Thunderbolt 04/21/2022

PhotobyAirman1stClassHiramMartinez

Multiplefactorscontributeto

byDavid Vergun DoDNews

TheUnitedStatesissupplyinganimmenseamountofmaterielto Ukrainianforces, saidaseniorDefenseDepartmentofficialwhobriefed themediatoday.

SincethestartPresident JoeBiden’sadministration,roughly$2.5 billionworthofsecurityassistancehasbeensupplied.Thatequates tomorethanhalfofUkraine’sdefensebudgetforlastyear, which was about$4.2billion,theofficialsaid.

“It’sanimmenseamount,andwe’recommittedtodoingmore;andI thinkyouwillseeusdomorevery, verysoon,” theofficialsaid,mentioningthemostrecent JavelinmissilesandSwitchbladeunmannedaerial systemscomingfromtheUnitedStates.

Some30othernationsarealsoprovidingsecurityassistanceinvariousquantities, theofficialsaid.

ManynationshaveprovidedweaponsandsystemsthattheUkrainiansknowhowtouseandareusingeffectively, theofficialsaid.

“Ithinkthere’salotofthingsthathavegoneintotheUkrainians’ abilitythusfartofightsowellandsoskillfullyandtoreallybeatback theRussiansonsomanymultiplelinesofaxes,” theofficialsaid.

Throughtheirabilityandwill,Ukrainianfightershaveadaptedto Russiantacticsinrealtime, theofficialsaid.“Theyareskilledandcourageousfighters, andyoujustcan’ttakethat away fromthem.”

AnotherfactorforUkraine’ssuccessesisitscommandandcontrol, theofficialsaid.UkrainianPresident VolodymyrZelenskyyandhistop

PhotobyArmyStaffSgt.ThomasMort U.S.ArmyChief WarrantOfficer2DominicConstance,aUH-60Black Hawkhelicopterpilotfromthe1-214thGeneralSupport AviationBattalion,12thCombat AviationBrigade,talkswithaPolish reconnaissancesoldierduringapersonnel recoveryexerciseattheNowaDeba TrainingAreainPoland,April4.

leadershipstillhaveeffectivecommandandcontrolovertheirforces. “Theyknowwheretheyare.They’removingthemaroundasneeded. They’rebeingverynimbleandhavenothadthe challengesthatthe Russianshavehadwithrespecttocommandandcontrol.”

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MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher:JoeDeluca Editor:NickStubbs

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Leadersupdatespecialopsvision,strategy

byJimGaramone DoDNews

ThecivilianandmilitaryleadersofAmerica’sspecialoperationsforces havecombinedtoissuethenewSpecialOperations Forces Visionand Strategytoguidetheforceintothefuture.

Christopher P. Maier, theassistantsecretaryofdefenseforspecial operationsand low-intensityconflict,andArmyGen.Richard D. Clarke, thecom-manderof U.S. SpecialOperationsCommand,wrote thedocumentasahandbookforthe changingworldsecurityenvironment.

ThisisespeciallyimportantastheNationalDefense Strategy emphasizesthereturnofstrategiccompetitionwithChinaandRussia.

“TheupdatedSpecialOperations Force VisionandStrategyreflects ouroverarchingstrategicguidancetotheenterprise, highlightingforce modernization,forceemployment,developmentanddesign,andhelps ensureforcesareposturedtosupporttheNationalDefenseStrategy,” Maiersaidinawrittenstatement. “Alignedwithnationalpolicyand strategy, the VisionandStrategyservesasthefoundationfortheshapingofSOFnear-termandinthefutureasanadaptive, agileandcapable forcethatcancompeteandprevailagainstanyadversary, inanyenviron-

SeeSPECIALOPS,Page12

Floridaburrowingowl releasedonMacDill

byAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings

6thAirRefuelingWing

AFloridaburrowingowl wasrelocatedand releasedbyaFlorida Fishand WildlifeConservationCommission(FWC)biologistApril8at MacDillAir ForceBase, Florida.

Floridaburrowingowlsarepint-sizedbirds withblack,brownandwhitecoloring, which helpsthemstaycamouflagedontheground wheretheyspendmostoftheirtime.These birdsarecurrentlyastate-designatedthreatenedspecies.

“OncecommonthroughoutFloridaand TampaBay, habitatlosshasdriventheFloridaburrowingowl’spopulationdown,” saidAndrew Lykens, 6thCivilEngineerSquadronEnvironmentalElementmanager.“The airfieldon MacDillprovidesahabitatfortheonlyknown remainingcoloniesofFloridaburrowingowls inHillsboroughCounty.Addingtothepopula-

tionisagreatthing.”

Therelocatedowl wasdiscoveredinatruck ataconstructionsitein Palmetto, Florida, morethan20milessouthofMacDill.

“Owls, particularlyjuvenilesthatarenotadeptatburrowing, willoftenfindcoverindark spacessuchasculvertsoropengarages,” said RebeccaSchneider, abiologistwiththeFWC. “Sincethenatallocationisunknown,andit wasnotviabletoremainattheconstruction site, theowl wascollectedandtakentoalocal wildliferehabilitationcenter.”

Theowl wasdisorientedwheninitiallydiscoveredatthesite, butit wasdeterminedthat thebirddidn’tneedmedicalattentionwhen evaluatedattherehabilitationcenter.Theowl remainedthereuntilMacDill wasselectedas thelocationforitsrelease.

SchneidersaidthatMacDill was chosenas thereleasesitebecauseoftheviableandsuit-

StaffSgt.AlexzandriaGomez NavySEALsconductahigh-altitude,lowopeningairborneoperationin supportofexerciseArcticEdge2022inDeadhorse,Ala.,March4.

PhotobyAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings AFloridaburrowingowlisbandedfortrackingandidentificationpurposesatMacDillAir ForceBaseApril8.

WEEKINPHOTOS

U.S.AirForceSeniorAirmanColeMiller, a 6thMaintenanceSquadron aircraftstructuralmaintenancejourneyman,poseswithpersonalprotectiveequipmentinthecorrosivecontrolfacilityatMacDillAirForceBase April12.The6thMXScorrosioncontrolfacilityensuresthatimportant aircraftcomponentsarepreservedandprotectedfromtheelements.

PhotobyAirman1stClassMichaelKillian U.S.AirForceMaj.SchcolaChambers,amemberassignedtoU.S. CentralCommand,finishestheNorwegianRuckMarchApril8,at MacDillAirForceBase.Themarch,alsoknownasMarsimerket,is aNorwegianArmedForcesskillbadgethatisearnedforsuccessful completionoftheruckmarchintheallottedtime.

U.S.SpecialOperationsCommandphoto

emony

PhotobyAirman1stClassLaurenCobin

NEWS/FEATURES

MacDillveterans reconnectat AirFest,inspirefutureAirmen

byStephenOve

6thAirRefuelingWinghistorian

U.S. Air ForceveteransofpastMacDillunitsmadethetripthrough hugecrowdstojointhepublicandeachotherinacelebrationof TacticalAirCommand’shistoryatthe2022 TampaBayAirFesthereMarch 25-27.

MorethanadozenmembersofprevioushostunitsatMacDillgatheredattheHangar3historicaldisplaypainstakinglyerectedbyaduo ofbasehistoricalaficionados, DennisColeandhissonSeanCole.

MacDillveterans, includingthoseofthe15th,1stand56th Tactical Fighter Wings, joinedtheColestosharehistoricalinsightsaboutthe basewitheachotherandthepublic.

Commonintheirdiscussions wastherolethatMacDillandtheAir Forcehadinthemostformativeearlyyearsoftheiradultlives.

“Igrewuponthisflightline,” saidDennisCole.“Beenherethrougha lot.Almosthatetothinkabouthowlongit’sbeen—myfirstChristmas andThanksgiving away fromhomewererightouthere.”

SeeAIRFEST,Page16

Behindthescenes,AirFestguestsgettotrytheirhandatanF-4PhantomIIfighteraircraftflightsimulatorduringthe2022 TampaBayAirFest atMacDillAirForceBase,Florida,March25-27.Nearly185,000guests gatheredtocommemoratetheAirForce’s75yearsofglobalairsuperiorityduringtheevent,bolsteringcommunitysupportandinspiringpast, presentandfutureAirmen.

Courtesyphoto

ablenaturalhabitatfortheowls, andthatas manyasadozengroupofbirdscurrentlylive onthebase.

Theowl wastransportedfromtherehab centertoMacDillinaspaciouscarrierthatallowedthebirdtostandupright.Duringhandling, theFWCbiologistusedaredlightto preventanypotentialvisionimpairmentof theowl.Thebird washeldinasafegripthat immobilizeditswingsduringbandingsoit wouldn’tbeinjured.

“Floridaburrowingowlsaremostlydiurnal,meaningtheyareactiveduringtheday, buttheirpeakactivityisatdawnanddusk,” Schneidersaid.“Releasingthisindividualowl atfirstlightmeantthatitwouldlikelyquickly encounteranotheractiveburrowingowl.”

ThesuccessfulrelocationofthisburrowingowldemonstratesMacDill’seffortstoward conservationandsustaininghealthywildlife populationsonthebase.

“MacDillishighlycommittedtotheconservationofitsnaturalresourcesthroughamultitudeofdifferentprojectsandefforts,” Lykens said.“Today’s[burrowingowl]relocationand releaseisagreatexampleofhowconservationeffortstakenatMacDillprovideasuitable habitatforanimperiledspecies.”

To conservetheburrowingowl,itisimportanttobe awareoftheneedsoftheowls, and directeffortstowardprotectingtheirhabitat, nestsitesandpopulationsforfuturegenerationstoenjoy.

Formoreinformationaboutburrowingowls andotherwildlifespeciesinFlorida,visitthe FWCwebsiteatmyfwc.com.

u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

PhotobyAirman1stClassJoshuaHastings NickJennings,aFloridaFishandWildlifeConservationCommission(FWC)biologist,inspects thewingofaFloridaburrowingowlatMacDillAirForceBaseApril8.Thisowl,whichwas heldatawildlife rehabilitationcenter,was relocatedtoMacDillbecausethebaseishometo theonlyknown remainingcoloniesofburrowingowlsinthe TampaBayarea.MacDillworks alongsidetheFWCtoprotectwildlifeandpreservenatural resourcesonbase.

DAFupdatesleaveprogram;includes supportforfertilitytreatments,transition assistanceprograms

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

WASHINGTON(AFNS)—A recentupdatetotheDepartmentofthe Air ForceInstruction36-3003,MilitaryLeaveProgram,includestime forAirmenandGuardianswho wanttoparticipateinafertilitytreatmentprogramatamilitarymedicaltreatmentfacility.Authorizedup to35daysof Permissive TemporaryDuty, theycandividethedaysinto separatePTDYsifdeemedappropriatebytheirmedicalprovider.

“MywifeandIhavehadourownstruggleswithstartingafamily, so IrecognizewhatastrainthiscanbeonourAirmenandGuardians, personallyandfinancially,” saidSecretaryoftheAir Force Frank Kendall. “Iwholeheartedlysupportthisprogram,andIhopeourteammatestake fulladvantageofit.”

Thispolicy was championedbythe Women’sInitiative Team,one oftheseventeamsthatcomprisetheDAFBarrierAnalysis Working Groups.

“This changeissignificantforeveryonestrugglingwithinfertility,

justasIhavethelast10yearsofserving,” said U.S. Air ForceMaster Sgt.KristyNegron,aWITmember.“Infertilitytakesahugetoll,not onlyphysicallyandemotionally, butfinancially. BeingabletogoPTDY fortreatmentswillhelpeasesomeofthestressassociatedwiththeprocessbyallowingtimeoffworktofocusonourlifegoals.”

MilitarymemberscanundergotreatmentsatsixdifferentMTFs: WalterReedNationalMilitaryMedicalCenter, Bethesda,Maryland;Tripler ArmyMedicalCenter, Honolulu,Hawaii; WomackArmyMedicalCenter, Fayetteville, NorthCarolina;MadiganArmyMedicalCenter,Tacoma, Washington;SanAntonioMilitaryMedicalCenter, SanAntonio,Texas; andNavalMedicalCenterSanDiego, SanDiego, California.

“IampassionateaboutthisbecauseIbelieveintakingcareofour AirmenandGuardians,” said U.S. Space ForceChiefMasterSgt.MarthaBurkhead,theWITleadforthisinitiative.“Ihavehadseveralmembersstrugglewithfertilityissuesandcanattesttotheripplingeffects ithasacrossthemilitary.”

Additional changestothemilitaryleaveprograminclude:PTDYto attendaDepartmentofDefense-sponsoredemploymentseminaroutof thelocalareaundertheTransitionAssistanceProgramwhenthememberseparatesorretireswithin365days;andnon-chargeableleaveto participateintheSkillBridgeprogram,whichoffersservicemembersin thelast180daysoftheirserviceobligationtoreceiveciviliantraining forpost-serviceemployment.

UCFAFROTCcadetsflywiththe91stARSduringAIMflight

storyandphotosbyAirman1stClassHiramMartinez 6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

CadetswithAir ForceROTCDetachment159attheUniversityofCentralFloridajoinedthe91stAirRefuelingSquadron (ARS)onanairrefuelingmissionaspartofthe AviationInspirationMentorship(AIM)HighprogramApril11.

ThecadetsflewinsideaKC-135StratotankeraircraftandwitnessedaB-52Stratofortressbomberassignedtothe2ndBomb Wing, BarksdaleAFB, Louisianabeingrefueledfirst-hand.

“ExperiencingtherefuelingoftheB-52andseeingthecadet’seyes lightupastheyjoinedaircrewintheboompodorthecockpitissomethingI’msurewillresonatewiththemforyearstocome,” said U.S. Air Force2ndLt.MargiealiceUffre-Gomez,goldbarrecruiterforAir ForceROTCDetachment159.

Uffre-Gomezaddedthatexposingcadetstoopportunitieslikethe AIMflightiskeytotheirdevelopmentasfutureAir Forceofficers.

“ROTCcadetswillbecometheAir Force’snewestleaderswithinthe nextfewyears,” said U.S. Air ForceMaj.MichaelBargiel,the6thAir Refueling WingAIMprogramdirector.“Manyofthemareundecided

ontheircareers, nordotheyknowthefullextentofopportunities availabletothemacrosstheAir Force.”

TheAIMprogram’smaingoalistopromotediversitythroughinclusionwithafocusonmentorshipandtoencourageandsupportthe recruitmentofdiversemilitaryprofessionalsthroughlocalcommunity outreachprograms.

Throughthe91stARSengagement,manyofthepilotsandbooms havebecomerolemodelsandexamplesforstudentsandcadetsalike.

“The91stAirmenhavebeeninstrumentalininspiringAIMparticipantstopursuecareersin aviation,” Bargielsaid.“OurAIMprogram hasbecomethebenchmarkforfuturewings.”

The U.S. Air ForceRecruitingServiceDetachment1isin chargeof theAIMoutreachprogramandplanstousethe6thARW’sprogramas theframeworkforallfutureAIMwings

Bargieladdedthatthisyear, theAIMwingatMacDillislookingto expanditsreachandpartnerwithmoreschoolsandyouthorganizationsthanlastyear.

“Theskyisthelimitwithourprogram,” Bargielsaid.“Thefutureis brightandfullofopportunitiesforboththeAIM Winganditsparticipants.”

AB-52Stratofortressfromthe2ndBomb Wing,BarksdaleAirForceBase,Louisiana, approachestheboomofaKC-135Stratotankerassignedtothe91stAirRefueling Squadronover Texas,April11.TheKC-135 StratotankerenhancestheU.S.AirForce’s primaryglobal reachmission.

AcadetwithAirForceROTCDetachment159attheUniversityofCentralFloridaobservesAirmenfromthe91stAirRefuelingSquadronprepare aKC-135Stratotankerfortake-offatMacDillAirForceBase,Florida,April11.ThecadetswereinvitedtoflyaspartoftheAirForce’s recruiting service AviationInspiredMentorshipHighprogram.

CadetswithAirForceROTCDetachment159attheUniversityofCentralFloridaposeforaphotoinfrontofaKC-135Stratotankerassignedtothe91stAir RefuelingSquadronatMacDillAirForceBase,Florida,April11.ThecadetsflewontheKC-135aspartofthe

AviationInspiredMentorshipprogramtopromote diversitythroughinclusion.

UKRAINE

Anadditionalfactoristhat,overthelasteightyears, Ukrainehas receivedexcellenttrainingfromtheUnitedStatesandNATO allies liketheUnitedKingdomandCanada,theofficialsaid.

Spotlight:NATO

ThattraininghashelpedUkrainebecomeamorebattlefield-effectiveforceintermsofthedevelopmentoftheirnoncommissionedofficercorps, operationalmaneuverability, logisticsandsustainment, communicationsandlong-rangefires, theofficialsaid.

“UnitedStatessecurityassistancehashadaprofoundimpacton theirabilitytocontinuetodefendtheircountry.Wearethebiggestdonor, andweareprovidingthemostmaterial. We arenottheonlyones, though,andothercountriesaredoingthisaswell.Someofthemare beingmoreopenaboutwhatthey’reproviding. Someofthemareprovidingterrificcapabilitiesthattheywon’ttalkabout,” theofficialsaid.

Thesearecountriesthathavesystems, weaponsandplatformsthat theUkrainiansarecomfortableusingandknowhowtouse, theofficialadded.“Wewouldn’thavethoseinourstocks.”

Lastly, theUnitedStatesisdoingalotofthecoordinationforthe deliveryofthosematerialsandhelpingtogetitintoUkrainianhands asquicklyaspossible, theofficialsaid.“Itisateameffort.”

SituationontheGround

ThedepartmentcontinuestoseemovementandactivityofRussian forcesinBelarusandinRussiaastheyreassembleandstagetheir forcesforwhattheDODbelievesisgoingtobearenewedpushinto easternUkraine, theofficialsaid.

Besidestroops, someofwhatisbeingstagedincludeshelicopters andadditionalartillery, theofficialsaid.

Thedepartmentbelievesthat Valuyki,BelgorodandRovenki—all inRussiajusttothenortheastofUkraine—arestagingandresupply areas, theofficialsaid.

RussianunitsarecontinuingtoflowintoUkraine’snorthernLuhanskOblast,whichispartoftheDonbasRegion,fromareasaround ValuykiandRovenki,theofficialsaid.

RussianforcesarealsoinDonetskOblast,furtherinthesouthof theDonbasRegion,aswellasfurthersouthinUkrainenearMykolayivandMariupol,theofficialsaid.

ARussianconvoyisstillnorthofIzyum,Ukraineandtherearealso Russianforcestothesouthofthatcity, theofficialsaid.

Therehavebeenaround150Russian-mannedaircraftsortiesflown overthelast24hours, withairstrikescontinuingtofocusonMariupol andthejointforcesoperationsareaofUkraine, theofficialsaid.

“WestillholdMariupolasacontestedcity.WestillholdthatUkrainianforcesareinMariupolandthey’redefendingit.… We stilldo notbelievethattheRussianshavetakenMariupol,but clearly, they remainfocusedonthat,” theofficialsaid.

Atleast1,550RussianmissileshavebeenlaunchedagainstUkraine sincethestartoftheinvasion,theofficialmentioned.

Soldiersassignedto1stAirCavalryBrigade,1stCavalryDivisionconductdailypreventivemaintenanceonanAH-64EApacheGuardianattackhelicopterataforwardarmingand refuelingpoint,Miroslawiec, Poland,April4.

TwoCzechAirForceSaabJAS-39Gripenaircraftflyinformationover theCzechRepublic,March29.

PhotobyArmySpc.HedilHernández

PhotobyAirForceAirman1stClassZachary Wright

MacDill recognizesvolunteersduringNational Volunteer

byDarrellNatoli

6thForceSupportSquadronvolunteerprogrammanager

Establishedin1974,National Volunteer Weekisatimetoshinea lightonthosewhoserveourcommunityandinspireuswiththeirselflessgiving.

Thisyear’sdatesareApril17-23andMacDillisfortunatetocontinue along-lastingtraditionofbeingthatbrightlightofvolunteerism.

Ourvolunteersnotonlygivebacktoourbasebuttheydirectlysupportourmission,ourpeople, andourcommunity.Theirongoingsupport helpshighlighthowMacDillisatruecommunityofpeople.

We haveallfelttheupsanddownsanddisruptionsthattheCOVID-19pandemichasplacedonourabilitytointeractandmaintain routines.

Ourvolunteercommunitycontinuedtoadjusttothosedisruptions

andfound waystocontinuetogiveback.

Intrueform,MacDillvolunteersshinedthroughthefogofuncertaintyandcontinuedinspiringuswiththeirservice.

