MacDill Thunderbolt 10/28/21

NEWS/FEATURES

Kendallcallsfor‘technicallyandoperationallyinnovativeapproaches’

byCharlesPope

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

NATIONALHARBOR,Md.(AFNS)—Offeringequaldosesofpraise andobjective-butdisquieting-reality, SecretaryoftheAir Force Frank Kendalltoldamajorgatheringofmilitaryanddefenselogisticsexperts MondaythattheUnitedStates’abilitytomovepeopleandgoodsanywhere, atanytime, hasbeenunrivaled.Buthe warnedthatthenation’s logisticsenterprisemustadapttoberelevantforthe challengesoftoday’sworld.

Kendall’skeynoteremarkstotheNationalDefenseTransportation Associationandthe U.S. TransportationCommand’sfallmeetingata hotelinsuburban Washingtonofferedinunvarnishedtermsthe challengesfacingtheUnitedStatesposedbyChinaandwhatthe U.S. must dotobestmaintainglobalstability.

“I’mfindinginmythreemonthswiththeAir ForceandSpace Force, thatourabilitytothinkout-of-the-boxandtoadoptbothtechnically andoperationallyinnovativeapproachestonewandemergingoperationalproblemsisbetterthanitmightbe, butnotasgoodasitneedsto be,” Kendallsaidtotheaudienceofseveralhundred.

“…Inmyopinion,wehavenotfullyinternalizedthesignificanceof thatdevelopmentorwhatitmeansforournationalsecurity,” hesaidof the challengesposedbyacapable, motivated,well-resourcedstrategic competitor.

“Weallrecognizethe change, butI’mafraidthattoacertaindegree, wearestuckinpatternsofthinking, andacting, thatnolongerapply.” To drivehomethepoint,hesaidlaterinthespeech:“Infinitelogistical capacityandfreedomofmovementarenotguaranteedfortheUnited Statesmilitaryandourgovernmentpartners.”

Aproperresponseismulti-prongedandmulti-domainonethatinvolvesallbranchesofthemilitaryaswellasalliesandpartners, he said.Butthereisnotimeto waste, headded,echoingoneofhiscon-

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher:JoeDeluca

Editor:NickStubbs

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PhotobyAndyMorataya

SecretaryoftheAirForceFrankKendalladdressestheaudienceatthe NationalDefense TransportationFallMeeingintheGaylodHotel,NationalHarbor,Maryland,Oct.18.

AirForce, Twelve,provejetfuelcanbemadefromthinair

byCorriePoland AirForceOperationalEnergy

ARLINGTON, Va.(AFNS)—Whatifyou couldaccessfuelfromanywhereontheplanet, atanytime, notankerrequired?TheAir Force thinksit’spossiblewithground-breakingcarbontransformationtechnology.

Separatefromcarboncaptureandstorageor carbonutilization,carbontransformationcan turncarbondioxidefromtheairintonearly any chemical,material,orfuel,includingjet fuel.

In2020,Air ForceOperationalEnergyendorsedthe carbontransformationcompany, Twelve, tolaunchapilotprogramtodemonstratethattheirproprietarytechnologycould convertCO2intooperationallyviable aviation fuelcalledE-Jet.

TheprojecthitamajormilestoneinAugust ofthisyearwhenTwelvesuccessfullyproduced jetfuelfromCO2,provingtheprocessworked

SeeFUEL,Page14

PhotobyMasterSgt.JoeySwafford

AU.S.AirForceKC-135Stratotanker,assignedtothe350thExpeditionaryAircraftRefueling Squadron,fliesoverQatar,Feb.13.Throughaninnovativeproject,theAirForceisattempting tocreatenewfueloptionsaircraftuseincludingcarbontransformationthatcanturncarbon dioxidefromtheairintonearlyanychemical,material,orfuel,includingjetfuel.

byAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings 6thAirRefuelingWing/PublicAffairs

The U.S. Air Forcehasaproudhistoryofwinning, attributabletothecommitmentofitsAirmenwhoexecutetheirdutieswithexcellence.

Whatdoesitmeantobeexcellent?Whyhas theAir Forceadoptedandpersonified‘Excellenceinallwedo’asoneoftheircorevalues?

Thoughthiscorevalue wasofficiallyrecognizedover20yearsago,‘Excellence’hasbeena stapleoftheAir Forcesince1947.Airmenofthe 6thAirRefueling WinglocatedatMacDillAir ForceBasearenoexceptiontothisstandard.

Themembersofthe6thARWensureMacDill’sabilitytodeliverunmatchedairrefueling andinstallationsupport.MacDill’srefuelingcapabilitiesenabletheairassetsoftheDefense Departmentandpartnernationstotravelfreely withouttheneedofasafehavenonland.

U.S.AirForce1stLt.OrchydiaSackey,a50thAirRefuelingSquadronpilot,looksthrougha the366thFighterWing,basedoutofMountainHomeAFB,Idaho.

PhotobySeniorAirmanShannonBowman

AndrewDeCarlo,aU.S.AirForceAcademycadet,deflectsthepucktoteammatesgivinghimanassisttoClaytonCosentino’sfirst-periodgoal duringagameagainsttheUniversityofDenverattheAcademy’sCadetIceArenainColoradoSprings,Colo.,Oct.15.DenverdefeatedAirForce 4-1.

PhotobyAirman1stClassJessicaSanchez-Chen StaffSgt.StevenChaney,49thSecurityForcesSquadronpatrolman,scales downthesideofabuildingduringthe49thWing’sfirstrappelskillstrainingatHollomanAirForceBase,N.M.,Oct.5.SFSAirmenandfirefighters learnedrappelskillstouseforrapidbuildingentryandexitinhostilesituations.

SeniorAirmanRosa Valencia,8thMaintenanceSquadronmunitions technician,buildsaGBU-38bombduringtheThirdQuarterLoad CrewCompetitionatKunsanAirBase,SouthKorea,Oct.16.Munitionstechnicianshadtheopportunitytocompeteagainsteachother inabomb-buildingcompetition,testingtheirknowledge,speedand accuracy.

Photoby TrevorCokley

PhotobyStaffSgt.JeseniaLandaverde

MacDillPharmacyprovidinga medical-readyforce

byAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

Servingapproximately525,000prescriptionstomorethan241,000beneficiariesannuallycanbeatoughandstressfuljob.

“Peoplewhocometothepharmacydon’t wanttobehere,” saidSeniorAirmanAisha Jennings, 6thMedicalSupportSquadronpharmacytechnician.“Theyareherebecause they’resickandI wanttomaketheirexperienceassmoothaspossibletohelpthemfeel better.”

ProvidingAirmenwithproperhealthcaredoesn’tstoponcetheyleavethedoctor’sofficeand TeamMacDill’scorpsofdedicatedpharmacistsandtechniciansensuretheAir Force’sprioritiesofareadymedicalforceandamedicallyreadyforce.

“Here, weareabletotakethetimetocareforourpatientsandgoaboveandbeyondto providethemedicalservicesthattheyneed,” said Jennings.

Pharmacy Week,celebratedthethirdfullweekinOctober, acknowledgestheinvaluablecontributionsthatpharmacistsandpharmacytechniciansmaketopatientcare.

Thesemedicationexpertshelpmaximizepositivehealthoutcomesandimprovethe qualityoftheirpatients’livesthroughpatientcounselingandcarefulqualitycontrol.

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

PHARMACY

FromPage5

MacDill’s6thMDSSenablesthecombatcapabilityofthe6thAirRefueling Wing, U.S. CentralCommand, U.S. SpecialOperationsCommandand31 partnerunitsandserves thelargestsinglecatchmentareaintheDepartmentofDefense.

Thepharmacy, comprisedof26servicemembersand21civiliancontractors, isresponsiblefor filling, on average, 40,000 prescriptionspermonth.

“Wehavespecialtraining forourtechniciansteaching themhowtoverifymedications,” saidZirnitaMallory, 6thMDSSpharmacysupervisor.“Therearealltypesof errorsthatcanhappen,and wehavetomakesureit’s therightperson,rightdrug andrightdose. Itrequires alotofattentiontodetail.”

Formemberofthe6th MDSSpharmacystaff, quickcareismosteffective withincrediblecustomer serviceand theirpharmacistsandtechniciansembodywhatitmeanstoput servicebeforeself.

“Ijustlovethe waythat wetrytomakeeverybody feellikeafamily,” said Mallory.

Jenningsexplainedthat shefinds waytogotheextramileinallaspectsof herlife.

“Ijustlovehelpingpeople!WhetherIamatwork, orinmypersonallife, it makesmefeelgoodinside, andthat’swhyIcometo workeveryday,” said Jennings.“Evenjustasimple thankyoumeansalotfor me.”

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

NEWS/FEATURES

MyVectorupdateshelpconnectAirmen,Guardians

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va.(AFNS)—To helpadvancediversity effortsacross theforce, MyVectorhasrecentlyaddedseveralfeaturestotheplatform.

MyVectorisoneofthemanytoolsAirmenandGuardianscanuseto enhancetheircareerdevelopment,includingtrackingpersonaldevelopmentandassignments, writingperformanceevaluations, andconnectingwithmentorsaswellasmentoringothers.

Lastsummer, theSecretaryoftheAir ForcestooduptheDiversity andInclusiontaskforcetoaddresstheissueofracial,ethnicandotherdemographicdisparitiesandtheirimpactontheforces.Thetask forceidentifiedMyVector’smentorshipplatformasanareathatcould helpexpanddiversityefforts. Havingmorespecificfilters, suchasrace, ethnicityanddisability, allowsAirmenandGuardianstobettertailor searchestotheirspecificneeds.

“TheobjectiveofexpandingthementoringfiltersinMyVectoristo provideabettersearchexperienceforAirmenandGuardianstolocate potentialmentorswithsimilarbackgrounds,” explainedDr CarrieBaker, amemberoftheSAFOfficeofDiversityandInclusion.“Wenoticed

thatthementorrequestfieldshadlimitedsearchfeaturesand wanted toenhancethisvaluableresource.”

Lt.Col.CindyRoberts, oneoftheleaderswithinthetaskforce, explainedthatthenewfiltersalsoappliedtothoseintheExceptional FamilyMemberProgram,orthosewhohaveidentifiedthemselvesas havingadisability, suchashearinglossorinvisiblewounds.Thedisabilityfilterallowsapproximately1,000AirmenandGuardianswho haveidentifiedthemselveswithadisabilityoraninvisiblewoundto connectwithotherAirmenandGuardianmentorswhohaveanidentifieddisability.

TheseMyVectoradditionswilladvanceDepartmentoftheAir Force inclusionpracticestoincorporateasmanyaspectsofmentorshipaspossibleandmakeiteasierformemberstofindthebestmentorfortheir needs.

“Theremaybesomeoneouttherestrugglingwithatopic, butthere’s noonenearthemtoconnectwith,discusstheirproblem,orprovideadvice,” Robertssaid.“Thesenewfiltershelpnarrowdownthesearchfor amentorthatcanbestassistsomeoneseekingadviceontheirunique topic.”

50thARSboomoperator recognizedasbestinAMC

bySeniorAirmanShannonBowman 6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

Eachyear,AirMobilityCommandrecognizesAirmenthathavemade outstandingcontributionstotheAir Force’sglobalmobilitymission. U.S. Air ForceMasterSgt.MichaelFulton,50thAirRefueling Squadronsuperintendent, wasrecognizedasAMC’s2021GeneralRobert “Dutch”HuyserOutstandingAircrewMember Award,BoomOperatorcategory forsustainedexcellenceinairmanship.

The awardisnamedafterGen.Robert“Dutch”Huyser, aformeraircraft commanderwhoservedinthe Vietnam Warandflewmorethan9,000hours inmultipleaircraftduringhismilitarycareer.

“ThefactthatIreceivedthis awardstillhasmein awe,” saidFulton.“I amblessedtoworkwiththemenandwomenofthe50thwhotrulysetthe standard,soformetonotidentifythisasagroup awardwouldbecompletely foolish.”

ForFulton,thebestpartofhisjobasthesquadron’ssuperintendentis leadingandsupportingthe128Airmenassignedtohissquadron.

“AsayoungAirman,I wasinstructedtodevelopmyownreplacement,” saidFulton.“Mygoalistoempowerourenlistedforcetoleadatalllevelsand toprepareAirmenforthenextlevelofleadership.”

AccordingtoFulton’sformersupervisor ChiefMasterSgt. KennethHarwood,92ndOperationsGroupsuperintendent,Fultondisplayedleadership qualitiesearlyonasaboomoperator, andassuch, wasofferedseveralopportunitiestoteachandguideotherAirmen.

“MasterSgt.Fultonissucha charismaticpersonwithnaturalleadership abilitiesthatjustcan’tbetaught,” saidHarwood.“Hespendsthetimetoget toknoweachoneofhispeoplesothathecanprovideguidance, mentorship andmaintaindisciplinewithintheunit.”

Fultoncreditshispersonalexperiences, hissquadronandtheleaderswho havesetagoodexampleforhimforhisownpersonalsuccess.

“Iovercamesomestrugglesearlyoninmycareer by changingmyenvironmentandemulatinggoodleaders,” saidFulton.“Ittooksomanypeoplefrom the50thARSandthe6thOperationsGroupformetoreceivethis awardand I’mtrulythankful.”

HarwoodexplainedthattheAirmeninthe50thARSrespectFulton,and thathisdedicationtotheunit’smissionandAirmenpermeatesthroughout.

“MasterSgt.Fultonissuchawell-roundedpersonandisexactlythetype ofleaderthattheAir Forceneedsinmyopinion,” saidHarwood.“Heistruly oneofthebestpeoplethatI’vehadthe chancetoworkwithandIconsider myselfluckytocallhimmyfriend.”

Fultonofferedsomehelpfuladvicetothenewboomoperatorsinhissquadron.

“Takeamomenttolisten,keepanotepadandtakenotes,” saidFulton. “Getuncomfortable, challengeyourselftotakeonnewrolesthatyouareunfamiliarwith.Bepreparedtofail,learnfromthemistakes.Andalwaysput yourunitbeforeyourself Becreditableandifyoudon’tknowtheanswer, say it,andthengoseektheanswer.”

(Above)Airmenfromthe50thAirRefuelingSquadron(ARS)‘RedDevils’poseforaphotographundertheboomofaKC-135StratotankeraircraftatMac-

Courtesyphotograph

stantthemessincebecomingtheDepartmentoftheAir Force’shighest rankingcivilianleader.

“Allofusinvolvedinnationalsecurityalsoneedtodevelopastronger senseofurgency, andweallmustthinkcarefullyabouttheapplication ofnewandemergingtechnologytotheoperationswemaybecalled upontoconductinthenottoodistantfuture,” hesaid.

HealsoofferedabluntmessagetoCongressabouttheneedforreplacing“legacysystemsandexcesscapacitythathaslittleornorelevanceto thepacing challengesweface.Wecanprotectthestatusquo, orwecan protectAmerica…IamverywillingtoworkwiththeCongresstofind creative waystomoveforward,butwemustmoveforward,” hesaid.

Atthesametime, Kendallacknowledgedtherootsofthe U.S. military’slogisticsenterprisearestrong.TheAir Force’sAirMobilityCommand“pulledoffthelargestairliftofpeopleinhistory—124,000people in17days.” KendallalsohighlightedthatAMC’sformercommander, Gen. Jacqueline D. VanOvost,hasrecentlybeenconfirmedandsworninasthenewcommanderatUSTRANSCOM.

Butthatpeacetimeairliftoperationisafarcryfromwhatislikely topresentitselfinmodern-worldconfrontation,wheresophisticated weaponsarecombinedwithrefinedcapabilitiesinspaceandinthe cyberrealmacrossvastdistances, includingthe Pacific.Therearealso moretraditionalandlessexoticconcerns.

“A fewyearsagoonatriptoGuam,I wasstruckbythemassiveand unhardenedfuelstoragetanksthatsupportAndersenAir ForceBase,” hesaid.

“Guamisn’tunique.Wealsoneedtomakeplanstodealwiththeprecisionmunitionsthat[would]beusedtodamagetherunwaysourforwardtacticalairwingsdependon,includingthoseinplaceslikeGuam,” hesaid.

Kendallusedarecentexampleandathoughtexercisetoillustrate thepoint.

“Severalmonthsago, hackersbreachedtheColonialPipeline’snetworksusingacompromisedpassword,” hesaid.“That’salltheyneeded, onepassword.TheyhackedintotheEastCoastoilpipelineanddisruptedoperationsforaperiodofdays.TheseRussian-basedhackerscaused agasshortage, highfuelpricesatthepump, andcosttheColonialPipelinealmost$5millioninransom.Thisisjustthetipoftheiceberg. If wedon’tprotectourdata,itiswideopenforourcompetitorstostealor manipulateandtodisruptourmilitaryoperations.”

Forthethoughtexercise, heaskedtheaudiencetoenvisiontheBattle oftheAtlantic, the World WarIIsupplyeffortthatisamongthemost acclaimedandhistoric wartimelogisticsachievement.

Butimagine, hesaid,iftheGermanswhowereunabletostopthe crucialsupply chain“hadalargeinventoryofprecisionland-basedantishipandlandattackcruiseandballisticmissiles. Supposethatthe V-1s and V-2s, introducedasterrorweaponslateinthe war, hadcomealong earlierandincludedlongerranges, precisionnavigation,andsmart seekers,” hesaid.

“Supposethismixofground-launchedballisticandcruisemissiles includedhypersonicweapons. ImaginethatthoseGermanU-boatscar-

riedoverthehorizonanti-shipcruisemissiles. ImaginethattheGermanshadarobustinventoryof[signalsintelligence]and[imageryintelligence]satellitesthatcouldprovidereal-timetargetingandprovide thatdatatotheLuftwaffe, the Wehrmacht,andtheKriegsmarine. Germansubmarineswouldnothavetoguesswheretheconvoysmightbe; withoff-boardsituational awarenessandtargeting, theycouldstand wellofffromtheirtargetsandengagethemwithcoordinatedattacks usingcruisemissiles.

“ThinkaboutwhatthesedevelopmentswouldhavemeantintheBattleoftheAtlantic. Itisn’taveryprettypicture,” Kendallsaid.

“Mypointinleadingyouthroughthisthoughtexperimentistoemphasizetwothings: First,howdifferentourcurrentandfuture challengestologisticsarecomparedtowhatweareusedtoorhaveever experienced.Andsecond,howsignificantathreatwecanexpecttoface fromtodayonward,” hesaid.

Despitethe challengesandquestions, Kendallsaid“itis cleartome thattheUnitedStatescanadaptinresponsetonovel challenges, but it’salso cleartomethatwecan’tassumetheglobalfreedomofmaneuverthatwehavecometoexpect.”

Despitethe challengesandconcerns, Kendallalsoofferedasense ofhope. Mostofitisrootedinthedailyperformanceanddedicationof rank-and-fileAirmenandGuardiansacrosstheAirandSpace Forces.

“Itrulyunderstandhowdifficultyourjobsareintoday’senvironment,duringapandemic, andwithsignificantdemandsandresource constraints. Despitethese challenges, youarestillexecutingyourjobs andmaintainingournationalsecurityposture Iam awedwhenIsee theamazingfeatsourmilitaryandindustryteamsaccomplishevery day,” hesaid.

PhotobyAndyMorataya

SecretaryoftheAirForceFrankKendalltakesquestionfromtheaudiencemembersattheNationalDefense TransportationFallMeeingin theGaylodHotel,NationalHarbor,Maryland,Oct.18.

EXCELLENCE

For U.S. Air ForceCol.CoryDamon,6th ARWvicecommander, excellencecomes fromthementalityofconstantlyhoning one’sskillsand reachingforhigherstandards.

“Excellencetomeisnotanendgoal,” Damonsaid.“It’sasteppingstonetoachieve greatersuccessthroughcontinuouslearningandimprovement.”

Damonaddedthattrustisformedwhen membersareallreachingforexcellence andthatmindsetisakeycomponentto MacDill’ssuccess.

“AtMacDill,ouroperationalKC-135 mission,ourinstallationsupporttocriticalmissionpartners, andournecessityto providestrategicdeterrenceagainstnear peercompetitorsisvitalforournation’s defense,” Damonsaid.“Ourmutualtrustin thepursuitofexcellenceprovidescarefor ourmembersandmissionsuccess.”

In-flightrefuelingspecialists, commonly referredtoasboomoperators, aretheAirmenresponsibleforextendingthereachof America’sstrategicfleetbysupplyingfuel toaircraftmidair.

SeniorAirman KylieStrawserwiththe 50thAirRefuelingSquadronexhibitsexcellencewithherdutiesasaboomoperator

throughconstantlytrainingtoimproveher skills.

“PerformingwithexcellenceisimportantasaKC-135boomoperatorforsafety, efficiencyandpersonalgrowth,” said Strawser.“Beingapartofanaircrewrequiresparticularattentiontonotonlykeep yourselfsafe, butyourcrewmembersas well.”

