Thursday, October 4, 2018

Transcription

1 Thursday, October 4, 2018

2 NEWS/FEATURES SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFNS) The Defense Health Agency will assume responsibility for the administration and management of healthcare at all military medical treatment facilities through a phased approached that began Oct. 1. The transition is mandated by 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to improve access to quality care for beneficiaries, while enhancing readiness by redefining the roles of the military medical departments and the DHA. These changes were passed with the intent to create an integrated, efficient and effective system of readiness and health that better supports the lethality of the force. Each Service, however, will remain responsible for operational mission support and readiness. Phase 1 of the transition calls for the DHA to assume direct management and administration of hospitals and clinics at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.; Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.; Joint Base Charleston, S.C.; and associated clinics. This is in addition to the facilities already under the DHA s management and administration: Walter Reed National Mili- See DHA, Page 14 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 or CommandTeam Website: Facebook: MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb 2 Thursday, October 4, 2018 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

3 NEWS/FEATURES JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. Just after completing the final flight of the Southern hemisphere winter Antarctic season, the 304th Expeditionary Air Squadron (EAS) was alerted there was a medical emergency at the National Science Foundation s (NSF) Mc- Murdo Station Aug. 25. In the face of rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, the 304th EAS was able to redirect a mission to respond to the medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and use a local Christchurch New Zealand Life Fleet medical team to save time. We were in alert position to leave for Guam, and when I woke up, there was a note under my door that read we were now going to do a MEDEVAC mission, said the mission s Aircraft Commander Lt. Col. Bruce Cohn, 97th Airlift Squadron pilot. Planners worked throughout the night to switch from a go home mission to MEDEVAC mission to airlift two patients to medical facilities in Christchurch. During the flight to the Antarctic, aircrew were able to interact with the See ARCTIC, Page 16 TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) More than 150 Airmen from seven major commands participated in a combat support wing proof-of-concept exercise Sept. 5 to 19 that tested a small team s capability to conduct agile downrange operations. The exercise, conducted at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, with forward deployments to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida, served to validate an innovative way to deliver airpower lethality more effectively and efficiently anywhere in the world. The CSW exercise kicked off with Airmen stepping out of their comfort zone to learn core skills from Air Force specialty codes other than their own, including flightline maintenance and operations, security, communications, and other agile combat support functions. Two years ago, the combat Air Forces came to us with an idea: If we are in the Pacific or Europe, or operating in a hostile or denied environment, how would we be able to leverage the support forces to refuel and re-arm jets? That was the challenge, said Brig. Gen. Brian Bruckbauer, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center director of expeditionary support, who served as exercise commander. According to Bruckbauer, at AFIMSC s inaugural Installation and Mis- See COMBAT, Page 12 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, October 4,

4 WEEK IN PHOTOS 4 Thursday, October 4, 2018 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

5 NEWS/FEATURES The 6th Air Mobility Wing Cybersecurity Office (6AMWCO) announces the 15th National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). The NCSAM is observed every October and is an opportunity to raise awareness about the growing importance of cybersecurity. This also allows us time to equip Airmen with tools and resources to protect themselves, their home, and their families while online. Every Airman is a valuable part of the cybersecurity chain, including our families, co-workers, friends, and visitors. The 6AMWCO is doing its part to help Airmen and their families stay safer online at home through cybersecurity education, events, and resources. We want to empower all Airmen to have the skills and knowledge they need to avoid cyber threats every day. From connecting with friends on social networks to managing finances online and teleworking, Airmen enjoy the convenience and efficiency of their digital lives, but these benefits aren t without risks. The information that we share online while banking, shopping, working from home and posting on social media presents a huge opportunity for cyber criminals to steal our sensitive data to commit crimes. As more online scams, frauds, and data breaches threaten our digital lives, it is critical that everyone makes cybersecurity a priority. You don t have to be technically savvy to stay safe online - even small actions can make a huge difference in avoiding cyber threats. To help protect yourself online, the 6AMWCO encourages you to follow these simple tips: passwords are often not enough to protect important accounts like , banking, and social media. Fortify your accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as multi-factor authentication for your online accounts and fingerprint identification and security keys to lock your mobile device. and passwords are often set by default by carriers of equipment and internet services. Fortify your accounts by ensuring these items have been changed to prevent easy access to your network. Also ensure you have proper encryption enabled to prevent criminals from viewing important information. the software on your internet-connected devices, See SECURITY, Page 11 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, October 4,

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8 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Lt. Gen. Richard W. Scobee joined the Air Force in He is a command pilot with more than 3,800 flying hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, including 248 combat hours. Prior to his current assignment as the deputy commander of Air Force Reserve Command, he was the commander of the Air Force Reserve s 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. Scobee commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and held numerous staff positions at the unit, Air Staff and Combatant Command levels. Scobee continues his legacy of service as the son of retired Lt. Col. Francis Richard Scobee, Air Force aircraft mechanic, test pilot and National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut who logged more than 6,500 flying hours and flew 45 types of aircraft. Lt. Col. Scobee was the commander of the Space Shuttle Challenger, which suffered a catastrophic booster failure in For his significant accomplishments, Lt. Col. Scobee was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. 8 Thursday, October 4, 2018 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, October 4,

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10 We are getting ready to have our yearly Retiree Appreciation Day. Attendees will get updated information on immunizations, wills, and ID cards. The event will be held at the Retiree Activities Center Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Just a reminder, there will be a change in the TRI- CARE Dental system at the end of the year. A government program will provide a new system next year and we will all have to change our providers. You will all receive more information on these providers in October. Everyone will have to enroll in the new system during open enrollment, which begins in November and ends Dec. 31. More information on this change will be provided in your next Afterburner. Additionally, new Medicare cards without Social Security numbers on them will be issued soon. Don t forget, tax preparers are available throughout the rest of the year. Please call us at to schedule an appointment. We also need counselors in the office, so if you have extra time and want to help us provide information to all our retirees, please call us or drop by our office next to the commissary. including PCs, smartphones and tablets to reduce the risk of infection from malware. allow military members to download McAfee Antivirus program to use at home on your machine for free. This tool is an easy and big step to help keep you and your family safe. tion about you, such as your purchase history and location, has value - just like money. Protect your data by being cautious about how your information is collected by applications and websites. can see your information online by checking the privacy and security settings on your accounts and apps. Anything you post publicly could potentially be seen by a cybercriminal, so keep your personal information private. self and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it, and how it could be perceived now and in the future. Please reach out to your 6AMWCO for additional information, guidance and training tools for you, your personnel and family. It can be reached at or via at 6AMW.Cybersecurity@us.af.mil. MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, October 4,

11 sion Support Weapons and Tactics Conference in 2017, a team of officers and noncommissioned officers proposed a concept that focused on multifunctional training that included Airmen learning different specialties to rapidly deploy, minimizing the number of personnel put in harm s way, increasing the lethality of that small unit, and creating redundancies to bolster mission success. For example, engineers train on security forces tasks to minimize a footprint and come up with the right size (force) and the right amount of equipment needed at the forward location, Bruckbauer said. Then we actually put those support forces out at a location, ready to accept jets, refuel them and re-arm them. The CSW exercise marked the second time this year the Air Force has tested this revolutionary concept. AFIMSC, Air Force Materiel Command and Air Combat Command have worked together to test the concept. The results from these exercises will continue validating the suitability of training a squadron of Airmen across the entire spectrum of combat support operations in order to provide on-call adaptive basing for flying operations wherever there is a need, said Col. Erik Rundquist, AFIMSC Detachment 8 commander and CSW exercise director. Capt. Zachary Stanton, Air Force Civil Engineer Center Operations Maintenance Branch chief, who oversaw airfield recovery during the exercise, learned firsthand the agile capability CSW could provide. The ingenuity of CSW is it leverages the Air Force s best assets: its people, Stanton said. CSW tackles mission requirements in a different manner. It places emphasis on Airmen not only performing their core AFSC responsibilities but also those of their peers. In addition to flightline maintenance and operations, warfighters received training in tactics such as advanced medical saving techniques, how to spot and secure an area with unexploded ordnance, and how to drive a multipurpose off-highway utility vehicle. An F-22 weapons loader from Tyndall AFB participated in the exercise and said he values the concept. I ve received training and knowledge on other AFSC s to help create a new type of Airman, said Senior Airman Harold Gross III, a member of the 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. This new Airman is capable of employing not only their specific task, but those outside of their career field. This allows an Airmen to be more than just a maintainer or a security forces member, or even a civil engineer. He or she can be all three and more. My role during this exercise with CSW has been one of learning and adaptability. Growing Airmen who can wear multiple hats provides redundancy and strengthens the team, Gross added. If I m not capable of loading an aircraft for a mission, then the CE Airman next to me can, he said. Personnel from two dozen Air Force specialties learned from each other, plus a little bit about themselves, Rundquist said. Our Air Force has some of the greatest technology ever fielded, he said. When linked to its greatest weapon system, a well-trained and motivated Airman, we can really start to tackle some of the challenges that lie ahead. Most importantly, it will be amazing to see how tactical solutions developed by our young Airmen will help shape strategic decisions and capabilities for years to come. The Air Force is scheduled to test the CSW a third time at a capstone exercise in November again with Tyndall AFB as the hub, and Duke Field, Florida, will be added to the scenario along with Moody AFB and Avon Park Air Force Range as the spoke locations Thursday, October 4, 2018 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

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13 tary Medical Center, Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital, and their associated clinics. Greater integration of services within the Military Health System strengthens both the readiness and support to the combatant forces. The integration will lead to greater levels of standardization and consistency as well as gain more efficiency by eliminating duplication in some medical costs. The DHA will be responsible for providing clinical experiences within the hospitals and clinics for medical personnel to meet their service-generated readiness requirements, and for supporting the medical departments in establishing partnerships with civilian institutions, the Department of Veterans Affairs or other practice venues when necessary to maintain the readiness of uniformed medical personnel. Regardless of phases, all hospitals and clinics will follow agency policies, procedures and standard clinical and business processes beginning Oct. 1, In the absence of published DHA issuances, current department policies and procedures will remain in effect until superseded by the DHA published policies. As the Department s chief advisor on medical issues, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs has been designated to lead this transition and to develop a comprehensive and integrated implementation plan in coordination with the Services. Now through October 1st and beyond, I d like us all to uphold a few key priorities that will guide our collective approach, said Tom McCaffery, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Military Health System senior leaders. We must never lose sight of our core mission, which is to support the warfighter and care for the patient. We must leverage the transition to build and strengthen a truly integrated and even more effective and efficient health care system. And lastly, we must commit to integration and coordination of our readiness and health care delivery missions. For more information on the National Defense Authorization Act, visit: congress.gov/bill/114-congress/senate-bill/2943/text Thursday, October 4, 2018 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT

14 COMMUNITY Surf s Edge Club Membership Breakfast from 6:30-9 a.m., featuring all the breakfast favorites. Club members free; family members: $7.95; nonmembers: $9.45. Call MacDill Lanes & Family Fun Center vs. McGregor. Free entry. Doors open at 9 p.m. Fights begin 10 p.m. Smack down chow down food specials. Club member exclusive deals. Call Base Theater Free movie: Teen Titans Go: To the Movies (PG). Doors open at 1:15 p.m. Movie starts at 2 p.m. Overflow parking available in the SOCOM parking garage. Surf s Edge Club Wednesday Bash kick-off 10 Oct... bingo is back Jackpot up to $1,000. Wingman Wednesdays 75-cent wings. Bingo begins at 5 p.m. Bingo cards: members: $2 per card. Non-Members: $2.50 per card. Call Military & Family Readiness Center Better Than A Budget 12:30-1:30 p.m. The budget process is a great start to secure a spending plan for better money management. Prepare a plan to utilize your income to categorize and prioritize the amount of money you have coming in. Call Base Theater Free movie: Sicario: Day of the Saldado (R). Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Movie starts at 7 p.m. For all other faith groups or for any questions, please contact the Chapel by visiting or calling If you have an announcement or story idea for your think would be great for the MacDill Thunderbolt, just let us know at macdillthunderbolt@macdill.us.af.mil MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, October 4,

15 New Zealand Life Fleet medical team to orient them to the C-17 Globemaster III. The team was great to work with, and this was their first aeromedical evacuation mission and flight on a military aircraft, said Cohn. Weather was favorable for the arrival except temperatures at the time of landing were much colder than previously forecasted, said Lt. Col. Trace Dotson, the 304th EAS commander. In what was described as one of the coldest landings ever performed in the Antarctic by the 304th EAS, the crew worked quickly in negative 65.2 Fahrenheit conditions to safely evacuate one critically ill patient and another patient needing medical care. There was a lot of coordination with the New Zealand Life Fleet medical personnel as we usually work with Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation teams, said Tech. Sgt. Seth Lewis, 7th Airlift Squadron loadmaster. The increased coordination helped us perform the MEDEVAC safely. It was so cold that we weren t able to open up the back of the aircraft, so the patients were loaded through the crew door, which is located on the front left side of the aircraft. With a wind-chill of negative 94 Fahrenheit, crew minimized time on the ground due to the extreme cold and returned the patients to Christchurch within 24 hours from the time we were notified of the evacuation request, said Dotson. This mission was outside normal operations since it was an emergency situation, said Cohn. The rapidness of how we changed gear to respond really showed the teamwork of all who were involved. The rapid, life-saving response demonstrated the flexibility and capabilities of the Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica to respond quickly to emergency situations in the Antarctic. The patients were treated in New Zealand medical facilities. This was a complete different mission from what we typically do, said Lewis. It was really special to be part of something that you weren t expecting. I was expecting to go home, but then I got to participate in a medical evacuation to help two people. The last dedicated medevac mission the 304th EAS supported was in The 304th is comprised of blended aircrews from the active duty 62nd Airlift Wing and the reserve 446th Airlift Wing. includes the coordination of strategic inter-theater airlift, tactical intratheater airlift and airdrop, aeromedical evacuation support, search-andrescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling, and transportation requirements supporting the NSF. ity in the Pacific and research programs conducted for the betterment of all mankind Thursday, October 4, 2018 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT