Thunderbolt 7/13/2023

News/Features:page2

MobilityGuardian

News/Features:page3

InnovationempowersAirmen

Weekinphotos: page4

Imagesfromthe week

Community:page15

Events,Chapel,more...

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

AKC-135Stratotankerassignedtothe6thAirRefuelingWingdepartsMacDillAirForceBase,July5.Eighttankers assignedtothe6th ARWdepartedforthePacifictheatertoparticipatein Air MobilityCommand’s MobilityGuardian exercise,inwhichthe6th ARW is actingasleadwing.Theexerciseisdesignedtotestboththenewestdeployment modelandAMC’srapidglobalmobility capabilities in realtime.

AMC,allieskickoffMobilityGuardian23inIndo-Pacific

byAirMobilityCommandPublicAffairs

JOINTBASEPEARLHARBORHICKAMAIRFORCEBASE,Hawaii (AFNS)— ExerciseMobilityGuardian2023,AirMobility Command’slargestfull-spectrumreadinessexerciseinthecommand’shistory, began July 5 intheIndo-Pacificregion.

Thisyear’sMG23reflectsanevolutionfrom theexercise’spreviousthree U.S.-basediterationsandaimstounderstandandovercome distancetodeliverthemobilization,deploymentandsustainmentfunctionsthatthe Joint Force, alliesandpartnersdependontorespond to challengesworldwide.

“Itshouldbe evidentbynowthatsuccess ofthe Joint Forcerequires acapableandintegratedMobility Air Force,” saidGen.Mike Minihan,AMC commander. “MG23willturn plannedintegrationintooperationalintegrationwithinthetheater, stretchingMAFcapabilitiestomeetfuturedemandsandprotect sharedinternationalinterestswithourallies andpartners.”

Amultinationalendeavor, MG23willfeaturesevenparticipatingcountries–Australia,Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand,

SeeGUARDIAN,Page10

Airmenassignedtothe305thAir MobilityWingconductanEngineRunning Crew ChangeduringexerciseWhiteStagatJointBaseMcGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,N.J., March8.AnERCCallows aircrewstoswapwhiletheaircraftisstillrunning,minimizingthepossibilityofmaintenanceissues.TheERCCwaspart of exerciseWhiteStag,afull-spectrum readinessexercisethatdemonstratedthe 305th Air MobilityWing’soverallabilitytodeployandsustainrapidglobal mobility aroundtheworld.

COMMANDER’SACTIONLINE

TheActionLineprovidestwo-waycommunicationbetweenthe 6thAirRefueling Wingcommanderand theMacDillcommunity. Personnelmaysubmitquestions,concernsorcommentsviaemailto macdillwingcommander@us.af.milor Facebook@6thARWCommandTeam

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher:JoeDeluca

Editor:NickStubbs

TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper is an authorized publicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservicesonMacDill.ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,orendorsedbythe U.S. government,the Departmentof Defense,

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PhotobySeniorAirmanSergio Avalos

AirForceinnovation: empoweringAirmen

by Tech.Sgt.JimmiePike Pacific AirForcesPublic Affairs

JOINTBASEPEARLHARBOR-HICKAM,Hawaii(AFNS)—InnovationacrosstheAir Forcecaninvolveanythingfromworkprocessestophysical assets andoftenincludepolicyupdatestolong-standingAir Forceregulations. ForAirmen,Air Forceinnovationand therespectiveunitoffices thatsupporttheinnovation efforts, knownasSparkCells, shouldbenothingnew.

Butwheredoesinnovationstart?

“BeinginnovativeintheAir Forcemeanswhenyou seea challenge, yousay, ‘Okay, howdoInowgetaround this challenge?’”saidMaj.RaymondHill, PacificAir Forcesinnovationlead.“Isitjustgettingleadership’s attention,isitgettingfunding, orisitpolicy changeson eithersideoftheproblem?”

Whethercreatingthingsintheirgaragestheythink willbemoreefficientorbringing ideasthey’veseen somewhereelseintodiscussions, peoplearethedriving forcebehind change, Hillexplained.

See EMPOWER,Page11

Brig.Gen.BrandonParker,PacificAirForces chiefofstaff,andLt.Gen.JamesJacobson, PACAFdeputycommander,deliberateoverthe sixSpark Tankprojectsbriefed at JointBasePearlHarbor-Hickam,Hawaii,May1.Incontrasttopreviousiterationsof theinnovationcompetition,morethanonewinnerwasselectedto receivefundingfor theirproject.Spark TankisanannualopportunityforAirmenand Guardianstoshow off their innovationcapabilitiesandcompeteforfundingto bring ideastofruition.

AirForcedelays somePCSs, bonuses

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—The Air ForceisexperiencingashortfallintheFY23Military PersonnelAppropriationdrivenbyhigherthan-projectedpersonnel costs.

HeadquartersAir Forceisdirectingactionstobetakennowto avoid exhaustingfunds AFPCiscurrentlyapprovingPCSordersforAirmen withprojected departuredatesin July.

ForallotherAirmen awaitingPCS orderswithprojecteddeparture datesof August orlater, ordersarebeingreviewedandapprovedon a prioritybasis. SomePCSorderauthenticationswillbedelayed.

Effective July11, 2023,theAir ForcewillsuspendtheFY23selectivereenlistmentbonusprogrambut will allowAirmenwhowouldhave beeneligibleafterthedeadlinetoextendtheircurrentenlistmentinto fiscalyear2024.ThisallowsmostAirmentostillaccessanSRBprogramwiththeFY23 rulesuntiltheFY24 programstarts. Airmenwho reachtheirmaximumextensionsbylawontheirenlistmentcanalso be accommodatedthrough constructivere-enlistment.Airmenshouldbe

onthe lookoutforAFPC messagingandwork withtheirservicingMPF.

TheAir Forceisalsotemporarilypausingthe AviationBonusprogramthatopenedon June6,2023,torestructuretheprogramtocontinueofferingbonusesto aviators Withinthenext14days, theAir Force expectstoreopenarestructured AvB, atwhichtimeofficerswhodidnot alreadyelecttosignthe AvBcontractwillbeabletodosoaslongas fundsremain.

Additionally, the Air ForceispausingnewAssignmentIncentive Pay; thisincludesAirmensigningcontractsorinitiatingnew pay at non-contractlocationsuntilthebeginningofFY24.Airmenalreadyreceiving AIPwillcontinuetoreceivethatpay.

Finally, AirmenonoverseaslongtourswithaDEROSbetweenOctober–December2023willhavetheirDEROSextendedto January –March2024.

AFPCwill continuetoprioritizeandauthenticateordersformandatorymovesandwillconsiderETP requestsonacase-by-casebasis.

TheAir Forcecontinuestoworkthroughadditionaloptionsto avoid thefundingshortfallandwillprovidemoreinformationwhen available. Airmenwho havespecificquestions, callthe Total ForceServiceCenterat 210-565-0102,ortoll-freeat800-525-0102.

Photoby Tech.Sgt.JimmieD.Pike

WEEKINPHOTOS

AKC-135Stratotankerassignedtothe6thAirRefuelingWingandthreeF-35ALightningIIsassignedtothe33rdFighterWingflyover WaltDisney World Resort,Florida,July4.Theflyover wasconductedincelebrationoftheFourthofJulyandhighlightedthe100thanniversaryofthe WaltDisneyCompanyandofair refueling,acapabilitythatenables global reachforthe AirForce.

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

An F-35LightningIIassignedtothe 33rdFighter Wing,Eglin AirForce Base,Florida, receivesfuelfrom aKC-135 Stratotankerassignedto the6thAirRefueling Wing,MacDill AFBoverOrlando,Florida,July4. Thefiveaircraftteam completed aFourth of Julycelebration overDisney’s MagicKingdom,highlighting the 100thanniversaryof WaltDisney Company andofair refueling,acapability that enablesglobal reachfor the Air Force.

