Thunderbolt 2/09/2023

News/Features:page3

Sesame Workshop

News/Features:page3

AFROTCscholarships

Weekinphotos: page4

Imagesfromthe week

Expectingandflying - page8

PhotobySeniorAirmanLeonRedfern

Community:page15

Events,Chapel,more...

Maj.LaurenOlme,77th WeaponsSquadronassistantdirectorofoperations,andherhusband,Maj.MarkOlme,7th OperationsSupportSquadronbombwingweaponsofficer,posenexttoaB-1BLanceratDyessAirForceBase, Texas,Jan.24.Lauren,whoiscurrentlypregnant,cancontinueflyingafter recentlygettingapprovedundertheAir Force’snewguidance,which allows female aircrew memberstovoluntarily request to flyduringpregnancy.

COMMENTARY

USTRANSCOM sendsmorethan 60 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine

byJonathanStefanko U.S. TransportationCommandPublicAffairs

SCOTTAIRFORCE BASE,Ill.—U.S. TransportationCommandis deliveringthefirstshipmentofBradley Fighting VehiclestoUkraine aspartoftheUnitedStates’$2.85billionmilitaryaidagreementannouncedearlier thisyear.

Theshipment—containingmorethan60Bradleys—lefttheshores ofNorth Charleston,South Carolina, lastweek,andwillprovidethe Ukrainianforceswithadditionaloffensiveanddefensivecapabilitiesto protecttheirbordersagainstRussia’sillegalinvasion.

“ThesituationinUkrainereallybroughttotheforefronttheimportanceoflogisticsandthecomplexityofpowerprojectionandsustainment,” saidAir ForceGen. Jacqueline VanOvost, USTRANSCOMcommander, duringaninterviewwith Joint ForceQuarterly.

“OursupporttoUkrainewouldnotbepossiblewithoutthestrong relationshipswehavewithourAllies and Partnersthatprovidedthe access, basing, andoverflighttofacilitatethedeliveryofaid,” shecontinued.

Bradleysarearmoredfightingvehiclethattransportinfantryincombatzonesandprovidesupportivefires. Helpingoverseetheloadingof theequipmentisArmyLt.Col.RebeccaD’Angelo, 841stTransportation Battalioncommander, whonotesthattheBradleyswillbeessentialto Ukraineasthe warcontinues.

“The Bradleyisaverypowerfulvehiclethatweareprovidingtothe Ukrainians,” shesaid. “Thisisgoingtohopefullyenhancetheircapabilitiestoprovideforwardadvancementinthebattlefieldandregainlost

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ABradleyFighting VehicleloadsontotheARCIntegrityJan.25atthe TransportationCoreDockinNorthCharleston,SouthCarolina.More than60BradleyswereshippedbyU.S. TransportationCommandas partoftheU.S.militaryaidpackagetoUkraine.USTRANSCOMis a combatantcommandfocusedonprojectingandsustaining military poweratatimeandplaceofthenation’schoosing,advancingAmericaninterestsaroundtheglobe.

COMMANDER’SACTIONLINE

TheActionLineprovidestwo-waycommunicationbetweenthe 6thAirRefueling WingcommanderandtheMacDillcommunity. Personnelmaysubmitquestions,concernsorcommentsviaemailto macdillwingcommander@us.af.milor Facebook@6thARWCommandTeam

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher: Joe Deluca

Editor: NickStubbs

TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper isanauthorizedpublicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservices on MacDill.Contentsofthe MacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,or endorsedbythe U.S. government,theDepartmentofDefense,

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Newsitemsforthe MacDill Thunderboltcanbesubmitted tothe6thAirRefueling WingPublicAffairsoffice,8208HangarLoopDr.,suite14,MacDillAFB,FL33621.CalltheThunderboltat828-2215.Email:6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.

Deadlineforarticle submissionsis noon, Wednesdays toappear inthenextweek’spublication.Articlesreceived afterdeadline maybe consideredforfuture use. Allsubmissionsareconsideredforpublicationbasedonnewsvalue andtimeliness.

Everyarticleandphotographiseditedforaccuracy, clarity,brevity,conformancewiththe“Associated PressStylebook and LibelManual”andAirForce Instruction35-101.

PhotobyOzSuguitan

Sesameworkshop rollsoutself-care contentformilitaryfamilies

byKatieLange DODNews

LikemanyAmericans, emotionalwell-beingissomethingthatmany militaryfamilieshavesaidthey’restrugglingwithsincethepandemic started, accordingtoSesame Workshop, whichworkswiththeDefense Departmenttobringinformationtomilitaryfamiliesthroughitswebsitesand freeapps.

Inresponsetothat,Sesame Workshophaslaunchednewdigitalresourcesformilitaryparentsand childrenthatoffersim-plestrategiesformentalhealthandself-care. Theresourcesincludevideosdemonstratingtheimportanceoffindingthelittlewins, beingflexiblewith routines, meal planning and evenlearninghowtobe stillandquiet.

“Iknowit’snotalwayseasy, andself-caredoesn’talwaysfeelattainable,” explainedSesame Workshop’s Tara Wright,who’s amotherof threeandamilitaryspouse. “Buttheseresourcescanbeanicelittle reminderthattakingcareofyourselfreallydoeshelpyourfamily, and itcanalsobe donewith yourfamily Itdoesn’thaveto be apart.”

Forinstance, in oneofthevideos, Elmo’smom,Mae, isfrustrated whenshe’stryingtomakedinner. Elmo’sdadis away withtheNational

AFROTCscholarshipavailabletoallqualifiedcadetsselected to commission

Air UniversityPublicAffairs

COLLEGE PARK,Md.(AFNS)—Air Forceseniorleadersintroduced theCharlesMcGeeLeadership AwardtoprovidetuitionorhousingassistancetoallAir Force ROTCcadetsthatdemonstratethe abilityandintenttocommissionintotheAir ForceandSpace Forceduringaceremony held Jan.27attheUniversity ofMaryland.

TheCMLAisa2-yearscholarshiptohelprelievefinancialburdens andallowallqualifiedcadetstofocusontheiracademicandleadership development.Eligiblecadetsaregrantedatwo-yeartuition awardof $18,000 peryear, orthiscanbeconvertedtoahousingbenefitofupto $10,000peryear.

Thisscholarshipwillbe availabletoallcadetswhohavesuccessfully completedfieldtrainingandenteredtheProfessionalOfficer Courseuponthestartoftheir junioryear of college.

“ROTCprogramsplayavitalroleinshapingtheleadersoftomorrow,” saidUMDPresidentDarryll J. Pines. “AttheUniversityofMaryland,we areproudtoofferarobustROTCprogramthatdevelopsourstudents intowell-roundedindividualswhogoontoservetheircountryandcommunitieswithdistinction.Expandingscholarshipsforcadetsisakey aspectofthis, asitallowsthemtofocusontheireducationanddevelop-

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PhotocourtesyofSesame Workshop

AvideostillshowstheMuppetElmoandhisfatherlookingtowardthe camera. SeeSESAME,Page12

PhotobyAndyMorataya

AirForceChiefof StaffCQBrown,Jr., centerfront,posesfor a group photowithUniversityof MarylandROTCcadets afteraceremony at the SamuelRiggsIVAlumniCenter, CollegePark,Md.,Jan27,2023.Brown was onhandto awardthe Brig.Gen.CharlesMcGeeLeadership Award.

WEEKINPHOTOS

Airmenassigned tothe6th Communication Squadron listento opening remarks priortothe10thAnnualEstelleMemorialRunatMacDill AirForceBaseJan.27. Therun wasdedicatedin honorofMaj.Raymond EstelleII,whowasoneof ninepeoplekilledinaction onApril27,2011.Estelle waskilledby anAfghanAir Corpspilotwhileservingon deploymentwiththe828th AirExpeditionaryAdvisory Groupasthe communicationsadvisorfortheAfghan force.

U.S.AirForceCol.AdamBingham,6thAirRefuelingWingcommander, left,andChiefMasterSgt.ShaeGee,6thARW command chief,right, poseforaphotowithCesarMedina,the6thCivilEngineerSquadron contractingoffice representativeforpestcontrolandgroundsduring a private recognitionceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseJan.31. Medina hasservedintheU.S.governmentfor40yearsandhasbeen recognized forhishonorableservicein manydifferentcareerfields.

50thAirRefuelingSquadron;andSeniorAirmanCalebMills,aboom operatorassignedto the91stAirRefueling Squadron,posefor agroup photoontheflightlineatMacDill Air ForceBaseFeb.1.Thethreeaircrewmembersflewanair refuelingmissiontocommemorateBlack HistoryMonthand celebratetheachievementsAfricanAmericanshave madeintheU.S.AirForce.

Photoby Tech.Sgt.AlexanderCook Fromlefttoright,U.S.AirForce2ndLt.BryanLee,aKC-135Stratotankerpilotassignedtothe63rdAirRefuelingSquadron;U.S.AirForce Capt.JohnLewisElliott,aKC-135Stratotankerpilotassignedtothe

PhotobyAirman1stClassMichaelKillian

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

MacDillcelebratesBlackHistoryMonth

6th Air RefuelingWingPublicAffairs

The Department ofDefenseand MacDill AFB recognizesthebravery andexceptionalservice ofBlackmilitaryandcivilianpersonnel.This month and throughouttheyear, we celebratethe richness and diversityoftheirachievements

Inobservanceofthe2023Black History Month, theDefenseEqualOpportunityManagementInstitute proudlyannouncesthe availability of original artwork availablefordownload fromDEOMI’s publicwebsite, www.defenseculture.mil.

Thisyear’stheme, “InspiringChange,” epitomizesthecontributionsofAfricanAmericansto challengingracialinequitiesandpromotingopportunitiesforequaladvancementwithintheAfrican Americancommunity.

The2023Department ofDefenseBlack HistoryMonthposter depictsfromleft, JosephMcNeil, Franklin McCain, Billy SmithandClarence Henderson, onthesecondday ofa peacefulsit-

downprotestthey organizedat a Woolworthin Greensboro, NorthCarolina.

TheGreensboroSit-Ins werethefirstprominent non-violentsit-inprotestsofthecivil rights movementandlastedfrom Feb. 1to July25, 1960.

Theprotestsledtothe WoolworthDepartment Store chainendingits policy of racialsegregation initsstores.

TheprotestbeganwhenMcNeil,McCain, EzellBlairJr. (laterknowasJibreel Khazan), andDavidRichmond,AfricanAmericanstudents atNorthCarolinaAgricultural and Technical StateUniversity in Greensboro, satdown atalunch counterinside Woolworthandpolitely askedfor service.

Theirrequest wasrefused,andtheywere askedtoleave. Inresponse, they chose toremainintheirseats. This passiveresistanceand peacefulsit-down protesthelpedignite ayouthledmovementto challengeracialinequality throughout theSouth.

McNeilwentontobecomea majorgeneral in the U.S. Air Force.

For more, visitwww.defenseculture.mil.

GraphicbytheDepartmentofDefense

Departmentof the AirForce to conducthackathon

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

WASHINGTON(AFNS)—TheDepartmentofthe Air Forcewillconductitsnext“BRAVO” hackathonMarch20–24,2023,thistimeat Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Any Americancitizenmayapply, regardlessofwhethertheycurrently workfortheDepartmentofthe Air Force. Applicantsarerequiredtoapplyonlinehere Applicantsshouldapplyby Feb. 15.

Attendeesarenotrequiredtoholdasecurity clearance However, certainspaces, usecases, anddatasetsmayrequirea U.S. secretsecurity clearanceorhigher. Organizersmayrequestadditionalinformationfor clearancesthatapplicantspossess. Applicantsmayapplyasanemployeeforthe U.S. government, a U.S. governmentcontractor, ora U.S. citizeneitheraffiliatedorunaffiliatedwithacompany.

Ahackathonisaninnovationeventcommonlyemployedbytechnologycompaniesinwhichteams developprototypesworkingaroundthe clockinresponsetoenterprise challengesassociatedwithdata.Prior BRAVO projectshaveproducedmultipleprototypesandinventionsinfluencingmajorDefenseDepartmentprograms.

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PhotobyAirForce Tech.Sgt. TabathaArellano MeganRunyan,QuinnSeys,andParkerBrown,416thFlight TestSquadronweaponsintegrationengineers,worktogetherfordatasolutions duringtheDataHackathonatEdwardsAirForceBase,Calif.,Nov.3, 2021.TheeventwasAirForce TestCenter’sfirstDataHackathon,solvingdataproblemssponsoredbyU.S.AirForce TestPilotSchool, with a goalto broadenthe solution reachto haveabiggermissionimpact.

Federalgovernmentemployeesandfederalcontractorsrepresenting federalorganizationsareencouragedtosharesponsoringusecases, data,orinfrastructurerelevanttotheprimarymissionoftheDepartment ofDefenseforuseatthiseventbycontactingSAF.CN.BRAVO@us.af.mil.

“Acrosstheprevioushackathons, wehavehonedmethodstobuildand fightwith classifiedandprotecteddataofincreasinglylargersizeand variedorigin,” saidStuart Wagner, chiefdigitaltransformationofficer forthe U.S. DepartmentoftheAir Forceandhackathonorganizer. “Hurlburt Fieldwillprototypejointusecases, dataandsoftwareinfrastructuresfromcombatantcommandsandvariousmilitarydepartments.”

In January2022,thedepartmentranBRAVO 0,itsfirstdepartmentwide classifiedinnovationhackathonwithAir Force weaponssystem dataatNellisAir ForceBase, Nevada. BRAVO1 CanaryReleasegrew theeffortwhenin July2022,thedepartmentranitssecondhackathon simultaneouslyat JointBaseLangley-Eustis, Virginia; PatrickSpace ForceBase, Florida;andEglinAFB, Florida,withabout300hackers.

BRAVO allowsparticipantstorapidlycommingleandrunopen-source softwareanddataotherwiseunapprovedforproductionwith classified orprotecteddata.

“BRAVO movesfromthetraditionalDoDdevelopmentmodeloperatingattheunclassifiedlevelwherewepushcodeuptoprotectedenvironments, toapermissivedevelopmentmodelonprotecteddata, which we refertoas‘DevHigh,’” Wagnersaid.“Thisenablesdeveloperstobuild weapons’capabilitiesandcalibrationsdirectlywiththedataatlower costcomparedtotraditionalprototypingpipelinesandataratefaster

thananadversaryislikelytobuildcounteringcapability. Thiseventwill testhow‘DevHigh’scalestojointmulti-domainusecases.”

Applicantslookingtoparticipatemaydosoinoneofthreeroles. The “Hacker”roleisopentoallapplicantsandexpectsprojectbuilderswith varyingskillsetsandexperience, includingsoftwaredevelopment,data science, machinelearning, designanduserinterface/userdesign,data visualization,productmanagementor warfightersubjectmatterexpertise.

The“SubjectMatterExpert”roleisopenonlytogovernmentandgovernmentcontractorsandsupportsmultipleteamswithspecificexpertise orknowledgeaboutausecaseordatasetofferedattheevent.Anyfederalorganizationiseligibletosupplyausecaseordatasetforconsideration.

The“Supporter”roleisopenonlytogovernmentandgovernmentcontractorsandprovidesadministrativesupporttotheeventbyrunning security, facilitatingsuppliesdelivery, organizingsocialevents, andfacilitatingthedeliveryofsciencefairmaterialsandattendee check-in.

Organizationsprovidinginfrastructuresupportincludethe“STITCHES” WarfighterApplication Team,theNavyProjectOvermatchprogram, ProjectArc, OfficeoftheSecretaryofDefenseAdvanaEdgeandAir Force ChiefDigitalandArtificialIntelligenceOffice. Allfive U.S. militaryservicesand U.S. SpecialOperationsCommandprovideusecases anddata.

TheBRAVO hackathonseriesisnamedafter“Project B,” a1921seriesofjointArmy-NavytargetexercisesbasedonArmyBrig. Gen.Billy Mitchell’sthen-controversial claimthatbomberssinkbattleships.

NewAFpregnantaircrewpolicymeansnew achievementforB-1pilot,others

bySeniorAirmanLeonRedfern 7thBombWingPublicAffairs

DYESSAIRFORCEBASE, Texas(AFNS)—AsMaj.LaurenOlme,77th WeaponsSquadronassistantdirectorofoperations,firesuptheenginesofaB-1LanceronDyessAir ForceBase,sheislivingoutherlifelongdreamofbeingapilot.Inadditiontothatdream,sheachievedanewfeatthatwill impactfuturegenerationsofservicewomen:Flyingwhilepregnant.

Laurengarneredherpassionforflyingby watchingherfatherflyasapilotintheAir Force.

“Mydadflew(F-15CEagles),soIinstantlyfellinlovewithflyingandtheAir Forcecultureata prettyyoungage,” Laurensaid.“There wasneverreallyatimethatIofficiallydecidedI wantedto jointheAir Force,it wasjustsomethingIalways wantedtodo.”

Laurenmetherhusband,Maj.MarkOlme,7thOperationsSupportSquadronbombwingweapons officer,whileattendingtheAir ForceAcademy.TheybecamefastfriendsandstarteddatinginNovemberof2011,eventuallygettingmarriedsevenmonthsaftergraduation.

“WewerenavigatingbeingnewlywedswhilebothgoingthroughUndergraduatePilotTraining,” Laurensaid.“BothofourflightcommanderswereB-1pilots,andthebombercommunitycombineda lotofaspectsthatweboth wantedoutofflying. We wereextremelyfortunatetobothgetassignedthe B-1outofUPTandhaven’tregretteditforasecond!”

AftercompletingtrainingatDyessAFB,theOlmesmovedtoEllsworthAFB,SouthDakota,and

overthenextfewyearsjourneyedtoseveralassignmentstogether.TheydeployedonaBomber ForcetoAndersenAFB,Guam,multipleatNellisAFB,Nevada,andacombatdeploymenttoAlUdeid AirBase,Qatar.In2020theycompletedtheAir Fo onsSchoolcourse.

“LaurenandIhavebeenveryblessedwiththeopportunitytobestationedtogether,deploytogether andgoonmultiplemonth-longexercisestogether,” thenaddcompetingwithyourwife,whoisbetterthanyou,foreverything!However,wehavegotto sharesomespecialmomentstogetherbecauseofit.”

InAugust2022,LaurenandMarkfoundouttheywouldbeaddingonemoremembertotheirfamily.

“I washonestlyshockedwhenwefoundoutI

fewmonthsandIsomewhatexpectedanothernegativetest.Itestedrightbeforeworkandafterfindingoutit waspositive,holdingthatsecretfromMarkallday person.”

Despitebeingpregnant,Laurenstilllongedtofly.Lastyear,anewAir membersmayvoluntarilyrequesttoflyduringpregnancyandno secondtrimesterwithanuncomplicatedpregnancyinanon-ejectionseataircraftifallflightsafety criteriaaremet.Allpregnantaircrewmembersarealsoauthorizedtoapplyfora trimester,aircraftorflightprofile.

Maj.LaurenOlme,77th WeaponsSquadronassistantdirectorofoperations,andherhusband, Maj.MarkOlme,7thOperationsSupportSquadronbombwingweaponsofficer,poseforaphotonextto B-1BLanceratDyess AirForceBase, Texas,Jan.24.Lauren,whoiscurrentlypregnant,cancontinueflyingafter recentlygettingapprovedundertheAirForce’snewguidance.

kOlme,7thOperationsSupportSquadronbombwingweaponsofficer,poseforaphotonextto a vedundertheAirForce’snewguidance.

hievementforB-1pilot,others

overthenextfewyearsjourneyedtoseveralassignmentstogether.TheydeployedonaBomber Task rcetoAndersenAFB,Guam,multipleatNellisAFB,Nevada,andacombatdeploymenttoAlUdeid Force’sversionof“TopGun,”the U.S. Air Force Weap“LaurenandIhavebeenveryblessedwiththeopportunitytobestationedtogether,deploytogether ,” Marksaid.“The aviationworldisstressfulenough, thenaddcompetingwithyourwife,whoisbetterthanyou,foreverything!However,wehavegotto sharesomespecialmomentstogetherbecauseofit.”

InAugust2022,LaurenandMarkfoundouttheywouldbeaddingonemoremembertotheirfamwaspregnant,”Laurensaid.“Wehadbeentryingfora fewmonthsandIsomewhatexpectedanothernegativetest.Itestedrightbeforeworkandafterfindspositive,holdingthatsecretfromMarkallday wastorture,butI wantedtotellhimin

Despitebeingpregnant,Laurenstilllongedtofly.Lastyear,anewAir Forcepolicystatedaircrew ersmayvoluntarilyrequesttoflyduringpregnancyandno waiverisrequiredtoflyinthe secondtrimesterwithanuncomplicatedpregnancyinanon-ejectionseataircraftifallflightsafety criteriaaremet.Allpregnantaircrewmembersarealsoauthorizedtoapplyfora waiverregardlessof

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Courtesy photo Maj.LaurenOlme,77th WeaponsSquadronassistantdirectorofoperations,andherhusband, Maj.MarkOlme,7thOperationsSupportSquadronbombwingweaponsofficer,posewithan ultrasoundphotooftheirchildatDyessAirForceBase, Texas,Jan.24.Lauren,whoiscurrently pregnant,cancontinueflyingafter recentlygettingapprovedundertheAirForce’snewguidance,whichallowsfemale aircrewmemberstovoluntarily requesttoflyduringpregnancy.

