=VS5V Thursday, November 15, 2018 WHNL 1HZV)HDWXUHVSDJH (4*JVTTHUKLY»ZMVJ\ZVU(PYTLUMHTPSPLZ 6DEUHKDZNVURDUDW0DF'LOO 1HZV)HDWXUHVSDJH :HOFRPHKRPHGDG 1HZV)HDWXUHVSDJH ,QLWLDWLYHWRKHOS¶%RRPHUV· :HHNLQSKRWRVSDJH ,PDJHVIURPWKHZHHN 7OV[VI`(PYTHUZ[*SHZZ2YPZ[PUL4.Y\^LSS <:(PY-VYJL.LU4HY`HUUL4PSSLY(PY4VIPSP[`*VTTHUKJVTTHUKLYJOHUNLZHNV]LYUTLU[V^ULK]LOPJSL»ZHS[LYUH [VY^P[O[OLHZZPZ[HUJLVM(PY-VYJL:LUPVY(PYTHU1LZZL;\[OPSS [O3VNPZ[PJZ9LHKPULZZ:X\HKYVUTPZZPVUNLULYH[PUN &RPPXQLW\SDJH ]LOPJSLLX\PWTLU[HWWYLU[PJLH[3P[[SL9VJR(PY-VYJL)HZL(YR5V](PYTLUOPNOSPNO[LK[OLWHY[ULYZOPWIL[^LLU[OL (YHQWV&KDSHOPRUH [O(PYSPM[>PUNHUK[OL [O(>^OV[VNL[OLYOH]LLSPTPUH[LK[OLYLX\PYLTLU[ZMVYHK\WSPJH[L]LOPJSLTHPU[LUHUJL MHJPSP[`I`JVUZVSPKH[PUN[VVULSVJH[PVUYLZ\S[PUNPUZH]LKYLZV\YJLZHUK[PTL NEWS/FEATURES 4HJ+PSSOVZ[Z5(:7LUZHJVSHMSPNO[[YHPUPUNZX\HKYVU I`:LUPVY(PYTHU(KHT9:OHURZ UI"JS.PCJMJUZ8JOH1VCMJD"GGBJST Since the end of October 2018, the skies above MacDill Air Force Base roar a little louder than normal. On any given day, the Tampa Bay community can look to the skies to see the robust KC-135 Stratotanker fly overhead en route to fuel warfighters around the world. However, their buzz is currently drowned out by the U.S. Navy’s visiting fleet of training jets. Members of the Navy’s Training Squadron 86, also known as the VT-86 Sabrehawks, journeyed to MacDill to complete pilot training while the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, reurned to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, for their homecoming air show. “Instead of crowding the airspace above Pensacola, we’ve temporar- ily moved to Tampa to continue our blocks of training,” said Lt. Brandon Brown, an instructor pilot and officer in charge of the VT-86 detachment at MacDill. Students with the Sabrehawks learn to fly the T-45C Goshawk, a car- rier-capable trainer with a maximum speed of 645 mph. Once their six to 7OV[VI`:LUPVY(PYTHU(KHT9:OHURZ eight months of training is completed, the students move on to pilot the <:5H]`3[1HRL/H^SL`HUPUZ[Y\J[VYWPSV[HUK,UZPNU8\PUU5`Z[YVT F/A-18F Super Hornet, the U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet or the EA- HZ[\KLU[UH]HSMSPNO[VMMPJLYMYVT;YHPUPUN:X\HKYVU=;MYVT5H 18G Growler. ]HS (PY :[H[PVU 7LUZHJVSH -SH JVUK\J[ [OLPY WYLMSPNO[ JOLJRSPZ[ ILMVYL One student, Ensign Shelby Hairr, began naval flight officer training in H[YHPUPUNMSPNO[H[4HJ+PSS(PY-VYJL)HZL6J[;OLMSPNO[MHTPSPHYPaLK August, and was one of the first groups to fly to Tampa from the panhandle. 5`Z[YVT^P[O[OLHYLHZ\YYV\UKPUN;HTWH[VWYLWHYLOPTMVYM\[\YL[YHPU “Currently, I’m still going on familiarization flights, getting to know the PUNMSPNO[Z aircraft and learning the different systems,” said Hairr. “Our instructors demonstrate aerobatics and stalls to give us hands-on training in the Gos- aircraft, we’re training 65 students to become naval flight, or electronic hawk.” warfare officers, depending on the aircraft they’re assigned.” Their curriculum involves five stages of training on subjects such as Despite being 485 miles from home station, the Sabrehawks are con- strike flights, air-to-ground missions, basic fighter maneuvers and close-air stantly flying missions to train the Navy’s future pilots in the orange and support. white aircraft. “The entire training syllabus is very dynamic,” said Brown. “With 13 See SABREHAWKS, Page 15 -VYPUMVYTH[PVUHIV\[IHZLVWLYH[PVUZK\YPUNLTLYNLUJPLZVYUH[\YHSKPZHZ[LYZJHSS[OL:[YHPNO[;HSR3PULH[ COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE 4HJ+PSSVU[OL^LI 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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·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´$VVRFLDWHG3UHVV6W\OHERRN DUHQRWQHFHVVDULO\WKHRIILFLDOYLHZVRIRUHQGRUVHGE\WKH SK\VLFDOKDQGLFDSSROLWLFDODIILOLDWLRQRUDQ\RWKHUQRQPHULW DQG/LEHO0DQXDOµDQG$LU)RUFH,QVWUXFWLRQ 2 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, November 15, 2018 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT NEWS/FEATURES +LWSV`LK(PYTHUYL[\YUZOVTLTLL[ZMPYZ[JOPSK I`:[HMM:N[?H]PLY3VJRSL` UI"JS3FGVFMJOH8JOH1VCMJD"GGBJST When Staff Sgt. Kyle Snodgrass, 927th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron technician, touched down at MacDill Air Force Base, he couldn’t wait to formally introduce himself to his newborn baby. Snodgrass was present in the delivery room when his son Griffin was born by way of a spotty internet connection and electrical power malfunc- tions at his deployed location. For weeks, he was able to see his child through photos and online tech- nology but finally was able to officially introduce himself as “dad.” “This is such an overwhelming experience,” said Snodgrass. “Having been away from my wife and son for some time, I couldn’t be happier to meet my son and be reunited with my wife; I really missed both of them.” At Snodgrass’ arrival, his wife Jahee and son Griffin looked on as the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, pulled onto the MacDill flightline. As the plane engines turned off, the first person off of the plane was Snodgrass, as he walked a straight line to Jahee as she held Griffin. “I looked at those two at that moment and it was everything I could’ve ever imagined,” Snodgrass said. “I thought that they were the most beau- 7OV[VI`:[HMM:N[?H]PLY3VJRSL` tiful people I’d ever seen.” :[HMM:N[2`SL:UVKNYHZZ [O(PYJYHM[4HPU[LUHUJL:X\HKYVU[LJO While Snodgrass will be adjusting to life as a new dad, Jahee says she’s UPJPHUNYLL[ZOPZZVU.YPMMPUMVY[OLMPYZ[[PTLH[4HJ+PSS(PY-VYJL)HZL glad he’s home and will help him adjust to being a new parent. 5V]:UVKNYHZZOHKILLUKLWSV`LKMVYV]LYKH`Z^OLUOPZZVU See DAD, Page 15 ^HZIVYU /\THU7LYMVYTHUJL*LSSZLLRZTPZZPVUPTWYV]LTLU[[OYV\NOº)VVT0UP[PH[P]L» I`(PYTHUZ[*SHZZ3H^YLUJL:LUH OE"JS3FGVFMJOH8JOH1VCMJD"GGBJST FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash.—The ability of Airmen to provide responsive air refueling and agile combat support is essential for mission success. Yet, successfully performing and completing the mission can come with a physical price. Inflight refueling specialists, otherwise known as “boom operators,” pay this toll with every mission they under- take. “Booms (inflight refueling specialists) historically have had a lot of upper back, shoulder and neck issues,” said William Saultes, 92nd Aero- space Medical Squadron Health Promotion coordinator. “A lot of those issues stem from the nature of their job and having to maintain a posture that puts stress on the body.” Team Fairchild’s Human Performance Cell has taken notice of the physical issues that boom operators face, and created an initiative that aims to provide these Airmen with tools to minimize the strain and dis- 7OV[VZI`(PYTHUZ[*SHZZ3H^YLUJL:LUH comfort their bodies undergo. “We see inflight refueling as a unique career field,” Saultes said. “The <:(PY-VYJL:[HMM:N[5PJR3PJO[LU^HSULY[O(PY9LM\LSPUN:X\HK amount of time these Airmen spend in a prone position with their necks YVUPUMSPNO[YLM\LSPUNZWLJPHSPZ[WLYMVYTZHUPUMSPNO[YLM\LSPUNTPZZPVUPU pushed back during a refueling mission puts them at a higher risk of hav- [OL<:5VY[O^LZ[LYU9LNPVU5V] ing upper back and neck issues. “So being aware of this risk, it needed to be addressed.” “We lined up 13 boomers and performed head-to-toe 360 degree evalua- Fairchild’s HPC physical therapy team conducted a head-to-toe move- tions,” said Maj. John Tonarelli, 92nd Medical Operation Squadron Physi- ment assessment on the inflight refueling specialists to find any motor cal Therapy Flight commander. “We evaluated their mobility and amount control restrictions and the results showed similarities between each Air- of pain associated with movements in the assessment, and found that 100 man evaluated. See BOOMERS, Page 10 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, November 15, 2018 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM 3 WEEK IN PHOTOS 7OV[VI`(PYTHUZ[*SHZZ9`HU*.YVZZRSHN <:(PY-VYJL*VS:[LWOLU:ULSZVU[O(PY4VIPSP[`>PUN*VTTHUKLYZWLHRZ[V5H[P]L(TLYPJHU/LYP[HNL4VU[OJLSLIYH[PVUH[[LUKLLZH[4HJ+PSS (PY-VYJL)HZL5V]:ULSZVUKL[HPSLK[OLOPZ[VY`VM5H[P]L(TLYPJHUZPU[OL;HTWHYLNPVUHZ^LSSHZUV[PUN[OLZPNUPMPJHUJLVM5H[P]L(TLYPJHUZPU [OL(PY-VYJL 7OV[VI`(PYTHUZ[*SHZZ*HSLI5\ULa 7OV[VI`(PYTHUZ[*SHZZ*HSLI5\ULa <:(PY-VYJL(PYTLUMYVT4HJ+PSS(PY-VYJL)HZL (JLYLTVUPHS^YLH[OPZKPZWSH`LKK\YPUNHQVPU[ZLY]PJL=L[LYHUZ+H`JLYLTVU`OLSKH[4HJ