Thunderbolt 6/22/23

Vol. 51, No. 25

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Fighter training at MacDill - page 8 News/Features: page 3 A special tour

News/Features: page 3 Daedalian Award

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

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

The Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 conducts training operations on the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base June 9. The VMFAT-101 “Sharpshooters” are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, and train U.S. Marine Corps pilots on the F/A-18 for interdiction and close air support. The VMFAT-101 conducted a two-week training operation at MacDill.

NEWS/FEATURES

AF hosts humanitarian, disaster relief training exercise for AOCs 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS)—Airmen from the 505th Combat Training Squadron recently executed a Regional Air Movement Coordination Center exercise to test the capabilities of air operations centers and train two air component specialty teams to respond to a humanitarian aid/disaster relief, or HA/DR, operations at Hurlburt Field.

Personnel from six organizations gathered for the four-day interactive distributed training event in preparation for hurricane season.

After a major natural disaster, RAMCCs are typically established to help prevent airspace conflicts and congestion when significant military forces operate in an area with an inadequate air traffic control infrastructure. RAMCC team members deconflict aircraft directed by the joint or combined AOCs with other aircraft participating in the contingency or during disaster relief operations (e.g.,United Nations, Red Cross, non-governmental organizations, international military/government and commercial operators).

“The training received from the 505th CTS enSee HUMANITARIAN, Page 10

Photo by Deb Henley

Lt. Col. Lewis Hagler works at a computer during the 505th Combat Training Squadron’s Regional Air Movement Coordination Center exercise testing the capabilities of air operations centers and to train two air component specialty teams to respond to a humanitarian aid/disaster relief, or HA/DR, operations at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 17. RAMCC team members deconflict aircraft directed by the joint or combined AOC with other aircraft participating in the contingency or during disaster relief operations.

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,

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

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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.

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NEWS/FEATURES Air Force Veteran Dad honored with nostalgic KC-135 tour

by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

Castana, Iowa resident Larry Lamb arrived at Clinton-Sherman Air Force base in Oklahoma during the late 1960s where he was assigned as a KC-135 crew chief.

This week the retired Iowa farmer had the opportunity to revisit that time of his life during a tour at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Strategic Air Command base where Lamb served near Burns Flat, Okla. no longer exists, but air refueling mission and the KC-135 have stood the test of time.

It was Larry’s son Carl who arranged the KC-135 tour for his Air Force Veteran dad at the Iowa Air National Guard unit where KC-135s are still flown. It just happened that the timing of the nostalgic tour was just in time for Father’s Day. Although significantly updated, the jets at the 185th ARW are the same KC-135 air refueling aircraft that the elder Lamb crewed in 1968.

See DAD, Page 11

Photo, Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

U.S. Air Force Veteran Larry Lamb of Castana, Iowa inside the cockpit of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa on June 13, 2023. Lamb is a former KC-135 crew chief who served in the Air Force during the late 1960s.

Kadena AB maintainers win AF level Daedalian Award

by Senior Airman Gary Hilton 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS)—The 18th Maintenance Group was awarded the 2022 Maj. Gen. Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon Systems Maintenance Trophy at the Air Force level, distinguishing themselves as the U.S. Air Force unit with the best weapon system maintenance.

The trophy is presented annually to a wing-level Air Force unit determined to have the best weapons system maintenance record for the preceding calendar year. Kadena AB previously won this award in 1983, 1980 and 1966 as the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing.

“I love being a part of this awesome team,” said Col. Laura Goodman, 18th Maintenance Group commander. “There are a lot of amazing maintenance professionals doing really tough and demanding work in what See KADENA, Page 12

Photo by Senior Airman Sebastian Romawac

Air Force pilot assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, left, and Airman 1st Class Gavin Tullier, 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, finalize preflight checks on an F-15C Eagle during a readiness exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 15. The 18th Wing is postured to respond to demanding scenarios, and continuously focuses on keeping forces ready for high-end missions through daily training and readiness exercises.

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WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

The Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 conducts training operations on the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base June 9. The VMFAT-101 “Sharpshooters” are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, and train U.S. Marine Corps pilots on the F/A-18 for interdiction and close air support. The VMFAT-101 conducted a two-week training operation at MacDill.

U.S. Air Force Academy cadets tour the 6th Medical Group building at MacDill Air Force Base June 13.

The cadets visited MacDill and toured multiple facilities to help them pick out their future careers in the Air Force.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutton

Service members assigned to joint special operations forces parachutes during a low altitude training mission over MacDill Air Force Base June 8. In order to maintain their jump status, paratroopers and special operations forces must complete routine jump training.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Derrick Bole

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NEWS/FEATURES 182nd Airlift Wing leads C-130 Hercules operations at NATO’s Air Defender 2023

by Staff Sgt. Paul Helmig 182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs WUNSTORF AIR BASE, Germany—The largest North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) multinational air forces redeployment exercise in history began at Wunstorf Air Base, Germany, June 12, and the Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing is leading the C-130 Hercules aircraft operations.

Exercise Air Defender 2023, which continues through June 23, integrates both U.S. and allied air power to defend shared values, while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to deter aggression around the world.

According to the National Guard Bureau, approximately 2,600 U.S. Airmen and 100 aircraft from 42 states rapidly descended on western Europe to train with 24 allied and partner nations to enhance joint capabilities See DEFENDER, Page 16

Photo by Staff Sgt. Paul Helmig

Exercise AD23 integrates both U.S. and Allied air-power to defend shared values, while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to deter aggression around the world.

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NEWS/FEATURES

It’s all about streamlining

by Roland Balik 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del.—In June 2022, the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron, which previously fell under the 436th Mission Support Group, was temporarily realigned under the 436th Mission Generation Group, placing all logistics, maintenance and cargo processing within one group and under one group commander.

Following the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr’s call to Accelerate Change or Lose, the 436th Air Mobility Wing decided to test if the realignment would improve sortie generation. Permanent realignment will be determined based on results of the two-year study. “[The] MGG’s organizational realignment has been paramount towards consolidating Team Dover’s local supply chain,” said Col. Bary Flack, 436th MGG commander. “Strengthening relationships between APS and LRS expedites our ability to provide maintainers fulfillment, directly enabling the wing to project air power at any time, anywhere.”

It is a priority to get aircraft parts to the customer once they are delivered to the Aerial Port’s Traffic Management Office via commercial carriers.

See STREAMLINE, Page 13

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Photo by Roland Balik

Inbound cargo specialists assigned to the 436th Aerial Port Squadron process incoming cargo at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, May 9. The 436th APS Traffic Management Office (inbound) has been collocated within the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron Supply building for more than two years, primarily handling and delivering aircraft parts.

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128th ARW provides air bridge in support of Air Defender 2023

by Air Force Master Sgt. Kellen Kroening 128th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs NAVAL AIR STATION KEFLAVIK, Iceland (AFNS)— The 128th Air Refueling Wing facilitated an air bridge June 3 leading U.S. Air Force aircraft to exercise Air Defender 2023.

The German-led, live-fly NATO exercise is scheduled to include 235 aircraft from 25 nations and more than 10,000 personnel throughout Europe.

The 128th ARW KC-135 Stratotankers acted as a flying gas station, using a boom system to transfer fuel to the receiving aircraft, maximizing operational efficiency and reducing transit times.

By providing fuel to the transport aircraft, the KC-135 tanker ensures they can reach their destinations without frequent stops for refueling. This capability is especially valuable when transporting time-sensitive cargo or operating in areas where fueling infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

“The whole point of this [exercise] is to integrate with our multinational partners and show that we can seamlessly work as one large coalition force,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Brandyn Dietman, 128th ARW deputy director of air refueling.

The air bridge is vital for exercises like Air Defender 2023, where multiple NATO-member air forces and allied countries come together to enhance cooperation, interoperability and readiness. To practice for real defense scenarios, it is imperative that forces can rapidly deploy to different locations.

“Moving 100 aircraft over the ocean in the matter of four or five flying days is a monumental feat,” Dietman said. “Fighter aircraft can’t make it over by themselves, so they need the tankers to build the air bridge to help them get over.”

Air Defender 2023, running June 12-23, is the largest air forces redeployment exercise since NATO was founded.

Engaging in air bridge operations during the AD23 exercise highlights the 128th ARW’s capabilities and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to its allies.

The hard work of everybody working together, whether it’s your unit-level personnel putting together the aircraft, putting the plans together, making sure the funds are full, making sure that everything is going to happen, is awesome,” Dietman said. “From a year’s worth of work that we’ve put into this, I’m super proud of everyone at the 128th Air Refueling Wing and the hard work they’ve done.”

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon with the 140th Wing, Colorado National Guard in preparation for exercise Air Defender 2023 over the Atlantic Ocean, June 3. Air De defend shared values, while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to dete

Photo by Master Sgt. Kellen Kroening

d, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Wisconsin National Guard, as it prepares to receive fuel as part of an air bridge efender 2023, running June 12-23, is the largest air forces redeployment exercise since NATO was founded, integrating both U.S. and allied airpower to er aggression around the world.

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HUMANITARIAN From Page 2

ables the 612th Air Operations Center to maintain a ready roster of personnel available at a moment’s notice to provide procedural airspace coordination and contingency airflow management of civilian and military aircraft during a crisis,” said Maj. Jameson Decker, 612th AOC Command and Control innovation chief.

The exercise used a fictional scenario of “Hurricane Zelda,” which struck multiple Caribbean islands and moved through the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida panhandle.

The 612th AOC along with forward-deployed personnel from the 183rd Air Operations Group, Illinois Air National Guard, participated from DavisMonthan Air Force Base, Arizona, standing up a RAMCC to control the high volume of humanitarian relief air missions flying into their area of responsibility to deliver medical supplies, water, food, personnel and equipment. The total force team was tasked to manage four HA/DR locations, coordinating arrival and departure times, and reacting to events that challenged the orderly flow of missions. The 601st AOC Air Mobility Division personnel travelled to the 186th Air Operation Group, Mississippi ANG, which used this exercise to test their readiness to maintain Continuity of Operations Plan, or COOP, and train ANG members on RAMCC operations for three airfields.

“The annual RAMCC exercise allows us to train our team from the top down, from the graduate level with our leadership team, down to brand new individuals who are working in the RAMCC for the first time,” said Maj. Grant Clay, Air Force Southern Personnel Recovery Coordination Center director.

“We proved to ourselves that having the 183rd AOG members here at the 612th AOC was a game changer; after all, in our AOR, it is not ‘if’ a natural disaster occurs, but ‘when’ and we must be ready.”- Maj. Grant Clay, Air Force Southern Personnel Recovery Coordination Center Director The 505th CTS team also incorporated a floor exercise for the 612th AOC and their 183rd AOG augmentees with scenarios to train the AOC divisions.

Various scenarios were presented to test the training audience to respond and react according to their established procedures.

“It provided a great opportunity for coordination between the Combat Operations Floor and our IO [Information Operations] team,” said Christopher Wirth, AFSOUTH IO team. “Of note, the robustness of the exercise has allowed our IO team to discover some critical IO gaps we are now working to resolve. It’s great to be able to identify these shortfalls in an exercise, rather than during a real-world RAMCC operation.”

RAMCC exercises have been conducted at Hurlburt Field by the 505th CTS since 2017, which are directed and developed by Anne Smerekanicz, the 505th CTS’s RAMCC lead and airlift/tanker program analyst.

Fifteen 505th CTS personnel directed the exercise from Hurlburt Field with the assistance of seven augmentees from the 612th AOC, 183rd AOG and 601st AOC. One team was designated for RAMCC operations, taking on diverse roles such as ground reservation requestors and contingency response teams at downrange airfields, U.S. Agency for International Development andFederal Emergency Management Agency points of contact, and air mobility roles of Air Mobility Command and director of Mobility Forces.

The second team focused on training vignettes to exercise the 612th AOC’s divisions, using various types of communication for exercise inputs and the C2 Weapons System Part Task Trainer, or C2WSPTT, to provide a common operating picture, or COP. 10

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Photo by Deb Henley

Airmen from the 505th Combat Training Squadron execute a Regional Air Movement Coordination Center exercise to test the capabilities of air operations centers and to train two air component specialty teams to respond to a humanitarian aid/disaster relief, or HA/DR, operations at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 17. RAMCC team members deconflict aircraft directed by the joint or combined AOC with other aircraft participating in the contingency or during disaster relief operations.

“For the first time, we expanded the RAMCC exercise scenario to incorporate the AOC divisions in the FLOOREX portion, making this a much more robust exercise than ever before,” Smerekanicz said. “We also wanted participants to be able to see an ‘air picture’ of all civilian and military flights arriving and departing the airfields in the AOR. We worked with the C2WSPTT team to use the C2WSPTT to provide a simulated live feed of all the air missions in the scenario, which was critical for giving the training audience real-time feedback on performance.”

The participating “white cell” augmentees were not only able to role-play various agencies but received training themselves on how to set up and execute an exercise.

In a significant first, the exercise also included participation by the Federal Aviation Administration through their crisis response and emergency operations manager. The FAA will use their observations to supplement their preparation for future disaster response and coordination with Airmen, particularly in the mobility Air Forces.

“This training allowed us to understand RAMCC products and procedures across various AORs/AOCs and the integration with NGOs/FAA,” said U.S. ANG Lt. Col. Erica Stooksbury, 183rd Air Mobility Operations Squadron director of operations. “We had a great experience and are excited to take these lessons back to improve the exercises we develop for our AOG/AMOS.”

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DAD

From Page 3

As with many veterans, Lamb’s time in the Air Force and experiences made a lifelong impression on the farm kid from Western Iowa.

Like many from his generation, the 76-year old’s history with the Air Force was brief but significant.

As part of the Air Force’s Strategic Air Command the KC-135 aircraft that Lamb help crew had a serious mission. The refueling aircraft in Oklahoma were co-located with B-52s where they stood on continuous nuclear alert.

During Lamb’s tour in Sioux City this week, he met 185th Crew Chief Master Sgt. Michael Vander Wilt and talked about the mission and history of the KC-135.

During the visit both Lamb and his son commented on how well-kept the aircraft looked and noted the many modifications to the aircraft over the past 50 years.

Lamb and his son Carl, who farms near Allen Neb., quickly found they had a kindred spirit in Vander Wilt who also farms in Northwest Iowa, when he is not maintaining airplanes for the Air National Guard.

The elder Lamb commented that he and others like him who grew up farming had an advantage in maintaining aircraft. Lamb said even as a young man he and his contemporaries who grew up on a farm, came to the Air Force with years of practical experience but also with a distinct work ethic.

Lamb said he had a good experience in the Air Force even though it was a volatile time in American history, especially for members of the U.S. military.

Since Lamb’s time, Clinton-Sherman Air

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

U.S. Air Force Veteran Larry Lamb of Castana, Iowa tours a KC-135 with Iowa Air National Guard Master Sgt. Mike Vander Wilt, at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa on June 13, 2023. Lamb is a former KC-135 crew chief who served in the Air Force during the late 1960s.

Force base along with the 70th Bomb Wing, its components and even Strategic Air Command have been relegated to the page’s history. Some of what remains are the Airmen’s stories and experiences.

Because of each generations contributions and faithful maintenance of the KC-135, the Stratotanker has also been persevered, even outliving organizations to which it once belonged.

Now approaching 70 years of service, the KC-

135 continues to be a vital part of America’s national defense.

As the current generation of KC-135 crew chiefs chronical their experiences with the aircraft, military planners continue to find ways to extend the aircraft’s life and keep it in service.

It is becoming increasingly likely that Vander Wilt too, like Lamb will be able make a reunion tour with the KC-135 in the decades ahead, long after his retirement.

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KADENA From Page 3

can be a very challenging physical environment.”

During fiscal year 2022, the 18 MXG provided world-class maintenance and munitions support to Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

“The hard work and dedication of my peers and leadership are the backbone of our success,” said Senior Airman Alexander Karr, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief. “It takes a team effort to accomplish our mission every day, and I’m proud to be a part of such a dedicated group of professionals.”

The group has five squadrons: the 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 718th AMS, the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron and the 18th Munitions Squadron. It also includes 18th Maintenance Operations, a flight-level organization of over 150 people attached to the group.

“We focused our team efforts and resource prioritization on achieving effective mission accomplishment—that is to have aircraft, equipment and munitions ready,” Goodman said. “We know we have to fulfill USINDOPACOM requirements at a moment’s notice and we are happy to know leaders are confident of our team’s capability to respond.”

A dedicated team of over 2,700 Airmen, civilians and contractors make up the 18 MXG. “Being a member of a Daedalian Award-winning team is a great honor and a source of pride for us,” Karr said. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the maintenance of our aircraft. It’s a feeling of accomplishment and recognition that we are doing something right, and it motivates us to continue to strive for excellence in our work.”

The 18th MXG maintains and mobilizes combat-ready F-15C and D Eagles, KC-135 Stratotankers, HH-60 Pave Hawks and E-3 Sentries as well as associated engines, munitions and support equipment.

“We also skillfully provide maintenance management, training,

shared resources and logistics support to rotational fighter units, tenant units and theater partners,” Goodman said. “You probably wouldn’t find a more diverse and mission-focused team of maintainers.”

Team members from the 18th MXG attribute their victory over other Air Force maintenance groups to several factors.

“One of these factors is our culture,” Karr said. “The mission requires us to work closely with other sections and units, creating trust between peers that keeps us striving to be better.”

Other factors include Kadena AB’s unique location and mission, requiring the group to be adaptable and flexible in their approach to maintenance issues.

Additionally, the group’s maintainers retain USINDOPACOM’s premier Tactical Air-munitions Rapid Response Package mission, trilateral engine-centralized repair facility and the Air Force’s only active-duty Industrial Inspection and Analysis Precision Measurement Equipment laboratory.

“We count on every member to be successful in accomplishing our mission. We have professional instructors, inspectors, maintenance operation center controllers, maintenance managers and leaders who are critical to preparing our members and coordinating our group efforts,” Goodman said.

The 18th MXG also successfully closed out its flying hour program, exceeding the program for all airframes for the first time in history.

This feat would not have been possible without an overarching focus on providing the right aircraft at the right time.

“The 18 MXG’s composition and design is changing rapidly. We are actively divesting F-15Cs and integrating rotational fighter generation capabilities into our team,” Goodman said. “Our ability to expertly organize, train, equip and execute our mission in support of USINDOPACOM priorities will continue to be critical.”

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

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WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ Thursday, June 22, 2023 ◆ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

STREAMLINE From Page 6

Photo by Roland Balik

Senior Airman Jacob Wright, 436th Aerial Port Squadron inbound cargo specialist, checks the contents of a package delivered to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, May 9. Packages arriving by commercial carriers are sorted by priority and shipping documents are validated against contents for correctness.

Deliveries arriving at Traffic Management are sorted by priority. Shipping documents are then validated against contents and for correctness. Information is then manually entered into a database, and the last step is placing the item in a labeled bin ready for pickup by ground transportation.

Although the 436th Aerial Port Squadron Traffic Management Office’s inbound cargo section has been collocated within the 436th LRS Supply Airmen for more than two years, resolving supply issues became less of a probSee STREAMLINE, Page 14

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STREAMLINE From Page 13

lem with both squadrons in one group.

“A great outcome from realigning this process has been increased organization and better communication between the three flights and two squadrons, leading to assets being delivered much faster than before,” said 2nd Lt. Nicole Dyckman, 436th LRS asset management officer in charge.

In order to streamline the delivery process and allow for faster package processing, Airmen innovated methods to decrease the delivery time to customers, who are mainly maintenance units spread throughout Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

“After talking to each section, we simply decided to put all the cages that hold aircraft assets and needed to be moved by ground transportation in a centralized location and better labeled them with bright green tags. This allowed anyone who walked in to understand the floor layout better,” said Dyckman.

Communication between LRS and APS personnel was instrumental in developing this “clear floor policy” to expedite parts delivery. Automating shipment documentation between these organizations is an additional endeavor under development, aimed to improve fulfillment to maintainers.

“With [436th LRS Supply] recently being moved under the MGG, I think it allowed for a better understanding of the supply chain process because all parties now report to the same leadership chain, so problems are able to be resolved quicker and more efficiently,” said Master Sgt. Amanda Diaz, 436th APS inbound cargo section chief.

The downward trend in delivery times proves that the MGG’s functional alignments, best practices and lines of communication within the group are working.

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COMMUNITY

EVENTS

Short Fitness June closure The Short Fitness Center will be closed Friday, June 23 but is accessible to those patrons with 24/7 access. For more information about obtaining 24/7 access, visit, macdillfss.com/short-fitness-center/.

Red, White, and Blue 3K/5K The Short Fitness Center will be hosting a 5K run/3K walk on June 30 at 7 a.m. in the South Field to kick off your 4th of July weekend.

Runners are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue. Prizes for fastest male and female in both the 3K and 5K. For more information on this event, visit macdillfss.com/ short-fitness-center/.

Free active duty bowling lessons Are you a novice bowler or want to improve your bowling skills?

MacDill Lanes is now offering free bowling lessons to all active-duty and their spouses every Thursday, from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Expert instruction will be provided by Kyle Pouncy, MacDill Lanes Manager, known for his “many 300 games” fame. No reservation required, includes free shoe rental. For more information, visit macdillfss.com/ macdill-lanes-bowling/.

Become a Secret Shopper Get paid to call or visit 6th FSS facilities. To learn more, call or email the 6th FSS Marketing Department at 828-2513 or sixfssfsk@ gmail.com.

Find more events at: macdillfss.com

Disaster relief exercise!

Photo by Deb Henley

Lt. Col. Erica Stooksbury discusses the execution of the Regional Air Movement Coordination Center exercise with Anne Smerekanicz, 505th Combat Training Squadron RAMCC lead, at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 17. The RAMCC exercise tested air operations centers and trained two air component specialty teams to respond to a humanitarian aid/disaster relief, or HA/DR, operations.

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

Protestant virtual services - Sunday - 11 a.m. (www.facebook.com/6amwhc)

Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For schedule & to join Monday-Wednesday Mass - 12:10 p.m.

distro, please contact elimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

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

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

Other Faith Groups - Please contact the Chapel at (813) 828-3621 or via email at 6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ or MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel MACDILL THUNDERBOLT ◆ Thursday, June 22, 2023 ◆ WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ 15

DEFENDER From Page 5

across the globe. Exercise AD23 provides valuable opportunities to bolster tactical interoperability skills of participating international partners, aircrew, and supporting elements within a composite air operation environment, according to NATO. A vital element within AD23 is the C-130 Hercules airlift operation, led by the 182nd AW. Maj. Joseph Chambers, the chief of tactics for the 182nd Operations Support Squadron and the lead C-130 Hercules at Wunstorf Air Base, explained the unit’s participation is a display of commitment reinforcing relations between militaries, and their readiness to defeat hostility toward the U.S. and their partner nations.

“Air Defender is testing NATO’s strength in deterrence,” said Chambers.

“And the Air National Guard is reassuring our allies of the U.S. resolve to the NATO charter.”

Over 440 Airmen from eleven states and Puerto Rico are serving at Wunstorf Air Base during AD23. The 182nd AW is sharing the sky with nine different C-130 Hercules and Super Hercules units from Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming.

Chambers began operations planning for AD23 nearly 11 months prior to the start of the exercise in July 2022. Though the C-130 mission is the primary objective at Wunstorf Air Base, it was not Chambers’s only aim for this exercise.

“As the lead planner and lead C-130 unit, we had the job to coordinate for 12 different Air National Guard units,” said Chambers. “We also are supporting the Joint Tactical Air Control and Combat Communications

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missions at Air Defender 23.”

Exercise AD23 will provide Airmen the opportunity to apply their MultiCapable Airmen skills through interactive training with personnel from various wings and career fields, along with NATO and state-partner militaries. Airmen operating at Wunstorf Air Base integrated with airmen from Germany, Romania and Lithuania performing full-scale readiness training and completing their mission-essential tasks.

A primary component of exercise AD23 is the NGB’s State Partnership Program that has been successfully building relations for 30 years, which includes 88 partnerships with 100 nations around the world.

“Relationships in the ANG are like water to a fish; one can’t operate without the other,” said Col. Rusty Ballard, the commander of the 182nd AW and the C-130 detachment component commander during AD23 at Wunstorf Air Base. “The exchange of information, tactics, techniques, procedures, ideas and history will forever benefit the allied NATO countries involved in this massive Exercise.”

The SPP engagements capitalize on the MCA concept while enabling Air National Guardsmen to train and learn from our partner nations. The Air National Guard’s focus is to prepare mission-ready Airmen to safeguard the U.S. homeland and execute global operations successfully.

U.S. Air Force units, including the 182nd, regularly participate in multinational exercises on the European continent to strengthen relations and resolve. That frequent interaction sets the stage, allowing stateside Air National Guard units to more easily integrate with allies and partners throughout the region.

WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ Thursday, June 22, 2023 ◆ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT