An Air Force colonel who was relieved of command last month at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, claims she was fired after she refused to order her subordinates to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I tried to explain that its part of the religious accommodation process. He said, ok, well, thats not going to work in this wing. Because if its limited to this vaccine, thats a bad argument, right.. 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. For the investigation involving Col. Jon Meredith, the Army CID has exhausted all investigative leads and provided an interim report to 1st Calvary Division, Lt. Col. Jennifer J. Bocanegra, spokesperson for the 1st Cavalry Division, told Stars and Stripes. And they will ensure we remain the most lethal and ready force in the world.. He said, I think you know what this is about. He agreed to do so, and on Oct. 15 he issued the order, Ellis said. PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- The commander of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., was relieved of command Oct. 14 due to loss of confidence in his ability to command. Their relationship began to degrade good order and discipline at the Warfare Center, the report said. She previously held command and staff positions at the company, battalion, and brigade levels, Army officials said. The structure and culture of JBSA/BAMC also helped undercut leaders ability to address the issues, which remains part of the problem.. 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. 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. The Active-Duty Air Forces troubles meeting its recruiting goals have been well documented, as leaders and recruiters struggle, The Air Force expects the final report of a sweeping, first-of-its-kind suicide analysis board in the next few months, as the department looks to refine its prevention and response efforts. 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. Did you also not take the Hep B? 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. Meredith took command of the 89th Military Police Brigade at the Texas installation on July 8, 2022. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Today I am left with this last opportunity to make a difference, he said. UPDATE: Air Force Reserve Colonel Promotion Announcement. Donovan was moved to other responsibilities at Tinker, according to the report. Dec 12, 2018 Lt. Col. Raymond Fortner was relieved of command of the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana was relieved of command. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said that Gersten received an Article 15 punishment, and retired Jan. 1 at a reduced rank. Show when youve been opposed to this in the past and how did this all of a sudden become a part of your closely held religious belief. The report said that Gersten also engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a second civilian woman between 2010 and 2015. 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.. Boring is a special assistant to the logistics complexs commander, Brig. The group will next be run by Lt. Col. Aaron Rivers, who will assume command on Monday, Mullican said. New details emerge about Col. Chung, the suspended commander of 5th SFAB 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. 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. Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. I am committed to ensuring we have the right leaders in place," Tuck said in the release. Bode, an orthopedic spine surgeon, said he repeatedly raised problems to his chain of command but that his superiors downplayed or ignored the concerns. 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. And, bring Air Force leadership under the same roof as their subordinates. Two-star general at Nellis fired over suspected unprofessional relationship, 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? Ellis said the specific reason was because she did not issue the vaccination order herself. One witness reported losing respect for Gersten after discovering he was visiting the female officers apartment, and believed he took advantage of her. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. Their relationship ended after Gersten was fired. Maj. 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. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the number of service members who have a waiver is very, very small.. Air Force: Wing commander at Joint Base Charleston removed following 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. 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An unidentified witness expressed concern to OSI that Gersten was at risk of blackmail over the relationship. I havent seen that much suicide [on deployment] as I saw in a nine-month period of time at BAMC.. To grow this culture, we need all airmen to embrace this mindset and know they are the decisive factor that makes us the worlds greatest Air Force.. from around the world. The military did not answer questions about multiple formal investigations mentioned in Bodes letter. 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. We remain committed to the success of Keesler's mission.". The 959th Medical Group employs 1,540 airmen who work alongside more than 6,000 Army personnel at the 425-bed facility. Hill Maintenance Group Commander Relieved of Command Top Air Force lawyer relieved of command. (Kemberly Groue/U.S. 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 in Texas the militarys largest health care hub. Before this act, the Air Force Reserve was a field operating agency of the Air Force established on April 14, 1948. They went to marriage counseling for several months to try to salvage their relationship. When asked about the conversation, Graham declined to comment. 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. Military.com was first to report the change. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. She recalled Graham saying as much during her relief of command meeting. 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. Modern-day Airmen applauded an Army veteran's 1988 humorous illustration of Air Force life when it resurfaced on Reddit earlier this month. 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. Another witness reported seeing the two flirting, and once also saw the woman while intoxicated during an event hosted at Gerstens home make a sexually suggestive remark to Gersten. Zamone Z Perez is a rapid response reporter and podcast producer at Defense News and Military Times. 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. Task & Purpose reported: They scored poorly on the Operational Risk Management test used to gauge the crews readiness to fly, which led the aircraft commander to cancel the sorties.. 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. But by fall 2011, he noticed something wasnt right in his relationship. 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. 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. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica Haynie). In this photo from Aug. 25, 2022, Allen delivers remarks during an event at the base. She is the spouse of an Army veteran and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism. 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. any request for a religious exemption would go through rigorous scrutiny, have several options for dealing with troops. Maj. Gen Michele Edmondson, commander of the Second Air Force, removed Hunter from the position Tuesday. The vaccines, he said, will protect you and your family. By 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. A simple urinalysis takes an hour because the results are processed six miles down the road from the operating room, rather than on another floor, the retired airman told Air Force Times. Commander That Fired First Female USAF Demo Team Leader Made This Crass According to an Air Force press release, Col. Jaron Roux was relieved of duty on Thursday for lack of confidence in his ability to command, following an investigation into and substantiation of allegations that Roux engaged in unprofessional relationships and fraternization. Maj. Gen. Peter Gersten addresses ceremony attendees after taking command of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center on July 13, 2017, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. 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. But after their relationship started, witnesses said her performance took a nosedive. They will protect your unit, your ship, and your co-workers. 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. "Our focus is on taking care of our airmen and civilians as we rebuild the command climate in the 317th Airlift Wing.. My religious beliefs prevent me from taking the vaccine, actively promoting the vaccine, and from administering the vaccine to others myself. Ellis had been in command for just four months. Bode added, Inside this command, many members have and continue to provide outstanding service despite the unforgivable conditions. The Air Force removed the commander of the Grand Forks Air Base in North Dakota because he failed his physical fitness test. Before he arrived at the Warfare Center, the female officer was thriving and eager to learn, witnesses said. Afterwards, Gersten admitted the relationship, the report said. 475 students are trained at the school every year on average, as of 2016. He felt Gersten was interfering in their marriage all the time they were in counseling. Did you also not take the smallpox vaccine? Bracknell said. 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. The hospital system at Joint Base San Antonio has a deeply ingrained toxic culture of cronyism and sycophancy that is an affront to ideals of military leadership, Col. Ken Bode, the outgoing commander of the 959th Medical Operations Squadron, wrote in a July 19 resignation letter obtained by Air Force Times. Some people will be court-martialed.. Owens has been temporarily reassigned to the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess while he awaits another assignment. (Army) An Army colonel at Fort Hood, Texas, was relieved of command on Friday as . Air Force). Soon afterwards, he said, she grew distant from him, though he first chalked it up to the requirements of her new job. All Rights Reserved. Cum on over. They had multiple more encounters in his on-base quarters and her off-base home, among other locations. Refreshed US-Philippine relations revive fighter jet training paused 3 decades ago, Victims of Army helicopter collision in Alaska include 2 chief warrant officers, Sexual Facebook post spurs UN Command to review its social media policies, Reports of sexual assaults increased in Navy, Air Force and Marines in 2022; Army saw decline, New bill aims to expand mental health care for military families, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. We need committed, engaged commanders that drove me to take command, he said. Dec 7, 2017. He is based in Washington, D.C. 2023 Stars and Stripes. WASHINGTON The Air Force has made a change of leadership at the 81st Training Wing in Mississippi due to a loss of confidence in the commander, a top service official announced this week. When you cant issue orders you have been given. News. Military investigating possible 'dysfunction' at Texas medical center The training mission at Keesler Air Force Base builds airmen who are foundational to the future of the Air Force. He has more than 2,800 flight hours, including 400 in combat over Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Bosnia. Ellis first received her commission in the Air Force in December, 1997, according to her command biography. I cant have commanders who choose what orders they execute and what orders they dont, Ellis recalled. 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. Published Oct 22, 2021 5:59 PM EDT. NORMAN S. WEST > Air Force > Biography Display - AF 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. ", By 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. Another witness said Gersten almost treated his girlfriend like a daughter and would never get mad at her. The former senior NCO recalled instances when Army officials allegedly neglected to tell airmen of a rape in the locker room; at least one instance when an airman faced false allegations of sexual assault as retaliation for trying to make changes; and when airmen were denied leave for at least a year during skills upgrade training, then again if their work didnt meet Army standards rather than the Air Forces. Gersten also engaged in inappropriate relationships with two other civilian women who worked for the Defense Department while he was still married, the report said. UPDATE: Air Force Reserve Colonel Promotion Announcement The former commander of the 496th Air Base Squadron and U.S. Gen. Gerstens notoriety for being the general officer who slept with his [redacted] brought discredit upon the Air Force, the report said. from around the world. Mission. Show when youve been opposed to this in the past and how did this all of a sudden become a part of your closely held religious belief. Bode declined to be interviewed. I respect Col. Ellis privacy and will not discuss the specifics of any conversations I had with her, he said. Col. Jason Allen the wings vice commander succeeded Hunter as interim leader. 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. The systemic flaws I encountered, and the unwillingness of those with the power to make necessary improvements, are what drive me now to resign.. The female officer told other staff at the Warfare Center, family members and a local friend about her relationship with Gersten, the report said, and later told the Office of Special Investigations about their relationship in detail. Military and overseas voters will effectively get more time to return absentee ballots under a bill Gov. Gersten was married during most of that period, the IG said. She recalled Graham saying as much during her relief of command meeting. The witness warned Gersten afterwards. 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