Professional mind-set pays off - page 8

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1 Vol. 45, No. 29 Thursday, July 20, 2017 News/Features: page 3 Maintainers: Start your engines Professional mind-set pays off - page 8 News/Features: page 3 Citizen Airmen bond Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week News/Features: page 6 CDC classrooms makeover Community: page 14 Events, Chapel, more... Photo by Airman 1st Class Adam R. Shanks U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joshua Malyemezian, section chief of performance management assigned to the 6th Contracting Squadron, double checks pending contracts at MacDill Air Force Base July 11. Malyemezian is a 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award winner.

2 COMMENTARY Take charge of your medical care; options make it easier by Col. Karen L. Church 6th Medical Group When you or your family member are feeling ill, need a physical or immunization, how do you get that care? Most would answer, call the clinic appointment line at But, did you know that you have options for after duty hours, weekends, and holidays? The first is the Nurse Advise Line, or NAL. It can be reached by calling option #1. As a TRICARE beneficiary, this service is available to you 24/7. The NAL is a nurse-run triage service that can provide you with home care or assist you in finding the nearest Urgent Care Center or Emergency Room to meet your health care needs. On average, it takes about 20 minutes to complete a call to the NAL. A second option for routine or non-urgent health care questions and requests, such as medication refills and lab results, is the Patient Portal (formally known as MiCare). This is a secure messaging service available 24/7 to communicate with your health care team. All you need to enroll for this service is a personal . To enquire about the program or to enroll, please one of the following clinic representatives for this service: Capt. Naomi Winterheld at Naomi.winterheld@us.af.mil for the MacDill campus, and Capt. Brandi Vazquez at brandi.vazquez@ us.af.mil for the Brandon Clinic. A third option is TRICARE ONLINE or TOL, which can be accessed via This site allows you to schedule, reschedule, cancel, and review appointments for yourself or your authorized family members. You can even refill and check the status of your prescriptions from the comfort of your personal computer. The website even has the capabilities for you to review, print, or download your personal health data from your military electronic health record at your convenience. To maximize your access to care, make sure to properly cancel a scheduled appointment you cannot make. By cancelling an appointment, we may have the ability to reschedule that appointment for someone who needs to be seen, thus providing better access for all. On average appointments per week, or 10 percent, actually result in patients not showing up for a scheduled appointment. The result of which reduces the opportunity for other beneficiaries to receive care. If you need to cancel, please contact us via the appointment line, the Patient Portal, or TOL. The 6th Medical Group is here for you, and access to health care 24/7 is our top priority. Thank you for allowing us to serve you! For information about base operations during emergencies or natural disasters, call the Straight Talk Line at COMMANDER S ACTION LINE The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. Personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments via to macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil. MacDill on the web Website: Facebook: MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb MacDill Thunderbolt Publisher: Joe DeLuca Editor: Nick Stubbs The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by the Times Publishing Company, 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 the TImes Publishing Company of the products or service advertised. For retail advertising, call (813) 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. 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 Call the Thunderbolt at amw.pa.macdillthunderbolt@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 MacDill maintainers learn how to run aircraft engines by Airman 1st Class Ashley Perdue 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Each month, Tech. Sgt. Dustin Wegehaupt, a production supervisor and jet engine instructor assigned to the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 2, leads a unique course teaching personnel how to run aircraft engines at MacDill Air Force Base. Known as the KC-135R/T Flightline F108 Engine Operator Course, the four-day class is designed to train and qualify personnel on the flightline to safely and correctly operate aircraft engines without a pilot. The class trains students on operational and emergency procedures for the F108 engines on the KC-135, and teaches students about operating limits, said Wegehaupt. If they have any maintenance issues involving the engines, it won t be necessary to fly someone else in to run the engines, which could potentially affect a time-critical mission to support aircraft and troops. During the first three days, students are instructed on safety precautions, operating limits, and emergency procedures. We also teach how to do an internal and external pre-start check, which is basically making sure everything is set up right before and after an engine run, said Wegehaupt. The last day of the course, we actually take the students out and run the engines. See ENGINES, Page 15 Photo by Airman 1st Class Ashley Perdue U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jose Gonzalez, a crew chief assigned to the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, practices starting the engines for a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft as the final task for the KC-135R/T Flightline F108 Engine Operator course at MacDill Air Force Base July 14. During the four-day course, maintainers are trained on operational and emergency procedures for the F108 engines on the KC-135. Citizen Airmen bond on annual tour by Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany Annual tour is much more than occupational training. It s also an opportunity for Airmen to bond with their wingmen, discover each other s goals and aspirations as well as any challenges they maybe facing. Recently citizen Airmen from the 927th Air Refueling Wing s Logistics Readiness Squadron, assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, traveled to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, to perform their two-week-long annual tour. UTAs (Unit Training Assemblies) are very busy with CBTs (computer based training) and other military readiness requirements and it gives us limited time to get to know our people, said Master Sgt. Yaree Parker, 927th LRS, First Sgt. This is great, having the majority of the squadron here. We are able to work side-by-side during the work day, then in the evening and on the weekends we are able to get to know each other in a more relaxed environment. Typically a traditional reservist will report for duty one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Many have lives outside the Air Force Reserve and everyone s story is a little different; whether it s continuing their education or pursuing their life s passion. Airman 1st Class Natassia Wilson, 927th LRS traffic management technician is an avid music lover who aspires to be a musical artist, a music producer, or a songwriter. I ve always loved music; every person interprets music differently and I like to make people feel my music, whether it s my singing or the lyrics that Photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Borgman While at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, performing their annual tour, Airmen from the 927th Air Refueling Wing s Logistics Readiness Squadron spent time breaking bread and getting to know each other July 11. I write, said Wilson. It s my way of lifting the spirits of my community. If I could create a song that is so meaningful and uplifting and it helps people, that would be awesome. Another 927th LRS member with goals outside of his military service is Airman 1st Class Kenny Fernandez, who has established his own small business in the Tampa Bay area. See BOND, Page 11

4 WEEK IN PHOTOS Photo by Senior Airman Mariette Adams Christopher Pecenka, center, the TRICARE contact liaison assigned to the 6th Medical Support Squadron, talks with wing leadership about his job during Airmen s time at MacDill Air Force Base July 13. Airmen s Time is an opportunity for wing leadership to get to know Airmen and their respective organizations. Photo by Airman 1st Class Adam R. Shanks U.S. Air Force Col. William Stowe III, left, commander of the 6th Operations Group passes the 6th Operations Support Squadron guidon to Lt. Col. Justin Dahman, the incoming commander of the 6th OSS during an assumption of command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base July 13. The passing of the guidon signifies the beginning of the new commander s tenure. Photo by Airman 1st Class Ashley Perdue Junior-enlisted Airmen graduate from the First Term Airmen Course at MacDill Air Force Base Friday. FTAC is a course that provides a structure for Airmen who are transitioning from a training environment into the operational Air Force.

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6 NEWS/FEATURES MacDill Child Development Center classrooms becoming inspiring spaces by Nick Stubbs Thunderbolt editor There was a time when it was thought that classrooms for young children should be filled with stimulating colors, artwork, widgets and gadgets of all varieties a cornucopia of things to engage their thirsty, young minds. That was then and this is now, said Debra Dietz, MacDill Child Development Center 3 manager, who recently spent several days working with Dr. Sandra Duncan, professional classroom designer and author, to revamp the CDC classrooms using practices known as Inspiring Spaces. Rooms that look like a three-way collision between unicorns, rainbows and the alphabet are over stimulating, said Dietz, which is why she worked to get Duncan to spend some time at MacDill to help shape the classroom environments at the CDCs. Dr. Duncan came to (Kadena Air Base) Okinawa when I was there, said Dietz, adding that the transformation she made there prompted her to bring her to MacDill to work some of the same kind of magic. Duncan, who wrapped up her time at MacDill Monday, said her primary goal is to create an environment that inspires wonder, in the children. If you include elements of beauty it stimulates in children a sense of wonder, and it s been shown that a sense of wonder promotes lifelong learning, said Duncan. The stage is set by using earth tones in classroom color schemes. Furniture is arranged in a way that creates flow and reduces clutter, in much the same way we arrange our homes, said Dietz. See CLASSROOM, Page 13 Photo by Nick Stubbs Debra Dietz, Child Development Center 3 manager, seated, and Dr. Sandra Duncan, hold baby dolls with children in the newly designed mini living room at the CDC 3. Duncan is a classroom designer who has been consulting at the CDC to create inspiring spaces for better learning.

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8 Contracting excellence earns senior NCO 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year award by Airman 1st Class Adam R. Shanks 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Each year, 12 Airmen across the Air Force are selected for the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award. The award recognizes the top 12 outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership and the whole Airman concept. Now, MacDill Air Force Base is home to one of these winners. Master Sgt. Joshua Mayo Malyemezian, section chief of the performance management flight assigned to the 6th Contracting Squadron, won the award while assigned to Air Combat Command. His award stems from his accomplishments between Jan. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2016, as the section chief of the services and contingency support flights assigned to the 55th Contracting Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. During that time, the Spring, Texas, native was also the unit deployment manager, unit training manager and coordinator of unit exercises focused on standing up bare bases. I never thought I would get a call from Gen. Holmes (commander of ACC) two days before the list of the 12 Airmen was released, said Malyemezian. Honestly, I always saw the 12 OAY Award as something unachievable, something that was meant for battlefield Airmen who put themselves in harm s way for our country. However, Malyemezian attributes this award to the mindset that began during his first duty as an Air Force Honor Guard ceremonial guardsman. After entering the Air Force in July 2005, he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Ceremonial Guardsmen course in December The USAF Honor Guard was a great start for me because it set extremely high expectations for myself, said Malyemezian. When it came to uniforms, details and how we conducted ourselves, anything less than perfect was absolutely unacceptable. To this day, I still strive to carry myself that way, and uphold the standards expected of me. He later became an Air Force Honor Guard instructor, allowing him to pass on his knowledge and professionalism to new members of the program. After four years in the Honor Guard, he retrained into the contracting career field in November Then, he began his new career at Offutt AFB. Some of his achievements while at Offutt include being a contracting officer for three flights with a $5 million buying authority, allowing him and his team to secure a communications upgrade contract in less than a week. He also saved $27 million taxpayer dollars with a magnetic resonance imaging contract, which led to him being named the ACC Contracting Senior NCO of the Year for Since moving to MacDill, Malyemezian explained that his mindset still stands. I was never trying to win any awards; I just do my job as well as I can and support my Airmen to ensure they have an understanding of their job, he explained. But one interesting thing about my award nomination file is that I wasn t a full-time student, nor a full-time volunteer. My focus was purely on my tasks at work. Malyemezian explained that hard work, and taking pride in what he did was his top priority during To him, the work ethic that started at Offutt is exactly what he s bringing to MacDill. Our team is extremely excited about Master Sgt. Malyemezian s accomplishment, said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Peske, commander of the 6th CONS. Although he has only been with our squadron a short time, he has already proved himself to be an impeccable senior NCO. I am incredibly proud of Mayo, and his selection highlights both his exceptional performance and the Air Force s recognition of the critical capabilities our contracting professionals contribute to our mission partners, said Peske. Master Sgt. Joshua Malyemezian, section chief of performance construction site visit at MacDill Air Force Base July 11. As sectio ensures workers wages are met per the contract. Photo by Airman 1st Class Adam U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joshua Malyemezian, section ch performance management assigned to the 6th Contra Squadron, adds a contract task for an Airman at MacDill Air Base July 11.

9 Photo by Airman 1st Class Adam R. Shanks management assigned to the 6th Contracting Squadron, writes notes during a n chief, Malyemezian oversees most construction contracts around MacDill and Courtesy photo Master Sgt. Joshua Malyemezian, section chief of performance management assigned to the 6th Contracting Squadron, plays with his son, Joshua, at Bellevue, Neb., Aug. 24, Malyemezian plans to continue to develop himself and his Airmen. R. Shanks ief of cting Force Courtesy photo U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joshua Malyemezian, section chief of performance management assigned to the 6th Contracting Squadron, pauses for a photo with his daughter, Myca, in Bellevue, Neb., Nov. 8, Photo by Airman 1st Class Adam R. Shanks Master Sgt. Joshua Malyemezian, section chief of performance management assigned to the 6th Contracting Squadron, conducts a site visit for a marina improvement contract at MacDill Air Force Base July 11.

10 NEWS/FEATURES Iron Chef Cooking Camp served up fun, good eats by Nick Stubbs Thunderbolt editor Balancing two careers can be difficult, but so great is his passion for cooking, 9-year-old Drew Peske is sure he can be a chef during the week and an astrophysicist on weekends when he grows up. Peske isn t alone. Among the 60 other MacDill kids who participated in the 2017 Iron Chef Cooking Camp, professional chef is on their radar, and for about all the rest, home chef is the goal. It s all the cooking shows, said Loretta Gains, assistant youth director, who heads up the summer cooking camp, regarding the interest among youths in cooking. They (children) watch at home with the family and they prepare meals for their families. Gains said the camp was split into to two classes this year, with 30 kids each. The camp was full the same day registration opened. The camp included an Iron Chef contest with teams of four facing off in a timed ingredient challenge. The camp was capped off with a trip to a local restaurant, where kids toured the kitchen, and learned how chefs work followed by lunch. The competition was spirited, said Gaines, but friendly. The team with the best behavior and attentiveness got first pick of ingredients, said Gaines. But once the competition got started, they all worked together, and if one team needed an ingredient the other had, they shared. Like the popular competitions on television, there were frantic moments. We had a little problem, recalled Peske, as he and the other camp members waited for lunch to be served at Cask restaurant in Tampa. We ran out of ground beef for our meatballs, but we managed to make it through. He said the judges liked the meatballs, though his team didn t win. Maybe next time, Peske muttered. Caren Mayorga, 10, said her team didn t win the competition either, but said they were proud of the food they made, and the fun-factor was there. Photo by Nick Stubbs Children from the morning session of the MacDill Iron Chef Cooking Camp wait to be served at Cask restaurant in Tampa July 13. The field trip to the restaurant included a tour of the kitchen. We had a really fun time, she said. Cooking is just a hobby, she said, but the skills she s learning now is something she will always have. Emma Thurber, 12, was part of Mayorga s team. We may not of won but we had a lot of fun, she said, adding that pulling together and using teamwork to present the judges with good food was enough reward for her. Gaines said she is amazed by the level of interest today s kids have in cooking. She estimated that 10 camp members in each class this year were repeats from last year. She said the camp will return next summer, and anyone interested will need to act fast to secure a spot.

11 BOND From Page 3 Within the 927th LRS and the Air Force Reserve, stories such as these are endless, said Parker. Without taking the time to train and socialize together, Airmen would not truly know their fellow Airmen, supervisors would not truly know their people or their capabilities. Off-station annual tours not only strengthen the bond among Airmen of a squadron, they also provide opportunities to network with their active duty counterparts, learn best practices, and experience a new culture. At first I was nervous about coming to Germany, said Airman Basic Saquete Latuane James, 927th LRS, traffic management office technician. But it has been great getting to know the other members of the squadron, learning about a different culture, exploring the local cities and experiencing exciting new things. It truly is an adventure that I m happy to be a part off.

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13 classroom From Page 6 Classrooms traditionally can be over stimulating; it s something you can just feel isn t a good environment, she said. In a model classroom set up for preschool children at the CDC 3 last week, a miniature living room and kitchen were arranged by Duncan. The kids took to it right away, noted Dietz. It s important to remember that some of these children spend more (waking) time here than at home, said Dietz. Making it a home-like environment for them is important. Also important is the choice of stimulation and activities provided, said Duncan, who is a firm believer is injecting elements of nature into classrooms rather than store-bought toys and games. Nature provides the perfect learning material, said Duncan, who noted that nature is open-ended, unlike single-use toys and games. She gave an example of a wooden bowl with several compartments, each filled with different colors and sizes of rocks introduced last week to the young children in one of the classrooms. The kids immediately began to discuss how the rocks should be arranged and divided, working between themselves and trying different ways. Ultimately the experience was one of problem solving, negotiation and compromise. It was a lot of bang for the buck, Dietz and Duncan joked. Duncan said the Air Force is one of her main clients. The Air Force has good classrooms, Duncan said, but by applying an inspiring mindset, she s been able to make them better. Dietz said the information gathered during Duncan s consultation, along with the work done to a couple of the CDC classrooms, the CDC has a template to go forward and update the many classrooms in the three CDC buildings for pre-school and school-age children. Once the classroom environments are modified, the ongoing mission is to keep introducing surprising, different and provocative elements to keep young minds stimulated. That could be Photo by Nick Stubbs A bowl of varying rocks is an example of Duncan s introduction of nature into the classroom. A rock or a stick inspires the imagination far more than the average toy, she believes. anything from a piece of honeycomb, to a magnifying glass, some sticks or a sampling of wood varieties, their different colors and smells the starting point for discussion, sharing and a learning experience that engages the senses.

14 COMMUNITY EVENTS Friday Career Fair At the Surf s Edge Club from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Meet over 70 employers from local and national organizations. RSVP required for job seekers and employers. *Open to All veterans, active cuty, Guard/ Reserve and family members who have access to a military Installation. Go to: For more info, contact: Troy Johnson at or Evans Dasque at Saturday Customer Service ID Card Open 8 a.m p.m. on a walkin basis to service the first 50 customers with getting a new or updated ID cards. Call Sunday Base Theater Free movie. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (PG-13). Doors open at 1:15 p.m. Movie starts at 2 p.m. Overflow parking available in the SOCOM parking garage. Tuesday Financial Literacy/Blended Retirement 9-10:30 a.m. at Bldg. 18. Financial literacy training is offered to Airman eligible for the new DoD blended retirement system, including TSP vesting, continuation pay and Lump sum payments. To register, or for more information, contact Airman & Family Readiness Center at Wednesday Catering Expo 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Surf s Edge Club: Best Catering Expo with a glamorous wedding concept. Free tickets at aramarkcateringexpo.com/. Visit for more catering info. Showcase special menus, wedding extravaganza display, Boomers Bar & Grill, MacDill Lanes and SeaScapes displays Call Change of command Col. April Vogel, commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, hands the 6th Operations Group (OG) guidon to Col. Lisa Nemeth, inbound commander of the 6th OG, during a change of command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base Friday. Nemeth assumed command from Col. William Stowe, the outbound commander. CHAPEL SCHEDULE Photo by Airman 1st Class Rito Smith Protestant service Sunday - 9:30 a.m. FamCamp (Bldg 2017-Raccoon Creek) Catholic Mass Saturday - 5:30 p.m. - Mass Protestant Worship: 11 a.m. Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass Islamic service Monday-Thursday - 12:10 p.m. Friday - 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Prayer (Blessed Sacrament Room) For all other faith groups or for any questions, please contact the Chapel by visiting or calling

15 engines From Page 3 According to Wegehaupt, one of the most challenging aspects of teaching the course is instilling confidence in the students to run the engines in the allotted amount of time. It is a very big responsibility to have full control of the aircraft when you are the engine run operator, said Wegehaupt. This class gives me the chance to help students see why they need to be engine-run qualified and how it impacts the Air Force as a whole. Personnel from several specialty codes, including crew chiefs, electrical and environmental, propulsion, hydraulics, instruments and flight controls, and guidance and control systems can become engine-run qualified. Participants are selected based on evaluations from their supervisors and meeting the course pre-requisites. I ve taken a lot of classes, said Senior Airman Jose Gonzalez, a crew chief assigned to the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. This class is by far my favorite because of its high importance. It s important to know the total limits of the engines because running them can be dangerous, but doing it yourself is pretty exciting. The excitement this class brings to not only the students, but also the instructors, has been ongoing for 30 years. Wegehaupt has instructed the last three classes. The F108 engines were put on the KC-135 in the early 1980s, but I am sure they have made some changes to the course material over that time, chuckled Wegehaupt. I personally love being a jet engine mechanic, and any time I get to share my knowledge on the engine, it puts a smile on my face.

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