MacDillAFB wasfortunatetohave157continuallyactivevolunteers. Theyprovideddirectsupportto12differentbaseagenciesandgave 26,627volunteerhours.Toputthatinperspective, thosehourssaved ourbasemorethan$759,000inestimatedvolunteersalaries.

We oweittoallthesegreatpeopletotakeamomentofourtimeand thankthemfortheirs. Our challengetoyouistolookforthatshining lightwhenyouarearoundthebaseandthankthosethatinspireus throughtheirvolunteerism.

Remember, eachtimeyougotothepharmacy,TheAirman’sAttic, RetireeActivitiesOffice, Chapel,OutdoorRec, GolfCourse, Library, Sabal Park,Historyoffice,ArtsandCrafts, orspeakwitha KeySpouse–thereisashininglightleadingthe way.

ment, whilealsorecognizingthe needtopreserveandgrowreadiness andstrengthenourforceandfamilies.”

Thejointreleaseofthe VisionandStrategyhighlightsthecooperationatthehighestlevelsofthecommunity.“SpecialOperations Forces’ fullrangeofcoreactivities, tailoredcapabilitiesanddeeppartnerships providecriticaloptionsforcampaigningtobolsterdeterrence,” Clarke saidinawrittenstatement.“Thesedocumentsunderpinoureffortsto buildenduringadvantage.Theyensureourspecialoperationsforcesremainthemostcapableandcredibleintheworldbyprovidingalasting foundationtoguidefutureactivitiesandinvestmentsfocusedoninnovation,modernizationandtakingcareofourmostcriticalresource—our people.”

ThevisionstatementtakestheSpecialOpscorevaluesofhonor, courage, excellence, creativityandrespectandpushesthatbasisintothefuture Specialoperatorsmustbe“aresiliententerprisecapableofconductingintegratedall-domainspecialoperations.”

Specialoperators, ofcourse, havearoletoplayincounteringmoves byChinaAmerica’spacing challenge—andRussia—whoseactionin invadingUkraineshowsthethreattheymaybecome.

“Chinaiscurrentlytheonlynationcapableofcombiningtheeconomic, diplomatic, militaryandtechnologicalpowertorivalthe U.S. anddestabilizetheinternationalsystemthathasadvancedourinterestsfor75 years,” the VisionandStrategydocumentsays.

Butthisdoesn’tmeanthethreatsareanysmallerfromIran,North Koreaorfromviolentextremistorganizations. Organizationslikethe IslamicStateseektoreconstituteanywheretheycanfindasafehaven. Ungoverned,littlegovernedorcorruptlygovernedareasoftheMiddle East,SouthwestAsiaandespeciallyAfricacouldprovidethatnecessity.

Thestrategylookstoestablisha10-yearframeworkofstrategicaims, strategiceffortsandresourcesto“createstrategicandasymmetricadvantages”fortheUnitedStates.

Overthenextdecade, specialoperatorsmustbeprepared“toconduct operationstosupportprioritymissionsincriticallocationsaspartofintegrateddeterrence, toreducestrategicriskandtofacilitateintegration withconventionalforcesduringhigh-endconflict.”

AnArmyrangerparticipatesincold-waterimmersiontrainingatFort McCoy,Wis.,Feb.18.

Thecommunityalsomustmodernizeforthemissionsofthefuture. Thisismorethansimplybuyingnewequipment,butexaminingnewconcepts, doctrine, methodsandcapabilities.

Stayingtruetoitsrootsisyetanotherpriorityinthisstrategywithits strongemphasisonrecruitingandretainingthebestpeopleforthemissions.TheforcewillalsosustaintheDefenseDepartment’sdeploymentto-dwellandmobilization-to-dwellratios.

Again,regardingpersonnel,thestrategycallsforemphasizingdiversityandinclusionwithinthecommunitywhilealsocallingforaccountableleadership.

Specialoperationsforceswillbekeyinhelping thegreatermilitary operatewithpartnerandalliedmilitaryorganizations, accordingtothe strategy.

MaierandClarkeseethe VisionandStrategyasa chancetocontinue discussionswithinthespecialoperationscommunity. Still,theydelineate whatqualitiestheydeemimportantandthepaththeywouldliketotake —together—movingahead.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

ArmyphotobyKevinClark

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

EVENTS

MOMCEncantoMovieApril23

From1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.celebrateMonthoftheMilitaryChild withthisfreemovie, atthebase theater No concessionswillbe sold.

