News/Features: page 2
Outpacing the threat

News/Features: page 3
Airmanartcollector

Week in photos: page 4
Images from the week
24/7 and global: The 6th ARW team never sleeps




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

News/Features: page 2
Outpacing the threat
News/Features: page 3
Airmanartcollector
Week in photos: page 4
Images from the week
24/7 and global: The 6th ARW team never sleeps
Community: page 15
Events, Chapel, more...
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. Air Mobility Command hosted the annual Spring Industry Preview for Department of Defense and industry partners at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., April 11-12.
The theme was “Outpacing the Threat Together: 500’ & Below.” The conference is designed to introduce industry innovators to the operational challenges faced by the Mobility enterprise and invite them to collaborate on solutions. This year, presentations focused on operational challenges of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of AMC, launched the event with two problem statements: (1) The Joint force is not as ready, integrated or agile as it thinks it is; (2) The force is not ready to fight from inside the first island chain.
“American industry has answered the call to help reduce gaps as quickly as possible,” Minihan said. “Speed and technology may not win the day. Critical thinking and adaptive, innovative execution will. That’s where our Industry partners come in.”
Throughout the conference, industry partners received briefings and hands-on, immersive demonstrations from subject matter experts high-
See SPRING, Page 13
Industry Partners tour a C-17 Globemaster assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing during the 2023 Air Mobility Command Summer Industry Preview on April 11 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The event called upon approximately 250 industry partners to help solve operational challenges AMC overcomes every day to provide mobility support to the Joint Force and featured presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and discussions with subject matter experts and senior leaders close to the problem sets.
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
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Deluca Editor: Nick StubbsThe 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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Military life is known to come with change and re-locations, however for Senior Airman Dustin Pace, this change has fueled his passion for the arts.
Pace is a 6th Maintenance Squadron metals technician by day and an art collector by night. His interest in the arts began with his childhood and evolved as he pursued a career in the military.
“My interests in the arts all started with my mother,” Pace said. “She wrote poetry all the time when I was growing up. She would help me with writing assignments in school, and I’d get a glimpse of her style.”
As Pace grew, his passion for art developed into an outlet to share his emotions, work, ideas and perspective with those around him, connecting him with a community of like-minded individuals.
“Art helped me to meet people with similar interests,” Pace said. “For people in the art community, sharing art is almost like playing in a band. We each have individual styles and whenever we share projects it’s like a collaboration by playing different instruments.”
Pace explained that the story behind a piece of art is a major factor
See PACE, Page 11
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—The Air Force published its Global Futures Report April 12, assessing four potential operating environments Airmen may have to navigate in before the turn of the century.
The report incorporates findings using Foresight Methodology to identify key forces and factors that will drive or constrain how the service will fight in 2040.
“This report defines success in challenging singular visions of the future while understanding disruptions will be the norm,” said Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote, Air Force Futures director. “The strategies we adopt and the forces we design must address the possibility of surprise, especially surprises that could transform how we fight.”
The Air Force Global Futures Report: Joint Functions in 2040 explores four scenarios, or future operating environments, through the lens of the seven joint functions found in U.S. doctrine – Fires, Protection, Movement and Maneuver, Information, Intelligence, Command and Control (C2) and Sustainment.
The report provides an assessment of each prediction to uncover weak signals, current trends and the forces that may impact future operations for the Air Force and Department of Defense. Potential alter-
native futures include:
Continued Growth – Great power competitors continue attempts to increase leverage over the United States and diminish its advantages.
Transformational – Unprecedented technological advances and their widespread dissemination reshape global power dynamics on a scale not previously considered plausible.
Constrained – Sino-Russian coordination continues to benefit both countries in everything from new technologies, strategic and critical minerals, to the mass production and distribution of resources.
Collapse – Natural and man-made crises drive isolationist and nationalist tendencies globally.
The report will be used to inform planners, strategists and wargame scenarios positioning Airmen to anticipate, prepare and operate in the future.
