Thunderbolt 8/24/2023

Page 1

Keep‘em

News/Features:page3

Celebrating women’sequality

News/Features:page3

Operation Memoir

Weekinphotos:page4

Imagesfromthe week

Community:page15

Events,Chapel,more...

PhotobySeniorAirmanJoshuaHastings

U.S.Air ForceAirman1stClassLoganFitz,6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crewchief,pullsapowercart toward aKC-135StratotankeratMacDillAir ForceBaseAug.14.The6thAMXS ensureseverycomponentof theKC-135 is maintainedtosafety standardssothe aircraftis readilyableto fly.ThedutiesofAir Forcemaintainersinclude performing preflightandpostflightinspections,diagnosingandsolving problems,conductingfunctionaltestsof repaired engines,andassistingin recoveringaircraft.

Vol. 51,No. 34 Thursday,August24, 2023
flying

Nursepractitionerbalances rolesascivilian,militaryflightnurse NEWS/FEATURES

Mother, daughter, wife, student,nurse, reservist—theseareafewofthedozensoftitles that U.S. Air ForceCapt. SarahMobbs, 45th AeromedicalEvacuationSquadronflightnurse, takesondaily.

Mostofthetime, MobbsliveslifeintheciviliansectorasanurseatSoutheastGeorgia HealthSystem near St.Marys, Georgia. She’s amothertotwodaughters, BerkeleyandDani, anda wifeto her husband, Wesley.

Oneweekendamonth,however, shemakes thefour-and-a-half-hourdrivefromGeorgiato MacDillAFB, Florida,toservehernationasan aeromedical evacuationflightnursewith the 45th AES.

Hermedicaljourneybegan with getting a degreeingeneralstudiesandtransferringthe skillstoanursingschool.Upongraduating, she quicklylearnedfrommoreexperiencednurses atthehospital.

“Most nursesstartinthefieldwitheither theirassociateorbachelor’sdegrees,” explained Mobbs. “Sometimes, yougettomeeta‘diploma nurse,’meaningtheygraduatedhighschooland wentstraightto nursingschool.”

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COMMANDER’SACTIONLINE

TheActionLineprovidestwo-waycommunicationbetweenthe 6thAir Refueling WingcommanderandtheMacDillcommunity. Personnelmaysubmitquestions,concernsorcommentsviaemailto macdillwingcommander@us.af.milor Facebook@6thARWCommandTeam

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher: JoeDeluca

Editor:NickStubbs

TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper isanauthorizedpublicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.militaryservicesonMacDill.ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilytheofficialviewsof,orendorsed by the U.S. government,theDepartmentofDefense,

theDepartmentoftheAirForceorthe6thAirRefueling Wing.

Theappearanceofadvertisinginthispublication, includinginserts orsupplements,doesnotconstituteendorsementbytheDepartmentofDefense,the Departmentofthe AirForce,6thAir Refueling WingorthePublishingCompanyofthe productsor serviceadvertised.

Forretail advertising, call(813)226-3318.

Everythingadvertisedinthis publicationshallbemade availableforpurchase,use,orpatronagewithoutregardto race, color,religion, sex,national origin,age,maritalstatus, physicalhandicap,politicalaffiliationor anyothernon-merit factorofthepurchaser, user, orpatron

MacDillonthe web

Website: www.macdill.af.mil

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase

Instagram: macdill_afb

Twitter: @macdill_afb

NewsitemsfortheMacDillThunderbolt canbesubmitted tothe6thAirRefueling WingPublicAffairsoffice, 8208 HangarLoop Dr., suite14,MacDillAFB,FL33621.CalltheThunderboltat828-2215.Email:6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.

Deadline forarticlesubmissionsisnoon, Wednesdays toappearinthenextweek’s publication.Articlesreceived afterdeadline may beconsideredforfutureuse.Allsubmissionsareconsideredforpublicationbasedonnewsvalue andtimeliness

Everyarticleandphotographiseditedforaccuracy, clarity,brevity,conformancewiththe“AssociatedPress StylebookandLibel Manual” andAirForceInstruction35-101.

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PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster U.S. Air ForceCapt.SarahMobbs,45th AeromedicalEvacuation Squadronoperationsflight nurse, posesoutside the45thAESheadquarters atMacDill Air Force BaseAug.4.Mobbsworks as a pulmonarynurse practitionerat SoutheastGeorgiaHealthSystemnear St. Marys, Georgia.

Women’sEqualityDay

EveryyearonAug.26,Americanscelebrate Women’sEqualityDay. InstitutedbyRepresentativeBellaAbzugandestablishedin1971,the datecommemoratesthepassageofthe19th Amendment, the WomanSuffrageAmendment tothe U.S. Constitution,whichgaveAmerican womenfullvotingrightsin1920.Thisyear, as wecelebratethismajormilestoneinAmericanhistory, letusnotforgetthestrugglesand sacrificesmadebysomanybeforeustomake equalityforwomenarealityinthiscountry.

In1848,ElizabethCadyStantonbeganthe 72-yearbattleforthe19thAmendmentwhen shefirstpresentedthenotionforwomen’sright tovoteatthe Women’sRights Conventionin Seneca Falls, N.Y. ShepresentedaDeclaration ofSentiments, which wasmodeledafterthe DeclarationofIndependenceandaddressed issuesthat“troubled”women. Women wanted therighttoownproperty, tokeeptheirown wages, todivorce, togaincustodyoftheir children,toattendcollege, tovote, andtoservein

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OperationMemoir

Theobservance recognizing Women’sEqualityDaywasestablishedbyJointResolution of Congressin1971. Women’sEqualityDayisobservedonthe26thdayofAugustand commemoratesthe1920passageofthe19thAmendmenttotheConstitution,whichgavewomen the righttovote.Theobservancehas growntoincludefocusingattentionon women’s continued effortstowardgaining fullequality.

Forty-fouryearsofmilitaryserviceisadmirableonitsown,butitis thememoriesandexperiencesbehindthoseyearsthatmakeforanhonorableandfulfillingjourney. Membersjoinfordifferentreasons;some hadnointentionsofjoiningatall.That wasthecaseforSpecial Agent Reis.

“IusedtodriveaZamboniandtheironybehindit wasthatIhad a bachelorsandmaster’s degree, Ijust wasn’tmotivated,” said U.S. Air ForceSpecialAgentTimothyRies, OfficeofSpecialInvestigationsDetachment340specialagentin charge.

BothofRies’siblingswereintheAir Forceandencouragedhimto join.It wasn’tuntilhegotmarriedand wantedtostartafamilythathe changedhismind.

Ries wasofferedapilotslotbutturnedtheofferdown.Accordingto Ries, hehadonlyflownoncebeforeanddidnotseeminterested.

“In1979IwenttoOfficerTrainingSchoolandmovedforwardasan

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SpecialAgentTimothyRiesisgivenhis retirementpin fromhis daughter,duringhis retirement ceremonyatMacDillAir ForceBaseJuly 27. After retiring fromactivedutyin2000with therankoflieutenant colonel, Rieswenton toserveanadditional 23yearsasacivilianspecial agent with theDepartmentoftheAirForce Officeof SpecialInvestigations.

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DepartmentofDefensegraphic PhotobySeniorAirmanJessicaDo

WEEKINPHOTOS

An A-10CThunderboltIIassigned tothe74thFighter Squadron,MoodyAir Force Base, Georgia, approaches aKC-135Stratotankerassigned to the91stAir Refueling Squadron,MacDill Air ForceBaseover Georgia,Aug.15.Air refuelingenables aircrafttostayintheairlongerandfly further distances without needing toland.

U.S.Air ForceCapt. AndrewSetrin,91stAirRefueling Squadron pilot, testsanoxygenmaskonaKC-135Stratotankerpriortoflightat MacDill Air Force BaseAug.15.The91st ARSoperatestheKC-135 Stratotanker todeliverfuel midairtoother Departmentof Defenseaircraft.

U.S.Air Force StaffSgt.ChristopherHyman,6thSecurity Forces Squadron military workingdog handler,guideshisdog, Golyo,duringa drug detectiontestatMacDillAir ForceBaseAug.17.MWDssupport Air Forcemissionsanddailylaw enforcementby searchingfor narcotic drugsorexplosivesandworkingwiththeirhumancounterpartsto neutralize threats.