M&FRCCareer FairApril28

9a.m.-2 p.m.Breakaway EventsCenterCareer Fair. Lookingforanewopportunity?Bring yourresumetotheCareer Fair hostedbytheMilitaryand FamilyReadinessCentertopromote andprovideemploymentopportunitiesforthebasecommunity. Contact:6mss.employments@ us.af.milorcall828-0145forinfo.

YouthCenter TeensNightOut April29

6 p.m.-9 p.m.Callingallteens ages13-18.tojoininthefunat the YouthCenterthelast Friday ofeverymonthforteennightout. Fun,games, friendsandmore.

SeascapesBaropen Fridays

EnjoythesunsetattheSeascapesBar locatedattheMacDillBeach.Open every Friday from3 p.m.-8 p.m.withanew barmenu. Findmoreinfoatmacdillfss.com/seascapes/

We arehiring

The6thFSSishiringinthe following areas startingat$15/ hr:recreation,foodservice, hospitalityand child&youth. Forjob info visit:macdillfss.com/openjobs/ Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss.com

Celebratoryrun

Gen.RichardD.Clarke,U.S.SpecialOperationsCommandcommander,andChiefMasterSgt.GregoryA.Smith,USSOCOMseniorenlistedleader,leadacommandrunatMacDillAirForceBaseApril 11.Thecommandcelebratedits35thanniversarysinceitsactivationonApril16,1987.USSOCOMis theonlycombatantcommandestablishedbyCongress.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

NormalHours- Monday-Friday -9a.m.to 3p.m.Afterhourschaplain,calltheCommand Postat828-4362/4361.

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.

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

Muslim 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/

U.S.SpecialOperationsCommandphoto

SeanCole, whoexperiencedMacDilllifeas adependenthimselfgrowingupintheshadow ofthebaserelayedhismemoriesofcountless AirFestsaswellasthejoyhehadhostingthe veteransandthe chancetosharehisloveof MacDillwiththepublic.

“Ihavealwaysfelttherearemany waysto serveyourcommunityevenifitisn’tthrough militaryservice, saidSeanCole.“Asacivilian beingabletohelpourretiredAirmenreunite withformercolleagueswhotheyhavenotseen indecadesisincrediblyrewarding.”

Whiletheveteransswapped warstories fromdecadesrangingfromthe Vietnam Warin the1960stothe PersianGulf Warinthe1990s andeverythinginbetween,first-timevisitors stoppedbytotakeabevyofhistoricalcuriositiesandexhibitsarrayed fortheireducation andenjoyment.

ArtifactscuratedfromtheCole’spersonal collectionandthatofthebasehistoryoffice rangedfromantiqueunitpatches, mugsand uniformstolargerdisplaysincludingaslideshowcontainingmorethan200imagesdetailingabygoneeraofbasehistory.

Probablynoexhibitelicitedmoreattention thanthetoweringF-4PhantomIIfighterjet modelandnonemorerecognizablethanthe Cole’s1957Studebakertruckwitharestored F-16 Fighting Falcondisplayrisinghighabove itsbed.

Seeingaconstantstreamofguestsapproachingthedisplayforaphotoopwiththe artifactsandevena chancetotrytheirhandat flyingahistoricaircraftsimulationmadethe

U.S.AirForceveteransof TacticalAirCommand’smanyunitsgatheredduringthe2022 Tampa BayAirFestatMacDillAirForceBase,Florida,March25-27.Nearly185,000guestsgathered tocommemoratetheAirForce’s75yearsofglobalairsuperiorityduringtheevent,bolstering communitysupportandinspiringpast,presentandfutureAirmen.

longhourstheColesinvestedinsettingupthe displaydeeplygratifying.

“Thelookofwonderintheireyesisincrediblyrewarding—ithelpsmakeuswealthy souls,” saidDennisCole.

Besidesgettingto sharetheirexperience atMacDillwithfuturegenerations, theColes

recognizedtherolesomeyoungguestsmight wellhaveinwritingthenext chapteroftheAir Forcestory.

“Educating, motivatingandinspiringour youthistheultimategoalofeverythingwedo atthesetypesofevents.Weembracethe challengewithpassion,” saidtheColes.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

Courtesyphoto