Col. Tim Bush is no longer in command of the 319th Air. An unidentified witness expressed concern to OSI that Gersten was at risk of blackmail over the relationship. The retired master sergeant argues that the Army and Air Force officials in charge are more concerned about self-preservation and looking good at promotion time than creating a healthy work environment for the troops under them. 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. When you cant issue orders you have been given. Ellis said the specific reason was because she did not issue the vaccination order herself. 475 students are trained at the school every year on average, as of 2016. 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. Still, Kuhn hoped commanders would take a compassionate approach if any of their subordinates refused the COVID-19 vaccine. For fiscal 2022, the Department of the Air Force had the largest annual increase in the history of its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program,, They came from four continents and 10 countries, but by the end of the day on April 26, 14 men and women had two things in common: they were all Airmen, and they were all U.S. citizens. Bode added, Inside this command, many members have and continue to provide outstanding service despite the unforgivable conditions. 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. In October, Merediths husband, Col. Jon Meredith, was fired from his post as commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division due to loss of confidence. I get at least one notification a day about an Air Force or Space Force teammate we have needlessly lost to COVID, said Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones. David Roza 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. 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. Air Force Col. William Hunter, commander of 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, was relieved of command this week. 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. 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. Hunter was introduced as the wings training commander in June 2021. I tried to explain that its part of the religious accommodation process. He said, ok, well, thats not going to work in this wing. 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. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. 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. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets And they will ensure we remain the most lethal and ready force in the world.. Col. Jason Allen the wings vice commander succeeded Hunter as interim leader. 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"The position of command is a position of trust," said Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of the Air Education and Training Command. By then, Gersten was assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. On February 12, 2019, news that the first woman to lead an Air Force demonstration team was fired after just . 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. 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. 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. 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. The group also deploys teams around the world to repair aircraft in the field that were damaged in battle or crashes, and conducts field-level depot maintenance. No investigation is being conducted into the matter. Felton could not answer specific questions about what led to the loss of trust and confidence. Click below to pay our consultation fee and book your meeting with an attorney today! 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. The two-star general who was fired from command of the Air Force Warfare Center in 2019 has retired as a colonel after an investigation found he had a sexual relationship with a female subordinate. The Air Force saw it differently. 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. 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.. It could be a challenge for some service members to acquire religious exemptions, Butch Bracknell, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who served as a legal advisor for the 1st Marine Division, told Task & Purpose in August. There was always some half-story to explain the calls from Gersten, he said. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said that Gersten received an Article 15 punishment, and retired Jan. 1 at a reduced rank. I respect Col. Ellis privacy and will not discuss the specifics of any conversations I had with her, he said. Before that, she was the Air Force Surgeon Generals Deputy Chief Nursing Consultant at Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Va, where she oversaw healthcare operations for 5,000 nurses across the Air Force. -- Oriana Pawlyk contributed to this report. Col. Christopher Ayres was removed by Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg, the 20th Air Force commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica Haynie). Airmen are being told, No, you cant leave and go talk to a first sergeant. I am committed to ensuring we have the right leaders in place," Tuck said in the release. Capt. All Rights Reserved. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby seemed to echo that sentiment in a statement on Monday. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey. Soon afterwards, he said, she grew distant from him, though he first chalked it up to the requirements of her new job. Boring stepped into the role in June 2020 after the group's previous commander, Col. Randy Ackerman, also was relieved of command in May 2020. Witnesses described Gersten as personable, charming, sensitive to womens issues, and one who frequently hugged or patted subordinates about the shoulders, the report said. The Army has eschewed cooperation and common sense at every turn, starting with its refusal to adopt a joint name like Brooke Military Medical Center instead, Bode wrote in his resignation letter. What Happens to the Air Forces Oldest F-22s if Congress OKs Their Retirement? 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. 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. Meredith took command of the 89th Military Police Brigade at the Texas installation on July 8, 2022. He joined the Air Force in 1999 and was promoted to the rank of colonel two years ago. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. They will protect your unit, your ship, and your co-workers. Related: Air Force Wing Commander Fired Due to 'Loss of Trust and Confidence'. Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association, 1501 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. The 81st Training Wing is home to the Air Forces largest technical training group and trains nearly 30,000 airmen each year. This is about readiness and ensuring our airmen and guardians are healthy and ready to defend the Nation.. Before he became vice commander at Keesler in June, Allen was a special operations deputy at the Pentagon. Boring took command of the group last June, Mullican said. 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. The U.S. Air Force announced that Col. Gary Donovan, 552nd Operations Group commander, was relieved from command on Monday. 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. 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? The Space Force uniforms are steadily getting fleshed out, with progress on everything from PT gear to new service dress items, including the debut of the women's service dress skirt. Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2006 Colonel April 1, 2014 Brigadier General Aug. 2, 2020 (Current as of September 2022 . They went to marriage counseling for several months to try to salvage their relationship. At the time, he called the assignment at Keesler awesome and he said he was excited to shape young minds there. Because she felt the order conflicted with her religious beliefs, Ellis consulted with the base legal office the morning of Oct. 13 to figure out what to do next. Learn more here and be sure to check out more great stories on our homepage. 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. The systemic flaws I encountered, and the unwillingness of those with the power to make necessary improvements, are what drive me now to resign..