Strawsersaidthatanaircraftreceiving fuelareapproximately50feetor closerto theKC-135Stratotankerduringtheentiretyoftherefuelingprocess, andthat failingtopayattentionorthinkcritically couldcauseamid-aircollision.

Withtheinherentdangersofmidairrefueling, beingexcellentisimperativefor bothsafetyandmissionsuccess.

“Asaboomoperator, therearemany peoplerelyingonyourabilitytoperform themission,” saidStrawser.“Asanindividual,creatingacultureofexcellencewill helpyougrowandpromotegrowthinothersalongthe way.”

TheAirmenofyesterdayembracedexcellenceasastandardofconduct,andthat standardwillcontinuetobefoundational totheAirmenoftodayandtheAirmenof tomorrow.

PhotobySeniorAirmanShannonBowman

andsettinguptheconditionstocreatethesyntheticcarbon-neutral fuelinlargerquantities.Thefirstphaseoftheprojectisscheduledto concludeinDecemberwithareportdetailingtheprocessandfindings.

FortheAir Force, theimplicationsofthisinnovationcouldbeprofound.Initialtestingshowsthatthesystemishighlydeployableand scalable, enablingthe warfightertoaccesssyntheticfuelfromanywhere intheworld.Reliableaccesstoenergyandfuelisparamounttomilitary operations. Recentjoint wargamingandoperationalexerciseshaveunderlinedthesignificantriskthattransporting, storing, anddelivering fuelposestotroops–bothathomeandabroad.

Attheheightofthe warinAfghanistan,attacksonfueland water convoysaccountedformorethan30%ofcasualties.Yet,fueldemandis onlyexpectedtoincreaseasadvancedweaponsystemsandoperations requireincreasinglevelsofpower.

“Historyhastaughtusthatourlogisticssupply chainsareoneofthe firstthingstheenemyattacks.Aspeer-adversariesposemoreandmore ofathreat,whatwedotoreduceourfuelandlogisticsdemandwillbe criticalto avoidriskandwinanypotential war,” saidRobertoGuerrero, deputyassistantsecretaryoftheAir Forceforoperationalenergy.

Currently, theDepartmentoftheAir Forcereliesoncommercialfuel tooperate, bothdomesticallyandabroad.TheAir Forcemustuseacombinationoftrucks, aircraft,andshipstoensurefuelisdeliveredtomeet warfighterdemand.However, manyareasofoperationcannotalways easilyreachtraditionalaccesspointsofthesupply chain,particularly duringconflict.

Twelve’scarbontransformationplatformcouldallowdeployedunits tocreatefuelondemand,withouttheneedforhighlyskilledfuelexpertsonsite.TheAir Forceseestheopportunityforthetechnologyto provideasupplementalsourcetopetroleum-basedfuelstodecreasedemandinareasthataretypicallydifficulttodeliverfuelto.

“Withcarbontransformation,weareuntethering aviationfrompetroleumsupply chains.TheAir Forcehasbeenastrongpartnerinour worktoadvanceinnovativenewsourcesof aviationfuel,” saidNicholas Flanders,Twelveco-founderandCEO.

Mostsyntheticfuels, whicharecreatedbyamixofcarbonmonoxide andhydrogenknownassyngas, areproducedthroughburningbiomass, coal,ornaturalgas.Twelve’stechnologyeliminatestheneedforfossilfuels, producingsyngasbyrecyclingCO2capturedfromtheairand–using only waterandrenewablepowerasinputs–transformingtheCO2.

Theprocessofconvertingsyngasintoliquidhydrocarbonfuelsisnot new. Knownas Fischer-Tropschsynthesis, themultistepmethod was createdinthe1920sbyGermanscientistsandaidedtheGerman war effortduring World WarII.

Today, itiswidelyusedtoproduceliquidfuelsfortransportation. Fischer-Tropschcertifiedsyntheticfuelsareapprovedasa‘drop-in’fuel foreachspecificaircraft,firstcommercially, andthenbythe U.S. militaryandtheaircraft’sassociatedsystemprogramoffice.Thehighest blendcurrentlycertifiedisa50/50blendofFTsyntheticfuelandpetroleumfuel.Twelve’ssystemproducedFT-Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene, whichcanbeblendedwithpetroleum–uptoamaximumblendof50%.

