Thunderbolt 6/13/2024

News/Features: page3

Adopt a high school

News/Features: page3

Twogenerations,onemission

Week in photos: page4

Images fromthe week

Community: page15

Events, Chapel, more

U.S.AirForceSenior Master Sgt. Kendrick Brown,6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadron FirstSergeant,provides remarksduringacandlelightvigilheldforSeniorAirmanRogerFortson,May31atMacDill AirForceBase.Duringhis speech,Brown reflectedonFortson’slifeandserviceasaspecialmissionsaviatorwhile stationedatHurlburtField, Florida.

Photoby

NEWS/FEATURES

Honoring80thAnniversaryofD-Day,93dAGOWheritage

byCapt.ChristianLittle 93rdAirGroundOperationsWing

Inobservanceofthe80thAnniversaryof World WarII’s Operation Overlord, D-Day, the93d Air GroundOperations Wingsent30 jumperstoparachuteina June9, in adisplay ofthe U.S. Air Force’scommitmentto itsinternationalpartnershipsatNormandy, France.

The93dAGOWheritagetracesbacktothe historical93rdBombardmentGroupwhich servedin World WarII from1942untiltheend ofthe war. Membersofthe93rdBGcontributedtotheAlliedD-Dayinvasionbyproviding bombingsupportbefore, duringandfollowing theinvasion.

A93rdBGhistorianwrotethefollowing in June1944regardingD-Day, “Iftomorrow isthe day, I wanttogo wastheexpressionofnearly everyone. It wasn’tthattheywereeagerto get in combat, but now at last, theycanproject themselvesrightintobattle, andthey wanted todotheirbitforcomradesonthe ground.It’s bettertodiethantomissthegreatestemotionaleventofone’sgeneration.”

Onesquadronwithinthe93rdBGconducted fourmissionsprovidingbombingsupportonD-

U.S.AirForcecourtesyphoto

U.S.ArmyAirForces93rdBombardmentGroupaircraftflyaboveEuropeatanestimateddate ofApr.16,1943.The93dBGprovidedbombingsupportthroughout World WarIIandOperation Overlord,D-Day.TheU.S. remainsindebtedtotheservicememberswhofoughtforpeace,stabilityandorderin World WarII. SeeD-Day,Page12

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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Everyarticleandphotographis edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook andLibel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.

NEWS/FEATURES

The165th AW launchesAdopt AHighSchoolprogram

bySeniorAirmanChristaRoss 165thAirliftWing

SAVANNAH,Ga.— The165thAirlift Wing launchedtheAdoptAHighSchoolprogramfor schoolsintheGreaterSavannahandBrunswickareaspring2024.

Theprogramdispatches Airmento local campusestoengagewithstudentsone-ononeandsharetheirexperienceserving in the military. Byestablishingaconsistentpresence withlocalstudents, the165thiscultivating a personalizedapproachtobuildingstrongcommunityrelationships.

“TheAdoptAHighSchoolprogramaims toforgeenduringpartnershipsbetweenour squadronsandlocalhighschools, significantly increasing awarenessofthe165thandGeorgiaAirNationalGuardmission,” said U.S. Air ForceCol.Sheldon B. Wilson,165th AW commander.

SeniorAirmanAriyanaA.Rosado, apersonnelspecialistatthe165th AW, reflectedonher

SeeHIGHSCHOOLPage14

Twogenerations, onemission

bySeniorAirmanOliviaGibson 406thAirExpeditionaryWing

Bornintoafamilywithalonglineofmilitary service, fromayoungage, SeniorAirmanTyler Fasig wasimmersedinanenvironmentshaped bythemilitary, withbothhisfatherandgrandfatherservinginthe U.S. Air Force. Thisinfluenceinstilledarespectfor aviationforaslongas hecanremember.

Tyler’sdecisiontoenlistintheAirNational Guard’s182ndAirlift Wingattheageof17 was influencedbyhisupbringingandthehonorable reputationofthe182ndAirlift Wing. Withthe fullsupportofhisparents, TylerbecameaC-130 crew chief.

Tyler’sfather, Lt.Col. Randy Fasig, hasbeen

SeeONEMISSION,Page14

U.S.AirForceSeniorAirmanAriyanaA.Rosado,left,personnelspecialist,165thAirliftWing (AW),GeorgiaAirNationalGuard (GAANG),andChiefMasterSgt.EricL.Rideaux,right,commandchief,165 AW,poseforaphotoduringanAdoptAHighSchooleventat Woodville TompkinsHighSchoolinSavannah,Georgia,May8.

PhotobySeniorAirmanOliviaGibson

U.S.AirForceLt.Col.RandyFasig,75thExpeditionaryAirliftSquadroncommander,andhisson SeniorAirman TylerFasig,75thEASC-130 CrewChief,poseforaphotoatCampLemonnier,Djibouti,May20.Thefatherandsonaredeployedtogetheraspartofthe75thEASwhichservesas U.S.AirForcesAfrica’ssoleairliftunit.

Courtesyphoto

WEEKINPHOTOS

AnF-15StrikeEagleassignedtothe96th TestWing,EglinAirForceBase,Florida,approachesaKC-135Stratotankerduringanair refuelingmissionMay23overFlorida.Air refuelingprovidedbytankeraircraftenablestheF-15andotheraircrafttostayintheairlongerandavoidlandingin combatcontestedareas.

U.S.AirForceLt.Col. GregoryGaudet, 6thOperationsGroupcommander,passesthe91stAirRefuelingSquadronguidontothesquadron’snewestcommander,Lt.Col.RaymondRoe,duringachangeof commandceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseMay31.Aspartofthe 6thAirRefuelingWing,the91stARSoperatesKC-135Stratotankeraircraftworldwidetoconductair refuelingmissions.

Certificatesofpromotionselectionaredisplayedonatableduringthe MasterSergeantReleasePartyatMacDillAirForceBaseJune3.The releasepartycelebratedMacDill’smastersergeantselecteesbefore theypinontheirnewrank.

Photoby Tech.Sgt.AlexanderCook

PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin

PhotobyAirmanMoniqueStober

NEWS/FEATURES

Peruvian,USfirefighterstrainforaircraftfire evacuations

byAirman1stClassSirWyrick 12thAirForce(AirForcesSouthern)

Peruvianand U.S. Airmenengaged in jointtrainingforaircraftstructuralfirerescue June3,2024,inLima, Peru,aspartoftherelationshipbuildingexerciseResoluteSentinel2024.

PeruvianAirmensharedtechniquesandbestpracticesforhandling andextinguishingaircraftfiresandrescuingtrappedpersonnelwith the U.S. Airmen,wholikewisesharedtheirtactics. Thefirerescue training wascoordinatedbytheCombined Joint Task Force–RS24 and aimedtopreparethe U.S. andpartnernations foreffectiveemergency responseinareaswithlimitedresourcesandtreatmentoptions.

“Thisexercise wastofamiliarizeourselveswithhostnationhelicopters andcollaborateonthe waytomosteffectivelyoperatewiththem,” said U.S. MasterSgt.GustavoClaudio, 103rdAirlift Wingfirefighter fromtheConnecticutAirNationalGuard “Withthehelpof PeruvianAirmen,weestablishedacommandpostandexecutedathree-man rescueoperationwithprimaryandsecondaryattacklines. We swiftly deployedthecrashtruckandcommunicatedwiththe Peruvianpilotregardingtheshutdownprocedure. Thefirefightersexecuted therescue,

SeePERUVIAN,Page6

U.S.AirForcefirefighterssimulateevacuatingapilotforafire rescue evacuationtrainingduringResoluteSentinel2024inLima,Peru,June3. RS24isamultinationaltrainingopportunitythatimprovesthe readiness ofU.S.andpartnernationmilitariesthroughhumanitarianassistance anddisaster response.

PhotobyAirman1stClassSirWyrick

successfullyretrievingthepilot.”

The PeruvianAir Forceoperatesdifferent airframes comparedtothe U.S., includingthe MilMi-17and the Mi-25.Thisvariationinaircraftprovided U.S. Airmen withanopportunitytoenhancetheircombat interoperability.

“Backinthe U.S., wehaveadifferentsetofhelicopters weown,” said U.S. Air ForceStaffSgt. VanessaSchoening, 106thRescue WingfirefighterfromNew YorkAir NationalGuard.“It’snicetolearnabout andworkwith varioushelicopters, andexplorethedifferences. Onour Whiskeysback home, weareusuallyputtingoutfires andenteringontheleftsideoftheaircraft,buthere everythingisreversed,sogettingthathandsontraining ismostbeneficial. Also, our Peruvian counterpartsare gettingtoseehowwedothings, andit’s really afeedof informationforeverybody.”

TheAirmenparticipatinginthetrainingstagedafire rescuescenarioandjointly walkedthroughthestepsof puttingoutafireandevacuatingtrappedairmen.

“Themostimportantthingoutofthis training isdemonstratinghowwewouldexecuteourprocedures,” Schoeningsaid.“Eveninsituationswherewedon’thave some ofourpreferredresources, we’restillgoingto train and executeina waythatisstillfaithfultohowwewoulddo itbackintheStates. Thisisimportantbecausewearen’t justputtingoutfires, butwearealsoevacuating Airmen andgettingthemtothemedics Thistrainingwillpotentiallyhelpthoseemergencyresponsesandhelpsave livesdowntheline.”

Peruvianservicemembersparticipatingin thetrainingwereabletoalsotake away asenseofpartnership andcollaboration.

“Ithinkit wasan excellenttraining,” said Peruvian Air ForceLt. Col. Mandolo Poblete, CJTF-RS24deputy ofhelicopteroperations. “Wealwayshaveagoodintent fromthe U.S. Airmen,and theyhavethebestattitude, approachesandsuccess Not onlydothey integratewith ouraircrews, butalso withourfirefighters fromwhich theyarealsosharingtheirtactics, techniquesandprocedures. So, ithelpsalottoimprovetheexpertiseoffire firefighters.”

Throughfacilitatinginformationsharingandenhancingcommunicationwithalliednations, thereisoptimismthatthedeterrentforceofboththe U.S. andits allieswillbebolstered.

“Duringourday, wespenttraining and relationship building,” saidClaudio. “It’sadynamicexchangewhere we’recontinuouslysupportingeachother. Undoubtedly, it’smutuallybeneficialforallpartiesandwillhelpthe overallgoalofbuildingastrongerandmorecollaborativealliednationforce.”

PhotobyAirman1stClassSirWyrick

APeruvianAirForcepilotgivesafamiliarizationtourofaMILMi-17helicopterduring ResoluteSentinel2024inLima,Peru,June3. RS24isathree-weekexercisethatwill integratecombatinteroperabilityanddisaster responsetraining.

PhotobyAirman1stClassSirWyrick

U.S.AirForcefirefighterssimulateputtingoutanaircraftfireforafire rescueevacuationtrainingduringResoluteSentinel2024inLima,Peru,June3,.OneofRS24’sgoals istoprepare theU.S.andpartnerednationstoeffectivelygiveproperaidduringemergency responseswithlimited resources.

NEWS/FEATURES

World WarIIHeritage:generationalservice

byCapt.ChristianLittle 93rdAirGroundOperationsWing

Servicemembersleavealastingimpactontheirfamilymemberswho choosetofollowintheirfootsteps. Theirserviceliveson andisoftenembodiedinalegacyofmilitaryservicefromtheir children,grandchildren andevengreatgrandchildren.

Capt.ElizabethReadandSeniorAirmanTrevorReecearetwoexamplesofservicethatspansgenerations. ReadandReeceareparticipating inthe80thAnniversaryofOperationOverlord,D-Day, andwillparticipateinaninternationalparachutedisplayas U.S. Air Forcejumpersin Normandy, France, on June9,2024.

Read’sgrandfather, LesterRead,served asa marineinthe Pacific theaterduring World WarII,andReece’s great grandfather, Nathan Reece, servedasamedicinmultipleareasofthe warand waspartofthe invasionforceatOmahaBeach.

Theircontributionstothe warweresignificant,buttheyalsocarried oninspiringtheirdescendantstoserveastheyhad.

“Ithinkit’sextremelyimportanttorememberthosewhocamebeforeus, especiallywhenyou’rehereand youseetheamountofsacrifice

SeeWWII,Page11

U.S.AirForceSeniorAirman TrevorReece, 10thAirSupportOperations Squadron TacticalAirControlPartyAirman,left,andCapt.Elizabeth Read,18thAirSupportOperationsGroupintelligenceofficer,standnear an80thAnniversaryofD-DayceremonyatPicauville,France,June4, 2024.TheseAirmenaredirectdescendantsofU.S. ArmedForces World WarIIveterans.TheU.S. remainsindebtedtothemore than4millionU.S. servicememberswhofoughtforpeace, stabilityandorderinEurope.

U.S.AirForcecourtesyphoto

Inthefightagainsthunger, theAlamoWingdelivers a C-5sizedpunch

byJulianHernandez 433rdAirliftWing

Foryears, PastorRonSpradlinhasworkedwithbrothers Franciscoand JosueChaveztofighthungerin Panama.On June1,theygainednewalliesintheireffort:a68thAirliftSquadronaircrew,callsign“Reach 2087”, anda433rdAirlift WingC-5MSuperGalaxy.

TheReserveCitizenAirmencrewusedtheAir Force’slargestairframeto move166,000poundsoffoodfromTinkerAir ForceBase, Oklahomato Panama PacificoInternationalAirport,justoutside PanamaCity, aspartofahumanitarianreliefmission.

ThemissionfallsundertheDepartmentofDefense’sDentonHumanitarian AssistanceProgram,whichmoveshumanitariancargo, donatedby U.S. based Non-GovernmentalOrganizations(NGOs),todevelopingnationstoeasehumansuffering. ApprovedcargoistransportedbyDODland,airorseaassets onaspace-availablebasis.

SpradlinheadsupAbundantRainMinistriesinCoweta,Oklahoma , an d spentmonthscollectingdonationsfromacrossthecountrytoputthisshipmenttogether. He’sspentmorethantwodecadesworkingtofeedthoseinneed athomeandabroadinplaceslike Panama.

“Thepovertytherejusthitmesohard,” Spradlinsaid.“IntheUnitedStates wehavehunger, butheretheyhavestarvation.There’sagreatdifferencebetweenmissingoneortwomealsaweek,andactuallystarvingtodeath.”

“Itdoessomethingtoyouwhenyou walkintoanareaandtheyshowyou a babydyingofstarvation,” Spradlinsaid.“Youjustcan’tshakeit. Mostpeople eithertrytoforgetaboutitbecausethey’retraumatizedbyit,orwecantryto dosomethingaboutit.”

AccordingtotheCentralIntelligenceAgency World Factbook,atleast21.5% percentofpeoplein Pa namawerelivingbelowthepovertylineasof2019. ConditionssignificantlyworsenedduringtheCOVID19 Pandemic.

“Tenyearsago,wedidn’thavewidespreaddeathfromstarvationand children starving,” said JosueChavez,who’sbeenworkingwithSpradlinsince2009to distributethefoodbroughtintothecommunitiesinneed.“Wedoafterthepandemic,” Chavezsaid.“It’sablessingtohaveanentireplanefulloffoodarrive. Hopefullywecancontinuedoingthis, becausewecangetthefoodfaster.The fasterwegetit,thefasterwecantakeittothenextlevel.”

Josueandhisbrother Franciscohelpgetthefoodtowhereitisneededthrough anorganizationcalledKing’sCastle Foundation(FundaciónCastilloDelRey).

“Wegoanywherethatisinneed,” JosueChavezsaid. “Children’soutreach centers, soupkitchens, schools, churches. We mostlyworkwith churchesall overthecountry, especiallyinveryruralareas.”

“Peopleprobablyjustdon’tknowthelittletheycangivemakesahugedifferencewhenyouareinneed,”FranciscoChavezsaid. “Onepoundofricefor a familythatdoesn’thaveanythingtoeatgivesthemsixmeals.”

TheChavezbrothersestimatethe166,000poundsofaidtheAlamo Wing

SeeC-5,Page13

The68thAirliftSquadroncrew,callsign“Reach2087”,whichdelivered166,000poundsofhumanitarianaidtoPanamaposeforagroupphotowithmembersof King’sCastleFoundation(FundaciónCastilloDelRey),aPanamaniannon-governmentalorganizationdistributingtheaidtothoseinneed,onthetarmacatPanama PacificoInternationalAirportJune1.ThecrewofReach2087movedtheaidfromTinkerAirForceBase,OklahomatoPanamaundertheDepartmentofDefense’ DentonHumanitarianAssistanceProgramusinga433rdAirliftWingC-5MSuperGalaxy.

The68thAirliftSquadroncrew,callsign“Reach2087”,whichdelivered166,000poundsofhumanitarianaidtoPanamaposeforagroupphotowithmembersof King’sCastleFoundation(FundaciónCastilloDelRey),aPanamaniannon-governmentalorganizationdistributingtheaidtothoseinneed,onthetarmacatPanama PacificoInternationalAirportJune1.ThecrewofReach2087movedtheaidfromTinkerAirForceBase,OklahomatoPanamaundertheDepartmentofDefense’s DentonHumanitarianAssistanceProgramusinga433rdAirliftWingC-5MSuperGalaxy.

MasterSgt.MatthewLegendre,MasterSgt.BrentBolin, andSeniorAirmanAliGundogdu,68thAirliftSquadron loadmasters,positionapalletofhumanitarianaidbeing offloadedfroma433rdAirliftWingC-5MSuperGalaxyat PanamaPacificoInternationalAirportJune1.The68th AirliftSquadroncrewmoved166,000poundsoffood fromTinkerAirForceBase,OklahomatoPanamaunder theDepartmentofDefense’sDentonHumanitarianAssistanceProgram.

Lt.Col.MattMenendez,68thAirliftSquadronchiefpilot andReach2087aircraftcommander,pilotsa433rdAirlift WingC-5MSuperGalaxyonfinalapproachtoPanama PacificoInternationalAirport,justoutsidePanamaCity, PanamaJune1.The68thAirliftSquadronaircrewdelivered166,000poundsofhumanitarianaidaspartofthe DepartmentofDefense’sDentonHumanitarianAssistanceProgram.

2024 JUNETEENTH DAY HOLIDAY

theymade,” saidSeniorAirmanTrevorReece, 10th AirSupportOperations Squadron TacticalAirControl PartyAirman.“I’llneverbeabletounderstand whattheywentthrough,butIcanhonortheunbelievablethingstheydidforthiscountry.”

These Airmenrecognizethe sacrifices made by allservicemembers, andtheyuse it to guidethem in theirpathofmilitaryservice.

“ThemainthingI wanttosaytothose whohave servedbeforemeisthankyou,” saidCapt. Elizabeth Read,18thAirSupportOperationsGroupintelligenceofficer. “Theylaidsuchasolidfoundationfor ustofollowintheirfootsteps. Andnow, wegetto carryonthetorchthattheygaveus, andhopefully giveanothersolidfoundationforthepeoplethat willcomeafterus.”

Howeverbriefamilitarymember’sservice is, it providesafoundationofselflessservicethat is requiredtoprotectothersfromharm.

“He waseverythingIaspiredtobe, someonewho wasloving, putother’sneedsbeforehisown,and that’ssomethingI wantedtodoformyfamily membersandnowformycountrytoo,” Readsaid.“He servedhiscountry, andwe’rereally proudofthat, butmyrespectformygrandpacamefromwhohe wasasaperson.He wasagreatMarineaswell as a greathusband,father, andgrandfather.”

Thesemembersserved in theirmilitary capacity butalsoasinspirationalfigureswhomotivatedotherstocarryontheirlegacyofservice.

“Itjustkeepslivingon,fromgenerationto generation,Ithinkit’ssomethingthatfamilymembers canbeveryproudof,” Reecesaid.“Hislegacylived far beyondhim.”

U.S.AirForcecourtesyillustration/colorized

U.S. Army Pfc.Nathan Reece, 614thMedicalClearingCompany,posesforaphotoat sometimebetween1942and1945.Reece servedasamedicduring World WarIIin multipleareasofthewartoincludeassisting intheinvasionofOmahaBeachonD-Day. TheU.S. remainsindebtedtothemorethan 4millionU.S.servicememberswhofought forpeace,stabilityandorderinEurope.

U.S.AirForcecourtesyphoto

U.S.MarineCorpsmemberLesterRead, 28thMarineRegimenttankliaisonandradio operator,posesforaphotoatsometimebetween1942and1945.Readservedasaradio operatorinthePacifictheaterduring World WarIIandwaspresentfortheconflictat Iwo Jima.TheU.S. remainsindebtedtotheservicememberswhofoughtforpeace,stabilityandorderin World WarII.

Dayandcontinuedtoflyanestimated1,121hours andlostfouraircraftinmotionagainsttheenemy inthefollowingmonth.

Theymournedtheirlosses, buttheycontinued tofightonfortheremainderofthe war, providingaireffectsagainsttheenemywhenevercalled upon.

“I’mproudofthe93rd,notonlyoftheflying personnelbutofthegroundpersonnelaswell,” saidCol.Flegelofthe93rdBG, June1944.“Those boysoutonthelinedeservealotofthecredit; they’veworkedwithoutthoughtofself.”

Themissionoftheorganizationhastransitionedtoprovidingaustereairbasedefense, front linecombatweathercapabilities, andgroundbasedcommandandcontrolinsupportofforward airoperations, butthespirit of the93rdBG lives on in theAirmanservingintoday’s93dAGOW.

“Westriveeverydaytoupholdtheheritageof the93rdBombardmentGroup,” said Col Timothy Hood,93dAGOWcommander. “Theircontributionsto World WarII inspireus to beatourbest everydayandfollowintheirfootstepstoprovide criticalaireffectsinthebattlespace.”

Continuing to honorthesacrificeanddedicationofthese World WarIIinternational servicemembersisareminderofhowourmilitaryforces arestrongertogether.

“It’simportanttocontinuetohonorourheritage, andit’ssomethingweshouldneverforget,” Hoodsaid.“ThefactthattheUnited Statesand ourinternationalpartnerscontinuetoremember givesusallhope of lastingpartnerships toallow ustobereadyforwhatever challengesorcompetitionliesahead.”

U.S.ArmyAirForces93rd BombardmentGroupaircraftsitonaflightlineinEuropeatanestimateddateofSept.18,1944.The93dBGprovidedbombingsupportthroughout World War IIandOperationOverlord,D-Day.TheU.S. remainsindebtedtotheservicememberswho foughtforpeace,stabilityandorderin World WarII.

crewdeliveredcouldhelpfeedupto1.1millionpeople. Mealsconsistoffortifiedrice, protein-packedsoybeans, anddehydratedvegetablesforadditionalvitaminsand minerals.

Thebrothers, alongwithSpradlin, hiswife Terry, and afewdozenotherfoundationsupporters, wereonhandto seethecrewofReach2087unloadtheaidattheairport.

“Inmy19andahalfyearsintheAir Force, I’veneverflownamissionquitelikethis,” saidLt. Col. Matt Menendez, 68thAirliftSquadron chiefpilotand aircraft commanderforReach 2087.

“Workingso closelywiththefolkswhoaredelivering thelocalimpactofwhatwe’retransporting wasspecial,” Menendezsaid.“Icouldtellalltheaidwewerebringing andproviding wasgoingtomakean immediatepositive impacttothoseinneed.Thatbringsalotofsatisfaction toallofuswhoareonthismission.”

ForStaffSgt.ThomasRiojas, a68thAirlift Squadron loadmaster, handlingcargothatcantangiblyimprove thelivesofsomanypeople wasparticularly fulfilling

“It wasbetterthananormalmission, becauseit wasrewardingtoseetheirexcitementfirsthand,” Riojassaid.“It feltgoodtomeettheaidworkers, showthemtheaircraft, andgivethema chancetoseehowtheaidcomesin.”

MasterSgt.Daniel Parsons, a68thAirliftSquadron flightengineer, alsorecognizedthis mission roseabove theaircrew’snormalbattlerhythm.

“Thismaylooklikejustanotherweekendtriponthe Air ForceReserveCommandschedulingboard,”Parsons said.“But it wasanextremelyrewardingmission. We moved20palletsoffoodmorethan2,000miles, and it reallymakesyouproudtoknowyouhelped getthisfoodto thepeoplewhoneedit.”

Within48hoursofdelivery, King’s Castle Foundation hadalreadystarteddistributingthefoodtopeoplein need.

HIGHSCHOOL

experiencevolunteeringforanAdoptAHigh Schooleventat Woodville TompkinsHighSchoolonMay8.

“ItfeelsreallygoodbeingabletoshedlightonalloftheuniqueopportunitiesofferedbytheGeorgiaAirNationalGuardandourwing,” saidRosado. “It’sevenbetterbeing abletoconnect withtheyounger generationandofferthemguidanceonthedifferentpathstoachieving theirgoals.”

ThesuccessfulexecutionoftheAdoptAHigh Schoolprogramreaf-

ONEMISSION

FromPage3

apartofthe182ndAirlift Wingformorethan20years, originallyjoining asenlistedandthencommissioningsevenyearslater “AfterenlistingintheIllinoisAirNationalGuardinMarchof2001,the tragic9-11eventsunfoldedsendingmeonmyfirstsix-monthdeployment whileTyler wasmerelythreemonthsold,” saidLt.Col.Randy Fasig, 75th ExpeditionaryAirliftSquadroncommander. “Youcanimaginehowhard this wasformywifeaswewereveryyoungatthetime.”

Littledidheknowthatyearsdowntheroadhewouldthenfindhimself deployedalongsidehissonintheUnitedStatesAfricaCommand,contributingtothemissionofthe182ndAirlift Wing. WhileTylerfocusesonhis dutiesasacrew chief, hisfatherassumescommandofthe75thExpeditionaryAirliftSquadron.

“Itisastrangedynamichavingyourcommanderalsobeyourdad,” said Tyler. “Hehassupportedmethroughoutmycareerofferingadvicethat I

firmsthe165th AW’s commitmenttosupporting community awareness andrecruitingforthewing, theAirNationalGuardand U.S. Air Force.

“Grassrootsrecruitingiscrucialas ithelps identifyandnurturepotentialtalentfromwithinour community,” said Wilson. “Programslike this help usaccomplishourultimate goal, which is ensuring aready anddiversemilitaryforcetodayandforgenerationstocome.”

Forinformationontheprogramorhowto get involved nextschool year, pleasecontactthe165thPublicAffairsOfficeat912-966-8290.

maynothaveknown.Beinginthemaintenancefield,Imaynotseehim muchonthedaily, butheisalwaystherewhenIhavequestions.”

Outsideoftheirmilitaryresponsibilities, Tylerandhisfathermaintain astrongfamilialbondbyparticipatinginregulardinnerstogether. These momentsserveasareminderoftheirbondthatkeepsthemconnected, evenamidstthe challengesofmilitarylife.

AsTylernavigateshismilitarycareerandhasaspirationsofoneday followinginhisfathers footstepsofbecomingan aviator, hisfatherappreciatesthetimehe’sgottentospendleadinghisteamandsonduringwhat willbehislastofseven deployments.

“ThisbyfarisoneofthegreatestopportunitiesofmylifeandIwill cherishitfortherestofmylife,” saidRandy. “Whata waytofinish!”

Together, theyembodyalegacyofserviceandcommitmenttothe75th EASthattranscends generations.

COMMUNITY

EVENTS

Racquetballballcourtsopen

TheShort FitnessCenteris thrilledtoannouncethegrand re-openingoftheirbrand-new racquetballcourtswithstate-ofthe-artflooring!Whetheryou’re aseasonedplayerorjustgetting started,theupgradedcourtsoffer theperfectsurfaceforanexceptionalplayingexperience.

FamilyFunNight

JoinMacDillLanesand Family CenterforAKidsGlow-A-Rama FamilyFunNighton Fridayfrom 5-9 p.m.Enjoycosmicbowling, deliciousfood,andtonsoffunwith$2 games, $3shoerentalsforadults, $2forkids, andaspecialkidsbuffetforjust$7.95.Don’tmissouton thisglowinggoodtime. Visitmacdillfss.com/wp-content/uploads/ JuneKidsGlowarama.pdfformore information.

Golf TuneUp Tuesday

ShapeupyourswingatBay Palm’sGolfCourse. JointheGolf TuneUp classon June18forexperttipsandprecisionperformance. Whetheryou’reabeginner orseasonedpro, perfectyourgame Eachsessionwillbeginwith30 minutesontherangefollowedby 30minuetsontheshortgamearea. Sign up nowatthePro Shopand driveyourskillstothenextleve.. Availablesessionsare:11a.m.,12 p.m.,5 p.m.,and6 p.m.$40per person/8-personlimitpersession. Fordetailsvisit,macdillfss.com/ wp-content/uploads/Golf-Tune-Up. pdf

Medal awarded

Lt.Col.Mike Vilven,outgoingcommanderofthe91stAirRefuelingSquadron,isawardedameritoriousservicemedalduringachangeofcommandceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseMay31.The MeritoriousServiceMedalisamilitaryawardpresentedtomembersoftheUnitedStates Armed Forceswhodistinguishedthemselvesbyoutstandingmeritoriousachievementorservicetothe UnitedStates.

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)

Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss.com

Protestant services - 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 1:30 p.m.(space reserved)

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

For more details and information, visitthe Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ or MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin