Vol. 41, No. 5 Thursday, February 2, 2012

Graphic by Tech. Sgt. Tanika Belfield

by Col. Matt Molineux 6th Operations Group commander

Recently the 6th Air Mobility Wing and 927th Air Refueling Wing launched eight KC-135 stratotanker aircraft with minimum interval timing and perfect precision for the first time in over a decade. The wings continuously practice three-ship formation flights, but rarely set out to execute an event of this magnitude, so it is particularly noteworthy.

The obvious question is why is this signifi-cant? Who cares? The simple answer is “Global Reach.” This exercise of putting a lot of air refueling assets and hundreds of thousands of pounds of fuel in the air in a very short time-frame demonstrates a unique capability that only the United States has—the ability to project airpower anytime and anywhere in the world. No other nation can do this. We have this capability because of our tankers—gas stations in the sky—that deliver fuel to airlift, fighter, and bomber assets continuously and at will.

U.S. forces must provide a rapid, tailored response with a capability to intervene against a well-equipped foe, hit hard and terminate quickly. Rapid global mobility lies at the heart of U.S. strategy in this environment—without the capability to project forces, there is no con-ventional deterrent. Air refuelers are the life-line of global reach—increasing range, payloads and flexibility.

As you may know, MacDill closed its runway

for routine repairs on Jan. 31. Since our as-signed aircraft are required to fulfill worldwide higher headquarters missions even during the runway closure period, we chose this time to disburse our jets to other operating locations. After this momentous large formation takeoff, most of the aircraft conducted missions over the southeastern United States then recovered else-where. Runway repairs will take approximately a month and then we’ll have the majority of our aircraft back on station.

Executing a large mission such as this takes teamwork. I’m proud of the active duty and re-serve operators and maintainers who worked

quickly and efficiently to ensure mission suc-cess in demonstrating this critical Air Force capability. Do you realize the venerable KC-135 aircraft are over 50 years old? The maintenance professionals in both wings continued to work their magic and accomplished a significant MacDill milestone. I’d say it was a good return on our tax dollars!

Additionally, this exercise demonstrated the excellent relationship we share with the Tampa air traffic controllers and the Federal Aviation Administration. In conjunction with the Tampa controllers, 6th Operations Group air traffic

COMMANDER’s CORNER

MacDill ThunderboltPublisher: Terry Jamerson

Editor: Nick Stubbs

The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt News-papers, 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 De-

fense, the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobil-ity Wing.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, in-cluding inserts or supplements, does not constitute en-dorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Mobility Wing or Sunbelt Newspa-pers, 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-mer-it factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

Display advertising or classified advertising information

may be obtained by calling 259-7455. News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submit-

ted to the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, Bldg. 25, MacDill AFB, FL 33621, or call the MacDill Thunderbolt staff at 828-2215. Email: thunderbolt@MacDill.af.mil.

Deadline for article submissions is noon, Thursdays to appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received af-ter deadline may be considered for future use. All submis-sions are considered for publication based on news value and timeliness.

Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clar-ity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Style-book and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.

COMMANDER’S ACTION LINEThe Action Line provides a 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 com-ments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or e-mail macdillwingcom-mander@macdill.af.mil

Mission accomplished with perfect precision; global reach proven

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Tanika Belfield

KC-135 Stratotankers lined up and ready to go during the recent “Elephant Walk” exercise. Col. Matt Molineux, inset.

See COMMENT, Page 12

Your T-bolt TodayNews/Features: page 4

927th ARW Col. key player

NEWS/FEATURES

News/Features: page 13

Space A goes Facebook

Community: page 17

Event, movies, more...

by Nick StubbsThunderbolt editor

Speed may kill, but complacency is right up there and is responsible for a major portion of the injuries and deaths of service members.

Reminding everyone not to let complacen-cy creep into their lives and to practice good safety habits was the aim of a series of safety briefings Jan. 27, said Tech. Sgt. Tanisha Wil-liams, 6th Air Mobility Wing NCOIC of ground safety.

The event was part of Air Mobility Com-mand’s safety focus day.

“This is an opportune time as we come off the holiday ‘slow’ period to refocus our atten-tion and reinvigorate a safety mindset,” said Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., AMC commander,

in a letter to the command’s leaders. To allow for maximum participation and to

the maximum extent possible, Johns directed that AMC operations and training be limited on safety focus day. This will afford Airmen time to focus on mishap trends and the need to constantly maintain our safety focus in day-to-day air mobility operations.

Held at the base theater for all members of Team MacDill, the briefings were designed to, “give everyone a snapshot of what (tragedies) can happen,” said Williams. The message was punctuated with stories of actual accidents, their consequences. Pictures helped drive the point home further.

“We want everyone to avoid complacency,” Williams said. “When you do the same job day

Safety is the goal; complacency is the enemy

News/Features: page 10

Annual award winners

Sports: page 16

Pigskin Picker

The following first term Airmen have arrived to MacDill directly out of technical school be-coming the newest addition to our team. We are excited to have them at “America’s Best Wing” and wish them the best of success on MacDill!

6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadronu Airman 1st Class Jordan Johnson: Poulsvo, Wash.

6th Communications Squadronu Airman 1st Class Brent Harmor: Mukilteo, Wash.

6th Logistics Readiness Squadronu Airman 1st Class Randy Felch: El Paso, Texasu Airman 1st Class Seth Greene: Fitchburg,

Mich.u Airman 1st Class Jonathan Kissee: Lacon, Ill.

6th Medical Operations Squadronu Airman 1st Class Jacob Burgess: Grand Rap-ids, Mich.u Airman 1st Class Rachel Parker: Bethel, Ohiou Airman 1st Class Natasha Price: Murfrees-boro, Tenn.u Airman 1st Class Cecilia Schonian: Modesto, Calif.u Airman 1st Class Lee Speight: Davenport, Fla.

6th Medical Support Squadronu Airman 1st Class Alysia Bosier: Bronx, N.Y.u Airman 1st Class Jasmin Muniz: Lawton, Okla.

6th Maintenance Squadronu Airman 1st Class Jonathan Prather: King-

man, Ariz.u Airman 1st Class Cody Whiting: Enoch, Utah

6th Operations Support Squadronu Airman 1st Class Michael Shambo: Las Vegas, Nev.

6th Security Forces Squadron u Airman 1st Class Zade Becker: Sheridan, Wyo.u Airman 1st Class Rudy Dominguez: Phoenix, Ariz.u Airman 1st Class Jennifer Foerman: Lake-land, Fla.u Airman 1st Class Alexander Rodriguez: Fort Smith, Ark.u Airman 1st Class Felecia Rodriguez: Williams-burg, Penn.u Airman Scott Thompson: Mays Landing, N.J. u Airman 1st Class Sierra Westmark: Olympia, Wash.

MacDill welcomes new Airmen to the team

See SAFETY, Page 12

News/Features: page 6

Black History Month

Get children to school on time!Parents of Tinker Elementary students,

our student tardiness rates are high. A tardy student disrupts the classroom and deters the rest of the students from learning. This is cause for concern at any school, but especially troubling at a predominately military family school. These children are special. They en-dure hardships to include family separation, frequents moves, and interruptions to family

life. Our nation is as grateful for their sacri-fices as for those of our service members.

We can and must do better. Let’s treat Tin-ker with the special respect it deserves. We must all do our part to ensure these great children have the best learning environment we can give them.

Thank you, Col. Dave Almand, 6th Air Mo-bility Wing vice commander, and proud Tin-ker parent

927th ARW NEWS

by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes 927th Air Refueling Wing

In 2003, Nasiriyah, Iraq, was one of the first battle zones of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Eight years later, an air base outside the city was the last way station for U.S. troops as they made their way to Kuwait in the south, and then to their families that waited for them in the states. When seven tons of cargo and 40,000 troops were leaving Iraq, they relied on the leadership and dedication of one man who was pivotal in ensuring their safe return. The man responsible for the operating the flightline was Tampa re-servist Col. Ted Mathews.

Mathews is a traditional reservist with the 927th Air Refueling Wing here. Unlike his ac-tive-duty counterparts, Mathews serves in the Air Force and has a full-time civilian job. Like

his active-duty comrades, he is also eligible for combat deployments. He returned last De-cember after a nine-month tour where he com-manded the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. It was this group that was charged with running the flightline and air operations for Ali Air Base, in addition to training and mentoring the Iraqi Air Force unit there.

“Before I deployed, I had a lot of concerns,” said Mathews. “I knew the lives of those I com-manded depended on me.”

Mathews took command of the 407th AEG and immediately realized he would have to work as the middleman between multiple cul-tures - the Iraqi culture and the different Amer-ican military cultures.

“The Army is set up for and used to doing

The last way station of the war: 927th ARW colonel plays key role in Iraq drawdown

Photo by Airman 1st Class Shandresha Mitchell

As a hometown hero, Col. Ted Matthews, vice wing commander of the 927th Air Refueling Wing, based out of MacDill Air Force Base, greeted news crews and friends after nearly nine months in Iraq. While in Iraq, Mathews commanded the 407 Air Expeditionary Group, a unit charged with runway operations for the last military airport to close with the drawdown efforts.

Way to go!Staff Sgt. Jaclyn Harris, a member of the 927th Air Refueling Wing, was recently awarded the Joint Service Acheivement Medal by Col. Rodney Bryan, commander of the 927th Mission Support Group. Har-ris was recognized for her work with Unit-ed States Central Command, where she was pivotal in conducting more than 50 airlift missions that equipped and trained Afghanistan National Army and security forces. See IRAQ Page 8

Photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes

by Airman 1st Class Katherine Ogletree6th Communications Squadron

“Nothing is going to be handed to you – you have to make things happen.” – Florence Griffith-Joyner.

Considered “The World’s Fastest Woman,” Florence Griffith-Joyner, better known as “Flo-Jo,” was a very rare talent indeed. Born Dec. 21, 1959, in Los Angeles, Calif., by age 7, Florence began running be-coming a star athlete at an early age. One of the most memorable moments of the 20th century was when Florence Griffith-Joyner be-came an Olympic track and field champion during the 1988 Seoul games.

NEWS/FEATURESFebruary is Black History Month

Women in black history: Sports

Florence Griffith-Joyner

See BLACK HISTORY, Page 7

Flo-Jo took the very essence of women’s track to an elevated level as she broke world records in the 100 and 200-meter events, stunning the world she ran a 100-meter world record of 10.49 seconds and 200-meter world record of 21.34 seconds that has still not been challenged.

She won three gold medals in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and an-other gold medal in the 1987 World Championships in Rome; along with a plethora of accolades.

Florence Griffith-Joyner was not only a success in the track realm, but also had a range of talents she excelled in such as fashion design, acting, writing, and sports casting. Another great achievement was her

appointment as co-chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and sharing her expertise and enthusiasm for fitness across the nation. Her excellence in all endeavors inspired fans to achieve and set their own heights.

As we celebrate Black History month we remember the life and ac-complishments of Florence Griffith-Joyner and the many other strong, talented black women in our history.

Please attend “The Tea Party” play sponsored by the Black History Month committee Feb. 22 as we pay tribute this year’s theme “Black Women.”

BLACK HISTORYFrom Page 6

without ... to roughing it. To make sure we had electricity and water at the very end of our time there, I had to make sure our Air Force civil engineers learned how to make water so we would have it to drink,” Mathews said.

While everyone spoke the same language within the American services there, the language barrier and cultural differences between the 407th AEG and the Iraqi Air Force unit there was another challenge altogether.

“It was hard to motivate their Soldiers and Airmen. Our challenge was driving them to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. I think they’re going to be successful,” Mathews said.

Because of their key location and pivotal role in the drawdown, Mathews’ troops were targets for insurgents. While they worked around the clock to funnel all the troops and supplies through the last way station, they had to deal with the combat going on inside their own walls.

“We weren’t safe there. We were rocketed more in the time I was there than in the three years prior,” Mathews commented. Upon his return to the states he added, “It’s great to wake up every morning and not have to worry about a rocket attack.”

Mathews had the opportunity to address some junior troops of the reserve unit during one of their unit training assemblies. These are the days of the month when reservists put on their uni-form, go to their home station, and work to keep themselves ready to fight America’s battles. He en-couraged them to take their training seriously and to be proud of the role they play in the military.

“Every second in this building training and every moment in the field, you should know what’s going on,” Mathews told the troops gathered around him. “It’s quite an experience for a 19 or 20 year-old to take a rocket attack. They did not falter, and they did not fail. These young Airmen had to train another military to do their jobs on the airfield, and provide them with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to succeed in combat.”

Mathews said that he could not tell the difference between reservists, active duty, or National Guard troops. They were all Americans, and all working toward the same goal. Although many reservists are used to serving in the military one weekend a month, many like Mathews are being asked to take on a heavier load.

“The days of the ‘one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer’ still fit some of our reserv-ists, but typically the nation requires much more. Mathews, for example, was gone for nearly nine months, and that’s a high price for an employer,” said Col. Dave Pavey, the commander of the 927th Air Refueling Wing. “It’s important that our community partners understand the importance of the new operational role we’ve asked our reservists to assume. It’s not just ‘one weekend a month’ any longer.”

With drawdowns in Iraq and also in the defense budget, Pavey believes reservists like Mathews will be the future of a successful Air Force.

“Our folks meet all the same mobility requirements at a fraction of the cost of the active duty,” Pavey said. “As the U.S. goes into an increasingly austere budgetary cycle, they look for where they can get the best bang for the buck. The Air Force Reserve is an outstanding value in that regard.”

Like all service members, Mathews had to do more with less. He began his deployment com-manding hundreds of people, but as the numbers dwindled and the mission requirements in-creased, Mathews had to make sure he could still accomplish his mission.

“We started out with 300 people, and by the end we only had 62. We all had to work together to make sure those troops and cargo made it out,” Mathews said.

Pavey believes this success was due to the hard work and determination of the troops and Mathews’ dedication to them.

“Mathew’s desire to protect his Airmen was second only to his passion for successfully complet-ing the U.S. mission in Iraq,” Pavey said. “His strong character and sense of family got him through that. He was the right officer at the right time to be there, and he safely brought home all his Air-men.”

What Mathews will remember most about his deployment are the many faces of his troops and the great work they did for the Iraqi people and for America.

“I’ll always remember how hard they worked, and how privileged and honored I was to be their commander,” Mathews said. “People need to be proud of the young Americans in the service. Their professionalism, dedication, and sacrifices help to preserve all our freedoms and our way of life.”

IRAQFrom Page 4

Senior Airman Andrew Glaser, 6th Medical Group, ac-cepts the 2011 Airman of the Year award.

Major Michael Dailey, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commanders,accepts the 2011 Company Grade Officer of the Year award on behalf of 1st Lt. Joshua Levine, 6th Maintenance Group, who is currently deployed.

Master Sgt. Michael Chickadel, 6th Mission Support Group, accepts the 2011 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award.

Mr. David Brown, 6th Mission Support Group, accepts the 2011 Category I Civilian of the Year award.

Master Sgt. Jesse Lopez, 6th Mission Support Group, accepts the 2011 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award.

Mr. Jesse Gabbert, 6th Mission Support Group, accepts the 2011 Category II Civilian of the Year award.Photos by Airman First Class Melanie Bulow-Kelly

Major Michael Dailey, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commanders,accepts the 2011 Company Grade Officer of the Year award on behalf of 1st Lt. Joshua Levine, 6th Maintenance Group, who is currently deployed.

Edward Simmons, 6th Mission Support Group, accepts the 2011 Category III Civilian of the Year award.

Col. Matthew Molineoux, 6th Operations Group command-er, accepts the 2011 First Sergeant of the Year award on behalf of Master Sgt. Angela Gibson, 911th Air Refueling Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.

Mr. David Brown, 6th Mission Support Group, accepts the 2011 Category I Civilian of the Year award.

Senior Airman Remington Burnette, 6th Mission Sup-port Group, accepts the 2011 Honor Guard Airman of the Year award.

Master Sgt. Donald Deming, 6th Civil Engineer Squad-ron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight chief, accepts the 2011 Team of the Year award.

Mr. Jesse Gabbert, 6th Mission Support Group, accepts the 2011 Category II Civilian of the Year award.

Col. William Dinse, 6th Dental Squadron commander, accepts the 2011 Honor Guard Noncommissioned Of-ficer of the Year award on behalf of Staff Sgt. Abraham Chavez, 6th Medical Group, who is currently deployed.

Members of MacDill AFB honor guard march forward to present the colors at the 2011 MacDill Annual Awards CeremonyJan. 27, 2012 at MacDill Air Force Base.

in and day out, monotony can set in and it’s easy to get careless and to forget about safety.”

Getting that message to stick in minds all year is the difficult task the safety office faces, said Williams.

“It depends on the individual and how much attention they give it,” she said. “Some might retain it (the message of safety) for a week or a month, others might take it in and apply it forever.”

The later is the rare case, however, so the safety team will continue to pound the message home and hold periodic safety events and cam-paigns to keep the idea of good safety practices in everyone’s mind.

When Williams says “everyone,” she means it. There are career fields that may involve more dangerous activities than others, but safety should be a concern for all.

“Regardless of career field, every one has its risks,” she said. “You could injure yourself lifting a box in the office.”

AMC officials expect the safety focus day will promote positive trends in terms of complacency, attention to detail and adherence to stan-dards. In addition, they hope it will also highlight key issues requiring the command’s attention to continue safe and effective mission accom-plishment.

(Portions of this story were taken from an article by Master Sgt. Kim-berly Spinner, 18th Air Force Public Affairs)

SAFETYFrom Page 3

Chapel seeking Youth Ministry CoordinatorThe MacDill chapel is accepting bids for a part-time youth ministry coordinator, paid by the chapel tithes and offering fund. A minimum of two years experience in designing and leading a comprehensive youth ministry is required. Bid documents can be picked up at the base chapel, building 355, weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Resumes and sealed bids will be accepted through Feb. 28. Interviews will be con-ducted February 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Chapel. The sealed bids will be opened at noon, February 29, in the Chapel conference room and the basis for award will be “best value to the government.” Anyone with in-terest may attend. The Youth Ministry Coordinator will be required to complete a background check. For additional information, contact Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Stewart at 828-3621.

OSI hosting recruitment eventThe Air Force Office of Special Investigation Detachment 340 is seek-

ing highly qualified Air Force applicants for special agent investigative duties at various, worldwide duty locations.

If you are an Air Force senior airman through technical sergeant or 2nd lieutenant through captain, or an interested civilian with a bach-elor’s degree, and have a desire to be a member of a highly challenging, diverse career field then AFOSI may be the right team for you. The event will take place at the base theater Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For more information contact Special Agent Paul Greene, 828-4921.

Florida Strawberry Festival free admissionActive duty, reserve, retired and military veterans along with law

enforcement and first responders (EMS & firefighters) will receive free admission with a valid ID to the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, March 7.

For more information contact Keelee Tomlinson, 752-9194.

BRIEFS

by Nick StubbsThunderbolt editor

Customer service is a hallmark across the 6th Air Mobility Wing, but nowhere is there more emphasis on taking care of the customer than at Space Available Travel, where the team at the air termi-nal recently took service to a new level with a new Facebook page for fliers.

Select terminals under Air Mobility Command have started the pages to bet-ter serve customers by providing cur-rent information on scheduling flights at MacDill. One of the most anticipated features, and perhaps the most useful for travelers, is an active, current schedule of seats available. Updated continuously, visi-tors of the page can find out what flights are available out of MacDill with just a few clicks from any internet device.

“As a Department of Defense asset, Air Mobility Command is unique in the fact that we are responsible for transporting eligible DOD card holders and their families around the world,” said Col. William Zeck, Air Mobility Command’s air transportation chief. “What we want to do is provide our travelers with enough information to plan their trip and enjoy their Space-A traveling experience.”

In order to help travelers plan accordingly, passenger terminals will post historical flight information on individual Facebook pages. Cus-tomers can expect to see the number of flights, destinations, number of seats available, number of seats filled and lowest Space-A category reached posted to the passenger terminal’s page.

The page can be found easily by typing in a search at www.Facebook.com for “MacDill Space A,” said Tech. Sgt. Craig Waters, NCO in charge of the Small Air Terminal.

Waters said the Facebook page features everything travelers need to know about the Space A services, with the highlight being actual screen shots of the terminal’s schedule of Space A flights posted for page visitors. The image is updated as flight schedules change, giving

visitors a current look at actual flights.The new information outlet is particularly useful this time of year,

when a lot of military retirees are wintering in Florida, said Waters.“We have a lot of retirees in Florida in the winter months,” said Wa-

ters, but “in the summer we also have a lot of families with kids here.”Prior to the new Facebook page, users of Space A either had to call

or stop in to get current schedules. Waters said making the informa-tion available on the web was a natural.

“It’s a very good way to distribute the information, and definitely reaches a lot of people,” Waters said.

Space A terminal on the Web with new Facebook pageNEWS/FEATURES

The Facebook page features everything trav-elers need to know about the Space A ser-vices, with the highlight being actual screen shots of the terminal’s schedule of Space A flights posted for page visitors. - Tech. Sgt. Craig Waters

Congratulation to the following colonel selectsu Lt. Col Jamie Dermer, 91st Air Refueling Squadronu Lt. Col Brian Smith, 6th Operations Group

Secretary of the Air Force Professionalism in Con-tracting-Supervisory u Winner: Edward Simmons, 6th Contracting Squadron

Secretary of the Air Force Professionalism in Con-tracting-Non-Supervisoryu Runner Up: Shon Emily Johnson, 6th Contracting Squadron Outstanding Contracting Unit-Largeu Winner: 6th Contracting Squadron, MacDill AFB

Outstanding Contracting Officer-CGOu Runner Up: 1st Lt. Kim Swarts, 6th Contracting Squadron

Outstanding Contracting Officer-FGOu Winner: Lt. Col. Derek Blough, 6th Contracting Squad-ron

Outstanding Contracting Civilian-GS-11 and Belowu Runner Up: Joyce Wright, 6th Contracting Squadron

Special Recognitionu Winner: Michael Terranova, 6th Contracting Squadron

Outstanding Pricingu Runner Up: Civil Engineering Services Team, 6th Con-tracting Squadron

Outstanding Contracting Enlisted Member-Airmanu Winner: Senior Airman Karla Alvarado, 6th Contract-ing Squadron

Outstanding Performance in a Source Selection-Operationalu Runner Up: Theater Plans Synchronization for HQ US-CENTCOM, 6th Contracting Squadron

Congratulation to the following Team MacDill mem-bers for being selected for AMC’s Phoenix Stripeu Tech. Sgt. Jason Gerdeman, 6th Communication Squad-ronu Tech. Sgt. Christine Selby, 6th Aerospace Medicine Squad-ronu Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Gregory, 6th Operations Support Squadronu Staff Sgt. Brandon Bednarski, 6th Comptrollers Squadronu Staff Sgt. Raymond Johnson III, 911th Air Refueling Sqaudronu Cassaundra Grace, 6th Force Support Squadronu Sherman Joyce, 6th Force Support Squadron

Congratulations to the following standoutsNEWS/FEATURES

representatives fa-cilitated the massive departure, successfully demonstrating the MacDill Air Force Base airfield and runway as a critical national security and power projection platform.

So, this event was a demonstration of a ca-pability critical to the Air Force’s post-Cold War strategy of “global reach - global power,” but Gen. Curtis LeMay still would have been proud as the iron leapt off the runway nose to tail and slipped the surly bonds with precision. The Airmen of MacDill executed it perfectly and touched a soft spot in the heart of this Strategic Air Com-mand baby! Great job everyone!

COMMENTFrom Page 2

NEWS/FEATURESCourtesy Air Force News Service

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- After more than a decade into the 21st century, our Air Force today is made up of a mix of ethnic backgrounds -- people who work together for common goals and missions. But throughout our history, even throughout much of the 20th century, that hasn’t always been the case.

The beginning of February kicks off African American History Month, and to honor that heritage, at www.af.mil the Air Force will profile a different man or woman each day; a person in aviation or Air Force history who helped pave the way for the Air Force we have today.

We’ll begin the series with Bes-sie Coleman, a young woman at the beginning of the 20th Century who was forced to leave her country to fulfill her aviation dreams. We’ll then showcase men like Eugene Bullard and William Powell who struggled against extreme preju-

dice and segregation to also fulfill their dreams.

Then there are the Tuskegee Air-men, men like Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Lee Archer and C.D. “Lucky” Lester, who proved through their valor and bravery in the skies that African Americans were just as im-portant in the fight as their White counterparts.

We’ll profile some of the impor-tant transition men and women who were early pioneers in the Air Force, as well as others who are still making their mark today. There’s even a TV and movie personal-ity who transcended her role as a fictional pioneer in space to make great strides in recruiting African Americans into the space program.

A total of 29 profiles in 29 days: Some may surprise you, others may be familiar favorites, some you may even know personally, but all were and are important role models and trailblazers not only for their race, but for aviation and the U.S. Air Force as well.

African Americans in aviation history profiled during February

Air Force graphic

Throughout the month of February, the Air Force will profile transitional African American men and women who were the early pioneers of the Air Force, along with others who are still making their mark on history today. A total of 29 profiles - one a day for the month - will be presented on the Air Force web site at www. af.mil. Above is the official Air Force poster honoring African American heritage for 2012.

by Mack DillThe Pigskin Picker

Well Sports Fans, this is it. The big game … the whole enchilada … all the marbles ... the Su-per Bowl! I’m so excited; I haven’t slept since last week. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did manage to catch a three-hour nap during the Pro Bowl. Seriously, I watched about five min-utes of it, decided they looked like a bunch of people sleepwalking in clown outfits, and turned off the TV.

But we’re not here to talk about that over-hyped flag football game. We’re here to talk about the Super Bowl and make the final pick of the season. So who’s it going to be – the New England Patriots or the New York Giants?

Well, I did hear from a few people on this mat-ter. Patriot fans are counting on QB Tom Brady having a much better game than the one he had against the Ravens. Here’s how they figure his performance will improve: “he’s a golden boy – there’s no way he’s going to lose this game!” There you have it. Can anyone argue with that type of analysis?

But that’s not the only thing Pat fans are say-ing. I heard from one person who summed it all up rather eloquently with, “Gronk!” Of course he was referring to that mountain of a tight end, Rob Gronkowski who takes up a lot of space and has great hands that seem to catch anything brought his way.

Not to be outdone, fans of the New York Gi-ants like to point to the fact they love playing the underdog. A few have begged me to pick the Pats just because that will assure the Giants a win. Ouch. “People love picking against us, but we don’t care.” Are you sure about that?

So what’s in store for us on Super Bowl Sun-day? Well, besides the game, we’ll have plenty of good commercials to watch. Look for the usual suspects. There are also a bunch of rookie ad-vertisers who are dipping their toes in the deep end of the advertising pool. With spots running $3.5M for 30 seconds, you know that the enter-tainment value will be high. Let’s hope anyway.

Then there’s Madonna who will be working it out during the half-time show. The reports are she’s nervous because she “has to put on the greatest show on earth in the middle of the greatest show on earth.” Elton John has come online and offered her the not-so-nice-advice of “make sure you lip-sync good.”

Let’s just hope the Material Girl stays true to form and comes up with something to talk about on Monday morning. The halftime shows in the past have been about as entertaining as the Pro Bowl. Am I on that one again?

Okay, the word on the street is that there will be a football game happening during all of the carnival that is the Super Bowl. So after Kelly Clarkson belts out the National Anthem – peo-ple are actually betting on how long she takes to do it – we finally get to wrap up the season with a terrific match-up.

Here’s what I’m seeing.I love the story line surrounding the Patri-

ots. Not only is this a game of getting revenge against the Giants, but it’s the culmination of a season spent honoring Myra Kraft, the late wife of owner Robert Kraft. I wrote about this last week and this angle has really emerged as a key theme for the Patriots. It’s hard to not pick them to win just based on the idea of honoring someone all season long by wearing her initials over their hearts. That’s what I love about sports – you can’t ever count out a team playing with their hearts on the line.

Then you have the history-making duo of Belichick-Brady who are looking to make it a fourth Super Bowl win in 11 years. They already have the record for being the winningest coach-QB combo in NFL history, so what’s one more, right? Can the Giants really match up against something that just seems like destiny?

Now all is not sunny for New England. While Gronkowski did travel with the team, he did so with a limp, a walking boot, and he has yet to practice with the team. Sure, he’ll be there on Sunday, but how effective will the big man be with that high ankle sprain? For some reason, I just have it in my mind that Coach Bill Belichick is overstating the injury just to throw the Giants off balance. We’ll see when Gronk comes tearing out of the tunnel on Sunday.

The other issue for the Pats is their defense. The good news is they aren’t the Packers who ranked 32nd in defense during the regular sea-son. The bad news is they were ranked 31st. Let me put that in Patriot-speak: they are wicked-awful. They are extremely weak in the second-ary, and that’s just where Eli and company like to work. That doesn’t bode well.

And speaking of the Giants, maybe I’m going to just refer to them as the “Sleeping Giants.” Late in the season, the alarm went off and they woke up to become the hottest team in the NFL. During the season you got to see either the de-fense play or the offense – but you rarely saw both at the same time. Now, they are a machine knocking offensive lines back on their heels, closing passing routes and stuffing the run. Then, QB Eli Manning comes out, gets banged up but gets up each and every time to deliver laser-guided passes to receivers who rarely drop balls. Although they’ve had problems with mov-ing the ball on the ground, they should be able to

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MACDILL COMMUNITYEVENTS

AT THE MOVIESDue to slow and declining sales at the base theater, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service has decided to no longer show movies on MacDill AFB. Patrons can look forward to exciting new programming and special events in the near future. Thank you for your understanding and support during this time of transition.

$4.50 for adults / $2.25 for children 828-2780

FridayBoss & Buddy & Friday Bash

Bring your Boss! Bring your Buddy to Boomer’s Bar & Grill! Join the fun beginning at 3 p.m. FREE Bar snacks, drink specials, bar bingo, DJ, music & fun. Club members sign up to win $100 cash. Not a member? Sign up. E1-E4 receive FREE membership. Call 828-1453.

MacDill LanesClub Member Appreciation

from 6-8 p.m. All club members and their family members bowl FREE!

Monday-FridaySurf’s Edge Club

Global Tastes Lunch Buffet from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Cost $8. Mon: Latin; Tue: Italian; Wed: Asian; Thu: Mexican; Fri: Americana

Monday-FridaySeaScapes Beach House

Daily Early Bird Dinner Special 4:30-6:30 p.m. Home-style favor-ite meal with iced tea or fountain drink $7.

MondayTops in Blue

Show at 7 p.m. in Hangar 3. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. No ticket necessary – general seating. For more information call 828-3055.

TuesdayArts & Crafts Center

Learn to Draw & More! 4-6 p.m. Open to ages 12 & up. $25 per month.

ThursdayArts & Crafts Center

Tot Time Craft Class from 2-3 p.m. For ages 3-5 years old. $2 per child.

Protestant servicesSunday - 9 a.m. - Praise Worship Service 9:30 a.m. - FAMCAMP Service (Bldg 2017) 12 p.m. - Gospel ServiceIslamic servicesFriday - 1:30 p.m. - Prayer Service

Catholic servicesSaturday - 4:30 p.m. - Confession

5:30 p.m. - Mass

Sunday - 10:30 a.m. - Mass

Monday to Thursday: 12:10 p.m. - MassFor all other faith inquiries or to view upcoming event information, call the Chapel at 828-3621 or visit the

website at www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel

ARRRRRGH!Members of the Top 3 with the float they created for the Gasparilla street parade held annually in Tampa. The replica pirate ship bounding through waves was part of the procession over the week-end, when the city kicked it up and celebrated the symbolic plundering of Tampa by legendary pirate Jose Gaspar.

Photo by Airman Basic David Tracy

work the rush effectively against the Pats. Using their run game will be a great way to eat up time and keep Tom Brady on the sideline. If he’s not in the game, it’ll be difficult for New England to put points on the board. All the Giants really need is to have a few third and short situations. No other team works third down con-versions as well as they do, and it’ll demoralize the Pats each and every time they convert.

So here it is. New York fans, don’t get too nervous but I’m going all in for your Sleeping Giants to repeat their win of four years ago against the Pats. I don’t think this is going to be a high-scoring game, but I think it will have plenty of memorable mo-ments and it will be a great end to a great season. And Kelly Clarkson will take 2 minutes and 15 seconds for the national anthem.

Enjoy the game!

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