PhotobySeniorAirmanLeonRedfern

PREGNANCY

FromPage8

“Ican’toverexpresshowamazingitisthatpregnant womennowhavetheopportunitytoflyinalltypesof aircraft,” Laurensaid.“It’saverypersonaldecisionthat Markand Imade together becausetherearerisks involvedinflyingtheB-1whilepregnantbutafterconferringwithAir Forceandcivilianmedicaldoctors, wefelt comfortablewithmeflyingfor afewweeks.”

Aircrew members who wish to fly while pregnant are informedoftheriskstothemselves, thefetus, thesafetyof flight,andmission,consistentwithallmedicalconditions. Theapprovalisgrantedthroughjointconsentofthe aviator, obstetricsprovider, flightsurgeon, andcommander.

“This policy is a huge benefit to the Air Force. They havedeliberatelymadea changethatprovidesfemaleaircrewmembersthesameopportunitiesasmaleaircrew members,” saidLt. Col.CharlesArmstrong, 77thWPS commander “This allowsfemale aviatorstocontinue building up their qualifications and flight hours to progressintheircareerfieldthroughpregnancy. It wasbased onyearsofanalysisandresearchfromaircrew physiologistsbothintheAir Forceandoutsideagenciestomake thedeterminationthatitissafeandacceptableforwomentoflya longerperiodthantheyhavedoneinthe past.”

Thisallowsthemembertoweighouttheprosandcons, ultimatelydecidingforthemselveswhetherthey want to flyornot.

“Oneofmybiggestreservationsaboutgetting pregnant whilebeingonaflyingassignment wasthetime away fromthecockpit,sohavingtheopportunitytocontinue toflyandnottakeasmuchtimeoutofthejetisagreat thing,” Laurensaid.“Thepolicyallowsfor aviatorstofly upto28weeks, butforvariousreasonsmymedicalteam decideditbesttostoparoundthe22-weekpoint,sothatis alltheflying I’ll dowithourbaby.”

BabyOlme, whoisexpectedtoarriveinApril2023,has becomeoneofthefirstbabiesintheDefenseDepartment to clock9.2hoursina supersonicaircraft.

SCHOLARSHIP

mentwithouttheaddedstressoffinancialburden.Thisinvestmentin ROTCis aninvestmentintothefutureofournation.”

NamedafterBrig. Gen. Charles McGee, afighterpilotandTuskegee Airmanduring World WarII,CMLAmarksasignificant changeinhow scholarshipsare awardedandrepresentsavaluabletoolforAFROTC leadershiptograntfinancialassistancetoqualifiedcadetswhohadnot previouslyreceivedascholarshipuponentryintotheprogram.

Historically, onlyapproximately40%ofAFROTCcadetswithinthe programwereonsomeformofAFROTCscholarship. Inaddition, over 95%were awardedtopromisinghighschoolseniors withtheremainder allocatedtoin-collegefreshmenandsophomorecadets. Therewerevirtuallynoopportunitiesforcadetstoobtainascholarshipafterthesophomoreyear.

WithCMLA,now100%ofallqualifiedcadetsintheirjuniorandsenior years willbeeligiblefor this scholarship.

“Financialstressisoneoftheleadingreasonsthatpreventotherwise drivenandcommittedcadetsfromcommissioning, so, forthosecadets andprospectivecadets, itisnolongeraquestionofifyouwillgetfinancialhelpthroughahighschoolorin-collegescholarship—theCharles McGeeLeadership Awardsmakesitamatterofwhenyoureceiveascholarship,” saidCol.Corey Ramsby, AFROTCcommander. “We wantcadets tofocustheremainderoftheirtimeinAFROTCondevelopmentoftheir leadershipacumenandacademiccourse ofstudy, ratherthanfinancial barriers.”

Air ForceChiefofStaffGen.CQBrown,Jr. attendedtheceremony, alongwithmembersofMcGee’sfamily, tomarkthisbarrier-breaking changeforcountlessAFROTCcadetstocome.

“Gen.McGeeandtheTuskegeeAirmenaremypersonalheroes, and thecreationoftheCharlesMcGeeLeadership Awardensurestheirlegacyliveson,” Brownsaid.

“Throughhard workand dedication, the TuskegeeAirmengained areputationassomeofthefiercestfightersinAmericanhistory, and proved,ifgiventheopportunity, theycouldreachtheirfullpotential,” he explained.“TheCMLAisone waywecansupportthosewhodemonstrate talentanddesiretoserveontheirpathtocareersintheAir orSpace Force.”

Thegeneral requirementsandkey detailsof the CMLA:

Cadetsmustmeetbasicacademic, physical,andmedicalrequirements oftheAir ForceROTCprogram

Cadetsmustcompletefieldtraining Exception: CMLA recipients with anapproved FieldTrainingdefermentmayactivatetheCMLAifallother activationcriteriaaremet.

CadetsmustbeselectedtoentertheProfessionalOfficerCourse, typicallythoseenteringthejunioryearorthosewithtwo orfeweracademic years of collegeremaining.

TheCMLA awardsupto$18,000peryear percadetfortuition.

CMLAmaybeconvertedtoa housing benefitof up to$10,000 peryear fortwo years.

Guard,andElmoreally wantshismothertoplaywithhim.Inthatmoment,Maedecidesshe’sgoingtokeepthingssimpleandorderapizza, instead.

“Shemakesthe choicerightthere:‘Idon’tIdon’thavetodoitall,’” Wrightsaid.“Weknowthateverynightcan’tbepizzanight,but,inthat particularmoment,heractofself-care wassettingasidearoutinethat wascausingheralotofstressandinsteadfocusingonspendingtime withElmo.”

Wright,who’sraisingthreeboysunderage5whileherMarineCorps husbandisontemporaryduty, saidshedefinitelyfindsthevideosrelatable. Afterall,while childrenwillenjoythevideosfortheSesame Streetconnection,theunderlyingmessagesarereallyfortheparents.

“Thesearedefinitelygivingsomemodelingandencouragementto parentsthatit’sokaytonotbeatourbestallthetimeandthatthere aremanageable, approachablethingsthatwecandotofeelalittlebit better,” Wrightsaid.“Mykidsdon’talwaysunderstandwhyIfeelfrustrated…buttheydounderstandthatI’mmakingthe choicetoconnect withthem.Ithinkthat’swhatthekidswillseeinthesevideosand,especially, whatparentswillsee.”

Sesame Workshophas severalother military-relatedresources, includingthosethatcansupportfamilies dealingwithdeployments, longtermcaregiving, transitiontocivilianlife, griefandmore. Amilitary spouseandmotherofthreenamedAlexistoldSesame Workshopthat whenherhusband was away ontemporaryduty, it washardforherto explaintoher3-year-oldwhyhecouldn’tseehisdad.TheSesame Workshopresourcesthatfocusontemporarydutyreallyhelped,Alexissaid.

“It’salmostlike watchingthestagesofgrieftakeplace—theyget angry, theygetsad,they’retrying to workthroughbigfeelingsthat theydon’tunderstand,” Alexissaid.“HavingsomeonelikeElmowho’s goingthroughthis, too…Theycanrelatetohowhe’shavingahard timeandlookuptohowhe’sdealingwithit. Justknowingthatyou’re notaloneinthisfromsomeoneasrelatableasElmo—it’ssocomforting tohavethat.”

Foralotofthefamilies, it’stheexamplesofeverydaysituationsthat haveresonatedwiththem.

“Ithinkmilitaryfamilies—everybodythanksusforourservice, but, sooften,theday-to-day challenges arenotreally wellunderstood,” Wrightsaid.“It’sreallythoseday-to-daythingsthatwe’veheardfrom familieswhosaythey’rejust reallyappreciativethatthey’rebeingrepresented,andtheyfeelseen.”

TheSesame Workshopresourcesarefreetofamiliesandproviders andare availableinEnglishandSpanishattheSesameStreetforMilitary Familieswebsiteandatsesamestreetincommunities.org.

PhotocourtesyofSesame Workshop AvideostillshowstwoMuppetstalkingwhileusing crayons.

grounds, byhavingequipmentthatmatchesorexceedswhattheRussianshave.”

Alongwiththe60Bradleys, theBidenAdministrationhasannounced anadditional$2.5billioninsecurityassistance, comprisingmorefightingvehicles, ammunition,missiles, andStrykerarmoredpersonnelcarriers. Thisbringsthetotal U.S. contributiontotheeffortto$27.1billion sincetheRussianinvasionbeganin February2022.

“Inadditiontothelargesecurityassistancepackageannounced [mid-January]bytheDepartmentofDefensewithsignificant additionalairdefenseandarmorcapabilitiesforUkraine, multiplenations announcedsimilarsignificantsupporttoincludeGermanyandNetherlands’contributionsof Patriotmissileairdefensecapabilities, Canada’s procurementofa[NationalAdvancedSurface-to-AirMissileSystem] andtheUnitedKingdom’sdonationofChallenger2tanks…justto nameafew,” aseniordefenseofficialsaidduringabackgroundbriefing.

Whilethisisshortofacompletelistofequipmentandnationsaiding Ukraine, theinfluxofmaterieliscrucialasRussia’sattacksnearthe DonetskprovincecityofBakhmutescalate.

“TheUkraine operationsunderscorethe importanceof havingan agilemobilityforce, withbothastrategicairliftfleetthatcandelivery immediately, withinhoursofnotification,andthe availablesealiftthat candeliveramuchgreatervolumeofmaterielthatisessentialtodeliveringandsustainingadecisiveforce,” Van Ovostsaid.

“Workingacrosstheenterprisetodrawequipmentfromdifferentlocationsacrosstheglobe, transportitintoEurope, andtransferittoour partnersthattakeitdirectlytothebattlefieldhasbeenaremarkable featanddemonstratesthevalueofourpartnerships,” shesaid.

USTRANSCOMexistsasa warfightingcombatantcommandtoprojectandsustainmilitarypoweratatimeandplaceofthenation’s choosing.Poweredbydedicatedmenandwomen,TRANSCOMunderwrites thelethalityofthe Joint Force, advancesAmerican interests around theglobe, andprovidesournation’sleaderswithstrategicflexibilityto selectfrommultipleoptionswhilecreatingnumerousdilemmasforour adversaries.

AconvoyofBradleyFighting VehiclesloadontotheARCIntegrityJan. 25atthe TransportationCoreDockinNorthCharleston,SouthCarolina. Morethan60BradleyswereshippedbyU.S. TransportationCommand aspartoftheU.S.militaryaidpackagetoUkraine.USTRANSCOMis acombatantcommand focusedonprojecting andsustaining military poweratatimeandplaceofthenation’schoosing,advancingAmerican interestsaroundtheglobe.

PhotobyOzSuguitan

MacDill YouthCentersurvey

TheMacDill YouthCenterwould liketohearyourfeedback. Visit surveymonkey.com/r/79KPVTBand answerthisshort5question survey.

UpcomingM&FRCevents

•Feb. 14–PrivateIndustry

ResumeWriting

•Feb. 16–Let’s TalkCredit

•Feb. 17–LinkedIn

Visitmacdillfss.com/militaryfamily-readiness/ for more information.

February tase theater m

Your MacDill Base Library will be offering free movies at the Base Theater. Movies are open to anyone with base access to MacDill. For a complete movie schedule, log onto macdillfss.com/library/.

Open FSS positions available

Looking for a sweetheart of a career working with military families? Positions are open for teens ages 14 and up, dependents, retirees and active duty looking to work full or part-time. No prior base access required. Visit macdillfss.com/ open-jobs/ to see current job openings and apply today!

Become a Secret Shopper

Get paid to call or visit 6th Force Support Squadron facilities To learn more, call or email the 6th FSS Marketing Deptartment at 828-2513 or sixfssfsk@gmail.com.

Find more events at: macdillfss.com

Champofthe Week

U.S.AirForceCol.AdamBingham,6thAirRefueling Wingcommander,left,andChiefMasterSgt.ShaeGee,6th ARW commandchief,right,poseforaphotowithBrandiMoss,unitprogramcoordinatorforthe6thCivilEngineer Squadron,duringtheChampofthe WeekrecognitionatMacDillAirForceBaseJan.31.Mossiscurrentlyservingas thesquadronsecretary,whichrequireshertocoordinatemultipletaskreviewsandstrategicmessages.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

NormalHours- Monday-Friday - 9a.m.to3p.m.After hourschaplain,calltheCommandPostat 828-4362/4361.

Monday-WednesdayMass - 12:10 p.m. www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

CatholicMass -Sunday- 9:30a.m. (confessionsbyappointment)

Protestantservices - Sunday - 11 a.m.

Jewish - MonthlyLunchandLearn:Forschedule&tojoin distro,pleasecontactelimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

Islamic Service - Friday 1:30p.m.(spacereserved)

OtherFaithGroups- Please contacttheChapelat(813) 828-3621orviaemailat6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

Formoredetailsandinformation,visit the Chapel Facebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/or MacDill’sChapel website is:https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

PhotobyAirman1stClassMichaelKillian