Week in photos

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexander Cook

Defenders assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron emergency services team, draw their weapons during a low-light exercise at MacDill Air Force Base Jan. 9. EST Airmen are highly trained and equipped to mitigate special threats which can involve barricaded suspects, hostages and active shooters. Low-light exercises prepare defenders to respond to situations in challenging environments.

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings Photo by Airman 1st Class Michael Killian

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Timothy Reed, 91st Air Refueling Squadron pilot, embraces his wife on the flightline at MacDill Air Force Base Jan. 12. The 91st ARS returned from a deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility where they performed around the clock air refueling operations. During the deployment, the 91st ARS supported the largest air refueling mission within the Department of Defense by providing fuel for 450 aircraft across the AOR each month. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Alexander Kuri, a 6th Civil Engineering Squadron explosive ordinance technician, and Brandon Thom, Busch Gardens and Adventure Island vice president, control a Man Transportable Robotic Systems II robot during the Leadership Tampa tour at MacDill Air Force Base Jan 11. The tour was held to show civic leaders from the Tampa Bay area the installation’s military capabilities and help facilitate further cooperation between MacDill and the local community.

DoD rescinds COVID-19 vaccination mandate

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—On Jan. 10, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III rescinded the Aug. 24, 2021, memorandum mandating that members of the Armed Forces under Department of Defense authority be vaccinated against COVID-19, and the memorandum of Nov. 30, 2021, pertaining to the vaccination of National Guard and Reserve personnel. This rescission requirement was established by the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

The health and readiness of the Force are crucial to the Department’s ability to defend our nation. Austin continues to encourage all service members, civilian employees, and contractor personnel to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 to ensure Total Force readiness.