MacDill Thunderbolt 10/21/21

Photoby TaraStetler

Kendallstressesnecessityofculture,languageskillsfor buildingpartneralliancesinstrategiccompetition

byLoriQuiller

MAXWELLAIRFORCEBASE,Ala.(AFNS)—SecretaryoftheAir Force Frank KendalladdressedattendeesvirtuallyduringtheAir Force CultureandLanguageCenterandAirUniversity’ssixthannualLanguage, RegionalExpertiseandCultureSymposium,Oct.13,thanking AirandSpaceprofessionalsforcontinuingtohonetheircultureand languageskillsinthepursuitofbuildingalliancesandpartnercapacity indefenseofournation.

“I wanttoemphasizetheimportantrolelanguagetrainingandculturalunderstandingplayintoday’sglobaloperations,” Kendallsaid inhiskeynoteaddress.“Languageisa warfightingcapability. Our language-enabledAirmenandGuardiansoperateinforeigncountries aroundtheworld,andtheirabilitytocommunicateinaforeignlanguageandunderstandculturalnuancesarecriticaltotheirsuccess.”

Kendall wasquicktopinpointthestrategicthreatChinabringsto thetabledueinlargeparttoa“significantriskofmisinterpretation andmissedsignals.” Chinahasbeenafrequenttopicofdiscussionfor the26thAir Forcesecretary, andhe wastednotimebringingthesubject tothesymposiumattendees.

“Collectively, weAmericanslackanadequateunderstandingofChi-

neseculture,” heexplained.“WerunasignificantriskofmisinterpretationandmissedsignalswhenweprojectourownperspectivesuponChineseactionsandcommunications.TheworkAirUniversityandtheAir ForceCultureandLanguageCenterdoiscrucialtodevelopingcultural understanding. Ineverysense, thetrainingourAirmenandGuardians receiveisindispensableforpreparingthemtojointheircolleagueson thefrontlinesofglobalstrategiccompetition.”

KendallfurtheremphasizedthatLanguageEnabledAirmanProgram(LEAP)AirmenandGuardianswillcontinuetobeinstrumental inbuildingstrategicalliancesforthe U.S., allrestingonafoundation onlanguage, regionalexpertiseandcultureskills.

“OursuccessintheIndo-Pacifichingesuponouralliesandpartners intheregion…DevelopingtheseskillsempowersourAirmen,Guardiansandalliedforcestooperateeffectivelyinthecomplex,interdependentinternationalsecurityenvironment,” hesaid.“Ithinkit’salso importanttonotethatthecommonalitiesbetweenlanguage-enabled AirmenandGuardiansandthedepartment’sdiversityinclusionefforts areverymuchaligned.

“TheLRECskillswevaluebringwomenandmenfromdiverseethnic andacademicbackgroundsintoourdepartment.Diversityincultural background,genderandprofessionalexperienceisneededforourfuturesuccess.”

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher:JoeDeluca

Editor:NickStubbs

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AFannounceschangesforenlistedpromotion recommendationpoints

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

WASHINGTON(AFNS)—Air Forceofficialsrecentlyannounced changestotheEnlistedEvaluationSystem’spromotionrecommendationpointmatrix.

The changesintroduceanewPromotion RecommendationScore, whichplacesvalueon theexperienceofAirmenandsustainedperformancewhenitcomestopromotions.Thenew scorecontinuesthepracticeofplacinggreater valueonrecentoverpastperformance.

“OurAir Forcevaluestheexperiencethat ourAirmenbringwiththem,”saidChiefMasterSgt.oftheAir Force JoAnne S. Bass.“The PromotionRecommendationScoreisastepin therightdirectiontoensuringwerecognize thatexperience, alongwithsustainedsuperior performance.”

Thecurrentpromotionsystemvariedthe availablepointseachyearbasedonthenumberofyearsanAirman waseligibleforpromotion.ThatapproachmeantAirmenwiththe

SeePROMOTION,Page7

Domesticabuse,violencevictimsharesherstory

AirForceInstallationandMissionSupport CenterPublicAffairs

JOINTBASESANANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas(AFNS)—Itallbeganwithapatternofsubstanceabuse.

Myhusband wasanactive-dutysoldierstationedat FortRiley, Kansas.Thefirsttimehe failedadrugtestandhisleadershipwenttobat forhim.Understandably, theydidn’t wantto leavehimbehind.He wasdemoted,putonextra dutyforamonthandorderedtobrieflyattend substanceabuse classes.

Lessthantwomonthslater, IfoundoutI was pregnantandtwoweeksafterhe was charged withhisfirstDUI.

Sinceit washisfirstdocumentedoffense, he wentthroughtheKansasDiversionProgram andhis chargesweredismissed.

TheArmy, however, tookaharderstance.The circumstancescalledforanOtherThanHonor-

ableDischarge, buthiscommandwenttobat forhimagainandsecuredhimaGeneralDischarge, allowinghimtoretain VeteranAffairs benefits.

I wasaboutsixmonthspregnantwhenhe wasdischarged.

Withoutajoboradriver’slicense, hesat aroundthehousewhileIworkedandthings wentdownhillfast.He wasresentfultowardthe militaryandbitteraboutbeinginKansas.

Pregnantand800miles away frommyfamily inMichigan,Ialsofeltstuck.I walkedoneggshellswithhim.Mytoneofvoice, facialexpressions—anythingcouldsethimoffandI was alwaysonalertforsignsI’dtriggeredhisrage.

Eventuallyheconvincedmehisbehavior stemmedfromfeelingsofinadequacyandfailure. Hesaidhe wantedthe chancetostartover witha cleanslateandfinishhisdegreeatthe Texasuniversityhe’dattendedbeforejoining theArmy Ifwemovedrightafterourdaughter wasborn,hesaidhewouldimmediatelygethis

licensebackandstartspringsemester classes tofinishhisundergraduatedegreewithina yearandahalf.Thesilverliningtohispitch wasthatafterhegraduated,we’dmovetoMichigantobenearmyfamily.

EightweeksafterIgavebirth,Ileftmyjob at FortRileyandwemovedtoSanAntoniowith ournewborndaughter.

IbeganworkingasanAir ForceCivilEngineerCentercontractorin July2013,justafew monthsaftermovingto Texas.

Itoldpeoplewe’dmovedtoSanAntonioso myhusband,whorecentlyseparatedfromthe Army, couldfinishthedegreehestartedbefore enlisting.That wasahalf-truthbecauseI was tooashamedtotellanyonethefullstory. Nosafeexit

We weretherelessthantwoweeks.Aftera night of hisheavy drinkingand verbalabuse, Ipackedabagandtriedtoleave Heslammed

PhotobyBrianG.Rhodes icalfitness,leadershipandfollowershipabilities,timemanagement, speakingabilityandcommitmenttobecomingaSEREspecialist.

PhotobyStaffSgt.JakeCarter permanentortemporarystructures,asquicklyaspossible.TheinitiativeprovidesAfghanpersonnelessentialsupportatsecurelocationsoutside

AFOQT:breakingthelanguagebarrier

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

Inagiantleaptowardincreasingdiversitywithinitsranks, theDepartmentoftheAir Forcerecentlymade changestoitsqualifyingtest forofficers. Byreducingthemandatorydelaybetweentestsfrom180 to90daysandallowingfor‘super-scoring’oftestsubcategories, much likecollegeSATandACTscoring, DAFismakingheadway inmodernizingitsapproachtoaccessionsandhumancapitalmanagement.These changesareexpectedtoincreasethepoolofqualifiedapplicantswithoutadjustingstandards, andareexpectedtohavethemostimpactin underrepresentedracialandethnicgroups.

