Thunderbolt 12/15/2022

Vol. 50, No. 49

Thursday, Decenber 15, 2022

News/Features: page 3 New Aerodynamic tech

News/Features: page 3 A long-awaited promotion

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

Ready for radiation - page 10 Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

Community: page 19 Events, Chapel, more...

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Samantha Phillips, 1st Special Operations Medical Readiness Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician, Hurlburt Field, Florida, inspects a probe device used for radiation detection at MacDill Air Force Base Dec. 7. Service members assigned to installations across the country attended the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course at MacDill to gain further education on mitigating the effects of radiation caused by nuclear incidents.

COMMENTARY

AFCENT’s innovation Task Force 99 establishes ops, HQ

by Capt. Kayshel Trudell Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AFNS)—Less than two months following the establishment of Task Force 99, Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) commander, visited the team at their new location for a peek behind the curtain of the command’s innovation powerhouse Dec. 1.

The new unit is the cornerstone of AFCENT’s approach to U.S. Central Command’s intent of building a Culture of Innovation. Comprised of eight full time multi-capable Airmen, its mission is to leverage digital and unmanned technologies, creating dilemmas for adversaries and new opportunities for collaboration with partners. “[Task Force 99] a small group of super-empowered Airmen who I’m going to provide resources to so they can rapidly innovate and experiment in our area of responsibility we have in the Middle East,” said Grynkewich at the 2022 Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in September.

The “Desert Catalysts” became an official Air Force organization Oct. 13, when Lt. Col. Erin Brilla took command. Agility and speed underwrite TF 99’s innovation core tenets, and the unit wasted no time setSee AFCENT, Page 8

Photo by Senior Airman Micah Coate

Members of Task Force 99 perform a demo of in-development technologies at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Nov. 18, 2022. Task force 99 is an agile, specialized unit designed to innovate and enhance Ninth Air Force’s (Air Forces Central) capabilities within all domains ensuring mission success.

Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil 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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the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Refueling Wing.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Refueling Wing or the Publishing Company of the products or service advertised.

For retail advertising, call (813) 226-3318.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

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MacDill on the web Website: www.macdill.af.mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb Twitter: @macdill_afb News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted to the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Call the Thunderbolt at 828-2215. Email: 6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.

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

Aerodynamic tech for mobility aircraft promise high return Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFNS)—As part of its effort to increase readiness and capability, the Air Force is working to introduce aerodynamic technologies on mobility aircraft to improve airflow, reduce maintenance issues, increase payload capability, and decrease fuel demand. Air Mobility Command, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Air Force Operational Energy have partnered with commercial vendors to research, design, test, and certify a number of these inno- vations into the mobility fleet, including the KC-135 Stratotanker, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-130 Hercules. Each initiative is at various phases of development and transition, gaining momentum with the influx of funding from the Fiscal Year 2022 Presidential Budget.

“Optimization programs like these just make sense for the Air Force,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Air Force Operational Energy Roberto Guerrero. “My office has been working to advance initiatives that not only make us smarter about how we consume fuel, but also help to prevent maintenance issues, increase engine performance and improve mission planning.”

See AERODYNAMIC, Page 17

U.S. Air Force photo

The drag reduction devices known as microvanes are shown on the aft-end of a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

As part of its effort to increase readiness and capability, the Air Force is working to introduce aerodynamic technologies on mobility aircraft to improve airflow, reduce maintenance issues, increase payload capability, and decrease fuel demand.

CSAF promotes retired WWII triple ace fighter pilot to brigadier general

by Nicholas Pilch 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs MCCLELLAN, Calif. (AFNS)—Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. presided over a ceremony for retired Col. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, promoting him to the honorary rank of brigadier general at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, Dec. 2.

The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the 100-year-old World War II triple ace during the 75th anniversary year of the U.S. Air Force’s establishment as a military service.

Anderson was also presented with a general officer’s personal flag, which has historically symbolized leadership on the battlefield. Today, general officer flags signify the presence of a general officer, and their personal flags are present at all official military functions one attends.

“It is a real, real pleasure and honor to be here today with you,” Brown said. “As you might imagine, I get to do some pretty neat things, and this is one of them. This is the second opportunity I’ve had to promote someone from our greatest generation.”

Anderson flew 116 combat missions as a fighter pilot and leader

Photo by Nicholas Pilch

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spends time with retired Col. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson before a ceremony promoting Anderson to the rank of brigadier general at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, Calif., Dec. 2. The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the 100-year-old World War II triple ace during See ACE, Page 16 the 75th anniversary year of the U.S. Air Force’s establishment as a military service.

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WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutton

U. S. Air Force Col. Adam Bingham, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander, participates in an exercise with the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit at MacDill Air Force Base Oct. 20. Bingham recently took command of the 6th ARW and actively stays involved with those he leads to understand their skills and their part of the MacDill mission.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster

Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Alexander Cook, 6th Air Refueling mission support noncommissioned officer in charge, explains camera operations to Airmen assigned to the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron during a shadow day event at MacDill Air Force Base Nov. 30. The event demonstrated daily operations for all aspects of the 6th ARW’s Wing Staff Agencies.

Airmen assigned to the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron participate in an evacuation operation at MacDill Air Force Base Dec 5. This exercise simulated a deployment setting and enhanced the capabilities of the Airmen to rescue wounded warriors from the battlefield with an aircraft’s engines running.

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ACE

From Page 3

with the 357th Fighter Group during WWII. He shot down 16 ¼ enemy aircraft during combat in his P-51 Mustang, earning the title, “triple ace.” The term ‘Ace’ is used to describe a fighter pilot who has been credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft.

The California native is the last American tripleace from WWII and the oldest living American fighter ace.

“For me, he represents all the guys he flew with,” said retired Lt. Col. Jim Anderson, son of Bud. “He’s the last of them.”

Anderson served from 1942 to 1972. Some of his decorations include: two Legion of Merits, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16Air Medals and the Bronze Star Medal. After retiring from active duty, Anderson worked at the F-15 test facility at Edwards Air Force Base. “[Bud’s] kind of a wrecking ball of a guy and I think for many of us, probably wouldn’t want to have him behind us shooting us down—he had a distinguished career,” Brown said. “It was really good to have a chance just to read through [some of Bud’s service records] and for me personally to reflect on the impact you had on our history of our Air Force.”

A large crowd of more than 200 people were in attendance to honor Anderson, as well as members of Congress, local district representatives and retired military.

“To all the young people that have the ambition to join the Air Force,” Anderson said, “have at it! You can be what you want to be and you should know that when you like what you do, you can excel, be a better person at your job to do it better.”

Before the ceremony, Anderson was asked how it feels to receive this honor; he said he was too overwhelmed to answer that question.

Following the ceremony, refreshments and cake were provided to celebrate Anderson. The crowd raised shots of Old Crow, the bourbon whiskey Anderson named his aircraft after; Anderson’s first “Old Crow” was a P-39Q Airacobra when flying with the 363rd Fighter Squadron during WWII. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spends time with retired Col. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson before a ceremony promoting Anderson to the rank of brigadier general at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, Calif., Dec. 2, 2022. The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the 100-year-old World War II triple ace during the 75th anniversary year of the U.S. Air Force’s establishment as a military service.

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Photo by Nicholas Pilch

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ. Brown, Jr. administers the reaffirmation of the oath of office to retired Brig. Gen. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, during a ceremony promoting Anderson to the rank of brigadier general at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, Calif., Dec. 2. The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the 100-year-old World War II triple ace during the 75th anniversary year of the U.S. Air Force’s establishment as a military service.

Photo by Nicholas Pilch

Retired Brig. Gen. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson cuts a celebratory cake after an honorary promotion ceremony presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, Calif., Dec. 2. ◆

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NEWS/FEATURES NORAD tracks Santa Dec. 24 NORAD Every day of the year, NORAD defends North America using an alldomain and globally integrated approach to track everything that flies in and around Canada and the United States. On Dec. 24, NORAD adds a special mission: tracking Santa.

Like many origin stories, NORAD’s mission to track Santa began by accident. In 1955 a young child, trying to reach Santa, dialed the misprinted phone number from a department store ad in the local newspaper. Instead of calling Santa, the child called the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the commander on duty that night who answered the child’s phone call, was quick to realize a mistake had been made and assured the child he was Santa. After more incoming calls, Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls and a tradition was born, that continued when NORAD was formed in 1958.

Each year since, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families across the world. Because of

the support, services and resources generously provided by volunteers and our government and corporate contributors, NORAD Tracks Santa has persevered for more than 65 years.

In fact, what started because of a typo has flourished and is recognized as one of the Department of Defense’s largest community outreach programs.

Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa Web Site receives several million unique visitors from more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Volunteers typically answer more than 130,000 calls to the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline from children across the globe.

In addition to the phone line and website, children and the youngat-heart can track Santa through our mobile apps and our social media platforms: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noradsanta Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoradSanta YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/NORADTracksSanta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noradtrackssanta_official NORAD Tracks Santa Website: https://www.noradsanta.org NORAD Tracks Santa Newsroom: https://noradsantanews.com/newsroom Several contributors such as OnStar and Amazon Alexa also provide convenient ways to keep tabs of Santa’s location.

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AFCENT From Page 2

ting up shop.

“Our humble beginnings started in a borrowed workspace graciously loaned to us by 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s Desert Spark Innovation Lab. Within one month of being established, we were able to acquire this new workspace,” Brilla said. “Thanks to our incredible Qatari partners, a new hangar constructed specifically for Task Force 99 may also be in the works.”

In keeping with the command’s Partner for Strength priority, TF 99 will seek input and support from regional partners. “[Task Force 99] will receive resources to rapidly innovate and experiment in austere and sometimes dangerous environments,” Grynkewich said. “It will also expand the collaborative space with our partners in the region and tie AFCENT into the innovation ecosystem.”

To date, 17 coalition partners have been invited to join TF 99’s efforts, encouraging all to bring their own hard problems and technologies for collaboration and regional synergy.

“None of us have enough time or money to do this on our own,” Brilla said. “We need an expansive network that shares ideas so we all can work together to solve complex problems from the lowest possible echelon.”

TF 99’s hard charging Airmen were hand-picked from a wide variety of specialties, ranging from cyber operators to civil engineers and intelligence analysts to metal technicians.

“These Airmen are the very embodiment of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Accelerate, Change, or Lose mantra,” Brilla said. “Every member of our small, highly skilled, agile team is a subject matter expert in their field. We’ve empowered and encouraged them to experiment, tinker, and wonder ‘what if?’ given a few resources and high-risk tolerance, there’s no limit to what they can deliver.”

The team is empowered to accelerate change by getting after all four

of the Air Force Chief of Staff ’s Action Orders Airmen, Bureaucracy, Competition and Design.

The task force is also focused on flattening communication across the various innovation labs, and spark cells that exist at AEWs across the CENTCOM area of responsibility to encourage crosstalk and collaboration.

In addition to collaborating with the innovation arms of the U.S. Navy Central Command, TF 59, and the U.S. Army Central Command, TF 39, this air domain innovation task force (TF 99) also leverages relationships with partners across other arenas.

“We are interoperable by nature,” Brilla said. “To be successful, we want to unlock, embrace, and then uplift innovative solutions that can be implemented across organizations.”

Over the next two weeks, the task force will travel to the United States to connect with various vendors, leaders within academia and several government agencies. TF 99 is also sponsoring technology development through the Small Business Innovation Research program to power innovative solutions rapidly.

The task force is also leveraging relationships with the U.S. Air Force Academy by sharing real world, operational problem sets with cadets, giving them an opportunity to create innovative solutions as part of their curriculum.

TF 99 is actively recruiting the next generation of Desert Catalysts, seeking hard-charging innovators from active duty, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves who might be interested in joining this elite team on future deployment rotations.

“Innovation allows us to better posture our forces, to better sense the environment, to more effectively deter and defeat threat actors,” said Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander. “Together through innovation, we can all do much more to advance the stability of the region.”

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

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NEWS/FEATURES Commissaries honor National Guard’s legacy marked by birthday

by Tamara Eastman, DeCA historian

FORT LEE, Va.—On Dec. 13, 1636, the Massachusetts Colony created an organized militia that would eventually become today’s National Guard.

From providing aid during disasters to fighting alongside active duty and reserve forces, the members of the Army National Guard and the Air Guard have proven to be a valued asset to the safety and security of the United States, said Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director.

“We want our customers in the Guard to know we celebrate them every day by delivering the commissary benefit they’ve earned,” Saucedo said.

“We also want them to be aware that if they’re not shopping their commissary, then they are missing out on overall savings of at least 25 percent compared to prices at ‘outside the gate’ grocery stores – that means you save $50 on a $200 grocery bill!”

The Guard’s legacy goes back centuries.

On March 4, 1629, the Massachusetts Bay Colony received its charter, which included total control over internal military and political organization. The governing body, then still located in England, issued its first See NATIONAL GUARD, Page 15

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U.S. Army Maj. Mostafa Ahmed, Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course instructor assigned to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research In teaches a lesson during the MEIR Course at MacDill Air Force Base Dec. 7. The course curriculum included hands-on exercises with radiation detecto lessons covering topics such as diagnosing and treating radiation injuries, psychological effects of radiation exposure, and radioprotection. Students tendance included Airmen, Soldiers and civilians assigned to units across the country.

MacDill hosts 3-day MEIR Course, enhances radiation defense capabilit story and photos by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

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nstructors assigned to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Maryland, taught 42 service members and civilians how to medically manage casualties through the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course here, Dec. 6-8.

The MEIR Course focuses on mitigating the effects of radiation caused by nuclear incidents that can occur on or off the battlefield.

The concepts within MEIR stem from the Medical Effects of Nuclear Weapons Course, which was developed in 1976 as a response to the Cold War. The newer curriculum more accurately reflects the current threats posed by ionizing radiation outside of a nuclear detonation and leverages the latest medical knowledge to educate military medical personnel.

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ing care of a radiation accident,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Aure Stewart, MEIR course director. “There has been an increased interest in the because of what is happening in Ukraine right now, with nuclear powe and the potential for contamination across a larger area.”

Airmen, Soldiers and civilians assigned to 10 installations across th try attended the 3-day event. The class consisted of military physician es, medical planners, public health specialists and bioenvironmenta neers.

The students participated in hands-on exercises with radiation d equipment and attended lessons that covered diagnosis and treatmen diation injuries, psychological effects of radiation exposure, radiopro and other topics.

“I was surprised to learn in depth how radiation spreads through body and damages cells after the subject is initially exposed,” said U

See MEIR, P

nstitute, ors and s in at-

(Above) U.S. Navy Lt. Aure Stewart, Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course director assigned to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, teaches a lesson on using radiation detection devices at MacDill Air Force Base Dec. 7. The course curriculum included hands-on exercises with radiation detectors and lessons covering topics such as diagnosing and treating radiation injuries, psychological effects of radiation exposure, and radioprotection. Students in attendance included Airmen, Soldiers and civilians assigned to units across the country.

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AFRRI e course erplants

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hout the U.S. Air Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster

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(Left) U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Lemay, 1st Special Operations Medical Readiness Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician, Hurlburt Field, Florida, inspects a pancake probe used for radiation detection at MacDill Air Force Base Dec. 7. Service members and civilians assigned to installations across the country attended the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course at MacDill to gain further education on mitigating the effects of radiation caused by nuclear incidents.

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NATIONAL GUARD From Page 9

letter of instructions on April 17, 1629, appointing Capt. John Endecott as governor at Naumkeag (now Salem) and directing him to undertake the military organization of the trading post and settlement. Uniforms and weapons for 100 men were shipped over that summer to outfit a company organization which corresponded to contemporary European norms.

Companies in the militia started training on April 12, 1631, and training was confined to Saturdays each week until Nov. 7, 1632, when training was cut back to once a month. On Sept. 3, 1634, training excluded the agricultural months of July and August.

On Dec. 13, 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s General Court ordered its militia to be organized into three permanent regiments. Since that date, Guardsmen have participated in every American conflict, including Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

Today’s 181st Infantry, 182nd Infantry, 101st Field Artillery, and 101st Engineer Battalions of the Massachusetts Army National Guard are descendants of those three original regiments and the oldest units in the United States military.

From the beginning of the modern commissary benefit in 1867, Guard and Reserve troops have enjoyed limited commissary access, although they received unlimited shopping privileges when they were on active duty.

In November 1986, the Department of Defense authorized Guardsmen to receive 12 shopping trips in the commissary each year in addition to their annual two weeks on active duty.

Congress and the Department of Defense decided in October 1990 to

consolidate the individual commissary systems under one agency – the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).

Later with the National Defense Authorization Act of 1998, commissary privileges jumped from 12 to 24 visits per year for selected Guard, Reserves, and Reserve Retirees under 60 years of age. Largely because of the increasing role of the Guard and Reserve members in combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, they were authorized full-time shopping privileges by the Defense Authorization Act of FY 2004, effective Oct. 1, 2003.

In 2008, DeCA received funding for an official Guard and Reserve onsite sale program that brought truckload and case lot events to geographically remote Guard and Reserve service members and their families. The on-site sales events take place in warehouses, aircraft hangars, armories, tents in parking lots and even the back ends of semitrailers on Guard and Reserve bases across the U.S. Today, members of the National Guard and their reserve components and active duty counterparts may shop at any of the nearly 240 commissaries around the world.

All commissaries boast conveniences like internet ordering/curbside pickup services, a mobile app, self-checkouts, digital coupons, dietitianapproved resources to identify healthy foods, sushi bars, hot foods, delibakeries, credit and debit card acceptance, gift cards and much more.

“As the National Guard continues its legacy of service, we will keep providing Guardsmen and their families – along with all of our eligible patrons – superior customer service and the items they want at the best possible savings,” Saucedo said.

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AERODYNAMIC From Page 3

After several years of research and testing, microvanes for the C-17 are in the process of airworthiness certification at the AFRL and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Microvanes are small 3D-printed structures that attach to the aft-end of the fuselage. The fin-like shape helps redirect airflow in this higher drag area, streamlining the aerodynamics and reducing overall fuel demand by approximately 1%.

When installed across the C-17 fleet, including Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve aircraft, the Air Force estimates the microvanes will pay for themselves in fuel savings in seven months, and save over $10 million per year.

The Air Force is evaluating vertical wiper blades on the KC-135 as another airstream drag reduction project that will improve fuel economy, range, and capacity. Across the KC-135 fleet, windshield wiper blades have been placed horizontally for over 60 years; however, aerodynamic ground testing confirmed that adjusting the wipers to sit vertically will optimize the aircraft by about 1%, a potential fuel savings of over $7 million across the fleet. Now, the wipers will progress to airworthiness flight testing where they will be installed on several aircraft.

The KC-135 has also been undergoing testing for a replacement engine fan duct panel that can better withstand corrosion and water contamination. The current KC-135 fan ducts have aluminum panels which are susceptible to corrosion and degradation when exposed to water and debris over an extended period of time. The current repair to this

corrosion inhibits airflow to the engine, reducing performance and increasing fuel use by an estimated $5.5 million each year. Additionally, aircraft are often out of operation for over two days while the maintenance crews work to fix this recurring issue that affects a majority of the KC-135 fleet.

The replacement panel is made of a composite material that is impervious to similar degradation and corrosion. This one-time fix will eliminate frequent inspections and panel repairs. Flight evaluations start this December and run through February. Once certified, the team hopes to replace the panel across the entire KC-135 fleet.

These initiatives are just a select few that are farthest along in their development. However, the Air Force is working with the commercial industry and defense partners on several other optimization initiatives including other drag reduction efforts, engine sustainment and propulsion improvements for legacy aircraft, mission planning software upgrades, process optimization, transformational aircraft body designs, and more.

As part of the Air Force’s effort to ‘Accelerate Change,’ these programs aim to increase readiness and capability, and address a ‘Logistics Under Attack’ scenario. At the same time, they support the Department of Defense’s climate mitigation goals as part of President Biden’s executive order: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, as well as the newly released Department of the Air Force Climate Action Plan.

MEIR

From Page 10

Force Senior Airman David Zartler, 6th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician. “The topic of radiation is unknown for many and challenging to comprehend. It’s valuable for me to understand how it works so I can communicate that to others.”

The joint-forces training included a mixture of officers, enlisted members and civilians. During portions of the course, the students divided into groups and were given problematic scenarios involving radiation that they worked through collectively.

“Coming out of this course, the students will be able to better under-

stand the risks associated with radiological nuclear weapons or devices,” Stewart said. “They learn how to best manage incidents, whether that is getting the site cleaned up, taking care of the risk communication

and helping people with potentially limited resources.”

Courses such as MEIR continue to help advance the capabilities of military medical personnel and increase readiness amongst America’s fighting forces.

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COMMUNITY

EVENTS

3 on 3 Hoopfest Dec. 16 Join the Fitness Center for their 3 on 3 Hoopfest event. A minimum of 4 teams are needed to host the event with a minimum of 3 players on each team. To register your team, email 6fss.fsvs.intramuralsports@us.af.mil or visit the Fitness Center front desk.

Holiday break movies Your MacDill Base Library will be offering holiday movies through the Holiday break at the Base Theater starting December 17th.

All movies are free and open to anyone with base access to MacDill. Visit https://macdillfss.com/ library/ for complete movie schedule.

MacDill Lanes closures It’s time to get those last few games in at the MacDill Lanes Bowling Center before it closes for exciting upgrades and renovations between Jan. 2 and Feb. 6. MacDill Lanes is open Wednesday – Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Find more info at macdillfss.com/macdill-lanesbowling/.

Holiday gift shopping with FSS Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Visit the Arts and Crafts center on MacDill for unique handcrafted items perfect for friends and family. Visit macdillfss.com/ arts-and-trade-crafts/ for more details. Theme parks and local attraction tickets make great stocking stuffers. Visit the MacDill ITT office inside the BX or visit macdillfss.com/information-ticketstravel/ today.

This week’s champ

Photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin

From left, U.S. Air Force Col. Cory Damon, 6th Air Refueling Wing vice commander, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lorianette Ortiz-Woodley, assigned to the 6th Communications Squadron commander’s support staff, and U.S. Air Force Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Shae Gee, 6th Air Refueling Wing command chief, pose for a photo to commemorate Ortiz-Woodley for being Champion of the Week at MacDill Air Force Base Dec. 6. Champion of the Week is a new command initiative to allow 6th ARW leadership to recognize Airmen personally for their contributions to the 6 ARW’s mission.

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

ule & 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

Catholic (in-person) - Sunday - 9:30 a.m.

Chapel at (813) 828-3621 or via email at 6ARW. HCADMIN@us.af.mil

Protestant services - Sunday - 11 a.m.

MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill. af.mil/chapel

(confessions by appointment)

Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For schedFor more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

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