Thunderbolt 5/18/2023

News/Features:page3

Watersurvivaltraining

News/Features:page3

AFleadersdiscussinnovation

Weekinphotos: page4

Imagesfromthe week

6thMXSchangeofcommand

Community:page15

Events,Chapel,more...

U.S.Air ForceCol.CharityBanks,the6thMaintenanceGroupcommander,passesthe6th MaintenanceSquadronguidontoMaj.DarrenJenningsduring achangeofcommandceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseMay10.Thepassingof theguidonsymbolizestheofficialstartofJennings’tenureasthenew6thMXScommander. Jenningsstepped intohis new rolefollowing hispreviousassignmentasthe 6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadrondirector of operations.

Imaging specialistslook beyond theskin

Strengtheningmilitarycommunities–NashvilleleaderstourMacDill

bySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin

Inanefforttoexpandoutreachandcommunitypartnerships, MacDillAir ForceBasehostednearly40membersoftheNashvilleChamberofCommercefora basetourMay4.

Businessleaders, programmanagers, andotherinfluentialmembers oftheNashvillecommunitymethereforaleadershipstudymission,to betterunderstandthe Tampaarea,MacDill,anditskeycomponents.

Thegroupofcommunityleaders, withastronginterestinsupporting the military, toured a KC-135 Stratotanker and attended a mission brieftobetterunderstandMacDill’srolelocallyandimpactglobally.

“Theprimarygoalofourvisitto Tampaisfocusedonriverfrontredevelopment, affordabilityandaccessibility, regionaltalentpipeline, and innovationandeconomicdevelopment,” said PaigeAnderson,directorof investorengagementwiththeNashvilleChamberofCommerce.

Studymissionsbringtogetherleadersfrompeer-sizedcitiestopartnerandeducatethepublicontopicssuchasthesimilaritiesanddifferences of militaryandcivilian operations.

“Ithinkit wasgreatforourgrouptohearabouttheeconomicimpactMacDillhasonthe Tamparegionandheardfirst-handabout[servicemembers]transitioningandintegratingintothecommunitywhen transferred.”

TherepresentativeswhoattendedthebreakoutsessionatMacDill AFBeachhaveaspecialinterestinunderstandingandsupportingtheir ownmilitary communityin TennesseeatFt.Campbell.

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PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin Agroupofcivic leadersfromtheNashvilleChamberofCommercetour aKC-135StratotankeratMacDillAirForceBase,Florida,May 4,2023. Thegrouptouredthebasetostrengthen relationshipsandbolstercommunity support withintheNashville area.

COMMANDER’SACTIONLINE

TheActionLineprovidestwo-waycommunicationbetweenthe 6th AirRefueling Wingcommander andthe MacDillcommunity. Personnelmaysubmitquestions,concernsorcommentsviaemailto macdillwingcommander@us.af.milor Facebook@6thARWCommandTeam

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher:Joe Deluca

Editor:NickStubbs

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Everyarticleandphotographiseditedforaccuracy,clarity,brevity, conformancewiththe“AssociatedPress Stylebookand LibelManual”andAir ForceInstruction 35-101.

121stpilots,aircrew participateinwater survivaltraining

byStaffSgt. WendyKuhn 121st Air RefuelingWing

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio—Pilots andaircrewwith the121stAirRefueling WingparticipatedinSurvival EvasionResistanceandEscape(SERE) watersurvival trainingattheHarcum FitnessandAquaticCenterin Reynoldsburg, Ohio, May7,2023.Everythreeyears, pilots and certainaircrewgothroughSERE watersurvival training to familiarize themselveswiththedifferent typesofequipmentandtoprepareforthepossibilityof evacuatingthe aircraftin the water.

“Thisisarefreshertrainingforusincasewehaveto abandontheaircraftintheoceanorwefindourselves separatedfromtherestofthegroup,” said Tech. Sgt.KristaGuillotte, aboomoperatorwiththe121stAirRefueling Wing “It’simportantforustopracticethesestepsina safeenvironmentsothatinareal-worldsituation,weare readyforwhatevercomesour way. We all wanttomakeit hometoourfamilies.”

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by Tech.Sgt. WilliamA.O’Brien SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

U.S.AirForce Tech.Sgt.KristaGuillottewiththe 166thAirRefueling Squadron,121st AirRefuelingWing,participatedinSurvivalEvasionResistanceandEscape(SERE) watersurvivaltrainingattheHarcumFitnessandAquaticCenterinReynoldsburg, Ohio, May7.Everythreeyears,pilotsandcertainaircrewgothroughSEREwatersurvivaltrainingtofamiliarizethemselveswiththedifferenttypesofequipmentandto prepare forthe possibilityofevacuating the aircraftinthewater.

WASHINGTON(AFNS)—TheAshCarterExchangeonInnovation andNationalSecurity washeldMay9,bringingtogetherpioneersand championsofinnovationfromgovernment,theprivatesectorandscientificcommunitiestoexaminehowtoadvancecollaborationinpursuitof nationalsecurity.

SecretaryoftheAir Force Frank KendallandAir ForceChiefofStaff Gen.CQBrown,Jr wereamongthosegatheredattheeventnamedin honorofthelateAshCarter, formersecretaryofdefenseandatrained theoreticalphysicist, whoiscreditedwithleading changeandinnovationthroughouthis four decadesofserviceingovernment.

TheDepartmentoftheAir Forceandentire U.S. militaryismodernizingandrefocusingtoaddressstrategiccompetitionandthe changing characterof warfare.

Inremarkstotheaudience, Kendallhighlightedthatinnovation doesn’thappenaloneandthatthe U.S. isleaningmoreheavilynowon technologydevelopedbypartners and alliesthanithashistorically.

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genceandtheimplementationofinnovationsduringtheAshCarterEx-

DAFseniorleadersofferdialogueondefenseinnovationamidstrategiccompetition

Photoby Tech.Sgt. WendyKuhn

Photoby Tech.Sgt.WilliamA.O’Brien

AirForceChiefofStaffGen.CQBrown,Jr.,discussesartificialintelli-

change on Innovationand NationalSecurityMay9,in Washington,D.C.

WEEKINPHOTOS

RoyalNetherlandsKorpsMariniersCol.

SebastianBrust,headofthe U.S.CentralCommandNetherlandsLiaison Team,placesaceremonial wreathduringtheNetherlandsRemembranceDayceremonyat MacDillAirForceBaseMay4.Theceremonypaidtribute tothosewhohavebeen killedduringwar andpeacekeeping missionssincethe outbreakof World WarII.Theeventincludedmessagesfromdistinguishedguests,the raisingoftheNetherlands flag and amoment of silenceforthosethathavegiventheirlives.

U.S.AirForceAirmenassignedtothe 6th Maintenance Squadronstandatparade restduringachangeofcommand ceremonyforthe 6thMXSatMacDillAir Force BaseMay 10.

PhotobyAirman1stClassDerrickBole

Courtesyphoto

U.S.-basedAirForcemobilityaircraftsupportingDEFENDER23exercise

byCapt.JoseDavis

U.S.AirForces in Europe - AirForcesAfrica

AVIANOAIRBASE,Italy—Activitiesbeginthismonthacrossten countriesinEuropeandcontinuethrough Juneaspartofa U.S. ArmyledexerciseDEFENDER2023,which U.S. Air ForcesinEurope–Air ForcesAfrica is supportinginseveral ways.

SixC-17GlobemasterIIIaircraftfromAirMobilityCommand’s62nd Airlift Wingbasedat JointBaseLewis-McChord, Wash.,andthree C-130HerculesaircraftfromtheAir ForceReserveCommand’s403rd Wingbasedat KeeslerAir ForceBase, Miss, willsupportDEFENDER 23.

The521stAirMobilityOperations Wing, anAMCwingthatsupports strategicairliftoperationsacross19fixedlocationsinEurope, Africa, andtheMiddle East,will deploythree AirMobility TeamsandaugmentationfromacrossthetheatertothreelocationsinsupportofDEFENDER23.

TwoAMTswilldeploytoLarissaAirBase, Greece, oneAMTdeployed toZaragozaAirBase, Spain,andthewinghasaddedadditionalpersonnelandcapabilitiesto the 724thAirMobility Squadron,anexisting 521stAMOWunit,at AvianoAirBase, Italy.

AnAMTdeliversaDemand Force Teamofaerialport,aircraftmaintenance, andcommandandcontrolcapabilitiestoapointofneedoutsideofthefixedenroutestructure. Thisisanewconceptthewingis validatingduringtheexercise.

Duringtheexercise, theaircraftwillbeprimarilybasedat Aviano AB.

DEFENDER23isaUSEUCOM-directedmultinationaljointexercisedesignedtobuildreadinessandinteroperabilitybetween U.S. and NATO Alliesandpartners.

DEFENDER23consistsofthreeseparatebutrelatedexercises. Thoseexercisesare SwiftResponse, ImmediateResponseandSaber Guardian.Eachoftheseexercisesfocusesonuniqueand challenging objectives. Asanexample, SwiftResponseteststheexercise participants’abilitytoconductthreeseparateyetsimultaneousjointforcible entryairborneoperations. ExerciseImmediateResponseallowstheparticipatingnationsandindividualstoworkthroughthecomplexitiesof rapidlybuildingcombatpowerarrivingfromthe U.S. Finally, Exercise SaberGuardianaffordsparticipatingunitsunique challengessuchas conductingaforwardpassageoflines, contestedwetgapcrossingsand

SeeDEFENDER23,Page12

GulfCoastHurricane Awareness Tour2023

Awareness Tour withourNOAApartnersand theNational HurricaneCentertohighlighttheimportanceofbeingpreparedfortheupcomingstormseason.TheHATistypicallyheldduringNationalHurricanePreparedness Weektoemphasize what local andstate resourcesareavailablefor people topre-planin theeventofastormimpactor the needto evacuate.

byJessicaKendziorek 403rdWingPublicAffairs

GULFCOAST—TheHurricane Awareness Tourfor2023returnedtotheGulfCoast regionduringNationalHurricanePreparedness Week.

TheHATandNationalHurricanePreparedness Weekisimportantforgettinginformationouttothepublicinordertogainpreparednesstipsandlearnwhattodoto beforestormshappen.

“Thewholepointofthetouristoraise awarenessabouttheupcominghurricane season,” saidDr. MichaelBrennan,NOAA’s NationalHurricaneCenterdirector. “This helps us at theNHCemphasizetheimportanceofthehurricanemission and talk abouthowimportantthecollecteddataistoourforecastersandtoget warningsoutto thepeopletokeepthemsafe.”

DuringtheHAT, emergencymanagersandmediaweregiventheopportunitytotour thehurricanehuntingaircraftandmeetcrewmembersoftheAir ForceReserve’s53rd WeatherReconnaissanceSquadronWC-130JSuperHerculesandtheNOAAWP-3D Orion.

Thetoursofthehurricanehuntingaircraft, U.S. CoastGuardequipment,andother public safetyequipment andvehiclesattractedhundredsofvisitorseach day, from emergencymanagers, mediamembers, plusschoolandpublictourswiththepurpose ofencouraginghurricanepreparednessbeforetheseasonstarts.

“Havingtheaircraftandcrewshereforthetourisahugedraw,” saidBrennan.“Itis agreat waytogetpeople’sattention,becauseitputsahumanface, aname, andareal persononthewholehurricaneprogram,seeingthebravemenandwomenwhoareflyingright into thestormtocollect thedata.”

