Space Force

The U.S. Senate confirmed Maj. Gen. John J. DeGoes as the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General July 31, 2024. In this position, he will also serve as the principal advisor on all health and medical matters for the Space Force.

The Senate Armed Services Committee confirmed DeGoes by voice vote.

“I am honored the U.S. Senate has confirmed my appointment as the Surgeon General of the Air Force,” said DeGoes. “This is a humbling and significant milestone, and I am committed to advancing the health and readiness of our Airmen and Guardians. As we navigate a challenging strategic security environment, I will focus on enhancing our medical capabilities to ensure we are always prepared.”

DeGoes formerly served as Deputy Surgeon General, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Falls Church, Virginia, since May 2021. As deputy surgeon general, he supported an integrated healthcare delivery and readiness system with 44,000 personnel, which served 2.6 million beneficiaries and 76 military treatment facilities globally. DeGoes provided oversight for the daily functions of the Air Force Surgeon General’s office across four locations. These functions included clinical operations and quality; aeromedical evacuation; management of global forces, programs and budget, medical forces and medical information systems. He coordinated Air Force Medical Service operations through major commands, field commands, joint service agencies, the Defense Health Agency, and the Department of Veteran Affairs.

DeGoes is a chief physician and flight surgeon board certified in internal medicine. He is also a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a certified Physician Executive.

DeGoes graduated from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1989, after receiving direct commission to attend the medical school. His prior leadership include serving as commander of the 59th Medical Wing and command surgeon for the U.S. Air Force Central Command and the bi-national command, U.S Northern Command-North American Aerospace Defense Command.

DeGoes will be sworn in as the Department of Air Force’s 25th surgeon general and promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on a forthcoming date.

Read DeGoes’ full biography. [https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/News/Biographies/Display/Article/2913019/dr-john-j-degoes/]

FORT MCCOY & VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wis. — Airmen from the 192nd Security Forces Squadron, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, honed their combat readiness during joint exercise Bumbu Forge 2024, a large-scale training exercise held June 2-16, 2024, at Fort McCoy and Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center at Volk Field ANG Base in Wisconsin.

Designed to enhance the interoperability and readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces, Bumbu Forge focused on realistic combat simulations and strategic operations. The exercise involved coordinated efforts across various military branches and units, testing the participants’ tactical skills and decision-making abilities in a controlled, high-intensity environment.

More than 62 units from the Air National Guard, Army National Guard and the United States Air Force participated in the exercise, which consisted of two distinct phases.

During the first week, training was emphasized on expeditionary training. During this phase, the 192nd SFS played a crucial role by providing combat arms training, maintenance instruction and base defense training to combat communications and support personnel. This training proved essential in building competence and confidence when establishing bare-bones operating locations in austere environments with potential kinetic threats.

They transitioned to a readiness exercise for week two, simulating a deployment scenario with personnel operating under contested, degraded, or operationally limited conditions. This realistic environment pushed Airmen to adapt and overcome real-world challenges.

“Bumbu Forge 2024 provided invaluable real-world agile combat employment training for our security forces team and the [192nd] Mission Support Group as a whole,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Manaal “Pipper” Burge, 192nd MSG commander. “These exercises are critical for developing multi-capable Airmen and ensuring we are prepared to rapidly deploy and effectively support the mission in any environment. Not only was it great training for our team, but it was also a great opportunity for us to provide excellent integrated defense training to the other 900 participants.”

The exercise kicked off with a night landing. Personnel with the 192nd SFS disembarked from a C-130 Hercules aircraft onto a dirt airstrip, immediately securing the airfield for follow-on C-130 operations. Follow-on flights brought in combat communications and support personnel who boarded CH-47 Chinook aircraft from the Nebraska Army National Guard for onward deployment to forward operating sites.

Throughout the exercise, 192nd SFS personnel spearheaded base defense operations, enabling combat communications and support units to focus on establishing essential communications infrastructure under challenging conditions. The Airmen benefitted from daily forward deployments via CH-47 Chinooks, allowing them to hone their tactical skills further.

“You learn what you need and don’t need because you have to be efficient,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jarvis Mason, 192nd SFS journeyman. He highlighted the importance of proper supply selection while deploying with limited space aboard the Chinooks.

The exercise also included a distinguished visitor day, showcasing the training value to more than 80 DVs across the ANG. The DVs flew into the simulated deployed environment on UH-60 Black Hawks as part of a simulated combat environment and interacted with their Airmen firsthand during training. They also had the opportunity to learn about how Bumbu Forge increased the warfighting skills and mission readiness of their Airmen in multiple different facets.

Leadership from the 192nd Wing demonstrated their support for the SFS personnel with the attendance of Burge, their group commander, in addition to U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean J. Fretwell, 192nd Wing command chief, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Joseph J. Young, 192nd MSG senior enlisted leader.

Bumbu Forge culminated in a simulated kinetic attack on the main operating base, testing the security forces’ ability to defend the airfield under various threats after days of continuous operations and sleeping in austere conditions.

“The planning and execution were phenomenal, incorporating all aspects of a real-world scenario,” said Burge. “The realistic challenges faced at Bumbu Forge honed our skills and strengthened our ability to work together as a cohesive unit and respond effectively. Our participation in exercises like this is essential for maintaining the combat readiness of the 192nd Wing.”

While not a NATO member, Colombia is increasingly viewed as a key global partner for the 32-nation Alliance and U.S. combatant commands like U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) and U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM).

Exercises and Partnerships

STUTTGART, GERMANY– As a major non-NATO U.S. Ally, Colombia has actively participated in various NATO exercises and operations, strengthening interoperability and cooperation with Allied forces. Recently, Colombia demonstrated its commitment to collaborating with like-minded nations worldwide by participating in the U.S. Department of Defense-led and U.S. European Command-coordinated Large Scale Global Exercise (LSGE), demonstrating its commitment to the shared values of freedom and security.

“Through our active involvement with NATO Allies and partners around the world, Colombia demonstrates its strong desire to foster relationships beyond the Western Hemisphere and its commitment to stability and security efforts,” said Colombian Army Brig. Gen. Carlos Enrique Carrasquilla Gomez, Senior Coalition Activities Advisor, Exercises and Coalition Affairs, U.S. Southern Command. “Colombia and its military forces are committed to supporting global peace efforts under the principles of Western democracy, with our government prioritizing the protection of life as its highest objective.”

LSGE 24 incorporated nearly 30 wide-ranging exercises and military activities to highlight America’s robust presence and capabilities alongside Allies, partners and fellow U.S. combatant commands.

Within the framework of LSGE, exercises like USSOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds and Resolute Sentinel play a crucial role. These exercises focus on countering transnational threats and enhancing regional security cooperation with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean, an effort of critical importance in today’s interconnected world as events in one region can quickly impact nations across the globe.

Notably, key NATO Allies such as Canada, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom also participate in these exercises alongside Colombia. This collaboration allows for the sharing of best practices, fine-tuning militaries’ ability to operate as one, and the strengthening of operational capabilities to effectively address common security challenges.

This year, NATO’s Allied Special Operations Forces Command certified Colombian Special Forces during USSOUTHCOM’s Fused Response in which they used the NATO special operations planning process and tactics, techniques and procedures. This certification highlights the interoperability and readiness of Colombian Special Forces to operate alongside NATO Allies, ensuring they meet the rigorous standards set by the Alliance for conducting complex and dynamic security missions

Colombia’s efforts to enhance security within its borders contribute to regional stability, which in turn benefits European security by disrupting transnational criminal networks and curbing the flow of illegal drugs and other illicit goods to Europe.

Support to Ukraine

Much like Japan in the Far East, Colombia in the Western Hemisphere has demonstrated its commitment to global security by providing non-lethal military aid to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. This assistance includes items such as helmets, bulletproof vests and night vision goggles, underscoring Colombia’s solidarity with Ukraine and its support for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Colombia’s contributions to Ukraine, combined with international efforts to blunt an autocratic leader’s attempts to erase a sovereign country, demonstrates the strength of partnership and cohesive resolve toward global peace, stability and freedom

Space Military Integration

Colombia is an emerging space partner to the U.S. and recognizes the importance of space capabilities to its military operations. In 2021, USPACECOM and the Colombian Air Force signed a space situational awareness information-sharing agreement to promote greater safety and stability in the space domain, a prime example of the nation’s effort to expand space cooperation.

In 2024, Colombia participated in USSPACECOM’s Global Sentinel capstone event alongside participants from 25 nations to strengthen and grow international partnerships, deepen integration, and strengthen interoperability through exercises focused on space situational awareness and command and control.

Expanding space cooperation and deepening integration among nations with a shared commitment to the responsible uses of space increases collective security in all domains.

Colombia has been a steadfast military partner with the U.S. for many decades and recently completed a bilateral Space Capabilities Alignment Conference with the U.S., where both nations engaged in high-level discussions on space domain awareness and explored avenues for future collaboration in space-related initiatives.

Additionally, USEUCOM, USSOUTHCOM and USSPACECOM are working closely with Colombia and other Allied and partner nations in building an operational space coalition of countries in the Western Hemisphere that are closely aligned with NATO through space domain operations.

Colombia’s contributions to global security, its participation in multinational exercises, and its commitment to space collaboration underscore its importance as a key partner for USEUCOM, USSOUTHCOM, USSPACECOM and NATO. The strong partnership among Colombia and these organizations plays a vital role in maintaining regional and global stability, countering transnational threats and promoting international cooperation.

This featured story was written in collaboration with U.S. European Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Space Command, NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and NATO Allied Special Operations Forces Command.

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About USEUCOM

U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 65,000 permanent military personnel supported by rotational forces and DoD civilians working closely with NATO Allies and partners. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil.