Thunderbolt 8/24/2023

Vol. 51, No. 34

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Keep ‘em flying News/Features: page 3 Celebrating women’s equality

News/Features: page 3 Operation Memoir

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

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

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Logan Fitz, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, pulls a power cart toward a KC-135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base Aug. 14. The 6th AMXS ensures every component of the KC-135 is maintained to safety standards so the aircraft is readily able to fly. The duties of Air Force maintainers include performing preflight and postflight inspections, diagnosing and solving problems, conducting functional tests of repaired engines, and assisting in recovering aircraft.

NEWS/FEATURES

Nurse practitioner balances roles as civilian, military flight nurse

by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster 6th Air Refueling Wing, Public Affairs Mother, daughter, wife, student, nurse, reservist—these are a few of the dozens of titles that U.S. Air Force Capt. Sarah Mobbs, 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, takes on daily.

Most of the time, Mobbs lives life in the civilian sector as a nurse at Southeast Georgia Health System near St. Marys, Georgia. She’s a mother to two daughters, Berkeley and Dani, and a wife to her husband, Wesley.

One weekend a month, however, she makes the four-and-a-half-hour drive from Georgia to MacDill AFB, Florida, to serve her nation as an aeromedical evacuation flight nurse with the 45th AES. Her medical journey began with getting a degree in general studies and transferring the skills to a nursing school. Upon graduating, she quickly learned from more experienced nurses at the hospital.

“Most nurses start in the field with either their associate or bachelor’s degrees,” explained Mobbs. “Sometimes, you get to meet a ‘diploma nurse,’ meaning they graduated high school and went straight to nursing school.”

See NURSE, Page 12

Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster

U.S. Air Force Capt. Sarah Mobbs, 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron operations flight nurse, poses outside the 45th AES headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base Aug. 4. Mobbs works as a pulmonary nurse practitioner at Southeast Georgia Health System near St. Marys, Georgia.

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

Women’s Equality Day by 6th Air Refueling Wing Equal Opportunity

Every year on Aug.26, Americans celebrate Women’s Equality Day. Instituted by Representative Bella Abzug and established in 1971, the date commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Woman Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave American women full voting rights in 1920. This year, as we celebrate this major milestone in American history, let us not forget the struggles and sacrifices made by so many before us to make equality for women a reality in this country.

In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton began the 72-year battle for the 19th Amendment when she first presented the notion for women’s right to vote at the Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y. She presented a Declaration of Sentiments, which was modeled after the Declaration of Independence and addressed issues that “troubled” women. Women wanted the right to own property, to keep their own wages, to divorce, to gain custody of their children, to attend college, to vote, and to serve in

Department of Defense graphic

The observance recognizing Women’s Equality Day was established by Joint Resolution of Congress in 1971. Women’s Equality Day is observed on the 26th day of August and commemorates the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. The observance has grown to include focusing attention on women’s continued See EQUITY, Page 11 efforts toward gaining full equality.

Operation Memoir

by Senior Airman Jessica Do 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Forty-four years of military service is admirable on its own, but it is the memories and experiences behind those years that make for an honorable and fulfilling journey. Members join for different reasons; some had no intentions of joining at all. That was the case for Special Agent Reis.

“I used to drive a Zamboni and the irony behind it was that I had a bachelors and master’s degree, I just wasn’t motivated,” said U.S. Air Force Special Agent Timothy Ries, Office of Special Investigations Detachment 340 special agent in charge.

Both of Ries’ siblings were in the Air Force and encouraged him to join. It wasn’t until he got married and wanted to start a family that he changed his mind.

Ries was offered a pilot slot but turned the offer down. According to Ries, he had only flown once before and did not seem interested.

“In 1979 I went to Officer Training School and moved forward as an

Photo by Senior Airman Jessica Do

Special Agent Timothy Ries is given his retirement pin from his daughter, during his retirement ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base July 27.

After retiring from active duty in 2000 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, Ries went on to serve an additional 23 years as a civilian special agent See MEMOIR, Page 14 with the Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

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WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

An A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to the 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base over Georgia, Aug. 15. Air refueling enables aircraft to stay in the air longer and fly further distances without needing to land.

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Setrin, 91st Air Refueling Squadron pilot, tests an oxygen mask on a KC-135 Stratotanker prior to flight at MacDill Air Force Base Aug. 15. The 91st ARS operates the KC-135 Stratotanker to deliver fuel midair to other Department of Defense aircraft.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Hyman, 6th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, guides his dog, Golyo, during a drug detection test at MacDill Air Force Base Aug. 17. MWDs support Air Force missions and daily law enforcement by searching for narcotic drugs or explosives and working with their human counterparts to neutralize threats.

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NEWS/FEATURES Air Force announces FY23 Rated Officer Retention Demonstration Program Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—Eligible regular Air Force aviators have from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 to apply for the fiscal year 2023 Rated Officer Retention Demonstration Program, Air Force officials announced earlier this week.

The FY23 National Defense Authorization Act directed the Secretary of the Air Force to execute a demo program that allows select aviators with Undergraduate Flying Training Active Duty Service Commitments expiring in FY24 or FY25 the opportunity to sign a contract for up to $50,000 a year, depending on length of the contract. This authority expires Dec. 31, 2028.

Starting in FY24, the highest monetary incentive amounts will be offered only to aviators who sign a contract three fiscal years prior to the fiscal year their UFT ADSC expires. The monetary amounts will be tiered

thereafter. In FY23, Airmen should sign up early to receive the highest valued contracts.

“Retaining our experienced aviators is key to succeeding in a warfighting environment,” said Brig. Gen. Kirsten Aguilar, Air Force Force Management Policy director. “The demo program helps posture the Air Force to reliably retain aviators to meet current and future operational requirements.”

The demo program will be used simultaneously with the Legacy Aviation Bonus Program as a strategic option to meet Air Force retention, training and mission-readiness requirements to maintain lethality of the force.

If the initial demo program is found to be successful and scalable, it may potentially continue with higher funding allocation requests in future years to expand offerings to a broader rated field and/or for an extended period.

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

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Red Flag 23-3

Uniting US armed forces

by Staff Sgt. Sean Hetz 57th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS)—Red Flag 23-3 has come to a close for more than 2,000 U.S. Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Air National Guard that ran from July 17 to August 4. Although it started at Nellis Air Force Base, it concluded with multiple units dispersed to parts of Southern California.

“The last week of Red Flag 23-3 occurred in conjunction with the U.S. Navy,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Eric Winterbottom, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander. “Integrating the Air Force and Navy into a large-scale exercise places emphasis on joint planning, communication and execution to enhance interoperability and joint operational effectiveness.”

The exercise incorporated realistic scenarios that tested the participants’ ability to integrate their operations seamlessly. Joint missions involving U.S. Air Force and Navy assets focused on a range of mission sets, including air-to-air combat, strike operations and intelligence gathering. By training together in a simulated combat environment, the Air Force and Navy enhanced their interoperability and gained a deeper understanding of each other’s capabilities and tactics.

“The Department of Defense prioritizes the People’s Republic of China as our number one pacing challenge,” Winterbottom said. “By training together in a realistic and challenging environment, the USAF and Navy enhanced their joint capabilities, bolstering the nation’s ability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

One of the primary objectives of Red Flag 23-3 was to strengthen the integration between the U.S. Air Force and Navy. With the future of warfighting requiring close coordination between the two services, the exercise provided an excellent opportunity for joint training and collaboration.

This premier large-force employment has always brought multiple branches of the U.S. military together to enhance joint warfighting capabilities. This iteration of Red Flag aimed to foster collaboration and interoperability between the participating services and focused on unique challenges and scenarios.

“As the new commander, my priority for future Red Flag exercises is to ensure realism and relevance,” Winterbottom said. “Red Flag will continue to expand into long-range, See RED FLAG, Page 13

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A B-1B Lancer gets in position to refuel during a Red Flag 23-3 mission at Nellis Air Forc fenses and offensive counter air-air interdiction.

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Photo by Senior Airman Megan Estrada

U.S. Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic Seaman Apprentice Rylan Manns assigned to the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., supports the EA-18G Growler mission during Red Flag 23-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 19. The VAQ-138 is one of the 30 units from across the Department of Defense participating in the exercise.

Photo by William R. Lewis

ce Base, Nev., July 19. This Red Flag will concentrate on three primary themes: defensive counterair, offensive counterair suppression of enemy air de-

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EQUITY From Page 3

the professions of theology, medicine and law. Of these issues presented, women’s suffrage was the most controversial. For 30 years, activists like Stanton fought without success, to reconstruct the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to allow women the right to vote. In 1878, Stanton and Susan B. Anthony drafted the 19th Amendment and presented it to the U.S. Senate. The Amendment stayed in the Senate for nine years and was rejected by a 16 to 34 vote in 1887. Despite the decision, activists continued to fight for the cause.

Over the years, several organizations were founded to continue to push for women’s equality. In 1890, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was created and in 1913, the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage was founded, though the name was later changed to the National Woman’s Party (NWP). Members of the NWP were the first group of women to picket in front of the White House for women’s rights.

In November of 1917, they were arrested while picketing. Here is an excerpt of what these brave women endured while in prison: “The women were innocent and defenseless…and by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden’s blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of ‘obstructing sidewalk traffic’.” They beat Lucy Burn, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead

and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. Thus unfolded the “Night of Terror” on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson’s White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women’s only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms. When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.”

This year, as we reflect on the accomplishments made by the pioneers of women’s equality, we must also remember the sacrifices and pain they endured in the pursuit of full equality for women. Women’s rights activists refused to take no for an answer. They made numerous attempts at rewriting legislation, they proposed new legislation, they formed women’s rights groups, and they picketed and endured maltreatment after being arrested, all in the name of equality. Let us use their bravery and experiences to expand our vision of social justice and equality for all. Whether male or female, get out and vote. Use this right, which courageous women fought so hard to achieve. The right was not given freely; women earned their constitutional right, though blood, sweat, and tears.

Got News?

If you have an announcement or story idea for the Thunderbolt, just let us know at 6arw. pa.macdillthunderbolt@us.af.mil

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NURSE From Page 2

Due to the different career routes, ‘diploma nurses’ bring a unique perspective to the workplace and oftentimes have more hands-on experience than most, according to Mobbs.

“I got the opportunity to be trained by some of those [diploma] nurses,” said Mobbs. “I think it was incredibly valuable to learn different techniques and perspectives from a nurse with less ‘book’ learning and all hands-on education.”

Following her education, she went to work as a trauma nurse in the SGHS emergency room.

Here, her passion for treating patients and saving lives would ignite.

“I like the fast-paced environment,” shares Mobbs. “Your heart beats a little bit; you get sweaty palms and the ‘good’ kind of anxiety kicks in.”

As she and her family grew older, the workload started to shift. Instead of treating trauma patients, Mobbs started working alongside the hospital’s leadership, teaching and coaching new doctors. Recognizing the trend, she reflected on her mother’s experience in the military.

“My mom retired after a 20-year enlistment in the Navy,” shares Mobbs. “She sacrificed a lot to help make me one of the first bachelor’s and master’s graduates in my family. I thought [joining the military] would be a great way to pay it back to my mom and pay it forward to my kids.”

After looking into possible career paths she found flight nursing, a reservist path that would allow her to continue her professional development at the hospital while practicing her highpaced technical skills.

Soon after, she found her way to Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

Despite years of college, medical school and trauma nursing, OTS posed a greater challenge than anything she’d faced before.

“My mom went to her boot camp 30 years ago and she did her best to prepare me for what to expect,” explained Mobbs. “I think she knew more than I did that it was going to be a lot harder than I took it for.”

For Mobbs, the challenges presented in OTS weren’t traditional. She had no problem completing the schoolwork, learning to be an officer “on paper,” but commissioning at the age of 30 posed unique situations.

“Pretty quickly I realized it wasn’t the education, tests or reading the books…that was easy,” explains Mobbs. “It was the constant yelling and 12

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intensity, stressing your body and being pushed to your limit every day. At 30 years old, it’s hard to maintain your composure for nine straight weeks under that much pressure.”

While facing her personal struggle, the world faced one of its own- COVID-19. Hundreds of miles away from her family, Mobbs could only work to keep herself safe and trusted her husband could do the same for her family.

“COVID-19 was non-discriminatory,” explains Mobbs. “It didn’t matter what age you were, the color of your skin, the religion you practiced, or your socioeconomic status. It really was devastating for the medical community.”

Despite the pandemic, Mobbs pushed on, leaning on her family for support during the venture.

“The biggest thing that got me through was my immediate family,” said Mobbs. “My husband, my children and my mother were encouraging me throughout the entire journey.”

Graduating from OTS served as a monumental achievement in Mobbs’s life. Inspired by her training, Mobbs took on a new mindset.

“No matter how bad we mess up,” explains Mobbs. “We have to get up, put one foot in front of the other and try again. OTS taught me that I’ll make mistakes but at the end of the day I’m going to keep striving to do better.”

Now, Mobbs works as a pulmonary nurse practitioner in her civilian life and a 45th AES flight nurse in the military, attributing her career success to the support of her family.

“My immediate family constantly steps up,” shared Mobbs. “I don’t think anyone in the military agrees we can’t praise our families enough, it’s amazing how resilient a child can be, let alone a military child.”

Mobbs serves as an example for military families everywhere. Her devotion to family and service has brought her through challenges most never attempt to face.

Mobbs leaves anyone looking to pursue a similar path with this advice: “Be flexible. Our military is always evolving. Change is constantly happening and it’s good. Take what you’ve learned and apply it. Make the changes you want to see.”

For more information on OTS and how to commission in the U.S. Air Force, visit: https:// www.airforce.com/training/military-training/ ots/overview.

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Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster

U.S. Air Force Capt. Sarah Mobbs, 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron operations flight nurse, poses outside the 45th AES headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base Aug. 4. Mobbs works as a pulmonary nurse practitioner at Southeast Georgia Health System (SGHS) near St. Marys, Georgia. At the 45th AES, Mobbs conducts joint operations with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Space Force, Tampa General Hospital and many more local and federal agencies. Mobbs also serves as a legacy service member, following her mother’s 20-year enlistment in the U.S. Navy.

RED FLAG From Page 8

dispersed, joint and coalition, peer-contested training scenarios. We also train to respond to and effectively deter nation-state threats emanating from Russia, Iran and North Korea, and transnational and non-state actor threats from violent extremist organizations, such as those operating in the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central Asia.”

Air Force assets, such as the F-35A Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus, B-1B Lancers and HH-60G Pavehawk worked in conjunction with Navy assets that included the EA-18G Growler Photo by William R. Lewis and carrier-based aircraft and surface vessels, to de- An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 113th Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., taxis out for a Red Flag 23-3 misvelop seamless operational sion at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 19. This Red Flag will concentrate on three primary themes: defensive counsynergy. terair, offensive counterair suppression of enemy air defenses, and offensive counter air-air interdiction.

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

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MEMOIR From Page 3

Courtesy photo

Special Agent Timothy Ries graduates from Air Force Special Investigations Course in class 82-A, March 31, 1982. Ries retired from active duty in 2000 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and returned 6 days later as a GS-15.

Adjutant for the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson, [Air Force Base, North Carolina]” said Ries From his time seeing the fighter community and bond they shared, Ries decided he did in fact, want to be a pilot.

“I was the worst pilot in history,” said Ries. “Normally you have to successfully complete 11 or 12 flights before you can solo, I had 57, so I ended up washing out.”

After washing out of pilot training he was given the option to go into Air Traffic Control or Office of Special Investigations (OSI). He chose OSI and there was no turning back.

“I thought the bond was tight in the fighter squadrons, but it is nothing compared to the bond OSI agents share.” Said Ries.

Ries spent the next 20 years of active-duty service, making the rank of Lt Col, before retiring in 2000 at AFOSI headquarters in Maryland where he served as the Chief Information Officer. He took a short leave of six days before returning as a GS-15 in the same position, at the same base. Twenty-three years later, Ries is retiring as a civilian GS-14 Special Agent.

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Investigative Information Management System. The system took Ries five years to build and is still in use today.

Throughout his career, both active duty and civilian, Ries has accumulated numerous awards and decorations to include, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Meritorious Civilian Service Award, two Bronze Star medals, the Kosovo Air and Ground Campaign medals and many more.

“I don’t hang my awards and decorations in my office, I hang my photos and memories” said Ries. “It is not what was awarded to me but the people who were there with me that are important.”

Over the last 43 years, Ries has been a part of over 860 operations.

During his deployment in Albania, Ries led a three-man team in the rescue of an Air Force colonel who was targeted for assassination. Ries said over the years he has dipped his toes in all facets of OSI. When asked if he was excited for retirement, Ries said he did not know how it was going to be waking up every day without his badge.

“It is not that I want to go,” explained Ries. “I love my job, which is why I came back the first time. I would do this longer if I could, but I know it is my time to go.”

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COMMUNITY

EVENTS

Friday Stampede at Boomers Join the Boomer’s Stampede every Friday from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Boomer’s is located inside the Breakaway Event Center with a full bar, multiple screens, music, and pool tables. Enjoy complimentary snacks and drink specials every Friday. Visit macdillfss.com/boomers/ for more details.

Summer rental specials Stop by the Marina for summer BOGO’s (buy one get one) now through September.

Wednesdays: Paddle boards, kayaks, canoes Thursdays: Bikes with helmets included Visit macdillfss.com/marina/ or call 840-1513 for more information.

MCEE meeting The MacDill Council for Educational Excellence (MCEE) is inviting all parents for military-connected K-12 students enrolled in Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) to a military family forum to discuss educational opportunities and needs for students with MacDill AFB and HCPS District leadership.

Meeting will take place at Tinker K-8 on MacDill AFB August 29 from 4–5 p.m. For more information, visit macdillfss.com/wp-content/uploads/MCEEAug_23.pdf SeaScapes bar Located on the base beach and is open Wednesday – Friday 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. To find more information, visit macdillfss.com/seascapes Find more events at: macdillfss.com

Senior NCOs pledge

Photo by Airman 1st Class Derrick Bole

Personnel from MacDill Air Force Base take the senior noncommissioned officer pledge in Tampa Aug. 11. Air Force SNCOs are expected to set the highest standards of personal integrity, loyalty, leadership, dedication and devotion to duty, including upholding Air Force policies, traditions and standards.

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

Monday-Wednesday Mass - 12:10 p.m.

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

Jewish - Monthly Lunch and Learn: For schedule & to join distro, please contact elimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

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

Catholic Mass - Sunday - 9:30 a.m.

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

(confessions by appointment)

For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ or MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel MACDILL THUNDERBOLT ◆ Thursday, August 24, 2023 ◆ WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM ◆ 15

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