Thunderbolt 07/14/2022

Vol. 50, No. 28

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Innovating new aircraft fasteners - page 6

News/Features: page 3 Lightning capital of U.S.

News/Features: page 3 Testing new eye protection

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

Photo by Airman 1st Class Michael Killian

Community: page 11 Events, Chapel, more...

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Anthony Martinez, an aircraft structural maintainer assigned to the 6th Maintenance Squadron, unscrews a KC-135 Stratotanker window during an innovation conference at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, The conference was held to discuss the $2.5 million contract between STEALTHWERX and The Bolt Cell Small Business Innovation Research to develop new fasteners for B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 aircraft and ground support equipment.

NEWS/FEATURES Air Force hosts service chiefs to discuss JADC2 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFNS)—Reemphasizing a critical joint partnership in all-domain warfare, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. met with his fellow service chiefs from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Space Force June 24 to share advancements and discuss the way forward as the services work together to continue cultivating common ground on Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

The meeting focused on the Defense Department’s progress and projections for JADC2 in order to identify opportunities for the services to align their developmental efforts and to identify the obstacles that may frustrate moving forward to achieve the objectives of JADC2 in support of the joint force.

The senior leaders shared their views on areas of common agreement as well as areas where divergence in individual service efforts is appropriate. In this discussion, each of the services identified several areas on which they must focus in order to realize the intent behind JADC2 – to create and maintain a persistent

connection in order to share data across the joint force.

Additionally, after a year of baseline activities in support of the JADC2 Strategy and Implementation Plan, the chiefs discussed the need for a more developed Concept of Operations, or CONOPS, for a future joint fight against a peer competitor, which is currently fraught with challenges when forces become disconnected from global communications networks. The creation of a CONOPS for command and control of the joint force is an essential step forward in creating decision advantage.

“As the Air Force develops (Advanced Battle Management System) in our effort to achieve information and decision advantage by delivering relevant data, information and capabilities to warfighters at all echelons, we must work together with our sister services and the DoD to ensure we connect our sensors and platforms and share our data as part of a joint force,” Brown said. “Meetings like the one we held today are important to ensure we continue to stay aligned when it comes to JADC2 – where we are collectively and where we are going.”

Space is not only an all-domain warfare enabler, but also an increasingly active warfighting domain. In today’s talks, Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond outlined the Space Force’s his Guardians’ most recent contributions to the JADC2 effort to sense, make sense and act in space and throughout the joint battlespace.

“Our ability to sense from the space domain, transport and make sense of data, and then get that data into the hands of our joint warfighting partners on land, in the air and at sea, is what the Space Force delivers to JADC2,” Raymond said. “Space capabilities underpin modern warfare.”

Emphasizing the importance of JADC2 in the Marine Corps’ Stand-In Forces concept, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger added, “JADC2 means the ability to move data and information in support of the joint force. It means we will improve decisionmaking processes toward a faster, more effective kill chain and ensure our Marines can best See JADC2, Page 12

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

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.

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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

Lightning in five!

How MacDill operates in ‘The Lightning Capital of the United States’ by 2nd Lt. Kristin Nielsen 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs When you think of Tampa Bay, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it MacDill?

The hot and humid weather? Or is it the electrifying thunderstorms that feel like clockwork during the summer months?

MacDill sits at the very bottom of the Tampa Bay peninsula, receiving more lightning than most areas in the United States. This has earned Tampa the reputation of “The Lightning Capital of the United States.” MacDill has embraced its community’s reputation, using lightning bolts on the tails of our jets.

See LIGHTNING, Page 10

Photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney

Lightning strikes behind an aircraft on the flightline at MacDill Air Force Base June 8, 2021. When lightning is visible, the base issues a lightning warning which means lightning is within 5 nautical miles.

Protecting aircrew eyes in the sky story and photos by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Airmen from 28th and 46th Test and Evaluation Squadrons from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., visited MacDill AFB to evaluate an improved version of the Aircrew Laser Eye Protection glasses, starting June 22.

The new ALEP day spectacles protect an individual’s central and peripheral vision against direct and reflected exposure to lasers. The newest ALEP enhancement includes dye-infused lenses that defend against a broader spectrum of rays.

“I am nothing without my ability to see in the jet,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Robert Breen, a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft pilot assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron.

Lasering or aiming a small, high-powered laser device at an aircraft in flight, is an intentional and dangerous criminal act that can temporarily blind pilots and aircrew members during flight operations, jeopardizing the safety and control of an aircraft.

These lasering incidents can potentially put lives at risk, affecting commercial and transiting military aircraft.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, in 2021 there were See EYES, Page 8

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jamar Jackson, a KC-135 Startotanker aircraft boom operator assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron tests new Aircrew Laser Eye Protection glasses in the boom pod of a KC-135 during a training mission over the coast of South Carolina, June 23. Jackson participated in a developmental test of the ALEP glasses conducted by the 46th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

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WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by 2nd Lt. Michael Caggiano

A B-1B Lancer assigned to 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron takes off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam to join the Royal Australian Air Force for a Bomber Task Force mission, June 20. Bomber Task Force missions provide opportunities to train alongside allies and partners to build interoperability and bolster the collective ability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Perez, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs pre-flight checks on a KC-135 Stratotanker in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Operation Noble Defender at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 29. The exercise is an integrated air and missile defense operation designed to ensure the defense and security of the northern and southern approaches to North America.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook

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NEWS/FEATURES You asked and the MacDill Military Personnel Flight answered

by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs The MacDill Military Personnel Flight has created a new ID Card Call Center to better serve the needs of service members, civilians, retirees and their families in the Tampa Bay and surrounding Florida area.

As the first US Air Force installation to run a call center operation, the team highlights that customers can now call or text (813) 796-5272 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday – Friday (excluding holidays and family days) with their ID Card/DEERS related questions.

“We ultimately created the ID Card Call Center because of our surge in inquiries from our customer base across the state of Florida,” said Staff Sgt. Brigitte Boggs, a customer support supervisor with the MPF. The 6th FSS recognized the growing demand for ID cards, including

an increase in customer inquiries and were tasked to find a solution.

“With over 50,000 annual visitors coming from all around the State of Florida, our main goal is to optimize our communication and service delivery for our customers,” said Capt. Joey Abelon, the Military Personnel Flight Commander.

“We realized we needed to find ways to keep up with phone calls, emails and in-person customer inquiries with the resources we had,” said Abelon. “I challenged my flight to come up with an innovative solution to our complex problem and they rose to the challenge with the Call Center.”

The MPF Customer Support team led the charge with the assistance of the 6th Communications Squadron to implement the Call Center to better service Team MacDill.

Additional ID card resources can be found at: macdillfss.com/idcards/.

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

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MacDill makes innovation happen at Whiteman AFB story and photos by Airman 1st Class Michael Killian 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

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embers of the 6th Air Refueling Wing assigned to MacDill Air Force Base visited Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to collaborate with STEALTHWERX and the 509th Bomb Wing on groundbreaking aircraft innovations June 29.

The meetup was held to discuss new gadgets made to streamline the maintenance process of the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and KC-135 Stratotanker, and to exchange ideas on how to better improve each other’s workflow.

The new nut plates, mechanically locking fasteners, and Vband clamps are the handy work of Enduralock, a fastener supplier in Lenexa, Kansas, and are part of a $2.5 million contract between STEALTHWERX and The Bolt Cell Small Business Innovation Research.

A mechanic can typically safely wire 10 fasteners per hour. In that same hour, over 300 Enduralock fasteners could be installed.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jamal Browne, an aircraft structural maintenance craftsman assigned to the 6th Maintenance Squadron, believes the new innovations will save the 6th MXS tons of man hours by breaking down less easily, and being faster and less labor intensive to move and replace.

“It could take a crew chief anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes to remove the current panels,” Browne said. “With the nut plate, we’re looking at a removal time of 10 minutes, which saves the crew chiefs a lot of heartache.”

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Taylor Johnston, an innovation officer assigned to the 6th ARW, was one of the main coordinators of this conference.

“Air Mobility Command and Global Strike Command very rarely work together, but we were able to take one brilliant idea from a small company, and implement it to help both of our wings out,” said Johnston. “Using available resources to make real and lasting impact is what MacDill does. In the last six months, we’ve gone from one innovation program on base to 10, and we’ve seen over half a million dollars of input since August of last year.”

Johnston said the main priorities for innovation are creating partnerships with small businesses and local talent, as well as solving problems or solutions with either money, tech, or processes.

This project’s goal was to improve the process of both MacDill and Whiteman airmen, and help foster an environment of forward thinkers who continuously innovate at all levels in order to meet the challenges of an unpredictable tomorrow.

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Airmen assigned to the 6th Maintenance Squadron and a member of Enduralock, a fastener supplier in Lenexa, Kansas, discuss how to efficiently unscrew a KC-135 Stratotanker window during an innovation conference at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, The conference was held to discuss the $2.5 million contract between STEALTHWERX and The Bolt Cell Small Business Innovation Research to develop new fasteners for B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 aircraft and ground support equipment.

A B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker from MacDill AFB, Fla., during an aerial refueling mission over Oklahoma, June 29. The B-2 is a multirole bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.

An airman assigned to the 6th Maintenance Squadron compares old screws with new ones during an innovation conference at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, The conference was held to discuss the $2.5 million contract between STEALTHWERX and The Bolt Cell Small Business Innovation Research to develop new fasteners for B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 aircraft and ground support equipment.

NEWS/FEATURES

Career assistance advisor renamed, recoded to synchronize responsibilities with resources Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—Beginning this fall, the Air Force’s 92 enlisted career assistance advisors will be converted to Airmen development advisors, complete with a new corresponding Air Force specialty code and bolstered foundational support.

The change is designed to align the broad spectrum of CAA responsibilities with deliberate development of the enlisted force, as recently outlined in the Enlisted Force Development Action Plan.

The portfolio of daily CAA responsibilities includes guiding Airmen in making informed decisions about their military careers, such as career path counseling, reenlistments, retraining, and specialty job opportunities. They also advise commanders and supervisors on enlisted force

management and professional development opportunities and manage the administration of key training programs such as the First Term Airmen Course.

Though these roles and responsibilities will not be altered as a result of the transition from CAA to ADA, the new AFSC will make ADAs part of the professional military education instructor community. This will align them with Air Education and Training Command’s Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, allowing for a more cohesive level of baseline professional support.

“Right now, CAAs perform their duties without any formal training, standardized resources or instruction on how to build curriculum,” said Senior Master Sgt. Wes Lawrence, CAA special duty manager. “The See ADVISORS, Page 10

EYES

From Page 3

a reported 9,723 lasering incidents, a 41 percent increase over 2020 incidents. This was the highest reported number of incidents ever recorded.

As a felony offense, lasering aircraft carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FAA and U.S. Air Force are continuously dedicated to stopping this activity to protect pilot and aircrew members’ eyes.

Providing aircrew members with the latest protective equipment to stay safe against the threats of unwanted harmful lasers, the test squadrons initiated a large-scale assessment of the product in multiple military aircraft types at various locations beginning with the 6th Air Refueling Wing’s KC-135s.

“What we’re looking for is a well-integrated system and mission,” said 2nd Lt. Naomi Cuadrado, a test engineer assigned to the 28th TES. “Our goal is to fully understand the effectiveness of this device in every airframe that it is fielded to.”

Cuadrado included that the testing is being completed in phases, with the KC-135 Stratotanker, B-52 Stratofortress, C-17 Globemaster and additional aircraft during phase one. Aircrew assigned to these aircraft should expect to be issued the improved ALEP devices by December of this year.

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Photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren Cobin

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Gross, a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft boom operator assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, tests the new Aircrew Laser Eye Protection glasses at MacDill AFB June 23.

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LIGHTNING From Page 3

Why is Tampa commonly known as “The Lightning Capital?” Why has it become such a large cultural symbol for MacDill and the surrounding communities? Most importantly, how does this affect our people and mission?

To answer these questions, there was only one place to start: The 6th Air Refueling Wing Operations Support Squadron Weather shop. The 6 OSS/OSW is composed of nine airmen who work to predict and understand our unique weather environment.

The weather airmen forecast the routes of our KC-135 Stratotankers, for both takeoff and landing. The airmen also forecast the local weather for the people living and working on MacDill and focus on resource protection, ensuring assets are safe from any inclement weather.

Senior Airman Charlie Stenlund, a weather shop technician, spoke about their unit’s mission. “We predict the future, using science to back it up.”

Tampa Bay is encased by constant moisture and instability in the summertime. “We’re surrounded by water, and then we’re surrounded by even more water,” said Stenlund. “It’s the perfect recipe for lightning storms.”

Stenlund added that the water in the atmosphere, mixed with a little bit of sea breeze, means you get a thunderstorm almost every day in the summer months.

“It’s an extremely dynamic environment,” said Master Sgt. Adam Baker, noncommissioned officer in charge of 6 OSS/OSW. “The ingredients for lightning are always there, it just depends on how and where they mix.”

Tampa has the most thunderstorm days on average in the United States, at around 85 days per year. And where there’s thunder… there’s lightning. Last year, MacDill saw 68 strikes on the installation alone.

“Lightning can have a huge impact on MacDill’s operations. It can ground our planes,” said Baker. “It can stop our planes from landing. It can stop our maintainers from working.”

Our operations can be heavily influenced by our dynamic weather. So how do we stay safe from lightning, both for the safety of our people and the success of our missions?

We have sensors on the runways that detect lightning. This fixed meteorological equipment, or “FMR,” and tactical meteorological equipment, or “TMR,” tells us whenever lightning strikes up to 50 nautical miles from base.

Our weather airmen study meteorological patterns, monitor weather equipment, and routinely speak to pilots to ensure they stay safe from any inclement weather.

“You can never get complacent because of Tampa Bay’s reputation as the lightning capital,” said Baker. “The weather here will always keep you on your toes.”

The 6 OSS/OSW is inserted into the decision-making process of our flying operations, assisting with planning and entrusted by leadership to keep our planes, pilots, and personnel safe from harm, ensuring we are able to deliver unmatched air refueling worldwide.

ADVISORS From Page 8

change reinforces the importance of what Airmen development advisors will execute in their daily mission.

“We must provide tailored, professional resources and support that will benefit all Airmen.”

The transition exemplifies the “Force Development Ecosystem” focus area of the Enlisted Force Development Action Plan, which calls for building greater connections between initial skills, technical and onthe-job training, education and experiences.

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“Connecting Airmen development advisors with the professional military education community makes sense as we strive for more deliberate development of tomorrow’s enlisted force,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass.

ADAs will continue to support all mission partners, to include: active duty, Guard, and Reserve Airmen; Guardians and civilians. The change will be official once the Air Force Enlisted Classification document is published, which is scheduled for Oct. 31.

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COMMUNITY

EVENTS

MPF ID cards new phone system You can call or text 796-5272 to get quick answers to your ID card questions. Open 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Interviewing Skills Workshop July 19, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. The Interviewing skills workshop will help you learn the techniques involved in the interview process and how to handle salary issues and questions.

Please contact: 6mss.employments@ us.af.mil or 828-0145 Quarterly airmen appreciation meal July 21, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Join us for an Italian feast at the DFAC to celebrate our second quarter accomplishments. Plus free cake, games, and prizes. For the full menu and more info, visit macdillfss .com/ diners-reef/.

Looking for the perfect summer job?

The 6th Force Support Squadron is seeking out qualified candidates 16 years and older. 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

New SOCCENT commander!

Courtesy photo

Rear Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley relinquished command of Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) to Brig. Gen. Kevin Leahy during a change of command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base July 1. The ceremony marked the end of Bradley’s command and leadership of the organization, a position he has held since July 2020. Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the commanding general, U.S. Central Command, officiated the ceremony and Gen. Richard D. Clark, Jr., the commanding general, United States Special Operations Command, provided remarks.

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

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JADC2 From Page 2

support the joint force to win in all domains.”

As Army Futures Command prepares for the third iteration of Project Convergence, their annual JADC2 experimentation and demonstration event, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville expressed his thoughts on the way ahead for sensor-to-shooter technologies to his fellow service chiefs: “In large-scale combat operations, overmatch belongs to the side with decision dominance. Project Convergence is helping us figure out how to connect the right lethal system, the right shooter, the right arrow to get the lethal effects that we need in seconds rather than minutes or in some cases even hours. Having the joint force, allies, and partners involved helps us see ourselves – helps us remember that we never fight alone. That’s why we’re developing JADC2 as a joint force, and I always add a “C” for CJADC2, because we don’t just fight as a joint force, we fight alongside our allies and partners.”

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike M. Gilday also highlighted the importance of all the services being on the same page when it comes to all-domain battle management and command and control.

“Project Overmatch is the Navy’s contribution to JADC2, so as we develop the networks, infrastructure, data architecture, tools and analytics to enable sustained maritime dominance, it’s critical the Navy remains in sync with our joint teammates,” Gilday said. “Opportunities like this – to sit in the same room and hash things out with my fellow service chiefs – are indispensable to the progress of such high-priority initiatives.”

The gathering of the military’s top uniformed leaders to align and synchronize on all aspects of JADC2 emphasizes the high level of importance DoD’s senior leaders place on joint interoperability, timely data-sharing as well as unified and ubiquitous and command and control throughout all warfighting domains.

“We cannot afford to lose a day in this effort,” Brown said. “Speed, agility and resilience are essential to decision-making and battle management in future highly contested environments. The progress we make in JADC2 will be determinate in our success as a joint force.”

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