MacDill Airmen in the spotlight - page 12 - MacDill Thunderbolt

22 Pages·2013·1.33 MB·English

Vol. 41, No. 26 Thursday, June 27, 2013
MacDill Airmen in the spotlight
- page 12
Photo by Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz
Airman 1st Class Michael Lewis and Darryl Ester, 6th Air Mobility Wing honor guardsmen, display the flag during a two-man flag fold in honor of
Master Sgt. Caleb Bennett, MacDill Air Force Base, June 19.
Critical Days of Summer, week 6: Grilling safety
- page 14
COMMANDER’S CORNER
What are you paying attention to?
by Lt. Col. Scott Maskery go wrong, the consequences are minimal.
6th Mission Support Group deputy commander However, high-risk, low-frequency events are
worrisome in every occupation.
Recently, General Paul Selva, Air Mobil-
ity Command commander, sent each one of
us an e-mail titled “Responding to Tragedy.”
In that e-mail, the boss talked about aerial
and ground accidents resulting in human and
materiel tragedies associated with complex
to routine tasks. He also wrote about mak-
ing sense of the loss, how we deal with it and
driving on with our mission.
In a recent Air Force Incident Management
course I attended, the mobile training team
who came to MacDill Air Force Base had us
watch a training video from a well-respected
and experienced expert in public safety opera- “When things are very risky and are done
tions, Gordon Graham. In the video, Graham very rarely, the employee does not have the
shared his “Risk – Frequency” chart. memory markers to deal with these activi-
In Graham’s briefing, he talked about how ties,” Graham said. “This is a universal con-
low-frequency events aren’t the main prob- cept. Every time you give your people a new
lem. Low-frequency, low-risk events aren’t piece of equipment: a new toy, a new tool, a
Lt. Col. Scott Maskery
particularly worrisome either – even if they See CORNER, Page 20
6th Air Mobility Wing shout-outs gage onto aircraft in support of exercise EAGER LION 2013, en-
The 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron would like to give a shout- abling an on-time departure for valuable Joint Service Task Force
out to Tech. Sgt. Juan Rijos, NCO in-charge of passenger service, for training. Additionally, he exceeded dress and appearance standards
his professionalism and attention to detail. Recently, he processed as he earned the 6th LRS Sharp Troop award during a recent blues
and uploaded 79 Joint Service personnel and 7,000 pounds of bag- uniform inspection. Rijos epitomizes excellence in all we do!
Commander’s vision
COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE
To view Col. Scott DeThomas’ re-
The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air marks on his vision for MacDill AFB,
Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. A 24-hour recording go to www.macdill.af.mil and then click
service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or com- on “Col. DeThomas’ priorities, mission,
ments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or email macdillwingcom- and expectations video” in the upper
[email protected]. left corner.
MacDill Thunderbolt government, the Department of Defense, the Department of may be obtained by calling 259-7455.
the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing. News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted
Publisher: Bill Barker The appearance of advertising in this publication, includ- to the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar
Editor: Nick Stubbs ing inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621, or call the MacDill
by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Thunderbolt staff at 828-2215. Email: [email protected].
Force, 6th Air Mobility Wing or Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., of Deadline for article submissions is noon, Wednesdays to
the products or service advertised. appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after
The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt Newspa- Everything advertised in this publication shall be made deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions
pers, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to are considered for publication based on news value and time-
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publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity,
services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook
not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Display advertising or classified advertising information and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.
NEWS/FEATURES
Commentary
Your T-bolt Today
People: Our primary weapons system
News/Features: page 4
by Lt. Col. Sean Jones

6th Force Support Squadron commander
Know the signs
A famed military analyst, Carl Builder, once
wrote that the U.S. Air Force could be said to
News/Features: page 12 worship at the altar of technology. We rely on
technologically advanced weapons systems to
provide global vigilance, reach and power for
Airmen in the spotlight
America and her allies.
Indeed, these tools help guarantee full-spec-
trum dominance across the battle space and
News/Features: page 14
significantly enhance the Air Force’s reputa-
tion as the most combat-capable air force on
Critical Days of Summer the planet. While these systems are impres-
sive, they’re not the most important weapons
in our arsenal…people are.
Our people—service members and civil-
News/Features: page 18 ians—are what separate us from other mili-
tary forces around the world. The talented
men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces are
Four-legged hero Lt. Col. Sean Jones
our primary weapons system for three rea-
sons: they’re educated, they’re diverse and ing our force and developing critical thinkers
they’re team-oriented. and leaders throughout the ranks. Not only
Community: page 21 Education is a key factor in the develop- do we provide educational and professional
ment of our people. While many militaries development opportunities for our officers and
focus only on training their people to accom-
Events, Chapel, more...
plish certain tasks, we also emphasize educat- See COMMENTARY, Page 20
PTSD a four letter word we shouldn’t be afraid to use
by Maj. Luke Michels and Capt. Jeremy Pallas diagnostic criteria. In assessing for PTSD, doctors are looking at four
6th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight main areas of impact: unpleasant recollections of the event, avoidance of
people, places or activities associated with the event, negative changes
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a four letter “word” that in thinking and mood and trouble with sleep or concentration, angry
we should not be afraid to say in public. For many people, their knowl- outbursts, an exaggerated startle response or both.
edge of PTSD is limited to media or movie portrayals like the “The Hurt This list does not account for all the associated PTSD symptoms. If
Locker.” you recognize some of these symptoms in yourself or someone you know,
It is important that as a community we go beyond these accounts and and the problems are impacting occupational, social or family dynamics,
become educated on the symptoms and treatment of PTSD. Congress has it would be worthwhile to consider your options for help.
designated June 27 as National PTSD Awareness Day, and the month of The good news is that there are effective treatments for PTSD and the
June has been identified as PTSD Awareness Month. condition does not have to continue to impair your ability to function.
Since one in 29 Americans are affected by this condition, it is vital If you are looking for information, a good starting point would be to
that we as a community are sensitive to the impact of PTSD and are visit the Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for PTSD web-
aware of the available resources and treatment options. site at http://www.ptsd.va.gov/. The site provides an array of education
PTSD can develop after exposure to a traumatic event or distressing on the topic.
event; to include combat exposure, sexual or physical abuse or assault, a Some are uncomfortable talking with a doctor about these problems,
car accident or a natural disaster. Not everyone who experiences events but if you are prepared to discuss your concerns contact your PCM, or
like these develop PTSD, however it is important to know what signs to active duty personnel can contact the MacDill Mental Health Clinic at
look out for, as seeking help early on can speed up recovery.
See PTSD, Page 8
In May 2013, the American Psychiatric Association updated PTSD
NEWS/FEATURES
Be a Wingman: Understand the signs of substance abuse
by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro this continue to happen? The answer is simple,
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs it cannot!
Whether it be alcohol, illegal substances, or
The intrinsic responsibilities bestowed upon prescription medication abuse, we must be well
us as Wingmen, supervisors and members of versed in recognizing the signs, knowing how to
the military, revolve around a creed of looking counsel and identifying when to refer.
out for one another. Why is it that we tend to Don’t be caught up in the stereotypes of the
ignore those who are spiraling downward? common abuser either. Not too long ago, retired
Often times, we as military members get fix- Lt. Gen. David Fridovich, the former deputy
ated on our job and tasks-at-hand, overlooking commander of U. S. Special Operations Com-
the cries for help given off by those closest to mand at MacDill Air Force Base, stood before
us. a crowd of 700 and gave a testimony, sharing
I recently had the honor and privilege to su- that for nearly five years of his career he was
pervise one of the hardest working, technical addicted to prescription narcotics. The fact of
professionals I have ever met; what many don’t the matter is, substance abuse is not discrimi-
know is that early in his career he received an natory; it can consume anyone.
Article 15 and Uniform Code of Military Justice Understanding the signs and symptoms of
punishment for the use of illegal substances. substance abuse is one of the many integral
Often times I would ask him, “What were ways we accomplish this “Wingman” ideology
you thinking?” “Why didn’t anyone help you?” and make sure our brothers and sisters are
and “What have you learned?” To my dismay, stable.
he informed me that he was overwhelmed with What we have to understand is that sub-
his change in lifestyle, was looking for accep- stance abusers are likely looking for someone
tance from the wrong individuals, and felt he to confide in and help them find an out from
had no one to turn to. the destructive lifestyle they have fallen into. It Photo illustration by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro
Despite his own wrongdoing, how was it that is important to establish a more intimate work “How was your weekend?” “How is your family
his supposed Wingmen, who worked eight to10 relationship with our coworkers. doing?” “What do you do for fun?”
hours a day, five days a week with him did not Simply getting to know each other on a one- Building this rapport is a double-positive; it
steer him in the right direction? After all of on-one level greatly increases our ability to builds trust and an understanding of how the
the resiliency training, substance abuse cam- identify subtle changes that indicate a problem. individual thinks and reacts. It establishes a
paigns, and computer based training, how can Take time to ask personal questions, such as, See SUBSTANCE ABUSE, Page 22
Don’t be that guy; MacDill Airman lucky to be alive after fireworks accident
by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro works, lit the fuse and backed off to an appro-
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs priate distance, but only one launched.
After waiting about 45 seconds to see if the
“I never would have imagined that I would firework was still active, Youngblood left his
be rushed off to the hospital, being injected safety zone and approached the “dud.” Just as
with morphine, and wondering if I would ever he reached down and picked up the launcher, it
be able to use my hands again.” exploded out of the bottom, shredding his hands
This was one of the grim thoughts that raced and putting him in near shock conditions.
through the mind of Staff Sgt. Aaron Young- “My entire hand was blood; the muscles and
blood, 6th Medical Group NCO In charge of tendons surrounding my right thumb were
physical therapy, as he was transported off the completely blown out and I broke the ring and
site of a firework malfunction. pinky finger on my left hand all the way down
On Dec. 31, 2012, Youngblood and two others to my wrist,” described Youngblood.
Photo illustration by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro
were celebrating the coming new year as many Over the next four months Youngblood would
The scene depicted here is not real, but the
do, by grilling, lighting off fireworks and mak- undergo three surgeries and more than 100
danger from fireworks is a reality that is learned
ing New Year’s resolutions—until something hours of physical therapy. Only then, and after
painfully every year. As we head into the July 4
went horrifically wrong.
See FIREWORKS, Page 16
holiday, beware of injury.
Youngblood set up two tube-mortar style fire-

BRIEFS
Tampa Museum of Art Military the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day. p.m. until Aug. 9. Monday-Friday operations
Appreciation Day Commissary will close Mondays will resume Aug. 12.
All military (with ID), family members, retir- From July 8 through Sept. 30 the commis- Farmer’s Market
ees and those with a National Veterans Wheel- sary will close on Mondays as a result of fur- From June 27 through July 4 the MacDill
chair Games lanyard can enter the museum loughs because of sequestration. Other days Commissary’s Farmer’s Market will be set up
free July 14. Special art activities for children of operation will remain the same Tuesday at the commissary.
will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum through Sunday.
is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is PCSing overseas with a pet?
located at 120 W. Gasperilla Plaza, Tampa. USAF Special Operations Forces The veterinary clinic needs to evaluate your
For more information, visit their website at The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces pet at least six months before you change to an
www.tampamuseum.org. will hold a cross trainee briefing physical abili- overseas duty station. Some countries require
ties and stamina test (PAST) June 28. It will extra shots, vaccinations and a special tracking
Holiday commissary hours begin at 7 a.m. with a briefing at building 53 chip that the veterinary clinic must sign off on
The MacDill Air Force Base Commissary will in the Airman Leadership School auditorium. before your pet can travel with you overseas.
be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 4, with no early From there, the testing will begin. For more in- Please do not wait until the last minute to have
bird hours. formation, contact Senior Master Sgt. Walters your pet checked out, because your pet will not
at 828-1229 or 828-1704 be allowed to travel with you. For more infor-
Critical Days of Summer mation call 828-3558 or 828-3559.
The Critical Days of Summer are in full Tinker summer closing
swing. The MacDill Safety Office has a goal Tinker Elementary will be closed during the DCC job opening
of being “safe ‘n sound—all year ‘round.” Work summer, reopening July 29. Hours of registra- The Davis Conference Center has an open-
center briefs about numerous topics and driving tion will be Monday through Thursday from ing for a staff or technical sergeant. Any AFSC
under the influence will take place throughout 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30
See BRIEFS, Page 16

NEWS/FEATURES
DoD creates new special counsel for sexual assault victims
by Capt. Kathryn Boucher and Staff Sgt. Erica Porter they don’t represent the government. They will stand up for the victims.
6th Air Mobility Wing legal office chief of legal assistance, and 6th AMW SVCs can help address the agony many assault victims associate with
legal office NCO in-charge legal assistance the court-martial process.”
Lt. Gen. Harding said, “Eighty-five percent of victims do not report,
A new kind of military lawyer is being deployed to work with victims and maybe if they understood the value of an SVC, some of them might
of sexual assault: Special Victim’s Counsel, who are part of a Depart- feel a little bit more comfortable about reporting.”
ment of Defense pilot program with the Air Force. Air Force members accused of sexual assault are entitled to repre-
The mission of the new full-time organization is to support victims of sentation by the Area Defense Counsel. Victims have historically been
sexual assault and assist with understanding legal proceedings. assigned a Victim or Witness Assistance Provider and work with the
According to Lt. Gen. Richard Harding, Air Force Judge Advocate government on the potential prosecution of cases. Although their objec-
General, “SVCs are attorneys who do not represent the defendant and tives may be similar, the base legal office and VWAPs are acting on be-
half of the Air Force, not necessarily the victim, leaving somewhat of a
gray area. The SVC fills that area, providing legal counsel and support
solely for victims.
The SVC program launched in January 2013, and SVCs have handled
cases that range from unprofessional relationships in a basic military
training to very serious traumatic assaults.
Assault victims can choose whether to file a restricted report or an
unrestricted report – the latter of which allows the government to inves-
tigate and potentially prosecute the accused.
To be assigned a SVC, victims who meet certain criteria simply speak
with the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator to receive a referral. Re-
ports are handled on a case-by-case basis, but generally counsel is pro-
vided to any Airman on active duty orders, regardless of the perpetra-
tor.
Also, if the perpetrator is an Air Force member, the adult dependent
can use this program, and others may qualify depending on the situa-
tion. In all cases, the SARC is the first stop for support.
SVCs operate regionally and there is not an SVC assigned to every
base. MacDill does not have an SVC assigned, however, there are many
SVCs available in the region that may be assigned to a case.
To discuss SVC options, clients can speak with the base SARC, who
is available 24/7 at 828-2678. The SVC is on Facebook at www.facebook.
com/airforcesvc. Service members, dependents and retirees can always
visit www.safehelpline.org/DODhelpline for information about provided
services.
PTSD
From Page 3
827-9170 to schedule an appointment. At your visit you will be offered an
assessment that can provide feedback on your symptoms and a person-
alized recommendation for any indicated treatment. If you are eligible
for services through the Veterans Affairs (VA), you can obtain treatment
locally through the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System or James A. Haley
Veterans’ Hospital. VA Vet Centers (locations in Clearwater and Tampa)
also offer counseling services for individuals and their family member
who have served in any combat zone and received a military campaign
ribbon.
During this month we challenge the MacDill community to learn about
the symptoms of PTSD and ask yourself how you can help reduce the
barriers and stigma for those seeking help.

Back to school times two
by Dora B. Mays, Ph.D. some modifications. With sequestration and re-
MacDill school liaison strictions that limit manning utilization, the
hosting agencies have collaborated to ensure
In most counties around the greater Tampa that the same great benefits are available to the
Bay area, school has only been out for summer customer. This year’s event will be offered in two
break for about a week or so, but already the parts, so mark your calendars now, so you do not
base is in full preparation for the annual Back to miss either:
School Fair. This year, “Back to School” will be a
two-fold event. Back to school events:
The Airman & Family Readiness Center has Sunday July 14, noon- 5 p.m.
traditionally been the office of primary responsi- u 6th MDG school & sports physicals
bility for the annual “Back to School Fair.” Last MacDill and Brandon Clinics (both locations)
year, the parent advocate for the Students and u TRICARE Prime & Coalition only
Schools group added some new ideas and the u Grades K-12 (Must be accompanied by a
nearly 900 people who attended the event ex- parent or legal guardian)
perienced the beneficial added value of the 6th Call (813) 828-CARE Option 1,1,2,2 to sched-
Medical Group offering school and sports physi- ule an appointment
cals and immunizations at the fair. This meant
the potential for a one-stop effort for parents Wednesday July 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
and students to accomplish their preparations u Airman & Family Readiness Center Back
for back to school requirements. There were to School Fair, 8104 Condor Street, Bldg. 38
more than 500 backpacks and countless school Open to all on base
supplies provided, saving parents hundreds of u Free backpacks and school supplies
dollars and hours of wait time. The reviews from u Base agencies, Hillsborough CountySchools,
last year’s event were highly complementary. Youth Services, sports, scouts, and more
The “Back to School” event for 2013 will have Call [phone] for more Information.
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