Thunderbolt 10/19/2023

Vol. 51, No. 42

Thursday, October 19, 2023

USS Jack H Lucas commissioned News/Features: page 2 TheAirman and the refugee

News/Features: page 3 OTS victory

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

Community: page 15 Events, Chapel, more...

Sailors assigned to the USS Jack H Lucas (DDG 125) stand in formation during the commissioning ceremony for the destroyer in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 7. The USS Jack H Lucas is named after U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Jack Lucas who earned the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima during World War II. The ship is the U.S. Navy’s first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Speakers at the commissioning ceremony included Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.

NEWS/FEATURES

The Airman and the refugee

by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Over two years ago, the U.S. Air Force contributed toward the largest non-combatant evacuation operation in American history. Operation Allies Refuge saw more than 120,000 Afghan citizens evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan in response to the Taliban’s effort to take over the country.

For Senior Airman Bryan Arias-Mejia, assisting with the operation and helping the refugees in their time of need provided a perspective that connected him with his family’s roots.

Arias-Mejia is a KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator for the 91st Air Refueling Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base. He was serving on deployment with the 91st ARS at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar when he received unexpected news.

“We were supposed to come home the day after the Taliban took over Afghanistan,” Arias-Mejia said. “I had just landed from a flight when the news broke out. Our commander sent a mass message to us which said, ‘This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do as commander, but it pains me to say that we are being extended with no definitive point of return.’ That crushed a lot of people because we already had a few crews on crew rest ready to wake up in a few hours to go home.”

Arias-Mejia said that the 91st ARS ‘took it on the chin’ and quickly regained morale. The Airmen understood that it was their duty to complete this new task in alignment with the needs of the Air Force and adjusted for the refueling operations to come.

See REFUGEES, Page 12

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bryan Arias-Mejia, 91st Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, stands for a photo at MacDill Air Force Base Oct. 11. Arias-Mejia performed air refueling duties during Operation Allies Refuge, the largest non-combatant evacuation operation in American history. While providing aid to Afghan refugees at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Arias-Mejia witnessed first-hand the emotional toll of losing one’s home and was able to better connect with his father who was a refugee during the Salvadoran Civil War.

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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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.

NEWS/FEATURES

Officer Training School embarks on ‘OTS-Victory’ Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS)—Officer Training School is implementing a new accessions program aimed at developing Air Force and Space Force leaders who are prepared to compete and win in today’s strategic operating environment.

The new training program, dubbed OTSVictory, incorporates a five-modular approach designed to enhance the effectiveness of foundational officer development by focusing on specific knowledge, skills and abilities in each module. The course is structured to develop an officer trainee across all foundational competencies within 60 training days.

Officer graduates will be steeped in the Air Force and Space Force competencies through deliberate assessments tied to leadership, mission command, warfighting, communication and professionalism. In the end, OTS’s goal is to produce graduates ready for the challenges in an era of strategic competition.

Starting fiscal year 2024, OTS will conduct, on average, 20 classes per year with a new class starting every two weeks. The additional class start dates promote flexibility for stakeholders, reduces candidates’ wait time to attend trainSee OTS, Page 13

Photo by 2nd Lt. Kip Turner

The inaugural class of Officer Training School-Victory in-processes at OTS Headquarters, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Oct.10. Starting Oct. 13, OTS-V will be the newest officer accessioning program that will effectively develop high caliber Air and Space Force officers to compete and win in today’s strategic operating environment. Through this reimagined learning delivery model, OTS will accelerate officer development while creating warrior-minded leaders of characters focused on Air Force core competences, mission-command, wargaming and joint-force methodology.

OSI takes aim at laser pointers, aircraft safety

by Thomas Brading OSI Public Affairs QUANTICO, Va. (AFNS)—As the Office of Special Investigations safeguards the Department of the Air Force, they are confronting a surge in incidents involving laser pointers, which pose significant threats to Air Force aircraft, especially at night.

