Read Jan. 3 edition - MacDill Thunderbolt

14 Pages·2013·1.16 MB·English

Vol. 41, No. 1 Thursday, January 3, 2013
2012

Year in review
Part II of II
- starts page 3
YEAR IN REVIEW
Photo courtesy of the 6th Force Support Squadron
(Left) Airman 1st Class Jesse Flagle, 45th Civil Engineer Squadron firefight-
er, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., is lowered into a manhole during confined-
space rescue training, a component of the Rescue Technician course at
MacDill, Aug. 8. The firefighters selected for the course had to meet the
minimum certifications of Firefighter I/II, Emergency Medical Responder
with CPR, and demonstrate technical abilities. (Above) Tech. Sgt. Sonya By-
son on stage at the MacDill Icon competition held Aug. 3. Her win qualified
her to go on to the AMC Icon contest in October.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Melanie Bulow-Kelly
Commander’s vision
COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE
To view Col. Scott DeThomas’ re-
The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air marks on his vision for MacDill AFB,
Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. A 24-hour recording go to www.macdill.af.mil and then click
service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or com- on “Col. DeThomas’ priorities, mission,
ments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or email macdillwingcom- and expectations video” in the upper
[email protected]. left corner.
MacDill Thunderbolt government, the Department of Defense, the Department of may be obtained by calling 259-7455.
the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing. News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted
Publisher: Bill Barker The appearance of advertising in this publication, includ- to the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar
Editor: Nick Stubbs ing inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621, or call the MacDill
by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Thunderbolt staff at 828-2215. Email: [email protected].
Force, 6th Air Mobility Wing or Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., of Deadline for article submissions is noon, Thursdays to
the products or service advertised. appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after
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YEAR IN REVIEW
Year 2012 in review
Part II of II:
July - December
As the second half of 2012 got under way, Mac-
Dill several changes of command, including the-
new 6th Air Mobility Wing commander.
The last half of the year was also a time for
focus on the priorities of Airmen, mission and the
communitySome history was made along the way,
when the 6th Air Mobility Wing and the 927th
Air Refueling Wing became the first in the Air
Force to undergo a Consolidated Unit Inspection,
with both wings earning an “Excellent” rating.
July
In our July 5 edition of the Thunderbolt we
reported that Maj. Jeffrey Hunziker assumed
command of the 6th Maintenance Squadron. In
the same issue, we noted that Lt. Col. Lisa Nem-
eth assume command of the 91st Air Refueling
Squadron.
In our July 16 edition we reported that Lt. Col.
Thomas Brown assumed command of the 6th
Comptroller Squadron. In the same issue, we re-
ported that Lt. Col. Van Aulen took command of Photo by Airman 1st Class Shandresha Mitchell
the 290th Joint Communications Support Squad- Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, 18th Air Force commander, passes the 6th Air Mobility Wing guidon to
ron. Col. Scott DeThomas during a change of command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, July 27.
Other command changes included Lt. Col. Kel-
ly Roth, who took command of the 6th Commu-
nications Squadron July 3. Lt. Col. Sean Jones,
took command of the 6th Force Support Squad-
ron July 9, and Lt. Col. George Scheers took com-
mand of the 6th Contracting Squadron on July
10.
While new commanders were moving forward
in their military careers, some military mem-
bers of the four-legged variety were wrapping up
theirs.
Our July 16 issue detailed the retirement of
three military working dogs from the 6th Secu-
rity Forces Squadron. Conny, Jago and Haris,
hung up their leashes at Helton Hall in front of a
captive audience of Team MacDill members and
civilian media.
August
Our Aug. 2 edition was dedicated to coverage
of the 6th Air Mobility Wing change of command,
in which Col. Scott DeThomas assumed com-
Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant
mand of the wing. Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, 18th
Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay Lighting head coach, and Elizabeth Frazier, Lightening Foundation
Air Force commander, passed the 6th Air Mobil-
executive director, watch while Senior Airman Jake Siebert, 91st Air Refueling Squadron boom
See YEAR, Page 4
operator, prepares to refuel a KC-10, Aug. 21 during civic leader orientation flight.
YEAR IN REVIEW
YEAR
From Page 3
ity Wing guidon to DeThomas during a change of command ceremony at
MacDill July 27.
In the same issue, we reported that U.S. Marine Corps Col. Stephen
Corcoran relinquished command of the Joint Communications Support
Element to U.S. Army Col. Kirby Watson in a ceremony at JCSE head-
quarters at MacDill.
