21 minute read
Week in photos
Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Stephen Brown, 91st Air Refueling Squadron pilot, flies a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft over Tampa Bay, Feb. 27. MacDill Air Force Base supports flyovers at various events in the Tampa Bay area to strengthen relations and bolster community support.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dillon Tucker, a boom operator assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, prepares to refuel an aircraft over New Mexico, Feb. 22. The KC-135 Stratotanker is capable of transferring more fuel through its boom in eight minutes than a gas station pump could pump in 24 hours.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jared Remender, 6th Security Forces Squadron marine patrol crew member, performs a weapons exercise during Emergency Services Team (EST) tryouts at MacDill Air Force Base Feb. 4. EST tryouts are held to ensure members of the team are fit and qualified to handle the high-stress scenarios they will be asked to respond to.
Air Force art contest opens for submissions
by Armando Perez
Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS)—
Imagine, Create and Win.
It’s that time of year to show off your creative artistry in the Air Force Art Contest. The submission period will be throughout the month of March.
Artists may submit up to two, digital photographs of their two-dimensional painting or drawing, in one of five categories, for judging. The subject of the artwork is at the discretion of the artist but must comply with the official rules of the contest here.
Accepted art media include oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, mixed media, gouache, egg tempera, pen and ink, graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, scratchboard, markers and metal point.
Managed by the Air Force Services Center and part of the Air Force’s Arts and Crafts Program, the contest is open to all authorized patrons
See ART CONTEST, Page 13
U.S. Air Force graphic
The Air Force Art Contest is accepting submissions through March 31. In 2021, approximately 800 artists submitted more than 1,000 pieces of art using a variety of media. Artists may submit up to two, digital photographs of their two-dimensional painting or drawing, in one of five categories, for judging.
From Page 2 age of the Ukrainian people, and he overestimated the capability of his own military,” Kendall said.
“Perhaps most of all, he severely underestimated the reaction from both the U.S. and from our friends and allies,” he said.
The world’s mostly united response to Ukraine should not divert attention from the distance the Air and Space Forces must cover to adequately upgrade and change to face current threats.
“We’re stretched thin as we meet Combatant Commanders’ needs around the globe,” Kendall said, repeating a frequent refrain. “We have an aging and costly-to-maintain capital structure with average aircraft ages of approximately 30 years and operational availability rates that are lower than we desire.”
Kendall added, “While I applaud the assistance the Congress has provided this year, we are still limited in our ability to shift resources away from legacy platforms we need to retire to free up funds for modernization. … We have a Space Force that inherited a set of systems designed for an era when we could operate in space with impunity.”
Those realities, he said, triggered establishing the Department’s seven operational imperatives. They are: 1. Defining Resilient and Effective Space Order of Battle and Architectures; 2. Achieving Operationally Optimized Advanced Battle Management Systems (ABMS) / Air Force Joint All-Domain Command & Control (AF JADC2); 3. Defining the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) System-ofSystems; 4. Achieving Moving Target Engagement at Scale in a Challenging Operational Environment; 5. Defining optimized resilient basing, sustainment, and communications in a contested environment; 6. Defining the B-21 Long Range Strike Family-of-Systems; 7. Readiness of the Department of the Air Force to transition to a wartime posture against a peer competitor.
The first imperative, he said, is aimed at ensuring capabilities in space. “Of all the imperatives, this is perhaps the broadest and the one with the most potential impact,” he said.
“The simple fact is that the U.S. cannot project power successfully unless our space-based services are resilient enough to endure while under attack,” he said. “Equally true, our terrestrial forces, Joint and Combined, cannot survive and perform their missions if our adversary’s space-based operational support systems, especially targeting systems, are allowed to operate with impunity.”
The second of Kendall’s seven imperatives is to modernize command and control, speed decision-making and linking seamlessly multi-domain forces. In short he wants continued development of defense-wide effort known as Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and the Air Force component of that effort known as ABMS or Advanced Battle Management System.
