Thunderbolt 6/06/2024

PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin

NEWS/FEATURES

byStaffSgt.AbbeyRieves 355thWing

DAVIS-MONTHANAIRFORCEBASE, Ariz.—he civil searchand rescuemissioncallcameonaSundayafternoon–A woman;possible brokenbones;300 miles away; trapped; 200feetdeep;mineshaft.

Outofthreepossiblerescueunits, theAir ForceRescueCoordination Cellselectedthe563rdRescueGroupatDavis-Monthan Air ForceBase, inTucson,Arizona,forthisrescuemission.

The563rdtaskedthe48thRescueSquadron,madeupofpararescuemenandtacticalaircontrolparty specialists, andthe55thRescue Squadron,whichoperatestheHH-60W JollyGreenIIhelicopters. In lessthanonehour, the48thRQSassembledan8-manRotary Wing Team–thenameforanassembledrescueteamtaskedwithamission— simultaneoustothe55thRQSwhodispatchedtwoHH-60Ws;continued andregularupkeeptotheHH-60Ws wascreditedtothe55thRescue GenerationSquadron,whocrankedthewrenchesandservicedthehelicopterbeforetake-off.

The U.S. Air ForcePJsandcombatrescueofficersfromthemission broughtmeintotheirteamroomtorecountthestory. Surprisinglywell lit,myeyeslookedatthetableasIsatdown. Printedpicturesofvariousrescuemomentsfrompastmissionsanddeploymentswerewellpreservedundertheglass tableprotector.

Likemanymembersintherescuecommunity, Icouldtellit was strangeforthemtohaveaPublicAffairsspecialist interviewthem I’ve growntounderstanditis verynormal forPJs to preferanonymityand

AU.S.Airmanassignedtothe48th RescueSquadron rope repelsinto a mineshaft, Yuma,Ariz.,April7.The563rdRescueGroupcoordinatedeffortstosaveawomanwhofelldown200feetintoamineshaft.

TheActionLineprovidestwo-waycommunicationbetweenthe 6thAirRefueling Wingcommander and theMacDillcommunity. Personnelmaysubmitquestions,concernsorcommentsviaemailto macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil or Facebook@6thARWCommandTeam

MacDill Thunderbolt

Publisher: Joe Deluca

Editor: Nick Stubbs

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NEWS/FEATURES

ACCcommandteamvisitstheinstallationofthefuture

by

Tech.Sgt.BettyChevalierand2ndLt. Lyca Steelman 325thFighterWing

U.S. Air ForceGen. Ken Wilsbach,commanderofAirCombatCommand,ChiefMasterSgt. David Wolfe, ACCcommand chief, andtheir spouses, visitedTyndallAir ForceBase, Florida, May21-22,togaindirectinsight intothe 325th Fighter Wing’smissiontransitionand installationrebuild.This was Wilsbach’sfirst visittoTyndallsinceassumingcommandin Februaryofthisyear.

In2018,TyndallAir ForceBasesustained adirecthitfromHurricaneMichael. Overall, 484buildingsweredamaged.

Duringthevisit, Wilsbachand Wolfesaw firsthandthestridesthe325th Fighter Wing ismakinginbecomingtheAir Force’snewest F-35ALightingIIoperationalfighterwing, taskedtomaintainreadinessinsupportofnationaldefense. Inaddition,theywitnessedthe progressof TeamTyndall’srebuild intothe“InstallationoftheFuture.”

SeeFUTUREPage8

Mr.MichaelDwyer,AirForceCivilEngineerCenterNaturalDisasterRecoveryDivisiondeputy divisionchief,showsCindyWilsbach,spouseofGen.KenWilsbach,commanderofAirCombat Command,andDr.Doniel Wolfe,spouseofChiefMasterSgt.DavidR. Wolfe,ACCcommand chief,anoverviewofthe rebuildplansat TyndallAirForceBase,Florida,May22.Duringtheir visitto Tyndall,they receivedupdatesonthe$5billion InstallationoftheFuture rebuild,thelargestmilitaryconstructionprojectinDepartmentofDefensehistory.

AirForcelifestyleandperformancemedicinechampion retires

byMaristelaRomero AirForceMedicalService

Having championedDefense-wideimpactsto primarycarestandardsandpoliciesfortheMilitaryHealthSystemandglobalimprovementsin lifestyleandperformancemedicine, Col.Mary AnneKielretiredfromtheAir ForceinaceremonyattheMilitary Women’s MemorialinArlingtonNationalCemeteryonMay8.

Kielservedas chairoftheLifestyleand PerformanceMedicine WorkingGroup, chiefofAir ForceMedicalHome, Air ForceMedicalAgency at FallsChurch, Virginia,and chairoftheDefenseHealthAgencyPrimaryClareClinical Community, rolesinwhichsheledservicerepresentativesindevelopingprimarycarestandards andpoliciesfortheMilitaryHealth System. Priortothesepositions, Kiel was chiefofmedicalstaffatWhitemanAir ForceBase, Missouri,

wheresheadvisedseniorleaders onhealthcare management.

Withtwodecadesofexperienceinmilitary medicineanddoublecertificationsinpediatrics andlifestyleandperformancemedicine, her leadershipadvancedthequalityofcareacross 455medicalfacilitiesserving 3.5millionpatientswhile championingtheuseofevidencebasedlifestylepracticestoreframetheapproach tooptimizinghealthforAirmanandGuardian readinessandlifeaftermilitaryservice.

Duringtheretirementceremony, Brig. Gen. James Parry, OfficeoftheAir ForceSurgeon GeneralMedicalOperationsactingdirector, presentedKielwithhercertificate of retirement andletters of appreciationalongwith a commemorativepinthatherhusband, ChrisKiel, bestoweduponherinthepresenceoffamily and colleagues.

SeeRETIRE,Page10

PhotobyJoshMahler

U.S.AirForceCol.MaryAnneKielgivesconcluding remarksather retirementceremony held at theMilitary Women’sMemorial in ArlingtonNationalCemetery, Virginia,May8.

PhotobyStaffSgt.StefanAlvarez

WEEKINPHOTOS

Airmenfromthe6thLogisticsReadinessSquadronloadcargoduringexerciseExplodeintoTheater(EXPLODEO)2024atMacDillAirForceBase May29.ExplodeintoTheater readinesseventsallowforcestodevelop Tactics, TechniquesandProcedures(TTPs)andcapabilitiestosenseand seizeopportunitiesthroughoutthespectrumofconflict.

PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin

Airmenassignedtothe91stAirRefuelingSquadronandthe6thAircraft MaintenanceSquadronperformpre-flightchecksonaKC-135StratotankerpriortotakeoffatMacDillAirForceBaseMay28.TheKC-135is capableof refuelingamultitudeofdifferentairframesallowingforthe supportofmanymissionsandtrainingexercises.

AnF-15StrikeEagleassignedtothe96th TestWing,EglinAir Force Base,Floridaapproaches aKC-135Stratotankerduringanair refueling missionMay23overFlorida.Air refuelingprovidedbytankeraircraft enablestheF-15andotheraircrafttostayintheairlongerandavoid landingincombatcontestedareas.

PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin

Photoby Tech.Sgt.AlexanderCook

NEWS/FEATURES

Moodyhostsengineerstoenhance HC-130fleetAirForce-wide

byAirman1stClassLeonidSoubbotine 23rdWing

MOODYAIRFORCEBASE,Ga.—The71stRescueGeneration SquadronhostedengineersfromMercerEngineering ResearchCenter toperformreliability-centeredmaintenance interviewsandinflightrefuelinghosetestingatMoodyAir ForceBase, Georgia,May20-21.

EngineersfromMERCcollaboratedwithAirmenfromvariousunits andbackshopstogatherdatafromsubject matterexperts. Together, theyidentifiedcommonproblems, conductedfurtherresearch,andproposedimprovementsandfixesattheAir Force level.

“Thisinformationwillhelpthefleetandhelp oureffortsforfuture sustainmentoftheaircraft,” said Tech Sgt.Aaron Nazario, 71stRGS crew chiefnoncommissionedofficer in charge. “Attheendoftheday, we trytohavethebestaircraft availabilitythatwecanandnotspendlong periodsoftimetryingtofixanissue thatis constantlycomingup.”

Techniciansfrommetalstechnology, electricalandenvironmental systems, avionics, fuels, sheetmetal,engines, hydraulics, crew chiefs andothershopswereabletointeractanddemonstratetheireffortson theHC-130JCombatKingIIaircraftandsharetheirknowledgetofurthertheplatform’sdevelopmentand improvementefforts.

“Itisbeneficialthatweget tovoiceouropinion,” Nazariosaid. “It givesthesubjectmatterexpertsa chanceto voicetheirissuestotheengineers, sothattheycanpossiblymaketheirjobseasier. Everyone was verycooperative, availableandgave alotofpositivefeedbackforthe engineerstotakeback.”

Duringthesecondpartofthevisit,focusshiftedtoresearchandfuturedevelopmentforin-flightrefueling(IFR)hosesthatarecriticalto therescuemission.Every135daystheIFRhosesontheHC-130JCombatKingIImustbeinspected.

“Withoutthosehoses, wecan’tdothejobatallfor rescuebecausewe havetohavethefuelfortheHH-60W JollyGreenII’s for thelongtreks thatwehavetodotosavepeople,” saidStaffSgt.KamronHouston,71st RGSaircrafthydraulicssystemscraftsman.

Afterafulldayofin-depthobserving, learning andinformationgathering withtheMoodyexperts, theengineerswereabletocollectnumerousideasanddatatobringbacktoMERCforfuturetestinganddevelopmentpurposes, includingtwofailedhosesforfurtherresearch.

“Theywerereviewinghowweperformin-flightrefuelinghoseand podinspectionsandwhatwecandotoremedytheissueswe’rehaving,” Houstonsaid.“We’vefosteredbetter relationshipswiththeengineers andIbelieveit’llallowustocontinuetohave moreeventslikethisto figureoutbetter waysforward.”

Fromhumblebeginningsto highaltitudes:the inspiring storyofSMSgtArcibal

storyandphotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin 6th AirRefuelingWing

Howhasyourupbringingsetyouapartfromyourpeers?

Fo rSeniorMasterSgt. Ke nnethArcibalthetwothing s thathavebeenengrainedinhimsince childhoodarehard workandsacrifice. Hisstoryunderscorestheimportanceofresilienceandtheenduringstrengthfoundinembracingone’s cultural roots.

BorninthePhilippines, ArcibalmovedtoHawaiiwithhisfamilyattheageofsix.Inhis childhood,Arcibal wassurroundedby a close-knitfamily, filledwiththe warmthandsupportofnumerous relatives.

“Wemightnothavehadalotofmoneygrowingup, butfamily madesurethatwewereallthereforeachother,” Arcibalfondlyrecalls.

Hisparents, whoworkedmultiplejobs, instilledinhimthevalues ofhardworkandsacrificefromanearlyage “Asanadolescent, I wasexposedtothatand wasaccustomedtowhatsacrificesmyparentsweremakingtoprovideformeandmyyoungersister,” hesaid. TheselessonsofperseverancebecamethefoundationofArcibal’s ch aracter. Eventhoughheinitiallypursuedadegreeinarchitecture, Arcibalfoundhistruecallingafterhisfather, aformer U.S. Navyserviceman,advisedhimtojointheAir Force. Headds, “probablyoneofthebestpiecesofadvicehe ’d evergivenme,” Arcibal added.

Now, with15yearsofservice, ArcibalservesasaKC-135boom operatorandthecareerenlistedmanagerforthe6thOperations Group. His Fi lipinoheritage, withitsemphasisonfamily, hard work,andcommunit y, hasbeenintegraltohissuccessintheAir Force.

“Itisimportanttoembraceandcelebrateouroriginsandculture becauseitshapedmeintowhatIamtoday,” heexplains. Arcibal’s messagetothenextgenerationechoesthevaluesthat haveguidedhimthroughouthislife. “Becriticalthinkersandnot cynicalthinkers,” heemphasizes “Takecareofoneanotherandremembertotakecareofyourself!”

AswecelebrateAsian PacificIslanderHeritageMonth,wecelebratehisjourney, whichillustrateshowastrongfoundationoffamilyandheritagecanshapeanindividual’s pathtosuccess. SMSgtArcibal’sjourneyremindsusthatthevalueswelearnin childhood—rootedinfamilyandculturalheritage—arethepillars ofourstrengthandsuccess. Hislifestoryisapowerfulexampleof howembracingthesevaluescanleadtoafulfillingandimpactful career.

U.S.AirForceSeniorMasterSgt.KennethArcibal,6thOperationsGroupcareerenlistedmanger,poses for a photoontheflightlineat cognizesMayasAAPIMonth,whichcelebratestheculture,traditions

BlackFlag 24-1concentrates on Joint TestIntegration,settingthe stagefor VirtualBlackFlag

PhotobyAirman1stClassBrianna Vetro U.S.AirForceCol.DanielLehoski,commanderofthe53rdWing,walksalongsideU.S.NavyCapt.MatthewDavin,Air TestandEvaluationSquadronNinechief operationaltestdirector,ontheNellisAirForceBase,NevadaflightlineonApril 24.VX-9,alongwith severalsquadrons attachedtothe53rdWing,metatNellis AFBtoparticipateinBlackFlag24-1;anOperational Test-focusedexercisethat evaluatesthesuitabilityofemergingcapabilitiesandtacticsinmulti-domain, multi-service,operationally relevantscenarios.

byCapt.LindseyBrewer 53rdWing

The53rd Wingpartneredwiththe U.S. Navy’sAir TestandEvaluationSquadron Nine(VX-9)toconductExerciseBlackFlag24-1,inApril2024.

BlackFlagisanOperational Test-focusedexercisethatevaluatesthesuitability ofemergingcapabilitiesandtacticsinmulti-domain,multi-service, operationally relevantscenarios.ThisiterationofBlackFlagfocusedontestinglikewewillhave tofight,concentratingontacticsimprovementproposalsandjoint-servicetactical integration.

“Asageneraltrend,integrationacrossboththejointforceandourcoalitionpartnersisbecomingincreasinglyimportant,”saidCol.DanielLehoski,53rd Wingcommander. “Additionally,thescenariosinwhichweexecutetheseexercisesarebeing designedwithanewlydevelopedbaselinethreatinmind.”

Duringthisevent,Air ForceandNavypremierweaponsplatformsintegrated duringover-waterexercises,testingnewsoftwareandhardwareprojectedtobedeliveredtothefleet.

“It’s cleartomethatTyndallisgoingtobe the mostmodernairbaseintheworldand what’sreallyencouragingtome, isinthe midstofthelargestMILCONprograminDoD, wearestilldoingthingslikeCheckeredFlag,” said Wilsbach.“It’sinspiringbecauseCheckeredFlagisfranklyjustanother waythat we canexpandtheAgileCombatEmploymentenvelope.”

TheACCcommandteamobservedTyndall’s strategicpositioningalongtheGulf Range Complex,whichisoneofafewranges in the U.S. capableofsupportingmajorcombattrainingandweapontesting, suchasCheckered Flagor WeaponsSystemEvaluationProgram.

“Ithinkitisatremendousbaseto getready togodowhatournationmayaskustodo,” said Wilsbach.“Thebase, whatthecommunitywillallowustodoherefromthebase, the rangespacethatisaround,it’salla national treasure.”

Wilsbachand Wolfetooktheopportunityto engagewithAirmentoexpressappreciation fortheirhardworkanddedication.Theywere impressedwiththeresilienceofAirmenand theirabilitytoadapttotheever-changingenvironmentatTyndallwhilepursuing themission.Theyurgedpatienceaswellastrustthat leadershipisworkingas hard aspossibleto getconstructioncompleted.

“Theamountofprogressthathasbeenmade overthelastfewweekssinceI waslast here is noticeable, thattellsmethatthefolksthatare in chargeof alloftheseimprovementoperationsandconstructionprojects, arereallydoingagreatjobofmakingsurethatthingsstay ontrack,” Wolfesaid.“It’sreallyexcitingtosee whatafuturebasecanactuallylook like with Tyndallastheexampleforallofthem.”

Cindy Wilsbach, spouseofGen. Wilsbach, andDr. Doniel Wolfe, spouseofCMSgt Wolfe, alsovisitedthenewlyconstructedChildDevelopmentCenterandinteractedwithTyndall spousestodiscusstopicsaffecting TeamTyndallfamilies.

“Seeingallofthefoundationsandframeworkpopupalloverthebaseisnothingshort

PhotobyStaffSgt.StefanAlvarez U.S.AirForceCapt.RyanLineback,325thForceSupportSquadronchildandyouthprograms flightcommander,briefsAirCombatCommandand325thFighterWingleadershiponthe new ChildDevelopmentCenterfacilityat TyndallAirForceBase,Florida,May22.ThenewCDCcan house300childrenrangingfrominfantstotoddlers,fulfillingacriticalneedfor childcaresupporting Tyndall’sAirmenandtheirfamilies.

ofimpressiveandIcan’t waittosee itwhenit’s completed,” saidCindy.

Dr. WolfereflectedonChildDevelopment Centersandtheimportanceof Youthprograms andhowithelpsmilitary children.

“Irememberwhenmyfather wasdeployed thatbeingenrolledintheCDC YouthPrograms wasthebestthingforme,” saidDr. Wolfe. “Theyreallysavedmylifewhenitcame tohelpingmeasamilitary childmissingaparentfordeployment.”

Asthecommandteamdeparted, WolferemindedtheAirmenthattheirimpactreaches fartherthanTyndallAir ForceBase.

“ToalltheAirmenthatarestationedat Tyndall,don’tforgetwhyyou’rehere, whether

you’reworkingattheDFACoryou’reopening or closinggates in thesecurityforcessquadron,you’reheretomakebigstridesincombat capabilityandwhatismoreimportantthan that?” Wolfesaid.“We’reheretobethebestAir ForceintheworldandthefolksatTyndallare doingtheirpart.”

AsTyndallcontinuestoexpanditsF-35A LightningIImissionsetandreachrebuild milestones, thisvisitnotonlyshinedlighton thevariousunitswithin TeamTyndall,but reaffirmedhowTyndalliscommittedtocultivatinga cultureofinnovationandresourceful AirmentodeliverreadyforcesthroughtheAir Force Force GenerationModelfor combatoperations.

FromPage7

“Gettingourteamstogethertotestinthemostrealisticenvironmentpossibleisreallycoretowhatwedo,” saidCapt.MatthewDavin,VX-9 chiefoperationaltest director. “It’sallaboutbeingeffectivetogetherbyvalidatingourcapabilitiesinajointintegratedenvironment.”

Specifically, theexerciselooksatoperationscounteringlongrangeair-to-airkill chainsandelectro-magnetic spectrumoperations Datagatheredduringtestingwill beextensivelyanalyzedwithpartnersquadronsbefore observationsandresultsaredeliveredtothe U.S. Air Force WarfareCenterandtheNavalAir WarfareDevelopmentCentertodisseminatetothefleet.

“Deterrenceisournumberonegoal,” Lehoskisaid. “Butifdeterrencefails, itisourjobtomakesureweare deliveringthetactics, techniques, andproceduresthe warfighterneedsonnightone.”

FollowingBlack Flag24-1,the 53rd Wingisexecutinga VirtualBlackFlag(VBF)Large Force TestEvent forthefirsttimethissummer, whichwillincludeNavy, Army, andSpace Forcecapabilities VBFwillallowunits tocompletetestobjectivesthatcannotbeaccomplished throughregularflightoperations.

“Thevirtualenvironmentwillbeakeycomponentin ourtestenterprise,” Lehoskisaid.“Itwillallowformore jointassetinvolvement,andwe’llbeabletoaccelerate tacticsdevelopmentandevaluationsupporttothe warfighter.”

“I’m veryproud to have hadtheopportunityto be in servicewithsuchanoutstandingindividual,”Parrysaid, reflectingonKiel’s impactwithintheMilitaryHealthSystemandoverseas. “ShehasnotonlyinfluencedtheUnited Statesmilitary, butothernationsarelookingatwhatshe hasdonewithlifestyleandperformancemedicine, Lithuaniabeingone. They wanttoincorporatealotofwhatshe hasbeendoingintotheirmilitary. Asfor U.S. Air Force medics, wewillkeeponpushinglifestyleandperformance medicinetogetreadyforgreatpowercompetition.”

TheceremonyconcludedwithKielvoicinghergratitude forherunforeseenmilitarycareerandworkalongside medicstowardthemissionofreadinessandresilience. Initially, shehadnotplannedonjoiningtheservicedespite growingupwithafatherwhoserved intheAir Force.

“It wasn’tuntilI wasinthemidstofmedicalschool whenIrealizedhowmuchIactuallymissedthatcamaraderieofourmilitarycommunitythatIhadgrownupwith,” sheshared.“Thisteamandcommunityarewhatreally propelledmetostaywithitforthelastcoupleofdecades Theteamralliesandgetsthingsdone.”

Kielstartedhermedicalcareerasapediatrician,and herpassionevolvedtoincludeprimarycareforAirmen, Guardiansandtheirfamiliesthroughherroleas chair ofthe U.S. Air ForceLifestyleand PerformanceMedicine WorkingGroupfrom2020to2024.Herbackgroundinpe-

diatricssolidifiedhercommitmenttoimprovinglifestyle habitsasasuccessfulpreventivemethodtoachievelongterm,holisticcare.

Lifestyleandperformancemedicineisasubspecialty thatremedieshealthconcernsatitssourcewithincremental changestostressmanagement,nutrition,sleep, physicalactivity, socialconnection,and avoidanceofexcessive tobaccoandalcoholconsumption.

Leadingtheworkinggroup wasoneof herproudest achievements. Kieland20coremembers, primarilyAir Forcephysicians, passionate abouthealth andwellness charteredtheworkinggroupsixyearsago. Sincethen,its membershiphasgrowntomorethan350healthcareprofessionalsincludingrepresentativesfromeach oftheservices, theDefenseHealthAgency, Departmentof Veteran Affairs, andothergovernmentemployees. Inadditionto makingasignificantimpactwithintheDepartmentofDefense, Kielledtheinaugural JointL&PM WarfighterSummitwiththeLithuanianArmed Forceswheresheeducated 315traineesfromeightnationsundertheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization. Fortheirefforts, Kiel’sworking groupearnedthe2023DistinguishedSpecialRecognition Awardfromthe AmericanCollegeofLifestyleMedicine.

“Wesaw changeoverthelastfour yearsinpeople’s mindsetsaroundtheirownpersonalhealthandthe way theycanhelppatientsachievetheirhealthgoals. Oftenin thehealthprofessionalarea,we’reboggeddownwiththe responsibilityofaddressingallourpatients’needs. We are taughttobeselflessandtodoourutmostforthebenefitof thepatient.”

Lifestylemedicinepractitionershaveseensignificant transformationsamongbeneficiariesprescribedwithlifestyleinterventionsaspartoftheirtreatmentfor chronic conditions.

“Myhopeisthatwithinanotherthreetofiveyears, therewillbeadramaticshiftinprimarycareasfarasnot onlybeingabletodotheirbesttocarefortheirpatients,” Kielsaid.“Butalsotobetheirbestselvesashealthcare professionalsandbethatresilientworkforcethatweneed inourmilitaryhealthcaresystem.”

Asa championofthemedicalspecialty, Kielorganized andledtheinauguralL&PMsummit in February2024, conveninghealthcareprofessionalswhoareproponentsof Lifestyle and PerformanceMedicine.

Oneofthemost challengingyetrewardingmomentsof hercareer wasdrawingseniorleaderattentiontowardthe medicalspecialtyandsecuringtheircontinuedsupport.

“It’shardwhenyou’reaskingpeopletothinkabout somethinginadifferent way. Andtoapproachsomething whenyou’realreadyscantontime,” shesaid.“Oneofthe reasonswewereabletoaccomplishsomuchisbecausewe hadreallypassionateworkinggroupmemberswhoareall doingthisoutofthegoodnessoftheirheartinadditionto theirregularjobs.”

COMMUNITY

EVENTS

Freebowlingforkids

MacDillLaneshaspartnered withKidsBowl Free, aprogram designatedtogivebacktothecommunityandprovideasafe, secure, andfun wayforkidstospendtime thisspringandsummer Register your child(ren)toreceivetwofree gamesofbowlingattheMacDill LanesuntilAug, 11. Formoreinfo andregistration,visitkidsbowlfree.com/center.php?alley_id=6553

FamilyFunNight

JoinMacDillLanesand Family CenterforAKidsGlow-A-Rama FamilyFunNighton Friday, June 14, from5-9 p.m.Enjoycosmic bowling, deliciousfood, andtonsof funwith$2games, $3shoerentals foradults, $2forkids, andaspecialkidsbuffetforjust$7.95.Don’t missoutonthisglowinggoodtime Visitmacdillfss.com/wp-content/ uploads/JuneKidsGlowarama.pdf formoreinformation.

Golf TuneUp Tuesday

ShapeupyourswingatBay Palm’sGolfCourse! JointheGolf TuneUp classon June18forexpert tipsandprecisionperformance. Whetheryou’reabeginnerorseasonedpro, perfectyourgame. Each sessionwillbeginwith30minutes ontherangefollowedby30minuetsontheshortgamearea.Signup nowattheProShopanddriveyour skillstothenextlevel. Available sessionsare:11a.m.,noon.,5 p.m., and6 p.m.$40perperson/8-person limitpersession. Fordetailsvisit, macdillfss.com/wp-content/uploads/ Golf-Tune-Up.pdf

Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss.com

The Champ!

U.S.AirForceSeniorAirmanMichaelCantu,91stAirRefuelingSquadronaviation resourcemanager, was recognizedasChampofthe Weekbythe6thAirRefuelingWingleadershipteamatMacDillAir ForceBaseMay28.Cantuprovided real-timesupportduringhightempooperationspublishingand postmission reviewing23missionsinsupportofRedFlagAlaska, ICE West,Cornet WestandSouthComwhilealsoensuringthesafeexecutionoflocaltrainingmissions.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

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

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

Catholic Mass - Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessionsby appointment)

Protestantservices - Sunday - 11 a.m. Contact the Chapel at 828-3621or email at 6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil for inquiries regarding Protestant religious education.

Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For schedule &tojoin distro,pleasecontactelimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

Islamic Service - Friday 1:30p.m.(space reserved)

OtherFaith Groups - Pleasecontact the Chapelat (813)828-3621orviaemail at 6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

Formoredetailsandinformation,visittheChapelFacebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/or MacDill’s Chapel websiteis: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

PhotobySeniorAirmanJessica Do

littletonopublicattention.

ThefirstCROstartedtorecountthestory. Hehadshortbrownhair withstrongfeaturesthatmatchedhisconfidencewhenhespoke.

Nearlythree-hundredmiles away, awoman wastrappedatthebottomofamineshaft.It wasatechnicalrescue;aroperescueheexplained. It wassomethingtheyhadtrainedandpreparedfor Quietmurmursof agreementcarriedoutfromhisteammatesatthetable.

Iaskedthemwhatit wasliketoreceivethe call,thatcall.Immediatelytheyallsmiledinanexcited way. Icouldtellthat theylovedtheir jobs. Onespokeupandsaiditisalwaysabittersweetmoment;that savingsomeone’slifeissuchanamazingexperience, butalwayslinkedto someone’sworstday.

DM’sPJsarealways on call,offeringpararescuecapabilitiesnotonly incombatconditions, butalsoinhumanitariansituations worldwide.

Likearehearsedplay, thenext servicemembercontinuedthestory wheretheCROleftoff, butIknow it wasn’tplanned that way. From juniorenlistedtofieldgradeofficers, allthe Airmenatthetablehadan unspokenbondofmutualrespect.

Hesaid,the55thRQS’aircrewexpertly navigatedandplacedtheRW Teamlessthan100metersfromthemineshaft, landed inthemiddleof extremelyuneventerraininthedeadofnightwith no incident;a true testamenttotheabilitiesofthese battle-hardenedpilotsandSpecial Mission Aviators.

AnoncommissionedofficerwhoIthought wasthemostexcitedto sharehispieceofthestory, cuppedhishandaroundhisface. Heanimatedtheactionandsaidtheyyelledand yelled into themineshaft,but distancesilencedtheircallsandequally suppressedthewoman’scries forhelp.

PickingupwherethatNCOleftoff, aPJmedicwithcurlybrownhair andpiercingblueeyesemphasizedthe importanceofrescuingthewoman,andprovidingmoredefinitiveandeffective medicalcarethatcould notbeachievedinthemineshaft At thatpoint, thewomanhad been

undergroundfornearly12hours, withnocontacttothesurface, alone andquiteliterallyinthe dark from the extensivecoordinationabove thesurface Herfriend,whocalledtheauthoritiesfor help, wasequally stressedabovethesurface.

ThesecondCRO, whohadblondehairand wasobservantlystrong, creditedthemulti-agencyeffortsintherescue, notjusttheAir Force TheLa Paz CountySheriff Office’s worktruckprovided a steady anchoringpointforthePJstodescendintothe verticallysloped passagewaytothewoman.Suppliedwithabreathingapparatusandadeviceto testthesafetyoftheair, themedicwentdown.Thesecondmedic, who wastypingonalaptop, peekedupbut continuedtotypeas he added information, undergroundair qualitycanbe volatile.

Withtheundergroundairsafetobreathe, theCROwhostartedthe recount,explainedthis rescue wasa moderaterisk,withdry-rotted woodensupportbeamsandanunknownundergroundnavigationroute.

IntheprocessofbecomingRescue, theseAirmenwerebuiltinto ready, willingandcapable warfighters. Thesehumanweaponsystems werefurtherenhancedwhenassignedtothe355th Wing, whichisone oftheAir Force’sonly active-dutywing’sdedicatedtocombatsearch andrescue Afterseeingsomanytrainingexercises, itconfirmshow seriouslytheytaketheirjob, andhowpreciselytheyexecute. ThenIsaw theswitchflipfrommissiontohuman,and watchedeachmembers’eyes fillwithcompassionwhenrecounting thisstory

ThePJsmadesurvivorcontact, providedmedicaltreatmenttothe woman’sbrokenankleandsuccessfullyextracted herfrom thecomplex man-madecave She wasthen airevacuatedto YumaRegionalMedical CenterbythesameHelicoptersandAircrewfromthe55ththatbrought theRW Teamtothemissionsite. Onceatthehospital,thesecondPJ medicphysicallycarriedherintothehospital,andhandedherofftothe YRMCmedicalteam,finishingthemissiononApril7.

MomentslikethismakemeproudtobeapartofanAir Forcethat hasswornanoathtoprotectthecountryandcommunitythey servein.