Vol. 48, No. 11 Thursday, March 12, 2020 Boomer training - page 8 News/Features: page 2 AirFest salutes community News/Features: page 3 Black Hisory Month Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week News/Features: page 6 Skillbridge to the future Photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan C. Grossklag U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Simpson, the 18th Air Force command chief, views Airman 1st Class Malachi Gre- Community: page 15 man, a 50th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, refueling a KC-46 Pegasus aircraft from McConnell Air Force Base, Events, Chapel, more... Kan, aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, Jan. 30. The flight was the first two-and-two formation of KC-46 and KC-135 aircraft. NEWS/FEATURES MacDill to salute community with Tampa Bay AirFest by Airman 1st Class Shannon Bowman 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs The countdown is on! Team MacDill is pre- pared and Tampa Bay AirFest is back! For more than 80 years, the Tampa Bay com- munity has extended unwavering support to MacDill Air Force Base. In recognition of the support from the local community,Team Mac- Dill will once again open its installation gates, fill its flight line with some of the world’s most incredible aircraft and host a weekend of amaz- ing aerial performances for the public. “Team MacDill is fortunate to receive such outstanding support from the Tampa Bay com- munity,” said Col. Steve Snelson, the 6th Air Re- fueling Wing commander.“AirFest is a simple way for us to show our appreciation to the com- munity who helps us to accomplish our global mission.” Tampa Bay AirFest 2020 is scheduled to occur on March 28-29, at MacDill AFB, and MacDill is looking to continue its reign as the best military air show site. “We want this to be the best AirFest yet,” said Maj. Justin Kellett, the Tampa Bay AirFest director.“We won the best military air show in 2018, and we’re looking to make this year’s event even better.” Photo by Airman 1st Class Shannon Bowman Headlining this year’s event is the U.S. Navy U.S. Air Force Maj. Justin Kellett, the Tampa Bay AirFest 2020 director, conducts an interview Flight Demonstration Squadron, better known with media Feb. 27 on the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base. Representatives from the Tampa as the Blue Angels.AirFest will also feature Bay area flew on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, during an air refueling training exercise, to pro- See AIRFEST, Page 14 mote AirFest 2020 and inform the community about the mission at the 6th Air Refueling Wing. For information about base operations during emergencies or natural disasters, call the Straight Talk Line at 828-4163 COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE MacDill on the web Website: www.macdill.af.mil The Action Line provides two-way communication between the Facebook: www.facebook.com/ 6th Air Refueling Wing commander and the MacDill community.Per- sonnel may submit questions, concerns or comments via email to MacDillAirForceBase [email protected] or Facebook @6thARWCommandTeam Instagram: macdill_afb Twitter: @macdill_afb MacDill Thunderbolt U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. of the Air Force or the 6th Air Refueling Wing. News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted Publisher: Joe DeLuca The appearance of advertising in this publication, including to the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Call the Thunderbolt Editor: Nick Stubbs the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, at 828-2215. Email: [email protected]. 6th Air Refueling Wing or the TImes Publishing Company of the Deadline for article submissions is noon, Wednesdays to The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by the Times Publish- products or service advertised. appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after ing Company, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. For retail advertising, call (813) 226-3318. deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions are Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an autho- Everything advertised in this publication shall be made considered for publication based on news value and timeliness. rized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. mili- available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clar- tary services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, ity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101. 2 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, March 12, 2020 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT NEWS/FEATURES Black History Month; honoring the past, securing the future story and photos by Senior Airman Ashley Perdue 6th ARW Public Affairs Every year during the month of February, Black History Month is celebrat- ed with a different theme. This year’s theme was “Honoring the past, secur- ing the future,” as a com- memoration of the 75th an- niversary of WWII. African Americans played a tremendous role A participant of the Black History Month observation lun- Yvette Lewis, the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP during the war years and cheon laughs during a speech at MacDill Air Force Base President, waves after being introduced as a distinguished helped win the freedom Feb. 27. Every year during the month of February, Black guest for the Black History Month observance luncheon at each American enjoys to- History Month is celebrated with a different theme. This MacDill Air Force Base Feb. 27. African Americans played day, despite the struggles year’s theme is ‘Honoring the past, securing the future,’ a tremendous role during WWII and helped win the free- they faced with their own as a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of WWII dom each American enjoys today despite the struggles freedom and equality. and the role black service members played in it. they faced with their own freedom and equality. JB San Antonio-Lackland training annex dedicated to fallen Medal of Honor recipient by 1st Lt. Jasmine Manning Special Warfare Training Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO,Texas (AFNS)—With family, friends and fellow Airmen in attendance, the Chapman Training Annex was offi- cially renamed during a ceremony March 4. Previously known as the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Training An- nex, it was renamed in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. John A. Chapman, an Air Force combat controller who gave his life fighting in Afghanistan in 2002. “Today we honor the tremendous courage, the selflessness and the pa- triotism of Master Sgt. John Chapman,” said Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Photo by Sarayuth Pinthong Gen. Stephen W. Wilson, who was the keynote speaker during the ceremo- Valerie Nessel, spouse of Master Sgt. John A. Chapman, speaks to at- ny.“Chapman was a great warrior, a steadfast friend, a selfless patriot and, tendees during a renaming ceremony at Joint Base San-Antonio, Texas, above all, a man of unquestionable character. For John, it was always about March 4. The former JB San Antonio-Annex, home of special warfare those on his left and those on his right – it was about others.” training, was renamed the JB San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex in While conducting reconnaissance operations in Takur Ghar,Afghani- honor of the service, heroism and ultimate sacrifice of Master Sgt. John stan, on March 4, 2002, Chapman’s helicopter was attacked by enemy A. Chapman. Chapman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor fighters with heavy machine-guns.The attack caused a team member to for his action in Takur Ghar, Afghanistan. fall from the aircraft. After egressing the area in the damaged helicopter, Chapman and his team volunteered to return in a second helicopter in an effort to save their teammate. Once on the ground, Chapman stormed an “While there are a number of extremely high awards presented in the enemy bunker, cleared the position and moved from cover to engage an- aftermath of this battle, the story of John Chapman’s gallantry simply other enemy machine gun emplacement. stands above them all,” said Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Educa- During this second assault, Chapman was struck and injured by enemy tion and Training Command. “If we ever needed an example of Air Force fire. Despite severe, mortal wounds, he continued to fight against multiple core values in action, John Chapman is it.” enemy personnel until his death. See MEDAL OF HONOR, Page 12 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, March 12, 2020 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 3 WEEK IN PHOTOS Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Branson Airmen assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group construct flooring at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 25. The on-site crew is replacing struc- tures damaged by a recent ballistic missile attack. Photo by Capt. Kip Sumner Photo by Airman 1st Class Quion Lowe Capt. Kristin Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot and Airman 1st Class Nathan Brooks, 849th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, prepares for takeoff prior to a practice flight at Hill Air Force assistant dedicated crew chief, helps with a phase inspection on an F-16 Base, Utah, Feb. 6. The demonstration team, assigned to the 388th Fight- Fighting Falcon at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Feb. 18. The 849th er Wing, is now part of Air Combat Command.