Thursday, November 2, 2017
NEWS/FEATURES You have probably heard about the importance of brushing and flossing in order to maintain a healthy mouth. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends brushing twice daily for at least 2 minutes (yes, 2 minutes feels like an eternity) and flossing at least one time daily (preferably before bedtime). In addition to brushing and flossing, the ADA also recommends the use of fluoride to aid in the prevention of dental cavities. Fluoride is a naturally occurring ion that reduces the incidence of dental cavities. Its primary action is strengthening enamel (the outer layer of teeth) to make the tooth less susceptible to decay. Fluoride also has properties that act against the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. The anti-cavity effects of fluoride were first noted through research that showed fewer cavities in populations where naturally occurring fluoride is more abundant. Since then, more research has been conducted on the use and delivery of fluoride, and for the last 60 years, every U.S. Surgeon General has endorsed the practice of fluoridation, adding fluoride to community water supplies to bring them to the optimal fluoride level of 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million. Some research suggests that fluoridation can reduce rates of dental decay by as much at 40 percent. Fluoridation is so important in the fight against tooth decay, that one former U.S. Surgeon General called the practice, the single most important commitment a community can make to the oral health of its children and to future generations. Fortunately, the city of Tampa, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties do fluoridate their water supplies and over the last year it has remained steady at an average of 0.7 ppm. To learn more about the fluoride levels and water quality in your community, visit the Hillsborough County website at http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/residents/property-ownersand-renters/water-and-sewer/water-quality or the Pinellas County website at http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/fluoridation.htm. What can you do if your area has less than optimal water fluoridation? First, you can ask your dentist or pediatrician for their recommendations concerning the amount of fluoride you and your family are consuming. He or she may recommend that you take no action. Most toothpastes contain fluoride. Some mouth rinses do, as well. Fluoride can also be delivered through bottled water and other beverages that are produced in areas with adequate fluoridation. So, if you consume large amounts of bottled water from a fluoridated community, you may be getting enough fluoride. Alternatively, your dentist or pediatrician may recommend fluoride supplements in addition to or in lieu of other sources of fluoride. For questions regarding fluoride use and products containing fluoride, you may contact the MacDill Dental Clinic at 827-9400. Additional information may be found at the ADA website at www.ada.org (click Public Programs, then Fluoride in Water). 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 email to macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil. Website: www.macdill.af.mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase Instagram: macdill_afb Twitter: @macdill_afb 2 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, November 2, 2017 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
NEWS/FEATURES Following his Air Mobility Command Outstanding Airman of the year award, Senior Airman Sean Fitzpatrick, an airfield systems journeyman assigned to the 6th Operations Support Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, was recognized as the Air Force Airfield Systems Airman of the year. The annual award recognizes Airmen for their performance and significant accomplishments. Fitzpatrick stood out among his peers by taking leadership roles, as well as being involved in projects outside of his official duties. It feels good to get that recognition every once in a while, but it s a job and you do what you are supposed to do, said the 28-year-old Fitzpatrick. I came in a little older so I already had some type of work ethic built. Airfield systems Airmen maintain various type of equipment used for ground-to-air communications, landing systems, navigational aids, and other backup systems that ensure safe flights. I just try to learn the equipment as best as I can and do what I need to do to get the job done, said Fitzpatrick when asked what set him apart from others. To be eligible for career-specific awards, personnel must first be nominated by their squadron at the base level, who send the nomination package up to their respective major command. After winning at the MAJCOM level, the applicant is then recommended to compete at the Air Force level. Sean is a great Airman with the drive, motivation and initiative the Air Force is constantly looking for, said Tech. Sgt. Mandy Thorpe, the airfield systems NCO in charge assigned to the 6th Operations Support Squadron. He comes to work and always gives 100 percent. AWARD, Page 15 In September 1991, President George H. W. Bush declared October as National Energy Awareness Month, also known as National Energy Action Month, to raise awareness on the importance of sustainably managing the nation s energy resources. For our base, the purpose of National Energy Action Month is to bring the topic of energy conservation and security into operational discussions to ensure that we are supporting the federal government s goal to be the nation s leader in energy efficiency, said Mrs. Jadee Purdy, the director of the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base. During the month of October, the 6th CES focuses its efforts on energy audits around base. The energy reduction results from the last fiscal year are also made public each October. Each year, we set new energy reduction goals and from fiscal year 2016 to 2017, we saved $843,342 by reducing our base energy consumption, said Mr. Mark D. Walker, the energy manager with the 6th CES Energy Management Office. Although MacDill has reduced its energy consumption by 20 percent since 2011, there is still more work that needs to be done. Most of the projects that the 6th CES now oversees are improvements to the installation s lighting or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Technology has changed so much in the last decade, which gives us an opportunity to cut down on our energy consumption, said Walker. As of now, for the 6th Air Mobility Wing, approximately 75 percent of all interior lighting and 80 percent of all exterior lighting have been transitioned to newer, light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. In the base wing headquarters building alone, with the new lighting and HVAC technology fully installed, the building has reduced its energy consumption cost by 53 percent, which is a home run in our field, said Walker. ENERGY, Page 15 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, November 2, 2017 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM 3