Oncethefirstphaseoftheprogramconcludesattheendof2021, theAir ForceOperationalEnergyofficewilllooktothenextphaseof scalingthetechnologytoproducesyntheticfuelinlargerquantities. If broughttoscale, theplatformwouldenablemoreagileoperationsand decreasedependenceonforeignoil,whilehavingtheaddedbenefitof mitigatingcarbonemissions–aDepartmentofDefensekeypriority underSecretaryofDefenseLloydAustinIII.

Whilethereremainanumberofunansweredquestionstomakethis technologyoperational,suchashowtopowertheproductionofthesyngasinremoteareasandwhere watersourcesforthenecessaryhydrogenwillcomefrom(Twelvenotesthat waterfortheprocesscanalso becapturedfromtheair),theteamseesthisisapositivefirststepina trulyinnovativeprogram.

“Myofficeislookingatanumberofinitiativestonotonlyoptimize aviationfueluseforimprovedcombatcapability, buttoreducethelogisticsburdenaswell,” Guerrerosaid.“We’reexcitedaboutthepotentialof carbontransformationtosupportthiseffortandTwelve’stechnology–asoneofthetoolsinourtoolbox–couldhelpusgetthere.”

Zombie5KRunOct.29

Startsat7a.m.Bay PalmsGolf Complex.Bringthefamilyand enjoyafun5K. Wearyourcreepiest,scariest,funniestcostume. Runners, joggersand walkersare welcome Free T-shirt.Logonat macdillfss.com/short-fitness-centerorcall828-4496formoreinfo

CardboardBoatRegattaNov. 19

RegistrationisopenuntilNov.

5.Limitednumberofteams. Opentoallsquadronsandmissionpartners. Max5personsper team.1stplaceprize, $500FSS giftcard.Logonatmacdillfss. com/forregistrationform.SubmitNLTNov 5toOutdoorRecreationoremailmacdillafbevents @gmail.com.Call515-3704for moreinformation.

MacDillMarina

BoatRentals, Kayaks,Paddle Boards, Canoes, BicycleRentals kids, mountainandbeachcruisers available. Reservationscan bemadebycalling828-4983from WednesdaytoMonday7:30a.m.5:30 p.m.orlogonatmacdillfss. com/marina/formoreinfo.

NAFjobopenings

To applylogonatUSAJOBS.

EVENTS -9a.m.to 3p.m.Afterhourschaplain,call828-4362/4361. 12:10p.m. www.macdill.af.mil/chapel -8&9a.m.

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

Findmoreinfoontheseevents andmoregoto:macdillfss.com

U.S.AirForceSeniorMasterSgt.JuanAguirre-Alger,6thForceSupportSquadroncareerassistanceadvisor,speakstoservicemembersduringtheHispanicHeritageMonthcelebrationat MacDillAirForceBaseOct.14.AguirrespokeabouthowdiversityandinclusionarevitalcomponentstotheAirForce’smissionandhowitgivestheAirForceacompetitiveadvantageover near-peeradversaries.

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Retiree/DependentIDCards-2Kiosksavailable attheBXforrenewalsorbyappointmentonly

Passports ByAppointmentOnly

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APF/NAF/CIVPersonnelOffice Manpower&OrganizationOffice SchoolLiaison/EFMP

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COMMUNITYSERVICES

MainBasePool

FamCamp

Marina-1/2orFullDayBoat/ EquipmentRentals,Snacks&Drinks

Boat/RVRegistration+WetSlips

GolfCourse

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Bowling Information,Tickets&Travel

DIYAutoHobbyShop

DIYWoodShop

SkeetRange

Archery-byReservationsOnly CarWash/ResaleLot

READINESS/DEVELOPMENT

FitnessCenter-Masksmayberemovedwhile engagedinphysicalactivity;24/7Access Activated;OutdoorFitnessClasses Intramurals/Sauna/ChildCareAccessAuthorized FacilityHours: Monday-Friday0500-2030 Weekends/Holidays0600-1400

ChildDevelopmentCenters(CDCs)

FamilyChildCare

SchoolAgeProgram YouthCenter

Military&FamilyReadinessCenter

Openforwalk-incustomersandappointments. Classes&Workshopsareamixtureofvirtual andinperson.

Library BaseEducation BaseTrainingOffice

AirmanLeadershipSchool

ProfessionalDevelopmentCenter/FTAC WAPS/Vol.EducationTesting

Lodging(MacDillInn)