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

U.S.Air ForceLt.Gen.RobertSkinner, directorofDefenseInformation SystemAgencyandthecommanderoftheJointForceHeadquarters, delivers remarksduringthe DISACentralFieldCommandchange of commandceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseJuly7.DISACentral FieldCommandprovides,operatesanddefendstheDepartmentof DefenseinformationnetworkintheCentralRegionarea of responsibility;maintainssituationalawarenessandsupportsintegratedplanningtoassureenterprisecapabilitiesinsupportofU.S.CentralCommandand theirmissionpartners.

PhotobySeniorAirmanJoshuaHastings

Air Forcetodelay somePCS orders,bonuses

SecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—TheAir ForceisexperiencingashortfallintheFY23Military PersonnelAppropriation driven by higherthan-projectedpersonnelcosts.

HeadquartersAir Forceisdirectingactionstobetakennowto avoid exhaustingfunds AFPCiscurrentlyapprovingPCSordersforAirmen withprojecteddeparturedatesin July.

ForallotherAirmen awaitingPCSorderswithprojecteddeparture datesofAugustorlater, ordersarebeingreviewedandapprovedon a prioritybasis. SomePCSorder authenticationswillbedelayed.

Effective July11,2023,theAir ForcewillsuspendtheFY23selectivereenlistmentbonusprogrambutwillallowAirmenwhowouldhave beeneligibleafterthedeadlinetoextendtheircurrentenlistmentinto fiscalyear2024.ThisallowsmostAirmentostillaccessanSRBprogramwiththeFY23rulesuntiltheFY24programstarts. Airmenwho reachtheirmaximumextensionsbylawontheirenlistmentcanalsobe accommodatedthroughconstructivere-enlistment. Airmenshouldbe onthe lookoutforAFPCmessagingandworkwiththeirservicingMPF.

TheAir Forceis alsotemporarilypausingthe AviationBonusprogramthatopenedon June6,2023,torestructuretheprogramtocontinueofferingbonusesto aviators. Withinthenext14days, theAir Force expectstoreopenarestructured AvB, atwhichtimeofficerswhodidnot alreadyelecttosignthe AvBcontractwillbeabletodosoaslongas fundsremain.

Additionally, theAir ForceispausingnewAssignmentIncentive Pay; thisincludesAirmensigningcontractsorinitiatingnewpayatnon-contractlocationsuntilthebeginningofFY24.Airmenalreadyreceiving AIPwillcontinuetoreceivethatpay.

Finally, AirmenonoverseaslongtourswithaDEROSbetweenOctober–December2023willhavetheirDEROSextendedto January –March2024.

AFPCwillcontinuetoprioritizeandauthenticateordersformandatorymovesandwillconsiderETPrequestsonacase-by-case basis.

TheAir Forcecontinuestoworkthroughadditionaloptionsto avoid thefundingshortfallandwillprovidemoreinformationwhen available. Airmenwhohavespecificquestions, callthe Total ForceServiceCenterat210-565-0102,ortoll-freeat800-525-0102.

KC-135serves asplatform formultiple

missionsover Germany,Netherlands

byStaff Sgt.AllisonPayne 52ndFighterWingPublic Affairs

SPANGDAHLEMAIRBASE, Germany (AFNS)— AeromedicalEvacuationtechnicianswiththe 86thAeromedicalEvacuationSquadronassignedto RamsteinAirBase, sharpenedtheirskillsduring a routinerefuelingflightinaKC-135Stratotankerassignedtothe93rdExpeditionaryAirRefuelingSquadron, June27,overtheskiesofGermanyandtheNetherlands.

The86thAESprovidescriticalmedicalcaretoforcesoperatingthroughoutEuropeandAfrica.Theyare responsiblefortreatingpatientsforavarietyofillnessesandinjuries, usingassessmentskillsduring contingencyoperationstosavelifeandlimb, andprovidingessentialcaretopatientsofall ages.

“Wearethatsegmentbetweentransportingpatients fromoneplacetoanotherwhilestillgivingthemthe caretheyneed,” saidCapt. Jo rdanKlein,86thAES flightnurse. “Ifwecouldn’tbethereforthem, theyare morelikelytoundergoharmthatcouldhavebeenotherwise preventable.”

ThemissionoftheAir ForceAeromedicalEvacuationsystemistoprovidetime-sensitive, mission-critical caretopatientsbeing transportedbetweenmedical treatmentfacilities. AEforcesoperateanywhereair operations occur insupportofthefullrangeofmilitaryoperations, humanitarianassistanceanddisaster response

“In-flighttrainingultimatelymakesusmorepreparedfo rfuturefightsandanythingwemayseeor ex periencewithapatient ,” Kleinsaid.“Wedon’talwayshavetheabilitytoflyontheKC-135,sobuilding acohesiveworkingrelationshipwiththe93rdEARSis definitelyimportanttous.”

AEcrewsexecutepatientmovementprimarilyon MobilityAir Forcesaircraft,includingtheC-130JSuperHercules, C-21Learjet, C-17GlobemasterIIIand theKC-135.

“Ifwearetheonlyjet availabletomedicallyevacuatea patient,ourjob asboomoperatorsgainmoreresponsibility,” saidSeniorAirmanCarson Wilberg, 93rd EARSboomoperator. “Everythingfromthebeginning oftheflighttotheendbecomesacollaborativeeffort,

ARoyalNetherlandsAirForceF-16assignedto VolkelAirBase,Netherlands,gets refueledoverthe tionary AirRefuelingSquadron refueledthe Dutchaircraftwhilealsoprovidingaplatform for tionSquadrontoconducttraining.

PhotobyStaffSgt.AllisonPayne fueledoverthe NetherlandsJune 27. The93rd Expedimembers with the 86thAeromedical Evacua-

RoyalNetherlandsAirForceF-16sassignedto VolkelAirBase,Netherlands,flyalongsidea U.S.Air ForceKC-135Stratotankerafterbeing refueledovertheNetherlandsJune27. The 93rd ExpeditionaryAirRefuelingSquadron refueledtheDutch aircraftwhilealsoprovidingaplatformformembers with the86th AeromedicalEvacuationSquadrontoconduct training.

(Farleft)Staff Sgt.Devin Bruner,86thAeromedicalEvacuation Squadronflightinstructor, reviewsasimulatedpatient’smedicalchartspriortotrainingatSpangdahlemAirBase,Germany, June27.The86thAESprovidescriticalmedicalcare to forces operatingthroughoutEurope andAfrica.

(Left)Servicemembers with the93rdExpeditionaryAirRefuelingSquadron and86thAeromedicalEvacuation Squadron, reviewtraining andflightplansatSpangdahlem Air Base,Germany,June27.The86thAESand 93rd EARSconduct training togetheronceamonthtomaintain job proficiencyandfamiliarity withoneanother’s duties.

PhotobyStaffSgt.AllisonPayne

Photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne

GUARDIAN

theUnitedKingdom,andtheUnitedStates–operating approximately70mobilityaircraftacrossmultiplelocationsspanninga3,000mileexerciseareathrough July 21.MG23willemploy3,000personnelindirectsupport oftheexerciseandexpectstosupportmorethan15,000 U.S. forces, andalliedandpartnerparticipantsassociatedwithotherexercisesthisyear, seventimesthatof MG21andnearlythreetimesthatofMG19.

Thisyear’sMG23reflectsanevolutionfromtheexercise’spreviousthree U.S.-basediterationsandaimsto understandandovercomedistancetodeliverthemobilization,deploymentandsustainmentfunctionsthatthe Joint Force, alliesandpartnersdependontorespondto challengesworldwide. (U.S. Air ForcevideobyStaffSgt.

Dalton Williams)

Planningbeganinthespringof2022forthe Pacific endeavorinvolvingmorethan200plannersfromacross AMC, includingtheheadquartersstaff, 18thAir Force, the618thAirOperationsCenterandthe U.S. Air Force ExpeditionaryCenter. AMCexerciseplannerspartnered withplannersfromdozensofadditionalAir Force, joint andinternationalunitstoensuretheexercisedelivers onitsintenttodemonstrateinteroperabilityacrossjoint andcombinedinternational forces.

“Thecollaborationandconnectionformedalongside ourDoDteammatesandouralliesandpartnersduring planningandexecutionwillpaydividendstoday, tomorrowandintoourunquestionablycomplexfuture,” said Lt.Col. Jake Parker, MG23exercisedirector.

ConcurrentlytoMG23, ParkersaidtheMAFwillalso serveasthe“cohesiveglue”foraseriesofotherexercisesoccurringacrosstheIndo-Pacificthissummer. AMC’s roleinenablingthemeaningfulmaneuverofforces throughoutthetheaterunderscoresthenecessityoflogisticsandrealisticinteroperabilityintheregion.

Eachparticipatingcountryhastheopportunityto honevitalreadinessskillsandenhanceinteroperability inoperationallylimitedenvironmentsamongmultiple missionareastoincludeairlift,aerialrefueling, aeromedicalevacuation,theGlobalAirMobilitySupportSystem,commandandcontrolandhumanitariananddisasterassistance.

“Thisisnotapassorfailscenario,”Parkersaid.“This isaprovinggroundfortheMAF’snewstatusquotested throughtheapplicationofflexibleandagileconcepts.

TheMAFwilldoitsparttoensurethe Joint Forceand ouralliesandpartnerscanovercometransnationalsecurity challengesbyredefiningwhatMAFreadinesslooks like.”

SeeGUARDIAN,Page12

C-17GlobemasterIIIslineuponthetaxiwaypriortotakeoffduringamission generationexerciseatJointBaseCharleston,S.C.,Jan.5.Theexercisefocusedonagile combatemploymentandtheabilitytoprojectoverwhelmingairpowerandsuperiority inashorttimeframe,whichisvaluabletoexerciseMobilityGuardian23inthatitallows AirmenfromacrossAirMobilityCommandtoenhance readinessalongsidesixallies andpartnersthroughtestingagilecombatemployment,humanitarianassistanceand disaster reliefcapabilitiesincontested,degradedandoperationallylimitedenvironmentsspanningover3,000miles.

Twenty-fourC-17GlobemasterIIIsflytogetherduringamissiongenerationexercise atCharleston,S.C.,Jan.5.TheformationtookflightfromJBCharlestontoflyover theArthurRavenalJr.Bridgebeforesplittingintofoursmallerformationsto rehearse flexibleanddeterrent responseoptions,liketheabilitytolandinaustereenvironments andquicklyaccomplishavarietyofmissionsets,whichisvaluabletoMobilityguardian23inthatitallowsAirmenfromacrossAirMobilityCommandtoenhance readiness alongsidesixalliesandpartnersthroughtestingagilecombatemployment,humanitarianassistanceanddisaster reliefcapabilitiesincontested,degradedandoperationally limitedenvironmentsspanningover3,000miles.

Photoby Tech.Sgt.AlexFoxEcholsIII

Photoby1stLt. TaylorFerry

EMPOWER

FromPage3

“ItalwaysstartswiththeAirmen,” Hillsaid.“Theydotheworkto tryandfigureouthowtheirideaswillactuallymakesensefortheAir Force.”

OnceAirmenhaveanideaorcreatesomethingthey wanttobringto theAir Force, itisrecommendedtheyreachouttotheirlocalinnovation cellforfurtherrefinementandmentorship.

“SparkCellshaveatleastoneleadthat’sreallygreatatbeingableto say, ‘Here’showwetakeyouridea, ensureitmakessense, andmakeit intoaverysolidpitchthatwillconvinceleadersweneedtofundthis,’” Hillsaid.

Fromthere,Spark Cell leadscanhelpwithroutingthe projectto whoeverisappropriateforfurthercoordination.SparkCellscanalso helpAirmenwho wanttosupportotherinnovationinitiativesthathave alreadystartedbyconnectingthemtoprojectsthatmay wantorneeda specificexpertise.

“Additionally, anyonewhohasa[CommonAccessCard]canaccess ‘Vision’,” Hillsaid.“Thewebsiteisacollectionofsubmittedandongoing innovations.Peoplecanfindaproject, seewho’sworkingonitandask tojointheirteamtocollaborateandworktogether.”

Eventhough it’s always agoodtimetoinnovate, Airmenwhoare lookingtogetideassubmittedforcompetitionshouldbeawaretheAir ForceSpark Tankwillstartcollectingsubmissionsin Julyandstopin August.

PACAFtypicallytakessubmissionsin Januarytocompeteinthemajorcommand.Somerecentinnovationsfrom PACAFhavemadequitea bitofheadwayin largerAir Force channels.

“Lastyearthetopinnovation,ProjectKineticCargo, wasadeployableautomatedcargo measuring systemthathasbeendramatically successfulduringCopeNorthin Februarywheretheytook96hours of processing time down to 14 hours,” said Hill. “The project won the People’sChoice AwardsatthelargerAir ForceSpark Tank,where[Air ForceChiefofStaffGen.CQBrown]saidthathewouldsupportthemin gettingneededpolicy changes Andnowwe’reatapointwherekinetic cargohastheappropriatepolicy changestobeenactedAir Force-wide.”

OtherrecentinnovationsincludeamobileAirTransportableClinic

Lt.Gen.JamesJacobson,PacificAirForcesdeputycommander, providesthe resultstothe PACAF2023 Spark TankfinalistsatJointBase PearlHarbor-Hickam,Hawaii,May1.Spark TankisanannualopportunityforAirmenandGuardianstodemonstratetheirinnovativeideasto modernizeourforcesandcompeteforfundingtobringideastofruition.

and VenomKits. Themobile clinicisanAgileCombatEmploymentfocusedinnovationwhichiscurrentlyontracktopotentiallybecomethe newAir ForcestandardforhowmedicalwillbedoneinACEenvironments. VenomKitsarefueladditivesthatallowustoconvert“JetA,” commercialfuel,intoJP8whichareusedinfighters.

“Wetryandtakegreatairmenideasandturnthemintoreality,” Hill said.“Itmightbe clichétosay, butit’s aboutempoweringAirmen.”

Photoby Tech.Sgt.JimmieD.Pike

Minihanmadeit clearthatpreparationforMG23 wasnotrestrictedtoaselectivegroupofplanners—takingheedto whatMinihansaid wasAir ForceChiefof StaffGen.CQBrown,Jr.’sdirectiveto“go faster.” Whenhetookcommandin October2021,Minihanpropelledthecommand towarddrovesofunconventionalbutriskinformedapproaches, guidingthe way AMCconductsbusiness.

ExerciseMobilityGuardian2023,Air MobilityCommand’slargestfull-spectrum readinessexerciseinthecommand’s history, began July 5, 2023, in theIndo-Pacificregion.(U.S. Air Forcevideoby Tech. Sgt.ZacharyBoyer)

Fromthedozensofwing-ledlarge-force drillsexercisingAgileCombatEmploymentandmulti-capableAirmen,toworkingapaththatoperationalizedtheKC46A Pegasus, thecommand’sapproach throughoutthelastyear wasdesignedto generateanunprecedentedlevelofreadiness andadvantageforthe Joint Force.

“TheMobilityAir Forces’successis non-negotiableandnon-transferable, and theimplicationsofaless-than-fearless andless-than-first classMAFaresevere,” Minihansaid.“Wefullyunderstandthe magnitudeofresponsibilitythatrestson ourshoulders, andwe will deliverwhat isrequiredtoserveourfellowalliesand partnersandpreserveournation’ssacred peace, prosperityandprestige.”

Capt.ChristopherAllen,6thAirliftSquadrondeputychiefofsquadrontraining,co-pilotsaC-17 Globemastertobe refueledbyaKC-46PegasusovertheEasternseaboard,Mar.9.The aerial refuelingoftheC-17occurredduringExerciseWhiteStag,afull-spectrum readinessexercisethat demonstratedthe 305thAirMobilityWing’soverallabilitytodeployandsustainrapidglobal mobility aroundthe world.

PhotobySeniorAirmanJosephMorales

PLATFORM

Maj.AmandaPeterson,86thAeromedicalEvacuation Squadrontrainingflightcommander,briefsherteam asimulatedpatientduringin-flighttrainingJune 27.Memberswiththe86thAES conductmonthlytrainththe93rd ExpeditionaryAirRefuelingSquadron inaKC-135Stratotankertomaintainfamiliaritywiththe

soit’sreallyimportantforustounderstandwhatroles wecanfillandhowwecanhelpourAEguysout.”

TheKC-135flewabovenortheastern Europe toconductroutinerefuelingforRoyalNetherlandsAir Force F-16sandF-35sfrom VolkelAirBase, Netherlands. Together, theflightenabledthetrainingmissionsofthe 86thAES, 93rdEARSandtheRNLAF.

“Astheaircraftcommander, I’min chargeofessentiallythewellbeingofthejetandeveryoneonboard,” saidCapt.NathanArmes, 93rdEARSKC-135pilot. “It’s myjobtomaintainasmooth,steadyaircraftsothemedicalteamcanaccomplishtheirmissionasweaccomplish ours.”

When theboomoperators weren’trefueling aircraft, the86thAESteam wasbusypracticingvariousmedicalscenariostheymayencounter, such asmentalhealth care, musculoskeletalinjuries, anaphylacticreactions andotherpatientemergencies.

“Runningthroughthesetrainingscenarioshelpsus learnwhattododuringpotentiallystressfulsituations,” saidSeniorAirmanZachary Vedder, 86thAESaerospace medicaltechnician.“Beingabletomanagestressisreallyimportantbecauseweneedtobeabletomakequick decisionstoultimatelysavealife.”

PhotobyStaffSgt.AllisonPayne

Volleyball Jamboree

TheShort FitnessCenterishostinga Volley Jamboree at theShort FitnessCenter on July 14at5 p.m. Registerby closeofbusiness

Wednesday, July12bystopping bythefitnesscenterfront deskorby emailingthe6thfss.fsvs.intramuralsports@us.af.mil.

YouthFlag Football Registration

Getin thegame!Register your child(ren)starting July26through August25. Join the YouthCenter co-edflagfootballforanactive, fun, andinclusive experience. Develop skills, buildfriendships, andcreate lastingmemoriesonthefield. CurrentChildand YouthProgramsmemberscanregisterbeginning July26throughtheirexistingCYPBMSlogin. For pricing, requirements, and non-member registrationdetails, visitmacdillfss.com/ wp-content/uploads/YOUTHFLAGFOOTBALL.pdf.

MacBook2 SchoolEvent

ComejointhefunatHanger 3 atthisannualeventfilledwith games, activities, music, food,sponsorboothsandfreeschoolsupplies (whilesupplieslast).TheInformation FairandMacBook2 School backpackgiveaway (for registered participants)willtakeplaceSaturday, July29from9a.m. –12 p.m. Formoreeventinformationandto register, visitmacdillfss.com/macback-to-school/.

Becomea SecretShopper

Get paidtocallorvisit6thFSS facilities. To learnmore, callor emailthe6FSSMarketingDepartmentat828-2513orsixfssfsk@ gmail.com.

Findmoreevents at: macdillfss.com

TheChamp!

U.S.AirForceCol.EdwardSzczepanik,6thAirRefuelingWingvice commander,left,and Chief MasterSgt.DavidBecraft,6th MaintenanceGroupsenior enlistedleader,right,posewithStaff Sgt.MichaelLewis,6thMXGqualificationtrainingprogramcrewchiefinstructor,duringaChampionof the Week recognition atMacDillAirForceBaseJune27.Lewisprovided technicalorder trainingtoagroupofsixnew airmen,highlightingthecritical rolethattechnicalordersplayin aircraftmaintenance.Additionally,hemanaged the6thMXG’sGovernmentPurchaseCard programandservedas theprogrammanagerforthe6th MXGFlight-lineDriver’s Program.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

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

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

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

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

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

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

OtherFaithGroups- PleasecontacttheChapelat (813)828-3621or viaemailat6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

Formoredetailsandinformation,visit theChapel Facebookpageat

http://www.facebook/6amwhc/or MacDill’sChapelwebsite is:https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

U.S.AirForcecourtesyphoto