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PhotobySeniorAirmanJoshuaHastings PhotobySeniorAirmanJoshuaHastings PhotobySeniorAirmanJoshuaHastings

Air ForceannouncesFY23RatedOfficer RetentionDemonstrationProgram

Secretaryofthe AirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—EligibleregularAir Force aviatorshave fromAug 15toSept.15toapplyforthefiscalyear2023 RatedOfficer RetentionDemonstrationProgram, Air Forceofficialsannouncedearlier this week.

TheFY23NationalDefenseAuthorizationActdirectedtheSecretary oftheAir Forcetoexecuteademoprogramthatallowsselect aviators withUndergraduateFlyingTrainingActive DutyServiceCommitments expiringinFY24orFY25theopportunitytosignacontractforupto $50,000ayear, dependingonlengthofthecontract.ThisauthorityexpiresDec 31,2028.

StartinginFY24,thehighestmonetaryincentiveamountswillbeoffered onlyto aviatorswhosignacontractthreefiscalyearspriortothe fiscalyeartheirUFTADSC expires. Themonetaryamountswillbetiered

thereafter. InFY23,Airmenshouldsignupearlytoreceivethehighest valuedcontracts.

“Retainingourexperienced aviatorsiskeytosucceedingina warfightingenvironment,” saidBrig. Gen. KirstenAguilar, Air Force Force Management Policydirector. “ThedemoprogramhelpsposturetheAir Forcetoreliablyretain aviatorstomeetcurrentandfutureoperational requirements.”

ThedemoprogramwillbeusedsimultaneouslywiththeLegacy AviationBonusProgram asastrategicoptiontomeetAir Forceretention, trainingandmission-readinessrequirementstomaintainlethalityofthe force.

Iftheinitialdemoprogramisfoundtobesuccessfulandscalable, it maypotentiallycontinuewithhigherfundingallocationrequestsinfutureyearstoexpand offeringstoabroaderratedfieldand/orforanextendedperiod.

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Besuretovisittheofficial6thAirRefuelingWingwebsiteatwww.macdill.af.mil
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RedFlag23-3 UnitingUSarmedforces

NELLISAIRFORCEBASE,Nev.(AFNS)—RedFlag 23-3hascometoa closeformorethan2,000 U.S. Air Force, Space Force,MarineCorps,NavyandAirNationalGuard thatranfrom July17toAugust4.Althoughitstartedat NellisAir ForceBase,itconcludedwithmultipleunitsdispersedtopartsofSouthernCalifornia.

“ThelastweekofRedFlag23-3occurredinconjunction withthe U.S. Navy,” said U.S. Air ForceCol. Eric Winterbottom,414thCombatTrainingSquadroncommander. “IntegratingtheAir ForceandNavyintoalarge-scaleexercise placesemphasisonjointplanning,communicationandexecutiontoenhanceinteroperabilityandjointoperationaleffectiveness.”

Theexerciseincorporatedrealisticscenariosthattested theparticipants’abilitytointegratetheiroperationsseamlessly. Jointmissionsinvolving U.S. Air ForceandNavyassetsfocusedonarangeofmissionsets,includingair-to-air combat,strikeoperationsandintelligencegathering. By trainingtogetherinasimulatedcombatenvironment,the Air Fo rceandNavyenhancedtheirinteroperabilityand gainedadeeperunderstandingofeachother’scapabilities andtactics.

“TheDepartmentofDefenseprioritizesthe People’sRepublicofChinaasournumberonepacing challenge,” Winterbottomsaid.“Bytrainingtogetherinarealisticand challengingenvironment,theUSAFandNavyenhancedtheir jointcapabilities,bolsteringthenation’sabilitytomaintain afreeandopenIndo-Pacific.”

OneoftheprimaryobjectivesofRedFlag23-3 wasto strengthentheintegrationbetweenthe U.S. Air Forceand Navy Withthefutureof warfightingrequiring closecoordinationbetweenthetwoservices,theexerciseprovidedan excellentopportunityforjointtrainingandcollaboration.

