Vol.49,No.52 Thursday,December302021 The YearinPhotos - January-June2021 PartIIofII
Soldier’s Medal
ArmyGen.RichardD.Clarke,U.S. SpecialOperationsCommand commander,left,presentsthe Soldier’sMedaltoArmyLt.Col. LarryWyatt,USSOCOMclinicdirector,atMacDillAirForceBase, Dec.22.Wyattdeliveredlifesaving caretotwomotorcyclistsinjured duringanaccidentApril7,2019, despitehisownsignificantinjuries.Hisunhesitatingandselfless responseareconsistentwiththe greatesttraditionsofuniformed service.
theDepartmentoftheAirForceorthe6thAirRefueling Wing.
Theappearanceofadvertisinginthispublication,includinginsertsorsupplements,doesnotconstituteendorse mentbytheDepartmentofDefense,theDepartmentofthe AirForce,6thAirRefueling WingorthePublishingCom panyoftheproductsorserviceadvertised.
Forretailadvertising,call(813)226-3318.
Everythingadvertisedinthispublicationshallbemade availableforpurchase,use,orpatronagewithoutregardto race,color,religion,sex,nationalorigin,age,maritalstatus, physicalhandicap,politicalaffiliationoranyothernon-merit factorofthepurchaser, user,orpatron.
NewsitemsfortheMacDillThunderboltcanbesubmitted tothe6thAirRefueling WingPublicAffairsoffice,8208HangarLoopDr.,suite14,MacDillAFB,FL33621.CalltheThunderboltat828-2215.Email:6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.
Deadlineforarticlesubmissionsisnoon, Wednesdays toappearinthenextweek’spublication.Articlesreceived afterdeadlinemaybeconsideredforfutureuse.Allsubmissionsareconsideredforpublicationbasedonnewsvalue andtimeliness.
Everyarticleandphotographiseditedforaccuracy,clarity,brevity,conformancewiththe“AssociatedPressStyle bookandLibelManual”andAirForceInstruction35-101.
2 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
U.S.SpecialOperationsCommandphoto Besuretovisittheofficial6thAirRefuelingWingwebsiteatwww.macdill.af.mil MacDillThunderbolt Publisher:JoeDeluca Editor:NickStubbs TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPub lishingCompany,a privatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper isanauthorizedpublicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservicesonMacDill.ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,oren dorsedbytheU.S.government,theDepartmentofDefense,
COMMANDER’SACTIONLINE Website: www.macdill.af.mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb Twitter: @macdill_afb MacDillontheweb YEARINPHOTOS TheActionLineprovidestwo-waycommunicationbetweenthe 6thAirRefueling WingcommanderandtheMacDillcommunity. Personnelmaysubmitquestions,concernsorcommentsviaemailto macdillwingcommander@us.af.milor Facebook@6thARWCommandTeam
YEARINPHOTOS
Col.BenjaminJonsson, 6thAirRefuelingWingcommander, and TeamMacDill members rolleduptheirsleevesJan.11fortheannualfluvaccine.The6thMedical GroupcleanedoutHangar5andfilleditwithmedicalprofessionalswhoarekeepingtheforcepreparedbydeliveringtheCOVID-19andfluvaccines.TheCOVID-19 vaccinewasbeingadministeredinaphasedapproachinaccordancewithDepartmentofDefensedistributionplans.
U.S.AirForceMaj.JenniferLindberg,6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadroncommander,meetswith World WarIIveteranHenrySaylerduringhis100thbirthdaycelebrationat NorthShorePark,St.Petersburg,FloridaJan.16,2021.Lindberg,adirectdescendantofthefamedaviatorCharlesLindbergh,alongwithotherMacDillservicemembers,presented aletterofappreciationfromCol.BenjaminJonsson,6thAir RefuelingWingcommander,honoringSayler’sservicetoour nationandhiscentennialbirthday.
Airmenwiththe6thAirRefuelingWing receivegear inapersonneldeployment functionduringalargescale readinessexercise atMacDillAirForceBase Jan.11.The6thLogistics ReadinessSquadronwas taskedwith readyingpersonnelandcargoduringa simulateddeploymentscenario.
U.S.AirForcephoto
Courtesyphoto
PhotobySeniorAirmanScott Warner
MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 3
Membersofthe6thAirRefuelingWingruninformationduring the 7thannual Estelle5KatMacDillAir ForceBaseJan. 31, 2020. The6thCommunications Squadronhostsanannual 5Krunandweightlifting challengetohonortheir formerchiefofmaintenance,Maj.RaymondEstelleII,whowastragically killedinAfghanistanin 2011.
PhotobySeniorAirmanAshleyPerdue
Courtesyphoto
4 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT YEARINPHOTOS
TheAirForceCivilEngineerCenter(AFCEC)honoredMacDillAirForceBaseCommunityParkasthe2019Honor AwardwinnerforlandscapearchitectureintheAirForceDesign Awards.AirForceDesign Awardsaregivenannuallyto recognizeinnovativedesignprojectsforexcellenceand efficiency.
U.S.AirForceCol.Ben Jonsson,6thAirRefuelingWingcommander,and ChiefMasterSgt.ShaeGee saluteforthearrivalofMaj. Gen.ThadBibbJr.,18thAir ForcecommanderandChief MasterSgt.ChadBickley, 18thAirForcecommand
chief,Feb.17atMacDillAir ForceBase.The18thAir Forceleadershiptraveledto MacDillforatwo-dayvisit togainafirst-handviewof TeamMacDill’sabilitytodeliverunmatchedair refueling,installationandmission support.
PhotobySeniorAirmanShannonBowman
MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 5
HonoraryAirForceCapt.Every AirRefuelingSquadron,atMacDillAirForceBase,Florida, Feb.23.Everwasissuedherofficialorderstobeapilot-forthe-dayfromCol.BenjaminJonsson,6thAirRefuelingWing commander.
Fromleft,Col.BenjaminJonsson;6thAir RefuelingWingcommander, YvetteLewis,presidentoftheHillsboroughNAACP; Hillsborough CountyJudgeLisa CampbellandChiefMasterSgt.ShaeGee,6th ARWcommandchief,posenexttoahistoricalmarkerdedicatedduringaPort TampaCemeteryServiceofRemembrance ceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseFeb. 23.Themarker reads,inpart,“In remembranceandhonorofthem,wededicate thisplaqueandconsecratetheseburial groundswithtotal respectandwithfull awarenessthatfromthisdayforward theyare recognized,acknowledged,and forevermorecommittedintoGod’sloving hands.”
U.S.AirForcephoto
U.S.AirForcephoto
6 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT YEARINPHOTOS
Young,a5-year-oldcancer patient,posesforaphotowith1stLt.KatleenYbarra,91st
PhotobyAirman1stClassDavidD.McLoney 6thMedicalGroupBioenvironmentalEngineeringEmergencyResponseAirmen useachemicaltestertodeducewhattypeofexplosivewasusedinasimulated bombduringtrainingexerciseReadyEAGLEatMacDillAirForceBase,Fla.,Feb. 25.Allexplosivedevicesinthisphotographwerecreatedaspropstobeusedfor anexerciseandarenot real. REMEMBER
MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 7 PhotobyStaffSgt.AshleyPerdue FollowingtheDepartmentofDefense’sphasedvaccinationplan,Col.BenjaminJonsson,6thAirRefuelingWingcommander,andChiefMasterSgt.ShaeGee,6thARW commandchief,showofftheirBand-Aidsafter receivingtheirinitialCOVID-19vaccinationatMacDillAirForceBaseFeb.5.Thevaccineiscurrentlyvoluntaryandadministeredbasedonaphasedapproachstartingwithmissioncriticalandthosethatare atheightenedriskofexposure. YEARINPHOTOS
U.S.AirForceCol. Ben Jonsson,6thAirRefuelingWingcommander andChiefMasterSgt. ShaeGee,6thAirRefuelingWingcommand chieftakeaselfieMarch 30,atMacDillAirForce Base.The6thARWcommandteamcompleteda visitwiththe117thARW andthe99thAirRefuelingSquadronatSumpterSmithJoint National GuardBase,inBirmingham,Ala.
NewSMSGTS!
TeamMacDill’snewestU.S.Air Forceseniormastersergeantselectsare recognizedduringapromotion releaseeventheldatMacDillAirForceBase.Thepromotion selectionrateofmastersergeants toseniormastersergeantsduring the2021E-8promotioncyclewas 6.97percentAirForce-wide.
TeamSOCOMArmyStaff Sgt. TravisDunn’sfamily visitshimpriortoatrack raceduringthe2019DoD WarriorGameshosted in Tampa,June 22,2019. Thegamesintroduce wounded,illandinjured servicemembersand veteranstoParalympicstylesportsandshowcasetheir resiliency.
PhotobyAirman1stClassColinHollowell
PhotobySeniorAirmanShannonBowman
PhotobyMasterSgt.BarryLoo
MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 89 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
AB-1BLancerassignedtothe9thExpeditionaryBombSquadronsitsontheflightlineatOrlandoAirForceStation,Norway,March14.ConductingBomber TaskForceEuropedeploymentsandoperationsprovidesaircrewwithenhanced readinessandtrainingnecessaryto respondtoany contingencyorchallengeacrosstheglobe.
PhotobySeniorAirmanShannonBowman
YEARINPHOTOS YEARINPHOTOS
10 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT YEARINPHOTOS PhotobyMarineCorpsMasterSgt.StevenSmith SandeeRouse,GoldStarmother,andArmySgt.Maj.Jose Vazquez,SpecialOperationsCommandpara-commando,skydiveMarch13,inZephyrhills,Florida.Sandee’sson,Private1stClassJimMarkwell,diedduringOperationJustCauseinPanamain1989.
MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thur Photoby2ndLt.ChristopherM.Thibeaux-Moore U.S.AirForceCapt.JoelGonzalez,6thOperationalSupportSquadron’schiefofwingtactics,assignedtoMacDillAirForceBasepreparesinflightforatrainingexerciseatBarksdaleAFB,Louisiana,April19,2021. YEARINPHOTOS
U.S.AirForceGen.Jacqueline VanOvost,AirMobilityCommandcommander, speakswithlocalstudents fromCristoRey TampaSalesianHighSchoolbeforetheir AviationInspirationMentorshipprogram(AIMHigh) flightatMacDillAirForce BaseApril28.AIMHighisa programusedto recruithighlymotivated,talented,innovativeanddiversestudents tostrengthenthefutureof theU.S.AirForce.
U.S.AirForceGen.Jacqueline VanOvost(right),AirMobilityCommandcommander, andChiefMasterSgt.Brian Kruzelnick(left),AMCcommandchief,takeaselfie withtwo6thSecurityForces Squadrondefendersafter theydemonstratedthenew femalebodyarmoratMacDill AirForceBaseApril27.The AMCcommandteamspent twodaystouringMacDillto communicatetheincreasing importanceofrapidglobal mobility,notonlyforthenation,buttheentireJoint Force.
PhotobyStaffSgt.AshleyPerdue
PhotobyStaffSgt.AshleyPerdue
12 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
YEARINPHOTOS
Photoby TampaBaystudentsontheMacDillAirForceBaseflightlineduringatourofaB-1BLancerbomber andKC-135StratotankeraircraftFeb.5.ThestudentsvisitedMacDilltolearnaboutthe AirForceaircraftscheduledtoflyoverRaymondJamesStadiumduringSuperBowl
MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 13 YEARINPHOTOS
TerryMontrose AirForceCol. TravisEdwards,6thOperationsGroupcommander,briefs
LV. PhotobySeniorAirmanRyanC.Grossklag U.S.ArmyAirForcesSgt.ThomasNewton,aDocumentedOriginal TuskegeeAirman,pointstohimselfonaphotoofthe99thFighterSquadron following World WarII whilevisitingMacDillAirForceBaseNov.10.
14 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT PhotobySeniorAirmanChristinaRios AB-52HStratofortressassignedtoBarksdaleAirForceBase,La.,approachesaKC-135StratotankerfromMacDillAirForceBase,Fla.,forair refuelingsupport,Dec.14.Airmenfromthe6thAirRefuelingWingtraveledtoBarksdaleAFBtouniteinatrainingexercisetoincreaseMacDill’s capabilitiestodeliverair refuelingsupportincontestedenvironments.
SeascapeswillopenNew Year’s Eve
Seascapeswillbeopen Friday, December31toringinthenew year. Hoursare4:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. Findmoreinfoatmacdillfss. com/seascapes
Becomealicensedfamily childcareprovider
Tonsofincentivesfornewand existingproviders.Availablefor onoroffbasecare. Findmoreinfo atmacdillfss.com/family-childcare
Markyourcalendarforthese upcomingevents
•Dungeons&Dragons- Jan.11
•Resumewriting101- Jan.11
•MarchonMacDillattheShort FitnessCenter- Jan.18
•Interviewskillsworkshop- Jan. 18
•Federalresumewritingworkshop- Jan.20
•MCEE–MacDillCouncilforEd ucationalExcellencemeetingat TinkerK-8– Jan.24
•MacDillcareerfair– Jan.27
Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss. com
NormalHours- Monday-Friday -9a.m.to 3p.m.Afterhourschaplain,call828-4362/4361. 12:10p.m. www.macdill.af.mil/chapel -8&9:30a.m.
Courtesyphoto
MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 15 EVENTS
Monday-ThursdayMass
Catholic(in-person) -Sunday
Protestantservices(virtual)-Sunday 11 a.m.atwww.facebook.com/6amwhc OtherFaithGroups Off-basereferralasneeded Formoredetailsandinformation,visittheChapel Facebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ CHAPELSCHEDULE Besuretovisittheofficial6thAirRefuelingWing websiteatwww.macdill.af.mil
Grandsendoff! Col.BenjaminJonsson,6thAirRefuelingWingcommander, hadthehonorofspeakingatthesendoffofCentralFlorida’sU.S.AirForceAcademyandPreparatorySchoolappointeesJune14.The groupalsoincludedMacDillAFB’sveryownAirman1stClassAhmadSutherland,6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadronandSeniorAirmanMalachiGreman,50thAirRefuelingSquadron.
YEARINPHOTOS
16 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, December 30, 2021 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT PhotobyAirman1stClassHiramMartinez Maintainersfromthe6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadron(AMXS)conductahotpit refuelingonaKC-135StratotankeraircraftatMacDillAirForce Base,May25.The6thAMXSAirmenmadehistorysinceitwasthefirsttimeaKC-135hotpit refuelingwasconductedatMacDill.
