service, in the end, there was not much he could do to challenge the separation. In Colonel O'Malley's case, this little sojourn into blue humor movie making didn't seem to hold him back much. It's stupid and maybe funny in an immature way, and I mean real immature. The Public Affairs office is unable to redirect calls or provide phone numbers. And the time when it was OK to pinch someones butt or rub up against someone or make a derogatory or misogynistic comment, I really want to see those days go away and be behind us.. Calling from CONUS: Those guys got me into a place where I could work within my limitations at the time and be a productive contributing member to the unit, without compromising my recovery.. It thrust me forward.. Retka declined to comment, according to USAFE. The highly classified documents are alleged to have been leaked by Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman. DSN: 314-452-1110, An official website of the United States government. U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, arrived here Nov. 12, to enhance U.S. Air Forces Central's ability to deter . The 52nd Fighter Wing (52 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.It flies the F-16CJ fighter aircraft. I cant give names but I can say that I witnessed the results of her trying to break him, he went on. The Air Force last week halted the intelligence mission of the 102nd Intelligence Wing as the services inspector general investigates. As the wings director of staff, Lt. Col. Kennedy had been working directly for former wing Commander Col. Jason Bailey. [9] As a result of the drawdown of F-16s, the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons were inactivated on 13 August 2010 and formed a single "new" squadron, the 480th Fighter Squadron. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. CL also recalled an incident when Widman retaliated against another airmans wife for trying to help the spouses of other airmen. Esper said the strategic goal is to move away from permanent basing in favor of dynamic force employment, enabling the military to proactively move troops as missions demand. The wing has seen many people and aircraft come and go throughout the years, but one thing remains the same. We want to again thank all those that came forward, knowing the risk if you were found speaking out.. This was made years before she served in the same squadron. Maj. Charles Schulz temporarily assumed command of the squadron the following day. Since then, the video been referenced in multiple military and aviation forums around the net. He said on Twitter that the Pentagons plan is consistent with his view that the Pentagon needs to maintain a strong forward presence, sustain force projection, and take care of our military families.. Esper said force changes could start to take place within weeks. All five 52d FW groups directly support the mission to provide strategic, theater and contract commercial air mobility capability for Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. It deployed aircraft and personnel to strategic locations in Saudi Arabia and Turkey in support of the liberation of Kuwait from September 1990 March 1993. And while they are deployed, they are able to sustain a much more fixed focus on their mission and their capabilities., Wolters said EUCOM aims to rotate units in perpetuity in multiple locations. He said the flexibility that this affords us certainly complicates a potential enemy against us, and it dramatically improves our operational capability to more effectively deter and defend.. Kennedy told investigators she was in shock and disbelief at what had just happened and felt numb, upset and uncomfortable. 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