Since1953,theprimarytesttheDAFusestomeasureandalignofficersistheAir ForceOfficerQualifying Test.TheAFOQTisamanaged aptitude test utilized toselectthe most qualifiedpoolofofficersand outplacecandidatestojob-specificfunctions.TheAFOQTisdividedinto 12subtests, withresultsinthefollowingareas:quantitative, verbal, academicaptitude, pilot,combatsystemsofficerandairbattlemanager. WhiletheAFOQThasproventobebeneficial,thevalidity, fairness, and biasofthetestarecontinuouslybeingscrutinizedtoensuretheDAFis abletorecruitanduseAmerica’stoptalent.

TheHispanicEmpowermentandAdvancement Team,aDAFBarrier Analysis WorkingGroup, soughtfeedbackfromacrossthetotalforceon howtheAFOQTpresentstestingbarriersthatdonotallowqualified, EnglishasasecondlanguagecandidatestoserveintheDAF. Maj.Rafa-

el,theleadfortheHEAT’sovercominglanguagebarrierslineofeffort, analyzedtheissueandadvocatedforAFOQTmodernizationtoensure thetestcontinuestomaintainahighstandardforitsofficersandisequitableforHispanicofficercandidateswhodesiretoservetheircountry.

TheHEATlineofeffortcomplementstheinitiativesoftheAir Force PilotSelectionProcess WorkingGroup, ledbyAirEducationandTrainingCommand.Thisworkinggroup, whichincludesexpertsfromthe Air Force PersonnelCenterandHAF/A1,conductedextensiveresearch toidentifyandremovebarriersforqualifiedcandidatesandimprove diversity, whileupholdingstandardsofexcellencewhenselectingpilot candidates.Theworkinggrouphasprovided12comprehensiverecommendations, includingupdatestothePilotCandidateSelectionMethod andmodernizingtheAFOQT, toprovidemorediversequalifiedcandidates.

Herearetherecentlyimplemented changesthatresultedfromthe PilotSelectionProcess WorkingGroup’srecommendations:

n Minimumtimeallowedbetweentesting:Previously, 180days. Now, 90days.

n Super-scoring:Previously,AFOQTscoresassociatedwithonlya singletestadministrationwereused.Now, thehighestAFOQTcompositescoresareusedacrossanyandallpreviousAFOQTattempts.

n Super-scoringforrated:Previously, individualscouldnotcompete

myheadagainstthe walland chokedmewhileIheldmydaughterinher carseat.Iremembermyvisionfading, thesoundofalamphittingthe groundandbeingafraidthatmynewbornwouldbehurtifIdroppedher orfellonherifIlostconsciousness.

Itstillscaresmetothinkaboutwhatmayhavehappenedthatnight ifithadnotbeenformyGermanshepherd, Kodiak.There wasalotof snarlingandyellingandthensuddenlyIcouldbreathe. Kodiakbithis armandbroughthimtotheground.Hethreatenedtohave KodiakeuthanizedifIcalledthepolice.

Toooftenpeoplewillhearstoriesofdomesticviolenceandsay, “Ifthat wasmeIwouldjust....”

I wantpeopletoknowthat’snothelpful.Untilyou’reinthatsituation andfeeltheweightofeverypotentialconsequence, youcan’tbeginto imaginewhatyouwoulddo Irecognizemyprivilegeplayedakeypart inmyabilitytoeventuallyescapemyabuser. Iameducated,IamfinanciallyindependentandIhaveastrongsupportnetwork,butitstilltook nearlyfouryears.

Whatdoesthatsayforwomenwhoarefinanciallyoremotionallydependentontheirabusers?

AtAFCEC, noonehada cluewhatmyhomelife waslikewhenIleft theofficeeachday. Ididn’t wantthemtoknowbecausework wasmyescape. Intheoffice, Ihadasupportnetworkthatkeptmegoing. Everyday I walkedthroughthedoorsofBuilding1andtheAFCECteambuiltme up, restoredmyself-confidenceandself-worth,andgrantedmeopportunitiestogrowasaconsultantandaprofessionalinmycareerfield.

In2014,hesworeoffdrinkingafterhelostcontrolataweddingand shovedme Hesaidhedidn’tlikethe waypeoplelookedathimlikehe wasabadguy.I toldhimifhecontinueddrinkingitwouldbeamatterof timebeforesomethingbadhappenedandhe wasn’tgoingtogetoffeasya thirdtime. I wasonlyhalfright.

SecondDUI,anothersecondchance

In2015,hegotanotherDUIandIreallythoughthewouldbe charged. I wasbankingonitwhen,insteadofimmediatelypostinghisbail,Iwent tofileforemergencycustody Butthat’snotwhathappened.Instead,his veteranstatusgrantedhimadmissionto VeteranTreatmentCourt.Anotheropportunityto avoid chargesifhecompletedtheprogram.

WhiletheVTCisavaluablehybriddrugandmentalhealthcourtprogramthatservesveteransstrugglingwithaddiction,seriousmentalillnessandotherdisorders, inmycaseitenabledmyabusertocontinue abusingmewhilehenavigatedprogramrequirementsinpursuitofanother cleanslate.

BecauseI’dbrokenhistrustbytryingtoleave, hispromisetomoveto Michiganaftergraduation wasnolongeronthetable Healsoretained anattorneyandhadpapersdrawnuptokeepmeinthestate. Insteadof servingme, hesaidthatifIleftthestatewithourdaughterI’dbehauled backto Texasforlegalproceedings. Sincehe wasaveteranwhotechnicallydidn’thavearecordand wasingoodstandingwiththeVTC,it was unlikelyacourtwouldelecttograntanythingotherthansharedcustody.

Iwenttothreedifferentlawyerstoconfirmthatscenario Icouldn’t leaveouryoungdaughteraloneinhiscustody, it wasn’tsafe. Ibegged himtogivemeanother chanceandtoldhimIwouldn’tbetrayhimagain.

In2016,hiserraticbehaviorworsenedandhebeganlosingtouchwith reality. Hewouldstayupfordayswithoutsleepand wassuspiciousof everythingIsaidanddid.

Onedayindesperation,IcalledtheVTCfrommycarintearsand beggedthemnottotellmyhusbandIcalled.Ineededthemtoknowhe wasn’tintherightstateofmindandIdidn’tfeelsafe. I wantedthemto assesshim.Theytoldmehe wasmeetingallprogramrequirementsand theycouldn’tdoanythingformeandtocallthepolice.Thepolicesaid theycouldn’tdoanythingbecauseacrimehadn’tbeencommittedand referredmetoawomen’sshelter.

Iwiped away mytears, freshenedmymakeupandwentbacktowork. Probationviolations

Afewweekslaterafterfailingarandomdrugtest,he wantedmetogo tothehearingtovoicemysupportinfrontofthejudgeandsayIthought themouthwashhe wasusingcausedafalsepositive. IfIdidn’tsupport him,hesaidhe’dneverreconsidermovingtoMichigan.

AtthehearingIstayedsilentwhenthejudgeconfrontedhim.Hegot luckythoughand wasn’tkickedoutoftheprogram.Hedidn’tconsider

PROMOTION

samelevelofperformanceinacurrentyear, andwith moreexperience, endedupwithlessoverallpoints.The newscoreremovesthisoutcomeandallowssustained performanceandexperiencetobevalued.

ThecentraltenetofthenewPromotionRecommendationScoreisto awardenlistedperformancereportpoints basedonthedocumentedperformanceearnedbyeach Airmaninthatyear.Thehighertheearnedperformance value, themorepointsanAirmanreceives.AllAirmen earningthesameratingreceivethesamepointvalue inthatyearregardlessofhowmanyyearsthey’vebeen promotioneligible.

