Thunderbolt 06/16/2022

Vol. 50, No. 24

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Inspiring the next generation - page 8 News/Features: page 2 A tribute to LGBTQ+

News/Features: page 3 Guardsmen honored

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

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

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Sydney Gunn, a crew chief assigned to the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, assists a child during a game of bingo at the New Life Village campus in Tampa May 29. This month, 10 service members, assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, joined the fun, celebrating with party games, a piñata and cake.

NEWS/FEATURES DoD pays tribute to LGBTQ+ service members

by David Vergun DOD News WASHINGTON (AFNS)—Pride Month is a time to come together to honor the contributions of LGBTQ+ service members, said Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks, who spoke at the 11th LBGTQ+ Pride Ceremony at the Pentagon June 7.

As President Joe Biden recently stated, Pride Month is a time to remind the LGBTQ+ community that they are valued and deserve dignity, respect and support, she said.

The Defense Department strives to lead on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, including for LGBTQ+ people, she said.

“The DoD is committed to ensuring and promoting an atmosphere of dignity and respect for all civilian and military personnel.

We strive to make the Department of Defense a workplace of choice for all Americans willing and qualified to serve. In doing so, we set a bedrock foundation where all personnel are valued and given an equal opportunity to succeed,” she said.

LGBTQ+, Page 12

Photo by Mauricio Campino

Staff Sgt. Bryanna Dahl, 436th Airlift Wing occupational safety technician, salutes with a rainbow-painted hand in preparation for Pride Month at Dover Air Force Base, Del., May 26, 2021. Every June, the Defense Department recognizes Pride Month, celebrating the contributions of LGBTQ+ service members who have bravely served and sacrificed. Pride Month also upholds DoD’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in all military branches.

COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air Refueling Wing commander and the MacDill community. Personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments via email to macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil or Facebook @6thARWCommandTeam

MacDill Thunderbolt Publisher: Joe Deluca Editor: Nick Stubbs The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by the Times Publishing Company, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense,

2

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Refueling Wing.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Refueling Wing or the Publishing Company of the products or service advertised.

For retail advertising, call (813) 226-3318.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

MacDill on the web Website: www.macdill.af.mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb Twitter: @macdill_afb News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted to the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Call the Thunderbolt at 828-2215. Email: 6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.

Deadline for article submissions is noon, Wednesdays to appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions are considered for publication based on news value and timeliness.

Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.

NEWS/FEATURES

Air Guardsmen honored for valor during Operation Allies Refuge

by Staff Sgt. Sarah M. McClanahan National Guard Bureau NEWBURGH, N.Y. (AFNS)—Flying into a “hornet’s nest” is how one crew member of Reach 824 described the scene as their C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft approached Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, as Taliban forces took the capital city last summer.

The crew of seven Airmen from the 105th Airlift Wing, New York National Guard, did not grasp the magnitude of their heroism at the time: Their successful completion of this airlift mission would earn them the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, each donned with the V device for valor, or the Meritorious Service Medal.

“I am grateful there are Americans who step forward to serve our nation, to kiss their families goodbye to join the fight, to tell their employers, ‘I know what we do is important, but right now my nation needs me, and I have to go,’ ” said Army Gen. DanielHokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, at a ceremony June 4 recognizing the crew’s heroism.

“It is nothing short of inspiring to be in your company.”

Recognized were Capt. Matthew McChesney, Lt. Col. Andrew Townsend, Capt. Jonathan Guagenti, Tech. Sgt. Joseph Caponi IV, Staff Sgt. Evan Imbriglio and Staff Sgt. Corey Berke.

The seventh member, Tech. Sgt. Byron Catu, flying crew chief aboard See GUARDSMEN, Page 14

Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Terrence Clyburn

New York National Guard Airmen with the 105th Airlift Wing were recognized with the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with valor at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y., June 4. Gen. Daniel Hokanson, National Guard Bureau chief, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, Air National Guard director, praised the Airmen for their heroic actions flying a C-17 Globemaster III into Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, as Taliban forces took the capital city in August 2021.

Wish granted!

by Tech. Sgt. Bradley Tipton 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

The 927th Air Refueling Wing was introduced to one of the most resilient members of its family during a family day gathering at MacDill Air Force Base April 30.

Tam Keenan, from the Kids Wish Network, introduced 7-year-old Lennon Little to the wing and presented him with a military uniform.

U.S. Air Force Col. Kurt Matthews, 927th ARW commander, presented Lennon with his commander’s coin, thanked him for his bravery and made him an honorary commander for the family day.

Life-threatening health challenges qualified Lennon to receive a wish through the Kids Wish Network.

For his wish, Lennon chose to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump and an update to that wish came in the form of a surprise gift box presented to him during the family day. Inside, Lennon found a personal letter, coin and several autographed memorabilia items from the former president.

“We’re incredibly proud to have the Littles in the 927th family and it was a personal honor to meet Lennon at family day,” said Matthews.

See WISH, Page 13

Photo by Tech Sgt. Brad Tipton

U.S. Air Force Col. Kurt Matthews, 927th Air Refueling Wing commander and Lennon Little share a salute on MacDill AFB April 30.

Matthews presented the commander’s coin to Little and named him Honorary Commander for the day in front of the 927th ARW in recognition for his bravery and resilience in the face of health challenges.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

3

WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Staff Sgt. Shannon Bowman

Airmen assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing and honorary commanders pause for a group photo before boarding a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base June 3. MacDill’s honorary commander program pairs local civic leaders with unit commanders on base to strengthen relationships between the military and Tampa community.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

U.S. Air Force Capt. Vaughn Campbell, a pilot assigned to the 50th Air Refueling Squadron, is welcomed home by his wife, Lea Campbell, at MacDill Air Force Base June 6. The Airmen returned home to MacDill following a six-month deployment where they were tasked to deliver coalition air power and support to secure and stabilize the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

4

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

Photo by Airman 1st Class Michael Killian

Ian Whitney, an LGBTQ+ liaison for Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, speaks during a Pride Month luncheon at MacDill Air Force Base June 9. The luncheon was held to celebrate the accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community in their struggle for equality.

NEWS/FEATURES

Resisting the comfort zone: 8th EAMS maintainer shares story of resilience by 1st Lt. Emma Quirk 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar—What keeps you going? Why do you always seem so happy? Where do you get your positive attitude from? How come you never complain?

These are questions that Staff Sgt. Antonio Lomeli II receives regularly.

He attributes his values and hard-charging mentality to his mom. From an early age she taught him the importance of responsibility, integrity, and hard work.

She also taught him quitting was never an option.

Lomeli was born in the United States, but his family soon moved to Mexico to await his mother’s pending naturalization. Lomeli and his four siblings grew up in their mother’s birthplace of Juarez, Mexico.

“I was raised in one of the most dangerous cities in the world,” Lomeli shared. “My parents, along with my four other siblings, lived in a constant state of survival. We learned to take care of each other. As the oldest son, much of the responsibility was placed on my shoulders. Life for me was about staying away from the wrong people and places.”

Lomeli recalled murders, drug cartels, gang violence, child trafficking, and other crimes that took place as close as a few houses down the street.

As an arduous and honest worker, Lomeli contributed to and protected

his family.

“My mother taught me the value of working hard without complaining, as it did no good and did not change our circumstances. She embodied what it is to be a hard worker,” he said.

After she graduated high school, his mother immediately went to work and often worked several jobs. She managed an apartment complex, owned a business making and selling cylinder blocks, and ran a restaurant.

“She taught me if I wanted anything, I had to earn it by working little jobs to obtain it,” he said.

“If the job was done incorrectly, she stood and watched over me to ensure I did it correctly,” Lomeli added. “It taught me the value of honesty and excellence in my work duties.”

After years of hard work, and as crime rates rose around them, Lomeli’s parents saved enough money to send him and his siblings to live with his paternal grandparents.

Lomeli experienced many transitions at once: from elementary school to middle school, from Mexico to the U.S., and from living with his parents to living apart. All the while, he felt himself responsible for his younger siblings, who also navigated the separation from their parents and the standard growing pains.

During this difficult transition, Lomeli found himself getting into trou-

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

See RESILIENCE, Page 7

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

5

NEWS

AETC launches phase II of myTraining system designed to track on-the-job training

U.S. Air Force graphic by Dan Hawkins

Air Education and Training Command continues to reimagine how they deliver core learning services and advance force development through the design of 21st Century learning tools with the launch of the service’s myTraining application to Airmen, May 24. To replace the Total Force Training Record the AETC Learning Services Division designed and updated myTraining, “powered by myLearning,” as the enterprise-wide solution that provides the capability to manage the training lifecycle for total-force personnel to enhance productivity, efficiency, and mission effectiveness to include upward reporting to other services for joint mission accomplishment.

by Dan Hawkins Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS)—As part of Air Education and Training Command’s efforts to advance force development across the Air Force, AETC officials announced the Phase II launch of the service’s myTraining application to Airmen June 7.

The myTraining system, “powered by myLearning,” is replacing the Total Force Training Record for Airmen and Guardians and provides the capability through 21st century learning tools to manage the training lifecycle for Total Force personnel. myTraining was designed by the AETC Learning Services Division to enhance productivity, efficiency, and mission effectiveness and upward reporting to other services to share data needed for joint mission accomplishment.

See TRAINING, Page 11

6

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

RESILIENCE From Page 5

ble and fights at school. But, as always, he persevered.

In high school, he took advantage of an early graduation program that allowed him to fast-track his credits by packing his schedule with early morning and late afternoon classes in addition to the regular curriculum.

He didn’t have his own vehicle, so he would depend on friends for rides.

But these rides were not pro bono.

“I would help my friends fix their cars and trucks in return for rides to where I needed to go,” he said. “I feel that this is where my passion for cars began.”

He graduated from high school at sixteen years old and went straight to college.

“As I entered higher education, I failed out of many classes and realized that school was not for me,” Lomeli said. “However, not going to school was out of the question for my mother.”

His mother identified his passion and skills in vehicle maintenance and noticed that he was a hands-on learner, rather than a textbook learner.

With only one-hundred dollars in her hands, she enrolled her son in a vocational school to receive an associate’s degree in automotive technology.

Lomeli graduated at the top of his class with honors and was hired at a family-owned body shop. He later moved on to a larger car dealership in the service department.

“Over time, there was something within me calling me to something bigger,” he said. “I told myself that I would prove that I was capable and deserved a place to work in the dealership.”

He sought a challenge and wanted to apply his maintenance skills to something a bit larger: airplanes. He shared his interest for aircraft maintenance with his neighbor, a soldier in the U.S. Army, who urged Lomeli to consider joining the U.S. Air Force.

At 30 years-old, Lomeli set out to become an Airman. “I started to research job descriptions in the Air Force and discovered I could meet my desire to grow, work on airplanes, and serve my country all at the same time,” Lomeli said.

“One would assume it would be easy, but my age made it that much more difficult,” he said. “I had multiple setbacks due to poor financial decisions and my recruiter at that time said that the chances of getting acSee RESILIENCE, Page 10

Courtesy photo

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Antonio Lomeli II, an aircraft maintainer deployed to the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, poses for a photo at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, May 20.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

7

Inspiring the next generation, one birthday at a time story and photos by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

T

he room filled with smiles as 10 service members assigned to MacDill Air Force Base joined children at the New Life Village to celebrate their birthdays in Tampa May 29.

Supported by the Celebrate Birthdays organization, the MacDill service members joined the fun, celebrating with party games, a piñata and cake.

“Seeing their joy is the best thing,” shared Airman 1st Class Sydney Gunn, a crew chief assigned to the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

“I was in foster care myself, knowing some situations children may be facing really drove me to volunteer here.”

New Life Village, a residential community dedicated to serving children impacted by foster care or trauma, hosts monthly birthday parties to ensure that all children have the opportunity to celebrate their birthday.

Children from the village shared their gratitude for these events, and how they enjoy meeting the volunteers who spent time with them.

One attendant who recently graduated high school, expressed interest in the Air Force, and was grateful to speak with the volunteers from MacDill who helped them understand some of the different career paths.

“I am just so thankful for the Air Force providing me with the opportunity to meet new people and give back to my community,” Gunn said. “Being able to see their smiles made all the difference.”

8

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Children gather with service members assigned to MacDill Air Force Base to celebrate the birthdays of children in foster care at the New Life Village campus located in Tampa May 29. New Life village, a residential community dedicated to serving children impacted by foster care or trauma, hosts monthly birthday parties to ensure that all children have the opportunity to celebrate their birthday

Thursday, June 16, 2022

A candle is lit on a piece of cake to celebrate the birthdays of children in foster care at the New Life Village campus located in Tampa May 29. This month, 10 service members, assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, joined the fun, celebrating with party games, a piñata and cake.

u

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

8

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

RESILIENCE From Page 7

cepted were slim to none.”

Despite hardships in the recruiting process and being told “no,” Lomeli continued to pursue an enlistment in the military.

“I decided to not give up,” Lomeli said. “I went to a different city and met another recruiter who helped me to finally get accepted into the USAF as a maintainer.”

Within the last five years in service, Lomeli has vowed to take every opportunity to grow, change, and be the best Airmen he can be. He was once placed as the Due-in For Maintenance (DIFM) monitor. This job was in an office, sitting at a desk and checking in parts.

His comfort zone and passion was on the flight line, not behind a desk. However, he accepted the new challenge as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact and contribution to the Air Force. With less than three years working the flight line, he was offered the opportunity to become a flying crew chief (FCC).

Lomeli has proved time and time again that he did not shy away from a challenge, but his courage is balanced by his self-awareness to know when he isn’t quite ready to take something on. In this case, it meant declining the opportunity because he did not feel ready.

“I felt under prepared and decided to continue to work the flight line to gain more experience for future opportu-

10

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

nities,” he said, “Although it was not my moment to be an FCC at that given time, I used the setback to try harder.”

When he did feel ready to take on the challenge of FCC, he suffered a torn ligament in his wrist. The surgery and recovery took him off the flight line for six months and further delayed his second chance as an FCC. He was placed into an office job, once again, this time as a training monitor.

“Even though surgery and recovery were unexpected,” he said, “I saw another opportunity to learn something new and contribute to the best of my abilities.”

He credits Airman Leadership School (ALS) and his promotion to staff sergeant as another period of immense growth and change.

“As I went through [ALS],” he said. “I discovered my position in the Air Force changed from being an Airman needing help, to being a leader driving a group of Airmen to excellence.”

Shortly after becoming a new staff sergeant, Lomeli deployed from the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, to the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron located on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. A geographically separated unit under the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing.

The deployment once again placed him outside of his comfort zone, working as a shift lead.

“I quickly had to learn how both to manage the maintenance of aircraft on the flight line and to manage several Airmen and non-commissioned officers,” he said “I went from being only responsible for myself and my duties, to being responsible for an entire shift of Airmen who looked to me as their leader for guidance and support.”

While working the flight line, Lomeli set out to complete an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. While he did not pass on his first attempt, he was determined to master the material and obtain the license.

“I could have easily taken the moment to feel sorry for myself and give up,” he said. “Instead, I decided to work harder to obtain my license. They say that anything worth having takes hard work. Otherwise, everyone would have the one thing you are trying to achieve without sacrifice or hard work.”

His mentality and drive to excel in his career led him to pass the final exam and earn the license.

Lomeli was faced with multiple setbacks during his journey from childhood to an aircraft maintainer in the 8th EAMS – “Mighty Ocho.” Facing each obstacle, Lomeli overcame, cleared the hurdle, and sprinted to the next.

“I have not been perfect. I have struggled and worked extremely hard for everything I have achieved thus far, and it starts with an internal desire to achieve set goals,” said Lomeli. “All of these unique opportunities have molded me into who I am today.

TRAINING From Page 6

“The old way of tracking learning is obsolete and needs to be modernized to accelerate the change we need to keep pace with demand and the fast-paced virtual learning world we live in today,” said Col. Randy Oakland, AETC Operations and Communications director. “The myTraining platform is another example of how AETC is developing empowered Airmen with the attributes required to compete, deter aggression, and win in the high-end fight.”

Additionally, the Air Force will see significant savings by eliminating redundant infrastructure, and Airmen and Guardians will spend less time on different applications, Oakland said.

As the replacement to TFTR, the more modern myTraining is now integrated into myLearning’s applications with migrated data from the legacy Training Business Area and Air Force Training Record.

“Tracking a lifetime of training and career progression, myTraining provides a one-stop shop to record all learning, whether it occurs in a specialized training or education program, on the job or off-duty, or even training with another military service,” said Floyd McKinney, AETC Learning Services Operations division chief. “Over 800,000 Total Force Airmen & Guardians needed an on-the-job training management and tracking system; myTraining now delivers it.”

According to McKinney, the fully interoperable and secure platform has a host of operational benefits for commanders and supervisors at all levels.

“The operational benefits of myTraining include the ability to deliver, track and report on mission readiness training in one location, and maximize preparation during force generation cycles,” McKinney said. “The system gives options for MAJCOM-unique environments, and reduces overall lime spent by Airmen and Guardians on different platforms by using shared services.”

The updated application enables supervisors to assign, monitor, document and record Training and Education activities for individuals to accomplish at specified times throughout their career, while also allowing specified roles, such as training managers, deployment monitors or commanders, to obtain and provide status reports at the individual and organizational levels, McKinney said. myTraining is expected to reach final operating capability in the fall of 2022.

Users who are experiencing technical difficulties with the site or have feedback for the development team can emailaetc.scoh.asdhelpdesk@ us.af.mil.

Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

11

LGBTQ+ From Page 2

Recruiting, developing and retaining a highly skilled military and civilian workforce of diverse talent is essential to U.S. warfighting success, she said.

“The department should not and cannot be a place that discourages outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals from a career in DoD because of actual or perceived barriers to entry or hostile workplace conditions,” she said.

In September 2011, the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was repealed, allowing LGBTQ+ service members and civilians to acknowledge their sexual orientation and serve openly. In September, the DoD commemorated the 10-year anniversary of that repeal, she said.

“We will continue to advance policies and programs to develop and nurture a leadership pipeline of diverse talent and create pathways for everyone at DoD to realize their potential. We know that organizational climates affect our workforces’ experiences. More to the point, it affects our warrior readiness. Therefore, we are directing initiatives to improve leaders’ skill development and foster more effective, inclusive team environments,” Hicks said.

The department is developing a diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility strategic plan to guide and direct activities to further those initiatives within the department, she said.

That plan is in the final stages of approval and will identify DoD’s priorities and objectives for the coming year, Hicks said.

Progress will not be driven by policies and programs alone; it will also result from the individual actions each person takes every day, she said.

“The diversity of the United States is unquestionably one of our greatest strengths. Many here today have fought hard battles to overcome bigotry and be treated with dignity and respect that is due to ev-

Photo by Staff Sgt. Melody W. Howley

Airmen assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing participate in a Pride Month color run at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, June 30, 2021. Every June, Pride Month is celebrated across the Department of Defense by recognizing the extraordinary achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender service members and civilian employees. ery human being,” Hicks said.

Pride Month is a time to celebrate progress, and it’s also a time for the department, the nation and the world to acknowledge the challenges that remain and to reaffirm our commitment to equality for LGBTQ+ people, she said.

Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil

12

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

WISH

From Page 3

“Their family has demonstrated the kind of resiliency and dedication that inspires us all.”

Lennon is the son of U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Rachel Little, 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of ground training and John Little, a former 6th Security Forces Squadron Defender.

While John and Rachel Little are both accustomed to life in the Air Force with challenges such as long hours on shift and deployments, nothing has tested them as much as when their son’s health fell into jeopardy before his first birthday.

Shortly after Lennon was born, he began having episodes where he would stop breathing, passing out for seconds at a time.

Lennon’s mother, Rachel, who is medically trained through the Air Force, was extremely worried and insisted that cardiologists monitor her son.

Agreeing, the doctors placed a heart monitor on Lennon. It wasn’t long after that, approximately three weeks later, before Lennon had another medical episode. This one, however, was much worse than before.

“To illustrate my point, I usually ask people to take out their phone and run their stopwatch,” said John Little. “17.4 seconds - that’s how long my son was limp in my arms, turning blue.”

A length of time that normally passes without notice, for the Lennon’s family, it was an eternity.

The Littles didn’t even wait for an ambulance, opting to drive straight to the hospital, where their son’s cardiologists awaited.

They had already seen from the monitor that Lennon experienced asystole, meaning his heart ceased electrical activity, denying blood flow to his body.

Diagnosing him with long QT syndrome, the doctors began discussing surgery for Lennon.

“Days before his first birthday, Lennon received a pacemaker,” said John Little. “The nurses were incredible, even pitching in to get him a birthday cake and celebrate while he was in the cardiac intensive care unit.”

Since the life-saving intervention, Lennon has grown into a strong-willed, smart and successful child.

His family has a strong sense of service and Lennon always steps up to

take care of his family.

“He does so much around the home to help the family while his mother is deployed,” said John Little. “We’re so blessed and I’m proud to watch him grow every day.”

Hearing of Lennon’s health challenges, the Kids Wish Network, a charitable organization that seeks to change children’s lives, qualified him to receive a lifetime wish due to the severity of his health condition.

“We left it completely up to Lennon, explaining to him that he should be very careful,” said John Little.

“Think of somewhere you really want to go, someone you want to meet, or some-

thing you really want to do because this is a very big deal.”

Lennon’s choice was to meet former President Trump. The Kids Wish Network stayed in contact with the Little family and invited them to be recognized at the 927th ARW’s family day event.

Having met and married Rachel at MacDill AFB, John Little felt particularly honored to revisit the base with his sons, though his wife couldn’t be there due to a deployment with the 45th AES. “On the way to the family day, we stopped in front of the 6th Security Forces Squadron,” said John Little. “A Defender who was

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

walking out stopped and took a photo of my sons and me in front of the Lieutenant Helton memorial. It meant a lot because he was my flight commander before being killed in action in Iraq.”

Sharing his son’s story of overcoming hardship and watching Lennon’s surprise as he opened his gift in front of the 927th ARW reminded John Little of the joy that comes in life that comes from service.

“We are extremely blessed because of the people in our life,” said John Little. “Receiving so much truly makes you understand how important it is to serve others and to give.”

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

13

GUARDSMEN From Page 3

the aircraft, was previously recognized with the MSM. “The Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Valor have been awarded to other great Americans such as Hap Arnold, Jimmy Doolittle, and Benjamin O. Davis Jr.,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, director of the Air National Guard. “Today, the Air Force adds to this distinguished list of American Airmen heroes the crew of Reach 824.”

Reach 824’s extraordinary achievement and commitment to their mission, which put them at great personal risk, was recognized during a ceremony at Stewart Air National Guard Base.

“For more than 20 years, Air National Guard Airmen have been flying airlift missions into the Middle East and specifically into Afghanistan,” Loh said. “Guard aircraft were some of the first in theater, supporting a multitude of operations, and some of the last out of theater. Fittingly, it was our C-17s that were the last aircraft to leave Bagram and Kabul air bases during the withdrawal.”

Reach 824 diverted from a normal operations mission in South America to this Air Mobility Command mission to airlift a Special Operations Aviation Regiment MH-47 Chinook helicopter and 22 personnel from Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, to Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Once on the ground, the rescue personnel were to seek out American assets in Afghanistan and recover them from the Kabul airport for immediate evacuation during Operation Allies Refuge.

The tactics and intelligence briefings the crew initially received indicated Taliban forces were approaching Kabul but would not be in position to overtake the city for a month or two. By the morning of their flight, Aug. 15, the situation had drastically deteriorated, and the Taliban were on the outskirts of the city. Despite this, the crew pressed on.

“The situation was rapidly changing so we were going into this not knowing what was going on,” McChesney, the aircraft commander, said.

“We were just pressing forward because, honestly in my opinion, what other choice did we have?”

On their final approach, the crew had no secure communications with air traffic control, only with a C-17 Globemaster III already on the ground.

This aircraft’s crew reported heavy small-arms fire, both military and civilian aircraft taking off in every direction, and panicked civilians overrunning the airfield. Reach 824 was forced to abort the mission and divert to

14

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

Al Dhafra Air Base.

“After we turned around that first night, the whole crew felt disappointed, discouraged, upset because it was a hard decision to make, and I have no doubts that it was the right decision,” McChesney said. “I feel like that discouragement and disappointment only motivated us to want to get in there even more.”

After the minimum-required crew rest, Reach 824 pressed on with a heightened sense of urgency. Despite limited information on whether the airfield was open or closed and a maintenance issue resulting in a twohour delay, the crew pressed forward.

Under cover of night, Reach 824 navigated mountainous terrain on the approach to Kabul, passing a half-dozen C-17s unable to land due to the airfield closure, minimum fuel, or threats.

With no air traffic control or onsite intelligence, McChesney engaged with other Chinook pilots to glean real-time intelligence and establish a landing window when the runway would be cleared of civilians.

The Reach 824 crew orbited within a 10-mile radius, making them vulnerable to surface-to-air threats until they were forced to divert due to reaching minimum fuel.

In a critical turning point, efforts made earlier in the day by copilot Townsend to secure air refueling paid off when a KC-10 Extenderaerial refueling tanker crew reached out. Knowing that securing additional refueling would continue to be challenging, McChesney coordinated for the tanker to fly in formation with them back to Kabul to increase their chances of success as much as possible.

“That changed everything because we knew how serious [our mission] was,” Catu said. “We knew the cargo we were carrying was really desperately needed by the people on the ground.”

Now, with enough fuel to orbit Kabul until the airfield opened, the crew set up for a 15-mile visual landing. On this final approach, they witnessed multiple instances of small arms fire under their flight path, one round damaging their left winglet. With no landing clearance, no terminal lights, and no building lights, the crew was given one simple instruction: “Land at your own risk.”

Against all odds, Reach 824 safely landed at last. Once they touched

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

See GUARDSMEN, Page 16

COMMUNITY

EVENTS

MacBack to School registrations now open It’s time to register for this year’s MacBack to School Information Fair, returning July 23 as an in-person event. Join us at Hangar 3 for a morning filled with important resources for children and families, as well as picking up backpacks filled with school supplies from the USO. For more information or to register, visit https://macdillfss.com/macback-to-school Bay Palms Golf Complex summer specials Bay Palms Golf Complex has discounted specials all summer long.

For prices, visit; https://macdillfss. com/bay-palms-golf-complex/. While you’re there, be sure to stop in at the 8 Iron Bar and Grill and enjoy the best steak burger on MacDill.

Looking for the perfect summer job?

The 6th FSS is seeking qualified candidates 16 years and older for positions in hospitality, food and beverage, child & youth, and recreation. All positions start at $15 an hour or above. Ready to join our FSS family? Visit https://macdillfss. com/open-jobs/ to see current job openings and apply today.

Find more events at: macdillfss.com

Play ball!

Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

U.S. Air Force Col. Benjamin Jonsson, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander, throws the first pitch at a Tampa Bay Rays game in St. Petersburg June 8. The Tampa Bay Rays invited Jonsson to throw the first pitch at the game to show appreciation for MacDill Air Force Base and the military community.

CHAPEL SCHEDULE Normal Hours- Monday - Friday - 9 a.m. to

Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For sched-

Monday-Thursday Mass - 12:10 p.m.

served)

3 p.m. After hours chaplain, call the Command Post at 828-4362/4361.

ule & to join distro, please contact elimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

Islamic Service - Friday 1 p.m. (space re-

www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

Other Faith Groups - Please contact the Catholic (in-person) - Saturday - 5:30 p.m.

(confession 4:30 p.m.) Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessions by appointment)

Protestant services - Wednesday - 11 a.m.. virtual) - Sunday - 11 a.m.

Chapel at (813) 828-3621 or via email at 6ARW. HCADMIN@us.af.mil MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill. af.mil/chapel

For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

15

GUARDSMEN From Page 14

down, they were confronted by 12 vehicles with heavily armed Taliban who escorted them to the allied side of the airfield. They made their way through taxiways littered with garbage, rocks, personal effects, stray animals, and abandoned cars and eventually lost radio contact with all controllers due to jamming.

Despite these hurdles, the crew offloaded the high-value cargo in an unprecedented 40 minutes, enabling the special operations team to conduct their mission of seeking and recovering American personnel for immediate evacuation.

“We found out through our contact with the unit that we brought in there that they were able to get over 800 people out from the countryside who otherwise would not have made it to Kabul,” said copilot Gaugenti.

“So, if we did not complete our mission, that’s 800 people who would be stuck there still.”

However, Reach 824’s job wasn’t done yet. Over the two weeks of Operation Allies Refuge, the crew returned to Kabul to complete two additional missions to help evacuate 348 people, the youngest a 17-day-old girl.

In their final mission, the crew transported 13 service members killed in action in a bombing at the airport from Kabul to Kuwait.

“That was at the end of a long two weeks trying to figure everything out,” Guagenti said. “We were all exhausted. We thought we were going home. ... Not one of us hesitated, even as exhausted as we were.”

Reach 824’s steadfast commitment to the mission is just another example of their shared devotion to duty. This and the crew’s ability to solve problems enabled their success and are qualities instilled in every Airman.

16

u

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM

u

Thursday, June 16, 2022

u

“The American military, the U.S. Air Force … we train our people to be thinking individuals, right?” Townsend said. “You have to train your people and trust that they’re going to get the mission done.”

Professional competence and the ability to produce creative solutions is something passed down through generations of Airmen at Stewart ANG Base.

“There were so many guys before me, so many instructors who had taught me on missions how to make common-sense decisions,” McChesney said. “So, it was the guys who came before me who really molded me to be able to make these decisions.”

While McChesney emphasized the timing was just right for his crew to be assigned this mission, any of the 105th Airlift Wing’s Airmen would have jumped at the chance to help however they could.

“There’s a squadron full of pilots back at Stewart that would have done the same exact thing I did,” McChesney said. “I know there are guys that wanted to be there with me so bad that they would have done anything.

There were guys actively trying to get to Afghanistan because all they wanted to do was help out.”

Service members make two choices, Hokanson said.

“The first choice is to serve,” he said. “The second choice is how we live.

How we respond to a crisis. Do we fight? Do we run? Do we freeze? What do we choose to do when lives are on the line?”

It isn’t until a pivotal moment, a crisis, that we know for sure how we will respond, he said, and crew members of Reach 824 know how they respond to extreme tests.

“You met crisis with conviction,” Hokanson told them.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT