Thunderbolt 10/27/2022

PhotobyJohnOnuoha

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—Today, SecretaryofDefenseLloyd J. AustinIIIannounced thattheDepartmentofDefense willtakeappropriateactionstoensureservicemembers andtheirfamiliescanaccessreproductive healthcarewithinitsauthorityandconsistentwith applicablefederallaw, inaddition to clearguidanceforhealthcareprovidersto operateeffectively.

Theseactionswillestablishtraveland transportationallowancesforservicemembersand theirfamiliesto accessreproductive healthcare, establish additional privacyprotectionsandconductacomprehensivecontraception educationcampaign.

Austinstatedtheactionsoutlinedinthe memo, EnsuringAccesstoReproductive HealthCare, shouldbeexecutednolaterthan theendoftheyeartothemaximumextent possible.

“Reproductivehealthcareimpactsreadiness, recruiting, retentionandqualityof life. Ourpoliciesandprogramswillempowerfamiliestomakeappropriatedecisionsbasedon theirneeds,” saidSecretaryoftheAir Force Frank Kendall.

UnderSecretaryoftheAir ForceGinaOrtiz Jonesalsostressedtheimportanceoftaking careofAirmen,Guardiansandtheirfamilies.

“Secretary Austin’s directivetoupdate DoDreproductivehealthpoliciesiscriticalto protectingAirmenandGuardians’accessto reproductivehealthcareservices, aswellas theirprivacy,” Jonessaid.“Thisisabouttakingcareofourpeopleandaboutbeingmission ready DAFleaderswillcontinuetocommunicatewiththe Forceasnewpoliciesareimplementedtoensure awarenessof availablereproductivehealthcareservicesandsupport.”

Inhismemo, AustindirectedtheDoDtoaccomplishcertainactionstogiveservicemembersandtheirfamiliesthetimetomakepri-

vatehealthcaredecisions:

·Establishtravelandtransportationallowancesforservicemembersanddependents totraveltoaccessnon-coveredreproductive health care thatisnot available withinthe localareaofaservicemember’s permanent dutystation,consistentwithoperationalrequirements andapplicablefederallaw.

·Establishadditionalprivacyprotections forreproductivehealthcareinformation,includingstandardizingandextendingthetime servicemembershavetofulfilltheirobligationtonotifycommandersofapregnancy tonolaterthan20weeksunlessspecificrequirementstoreportsooner, such asthosenecessitatedbyoccupationalhealthhazards, are setforthinpolicy.

·Conductacomprehensivecontraception educationcampaigntoenhanceservicemembers’ awarenessoftheresources availableto themandtheirfamilies, includingemergency

Publisher:JoeDeluca Editor:NickStubbs

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

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Competition

CENTCOM awarded the Defense MeritoriousServiceMedalto U.S. ArmySgt.Mickey ReeveforwinningtheinauguralInnovation Oasis, an innovationcontestheldyesterday at the CENTCOM headquartersin Tampa.

Reevedevelopedacounter-Unmanned AerialSystem(c-UAS)trainingsoftwarethat simulateseveryc-UASsystem intheUSmilitaryinventoryandinvolvesscenariosforany locationontheglobeandany UASsystem available. Reeve, aninfantrymanassignedto thePrince SultanAirBaseintheKingdomof SaudiArabia,codedthesoftwareinhisspare timeonweekends. ReeveflewfromSaudi Arabiato Tampaonedaypriortocompetein CENTCOMInnovationOasis.

Apaneloftentechindustryleadersandseniormilitaryofficials, includingBobSmith, ChiefExecutiveOfficerofBlueOrigin;Jim Reuter, NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA)Associate Administrator; GeneralMichael“Erik” Kurilla,commanderof U.S. CentralCommand;andseniorexecutives

fromGoogleandMicrosoft,selectedthe champion.Theotherfourfinalistswhopitched theirideasintheShark Tank-styleprogram on Friday were U.S. ArmyCapt MattGoyette, U.S. Air ForceStaffSgt.StephenLarsen, U.S. ArmyLt.Col. FerdinandBacomo, and U.S. Air ForceCapt. Kendra Kirkland. Thesefour finalistswererecognizedwith the JointServiceAchievementMedalfortheirexceptionalrespectiveideasthatwerealsopresented within thecompetition.Thepresentations ranged frompolicy-basedsolutions tohigh-techinnovationstoaneworganizationforcombatmedics. ThefiveInnovation Oasisfinalists chosentopresenttheirinnovationwereselectedfrommorethan160submissionsthatrepresentedevery U.S. sister servicewithineverycomponentofthecommand.

“Forus, this program isaboutbuilding acultureofinnovationacrossallofCENTCOM,” saidKurilla. “It’s aboutfindingthose greatideashiddenfromviewinsideasquad,

trappedinsideofaship, lockeddowninacubicle in one of ourbases, ortucked away inan aircrafthangar. We wanttounlock, embrace, andthenupliftthoseideasandthenimplementthemacross the entire organization.”

Eachfinalisthadtenminutestopresent theirinnovation,followedby20minutesof questionsandanswersfromthepanel.Each presenter wasevaluatedalongasetofcriteria thatincludedoriginalityofidea, scalabilityof concept, andthe overallpresentation.InadditiontoreceivingtheDistinguishedMeritoriousServiceMedal,thewinnerofthefirst CENTCOMInnovationOasis, wasgranted afour-day passand willattendthemilitary school of his choiceduringthiscalendaryear andhewillgoonamediatourinNew York Cityand Washington, DC nextmonth.

“It wasamazingjusttocomehereto Tampa torepresentmyunitandpresentmyidea,” Reevesaid.“Theunmannedaerialsystem istheimprovisedexplosivedeviceoftoday’s

byAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

Forthefirsttimeineightyears, Academy Day washostedatMacDillAir ForceBase, Florida,Oct15,2022.

KathyCastor, theCongresswomanrepresentingFlorida’s14thcongressionaldistrict,served asthekeynotespeakerattheeventwhereshe discussedthevalueanewgenerationholdson thefutureofAmerica.

“Thankyouforyourinterestinserviceto yourcountry,” saidCastor. “Americaneedsyou. We needtalented,smart,youngpeopletoserve ourNationtohelpbringustogetherandtohelp supportthevaluesthatweallshare.”

Academydayprovidedanopportunityfor

PhotobyStaffSgt.AlexanderCook

MacDillprovides resilienceedat enlisted summit

ForthefirsttimeinMacDill’shistory, the6th AirRefueling Wingheldanenlistedsummit, Oct.18,2022.

Thesummitprovidedenlistedmembers acrosstheinstallationwithresiliencytraining centeredaroundpromotingahealthyworkenvironment.

TheeventincludedavarietyofguestspeakersincludingChiefMasterSgt.oftheAir Force Joanne S. Basswhoattendedtheeventvirtually. Thespeakersprovidedinsightonmaintainingahealthywork-lifebalanceforenlisted

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

MacDillAirForceBaseOct.18,.Theeventencouragedopendiscussionontopicsbeingpre-

MacDillfirefighterartistbringingwall to life

byAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

What areyou doingat7 p.m. afteralongday ofwork?

For JayScott, he’s heatingupdinnerintheofficemicrowave, writingreports, preparinghispaintingsuppliesandturningonsomeLed Zeppelin.

Scott, afireinspectorassignedtothe6thCivilEngineerSquadron atMacDillAir ForceBaseisnostrangertothesacrificesfirefighters maketo serveandprotectatallhoursofthe day.

Firefightersassignedtothesquadronfrequentlycallthestation a secondhomeandScotthasmadeithismissiontobringthe wallsto life, boastinga proud heritageoffireprevention.

A20-year Air Forceveteranwithover 30 yearsofexperienceinfire prevention,Scottsawanopportunitytopaytributetothosewhocame before him andsharethosestorieswith newAirmen throughart.

“Forme, it’saboutpride,” saidScott.“Takingprideinyourworkand whatyoudoissoimportant.”

Recently, hehascompletedtwo large-scalemurals at FireStation 1 alongwithanumberofdetailedsketches hehas gifted tocoworkers.

“Weallcomefromsomewhere,” saidScott. “Theseworkasgreat conversationpieces;they bring upstoriesandgoodtimesaboutwhat happenedback intheday.”

Scottsharedthatfindingtimetoworkonthesesizableprojectscan bedifficult, buthasbeenagreat way tointeractwithothersduring downtimes on shift.

Atthestation, Firefighterswork60-hourworkweeks, acumulation offournine-hourshiftsandone24-hourshift.Onthe24-hour shifts, mostofthestationwill gatheraroundto watchassoonastheyhear hismusicstartto play Hehumblyshares thathisworkisateam effort. Eachnight,he

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin JayScott,afireinspectorassignedtothe6thCivilengineering Squadron,poseswithamuralhepaintedatMacDillAirForceBase Oct.13.

looksforwardtohearingtheinterestingideasandinputfromthoseon shiftwith him.

“Ihadtoinjectalittlefunintoit,ofcourse,” hesaid. “Ihadtoadd thearmadillos, thebirdsandtheblacksnakesbecauseweknowthose guysareeverywhere inFlorida.”

Givingthe walls lifetakestime, it’stediouswork.

“TherearesomanylittledetailsthatIhadtoimproviseanduse markerson,” hesaid.“Butyoudoalotofthatinthisjob. Ifyoucan’t finda waytodosomethingyouneedtoimproviseandfinda wayto make itwork.”

ACADEMYDAY

highschoolstudentsto gatherinformationonthe differentpathstowards commissioningasanofficer intheUnitedStatesmilitary.

“I’mlookingforwardto receivingmoreinformation ontheNavalandAir Force Academys,” saidAdrian Salazar, acandidateattendingtheevent. “I want tostudyaeronauticalengineeringandtheacademics provideagreatopportunity todothat.”

Includedintheevent werespeakersfromthe Air ForceAcademy, United StatesMilitaryAcademyat West Point,NavalAcademy, MerchantMarineAcademy, CoastGuardAcademy, CollegeReservesOfficerTrainingCorpandtheMarion MilitaryAcademy.

Academyadvisorsattendingtheeventrecommendstudentsstartplanningtheirapplications priortotheirsenioryear Congressionalrecommendationsare availablefor studentsannuallybutthe selectionprocess isrigorous.

Col.AdamBingham,6th AirRefueling Wingcommander, summarizedthe eventbyrecognizingthe valuableeducationeach academygraduatereceives.

“U.S. Service Academies arerenownedformoldingstudentsintothewinnersandleadersourNationneeds,” saidBingham “Thesecandidatesareeligibletoreceiveworld-class educationand mentorship, ultimatelymakinganincrediblecontributiontoour armedforces.”

WilliamMerlin,academy admissionsadvisor,providesinformationtocandidatesandparentsduring AcademyDayatMacDill AirForceBaseOct.15. Theeventfeatured representativesfromthe Air ForceAcademy,Military Academyat WestPoint, NavalAcademy,Merchant MarineAcademy,Coast GuardAcademy, College ReservesOfficer Training Corp,andtheMarionMilitaryAcademy.

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

fight.The winninginnovationwillsupportour troopsinharm’s way. Unmannedaerialsystemsare theprimarythreattoour forcesandpartnersinthe MiddleEast.Thec-UAS Trainerwillserveas a universaltrainingsystem thatwilltrainourtroops onshootingUnmanned AerialSystems outof the skybeforetheyharmour troops. “SergeantReeve identifiedarealneedon thebattlefieldanddevelopedasolution,” saidColonel Joe Buccino, CENTCOMspokesman.“Now, we’re goingto looktourgentlyimplementthissystem across all our subordinateunits.”

MACDILL

Photoby Airman1stClassZacharyFoster

contraception. ThateducationcampaignwillalsohighlightthattheDoDhaseliminatedTRICAREco-paysformedicalcontraceptiveservices, includingintrauterine devices.

Austin alsodirected DoDofficials todevelopguidance to protect healthcare providers, whoshould notbeheld personallyliableforperformingtheirofficialduties.

Additionally, AustinreiteratedtheDoD willnot changecomprehensiveaccessto contraceptionandfamilyplanningservicesforservicemembersandtheirfamilies. Hedirectedmilitarymedicaltreatmentfacilitieswiththeappropriate clinicalcapacitytoexpandtheirservices, toincludededicatedhoursfor walk-incontraceptive care forservicemembers, andonaspace available basis, forallother eligiblebeneficiaries. SomeMTFscurrently offer walk-incontraceptiveservices, andallMTFswill have walk-incontraceptiveservicesby January2023.

TRICAREbeneficiariesalsonolongerhavetopaycost-sharesorco-paymentsfor allTRICARE-coveredcontraceptives. TheseincludeIUDs, hormonalshotsandslowreleasehormonalrods, which go undertheskin.This change wentinto effect July 28. Ifyou paidforservicesonorafter July 28, youcansubmita claimtoyourTRICARE contractor afterNov. 1toreceivereimbursement.