“In order to provide the appropriate level of national security our nation relies on, we must understand the world in such a way that we maintain a faster decision cycle than our adversaries,” Hinote said. “Our strategic superiority depends on it.”
In addition to understanding the impact of today’s choices on tomorrow, the report has the ability to shape a budget approach that identifies and focuses on investments that are relevant across a variety of use cases, such as the ones depicted in the report.
a base tour with Airman 1st Class Dakota Gross, 50th Air Refueling Squadron
interacted with servicemembers and gained a better understanding of the Air
Ronner Helmut, 6th Maintenance Squadron corrosion control contractor, washes a KC-135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base April 12. Due to MacDill’s proximity to the bay, contractors wash the KC-135s every 30 days to combat the salt water corrosion.
A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, meets their family on the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base April 6. The Airman had just returned from a deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The 6th ARW thanks all their service members and their families for the sacrifices they make.
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash.—For the past 50 years, the KC-135 Stratotanker’s role has transitioned from serving as a strategic alert response to a constant state of readiness in global operations. At Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, a group of professional KC-135 pilots, navigators and in-flight refueling specialists undergo advanced agile training to graduate as tactical experts in planning and execution of integrated air and space power to support global operations and expand mobility capabilities.
509th Weapon Squadron (WPS) students executed their first temporary duty assignment March 13-17 in Roswell, New Mexico, where five KC-135 pilots and three in-flight refueling specialists attending WPS Weapons Instructor Course and Advanced Instructor Course were tested on the threats and tactics phase of the course
Prior to their mission to Roswell, the students developed tactical approaches and departures (TADs) which are tailored to counter specific threats to the tanker. They first practiced their techniques in a simulator to check for safety, verify flyability, and refine the procedures.
See 509th, Page 14
Fifty years ago, the United States signed the Paris Peace Accords effectively ending the U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. The country breathed a sigh of relief and eagerly awaited the return of their men and women in uniform.
Throughout 1973, the 62d Military Airlift Wing, alongside other wings within Military Airlift Command, transported military personnel from South Vietnam back to the U.S.
While the country was certainly happy their men and women were returning from one of the longest wars in U.S. history; they also anxiously awaited the return of the United States prisoners of war. As a condition of the Paris Peace Accords, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam agreed to hand over American prisoners they took captive during the conflict, but the U.S. would have to come get them.
Even before the accords were signed in late January 1973, U.S. military planners began hashing out plans to retrieve American POWs By January 1973, planners agreed C-141 Starlifters from MAC would retrieve the POWs from Hanoi and transport them to Clark Air Base, Philippines, where they could receive immediate medical care before their return to the U.S.
On February 12, 1973, a 63d Military Airlift Wing C-141 Starlifter touched down in Hanoi, North Vietnam, to transport American POWs from Hanoi to Clark AB A crew of both 63d and 62d Airmen welcomed
JOINTBASESANANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas—TheDepartmentoftheAir Force recentlyannounceda bodybuildingandfitnesscompetitorand a three-sportadaptiveathleteasthe2022 Female andMaleAthletesofthe Year – Tech. Sgt. Evon Pennington,apublichealthspecialistinthe 6th OperationalMedicalReadinessSquadronatMacDillAir ForceBase, andMasterSgt. Kenneth Guinn,30th ExplosiveOrdnanceDisposalFlight’squalityassurancesection chiefat VandenbergSpace ForceBase, California..
“Competitioninindividual andteamsportspromoteshealthyand activelifestylesandespritdecorps,” saidRandyBehr, Air ForceServices CenterDAF FitnessandSports Branch chief.
“DAFfitnessandsportsprogramssupportready, resilient Airmenand Guardians, which notonlycontributestoachievingmissionsuccessbutalsohelpsthemachieve their personalgoals Our 2022athletes oftheyearexcelledinbodybuilding andadaptivesports, respectively, andhavesetthe barhighforexcellenceintheircompetitivefields,” hesaid. Penningtonispowered bymotivation,said Col. AlviAzad, her commander
“She’sacertifiedwellnesscoachwhospecializesinnutrition,strengthtrainingandcardiovascular endurancetrainingand she inspiresotherAirmenintheirphysicalaptitudeAir Force wide,” Azadsaid.
As an Air Force medic,Penningtonsaidphysicalfitnessis veryimportant to her.
“Fitnesshelpswithstressmanagement,encourageshealthiereatinghabits, buildsmuscleand strength,liftsyourmood,anddiscouragesunhealthy lifestyle choices,”Penningtonsaid.
“Beingamedicsometimesrequireslongworkhoursandrespondingonnon-dutydayssoitcanbedifficulttodevelop andadheretoafitness regimewhenyourscheduleisunpredictable,” she said.“Fitness hasbeenapartofmylifeforthepasteighttonineyearsbecauseItraininthe morningbeforereporting to work.”
Duringthe awardperiod, Penningtonwon the Women’s PhysiqueBodybuildingcompetitionand was crowned as the championofthe“Legion’sSport Festival.” Shealsoqualifiedasa2022 Olympianandcompetedinthetelevisedworld championshipsinDecemberplacing 12thin the worldfor women’s physique. Atherinstallation,shedevelopedaweightlossprogramfortwoAirmen,savingtheircareersasthey increasedtheir physicalfitnesstest bymorethan15 pointsandlost morethan80pounds. Shealso provided75fitnessworkshopstohelpmorethan160Airmenandnewnursingmomswhowerestruggling withweightloss.
Whileattendingthenoncommissionedofficeracademy, sheled76ofherpeersin classprojects, physicalfitness andvirtuallearning, andpiloted ahumanperformance program, ensuringsafety, and proper formandtechnique, accordingtoher award nomination.
Her effortsattheNCOAearnedher classthe“FitFlight”achievementandherthe JohnL.Levitow awardastopgraduate.
“WhenIfoundoutI wasnominatedforthis award,Ifelthonoredbeyondwords. Bodybuildingisan art andhasabeautythatisnotalwaysunderstood by many. Whenit wasannouncedthatIwonIfeltseen, appreciated andunderstood byeveryoneinvolved,” shesaid.
Asthisyear’sfemaleathleteoftheyear, Penningtonsaidshehopestocontinuetoinspireandeducate otherAirmenonconvenient, realistic waystobetterthemselvesthroughhealthiereatingand activitiesto helpthemimprovephysicallyand emotionally.
“Myresiliencyishigh becausemyfitnessactivitydrivesmyenergy, strength, mood andresponsewhen I’monduty. Asafitnessmentor, Ienjoyteachingothershealthierfitnessandnutritionhabitstheycan useintheirownfitnessjourney,” shesaid.
Pennington,who waspreviouslyselectedasthe2022Air MobilityCommand Female Athleteofthe Year, thanked her publichealthteam and leadersatMacDill.
“Withoutsettingrealisticgoals, working on timemanagementandencouraginggrowth,itwould notbe impossibleformetohavemadeitthisfarinbodybuildinginthemilitary. Anything ispossiblewhenyou have a goodsupportsystem,” shesaid.
PhotobyAirman1st Class
From Page 6
the quiet men on board and helped them with their seats while Air Force nurses did what they could to make the men comfortable. Oddly, the released prisoners did not say much. They did not shout for joy or otherwise express themselves in celebration; but they remained stoic and tried to hide the fear they had lived with for years while in captivity Were they really going home?
After years of torture, starvation, and nightmares, was the Democratic Republic of Vietnam simply going to let them go or was this yet another trick to break their resolve?
The crew of the C-141, now known as the Hanoi Taxi, had the same thoughts. After years of fighting each other, was this a trick? Were the North Vietnamese going to let the C-141 fly off or were the Communist forces going to shoot them down?
With bated breath, the C-141 taxied down the runway in Hanoi and climbed in altitude. When the aircraft reached what was thought to be a safe distance, a great roar thundered through the cabin as the American POWs erupted in cheers, dances, and tears of joy.
Yes, they were going home. America had not forgotten.
Moments after the Hanoi Taxi took off, a 62d MAW C-141 (50243) touched down at the small airstrip in Vietnam and loaded 116 more American POWs Several returnees paused at the bottom of the loading ramp to salute the U.S. flag on the tail of the aircraft. They stood at their seats until the last man came aboard before they all sat down.
As before, the returnees were stoic, but as soon as the aircraft lifted off, the mood changed and the men broke
that sparked his interest in starting an art collection.
“What makes me so passionate is how noble of a craft it is,” he said. “You’re doing it with your own hands, you’re creating it. Owning that piece [of art] is so special because it doesn’t exist anywhere else in this world.”
Throughout Pace’s military career, he has had several overseas assignments, being stationed in Turkey, Guam, England and Japan. Pace embraced the change as an opportunity to experience different cultures, finding their stories through their art.
Collecting art became a way for Pace to connect and embrace his journey through the military For each location he visits or is stationed, he collects a new piece to remind himself of the culture that he’d experienced.
Pace even incorporated his passion into his work as a metals technician, putting the same dedication into each project as an artist would in their work.
“Each component I create [for the KC-135] is uniquely vital to our success, so I put all I’ve got into its development,” said Pace. “I treat each project, each component like a piece of art, like that one piece is telling my story as a technician.”
Pace’s passion for art has allowed him to better connect with his military journey and the cultures of which he’s been intertwined. He takes the precision and dedication that he’s learned as an artist and puts it into his career as a metals technician, utilizing every project as an opportunity to grow and develop as a craftsman.
cheer. The first thing the men asked for was coffee cigarettes and it did not take long before the crew was up in their spirit of joy.
Before landing in Clark AB, one of the crewmembers discovered a stowaway one of the returnees had smuggled aboard – a puppy. Like the returnees, the puppy received medical attention at Clark AB before it was returned to the returnee
On February 12, a total of three aircraft from the 63d, 62d, and 60th Military Airlift Wings airlifted American POWs from Hanoi to Clark AB, where approximately a thousand people gathered to welcome the returnees. Even more turned out a various Air Force bases stateside, including McChord Air Force Base, to welcome the men home.
From February to April 1973, mobility forces repatriated 591 American POWs from Hanoi back to the United States including U.S. Army Col. Floyd James Thompson and U.S. Naval aviator John McCain.
America celebrated the return of their heroes and, for a moment, the pain and controversy of the conflict in Vietnam was washed away and replaced by welcome home banners and balloons. This operation would become better known as Operation HOMECOMING.
Today, the 62d Airlift Wing continues to bring home American heroes who fought in WWII, the Korean War and in Vietnam While these homecomings are more somber, it is a testament to the belief that no one is left behind.
lighting challenges Airmen experience when executing the global air mobility mission. AMC leadership challenged participants to develop sustainable, scalable solutions and leverage existing infrastructure to close four capability gaps: command and control, navigation, maneuver under fire, and tempo.
“We need the capability to be lighter, leaner, faster and multi-capable,” said Maj. Gen. John Klein, USAFEC commander. “The Airmen are the magic they should not have to work so hard to bring that magic day in and day out. Our responsibility as leaders is to organize, train and equip our Airmen so they can bring swift success on the battlefield. This is why we need your help.”
AMC must be capable of executing its mission in contested environment with the minimum amount of equipment and personnel. According to Klein, the command must maintain the agility needed to support the joint force scheme of maneuver and become “multi- capable” in order to cover capability gaps and assist joint partners complete tasks with which they have limited familiarity.
Klein stated command and control of the global air mobility support system, or GAMSS, is his number one priority. Expeditionary Airmen will ultimately become a high demand, low density asset in a peer conflict.
“There is no airpower without air mobility, and there is no air mobility without air mobility support. This is what gives America its global reach. We have the ability to create mobility nodes where they don’t currently exist,”
Klein said. “Logistics wins wars.”
AMC’s GAMSS will be the primary joint force maneuver system in areas of operation like the Pacific, where a NATO-like, combined capability partnership does not currently exist, according to Minihan.
The Pacific presents the tyranny of distance, or vast stretches of ocean between likely forward operating locations, with many of them located in the first island chain, which Minihan identifies as the most critical area of suc-
cess in the contested environment.
“There are critical gaps in the capability and capacity required to fight and win inside [it],” Minihan said.
To be effective beyond the first island chain, mobility operations must close the critical gaps and will require flexible solutions.
Industry partner solutions will be presented at the Airlift/Tanker Association Industry Interface Day during the A/TA Symposium scheduled for November 2023
During their three-day training mission in Roswell, they not only practiced their approaches and departures, but worked with intelligence cadre. Students performed hands-on training and gained perspective as the aggressor using simulated manportable air defense [missile] systems (MANPADS). Using this training and newly gained perspectives, students are then assessed on the procedures they would use to mitigate threats.
“This first-hand experience lends tremendous credibility to graduates when briefing leadership on expected courses of action or when teaching aircrews tactical maneuvers,” said Lt Col James Lamb, 509th WPS Assistant Director Operations “In addition to being graded on the ability to fly their TADs, the students are also expected to take sufficient notes to effectively reconstruct the sortie, analyze the mission objectives, debrief the mission, and produce instructional fixes for areas which did not meet mission objectives.”
The weapons instructor course is roughly 23 weeks long and contains over 400 hours of academic instruction, during which the student will plan and execute flying and ground missions to gain experience in tactical planning and execution. The graduates of this course are tasked with enhancing the overall tactical knowledge of the tanker force to maximize the Department of the Air Force’s offensive posture.
“The training we receive at the Weapons School is vastly different from standard KC-135 training as our flying is focused on operating the aircraft at it’s extremes,” said Capt. Chris Perkins, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron pilot. “The training we undergo at the Weapons School revolves around employing the aircraft in high threat combat environments. At the end of each phase, we are expected to not only execute, but demonstrate the ability to teach these concepts.”
The Weapons Instructor Course and Advanced Instructor Course graduates use their experiences to maximize combat effectiveness when integrating tankers into operational planning for current and future conflicts, solidifying air mobility’s state of readiness for all global operations
The MacDill Council for Educational Excellence is inviting all parents for K-12 students enrolled in Hillsborough County public schools to a military family forum to discuss educational opportunities and needs for students with MacDill AFB and district leadership. For more information visit, macdillfss.com/wp-content/ uploads/MCEE_APR23.pdf.
Date: April 24, 4 – 5 p.m.
Location:Tinker K-8, 8207 Tinker St.
Month of the Military Child
April is Month of the Military Child, 6th Force Support Squadron Child and Youth Programs have organized and coordinated several events throughout the month of April for your kids to enjoy. For more information visit macdillfss.com/wp-content/uploads/momc_calendar2023.pdf
Don’t miss this fun opportunity to brush up on your cooking skills or learn how to prepare a new dish alongside (via Zoom) season 4 winner of Master Chef, Luca Manfe. To register and view the zoom sessions available April through July, go to forcesupport.awardsplatform.com.
Your MacDill Base Library will be offering free movies at the Base Theater. Movies are open to anyone with base access to MacDill. For a complete movie schedule, log onto macdillfss. com/library/.
Find more events at: macdillfss.com
Airmen from the 6th Security Forces Squadron carry a torch and flag during the Law Enforcement Torch Run with Special Olympics Florida at MacDill Air Force Base April 13. The torch will be carried through 67 counties, and trade hands with more than 300 law enforcement agencies.
Normal Hours- Monday - Friday - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. After hours chaplain, call the Command Post at 828-4362/4361.
Monday-Wednesday Mass - 12:10 p.m. www.macdill.af.mil/chapel
Catholic Mass - Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessions by appointment)
Protestant virtual services - Sunday - 11 a.m. (www.facebook.com/6amwhc)
Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For schedule & to join distro, please contact elimelach.estrin@us.af.mil
Islamic Service - Friday 1:30 p.m. (space reserved)
Other Faith Groups - Please contact the Chapel at (813) 828-3621 or via email at 6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil
For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ or MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel