Thunderbolt 04/07/2022

Vol. 50, No. 14

Thursday, April 7, 2022

News/Features: page 3 AMC’s winning strategy

News/Features: page 3 Refutling milestone

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

Community: page 15 Events, Chapel, more...

Gen. Kurilla takes command of U.S. Central Command - page 8

DOD screencapture

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III passes the guidon of U.S. Central Command to Army Gen. Michael Eric Kurilla, April 1 at MacDill Air Force Base. who at one time served as the command’s chief of staff.

NEWS/FEATURES

Air Force budget proposal focuses on transformation, modernization

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—The $194 billion combined budget proposal unveiled March 28 for the Air Force and Space Force carries a significant boost in spending that senior leaders say is essential to modernizing the services to better confront China and an array of national security threats worldwide.

While transformation and modernization are needed in real time, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall also emphasized the 2023 fiscal year proposal is designed to build momentum for additional transformation in future budgets.

“The Department of the Air Force’s fiscal year 2023 budget request provides a sound balance between meeting combatant commanders’ immediate needs today while investing in the modernized capabilities the Air and Space Forces require to deter and, if necessary, defeat aggression by China or Russia in the future,” Kendall said.

“This is not the end of a process; rather, this is accelerating a necessary and on-going transformation. We will need Congress’ continuing support for this budget and for the hard choices to come as we address our pacing challenge,” he said.

In dollar terms, the proposed Air and Space Forces budget that the White House submitted to Congress for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, is $20.3 billion larger than the budget submitted for the Department of the Air Force last year. Under the proposal, the Air Force would receive $169.5 billion and the Space Force $24.5 billion. If approved as written, which is unlikely since Congress will spend months analyzing and debating the budget request, the increase reflects an 8% growth, not including inflation.

U.S. Air Force graphic

The $194 billion combined budget proposal unveiled March 28, 2022, for the Air Force and Space Force carries a significant boost in spending that senior leaders say is essential to modernizing the services to better confront China and an array of national security threats worldwide.

The proposed budget boosts funding by $1.1 billion in research, development, test and evaluation to modernize the nation’s aging, groundbased nuclear deterrent ($3.6 billion compared to $2.5 billion in the 2022 proposal). It adds $320 million in additional funding for continued development and nuclear certification of the B-21 Raider long-range bomber ($3.25 billion from $2.87 billion). It also increases the budget

COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air Refueling Wing commander and the MacDill community. Personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments via email to macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil or Facebook @6thARWCommandTeam

MacDill Thunderbolt Publisher: Joe Deluca Editor: Nick Stubbs The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by the Times Publishing Company, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense,

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the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Refueling Wing.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Refueling Wing or the Publishing Company of the products or service advertised.

For retail advertising, call (813) 226-3318.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

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See BUDGET, Page 11

MacDill on the web Website: www.macdill.af.mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb Twitter: @macdill_afb News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted to the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Call the Thunderbolt at 828-2215. Email: 6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.

Deadline for article submissions is noon, Wednesdays to appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions are considered for publication based on news value and timeliness.

Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.

NEWS/FEATURES

AMC commander releases ‘strategy to win’

by Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.—Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, announced March 29 his “strategy to win” to more than 260 total force Mobility Air Forces leaders during the Spring Phoenix Rally at MacDill Air Force Base March 29-31.

In conjunction with releasing his strategy and priorities, Minihan engaged leadership in discussing force resiliency and how to work together to ensure the MAF is prepared to deliver rapid global mobility in a peercompetitor fight.

“Warrior culture is required to make this strategy possible…unleashing and empowering incredible Airmen and families biased toward action, unencumbered by bureaucracy, and intentionally disruptive to the status quo,” Minihan said. “We will tolerate nothing less.”

Minihan outlined his four fundamental vectors within the strategy as Develop Ready Airmen and Families, Advance Warfighting Capabilities, Project and Connect the Joint Force, and Ensure Strategic Advantage.

“I need you bothered, like me, to work harder, move faster, and passionately enable our operational wings to make our missions and people more successful,” Minihan said.

Additionally, Minihan described three specific ways AMC will move forward with what he referred to as “a foundation of unrepentant lethality.”

See STRATEGY, Page 10

Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

Service members listen to remarks during Phoenix Rally, March 29 at MacDill Air Force Base. Spring Phoenix Rally brought together 260 Total Force Mobility Air Force leaders to discuss resiliency of force, Air Mobility Command’s new strategy and priorities and how to work together to ensure that a Mobility Air Force is prepared to deliver Rapid Global Mobility in a peer competitor fight.

AMC/CC approves F-35A and F-22 receivers as fifth ICR milestone

by Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.—Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, approved a fifth Interim Capability Release (ICR) mission set for the KC-46A Pegasus on Feb. 23, allowing the KC-46A to refuel the F-35A and F-22 Raptor during U.S. Transportation Command-tasked missions.

The decision also released the KC-46A to support Bravo and Charlie alert missions.

“Our data shows that the KC-46A can now support nearly 85 percent of USTRANSCOM air refueling taskings, so we’re not going to hold back on offering this additional capacity to the Joint Force,” said Brig. Gen. Ryan Samuelson, AMC deputy director of Strategy, Plans, Requirements and Programs and KC-46 Cross Functional Team lead.The KC-46A ICR plan allows the Pegasus to conduct operational See MILESTONE, Page 16

Photo by 1st Lt Savanah Bray

F-35s from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron refuel from a KC-46 over the Nevada Test and Training Range on November 17, 2020 for Large Force Test Event 20.03. LFTE 20.03 is a premier joint operational test event hosted by the 53rd Wing that validates tactics in a combat relevant environment.

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WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Aaron Figel of the U.S. Special Operations Command Para-Commandos, displays Old Glory as he descends onto the airfield during the Tampa Bay AirFest at MacDill Air Force Base March 27. The Para-Commandos volunteer for the parachute demonstration team and perform at high visibility events across the nation to inform the public about USSOCOM.

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Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

U.S. Air Force Maj. Joshua Gunderson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, meets with Robert McClintock, a 103 year-old World War II fighter pilot, at MacDill Air Force Base March 26. McClintock sang the National Anthem to start Tampa Bay Airfest 2022.

U.S. Marine Maj. Frank Zastoupil, a pilot for the Blue Angels, laughs with a child during the Tampa Bay AirFest at MacDill Air Force Base March, 25. The event hosted children and families affiliated with Wheelchairs 4 Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with physical disabilities, for an exclusive experience watching exhilarating aerial performances and meeting skilled pilots.

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NEWS/FEATURES

Military Saves Month

by Kathy Milley DeCA public affairs specialist

FORT LEE, Va.—The idea of saving money sounds appealing but the road to get there can be overwhelming. April’s Military Saves Month campaign walks you through setting a goal and making a savings plan to improve your financial life and build wealth.

Commissaries worldwide join the effort by spreading the Military Saves Month message and providing a financial benefit to our military patrons.

“Providing a significant savings benefit for our patrons, the commissary can help you make the most of every dollar of your planned food budget,” said Marine Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo.

“Not only that, we can help you afford healthier eating, because fresh and nutritious alternatives are both plentiful and economical making the commissary your partner both financially and nutritionally.”

See SAVE, Page 12

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NEWS/FEATURES

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael B. Zingaro

Family members wave as the fast-attack submarine USS Missouri departs from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 3, 2021, to participate in Exercise Agile Dagger 2021. A third of the Navy’s Pacific submarine force got underway for the exercise, which was designed to assess warfighting readiness and build capacity for the joint force.

April is DOD’s month to recognize military children

by Terri Moon Crong DoD News For nearly 40 years, April 1 has marked the Defense Department’s kickoff for the Month of the Military Child, and this month promises to be packed with events for parents and children of all ages, said a program analyst in DOD’s Children, Youth and Families, Office of Military Family Readiness Policy, Military Community and Family Policy.

Dianna M. Ganote said DOD is supporting 6

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this month with the theme of mental health and the overall well-being of all military children.

The Month of the Military Child is a time to focus on and celebrate the contributions of military children and the unique needs of their lives, she noted.

The objective for this month’s recognition is to “highlight the unique life and challenges of military children. Our goal is to improve their quality of life and help mitigate the demands they experience from all the transitions, such

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as frequent moves, parental separations for military training and worrying about their parents when they’re deployed” Ganote said.

While DOD sets aside April to recognize military children, support for them is present year-round, she noted. At the installation level, families will find such support resources as child development centers, youth centers, Military and Family Support Centers and military and family life counselors.

Front and center in the support realm for See CHILDREN, Page 13

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Former Centcom chief of staff assumes role of commander

by Todd C. Lopez DoD News

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n Tampa, April 1, Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth Frank McKenzie Jr. passed command of U.S. Central Command over to Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who at one time served as the command’s chief of staff.

From Egypt to Kazakhstan, the Centcom area of responsibility covers some 21 nations in both Asia and Africa, spans more than four million square miles, and is home to more than 560 million people. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said running Centcom and its mission is one of the most demanding jobs in the Defense Department.

“This region is where we protect waterways so that global commerce can flow. It is where we fight terrorists who threaten our citizens, and it is where we work with our partners to confront instability from Iran and its proxies,” Austin said. “Centcom is central to our security, it is central to our readiness and it is central to our mission.”

Partnerships in Centcom, Austin said, are critical. It’s something he said Centcom is focused on — a credit to McKenzie, who served as the commander of Centcom for three years now — and a challenge to Kurilla who now assumes responsibility.

“Partnerships are especially important because of China and Russia’s ambition in the region,” Austin said. “But I am confident that Centcom will ensure that the United States remains the partner of choice. That means doubling down on security cooperation. It means allowing our partners even deeper into our training and our exercises, and it means continuing to be a credible and dependable friend. When it comes to deepening partnerships and forging new ones ... Centcom is getting it done.”

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley said the Centcom area of responsibility is a part of the world nearly every person now in uniform has visited in their career — the U.S. was at war there in Afghanistan and Iraq for 20 years.

“Centcom is truly critical to the security of our nation, and really to the stability and security of the entire world,” Milley said. “It’s quite literally the crossroads between Europe, Asia, and Africa. The world’s energy supplies come through the Centcom AOR.” Exceptional leadership is needed in Centcom, Milley said. And the passing of command from McKenzie to Kurilla represents a continuation of that leadership.

“I have personally an incredible amount of trust, confidence, and personal respect for Frank McKenzie. He has guided Centcom, and by extension the nation, through some of our most tough times, and he always did it with honor, integrity, tact, competence, humility, operational skill, and on occasion, a bit of humor,” Milley said.

For new leadership in Centcom, Milley said Kurilla was custom-made for the job.

“If there ever was some way to feed into a machine the requirements for the perfect leader of Centcom — the character traits, the attributes, the experiences, the knowledge, and the personality that would be ideal — that machine would spit out Erik Kurilla,” Milley said. “Erik’s got vast experience in combat [and] on staffs. He’s a visionary, he’s a thinker, and he’s a doer. He understands both the physical and human terrain, and is able to identify root causes of problems and develop systems. He’s not at all a linear thinker.

He’s actually a very gifted problem solver.”

McKenzie, the outgoing Centcom commander, will retire. He said he’s proud now to have his name listed among those who have led Centcom for the last 40 years — including the likes of Army Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Marine Corps Gen. Jim Mattis, Army Gen. John Abizaid, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, and Army Gen. Joseph Votel.

See CENTCOM, Page 14

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Photo By: Army Spc.. Jensen Guillory

Photo bt Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kyle Jia

U.S. Soldiers supporting Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve make their way to an oil production facility to meet with its management team in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Oct. 27, 2020.

U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Michael Lesterick carries an Afghan evacuee’s luggage as they board a plane at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Sept. 1.

A Royal Jordanian Navy Frogman jumps from an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter into the Gulf of Aqaba during exercise Agile Rescue March 28, 2022 in Aqaba, Jordan. The search and rescue exercise developed and refined rescue agile employment processes, testing the ability of multinational rescue forces to work in unison with USAF Rescue forces to beddown, sustain, and execute maritime search and rescue.

U.S. Air Force photo

STRATEGY From Page 3

AMC will hone its tactics, techniques and procedures to make best use of its current force.

AMC will extract maximum value out of existing capabilities and rapidly field them to further strengthen its force.

AMC will develop the decisive mobility force of the future unbound by traditional structures, approaches and technologies to dominate any enemy.

The strategy identified a victorious end state as one in which mobility forces can communicate, navigate and maneuver at the tempo required to win inside the Indo-Pacific area of operations and anywhere else.

Minihan emphasized that AMC Airmen must project, maneuver, connect, and sustain the Joint Force with an unrelenting drive to accelerate winning results now and in the future.

“Let me be crystal clear: Victory will be delivered on the shoulders of Mobility Airmen, and victory starts now,” Minihan said.

“I am honored to serve beside you. Bring your courage. Let’s go!”

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Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, listens in during remarks at the Phoenix Rally conference at MacDill Air Force Base March 29. Spring Phoenix Rally brought together 260 Total Force Mobility Air Force leaders to discuss resiliency of force, Air Mobility Command’s new strategy and priorities and how to work together to ensure that a Mobility Air Force is prepared to deliver Rapid Global Mobility in a peer competitor fight.

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BUDGET From Page 2

for hypersonic weapons by $138 million ($577 million from $438 million).

The proposed budget also calls on the Space Force to spend an additional $1 billion on “resilient missile warning/missile tracking to address hypersonic and maneuverable RVs (re-entry vehicles).”

In a portion of the request known as ‘procurement funds,’ the fiscal 2023 proposal provides funding to purchase 33 F-35A Lightning II fighters, 15 KC-46A Pegasus tankers, 24 F-15EX Eagle II fighters, among other hardware procurements. It provides funding to the Space Force for three National Security Space launches, three additional launches by the Space Development Agency and two launches that will put into orbit crucial GPS III satellites to enhance the resiliency of the positioning, navigation and timing constellation accessed by billions of users daily.

More broadly, the request calls for spending $7.9 billion (an increase of $300 million) to boost flying hours to 1.1 million, a level officials said is the “maximum executable level.” It increases spending for “weapons system sustainment” to $16.6 billion from $15.4 billion and carries funding to increase pay for civilians and active duty personnel by 4.6 percent. It also has $77 million for the Air Force to address climate change requirements. The budget also proposes funding for 501,800 Total Force Airmen and 8,600 Guardians.

Yet while the proposal will change before it is finalized, it serves as an important – and granular – expression of the services’ most pressing priorities. It represents the consensus by Department officials, the White House and senior Pentagon leaders on what is required to achieve the goals necessary to protect the nation and its interests.

There are many goals and priorities, which Kendall and other senior leaders capture with the word, “transformation.”

“We have prioritized investments across the Department of the Air Force, which will accelerate the transformation of our Air and Space Forces,” Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones said. “The Air Force and Space Force have outsized roles in today’s military operations

and the challenges we anticipate in the future. Our Airmen and Guardians must be equipped to win.”

The fiscal 2023 budget request, she said, “balances maintaining capabilities to address near-term threats, while accelerating vital modernization efforts necessary for success in a high-end fight.”

The budget provides a significant spike in spending for the Space Force as it enters its third year in existence. Among the more notable Space Force line-items are the transfer of the Space Development Agency and budget into the Space Force, $987 million to space technology development and prototyping missile warning/tracking, and $1 billion for ground and space segments of the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared missile warning system.

As Kendall outlined the Department’s budget request for 2023, he also hinted toward the Department’s mindset looking ahead to 2024 while discussing the balance between current-day readiness and the need to modernize for the threats posed by China while keeping an eye toward Russia.

“We’re shifting that balance more towards the future. The transformation is not complete with this budget; it’s moving us forward, but it’s not complete,” he said. “Looking ahead, I think there are, again, going to be a lot of decisions made as we get into [fiscal year] 24 and as we learn more about what our requirements are, and we assess our priorities for modernization. So, I anticipate some hard choices ahead.”

Factoring into how those “hard choices” are made, Jones said, is the need to ensure that the U.S. and the Air and Space Forces are properly equipped and positioned to meet the growing challenge from China as well as other security concerns.

“Secretary Austin and Deputy Secretary Hicks have been clear that our pacing challenge is China, while Russia remains an acute threat,” she said. “Our budget request balances maintaining capabilities to address near-term threats and accelerates modernization efforts necessary for success in a high-end fight.”

Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil

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SAVE

From Page 5

Military Saves, a participant in the Department of Defense’s Financial Readiness Network, seeks to motivate, support and encourage the military community to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth.

Start on your journey to financial improvement by taking the pledge on MilitarySave. org and choosing your savings goal to help formulate your simple savings plan. Then Military Saves will help keep you on track by sending short reminders, resources and tips on saving and living well while spending less. Small changes can go a long way to set you up for financial success.

Not surprisingly, much of the monthly budget is spent on groceries. Your commissary benefit can help you stick to your food budget and keep more money in your pocket, while also delivering healthy and fresh food in the process. On DeCA’s “We’re Stronger Together” webpage, you’ll see the following ways to maximize the use of your commissary benefit, in store and online: Your Everyday Savings! (YES!): Your commissary reduces prices daily on hundreds of the most frequently purchased popular brands. Look for the orange YES! shelf labels in your commissary aisles.

Commissary Rewards Card: Download digital coupons right to your card and save at the register. If you don’t have a card, ask a cashier for one, then visit the DeCA website to register your card.

Print Coupons: Before your commissary trip, visit the Savings Center on DeCA’s website to find resources with lots of printable coupons. If you’re at the store, check out the wide variety of coupons displayed throughout the commissary.

Commissaries.com sales flyer: Before visiting the store, view the sales flyer on the website while making your shopping list to ensure maximum savings. You can also sign up to have the flyer sent to your email.

Commissary Store Brands: Your commissary offers high-quality, low-cost private label choices on food and non-food items, healthy, organic products, and baby and child care solutions to provide even greater savings. Look for DeCA’s Freedom’s Choice food or Home Base non-food products along with other private label items such as TopCare health and beauty, Full Circle Market natural and organic food, Crav’n dairy and frozen snack food options, Wide Awake ready-to-drink coffee products, Tippy Toes baby items, Pure Harmony pet food and Flock’s Finest wild bird food.

Meal planning: Not only will meal planning help you save money on take out, it will help you use all the food you purchase at the commissary, reducing waste and impulse purchases. To take the work out of meal planning, DeCA has created two dietitian-approved dinner menu plans including weekly shopping lists, each for an entire month of family meals.

These monthly menu plans are available on commissaries.com at these links: Meal Plan #1 and Meal Plan #2. Choose your preferred plan and simply print off the shopping list for the week, add breakfast and lunch items and your shopping list is ready. You will have everything you need for the week. If you would like to create your own menu plan tailoring it to your family’s preferences, use our easy-to-follow planning aids, the Dietitian-Approved Menu Planner and the Weekly Meal Plan Worksheet.

Make sure to include quick and easy options for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking. DeCA has prepared a list of no-fuss entrées chosen from the many dietitian-approved “Thinking Outside the Box” recipes featured on commissaries.com.

The list features links to quick-prep “Thinking Outside the Box” recipes using a slow cooker, microwave or pressure cooker, as well as make-ahead freezer meals, one skillet meals, and entrees using prepared high-protein foods like rotisserie chicken and canned tuna.

“It’s important for service members and their families to know that it’s never too late to start saving for the future,” said Angela Caban, director of Military Saves. “Small steps in building a savings habit can make a big difference over time and the secret to saving is simple.

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CHILDREN From Page 6

military parents and their children is MilitaryOneSource.mil – DOD’s 24/7 gateway to trusted information, resources and confidential help, including topics that parents might need for child-raising issues. The website also has resources and events listed that are dedicated to the Month of the Military Child. The phone number for Military OneSource is 800-342-9647.

Off the installations, there is community-partner support for military children through their schools and organizations such as 4-H and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, she said.

Ganote highlighted how military children have a tough road to travel as an integral part of DOD’s readiness by moving approximately six to nine times in their lives.

When their parents are deployed, their children’s milestones such as birthdays, the holidays and graduations are sometimes missed. But these children are not alone, she said, because without their children’s support, military parents wouldn’t easily handle the important mission of serving their country.

“I’d like us to remember what military children’s lives are like and how unique their challenges. It’s quite incredible when we think about the transitions they go through that most children don’t, and our military children are so resilient through it all.” she said.

And the color purple is important to the DOD community, because it reflects all branches of the military.

“Across the nation, and around the world every April, states, governments, schools and families all do their part by wearing purple or shining a purple light on their homes, schools, state capitals and local landmarks,” GanPhoto by National Guard Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur ote said.

“I would invite everyone to take a moment to support An Idaho Army National Guardsman embraces a family member Feb. 23 before deploymilitary children during April,” she said. ing to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

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CENTCOM From Page 8

Of Kurilla, McKenzie said he’s confident the tradition of excellent leadership in Centcom will continue — and that he’s leaving the command in good hands.

“I can’t think of anybody better qualified to lead Centcom’s next chapter than Erik Kurilla,” McKenzie said. “He’s no stranger to the Centcom AOR. He’s no stranger to the headquarters.”

Kurilla served previously as the chief of staff of Centcom from August 2018 to September 2019, McKenzie said.

“It’s only fitting now that he’s returned to Tampa to command the joint force’s premier combatant command,” McKenzie said. “You are in very good hands. Erik, I’m proud to pass the guidon to you.”

After assuming command of Centcom, Kurilla discussed some of the challenges he knows await him in one of the most dynamic regions of the world.

“The regions that comprise Centcom: the Levant, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, are home to some of the most important and extraordinary scientific, artistic and social contributions to human history,” Kurilla said. “Yet, they are home to violence, instability and conflict. There are areas of great suffering, abuse and human misery.”

American leadership in Centcom, he said, can prevent regional threats there from threatening both U.S. interests and the U.S. homeland.

“We therefore must remain fiercely, actively engaged in the 21 countries of Central Command,” he said. “We must ensure a favorable balance of power in the region.”

Centcom, he said, must participate in ensuring that global trade can

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jerreht Harris

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress flies alongside Royal Air Force of Oman Eurofighter Typhoons above Oman, March 29, 2022. The bomber’s flight originated at Royal Air Force Fairford, England. continue in the region, and must also ensure that threats there don’t develop the capability to harm the U.S. homeland.

“Our adversaries are looking for any sign that America’s commitment to the collective security of the region is wavering,” he said. “Our adversaries are poised to capitalize on any opportunities that emerge — we must not grant them any.”

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

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COMMUNITY

EVENTS

Youth basketball registration Sign up by April 8 at the youth center. Open to ages 5-15 with current immunization records.

Call 828-7438 to register your child.

Easter Eggstravaganza, Apr. 9 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Bring the entire family to the fitness center south field for a day of Easter fun. Enjoy games, prizes, arts and crafts, food trucks, egg hunts and of course…the Easter Bunny. Egg hunt times: EFMP: 10:15 a.m., ages 1-4: 10:30 a.m., ages 5-8: 10:45 a.m., ages 9-12: 11 a.m. and ages 13 and up: 11:15 a.m.

Mark your calendars Justin Willman “Magic for Humans” show, Apr. 20, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Join us for a free magic show at the base theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. Fun for all ages.

We are hiring 6th FSS is hiring in the following areas starting at $15/hr: u Recreation, u Food service u Hospitality u Child and youth.

For job info, visit macdillfss. com/open-jobs/

“Let’s Go!”

U.S. Air Force photo

U.S. Air Force Gen. Michael Minihan, Air Mobility Command commander, center, poses with Tampa area students with Col. Benjamin Jonsson, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander, during an Aviation Inspired Mentorship event at MacDill Air Force Base March 27. Minhan briefed the students about the Air Mobility Command mission to inspire them to become the next generation of Mobility Airmen.

CHAPEL SCHEDULE Normal Hours- Monday - Friday - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. After hours chaplain, call the Command Post at 828-4362/4361.

Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For schedule & to join distro, please contact elimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

Muslim - Muslim Prayer: Friday 1300 (space

Monday-Thursday Mass - 12:10 p.m.

reserved)

www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

Other Faith Groups - Please contact the Find more events at: macdillfss. com

Catholic (in-person) - Saturday - 5:30 p.m.

(confession 4:30 p.m.) Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessions by appointment)

Protestant services - Wednesday - 11 a.m.. virtual) - Sunday - 11 a.m.

Chapel at (813) 828-3621 or via email at 6ARW. HCADMIN@us.af.mil MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill. af.mil/chapel

For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

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MILESTONE From Page 3

taskings that would otherwise be filled by the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender, increasing the force’s air refueling capacity and further seasoning total force Pegasus aircrews with operational missions.

On July 9, 2021, the first ICR decision approved the KC-46A Pegasus to refuel aircraft using its Centerline Drogue System. The second ICR decision, which approved the KC-46A to refuel the B-52, C-17 and other KC-46 aircraft using its boom, was made Aug. 5, 2021. Approved on Oct. 15, 2021, the third decision allowed the KC-46A to refuel all variants of the F-15 and F-16. The fourth ICR was approved Dec. 6, 2021 and allowed the boom mission set for the AC-130J, HC/MC-130J, C-5M and E-3G receivers.

There is no timeline associated with the overall ICR plan, which instead focuses on establishing incremental confidence measures that

allow the AMC commander and other senior leaders to qualitatively and quantitatively assess achievements at ICR milestones. Crews will continue to fly training, exercise and demonstration missions until all operational confidence measures are met.

Despite existing restrictions and deficiencies, the KC-46A continues to demonstrate its growing operational capabilities. The Pegasus offloaded over 47.2 million pounds of fuel and completed more than 31,800 boom and 2,100 drogue contacts since January 2019.

As of March 21, 2022, the Air Force has 57 KC-46As in its inventory.

The KC-46A currently operates out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.; Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire; Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, N.J.; and Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil

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