Thunderbolt 01/27/2022

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

AirForceunveilsactionplanto‘Developtomorrow’senlistedAirmen’

DAFstresses importanceofmentoringduringNationalMentoring Month

SecretaryoftheAir ForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON,Va.(AFNS)—AspartofNationalMentoringMonth, theDepartmentoftheAir Forcewillhostaseriesofvirtualliveevents focusedoneducatingAirmenandGuardiansontheimportanceofmentoring, howtobeaneffectivementor/mentee, andhowtoregisteronthe MyVECTORMentoringplatform.

Mentoringis arelationshipin which amoreexperiencedperson sharestheirknowledgeandskillswithapersonwithlessexperiencein anefforttohelpthemgrow, developandgainnewperspectives Often thisrelationshipisbetweenaseniorandajuniormember.

NationalMentoringMonth waslaunchedin January2002toconnect peopleinvestedinthementoringmovementandtohelppeopleaccomplishtheirlifeandprofessionalgoals.

“MentoringhelpsAirmenandGuardiansdiscovertheirstrengths whileachievingtheirfullpotentialthroughastructured,trustingmentoringrelationship,” saidMelissa Pagar, DAFMentoringProgrammanager.“Mentorshipisa criticalstrategyin developingtheAirmen and Guardiansweneedtobecomemorediverse, agileandinclusivepersonallyandprofessionally.”

TheDAF’soverarchingthemethroughoutNationalMentoringMonth is“Everyone WinswithMentoring.” Additionally, bothserviceshope tomotivateAirmenandGuardianstousethementoringcapabilities ofMyVECTOR.Recentupdatesallowmemberstosearchformentors with new attributessuch as ExceptionalFamilyMember status, race andethnicity. Raceandethnicitywerespecificallyaddedasaneffortto

overcomethelackofmentorshipoptionsaddressedintheRacialDisparityReview.

To kickoffNationalMentoringMonth,seniorleadersparticipated inan“Inclusion Talks!”panelsponsoredbytheOfficeofDiversityand Inclusion.Leadersprovidedinsightontheimportanceofmentoringand thebenefitsforthementee, thementor, andtheorganizationasawhole. “Mentorshipislikeabridgethatgetsthementeefromwheretheyare

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MacDillThunderbolt

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Deadlineforarticlesubmissionsisnoon, Wednesdays toappearinthenextweek’spublication.Articlesreceived afterdeadlinemaybeconsideredforfutureuse.Allsubmissionsareconsideredforpublicationbasedonnewsvalue andtimeliness.

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Courtesygraphic

TuskegeeAirman,AFlegendpassesawayat102

byStaffSgt.NickZ.Erwin SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va.(AFNS)—Brig. Gen.CharlesE. McGee, aTuskegeeAirmanandAir Forcelegend,passed away athisresidenceinBethesda,Md., Jan.16.He was 102yearsold.

McGee wasanairpower champion,notedforhiscombatsuccessesandimpactontheculturalshiftwithinthe military.

“AsaTuskegeeAirmanandcombat aviatorwith409 missionsacrossthreedecades, hisyearsinuniformwere nothingshyofheroic, andhisexampleofintegrity, service, andexcellenceendures,” saidAir ForceChiefof StaffGen.CQBrown,Jr.“Hislegacyisfoundationalto ourservice, andadailyinspiration forme personally, andtosomanyotherAirmen.”

McGee’s aviationcareerbeganonOct.26,1942,after heenlistedinthe U.S. Armyasapilot.Hewouldfly108

SeeTUSKEGEE,Page14

U.S.AirForcegraphicbySecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs Brig.Gen.CharlesE.McGee,a TuskegeeAirmanandAirForcelegend,passedaway athis residenceinBethesda,Md.,Jan.16.Hewas102yearsold.

AerialNetworksSummitprovides roadmapsforJADC2,ABM

byK.Houston Waters

66thAirBaseGroupPublicAffairs

HANSCOMAIRFORCEBASE,Mass.(AFNS)—Seniorleaders fromaroundtheAir ForcerecentlytraveledtoHanscomAir ForceBase todiscussaligningtheservice’saerialnetworkingeffortsinsupportof JointAll-DomainCommandandControl.

