






ARLINGTON, Va.(AFNS)—DepartmentoftheAir Forcesenior leadershostedavirtualevent Feb. 9tocelebratethecontributionsof BlackAmericanAirmenandGuardiansthroughoutthehistoryofthe department.
SpeakersincludedSecretaryoftheAir Force Frank Kendall,Air ForceChiefofStaffGen.CQBrown,Jr.,ChiefofSpaceOperationsGen. John W. “Jay” Raymond,andDepartmentoftheAir ForceOfficeofDiversityandInclusiondirector, MarianneMalizia.
“Thisisanopportunityforustocelebrate(and)alsoanopportunity todedicateourselvestocontinueajourneythatAmericaasawhole… hasbeenonforalongtime,” said Kendall.“ToomuchoftheBlackexperienceinAmericahasbeenaboutinequalityandinjustice, butthat journeyhasalsobeen characterizedbycourage, persistenceintheface ofgreatodds, (and)intellectualandartisticbrilliance…thingsthatwe canall,asAmericans, beproudofandcelebrate.”
Duringthisevent,Airmen,Guardians, andDAFciviliansshared theirpersonalstoriesofovercomingadversityandalsospokeabouthow thedepartmentworkstoprovideacultureandlifestylethatenables peoplefromallbackgroundstosucceed.
“I wanttodothingsthataregoingtomakeadifference, sothat’smy goalherewiththeSecretary, tomakeadifferenceforallourAirmen,no mattertheirbackground,” saidBrown.“Ifthere’sonethingI’velearned, youropportunityandtheopportunityforallofusisnow Ittakesdeterminationandpreparationforallofustohaveanimpactand change history, sowhentheopportunityknocks, you wanttobefullyready.”
SeeHISTORY, Page8TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper isanauthorizedpublicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservicesonMacDill.ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,orendorsedbytheU.S.government,theDepartmentofDefense,
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MAXWELLAIRFORCEBASE,Ala.(AFNS)—Addressingtheevershiftingdynamicsoftheglobalpoliticalandmilitarylandscapes,AirUniversityhasundertakenthemostsignificantoverhaulofprofessionalmilitaryeducationsincetheendoftheCold War.
Theoverhaulsignificantlyincreases classroominstructioncoveringthe nation’scompetitors, specificallyChinaandRussia,atalllevelsofPME andinmanyofitsotherprogramsandcoursessuchastheSchoolofAdvancedAirandSpaceStudies.
Withthestartofacademicyear2022thispastAugust,40%ofofficer PMEcurriculaisnowfocusedonChinaand60%oncompetitionoverall, includingRussia.Considerableincreasesoncompetitionwerealsomadein alllevelsofenlistedPMEandAirUniversity’sofficeraccessionprograms, Air ForceROTCandAir ForceOfficerTrainingSchool.
“Fromourjuniorenlistedstudentsandofficercandidatestoourseasonedmilitary, civilians, andalliedandpartnerstudents, wearedelib-
SeeAIRUNIVERSITY,Page10
U.S.AirForcephoto
AirUniversitycadetsstandatattentionatMaxwellAirForceBase,Ala.. Thecurriculumatthecenterforprofessionalmilitaryeducationisbeingupdatedto reflecttheshiftingdynamicsofthepoliticalandmilitary landscapes.
byStaffSgt.MatthewMatlockU.S. Air ForceMaj. JermaineA.D Coleman tookcommandofthe927thLogisticsReadinessSquadronfromLt.Col. JerryR.Snider duringa changeofcommandceremonyatMacDillAir ForceBase Feb. 6. Col.AlanM. Tornay, 927thMissionSupport Groupcommander, presidedovertheceremony, passingtheunit’sguidontoColeman.Additionally, Maj.Mia G. Holleyassumedcommand ofthe927th ForceSupportSquadron.
“WhentheLRScommanderpositionopened in2020, Jerry wasmyfirst choicetotakecommand,” said Tornay. “Despitethefactwewere adjustingtolifeinCOVID, hemadethetransitionwithease. JermainerepresentstheresiliencethatweencourageourAirmentoembody—adedicationtoexcellence, serviceto countryandintegrityaboveall.”
Colemanpreviouslyservedasthelogistics planner, 759thLogisticsReadinessFlight, JointBaseAndrews, Maryland,ensuring war-
fightinglogisticscapabilitiesthatultimately ledtotheexecutionofthelargestnon-combatantevacuationinUnitedStateshistoryduring OperationAlliesRefuge, evacuatingmorethan 124,000Afghannationals, Americancitizens, andothercountrynationals.
“Tothemenandwomen,I’mexcited,humbled,andgratefultobestandingalongside you,” saidColemanduringtheceremony. “We’regoingtodosomegreatthingsLRS. Iam confidentinthat.Andthat’sbecausewehavea solidfoundationbuiltbyLt.Col.Snider.”
Beforerelinquishingcommand,Snider was awardedthe Air ForceMeritoriousService Medalforhisaccomplishmentsascommander, whichheattributedtoallthehard-working membersofthe927thLRS.
“TothemenandwomenoftheLRS, we’ve donealot,” saidSnider.“Thankyouforshowingmeyourresolve, yourresiliency, yourprofessionalism,andyoursheertenacitytomove barriersandknockdownanyobstacletoget themissiondone.You’ve churnedthepathto
Col.AlanM. Tornay,Commander,927thMissionSupportGroup,handstheguidontoMaj. MiaG.HolleyduringanassumptionofcommandceremonyatMacDillAirForceBase
SeeCOMMAND,Page 9 Feb.6.
U.S.AirForcephoto GeneralRichardD.Clarke,commanderU.S.SpecialOperationsCommand,presentedArmySgt.Maj.Juan“Carlos”HerrerathePatriot AwardduringthevirtualU.S.SpecialOperationsCommand Warrior CareProgram-CareCoalitionConferenceFeb.8.ThePatriot Award recognizesexceptionalandenduringcontributionstothewelfareof USSOCOM’swounded,illandinjuredservicemembers,veterans,and theirfamilies.
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Buffalosoldiersofthe25thInfantryRegimentposeforaphotoin1890.
BlackHistoryMonth,alsoknownasNationalAfricanAmericanHistoryMonth,isanannual celebrationofachievementsbyBlackAmericansandatimetorecognizethepositiveimpact they’vehadonthehistoryoftheUnitedStatesandtheDefenseDepartment.
BlackpeoplehavefoughtineveryUnitedStates war, fromtheRevolutionary Warthroughthe warsinIraqandAfghanistan.NinetyAfricanAmericanshavebeen awardedtheMedalofHonor. Yet,throughoutmostofAmericanhistory Blackservicememberswereplacedinsegregated units. Desegregationdidn’toccuruntil Jan.26,1948,whenPresidentHarry S. TrumanissuedExecutiveOrder9981directingthearmedservicestointegrate.
Active-dutyservicemembersnumber1,319,283;ofthose, 227,974,or17.3%,areAfricanAmerican,asofDecember2021.
Accordingtothe U.S. CensusBureau,in2020,theBlackorAfricanAmericanpopulation was 41.1million,representing12.4%ofthe U.S. population.
Blackpeople, bothslaveandfree servedonbothsidesduringtheRevolutionary War. African Americansalsoservedonbothsidesinthe Warof1812(1812-1815).ManyservedwiththeBritish inordertogaintheirfreedomandresettleinnon-slavenations particularlyCanada,Bermuda andSierraLeone.
IntheCivil War(1861-1865),over186,000AfricanAmericansfoughtfortheUnionArmyand Navy.A lessernumberofAfricanAmericanswereusedaslaborersontheConfederateside.
SixregimentsofAfricanAmericans, knownasbuffalosoldiers, servedintheIndian Warsfrom 1863totheearly1900sandintheSpanish-American Warin1898.
About367,000AfricanAmericansservicemembersservedinEuropeduring World WarI.Around 1.3millionAfricanAmericanservicemembersservedduring World WarII(1941-1945).Duringthe Korean War(1950-1953),about600,000Blackservicemembersservedinthearmedforces. About300,000AfricanAmericansservedinthe Vietnam War(1961-1975).
Thetwotop-levelBlackAmericansinDODhavebeenArmyGen.Colin Powell,whoservedas chairmanofthe JointChiefsofStafffrom1989to1993,andSecretaryofDefenseLloyd J. Austin IIIwho wasswornin January2021.
TheoriginofBlackHistoryMonthisassociatedwiththenotedAfrican-Americanhistorian Carter G. Woodson.In1926,heinitiatedthecelebrationofNegroHistory Weekduringthesecond weekin February.
February was chosenbecausethatisthebirthmonthof FrederickDouglass, anabolitionistand socialreformer, andPresidentAbrahamLincoln,whoabolishedslavery.
Thecelebration wasexpandedtotheentiremonthof Februaryin1976byPresidentGerald Ford;sincethattime, everypresidenthasdesignated FebruaryasBlackHistoryMonth.
Duringhis1976BlackHistoryMonthannouncement, Fordlinkedthecommemorationtothe nation’s200thanniversaryoftheDeclarationofIndependencethatyear.
Freedomandtherecognitionofindividualrightsarewhatourrevolution wasallabout.They wereidealsthatinspiredourfightforindependence, idealsthatwehavebeenstrivingtoliveupto eversince.Yet,ittookmanyyearsbeforetheseidealsbecamearealityforBlackcitizens.”
On Feb. 11,1986,CongresspassedPublicLaw99-244,whichdesignatedeach Februaryas“NationalBlack(Afro-American)HistoryMonth.”
Canada,IrelandandtheUnitedKingdomalsocelebrateaBlackhistorymonth.
u MACDILL THUNDERBOLTTheDepartmentoftheAir ForceBlackHistoryMonth event wasacelebrationoftheheritageandachievements ofBlackAmericanAirmenandGuardians. It wasalsoan opportunitytoreflectonadversityandotherdisparities thatexistwithintheAirandSpace Forceandwhatisbeingdonetoaddressthem.
“Wehaveasayingthat‘Spaceishard,’thatspacedemandsthebestournationhastoofferandfromthevery beginningBlackAmericanshavebeenabsolutelycriticaltoournation’ssuccessasaspacefaringnation,” said Raymond.“TheSpace Forceiscommittedtobuildinga diverseandinclusiveservice. It’stherightthingtodo, butit’salsowhattheSpacemissiondemands.Weneed thebestandthebrightesttomeet challengesandprotect ournation’ssecurity.”
Concludingtheevent,there wasaspecialpresentationcommemoratingtrailblazers, seniorleaders, and otherinfluentialindividualswhorecentlypassed away. Thisofferedattendeesa chancecelebratethosewhohave servedasrolemodelsandinfluencedAirmen,Guardians, andtheDepartmentoftheAir Forceforyearstocome.
“IcanpromiseyouasyourSecretary, thatIandthe restofourleadershipwillbelaserfocusedonmaking sureourdepartmentismoreinclusiveforallraces, gendersandethnicities,” said Kendall.“Undersecretary(of theAir ForceGinaOrtiz) Jones, (General)Brown,(General)Raymond,andalltheleadershipteamwillstriveto ensureourdepartment-widepoliciesaddressthedisparitieswerecognizedinthedisparityreportsthatwepublished.Ihopethatbyrecognizing, respecting, andunderstandingthedifferentperspectivesandexperiencethat eachAirmanandGuardianbringstothefight,wewillbe abletofindnewandbettersolutionstothecomplex challengeswefaceasthe21stCentury warfightingforce.”
Theeventcanbeviewedathttps://www.facebook.com/ USairforce/videos/359506645695674.
futureprogress Keepfocusedonthemissionandkeeptreatingothers withrespect.”
The927thLRSconsistsofover60officers, enlistedandcivilianpersonnelwhoprovidelogisticsplans, supplies, fuel,andtransportation supporttoover1,000Reservepersonnelassignedtothe927thAirRefuel Wing.
Theirrangeofcapabilitiesmakesitpossibleforthe927thOperationsGrouptocarryoutaerialrefuelinginsupportofnumerouskeyAir Forcemissionssuchaslong-rangeprecisionairstrikesupport,global airlift,aeromedicalevacuations, andreconnaissance.
Holleyassumedcommandofthe927thFSSduringtheceremony, whopreviouslyservedasoperationsofficer, 459th ForceSupportSquadron, JointBaseAndrews, Maryland.
“MajorHolleyhasbeencontinuouslyrecognizedforoutstandingservicewhiletakingcareofthemissionassheexcelsfromoneassignment tothenext,” said Tornay. “Now, shegetsthehonorofleadingthemembersofthe927thFSSastheysetnewgoalsandachievenewheights.”
Afterassumingcommand,HolleyspokehighlyoftheFSSandher ambitionsasthesquadron’snewcommander.
“JustknowthatIamhonored,andIfeelblessedtoworkwitha world-classorganizationlikethe927th,” Holleysaid.“Tothemenand womenoftheFSS, overthecourseoftwoUTAs, younotonlyshowcased yourabilitytosupportthemembersofthe927th Wing, butyouhave provenit,andIamlookingforwardtoallthethingswecanaccomplish inthecomingmonths”
TheFSSconsistsofover70personnelwhoprovideforcedevelopment,sustainment,communications, manpower, installationreadiness, militaryandcivilianpersonnel,andAirmenandfamilysupporttonearly1,000Reservepersonnelassignedtothe927thARW.
PhotobyStaff.Sgt.AlexisSuarez Col.AlanM. Tornay,Commander,927thMissionSupportGroup,hands theguidontoMaj.MiaG.Holleyduringanassumptionofcommand ceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseFeb.6.AscommanderoftheForce SupportSquadronHolleyis responsibleforover70personnelwhoprovideforcedevelopment,installation,manpower,communications,and familysupporttonearly1,000Reservepersonnelatthe927thAirRefuelingWing.
eratelyandactivelyexpandingourunderstandinganddefiningourrole inhowto‘fightandwin’instrategiccompetitions,” saidLt.Gen. James Hecker,AirUniversitycommanderandpresident.“Thesignificantoverhaulofourcurriculaatalllevelsgoestotheheartofaccelerating changein our waysofdoingbusiness, whetheronthebattlefieldorinthe classroom.”
AirUniversitystartedmodifyingitscurriculumtomeettheseSecretaryofDefense-directedmilestoneslateinacademicyear2021andfully implementedrevisedcurriculaatthestartofthe2022academicyear.The increasedacademicfocusonthenation’scompetitorsalsoalignswithAir ForceChiefofStaffGen.CQBrown,Jr.’sActionOrderC:Competition.
“WeareinfullsupportofthecurrentInterimNationalSecurityStrategy Guidanceandwilladjustasadditionalstrategicdocumentsandguidance comeforward,” saidDr. MarkConversino,AirUniversity’s chiefacademicofficer.“We areexecutingcurriculaforbothin-residenceanddistance learningprogramsinallofficerandenlistedPME,thoughthedepthand breadthofthematerialcoveredisdependentonthelevelofPMEand/or lengthoftheprogramoverall.”
StudentsattendingAirUniversity’s10-monthschools, suchasSchool ofAdvancedAirandSpaceStudies,Air WarCollegeandAirCommand andStaffCollege, andenrolledinitsPMEdistancelearningcourses, will deep-diveintotopicssuchasChinaandRussia’smilitaryandpolitical decision-makingstructures;nationaldefensestrategies;militarystrengths andweaknessesinair,spaceandcyberspace;andexistingandemerging technologies.Towardtheendoftheirrespectiveschoolyears, studentsat AWCandACSCwillapplyallthattheyhavelearnedthroughouttheacademicyearin wargamesgearedtowardcompetitors.
SquadronOfficerSchoolstudentswillexamineinternationalrelations, globalizationandChineseinterestsinthe Pacificregion.Theirstudyof competitorsduringthefive-weekschoolwillalsocovertopicssuchasChina’suseofallitsinstrumentsofnationalpower, includinginfluenceand informationoperations, andanArctic-basedscenarioconsideringChina andRussia’sactivitiesintheregion.SOSstudentsalsowilltakepartina jointall-domain wargame, exposingthemtoChineseforcestructureand militarystrategy.
ChinesemilitarystrategyanditsandRussia’srolesasstrategicactors andthreatsto U.S. interestsarenownewtopicsinenlistedPMEcurricula generatedbytheThomasNBarnesCenterforEnlistedEducation.
FromAirmenLeadershipSchooltoAir ForceNoncommissionedAcademyandAir ForceSeniorNCOAcademy, enlistedmemberslearnofcompetitorsthroughapplicable“missionlabs,” includingcurriculaonArticbasedscenarios.Atthemore-strategiclevel,enlistedstudentsattending theChiefMasterSergeantLeadershipCourse, thepinnacleofenlisted PME,examineChineseandRussianstrategiesandinterestsandChinaas apeercompetitorexercisingalltheinstrumentsofnationalpower.
DeliberatelyincreasingthefocusoncompetitorsinenlistedPMEisin lockstepwithAir Forceleaderships’desiretodevelopenlistedAirmen.
Inthejust-releasedEnlisted ForceDevelopment:ActionPlan2022-2023, ObjectiveDfor“Competition-Focused Force”statesthattheBarnesCenter willassistto“educateAirmenonthecontinuumofconflictandtheattributes neededto‘compete, deterandwin’inprofessionalmilitaryeducation… .”
“Ourworldisrapidly changingintheblinkofaneye, andfutureconflict willneverlooklikeitdidinthepast,” saidChiefMasterSgt.oftheAir Force JoAnneBass.“ThetypeofAirmenthatweneedintoday’smilitary isverydifferentthanwhenIfirstcamein. We havetohaveAirmenwith creativityanddiversityofthoughtandintellectualacumentohelpusget aftertheAir Forceweneedsowe’rereadyforahigh-endfight.”
WhiletheBarnesCenterisaddressingenlistedPME,the JeanneM. HolmCenterforOfficerAccessionsandCitizenDevelopmentisincreasing competitiontopicsinitscurriculaforofficercadetsinitsAFROTCandOfficerTrainingSchoolprograms.
WorkingwithexpertsfromtheChinaAerospaceStudiesInstitutehere, theHolmCenterdevelopedeightspecificcompetition-focusedlessonsfor bothROTCand OTS. ThecenterisalsoteamingwithMGMWERXtodevelopavirtualexercisescenarioforthecadetsintheprograms.
Reachingtheupperechelonofcommissionedofficerranks, theAir Force CultureandLanguageCenterhereaddedseveralcompetitionmodulesto itsGeneralOfficerPre-AssignmentAcculturationCourse.Thesemodules includeChina’sstrategyandactivitiesacrossnotonlyAsia,butEurope andAfricaaswell.Theformal,tailoredcourseprovidesinstructiononregion-specificculturetopreparegeneralofficersforkeyoverseasassignments.Amongotherinitiatives, theCenteraddedanewtypeoflanguage immersionthatcombineslanguagetrainingwithacompetition-relevant topicsothatitsmorethan800LanguageEnabledAirmanScholarsofall ranksaremoreconversantonthetopicinthetargetlanguage.
•Recreation
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Forjobinformation,visit: https://macdillfss.com/open-jobs/
forAirFest2022Mar. 26-27
AirFestisanincredible way toraisemoneyforyourMacDill booster clubs!Ifyourorganizationisinterestedinsupporting AirFest,callResourceManagementat828-6962,oremail6fss. privateorg@us.af.mil.
TheAutoHobbyshopisopen every Wednesday- Fridayfrom 11a.m.–7 p.m.and Saturdays from9a.m.–5 p.m. Formore information,visit:https://macdillfss.com/arts-and-trade-crafts/
EnjoythesunsetattheSeascapesbar. Openevery Friday from3 p.m.-8 p.m.withfood trucksfrom3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Interviewingskillsworkshop, Feb.22
1 p.m.–2:30 p.m.theM&FRC isconductingafreeinterviewing skillsworkshoptohelpeducate onthetechniquesinvolvedin theinterviewprocessandhowto handlesalary negotiationsand questions. Formoreinformation, call:828-014
Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss.com
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