Alsounderthenewsystem,experiencepointsare awardedforamaximumoftwopreviousEPRsinthe currentgrade, basedontheratingsearnedinthoseparticularyears.AllAirmenhavingthesamelevelofperformanceandsameyearsofeligibilityreceivethesame experiencepoints Justlikethepointstructureforcurrentyearperformance, experiencepointsincreasewith increasedlevelsofperformance.

Similartothecurrentsystem,thePRScontinuesto utilizeamaximumofthreeEPRsinthecurrentgrade andpointvaluesareconstructedtofavoranAirman’s mostrecentperformance. Unlikethecurrentsystem, scoresdonot changethevalueofanearnedratingbased onthenumberoftimesanAirmanhasbeeneligible.It awardsfullpointvaluesforeachratinginanygiven year.ThisensuresAirmenwiththesamelevelofperformanceinanyparticularyearearnthesamepointand experiencevalues.

UnderthenewPromotionRecommendationScore:

1. First-timeeligible, receivedaMustPromotein2021 aPRSwillbe220

2.Second-timeeligible, receivedaMustPromotein 2021andaPin2020aPRSwillbe220+10=230

3.Third-timeeligible, receivedaMustPromotein 2021,aPin2020andaPin2019aPRSwillbe220+10+5 =235

ImpactofexperiencepointsundernewPromotion RecommendationScore:

1.Second-timeeligible, receivedaPromoteNowin 2021andaPin2020aPRSwillbe250+10=260

2. First-timeeligible, alsoreceivedaPromoteNowin 2021buthaslessexperienceaPRSwillbe250+0=250

These changeswillimpactseniorairmenandstaffsergeantswhoarepromotioneligiblebeginningwiththe 22E6promotioncycle.Additionally, the“NotReadyNow” recommendationwillnolongerreceivepromotionpoints andthe“DoNotPromote”recommendationwillbeeliminatedunderPRS CommandersretainexistingadministrativeactionstodesignateanAirmanasineligiblefor promotionshouldconductorpoorperformancedictate.

byAuburnN.Braithwaite U.S.TransportationCommandPublicAffairs

SCOTTAIRFORCEBASE,Ill.— U.S. Air ForceGen. Jacqueline D. VanOvosttook commandof U.S. TransportationCommand(USTRANSCOM)inaceremonyheretoday, becomingthefirstfemaleofficertoleadtheglobalcombatantcommand.

VanOvostsucceedsGen.StephenR. Lyons thefirstArmyofficertoleadUSTRANSCOM. Lyonsretiredtodayafter38yearsofmilitaryservice.

U.S. SecretaryofDefenseLloyd J. AustinIIIpresidedovertheceremony Hesaid Lyonsisatoughacttofollow, but VanOvostisexactlytherightpersonforthejob, describingherasalegendofaleader.

“She’sledatnearlyeverylevelofcommand,mostrecentlyatthehelmofAirMobilityCommand,wheresheplayedakeyrolebysupplyingplanesandpersonnelforthe Afghanairlift,”Austinsaid. “AttheheightoftheNEO[NoncombatantEvacuationOperation],anaircraft wastakingofffromKabulairportevery45minutes.Thiskindof real-worldcombatachievementunderscoressomethingcrucial.General VanOvost,in the21stcentury, careerslikeyoursareafightingimperative.”

InadditiontorecentoperationsinAfghanistan,AustinhighlightedthestrategicadvantagesUSTRANSCOMprovidestothenationanditsabilitytoalignmobilityresourcestothehigheststrategicprioritiesoftheDepartmentofDefense(DOD).

Hesaidthatonanygivenday, 115railcarsaremovingDODequipment,33shipsare gettingunderway, 1,500trucksaredeliveringcargoandeverytwominutesplanesare haulingsupplies, refuelingaircraft,andmovingpatients.

Austinsaidthosearejustordinaryoperations, butalsothatthepastyearforUSTRANSCOM wasanythingbutordinary.

USTRANSCOMledthenationthroughtheglobalpandemicwithmitigationefforts, deliveryofsuppliesandvaccines, andbysponsoringcriticalparticleairflowandtesting studiesonboardcommercialaircraft,whichestablishedindustry-widesafetystandards forpassengers. Lyons wasalsodirectedtoactivatetheCivilReserveAirFleet(CRAF) forjustthethirdtimeandusedCRAFforthefirsttimetotransportcivilians.

“YouhadtokeeptheAmericanmilitarymovingduringahistoricpandemic;andyou delivered. YouhadtoexecuteacomplexretrogradeinSomalia;andyoudelivered. You hadtoconductthelargestnoncombatantevacuationairliftinAmericanhistoryinAfghanistan;andyoudelivered,” hesaid.“YouconductedthelargestNEOairliftinAmericanhistory–injust17days.”

AustinsaidUSTRANSCOMsoaredoverthenormalhighexpectationsforthecommandunder Lyons’leadershipandforged“aglobaltransportationnetworkthatisstrongerandfasterthanever, andevenmoresecure, hardened,andsustainable.”

Ascommander, Lyonsfocusedonfiveprioritiesto championtransportationandlogisticalissues:Sealiftrecapitalization,airrefuelingcapacity, cyberresiliency, digital modernizationandtheprogramresponsibleformovingDODpersonnel,theirfamilies andtheirpersonalproperty.

Lyonsalsoadvocatedforpartnershipswithindustrytodevelopaninnovativespace transportationprototypetodelivercargotoanyplaceontheglobewithinanhour.

“Whenpeopleaskme‘HowdoesTRANSCOMdoit?Whatisthesecrettosuccess?’I tellthemthetruth. We areblessedwithincrediblepeoplefromaroundtheglobe,” Lyons said.“TothemenandwomenofTRANSCOM,ithasbeenmygreatesthonortoserveas your13thcommander.”

Lyonssaidheknowsthecommandwillwelcome VanOvostwithopenarmsandthat sheiseminentlyqualifiedtoleadanenterpriseofmorethan116thousandlogisticsand transportationprofessionalstomeetarapidly changingglobalsecurityenvironment.

Photoby

(Avove)AirForceGen.JacquelineD. VanOvost rendersherfirstsaluteaftertakingcommandofU.S. TransportationCommand(USTRANSCOM)duringaceremonyheldatScottAirForceBase,Ill.,Oct.15, 2021. VanOvostisthefirstfemalecommanderofUSTRANSCOM;shetakesoverfor Lyons,thefirstArmycommander.

(Insettopleft)HonorguardtroopstakepartintheU.S. TransportationCommandchangeofcommandceremony,ScottAirForceBase,Ill.,Oct.15,2021.

(Insettopright)ArmyGen.StephenR. LyonsgiveshisfinalsaluteasthecommanderofU.S. TransportationCommand,ScottAirForceBase,Ill.,Oct.15,2021.Duringthechangeofcommandceremony, Lyons passedcommandofthejointworldwideorganizationtoAirForceGen.JacquelineD. VanOvost.

PhotobyLisaFerdinando

PhotobyLisaFerdinando

himselfluckyandyelledatmeinthecourthouselobby. OneoftheBexarCountyprobationofficerswitnessedhisverbalattackandcalledusintoheroffice. Sheservedinthe Marinesbeforebecomingaprobationofficer, andthatmomentlandedhimonherradar.

HepulledoutallthestopsinfrontofthePO. Hetoldherhowmuchstresshe wasunder, heappealedtotheirsharedmilitaryservice,heblamedthemiscarriageIhadafew monthsearlierforplummetinghimintodepression.Hecried.

Shestaredatbothofusforafewmomentsbeforeshelookedathimandsaid,“Isee rightthroughyou.”

Thedrivehome wasbad.Theofficer’swordsinfuriatedhim,andhe wasmadatme“for pretendingtobeavictim”andpittingaPOagainsthim.Ihadtheofficer’scardinmy pocket.She’dhandedittomeaswewereleaving, andIdidn’t wanthimtoseemeputit inmypurse.