TheAerialNetworksDivisionhostedgeneralofficersandmembers oftheseniorexecutiveserviceforasummitaimedatdevelopingaerial networkingroadmapstomeetAdvancedBattleManagementSystem and JADC2objectives.Theseroadmapswillincludecapabilityreviews andrequirements, researchanddevelopment,andacquisitionstrategiesforaerialnetworktechnology.

TheAerialNetworksDivisionispartoftheCommand,Control,Communications, IntelligenceandNetworksDirectorate, headquarteredat HanscomAFB.

Brig. Gen.Evan Pettus,Air Force WarfareCentervicecommander andattendee, saidthattheworkthatwentonduringthesummitwill haveasignificantimpactonthe warfighterforyearstocome.

“Bringinginimportantstakeholdersfromacrosstheenterpriseto puttogetherthebigpictureofthetechnologythat’scurrently availablehasreallyhelpedsynchronizeourefforts,” hesaid.“Thismightbe thebeginningofajourney, butit’sanimportantoneandonewe’vegot

ParticipantsoftheAerialNetworksSummitatHanscomAirForceBase, Mass.,poseforaphotoDec.15,2021.Duringthetwo-dayevent,Air Forceseniorleadersmettodiscussthedevelopmentof roadmaps aimedatmeetingJointAll-DomainCommandandControlandAdvancedBattleManagementSystemaerialnetworkingobjectives.

totake. Becauseoftheimpactonthe warfighter, wehavetohaveour aerialnetworksright.”

ThesummitprovidedaforumforleadersfromAirStaff,AirCombat Command,AirMobilityCommand,theAir ForceResearchLaboratory,

PhotobyMarkHerlihy

WEEKINPHOTOS

PhotobyAirman1stClassJoseMiguel T.Tamondong

PhotobySeniorAirmanIrelandSummers Tech.Sgt.AdrianAllred,512thRescueSquadronspecialmissionsavia-

PhotobySeniorAirmanBaileeA.Darbasie

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Lt.Gen.LeoMarquez:Shapingmissionsuccess

byLt.Col.JosephEdington

6thMissionSupportGroupdeputycommander

Withoutmanyargumentsaround theproverbial watercooler, retiredAir ForceLt.Gen.LeoMarquezisaffectionatelyknownasthe“Godfather”oftheAir Force’saircraftandmunitionsmaintenancecommunities.

NotonlydidMarquezrevolutionize aircraftmaintenancebyinstitutionalizing reliabilityand maintainabilityconcepts, buthe wasalsoinstrumentalto munitionsmaintenancebydirectingthe developmentofrapidmunitionsassemblyconceptsandcreationoftheAir Force CombatAmmunitionCenter’sCombat AmmunitionPlanningandProduction coursetotrainandtestthesecapabilities.

Becauseofhismanyaccomplishments spanningmorethan33yearsofmilitaryserviceandhisimportantcontributionstoboththeaircraftandmunitionscommunities, unitsacrosstheAir

ForcenominateAirmenannuallyfortheLt.Gen.LeoMarquez Awardof MaintenanceExcellencetonotonlyhonorMarquezbuttorecognizemaintainersfortheirsuperiorserviceandperformance.

In2010,IhadtheprivilegetohavelunchwithMarquez.Asamunitions officerwhohasbenefitedfromattendingAFCOMAC’s CAPPcoursetwice asastaffsergeantandasacaptain,hebegrudginglytoldmeabouthistime duringthe Vietnam Warwherehehadhisfirstrealexposuretothemunitionsmaintenancecommunity.

Eventhoughtherearemanylessonsfromhislife, leadership, mentorship andguidancethatIhavedrawnuponsincemeetinghim,thefollowingstory inparticularstillresonateswithmetoday.

WhilestationedatBienHoaAirBase,Vietnam,thenMajorMarquez,an aircraftmaintenanceofficer, wasworkingmaintenancecontrol,nowlovinglycalledthemaintenanceoperationscenter, whenhe wasinformedbythe base’smunitionsofficerthatthere wasaproblemwiththenextscheduled resupplyofmunitionscomponents.

Specifically, theinboundshipmentcouldnotbepickedupfromtheporton theMekongRiverbecausethebase’sentirefleetofM3521/2tontrucksaka “Deuceandahalves”wereallnon-missioncapable.

