Keeping them clean and flying - page 14

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1 Vol. 41, No. 45 Thursday, November 7, 2013 News/Features: page 3 There I was... Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week News/Features: page 6 Drug awareness News/Features: page 16 Motorcycle safety Community: page 25 Events, Chapel, more... Keeping them clean and flying - page 14 Photo by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston Senior Airman Joseph Rea, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace guidance and control system technician, rinses a KC-135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 16. Hansink and eight other Airmen performed the wash, which is an especially important procedure at MacDill due to the corrosive salt in the air around the base.

2 COMMANDER S CORNER Remembering a president s vision; the JFK visit to Tampa by Lt. Col. Adrian Byers 6th Operations Support Squadron commander Nov. 22, 2013, will mark the 50th Anniversary of an American tragedy, the loss of the 35th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Regardless of your political affiliations, the office of the presidency is held with highest admiration. It was very much so in the early sixties. Euphoria over the ppresident and first lady gripped the nation. Many claimed the president and his first lady, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, were the closest thing to royalty. The media even went so far as to call the White House, Camelot. By the beginning of November 1963, his approval rating was an astonishing 58 percent, and he was the in midst of his reelection campaign swing preparing for the 1964 election. Only four days prior to his stop in Dallas, Nov. 18, 1963, President Kennedy visited MacDill Air Force Base and Tampa, Florida. He made five stops altogether on Nov. 18, 1963; this included visits to Miami, Florida. Our longtime community partners, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the president with open arms and were subsequently devastated like the rest of the nation at the news of his death. Kennedy s trip to Tampa was in actuality a short one. He transited the area via motorcade in the same car that transported him through the streets of Dallas. Though he traveled without the first lady, he still amassed huge crowds and took the time to talk about something dear to every Airman, the successes of airpower and the airplane. President Kennedy made remarks at Al Lopez Field in Tampa, commemorating the triumphal first airline flight conducted by Antony Habersack Jannus from Tampa to St. Petersburg in his Benoist Flying boat. Before he commented on this occasion, he remembered the sacrifices for freedom of Latin America, and praised the people of Tampa and St. Petersburg for their constant vigilance for peace. He had learned a valuable lesson from the Bay of Pigs fiasco, an early blemish on his presidency, but had gained great respect for his dealings with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In his remarks to the crowd, he commented on the short duration of Jannus s flight, a mere 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the idea of air travel between Tampa and St. Petersburg never materialized. The little airline eventually went bankrupt 4 months later, but it was Jannus s determination, Kennedy touched Lt. Col. Adrian Byers upon. Jannus had a strong desire to achieve something for the greater good truly exemplifying Service Before Self. One only needs to remember that the United States and the Soviet Union were in a space race, and more in- See CORNER, Page 3 COMMANDER S ACTION LINE The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. A 24-hour recording service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil. MacDill on the web Website: Facebook: MacDillAirForceBase MacDill Thunderbolt Publisher: Bill Barker Editor: Nick Stubbs The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Mobility Wing or Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., of the products or service advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. Display advertising or classified advertising information may be obtained by calling (813) News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted to the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621, or call the MacDill Thunderbolt staff at thunder.bolt@us.af.mil. Deadline for article submissions is noon, Wednesdays to appear in the next week s publication. Articles received after deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions are considered for publication based on news value and timeliness. Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual and Air Force Instruction

3 NEWS/FEATURES corner From Page 2 terestingly in a race for aviation dominance. During his speech, Kennedy alluded to his desires of achieving such dominance even 100 years after Jannus s first flight, which ironically was only months away. Kennedy made a decree: the United States would build a supersonic plane the super sonic transport or SST concept, as it was known then, was the start of a major transformation in air travel. The challenge from Europe came in the concept of Concorde and from the Soviet Union, the Tupolev TU-144. This was air travel above and beyond the speed of sound. The United States had the technological knowhow. He had already challenged the establishment to put a man on the moon and return them safely to Earth before the end of the decade. This challenge for the SST was designed to move air travel forward, taking advantage of military research and design. Finally, Kennedy told the people of Tampa of his vision for the rest of 1963 and for the future. He wanted to maintain the peace and vital interests of the United States and he wanted to maintain the balance of power for those nations seeking freedom. In all, he wanted to ensure the people of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and South East Asia were afforded the opportunity to live in peace and free from tyranny. Essentially, he wanted to empower them to maintain freedom. He spoke to alliances and Americans in combat supporting such efforts. In Kennedy s own words, the United States was called The Keystone in the Arch of Freedom. Today, as I reflect on President Kennedy s speech in Tampa, I am reminded of what sparked my interest in aviation. It was individuals like Jannus, and Generals Mitchell, Benjamin O Davis Jr., and C. R. Smith. Only days before his assassination in Dallas, Kennedy came to Tampa to highlight an event so minor in the scope of his greater responsibility. Amazingly, he arrived at MacDill AFB that morning and returned to Andrews Air Force Base that evening after a follow-on trip to Miami Florida. There I was... by Staff Sgt. LaQuenda Ward 6th Air Mobility Wing Judge Advocate s office The phone rings, it is 2 a.m., snowing and a few degrees below zero. The flight chief simply says, It is time. Although we do not know when the plane will be landing, we must prepare our team to execute each move in any given scenario. We are all volunteers of something bigger than ourselves. We all made a commitment to be mentally and physically ready to fulfill the duties as a member of the Dignified Transfer team. We gather our belongings and meet up in our designated location and begin our journey. Everyone is quiet on the ride over to the mortuary. A few minutes later we arrive at our destination. Upon arrival most of us head to the back of the mortuary to claim a cot or seat where we will most likely be sleeping. The seconds, minutes and hours pass by and we are all told the plane will be landing momentarily. We put Courtesy photo Then Senior Airman LaQuenda Ward pays respects to a fallen hero at the Manas Transit Center in Central Asia. Ward was part of a team that prepared those killed in action for their travel back to the United States. on our boots and gloves and head to the flight line. Ready Hace is an all too familiar command for the handful of volunteers of the Dignified Transfer team deployed to Manas Transit Center, located in Central Asia. The Dignified Transfer team is in control of ensuring that a family s loved one and our fallen sister or brother in arms, arrives safely back to the United States. The team is called to attention. The next command of Ready Face is given. Then solemnly we begin to march toward the aircraft, while simultaneously mentally preparing ourselves for the many emotions that we will have to suppress while executing our duties. We approach the ramp of the C-17 and come to a halt. The chaplain then says a quiet prayer. Although this only lasts a moment, it feels like a lifetime as we stand in silence now inside of the aircraft inches away from our fallen comrade. See THERE I WAS, Page 14

4 WEEK IN PHOTOS Photo by Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell Staff Sgt. Raul Lezcano, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron refueling mechanic, drives a forklift to move equipment out of a vehicle maintenance bay at MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 1. The squadron used Air Force Smart Operations 21st Century practices to organize the bay and streamline the vehicle maintenance process. Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner Joseph Duffie, 6th Force Support Squadron outdoor recreation water sport instructor, demonstrates the use of a paddle board in the bay surrounding MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 1. Paddle boards and other equipment is available for rent from the outdoor recreation de- Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner An Airman participates in the run portion of the Air Force physical fitness test at MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 29. Airmen are required to run 1.5 miles in a set amount of time based on their age and gender. Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner Mike Jones, magician and balloon animal artist, creates a balloon animal for Sarah-Ann Greer, 3, and Alyssa Breer, 4, Nov. 1 at Mac- Dill Air Force Base. Team MacDill offers family events to build morale.

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6 NEWS/FEATURES Red Ribbon Week at MacDill by Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Andre Johnson, 6th Air Mobility Wing Drug Demand Reduction Program manager, launched a counter-drug campaign in coordination with the nation s oldest and largest drug prevention program, Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23 through Oct. 31. Red Ribbon Week was initiated in 1988 in honor of Drug Enforcement Agent, Enrique Camarena, a former Marine, killed in the line of duty while investigating a foreign drug cartel in Since 1990, the Department of Defense has officially participated in this event to raise public awareness and mobilize communities to combat tobacco, alcohol and drug use among military personnel, civilians and their families. Red Ribbon week is a great campaign, and we definitely [got] the message out, said Johnson. And that message is whatever you do; don t fall into the trap of drugs. The week raises awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs in the community. The program encourages service members, parents, educators and community members to promote drug-free lifestyles. We [informed] the base as a whole to increase drug awareness, com- See RED RIBBON, Page 24 Photo by Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell Andre Johnson, 6th Air Mobility Wing Drug Demand Reduction Program manager, takes a photograph with children at the Youth Center during Red Ribbon Week at MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 29. Through briefings, face-to-face interaction, and question-and-answer sessions, the Drug Demand Reduction program used Red Ribbon Week to increase awareness and deter individuals of all ages from using drugs.

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8 NEWS/FEATURES JFK at MacDill: 50th anniversary by Bill Polson 6th Air Mobility Wing historian A ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy s visit to Tampa, Fla., will be held at MacDill Air Force Base on Monday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. The agenda includes remarks by Col. Scott DeThomas, commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. The ceremony, open to anyone with base access, includes the unveiling of a city historical marker dedicated to the event. President Kennedy came to MacDill Air Force Base on Nov. 18, 1963 as part of a pre-campaign trip to Tampa, where he made several stops for speeches. The trip was Kennedy s last before his assassination in Dallas. The ceremony s guest speaker, Tony Zappone, a cub reporter from a local high school in 1963, managed to squeeze through the crush of local and national reporters to personally greet the widely popular 35th president on MacDill s flight line. The ceremony is one of at least three major projects marking that day by Lynn Marvin Dingfelder. She produced an hour-long documentary titled JFK in Tampa: The 50th Anniversary in partnership with the WUSF (University of South Florida) Public Media. The documentary See JFK, Page 19 Photo by Cecil Stoughton President John F. Kennedy makes the customary review of an Air Force honor guard at MacDill Air Force Base during his trip to Tampa Nov. 18, 1963.

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10 NEWS/FEATURES MacDill Native Americans through November by Capt. Justin Raabe 91st Air Refueling Squadron November marks the start of Native American Heritage Month. Native American Heritage Month was established by Congress and President George H.W. Bush in 1990 in order to provide an opportunity to educate the public about Native American art, history and culture. In addition, Native American Heritage Month encourages us to reflect on how Native Americans have uniquely contributed to American society. This month invites us to learn and understand the rich story and background of some of the fellow Airmen we work with every day. This month at MacDill we will be celebrating Courtesy photo Native American Marines during WWII. Known as Navajo Code Talkers. Native American Heritage Month through a variety of activities. We would like to invite you to a lunch and learn on Nov. 13 at the Base Chapel Annex at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a presentation by Mr. Willie Johns, from the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. His presentation will focus on the Seminole Tribe s history and culture. In addition, the 6th Operations Group will be hosting a Fun Run on the morning of Nov. 18 at 7 a.m. Show up at 6:45 a.m. at the track behind the gym.

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14 Squeaky clean; mission ready story and photos by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs MacDill s 16 KC-135 Stratotankers play a key role in mission success each and every day. Whether it is refueling missions or aeromedical evacuations, the last thing aircrews wants to worry about is whether or not the aircraft has been washed. Tasked with the assignment of keeping these massive aircraft clean are the outdoor wash rack Airmen from the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The outdoor wash rack is not an official Air Force career field. Airmen are selected from different work sections around the 6th AMXS for a one-month tasking to the wash rack. The wash rack is vital for the structural integrity of these jets, said Staff Sgt. Larry Washington, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief and this month s outdoor wash rack supervisor. Salt acts as an accelerator for corrosion, and with MacDill being so close to the water, corrosion is a constant threat. Corrosion starts as a gray dulling of the surface, which eventually progresses into the destruction of the metal. If untreated, corrosion can make an aircraft unairworthy in just a few years. With the size of the KC-135, these Airmen have to start the day off early. We start the day off at 4 a.m., so that way we can get through the wash before the sun rises and dries the soap to the jet and ruins the paint, said Senior Airman Joseph Rea, 6th AMXS aerospace guidance and control systems technician. The wash takes roughly three to four hours to finish, which is followed by a supervisory inspection of the aircraft to ensure it has been properly cleaned. It s important that we are very thorough in the inspection, said Washington. With such a huge aircraft, it s easy for a spot to be overlooked during the wash. Even when the wash is completed and the aircraft has passed inspection, the Airmen s job is not finished. We lube the aircraft to ensure free movement of flight controls and other vital components of the aircraft, said Washington. The outdoor wash rack has to service each of Mac- Dill s 16 KC-135s at least once a month. Also, each aircraft must be washed within five days of deployment. We stay pretty busy out here, said Rea. You could drive by just about every morning and see us out here washing these jets. A KC-135 Stratotanker is serviced during its monthly wash and lube at MacDill Air Force B Senior Airman Joseph Rea, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace guidance and c off a KC-135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 16. The KC-135s are washed o water corrosion.

15 Airman 1st Class Marcus Davis, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace communications and mission system technician, lubricates a KC-135 Stratotanker, Oct. 16. ase, Oct. 16. The massive, 136-foot-long jet took more than four hours to wash by hand. ontrol systems technician, rinses nce every 30 days to prevent salt Senior Airman Benjamin Pourian, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace maintenance technician, inspects the bottom of a KC-135 Stratotanker during an aircraft wash at MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 16. MacDill s KC-135s are prone to corrosion due to the salty air from Tampa Bay.

16 NEWS/FEATURES MacDill motorcycle safety, mentoring, and CFC awareness ride by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston 6th Mobility Wing Public Affairs More than 60 members from MacDill Air Force Base came together for a quarterly motorcycle safety and mentoring ride Friday. MacDill Air Force Base s Motorcycle Operations Center coordinated the ride with the 6th Contracting Squadron s Combined Federal Campaign kickoff event. The purpose of the ride was to emphasize motorcycle safety, build camaraderie between members of Team MacDill, and provide a kickoff event for the CFC. Leading the ride was Staff Sgt. Marc Villanueva, 6th Contracting Squadron contract specialist. It s important to have these kinds of events where we come together and talk about how to keep ourselves safe this time especially, because there is a new regulation that has a couple of changes on the personal protective equipment we must wear on base, said Villanueva. Air Force Instruction , Air Force Traffic Safety Program, was updated Sept. 12. According to Villanueva, the guidance now includes that riders must wear a full-face helmet or a half-helmet with eye protection, long sleeved shirt or jacket, long trousers, over-the-ankle footwear and full-fingered gloves. See MOTORCYCLE, Page 19 Photo by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston Members from MacDill Air Force Base ride their motorcycles during a motorcycle safety, mentoring, and Combined Federal Campaign awareness ride Friday. More than 60 members from MacDill came together to emphasize motorcycle safety, build camaraderie between members of Team MacDill and provide a kickoff event for the CFC.

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18 NEWS/FEATURES Bay Warrior christened by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs A new boat was christened at the MacDill Air Force Base, marina Nov. 1. The Bay Warrior was donated by several veterans organizations to MacDill. (MacDill) appreciate(s) all of your support to make this happen, said Col. Peter Santa Ana, 6th Mission Support Group commander, who also thanked those of you who continue to dedicate the time and energy to keep the fleet in ship shape. Wounded warriors and disabled guests may now enjoy the waters surrounding the base on the vessel, which is fitted with wheelchair tie downs, a ramp for boarding and other accommodations to support their needs. This goes a long way toward strengthening resilience, said Santa Ana. There is nothing that goes toward relaxing more than fishing or relaxing on a boat. MacDill has 17 boats in its fleet: three 16-foot twin V-hulls, three 19-foot twin V-hulls, two- Americans with Disabilities Act 24-foot pontoon boats, and nine other 24-foot pontoon boats. For more information call the marina at Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner Monica Santa Ana, 6th Mission Support Group commander s wife, christens the newest boat in the MacDill Air Force Base fleet as the Bay Warrior, Friday. The boat is outfitted with a ramp and tie-downs to accommodate the needs of wounded warriors and their families wishing to enjoy the outdoors.

19 JFK From Page 8 will debut on Nov. 7 before airing on public television. Additionally, Dingfelder worked on a related museum display for the Tampa Bay History Center s temporary gallery which will feature various photographs taken at MacDill. The display will run through November. The ceremony at MacDill will be one of our last JFK experiences, said Dingfelder. These events don t dwell on the Kennedy assassination, even though their significance comes from that dark day in Dallas. In a way, this shows a different time in America. This was a time when a young high school reporter could reach out and shake the president s hand. For information about the ceremony, contact the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office at (813) or the 6th Air Mobility Wing Historian at (813) For information about the film and other JFK events in Tampa, visit MOTORCYCLE From Page 16 Although the ride didn t officially take off until 10 a.m., all members met at 9 a.m. for a mandatory T-CLOCS inspection (tires, controls, lights, oil, chassis, stands), and to hear from representatives from the CFC, wing safety and the Green Knights. Once all bikes were cleared through the T- CLOCS inspection, all 62 riders took off in unison for an early afternoon ride down Bayshore Boulevard. This event was as fun as it was educational, said Airman 1st Class Derek Weber, 6th Aerospace Medicine public health specialist. Everyone here had the opportunity to learn about the CFC, as well as take a nice ride down Bayshore. Information on safe riding can be ascertained from your base safety office, squadron motorcycle safety rep, or at home/features/2012/0412_militaryrider/.

20 Commissaries to start scanning IDs Courtesy of DeCA Public Affairs division FORT LEE, Va. Commissaries will soon begin scanning customers Department of Defense ID cards at checkouts as the Defense Commissary Agency continues its pursuit to deliver a 21st century benefit. The commissary at Fort Lee, Va., became the first store to scan ID cards on Oct. 22 as the first part of an agency-wide rollout to all stores that begins Nov. 10 and will be completed by mid-january. Commissary shoppers are used to showing their ID cards to establish their eligibility to use the commissary. By scanning the ID at checkout, DeCA will no longer need to maintain any personal information on customers in its computer systems, such as the system used for customers who write checks. Scanning will also help improve the commissary benefit for all patrons, according to Joseph H. Jeu, DeCA director and CEO. In addition to verifying customers as authorized commissary patrons, we ll gain information that will give us a better understanding of our patrons, allowing the agency to provide the commissary benefit more effectively and efficiently, Jeu said. Cross-referenced with other DOD data, the scan data will give DeCA useful information about patron usage, by military service, along with customer demographics that does not identify specific personal data of an individual. This will eventually help the agency identify shopping needs and preferences information that is essential in today s retail business environment. It will also allow more accurate reporting to the military services on commissary usage. The demographic information DeCA will use is strictly limited to: card ID number, rank, military status, branch of service, age, household size and ZIP codes of residence and duty station. DeCA will not be using any personal information such as names, addresses or phone numbers. The methods, processes and information we ll use will not compromise our customers privacy they can be sure of that, Jeu said. We re putting technology to work to better understand our customers and ensure the commissary benefit continues to remain relevant to them now and in the future. For more information on ID card scanning, go to

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22 THERE I WAS... From Page 3 The next command is given and in one motion, we are now kneeling next to the remains of a fallen hero. In another movement we are up and facing the ramp of the aircraft as we prepare to carry the remains to a waiting vehicle. We give one final salute as the vehicle disappears in the distance. The dignified transfer team knows that was only the beginning of the duties that must be executed to ensure our fallen comrade arrives in the United States safely. Once we arrive back inside of the mortuary, we take shifts caring for our fallen comrade. The first shift removes the ice bags that were used during our fallen comrade s flight to the Manas Transit Center and replaces them with new ice bags. The second shift will remove those ice bags after a specified amount of hours before our fallen comrade continues his journey to the United States. Ready Hace we begin to make our way back to the entrance ramp of the aircraft, this time carrying our fallen comrade, who will journey back to the United States. We are all exhausted, but proud to serve as members of the Dignified Transfer team at Manas Transit Center. Thoughts rush through our heads as we realize our own departure date is quickly approaching. The sense of pride and accomplishment that we ve gained through this experience will forever live within us long after we are home again.

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24 red ribbon From Page 6 mented Johnson. My goal [was] to make sure children and adults understand the risks of using illegal substances and the risks of abusing legal substances. This year s recognition included activities on base for all age groups; however, Johnson s target audience was the children at Tinker Elementary School and the Youth Center. We always want [the children] to say no to drugs, said Johnson. So if we reach them at a lower level, like elementary school, then when they get into the higher levels, like high school, they have the seed implanted in them that drugs are no good for them. Through briefings, face-to-face interaction and question-and-answer sessions, the Drug Demand Reduction program used Red Ribbon Week to increase awareness and deter people of all ages from using drugs.

25 MACDILL COMMUNITY EVENTS Friday Base Beach/Marina area Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta. 8 a.m. 3 p.m. Food, music, and fun. Everyone is invited. Come out and support your favorite team. Visit Events_view.aspx?Eventid=1342 for the schedule of events. MacDill Lanes & Family Fun Center Club Membership Appreciation, 6 8 p.m. with door-prize drawings and cosmic lighting and sound. All club members and their family members bowl free. Call for more information. Saturday Outdoor Recreation Swim with the Manatees at Crystal River from 8 a.m. 5 p.m. $60 per person. Free/reduced for RECON participants. Please bring a pack lunch. Price includes transportation, manatee swim, wetsuit, and snorkel gear. RECON: all active duty military and reserves. Call Outdoor Recreation at for more information. Tuesday Fitness Center Turkey Bowl through Thursday. In a flag-football challenge between the four branches of the service, the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines will select their finest football all-stars and hit the gridiron to determine bragging rights. Teams will play Tuesday, evening and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon. The championship Turkey Bowl will be played Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Find out which service has the best cheering section and which service can raise the most nonperishable foods for donation. Call the Fitness Center at for more information. A scary-good time! CHAPEL SCHEDULE Protestant service Sunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary Service Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - FAMCAMP Service Catholic services Saturday - 5:30 p.m. - Mass Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass Photo by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston Children play various carnival style games at Mac Thrillville, hosted by the 6th Force Support Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 25. There were various children s activities, a crafts area and a haunted house. Islamic service Monday-Wednesday - 12:10 p.m. Mass Friday - 1:30 p.m. - Muslim Prayer Service Call the chapel at for more information or visit the chapel web site at

26 BRIEFS Annual boat regatta Open to all units and mission teammates, the annual cardboard boat regatta is tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the base beach. In addition to the boat race, there will be food, music and fun. Top prize in the race is a $500 gift certificate. MacDill Area Resilience Center The MARC is a One Stop Shop with resources and classes that entail physical, social, mental and spiritual needs. The MARC offers information that can connect you to many helping agencies on MacDill Air Force Base, as well as many helping resources within our community. Classes/sessions are available to all military members, retirees, dependents, civilians and contractors with access to MacDill AFB. There are also two relaxation rooms with massage chairs available on a walk-in basis. For a list of monthly events, please visit and Like our MARC Facebook page at DillARC. All classes are listed in the events section of the page. MARC hours of operation: 7:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. Building name: Gator Cove (Junior Enlisted Dormitory) Building number: 378, 3rd floor Street address: 8206 Hillsborough Loop Dr., MacDill AFB, Fla, Commercial phone: (813) 827/8-MARC (6272) DSN: 968-MARC (6272) MacDillMARC@us.af.mil Flu vaccine available The 6th Medical Group is ready to protect you. All dependents, retirees and beneficiaries, we have the flu vaccine for you. The Influenza vaccine is available at the MacDill Immunizations Clinic during normal duty hours, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We close at 11 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month for training day. The Brandon Community Clinic will have walk-in Influenza vaccinations available Tuesday-Friday from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Have news? Send it to the MacDill Thunderbolt at thunder.bolt@us.af.mil