JCSE special edition - starts page 2. Critical Days of Summer, week 9: Water safety - page 14. Vol. 41, No. 29 Thursday, July 18, 2013

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1 Vol. 41, No. 29 Thursday, July 18, 2013 JCSE special edition - starts page 2 U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Tech. Sgt. Tanika Belfield Col. Kirby Watson, Joint Communications Support Element commander, oversees JCSE at MacDill Air Force Base, which is comprised of three active-duty squadrons, a U.S. Army Reserve Squadron and two Air National Guard units that deploy to provide en route, initial entry and early entry communication support globally. Critical Days of Summer, week 9: Water safety - page 14

2 COMMANDER S CORNER Thank you to the MacDill Air Force Base community by Army Col. Kirby Watson Joint Communications Support Element commander On behalf of the soldiers, sailors, Airmen and Marines of the Joint Communications Support Element, I want to reach out to the MacDill Air Force Base community, acknowledge and thank you for the support you continue to provide the JCSE. The JCSE has been a part of the MacDill community for 50 years helping to shape our country s history from Desert One to Desert Storm, from support to humanitarian and disaster relief efforts in Haiti, Pakistan and Japan most recently, to providing missionessential communications support in the most remote locations around the world in our struggle against terrorism. As the commander, I am very proud of all this organization has done, is doing every day and the sacrifice our service members and their families endure. After 25 years of service I am still amazed at the quality of service members and the families which our all-volunteer force retains. I am humbled by the same level of support communities like the Tampa Bay area have been providing for years. JCSE has celebrated many victories and has had its share of losses as well, yet through it all it there has always been the steadfast assurance of the MacDill community coming together to help us through those events. From U.S. Central Command, US Special Operations Command and the 6th Air Mobility Wing to the community of Tampa Bay, JCSE has been blessed to have great teammates marching side by side with us every step of the way. See CORNER, Page 17 Col. Kirby Watson 6th Air Mobility Wing shout-outs The 91st Air Refueling Squadron would like to give a shout-out to Senior Airman Taryn Summers for saving the life of a local civilian. Summers, while volunteering at the Florida Hospital Tampa Emergency Room as part of her emergency medical technician certification class, performed one hour of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient, which resulted in their full recovery. Also, she has been working with a local animal shelter and has fostered 5 kittens-with 2 successful adoptions so far. In addition to her offduty academic classes and volunteer work, she continues to raise the bar as the unit s new Unit Program Coordinator. Summers was instrumental in helping to replace the outgoing UPC, and is vital to the squadron s Awards & Decorations process, Officer Progress Report and Enlisted Progress Report, as the Command Support Staff technician, maintaining accountability for the 140 electronic flight bags, in-processing coordinator, and much more. 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. Commander s vision To view Col. Scott DeThomas remarks on his vision for MacDill AFB, go to and then click on Col. DeThomas priorities, mission, and expectations video in the upper left corner. 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 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 Your T-bolt Today Week in photos: page 4 Images from around MacDill News/Features: page 8 JCSE Vital Connection News/Features: page 12 JCSE on the job News/Features: page 16 JCSE: A history Community: page 21 Events, Chapel, more... Deployment: a way of life By Lt. Col. Thomas Foster 3rd Joint Communications Squadron Since September 11, 2001 the word deployment has been integrated into our vocabulary like any other word we might use under normal circumstances. Hearing spouses say My husband is deployed, or seeing a young child at the airport holding a sign that reads Welcome home Mommy! You re my hero! are now part of our society. For many of us that wear the uniform, deployment is a part of our life. We train for it, and our families get ready for it. For the joint service members assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element and the 3rd Joint Communications Squadron, training and mentality revolve around deployment. The 3rd Joint Communications Squadron has been tasked with supporting several units in the Central Command Area of Operations. The squadron is currently structured into two troops, each troop has two sections, each of which contains 15 or more joint service members, and each section conducts fourmonth rotations in the CEN- TCOM AOR. Upon arrival to 3JCS, service members are assigned to troops and sent to the Joint Operations Communications School where they learn technical aspects of our tactical signal equipment, as well as tactical training and Combat Life Saving skills. Upon completion of this 30 day course, service members are reintegrated back to their respective troops and assigned to a team where they learn their team s dynamics, how they are deployed and the importance of being a team player. The troop leadership is tasked to provide training, classes and exercises that will Lt. Col. Thomas Foster develop their joint service members into even better leaders. The end product is a Joint Signal Service Member that is able to function during combat and maintain communications during the most stressful of situations regardless of the environment. See COMMENTARY, Page 20 Am I doing this right? Dear Wing Ma am, I am a divorcee and a dad. When my kids were toddlers they would come to stay with me intermittently for holidays and short visits as part of the custody agreement. This year for summer break they will be staying with me for about four months. Just me and my five and six-year-old all day and all night. I have a good support system and even have some leave approved so I can show my kids a good time but I am a little nervous about being a single parent 24/7. How do I know that I am doing things right? I want to be a good parent and not mess things them up. Any advice? ~Papa Bear Dear Papa Bear, Being a parent can be the most fulfilling experience a person can have. One of the most important things you can do as a parent is ensure that your child feels loved. Feeling secure, knowing they can turn to you for anything and feeling protected & safe will build a solid cornerstone for your child s development into adulthood. You don t have to make the right choice every single time. However, what you can strive for is being a positive parent. Being a positive parent means you are firm, fair and loving. Young children are like little sponges they notice everything. As a guideline, I encourage you to never use violence. That means don t use violence with others and not towards your children. Explain your expectations with clarity, keeping in mind their age, development and personality. Make simple rules that they will be able to understand and be consistent when enforcing boundaries. This will help them in developing a See WING MA AM, Page 14 Dear Wing Ma am is written by Capt. Christy Cruz, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Wing Ma am works as the Resiliency Program manager and clinical therapist at MacDill AFB. If you want to ask Wing Ma am for advice, please send your questions to 6MDOS. sgoh@us.af.mil. Letters are kept anonymous. Rights are reserved to edit published letters for style and length. Not every question can be answered. This column seeks to educate readers and should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional assistance.

4 WEEK IN PHOTOS Tech Sgt. Benjamin Springsteen, Joint Communications Support Element technical controller, performs a quality assurance check on a network enterprise system at MacDill Air Force Base on July 9. Quality assurance checks ensure that wires and cables of the network enterprise system are connected and working properly. Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant Photo by Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz Tech. Sgt. Gerald Mastravito, Joint Communications Support Element assistant team chief, and Army Sgt. Cory Wingate, JCSE team member, secure a tough box around communication equipment after completing an Alert Posture Force certification at MacDill Air Force Base July 8. Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant Army Sgt. Lane Dayley, Joint Communications Support Element communications operator, performs a quality assurance check on a Hawkeye Light satellite at Mac- Dill Air Force Base July 9. The satellite is a two-way ground station that enables mobile communication.

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6 Senator visits MacDill; announces he is satisfied with security by Airman 1st Class Sarah Breer 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Bill Nelson, Florida U.S. Senator, visited MacDill Air Force Base Friday to address base security and announced he is satisfied that the base is protected from security threats. Recently an individual was found to have trespassed on base at least four times, once using a trash can to jump a fence protecting the base perimeter. Nelson met with base leadership to determine what happened and why the individual was able to get onto the installation. Nelson said that base security is solid and that the previous breaches had been handled appropriately. I am convinced that (base security forces officials) are doing what they can and it is sufficient for our national security interests, Nelson said. The 6th Security Forces Squadron was been recognized in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 as the Air Mobility Command s Large Security Forces Unit of the Year. In 2009 and 2010 it was the Air Force s Large Security Forces Unit of the Year. Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Breer Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Senator Bill Nelson speak to media members during Nelson s visit to the base Friday. Members of the 6th SFS are keeping the base safe, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nelson expressed his confidence that security will be kept at a heightened state. There are two things they (6th SFS officials) have done, Nelson said, an enhancement of the fence line and at the Maritime. Two, (they are) talking to everyone, just to be aware of what s going on. Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, said that security at MacDill Air Force Base is constantly improving and evolving to accommodate new threats, but the base s best asset is its people and the Tampa community. In the past six weeks there have been three attempts to illegally gain entry to MacDill. On all three occasions someone from the local community alerted the installation or Tampa officials. Security forces and the Tampa Bay community s law enforcement agencies worked together and the attempts were thwarted before the individuals made it to the base. We ve taken measures to prevent the physical part of it, but the best way to prevent trespassers and threats is to have everyone on and around MacDill staying vigilant, said De- Thomas. At the entry control points across base, security can be seen. Sentries at the gate tell the rest of the community that only authorized per- See NELSON, Page 15