DepartmentoftheAir Forceleaderssentalettertitled Total ForceAirmenand GuardiansonReproductiveHealthCare ServicesonAug 17, 2022,listingresources andinformation aboutaccesstocare, including acontraception chart, coveredabortions, privacy,leavepoliciesandDoD FAQs. TheseDAF-specificresourcesandpolicies remaininplaceas the DoDworkstomeetAustin’s outlineddirectives.

Foradditionalinformationonreproductivehealthcare, visitAir ForceMedical Services.

members, notingthevalueofdividingup duties and tasksappropriately.

“Icannotbeeveryplayerineverysituation,” saidAir ForceChief MasterSgt. DemetriusBooth,14thSecurity ForcesSquadronseniorenlistedadvisor “Itellthem, ‘here’swhattheacceptablecultureis.’ Read andunderstand,takenotes, andbeableto communicateandarticulate that.”

TheAir Force has devotedit’sresilience traininginitiativetocreatingacommunity thatthrivesinthefaceof adversity.

KeynotespeakerAnthonyBrinkley, Air Forceretireeandresiliencetrainer, focused ontheinfluencethatpersonalstabilitycan haveontheworkplace. Brinkleyinsisted improvingwork-lifebalancecanhaveprofound effectsondailyworkplaceactivities.

“Workhardtoimprove, nottoprove,” said Brinkley. “Betteryourself foryourself, notto prove yourworthto anyoneelse.”

Air ForceCol.AdamBingham,6thAir Refueling Wingcommander, concludedthe eventwitha challengeforallenlistedleadership.

“Lookbackonyourcareer,” Binghamsaid. “Whetherit’sbeenfive, ten,fifteenyears, if we’rebeinghonestwitheachother, we’dall realizethatsomeonemadeallthedifference forus. Sogooutandbeallthedifferencefor someoneelse.”

Theenlistedsummitreflectsthe6th ARW’scommitmenttowardsempowering enlistedmembersandprovidingthemwith thetoolstosucceed.

U.S.AirForceMasterSgt.DanielFitzpatrick,6thMedicalGroupspecialtyservicesflightchief,participatesinanenlistedsummitatMacDillAirForceBaseOct.18.Theeventincludedanicebreaker activityinvolvingthegame rock-paper-scissors.Theobjectivewastoteachthecrowdthatpersonal defeatshouldnotaffectoverallforcesupport.

AnthonyBrinkley,keynotespeakerforan enlistedsummit,givesaspeechatMacDill AirForceBase,Florida,Oct.18,2022.The summitequippedenlistedleaderswiththe resiliencytrainingnecessarytoprovide a healthyworkenvironment.

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

Runfor your lifeobstacle course

Runisatthe Short Fitness Center Friday, 6:30a.m Bring theentirefamilydressedinyour bestcostumestotheShort Fitness Centersouthtrackforabootacularfuntime.

Haunted trailandfallfestival

Event is attheBay PalmsGolf Course, Fridayat5 p.m.Thisevent isfreeandopentoallwithbase access. Eventsincludeahaunted trail,facepainters, kidscraftingarea,bouncehouses, sponsor booths, pumpkinandcandystations, DJ, firedepartmentstatic display, foodtrucksandbeverage garden withfoodanddrinks availableforpurchase Findmoreinfo at macdillfss.com/macthrillville/.

Teennightout

Happeningisattheyouthcenter Fridayfrom6–9 p.m.This eventisfreeandopentoages1318.

SACfall festival

Eventis Fridayfrom4–5 p.m. It’sisfreeandopentonewandexistingparentsandyouthtoexperiencetheschool-agecareprogram. Therewillbefood,funandgames.

Hollywoodhorror

FunattheArts andCraftsCenterMondayfrom9a.m.–3 p.m. Jointheteamfor thrills, chills, freefoodandfun. Maynotbe suitable for small children.

Newto MacDill? Visitmacdillfss.com/relocation/

CHAPELSCHEDULE

Monday-ThursdayMass

OtherFaithGroups-

Catholic(in-person)

9:30a.m.(confessionsbyappointment)

HCADMIN@us.af.mil

MacDill’s Chapelwebsiteis:https://www.macdill. af.mil/chapel

Formoredetailsandinformation,visit theChapel Facebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/

Smithwas present-

Gen.Bryan Fenton,

Courtesyphoto