Thunderbolt 03/31/2022

PhotobyAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings

Biden:NATOhasneverbeenmoreunited

byJimGaramone DoDNews

“NATO hasnever, neverbeenmoreunitedthanitistoday,” saidPresident JoeBidenfollowinganalliancemeetinginBrusselstoday.

Bidenparticipatedinanextraordinarysummitmeetingattheallianceheadquarters, justonemonthafterRussianPresidentVladimir PutinbrokethepeaceofEuropebyinvadingUkraine.

ThepresidentnotedthatthedayaftertheRussianinvasion,NATO heldameeting.“Atthattime, myoverwhelmingobjectivein wanting thatsummit wastohaveabsoluteunityonthreekeyimportantissues amongourNATO andEuropeanallies,” hesaid.“First wastosupport Ukrainewithmilitaryandhumanitarianassistance.”

Thesecond wastoimposethemostsignificanteconomicsanctionregimetocripplePutin’seconomyandpunishhimforhisactions.“Third, wastofortifytheeasternflankofourNATO allieswhowereobviously very, veryconcerned,and…worriedwhatwouldhappen,” hesaid.

Allthishappenedandthemeetingtoday wasputinplacetobuildon theseefforts.“TheUnitedStateshascommittedtoprovideover$2billioninmilitaryequipmenttoUkrainesinceIbecamepresident,anti-air systems, anti-armorsystems, ammunition.AndourweaponsareflowingintoUkraineasIspeak.”

Inaddition,Bidenannounced$1billioninhumanitarianrelieffor Ukrainiansaffectedbythe war. “ManyUkrainianrefugeeswillwell wishtostayinEurope closertotheirhomes, butwealsowillwelcome 100,000UkrainianstotheUnitedStateswithafocusonreunitingfamilies,” Bidensaid.

HealsoannouncedtheUnitedStateswillinvest$320milliontobol-

sterdemocraticresilienceanddefendhumanrightsinUkraineand neighboringcountries.

TheUnitedStatesintandemwiththeEuropeanUnion,Canadaand JapanwillalsolookattheeffectPutin’s warwillhaveonfoodandenergysecurity.Thenationsarealsosanctioningmorethan300members oftheRussianDuma,oligarchsanddefensecompaniesthatfuelthe SeeNATO,Page9

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MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher:JoeDeluca Editor:NickStubbs

TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper isanauthorizedpublicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservicesonMacDill.ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,orendorsedbytheU.S.government,theDepartmentofDefense,

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NATOphoto

PresidentJoeBidenandNATOSecretaryGeneralJensStoltenberg walkthroughNATOheadquartersinBrussels,March24.

MacDillaircrewinspiresnextgenerationat2022UCTSapphireEvent

byAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

NAVALAIRSTATIONPENSACOLA, Fla.—Pilots, boomoperatorsandmaintainersfromthe6thAirRefueling Winginspiredthenext generationofAirmenbyhighlightingthecapabilitiesoftheKC-135 Stratotankerduringthe2022UndergraduateCombatSystemsOfficer Training SapphireEventatNavalAirStation Pensacola, Florida,on March11.

JuniorROTCmembers, ROTCmembers, undergraduatecombatsystemsofficersandcommunitypartnersspenttimeexploringtheaircraftwiththeaircrewfromthe91stAirRefuelingSquadronassignedto MacDillAir ForceBase, Florida.

SeniorAirmanBryanArias, aboomoperatorassignedtothe91st ARS , felttheexperiencemadehimappreciatehisjobevenmore.

“Ithinkit’sbeneficialtohavetheseeventsandshowpeoplewhat wedo,” saidArias.“BeforeIjoinedtheAir Force, Ihadnoideathatthe KC-135evenexistedandnowIgettoexplainthatitplaysahuge[and] importantroleinalltypesofoperationswithintheAir Force.”

Thefollowingday, agroupofROTCstudentsfromFloridaStateUniversityjoinedthe91stonanorientationflighttoexperienceanairrefuelingtrainingmissionovertheSoutheasternUnitedStates.

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin AgroupofFloridaStateUniversityROTCcadetsandU.S.AirForce1st Lt.TimReed,apilotassignedtothe91stAirRefuelingSquadron,pose foraphotonearaKC-135StratotankerassignedtoMacDillAirForce BaseatNavalAirStationPensacola,Florida,March12.Thestudents flewintheMacDillaircraftaspartofanorientationflighttostrengthen relationsandbolstercommunitysupport.

Voiceofempowerment: Women’sHistoryMonthluncheon

byAirman1stClassMichaelKillian

6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

Airmenfromthe6thAirRefueling Wingrecognizedtheaccomplishmentsandstrugglesofwomen,bothpastandpresent,ata Women’sHistoryMonthluncheon,March11,insidethe chapelannex.

Women’s History MonthiscelebratedeveryMarch, seekingtoraise awarenessofthecontributionsofwomenthroughouthistory.Theobservancestartedasaone-dayeventin1978thatlaterevolvedintoaweeklongcelebration.Nearlyadecadeafteritsinception,itisnowcelebrated fortheentiretyofamonth.

MacDillcelebratedthisoccasionbyinvitingAprilArnold,a TampaBay localwomen’sadvocate, tobeakeyguestattheluncheon.Shespoketo Airmenaboutherstoryandspreadthemessageofwomen’sempowerment.

Shespokeaboutherstoryofresilienceandhowshegivesbacktothose inneed.Her childhood wasplaguedbyabuse, drugsandsexualexploitation,butthroughherstrengthandfaith,shehasremained14years clean.Sheisnowafull-timeemployeeCreated Tampa,anonprofitcommittedtoassistingoutreachprogramsandprovidingcommunityassistancetothoseinapositionsheonce wasin.

PhotobyAirman1stClassMichaelKillian U.S.AirForce6thAirRefuelingWingleadershipandAirmenposefora groupphotowiththe Women’sArmyCorpshistoricalmarkerduringa Women’sHistoryMonthluncheonatMacDillAirForceBaseMarch11.

WEEKINPHOTOS

PhotobyAirman1stClassHiramMartinez U.S.AirForceColonelBenjaminJonsson,6thAirRefuelingWingcommander,delivers remarkstoservicemembersparticipatingintheArmedForcesMen’sSoccerChampionshipatMacDillAirForceBaseMarch7,.Theweekprior,MacDillhostedapplicantstoattenda12-daytrialcampwhere 18overallathleteswereselectedto representeachservice’steam.Atthisyear’sevent,participants representedbasesfromallovertheworldto includecountriessuchasGermany,EnglandandSpain.

PhotobySeniorAirmanDavidD.McLoney U.S.AirForceseniormastersergeant(SeniorMasterSgt.)selectsgather foraphotographduringtheSMSgtSelectionCeremonyatMacDillAir ForceBaseMarch11.Thisyear,1,443ofthe17,419mastersergeantseligibleforpromotionwereselectedtopromotetoE-8.

U.S.AirForceAirmanElijahBrand,6thCommunicationSquadronRadioFrequency TransmissionSystems(RFTS)technician,mountsan antennaonaCTM-15AntennaMastatMacDillAirForceBaseMarch 10.RFTStechniciansdeploy,sustain,troubleshootand repairantenna systems,tunersandtransmissionlinestoensurethefunctionalityof basecommunications.

PhotobyAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings

509thBombWing receiveshistorical paintingofEnolaGay

bySeniorAirmanParkerJ.McCauley

509thBombWingPublicAffairs

WHITEMANAIRFORCEBASE,Mo.—

509thBomb Wingleadershipput“The Peacemakers”,apaintingby JohnShaw, ondisplay onDec. 1atWhitemanAir ForceBase, Missouri.

Acommunitypartneroriginallydonatedthe painting, whichdepictstheEnola Gaybeing preparedforthefirstatomicbombingmission, tothe6thAirRefueling WingatMacDillAir ForceBase, Florida,beforeit wastransferredto the509thBomb Wing.TheEnolaGay, aSilverplateB-29Superfortress, wasformerlyassigned tothe509thCompositeGroup.

The6thARWtracesitslineagetothe6thBombardmentGroup,assignedtoTinianatthesame timeasthe509thCG.BeforebeingcapturedbyAmericanforces,Tinianwasacolonyofthe JapaneseEmpireanditwassuspectedthatthelocalpopulationmayhavebeentransmitting intelligenceaboutAmericanforcesontheisland.The509thCGwantedtodrawattention awayfromitselfand replaceditsdistinctivemarkingswiththoseoftheotherbombgroups. TheEnolaGaywasoneofseveralaircrafttodisplaythemarkingsofthe6thBGincludingtheir circular“R”tailcode.

PhotobySeniorAirmanParkerJ.McCauley

MacDillsupportsCONR-1AF,Operation

NobleDefenderwithaerial refueling

storyandphotosbyAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings

6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSEBAY, NewfoundlandandLabrador—Missionreadiness requiresthatmembersoftheAir Forcebepreparedtorespondtodutyanytime, anywhere. UnderthedirectionofCONR-1AF, the6thAirRefueling Wingprovidedaerialrefueling inanarcticenvironmentMar. 16forCanadianCF-18HornetaircraftinsupportofNorth AmericanAerospaceDefenseCommand’sOperationNobleDefender.

NORADistheUnitedStatesandCanadabi-nationalorganizationthatoperatesalongsideUnitedStatesNorthernCommandtoconductaerospace warning, aerospacecontrol andmaritime warninginthedefenseofNorthAmerica.

AsstatedinastrategysummarybyGen.Glen D. VanHerck,commanderofNORAD andUSNORTHCOM,competitorsandpotentialadversarieshave watchedhowtheUnited StatesworkswithCanadaindeterring, competingandconducting waroverthelastfew decades.Withtheadvancementofourcompetitor’scapabilitiesandtheirincreasedactivity intheArctic unifiedcontinentaldefenseisacriticalcomponentforremainingstrongat home.

Capt.TylerHannah,91stAirRefuelingSquadronpilot, wastheaircraftcommanderfor thesuccessfulrefuelingmissionwhichcenteredaroundaircrafttraininginterceptoperations.

“The6thARW’sinvolvementinONDshowsthatthewingisreadytorespondwhen neededinanytypeof climatearoundtheworld,fromtheArcticregiontodesert climates intheMiddleEast,” Hannahsaid. “Althoughpersonnelwithinthe6thARWareusedto thehot,tropical climateofFlorida,theexercisedisplayedourwing’sabilitiestoadapttoa muchdifferent climatethanwhatweareaccustomedto.”

Multipleunitsfromthe6thARWplayedaroleinOND.The6thLogisticsReadiness Squadronprovidedmemberswithessentialcold-weathergearforsub-zerotemperatures. The6thMaintenanceGroupensuredthattheKC-135Stratotankeraircraftusedforrefueling wasequippedwithaboomdrogueadapterforthearcticenvironment,andthe91st ARSprovidedaircrewmemberstoperformthemission.

“WeatherisalwaysacriticalfactorwhenoperatingintheArcticregion,” Hannahsaid. “Operatinginsub-zerotemperatureswithsnowandicepresentposeunique challenges, suchastheneedforaircraftde-icing, warmingupenginesandhydraulicspriortotaxi,and landinginlessthanidealweatherconditions. Ourabilitytooperateintheseconditions showcasesthe6thARW’sresiliencyandabilitytoadapttoany climatearoundtheworld.”

Maintainersfromthe6thMaintenanceGroupwereresponsibleforpreparingthetankeraircraftforflightandaerialrefuelingpriortotheaircraftinterceptmission.

“The6thMXG wasabletodeliverbecauseeachmember wasefficientlytrainedandunderstoodtheimportanceofwhywewerethere,” saidSeniorAirman JeremiahGreene, 6th AircraftMaintenanceSquadroncrew chief.“Ourleadershipdidagreatjobofmakingsure wehadalltheresourcesweneededtobefullymissioncapable.”

Despitethismissionbeingthefirsttimemanyofthemaintainershaveexperiencedarcticweatherconditions, theywereabletooperateandprovidethenecessarypre-flighttasks fortheKC-135.

“We’rereadywhenever,” Greenesaid.“It’simportanttobeabletoadaptbecausethemissioncantakeplaceanywhere.”

Thisexerciseputondisplaytherapidairmobilitycapabilitiesofthe6thARWinanarcticenvironmentaswellasNORAD’scommitmenttotheUnitedStatesandCanadaworkingtogethertodeteradversariesandachieveagloballyintegratedlayereddefense.

Maintainersassignedtothe6thMaintenanceGroup placeenginecoversonaKC-135Stratotankeraircraftassignedtothe6thAirRefuelingWingafter landingontheflightlineduringNorthAmerican AerospaceDefenseCommand’s(NORAD)Operation NobleDefender(OND),March15.AsapartofOND, whichisa recurringoperation,theContinentalU.S. NORADRegion(CONR)coordinatedandconductedbi-nationalaircrafttraininginterceptoperations whileconcurrentlylaunchingjetsfromdifferentlocationsacrosstheUnitedStates’EastCoast.

U.S.AirForceAirman1stClassAaronJacobs,6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadronmaintainer,unloadsgearoffabusduring NorthAmericanAerospaceDefenseCommand’s(NORAD)OperationNobleDefender(OND),March15.

U.S.AirForceAirman1stClass AvilesAdames,6thMaintenanceSquadroncrewchief ,adjuststothecold-weatherclimateduringNorthAmericanAerospaceDefenseCommand’s(NORAD)OperationNobleDefender(OND),March15.

PAINTING

The6thARWtracesitslineagetothe6thBombardment Groupwhich wasassignedto Tinian at thesametimeasthe 509thCG. Beforebeingcaptured byAmericanforces, Tinian was acolonyofthe JapaneseEmpire andit wassuspectedthatthe localpopulationmayhavebeen transmittingintelligenceabout Americanforcesontheisland.

The509thCG wantedtodraw attention away fromitselfand replaceditsdistinctivemarkings withthoseoftheotherbomb groups.TheEnolaGay wasone ofseveralaircrafttodisplaythe markingsofthe6thBGincludingtheircircular“R”tailcode.

Inlightofthissharedhistory, the6thARWandthecommunitypartnerswhodonatedbelievedWhitemanAFBwouldbe thebesthomeforthepainting.

byJeanetteDevins

Army&AirForceExchangeServicePublicAffairs

TheArmy&Air

u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

PhotobySeniorAirmanParkerJ.McCauley U.S.AirForceCol.KyleWilson,509thBombWingvicecommander,pointsatanM2HighSpeed Tractorona paintingofthe509thCompositeGrouponTinianIsland,Dec.1atWhitemanAirForceBase,Missouri.

PhotobyAirForceMasterSgt.RayAquino InsupportofUkraine,apartnernationundertheNationalGuard’sStatePartnership Program,airmenassignedtothe129thRescueWingcametogethertobuildcarepackagesatMoffettAirNationalGuardBase,Calif.,March8.

Russian warmachine, hesaid.

Finally, BidensaidthatPutinlaunchedhisinvasionabsolutelysurethatNATO wouldsplitapart.Instead,theUnitedStatesdeployedmorethan20,000troopstoEurope. Otheralliessteppedupandmovedforcestotheeasternborderofthealliance.

“NATO established…fournewbattlegroupsinRomania,Hungary, Bulgariaand SlovakiatoreinforcetheEastern Front,” hesaid.“Putin wasbankingonNATO being split.MyearlyconversationwithhiminDecemberandearly January, it was clearto mehedidn’tthinkwecouldsustainthiscohesion.Putinisgettingexactlytheopposite [of]whatheintendedtohaveasaconsequenceofgoingintoUkraine.”

USCENTCOMdeathannouncement

StaffSgt.MatthewEstradatragicallypassed

StaffSgt. PeteranthonyAnakwe, 6thMaintenance Squadronaerospacepropulsioncraftsman,saidhefounda lotofvalueinhearingfrombothservicemembersandcivilians.“AprilArnoldbeingacivilianbroughtmore awareness tothewidercommunityaroundMacDill,”Anakwesaid.

Arnoldcreditsalotofhersuccesstoherfaithandthe manypeoplewhohelpedherduringhertimeofneed.

“Mylifehas changedbecausethey walkedalongsideme andlovedmeuntilIcouldlovemyself;theycouldseeme eventhoughIdidn’tseemyself,” saidArnold.“I’vecomea long way, andIhavealottosay. Ihavealotmoreworkto doandI’llneverstopdoingwhatIdo. Iwillneverrelapse.”

Shehopestoinspirethosewhoaregoingthroughtough situationstoseekmentalhealth.Shealsohopestoinspire Airmentovolunteerforoutreachprogramsandtolenda helpinghandtovulnerablewomen.

“Wehavesomanyopportunitiestovolunteer,” saidArnold.“Wedostreetoutreach. We haveacomputerlabopen fivedaysaweekwherewomencanspendthreehoursaday workingontheirGeneralEducationDevelopmentstudies.”

Arnoldadvocatesformentalhealthandpreacheshow therapyhasbeenanon-negotiableassetinherlife, especiallywhenhelpingguidevulnerablewomen.She wantsto bealifelongadvocateforvolunteerworkandtoseeAirmen makeapositiveimpactwherevertheygo.

MILITARYCHILD

FromPage8

Fourweeklyvirtualcontests:thePlay-DohSculpting EventApril1-7;HasbroGamingContestApril8-14;Nerf BlasterContestApril15-21;andDisneyUltimatePrincessEventApril22-28. Judgeswillselectfourwinners fromeachevent. VisitShopMyExchange.com/sweepstakes forcompletecontestrules.

AcouponforafreetreatatparticipatingExchange restaurantsfromApril1throughApril30formilitary children18andyounger.Treatsincludeafreesideitem, fountaindrinkordessert.Coupons are availablewhile supplieslast.ShopperscancontacttheMacDillBXfor moreinformation.

“PurpleUp”eventinApril.Militaryfamiliescandrive uporvisittheMacDillExchangeandreceiveafreegoodie bagandcertificateofappreciation.Shopperscancontact theMacDillExchangeforthedate, timeandeventlocation.

TheExchange’scommunityHubispackedwithactivities, games, freedrawinglessons, videosandmoreinformationaboutthemonthlongcelebration.Militaryfamilies canfindMonthoftheMilitary childexclusivedeals, event details, sweepstakesinformationandmoreontheHubat ShopMyExchange.com/momc.

PhotobyAirman1stClassMichaelKillian AprilArnold(left),anintakespecialistforCreated Tampa,andU.S.AirForce TechSgt. SarabrianJackson,aphysicaleducationdockcoordinatorassignedtothe6thComptrollerSquadron,poseforapicturewithacertificateatMacDillAirForceBaseMarch 11.Arnoldwasawardedacertificateofappreciationbythe6thAirRefuelingWing commanderduringa Women’sHistoryMonthluncheon stakes.

Youthbasketballregistration Signupattheyouthcenter throughApril8.Opentoages 5-15withcurrentimmunization records Call828-7438toregister your child.

MOMClibrarypartyApril2

Hoursare10a.m.–2 p.m. Join usatthebaselibraryforcrafts, stories, games, giftsandpopcorn. Allageswelcometocelebratemilitarykids.

M&FRCbundles4babies April5

Multiplebaseagencieswill provideinformationandservices toassistparticipantsinpreparingforthearrivaloftheirnew baby.Participantswillreceivea bundleofinformation,resources andaspecialgift(ifeligible).

CharterscubadivetripApril 9

Registerthrough April4fora greatdiveintheGulfforbeginnersthroughadvanced. Visit https://macdillfss.com/event/charter-scuba-dive-trip-gulf-of-mexico.

We arehiring

The6th ForceSupportSquadronishiringinthefollowingareas: u recreation u foodservice u hospitality u childandyouth

Forjobinformation,visit: https://macdillfss.com/open-jobs/ Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss.com

MasterChiefPettyOfficeroftheNavyRussellSmithandGen.RichardD.Clarke,U.S.SpecialOperationsCommand(USSOCOM)commander,bothcenter,poseforaphotowithmembersoftheMassachusettsGeneralHospitalandHarvardMedicalSchoolduringanorientationonthepilotstudyof thelong-termeffectsof repetitive,low-levelblastexposure(RLLBE)ofSpecialOperationsForces servicemembers,namedReBlast,attheAthinoulaA.MartinosCenterforBiomedicalImaging.U.S. SpecialOperationsCommandisleadingDODeffortstodeterminetheeffectscareer-long repetitive blastexposurehasonbrainhealthandfunction.USSOCOMinitiatedthepilotstudy,incollaboration withMassachusettsGeneralHospital,HarvardUniversityandamulti-institutionalteamofexpertsin traumaticbraininjury.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

Jewesih - MonthlyLunchandLearn:Forschedule&tojoindistro,pleasecontactelimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

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

Catholic(in-person) -Saturday -5:30p.m. (confession4:30p.m.) Sunday- 9:30a.m.(confessionsbyappointment)

Protestantservices Wednesday 11 a.m.. virtual)- Sunday 11 a.m.

Muslm MuslimPrayer:Friday1300(space reserved)

OtherFaithGroups- Pleasecontactthe Chapelat(813)828-3621orviaemailat6ARW. HCADMIN@us.af.mil

MacDill’sChapelwebsiteis:https://www.macdill. af.mil/chapel

Formoredetailsandinformation,visittheChapel Facebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/

Courtesyphoto

Thegroupof12witnessedanairrefuelingofanRC135Rivet Joint,first-hand,assignedtoOffuttAir Force Base, Nebraska.

Thestudentslaidintheboom-podduringrefueling andspenttimeinthecockpitthroughouttheorientation flight.

“ByhostingstudentsandROTCcadetsonthesetypes offlights, wegetthe chancetogivethemideasforcareer pathsthattheymightbeinterestedinpursuing,” said Airman1stClassCassandra Wesley, aboomoperatorassignedtothe91stAirRefuelingSquadron.

NotonlydidtheSapphireeventexposestudentsto aviationcareers, buttheeventcelebratedthediversityof thepast,presentandfuture aviatorswhilehonoringthe firstfemalecombatsystemsofficersof class78-01.

“Itissoimportanttoshowstudentsthatyoucanbe afemalepilot,boomandyoucanevenbeamaintainer,” said Tech. Sgt.DiandraSims, 6thAircraftMaintenance Squadronflyingcrew chief.

Jordan Williams, FSUROTCcadet,explainedthatshe felttheexperience waseye-openingformanyasshewitnessedstudentsdiscussingtheexcitementoftheflight andtheirexcitementtobethefutureofthe U.S. Air Force.

“Thisisgreatexposure,” said Williams.“Seeingallof thedifferentthingsyoucanaccomplishaspartoftheAir forcehasbeenamazing.”

The6thARWremainscommittedtobuildinganagile anddiverseforcetoinspirefutureleadersandwillcontinuetoofferorientationflightstostrengthencommunity relationshipsandmotivatestudentsto chasetheirgoals.

“IknowthatIhavethefuture watchingme,” saidSims. “Nomatterwhatpeoplesay, youcandoanythingthatyou wanttodo.”

THUNDERBOLT

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

U.S.AirForceAirman1stClassCassandra

Wesley,aboomoperatorassignedtothe 91stAirRefuelingSquadron, reviewsachecklistwithEvelynnKite,aFloridaState UniversityROTCcadet,priortoa refuelingmissionovertheSoutheasternUnited States,March12.Boomoperatorshavetheabilitytopumpthousandsofpounds offueltoanycapableaircraft,thousandsoffeetabovetheground,enablingrapid globalmobility.