An Air Force colonel sounded the alarm on what he called widespread "Machiavellian maneuvering and counterproductive bureaucracy" as he resigned from command at Brooke Army Medical Center. She served as the Military Police Branch chief with U.S. Army Human Resources Command from 2018 to 2020. US Air Force colonel says she was fired for not ordering COVID-19 vaccine To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in an Aug. 9 memo to the force. Air Force). 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. Col. Jay Johnson, vice commander of the 71st, has assumed command of the wing temporarily after Danielson's removal. A major was kicked out for stealing narcotics. More:Despite GOP claims, public did not favor carving up Oklahoma County. She pretty much went white as a ghost and clammed up, the man told investigators. He previously served as the 31st Maintenance Group Commander at Aviano Air Base in Italy. So he tried to make a point by quitting Tuesday, his final day on the job before his replacement took over Wednesday. Lt. Col. Jimmy Brown, in command of the 741st Missile Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, was relieved of command on Monday by Col. Michael Lutton, 91st Missile Wing commander, "because of a loss of confidence in Brown's ability to lead his squadron." Lt. Col. Aaron Rivers, the units deputy commander, assumed command of the group. 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. Because if its limited to this vaccine, thats a bad argument, right.. The respective dismissals were the result of unrelated investigations, officials said. 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. (Kemberly Groue/U.S. 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? 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.. The Department of the Air Force partnered with suicide researchers to compile over 1,000 data points for each person who. I respect Col. Ellis privacy and will not discuss the specifics of any conversations I had with her, he said. He would not say anything more about why Ackerman was fired. One womans ex-husband told investigators he first saw Gersten with his ex-wife around 2008, while stationed at Camp Smith, Hawaii. In this photo from Aug. 25, 2022, Allen delivers remarks during an event at the base. Rose L. Thayer is based in Austin, Texas, and she has been covering the western region of the continental U.S. for Stars and Stripes since 2018. "Commanders must uphold the highest personal and professional standards and maintain a healthy, inclusive command climate in their unit," Edmondson said. The vaccines, he said, will protect you and your family. Its two main units are the 7th Bomb Wing, which flies B-1 Lancers, and the 317th, which operates C-130s. Other assignments included time at the Air Mobility Command and The White House as a military aide to Vice President Joe Biden. Schneider currently serves as director of staff at Headquarters Air Force. However, Ellis believed Grahams order conflicted with her own religious beliefs, as well as a request for a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate which she filed on Sept. 17. Gersten was a 1989 Air Force Academy graduate who flew the F-16 Falcon, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, and other aircraft. All Rights Reserved. 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. The Air Force saw it differently. 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. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey. Airmen were held to Army rules that unnecessarily complicated their jobs and slowed medical procedures, the former respiratory specialist said Thursday. 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. Courtesy photo Lt. Col. Craig Perry and his wife, Caroline, at the Military Training Instructor . You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone at 8885294543, by e-mail at info@tullylegal.com or by clicking the button below: Ready to book your consultation? And they will ensure we remain the most lethal and ready force in the world.. NORMAN S. WEST > Air Force > Biography Display - AF According to the report, AWACS crews were ordered to conduct the sorties after getting half the sleep they needed for the exercises. ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) Employees and the owner of a local midwife practice are facing federal charges over allegedly running a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Her work has appeared in Air Force Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy, the Frederick News-Post (Md. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica Haynie). The structure and culture of JBSA/BAMC also helped undercut leaders ability to address the issues, which remains part of the problem.. 2023 Tully Rinckey PLLC, Attorneys & Counselors at Law Attorney Advertising, Suspected document leaker wanted to kill a ton of people, officials say, Albany midwifery accused of destroying COVID vaccine vials, Times Union Names Tully Rinckey PLLC a Winner of the Capital District Top Workplaces 2023 Award. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. We need committed, engaged commanders that drove me to take command, he said. We do not typically discuss the specifics of personnel actions outside of the chain of command, Felton said on behalf of wing commander Col. Graham on Thursday. Air Force's first female Viper pilot relieved of duty after two weeks I havent seen that much suicide [on deployment] as I saw in a nine-month period of time at BAMC.. 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 Wing public affairs office. Read Next: Top Navy Auditor Sexually Harassed Women for 20 Years, IG Finds. She told investigators she wanted their relationship to go further, but understood it could not. Airmen are being told, No, you cant leave and go talk to a first sergeant. 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. An audio recording of Donovan berating airmen was leaked online, All-Hispanic flight crew takes off at Tinker AFB to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. These objections were included in my religious accommodation request.. Every single day, I had somebody who was crying, the retired senior NCO told Air Force Times. All Rights Reserved. I would hope that those leaders are stronger leaders and instead of trying to make an example out of somebody that they would actually have some empathy and push the administrative response, but we know that is not always going to be the case, he continued. 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. Air Force Reserve Command Relieved of command Leader tried to reach out; investigation cites Air Force Col. Jason Allen, vice commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, was given interim command of the wing after Col. William Hunter was. (Army) An Army colonel at Fort Hood, Texas, was relieved of command on Friday as . Boring is serving now as special assistant to Ogden commander Brig. Pesky Insect Cited in Air Force Firing - ABC News When asked about the conversation, Graham declined to comment. He said, I think you know what this is about. Felton could not answer specific questions about what led to the loss of trust and confidence. 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. New details emerge about Col. Chung, the suspended commander of 5th SFAB Ellis had been in command for just four months. Want to write for Task & Purpose? It is the second time in less than a year that the 309th, which is part of Hill's Ogden Air Logistics Complex, has lost a commander due to a loss of confidence, a term that military commanders typically use to explain why they have fired a subordinate commander, without specifically naming the reason why. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Gen. C. McCauley von Hoffman. 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. Is it limited to this vaccine? Learn more here and be sure to check out more great stories on our homepage. The number of airmen and NCOs and even some of our officers that were having suicidal ideations Ive had six combat tours. Col. Keven Coyle, to whom Donovan reported, told Military.com in a written statement that the wing's guidelines call for allowing aircrews 12 hours of rest, including eight hours uninterrupted, before flying a sortie. Col. Jay Bertsch, a commander at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, Col. Douglas DeMaio, commander of the Alabama Air National Guards 187th Fighter Wing, and Lt. Col. Kenneth Beadle, commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, were all removed due to a loss of confidence in their leadership. However, Ellis believed Grahams order conflicted with her own religious beliefs, as well as a request for a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate which she filed on Sept. 17. They will be re-posted once . Maj. Gen. Koscheski, 15th Air Force commander, said in a statement the 552nd Operations Group needs men and women who foster a culture of dignity and respect. Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, relieved Danielson for a loss of trust and. A recent command-directed investigation substantiated allegations that Owens failed to establish and maintain a healthy command climate and created a toxic work environment. 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. The data is clear the vaccine is the best tool to fight this disease. Related: Air Force Wing Commander Fired Due to 'Loss of Trust and Confidence'. On February 12, 2019, news that the first woman to lead an Air Force demonstration team was fired after just . What Happens to the Air Forces Oldest F-22s if Congress OKs Their Retirement? But while interest in, The Air Force is offering a $10,000 bonus for prior-service enlisted Airmen who join the Reserve and fill an open job, part of an effort to boost flagging recruiting numbers for the component. An unidentified witness expressed concern to OSI that Gersten was at risk of blackmail over the relationship. The Army did not comment further on the investigation, citing a service policy that protects administrative information. Investigation found fired Malmstrom squadron commander was bullying Ellis did not feel comfortable sharing the specifics of her beliefs other than they are sincerely held, she said, but this was the first time a vaccine violated her religious beliefs. Still, Kuhn hoped commanders would take a compassionate approach if any of their subordinates refused the COVID-19 vaccine. Colonel Ayres assumed command in May 2008. Those unvaccinated airmen will be in violation of a lawful order and subject to discipline under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Air Force wrote in a news release. Ellis case is part of a larger conflict unfolding within the Air Force as it arrives at Tuesdays mandatory deadline for active-duty airmen to be vaccinated against COVID-19. David Roza When asked about the conversation, Graham declined to comment. 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. All rights reserved. Col. Jay Johnson, 71st FTW's vice commander, temporarily assumed command of the wing. 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. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for their commitment and my opportunity to lead them.. The systemic flaws I encountered, and the unwillingness of those with the power to make necessary improvements, are what drive me now to resign.. Between October 2010 and June 2019, Gersten engaged in inappropriate relationships with several women, the IG found, and intended to act indecorously and indecently with them. Hill Maintenance Group Commander Relieved of Command The report said that Gersten also engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a second civilian woman between 2010 and 2015. The Air Force and the Space Force had a significant increase in reports of sexual assault last year, according to figures released April 27. "Our focus is on taking care of our airmen and civilians as we rebuild the command climate in the 317th Airlift Wing.. The COVID-19 vaccine was made mandatory for all members of the Air Force, and of the military writ large, on Aug. 23, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this month, Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, commander of the 19th Air Force, relieved Col. Timothy Danielson at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, "for a loss of trust and confidence" in his ability to oversee the 71st Flying Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command said in a statement. They went to marriage counseling for several months to try to salvage their relationship. Her awards include a 2021 Society of Professional Journalists Washington Dateline Award and an Honorable Mention from the Military Reporters and Editors Association for her coverage of crime at Fort Hood. Meredith took command of the 89th Military Police Brigade at the Texas installation on July 8, 2022. 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. But according to an anonymous post online, flying crews collectively were worried about not being able to swap sleep schedules with no notice and when they arrived the average amount of sleep garnered was around 3-4 hours., Donovan later could be heard on the leaked recording telling airmen: At no point in my mind did I think I would walk in and find out that Americas Wing, the operational heartbeat of the command and control enterprise for the free world, would show up and say I cant execute this mission. Not once did that cross my mind. May 2019-June 2020, Commander, Task Force Medical, Afghanistan and 455th Expeditionary Medical Group, Bagram AB, Afghanistan . Before he became vice commander at Keesler in June, Allen was a special operations deputy at the Pentagon. The Air Force saw it differently. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets By However, Felton said the colonel will be reassigned to a staff position, though she did not say where in the Air Force that position would be. Air Force: Wing commander at Joint Base Charleston removed following Commander That Fired First Female USAF Demo Team Leader Made This Crass Responsibilities. Their sexual relationship began in a distinguished visitor suite at Nellis one evening in July 2018. 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. Those unvaccinated airmen will be in violation of a lawful order and subject to discipline under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Air Force wrote in a news release.
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