Thunderbolt 8/03/2023

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High-flying NASApilottakesoff from MacDill

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MobilityGuardian23

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Kirt Stallings, NASA ER-2 pilot with the Armstrong Flight Research Center, prepares to fly an ER-2 at MacDill Air Force Base July 20. Stallings is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and previously piloted the U-2S Dragon Lady, an aircraft with similar capabilities to the ER-2. NASA uses the ER-2, which operates at altitudes from 20,000 feet to 70,000 feet, to collect information about the Earth’s resources, celestial observations, atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, and oceanic processes.

Vol.51,No. 31 Thursday, August 3,2023
PhotobySeniorAirmanJoshuaHastings

Fromsurvivaltrainingtosavinglives-atransitionstory

Some AirmenjointheAir Forceto travel,andsometolearnatrade. For 1st Lt.David Foreman,it was tostarta newadventure away from home. In2006, Foremanenlistedasasurvival, evasion, resistanceandescape (SERE)specialist. During thattime, helearnednot onlytoprotecthimselfbuttoteachotherstodothesame.

“Forthefirstfouryears[asaSEREspecialist]wefocusonteaching aircrewsurvivalskills,” said Foreman. “Afterthattime, we’reable to pursuepositionsthatfitintoabiggerpicture.”

Followingthetypicalteachingcommitment,SEREspecialistsaregivenrolesfocusedonplanningandrecovery. Accordingto Foreman,outside ofafew classespermonth,hisrole waspreparingaircrewforemergency situations.

“SERE specialistsspend alotoftimedevelopingtheirindividualsurvivalskills, sotheyunderstandthesituationslaterintheircareer,” said Foreman. “A lotoftheroleSEREspecialistsplayisinassessingrisk,creatinganescapeandrecoveryplanforaircrewandensuringthatcrewis adequatelytrainedto carryitout.”

WhiletheSEREcareerfieldhadfulfilledhisneedforadventuretowardsthebeginningofhisenlistment, Foremanstartedtofeelthephysicalcommitmentscatchinguptohim.

“Iremembertowardstheendofmyenlistmentfindingitincredibly hardtobenddowntopickupmydaughterandplaywithmykids,” said Foreman.“That wasreallymy wake-upcalltofindsomethingthatgave metheflexibilitytocontinueservingbutwouldgivemetheflexibilityto live mylife.”

Aftercomingtothedecisionthat a changeneededtobemade, Fore-

U.S. Air Force1stLt.DavidForeman,6thMedical Group physicianassistant,posesforaphotoat MacDillAirForceBaseJuly19.Foreman enlistedasasurvival,evasion, resistanceandescapespecialistfrom 2006 to2021.

manreflectedontheskillsheenjoyedmostasaSEREspecialist.He foundthathehadanaffinityformedicineandaftersuccessfullyteaching dozensoftacticalcombatcasualtycarecourses, hehadthebaselineskill tobecompetitive.

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MacDillThunderbolt

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MacDill on theweb
NEWS/FEATURES
PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

ConnectedbattlespacemodernizesfightinIndo-Pacific

KADENAAIRBASE, Japan(AFNS)—History wasmadeduringexerciseNorthernEdge 23-2astheUtahAirNationalGuard’s 151stAir Refueling Wing, workingwiththeAirNational GuardandAir ForceReserve TestCenter, sent theirmodifiedKC-135StratotankertoKadena AirBaseforuseinthe Western Pacific.

TheKC-135, equippedwiththeReal-Time InformationintheCockpitsystem,otherwise knownasRTIC, andtheCollinsAerospaceIntelligentGateway flewalongsidetheRaytheon Multi-Program Testbed,otherwiseknownas RMT, aswellasnumerousjointandcoalition aircraft, tomodernizeandenhancebattlespace communicationsforallplayersintheIndo-Pacific region.

TheRTICprogramofrecordprovidesrealtimesituational awarenesstoKC-135crews bydisplayingenemythreats, targetdataand alliedforcelocationsonan avionicsdisplay locatedinthecockpit.

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AKC-135Stratotankerassignedtothe151stAirRefuelingWingtakesoffduringexerciseNorthernEdge23-2at KadenaAirBase,Japan, July 12.TheIntelligentGatewayconnectivitycombinedwithBattlespaceCommandandControlCenterAirBattleManagementhardware/softwareprovidescommand andcontrolcapabilities totheABMsconducting a distributed tactical C2experimentduring NE23-2.

MobilityGuardian23sharpens

AFMC’swarfightersupport

WRIGHT-PATTERSONAIRFORCEBASE,Ohio(AFNS)—Wartimecontingencyandcampaignplannerscanlearnalotfromamajor multi-nationalexercise, withdozensofaircraftcarryingthousandsof participantsandmovingtonsofmaterieland equipmentacrossthe Indo-Pacifictheater.

Air ForceMaterielCommandlogisticianshaveworkedbehindthe scenesonexerciseMobilityGuardian23since Fall2022andarecriticaltothesuccessfulplanningandexecutionofAirMobilityCommand’s largest,andarguablymost challenging, exerciseinyears

“ThisexerciseisreallyhighlightinghowtheAFMClogistics enterprisesupportsthe warfighter,” said Col. JohnKlohr, Headquarters AFMClogisticslead.“Thevast distancesand watermakepre-positioned WarReserveMaterielcriticaltoourreadinessintheIndo-Pacific theater.”

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StaffSgt.DanielMedellin,15thAircraftMaintenanceSquadroncrew chief,participatesinaninteractiveAircraft BattleDamage Repairtraining atJointBasePearlHarbor-Hickam,Hawaii,July 13.Membershad theopportunitytosimulateaircraftdamagebysledgehammeringan oldairplanewing,similartothosetheywouldbe repairinginthefield. Thistrainingismission-criticalforunderstandingbattledamagemaintenanceandhowto gatheraccurate data.

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PhotobySeniorAirmanSebastianRomawac PhotobyAirman1stClassKadielleShaw

WEEKINPHOTOS

AKC-135Stratotankerassignedto6th AirRefuelingWingis shownontheflightlineatMacDillAirForceBaseJuly7.The KC-135isprimarilyused forair refueling,a capabilitythatenablestheairassetsoftheDefenseDepartmentandpartner nationstoflylonger andhave agreater reach.

MemberswiththeArmstrongFlightResearch CenterprepareaNASA ER-2forflightatMacDillAirForceBase,July20.NASAused theER-2, whichoperatesataltitudesfrom20,000feetto70,000feet,to research terrestrialgamma-rayflashesoverthe GulfofMexico,CentralAmerica andtheCaribbean.The researchwillaidNASAinunderstandingTGFs inoneofthemostTGF-intense regionsonEarthandwillenhance spacebornelightningmapperperformancevalidationandcharacterizationintropicalandoceanic regions.

U.S. AirForceA1CRinoaCornel,base honorguardsman,presentsthe UnitedStatesflagtoSpecialAgentTimothyRies, duringhis retirement ceremonyatMacDillAirForceBaseJuly27.After retiringfromactive dutyin2000withtherankoflieutenantcolonel, Rieswentontoserve anadditional 23 yearsasacivilianspecialagentwith the Department of theAirForceOffice ofSpecialInvestigations.

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PhotobySeniorAirmanJessicaDo PhotobyAirman1stClassSterlingSutton PhotobySeniorAirmanJoshuaHastings

GeneralAllvinnominated to be next AirForce Chief ofStaff

SecretaryoftheAir ForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va (AFNS)—Air Force Vice ChiefofStaffGen. David W. Allvin, a command pilotwithexpertiseinjointplanningandstrategy, hasbeennominatedastheAir Force’s 23rd ChiefofStaff, President JoeBidenandDefense Secretary LloydAustinIIIannounced July26.

AllvinwouldassumethehighestmilitarypositionintheAir Force, responsiblefortheorganization,trainingandequippingof689,000active-duty, Guard,Reserve, andcivilianmembers servingintheUnited Statesandoverseas If confirmedbytheSenate, heis poisedtoreplace Gen.CQBrown,Jr., who wasrecentlynominatedtobethe Chairman ofthe JointChiefs of Staff.

“Iamhonoredandprivilegedtobenominat-

edasthenextChiefofStaffoftheAir Force. Ifconfirmed, Iwill continuethetraditionand legacyofintegrity, serviceandexcellencethat this positionrequires GinaandIarehumbled toserveourAir Force, ourAirmenandtheir families.”Air Force ViceChief ofStaffGen. DavidAllvin

Allvin’snominationbyPresident JoeBiden, wasmetwithsupportacrosstheservicefor a seniorleaderwhoiswellknown. He hasserved astheAir Force’s second-highest-rankingmilitaryofficerforthree years.

“I’mdelightedtosupportGeneralDaveAllvin’snominationtoserveasthenextChiefof StaffoftheAir Force,” saidAir ForceSecretary Frank Kendall.“Thisnominationspeaksto Dave’sexceptionalleadershipandselflessser-

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U.S.AirForcephoto AirForce ViceChiefofStaff Gen.David W. Allvin,acommandpilotwithexpertiseinjoint planningandstrategy, hasbeen nominatedas the AirForce’s23rd chiefofstaff,PresidentJoe BidenandDefenseSecretaryLloydAustinIII, announcedJuly 26.

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vice. Throughouthisdistinguishedcareer, hehasexemplifiedthehighest standardsofprofessionalism, andIhaveeveryconfidencethathewill continuetoleadtheAir ForceandourAirmenwiththesamepassionand commitmentthathasdefinedhisreputation.”

Asamemberofthe JointChiefsofStaff, the CSAFandotherservice chiefsfunction asmilitaryadviserstotheSecretaryofDefense, National SecurityCouncilandthePresidentoftheUnitedStates. Allvinwillplay acriticalroleinrepresentingtheAir Force’sprioritiesandinterestsas wellasintegratingtheservice’s core missionsintotheDepartment ofDefense’s DefendtheNationpriorities.

“GeneralDaveAllvinistherightleaderforthisdefiningdecade, asour Air Forcecontinuestoadapttotheevolvingglobalsecurityenvironment, andensurewehavetheculture, conceptsandcapabilitiesneededto competeandwininahighlycontested environment,” saidAir ForceChiefof Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. “His expertiseinstrategyandplanningwillbe crucialtotheservice’ssuccessinthiseraofsustainedstrengthanddeterrence.”

Allvin’s 37yearsofserviceishighlightedbyhisleadership, dedication andexperience, which areseenascriticalqualitiesformeetingthede-

mandsandexpectationsofthe position.

In1986,Allvingraduatedfromthe U.S. Air ForceAcademywith a BachelorofScienceinAstronauticalEngineering Heisacommandpilot withmorethan4,600hours, including800flighttesthoursinmorethan 30aircraftand100combathoursinIraqandAfghanistan.

Hehascommandedatthesquadronandwinglevels, whichincluded servingastheCommanderforthe97thAirMobility Wingand618th Air andSpace OperationsCenter. Healsoheldmajorcommandstaffassignmentsandservedinseveral JointStaffpositions, includingasaCommandingGeneralfortheNATO AirTrainingCommand–Afghanistan andNATO TrainingMission-Afghanistan/CombinedSecurityTransition Command-Afghanistan,andCommanderforthe438th AirExpeditionary Wing.

AllvinhasservedastheDirectorforStrategyand PolicyforHeadquarters U.S. EuropeanCommandand ViceDirectorforStrategy, Plans, and Policy(J-5)atthe JointStaff. Morerecently, priortohiscurrent assignment, he wasthe DirectorforStrategy, Plans, and Policy(J-5) JointStaff andtheseniormemberoftheUnitedStatesDelegationtotheUnitedNationsMilitaryStaffCommittee.

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U.S.AirForceMaj.MichaelBakke,621stMobilitySupportOperationsSquadron,JointBaseMcGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,N.J.,watches asaJapanese C-130landsonBakerLandingZoneinTinian,U.S.CommonwealthoftheNorthernMarianas,July12.The621stMobilitySupportOperations Squadronmembers,airmobilityliaisonofficers,ExpeditionaryAirGroundLiaisonElementmembers,andJapaneseloadmastersparticipatedin exerciseMobility Guardian23, supportingthe coalitionlandingzone,drop zoneoperations and supportcargopreparation.

AMC’slargestglobalexerciseasuccessinIndo-PacifiTheater

AirMobilityCommandPublicAffairs

JOINTBASEPEARLHARBOR-HICKAM,Hawaii(AFNS)—Air MobilityCommandconcludedexerciseMobilityGuardian23, thelargest iterationoftheAir Force’spremiermultinationalmobilityexercisetodate, July21.

ThedebutoftheexerciseintheIndo-Pacificsaw70mobilityaircraft withmorethan3,000servicemembersfromAustralia,Canada, France, Japan, NewZealand,the U.K.andthe U.S. surgeacrossanexercisearea spanning13millionsquaremiles. TheintegrationofMobilityGuardianin the Pacificenabledthemaneuverofmore than15,000jointforcesassociatedwithotherexercisesalsointheater.

Theexercisedemonstratedtheinteroperabilityofcombinedforcesand advancedasharedvisionofafreeandopenIndo-Pacificregionwhilehoningreadinessobjectives fromeach country.

“Therelationshipsandintegrationwithouralliesandpartnersaswell asthejointforce wasparamount. We experiencedthegeographytogether, welearnedtogether,” saidGen.MikeMinihan, AMCcommander. “Our combinedabilitytoprojectintotheater, lineuponprioritiesandtoachieve unityofeffortandactionwereprovenhere.”

Mobility Excellence

OneofthekeyhighlightsofMG23 wastheintegrationofforces, allowingfor theapplicationofmanynewconcepts, includingtheAir Force Force

GenerationmodelandAgileCombatEmployment Theexercisefeatured a widerangeofrefuelingandtransportaircraftworkingwiththousandsof jointservicemembersandinternationalalliesandpartnerstopracticeinteroperabilityacrossallfivecorecapabilitiesacrossthefly, fixandsupport functions. Theseincludeairlift,airrefueling, aeromedicalevacuation,air mobilitygroundsupportoperations[GlobalAirMobilitySupportSystem], andcommandandcontrolincontested,degradedandoperationallylimited environments.

“MobilityGuardian wasspecificallydesignedto challengeourreadiness, togetafterourtactics, techniquesandprocedures, aswellasdevelopour capabilities, sothatwearereadytofacewhateveritisournationcallson ustodo.,” saidMaj.Gen.DarrenCole, AMCOperations, StrategicDeterrenceandNuclearIntegrationdirector.

Aeromedicalevacuation,acoremissionsetprovidedtothejointforceby AMC, waswidelyexercisedacrossMG23, culminatingin Japanhostingits firstlarge-scalemultinationalAEmilitarytrainingevent.TheAEevent hostedapivotaldemonstrationofAEcapabilities, includingthesuccessful deploymentofthreespecializedandmodularAEteamsdeployedforward tohandlethemovementof48unregulatedpatientsacrosssixmissionsin austereanddegradedconditions.

Aerialrefueling, thecornerstoneofrapidglobalmobilityandglobalpowerprojection, servedasacriticalsolutioninatheaterwheretheabilityto

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Courtesyphoto

U.S.AirForceAirmen

FromMacDillAirForce Base refuelF-16FightingFalconsfromKadena AirBase,Japan,insupportofexerciseMobility Guardian 23,July9over theIndo-Pacific

Amultilateralendeavor, MG23featuredseven participatingcountries -Australia,Canada, France,Japan,NewZealand,UnitedKingdom andtheUnitedStatesoperatingapproximately70mobilityaircraft acrossmultiplelocations spanninga3,000-mile exerciseareafromJuly 5ththrough July21.

PhtobyStaffSgt.BaileeAnnDarbasie

PhotobyStaffSgt.ChristianSullivan
(Left)U.S. and coalitionaircraftdeployedtotheIndo-Pacifictheaterconductanelephantwalk at AndersenAirForceBase,Guam,July19.More than 15,000U.S.andcoalitionforcesparticipatedinvariousexercisesacross the U.S. Indo-Pacific Commandarea of responsibility. (Above) U.S.ContingencyResponseAirmenprepare toopenthe airfield on AndersenAirForceBase,Guam,duringMobilityGuardian23.Inthisexercise,CRAirmenrapidlydeploypersonneland quicklyestablishedanairbase. This capabilityallowsU.S. forces,alliesandpartnerstobeagile and respond to realworld needswheneverandwherever necessary. region. PhotobyShelbyRapert

MOBILITYGUARDIAN

Theexerciseruns July5-21,2023.Itisamajortestofemergingoperationalconceptsincludingthe Air Force’s Force GenerationModelandAgileCombatEmployment,which featuresahub-and-spokebasenetwork ofseveraloperatinglocations mannedbymulti-capableAirmentogeneratecombatsorties.

Gen. Mike Minihan,AMC commander, visitedWright-PattersonAFBlastfallfor aseniorstaff-to-staff engagementtohighlighthisreadinessobjectivesandaskfor AFMC’shelp.

“Thatreallykindofkickedoffallthesupportforthisspecificexercise,” saidRich Moore, asenioranalystattheAir ForceSustainmentCenterassignedtoWright-PattersonAFB. “That’skindoftelling, Ithink,whentheoperatorscomeheresaying, ‘we needyou.’”

LogisticsontheAttack

InMarch 2023,Minihansharedthe stagewithGen. DukeZ. Richardson, AFMC Commander, duringtheannualAir WarfareSymposiumhostedbytheAirandSpace ForcesAssociation.Theyjointlyhighlightedthelogistics challengesposedbythetyrannyofdistanceandocean inthe U.S. INDOPACOMareaofresponsibilityandtheurgencytogetready, inanintegrated way, todeter, fightandwinthere. Thediscussion highlightedtheneedtorapidlydeploy, operateandsustainahigh-tempofight,which willrequireAirmentothinkdifferently. Thegeneralsemphasizedduringtheirjoint panelthatpre-positioned warreservematerielsupportsa“distributedlaydown”and interoperabilitywithalliesandpartners.

This theme was alsotelegraphedbyAir ForceChiefof Staff Gen.CQBrown, Jr.,during hisrecentconfirmationhearing to serve asthenext chairmanofthe Joint Chiefsof Staff.

Youcannot waituntilthecrisisoccurstobeabletodeploycapability,” Browntold committeemembers. “Youhavetoworkwithalliesandpartnerstohaveaccesstolocationssoyoucanputthatcapabilityinplace.”

FastforwardtoMobilityGuardianandthelogisticsplanningandagilecombatemployment,theoryisbeingputtoitslargesttestyet.

“Ifyoujusttracethesupply chainof whatit takestofight a war, allofitruns throughAFMC,” Mooresaid.

Requirementsforspareparts, support equipment, fuels, munitions planning and moreneedtobeforecastedandalignedwiththe warplan,hesaid,addingMobility Guardianispartofaseriesoflogistics-focused wargamesthecommandisusingto refineprocesses.

AFMCcentersdeliver rangeofsupport

TheAir ForceSustainmentCenter“depotsurge”isjustoneareawhereAFMCciviliananduniformedAirmensupportedtheexercise.

“Weasked,‘Whatpartscanwesurge?’and‘Howcanwegettankersoutofdepot sooner?’ We thenlookedatsomeoftheauthoritiesandthingswithinourcontroltoaccelerateourprocesses,” Klohrsaid.“SotheplanningaspectofMobilityGuardianproducedsomegoodness thathelpedAFMCthinkdifferentlyaboutourprocesses.”

TheAFSC, headquarteredatTinkerAir ForceBase, Oklahoma,ledthe wayinsupportforMobilityGuardianbyacceleratingaircraftthroughdepotmaintenance, surgingpartsforanticipatedneedofincreasedflyingoperations, anddeployingAirmento performdepotlevelmaintenanceintheIndo Pacific.

“MobilityGuardianisanincrediblyimportanttestofreadinessandprojectingjoint capabilitiesinsupportofourNationalDefenseStrategy Icouldn’tbemoreproudof everyoneacrosstheSustainmentCenterteamforleaningintothisimportantexercise,” saidLt. Gen.StaceyHawkins, AFSCcommander.

ThedepotteamatTinkerAFBincreasedman-hourstodelivertwoKC-135sundergoingprogrammeddepotmaintenancebacktoAMCearly, sotheycouldsupportair

PhotobyAirman1stClassAmandaJett

Airmenfromthe6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadronwalk toaKC-135StratotankertoperformmaintenanceinspectionsinsupportofexerciseMobilityGuardian2023 at YokotaAirBase,Japan,July9.MG23isanopportunity todeepenconnectionswith regionalalliesandpartners usingboldinitiatives.

PhotobyStaffSgt.ChristianSullivan

RoyalCanadianAirForceMasterCpl.Montgomery Burke,right,andRCAFMCplCodyReese,aerospace telecommunicationsandinformationsystemstechnicians assignedtothe8th CanadianCommunicationsand Control Squadron, workswith theU.S.JointCommunications SupportElementtosetupahighfrequencyradio duringexercise MobilityGuardian23,July16atAndersen AirForceBase,Guam.

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landand refuel is farmore limited. Long-duration endurance sorties, such asthe record-setting20+ hourUKA400Mnon-stopflightfromRAFBrize Norton, U.K., toAndersen Air ForceBase, Guam,demonstrated the ability tonotonlycover challenging distances, butalsotheflexibility ofaerialrefuelingtoremainairborneforprolonged periods, creatingmore optionsfor aircommandersorchestrating complexanddynamicairmovementsacross the theater.

“OurKC-135[Stratotanker]andKC-46[Pegasus]crewsconductedsorties executed overconsecutiveAir TaskingOrder days, includinga35-hour longKC-46sortieandKC-135 sortieslastingbeyond48 hoursby utilizing newhotpitrefuelingtechniques,” explained Lt. Col. Jake Parker, Exercise MobilityGuardian23director. “Airrefuelingiskinginthistheaterand theseTTPsdemonstratewecankeepourcapabilitiesairbornewhenit matters. We’retakingthe time to learnhowtodothisnow, safely, in amore controlled mannerratherthanbeforcedto learnit lateroutofnecessity whentheconsequencesare potentiallymore severe.”

AMCalso exercisedlongmission durations acrosstheairliftcommunity aswell,with40+hourC-130J Super Herculesmissions toachieve tactical objectives at somelocations.

The airliftmission waswidely appliedacrossMG23,including arealworldrescuemissionsupportedbya FrenchA400M and Canadian CC130J Theairliftcommunityprovidedthemaneuverofthousandsofjoint forces, theintegrationofmultilateralAEtrainingeventsanddemonstrateditsairdropcapabilitiesacrossacomplexseven-nationcoalition airdrop eventbasedoutofGuamandamaritimeresupplymissioninpartnership with U.S. StrategicCommandand the U.S. Navy.

GAMSSwidelyflexedits adaptabilityinMG23,withContingencyResponseforcesand newly-developedairlift operationssupportcrews, called AirMobility Teams, openingmorethan13primaryandsupplemental operatinglocations. CR forceswerealsoresponsiblefor establishingand handingoveroperations oftwoairexpeditionary wingstounitsatAndersenAFB, Guam, andRAAF Darwin,Australia,demonstratingtheAFFORGEN deploymentmodel.

AMCCRforcesalsopartnered with JapaneseAirSelf Defense Forces ContingencyResponseteamstocompletethefirstbilateral U.S.-Japan contingencyresponseinteroperabilityevent.

Commandandcontrolplayedaunique roleinMG23, withAMCexercisinganewstructureknownasa“Mobility Task Force” to deliverdynamic C2supportto mobilityforcesintheaterinconjunctionwithboththe613th AirOperationsCenterand618thAOC Importantly, MG23also demonstratedrobustinteroperabilitythroughitsCombinedMissionPlanning Cell at Andersen AFB where the seven partner nations planned and executedallcoalitionactivitiesfromacentralizedlocation,integratedbut decentralized from other C2.

“Whenwetalkaboutcontestedenvironments, we needtoincreaseour agility andconfidenceinflexible command andcontrol,” Colesaid. “There aretimesforcentralized,decentralized,anddisaggregatedC2.Thereare timeswhen we’llneedtoflexacross alloptions available to us Thereare timeswhen we need to fully entrust ourtacticallevelAirmenwhohave the ground-truthand commander’s intent, as we do withourMission Type Orders.”

Closingthe Gaps

The challengesoftimeand distancereinforceareasthecommand has focused onfor thelastyear:commandandcontrol, navigation,andmaneuveratthetemporequiredto winanytime, anywhere. Theuniquedesignof this exerciseexploredboth maximizing existing capabilitiesandnewcapabilities testedintheateragainstkeyproblem sets.

“Thetyranny ofdistancefocuses onthevastareaand challengesthat this theaterpresents,”Parkersaid. “Toputitintoperspective, when we lookatthedistancebetweenthelocationsthatwe operatedinthroughthis exercise, it equatesto widthoftheUnited States. To evengetinto theater, we hadto move three-timesthat distance. It’sa lotofocean. We’veshown thatwecan overcomethatdistancebyexecutingthisexercise, andwe can tackleourmost challenginggapsby puttingourAirmen in this theater shoulder-to-shoulder with ourpartnersto apply theirfirst-hand problemsolvingand innovation.”

Interoperabilityinitiativesunlockednewlevelsofsynergyacrossthe sevennationsparticipatinginMG23.Combinedplanningeffortsledto interflyagreementsallowingmixedaircrews onairliftmissions, blended multi-nationAE teams, newaerialrefuelingvalidations, and integrated maintenance support that allowedmaintainersfromdifferent nationsto fix one another’s aircraftand sourcesharedparts.

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GLOBALEXERCISE

Shortlyafter, Foreman discoveredtheInterservicePhysicianAssistant Program(IPAP),a jointservice commissioningprogramdesignedtotake civiliansand priorenlistedservicemembersandcreateexperiencedcommissionedleaders.

“IappliedtotheIPAPboardnotexpectingmuchbecauseit’sincredibly competitive,” said Foreman.“Soonafterthat,I foundmyselfheadedto FortSam Houstonformyfirstphaseof classes.”

Accordingto Foreman,IPAPisbrokendownintotwo phases. Thefirst phaseisfocusedonthemedicalbackgroundrequiredforaphysicianassistanttobesuccessful.Thesecondphaseistailoredtowardsmilitary educationandprimarily servestoorientcivilianstothelifestyle. Thefull program awardsstudentsaMasterofSciencedegreeinPhysicianAssistanceStudies.

UpongraduationfromIPAP, thenewlycommissionedofficersaresent toaninstallationwheretheyundergoon-the-jobtraining. For Foreman, hisinitialtrainingtookplaceat Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

ForemannowservesatMacDillAFBalongsideadiverseteamofmedicalprofessionals, servingthe6thand927thAirRefueling Wings, U.S. SpecialOperationsCommand, U.S. CentralCommandandhundredsof thousandsof retireesanddependentsfromthe TampaBayarea.

Asanofficerwithenlistedexperience, Foremanbringsauniqueperspectivetohisrole, explaining, “thereisasharedexperiencethatconnectspriorenlistedofficersandtheirAirmen.Iknowhowitfeelstocarry aheavyworkloadandnotseetheimpactofofficers. NowthatIfillthat role, Itrymybesttobothmitigatethatworkloadandbettercommunicatetheadministrativeand managerialworkthatneedstobedone.”

Seventeenyearsintohismilitaryservice, Foremanisstartingover, findinganew passion fortheworkhedoeseveryday. Headvisesanyone looking forasimilarsuccesstobepatientinfinding it.

“WhenIfirstenlisted,I waited13monthsinthedelayedentryprogramforthatSEREspecialistslot,” said Foreman.“WhenIattended

Coins belonging to U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. David Foreman, 6th Medical Group physician assistant, are shown at MacDill Air Force Base July 19. Foreman enlisted as a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist from 2006 to 2021.

IPAP, I went through years of full-time school to get where I am now Patience is key. Anything that is worth doing, is worth waiting for.”

Foreman is one example of Airmen everywhere utilizing the skills they learned while they were enlisted, now as a commissioned officer. For more information on available commissioning opportunities, see your local education and training center or recruiter.

12 ◆ WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ Thursday, August 3, 2023 ◆ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Besuretovisit theofficial6thAirRefuelingWingwebsiteatwww.macdill.af.mil
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PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

MOBILITYGUARDIAN

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refuelingandairlifttaskingsduringMobilityGuardian.

The635th SupplyChainOperations Wing atSc AFB, Illinois, andthe448thSupplyChainManagement WingatTinkerAFB, partneredtosurgepartsfromwithintheglobalsupply chainanddepotsourcesofrepairto ensuredeployingunitshadevery availablepartattheir disposaltokeepaircraftflying, saidCol.NicoleFuller 635thSCOWvicecommander.

Duringtheexercisetodate, Fullersaidtheteam workedwithDLA Aviationtosourcemorethan30urgentlyneededMissionImpairedCapability Awaiting Parts, returning15non-missioncapableaircrafttofull missioncapablestatus.

The635thSCOWisthe WarReserveMaterielexpert astheyoverseethePre-positionedWRMProgramIntegrationOfficeresponsibleforintegratingassetsworldwide. FullersaidthecombinedWRMteamsourcedvehiclesandsupportequipmentfordeploymentandMG23 use.

“AMCisexercisingwhatequipmenttheywillneedand wheretheywillneeditposturedtoenableAgileCombat Employmentondemand.So, MobilityGuardianwillhelp informeachofourcommandsonanoptimalgloballaydownofWRM,” Klohrsaid.

Mooreaddedthelogisticscommunityisanswerin Richardson’scalltoincorporatepowerfuldigital andrealprogressisbeingmadetobecomemorepredictive. Onethatismaturinganddemonstratingitsvalueis calledCSPEC, shortforCombatSupportPlanning ecutionandControl.AnotherisBLADE,theAir Fo BasingandLogisticsAnalyticsDataEnvironment.

“WearemovingbeyondExceland PowerPoint,” Moore said “Sowehavemodelingandsimulation,analysis tools, forecastingbasedonplannedflyingactivityinthe theater, forecastingwhatthedemandsaregoingtobefor differentcategoriesofresources, likeparts, munitions, fuel.”

AFSCalsodeployedtwoAircraftBattleDamageRepairteamstoMG23.Thesespecial-duty, multi-qualified enlistedtechniciansbringthecapabilitytoperformdepot-levelrepairsinthefield. One six-personteamdeployedto YokotaAirBase, Japan,andanotherdozento JointBase PearlHarbor-Hickam, Hawaii. In wartime, theseskilledmaintainersmeetupwiththeir“battle wagon” oftoolsandmaterialstoperformheavymaintenance andreturndamagedaircrafttothefight.

“WewereMulti-CapableAirmenbeforeMCA wascool anda‘thing,’” saidMasterSgt. KyleSommerfeldt,with theABDRprogramofficeatWright-PattersonAFB.

KlohralsonotedthattheAir ForceResearchLaboratoryishelpingleadtheservice’squesttofieldmodernizedcommon aviationsupportequipment.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT ◆ Thursday, August 3, 2023 ◆ WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ 13

BATTLESPACE

“PriortoRTIC, wewerecompletelyrelyingonoutside sourcestotelluswherethreatswere, letusknowifwe wereindangerandtell uswhere ourreceiverswere,” said U.S. Air ForceMaj.MikeStarley, AirNationalGuard Air ForceReserveCommand TestCenterKC-135testdetachmentdirector “NowtheKC-135crewshaveamovingmapscreen available inthecockpitandcanmake theirowntacticaldecisionsonwhetherornotthey’reat risk,whichwillallowthemtoget closertothefightand offloadfuel.”

BuildinguponRTIC, theUtahANGandAATC, incoordinationwithCollinsAerospace, anRTX business, have beentestingaconnectedbattlespacethroughwhatthe team callstheIntelligent Gateway. ThisnewadvancementfortheKC-135 wasabletobridgebeyondline-of sightnetworkswithoperationalandstrategiclevelinformationtoline-of-sightdatalinksatthetacticaledge. This allowsthetransferofsituational awarenessand closureof decisioncyclesbetweenjointandairoperationscenters, tacticalcommandandcontrolnodes, andjoint and coalitionassetsfromsub-surfaceallthe way tospace.

WiththeIntelligentGateway, airoperationscentersareprovided withalivepictureofthebattlespace andhavesituational awarenessthey didnothavebefore. Joint,alliedandpartnerforcescancommunicate throughtheKC-135IntelligentGateway tomaketacticaldecisionswithacommonoperatingpicture. Fromthe warfighterintheair, tothecommanderontheground, everyone’ssituational awarenessisenhanced through theKC-135IntelligentGateway.

“Weonlyhavesomanysurveillanceaircraft available andinatheateraslargeastheIndo-Pacific, there’sgoingtobealotofholeswithnocommandandcontrol,” Starleysaid. “Butwe’realwaysgoingtohaveatanker there, nomatterwhat.Nowwe’reabletotakeadvantage ofallthatspaceandusetheKC-135,that’salreadyin thefightanyway, forC2.”

During NorthernEdge23-2,theUtah ANGKC-135 workedintandemwiththeRMTtotestadvancedcommunicationandintelligence-gatheringcapabilities. The RMTusesa combinationofradarandelectronicintelligencesensorstocaptureinformationonsimulated threats. Onboardprocessorsthengeneratea cleartargetingsolutionthatispassedontotheUtahANGKC135andthentojointandalliedplayersonthenetwork forC2purposes.

TheKC-135teamfromUtahANGandtheRMTparticipatedinNorthernEdge23-1recentlyheldinAlaska aswell.

TheRaytheonMulti-Program TestbedtakesoffduringexerciseNorthernEdge23-2at KadenaAir Base,Japan, July 12.TheRMTusesacombinationofradarandelectronic intelligencesensorstocaptureinformationonsimulatedthreatswhichisthenpassed onto alliedplayersforenhancedcommandandcontrol.

Stratotankerassignedtothe151st AirRefuelingWingisparkedduringexerciseNorthernEdge23-2atKadenaAirBase,Japan,July11. TheReal-timeInformation intheCockpit systemprovidescommandand controlcapabilities toKC-135crews by displaying enemythreats,targetdataandalliedforcelocationsonanavionicsdisplay locatedinthecockpit. SeeBATTLESPACE,Page16

AKC-135

14 ◆ WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ Thursday, August 3, 2023 ◆ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
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PhotobySeniorAirmanSebastianRomawac PhotobySeniorAirmanSebastianRomawac

EVENTS

FamilyFirst Fridays

ComecelebrateFamilyFirstFridaysonAug.4atSeaScapesfrom3 p.m.–10p.m.Therewillbeluau themedmen,drinkspecials,DJ, andkaraoke.Foreventdetails,visitmacdillfss.com/seascapes/.

Friday StampedeatBoomers

JointheBoomers StampedeeveryFridayfrom3p.m.–8p.m. Boomer’sislocatedinsidethe Breakaway EventCenterwitha fullbar, multiplescreen’s,music, andpooltables.EnjoycomplimentarysnacksanddrinkspecialseveryFriday.Visitmacdillfss.com/ boomers/for moredetails.

Short FitnessCenterJuneclosure

TheShortFitnessCenterwill beclosedAugust10and11but willaccessibletothosepatrons with24/7access.Formoreinformationaboutobtaining24/7access, please visit,macdillfss.com/shortfitness-center/.

D.I.Y.AutoHobby Shop

TheMacDillAutoHobbyShop isdesignedspecificallyforindividualswhoneeda placetowork ontheircarsbutlacksuitablefacilitieswhere theylive. Rentabay withallthetoolsyouneed Wednesday–Fridayfrom 9 a.m.– 7 p.m. andSaturdayfrom9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Upcomingevents: Aug. 15–oilchangeclassforLadies Aug. 18–Free72-pointvehicle inspection. Visitmacdillfss.com/ arts-and-trade-crafts/formore information.

Findmoreeventsat:macdillfss.com

TheOSIteam

Membersassignedtothe AirForce

OfficeofSpecialInvestigationsDetachment340standfor a groupphotoatMacDillAirForceBaseJuly24.OSI personnel are responsibleforidentifying, exploitingandneutralizing criminal,terroristandintelligencethreats totheAirForce, Department ofDefenseandU.S.Government.

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- Please contacttheChapelat (813)828-3621orviaemailat6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

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

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT ◆ Thursday, August 3, 2023 ◆ WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ 15
COMMUNITY
Photo byAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

BATTLESPACE

“TheCollins/RTXteamincollaborationwiththeUtahANGpicked upin Japan,whereweleftoffinAlaska,” saidLoraMagliocco, Collins Aerospace ConnectedBattlespace JointExperimentationandDemonstration director “Theteamdemonstratedthevalueofconnectingthe battlespace byprovidingrelevantcommandand control, intelligence, surveillanceandreconnaissancedatato decisionmakersatmachine speeds Theconnectedbattlespaceopensnewopportunitiestoapplyartificialintelligence, bigdataconceptsandadvancednetworkingatthe tacticaledge.”

Thistrainingenablesreal-worldproficiencyinsustainingjointforces throughdetecting, locating, trackingandengagingunitsatsea,inthe air, onlandandincyberspaceinresponsetoarangeofmissionareas. ThesesystemsarebeingstresstestedandmaturedintheIndo-Pacific region duringexercise NorthernEdge23-2andaresupporting Joint All-DomainCommandandControlandAdvancedBattleManagement Systeminitiativesbynotonlyincreasingcommunicationcapabilities, butalsodrasticallyshortening real-worlddecision-makingtimelines.

“Whenanaircraftlandsafteramissionwith intelligence, surveillance, orreconnaissance, thereisusuallya72-hourairtaskingorder cyclebeforeadecisionismadetogoafterthattarget,” Starleysaid.“In theory, wecouldtakethat72-hour ATOcycleandshrinkitto72minutesorless, meetingcommander’sintent.”

U.S.AirForceMasterSgt.ZachHarvey,151stAircraftMaintenance Squadroncrew chief,salutesU.S.AirForceMaj.MikeStarley,AirNationalGuardAirForceReserveCommand TestCenter KC-135testdetachmentdirector,ashetaxisaKC-135Stratotanker, assignedtothe 151stAir RefuelingWing,during exerciseNorthernEdge23-2 atKadena AirBase,Japan, July12.

16 ◆ WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ Thursday, August 3, 2023 ◆ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
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PhotobySeniorAirmanSebastianRomawac

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