Our Aug. 16 edition featured two instructors from the United States
Air Forces in Europe Fire Academy’s Rescue Technician training course
at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, who came to MacDill to train 12 Mac-
Dill firefighters. The class graduated after three weeks of training, which
included areas of instruction on rope rescue, surface water rescue aware-
ness, confined space rescue and National Incident Management System
familiarization.
The same issue profiled Tech. Sgt. Sonya Byson a maintenance sched-
uler with the 6th Maintenance Operations Squadron, who went up against
a number of MacDill entrants in the AMC Icon qualifier and winning the
hearts of judges with her version of the sultry jazz standard, “Summer-
time.” She went on to represent MacDill at AMC Icon finals in October.
Our Aug. 23 issue covered the Emergency Management Exercise held
at MacDill Air Force Base, Aug. 14. During the exercise, Team MacDill
was graded on response time, initial notification and shelter in place deci-
sions. Approximately 25 organizations participated in the 6th Air Mobility
Wing’s quarterly EME.
In the Aug. 30 edition, we reported on a civic leader orientation flight
held Aug. 21. Among leaders on the flight were Elizabeth Frazier, Tampa
Bay Lightening Foundation executive director, and Guy Boucher, Lighting
head coach. The flight was held to build relations in the local community Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant
with Tampa Bay civic leaders and local employers. It featured an aerial Staff Sgt. Sergio Melendez, 6th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter crew
refueling demonstration. chief, relays information during an Emergency Management Exercise
In the same issue, we featured 47 master sergeant selects, who took the held at MacDill Air Force Base, Aug. 14.
senior NCO induction oath during the senior NCO induction ceremony at
MacDill, Aug. 24. The ceremony was highlighted by a brief speech from
Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Williams, 18th Air Force command chief, and
was held to individually recognize the selectees.
September
The Sept. 6 issue of the Thunderbolt was dedicated to children and par-
ents, in a special back-to-school edition, with important information and
resources listed. We didn’t leave out older students, but provided useful
information for adult and military members continuing their educations.
The Sept. 13 paper featured the 6th Dental Squadron and those mem-
bers who ensure the force is fit to fight. Photographers profiled dentists
and assistants as they performed a variety of routine procedures, from
cleanings to fillings.
In the Sept. 20 issue, we covered Gen. James Mattis, commander, U.S.
Central Command, and Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing com-
mander, attending a ceremony where U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central
Command was officially designated a new standalone headquarters at
MacDill, Sept. 17. We also featured photo coverage of the retreat ceremony Photo by Senior Airman Melissa Paradise
to honor the first responders who gave their lives during the 9/11 terrorist Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, tours Ray-
mond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sept. 4.
See YEAR, Page 7

YEAR IN REVIEW
Florida’s first lady Ann
Scott talks to a group of
second-graders at Tinker
Elementary School dur-
ing her visit to MacDill,
Sept. 12.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Melanie Bulow-Kelly
YEAR
From Page 4
attacks. Additional coverage include a feature on
the 6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron’s bioenvi-
ronmental techs and a visit from Florida’s first
lady Ann Scott, who spoke to a group of second-
graders at Tinker Elementary School during her
visit to MacDill, Sept. 12.
The Sept. 27 issue featured a story about the
seventh Honor Flight of West Central Florida,
which shuttled 77 veterans to Washington, D.C.,
an event the group has done for 466 veterans,
in total. Several MacDill members greeted the
vets at Tampa International Airport upon their
return.
In the same edition, we featured the parachute
riggers of U.S. Special Operations Command and
the Joint Communications Support Element.
We also reported on the strides of the Air Force
Smart Operations 21 at MacDill, where many
procedures and processes have been streamlined
to save time and money, while also improving
quality and safety.
October
In the Oct. 4 issue we featured the work of the
6th Maintenance Squadron’s repair technicians
who participated in the Crash, Damaged or Dis-
abled Aircraft Recovery exercise on MacDill.
The Oct. 11 paper featured members of the
6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 91st
Air Refueling Squadron and the work they do to
keep MacDill’s aging tanker fleet safe and flying.
We also highlighted a special 5K run in hon-
or of Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as the
kick-off of a new resource available for reporting
crime - dial 828-3324 to reach Operation Crime
Stop. Operation Crime Stop is an Air Force-wide
program that gives the base the opportunity to
anonymously report suspected or actual crimes.
The Oct. 18 issue covered the visit of Gen. Ray-
mond E. Johns Jr.
Johns held and All-Call Oct. 15, and met with
local civic leaders during his visit.
We also featured Retiree Appreciation Day,
publishing a guide to the numerous activities
and resources available to military retirees visit-
ing the base Oct. 20.
We covered Fire Prevention Week, which
kicked off with more than 500 on-base students
touring the MacDill’s crash fire station. The goal
of Fire Prevention Week is “to inform and edu-
cate the population on fire safety, prevention and
post fire actions “to inform and educate the popu-
lation on fire safety, prevention, and post fire ac-
See YEAR, Page 10
Photo by Airman 1st Class David Tracy
Airman 1st Class Ryan Kozarich, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintainer, replaces a battery
connection cable on an aircraft cargo loader at MacDill Air Force Base, Sept. 13.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz
2nd Lt. Elizabeth Scarberry, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron plans and integration officer in charge, embraces a
World War II veteran upon arrival with the seventh Honor Flight West Central Florida at the St. Petersburg-Clearwa-
ter International Airport Sept. 18. Seventy-seven WWII veterans were flown to Washington, D.C., to tour the WWII
memorial.
Photo by Airman 1st Class David Tracy
Airmen from the 6th Maintenance Squadron use a crane to simulate lifting a KC-135 Stratotanker during a
Crash, Damaged or Disabled Aircraft Recovery exercise on MacDill, Sept. 24. The crane is capable of lift-
ing a maximum of 15,000 pounds.
Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant
Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant
2nd Lt. Elizabeth Scarberry, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron plans and integration officer in charge, embraces a Members from Team MacDill render salutes as the remains of Army Spc.
World War II veteran upon arrival with the seventh Honor Flight West Central Florida at the St. Petersburg-Clearwa- Brittany Gordon arrive at MacDill, Oct. 24. Gordon died from wounds
ter International Airport Sept. 18. Seventy-seven WWII veterans were flown to Washington, D.C., to tour the WWII suffered when enemy forces attacked her unit with an improvised ex-
memorial. plosive device in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
(Far left) U.S. Army Staff Sgt.
Jason Colbert, Joint Commu-
nications Support Element,
holds the end of a stretch-out
strap while Angela Garcia, 6th
Medical Operations Squadron
physical therapy assistant,
stretches his hamstring at
MacDill Air Force Base, Oct.
31. (Left) Airman 1st Class
Ronald McManus, 6th Civil
Engineer Squadron firefighter,
sprays water on Staff Sgt. Kyle
Anderson, 6th Civil Engineer
Squadron crew chief, as part
of the decontamination pro- Photo by Airman 1st Class Melanie Bulow-Kelly
cess during a major fuel spill The Grenades executes a routine during practice at MacDill Oct. 4.
training exercise at MacDill Air The children are part of the MacDill School Age program at the Youth
Force Base, Dec. 4. Center.
Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant Photo by Airman 1st Class Shandresha Mitchell
YEAR
From Page 7
tions,” said Master Sgt. Richard Golen, 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire
Prevention office.
The Oct. 25 issue covered a Town Hall meeting held by Col. Scott De-
Thomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander. Thomas welcomed everyone
and explained his purpose for the Town Hall meeting was not only to provide
information, but to answer concerns of those living and working on base.
Leadership from the 6th Medical Group, 6th Force Support Squadron,
6th Civil Engineer Squadron, the Harbor Bay housing office and Hillsbor-
ough County schools were present and provided information on ongoing is-
sues and answers to questions. Representatives from Army and Air Force
Exchange Service and Defense Commissary Agency were also present.
We also featured volunteers from around MacDill who teamed up to
host more than 250 local youths from surrounding counties, Oct. 19.
The children were part of two events scheduled for the same day —
Bigs for a Day, coordinated by Master Sgt. Christopher Dehm, MacDill
representative for a local organization geared toward mentoring youths,
and ROTC Day, coordinated by Senior Airman Rachelle Coleman, 6th Air
Mobility Wing Public Affairs.
The Nov. 1 edition was dedicated to the return of a fallen hero. Hun-
dreds of Team MacDill members and the local community lined the streets
to honor a fallen comrade and local hero, Oct. 24.
The remains of Army Spc. Brittany Gordon were welcomed with salutes
from sister services and veterans.
Gordon, 24, was assigned to the 572nd Military Intelligence Company,
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Wash. She was a native of St. Petersburg. Gordon died of
wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her unit with an improvised
explosive device.
November
The Nov. 8 paper featured the 6th Medical Operations Squadron’s phys-
ical therapists, and the work they do with service members to return them
to fitness after injury.
We also featured a visit from Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
wide receiver, who appeared in a short video to help motivate Team Mac-
See YEAR, Page 12