Week in photos

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.

Female fighter pilots assigned to the 36th and 25th Fighter Squadrons fly a historic all-female flight at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 25. The benchmark flight is the first time 10 female Airmen have planned, led and flown in a formation together while being assigned to Osan AB. Eight of the pilots were A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots and two were F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots.

Photo by Senior Airman Jerreht Harris

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer flies over the Persian Gulf on a presence patrol above the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, Oct. 30. The flight was a five-hour, non-stop multilateral mission with participation from air forces including Bahrain, Egypt, Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Photo by Brian G. Rhodes

Airmen from the 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., conduct flight line operations in support of an F-35 Lightning II training at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field, Texas, Oct. 28. The multirole capabilities of the F-35 allow it to perform missions that traditionally require numerous specialized aircraft.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, November 11, 2021 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 5

Capt. Lance P. Sijan: A legacy of valor

by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

6th Air Refueling Wing/Public Affairs

Acts of bravery and heroism by Airmen have shaped the U.S. Air Force into the world’s greatest air power.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Lance P. Sijan exemplified what it means to live by a warrior ethos, leaving behind a heroic legacy of tough-mindedness, tireless motivation, an unceasing vigilance and a willingness to sacrifice one’s life for their country.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty,” President John F. Kennedy during his Inaugural Address to the nation on Jan. 20, 1961.

A few months after that empowering speech by President Kennedy, Sijan began his pursuit of commissioning as an officer in the Air Force by becoming a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy.

Sijan developed his ability to be a leader among his peers during his time at the Academy. He learned about the history of the U.S. military and of the brave men and women that wore the uniform before him.

He also learned about what was required of him to serve as an Airman in the Armed Forces, which included following the Code of Conduct.

See VALOR, Page 14

U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

This graphic depicts U.S. Air Force Capt. Lance P. Sijan and the dormitories at the U.S. Air Force Academy named after him, Sijan Hall. Sijan was awarded with the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1976 for his extraordinary heroism and courage to stay true to the Code of Conduct as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.

From Page 3 an Heritage Month has its roots in Public Law 99-471. Over several years, the observation was moved to different months but in 1990 Public Law 101-343 set the month long observance in November.

Each year the President issues a Proclamation in recognition of the observance. National American Indian Heritage Month is observed from Nov. 1 - 30 of each year. National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated with community gatherings, festivals, government and educational activities.

For more information, visit the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Ins t i t u t e h t t p s : / / w w w. d e f e n s e c u l t u r e. m i l/ H u m a n - R e l a t i o n s -Too l k it / S p e c i a l Observances/#national-american-indian-heritage-month.

Photo By: Army Spc. James Liker

From left, Air Force Airman Cloetel Best, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Pierre Best and Air Force Airman Loreal Best, all members of Task Force Liberty, pose for a photo in Liberty Village at Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst, N.J., Oct. 20.

DOD Celebrates National Veterans and Military Families Month

The Defense Department recognizes that military families have important roles to play in supporting a strong and ready force.

“Our nation’s service members do not serve alone. Alongside them are the dedicated members of their families, whose commitment and resolve strengthen our nation. Your support and resilience help strengthen our force,” said C. Eddy Mentzer, acting director of military community support programs.

“The department recognizes that readiness depends on a strong and resilient home front, and we honor those who make it possible — our nation’s nearly 3 million military family members,” said Mentzer, whose spouse is an active-duty Air Force colonel.

Every military family is unique and could consist of not just immediate family members, but also partners, caregivers, extended family members and friends. “Each one of you is important.”

Military life has its own unique challenges and rewards, and the department wants to ensure family members have support and access to resources they can use, said Mentzer. The entire suite of these resources is available on the Military OneSource website.

“Military OneSource should be the first stop for any military family when facing adversity,” said Mentzer. “Service members and their families can visit the website, call Military OneSource at 800342-9647 to speak with a Military OneSource consultant, or start a live chat. Our team will listen to your needs and lead you to the resources you need.

“Military OneSource is not just for currently serving military families, but also for transitioning service members and their families. They have access to all Military OneSource has to offer up to 365 days post transition.”

That website provides helpful information and guidance on topics, such as:

Nurturing and growing friendships and relationships to help maintain important connections.

Navigating parenting and caregiving.

Planning for and working through different transitions in military life.

Parenting, relationship support and child care help.

Programs for youths.

Spouse employment opportunities.

Permanent change of station and deployment assistance.

Photo by Army Pfc. Jesus Menchaca

(Above) A family watches an M977 A4 fueler truck during the 1-3rd Attack Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Family Day at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Sept. 18.

(Left) Army Capt. Tim Wang, an officer candidate school instructor at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., poses with his family after an Officer Candidate School graduation ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 25.

From Page 3

Minihan’s second layer of meaning identified “Let’s Go” as a contract between one another. It asserts an Airman is trained, ready and understands his or her role in the mission – and vice versa.

Minihan’s third and final layer of meaning to “Let’s Go” tied directly to the pacing challenge presented by China.

“They’re designing a force to defeat you – a boutique force to establish a new rules-based order that is led by them, that serves only them,” said Minihan.

Minihan spent nearly a decade supporting the Indo-Pacific Command mission prior to assuming command of AMC. The experience informed his focus and the impetus behind the warrior creed.

“The third level of understanding of ‘Let’s Go’ is that we all understand what the pacing challenge is – that we understand that the peace, prosperity and prestige of America is at stake here,” said Minihan. “We also understand that we are going to use winning language . . . and we are going to adopt a lexicon that gets after the win part.”

Minihan cited the creed as a professional contract that all mobility Airmen should understand moving forward.

“This is incredibly important work,” Minihan said. “‘Accelerate change and win’ isn’t just something we talk to, it’s something we have to walk to and deliver on. The peace, prosperity and prestige of America is counting on us to do our jobs. Let’s go!”

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Zachary Boyer

(Above) U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan, Air Mobility Command commander, delivers his keynote address at the 53rd Airlift/ Tanker Association Convention in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 28th. (Left) U.S. Air Force airmen attend Air Mobility Command commander Gen. Mike Minihan’s keynote speech during the 53rd Airlift/Tanker Association Convention in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 28th.

MacDill investing in Airman development, empowerment

by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

6th Air Refueling Wing/Public Affairs

Mission success within the Air Force only happens with its No. 1 asset— its people.

The Professional Development Center and Airman Leadership School teamed up to provide members at MacDill with the first-ever professional development week, which included classes on teamwork, emotional intelligence and leadership. These classes are part of an Air Force initiative to empower Airmen to be multi-capable and adaptable team builders, as well as courageous problem solvers who can deliver in any environment.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jose Lopez Rodriguez, 6th Force Support Squadron ALS instructor, facilitated several classes throughout the week.

Lopez Rodriguez said the majority of an Airman’s development throughout their career comes from on-the-job training catered toward the technical aspect of one’s duties, and that these classes help Airmen grow in other areas.

“We were thinking about the MacDill AFB team members,” Lopez Rodriguez said. “We all have different missions and responsibilities. There is a lot of power in sharing experiences and networking.”

See INVESTING IN AIRMEN, Page 13

Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Warner

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jose Lopez Rodriguez, Airman Leadership School (ALS) instructor, facilitates a professional military education class at MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 28, during Professional Military Education week.

From Page 2 Force and 3 percent of the department budget, it’s a pretty good return on investment, he said, noting the participation of special operations forces in the Afghanistan evacuation and its concurrent mission in Haiti for humanitarian disaster assistance.

Since special operations personnel are globally deployed, working with allies and partners is a valuable skill that they bring, Clarke said. They’re culturally astute and skilled in languages and customs of the country and region in which they’re located.

Not only do they train with the special operations units of other nations, but they also train with conventional forces, as they’ve been doing recently in Norway, Ukraine, Thailand and the Philippines, Clarke said. On each training mission, U.S. teams learn new tactics, techniques and procedures, and partner nations learn from their U.S. counterparts. “Deployments are probably the best training they get,” he said.

Besides training with allies and partners, special operations forces benefit from training as part of the larger joint force in some of their higher end exercises, he said.

“Working with and integrating with the joint force is absolutely critical because we want them to see us as an enabler and a capable force that helps them, whether that’s through joint forced entry, or because we may be the only ones in that country that can provide them access,” he said.

Special operations forces are resilient and creative, Clarke said, and their leaders listen to their ideas and respond appropriately.

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michelle Kapica

A special operations sailor jumps into Coronado Bay for a floatation check in San Diego, Calif., March 5, 2009.

From Page 11

Throughout the week, all Department of Defense personnel and civilians in attendance discussed their various perspectives while cultivating new relationships, according to Lopez Rodriguez.

“We spent a lot of time understanding the behaviors of a leader because there are many misconceptions out there,” said Lopez Rodriguez. “Once we know some of those qualities such as integrity, competence, courage and character, we can develop them and instill them in our force.”

Per the Airman’s Creed, being a leader is part of what it means to be an Airman. Developing the next generation of leadership within the Air Force coincides with the Air Force’s objective to accelerate change.

The members in the ‘Developing the Leader Within You’ class shared their thoughts with one another on how noncommissioned officers can be effective in guiding their subordinates and how to promote healthy work environments on all levels.

“I believe if you have faith in your Airmen, that goes a long way,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sol Trinidad, a member of the 290th Joint Communications Support Element. “If you have faith in them, and show them that you have faith in them, maybe they will excel and become that leader that they could be.”

Air Force leadership will continue to be crucial in having success wherever the fight takes place. Team MacDill is committed to elevating Airmen to flourish in any role they may take on throughout their careers.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

The Professional Development Center and Airman Leadership School conducted various professional development classes during Professional Military Education week at MacDill Air Force Base Oct. 25-29. The classes covered topics such as teamwork, emotional intelligence and leadership, and are a part of an Air Force initiative to invest in and empower Airmen to accelerate change across the Air Force.

From Page 6

The Code of Conduct is composed of six articles that guide service members on how to act in combat or, if a captive, in a prisoner of war compound.

The articles state that members are to resist capture by our enemies and never surrender, and if captured, to make every effort to escape enemy confines, and not divulge any information that could be harmful to the United States.

Having trust in the Code of Conduct and the courage to follow it has helped service members endure the terrors of captivity, prevail over their captors and return home with pride and honor.

After graduating from the Air Force Academy and commissioning as an officer, Sijan became a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War where his resiliency would be put to the test.

The Vietnam War lasted from 1961 to 1973. In response to increased Communist efforts in Laos and South Vietnam, in April 1961, President Kennedy ordered the deployment of the 440th Combat Crew Training Squadron to train the South Vietnamese Air Force.

War ensued with North Vietnamese forces, a conflict that challenged the Air Force’s ability to adapt to stringent rules of engagement that negated the speed, surprise and flexibility of massed air power.

Sijan piloted the F-4 Phantom, an aircraft that was used extensively for ground-attack and aerial reconnaissance roles during the Vietnam Era.

On Nov. 9, 1967, Sijan was flying in the back seat of an F-4 on a bombing pass over North Vietnam, when his plane was engulfed in flames from an ordnance explosion. Sijan ejected himself from the destroyed aircraft and parachuted to the mountainous terrain below him.

The impact he sustained from the trees and ground caused Sijan to suffer a skull fracture, a mangled right hand and compound fracture of his left leg.

Despite being severely injured and going in and out of consciousness, Sijan was able to elude enemy forces for 46 days.

Because of his injuries, the wounded Airman had to crawl on his back over sharp limestone karsts to keep moving. During his evasion, he lost a significant amount of weight from the lack of access to food and water.

Sijan’s body may have been broken and malnourished, but his mind was still strong and his will to survive overcame his physical limitations.

On Christmas, 1967, Sijan was captured by North Vietnamese soldiers. Sijan’s warrior spirit drove him to overpower a guard monitoring him and escape. Unfortunately, he was recaptured within hours.

Sijan spent the next three months in an interrogation camp where he endured severe torture and constant beatings from his guards for his relentless efforts to escape. Other American prisoners heard the screams from the F-4 fighter pilot who the Vietnamese were attempting to make an example out of. Sijan never caved in. He refused to provide information that may have been harmful to the United States. The love Sijan had for his country and freedom drove him to stay true to the Code of Conduct.

On Jan. 22, 1968, Sijan finally succumbed to his injuries as a prisoner of war in Hanoi.

The Medal of Honor is the most prestigious military decoration the United States can present to a member of the Armed Forces.

On March 4, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford awarded the medal to Sijan posthumously for his extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his life.

Three other prisoners of war also received Medals of Honor on that same day, including U.S. Air Force Col. George E. “Bud” Day. Day said that Sijan was the epitome of dedication up to his death.

Today, the Air Force recognizes Airmen who demonstrate the highest qualities of leadership and moral character with the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, which allows the award recipients to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon on their uniforms.

The Air Force also remembers Sijan with the naming of one of the two cadet dormitories at the Air Force Academy as Sijan Hall.

“As an underclassman Academy cadet, I passed by a large painting of Lance P. Sijan every day in my stairwell at Sijan Hall as I went to daily formations,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Benjamin Jonsson, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander. “It was a large and imposing painting, and his story loomed large over us as cadets. He was an inspiring figure as a combat pilot, and his story demonstrated tenacity, grit, courage and sacrifice that we all hoped we could measure up to someday. It still inspires me today all these years later after graduation.”

Sijan was the embodiment of President Kennedy’s message in his Inaugural Address, having paid the ultimate price for the values that distinguish the United States from every other country in the world.

When confronted with the choice of giving in to America’s enemies, Sijan said no every time. Sijan didn’t just die for his country—he fought for it to the end. That is his legacy of valor.

EVENTS

Greeting Card Lane

Squadrons/orgs/units are welcome to design and create their own giant holiday greeting card to be displayed along Bayshore Blvd. from Dec. 1 to Jan. 4. Prizes will be awarded: 1st $500 FSS gift card, 2nd $300 FSS gift card and 3rd $100 FSS gift card. To sign up contact Kathy Sanders at 5153704 or email Kathy.sanders.1@ us.af.mil.

Youth soccer registration

Open now until Dec. 3. Open to ages 5-12. Cost for members, $50. Non-members, $60. Scheduled to start January 2022. Download the AFMT and Registration form and more info at macdillfss.com/youth/ on the youth sports page or call 828-7958.

NAF job openings

To apply log on at USAJOBS. gov. For a quick view of MacDill jobs log on at macdillfss.com/ open-jobs/. Call 828-2911 Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m.

Find more info on these events and more go to: macdillfss.com

COINED!

Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

Marine Corps General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., commander of United States Central Command, recognizes the efforts of U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Marika Spangler, 6th Medical Group medical technician, at MacDill Air Force Base Nov. 1. McKenzie presented challenge coins to members of the 6th Air Refueling Wing who contributed to the recent Afghan evacuation mission, Operation Allies Refuge.

CHAPEL SCHEDULE

Normal Hours- Monday - Friday - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. After hours chaplain, call 828-4362/4361.

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

www.macdill.af.mil/chapel Catholic (in-person) - Sunday - 8 & 9:30 a.m.

Protestant services (virtual) -Sunday -

11 a.m. at www.facebook.com/6amwhc

Other Faith Groups

Off-base referral as needed

For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/