MacDill Thunderbolt 10/07/21

DepartmentofDefensePublicAffairs

WASHINGTON(AFNS)—TheDepartmentofDefensehastemporarily authorizedincreasesinthe2021BasicAllowanceforHousingratesfor56 housingmarkets(commonlyreferredtoasMilitaryHousingAreas, MHAs) acrossthe U.S.

Uniformedservicememberswhohaveincurredincreasedhousingcosts abovetheircurrent BAHmaybeeligibletoapplyandreceive BAHatthe temporarilyhigherrate.Theincreased BAHratesforaffectedactiveduty (andfull-timeNationalGuardduty)servicemembersintheseMHAswill takeeffectOct.1,2021andexpireDec 31,2021.

RentalhousingmarketdatacollectedbytheDoDfromMarch-August 2021indicatestheCOVID-19pandemichashadasignificantimpacton rentalhousingcostsinthe56affectedmarkets. Notably, low availabilityandturnoverofrentalhousingstockduringthespringandsummer monthsledtorentalcostincreasesinmanylocations.

To helpeasethefinancialburdenofrisinghousingcostsfacingservice membersmovingtonewdutystationsorsigningnewleases, thedepartmentmovedquicklytoassessmarket changesacrossthe U.S., developa listofthemostaffectedmarkets, andevaluateandimplementpotential solutions.

AirmenandGuardiansshouldgohereforcompleteeligibilityguidelines andinstructionsonhowtoapply. Membersshouldbepreparedtoprovide their BAHamountanddocumentationofincreasedhousingcosts, toincludeleaseinformation,mortgagerates, orutilitybills.

Servicememberswhoarereceiving BAHinoneoftheaffected56MHAs andhaveverifiablehousingcostincreasesmaybeeligibleforthetemporary BAHrateincrease, subjecttoservice-specificimplementationguidelinesandapprovalofindividualapplications. Memberswhomaybeeligible forthehigher BAHrateswillreceiveanemailinthecomingdayswithadditionalinformationonhowtoapplyforthehigherrateswiththeirservice. Additionally, eachservicewillpublishinformationrelatedtohowtoapply inadministrativemessagesandothermedia channels.Thesehigher BAH rateswillbereplacedby2022 BAHrates.

Becausenotallsegmentsofahousingmarketincreaseordecreaseat thesamerate, the BAHratesforcalendaryear2022(effectiveasof Jan.1) maydifferfromthetemporarilyincreased2021rates Insomecases, 2022 BAHratesmaybemorethanthetemporarilyincreased2021 BAHrates. Inothercases, the2022 BAHratesmaybethesameormaybeless. BAH rateprotection,whichnormallyprotectsmembersfromdecreasesinhousingmarketcosts, doesnotapplytotemporaryrateincreases.Therefore, membersshouldnotassumetheserateincreaseswillcontinueinto2022.

Thedepartmentiscommittedtothepreservationofacompensationand benefitstructurethatprovidesmemberswithasuitableandsecurestandardoflivingtosustainatrained,experienced,andreadyforcenowandin thefuture.Thetemporary BAHincreaseisareflectionofthiscommitment.

Thetemporary BAHratesthatwillbeineffectOct.1-Dec. 31,2021for activedutyandfull-timeNationalGuardmembersarelocatedhere.They areshownformemberswithandwithoutdependents.

TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper isanauthorizedpublicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservicesonMacDill.ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,orendorsedbytheU.S.government,theDepartmentofDefense,

theDepartmentoftheAirForceorthe6thAirRefueling Wing.

Theappearanceofadvertisinginthispublication,includinginsertsorsupplements,doesnotconstituteendorsementbytheDepartmentofDefense,theDepartmentofthe AirForce,6thAirRefueling WingorthePublishingCompanyoftheproductsorserviceadvertised.

Forretailadvertising,call(813)226-3318.

Everythingadvertisedinthispublicationshallbemade availableforpurchase,use,orpatronagewithoutregardto race,color,religion,sex,nationalorigin,age,maritalstatus, physicalhandicap,politicalaffiliationoranyothernon-merit factorofthepurchaser, user,orpatron.

NewsitemsfortheMacDillThunderboltcanbesubmitted tothe6thAirRefueling WingPublicAffairsoffice,8208HangarLoopDr.,suite14,MacDillAFB,FL33621.CalltheThunderboltat828-2215.Email:6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.

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

Everyarticleandphotographiseditedforaccuracy,clarity,brevity,conformancewiththe“AssociatedPressStylebookandLibelManual”andAirForceInstruction35-101.

OperationAlliesRefugeacceleratesMobilityABMSconnection

byAlexandraSoika AirMobilityCommandPublicAffairs

SCOTTAIRFORCEBASE,Ill.—Amidthe whole-of-governmentefforttotransportAfghan evacueesfromtheMiddleEast,MobilityAir Force’strackingdatamadethefirstliveconnectionintotheUnifiedDataLibraryonAug. 30.

Theeffort wasspearheadedbyAirMobilityCommand’sCommunicationsDirectorate andtheGlobalDecisionSupportSystemteam, incollaborationwiththeUDLdevelopersat BluestaqandSpaceSystemsCommand.

“Forninemonths, wehadbeenworkingon aplantoshareourreal-timemissiondata throughtheUDL,specificallytoreachthose outsideofAirMobilityCommand,” saidCol. BradleyRueter, DirectoroftheCommander’s InitiativeGroup.“ButwhenOperationAllies Refugebeganandpiecesstartedmovingrapidly, weneededtoacceleratethetimelineandget thenecessarydataouttothelargerjointforce.”

Missiondata,suchasgeographicallocation

SeeALLIES,Page11

AU.S.AirForceC-17GlobemasterIIIfromMcChordAirForceBase, Washington,takesoffAug. 25,at TravisAFB,California.TheMcChordC-17stoppedwhileen routetoanundisclosedlocation insupportofOperationAlliesRefugetopickupAirmenandequipmentfromthe860thand660th AMXS.ThetwomaintenancesquadronsmaintaintheC-17andKC-10Extender, respectively.The U.S.AirForce,insupportoftheDepartmentofDefense,movedforcesintotheatertofacilitatethe safedepartureand relocationofU.S.citizens,SpecialImmigration Visa recipients,andvulnerable AfghanpopulationsfromAfghanistan.

Servicemembers,civilianscometogethertosavelives

by Tech.Sgt.JamesHodgman SpaceLaunchDelta45PublicAffairs

PATRICKSPACEFORCEBASE,Fla.(AFNS)—Shestoodinthe cemeterystaringatherfather’sgrave, trembling. Afewmonthsago, herfathertookhislife.Today, shehasdecidedtoend herlife.A worldwithoutherfatherisnotoneshe wantstolivein. Inherrighthand,sheholdsagun. Beforeshecanpointtheweaponatherself, shehearsavoicecallout. Thatvoice was U.S. Air ForceStaffSgt.MichaelaEvans, SpaceLaunch Delta45religiousaffairsnoncommissionedofficerin chargeat Patrick Space ForceBase. Evans wasdrivinghometo PalmBay, Florida,Aug. 13, andnoticedSarahflailingherarms.

“Shelookedlikeshe wasindistressandIdon’tliketoseepeoplehurting orstrugglingalone,” Evanssaid.“Istoppedmycarandapproachedher.”

EvansnoticedSarah wassobbing Shealsosawthegunshe washolding.

“Itookastepbackandaskedifshe wasgoingtohurtme,” Evanssaid. “Shesaid‘No, Ijustdon’t wanttobehere.Thisisforme.’ Iaskedifshe wasOKwithmesittingdownandtalkingwithher.Wejustsatthereand talkedforawhileuntilshecalmeddown.”

SeeSAFETALK,Page12

U.S.SpaceForcegraphicbyMichaelFrye

Nearlytwo-dozenU.S.SpaceForceGuardiansandU.S.AirmenparticipatedintheSuicideAlertnessforEveryoneclassSept.21,atPatrick SpaceForceBase,Florida.Thecourseuses realisticscenariostoteach peoplehowtohelpindividualswhomaybeatriskforsuicide.

PhotobyNicholasPilch

byAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings

6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

Withthecityof Tampaemergingastheeighthfastestgrowingmetropolitanarea,accordingto Forbesin2017,somewouldsaythatunfavorabletrafficconditionshaveadverselyimpactedthebayarea.

Operatedbyaciviliancompany, vanpoolingoffersservicemembers andcivilserviceemployeestransportationdirectlyfromtheirhomesto MacDill.

Withoveradozenvehicles availablesubsidizedbythemilitaryand stategovernmentmitigatingoutofpocketcosts, thevanpoolingservice savestimeandresourcesforbasepersonnel.

PaulSherman,facilitiespersonnelat JointCommunicationsSupport Element,hasbeeninvolvedwithcoordinatingvanpoolingatMacDillfor thelast15years.

Shermansaidthatvanpoolinghasmanybenefitsforthosewhowork onbaseincludingmoneysavedongasandtolls, managingmileageonprivatelyownedvehiclesandsavingtimefromdrivinginrushhourtraffic.

ForMacDillAir ForceBaseservicememberslivingoff-base, driving toandfromworkmayseemlikeanannoyancetostartorfinishthe workday. Analternativeoptiontocommutingtoandfrombaseisutilizingavanpoolingservice.

“Vanpoolingaffordspeopletheopportunitytosavemoneyonthe road,” Shermansaid.“Itremovesthestressofdealingwithtrafficin thisarea.”

To takeadvantageofvanpoolingserviceonbase, servicemembers andcivilserviceemployeescancall(813)828-8796oremailMr. Shermanatpaul.a.sherman2.civ@mail.mil

ADMINISTRATIVESERVICES

CommonAccessCard (CAC)- ByAppointment

OnlyorMissionEssentialActions(Initial CAC issue;lost CAC;PIN Reset; CAC expiringwithin 7days;emergency hardships

Retiree/Dependent ID Cards- 2Kiosks available at the BXfor renewalsor by appointmentonly

Passports ByAppointmentOnly

Military PersonnelFlight

APF/NAF/CIVPersonnelOffice Manpower &OrganizationOffice SchoolLiaison/EFMP

NAFCashierCage

PrivateOrg/UnitSM&WFunds Emergency FinancialAssistance

COMMUNITYSERVICES

MainBase Pool

Lap SwimOnly– Tues- Fri:0600-0800&1030-1330

*No Reservations Required

Marina -1/2or FullDay Boat/ Equipment Rentals,Snacks&Drinks

Boat/RVRegistration+WetSlips

Arts&CraftsCenter Shop

Skeet Range

Archery - by ReservationsOnly CarWash/Resale Lot

READINESS/DEVELOPMENT

FitnessCenter- Masksmay be removedwhile engagedinphysicalactivity;24/7Access Activated;OutdoorFitnessClasses

*NoIntramurals/Sauna/ChildCareAccess FacilityHours: Monday Friday 0500-2030 Weekends/Holidays 0600-1400

ChildDevelopmentCenters (CDCs)

FamilyChildCare

SchoolAgeProgram

YouthCenter

Military& Family ReadinessCenter Open forwalk-incustomersandappointments. Classes& Workshopsareamixture ofvirtual andinperson. Education

Airmenusevirtual realityduringsuicidepreventiontraining

byAirman1stClassHiramMartinez 6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

Inanefforttocombattheincreasingsuicide ratesacrosstheAir Force, the6thAirRefueling WingIntegratedResilience Teamincorporatednewtechnologyandtrainingmethods, providingAirmenwithaccesstoavirtualrealitysuicidepreventionsystemonSept.29.

“Thisisthefuture,” saidLisa Williams, the 6thARWIntegratedResilienceOfficecommunitysupportcoordinator.“Thistechnologyallowsustoprovideoptionsthatwillbestfitthe needsandskillsetsofourAirmenandcivilianswhoarerequiredtogothroughourannualtraining.”

Thetrainingplacedparticipantsintoascenarioinwhichtheyinteractwithapersonwho isinobviousemotionaldistress.Thegoalisfor

AnAirmanfromthe6thAirRefuelingWingparticipatesina VirtualRealitysuicideprevention trainingatMacDillAirForceBaseonSept.29.AirMobilityCommandisthefirstcommandinthe DepartmentofDefensetoutilizethisinnovative,andimmersivetrainingforsuicideprevention.

PhotobyAirman1stClassHiramMartinez

AirForce recognizesEnergy AwarenessMonth

Energy AwarenessMonthgivestheDepartmentoftheAir Force theopportunityeveryOctobertolookatthecriticalroleenergy playsinitscombatcapabilitiesandreadiness.

Thisyear marks thefinaliterationofthe three-year observance theme:“EnergyAble,MissionCapable.”

The awarenessthismonthbringsalsoservesasa chanceforthe departmenttoemphasizethestrategicimportanceofmitigatingand adaptingto climate changethroughenergy-informedsolutions.

“Effectivelydistributing, generating andmanagingenergyand fuelshouldbeatoppriorityforallAirmenandGuardians,” stated JenniferMiller,ActingAssistantsecretaryoftheAir ForceforInstallations EnvironmentandEnergy.“To winaconflictagainstapeer competitor, specificallyChinaorRussia,energy-informedsolutions arecritical,tonotonlyenhancethecombatcapabilityandreadiness ofouraircraftandinstallations buttoimprovefuelefficiencyand mitigate climate change.”

Asthebattlefieldgrowsincreasinglycomplex,andextremeweathereventsbecomemorefrequent,supplyingpowertotheforcesafely, reliably, andefficientlyremainsfundamentaltomissionsuccess.

DepartmentoftheAir Forceinstallationshaveconducted“blackstart”exercises, whichhaveallowedthestrategicplanningandtestingofenergysystemsduringmajorpoweroutagesorotherutilities failures.Additionally, joint wargamingeffortshavehighlightedenergysupply chainvulnerabilitiesandprovidedanopportunitytodecreaseenergyandlogisticsrisk.

TheDepartmentoftheAir Forceispursuingadvancedpropulsion, dragreductiontechnologies, enginesustainment,andplanningsoftwareinitsaircrafttostreamlineoperationsandflymorefuel-efficientlyforextendedrangeandloitertime.

To helpspread awarenessofenergyinitiatives, visit:www.safie. hq.af.mil/EnergyAwarenessMonth/andfollowthehashtag#EnergyAbleMissionCapableand#NoFuelNoFight atwww.facebook.com/ AirForceEnergyandwww.twitter.com/AFEnergy.

PublicAffairs,AirForceEnergy

Homeagain!

Airmenfromthe6th MaintenanceGroupare greetedbytheirwingmenafter returningfrom deployment at MacDill AirForceBaseSept.27. TheAirmencompleteda successfuldeploymentto SouthwestAsia.

andmissioninformation,hashistoricallybeenstoredinstove-pipedsystemsanddesignedtoonlybe availabletoselectpeople, insupportof specific missionareas.Thissituation wascreatedbydesigntoprotect operationallysensitivedata.

Asasolutiontothis, theAir ForceResearchLaboratory, SpaceSystemsCommand,andtheAir ForceSpaceCommanddevelopedtheUDL –ahighlyscalable cloud-basedenvironment,createdtoallowusersin disparatelocationseasy, directaccesstodata.

TheUDLwillhelpprovidetangibleinformationtotheAir Forceas itbuildstheAdvancedBattleManagementSystem,thearchitecture throughwhichtheAir Forceenvisionsconducting JADC2.

“ThecombinedAMCgovernmentandcontractorteam wasworking longhourstogenerate, test,anddeploysoftwaretogettheconnections upandrunning, soit wasarealachievementtogetthecallthatourinformation waspopulatedinthesystem,” saidMichaelMarek,DeputyDirectorofCommunications.“NORTHCOM wasfinallyabletogetcritical visibilityofflightstoCONUS, allowingthemtopreponwardmovement orlodgingforevacueesbeforetheyreachedtheeastcoast–it wasagreat sharedsuccess.”

“There’sabalancebetween‘needtoprotect’and‘needtoshare’,andthis operationdemandedgreaterdatasharingbetweenmultipleagencies. On Aug. 24,theteamsmadeahugepushtoimplementtheplantolinkour datatotheUDL,” saidColRobert Kelly, DirectorofCommunicationsand ChiefInformationOfficer.“Lessthanaweeklater, wemadethefinalconnectionsliveandwentfromsharingdatawithonlyafewagencies, tosharingitwithmultiplemissionpartnersonanintegratedplatform.”

SarahtoldEvansaboutherfather’ssuicideandhowmuchshemissed him.Shealsospokeabouthowthegunshe washolding washisandabout howpainfulitistofacelifewithoutherdad.

“ItoldherthatIlostmydadatayoungageandthatmymotherattemptedsuicide,” Evanssaid.“Isharedwithherhowdifficultthat wasand toldherthatshestillhashermother, wholovesherverymuch.”

ThetwocontinuedtalkinguntilSarahgavetheguntoEvansandagreed togohome.

“Itookherhome, gavetheguntohermotherandintroducedmyself,” Evanssaid.“She wasemotional.Shedidnotknowwhereherdaughter was orwhatshe wasdoing. Shegavemeahugandthankedme.”

ThemotherofthegirlrecentlysharedherappreciationforEvans’sactions.

“ItrulybelieveGodplacedMichaelaintherightplaceattherighttime,” Staceysaidinanemailedstatement.“Myhusbandtookhislifeandmy daughter wasabouttodothesamewithhisgunathismemorial.Michaela didn’tcarewhatmydaughterhadinherhand,shesatwithher, criedwith her, talkedwithherandbroughtherhome.”

Sarahisnowinaninpatientmentalhealthfacility.

Nearlytwo-dozenAirmenandGuardiansparticipatedinthesafeTALK (SuicideAlertnessforEveryone: Tell,ask,listen,keepsafe) classat Patrick SFB, Sept.21.The classusesscenarios, liketheoneEvansencountered,to teachpeoplehowtointeractwithsomeonewhomaybeconsideringsuicide andconnectthemwithaninterventionprovider, suchas chaplainsormentalhealthprofessionals.

Laura Tasker, SLD45SexualAssault,PreventionandResponsecoordinator, saidthecoursebuildsonthetrainingthemilitaryprovides.

“Wedoannualsuicidepreventiontraining, butthis classdoesagreatjob ofusingreal-lifeexamplesthatshowyouwhattodoandwhattosay,” she said.“Itgoesalittlefartherthanourannualtrainingdoes.”

Duringthe class,AirmenandGuardianslearnedhowtorecognizewhen someonecouldbeatriskforsuicide, aswellashowtoengagewiththose individualstokeepthemsafe.AccordingtotheLivingWorkswebsite, the safeTALKcourseisdesignedtohelpbreakdownthestigmaaroundsuicide andprovidepeoplewithskillsneededtorecognizewhensomeoneisindistress.

“IamalwaysinterestedinlearningmoreabouthowIcanhelppeople whomaybestruggling,” Taskersaid.“Iworkwith clientswhoexperience traumaandtheyoftenthinkaboutsuicide. I wanttohaveasmanytoolsas IcansoIcanhelpthem.”

In2020,theDepartmentofDefensereported689suicidesamongmilitarymembers, including109AirmenandGuardians.Thatisan averageof 57suicidesamonth.

Tech. Sgt.Aisha Jones, 45thCivilEngineerSquadronprojectmanager forSimplifiedAcquisitionofBaseEngineeringRequirementsconstruction projects, saidsupervisors, commandersandleadersatalllevelsmustdemonstrategenuineconcernforthepeopletheyworkwith.

“Peoplecompletethemission.Ifpeoplearenotcaredfor, thereisnomission,” shesaid.“Ifwecareforourpeoplebetter, wecanpreventsuicide.We needtolookoutforoneanotherandhaveempathyforpeople’ssituations.I believeit’stimeforusasaforcetobepreventiveandnotreactive.”

Jonesalsoservesasasuicidepreventionsmallgroupdiscussionfacilitatorat PatrickSFB.AnimportantlessonshesaidshelearnedinthesafeTALK class wastonotjudgeothers.

“A lotofpeoplehavedifficultydiscussingsuicide,” shesaid.“This class stressedtheimportanceofnotjudgingsomeone.Theymaybereserved forseveralreasonsandtheymayfearbeingjudged.Thislessonstressed theimportanceofprovidingasafe, judgement-freeenvironmentwhere peoplefeelcomfortablebeingvulnerableandsharingwhattheyaregoing through.”

theparticipanttoconvincethe distressedpersontoreachout forhelp.

“Thetrainingdefinitely putsyououtofyourcomfort zone,” said Tech. Sgt. William Parisse, a6thARWoccupationalsafetytechnician whoparticipatedinthetraining. “Itforcesyoutocritically thinkaboutwhatyou’regoing tosayordo, anddepending onwhatyou choose, thatdistressedpersonwillreact.”

Parisseemphasizedthat theVRtraininghasbetter preparedhimforanencounter with Airmen who show signs ofdistress, hehopesthatinteractiveVRscenarioswill continuetointegrateintoAir Forceresiliencytrainingin thefuture.

“Wearejustgettingstarted,” said Williams “Wehave alreadyseentheimpactsVR hashadwithSAPR(Sexual AssaultPreventionand Response)trainingandweare eagertoprovideourAirmen withtheseinnovativeresources. Ultimately, itallowsthem topushthemselvesfurther, in ordertobeaspreparedaspossibletosavesomeone’slife.”

(Above)AnAirmanfromthe6thAirRefueling Wingparticipates in a VirtualRealitysuicidepreventiontrainingatMacDill AirForceBaseSept.29.Thiswasthefirst timeVRgearhasbeenusedforsuicide preventiontrainingatMacDillAFBsince itsintroductiontoAirMobilityCommand.

(Left)AnOculusRift VirtualRealitysetis displayedatMacDillAirForceBaseSept. 29.AirMobilityCommandisthefirstcommandintheDepartmentofDefensetoutilizethisinnovative,andimmersivetraining forsuicideprevention.

PhotobyAirman1stClassHiramMartinez

OutdoorRecequipmentrental

Fallishereandtheweather isbeautifulforcamping.Tents, campers, stoves, campingitems andotherrecreationalequipmentis availableforrent.Logon atmacdillfss.com/outdoor-equipment-rental/orcall840-6919for moreinformation.

MacDillLanes

Birthdaypartypackages

available. Celebrateyournext birthdayatMacDillLanes Kids’ birthdaypartypackagesfor10 kids-$150.Includesfoodand twohoursofbowling. Logonat macdillfss.com/macdill-lanesbowling/orcall828-4005for moreinformation.

8IronGrillat PalmGolfComplex

Openforbreakfast&lunch. Call828-1507orlog onat macdillfss.com/8-iron-grillforfull menuandmoreinformation.

NAFjobopenings

EVENTS Monday-Friday -7:30a.m. to3p.m.Afterhourschaplain,call828-4362. -In-person Monday-Thursday 12:10p.m. -9a.m.and5:30

To applylogonatUSAJOBS. gov ForaquickviewofMacDill jobslogonatmacdillfss.com/ open-jobs/Call828-2911Monday, Wednesdayand Friday7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

6thAirRefuelingWingCommanderCol.BenjaminJonsson,left,SeniorAirmanNoahFulinara andStaffSgt.TheodoreMarquis,maintainersfromthe6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadron,look overaKC-135Stratotanker’stechnicalordersatMacDillAirForceBaseSept.30.Jonssonspent themorningshadowingthemaintenanceAirmentolearnaboutservicingMacDill’sKC-135aircraft.Maintainersareacrucialpartofensuringrapidglobalmobilitythroughthewing’smission toprovideunmatchedair refueling.

Findmoreinfoontheseevents andmoregoto:macdillfss.com

U.S.AirForcephoto