Bottomline, withoutoperationaltrucks, nomunitionscouldbepicked-up andtransportedtothemunitionsstoragearea,andwithoutdelivery, nomu-

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Courtesyphoto

Lt.Gen.LeoMarquez

Fuel reclamation:Striving forgreenerskies

storyandphotosbyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin 6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

Fuel,thelifebloodofallaircraft—thesinglefactorthatundoubtedlycontrolsthecapabilitiesofthe6thAirRefueling Wingat MacDillAir ForceBase.

FuelenablestheAir Forcetomaintainglobalmobilityandprovide airliftsupportworldwide.

“MacDillisaflyinggasstation,” said U.S. Air ForceStaffSgt.Dylan Johnson,6thLogisticsReadinessSquadrondistributionsupervisor. “Itisourjobtomakesuregood, cleanfuelgetstotheKC-135ssothat theyaccomplishtheirmission;ourworkenablesaircrewstoproject ourenvironmentalfootprintonaglobalscale.”

Airmenarespeciallytrainedtohandlethesevolatileliquidsin compliancewithmeticuloussafetyregulationswhilemaintaininga goodperspectiveofqualitycontrolandfinancialconsideration.

“Weaccuratelyaccountforeverysinglegallon,everysinglequartof fuelthatpassesthroughourtrucks,” said Johnson. “Anyfuelthatis reclaimablefromtheaircraftitself, wesalvage.”

Airmenassignedtothe6thLRSfulfilltheirdutiesbysustaining alevelofexcellencewithinfuelingoperationsanddothatwhilesavingtheAir Forcehundredsofthousandsofdollarsworthoffuelfrom wasteannually.

AKC-135Stratotankeraircraftcancarryapproximately202,000 poundsofjetfuel,mostofwhichisusedinglobalrefuelingmissions. Withtheseaircraftcapableoftakingoffwithmorethan$90,000 worthoffuel,theabilitytosaveanyamountonflightcostsmakesa significantdifference.

“Themainthingisnotlettinganyfuelgets wasted,” saidStaffSgt. JosephHowell,6thLRSnoncommissionedofficerin charge.“When we’reworkingwiththousandsofpoundsoffuel,we’retalkingabout thousandsofdollars.”

Fuelsspecialistsuseavarietyoftoolsandequipmenttofueland reclaimtheseresourcesfromvariousaircraftenginesacrosstheAir Force.

“Justlikewhenyougetyouroil changedforacar, theoldoilisput intodrumstoberecycled,” said Johnson.“Theyareabletofilterthe oil,burnitandturnitintootherusablegradesofoil.”

The6thLRS PetroleumOilandLubricationflightreclaimed1,012 gallonsoffuel-savingMacDillapproximately$3,000withinathreemonthspanlastquarter.

Enablingarapidandlethalforce, MacDillAirmencontinuetowork diligentlytomaintain,protectandrestoreourassets.

U.S.AirForceAirman1stClassWhitBrewer,6thLogisticsReadinessSquadronfuels distributionoperator, reclaimsjet-afuelfromabowserwithasinglepointnozzlehose atMacDillAirForceBaseOct.19.Bowsersaresmall,transportablefueltanksusedfor variouspurposesontheairfieldandforaircraftmaintenance,savingMacDillapproximately$2,700worthoffuellastquarter.

U.S.AirForceAirman1stClassWhitBrewer,6thLogisticsReadinessSquadronfuels distributionoperator, reclaimsjet-afuelfromabowserwithasinglepointnozzlehose atMacDillAirForceBaseOct.19.Reclaimingand reusingjetfuelfromaircrafthas savedMacDillmorethan$750,000lastquarter.

nitionscouldbeassembledtomeetthefragmentaryorderin supportofthewing’sflyingschedule.

Armedwithcriticalinformationthatthebase’scombat aircraftsortieswereinjeopardyofbeingscrubbed,Marquez marchedovertothebasemotorpooltoseewhathecould ascertain.

Uponarrivalatthemotorpool,Marquezimmediatelydiscoveredthathisrespectivemajorcounterpart wasnowhere tobefound,andhadnotbeenseenbythefront-linelieutenantandmastersergeantforseveraldays.