These seemingly harmless beams, often used for classroom presentations or amusing a house cat, can also disrupt flight operations and create challenges for pilots.

“We refer to these as lazing incidents. It’s crucial for the public to understand that aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is not only dangerous but a felony,” said an official from the OSI Center.

Officials added the importance of real-time reporting and response by all agencies and law enforcement, both stateside and overseas, as a key

strategy in addressing these incidents.

In addition, individuals may incur fines up to $250,000 and face imprisonment for up to five years.

Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration has the authority to impose civil penalties, with fines escalating to $11,000 per violation and $30,800 for multiple incidents.

Officials said the necessity of ensuring smooth information lanes, emphasizing that efficient communication between pilots, command posts, OSI and local law enforcement is crucial for rapid responses to incidents.

“The challenge is not just in reporting the incident. What makes it actionable is the pilot’s ability to specify, with a degree of certainty, a geocoordinate from which the laser originated,” officials said.

The effect of a laser beam on pilots is like a camera flash in a pitchblack car at night, resulting in sudden disorientation and temporary See OSI, Page 10

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WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster

The City of Tampa hosts a firework display during the commissioning of the Arleigh Burke class Flight III guided-missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) at Port Tampa, Florida, Oct. 6. DDG 125 is named for Pfc. Jack Lucas, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, earning the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima. The destroyer was commissioned on Oct. 7th, 2023, and is the first AEGIS Weapon System, Baseline 10, to be commissioned, integrating air and missile defense capability with the new AN/SPY6(V)(1) air and missile defense radar to provide significantly greater detection and tracking capacity among its warfighting capabilities across mission areas.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutton

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wealton, 6th Medical Group radiology technician, participates in a hands-on magnetic resonance imaging training at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 5. The 6th MDG is responsible for servicing more than 265,000 servicemembers, government employees and veterans in the local community.

Fire and emergency services Airmen with the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron, park emergency vehicles at Tinker K-8 School and during a Fire Prevention Week event at MacDill Air Force Base, October 10. The 6th CES fire and emergency services flight hosted the event to educated students about fire safety and prevention.

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NEWS/FEATURES Ready to compete, fight, win: AMC, PACAF, AFSOC commanders address AFA attendees Air Mobility Command Public Affairs NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS)˛—Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, participated in a panel titled, “Ready to Compete, Fight, and Win in the Indo-Pacific” with Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, and Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, Sept. 13 at the Air and Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor.

The AFA panel was moderated by Gen. (Ret.) Terrence “Shags” O’Shaughnessy, former commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command.

Since Minihan delivered the Mobility Manifesto last year, the command aggressively attacked the two problem statements he identified: The joint force is not ready to fight and win inside the First Island Chain, and the joint force isn’t as ready, integrated or agile as they think they are.

“During Mobility Guardian, we received numerous insights into our strengths and improvement areas,” Minihan said. “We intentionally drove MG23 to a place where all the loose ends were not cleaned up. We

Photo by Rachel Sansano

Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, spoke on a panel titled “Ready to Compete, Fight and Win in the Indo-Pacific” during the Air and Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference, in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 13. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, and Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, also participated in the discussion.

See AFA, Page 11

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NEWS/FEATURES USAFEC commander publishes FY24 strategy to institutionalize gains U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.—Maj. Gen. John Klein, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, published the unit’s strategy defining how the USAFEC will institutionalize its gains to sustain, advance, and adapt throughout Fiscal Year 2024.

“Over the past 365-days, the USAFEC Enterprise has moved fast to accelerate change and develop a level of adaptability that has prepared Airmen to compete, deter, and win in a high-end fight,” Klein said. “The FY24 Strategy will serve as the foundation for enhancing unity of effort throughout the command as we charge into the coming year.”

Klein’s new strategy focuses on five lines of effort to drive the mission: n Forge warrior hearts, n Integrate training and certification, n Global Air Mobility Support System command, control, and connectivity, n Hone next-generation capabilities and n Transform USAFEC’s enterprise management.

Implementing these five lines of effort, the strategy highlights the importance of institutionalizing the progress made in FY23 to advance USAFEC operations, activities, and investments. An example of this can be taken from Exercise Mobility Guardian.

“During Mobility Guardian 23, Air Mobility Command captured valuable insights about simultaneously steering deployments through two air

U.S. Air Force photo

Maj. Gen. John Klein, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, published the unit’s strategy defining how the USAFEC will institutionalize its gains to sustain, advance, and adapt throughout Fiscal Year 2024. operations centers and multiple lines of communication,” Klein said. “To fully and rapidly employ GAMSS forces to set the theater in the high-end fight, the USAF requires codified command relationships, improved policy and doctrine, and resiliently-connected forces.”

Two Great Options.

One Trusted Source. e-Newspaper and tampabay.com

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“Now is the time to institutionalize our FY23 gains and lessons learned, advance our emerging concepts, and solidify our Airmen’s posture to prevail,” the general continued.

See STRATEGY, Page 10

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The Sunset of the KC-10

Farewell to an aerial refueling legend

story and photos by Tech. Sgt. Alexander Frank 378th Air Expeditionary Wing PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, Saudi Arabia—In a ceremony on October 4, history was made as the KC-10 aerial refueling aircraft, assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (EARS), was officially deactivated. The event marked the end of an era in military aviation and highlighted the changing landscape of air power in the 21st century.

The KC-10 Extender has been a stalwart workhorse in the United States Air Force’s fleet for decades. Serving as a vital component of the U.S. military’s global reach and power projection capabilities within the AFCENT Area of Responsibility (AOR) and abroad. The massive aircraft carried cargo and passengers in addition to its primary role as an aerial refueler, making it a truly multi-mission platform.

During the inactivation ceremony held on Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB), Saudi Arabia, Brig. Gen. Akshai Gandhi, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, highlighted the enduring legacy of the KC-10 and the Airmen who have fueled its success.

“In the 1 1/2 years that the KC-10 has been at PSAB, they’ve accomplished over 1,300 missions with over 9,000 flying hours, and delivered nearly 73 million pounds of fuel to over 11,000 receivers,” said Gandhi. “To the entire team that has made the KC10 the legacy that it is, congratulations on a job well done.”

By September 2024, the U.S. Air Force’s inventory of KC-10s will be decommissioned and gradually replaced by the new KC-46 airframe. Because of this impending transition, U.S. Air Force Maj. Joseph Rush, 908th EARS commander, has led the last combat operations squadron to deploy with the legendary aircraft.

“It’s been a bittersweet deployment,” said Rush. “The KC-10 will continue to fly for the next year until all the tails have retired and crews have cross-trained into the KC-46. It’s exciting for our community, as we get to take a lot of the best parts of the KC-10 culture we’ve built over the last 42 years and bring those best practices and experiences to a brand new weapons system.”

In the AFCENT AOR specifically, the KC-10 has been a vital component of aerial refueling for U.S. and coalition forces for over 30 years. According to Rush, it’s a legacy that signifies the impact of the airframe and reflects the hard work of the pilots, boom operators, and maintainers who have made it all possible.

“The KC-10 has been the anchor of air refueling in the AOR since DESERT STORM,” said Rush. “Thousands of Airmen have deployed to support KC-10 combat operations [and] to be here at the culmination of that legacy is a privilege. We hope to honor the service [of] the aircraft and more importantly the people who dedicated months and years of their lives employing it.”

Looking into the 21st century, the importance of aerial refueling in projecting air power is as important as ever, and a critical need that will continue long past the tenure of the KC-10.

“The ability to refuel another aircraft in the air allows for that aircraft to stay airborne longer and extend its capabilities across vast distances,” said Rush. “For a fighter, aerial refueling can take a 2-hour unrefueled flight time and turn it into an 8-hour combat mission. That translates to uninterrupted Close Air Support coverage for coalition troops on the ground or Defensive Counter Air coverage to high-value airSee LEGEND, Page 14

U.S. Air Force Col. Clinton Varty, 60th Maintenance Group commander, taxi’s out the last KC-10 at Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oct. 5. The departure of the KC-10 at PSAB marked the end of the airframe’s over 30 years of service within the U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) Area of Responsibility. By September 2024, the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of KC-10s will be decommissioned and gradually replaced by the KC-46 aircraft.

(Far left) U.S. Air Force Maj. Joseph Rush (right), 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (EARS) commander, and Brig. Gen. Akshai Gandhi (left), 378th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, roll-up the 908th EARS guidon during an inactivation ceremony at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oct. 4. The ceremony highlighted the legacy of the KC-10 after over 30 years of service within the U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) Area of Responsibility.

(Left) U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing view the boom of a KC-10 Extender after an inactivation ceremony for the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oct. 4. By September 2024, the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of KC-10s will be decommissioned and gradually replaced by the KC-46 aircraft.

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STRATEGY From Page 6

The new strategy also stresses the importance of forging warrior hearts within Airmen.

“We must prepare our Airmen for the challenges ahead,” Klein said. “We have to develop great culture and prepare our Airmen to persevere through adversity. We want to make them feel valued and a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Klein went on to express how the Airmen have what it takes to ensure we reach our end state and can accomplish anything necessary to win the next big fight.

“We’ve made great strides toward Agile Combat Employment and developing our Multi-Capable Airmen,” Klein said.

“It’s never been more clear that the Airmen in this enterprise provide the foundation of victory for the Joint force.”

The Expeditionary Center has a unique set of functions that it fills. The center is comprised of two Air Mobility Operations Wings that allow the Air Force to project the joint force globally; the USAF’s only Contingency Response Wing that helps respond to emerging situations at a moment’s notice, as well as fortifying relationships with partners and allies through Air Advisors; Joint Bases that allow Airmen to project forces and integrate seamlessly with sister services; and the Expeditionary Operations School which helps train and educate the entire Air Force for expeditionary warfare.

OSI

From Page 3

blindness. This risk is worse during critical phases of flight, potentially leading to the loss of aircraft and crew, thereby imperiling lives on the ground.

“These are not harmless pranks. There’s a risk of causing permanent visual impairment. From the public’s standpoint, misusing lasers can severely impact a person’s ability to see and function,” said an OSI Center official.

According to the FAA, the United States has experienced a notable surge in reported laser incidents, with 2021 marking a 41% increase in aircraft laser strikes compared to the previous year. Since 2010, a total of 244 injuries have been reported, underscoring the escalating and pervasive threat. The nearly 9,500 laser strikes reported to the FAA in 2022 highlight the severity of this growing concern.

The OSI Center officials underscored the significance of public awareness and reporting. They encourage individuals who witness such incidents to describe the individual, location and event, and report it to both local law enforcement and OSI, regardless of whether the aircraft is military or civilian.

If you or anyone you know witnessed an individual directing a laser towards an aircraft, report the incident to laserreports@faa.gov or contact OSI here.

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AFA

From Page 5

strained ourselves, not trained ourselves.”

Minihan said that it became evident early in the exercise that there were three bins of concerns. He detailed the need to solidify command relationships to enable mission execution, invest in command-and-control connectivity and procedures to manage mission execution, and codify the fundamentals across the command to ensure it can “explode into theater” to meet combatant commanders’ requirements.

While Minihan is proud of the significant strides the command has made within a year— between the retrograde in Afghanistan, the evacuation of Kabul, support to Ukraine, the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and planning and executing exercise Mobility Guardian 2023—he emphasized there are more improvements ahead.

“I’ll never admit to being ready enough, integrated enough, and agile enough…We have an incredible amount of work to do here,” he said.

Looking to the future, Minihan said there is a need for better connectivity within the mobility fleet, because connectivity drives joint force lethality. Investing in C2 connectivity will ensure mission execution and create expedited movement into theater.

When asked what the command would need in order to implement these changes, Minihan noted that resources go to the trusted and prepared, and AMC aims to be both.

He outlined his goal to increase connectivity among the Mobility fleet from 3% to 25% by fiscal year 2025.

“This would be a significant advancement

Photo by Rachel Sansano

Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, spoke on a panel titled “Ready to Compete, Fight and Win in the Indo-Pacific” during the Air and Space Forces Association, Air, Space and Cyber Conference, in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 13. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander, Pacific Air Forces and Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, also participated in the discussion. and make an enormous impact on the battlefield instantly,” he said Despite the gaps identified during MG23, Minihan asserted that forces are more integrated after Mobility Guardian.

“I can confidently say we are ready to fight and win inside the First Island Chain, and the Joint force is more ready, more integrated and

more agile than it was a year ago,” Minihan said. “If this goes down in the Pacific theatre, AMC will be the most relied-upon force in the history of warfare.”

Each commander stated they will continue to leverage their unique capabilities so their Airmen and joint partners are prepared to execute Agile Combat Employment in the Indo-Pacific.

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REFUGEES From Page 2

For nearly a month, the squadron refueled a variety of cargo and fighter aircraft so that thousands of Afghan citizens could escape the danger that threatened their home behind. When AriasMejia was not delivering fuel in the air, he was providing aid to the refugees in the hangars at Al Udeid AB. “While we were volunteering, [refugees] would come to us asking if we had seen their relatives,” Arias-Mejia said. “It was heartbreaking for us to have to tell them that we did not know where they were.”

Arias-Mejia helped clear a large gymnasium on the installation to establish additional space for the refugees to sleep. He assisted them with their meals and provided them with toiletries and other items they needed throughout their stay.

“Qatar is super hot,” Arias-Mejia said. “We were sweating all day while trying to keep everything under control. These people were desperate to get out of Afghanistan.”

The emotional toll of the operation left an imprint on Arias-Mejia.

Refueling the aircraft that transported the refugees and interacting with them at Al Udeid AB allowed him to better understand his own upbringing. “[Operation Allies Refuge] made me think about my dad’s experience and have a bigger respect for him,” Arias-Mejia said. “He had to flee his home like the [Afghan citizens] had to flee their home. I would never want anyone to have to go through that.”

Arias-Mejia is the son of Salvadoran parents. At the height of the Salvadoran Civil War, a conflict lasting from 1979 to 1992, Arias-Mejia’s then 16-year-old father fled to the United States to escape having to fight with Communist guerrilla rebel groups against the Salvadoran government.

“My father told me that as a child he could not be too loud out of fear of being heard by the guerrillas,” Arias-Mejia said. “They would go door to door in search of people to join them. My grandparents would tell the guerrillas that they did not have children while my father would hide to avoid being taken.”

Arias-Mejia also added that his grandparents had given his father specific instructions on how to respond to armed men if ever approached by them. His father was to provide the guerrillas with false identification and to say he belonged to a different family that the guerrillas would not want to be involved with. A constant state of panic and unrest consumed the Arias family.

Because of the conflict in El Salvador, Arias-Mejia’s father was unable to graduate from high school and pursue education. His father found work in construction and eventually settled down near Washington D.C. with his wife and three children.

While growing up near the U.S. capital, Arias-Mejia lived in a home

ingrained with Salvadoran culture, family values, a respect for God and an emphasis of pursuing education.

“I did not grow up in a super strict home, but school was important,” Arias-Mejia said. “One of my dad’s biggest rules was that we had to go to school five days a week, bring home good grades and be one of the top students in class. My dad would tell us, ‘I did not have the opportunity to focus on school so you need to take advantage of it.’”

