Vol. 47, No. 37 Thursday, September 12, 2019

News/Features: page 2 TRICARE open season

News/Features: page 3 Mobility Guardian begins

News/Features: page 3 Mobility Guardian partners

Photo by Tech. Sgt Michael Battles The 6th Air Mobility and inducted 36 Honorary Commanders at MacDill Air Force Base Week in photos: page 4 Sept. 6. The honorary commander program is used to educate civic leaders about the mission at MacDill and create part- Images from the week nerships with the community.

Team MacDill supporting largest exercise: Mobility Guardian - page 3 Community: page 15 Events, Chapel, more...

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 1 COMMENTARY TRICARE open season begins Nov. 11

by Capt. David Ellison 6th Medical Support

If you would like to make changes to your or a family member’s TRI- CARE health plan for 2020, your opportunity is fast approaching with this fall’s TRICARE Open Season. Open season is an annual month-long period when you can enroll in or change your health care coverage plan for the next year. It occurs every year from the Monday of the second full week in November to the Monday of the second full week in December.Any enrollment choices you make dur- ing this time will take effect Jan. 1. This year,TRICARE open season takes place Nov. 11 to Dec. 9. During TRICARE Open Season, you can enroll in or change your TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select health plan. If you remain eligible for TRICARE cover- age and make no changes during open season, then you will keep the same plan for 2020. In addition, you may also change your type of enrollment during this time, such as switching from individual to family coverage. If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, there is one other way you and your family can change your health plan outside of Open Mail: You can also mail your completed East Region enrollment form Season. This occurs if you or a family member experience a Qualifying Life available onwww.tricare.mil/FormsClaims/Forms/Enrollment to: Event. A QLE is a change in your life, such as marriage, birth of a child, Humana Military or retirement from active duty, which could mean that different TRICARE Attn: PNC Bank health plans are available to you. A QLE opens a 90-day period for you to PO Box 105838 make enrollment changes, and a QLE for one family member means that Atlanta, GA 30348-5838 all family members can make enrollment changes. Depending on your eligi- TRICARE Open Season does not apply to the following premium based bility, a QLE might enable you and your family to enroll in a new TRICARE plans, which offer continuous open enrollment throughout the year: health plan; or, change your health plan coverage. For more information, u TRICARE Retired Reserve visit www.tricare.mil/lifeevents. u TRICARE Reserve Select During TRICARE Open Season or in the 90 days following a QLE, you u TRICARE Young Adult have three methods to make an enrollment decision: Continued Health Care Benefit Program Online: Go to the milConnect website and click on the “Benefits” tab, Furthermore,TRICARE Open Season does not apply to TRICARE for and then click on “Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE)”. Life, since that coverage does not require enrollment. Phone: Call Humana Military, the TRICARE East Region contractor, at You can sign up for email alerts about Open Season and stay-up-date by 1-800-444-5445. visitingwww.tricare.mil/openseason.

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 Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. Per- sonnel may submit questions, concerns or comments via email to MacDillAirForceBase [email protected] or Facebook @6thAirMobilityWing- Instagram: macdill_afb CommandTeam 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 Mobility 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 Mobility 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 Mobility 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, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT NEWS/FEATURES AMC’s largest exercise, Mobility Guardian 2019 begins Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS)— Mobility Guardian 2019, Air Mobility Com- mand’s premier exercise, will be hosted by the 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings located at , Spokane,, from Sept. 8-28. Mobility Guardian 2019 is set to be AMC’s largest full-spectrum readiness exercise to date. Forty-six U.S. aircraft will join aircraft from 29 international partners, along with more than 4,000 U.S. and international Air Force,Army, Na- vy and Marine Corps aviators. A range of airframes, including the KC-10 Ex- tender, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-5 Super Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III and C-130H/J Hercules, will take part in the training.To accommodate the array of large aircraft, exercise grounds will span beyond Fairchild Air Force Base to Selah Creek within the Yakima Training Center,Wash- ington; the Mountain Home Range Complex, Ida- ho; Moses Lake Grant County Airport and sev- eral other training areas in the region. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb “Unmatched rapid global mobility exists be- cause of the ready and resilient Airmen who Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Carr, a crew chief with the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., checks the engine of a C-17 Globemaster III during Exercise Mobility See MOBILITY GUARDIAN, Page 12 Guardian at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Aug. 6, 2017. U.S. Airmen, international partners build capabilities with Mobility Guardian by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.—Team Travis Airmen are set to participate in Mobil- ity Guardian, Air Mobility Command’s premier, large-scale mobility exercise, which will be host- ed at Fairchild Air Force Base,Washington, Sept. 8 – 28. While dozens of Travis Airmen will travel to Fairchild AFB to support the exercise,Travis AFB will also serve as an intermediate staging base throughout the exercise providing a wide range of support from the largest air mobility hub in the Air Force. More than 4,000 service members from 30 na- Photo by Airman 1st Class Erin McClellan tions are slated to take part in the biennial train- A Soldier assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, loads onto a C-130 ing event, which will feature contested, degraded Hercules prior to a joint forcible entry exercise at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Aug. 2, 2017. More than 3,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and international partners converged on See INTERNATIONAL, Page 14 the state of Washington in support of Mobility Guardian. The exercise returns to Washington Sept. 8.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 3 WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Castelan A B-2 Spirit refuels from a 351st Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during the Bomber Task Force training exercise over the United Kingdom, Aug. 29. Training with partners, allied nations and other U.S. Air Force units contributes to global readiness and strengthens enduring and strategic relationships throughout the theater.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan C. Grossklag (Left to right) U.S. Air Force Col. Stephen Snelson, 6th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) commander; Staff Sgt. Alejandra Laguna, 6th Force Support Squadroncustomer support supervisor; Tech. Sgt. David Humphreys, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft propulsion journeyman; and Photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan C. Grossklag Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Green, 6th AMW command chief, pause for U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the Joint Communications Support El- a photo at MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 4. Snelson and Green visited to ement (JCSE) ruck march during the 2019 JCSE Mustang Challenge at say thanks to Airmen for their efforts in Hurricane Dorian preparations, MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 6. The Mustang Challenge consisted of four capping their visit off by presenting Humphreys with a Stripes for Excep- teams competing against each other in timed ruck marches, Tactical tional Performers program promotion from staff sergeant to technical Combat Casualty Care procedures, weapon qualification, a communica- sergeant. tions system set-up and a physical training challenge.

4 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT 927th ARW Key Spouses visit Members of the Key Spouse Program at the 927th Air Refueling Wing toured MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 8. The Key Spouse Program is an official Air Force Unit Family Readiness Program designed to enhance readiness, per- sonal/family resiliency and establish a sense of Air Force community. Key Spouses are commander-appointed and serve as a vital resource to command teams in an effort to support Air Force families. The strategic vision is to in- crease resiliency and unit cohesion amongst military members and their families throughout the military life cycle.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 5 NEWS/FEATURES Fairchild tankers refuel Marine aircraft

by Airman Kiaundra Miller

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Washington—A KC-135 Strato- tanker and Airmen from the 384th Air Refueling Squadron performed aerial refueling with two F/A-18C Hornets from the Marine Aircraft 31 while flying over Georgia, Aug. 27. The refueling showcased the importance of partnerships, as the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps further trained their capability to work as a team. “(Air refueling) allows us to leverage each other’s capabilities to get us to the fight and to stay in the fight,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Hamtak, Marine Fight Attack Squadron 251 assistant operations . Joint partnerships are especially important to the military because they allow each branch to lean on one another for support in accomplish- Photo by Airman Kiaundra Miller ing the mission. “Joint partnerships are what makes mission accomplishments possi- U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Patrick Forbes, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance ble,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jonathon O’Neill, 384th ARS aircraft com- Squadron flying crew chief, prepares a KC-135 Stratotanker from Fair- mander.“No one service can act on [their] own.” child Air Force Base, Washington, for aerial refueling at MacDill Air Sister services’ experiences are developed through joint air refuel- Force Base, Aug. 27. Flying crew chiefs, such as Forbes, are respon- ing such as this.Those experiences in turn allow them to efficiently and sible for keeping the KC-135 flight ready while abroad. quickly perform air refueling in the future with more time to focus on their mission. said. “I know air refueling is needed globally, and to be able to reach that “The Air Force has pretty valuable and important resources, especially benefit locally in order to go global is pretty awesome.” in regards to air refueling,” Hamtak said. “I mean you have KC-135s and The air refueling taking place between the Air Force and Marines KC-10s; you have the ability to (refuel) at higher altitudes and faster showed the versatility of the KC-135. speeds.” “We provide the air refueling component to train Marine aviators to be Air refueling is an essential tool in war operations; with the fuel that competent and qualified in air refueling procedures,” O’Neill said. “It also KC-135s bring, all sister services are prepared to respond to an incident gives us an opportunity to go to a different field, [allowing] us to gain a at any time in any location. Joint partnerships between Airmen and Ma- different level of proficiency and familiarity with going to different [loca- rines allows each branch to train in a joint environment and adapt to the tions] across the country.” different ways each branch performs. Fairchild is home to the largest fleet of tanker aircraft in the world and “To be able to reach out jointly and fairly quickly, having the ability to provides warfighting aircraft with crucial mission support. Fairchild also coordinate with each other and get each other to the same place, at the provides each branch of the military with support to reach all corners of same time and location, across the country is pretty awesome,” Hamtak the globe and efficiently fight their mission.

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

6 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT NEWS Hurricane Dorian relief donation information

Thunderbolt staff report

The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organiza- tions that are conducting relief operations. A list of humani- tarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for disaster responses around the world can be found at www. interaction.org. USAID encourages cash donations because they allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resourc- es (such as transportation routes, staff time, and warehouse space); can be transferred very quickly and without trans- portation costs; support the economy of the disaster-strick- en region; and ensure culturally, environmentally and diet appropriate assistance. More information can be found at: USAID Center for In- ternational Disaster Information: www.cidi.org/hurricane- dorian/ or +1.202.661.7710. Information on relief activities of the humanitarian com- munity can be found at www.reliefweb.int.

Settlement of estate notice If anyone has any claims for or against the estate of Senior Master Sergeant Jackson, contact 2nd Lt. Chi- ellini, the summary courts officer, at 827-9440, or by email at [email protected].

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 7 Team MacDill steps up for Hurricane Dorian relief 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

The 6th MDSS wastasked by Air Mobility command’s chief of readiness to prepare equipment for use in hurricane relief.The 6th Medical Support Squadron enables combat capability of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, U.S. Central Com- mand, U.S. Special Operations Command, and 36 partner units, delivering medical logistics, lab, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging and patient administrative services.

Photos by Senior Airman Frank Rohrig

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ursus Vargas, a 6th Medical Support Squadron (MDSS) medical material section chief, places cargo onto a Humvee at MacDill Air For bat capability of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and 36 partner units, delivering medical logistics, lab, pharmacy

8 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dustin Johnson, a 6th Medical Support Squadron (MDSS) biomedical equipment technician, secures the cover of a Humvee at MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 4. Air Mobility Command’s Chief of Readiness asked the 6th Medical Sup- port Squadron (MDSS) to prepare equipment for use in hurricane relief.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ursus Vargas, a 6th Medical Sup- port Squadron medical material section chief, uses a ratch- et strap to secure cargo at MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 4. Cargo included blankets, tents, power generators and assorted health devices.

go onto a Humvee at MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 4. The 6th Medical Support Squadron enables com- Chris Sadler, a government contractor, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ursus Vargas, a 6th ering medical logistics, lab, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging and patient administrative services. Medical Support Squadron (MDSS) medical material section chief, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dustin Johnson, a 6th MDSS biomedical equipment technician, read a Hum- vee pack-out guide at MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 4. Pack-out guides provide the most efficient packing schemes to maximize space and resources.

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 9 10 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Photo by Tech. Sgt. Patrick Evenson U.S. Air Force Maj. Ed Fattman, a pilot assigned to the 180th Airlift Squadron, Missouri , flies a C-130 Hercules aircraft for the first time in military status in St. Joseph, Missouri, Sept. 4, 2019, after an accident seven years ago left him with sight in only one eye. Fatt- man is the Air Force’s first pilot with vision in only one eye.

ROSECRANS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mo.—U.S. Air Force Maj. Ed Fattmann, a pilot assigned to the 180th Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, took his first flight as an aircraft commander with one eye here Sept. 4. Fattmann, a resident of Platte City who became a pilot with the 139th Airlift Wing in 2009, lost vision in his right eye on July 4, 2012 when a firework misfired and hit his right eye. He was placed in ‘duty not including flying,’ or DNIF status. During the next five years, he had 32 procedures re- lated to his eye, but ultimately he still had no vision in his right eye. Although he could no longer fly as an Airman with the Air Force, he could fly as a civilian contractor.According to the Federal Aviation Administration, all he would need is a medical certificate from an FAA approved flight doctor and a check ride. He soon conducted a check ride with an FAA pilot to confirm he could perform the necessary tasks of flying: navigation, communication, flying the aircraft, pointing out traffic and landmarks, all the things a two-eyed pilot can do. For the next few years, he flew various aircraft with ci- vilian companies with government contracts. One of those aircraft was the MC-12W with the Oklahoma Air National Guard. He was flying Air Force owned aircraft, but as a contractor. In December 2018, the Air Force granted a waiver for Fattmann to fly again as an Airman with the 139th. He attended aircraft commander upgrade training at Little Rock Air Force Base,Arkansas, and became requali- fied to fly the C-130H Hercules aircraft. He finished the three month long training in August. Fattmann took his first flight with his home unit here this week. “It took seven years to get back to military flying,” said Fattmann. “It’s something I didn’t know I would ever get to do again.”

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 11 MOBILITY GUARDIAN From Page 3 execute the mission day in and day out,” said Gen. Maryanne Miller,AMC Aeromedical evacuation of simulated patients will be a prime test of that commander.“Training exercises such as Mobility Guardian are critical to interoperability. ensuring our Airmen are able to keep AMC’s promise to always be there for “At Mobility Guardian, we intend to challenge our aeromedical evac- those who depend on us, both today and tomorrow.” uation force to initiate a Theater Aeromedical Evacuation System and The exercise will emulate the contested, degraded and operationally- transmit the casualty flow in a near-peer type environment,” said Lt. Col. limited environments mobility forces face now and in preparation for the Caroline Mendoza, lead aeromedical evacuation planner.“They will be chal- future. Scenarios were designed to elicit a real-world feel while focusing on lenged with massive casualty flow and complex clinical situations where all four AMC core competencies: the diverse missions of airlift, air refuel- we will be dependent on our total-force and interoperable partners to meet ing, aeromedical evacuation and global air mobility support. Airmen will be the patient demand signal.” challenged to improve their skills in forcible entry, airfield seizure, strate- The exercise will also test more than a year of deliberate logistics plan- gic deterrence and humanitarian relief operations. ning for the reception, staging, onward movement and integration of a joint “The future of warfare will be increasingly joint,” said Lt. Col. Joseph force deploying from across the globe. Monaco, Mobility Guardian exercise director.“This exercise is an unparal- “The logistical requirements to support AMC’s largest and longest ex- leled opportunity to develop joint-minded Airmen who can integrate seam- ercise to date has been a monumental challenge in and of itself,” said Maj. lessly with Soldiers, Sailors and Marines to compete and, if necessary, win Jason Krazer, lead logistician. “Over 300 logistics planners from across the amidst great power adversaries.” AMC Staff and other major commands, Fairchild AFB, 81 total force wings Mobility Guardian is about strengthening partnerships and improving and joint partners have spent countless hours ensuring the flow of forces together as an integrated team. Interoperability between U.S. forces and and equipment to and from the exercise locations will meet the demands international partners will be developed throughout the exercise by test- for high-end full spectrum readiness training.” ing forces against threats faced in the current fight and future, higher-end Mobility Guardian is set to take place every two years.The first exercise was conflicts. held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, in July and August of 2017.

12 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 13 INTERNATIONAL From Page 3 and operationally-limited environments that mo- bility forces have to overcome.Avariety of train- ing scenarios will be presented including open- ing an air base, joint forcible entry, aeromedical evacuation and support for humanitarian relief and global strike operations. “Unmatched rapid global mobility exists be- cause of the ready and resilient Airmen who ex- ecute the mission day in and day out,” said Gen. Maryanne Miller, AMC commander. “Training exercises such as Mobility Guardian are critical to ensuring our Airmen are able to keep AMC’s promise to always be there for those who depend on us, today and tomorrow.” Ensuring that capability is a major focus ar- ea for Staff Sgt. Brandon Hansen, 21st Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster, who will be participating in the exercise. “As loadmasters, we are responsible for the safe loading of cargo and ensuring that cargo is properly weighed and balanced,” Hansen said. “We could be transporting supplies in support of humanitarian assistance, airlifting patients to the next level of medical care or transport- ing people anywhere in the world. We need to be ready and Mobility Guardian offers a great op- Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Hicks portunity to hone those skills.” U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Cole Seelen, left, and Airman 1st Class Holly Cooper, both 921st Hansen has deployed twice in support of con- Contingency Response Squadron members, strap down a Humvee during Exercise Mobility tingency operations and he’s supported numer- Guardian at Moses Lake, Washington, Aug. 5, 2017. ous missions that have taken him to more than 50 countries and six continents. Along the way, he’s had the opportunity to our international partners enables us to share we ensure we continue to advance our skills so work alongside some of America’s international lessons learned on the exercise, as well as lessons we always provide the best RGM possible.” partners, something he said he really enjoys. learned from our collective historical experience During a deployment to Kandahar,Afghani- “The more we work together, the more we un- from each of our home locations.” stan, Hansen shared a moment when being derstand one another and that is vital to ensuring Sharing those lessons and growing from those trained and ready to respond to nearly anything we are on the same page when it comes to sup- experiences is one of the greatest benefits to bring- served him well. porting the mission,” Hansen said. “I’ve worked ing nations together to train, said Capt. Brian Wal- “We had to quickly offload six pallets of sup- with the Royal Australian air force in the past ford, 9th Air Refueling Squadron training flight plies and configure a C-17 to serve as an aero- and I heard they’ll be at Mobility Guardian. I’m commander and a KC-10 Extender instructor pilot. medical transport because a Solider was in criti- looking forward to connecting with them, learn- “It’s important we do all we can to enhance full cal condition after a grenade exploded,” he said. ing more about their culture and helping build a spectrum readiness with our international part- “We had the C-17 offloaded, re-configured and stronger bond. That bond creates a layer of trust ners so, when we are needed, we can execute rap- the patient in the aircraft with the aeromedical and people tend to be more willing to help and id global mobility at a moment’s notice,” he said. team and all their supplies in less than an hour.” care more about whatever needs to be done when Walford has more than 2,000 flying hours in One of the goals of Mobility Guardian is to that bond is established.” the KC-10 and has supported hundreds of mis- strengthen international partnerships and improve Fostering strong bonds that lead to increased sions all over the world. He shared one moment operational capabilities that lead to future success. mission capability is one of the reasons the RAAF during a mission where rapid global mobility was “Everything we do now is in the joint envi- will participate in Mobility Guardian, according to on display. ronment and there isn’t a theater we operate in Wing Commander Sarah Stalker, 33rd Squadron “During one deployment to the U.S. Central without our international partners,” said Capt. commander for RAAF Base Amberley,Australia. Command area of responsibility, we were notified Chet Miller, a 21st AS operations controller, who Mobility Guardian offers an excellent opportu- of a Royal Air Force jet that was in urgent need will also serve as a C-17 aircraft commander dur- nity to share and learn from each other in a high of fuel,”Walford said. “We responded immediate- ing the exercise.“That’s why it’s so critical we end air mobility focused exercise, Stalker said. ly and provided that jet with the fuel it needed train together. By doing so, we have assurances “(With Mobility Guardian), Australia gets to ensuring it could complete the mission. Without that our training and their training gives all of partake in a large-scale exercise with countries that capability, they wouldn’t have been able to us the skills and knowledge needed to sustain who rarely visit Australia and enhance our inter- be successful, and with Mobility Guardian, we operations whenever and wherever those opera- national partnerships,” she said. “Working with are focused on training together in a way where tions will take place.

14 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT COMMUNITY EVENTS Friday MacDill Lanes & Family Fun Center Club Member Appreciation from 6-8 p.m. Door prize drawings. All club members and their fam- ily members bowl free with cosmic lighting and sound. Call 828-4005.

Sunday Bay Palms Golf Complex Club Member Appreciation – free golf and cart to AF Club card members. Call 840-6904 to reserve your tee time today. Must show valid club card when checking in at the pro shop.

Tuesday-Friday Base Pool Open 6-8 a.m. and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for adult fitness swim

Wednesday Rickenbacker’s Air Force 72nd Birthday Spe- cials. Club Membership promotion: receive a complimentary tall house blend coffee from 8-10 a.m. A com- Honoring the heritage of the fighting 6th bo meal is available from 10 a.m. -2 by 6th Air Mobility Wing Historian’s Office, 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs p.m. for $7.20. Choice of beefeaters sandwich, ham & cheese sandwich, Part IV grilled chicken caesar, chef salad This year marks the 100th anniversary of the unit presently designated the 6th Air Mobility Wing. and a cookie, and a small bottle of The wing moved without personnel or equipment to Eielson AFB,Alaska, and became Strategic Air water. For more info call 828 7425 Command’s Alaskan base of operations, the 6th Strategic Wing. Known after that as the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, the unit flew recon missions with the state-of-the-art RC-135 aircraft. The Wing Base Theater also directed aerial refueling assignments of the Alaskan Tanker Task Force and supported numerous Air Free Mike Super Magic & Il- Force and Navy exercises for the Alaskan Air Command. lusion Show at the base theater. In addition, the wing maintained a detachment at Shemya Air Force Station in the Aleutians,operat- Finalist on America’s Got Talent ing the U.S. airfield in closest proximity to the Soviet Union. Pictured is an RC-135 aircraft assigned to and winner of NBC’s Phenomenon. the 6th Strategic Wing at Eielson AFB,Alaska in the 1980s. Doors open at 6 p.m. and show starts 7 p.m. Food and beverages available from Box Office Bistro 6-8 p.m. For more info call 828- CHAPEL SCHEDULE 3055 and visit https://tinyurl.com/ Protestant service Catholic Mass y34nfhdq (No tickets necessary) Sunday -11 a.m. - combined worship Saturday -5:30 p.m. - Mass 6 p.m. Thrive (contemporary worship) Thursday Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass Surf’s Edge Club Islamic service Monday-Thursday - 12:10 p.m. Spanish/Cuban Flare Luncheon Friday - 1:30 p.m. Prayer (Blessed Sacrament Room) is 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Arroz Con Pollo, Roast Pork with Mojo, plan- tains, Cuban rice, black beans. For all other faith groups or for any questions, please contact the Chapel by visiting Dessert station: rice pudding, Pas- http://www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel or calling 828-3621 telitos De Guayaba and beverage station. Reservations required for 10 or more. Call 840-2020. Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Mobility Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil

MACDILL THUNDERBOLT u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u 15 16 u WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM u Thursday, September 12, 2019 u MACDILL THUNDERBOLT