Thunderbolt 9/21/2023

AIMhigh

News/Features:page2

Thesky’sthelimit

News/Features:page3

Compete,fightwin

Weekinphotos: page4

Imagesfromtheweek

Community:page15

Events,Chapel,more...

PhotobyCapt.DanielleHudson

U.S.AirForceSeniorAirmanChadDillon,assistant flyingcrewchief assignedtothe 6thAircraftMaintenance Squadron,speakswithchildreninSt.Croix,U.S. VirginIslands,Sept.7.DillonwaspartofAirForceRecruitingService’s AviationInspirationMentorship(AIM)HighprogramwhichprovidesstudentswithexperiencedU.S. Air Forceaviatorsand mentors.

Thesky is thelimit NEWS/FEATURES

byCapt.DanielleHudson 6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

“Theskyisthelimit.” Thatisthephrase thatcoulddescribetherecenttripmembers fromthe6th AirRefueling Wingtook toSt. Croix, U.S. VirginIslands.

This wasn’tavacationtrip;it wasapart oftheAir ForceRecruitingService’s Aviation InspirationMentorship(AIM)Highprogram whichprovidesstudentswithexperienced U.S. Air Force aviatorsandmentors.

The aviatorsandmentorsalsoprovidedthe studentswithinformation about aviationcareers, flyingopportunities, andtheirexperiencesasAir Force aviators.

Foronepilotofthistrip, CaptainOrchydia Sackey assignedtothe50thAirRefueling Squadron,it wasextraspecial.Sackey was bornandraisedontheisland,andit wasthe firsttimesheflew a KC-135backtoherhome.

Sackey wasgivena warmwelcomehomeas familyandfriendslinedthefenceasshelandedtheaircraft,andthe VirginIslands PortAuthority’sairportfirefightersperformeda watersalutewhile taxiing.

Herparentswerefilledwithjoyasthey

SeeSKY,Page6

U.S.AirForceMajorEdwardRubio,50thAirRefuelingSquadronKC-135Stratotankerpilot,looks at apilotautographbookwith achildinSt.Croix,U.S. Virgin Islands,Sept.7.Morethan1,500childrenfromtheisland cametospeakto aviators andtour aKC-135fromSeptember7 –8as part of the AirForceRecruitingService’s AviationInspirationMentorship(AIM) High program.

COMMANDER’SACTIONLINE

TheActionLineprovidestwo-waycommunicationbetweenthe 6thAirRefueling Wingcommanderand theMacDillcommunity. Personnelmaysubmitquestions,concernsorcommentsviaemailto macdillwingcommander@us.af.milor Facebook@6thARWCommandTeam

MacDillThunderbolt

Publisher: Joe Deluca

Editor:NickStubbs

TheMacDillThunderboltispublishedbythe TimesPublishingCompany,aprivatefirminnowayconnectedwith theU.S.AirForce.Thiscommercialenterprisenewspaper is an authorizedpublicationfordistributiontomembersof theU.S.military servicesonMacDill. ContentsoftheMacDill Thunderboltarenotnecessarilythe officialviewsof,orendorsedbythe U.S. government,the Department of Defense,

theDepartmentoftheAirForceorthe6thAirRefueling Wing.

Theappearanceofadvertisinginthispublication,includinginsertsorsupplements,doesnotconstituteendorsementbytheDepartmentofDefense,theDepartmentofthe AirForce,6thAir Refueling WingorthePublishingCompany of theproductsor service advertised.

Forretailadvertising,call(813)226-3318.

Everythingadvertisedinthispublicationshall be made availableforpurchase,use,orpatronagewithoutregardto race,color,religion,sex,nationalorigin,age,maritalstatus, physicalhandicap,politicalaffiliationoranyothernon-merit factorof thepurchaser,user, orpatron.

Website: www.macdill.af.mil

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

MacDillAirForceBase

Instagram: macdill_afb

Twitter: @macdill_afb

NewsitemsfortheMacDillThunderboltcanbesubmitted tothe6thAirRefueling WingPublicAffairsoffice,8208HangarLoopDr.,suite14,MacDillAFB,FL33621.CalltheThunderboltat828-2215.Email:6arw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@ us.af.mil.

Deadlineforarticlesubmissions is noon, Wednesdays toappear inthenextweek’spublication.Articlesreceived afterdeadline maybe consideredforfuture use. All submissionsareconsideredforpublicationbasedonnewsvalue andtimeliness.

Everyarticleandphotographis editedforaccuracy,clarity,brevity,conformancewiththe“Associated PressStylebook and LibelManual”andAirForce Instruction35-101.

MacDillontheweb

PhotobyCapt.DanielleHudson

Readyto compete, fight,win:AMC, PACAF, AFSOCcommanders addressAFA

AirMobilityCommandPublicAffairs

NATIONALHARBOR, Md.(AFNS)—Gen. MikeMinihan,commanderofAirMobilityCommand,participatedinapaneltitled,“Readyto Compete, Fight,and Winin theIndo-Pacific” withGen. Kenneth Wilsbach, PacificAir Forcescommander, andLt.Gen. TonyBauernfeind, commanderofAir ForceSpecialOperations Command, Sept.13attheAirandSpace Forces AssociationAir, SpaceandCyberConferencein NationalHarbor.

TheAFApanel wasmoderatedbyGen.(Ret.) Terrence“Shags”O’Shaughnessy, formercommanderofNorthAmericanAerospaceDefense CommandandtheUnitedStatesNorthern Command.

SinceMinihandelivered theMobilityManifestolastyear, thecommandaggressivelyattackedthetwoproblemstatementsheidentified:Thejointforceisnotreadytofightand wininsidethe FirstIslandChain,andthejoint forceisn’tasready, integratedoragileasthey thinktheyare.

“DuringMobilityGuardian,wereceived numerousinsightsintoourstrengthsandimprovementareas,” Minihansaid.“Weintentionally droveMG23toaplacewherealltheloose

SeeAFA,Page11

Gen.MikeMinihan,commanderofAirMobilityCommand,spokeonapaneltitled“Readyto Compete,FightandWinintheIndo-Pacific”duringtheAirandSpaceForcesAssociationAir, Spaceand CyberConference,inNational Harbor, Md.,Sept.13.Gen.Kenneth Wilsbach,Pacific Air Forces commander, andGen. TonyBauernfeind,commanderofAirForceSpecialOperations Command, alsoparticipated in thediscussion.

MacDillpreparestoprocess thousandsofIdaliavouchers

byAirman1stClassSterlingSutton

6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

OntheheelsofHurricaneIdalia,the6thComptrollerSquadronis encouragingservicememberstoparticipateinanewservicethatwill helpsavetimeandeffortinfilingevacuationvouchers.

Thisnewapplication wasdevelopedbyMacDill’sBoltCelltoexpeditevoucherprocessingtimesandhasbeen implementedby the6th CPTSfinancialmanagementsectiontodecrease waittimesforpayment disbursementsforpatrons.

Unlikelastyearwhenprocessingandpaymenttimescouldtakeup tosixmonths, disbursementswiththenewservicecanbepaidoutin a matterofdays.

“Afterlastyear’sproblematicprocessforfilingevacuationvouchers afterHurricaneIanwelearnedbetter ways to processvouchersin a

timelymanner”,saidKarenKreutzer, atravelpayprocessorfromEllsworth, AFB. “We’rehereagaintohelpprocesspaperworkandmake suredocumentshavethecorrectinformation, sotheydon’tgetsent backlikelastyearcontributingtolong wait times.”

Customerswhohaveusedthisnewevacuationvoucherfilingprocess havealreadyseendecreased waittimes, dueto6thCPTSfinancetechnicians being abletoprocessthevouchersmorequickly.

“Iamproudofmyteamandtheirhardwork,” said U.S. Air ForceCol. DouglasFletcher, 6thComptrollerSquadroncommander. “Theyhave dedicatedthemselvesoverthepastyeartorevamptheprocess, and theirinnovativespirithasresultedinamuchmoreefficientandaccuratesystem.”

For thecompletelistof stepstofilloutyourevacuation vouchervisit https://www.macdill.af.mil/Portals/26/Handout%20-%20Hurricane%20Evac%20Entitlements%20Allowances%20%28002%29.pdf

PhotobyRachelSansano

WEEKINPHOTOS

Participantsinthe14thannualHeltonHall5KrunalongBayshoreBoulevardatMacDillAirForceBaseSept.13.Theeventisheldinmemoryof1st Lt.JosephD.Helton, asecurityforcesofficer who waskilledin2009 duringadeploymenttoIraq.

Antennaandcabletechnicianswiththe6thCommunications Squadron installa“point-to-point”antenna atMacDillAirForce BaseSept.13. FollowingHurricaneIdalia,the6thCSspecialmissionsflightassembled andinstalledadirectcommunicationlinebetweentheinstallationand RaymondJamesStadium.Thesystem allowsforemergencycommunicationbetweentheHurricaneResponse Teamandmissionessential personnelonbase.

PhotobySeniorAirmanJessicaDo U.S.AirForceMasterSgt.JacobBanuelos,6thCivilEngineerSquadron, assistantchiefofhealthandsafety,participatesinacommemorative stairclimbatMacDillAirForce BaseSept.11.Thestairclimb washeld topaytributetothosewhomade theultimatesacrifice on9/11/2001.

PhotobySeniorAirmanLaurenCobin

PhotobyAirman1stClassZacharyFoster

NEWS/FEATURES

Micro-reactor pilot program reaches major milestone

bySecretaryoftheAirForcePublicAffairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS)—The DepartmentoftheAir Force, in partnershipwiththeDefenseLogisticsAgencyEnergy, reachedacriticalmilestoneAug. 31,inpilotingadvancednuclearenergytechnology withtheissuanceoftheNoticeofIntent to AwardacontracttoOklo Inc.

OkloInc. willsite, design, construct,ownandoperateamicro-reactor facilitylicensedbytheNuclearRegulatoryCommissionatEielsonAir ForceBase, Alaska.Thenoticeinitiatestheacquisition process to potentially awarda30-year, firm-fixed-pricecontracttothevendorafter successfullyobtaininganNRClicense.

“TheDepartmentoftheAir Forceannouncement todaydemonstrates howtheDepartmentofDefensecontinuestoinvestinfacilitating U.S.developedtechnologythatprovidesmissionassuranceandadvances ournationalinterestsinAlaskaandthehomeland,” saidBrendanOwens, assistantsecretaryofDefensefor Energy, Installations, andEnvironment.” We are watchingthisproject closelyandworkingwiththe othermilitarydepartmentstoidentifyadditionalinstallationswhere deploymentof U.S.-developedadvancednuclear technologywillimprove powerreliabilityandinstallationresilience.”

Micro-reactorsaresmallnuclearreactorsthatcanproducecarbonfreeenergyandareequippedwithbuilt-insafetyfeaturesthatselfadjust to changing conditionsanddemands topreventoverheating. The technology’s abilitytooperateindependentlyfromthecommercialgrid andreducegreenhousegasemissionsmakemicro-reactorsapromising powersource forcriticalnationalsecurityinfrastructure.

“TodayisahistoricfirstfortheAir Force, stateofAlaska, andthenation.Safe, reliable, cleanenergyusingmicro-reactortechnologywillbe anintegral part ofAir Forceinstallationsin thefuture. Thebestpart ofthis innovationisthatwearecomingtogetheratthebeginningto demonstratethis capability—partnering withkeyregulatoryauthorities, state, andlocalcommunitiestoensurewegetthisrightand do it safely,” saidDr Ravi Chaudhary, assistant secretaryofthe Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment. “It’s a huge team effort. By seizingtheinitiativeonthiscriticaltechnologytoday, wearelayingthe foundationfor Americancompetitivenessin energyfor yearstocome.”

Astheimpactsof changingenvironmentalconditionsbecomemore recognizable, theDepartmentunderstandstheimportancetosecure energy infrastructure, supply chainsandlogistics to ensuremissionresilienceandresource availability.

SeeMICRO,Page 13

walkedtotheaircrafttohugher. “Iamspeechlessasitmeanstheworld tomeforhertocomehomeandgivebacktohercommunity,” Sackey’s father, LarrySackeysaid

Sackey wantedtobeapilotsinceherfirstcommercialflightas a younggirlbutdidn’talwaysknowit waspossible. Shehadthesame thoughtsofbringingheraccomplishmentstoSt.Croix.

“Ialwaysthoughtthatit wasimpossible,” saidSackey. “Wheneverthe conversationcameuptodotwo[off-sitevisits]undertheAIMprogram, Ifiguredwhynotsuggestit. Forthefirsttime, Irealizedit waspossible.”

Morethan1,500 childrenalongwithformerteachers, friends, family, andsupportiveCrucianscameoutforovertwodaystoseetheKC-135, speakwithAir Force aviators, andmeettheirhometownhero, Capt Sackey.

“Ourhumblebeginningsareanasset,notadisadvantage,” saidSackey. “IfasmallgirlfromasmallislandinthemiddleoftheCaribbean SeacangoontoflybigplanesforthegreatestAir Forceintheworld, youcandoanything—ifyouhavethewilltodoso.

Theshowofsupport wasoverwhelmingasonelocalsaid,“Theentire islandcameout to supportCaptSackeyand the U.S. Air Force.”

Sackeymadesuretoappreciateeverypartofthetrip. “Thishasbeen themostmemorabletripinmyAir Forcecareer—thewholething was adream,” saidSackey “Whenwewereonfinalapproach,Isloweddown becauseIdidn’tknowifIwouldeverhavetheopportunitytodothis again.ThepeopleofSt.CroixralliedaroundthecrewandIina way I nevercouldhaveimagined.I can saythatIlandedontherunway where itallstarted.It wasonthatrunway IdecidedI wantedtobecome a pilot.Atthetime, Iwould’veneverimaginedI’dgettheopportunityto landback thereasnotjustapilot,butasa U.SAir Forcepilot!”

Sackey wasn’ttheonlyCrucianfromMacDillwhowentonthemission.KishimaGarcia,ChiefDiversityandInclusionOfficer, accompaniedtheaircrewtoherhometownofSt.Croix.

“Thismissionhasmademeproudforseveralreasonsinmyposition, itisimportantformetoshowtheimpactofdiversityandinclusionimpactsfornotonlyouryouthbutcommunity Iamalsofromthe Virgin Islands, and Ifeltasenseofpridebeingapartofbringing someone homewhoisastapleinourcommunityandcanhelpinspireotherCrucianstodowell,” saidGarcia.“IfeltproudbecauseCapt.Sackey was thefirstblackfemalepilotIhadmet,andshehappenedtobefrommy hometownofSt.Croix.”

Mr Sackeysaidthathisdaughtercomingbackshowedfellowislandersthattheskyisthelimitandyoucandoanythingyou wanttodoin life.

Sackey wasfloodedwithprideseeinghowhersmall-islanddreamof becomingapilothasnowbecomearealityofinspiringthenextgenerationof aviators. “Themostmeaningfulpartofthetrip wasseeingmy formerteachersbringtheircurrent classestothejet,” saidSackey. “It wasnostalgicbutalsoinspiring. I wasremindedofhowlastinganimpactyoucanhaveonapersonifyoujusttakethetimetoplantaseed. Sheishumbleinknowingit wasthehelpofthepeoplearoundherthat madeherdreamareality. “Myteachersplantedmanyseeds, someof whichhavegrownintodetermination,perseverance, discipline, and a hungerforknowledge. Theyarethe village thatmademewhoIam today, soseeingthemasfuturepilots, doctors, mechanics, teachers, lawyers, andcarpenters, wasfull circle.”

ThisAIMtrip wastoinspirethenextgenerationof aviatorsofthe VirginIslandsandwithout warning, thepeopleofSt.Croixinspiredthe crewfromthe6thAirRefueling Wing.

PhotobyCapt.DanielleHudson

U.S.AirForceCapt. OrchydiaSackey,50thAir Refueling SquadronKC-135Stratotankerpilot,sitswithherfather, LarrySackey,whileinherhometownofSt.Croix,U.S. VirginIslands,Sept.7.SackeyispartofAirForce RecruitingService’s Aviation InspirationMentorship(AIM)Highprogram whichprovidesstudents withexperiencedU.S. AirForceaviators andmentors.

FuelingMacDill’s future, onegallonatatime

byAirman1stClassSterlingSutton 6thAirRefuelingWingPublicAffairs

The Defense LogisticsAgencyandpersonnelassignedtoMacDillAir ForceBase, workhardtoprovide jet fuelforMacDill’saircraftandsurroundinglocationsnear Tampa.

DLAEnergy, aDLAmajorsubordinatecommand, managestheDefense Department’sfuelsupply chainforthefivemilitaryservices, 11combatant commands, federal,state, andlocalagenciespartners.

“DLAEnergyisDOD’ssingleintegratedmaterialmanagerforallpetroleumproducts,” saidRonnieBrock,DLAEnergyqualityassuranceand contractingofficer’srepresentative. “DLAownsthefuelinthetransport tankersandstoragetanks, andisresponsibleformanagingtheproduct. OnlyoncethefuelisputintotheaircraftdoesthepurchasebytheAir Forceoccur.”

DLAEnergyprovidespetroleumandenergyresourcesatmorethan 4,000locationsworldwide. TheDefenseFuelSupport Tampaareaofresponsibilityincludes MacDillAFB,Patri ck AFB, CapeCanaveral, JacksonvilleAirNationalGuardBase, CampBlanding JointTrainingReserve, andthe U.S. CoastGuardAirStation Clearwatertonameafew.

DefenseFuelSupport Point(DFSP) Tampa is, agovernment-owned andoperatedbySIEGEEnterprises. Allprod-uctsshippedfromtheDFSPmustbetestedforqualityassurancepriortodeliverytothecustomers.

“Once thepetroleumisreceivedbyvessel,SIEGEEnterprisesoversees thestorage, issue, accountabilityandqualityoftheproduct,” saidBrian SuttonSIEGEEnterprisesfueldistributionsystemoperator. “TheFDSO addsspecialadditivessuchasfuelsystemicinginhibitor(FSII),corrosion inhibitor (CI),andstaticdissipatoradditives (SDA).”

Onceadditized,thefuelistransferredbypipelinetoMacDill’soperating tanksneartheflightlineforusebytheinstallation. Theremainderofthe DFSPcustomersaresuppliedvia tanktruck.

“Thetankscanstoreapproximately6.2milliongallonsof JetAfueland containmentbermisconstructedaroundthetankstoensurethatincase ofanemergencywhereatankiscompromised,anyspillcanbecontained andmaintained,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt.SpencerBrown,DLAqualityassurancerepresentative.”

BrownandBrockareresponsibleforoverseeingthequalityandtechnicalpolicies, procedures, guidance, and informationsystemsthatarerelatedtotheacquisition, storage, and distribution ofDLAEnergy-managed fuelproductswithin theNorth and CentralFloridaAreaofResponsibility.

MacDill’sjetfuelstoragepersonnelcollaboratewithDLAtocoordinate fuelprocessing, invoicing, andtesting, toensurecompliancewithfuelqualityandstandards. Theyplayacrucialroleinsupportingthe6thAirRefueling Wing’smissiontoaccelerateglobalairpowerandoperatepremier installationsupport.

RonnieBrock,QualityAssuranceandContractingofficer’sRepresentative,posesnearequipmentattheDefenseDuels SupportPointatMacDillAirForceBaseAug.22.Theequipmentshownisusedto usedtofuel MacDill’sKC-135Stratotankeraircraft.

PhotobyAirman1stClass

RonnieBrock,QualityAssuranceandContractingofficer’sRepresentative,posesnearequipmentattheDefenseDuels SupportPointatMacDillAirForceBaseAug.22.Theequipmentshownisusedto removewatertomakeJetAfuelwhichis

(Farleft)U.S.Air Force Tech.Sgt.Spencer BrownDefenseLogisticsAgencyQualityAssuranceRepresentativeposesatthetopof a fuelstoragetankatDFSP Tampalocatedon MacDillAirForceBase,Florida,Aug.22.The tankscanstoreapproximately6.2milliongallonsofJetAfuel,whichisusedtofuelMacDill’sKC-135Stratotankeraircraft.

(Right)BillCampbell,SIEGEEnterprisesfuel distributionsystemoperator,collectsasampleofjetfueltouseinaconductivitycheckat MacDillAirForceBase,Aug.22.Theconductivitytestisusedtomeasureelectronsand checktheconductivityofjetfuel.

SterlingSutton

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sterling Sutton

BillCampbell,SIEGEEnterprises fuel distribution system operator, poursasample ofjetfuelintoagraduatedcylinder,atMacDillAirForceBase,Aug.22.The sampleofjetfuelisusedtoconductteststoensureitmeetsmilitaryspecifications.

PhotobyAirman1stClassSterlingSutton

ends were not cleanedup. We strainedourselves, nottrainedourselves.”

Minihansaidthatitbecameevidentearlyinthe exercisethatthere werethreebins of concerns. Hedetailedtheneedtosolidifycommandrelationshipstoenablemissionexecution,investincommand-and-control connectivityandprocedurestomanagemissionexecution,andcodifythe fundamentalsacrossthecommandtoensureitcan“explodeintotheater”to meetcombatant commanders’requirements.

WhileMinihanisproudofthesignificantstridesthecommandhas madewithinayear—betweentheretrogradeinAfghanistan,theevacuationofKabul,supporttoUkraine, theearthquakesinTurkeyand Syria,andplanningandexecutingexerciseMobilityGuardian2023—he emphasizedtherearemoreimprovementsahead.

“I’llneveradmittobeingreadyenough, integratedenough,andagile enough…Wehaveanincredibleamountofworktodohere,” hesaid.

Lookingtothefuture, Minihansaidthereisaneedforbetterconnectivitywithinthemobilityfleet,becauseconnectivitydrivesjointforce lethality. InvestinginC2connectivitywillensuremissionexecutionand createexpeditedmovementintotheater.

Whenasked whatthecommandwould needinorderto implement these changes, Minihannotedthatresourcesgotothetrustedandprepared,andAMCaimsto be both.

HeoutlinedhisgoaltoincreaseconnectivityamongtheMobilityfleet from3%to25%byfiscalyear2025.

“Thiswouldbeasignificantadvancementandmakeanenormousimpactonthebattlefieldinstantly,” hesaid

DespitethegapsidentifiedduringMG23,Minihanassertedthatforcesaremoreintegratedafter Mobility Guardian.

“Icanconfidentlysaywearereadytofightandwininsidethe First IslandChain,andthe Jointforceismoreready, moreintegratedand moreagilethanit wasayearago,” Minihansaid.“Ifthisgoesdownin the Pacifictheatre, AMCwill be themostrelied-uponforceinthehistory of warfare.”

Each commanderstatedtheywillcontinuetoleveragetheirunique capabilitiessotheirAirmenandjointpartnersarepreparedtoexecute Agile CombatEmploymentintheIndo-Pacific.

Gen.MikeMinihan,commanderofAirMobilityCommand,spokeon a paneltitled“ReadytoCompete,FightandWinintheIndo-Pacific”during theAirandSpaceForcesAssociation,Air,SpaceandCyber Conference, inNationalHarbor,Md.,Sept.13.Gen.KennethWilsbach,Commander, PacificAirForcesandGen. TonyBauernfeind,Commander,AirForce SpecialOperations Command,alsoparticipatedinthediscussion.

PhotobyRachelSansano

“OurpartnershipswithOkloInc.,NuclearRegulatory Commission, DepartmentofEnergy, Alaskastakeholders andTribal Nationsare imperative toasuccessfulpilot andfutureimplementationscalabilityofthistransformationaltechnology,” saidNancyBalkus, deputyassistant secretary of theAir ForceforEnvironment,Safetyand Infrastructure.

Themicro-reactorisexpectedtobeoperationalbythe endof2027,asdirectedbythefiscalyear2019National DefenseauthorizationAct.

“Eielson(AFB)iseagertowelcomethiscutting-edge technologyontothebase. TheNOITAtoOkloInc. reinforcesourcommitmenttoinnovationinordertoprotect anddefendthenationwithevengreaterefficiencyand effectiveness,” saidCol. Paul P. Townsend,354th Fighter Wingcommander at EielsonAFB.

Formoreinformationonthemicro-reactorpilotproject,pleasevisit theirwebsite.

Expanded hours at Boomers

Come explore the Bounce Back menu at Boomers WednesdayFriday from 3p.m. – 8p.m. Boomer’s is located inside the Breakaway Event Center with a full bar, multiple screen’s, music, and pool tables. Enjoy complimentary snacks and drink specials every day. Visit macdillfss.com/boomers/ for more details.

Gold Star Mothers & Family Day

Join the Military & Family Read-iness Center on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1p.m. at the Breakaway Center, for Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day honoring the mothers, fathers, and families of fallen military service members. There will be light refreshments and a guest speaker. Contact Military & Family Readiness for more information, 828-0145.

101DaysofSummerPhotoContest

Capture the beauty of summer and showcase your photography skills in the 2023 Air Force 101 days of summer photography contest! Whether you are a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this contest is open to all enthusiasts. Submit your best summerthemed photos for a chance to win amazing prizes now through 15 November. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to share your vision of summer with the world! For more information, visit forcesupport. awardsplatform.com.

Find more events at: macdillfss.com

TheChamp!

U.S. AirForceCol.EdwardSzczepanik,6thAirRefuelingWingdeputycommander,left,andChief MasterSgt.CatrellWilson,6thOperationsGroupseniorenlistedleader,right, pose withSeniorAirmanZacharyBurns, 6thAircraftMaintenanceSquadroncrewchief,during aChampofthe Week recognitionatMacDillAirForceBaseSept.12.Burnswas recognizedforhiscolorguardperformanceat AmalieArenaduring aprimetimeeventattended by 20,000spectators.Burnsalsoledthe socialpillar foranAirmenforLife event,coordinatingwith theMilitaryandFamilyLifeCouncilliaisonto educate 219 Airmen.

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,pleasecontact elimelach.estrin@us.af.mil

IslamicService - Friday1:30p.m. (space reserved)

OtherFaithGroups- PleasecontacttheChapelat (813) 828-3621or viaemailat 6ARW.HCADMIN@us.af.mil

Formore detailsandinformation,visit theChapelFacebookpageat http://www.facebook/6amwhc/or MacDill’sChapelwebsiteis:https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel

PhotobyAirman1stClass ZacharyFoster