Arias-Mejia felt the pressures of his father’s wishes, especially after graduating from high school.

“I was taking classes in community college for a little bit, but it was getting hard and I had to work two jobs just to be able to breathe,” Arias-Mejia said. “Education was my biggest motivation for joining the Air Force. No one in my family has ever graduated college.”

Enlisting in the Air Force was not the path Arias-Mejia’s parents had envisioned for him. They feared that military service would ensure their son would see combat operations, and they did not want their son to live away from home.

From the time Arias-Mejia enlisted to today, his parents have developed new opinions about his service.

“My dad now sees [my enlistment] as a necessary sacrifice I had to make to level up in life,” Arias-Mejia said. “My mom loves sharing with her coworkers that her son is in the military and that he’s been to places like Japan and Qatar. Every time I see my dad now it seems like he is wearing some sort of Air Force shirt. He is always asking me if I have any shirts that I can give him.”

Now at 25 years old, Arias-Mejia is able to balance his duties with the 91st ARS with taking online classes through tuition assistance.

Although Arias-Mejia’s motivation for joining the Air Force stemmed from his desire to pursue education and make his family proud, he has gained much more from his experience in the service. His involvement with Operation Allies Refuge has given him a window to look through to see the world in a way similar to the way his father had seen it as a refugee.

“Seeing innocent people die, leaving everything behind while moving to an unknown place and starting over was a very traumatic experience,” said Carlos Arias, Bryan’s father. “The life I want for my children is for them to become professionals and do good in the world so that they never have to suffer what I suffered. What makes me most proud about Bryan is considering everything our family has gone through, he has still accomplished so much. I never thought I would have a son who would be flying on a military jet in the Air Force, traveling the world and seeing many different countries. It was painful watching him leave home, but I think all that pain was worth it because he is now going far in life and will accomplish more.”

Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil 12

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OTS

From Page 3

ing and allows for increased trainee throughput when necessary. At any point, OTS will have up to five classes in session, in various phases of training.

Additionally, the new training construct allows OTS to easily surge production to meet annual production numbers set by Congress in both steady state and contingency mobilization posture. If called, the school can surge up to 26 classes per year.

“Within existing resource authorizations, we are restoring OTS’s ability to serve as the officer accession ‘shock absorber,’ meaning we have the structural agility and organizational effectiveness to respond to production demands during peace or war,” said Col. Keolani Bailey, OTS commandant. “Whether we need to increase or decrease production, we won’t compromise the quality of training.”

In terms of the instructor cadre, they are now afforded the opportunity to become subject matter experts in the two-week modular blocks of instruction versus teaching the entire 60-day curriculum.

“Instructors will receive increased reps and sets and better feedback to elevate the overall performance of the team. This reduces lesson planning, preparation timelines and creates more opportunities for deliberate development, course updates, and instructor reconstitution time,” Bailey said. “This will allow instructors to reduce bureaucracy and concentrate on their primary mission — building warrior-minded leaders of character focused on the future fight.”

With OTS previously offering only five classes per year, thereby limiting time off between classes, the new program builds 10 weeks “off the line” each year for instructors. Therefore, when not actively instructing a class during these time periods, instructors are afforded the necessary time to refine course delivery, attend professional development programs, and enjoy their well-earned leave with family and friends.

Officer Training School is answering the call to produce warrior-minded leaders of character with a disciplined mindset who are willing and ready for the future fight. Through this reimagined learning-delivery model, OTS-Victory postures the Holm Center and our newest Air Force officers to compete and win, anytime, anyplace.

The purpose of OTS is to train and develop new officers to fulfill Air Force and Space Force active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard re-

Photo by 2nd Lt. Kip Turner

The first class of Officer Training School-Victory listen for instruction as they in-process at OTS Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Oct.10. Starting Oct. 13, OTS-V will be the newest officer accessioning program that will effectively develop high caliber Air and Space Force officers to compete and win in today’s strategic operating environment.

Through this reimagined learning delivery model, OTS will accelerate officer development while creating warrior-minded leaders of characters focused on Air Force core competences, mission-command, wargaming and joint-force methodology. quirements, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Academy and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Officer Training School is located at Maxwell Air Force Base and consists of two academic buildings with auditoriums, four dormitories, dining facility, physical conditioning center, parade field, running track and sports fields. Additionally, OTS maintains an Air Expeditionary Force garrison training site, a 200-acre field training facility, confidence course and two expeditionary assault courses.

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LEGEND From Page 8

borne assets in a combat zone.”

At the forefront of keeping the aging KC-10 in the air, are the hardworking maintainers who have ensured maximum operability of the aircraft. Despite the hot and sandy conditions, the AFCENT AOR is known for, and the limited availability of parts for the aging aircraft, Airmen of the 378th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS) have ensured the KC-10’s last deployment was just as effective as its first.

“To prepare a KC-10 for flight, we typically invest about 3 hours,” said Tech. Sgt. Nikolie Ambriz, 378th AMXS maintainer. “This time is primarily allocated to performing avionics operation checks and conducting thorough visual inspections enabling us to identify potential issues before aircrew arrive at the aircraft.”

As the KC-10 ends its sunset tour and closes an important chapter in the history of military aviation, it serves as a reminder that it’s the people behind the mission, and the bonds they’ve forged together that leave the real legacy.

“The Airmen in the 908th have taken up a “can do’’ attitude to operations, and we hope to leave a lasting impact on the AOR when we depart,” said Rush. “The culture we’ve fostered and the camaraderie among the crewmembers is second to none.”

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COMMUNITY

EVENTS

8 Iron Grill Open 7 days Craving a tasty meal during your workday or the weekend? Look no further, as the 8 Iron Grill, located at the Bay Palms Golf Course, is now open every day, and ready to serve you with mouthwatering breakfast and lunch options. The 8 Iron Grill offers call-in orders in case you are pressed for time for your tee time or need to pick-up breakfast on your way to work.

Simply call 828-1507 to place your order between 6:30 a.m.– 1:30 p.m.

Visit macdillfss.com/8-iron-grill/ to view more information, to in-clude the complete menu.

Fall Festival The Force Support Squadron is hosting a Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 27 from 5–9 p.m. This is a free event and open to all with access to MacDill AFB. Stop by the Youth Center and the field across the street and enjoy trunk-or-treating, face painters, kids crafting area, Halloween displays, sponsor booths, pumpkin decorat-ing, and DJ. Food and beverage menu items will be available for purchase on site. Visit macdillfss.com/fallfestival/ for more information.

Kids Halloween Party MacDill Lanes is hosting a Kids Halloween Party on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 2–9 p.m. Don’t miss out on the kid food specials. All kids in cos-tume will receive two free games and a complimentary snack (one per kid bowler). For more information, visit macdillfss.com/macdill-lanes-bowling/.

Find more events at macdillfss.com

Fire prevention

Photo by Airman 1st Class Derrick Bole

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Raun Howell, 6th Air Refueling Wing command chief, stands next to firefighters assigned to the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base Oct. 5. Howell signed the Fire Prevention Week proclamation signifying the beginning of Fire Prevention Week on the installation.

CHAPEL SCHEDULE Normal Hours- Monday - Friday - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. After hours chaplain, call the Command Post at 828-4362/4361.

Monday-Wednesday Mass - 12:10 p.m.

www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

Catholic Mass - Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessions by appointment)

Protestant services - Sunday - 11 a.m. Contact the Cha-

pel at 828-3621 or email at 6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil for inquiries regarding Protestant religious education.

Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For schedule & to join distro, please contact elimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

Islamic Service - Friday 1:30 p.m. (space reserved) Other Faith Groups - Please contact the Chapel at (813) 828-3621 or via email at 6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ or MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, October 19, 2023 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 15

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