Ididn’tseehercardasalifeline—there wasn’tanythingshecoulddoformebecause there wasno wayI wasleavingwithoutsolecustodyofmydaughter.But,it wasmyfirst signofhope.Thefirsttimesomeonesawrightthroughhimandsawme.Thefirsttime mysafetyandwellbeingweremoreimportantthanpreservinghiscareerand cleanslate.

Aboutthistime, Iapproachedmyleadershipandaskedtobeconsideredforaremote positiononcemycurrentcontractexpired.Isaid,forpersonalreasons, Ineededthe abilitytomovebackhometoMichiganquicklyiftheopportunitypresenteditself.They agreed.

Lightattheendofthetunnel

Onemonthlater, hefailedanotherdrugtestand wassenttojail.Hecalledmetopost

hisbail,butIcalledtheprobationofficerinstead.Shecouldn’tgiveme muchinformation,butshesaidshewouldspeaktothejudgepersonally andrecommendhisprobationberescinded.Shetoldthejudgemystory andaskedhimtoconsidertheimpactstomeandmydaughterifhe was released.Ididnotposthisbail.

Betweenhistimeinjail awaitinghishearingandthefour-month,inpatienttreatmenthe wasorderedtocomplete, I wasabletomoveback hometoMichiganandmeetthesix-monthresidencyrequirementaweek beforehisrelease. Iservedhimdivorcepapersand wasgrantedsolecustodyofourdaughter.

Today, IliveinMichiganwithmydaughter, whonowsharesmymaidenname, andIstillworkformy clientsattheAir ForceInstallationand MissionSupportCenter. MyfirsttwoyearsbackhomeIhadconstant nightmares Inthebenignoneshewouldshowupatmyhousethreateningtofightforcustody. Butmoreoften,mydreamsrevolvedaroundhim attackingmeandmydaughter,withmebeingtooinjuredtopullmyself towhereshelaydying. Myfearandanxiety wasincapacitatingattimes. Thankstotherapyandanewhobby, submissiongrappling, I’velearned tomanagemyfearsandnotletthemrunmylife, butitnevercompletely goes away.

InMay2021,the U.S. GovernmentAccountabilityOfficereleaseda DomesticAbusereporttoCongress.Thereportdocumentedperspectives frommilitary-affiliateddomesticabusesurvivors.

Amongthetopbarrierstoreportingabuse:financialdependence, fear ofnotbeingbelieved,impacttoabuserscareerandfearofretaliation. For thosewhoreportedabusetocommanders, 36%perceivednoaction was takenandonly5%notified FAP.

TheDepartmentofDefenseisraising awarenessonthisimportantissuewithamulti-servicecampaignthatincludeslinkstoresourcesand supportprograms, likethe FamilyAdvocacyProgram.Whiletheseare vitalresources, the chainofcommandisthefirstandsometimesmost powerfullineofdefense.

Post-TraumaticStress, substanceabuseanddomesticviolenceoften gohand-in-hand.Iknowmilitaryleadersfacedifficult challenges, andI won’tpretendIhavealltheanswersbuttherearetwothingsIbelieve wouldmovetheneedleintherightdirection:

n Prioritizedomesticabusetrainingforeveryoneinleadershippositions. Ensureleadersare awareoftheirkeyresponsibilitiesfordomestic abusepreventionandresponseandcansafelyconnectvictimsto availableresources.

n Alwaysseebeyondtheservicemember.Whilecommandershavea dutytotakecareoftheirservicemembers, itshouldn’tbeatsomeone else’sexpense.

Yes, domesticviolenceaccusationscanposeathreattosomeone’scareer, butdomesticviolencedoesposeathreattosomeone’slife Neverlose sightofwhatismoreimportant.

inratedboardswithasuperscore. Now, super-scoringcanbeused acrossallcompositestoincluderatedscoresets.

First,theminimumtimeallowedbetweentestingprovidesgreater flexibilityforcadetscompetingforfieldtraining, ratedboardsorcommissioningslots.Thismeansthatcadetswillhavemoreopportunities totaketheAFOQTbeforefieldtrainingorbeforeAir ForceReserveOfficerTrainingCorpsboards Moreover, cadetsanddetachmentsarebettersuitedtotrackcadetprogressionwhiletheycompletetheAFROTC program.

Secondly, thesuper-scoringsystemisagreatequalizerforESLcadetsbecausetheycanfocusontheverbalportionoftheAFOQTafter theyhaveapassingscoreonthequantitativeportionofthetest.Cadets ofHispanic-ServingInstitutionswithaSTEMfocus, liketheUniversity ofPuertoRico, typicallyreceiveabove-averagescoresinthequantitativeportionoftheAFOQTthefirsttime However, thesecadetsfailthe

verbalportionoftheAFOQTduetolanguagebarriers.Allowingthe highestAFOQTcompositescorewillallowESLcadetstofocussolelyon theverbalportionofthetestthusincreasingtheoverallpassrate.

Lastly, allowingthosecadetstocompeteforaratedboardenables theAir Forcetoleveragetalentstofillcriticalmanpowershortfallsand haveopportunitiestoleadatthehighestlevelsintheAir Force.Typically, ratedboardrestrictionsprohibited waiversordeviationsduring theapplicationphase.Thisregulation changewillallowformoreHispaniccadetstoleveragethesuper-score changetobeabletoapplyfor ratedpositions.

Editor’sNote:TheHEATiscomprisedoftotalforcevolunteersacross theAirandSpace Force, who wanttobethe changethey wanttosee intheDepartmentoftheAir Force Ifinterestedinbeingacatalystfor positive changefortheDepartmentoftheAir ForceHispaniccommunity, pleasereachoutthroughtheHEAT Facebookgroup.

Freegolflessonsforactive duty, spouses

Bay PalmsGolfComplexbeginslessonsOct.20fromnoon to1 p.m. Wednesdaysatthegolf coursedrivingrange. Noreservationrequired.Logonatmacdillfss.com/bay-palms-golf-complex/formoreinformation.

Zombie5KRunOct.29

Startsat7a.m.Bay Palms GolfComplex.Bringthefamilyandenjoyafun5K. Wear yourcreepiest,scariest,funniestcostume. Runners, joggers and walkersarewelcome. Free T-shirt.Logonatmacdillfss.com/ short-fitness-center/or call 8284496formoreinformation

CardboardBoatRegattaNov. 19

RegistrationisopenuntilNov. 5.Limitednumberofteams. Opentoallsquadronsandmissionpartners Maxfivepersons perteam. Firstplaceprizeisa $500FSSgiftcard.Logonat macdillfss.com/forregistration form.SubmitNLT Friday, Nov.5 toOutdoorRecreationoremail macdillafbevents@gmail.com. Call515-3704formoreinformation.

NAFjobopenings

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

Findmoreinfoontheseevents andmoregoto:macdillfss.com

Batterup!

Col.MeredithSeeley, TaskForce-Holloman,deputycommanderdeployedfromMacDillAirForce Base,playsduringacricketgamebetweenU.S.servicemembersandAfghanevacueesatAman Omid VillageonHollomanAirForceBase,NewMexico,Oct.9.TheDepartmentofDefense, throughU.S.NorthernCommand,andinsupportoftheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,is providingtransportation,temporaryhousing,medicalscreening,andgeneralsupportforatleast 50,000Afghanevacueesatsuitablefacilities,inpermanentortemporarystructures.ThisinitiativeprovidesAfghanpersonnelessentialsupportatsecurelocationsoutsideAfghanistan.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

EVENTS -9a.m.to 12:10p.m. Facebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/

PhotobyPfc.AnthonySanchez