Vol. 42, No. 14 Thursday, April 3, 2014 News/Features: page 3 927th ARW adds to team Week in photos: page 4 Images from MacDill Diamond Sharp: page 10 This week s standout Pirate s Log: 3 April 1996 Pirate s Log: page 18 This week in history Community: page 21 Events, Chapel, more... Pharmacy pick-up: in and out fast - page 12 Photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph Terry Stoermer, 6th Medical Group volunteer, helps a customer in the drive thru at MacDill Air Force Base, March 27. The Drive Thru Refill Pickup Pharmacy delivers prescriptions to the Brandon Clinic and U.S. Special Operations Command complex.
COMMANDER S CORNER MacDill s Mission: fly, fight, and win! by Lt. Col. Matthew Bowers 6th Operations Group deputy commander MacDill Airmen have been bolstering our nation s air-power since 1940 when they first executed transitional training for the B-17 Flying Fortress and later the B-26 Marauder in support of WWII. Since that time, MacDill AFB has been involved in practically every U.S. peacekeeping, relief, wartime, and contingency operation. The flight operations on base today are still a huge part of helping to maintain our military s global presence. As seen at the recent AirFest 2014, the community of Tampa is All-in with their support of this vital flying mission. For over a decade, MacDill AFB has provided continuous support for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with air refueling and distinguished visitor airlift. As you are reading this, MacDill KC-135R/T tanker crews continue to play an important role in supporting the 1-million pounds of fuel transferred daily to receiver aircraft in this region. Furthermore, our DV airlift squadron has taken lead on deployed ops several times in support of travel in this area of operation. This constant support happens not only through the efforts of aircrew, but would be unachievable without our maintenance, medical, and mission support Airmen who deploy to ensure mission success. As the nation begins to downsize our bootson-the-ground presence in Afghanistan, the refueling mission will remain a vital part of protecting these troops as we transition out of the area. Our Airmen will continue air-refueling surveillance, reconnaissance, airlift, bomber, and fighter aircraft until our ground forces no longer need protection from above. Our DV airlifters will also ensure senior military leaders are able to travel anytime and anywhere for key leader engagements crucial to ensuring regional stability necessary to protect our national interests. After over 20 years in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, all MacDill Airmen have become experts in contingency ops and have honed skills through lessons learned and experiences to ensure our warfighting sword is sharp. In the near term, operations may transition from these deployed ops to in-garrison training at home station. MacDill Airmen will continue to train and prepare daily for execution of all of our diverse mission sets necessary to sustain readiness and prepare for the next engagement. The 6th Air Mobility Wing s operational mission will remain fully capable to support any contingency operation or humanitarian crisis on the globe. The outstanding men and women at MacDill AFB will stand Lt. Col. Matthew Bowers proud as they continue a tradition of excellence to show our wing is always prepared to Fly, Flight, and Win! 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 email macdillwingcommander@us.af.mil. MacDill on the web Website: www.macdill.af.mil Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MacDillAirForceBase MacDill Thunderbolt Publisher: Bill Barker Editor: Nick Stubbs The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Mobility Wing or Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., of the products or service advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. Display advertising or classified advertising information may be obtained by calling (813) 259-7455. 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 828-2215. Email: 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 35-101.
COMMENTARY Standards: setting the new normal by Lt. Col. Collin Gilbert 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander As members of the Air Force we are held to higher standards than our civilian counterparts. Most of these standards pre-date the creation of the Air Force, yet we have been inundated recently with examples of Airmen violating these standards cheating, inappropriate conduct, sexual assault, and criminal behavior, to name a few. How did we get to a point where our most senior leaders must point out at every turn that our standards must be followed and were recently recodified in Air Force Instruction 1-1, Air Force Standards? I believe our drift away from standards can be attributed to normalization of deviance. I first heard this term while having lunch with Gene Kranz, a former NASA Flight Director. Mr. Kranz gained fame as he successfully directed efforts to save the crew of Apollo 13. (For those readers that enjoy movies, Mr. Kranz character was played by Ed Harris in the motion picture, Apollo 13.) Mr. Kranz served in various positions at NASA until his 927th ARW welcomes new director of psychological health by Capt. Joe Simms 927th ARW Public Affairs retirement in 1994. He later served as an advisor to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB). The CAIB sought to identify the cause for the space shuttle Columbia s disintegration as it reentered Earth s atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003 killing all seven crew members. Mr. Kranz explained how the space shuttles were plagued by foam shedding, where pieces of foam insulation would break off during launch. Interestingly, the shuttle design called for zero foam shedding, yet the program experienced foam shedding on nearly every launch. When foam shedding was first discovered, NASA engineers examined the shuttle and determined no damage occurred. They concluded some foam shedding could occur without compromising the safety of the vehicle. On subsequent launches, as the shuttles aged, more and more foam shedding occurred and engineers continued to increase the allowable amount of safe foam shedding. Unfortunately, on Columbia s last launch a piece of foam insulation broke off and struck the left wing. Upon reentry, hot atmospheric gases destroyed the internal structure of the damaged wing See COMMENTARY, Page 20 Lt. Col. Collin Gilbert In an effort to focus on the psychological wellness of Air Force Reservists and their families, Air Force Reserve Command recently created 29 new positions to serve as wing commanders principal consultant on psychological health. Michelle Lind, director of psychological health, 927th Air Refueling Wing MacDill Air Force Base, is the second individual selected by the command to ensure services are in place to help members and their families achieve and sustain psychological health. Reservists have tools such as the gym to help them maintain their physical health and chaplains to maintain their spiritual health and now they have a social worker to help with the emotional and mental stressors of their lives, Lind said. This is what is described as the whole person concept. With a Master s Degree in social work and a PhD in health sciences, Lind s background provides her with a unique perspective when it comes to understanding what it means to be psychologically healthy. See LIND, Page 20 Photo by Capt. Joe Simms Michelle Lind, 927th ARW director of psychological health, works to ensure services are in place to help members and their families achieve and sustain psychological health. The wing DPH provides non-clinical consultations and referrals, crisis intervention, and counseling on post deployment issues.
WEEK IN PHOTOS Photo by Staff Sgt. Brittany Liddon Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, speaks to Team MacDill during Wingman Day at MacDill Air Force Base Friday. Wingman Day consisted of a resiliency briefing, a 2-mile run, and an all call. There was only one player who could steal the show from Army Lt. Col. Ken Ates, United States Special Operations Command paracommando at the recent MacDill AirFest 2014 an American Bald Eagle, captured here by AirFest spectator Ron DeMillion. As if on cue, the feathered symbol of freedom glided into the scene as the Star Spangled Banner played. Photo by Staff Sgt. Brittany Liddon Retired Col. Barbara Persons, 6th Medical Group women s health element leader; Andrea Bowen, 6th MDG family advocacy outreach manager; Elizabeth Frazier, Tampa Bay Lightning vice president of Philanthropy and Community Initiatives; and Teresa Foss, business development manager and former secretary for the United Service Organization, were given certificates of appreciation for being on the panel for the Women s History Month luncheon March 26. The women were chosen to be on the panel for what they have done and are doing today.
BRIEFS MSG Olympics tomorrow The Mission Support Group Olympics will take place tomorrow starting at 8:30 a.m. MSG Olympics are open to all MSG personnel. The events are: 3-on-3 basketball, track and field, dodgeball, strongman/strongwoman, volleyball, crossfit, and tug-of-war. For more information, contact your squadron representative or Master Sgt. David Leebert at 828-2424. Loan Locker policy update The Loan Locker is an optional service offered by Airman & Family Readiness Center, providing temporary household items during relocations. This program is available to actively serving personnel, DOD civilians and their families who are pcs ing or retiring. Items are checked out free of charge upon presentation of PCS/retirement orders showing assignment to, being serviced by MacDill, outbound order from MacDill or being serviced by Mac- Dill. The normal checkout duration is 30 days for the continental United States, and 60 days for outside the continental United States. The A&FRC is located at 8105 Condor St, hours of operation Monday through Wednesday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Scholarship money available Attention high school seniors and student spouses. Would you like more money for college? The MacDill Officers Spouses Club has scholarship money available for you. Applications and requirements are detailed on line at www.macdillosc.com. Don t delay and apply today. The MOSC has begun its annual process to determine charitable contributions for 2014. To be considered for an MOSC charitable donation, organizations must submit a written request containing the following information: name and address of your organization; a point of contact with email and phone number; your mission; a description of your support to military families; a suggested donation amount; and a detailed description of the use of the requested donation. This year the MOSC is accepting requests in writing or by email.please mail your written request to: MacDill Officers Spouses Club c/o Welfare Chair 3108 N. Boundary Blvd. Bldg. 926 PMB 327 Tampa, FL 33621 Email your request to: welfare@macdillosc. com.