Beingtheboldleaderhe was, Marquezimmediatelyassessedthesituation,ralliedtheon-dutyvehiclemaintainers, andmostimportantly, helpeddevelopsolutionstoresolve thedeuceandahalfinventory’snon-missioncapablestatus.

Oncetheentirefleet wastriaged,heandthemotorpoolexpertsstartedfixingwhattheycouldfixthroughlimitedparts availabilityandcannibalizationoftheirhardbroketrucks.

Additionally, realizingthis wasnotjustamotorpoolproblem,hecalledbacktothemaintenance chiefforhelp Once thesituation wasexplained,every availableaircraftmechanicandelectricianreportedtothemotorpoolwithtool kitsinhand.

Thenextday, enoughoperationaldeuceandahalftrucks arrivedatthemunitionsstorageareareadytobedrivento theportforpick-upoftheirwing’smuch-neededmunitions.

Afterhisstory, I wascompletelyspellboundfromhearinghowMarquezcutthroughorganizationalredtapewith graceandease.

Moreimportantly, howMarquez’sactionstranscended egosandhurtfeelingswhilesubsequentlycrushingthe wing’smissionbysuccessfullyoperatingoutsidehardparty linesofspecificAir Forcespecialtycode’straditionaltasks andresponsibilities.

AsIinformedMarquezhow aweandinspiredI wasby hisstory, hedidsomethingthatcompletelycaughtmeoff guard—helaughedatmyexuberanceandsaidthere wasa littlemoretothisstory.

Therestofthestory waswhatyouwouldhaveexpected. Marquezbriefedhisboss, thewing’sdeputycommanderof maintenanceofthesituation.Fullyrealizingtheimpact,the DCM,withMarquezintow, wentdirectlytobriefthewing commander.

Whilebriefingthewingcommander, thesupportgroup commanderstormedintothewingcommander’sofficelooking foranexplanationwhyMarquezthoughthe wasin chargeof vehiclemaintenanceandhowheneededtostayinhislane.

Aftersomeuncomfortablesilenceandglaringstares, the wingcommander chimedinbyprovidingsomeguidanceand direction.Thefirstisforthesupportgroupcommanderto findhisvehiclemaintenancemajor!

Withthatinmind,contextisimportant. Forexample, in thelatesixties, therewerenoemails, Internet,orsmart-

phones.Whenyouwerefacedwithemergentrequirementsornecessities, youhadtomakedecisionsonthespotwithverylimitedinformation andthenmostimportantly, act.

InMarquez’sdefense, hedidnothavetimeto waitforlateralcommunicationtofacilitateorganizationalcoordination,letaloneinitiateorparticipateinthesearchforthemissingmajorwho hadoversightofvehiclemaintenance Nor washe invehiclemaintenancetosolvetheirsupplyproblems, however, hedidprovidesolutionsordrive theirmaintenancepriorities. Bottomline, he was invehiclemaintenancetopreservecombatsorties—whichhedid.

Hislessontomeasamunitionsofficer wasthat thewing’smissionshapesanddrivestheorganization,nottheother wayaround.

Ican’ttellyouhowmanytimesinmycareer Ihavehitroadblocksfromsquadronswhoseprioritiesareincongruentwiththewing’smissionor strategicframework.Morespecifically, frustrated fromfrictioncausedbyasquadronwhohasforgottenthatthewing’smissiontheyaresubordinatetoisbiggerthan theirspecificAFSC or squadronnamesake.

IamashamedtosaythatIhavebeenguiltyof thisonmorethanoneoccasionfromamunitions maintenancecustomersupportperspective.

InAir ForceChiefofStaffGen.Charles Q. BrownJr.’sdirectivetoAirmen “Accelerate change orlose,” heexplainsthatonlythroughcollaborationwithinandthroughoutwillwewin.Ifweas anAir Forcearegoingtowinthehigh-endfight, wemustcontinuallyandcandidlyassessourselvesandaddressourinternalimpediments.

LikeMarquez’saforementionedstoryfrom Vietnam,wecannotshy away fromourduties asAirmenwenotonlyneedforourselves, orour squadron,butforourwinginpreparationforthe next challenge.

Additionally, toeffectivelycollaborateonmissionsuccess, wemustbuildenduringrelationshipsthroughoutourwingatalllevelsthatcut throughbureaucraticandsometimesself-imposed “redtape”whichtranscendsinternalconflictsand mostimportantly, wemustcultivateanenvironmentthatoperatesandthrivesoutsideofourspecificAFSCmindsetbyfocusingongrandstrategy.

Brown closesaccelerate change, orlosewith, “Ifweareboldenough,wecanshapeourfuture proactivelyvicereactivelyafterexperiencingcatastrophiclossandpotentialdefeat.”

IfweasanAir Forcedonotcontinuetoacceler-

ate change, weasanationrisklosingalotmore thanjustcombatsorties.

Inregardstomunitionsmaintenance, it was duringportoperationsontheMekongRiver wherethefirstseedsofrapidmunitionsassemblydevelopmentandAFCOMAC’screationwere plantedasMarquez wasamazedatallofthedifferentcomponentsneededformunitionsbuild-up tomeettheirFRAGrequirements.

Thissimpleobservationduringthe Vietnam Warwouldlaterbloomandprovecriticalas rapidmunitions assemblydevelopmentandAFCOMAC’s CAPPgraduatesweresuccessfullybattle-testedduringOperationsDesertShieldand DesertStorm.

Lt.Gen.LeoMarquez wasbornon January27, 1932.Inhonorofthisdate, hisleadership, guidance, mentorshipandboldnessareremembered.

Aroundtheaforementionedproverbial water cooler, somewouldarguethat January27isalsothebirthdayforbothaircraftandmunitions maintenancecommunitiesasweknowit.

Regardlessifyouareamaintainerworkingin themissilefields, munitionstorageareas, weaponsstorageareas, maintenancebackshops, oron theflightlinesacrossourAir Force, happybirthday!AndlikeourGodfather, wedonot waitfor missionsuccess, weshapeit

Counselorsurgeservicemembersto reviewSBPbefore retirement

byDerrickHarrisandPatriciaWittenborn

MOODYAIRFORCEBASE,Ga.(AFNS)—TheSurvivorBenefit Plan(SBP)isavoluntaryprogramwhichprovidesthesurvivorsofparticipatingretireesamonthlyincomethatstartswhenthememberdies andretiredpaystops.

Althoughsomemaynotbe awareofit,automaticSBPspousecoverage becameeffectiveSept.10,2001,undertheNationalDefenseAuthorizationActof2002.Whileonactiveduty, thegovernmentprovidesthisprotectionatnocosttospouses. BeforeretiringfromtheAir Force, however, themembermustdecidewhetherornottocontinuetheSBP.

Bylaw, spousesandeligibledependentsareprotectedbymaximum SBPcoverageafterretirementunlessthespouseandretireeelectnot toenrollintheSBPorelectcoverageatareducedlevel.However, once thememberretires, SBPfinancialprotectionwillnolongerbefree Ifthe member choosestoenrollintheSBP, amonthlypremiumwillbedeductedfromtheirAir Forceretiredpay. Thepremiumcostis6.5percentof coveredretiredpay, orlessforsomelowerlevelsofcoverage.Themonthly costissubjecttocost-of-livingadjustments(COLAs),butthepercentage doesnotincrease.

TheamountofSBPannuityaspousereceivesatthetimeoftheretiree’sdeathdependsonthelevelofcoverageelectedpriortoretirement. Thelevelofcoverage, or“baseamount,” maybeaslowas$300,butcan-

notexceedfullretiredpay. Thecostforthecoverageisdeductedfrom retiredpayuntiltheretiree’sdeath.Thesurvivingspousereceives55 percentofthebaseamount.ThevalueoftheannuityincreasesbyCOLAs beforeandaftertheretiree’sdeath,keepingupwiththeeffectsofinflation.Inaddition,theSBPallowsthemembertoexcludethespouseand elect child-onlycoverage.

Although child-onlycoveragecostslessthan SBPcoverageforthe spouse, a child’seligibilityislimitedtoage22,unlessincapableofselfsupport.Iftheretireediesafterthe childrenareage22,thespousewill notbeentitledtoreceiveanypayments.Theonly waytoensurespouse coverageistoselectthatoption.

BecausefamiliesmaybesignificantlyaffectedfinanciallybytheirSBP decision,itisimportanttheyunderstandtheprogram.TheAir Force stronglyencouragesmemberstoattendtheSBPbriefingwiththeir spouses.TheSBPbriefingisamandatorybriefingforthemember, and theDD2656isamandatory checklistitemforfinaloutprocessing.