Thispremierlarge-forceemploymenthasalwaysbrought multiplebranchesofthe U.S. militarytogethertoenhance joint wa rfightingcapabilities. ThisiterationofRedFlag aimedtofostercollaborationandinteroperabilitybetween theparticipatingservicesandfocusedonunique challenges andscenarios.

“Asthenewcommander,mypriorityforfutureRedFlag exercisesistoensurerealismandrelevance,” Winterbottomsaid.“RedFlagwillcontinuetoexpandintolong-range,

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AB-1BLancergetsinpositionto refuelduringaRedFlag23-3missionatNellisAirForceBase,Nev.,July19.ThisRedFlagwillconcentrateonthreeprimarythemes:defensivecounterair,offensivecounterairsuppressionofenemyairdefensesandoffensivecounterair-airinterdiction.

PhotobySeniorAirman MeganEstrada U.S.Navy AviationStructuralMechanicSeamanApprenticeRylanManns assignedtotheElectronicAttackSquadron(VAQ)138,NavalAirStation Whidbey Island, Wash.,supportstheEA-18GGrowler missionduringRed Flag23-3atNellisAirForceBase,Nev.,July19.The VAQ-138 is one ofthe30 unitsfromacrosstheDepartment of Defenseparticipatingintheexercise.

Photoby WilliamR.Lewis fuelduringaRedFlag23-3missionatNellisAirForceBase,Nev.,July19.ThisRedFlagwillconcentrateonthreeprimarythemes:defensivecounterair,offensivecounterairsuppressionofenemyairde-

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theprofessionsoftheology, medicineandlaw. Oftheseissuespresented, women’ssuffrage wasthemostcontroversial For30years, activistslike Stantonfoughtwithoutsuccess, toreconstructthe13th,14th,and15th Amendmentstoallowwomentherighttovote. In1878,Stantonand Susan B. Anthonydraftedthe19thAmendmentandpresentedittothe U.S. Senate. TheAmendmentstayedintheSenatefornineyearsand wasrejectedbya16to34votein1887.Despitethedecision, activists continuedtofightforthecause.

Overtheyears, severalorganizationswerefoundedtocontinuetopush forwomen’sequality. In1890,theNationalAmerican WomanSuffrage Association(NAWSA) wascreatedandin1913,theCongressionalUnion for WomanSuffrage wasfounded,thoughthename waslater changedto theNational Woman’s Party(NWP).MembersoftheNWPwerethefirst groupofwomentopicketinfrontoftheWhiteHouseforwomen’srights. InNovemberof1917,theywerearrestedwhile picketing. Hereisanexcerptofwhatthesebravewomenenduredwhilein prison:

“Thewomenwereinnocentanddefenseless…andbytheendofthe night,theywerebarelyalive. Fortyprisonguardswielding clubsand their warden’sblessingwentona rampageagainstthe33women wronglyconvictedof‘obstructingsidewalktraffic’.” They beatLucy Burn, chainedherhandstothecellbarsaboveherheadandlefther hangingfor thenight,bleedingandgaspingforair. TheyhurledDoraLewisintoadarkcell,smashedherheadagainstanironbedand knockedheroutcold.Hercellmate, AliceCosu,thought Lewis wasdead

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andsufferedaheartattack.Additionalaffidavits describetheguards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twistingand kickingthewomen.Thusunfoldedthe“Nightof Terror”onNov. 15, 1917,whenthe wardenattheOccoquan Workhousein Virginiaordered hisguards toteachalessontothesuffragistsimprisonedtherebecause theydaredtopicket Woodrow Wilson’sWhiteHousefortherightto vote. Forweeks, thewomen’sonly watercamefromanopenpail.Their food--allofitcolorlessslop--wasinfestedwithworms. Whenoneofthe leaders, Alice Paul,embarkedona hungerstrike, they tiedherto a chair, forcedatubedownherthroatandpouredliquidintoheruntilshe vomited.She wastorturedlikethisforweeksuntil word wassmuggled outtothepress.”

Thisyear, aswe reflectonthe accomplishments made bythe pioneersofwomen’sequality, wemustalsorememberthesacrificesand paintheyenduredinthepursuitoffullequalityforwomen. Women’s rightsactivistsrefusedtotakenoforananswer. Theymadenumerous attemptsatrewritinglegislation,theyproposednewlegislation,they formedwomen’srightsgroups, andtheypicketedandendured maltreatmentafterbeingarrested,allinthenameofequality Letususe theirbraveryandexperiencestoexpandourvisionofsocialjusticeand equalityforall.Whethermaleorfemale, getoutandvote. Usethis right,whichcourageouswomenfoughtsohardtoachieve Theright wasnotgivenfreely;womenearnedtheirconstitutionalright,though blood,sweat, andtears.

IfyouhaveanannouncementorstoryideafortheThunderbolt,justletusknowat 6arw. pa.macdillthunderbolt@us.af.mil

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EQUITY FromPage3

Dueto the differentcareerroutes, ‘diploma nurses’bringauniqueperspectivetotheworkplaceandoftentimeshavemorehands-onexperiencethanmost,accordingtoMobbs.

“Igottheopportunitytobetrainedbysome ofthose[diploma]nurses,” saidMobbs. “Ithink it was incrediblyvaluabletolearndifferent techniques and perspectivesfromanurse with less‘book’learningandallhands-oneducation.”

Followinghereducation,shewenttoworkas atraumanurseintheSGHSemergencyroom. Here, herpassionfortreatingpatientsandsavingliveswouldignite.

“Ilikethefast-pacedenvironment,” shares Mobbs. “Yourheartbeatsalittlebit; youget sweaty palmsand the‘good’kindofanxiety kicksin.”

Assheandherfamilygrewolder, theworkload startedtoshift.Insteadoftreatingtrauma patients, Mobbsstartedworkingalongsidethe hospital’sleadership, teachingandcoaching newdoctors. Recognizingthetrend,shereflectedon hermother’sexperienceinthemilitary.

“My momretiredaftera20-yearenlistment intheNavy,” sharesMobbs. “Shesacrificedalot tohelpmakemeoneofthefirstbachelor’sand master’sgraduatesinmyfamily. I thought[joiningthemilitary]wouldbeagreat waytopayit back to mymomandpayit forward to my kids.”

Afterlookingintopossiblecareerpathsshe foundflightnursing, areservistpaththatwould allowhertocontinueherprofessionaldevelopmentatthehospitalwhilepracticingherhighpacedtechnical skills.

Soonafter, shefoundher waytoOfficer TrainingSchoolatMaxwellAFB, Alabama. Despiteyearsof college, medicalschooland traumanursing, OTSposedagreater challenge thananythingshe’dfacedbefore.

“Mymomwenttoherbootcamp30yearsago andshedidherbesttopreparemeforwhatto expect,” explainedMobbs. “Ithinksheknew morethanIdidthatit wasgoingtobealot harderthanItookitfor.”

ForMobbs, the challengespresentedin OTS weren’ttraditional.Shehadnoproblemcompletingtheschoolwork,learningtobeanofficer “onpaper,” butcommissioningattheageof30 poseduniquesituations.

“PrettyquicklyIrealizedit wasn’ttheeducation,testsorreadingthebooks…that waseasy,” explainsMobbs. “It wastheconstantyellingand

intensity, stressingyourbody and being pushed toyourlimit everyday. At30yearsold, it’shard tomaintainyourcomposureforninestraight weeksunderthatmuch pressure.”

Whilefacingherpersonalstruggle, theworld facedoneofitsown-COVID-19.Hundredsof miles away fromherfamily, Mobbscouldonly worktokeepherselfsafeandtrustedherhusbandcoulddothesameforher family.

“COVID-19 wasnon-discriminatory,” explains Mobbs “Itdidn’tmatterwhatageyouwere, the colorofyourskin,thereligionyoupracticed,or yoursocioeconomicstatus. Itreally wasdevastatingforthe medicalcommunity.”

Despitethepandemic, Mobbspushedon, leaning onherfamily forsupportduringthe venture.

“Thebiggestthingthatgotmethrough was myimmediate family,” saidMobbs. “Myhusband,my childrenandmymotherwereencouragingme throughouttheentire journey.”

Graduatingfrom OTSservedasamonumentalachievementinMobbs’s life. Inspiredbyher training, Mobbstookonanewmindset.

“Nomatterhowbadwemessup,” explains Mobbs. “Wehavetogetup, putonefootinfront oftheotherandtryagain. OTStaughtmethat I’llmakemistakesbutattheendofthe dayI’m goingto keepstrivingtodobetter.”

Now, Mobbsworks as apulmonarynurse practitionerinhercivilianlifeanda45thAES flightnurseinthemilitary, attributinghercareersuccess to thesupport of her family.

“Myimmediatefamilyconstantlystepsup,” sharedMobbs. “Idon’tthinkanyoneinthemilitaryagreeswecan’tpraiseourfamiliesenough, it’s amazinghow resilient a childcan be, let alone a military child.”

Mobbsservesas an exampleformilitary families everywhere. Herdevotiontofamily andservicehasbroughtherthrough challenges most neverattempttoface.

Mobbsleavesanyonelookingtopursue a similar pathwiththisadvice:“Beflexible. Our militaryisalwaysevolving. Changeisconstantlyhappeningandit’sgood. Takewhatyou’ve learned andapply it.Makethe changesyou wantto see.”

Formoreinformationon OTSandhowto commissioninthe U.S. Air Force, visit:https:// www.airforce.com/training/military-training/ ots/overview.

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

U.S.Air ForceCapt.SarahMobbs,45th AeromedicalEvacuation Squadronoperations flight nurse,posesoutside the45thAES headquarters atMacDillAir Force BaseAug.4. Mobbs worksasapulmonarynursepractitioner at Southeast GeorgiaHealthSystem(SGHS) near St.Marys, Georgia.Atthe45thAES, Mobbs conductsjointoperationswiththeU.S. Coast Guard,U.S.Space Force, TampaGeneral Hospitalandmany morelocalandfederal agencies.Mobbsalsoservesasalegacy service member,followingher mother’s20-year enlistmentinthe U.S.Navy.

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NURSE FromPage2

REDFLAG

FromPage8

dispersed, jointandcoalition,peer-contestedtrainingscenarios. We alsotrain torespondtoandeffectively deternation-statethreats emanatingfrom Russia, IranandNorth Korea,and transnationalandnon-state actorthreatsfromviolent extremistorganizations, such asthoseoperatingin theMiddleEast,Africa,and SouthandCentralAsia.”

Air Forceassets, suchas theF-35ALightningII,F-22 Raptor, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus, B-1B LancersandHH-60G Pavehawkworkedinconjunction with Navy assets that includedtheEA-18GGrowler andcarrier-basedaircraft andsurfacevessels, to develop seamlessoperational synergy.

AnF-16FightingFalconpilotassignedtothe113thWing,JointBase Andrews,Md.,taxisoutforaRedFlag23-3 missionat NellisAir ForceBase, Nev.,July19.ThisRedFlag willconcentrateon threeprimarythemes:defensive counterair,offensive counterairsuppressionofenemyairdefenses,andoffensivecounterair-airinterdiction.

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PhotobyWilliamR.Lewis
Besuretovisittheofficial6thAirRefuelingWingwebsiteat www.macdill.af.mil

Adjutantforthe335th Tactical FighterSquadronatSeymour Johnson, [Air ForceBase, NorthCarolina]”saidRies

Fromhistimeseeingthefightercommunityandbondtheyshared, Riesdecidedhedidinfact, want to bea pilot. “I wastheworstpilotinhistory,” saidRies “Normallyyouhaveto successfullycomplete11or12flightsbeforeyoucansolo, Ihad57,so I endedup washingout.”

After washingoutofpilottraininghe wasgiventheoptiontogointo AirTrafficControlorOfficeofSpecialInvestigations(OSI).He chose OSIandthere wasnoturningback.

“Ithoughtthebond wastightinthefightersquadrons, butitisnothingcompared to thebondOSIagentsshare.” SaidRies. Riesspentthenext20yearsofactive-dutyservice, making the rank ofLtCol,beforeretiringin2000atAFOSIheadquartersinMaryland whereheservedastheChiefInformationOfficer. Hetookashortleave ofsixdaysbeforereturningasaGS-15inthesameposition,atthe samebase. Twenty-threeyearslater, RiesisretiringasacivilianGS-14 SpecialAgent.

Afterreturningasacivilian,Riesservedastheleaddeveloperofthe

InvestigativeInformationManagementSystem.ThesystemtookRies fiveyears to buildandisstill inusetoday.

Throughouthiscareer, bothactivedutyandcivilian, Rieshasaccumulatednumerous awardsanddecorationstoinclude, theChairmanof the JointChiefsofStaffMeritoriousCivilianService Award,twoBronze Starmedals, the Kosovo Airand GroundCampaignmedalsandmany more.

“Idon’thangmy awardsanddecorationsinmyoffice, Ihangmyphotosandmemories”saidRies. “Itisnotwhat was awardedtomebutthe peoplewhoweretherewithmethatareimportant.”

Overthelast43years, Rieshasbeenapartofover860operations DuringhisdeploymentinAlbania,Riesledathree-manteaminthe rescueofanAir Forcecolonelwho wastargetedforassassination.Ries saidovertheyearshe has dippedhistoes in allfacetsofOSI.

When askedif he was excitedforretirement,Ries said he didnot knowhowit wasgoingtobe wakingupeverydaywithouthisbadge.

“ItisnotthatI wanttogo,” explainedRies. “Ilovemyjob, whichis whyIcamebackthefirsttime. IwoulddothislongerifIcould,but I knowitismytimetogo.”

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MEMOIR FromPage3
Courtesyphoto SpecialAgentTimothyRiesgraduates fromAir ForceSpecialInvestigationsCourseinclass82-A, March31,1982.Ries retired fromactiveduty in 2000 withtherankofLieutenant Colonelandreturned6 dayslaterasaGS-15.

FridayStampedeatBoomers

JointheBoomer’sStampedeevery Fridayfrom3 p.m.–8 p.m. Boomer’sislocated insidethe BreakawayEventCenterwithafull bar, multiplescreens, music, and pooltables. Enjoycomplimentary snacksanddrinkspecials every Friday. Visitmacdillfss.com/boomers/ formoredetails.

Summerrentalspecials

StopbytheMarinaforsummerBOGO’s(buyoneget one)now throughSeptember.

Wednesdays:

Paddleboards,kayaks,canoes

Thursdays:

Bikeswithhelmetsincluded Visitmacdillfss.com/marina/or call840-1513formoreinformation.

MCEE meeting

TheMacDillCouncilforEducational Excellence(MCEE)isinvitingallparentsformilitary-connectedK-12students enrolledin HillsboroughCountyPublicSchools (HCPS)toamilitaryfamilyforum todiscusseducationalopportunities andneedsforstudentswithMacDill AFBandHCPSDistrictleadership. Meetingwill take placeatTinker K-8onMacDillAFBAugust29from 4–5p.m.Formoreinformation, visitmacdillfss.com/wp-content/uploads/MCEEAug_23.pdf

SeaScapesbar

Locatedonthebasebeach andis open Wednesday– Friday3 p.m.–9 p.m. To findmoreinformation,visit macdillfss.com/seascapes

Findmore eventsat:macdillfss.com

SeniorNCOspledge

Personnel fromMacDillAir Force Basetakethesenior noncommissioned officerpledgein Tampa Aug.11.Air ForceSNCOs areexpectedtosetthehighest standardsofpersonal integrity, loyalty, leadership,dedicationanddevotionto duty,includingupholdingAir Forcepolicies,traditions and standards.

CHAPELSCHEDULE

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

Monday-WednesdayMass -12:10p.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

Islamic Service - Friday1:30 p.m.(spacereserved)

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

Formoredetailsandinformation,visittheChapelFacebookpage at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ or MacDill’sChapelwebsiteis:https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

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COMMUNITY
EVENTS
PhotobyAirman1stClassDerrickBole
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