It only takes a second to cause an injury to a child that may last a lifetime Seek out the helpful resources and support available from YOUR LOCAL FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM MacDill, AFB (813) 827-9172
DIAMOND SHARP Tech. Sgt. Zwide Spencer 6th Maintenance Group Job Title: Quality assurance inspector Hometown: St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Short-term goals: Finish up military PME and complete the last few classes for my bachelors Long-term goals: Start and complete a MBA program and hopefully become a business owner Advice to others: Set goals and don t let anyone or anything stop you from achieving those goals. Always surround yourself with positive people who can mentor, and when your turn comes, be a mentor to someone else. Role model and why: I don t have a definite role model. I have trusted individuals to whom I look for guidance. Each one gives me a different perspective concerning life, family and my career present and future. Why did you join the Air Force: I wanted to travel, see the world, experience different cultures, and serve my country.
The drive thru refill pick-up pharmacy Photos by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph Master Sgt. Jose Chamorro, 6th Medical Support Squadron NCO in charge of pharmacy, verifies prescriptions at MacDill Air Force Base, March 27. The MacDill Drive Thru Refill Pick-up Pharmacy fills approximately 24,000 prescriptions a month. It takes a team, as volunteers, active duty and contractors wo Thru Refill Pick-up Pharmacy, a hub of activity serving hundred Tech. Sgt. Michael Barton, 6th Medical Support Squadron NCO in charge of pharmacy support, retrieves medicine from shelves to fill prescriptions at MacDill Air Force Base, March 27. Senior Airman Joy Kyle, 6th Medical Support S prescription at MacDill Air Force Base, March
rk together to fill and verify prescriptions at the MacDill Drive s of customers a day. quadron pharmacy technician, gets medicine to manually fill a 27. Senior Airman Joy Kyle, 6th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy technician, places a container on the conveyor belt at MacDill Air Force Base, March 27. The Drive Thru Refill Pick-up Pharmacy fills approximately 1,200 prescriptions a day for all active duty, dependents, and retirees at MacDill.
NEWS/FEATURES Women s History Month event draws big crowd by Staff Sgt. Brittany LIddon 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs There was standing room only in the auditorium of the Chief Master Sgt. Dozier Airman Leadership School, as active duty military members and civilians were given the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of influential women from the base and the community. The four women chosen to be on the panel were: Teresa Foss, business development manager and former secretary for the United Service Organization; Elizabeth Frazier, Tampa Bay Lightning vice president of Philanthropy and Community Initiatives; Andrea Bowen, 6th Medical Group family advocacy outreach manager; and retired Col. Barbara Persons, 6th MDG women s health element leader. After a brief introduction from each of the women on the panel, the floor was open for questions. Some of the topics that were discussed included equality, communication, balance roles as women, personal inspirations, and challenges faced. Everyone has something to bring to the table and your gender shouldn t See WOMEN, Page 22 Photo by Staff Sgt. Brittany Liddon Members from around the base ask questions to panel members during the Women s History Month Luncheon at MacDill Air Force Base, March 26. During the luncheon, panel members discussed and offered perspectives on equality, communication, balance roles as women, personal inspirations, and challenges faced.
NEWS/FEATURES Pinwheels for Prevention by Andrea Bowen 6th Medical Group April marks Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. It has been observed since 1983. Since its inception in 1989, the Blue Ribbon Campaign has grown into a national community-based effort to protect children and serve as a physical reminder to end child abuse. The initiative began with a grandmother s personal commitment to end child abuse by tying a blue ribbon to her van. During this month, you may see royal blue and silver pinwheels reminding us to play a role in making our community a safe place for children and families. Research shows that when parents possess six protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth, and families are promoted. The six protective factors are: nurturing and attachment, knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development, parental resilience, social connections, concrete supports for parents and social and emotional developmental well-being. Consider what you can do for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Here are a few suggestions. To begin with, volunteer your time as a role model and consider supporting an after-school program or youth sporting activity in your neighborhood. Secondly, discipline your child thoughtfully. Never discipline your child out of anger. Discipline teaches a child appropriate behaviors. Consider using privileges and time-outs to assist with gaining control. Finally, report abuse! Trust your instincts and if you witness a child being harmed, see evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you about abuse, make a report to your school district, child protective services, local police or the Family Advocacy Program. To report suspected child abuse you can call the Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline number at (800) 962-2873. During April, the Family Advocacy Program will be hosting a variety of activities to spread awareness and provide teaching tools for parents and professionals. To register for a class contact the Family Advocacy Program at (813) 827-9172. u Breastfeeding Basics April 4 (2-3:30 p.m.) u Dads 101: The Basics April 23 (1-4:30 p.m.) u Parenting (Ages 1-4) April 8, 22, 29 (10-11 a.m.) Brandon Site: Topics include toddler nutrition, toilet training, and taming toddler tantrums u Parenting (Ages 2-12) April 3, 10, 17 (noon-2 p.m.) Lunch and learn classes on how to raise respectful children, setting limits, encourage cooperation u Parenting Teens, Learning to Raise Responsible Adults April 14 (1-3 p.m.)
Pirate s Log: 3 April 1996 Tales from Air Force History: An Air Force CT 43A crashed while attempting to land at Dubrovnik, Croatia. The crash killed Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, all 29 other passengers, and five crew on board. Secretary Brown was on an official trade mission at the time. The final casualty, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shelley Kelly, a flight attendant, passed while being transported to a hospital. The investigation attributed the incident to pilot error and a poorly designed landing approach. The aircraft was operated by the 86th Airlift Wing, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
NEWS/FEATURES Congratulations to the newest graduates of Airman Leadership School Graduates from ALS Class 14-C, March 27, 2014: u Senior Airman Laura Beckley John L. Levitow Award u Staff Sergeant Jorge Diaz Vazquez Distinguished Graduate Award u Staff Sergeant Jorge Diaz Vazquez Academic Achievement Award u Senior Airman Alexander Stewart Commandant Award u Senior Airman Laura Beckley 6th Air Mobility Wing u Senior Airman Taj Black 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron u Staff Sergeant Winston Campbell 6th Security Forces Squadron u Senior Airman Darci Cromack 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron u Senior Airman Abraham Cruz 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron u Staff Sergeant John Davis 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron u Staff Sergeant Jorge Diaz Vazquez (Bravo Flight Commander) 6th Civil Engineer Squadron u Staff Sergeant Trisha Eddy 6th Security Forces Squadron u Senior Airman Justin Foster 6th Security Forces Squadron u Senior Airman Curtis Gardner 6th Security Forces Squadron u Senior Airman Robert Gregory 6th Maintenance Squadron u Staff Sergeant Richard Handley (Class First Sergeant) Joint Communication Support Element u Senior Airman Deshea Jacob 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron u Staff Sergeant Thomas Kelsey (Class Commander) 6th Operations Support Squadron u Senior Airman Erik Kvamme 6th Maintenance Squadron u Senior Airman Domenic Mariani 6th Maintenance Squadron u Senior Airman Cordell Petty 6th Security Forces Squadron u Senior Airman Jetavious Pressley 6th Communications Squadron u Senior Airman Carlos Reyes Vazquez 6th Security Forces Squadron u Senior Airman David Showalter 6th Maintenance Squadron u Senior Airman Sean Slusarczyk 927th Aerospace Training Squadron u Senior Airman Alexander Stewart 6th Security Forces Squadron u Staff Sergeant Jonathan Toledo 6th Security Forces Squadron u Petty Officer Third Class Staci Wantuck United States Coast Guard Have news? Send it to the MacDill Thunderbolt at thunder.bolt@us.af.mil
lind From Page 3 Psychological health is not just the presence or lack of a mental health diagnosis. It s how you are coping with work, family, and life in general, Lind said. Members can come to me with anything that is causing them stress. If it is out of my area of expertise, I will gladly listen and provide a referral. Lind reminds everyone she meets with that people are multifaceted and psychological health is not something that can be easily measured, which is why it is important to discuss the stress in our lives. A person may have stressors such as a health or financial issue, or they may feel stress caused by an issue a family member may be dealing with, she said. We all have good days and bad days. But if you are having more bad days than good days then it may be time to look at what is causing your stress and find the best way to cope with it. Lind s role is not that of a mental health professional one would find in a traditional clinical setting. The wing DHP provides non-clinical consultations and referrals, crisis intervention, and counseling on post deployment issues, all of which may be discussed in a comfortable and non-threatening setting. commentary From Page 3 causing the vehicle to become unstable and break apart. Mr. Kranz attributed the disaster to normalization of deviance. The standard for foam shedding was zero, yet NASA not only allowed the deviation from standard, but created new norms based on the outcome. Reservists and their family members can come to me to discuss a variety of stressors, and depending on the stressor, I can direct them to a resource to better address their needs. Or if someone is just having a bad day I can serve as a sounding board. Hypothetical questions or scenarios are always welcome, Lind said. Meeting with the DPH does not require members to go to a medical center and for non-clinical coaching, there is no record or documentation of the visit. Members also have the option to meet on or off base if they need advice or would like to confide in a confidential source. The confidentiality and non-threatening environment Lind provides sets herself apart as a work/life coach instead of the traditional mental health professional, she says. Sometimes just having a sounding board can help reduce stress and it is my hope that over time people realize that talking to someone about their mental health is vital to their well-being, said Lind. To contact Lind, call 813-282-4391 or email at michelle.lind@us.af. mil. Topics of discussion are confidential with the exception of instances when members indicate an intention to harm themselves or others. This was the challenge facing the Air Force when General Norton Schwartz took over as Air Force Chief of Staff in 2008. His #1 concern was the nuclear enterprise, but he saw the deviation from standards throughout the force. He challenged all of us to get back to basics and reset the standards baseline. Over the past six years, leaders at all levels have done remarkable work ensuring the Air Force s expectations are well communicated and fairly enforced. However, like many cultural shifts, this is a continuous process and we must always hold ourselves and those we lead to meet standards. When someone shows up late for work, we may overlook it because there was no direct mission impact. By doing so, we have just normalized the deviation from standards and said it is acceptable to be fifteen minutes late. What happens when someone comes in thirty minutes late? Is that the new norm? If you consume three beers and drive home and nothing bad happens, is it okay to always drive after three drinks? How about 4 or 5 or 6? It is easy to see the trap of normalization of deviation. Across our duty sections and in our personal lives there are innumerable opportunities to stray from standards and explain those deviations away because nothing unfortunate occurred. The challenge for all of us is to set and adhere to standards and hold accountable those that fail to
MACDILL COMMUNITY EVENTS Friday Surf s Edge Club Membership Breakfast from 6:30-9 a.m. Club members free; non-members: $7.95. Youth Center First Friday Movie Day from 3-5 p.m. for Youth Center Members. Join us for a great movie, free popcorn and fun. SeaScapes Beach House Sand Castles in the Sand Friday Family Fun Night fun starts at 5 p.m. Sand Castle Contest. Win a $25 FSS gift card. Building 5-6:30pm. Judging starts at 6:30pm. Giveaways and DJ. $2 & Under Kids Menu Items. Crab Night available along with our everyday bar menu. Free ice cream sundae bar with all meals. For more info, call 840-1451 Monday Boomers Bar & Grill NCAA College Basketball Championship; doors open at 5 p.m. with games, giveaway s, food & drinks. For more information, call 840-2020. Base Libary Month of the Military Child Special Family Story Time at 7 p.m. Wear PJ s; bring your favorite stuffed animal. ZOOM-ZOOM! IndyCar drivers Justin Wilson and Scott Dixon (fourth and fifth from left) are surrounded by members of Team MacDill for a group photo during a visit at MacDill Air Force Base, March 26. The St. Petersburg Grand Prix was held over the weekend and was won by Will Power. Protestant service Sunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary Service Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - FAMCAMP Service Catholic services Saturday - 5:30 p.m. - Mass Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass Photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph Islamic service Monday-Thursday - 12:10 p.m. Mass Friday - 1:30 p.m. - Muslim Prayer Service Call the chapel at 828-3621 for more information or visit the chapel web site at http://www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel. Wednesday Boomers Bar & Grill Wednesday Bash from 4-8 p.m. Free bar snacks, drink specials, bar bingo ($2 a card/cash), trivia, and a DJ. Call 840-1451. Thursday Base Theater Free movie: Secondhand Lions at 5:30 p.m. Bring your own food & drink. Be sure to visit the official MacDill Air Force Base web site at www.macdill.af.mil
Community leaders drop by Leadership Hillsborough visited MacDill Air Force Base March 27 to obtain a better understanding of its mission and meet Airmen. women From Page 14 matter, Frazier said. I have been fortunate enough to not have had to deal with any inequalities due to my gender, but it still happens. After the panel answered questions, they were all given certificates of appreciation for their time. We chose these phenomenal women based on what they have done and are doing today, explained 1st Lt. Shalisa Payne, Women s History Month Committee member. Each woman brought a different perspective and experience to the panel, so that the attending members would be able to learn from the insight given and apply it to their own lives. Some of the other events put on for Women s History Month were a recognition ceremony with the Tampa community, a basic automotive skills class, and a women s strength training class. The Women s History Month committee would like to thank everyone who supported our events, Payne said. Especially the phenomenal women who led the events and guest speakers, we wouldn t have had great events without you.