Vol. 52, No. 1
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The year in photos- part II of II
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing and three F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing fly over Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, July 4, 2023. The flyover was conducted in celebration of the Fourth of July and highlighted the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company and of air refueling, a capability that enables global reach for the Air Force.
THE YEAR IN PHOTOS Airmen assigned to the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal unit wash their equipment during a chemical ordnance response assessment at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 21, 2023. EOD technicians with the 6th CES were evaluated on their proficiency in rendering chemical ordnances safe in any environment. The technicians wore a Hazardous Materials Protection Level B suit which is composed of a chemical resistant material with a hood, a self-contained breathing apparatus, inner and outer chemical resistant gloves, and chemical resistant safety boots.
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air Refueling Wing commander and the MacDill community. Personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments via email to macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil or Facebook @6thARWCommandTeam
MacDill Thunderbolt Publisher: Joe Deluca Editor: Nick Stubbs The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by the Times Publishing Company, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense,
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the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Refueling Wing. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Refueling Wing or the Publishing Company of the products or service advertised. For retail advertising, call (813) 226-3318. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.
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MacDill on the web Website: www.macdill.af.mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb Twitter: @macdill_afb News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted to the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill , FL 33621. Call the Thunderbolt at 828-2215. : 6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@us.af.mil. Deadline for article submissions is noon, Wednesdays to appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions are considered for publication based on news value and timeliness. Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.
THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster
A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing departs MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 5, 2023. Eight tankers assigned to the 6th ARW departed for the Pacific theater to participate in Air Mobility Command’s Mobility Guardian exercise, in which the 6th ARW is acting as lead wing. The exercise is designed to test both the newest deployment model and AMC’s rapid global mobility capabilities in real time.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutton
A KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing taxis down the flight line of MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, during Operation Centennial Contact ,June 27, 2023. During the operation, more than 150 aircraft flew above communities around the country and across the world to honor 100 years of air refueling excellence. With 100 years of experience, the U.S. Air Force’s air refueling capabilities deliver unrivaled rapid global reach and meaningful maneuver for the Joint Force and our Allies and partners. Aerial refueling serves as a force multiplier, increasing the speed, range, lethality, flexibility and versatility of combat aircraft. Tankers also carry cargo and passengers, perform aeromedical evacuations, and enable strategic deterrence for the United States.
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 launches from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Aug. 26, 2023. The Falcon 9 rocket put the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov for an expedition aboard the International Space Station. The internationally crewed mission aims to conduct more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations to prepare for future missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.
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THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
Photo by 1st Lt. Kristin Nielsen
A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing flies over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida, during Operation Centennial Contact, June 27, 2023. During the operation, more than 150 aircraft flew above communities around the country and across the world to honor 100 years of air refueling excellence. With 100 years of experience, the U.S. Air Force’s air refueling capabilities deliver unrivaled rapid global reach and meaningful maneuver for the Joint Force and our allies and partners. Aerial refueling serves as a force multiplier, increasing the speed, range, lethality, flexibility and versatility of combat aircraft. Tankers also carry cargo and passengers, perform aeromedical evacuations, and enable strategic deterrence for the United States.
Photo by Senior Airman Jessica Do
Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutto
Air Force ROTC cadets from various universities around the country, nA KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to 6th Air Refueling Wing is shown on take a boat ride with the 6th Security Forces Squadron marine patrol- the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 7, 2023. The KCmen, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 14, 2023. The 6th Air Re- 135 is primarily used for air refueling, a capability that enables the air fueling Wing hosted the AFROTC cadets to provide insight into the Air assets of the Defense Department and partner nations to fly longer and Force mission and base operations at MacDill. have further reach. 4 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, January 4, 2024 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u
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THE YEAR IN PHOTOS U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Logan Fitz, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, pulls a power cart toward a KC-135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 14, 2023. The 6th AMXS ensures every component of the KC-135 is maintained to safety standards so the aircraft is readily able to fly. The duties of Air Force maintainers include performing preflight and postflight inspections, diagnosing and solving problems, conducting functional tests of repaired engines, and assisting in recovering aircraft.
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
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THE YEAR IN PHOTOS A NASA ER-2 takes off from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 13, 2023, to conduct terrestrial gamma-ray (TGF) flash, or dark lightning, research in the Gulf of Mexico. TGFs are the most explosive manifestation of energetic natural particle acceleration and can deliver 1018 high-energy photons from thunderclouds to space in a few tens of microseconds. The Airborne Lightning Observatory for TGFs campaign is a collaboration between NASA and the University of Bergen to study the advanced science of high-energy radiation emissions from thunderstorms.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
A NASA B-377-SGT Super Guppy Turbine from NASA’s Johnson Space U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Chris A. McPhillips, incoming commander Center, Texas is shown on the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base, Flori- of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command, front, stands at attenda, Aug. 1, 2023. The Super Guppy Turbine was in transit to NASA’s Ken- tion during a change of command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, nedy Space Center, Florida, and was carrying the Orion Heat Shield. The Florida, Aug. 1, 2023. USMARCENT is designated as the Marine Corps 16.5-foot-wide heat shield is one of the most important systems on the service component for U.S. Central Command and is responsible for all Artemis II Orion spacecraft. Marine Corps forces in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. 6 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, January 4, 2024 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u
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THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Williams, outgoing 50th Air Refueling Squadron commander, right, is recognized by Col. Jeff Mrazik, 6th Operations Group commander, earning an Air Force Commendation Medal during the 50th ARS change of command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 1, 2023. During his time in command, Williams completed multiple nuclear operational readiness exercises, led Mobility Guardian as the lead flying squadron and facilitated a 72 hour nonstop agile combat employment capstone flight.
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THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing is shown on the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 1, 2023. The KC135 is primarily used for air refueling where jet fuel is delivered through a boom in the back of the aircraft. Air refueling enables the air assets of the Joint Force and partner nations to fly longer. The 6th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) flight gather for an explosive operations demonstration, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, August 4, 2023. EOD technicians are trained to detect, disarm and dispose of explosive threats in the most extreme environments.
Photo by Senior Airman Jessica Do
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THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
An A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to the 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, over Georgia, Aug. 15, 2023. Air refueling enables aircraft to stay in the air longer and fly further distances without needing to land.
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Hyman, 6th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, guides his dog, Golyo, during a drug detection test at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 17, 2023. MWDs support Air Force missions and daily law enforcement by searching for narcotic drugs or explosives and working with their human counterparts to neutralize threats. MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, January 4, 2024 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 9
Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutton
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Charles Avrutis, a crew chief assigned to the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals KC-135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 28, 2023. Aircraft were evacuated to other bases around the country in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia.
Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Zachary Matthews, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, observes a KC135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 14, 2023. The 6th AMXS ensures every component of the KC-135 is maintained to safety standards so the aircraft is readily able to fly. 10
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THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
U.S. Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings
Air Force Airman 1st Class Jean-Luc Beasley, 6th Communications Squadron fixed communications technician, left, climbs a land mobile radio tower at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 13, 2023. The 6th CS installed a point-to-point antenna on the LMR tower to establish a better communications system with MacDill’s hurricane recovery team. (Far left) Personnel assigned to MacDill Air Force Base participate in a POW/MIA memorial run, Sept. 14, 2023. During the event, service members from across the installation kept the POW/MIA guidon in continual motion for 24 hours straight. (Left) Airmen assigned to the 6th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight demonstrate capabilities to Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and staff members at MacDill Air Force Base Oct. 31, 2023. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers players visited multiple units at MacDill and signed memorabilia. Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster
Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutton
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EVENTS Biggest Loser Challenge Get a jump start on your “New Year, New Me” fitness goals with the Short Fitness Center’s Biggest Loser Challenge. Register now through January 5. All weigh-ins will be in person. Stop by the front desk or visit macdillfss.com/short-fitness-center for more information. Family Fun Night Join us on January 12 from 5– 9 p.m. for an evening of glow-in-the-dark excitement perfect for the whole family at MacDill Lanes & Family Fun Center. Special deals on lane and shoe rentals. Fuel the fun with a scrumptious buffet featuring menu items to satisfy every appetite, $14.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids 12 and under (dine-in only). For more details, visit bit.ly/JanGlowarama. 2024 Theme Park Passes on Sale! Universal Orlando’s 2024 Military Freedom Pass and Disney World’s Armed Forces Salute tickets are now available at the ITT office located inside the BX on MacDill. Visit the MacDill ITT office inside the BX or visit macdillfss.com/information-tickets-travel/ today. Open FSS Positions Available Looking for the perfect career in the New Year? Positions are open for teens age 14 and up, dependents, retirees and active duty looking to work parttime. No prior base access required. Visit macdillfss. com/open-jobs/ to see current job openings and apply today. Find more events at macdillfss.com
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