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NEWS/FEATURES Students, teachers, and service members past and present gathered for a special Military Appreciation Night at the Bloomingdale High School Football Stadium, in Valrico, Florida, Oct. 20. The showdown between Bloomingdale and rival Plant City High School was used as a stage for the school s staff and students to honor the many community members serving at MacDill Air Force Base, and the surrounding area families. Max Warner, the head coach of the Bloomingdale Bulls for almost two seasons, was the originator of the idea for the Military Appreciation Night. I have 16 coaches on my staff, five of which served in the Armed Forces, or are currently serving in some capacity, so I thought it was important, especially with MacDill Air Force Base being so close, to honor those individuals, said Warner. According to Warner, a lot of the members of Bloomingdale High School s surrounding community have ties to MacDill, whether students are military children or the school staff has ties, it made the decision to pursue this event that much more important. This event has grown so fast and so much since its inception, said Warner. We couldn t be prouder of the response. HONOR, Page 12 6 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, November 2, 2017 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
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In today s military, air support has revolutionized the support and defense of the U.S. To keep that support running safely and effectively, air traffic controllers, those who monitor the air space, continuously train on systems like the Tower Simulation System, so they are ready for whatever comes their way. At MacDill Air Force Base five screens and nine computers comprise the air traffic control simulator used to train controllers approximately 100 hours a month. The MacDill replicated setup, voice recognition technology and customized scenarios give controllers a realistic training atmosphere. The simulator allows us to practice scenarios we might not often see, said Senior Airman Vincent Magenti, an air traffic controller assigned to the 6th Operations Support Squadron. We can simulate any kind of aircraft or scenario for training, so if one day a scenario actually happens in real life, our trainees and rated controllers will know what to do. Aside from providing practice, the simulator is critical for upgrade training. The simulator is an invaluable tool to meet the training requirements in the time constraints we have, said Bruce Morrow, a supervisor air traffic control specialist and the air traffic control simulation equipment program manager assigned to the 6th OSS. It cuts time down on training because the simulator provides scenarios Airmen need to be signed off on that they may not see in the tower. Controllers can create individual customized scenarios for an Airman struggling with a particular concept. The scenario also can be saved and repeated as often as needed to help the Airman. At the end of my training, I had trouble understanding concepts in local control, the simulator allowed me to see more traffic that I might not normally see and was customized by my trainers, said Magenti. The simulator allows the Airmen to experience more efficient training, leading to faster certified controllers. With the traffic pace here at MacDill, training takes approximately a year to complete with the simulator, but without it I could see it taking anywhere from a year and a half to two years to complete, said Magenti. Whether it be upgrade training or training when the tower isn t experiencing much traffic, the simulator provides a unique resource to prepare Airmen for the unknown. 8 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, November 2, 2017 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, November 2, 2017 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM 9
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AF NEWS WASHINGTON (AFNS) Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan discussed the importance of rapid modernization and innovation during the 2017 Aviation Week Program Excellence Symposium in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23. The range of global threats we face calls for a far more innovative, dynamic and cost-effective Department of Defense, Donovan said. Speed is one of the most important attributes of a system designed to win. That is certainly true with air power. When it comes to innovation, the Air Force is looking for new ways to do business, accelerating the transfer of ideas from the lab to the field, and putting the latest capabilities in Airmen s toolkits as quickly as possible. We must get faster in developing counter-options, at achieving a common operating picture of the battle space, networking it altogether and achieving overwhelming decision speed, he said. Donovan warned that America s potential adversaries are gaining ground, investing in capabilities and innovating at a much faster pace than before. In order to stop their efforts the Air Force is looking at government and industry programs for new ideas. Our ability to adapt and respond faster than our potential adversaries is the greatest challenge we face, Donovan said to the audience of programmers and engineers. We need your assistance your partnership, ideas and innovation. It is going to take our combined efforts and partnerships to build a more lethal force with the inherent flexibility and responsiveness our Nation needs to maintain our competitive edge. 10 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, November 2, 2017 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
NEWS After a hot summer and the hurricanes, we are now ready for the cooler days and upcoming holidays. Here s a few notes to keep in mind: We ll soon begin assisting with taxes again. Starting Jan. 15 you can book your appointment for Jan. 29 and beyond. As usual, this is free for everyone, and active duty members are given priority. This year the base will observe Veteran s Day Nov. 10, with Nov. 11 being the actual holiday. We saved Thursday, Feb. 9, as Retiree Appreciation Day. More details will follow in January. The new military Star Card can be used in the commissary for payment now, if you desire. Recently a Cost of Living (COLA) raise of 2 percent was approved by the government. Please remember we continually need volunteers for both the tax program and counseling services in the office. If you are interested, call us at 828-4555. MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, November 2, 2017 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM 11
Surrounding the football field were recruiters from each military branch, and an F-22 fighter jet display by the Air Force. There was an all-terrain vehicle on display by U.S. Special Operations Command, and several displays by each service branch. We started off by contacting the SOCCENT Public Affairs Office, then began inviting all of the local recruiters, and from there it just continued to grow and grow, said Lt. Col. Kevin Ramsey, the deputy surgeon of SOCCENT. And here we are tonight; we have an incredible military presence here tonight, and we are going to have an incredible game. Ramsey is also a volunteer coach at Bloomingdale High School, and has been coaching football for nearly nine years. When I retire from the military, this is what I want to do, said Ramsey. I want to coach and teach at the high school level. There is no other sport like football; it teaches the same principles and the same values as the military, continued Ramsey. They are very similar: integrity, character, and dealing with adversity; just throw out any buzzword, and it will correlate to football and the military. Combining those two worlds for me, football coach and 22 year service member, it is just a natural fit. Col. David D. Haight, the command surgeon from SOC- CENT, was invited to the Military Appreciation Night as an honorary coach. As part of his honorary title, Haight accompanied the team captains from both sides to the center of the field to flip the coin at the start of the game. When I was asked to come out and flip the coin at the beginning of the game, I just thought it was a great opportunity, said Haight. I had the opportunity to talk to them (before the game) about being in the military and about how lucky they are to have the opportunity to play sports at this level. Prior to kickoff, the entire stadium paused to recognize each of the service branches by displaying the flag of each branch, donning camouflage uniforms, and having service members on the field as they played the service songs of each branch. I love seeing events like this with the crowds and the uniforms dedicated to the military, continued Haight. Some of these kids may end up coming into the military one day. We have recruiters out here from all of the service branches and what these kids are seeing is that being a part of a sports team instills a lot of the same values as being in the military; sports are allowing them to already have that foundation. Warner summed up with his gratitude. Most importantly, we just wanted to honor the military with this night, because without you doing what you do, we wouldn t be able to do what we love, said Warner. I am just a football guy, so to be able to use the platform of football and get the community to come out to a home game, to be able to honor those members, I just think it is really important. 12 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, November 2, 2017 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
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COMMUNITY Surf s Edge Club Membership Breakfast from 6:30-9 a.m. Club members free; non-members: $8.45 Call 828-1466. Youth Center Turkingo, play bingo for a chance to win a turkey. Held 6-8 p.m. Call 828-7438. 4th Annual Lei d Back Luau 5-9 p.m. at SeaScapes Beach House. Live music begins at 5 p.m. Free Interactive Polynesian/Luau show 7-8 p.m. Giveaways, prizes, limbo contest and DJ. Luau buffet: Adult: $17.99, 9-12 yrs: $9.99 Kids Menu: 8 and under: $2.99 *No outside food or drink. Limited group seating. No reservations.*sundae Bar: $1.99 (kids free) For more information call 828-1466. MacDill Lanes & Family Fun Center UFC 217 Fight Night with free entry. Doors open at 9 p.m. Fights begin 10 p.m. Smack Down Chow Down Food Specials. Club member exclusive deals. Call 828-4005. Buccaneers Watch Party Gates open at 12 p.m. Kick-off 1 p.m. at the youth fields across from Harbor Bay Community Center. Appearance from former Bucs wide receive Vincent Jackson and Bucs cheerleaders. Buccaneers games and giveaways, free food and drinks, family friendly. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. For all other faith groups or for any questions, please contact the Chapel by visiting http://www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel or calling 828-3621 Base Theater Free movie: The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (PG). Doors open at 1:15 p.m. Movie starts at 2 p.m. Overflow parking available in the SOCOM parking garage. Base Theater Free movie: Wind River (R). Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Movie starts at 7 p.m. 14 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM Thursday, November 2, 2017 MACDILL THUNDERBOLT
When you add up all the buildings across MacDill that have transitioned to the newer, energy-saving technology, the financial savings have been substantial. According to Walker, between 2011 and 2017, the energy reduction implementations for MacDill have saved a total of $11,343,005. As for projects we are working on in the future, we are coordinating with our utility partners to identify ways to be more energy resilient, like potentially adding large solar generation capability, as well as transitioning our overhead utility system to being underground, said Purdy. Hurricane Irma highlighted the need to find more ways to ensure that we have consistent, reliable energy and power to accomplish the mission. She added that energy resiliency is the ability to have energy that you need, when you need it. MacDill isn t getting smaller in its population or size and if anything, we are adding more buildings and people on base, said Walker. And yet, because of our efforts in energy reduction, each year our energy consumption is going down (and) that s why it is important to continue to talk about this now and in the future. Although the award highlights an individual s achievements, Fitzpatrick credits his team for his success. When I got here, there were 12 people at this work center and right now there are five, said Fitzpatrick. It s definitely been a group effort all around. Not one person can take the whole load it s not a one-man show. Moving forward, Fitzpatrick aims to continue learning his job, as he prepares for an Air Force specialty code merger he says will challenge him in new and different ways. MACDILL THUNDERBOLT Thursday, November 2, 2017 WWW.MACDILLTHUNDERBOLT.COM 15
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