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8 MISSION TEAMMATES Vital connection further prepares JCSE for disaster relief by Whitney Williams U.S. Transportation Command Joint Enabling Capabilities Command lead communications specialist The Joint Communications Support Element sits alert as part of the Global Response Force. In the past, GRF forces have deployed in support of humanitarian disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Gustav and, more recently, Hurricane Sandy. Preparation for deployment in support of disaster relief efforts includes participation in exercises. May 15 and 16 members of JCSE deployed to Colorado to provide communication support to U.S. Northern Command s Vital Connection program during an exercise. This program includes a series of three annual exercises held in various states across the nation and is designed to test communications interoperability during domestic emergency or disaster relief operations. During the exercise, more than 200 participants from local, state and federal agencies assembled at the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Facility in Littleton, Colo. to test the capabilities of their various communications systems during a simulated natural disaster. USNORTHCOM asked JCSE to participate in this most recent iteration following their successful performance during the first Vital Connection exercise of 2013, which took place at Camp Blanding, Fla. earlier in the year. USNORTHCOM was impressed with how quickly the JCSE team was able to bring the equipment up on all services, how quickly we were able to extend services to customers as well as the team s overall knowledge, said Army Sgt. Michael Hope, JCSE team member, who participated during both Vital Connection Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Guzman U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ricky Uth, Joint Communications Support Element member, sets up an Early Entry Package during the Vital Connection exercise. The scalable, mobile nature of the EEP allowed JCSE to set up anywhere on the training facility, providing extra space for other exercise participants. iterations. All Vital Connection exercises focus on the same basic concept; a natural disaster in the local area causes all communications, includ- See DISASTER, Page 10

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10 disaster From Page 8 Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ricky Uth U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Guzman, a member of the Joint Communications Support Element, configures a PRC-117G Wideband Tactical Radio for use during the Vital Connection exercise May 15 and 16 in Littleton, Colo. ing those of crisis and emergency first responders, to go down. However, the exercises differ in the type and level of support provided by the participating agencies as well as the various injects that are included to further stress and test interoperability. JCSE, which regularly provides rapidly deployable, en-route, early entry and scalable communications capabilities to combatant commanders across the globe, was responsible for providing commercial Internet, phone, video teleconferencing and radio communications on multiple channels and frequencies to more than 60 personnel from local law enforcement and emergency response teams. This exercise was different in the fact that we had to provide a more extensive amount of services to a much larger number of customers, Hope said. We had to configure our equipment differently than our standard setup, which is something that is completely outside our normal day-to-day range. JCSE employed their Early Entry Package, a modular, scalable communications system which provides an added flexibility in tailoring communications capabilities to the customer s requirements. As also seen during the previous Vital Connection exercise, the scalable, mobile nature of JCSE s communications packages, proved to be a critical asset to this type of operation. equipment is extremely relevant due to the fact that we were able to support two different military units on our network while continuing to also provide communications to our primary customers and we were successful in that task, said Hope. Additionally, the mobility of the Early Entry Package gave us the option of setting up our site anywhere on the training facility, which opened up extra space for other participants. To add realism to the Vital Connection exercise, USNORTHCOM incorporated injects, which consisted of intermittent power failures, to further validate that JCSE, along with the other participants, are prepared for the unpredictable nature of a disaster relief operation. The exercise was realistic in the sense that most of the participants needed our services because their equipment continued to malfunction, Hope explained. This was very helpful in preparing us for possible real-world operations in the future because each team member was actively engaged in helping multiple customers at any given time during the entire exercise. Mr. Mark Jensen, a joint interoperability communications planner with USNORTHCOM who coordinates the Vital Connection exercises, was impressed with the support JCSE brought to the exercise and said, JCSE provided an outstanding effort and engaged in the full spectrum of communications interoperability with fellow military, federal, state and local units to accomplish the exercise objectives. The goal of Vital Connection was to test the interoperability capabilities between civilian and military agencies and ultimately, provide better communications services to first responders. JCSE was a key factor in meeting that goal and will continue to be a value-added capability that is readily available, if and when disaster strikes. JCSE plans to also participate in the final iteration of the 2013 Vital Connection exercise series in September.

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12 Staying in touch: JCSE makes it happen The Joint Communications Support Element is a unit within the Department of Defense, whose communication support for contingency operations is directed by the United States Transportation Command. JCSE is a tactical unit that has the ability to operate at the tactical, operational, and strategic level. MacDill Air Force Base is home to the JCSE headquarters, which is comprised of three active-duty squadrons, a U.S. Army Reserve Squadron and two Air National Guard units that deploy to provide en route, initial entry and early entry communication support globally.

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14 Water Safety Tips u Never swim alone u Don t drink then swim/boat u Take swimming lessons u Know your limits u Know the area u Check depth and temperature before jumping in u Wear a life jacket Children Kids who drown in residential pools had been: u Last seen inside their home u Gone for less than 5 minutes u In the care of either or both parents at the time. WING MA AM From Page 3 sense of responsibility and respect. Lastly, show them lots of affection! Words of encouragement, appreciation, a smile, hugs and kisses do wonders for a child s self-esteem and self worth. Check out some of the helpful resources in our community like the Youth Center at or through Chaplain Services at Remember, you don t have to be perfect to be the perfect parent. nelson From Page 6 sonnel are allowed on base. Security implementations from extra random vehicle inspections, having military working dogs at the gate at random times, having more security forces members at the gate, and random upgrades in force protections levels ensure that the base population is kept safe. If there is a security concern on base, citizens should call the security forces command post at At all times, the base community should remember that if something is seen, then authorities should be called. Even if an incident seems to be insignificant, it could alert security forces to a bigger issue. For more information on Eagle Eyes please visit and search Eagle eyes.

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16 MISSION TEAMMATES JCSE: A history Adapted from the full history of the Joint Communication Support Element which can be found on the MacDill Air Force Base homepage (after publication- we will put the whole thing up on the website) In early January 2010, a catastrophic 7.0- magnitude earthquake rippled through Port-au- Prince, Haiti, affecting more than three million people and resulting in one of the worst natural disasters in history. More than 250,000 homes and buildings were destroyed including the Presidential Palace, National Assembly building and headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. Additionally, the earthquake knocked out communications systems and electrical networks that were essential to respond to the various needs of Haitian citizens during this time of extreme devastation. Enter the Joint Communications Support Element, which arrived in Haiti within 24 hours of the earthquake and provided the first joint and secure communications capabilities in the country. JCSE communications equipment enabled the Haitian government to communicate with the U.S. President, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Department of State to identify the way ahead for relief operations. In addition, the JCSE provided the initial secure voice, network and videoteleconference capabilities for the Joint Task Force Haiti commander, Lieutenant General Ken Keen, USA, and his staff. Without JCSE s ability to provide these essential communications capabilities in the time period immediately following the earthquake, it is possible that U.S. humanitarian assistance efforts may not have been as successful. The Establishment of JCSE JCSE, a subordinate command of the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, was originally established at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, in 1961 as the Communications Support Element under the now disestablished U.S. Strike Command. With just over 400 Air Force and Army personnel assigned, the CSE was established to serve as a quick response communications unit during crisis and contingency operations. In 1972, the Navy and Marine Corps joined the CSE, and it was appropriately re-designated as JCSE. Despite JCSE s continuous evolution over the last 50 years, the essence of the original CSE mission has remained at the forefront. JCSE s persistent focus on expeditionary, joint communications support has taken it all over the world to assist in some of the most highly publicized U.S. military operations of the last half-century. Additionally, as a multi-service and eventually a fully joint unit, JCSE had the unique ability to enable commanders to communicate across multi-service platforms and leverage the most efficient means of communication to accomplish the mission. Within the past 10 years, JCSE s primary focus has been on operations in the USCENT- COM area of responsibility following the attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror. Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Guzman More than 200 personnel from local, state and federal agencies gathered at the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Facility in Littleton, Colo. to test the capabilities of their various communications systems during a simulated natural disaster during Vital Connection. This exercise was hosted by U.S Northern Command and presented by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management and the Colorado Army National Guard. JCSE members were deployed within weeks of 9/11 and were actively involved in operations in Afghanistan no more than two months later. JCSE troopers were some of the first military responders to arrive in Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in March of 2003 and have since maintained a continuous presence in the country throughout that operation (from March 2003 through August 2010) and the duration of the follow-on mission, Operation New Dawn (from September 2010 through December 2011). Value Beyond the Battlefield Part of what makes JCSE stand out from other communications units is the 24 hours a day, 7 days a week reach back support it provides. See HISROTY, Page 20

17 CORNER From Page 2 We are more than teammates; we are friends, neighbors and classmates. We sit side by side at sporting events, movies, chapel services, school and other local community gatherings. You cry with us at family events to say goodbye to our deploying service members. You help take care of our spouses and families while we are gone and you are there again to laugh, smile and welcome us home. You have even been there to help escort and say goodbye to those we have lost. We could never ask for this kind of support, it is given freely and with open hearts. To call MacDill and the Tampa Bay community our friends doesn t seem to capture the wealth and depth of your support to our service members and their families. To all those that have been on this 50-year journey with JCSE, Command Sgt. Maj. Lemuel Brock and I want to express our deepest gratitude for allowing us to be part of this great community. The more I think about it, the more I can only describe this enduring relationship as..family.

18 MISSION TEAMMATES JCSE begins support to Pacific Partnership 2013 By Julianne Sympson Joint Enabling Capabilities Command Public Affairs NORFOLK, Va. A nine-man team from the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron (JCSS) deployed on May 24 to provide essential communications services to efficiently and effectively meet the mission requirements of Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) until September. The 224th JCSS is a Georgia Air National Guard unit aligned to the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command s Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE). PP13 is the largest annual disaster response-preparation mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, and integrates medical, dental and veterinarian experts and engineers from the Department of Defense, civilian agencies and non-governmental organizations during a four-month voyage to several remote island nations in the South Pacific. PP13 emphasizes a cooperative approach to disaster-response preparedness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region, while building mutual trust, strengthening relationships and enhancing lasting regional stability and security. This year s PP13 teams will work within the host nations of Samoa, Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Papau New Guinea. JCSE s mission-tailored communications services will ensure PP13 s medical, dental and veterinary teams can forge solid and enduring lines of communication between the partner and host nations during their work together. To meet mission requirements during PP13, the JCSE team is employing four Initial Entry Packages highly mobile, commercial air transportable communications kits, which can provide secure and non-secure voice and video teleconferencing capabilities for up to four users each. The uniqueness that we bring to the communications field is a great fit for this mission based on the equipment we use, our small logistical footprint and how we can easily maneuver within country from the setup, maintenance and tear down of the communications systems at each destination, said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James Wombolt, a member of the JCSE team deploying in support of PP13. Upon arrival at each destination, JCSE s communications expertise allows the teams ashore to pass information to doctors onboard USS Pearl Harbor efficiently and effectively. This support will enhance coordination and information sharing regarding patient movements, equipment and supplies. The doctors and nurses will be able to pass larger amounts of information quicker and easier back to the ship due to the increased bandwidth and communications services we are providing, explained Wombolt. Additionally, we can even provide them the ability to reach specialists at their home station as well, if need be. For half the JCSE team, this is their first deployment with the 224th See PACIFIC RIM, Page 20

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20 history From Page 16 In addition to its world-class communications equipment, JCSE ensures reliable communications through its Joint Network Operations Center, maintained from its headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base. The JNOC employs, operates and defends the DISN-TE enterprise 24/7, while providing assured network availability, information protection and delivery across the full spectrum of operations. Moreover, it provides the only military-specific communication network using EoIP technology. Essentially, the JNOC is JCSE s heartbeat for real-time situational awareness. Key to Continued Success JCSE s success is a direct result of the combined efforts of its highly trained, dedicated, and professional members. Fortunately, JCSE s stellar reputation allows it to seek out only the best network and system administrators, satellite and field radio operators, and data network specialists from each Service. For those in a communications specialty, a position at JCSE is a desirable stepping stone that often leads to key assignments when they return to their respective services. The Joint Communications Support Element is regarded as the center of excellence in joint military communications. Its communication/equipment packages are cutting edge, its services are extremely reliable, its members are the most highly skilled and its performance is flawless. JCSE s exceptional communication technology and service already has impacted or soon will impact every single member of the Armed Forces. As technology advances at an increasingly rapid pace in the next few years, JCSE will be sure to remain at the forefront to lead the charge as the Voice Heard Round the World. commentary From Page 3 The process to deploy a troop into the CENTCOM AOR takes much coordination, and with the assistance of several organizations on MacDill Air Force Base, this process has become efficient and streamlined. The 6th Medical Group does a great job screening every joint service member that will enter any AOR. Deployment briefs that troopers need are conveniently done in one location by numerous organizations that range from legal resources, family readiness group guidance, chaplain services, Military One Source and even spouse support programs. Once a service member and their team have transitioned into the CENTCOM AOR, they are then integrated into other units while supporting them with critical C4I assets. After four months of being downrange, service members look forward to return to the United State as a combined unit - each team with different experiences and more knowledge than before. Teams get to experience the final phase of deployment when they return to MacDill. They look forward to seeing familiar faces from 3JCS and possibly even seeing a sign created for them by a loved one. To those of us in a military community, this is our world. This is just another day at the office. For 3JCS, this is the reason we train, and it is that for which our families prepare. This is our way of life. pacific rim From Page 18 JCSS; yet these communication experts are eager to work closely with the medical and civil assistance teams to provide connectivity across the full range of civic action projects for the duration of the mission. By providing this direct support, the JCSE team will see firsthand how the expertise they bring to the mission enhances interoperability and maintains open lines of communication at each site. Like many of my teammates this is a new experience but I can t wait to provide the handson, tactical support. It s something I enjoy doing, said JCSE member, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dorsey Wade. The JCSE team eagerly awaits arrival in Samoa, the mission s first destination, and is looking forward to demonstrating their ability to provide mission-critical support to PP13. Deploying in support of this disaster-response preparedness mission is an incredible opportunity for these members who are excited to contribute to this great cause and further strengthen the communications skill sets they bring to the joint force.

21 MACDILL COMMUNITY EVENTS Friday Career Fair - Youth Center Noon 3 p.m. More than 50 companies will be participating. Dress professionally & bring resumes. Call A&FRC at for more information. EFMP Parent Support Meeting - Airman & Family Readiness 1 p.m.-2 p.m., 8105 Condor Rd, Bldg 18 (next to Post Office) SeaScapes Beach House Friday Bash. 4-8 p.m. Bar snacks and drink specials. Guaranteed $100 club card winner, Bar Bingo - $1,000 jackpot, Trivia and DJ. Family Fun Night. Fun starts at 5 p.m. Food and drink specials. $2-and-under menu items for kids. Kid s activities. Free ice cream sundae bar (peanut free) with all meals. Saturday MacDill Lanes (Every third Saturday) Famarama Bowling, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., kids bowl for $1 a game. Food specials: burgers, New York pizza, Lucky Dogs, rootbeer floats, vanilla milk shakes, chocolate sundaes Sunday Club Member Appreciation Day At the Bay Palms Golf Complex, club members enjoy free golf and cart. Must show valid club card upon check-in at Pro Shop. Call Wednesday-Saturday SeaScapes Summer Nights Open 4-9 p.m. Evening dinner specials. Come relax and enjoy the view. CHAPEL SCHEDULE Protestant services Sunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary Service Islamic services Friday - 1:30 p.m. - Muslim Prayer Service Catholic services Saturday - 5:30 p.m. - Mass Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass Call the chapel at for more information or visit the chapel web site at Graphic by Senior Airman Adam Grant

22 BRIEFS Museum of Science and Industry military appreciation Through Labor Day military members can get into the Tampa Museum of Science and Industry s permanent exhibits for free. Anyone with a military ID (active or retired) and dependents can visit for more information. Tinker summer closing Tinker Elementary will be closed during the summer, reopening July 29. Hours of registration will be Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. until Aug. 9. Monday-Friday operations will resume Aug. 12. Commissary will close Mondays The commissary will close on Mondays through Sept. 30 as a result of furloughs because of sequestration. Other days of operation remain Tuesday through Sunday. MARC book club meetings The MacDill Area Resilience Center Book Club had an enthusiastic showing last meeting. Calico Joe was selected as the club s first month s read. It can be downloaded to an e-reader for free from the base library. Next meeting will be at 5 p.m. on July 25 and we ll discuss the first month s novel. Joe is a father-son reconciliation novel that centers on baseball in the early 1970 s, so next meeting will have a baseball theme. Wear a favorite jersey or cap, and enjoy ball park goodies. For more information, contact Lt. Col. Rachelle Nowlin at rachelle.nowlin@us.af.mil or Critical Days of Summer The Critical Days of Summer are in full swing. The MacDill Safety Office has a goal of being safe n sound all year round. Work center briefs about numerous topics and driving under the influence will take place throughout from Memorial Day to Labor Day. PCSing overseas with a pet? The veterinary clinic needs to evaluate your pet at least six months before you change to an overseas duty station. Some countries require extra shots, vaccinations and a special tracking chip that the veterinary clinic must sign off on before your pet can travel with you overseas. Please do not wait until the last minute to have your pet checked out, because your pet will not be allowed to travel with you. For more information call or Visit the official MacDill Air Force Base website at