MembersmaynothaveanopportunitytoenrollintheSBPafterretiring, sothedecisionbeforeretirementwillbefinal.

Onceagain,retiredpaystopswhentheretireedies.Theonly waythe survivorcanreceiveamonthly checkfromDefense FinanceandAccountingServiceisthroughtheSBP.TheAir Forceurgesmilitarymembers andtheirspousestocarefullyweighthemanyadvantagesoftheSBP beforemakingadecision.

AFWC, theRapidCapabilitiesOffice, andmultipleAir ForceLifeCycle ManagementCenteracquisitiondirectoratesandprogramofficesto meetface-to-faceattheappropriatelevel.

ForMaj.Gen.HeatherPringle,AFRLcommander, amajortakeaway oftheevent wasthatdecisionsweremadeonhowtheAir Forceshould investresourcestoensureresilientcommunicationsfor warfightersin alloperationalenvironments.

“Bringingeveryonetogether, fromtechnologiststothe warfighters, allowedustoreallyshapeourfocus,” shesaid.“Somuchgreatworkis goingonintheAir Forceandthissummitreallyhelpedusstreamline ourprioritiestowardourultimategoal.”

ForMaj.Gen.MichaelSchmidt,programexecutiveofficerforC3I&N, thesummitreinforcedhisbeliefthatindustrypartnersarecriticalto thedevelopmentofaerialnetworksintheAir Force.

“Thissummit wasanopportunityforustoalignoureffortsandrefineourrequirements, andthenwecanturntoourindustrypartners andtellthemexactlywhatweneedthemtoworkonforourmilitaryto stayaheadofouradversaries,” hesaid.“Italsoreinforcedthefactthat thereisalotofgreatworkgoingonoutthere, butit’snotallalignedto thesamestrategicgoal.Theseroadmapswillhelpusgetthere.”

Schmidtsaidhebelievesinthevalueofbringingtheoperational,requirements, andtestcommunitiestogetherwiththeorganizationsthat developandacquireaerialnetworkcomponents. ForSchmidt,these partnerships, likethosewiththeMassachusettsInstituteof Technology

LincolnLaboratory, theMITRECorp.,AFRL,andothers, arecriticalto supportingaerialnetworkssotheDepartmentofDefenseandcoalition partnerscancontinuetoimprovecommunication,bothinsideandoutsideofhighly-contestedenvironments.

InhisaddresstotheAir ForceAssociation’sAir, SpaceandCyber ConferenceinNationalHarbor, Maryland,inSeptember2021,SecretaryoftheAir Force Frank Kendalldiscussedtheneedtoachieveand delivermeasurableimprovementswithABMS.

“Tobestronger,wearegoingtohaveto change,” hesaid.“Ourstrategiccompetitorshavestudiedhowwefightandtheyhavetakenasymmetricstepstoexploitourvulnerabilitiesandtodefeatus.Wehaveto respondwithasenseofurgency, butwealsohavetotakethetimenecessarytomakesmart choicesaboutourfutureandourinvestments.”

AccordingtoCol.ShaneLouis,AerialNetworksDivisionseniormaterielleader, thesummit wasasuccessfulstepinachievingthesecretary’sobjectives.

“Thisfirst-of-its-kindsummitwentexactlyaswehoped,” hesaid. “NotjustendorsingtheestablishmentoftheAerialNetworksDivision astheleadfortheAir Force’sAerialNetworksCenterofExcellence, but alsoinjump-startingtheprocessofdevelopingenterprise-wideroadmapstoprovideacriticalcommunicationscapability, eveninhighly contestedenvironments.”

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MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u

towherethey wanttobe,” saidChiefMasterSgt.AnthonyThompsonJr, 361stRecruitingSquadronseniorenlistedleader.“Withoutthatbridge, thementeemayswimorevenkayakfrompointAto B, butit’lltakea lotlongerandbealotharder.”

Threemorevirtualeventsare availabletoAirmen,Guardiansand civilians.Alleventsstartat11a.m.EST:

TUSKEGEE

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combatmissionsthroughoutEuropeduring World WarII.Duringthis time, heandotherTuskegeeAirmendistinguishedthemselvesthrough theircombatproficiencyandcompetence.

Withover6,800flyinghours, McGee’scareerspanned30yearsand threedifferent wars: World WarII,the Korean Warandthe Vietnam War. HisdecorationsforoutstandingserviceincludedtheDistinguished FlyingCross, LegionofMerit,BronzeStar,AirMedalandthePresidentialUnitCitation.

In2007, theTuskegeeAirmenwere presented the Congressional GoldMedalbyformerpresidentGeorge W. Bush,andin2011,McGee wasenshrinedintheNational AviationHallof Fame. Laterin2019,the TuskegeeAirmenwerefurtherrecognizedinnamingthe T-7Atraining aircraft,the“RedHawk,” inhonoroftheairplaneflownduring World WarII. Forhiseffortsduringandafterhismilitaryservice, McGee was promotedtotherankofbrigadiergeneralattheageof100.

TheTuskegeeAirmandedicatedhistimetobetteringthelivesofall

SUMMIT

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Overthelastseveralyears, theAerialNetworksDivisionhasmade progressdemonstratingsignificantadvancesinaerialnetworkcapabilities, likeself-healingmeshnetworks, highcapacitybackbones, softwareprogrammableradios, andprotectedtactical waveformsfor secureandresilientsatellitecommunications, Louissaid.

Jan.25– Virtualmentor-centricmentoringworkshop

Jan.27– Virtualmentee-centricmentoringworkshop

Inaddition,arecordedMyVECTORdemonstrationis availableon the CACenabledMyVECTORMentoringResourcespageandanew public-facingwebsite, withmentoringresources, waslaunched Jan.10 athttps://www.af.mil/About-Us/Mentoring/.

Airmen.OftensportinghisredTuskegeeAirmenjacket,McGeeadvocatedfor aviationandequaltreatmentofAirmen,regardlessoftheir backgrounds.Afterhisretirement,McGeecontinuedtomentoryoung people, currentandformerAirmenandallothersinterestedin aviation andscience, technology, engineeringandmathematics.

“Justlastmonth,tocelebratehis102ndbirthday, hespenttimewith Airmen,continuingtoinfluenceandteachlongafterretirement,” Brown said.“Oneofmyfavoritelessons, inhisownwords, was‘Don’tletcircumstancesbeanexcusetonotachieve…that’snottheAmerican way’.”

ThroughMcGee’sactions, theAir Forcehascontinuedtobreakbarriersandcreateamilitarybranchthataccelerates changeateverypossibleinstant.Hislegacyshowcasestheunendingresolveandcourage neededtosecureandprotectthenationatanytime.

“Gettingtoknowandspendtimewithhim wasanhonorandatrue joy, andmyheartiswithhisfamilyandallthoseaffectedbypassing,” Brownsaid.

JADC2isthe U.S. DepartmentofDefensestrategic warfighting conceptthatconnectsthesensors, shooters, andrelatedcommunicationsfromallmilitaryservices.TheAdvancedBattleManagementSystem,orABMS, istheAir Force’sprimarycontributionto JADC2.

We’rehiring,joinourteam

The6thFSSiscurrentlyhiring inthefollowingareas:

•Recreation:(bowlingoutdoor rec, golfandartsandcrafts)

•Foodservice:(bartenders, cooks, cashiersandfoodservice workers)

•Hospitality(lodging,dining andeventcenter)

•Childandyouthpositions(child andyouthprogramsssistant)

Formorejobinformationvisit https://macdillfss.com/open-jobs/

Freegolflessons Wednesdays

Freegolflessonsforactivedutyandtheirspouses 12 p.m.–1 p.m.every Wednesdayatthegolf course drivingrange. Instruction,golfballsand clubswillbe provided,ifneeded.Noreservationrequired. Formoreinformationcall828-0046.

Teennightout– YouthCenter

Jan.28,6 p.m.–9 p.m. Joinus atthe YouthCenterforthefirst teennightoutofthenewyear. We willhavetonsoffunand gamesfor ages13-18.Current HPCONruleswillapply.

Markthecalendar

Valentine’sCraftBazaar Feb. 11, 9a.m.-3 p.m. Findmoreeventsatmacdillfss.com

Saycheese,CES!

OtherFaithGroups

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

THUNDERBOLT