Vol. 41, No. 47 Thursday, November 21, 2013

News/Features: page 3‘There I was...’

News/Features: page 4Convoy combat training

News/Features: page 6Lesson in diversity

News/Features: page 16Operation Partnership

Community: page 21Events, Chapel, more...

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Staff Sgt. Michael Johnson, 6th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology craftsman, readies a computer numerical control machine at MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 5. The CNC machine takes coded alphanumeric data and precisely manufactures parts through controlled cuts by a mill.

Fabulous work - page 12

COMMAND CORNER

MacDill ThunderboltPublisher: Bill BarkerEditor: Nick Stubbs

The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt Newspa-pers, 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, includ-ing 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 time-liness.

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.

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 record-ing service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or email macdillwing-commander@us.af.mil.

Website: www.macdill.af.mil

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MacDillAirForceBase

MacDill on the web

by Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Mazzone6th Air Mobility Wing command chief

In the 1990s it was not uncommon for an Airman to hear the phrase “Suck it up!” It was also rare to find the supervisor who would encourage Air-men to seek help to work through mental health concerns.

It seemed the senior noncommissioned officers were worried more about maintaining the appear-ance of a strong and ready force. Unbeknownst to them, they were raising Airmen who would be exactly what they want-ed: hard core NCOs who were afraid to show emotion, and even worse, afraid to get help. We have the opportunity to break the cycle. Are you up for the challenge?

In 2004, a technical sergeant found himself sitting in a corner of a darkened room in the back of his house, sobbing. He was alone, and his life had just fallen out from under his feet. For more than 30 hours he sat there, cried

there and slept there. He didn’t eat and he didn’t drink. He simply stared at the empti-ness in front of him, wondering how this had happened. How had his life gone from seem-ingly normal to quiet chaos in less than a day? He didn’t know how to ask for help.

He was in no condition to dissect his situ-ation, as he lacked rational thought and had just sustained fresh, deep emotional wounds. Sitting in that corner, he challenged his faith, asking how his God could allow something so wicked to occur. He challenged himself, won-dering if he didn’t do enough to keep this from happening. The phone rang as he sat there. He thought about unplugging it, but it was too far away. He wondered about “making the pain go away,” but instead he rolled over to fall asleep yet again. This time he awoke to the sound of his name being yelled in his own house. He never cried out, “I’m back here, please help me!”

When they found him, he was a wreck. His legs were weak and he didn’t want to move. He just wanted his life back; he wanted his family back. He wanted things to be the way they were before, even though he now knew it was all a lie. One person walked him to the liv-ing room couch. Another got him some water.

They sat there in silence with him, waiting patiently, hoping he would say something. He was ashamed and didn’t speak. He couldn’t stomach the thought of people knowing about this, even if they were his friends. He felt they wouldn’t be able to do anything for him, and he never asked them to find someone who could help.

One of them contacted the first sergeant, who arrived soon after. Together, they started doing things for him—simple things. They turned on the shower, they got him clean clothes, they made him a bowl of cereal and they drove him to see his commander. He sat in the office, his commander making the time to listen to nothing being said, only the sobs of a broken man. Finally, he was asked if he would like to see a chaplain or someone from Mental Health.

I said “no,” because I was scared and because that’s the way I was raised in the Air Force. I was taught that seeking help was a sign of weakness, that it hurt careers and it could negatively impact the mission. My commander didn’t force me. Instead he made a deal with me. He made me promise to answer the door no matter what time there was a knock, and to answer the phone at any hour. He pulled me from the flight schedule to ensure my personal

Asking for help is courageous

Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Mazzone

Have news? Send it to the MacDill Thunderbolt at thunder.bolt@us.af.mil

See CORNER, Page 14

NEWS/FEATURES

by Capt. Paul Lasorda91st Air Refueling Squadron

I recently returned from a six-month deploy-ment to Southeast Asia, fulfilling the position of air refueling planner, scheduler and executor for Air Force Central Command.

Specifically, I conducted long- and short-term KC-135 Stratotakner and KC-10 Extender tank-er fleet planning, as well as exercised execution authority over aircraft that were flying air re-fueling missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This meant at times I was managing more than 60 KC-135 and KC-10 air refueling aircraft and coordinat-ing upward of 125 air refueling events a day.

A portion of these KC-135 aircraft and the aircrews that fly them were deployed from the 91st Air Refueling Squadron here at MacDill. As an aircraft commander for the KC-135 and member of the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, this was a deployment the members of my squadron and I experienced frequently. The KC-135 fly-ing community is tight-knit, where friendships are born during initial flight training, time at

home stations and most frequently during de-ployments away from home where members of sister KC-135 squadrons are mixed and fly to-gether as aircrew.

My experience as a current KC-135 pilot was invaluable in planning, scheduling and execut-ing air refueling operations across the Area of Responsibility. The daily pace of the war and co-ordination of these air refueling operations was frenetic and demanded rapid flexibility as air-craft experienced maintenance problems, emer-gencies occurred and ground events altered the level of support required from combat aircraft.

This frenetic pace collided with tragedy and grief for me on the morning of May 5, 2013. A phone call came in that one of the KC-135 air-craft from the Transit Center at Manas Kyrgyz-stan had taken off from the airport but was no longer in radio contact with air traffic control-lers. As more information rolled in minutes after the initial call, it was apparent that a KC-135 aircraft had crashed right after departure.

I was crushed by the news and my mind

‘There I was...’

Courtesy photo

Capt. Paul Lasorda, a pilot with the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, recalls a frenetic and tragic deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Wounded warrior retires

See ‘THERE I WAS’, Page 15

by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

After five years and six months serving his country in the U.S. Air Force, a wound-ed warrior retired during a ceremony here Nov. 8, 2013.

Staff Sgt. Kevin Eells, 6th Security Forc-es Squadron entry controller shift leader from Mount Kisco, New York, retired from military service after two deployments.

His first deployment was to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan for six months. A second deployment saw him assigned to an Army Special Forces group assigned to Afghani-stan for one year.

While deployed with the 1st Battal-ion, 10th Special Forces Group he worked alongside Green Berets and the local Af-ghani Police. Along with his team, he worked as both mentor and trainer, build-ing up the local government.

During his time in service and while de-ployed, Eells earned an Air Force Achieve-

Capt. Taylor Reynolds, 6th Security Forces Squadron operations officer, and Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Flick, 6th SFS logis-tics superintendent, present Staff Sgt. Kevin Eells, 6th SFS entry controller shift leader, with a shadow box commemorating his time in service to the U.S. Air Force Nov. 8 at MacDill Air Force Base, during Eells’ re-tirement ceremony. Eells retired from mili-tary service after completing five years and six months of honorable service and earning many decorations, including a Joint Service Commendation Medal, with valor.

See RETIRE, Page 18

NEWS/FEATURES

by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

A cardboard toilet paper roll and a bit of aluminum foil may seem like trash to some, but members of Team MacDill learned that they can be crafted for illegal drug use.

Defenders from the 6th Security Forces Squadron and first sergeants from across the base honed their detection skills during a controlled burn course Nov. 7.

“This is a training which is important for all security forces members to attend,” said Master Sgt. James Kamrad, 6th Security Forces Squad-ron flight operations NCO in-charge. “It teaches them how to identify drugs, paraphernalia and the odor that illegal substances have.”

Eddie Garcia, 6th Security Forces Squadron criminal investigations supervisor, led the course.

There are hopes to offer more courses in the future so that new se-curity forces members can be trained to smell and identify illegal sub-stances early on in their careers, said Garcia.

During the class, Garcia passed around an example of a popular il-legal substance so that the security forces members and the first ser-

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner

Investigators from the 6th Security Forces Squadron criminal investiga-tions department explain to defenders and first sergeants how people use everyday objects to make drug paraphernalia, at MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 7. This device, a toilet paper tube and aluminum foil, was found on MacDill during a routine search by security forces and was being used with an illegal substance.

Trained to see and smell

See DRUGS, Page 7

by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Gonterman and Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Since 2003, Air Force vehicle operators have been tasked with pro-viding convoy support for the operations conducted in the Middle East. Due to the extreme nature of these taskings, Team MacDill’s 6th Logis-tic Readiness Squadron engineered its first of many modified Combat Convoy Courses Nov. 2.

Prior to each deployment, vehicle operator personnel must train to meet a full range of tasks that prepare them for the multitude of situ-ations that may arise during wartime and hostile convoy and contin-gency operations.

In support of the first annual training were the Joint Communica-tions Support Element, 6th Security Forces Squadron, and the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, which provided first-hand experi-ences and mimicked real-world scenarios.

“Our goal was to conduct ultra-realistic convoy operations, and the JCSE, SFS, CE (fire-department) did just that.” said Master Sgt. Thom-as Dulin, 6th LRS, vehicle operations supervisor. “Each entity played an integral role in our training, which allowed us to make it as realistic has possible,”

The training introduced a diversified set of “mock” threat scenarios including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices detection, small arms fire ambushes, vehicle recovery procedures, and proper vehicle formation attack and assessment roles. Additional training insertions

Vehicle Ops ramps up realistic combat convoy training

Photo by 2nd Lt. Patrick Gargan

Airman 1st Class Jeffery Ball, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehi-cle operator, secures the area during combat convoy training, Nov. 2 at MacDill Air Force Base. The training is designed to train transportation Airmen in basic combat skills required to integrate with joint forces in hostile convoy operations. See CONVOY, Page 18

by Senior Airman Michael Ellis 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

“When we speak about Native Americans, we’re not referring to just one group of people; we’re referring to the hundreds of displaced groups throughout the nation,” said Col. An-dre Briere, 6th Air Mobility Wing vice com-mander and descendent of the Huron-Wendat/Wendake.

Airmen from across the wing gathered for a lunch and learn Nov. 13, 2013, as a way of “celebrating our destiny with heritage and tradition”—which is this year’s slogan for Na-tional American Indian Heritage Month.

Briere, whose Grandfather was a clan chief in Canada, stated that his clan has descen-dants in Kansas, Oklahoma and Canada, with the largest population in Canada.

In Canada, it’s a common occurrence for the word “Bon” (means “good” in French) to be used in conjunction with the name of a clan,

which exemplifies the positive sentiment ex-pressed to Native Americans in that region, said Briere.

Briere also noted, “They’re not called Na-tive Americans in Canada; they’re called ‘first nations.’”

Another guest speaker Willie Johns, mem-ber of the Seminole Tribe and employee at Ah-Tah-Thi-ki Museum, spoke about his heritage and the current affairs of Native Americans in Florida.

“The term Seminole is not even in our language; it was the name given to us,” said Johns. “In Spanish, Seminole translates to Ci-marrón, which means untamed.”

Johns explained how despite the numerous complaints about the Spaniards, the positives were: they brought horses, cattle, chickens and livestock. The displaced Seminoles picked up these trades along with a few others, and today the Seminoles are top three in Florida

Photo by Senior Airman Michael Ellis

Col. Andre Briere, 6th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, presents a token of appreciation to Willie Johns, guest speaker and member of the Seminole Tribe, during a National American Indian Heritage Month lunch and learn, Nov. 13 at MacDill Air Force Base.

Airmen learn about diversity during lunch and learnNEWS/FEATURES

See DIVERSITY, Page 22

geants could learn what it looks like firsthand.He also showed the class how to properly conduct a test on suspi-

cious substances to see if they contain Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and how to write a report on their findings.

Staff Sgt. Eric Jones, 6th SFS electronics security systems admin-istrator, came to the class voluntarily to learn what substances and paraphernalia are being obtained through the gate.

“It is good to expose our new defenders to this training,” said Jones.

“They need to know that these things could potentially come through the gates and being used.”

To finish off the class, Garcia lit a small amount of an illegal sub-stance so that those in attendance could smell it firsthand.

“It’s important for them to smell it so that they can identify it when they are working later,” said Kamrad. “If they ever have to testify in court, they need to have received formal training so that they can say they smelled it and how they know what it smells like.”

DRUGSFrom Page 4

6th Civil Engineer SquadronAirman 1st Class Anthony Heath, Mesquite, Nev.

6th Communications SquadronAirman 1st Class Derek Payne, Atlanta, Ga.

6th Comptrollers SquadronAirman 1st Class Brandi Graves, Nashville, Tenn.

6th Force Support SquadronAirman 1st Class Brenden Nicol, Richmond, Va.

6th Logistics Readiness SquadronAirman 1st Class Jeffery Ball, Powhatan, Va.Airman 1st Class Michael Garcia, Cicero, Ill.Airman 1st Class David O’Briant, Hot Springs, Ariz.Airman 1st Class Jose Pena, Queens, N.Y.Airman Tanner Roush, Rock Island, Il.Airman 1st Class Andrew Tauchen, Elmhurst, Ill.Airman 1st Class Fransicso Torres-Lopez, Waynesboro, Pa.

6th Maintenance SquadronAirman 1st Class Jonathon Lee, Hutchinson, Minn.

6th Medical Support SquadronAirman 1st Class Mary Flaharty, Livonia, Mich. Airman 1st Class Blake Lowery, St. Albans, W.Va.Airman 1st Class Vitaliy Stefanov, Schaumburg, Ill.Airman 1st Class Brittany Villegas, Geneva, Fla.

6th Medical Operations SquadronAirman 1st Class Samantha Collins, West Plains, Mo.Airman 1st Class Jessica Gross, Wise, V.A.Airman 1st Class Iesha Leonard, Houston Texas

Team MacDill welcomes new Airmen

See FTAC, Page 20

6th Maintenance Support SquadronSenior Master Sgt. David Loop

6th Medical Support SquadronSenior Master Sgt. Richard Burgos

6th Operations Support SquadronSenior Master Sgt. Marcus Wright

Central CommandSenior Master Sgt. Jeremy Huggins Senior Master Sgt. Robert PattisonSenior Master Sgt. Chad Schulte

Joint Communication Support SquadronSenior Master Sgt. Craig Olson

Special Operations Central CommandSenior Master Sgt. Lauren OwensSenior Master Sgt. Robert Powell II

Special Operation CommandSenior Master Sgt. Robert West

Attached to MacDill but located at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base:

4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Master Sgt. Robert Haslacker

4th Component Maintenance Senior Master Sgt. Gene Sing

4th Security Forces SquadronSenior Master Sgt. David Houtz Jr.

Congratulations to new chief master sergeantsNEWS/FEATURES

KC-135 Stratotanker military and base personnel open house

The 6th Air Mobility Wing will host a KC-135 viewing for MacDill personnel, their families and friends on the following dates in hangar 3: Nov. 30, Dec. 21 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

At a time when Department of Defense budgets are under the micro-scope, each organization must come up with new and resourceful ways to continue the mission with limited manning and assets.

For the members of the 6th Air mobility Wing’s fabrication flight, this new and resourceful mindset led to the savings of thousands of dollars and months of material production time, all while delivering a plentiful stock.

Tasked with coming up with a way to reproduce two mission-essential KC-135 parts was Staff Sgt. Michael Johnson, 6th Maintenance Squadron metals technician, who is no novice when it comes to recreating parts.

“Our shop was contacted by the maintainers of the KC-135 asking us if it was possible to make replacement covelip door latches and hinge fitting assembly flap clearance ribs,” said Johnson. “Being that this type of fabri-cation is what we are trained to do, I knew exactly what needed to be done in order for the recreation.”

Johnson, with help from other 6th MXS metals technicians, was able to track down part-specific blueprints using a database called the Joint En-gineering Data Management Information and Control System.

From there he was able to program the blueprint files into a computer numerical control machine, which takes coded alphanumeric data and precisely manufactures parts through controlled cuts.

“After we finished the parts and made sure that they were 100 percent manufacturer accurate, we restocked our local supply system and made a few calls to other 135 bases,” said Johnson. “Come to find out, the same parts that we were manufacturing were also out of stock and in high de-mand at their bases as well; so we made extras and sent them out to all the bases that needed them.”

Because of the expertise of Johnson and the members of the 6th MXS fabrication flight, a cost savings of 81 percent was saved from manufac-turer cost.

“The hinges alone were a tremendous savings,” said Johnson. “There are two of these per aircraft and each costs $2,060.19 from the manufac-turer; the cost for me to make one in-house is only $167.50.”

For Johnson, the fulfillment he gets from saving the Air Force time and money, as well as being able to use a very defined skill set, is ever-appar-ent in his work.

“Manufacturing parts from billet material to keep our jets in the air is definitely a rewarding feeling,” said Johnson. “Without our knowledge and expertise, Air Force aircraft would see far less time in the air and more time sitting on the flightline not being utilized.”

This was just one of the many instances showcasing how the members of the 6th MXS fabrication flight are constantly making the mission a pos-sibility through their technical prowess and ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the military.

FAB-ulous6th AMW fabrication flight makes it from scratch

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Staff Sgt. Michael Johnson, 6th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology craftsman, determines if a fabricated part matches its blueprint, Nov. 5 at MacDill Air Force Base. Most of the parts for the KC-135 cannot be found in stock any longer, because the aircraft were built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For that reason, the parts are made at the metals technology flight in Hangar 3.

(Background image) Blueprints, measurement tools, and a completed fabrication part sit on a viewing table at MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 5. This year alone, members of 6th Air mobility Wing’s fabrication flight have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by locally manufacturing parts and tools for the Air Force.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Staff Sgt. Michael Johnson, 6th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology craftsman, determines if a fabricated part matches its blueprint, Nov. 5 at MacDill Air Force Base. Most of the parts for the KC-135 cannot be found in stock any longer, because the aircraft were built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For that reason, the parts are made at the metals technology flight in Hangar 3.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner

A piece of metal is formed into an aircraft part in one of the fabrication ma-chines in the metals technology flight at MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 5. This machine can create any part it is asked to create from a digital blueprint.

(Background image) Blueprints, measurement tools, and a completed fabrication part sit on a viewing table at MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 5. This year alone, members of 6th Air mobility Wing’s fabrication flight have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by locally manufacturing parts and tools for the Air Force.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

safety and the safety of my fellow crew mates. He knew my passion for history and instructed me to begin a research project for the unit. All the while, he reminded me constantly of my options to speak with some-one, and that it was a path back to wellness. After weeks of not smiling and busy work meant to keep my mind occupied, I finally told someone I was ready to talk.

There was no pause. I was immediately driven the 15 miles to our supporting hospital, and met with someone who wanted only to learn about what happened to make me go through the pain I felt. She gained my trust, assuring me that these steps to heal myself were courageous. It took time, but I worked through it. It took friends who legitimately cared about me, and did whatever was needed. It took a command team to let me know it was okay to expose my wounds, since that was the only way to heal them. It took more time, but I was finally back in the air, doing what I loved, safely. It took a lot of people doing a lot of things at just the right time to make sure I was cared for. They never let me feel as though I was on my own. It also took a patient and loving God to wait for me to come back, and to show me there is a purpose for everything.

Since then, I’ve tried hard to crush the stigma associated with seek-ing help for mental health issues by being an example of a compassion-ate leader. But it wasn’t until recently that I decided the best example I could use was my own. I intend to continue spreading the message that it’s okay to ask for help. After mustering the courage to seek the assis-tance others wanted for me, I took to the path. It led me on a journey of self-discovery and helped to rebuild my confidence. In the aftermath, I continued to earn positions of responsibility, and maintained my high level security clearance. I was screened and designated to work for a special mission unit, promoted to chief master sergeant, and eventually selected to be your command chief.

The previous paragraph is not boastful pride. It’s meant to encourage those who may be sitting in a similar dark corner, with what appears to be no place to go. I promise you there is a safe place, and I challenge you to ask for help. If I can crawl from my own hell with the help of others, I know you can too. I also have a message for the “dinosaurs” that remain entrenched in the belief that asking for help is weak: You’re keeping your Airmen from reaching their full potential. That is exactly the op-posite of what good leaders do. We should be inspiring our Airmen, and conditioning them to seek whatever help they need in order to succeed personally and professionally. Healthy Airmen accomplish the mission efficiently, and with pride.

There are so many men and women with whom we serve who have made a leap of faith and found fulfillment on the other side. All it takes is the courage to ask for help.

CORNERFrom Page 2

swirled as I thought of every single person I knew that was currently deployed there and fly-ing missions that day from the 91st ARS as well as sister squadrons from Fairchild and McCon-nell Air Force Bases. As a single guy, many of the people I truly consider family are the men and women I fly with from the 91st ARS and these sister units. Waiting to hear who was lost while trying to remain effective in my planning and execution duties was absolutely overwhelming.

I was heart-broken to learn that my long-time friend and once-roommate from the Air Force Academy, Capt. Mark “Tyler” Voss was in command of that aircraft. The Air Force also lost Capt. Victoria “Tori” Pinckney and Tech Sgt. Herman “Tre” Mackey III during the crash, both outstanding people and Airmen. Like Sept. 11th, I will remember the events that occurred on May 5, 2013 profoundly.

As Veteran’s Day passes it provides me time to again solemnly reflect on the loss of Tyler and his crew as well as the many others who have given their lives in selfless service to our coun-try both past and present. It also reminds me of the non-stop and dangerous operations that those deployed are continuously conducting around the world, the great sacrifices we reso-lutely choose to make, and the amazing camara-derie that we all share as service members.

‘THERE I WAS’From Page 3

by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Twenty-five local civic leaders were invited to pair with 25 base members for a day-long base tour and on-the-job experience at Mac-Dill Air Force Base, Nov. 13.

Operation Partnership kicked off bright and early at the Surfs Edge restaurant, where breakfast was served and keynote speaker Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing com-mander, spoke on the importance of the day.

“It’s been a few years since we’ve had one of these days,” said DeThomas. “I’d like to start these days again to combine MacDill and the surrounding communities into one Tampa Bay community.”

After breakfast was served, all 50 members headed out to the flight line for the viewing and walk through of a KC-135 Stratotanker.

“This has got to be the coolest thing ever,”

exclaimed Ray Sierra, USAA insurance man-ager, as he sat behind the wheel in the cockpit of a KC-135.

From the flight line, everyone headed to the 6th Security Forces Squadron military work-ing dog section for a walk through of the facil-ity and a demonstration of the dogs capabili-ties.

Each of the 25 civic leaders then set off with their respective military member to visit the service member’s work station.

The last stop of the day was the Davis Con-ference Center to recap the events that had happened.

“This day was incredibly helpful,” exclaimed Peggy Steele, Tampa Electric Company man-ager of recruitment and staff. “It has definitely started to bridge the gap between the military and civilians, and will help me a ton where I work; I can’t wait for the next time this hap-pens.”

Operation Partnership base tour a hit

Photo by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston

1st Lt. David Urban, a pilot with the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, teaches Ray Sierra, USAA insurance manager, the different switches and toggles in the cabin of a KC-135 Strato-tanker during an Operation Partnership event at MacDill Air Force Base, Nov. 13. Operation Partnership brought 25 local civic leaders onto MacDill to partner with 25 base members for a day-long base tour and on-the-job experience.

NEWS/FEATURES

keyed in on self-aid buddy care, calling in “9-lines,” and helicopter evacuations procedures.

“The vehicle operations training section successfully taught our Airmen how to effectively communicate and respond in high-pressure situations,” said Tech. Sgt. Gany Gamboa, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in charge of training. “It’s was a fantastic way for the

seasoned operators to refresh ourselves and pass on our experiences amongst the younger Airmen, so that they will be able to anticipate and react to the situations they might face while deployed.”

Because of the overwhelming success of the modified Combat Con-voy Courses training, the vehicle operators expand upon their success-ful benchmark and have now begun to schedule quarterly refreshers.

CONVOYFrom Page 4

RETIREFrom Page 3

ment Medal, the Purple Heart, Joint Service Commendation Medal, with valor, the Army Commendation Medal, and an Air Force Combat Action Medal for his achievements, elevating him above his peers.

Due to his actions while serving, and all he gave to his country, Eells’ Security Forces badge number was retired along with him dur-

ing his retirement ceremony.Eells plans to move back to New York and complete his bachelor’s

degree. He will miss the military very much, said Eels, but his is grate-ful for all the experiences and knowledge he has gained from his ser-vice to the United States

6th Operation Support SquadronAirman 1st Class Matthew Fraser, Freedom, Pa.Airman 1st Class Matthew Hosking, Canal Fulton, OhioAirman 1st Class Alexander Lopez, Denver, Col.

6th Security Forces SquadronAirman 1st Class Fahad Azia, Hackensack, N.J.Airman 1st Class Perry Beaber, Roseville, Calif.Airman 1st Class Giovanni Brenes, Wilmington, N.C.Airman 1st Class Ruben Brown, Greensville, Miss.Airman 1st Class Juan Carrasco, San Antonio TexasAirman 1st Class Russell Espiritu, Colorado Springs, Colo.Airman 1st Class Anthony Hu, Sierra Vista, Ariz.Airman 1st Class Joshua Marafino, Palm Bay , Fla.Airman 1st Class Chance Pepper, Troy, Mo.Airman 1st Class Daniel Velasquez, West Covina, Cal.

91th Air Refueling SquadronAirman 1st Class Darian Edwards, Tampa, Fla.Airman 1st Class Jordan Webber, Knoxville, Tenn.

FTACFrom Page 8

MACDILL COMMUNITYEVENTSFridayShort Fitness Center

Turkey 5K Run, 7-9:30 a.m. Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female runners. Call the Fitness Center at 828-4496.

SaturdaySeaScapes Beach House

Steak-N-Date Night with des-sert and drink specials! 4-9 p.m. For more information, call 840-1451.

ThursdayDiner’s Reef Dining Facility

Thanksgiving meal. Conti-nental breakfast, 6:30-8:30 a.m. Traditional Thanksgiving feast, 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Open to mili-tary, civilians, families and retir-ees. Choose from a wide selection of traditional Thanksgiving items served to you by your favorite commanders and first sergeants. A la carte pricing. Call 828-2412 for more details.

Surf’s Edge ClubThanksgiving dinner. First

seating, 11 a.m. Second seating, 1 p.m. Reservations required by Nov. 22. Call 840-2020.

Looking AheadSurf’s Edge Club

New Year’s Eve Party. Tickets on sale Dec. 1.

Tree Lighting Ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Memorial

Park (base flag pole) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cookies, refreshments, a visit from Santa, and Tinker El-ementary School student perfor-mance.

Protestant serviceSunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary Service Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - FAMCAMP Service

Islamic serviceFriday - 1:30 p.m. - Muslim Prayer Service

Catholic servicesSaturday - 5:30 p.m. - Mass

Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass

Monday-Wednesday - 12:10 p.m. Mass

Call the chapel at 828-3621 for more information or visit the chapel web siteat http://www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel.

CHAPEL SCHEDULE

Grand tour!Members of St. Mark’s Village retirement community listen to a brief from the 6th Security Forces Squadron marine patrol Nov. 15 at MacDill Air Force Base. St. Marks Village members toured the base and became acquainted with the mission at MacDill.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Vernon Fowler

and top 12 in the nation in the cattle industry. Where they have flourished the most is in the gaming industry. The

Seminole casino in Tampa, Fla., earns three times the revenue than any casino in Las Vegas, said Johns.

With so much success “taking care of our people comes first,” said Johns. Johns said the Seminole Tribe has 40,000 employees in the state of

Florida, have their own fire and police department, health system and insurance.

“We don’t put our seniors in home and don’t want them to be alone when they get older.”

From childhood to college years, where all members have their col-lege paid for at any institution from which they’re accepted, to late adulthood the tribe cares for and provides benefits to their people.

Johns said those benefits and services total more than $9 billion. After the event, Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Mazzone, 6th AMW com-

mand chief, shared some words with enlisted members.“I encourage you to go out to your work centers and also encourage

others to get involved and learn about diversity. This is our culture and really some of us are just implants. The speakers today, Johns and Bri-ere, are truly from here,” said Mazzone.

DIVERSITYFrom Page 6