PhotobySeniorMasterSgt.JessicaKendziorek

Membersofthe53rd WeatherReconnaissanceSquadronCapt.Sarah Olsen,weatherofficerand Maj.SteveBichsel, navigator,briefvisitorsinline fortheWC-130JSuperHerculestour.The53rd WRSparticipatedinthe2023Hurricane

Thisyear’sscheduledtour wasalongtheGulfCoastregionstarting atEllington FieldinHouston, Texas, LakefrontAirportinNewOrleans, Louisiana., JacksonMedgar WileyEversInternationalAirportin Jackson,Mississippi,the TallahasseeInternationalAirportin Tallahassee, Florida.andtheFlorida KeysMarathonInternationalAirport,Marathon.However, thefinalstopfortheHATinMarathon wascancelled duetoanaircraftpartfailure.

AccompaniedbyNHChurricaneexpertsandNational WeatherServicestormspecialists, Brennan highlighted thepreparednessmessage.

“ThisisHurricane Awarenessweeksolet’susethisweektogetready, tospreadthewordtoleteverybodyknowthatthereareresources Workingtogetherwecanbepreparedforhurricaneseason,” said Brennan.

Brennansaid the HATincreasesthetrusttheyhavewiththeinformationthattheNHC putsout, seeing therealperson behindthe informationthatcomesthroughtheaircrafttothehurricanecenterand knowingthereisahumanbeingworkingonthatforecasthelps.

“Ithinkitmakesitmorerealandpersonable, andhopefullymore trustworthy,” hesaid.

HespokeofhowNOAA,FEMA,andlocalagenciesareworkingtoget people away fromhurricanes, andyettheHurricaneHuntersflyright intostormstogettheneededdatatosavelives.

“Itissuchaselflessmission,toflyintoastormanditisakeypart ofthehurricaneprogram,andwehaveagreatpartnership,” saidBrennan.“Iwouldliketo thankeverybodyforwhattheydo.”

Providingthebestweatherdata wasreinforcedbyLt. Col TobiBaker, 53rdWRSaerialreconnaissance weatherofficer, whogaveinterviewsandtoursoftheWC-130JaircraftthroughouttheHATexplainingthejoboftheweatherofficer, thedatacollected,andhowimportant thatdata isfortheNHC touse inforecasting.

“Afterwegetthecalltoflyastorm,wewillspendanywherefromsixto-eighthoursinastorm,” saidBaker “Weflyanalphapattern,which

resemblesan“X” pattern crossingfrom outside, throughtheeyewall intothe eye, and backout theopposite side, gathering the bestdata available, thensendingthatdatabacktotheNHCfortheforecastersto keepthepublicinformedwiththemost up-to-dateinformation.”

WhileBakerhasworkedtheHATbeforeandisusedtohavingtodo multipleinterviewsinasingledayandspeakwithhundredsofpeople, this was the first time for Capt. Kyle McElhaney, 53rd WRS navigator, whosaidthatit wasgreat.

“It wasalittleoverwhelmingatfirst,butafterthetrialbyfire-hoseit gotbetter,” McElhaneysaidlaughing. “It was awesometotalktopeople andI wasreallyexcitedtobethere. It wasneattostepbackandsee whatwedothroughotherpeople’seyes. Itrekindledthewonderand aww, alsothereasonwhyweareoutthere, tocollectthedatatonarrow thatconeofuncertainty.”

BothBakerandMcElhaneyremindedpeopletopayattentiontothe warningsandtolistentotheirlocalgovernmentofficialsaboutevacuationsandusetheresources availableforpreparedness.

Keepinganeyeontheweatherusingsiteslikehurricanes.govand weather.govprovidedbythenationalweatherserviceforalocalweatheroutlookisimportant, buttheprimarymessageoftheHurricane Awareness Tour waspreparedness.

The Federal EmergencyManagementAgencyregionaladministrators, GraciaSzczech,Region Four, and TonyRobinson, RegionSix,encouragedeveryonetosignupforemergencyalertsusingtheapplications availablefromtheFEMAwebsiteandtheFEMAapp Theseapps willhelppeoplebetterunderstandwhatisneededintheiremergency kits, andhowtokeepthemselvesand theirlovedonessafe.

Fortipsonhowtobereadyforseriousweathermoreinformationcan befoundonwebsitesatReady.gov, FEMA.gov, andNOAA.gov. Thereare alsodownloadableappsthatarehelpfultoprepareyourselfandyour lovedones.

Besuretovisittheofficial6thAirRefuelingWingwebsiteatwww.macdill.af.mil

ProjectKester: Maintenance family cares forown

by Tech.Sgt.BradleyTipton 927thAirRefuelingWing

Airmenandtheirfamiliesfromthe927thAirRefueling Wing,927th and6thMaintenanceGroupalongsidevolunteersfromthenon-profit organizationBelieve WithMejoinedforcesApril29,andconverged atthefamilyhomeoffallenCitizenAirmanSeniorAirmanMahlon Kester, 927thAircraftMaintenanceSquadronfuelcelltechnician.

Lacingupbootsandputtingongloves, volunteerssetouttocomplete thetransformationfromthefamilyhouseintoahome—onewiththe necessitiesforoutdoorenjoymentandrecreation.Someconstructedplay equipment,whileothersplantedlow-maintenancetreesandfoliage By project completion, the team hadeveninstalledanewfrontlawn.

“They’vetakencaretomakeeverythingverylowmaintenanceforher,” saidMaryMilliron,motherofMelanie Ke ster, SeniorAirman Ke ster’s wife. “Theyevenputinanirrigationsystemsothatshedoesn’t haveto comeoutsideandspendtime watering. It’smorethanjustshowingupand plantinggrass, they have reallythoughteverythingthrough.It’sincredible.”

SeniorAirmanMahlon Kester wastragically killedin an off-dutymotorcycleaccidentin2022.Aswellofsupport fromthetotal force communitycameintheaftermathof Kester’saccidentandthefocushasbeenon ensuringMelanieanddaughterOakleyhavealltheessentials.Fromthe time inth ehospitaltotheweeksandmonthsfollowing, everyonefrom Kester’scolleaguesandsupervisorstoseniorleadersbandedtogetherto ensure accessto resourcesandinformation.

“TherehasnotbeenaweekwhereIhaven’theardfromsomeoneinthe Air Force,” saidMelanie Kester. “Th eyevenstartedacollegefundforOakley. They’veinvestedinourfutureandit’sastonishingtomehowpresent they’vebeenthroughallofthis.”

Project Kester, thejointefforttoupdatethefamily’shomeexterior, was madepossibleby927thARWHonoraryCommanderandASILandscapingCEO JoeChielliniand his wifeAudra,who coordinatedwith Lynette RebackoftheBelieve WithMenon-profitorganizationto providesupplies andvolunteers. Forthemaintainersinattendance, thedayisjustoneof manyfutureengagements, asthe Kestersarepartofthelargermaintenancefamily.

“Thiskid wasanamazingindividualanddidsomuchforhis church, community, andfamily,” saidSeniorMasterSgt. Ke vinMcGrath,927t h MaintenanceGroupqualityassurancesuperintendent . “Fromtheonse t oflearningofhisaccident,ourSquadron, Group, and Wingcametogether ina wayIhaveneverseenbefore.Fromthe guysand girlsintheshop showingsupportatthe hospital,to everyonedonatingtimeandmoneyto accommodatehousingandtransportationfortheoutofstatefamilytoattendthefuneral...everyone steppedup!”

Volunteersconstruct outdoorfurniturein theKesterfamilyyard,April29.

Vo lunteersmountaU.S. AirForceflagonthefront ofthe Kesterfamilyhome, April29.ProjectKesteris ajointefforttoprovideexteriorupdatestothefamilyhomeoffallenSenior AirmanMahlonKester, 927thAircraftMaintenance Squadronfuelcelltechnician.

Photoby Tech.SgtBradleyTipton

(Top) Volunteers pause foragroupphotoinfrontoftheKesterfamilyhome,April29.ProjectKesterprovided exteriorupdatestothefamilyhomeoffallenSeniorAirmanMahlonKester,927thAircraftMaintenanceSquadronfuelcelltechnician.

(Above) Volunteersworkonpiecesofoutdoorfurniture intheKesterfamilyyard,April29.

Courtesyphoto

Photo by Tech.SgtBradleyTipton

tBradley Tipton

“Wehavealotofverysmartpartnersoutthere, andintegrateddeterrenceisn’tjustaboutsecurityrelationships;it’salso aboutrelationshipsindevelopmentandinteroperability,” Kendallsaid.“Wehaveveryvaluablepartners, verycapablepartners, andweneedtoutilizethemasmuchaspossible. We’releaning forwardmorethanweeverhavebeforeintermsofsharingtechnology, andwe’realsousingmoreforeigntechnology.”

Speakersagreedthatmodernizationeffortsrequirecollaborationwithindustryaswellasthetypeofanalyticalrigorand decisivenessthatwerehallmarksofCarter’sleadershipstyle.

Speakingonapanelaboutthefutureofinnovationindefense moderatedbySpecialCompetitiveStudiesProjectChiefExecutiveOfficerYlliBajraktari,Brownandfellowpanelists, Michèle Flournoy, co-founderof WestExecAdvisorsandformerundersecretaryofdefenseforpolicy;Dr. EricSchmidt, chairoftheSCSP andformerGoogleCEO;andformer U.S. NationalSecurityAdvisorretiredArmyLt.Gen.H.R.McMaster, commentedonthe needforinnovation, changeandspeed,aswellasCarter’slegacy andtheprojectedroleofartificialintelligenceinfutureconflicts.

Thephrase“valleyofdeath” was usedasametaphor to illustratethegapbetweeninnovationandadoption,wherebynew processesor technologyarenotimplementedoroperationalized.

“There’salotofinnovationononesideofthevalley, butthere’s notalotofprocessestogetthingsinto productionandintothe handsofourservice members quickly,” Brownexplained. “It’s howwetakeandnurtureoneofthesegoodideasandstartto buildittoscale.”

BrownalsodiscussedtheAir Force’simplementationofartificialintelligencebeforecallingonthoseintheaudiencetohelp theDepartmentofDefenseandtheAir Forceunderstandand harness thisandothertechnologicaladvancements.

“Ithinktoooften, you’llsee ‘AI’ onabunchof PowerPoint slides, andit’s[describedas]apanaceathat’sgoingtosolveall ourproblems—andwedon’tfullyunderstandit,” Brown said.

Duringhisspeech, Kendalldescribedhis professionalrelationshipandpersonalfriendshipwithCarterandthe waysin whichCarterhelpedmentorhimtobecomeastrategicthinker inforcebuilding andtechnologicaldevelopment.

“He wasafriend…andsomeoneIadmiredenormouslyand stilldo,” Kendallsaid. “AsI’minmycurrentposition,oneofthe thingsIdofairlyfrequentlyisaskmyself, ‘WhatwouldAshdo?’ ...AsIthinkabouthowtomoveforward,howtocutthrough thebureaucracy, howtomovetacticallysupportingstrategyand howtoachievebig, bigobjectivesbypilingupsmallthingsthat canleadtogettingtowhereyou want togo.”

TheAshCarterExchange wasorganizedbytheSpecialCompetitiveStudiesProject,anon-partisan,not-for-profitorganization.Itsprimarymissionandpurposeisofferinganalysisand recommendationsforstrengtheningAmerica’s long-termglobal competitiveness.

AirForceChiefofStaffGen.CQBrown,Jr.answersaquestionpresentedby SpecialCompetitiveStudies Project ChiefExecutive OfficerYlliBajraktariduring theAshCarter ExchangeonInnovationandNationalSecurity May9,in Washington, D.C.

AirForceChiefofStaffGen.CQBrown,Jr.,discussesartificialintelligenceand theimplementationofinnovationsduring theAshCarterExchangeonInnovationandNationalSecurityMay9,in Washington,D.C.TheDepartmentoftheAir Forcealongwith theentire U.S.militaryispushingtomodernizeand refocusin responsetostrategicchallengesfromnear-peercompletionafterdecadesof placingthepriorityoncombattingterrorism.

Photoby Tech.Sgt.WilliamA.O’Brien

Photoby Tech.Sgt.WilliamA.O’Brien

Trainingbeganwith classroominstruction where Airmen were taught tousevarioustypesofsurvivalequipment.Afterthe classroomportion,training movedtothepoolwhere theyreceivedhands-oninstructionwitha20-man raft and canopy These toolshelpedthemtodiscussandpracticeproper responsesforavarietyof differentemergency situations.

“Thisexperienceand justtheteamworkinvolved issogreat,” saidGuillotte. “Workingtogetherinthis kindofcapacityisa little different,butithelpsus growasateamandimprovesourreadinessfor themissionathand.”

U.S.AirForcepilotsandaircrewwiththe166thAirRefuelingSquadron,121stAirRefuelingWing,participatedin SurvivalEvasionResistanceandEscape(SERE)watersurvivaltrainingattheHarcumFitnessandAquaticCenter inReynoldsburg,Ohio,May7.Everythreeyears,pilotsandcertain aircrew gothroughSEREwatersurvivaltraining tofamiliarizethemselveswiththe differenttypesofequipmentand toprepare for thepossibilityofevacuatingthe aircraftin thewater.

Photoby Tech.Sgt. WendyKuhn

jointforceableentryoperationstoseizekeyterrainobjectives. USAFEAFAFRICAhas significant participationin allthreeexercises.

“Thisannual,nearlytwo-monthlongexerciseisfocusedonthestrategicdeploymentof U.S.-basedforces, employmentofArmypre-positionedstocksandinteroperabilitywithEuropeanalliesandpartners,” saidSabrinaSingh,deputy Pentagonpresssecretary, duringabriefing onApril6,2023,atthe Pentagon in Washington,D.C.

DEFENDER23planningisledby U.S. ArmyEuropeandAfrica.USAFE-AFAFRICAisthesupportingcommand.Theexerciseisdesigned to demonstratethe U.S. military’sability torapidlydeploycombatcredibleassetsandequipmenttoassureallies, deterthosewhowould threatenthepeaceofEuropeanddefendthecontinentfromaggression. TheexercisedemonstratesEuropeannations’commitmenttoincreasing theirmilitaries’scale, capabilityandinteroperability.

DEFENDER23willincludemultinationaltroopsfrommorethan20 Alliedandpartnernations.

Thelarge-scalemovementoftroopsandequipmentfromthecontinental U.S. forthisexerciseinvolvesextensivesupportfromeachhost nation,demonstratingtheimportanceofallyandpartnerinvestment inEuropeanmilitaryreadiness and defense. The UnitedStatesis a coalescingforcein Europe, improvinginteroperability, readinessand strengtheningresolveacrosstheAlliance.

USAFE-AFAFRICA’sabilitytosupportandintegratewith U.S. allies andpartnerscontinuallystrengthenssolidarity, collectiveresolve, and theabilitytoadaptinadynamic warfightingenvironment.

SeveralmediaopportunitiesarescheduledduringDEFENDER23 activities. Journalistsinterestedinbeingaddedtothedistributionlist shouldemailmedia@army.mil,or subscribeto theRSSfeedatwww. EuropeAfrica.army.mil/PressReleases. FollowthelatestnewsandinformationonDEFENDER23atwww.EuropeAfrica.army.mil/DefenderEurope.

Airmenassignedtothe724thAirMobilitySquadronoffloadaC-17 GlobemasterIIIaircraftfromthe62ndAirliftWing,basedoutofJoint BaseLewis-McChord, Wash.duringDefender23,at AvianoAirBase, Italy, May5.The31stFighterWingissupportingmultipleAirMobility ForcesandAirForceReserveCommandsduringDefender23exercise, aU.S.ArmyEuropeandAfricaledexercisedesignedtodemonstrate theU.S.military’sability torapidlydeploycombat-credibletroops and equipmenttoassureallies,deterthosewho would threatenthepeace of Europe anddefendthecontinent fromaggression.

PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin

AgroupofcivicleadersfromtheNashvilleChamberofCommerceposewithservicemembersassignedtothe50thAirRefuelingSquadronfor aphotonearaKC-135Stratotankerat MacDillAirForceBase,Florida,May4,2023.Thegrouptouredthebasetogainabetterunderstandingof military operationsandthebestwaystosupport servicemembersintheirlocalcommunity.

“Wehavebeenstrengthening ourrelationshipwithFt. Campbell,” Andersonshared. “Wewillhaveafullsessionaroundthemilitaryworkforce, primarilyfocusingontransitioningmembersofthemilitarycommunity and spousal supportforthosefamilies.”

Airman1stClassDakotaGross, aboom operator with the50thAirRefuelingSquadron, actedas atour guideforthegroup, showingthemaround theKC-135.

“Ithinkit’sreally interestinghowweareabletomakeconnections with

leadersfromdifferentregionsoftheUnitedStates,” saidGross. “It feels goodknowingthat peoplecaresomuchabout building strongrelationships withservicemembers and rallyourlocalareastobejust assupportive.”

Asa pillarofthe TampaBaycommunity, MacDillAFBiscommittedto continuallyimprovingtheirrelationshipwith civiliansinthesurrounding area. TheNashvilleChamberofCommercetouris oneexample oftheongoingandeverimprovingrelationshipbetween the 6thAirRefueling Wing and itsciviliancounterparts.

EVENTS

FSSMemorialDayclosures

ThefollowingFSSfoodandbeverageserviceswillbe closedMay26 -29:theBreakawayEventCenter, Boomers, SeaScapes, Brewsofthe Bay, andRickenbacker’sCafé. For afulllistofMemorialDay closures, visitmacdillfss.com/memorialdayhours/.

Memorial5K Run/3K Walk

TheShort FitnessCenterwillbe hostinga5Krun/3K walkonMay 25at7a.m.intheSouth Fieldin honorofthosewhohaveservedand sacrificed. Runnersareencouraged to wear red, white, and blue Prizes forfastestmale/femaleinboththe 5Krunand3K walk. Formoreinformationaboutthisevent,visit macdillfss.com/short-fitness-center/.

ArtsandCraft Classes

The Arts andCraftsCenter is nowofferingcraft classes. For a fulllist ofMay classes, visitmacdillfss.com/wp-content/uploads/AC_ MAYEVENTS.pdf.

FreeGolfLessonsforActiveDuty

Every Wednesdayfrom12- 1 p.m., activedutyandtheirspouses canenjoyfreeinstruction,golfballs and clubsatthedrivingrange. No reservation required.

BecomeaSecretShopper

Getpaidtocallorvisit6FSSfacilities. To learnmore, calloremail the 6th FSS MarketingDept.at 828-2513orsixfssfsk@gmail.com.

Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss.com

TheChamp!

U.S. AirForceCol.Adam Bingham,6thAirRefuelingWingcommander, left,andChiefMaster Sgt.ShaeGee,6thARW commandchief,right,poseforaphotowith SeniorAirmanLazarea West,6thSecurityForcesSquadronentrycontroller,duringaChampionofthe Week recognition atMacDillAirForce BaseMay9. Westwas rewardedforvolunteeringataU.S.CentralCommandsafetyevent, revitalizingthe6thSFSAirman’sCouncilandworkingwithlocal recruitersto showcasedefender’s roles and responsibilities to potential recruits.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

NormalHours- Monday-Friday - 9a.m.to3p.m.After hourschaplain,calltheCommandPostat828-4362/4361.

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

CatholicMass -Sunday- 9:30a.m. (confessionsbyappointment)

Protestantvirtualservices -Sunday -11a.m. (www.facebook.com/6amwhc)

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

IslamicService - Friday1:30p.m.(spacereserved)

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

For moredetails andinformation,visittheChapelFacebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/or MacDill’sChapelwebsiteis:https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

PhotobySenior AirmanLaurenCobin