“This imperative is the Department of the Air Force component of Joint All Domain Command and Control. It is intended to better define and focus DAF efforts to improve how we collect, analyze, and share information and make operational decisions more effectively than our potential adversaries,” Kendall said.
At the same time, that effort demands discipline. In this regard, Kendall was blunt, saying “we can’t invest in everything and we shouldn’t invest in improvements that don’t have clear operational benefit. We must be more focused on specific improvements with measurable value and operational impact.”
Another imperative is Defining the Next Generation Air Dominance (or NGAD) System of Systems.
“NGAD must be more than just the next crewed fighter jet. It’s a program that will include a crewed platform teamed with much less expensive autonomous un-crewed combat aircraft, employing a distributed, tailorable mix of sensors, weapons, and other mission equipment operating as a team or formation,” he said.
Kendall’s next imperative is “Achieving Moving Target Engagement at Scale in a Challenging Operational Environment.”
The effort, he said, has direct connection to the JADC2/ABMS initiatives but tightens the focus.
See KENDALL, Page 14
Photo by Senior Airman David D. McLoney
A U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Aubert E. Dozier Airman Leadership School (ALS) coin is displayed on a plaque in the ALS auditorium at MacDill Air Force Base March 2.
Photo by Senior Airman David D. McLoney
A copy of the Airman’s Handbook from 1954 is showcased in a display cabinet in the Airman Leadership School auditorium March 2 at MacDill Air Force Base.
MacDill Airman Leadership School nominated as AMC’s ALS of the year
by Senior Airman David D. McLoney
6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Learning leadership skills can be a crucial aspect of growing in the military as they are one of the many key principles to how service members operate in their careers.
The Airman Leadership School is designed to be a great first step to enhancing an Airman’s knowledge of important leadership skills and military practices.
On Feb. 18, 2022, the 6th Force Support Squadron’s Chief Master Sgt. Aubert E. Dozier Airman Leadership School at MacDill Air Force Base was nominated as the Air Mobility Command’s ALS of the year.
“The ALS team works hard to ensure that we are the best instructors, leaders and mentors for the Airmen coming through the schoolhouse,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Samantha Dougherty, the 6th FSS ALS commandant. “I couldn’t ask for a better team and to be named AMC’s Airman Leadership School of the year is an honor and truly humbling.”
ALS is the first level of professional military education enlisted Airmen experience. The ALS course provides entry-level leadership skills to prepare Airmen for positions of greater responsibility.
Dougherty explained ALS instructors are taught to understand the value of good leadership and their role is critical not only to MacDill’s mission but throughout the entire Air Force. She noted their main objectives as ALS instructors are to provide Airmen with skills needed to lead, follow and manage others.
“Today’s Air Force requires us to be a highly trained, educated and adaptable force,” said Dougherty. “We must develop enlisted leaders for tomorrow’s Air Force. They must be innovative, able to think critically, problem-solve and act decisively.”
With 193 students graduating MacDill’s ALS in 2021, the instructors can make a difference in the careers of every Airman they teach.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shawna Wise, 6th FSS ALS instructor, mentioned being hired as an instructor was life-changing.
“Being an instructor boom, teaching was already a passion of mine,” said Wise. “I have grown tremendously over the past three years and cannot imagine my life without the experience this job has brought me.”
For Airmen like Tech. Sgt. Jose Lopez-Rodriguez, a 6th FSS ALS instructor, graduating from the ALS course inspired him to become an instructor and share the knowledge he gained with future frontline supervisors.
“Being an ALS instructor is a dream come true, and it is an experience I enjoy every single day, ” said Lopez-Rodriguez. “Whether I am working out with the students and motivating them to go past their comfort zone in fitness, or helping them figure out the answers to possible problems or situations they may face, this job is the most rewarding experience I have had in my career.”
Though the level of trust required to train the Air Force’s next generation of supervisors is high, MacDill’s ALS team remains dedicated to preparing their students as they progress through their military careers.
“The ALS team has a huge impact on our students whether they are Air Force, Space Force, joint members, or even civilians,” said Dougherty. “Not only are we providing the tools and resources to be successful leaders, but we empower them to be the supervisors they wish they had as Airmen. We also establish professional relationships with the students and show them that we truly care about every one of them. Our students know that we are always here to guide and mentor them.”
Regardless of the date or time, the 6th FSS’s ALS team is a force dedicated to helping Airmen to acquire and practice the skills it takes to become strong leaders.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Joanne Bass, middle, poses for a photo with U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Samantha Dougherty, MacDill Airman Leadership School (ALS) commandant, left, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shawna Wise, an instructor at the MacDill ALS, right, while holding a picture and biography of Tech Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, an instructor at the MacDill ALS, June 11, 2021, at MacDill Air Force Base. Chief Bass visited the MacDill ALS to see the dedicated work the school puts into developing tomorrow’s leaders.
From Page 3
Kessel Run’s role was made possible with support from Pacific Air Forces who directed the application’s use throughout the exercise.
“It helped because we had senior leadership’s backing,” said Gwenn Haden, Kessel Run’s C2IMERA Team operations engagement lead. “[Brig. Gen. Jeremy T. Sloane, 36th Wing commander] was on board; having his backing really helped our team.”
A team from Kessel Run flew to Guam and trained various personnel on how to use the application a week prior to the start of the exercise. The training focused on each unit’s specific needs.
“There was a high value with our team being there; It allowed us to work one on one with the users,” Haden said. “It really showcased C2IMERA’s capabilities when everyone was putting their data into a single source. That allowed the units to use the application collaboratively and in real time.”
The application uses a common operating picture and dashboarding capabilities as communication tools, which consolidates and shares information for leaders, and boasts multiple features to provide C2 capabilities. These tools are customizable and optimized based on the individual needs of the installation and focus on updating and communicating data in real time to give commanders a constant picture of their installations, environment, assets and personnel.
Airmen used the application during the exercise to track everything from aircraft movement to individual personnel’s medical status and movement in real time. The capabilities C2IMERA provided enhanced the Agile Combat Employment environment by providing leadership constant situational awareness on their aircraft, personnel, fuels, communications status, and more, at the forward operating locations, according to Haden.
“For airfield management, we used it for aircraft accountability, arrivals and departures, tail-number tracking, we also used it for the common operating picture,” said Staff Sgt. Rebekah Kowalczyk, 36th Operations Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of airfield operations. “Before we had this, we had Excel documents, PowerPoints, and Word documents that we would use on the share-drive. We also are able to use it on the airfield for real-time updates, rather than having to come into the office with the updated information.”
Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil
6th ARW Chapel Holy Week Schedule
u Monday, April 11: 12:10 Daily Mass u Tuesday, April 12: *No Daily Mass u Wed, April 13: 12:10 Daily Mass and Penance Service from 17:30 - 19:00 u Thursday, April 14: 19:00 Mass of the Last Supper followed by Eucharistic Adoration until 2130 (**No 1210 Daily Mass) u Friday, April 15: 14:15 Stations of the Cross followed by 1500 Good Friday Service u Saturday, April 16: 2000 Easter Vigil Celebration (**No 1730 Mass) u Sunday, April 17: 0930 Easter Sunday Mass & Easter Egg Hunt after Mass
Academic high achievers can score rewards with Exchange’s You Made the Grade
Courtesy graphic
by Keiana Holleman
B A Y P A L M S G O L F C O M P L E X 2022 Club Championship
Bay Palms MacDill AFB
Prizes to Approx Top 30%
DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is saluting military children who excel in the classroom— and those good grades are paying off.
The Exchange’s You Made the Grade program, now in its 22nd year, rewards academic excellence for students in first through 12th grades, including those who are home schooled. Students who maintain a B average or higher are eligible to receive a $5 Exchange gift card each grading period during the 2021-22 school year.
Military students face unique challenges. According to the Department of Defense Education Activity, military children move six to nine times before graduating high school—three times more often than civilian children.
“Military life poses challenges that our youngest heroes consistently overcome,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, the Exchange’s senior enlisted advisor. “Military kids face multiple moves, new schools and parental deployments. The Exchange’s You Made the Grade program celebrates the resiliency of military students and rewards their hard work in the classroom.”
Students who make the grade qualify to enter a worldwide sweepstakes to win a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 Exchange gift card. Drawings are held in December and June. The most recent sweepstakes winners were from Travis Air Force Base, Fort Hood and U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys.
To receive the $5 gift card, students can visit their local PX or BX customer service area and present a valid military ID with proof of a B average or higher. 19 & 20 March South Course 8am Shotgun Start Both Days
Open to patrons with access to the base. Stroke play, amateurs only. Must have current USGA HCP Index. Gross and Net prizes in all divisions based on the number of participants, except Championship division. All competitors are required to ride in golf carts. Lunch & Drinks provided after 2nd round
DIVISIONS Championship – Blue Tees, No HCP, Gross Open – HCP, White Tees, Gross & Net Senior – Age 55 & Older, White Tees, Gross & Net Super-Senior – Age 65 & Older, Gold Tees, Gross & Net Legends – Age 75 & Older, Gold Tees, Gross & Net Women – Red Tees, Gross & Net AGF*: $90 | DoD E1-E4: $110 DoD E5 & Up: $130 Civilian Guests: $155
*Advanced Green Fee Must sign up NLT Fri, 18 March
For more information please call Pro Shop (813) 828-0046 macdillfss.com/bay-palms-golf-complex/
From Page 5 of Department of the Air Force Morale, Welfare, and Recreationprograms in the five categories below:
Adult Novice and Accomplished categories, for those 18 and older at the time of entry: Novice for new or inexperienced artists and Accomplished for those with knowledge based on education, training, experience or those who operate as professional artists.
Youth categories, based on the age of the artist at the time of submission: Children for ages 6-8, pre-teens for ages 9-12 and teens for ages 13-17.
Upload high-resolution images in JPEG format here no later than March 31. Images must be at least three megabyte but not exceed 9 MB.
Digital art, photography, or 3D art such as sculptures, clay art, pottery, woodwork, etc., are not accepted.
When the contest closes March 31, expert artists will evaluate each entry based on impact, creativity and technical excellence. Winners will be announced a few months later with the top three artists in each category winning Amazon gift cards of $500 for first place, $400 for second and $300 for third.
Visit the Air Force Art Contest Facebook page here or @airforcearts, where updates, artist stories, tips and special features posted weekly.
MADE THE GRADE
From Page 12
To enter the You Made the Grade sweepstakes, students can complete the form on the back of the gift card reward sleeve and mail it to: You Made the Grade PO Box 227398 Dallas, TX 75222-7398
Students can submit one sweepstakes entry for each grading period. The next drawing will take place in December.
Facebook-friendly version: Good grades pay off at the Exchange! High-achieving students can score rewards each grading period and a chance to win a share of $4,000 in gift cards with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s You Made the Grade program. Read more:https:// wp.me/p9Q7PG-1V2.
From Page 6
“What enables our aforementioned ABMS investments to be successful starts with the ability to acquire targets using sensors and systems in a way that allows targeting data to be passed to an operator for engagement,” he said, adding, “for the scenarios of interest it all starts with these sensors. They must be both effective against the targets of interest and survivable.”
The next imperative is a pragmatic throwback to a concept that has long been important – defining optimized resilient basing, sustainment, and communications in a contested environment.
But as in other efforts, Kendall says the concept needs new thinking. In addition to relying on large, fixed bases as the Air Force has done for generations, Kendall said there needs to be a new “hub-and-spoke” arrangement that includes smaller, more mobile bases. That concept is known as Agile Combat Employment (ACE).
“It’s the idea that you don’t just operate from that one fixed base. You have satellite bases dispersed in a hub-and-spoke concept, where you can operate from numerous locations and make your forces less easily targetable because of their disbursement,” he said.
The sixth imperative has a heavy focus on hardware. The effort will define the B-21 Long Range Strike “family of systems,” he said.
As in other imperatives, this one has echoes to others in the list. “This initiative, similar to NGAD, identifies all of the components of the B-21 family of systems, including the potential use of more affordable un-crewed autonomous combat aircraft,” he said.
“The technologies are there now to introduce un-crewed platforms in this system-of-systems context, but the most cost effective approach and the operational concepts for this complement to crewed global strike capabilities have to be analyzed and defined.”
As a former senior weapons buyer for the Department of Defense, Kendall has a keen understanding of the tension between equipment and cost. That understanding explains, in part, this imperative.
“We’re looking for systems that cost nominally on the order of at least half as much as the manned systems that we’re talking about for both NGAD and for B-21” while adding capability, he said. “ … They could deliver a range of sensors, other mission payloads, and weapons, or other mission equipment and they can also be attritable or even sacrificed if doing so conferred a major operational advantage – something we would never do with a crewed platform.”
The seventh and final imperative is both ageless and essential –readiness.
“To go from a standstill to mobilizing forces, moving them into theater, and then supporting them takes the collective success of a large number of information systems and supporting logistical and industrial infrastructure. We have never had to mobilize forces against the cyber, or even the kinetic, threats we might face in a conflict with a modern peer competitor,” he said.
While achieving the imperatives is challenging, Kendall said he’s optimistic.
Kendall said industry, with its “intellectual capital” will have a critical role in finding solutions and compressing the often decades-long development time. So will allies and, of course, Airmen and Guardians.
“I’ve gotten to meet a lot of Airmen and Guardians. Nothing is more inspiring to me than to have informal conversations with the men and women who wear the Air or Space Force uniform. The dedication, commitment, professionalism, and passion these people bring to their service and to the nation is simply awesome,” he said.
“As I’ve traveled to places like Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Thule, Greenland, the positive attitudes, drive, and commitment our men and women serving far from home, and in sometimes challenging circumstances, is just exceptional.”
EVENTS
Youth basketball registration
Registration is open March 7 through April 8 at the youth center. Open to ages 5-15 with current immunization records. Call 828-7438 to register your child.
5 on 5 basketball tournament
March 11, 3 p.m. at the Short Fitness Center. Four teams needed for event. Register your team at 6fss.fsvs. sportsprograms@us.af.mil.
St. Patrick’s Day 5K
Mar. 17, 7 a.m. Join us for a themed fun run at the fitness center. Wear your best green attire for prizes. More info at macdillfss.com/short-fitness-center/.
Bay Palms golf complex
The 2022 club championship is Mar. 19-20. There’s an 8 a.m. shotgun start both days. Open to patrons with access to base and amateurs only. Prizes awarded. Lunch and drinks provided. Register by Mar. 18 at the golf course.
FroYo at the MacDill Lanes
Grab a lane and then grab a cup of frozen yogurt with your choice of toppings. The bowling center is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
6FSS is hiring in the following areas:
u recreation u food service u hospitality u child and youth
For job information, visit: https://macdillfss.com/open-jobs/ Find more events at: macdillfss.com
Heritage marker unveiled!
Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings
The 6th Air Refueling Wing leadership team unveils a heritage marker at a Black History Month commemorative luncheon at MacDill Air Force Base Feb. 25. The heritage marker formally recognizes the service of thousands of black Americans who served in engineer aviation battalions during World War II. The efforts of these battalions, which trained at MacDill, expedited the end of the conflict and helped ensure an Allied victory.
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-Thursday Mass - 12:10 p.m.
www.macdill.af.mil/chapel Catholic (in-person) - Saturday - 5:30 p.m.
(confession 4:30 p.m.) Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessions by appointment)
Protestant services (virtual) - Sunday -
11 a.m. at www.facebook.com/6amwhc
Other Faith Groups
Off-base referral as needed
For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/
