Thunderbolt 08/25/2022

Vol. 50, No. 34

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Patient care in the air - page 8 News/Features: page 3 18th AF change of command

News/Features: page 3 A grand reunion

Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week

U.S. Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Kiara N. Spann

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

Airmen assigned to the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron search for medical supplies to care for a simulated patient aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker, June 22. The Airmen completed their annual training, where they honed their skills in patient care at MacDill Air Force Base.

NEWS/FEATURES In assessing first year, Kendall sees achievement, many challenges ahead

by Charles Pope Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—With his West Point pedigree and nearly five decades serving in active duty, the upper reaches of the Department of Defense, and assorted national security endeavors, Frank Kendall had a highly refined idea for what he would face when took his seat as Air Force secretary in 2021.

Now, after one full year on the job, Kendall’s assessment of what his leadership has brought (and what it hasn’t), and how that has shaped the Air Force and Space Force to better address the global threats facing the United States, is generally positive.

“I’m reasonably comfortable with where we’ve come in the last year,” Kendall said in recent interview that ranged across a broad number of topics relating to how he has performed in the last year and how that translates to where the Air Force and Space Force are headed.

But with his experience and knowledge, Kendall quickly offered some well-informed nuance.

“I think now there’s, if not quite a consensus, at least close to it in terms of the direction of change that we need,” he said. “So that’s all positive. Now it’s going to be up to us to execute.”

He also offered a blunt assessment of the stakes confronting not just him but the entire Total Force and the nation and why the challenge from China must be understood and met without delay.

Photo by Eric Dietrich

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall makes remarks during the Senior Leader Orientation Course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11.

The course provides training for newly selected brigadier generals and senior executive service members.

“I regard the current situation (posed by China) as more stressing than the one I experienced for 20 years during the Cold War,” Kendall said, offering an assessment that is all the more remarkable given his habit of See KENDALL, Page 10

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 Eighteenth Air Force Welcomes New Commander

by Master Sgt. Cory O’Dell 18th Air Force Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.—Eighteenth Air Force welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony here, Aug. 19.

Maj. Gen. Corey Martin assumed command from Maj. Gen. Kenneth “Thad” Bibb during the ceremony, officiated by General Mike Minihan, Air Mobility Command commander.

Prior to taking command, Martin served as the Direc- tor of Operations, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, here. He began his tenure by discussing how his previous role prepared him for command of the 18th Air Force.

“The past few years I was the Transportation Command Director of Operations,” Martin said. “I published a lot of orders, and they often landed in the hands of Airmen in 18th Air Force.”

However, Martin explained how the accomplishments of the command during the last two years have provided inspiration.

“When you’re leading 18th Air Force Airmen who are warfighters, See 18TH, Page 7

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan, Air Mobility Command commander, gives guidon to Maj. Gen. Corey Martin during a change of command ceremony on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Aug. 19. 2022. The 18th Air Force is Air Mobility Command’s sole numbered Air Force and is responsible for 12 wings and one reporting unit.

Year later: How OAR brought a Dover AFB Airman and Afghan evacuee together

by Senior Airman Stephani Barge 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS)— Everything was normal at home, until the Taliban came. Then the university closed, and people were crying in the streets. The news said airplanes were coming to pick up those that worked with the U.S., who were in danger. Everyone was running to the airport because they wanted to get out of Afghanistan. The airport was full of people, close to 15,000, and many were women and children. Some people stayed there for five to six days, with no food or water.

The military arrived and my supervisor told us that because we were helping a television station, they wanted to take us with them to America. We went to the airport but split up when the Taliban began shooting in the air to scare us. I did not run away because I was not afraid. Thirty minutes later, a giant aircraft landed on the runway. More than 500 of

us waited in line to step onto the plane with an eagle head on its tail, which read, ‘Dover, 10186.’

This was the scene Zarafshan “Zaro” Mirzaie witnessed during her final day in her home country of Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge.

To date, OAR is the largest non-combatant evacuation operation in U.S. history, involving close to 800 civilian and military aircraft from over 30 nations aiding the evacuation of more than 124,000 people from Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 1430, 2021.

OAR and Operation Allies Welcome united a diverse group of military members, civilians and Afghan evacuees with the purpose of locating and creating a temporary safe haven that offered shelter, support and vital resources.

But for Tech. Sgt. Ashley Majewski, 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron dental See EVACUEE POX, Page 11 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

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Photo by Senior Airman Stephani Barge

Zarafshan “Zaro” Mirzaie, an Afghan evacuee, revisits the same C-17 Globemaster III that carried her to the U.S., reflecting on the one-year anniversary of Operation Allies Refuge at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 8.

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WEEK IN PHOTOS U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Rodgers, 91st Air Refueling Squadron scheduler and boom operator, poses for a photo next to a squadron mural at MacDill Air Force Base Aug. 9.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass recognized Rodgers at an allcall on base, Aug. 4, for her response during Tampa Bay Air Fest 2022 where she provided critical first aid to two civilian workers who were trapped underneath a collapsed tent. For treating the civilians using her knowledge of tactical combat casualty care, Rodgers was awarded with the Air Force Achievement Medal.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

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Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook

Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Zoria Evans, 6th Air Refueling Wing religious affairs apprentice, poses for a portrait in the 6th ARW chapel Aug. 10 at MacDill Air Force Base. Evans was recognized by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass for her efforts in training over five hundred Airmen on religious accommodations at MacDill AFB. As a religious affairs Airman, Evans accelerates spiritual readiness and resiliency for all Airman, Guardians and their families at MacDill AFB through religious accommodation, spiritual fitness, and leadership advisement.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Vera, 6th Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, poses for a photo in the corrosion unit spray room at MacDill Air Force Base Aug. 10. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass recognized Vera at an all-call on base, Aug. 4, for establishing a proper corrosion process which identifies requirements to help ensure a safe transition to MacDill’s KC-46 renovation project. For his sound judgement and dedication to process improvement, Vera was selected as the 6th MXS Noncommissioned Officer of the Year 2021.

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NEWS/FEATURES

DoD releases first department-wide social media policy

by C. Todd Lopez, DoD News WASHINGTON (AFNS)—The Defense Department released a policy Aug. 15 that for the first time spells out, from the highest levels of the defense community, how DoD military and civilian personnel should use official social media accounts to best advance the mission of the U.S. military and further instill trust in the credibility of the DoD. DoD Instruction 5400.17, titled “Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes,” provides principles for social media use within DoD, direction regarding records management procedures for social media accounts, and guidance to ensure personal social media accounts are not misrepresented or misinterpreted as official accounts.

While some of the military services and other agencies published social media policies years ago, DODI 5400.17 is the department’s first instruction that provided Pentagon-level, departmentwide guidance that specifically addresses the use of social media. The DoD chief information officer previously issued DODI 8170.01, “Online Information Management and Electronic Messaging,” to provide broad policy guidance on the secure and appropriate use of social media. The new policy specifically addresses public affairs uses and responsibilities.

See SOCIAL MEDIA, Page 12

U.S. Air Force photo by Patrick Buffett

The Defense Department released a new policy that, for the first time, spells out how military and civilian personnel must use social media to best advance the mission of the U.S. military and to avoid pitfalls that could damage the department’s credibility.

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Force Support Squadron Services Effective as of 04 JUNE 2022 OPERATIONAL

LIMITED SERVICES

CLOSED

MASK REQUIRED INDOORS REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS COMMUNITY SERVICES

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Common Access Card (CAC) - By Appointment Only or Mission Essential Actions (Initial CAC issue; lost CAC; PIN Reset; CAC expiring within 7 days; emergency hardships Retiree/Dependent ID Cards - 2 Kiosks available at the BX for renewals or by appointment only Passports - By Appointment Only Military Personnel Flight APF/NAF/CIV Personnel Office Manpower & Organization Office School Liaison/EFMP NAF Cashier Cage Private Org/Unit SM&W Funds Emergency Financial Assistance

READINESS/DEVELOPMENT

Fitness Center- Masks must be worn while indoors at all times except while actively engaging on cardio or anaerobic equipment.

Child Development Centers (CDCs) Family Child Care School Age Program Youth Center

EVENT SUPPORT Capacity limited to 50 patrons for all events.

Breakaway Event Center Theater

FOOD OPERATIONS

Dine-in limited to 50% capacity for all facilities.

DFAC Rickenbacker’s Cafe Brews of the Bay Bar Smoothie Bar (Fitness Center) 8 Iron Grill (Golf Course) Boomers Bar & Grill (Breakaway Event Center) Hangar 6 Grill (Bowling Center) SeaScapes Bar - Friday nights only 1500-2000 AAFES Food Operations

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Main Base Pool - Closed For Season FamCamp Marina - 1/2 or Full Day Boat/ Equipment Rentals, Snacks & Drinks Boat/RV Registration + Wet Slips Golf Course Arts & Crafts Center Bowling Information, Tickets & Travel DIY Auto Hobby Shop DIY Wood Shop Skeet Range Archery - by Reservations Only Car Wash/Resale Lot

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Military & Family Readiness Center Open for walk-in customers and appointments.

Classes & Workshops are a mixture of virtual and in person.

Library Base Education Base Training Office Airman Leadership School Professional Development Center/FTAC WAPS/Vol. Education Testing Lodging (MacDill Inn)

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18TH

From Page 3

who are taking care of our national defense, I think it is better to be on the receiving end of those orders,” said Martin.

As AMC’s sole numbered air force, 18th Air Force supports AMC’s worldwide mission of providing rapid global mobility to America’s armed forces through airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation.

Throughout his speech, Minihan praised Bibb for the performance of the command over the last two years and the impact it made around the world.

“The numbers don’t lie,” said Minihan. “The millions of passengers moved, the millions of pounds of cargo and fuel delivered, and thousands of patients transferred to higher levels of medical care in the past two years are remarkable. But the legacy for which you will be remembered is more than what is on the stat sheet. Each of those numbers represents a promise that our joint forces always had the supplies they needed, always had the fuel in the air, and always had a ride home to their loved ones.”

Bibb, who will become the Deputy Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force, shared memories of his time as commander.

“To the warriors of 18th Air Force, you are what makes this numbered air force so successful,” said Bibb. “I told you when I arrived we would set the bar high, and you have exceeded every expectation. From Afghanistan to Russia, from China to Africa, you have made a huge impact on the defense of our nation and our allies. You have embraced innovation and have the results to show for it. You have been recognized as the best of the best, but more than awards or decorations, you know you are ready for any mission – anytime, anywhere.”

Minihan also outlined Martin’s background and experience, explaining that he is the absolute right person to lead the command, and if called, to defeat our adversaries.

“The fight to ensure our Airmen have the tools they need to be successful is on you now,” said Minihan. “Our proud mobility exceptionalism comes from our Airmen, and I ask that you continue to empower them and ready them for the next fight.”

As the 18th Air Force commander, Martin is responsible for the readiness and sustainment of approximately 36,000 active duty, Air Force Reserve, and civilian Airmen at 12 wings and one direct reporting unit.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Corey Martin, incoming 18th Air Force commander, renders first salute to Airmen of the 18th AF during a change of command ceremony on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Aug. 19. The change of command ceremony represents a time-honored military tradition providing an opportunity for Airmen to witness the transfer of power to their newly appointed commanding officer.

“To be where the leading edge is meeting the atmosphere, where the rubber is meeting the runway,” Martin ended. “That’s where I look to meet you in command, and once again it’s time to expedite.”

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183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Conducts Annual Training at MacDill AFB story and photos by 1st Lt. Kiara Spann 172nd Airlift Wing

W

ith over 100 Airmen and nine AFSCs, the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron stands as a ready and relevant unit postured to deploy in support of military operations, disaster response and humanitarian missions at a moment’s notice.

Aeromedical evacuation squadron aircrew members can perform their mission on the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules and the KC-135 Stratotanker. This year for annual training, AES aircrew members traveled to MacDill Air Force Base and received the opportunity to train on both the C-17 and KC-135 airframes.

Training on the KC-135, an aircraft traditionally used for aircraft refueling, gave each Airman practical hands-on training that tested the skillset they had honed on the C-17.

Members also received mass casualty and triage response training, which sharpened their patient care skills.

“My goal for this squadron is to be a training hub throughout the AE community,” said Col. Teri Dawn Neely, Commander of the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. “The way that we have fought wars for the past 30 years is going to change, so we need to be ready for that.”

Even though the AES mission is to save lives, the flight nurses and the medical technicians aren’t the only ones getting the job done.

“Aside from the flight nurses we have and the crews that go out to the airplane and take care of the mission and the patients, our ground crews are the ones that work behind the scenes,” said 1st Lt. Chris Roberts, a medical support corps officer, assigned to the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

“They take care of getting all the equipment available and ready for the crews to receive and load to take out to the aircraft.”

From the medical logistics airmen, who ensure that all of the support equipment and patient medication is available to the flying crew, to the aeromedical evacuation operations team, who handles all of the administrative duties regarding the aircrew and patients, the members of the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron work in tandem to achieve mission success.

“The success that comes from within our squadron is a collaborative effort,” said Col. Neely. “Every member has an important role, and their role is essential to completing our mission.”

The 183rd AES sets forth to widen the gap to stand out as the premier aeromedical evacuation squadron in the Air Force. In 2021 the 183rd led all Air National Guard units in awards, nearly sweeping all nine categories to include Outstanding Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron of the Year.

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Airmen assigned to the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron search for medical supplies to care for a simulated patient aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker, June 22. The Airmen completed their annual training, where they honed their skills in patient care at MacDill Air Force Base.

U.S. Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Kiara N. Spann Maj. Devin Neal, a flight nurse assigned to the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, checks on a simulated patient aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, June 17. The Airmen completed their annual training, where they honed their skills in patient care at MacDill Air Force Base.

Staff Sgt. Ethan Perry, a biomedical equipment technician assigned to the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, repairs medical equipment at MacDill Air Force Base, June 22. The Airmen completed their annual training, where they honed their skills in patient care.

KENDALL From Page 2

being understated and for carefully choosing his words.

Today, with the emergence of China, “We have a well-resourced, strategic, innovative competitor who is trying to defeat not just our current capabilities but thinking ahead to the capabilities that we’re going to field and already started down the road of developing capabilities to counter those,” he said.

“It’s a game of chess in which we have to think a few moves ahead and we have to take action. … Our ability to sustain deterrence depends upon our success doing that. And I think this is a greater challenge even than the ones that I faced and was part of during the Cold War.” That, more than anything, explains perhaps Kendall’s clarion call during his first year as secretary – seven Operational Imperatives is the blueprint he developed for rapidly changing the hardware, policies and cultures of the Air and Space Forces to better position them to confront current and emerging threats. The Operational Imperatives are the tool by which Kendall hopes to reshape and refocus the services to contest, and if necessary, defeat China and other near-peer powers.

On more than one occasion over the last year, Kendall acknowledged that the Air Force is working to close a capability gap and that being forced to carry older, less capable equipment is slowing progress at a time when time is short.

That reality is the reason that the Air and Space Forces must transform, and fast, Kendall emphasized nearly every day, pointing out urgency is needed, and the Joint Force must become more seamless.

That is one reason the first of the seven imperatives is focused on space. On that front, Kendall said frequently in public appearances that the Space Force “is developing a resilient force design to modernize and deliver new capabilities at operationally relevant speeds” in a once “benign” domain that is now a highly contested area.

He endorsed the military-wide push toward a new generation of joint operation known as Joint All Domain Command and Control, or JADC2, but with a caveat. The Air Force’s contribution to the larger effort, known as the Advanced Battle Management System, is showing promise, Kendall said. However, the “deliverable” must be “identifying the tangible benefits we need to get into the hands of warfighters to make an operational impact.”

That focus is another common refrain for Kendall, based largely on his role as high-ranking procurement officer in the Department of Defense during the Obama administration. Pilot programs, vague prototypes and good ideas without a strong basis for an actual product at the end are a constant target for Kendall. Those efforts, he said, will end up in the valley of death at a time when combatant commanders need actual equipment and practices that are ready to be used in the field.

“We have plenty of risk to manage in the portfolio that we have today,” Kendall said. “But what I’m focused on more than anything else is ensuring that our programs are structured and resourced to get real capability into the field, to get meaningful operational capability into the hands of our operators as quickly as possible.”

There remain other thorny problems too, Kendall said. They include traditional ones such as retention and quality of life, determining the correct mix of “capability versus capacity” and surprises such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the bumpy withdraw from Afghanistan, the continued stubborn presence of COVID-19, and coping with the financial fallout of unexpected inflation.

But across his first year, Kendall said even with those big, unanticipated issues, he is satisfied with how the year was navigated.

As for the Total Force, Kendall, the former Army officer, is impressed.

“I’m delighted with the capabilities and the talent and the sense of mission that I encounter everywhere I go in the Air Force and the Space Force,” he said. “These are people who are dedicated to serving their country; they work tirelessly, have an enormous amount of capability, and they serve the country very well every day.”

Kendall said he is comfortable with the budget proposed for the next fiscal year, for instance, and more importantly, that Congress has generally embraced the reasons driving the request even if they have questions about some line items. He is pleased with the continued growth of the fledgling Space Force and with the leadership of Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond. The same is true for Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles CQ Brown, Jr. and Gina Ortiz Jones, the department’s under secretary, Kendall said.

“It’s been just a delightful experience to have such a cohesive senior leadership team to work with,” he said. “From day one, that’s been very positive, and I think it’s allowed me to do a lot of things from my perspective over the last year that have moved the Air Force and the Space Force both forward and in the direction we need to go.”

He has been heartened by the way the Total Force has embraced his, “One Team, One Fight” credo.

Those realities provide the foundation for progress on what Kendall says is the most important – and urgent – priority, his Seven Operational Imperatives.

“That list of seven Operational Imperatives has been how I focused effort within the Department of the Air Force to identify the things that we need to do to stay ahead of the threat,” he said.

The purpose is twofold, Kendall said. First, is articulating goals and tasks that are specific enough to generate actual results and, in Kendall’s words, “put capability directly into the hands of warfighters.”

The second, and according to Kendall, more important, is to instill a sense of urgency.

“One of things that I’ve said over the past year is that if there were one thing I could do, it would be to inculcate everyone involved a sense of urgency about getting on with things and moving forward,” he said.

“I still feel that way. I think that’s something of a cultural change, which is still in progress. I think we’ve made a lot of progress on that, but I’m not sure that everybody appreciates the need for that sense of urgency and how important that is.”

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EVACUEE From Page 3

facility manager and logistics noncommissioned officer in charge, and Zaro, the 2,311th Afghan evacuee to arrive in the U.S., OAR and OAW provided them with something far more unexpected: Family.

Now, one year later, they reflect back on the events that brought them together.

“Everyone was sitting on the floor of the plane, holding on tight to the [tie-down rings] that were near us,” Zaro said. “It was very hot and hard to breathe. We traveled to Qatar … then Germany … and then we flew to Washington, D.C.” Zaro recalled her first moments in the U.S. “When we arrived, we were separated and traveled to different safe havens,” she said.

“My group was sent to New Jersey. Some families became separated, while a few people were screened for ties to the Taliban. There were many pregnant women, some evengave birth as we traveled. There were also many unaccompanied children. The military gave each of us a badge number, making it easier to identify us and provide medical care. They moved us

into old buildings and built villages for us to feel more at home.”

Around the same time Zaro arrived, Majewski deployed to Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst, New Jersey, as part of Task Force Liberty in support of OAW. She worked as the protection cell noncommissioned officer in charge, dealing with situations such as sexual assault, child abuse, underage brides and domestic violence cases.

“It was the best and hardest experience I have ever had in my entire life,” Majewski said. “I was really integrated and spent all day, every day with the women: getting to know them, helping them learn English and preparing them for when they would resettle in the U.S.” Majewski described the early days of OAW as organized chaos, as three villages were created to help the Afghans acclimate. One village had 30 tents, housing around 700 Afghans each.

“There were so many people, it was difficult to find who I was looking for at times,” she

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Photo by Senior Airman Stephani Barge

Zarafshan “Zaro” Mirzaie, an Afghan evacuee and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Majewski, 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron dental facility manager and logistics noncommissioned officer in charge, revisit the same C-17 Globemaster III that carried Zaro to the U.S. said. “Many were afraid to talk to me, in fear of being sent back to Afghanistan, or losing their current accommodations. Women specifically

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See EVACUEE, Page 16

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SOCIAL MEDIA From Page 5

“It’s long overdue,” said Andy Oare, Office of the Secretary of Defense director of digital media. “There have been efforts in the past to do this, but in an organization of this size and magnitude, you need to fully coordinate and ensure all viewpoints are heard and represented. We wanted to make sure the services were collaborators from the very beginning.”

Because social media changes rapidly, Oare said policies that the department may have started developing in the past but had never finalized would quickly show their age.

That won’t happen with the newly published instruction, and he stressed that this policy will be continually refined and updated based on the evolving social media landscape.

“We’ll work across the department to be agile and responsive in our day-to-day operations as we implement this policy and update it where and when we should,” Oare said.

“Social media has an effect on every one of our service members, civilians, contractors and their families — whether they run an official account or have never heard of Twitter,” Oare said. “We owe it to all of them to have one central policy that provides a clearly articulated standard of operation and accountability.”

The DoD social media policy applies to Office of the Secretary of Defense personnel, the military departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the combatant commands, and other DoD offices and agencies. In some cases, this means the new policy will supersede preexisting social media policies, but close coordination throughout its development ensured that all perspectives were considered and integrated.

“We deliberately wrote it in a collaborative manner, and it encourages component heads to continue establishing component-specific social media regulations,” Oare said.

“Our aim is not to be prescriptive or restrictive, but rather to lay out some commonsense rules that simply have not been formally articulated at this level.”

In addition to detailing the roles and responsibilities of DoD leadership in enforcing responsible social media practices, the new policy offers guidance to department personnel who generate content on official social media platforms to ensure responsible use of the medium, key elements to consider when establishing a new presence or expanding into new platforms, and on the authority to close unused accounts.

“If social media is mismanaged or mishandled, the U.S. government’s reputation with the American public; relationships with interagency, international, state, local and tribal entities; military operations; and reputation for a high ethical and professional standard may be compromised,” the policy warns social media practitioners.

The guidance in DODI 5400.17 is meant to ensure DoD’s credibility and avoid controversy, while using social media to share its missions with the public, Oare said.

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B AY PA L M S G O L F C O U R S E

AGF: $20, military: $50 AGF A GF: $2 20, All m military y: $40, Civilians: C

Air Force Birthday TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT

Sat, 17 Sep

0800 0800 Shotgun Shotgun Start Start South South Course Course

2 Person Team, 6 Hole Mix Up, Non Handicapped Event.

Great Door Prizes & Prizes for the Winning Teams!

AGF: $20 • All Military: $40 • Civilians: $50

Holes 1-6 Best Ball • Holes 7-12 Modified Alternate Shot • Holes 13-18 Scramble PXG Putting Contest and Srixon/Cleveland Long Drive Contest –Lunc h Provided Fol lowing Event– Stop by the Pro Shop to Sign Up & Pay. Deadline for Registration is 14 September

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NEWS/FEATURES

Customers can evaluate their benefit through annual Commissary Customer Service Survey

by DeCA Corporate Communications FORT LEE, Va.—Military customers worldwide will have the opportunity to evaluate their stores through the annual Commissary Customer Service Survey (CCSS) starting Aug. 22.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) survey will be available for 10 consecutive shopping days ending on or before Sept. 7, depending on the commissary’s operating schedule. Customers will be asked to take the survey at the commissary entrance area before they shop.

“The CCSS allows us to compare our patron’s perception of our stores during a fixed period of time,” said James Taylor, chief of DeCA’s store operations division. “We’re committed to being the patron’s grocery retailer of choice and this allows us to focus on improving the delivery of the benefit.”

Customers will be asked at random to participate in the survey which evaluates areas such as customer service, pricing, savings, product availability and selection, cleanliness, store layout, and produce, meat, grocery deli and bakery quality.

After agreeing to participate, customers will be presented with three options: Scan a QR code and take the survey on their own mobile device

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Have the store employee ask the questions and enter responses in the store’s iPad or phone Or personally complete the survey on the store’s iPad or phone. Commissary associates will use disinfectant wipes to sanitize the iPad and phone between uses, and provide gloves to each customer electing to use the store device. The precautions are part of the safety measures being used during the CCSS cycle to help prevent COVID-19 exposure Last year, more than 20,000 shoppers rated the commissaries an overall 4.49, up .03 over the prior year. The score is based on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1, “Poor,” to 5, “Excellent.” Customers recognized the courteousness of commissary employees, cleanliness of stores and the ease of finding products through the stores by rating these elements the highest.

“Analyzing the data within these surveys allows us to identify stores that patrons perceive to be our best and share their best practices,” said Brian Myrick, a management and program analyst. “It also provides us low-scoring elements and stores, allowing us to identify contributing factors and develop processes for improvement.”

In addition to the annual CCSS, DeCA also uses a receipt survey that gives commissaries real-time patron feedback throughout the year, accessible at the link provided on the bottom of every purchase receipt.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

COMMUNITY

EVENTS

Before- and after-school care available For the parents of children in kindergarten to 18 who need before or after-school care. school age (kinder-12) Youth Center (ages 9-18). Must have access to MacDill AFB For pricing and more information, please visit; macdillfss.com/school-age-care Youth flag football registration Open now. Cost is $50 for members and $60 for non-members. Youth flag football is available through the MacDill Youth Center for ages 5-15. Contact the Youth Center for more information at 828-7958.

Register for Short Fitness Center Gladiator Challenge Join us on the Short Fitness Center south track for the Gladiator Challenge Sept. 2. Check in at 7 a.m., fun will begin at 7:30 a.m. Teams of two or four will compete in barricades, medicine ball toss, sledgehammer swings and more! Register your team at 6fss.fsvs.fitnessprograms@ us.af.mil Looking for the perfect job?

The 6th Force Support Squadron is seeking qualified candidates 16 years and older. All positions start at $15 an hour or above. If you are ready to join our 6th FSS family, visit https:// macdillfss.com/open- jobs/ to see current job openings and apply today.

Let the games begin!

Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook)

U.S. Air Force Col. Cory Damon, 6th Air Refueling Wing vice commander, poses for a photo with Ukrainian athletes at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Aug. 17. More than 60 Ukrainian athletes, families, coaches, caregivers, and staff traveled to MacDill AFB en route to Orlando, where they’ll compete in the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, August 19 to 28. The Warrior Games consists of nearly 300 wounded, ill, and injured active duty service members and veterans who will participate in a series of adaptive sporting events and represent the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Command. The DOD Warrior Games is a celebration of not only U.S. service members, but those of international teams. Warrior athletes from Canada and Ukraine will compete in this year’s events.

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

Find more events at: macdillfss.com

Catholic (in-person) - Saturday - 5:30 p.m.

Chapel at (813) 828-3621 or via email at 6ARW. HCADMIN@us.af.mil

Protestant services - Sunday - 11 a.m.

MacDill’s Chapel website is: https://www.macdill. af.mil/chapel

(confession 4:30 p.m.) Sunday - 9:30 a.m. (confessions by appointment)

For more details and information, visit the Chapel Facebook page at http://www.facebook/6amwhc/ MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

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EVACUEE From Page 11

were nervous to trust us and speak up, even to female service members. My job afforded me the opportunity to integrate more and become a confidante for many Afghan women.”

In addition to her primary duties, Majewski opened a beauty salon to provide a safe and empowering work environment to the female evacuees, where they could experience what it would be like to work in the U.S. The salon was also where she first met Zaro.

“She came to me after I had just opened [the salon] to ask if she could help paint nails,” Majewski said. “She was one of the few women who came to the U.S. with nothing and no one, so we bonded a lot in the fact that I was teaching her everything.”

Majewski said she, Zaro and 14 other women worked at the salon. They had close to 90 customers in the salon a day and had to turn away more.

“It felt good to provide a purpose for the women, while giving myself an outlet during a stressful time,” she said.

“I had lost my father the third day of my deployment, so Zaro and the other women are where I put my focus.”

When Zaro found out she was being resettled in Texas, both she and ‘MJ’ were devastated.

“I did not want to go to Texas alone,” Zaro said. “But MJ told me that I would do well and to give it a chance.

She was always supporting us and trying to help everyone that was working in the salon.”

Soon after her arrival to Texas, Zaro regularly called Majewski in tears, confiding that she was experiencing harassment from men in the same hotel. The situation eventually came to a head and Majewski took action.

With her leadership aware and supportive of the situation, Majewski decided at that moment that she had the resources to help support Zaro and bought her a one-way ticket to Delaware the next possible flight out. It’s been a decision she hasn’t regretted, as Zaro has been a pillar of support for her as well.

“I couldn’t imagine not helping her,” Majewski said.

“After I lost my father, it felt like she filled the void and gave me a purpose when I needed it. In many ways she helped me more than I helped her.”

Majewski and Zaro currently live together with their three dogs, as they journey through the process of formal adoption. Majewski plans on passing her military education benefits to Zaro, who, after being inspired by the events of OAR and OAW, aspires to become a nurse and join the Air Force. Until then, being each other’s support and family is more than enough.

“I’m enjoying every single moment that I have with MJ,” Zaro said. “She is the person for me that I always wished to have.”

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MACDILL THUNDERBOLT