Vol. 41, No. 41 Thursday, October 10, 2013

News/Features: page 3Career change

News/Features: page 3Making the move

Week in photos: page 4Images from MacDill

News/Features: page 8Zoo animals visit

Community: page 17Events, Chapel, more...

Photo by Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston

Staff Sgt. Dunae Nathaniel, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels laboratory technician, collects a fuel sample from one of MacDill’s 27 fuel de-livery trucks, Sept. 30, at MacDill Air Force Base. Nathaniel is one of two Airmen at MacDill who are in charge of testing the over 7 million gallons of jet petroleum the base uses annually. See story and photos on page 10.

COMMANDER’S 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 Lt. Col. Adrian Byers6th Operation Support Squadron commander

The Airmen of the 6th Operations Support Squadron know of my love for history—they get bits and pieces of it all the time, especially of our Air Force heritage.

Being asked to write a small commentary afforded me the opportunity to talk to all who are in circulation of this wonderful publica-tion. It is the perfect forum to express one’s thoughts or concerns on matters affecting our Air Force today. With our current fiscal year coming to a close and the further economic uncertainty ahead, I wanted to point out this was not the first time in our Nation’s history that a downsizing of force has met deep-im-pacting implications.

I am reminded of the cliché, history repeats itself and those who fail to remember this tend to suffer the consequences. So briefly, al-low me to set the stage. Between the years 1914 – 1918, the United States military grew from 200,000 to over 4 million Soldiers, Sail-ors, and Marines. With the signing of the armistice in November 1918, this sparked the demobilization of this newly acquired force. By fiscal year 1920, a vast number of Army Divisions were deactivated and under the Na-tional Defense act of 1920, the end strength

of the United States Army was set to 280,000 only to be further reduced to 128,000 in 1921. The Navy cuts were just as dramatic. What I wanted to highlight here was the fact this was the last time our military would face such deep post-war cuts, as compared to the percentage of the pre-existing standing force. The demobilization efforts after World War II, Korea, and Vietnam do not compare to the cuts made after World War I.

Interestingly, the War Department real-ized a simple fact. As we drew down this military force, they needed to retain the best and brightest Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines. Though the build up of the military in the Great War meant increasing the size of the militias, the naval reserves etc., the core of each service increased exponentially as well. The efficiency of training brought the first troops to France in the summer of 1917—6 months after the United States declared war on Germany. At wars end, the War Depart-ment did not want to return to pre-war levels without keeping what it perceived as some of the best military men it had ever trained.

Today, we face similar consequences of a military drawdown and economic uncertainty. The Army of today will look nothing like the Army of tomorrow, as they seek balance in the face of fiscal constraint brought on by seques-

tration. The Navy and the Marine Corps face equally daunting challenges—modernization versus the question of end strength. Then there is our service, which hosts this similar question.

History: avoiding the consequences of ignoring it

Lt. Col. Adrian Byers

See CORNER, Page 18

NEWS/FEATURES

Maj. Robert Ryder, 6th Aircraft Mainte-nance Squadron commander, regrets to an-nounce the death of Staff Sgt. Jefferson F. Jeanniton, formerly assigned to the 6th Air-craft Maintenance Squadron.

Capt. Ty Burgess has been appointed as the summary court officer to handle the dis-position of personal property of Jeanniton. Anyone indebted to or having a claim against the estate of Jeanniton should contact Bur-gess at 813-828-4929 or 813-837-8573.

Settlement of estateSee TRAINER, Page 15

by Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Most Airmen transition from being a train-ee to a trainer, however, for Tech. Sgt. Renee Strayer, 310th Airlift Squadron flight at-tendant, she went from being a trainer to a trainee.Strayer began her Air Force career in air-borne surveillance and worked her way up to a technical school instructor at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Working alongside flight attendants, Strayer began to spark an inter-est in their career field. “I asked thousands of questions and [the flight attendants] answered every single one

Trainer to trainee

Photo by Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz

Tech. Sgt. Renee Strayer, 310th Airlift Squad-ron flight attendant, and Master Sgt. Sedrick Roberson, 310th AS flight chief flight atten-dant, go over a safety checklist before an up-coming mission.

by Staff Sgt. Erica E. PorterNCOIC Claims and Legal Assistance

You just signed on the dotted line that all your household goods arrived safely to your new home and the movers disappeared faster than you can say “abracadabra!”

That’s when it hits you, you haven’t seen that box containing your limited edition Lebron James sneakers since it was packed away by the movers at your last address; and you could have sworn your oak wood dining room table had four legs when you saw it last.

How do you recover damaged or missing items? Take a deep breath, relax and get ready for the next step of your military move: sub-mitting a military claim.

Preparing before the move will ensure a smoother permanent change of station and hopefully, increase your chances of recouping any damages after the move.

Take photos of valuable, unique or one-of-a-kind items such as artwork and antiques. Not only will this help in the event an item is

missing after the move, but it will also verify the condition of your furniture and other be-longings prior to the move.

Ideally, you should use a video camera and walk through your house recording the con-tents of each room, including inside closets and drawers, storage spaces and attics and even the garage, patio and deck. Don’t forget to narrate the video, too. (“This is the antique table that my great grandmother gave me in 1910.”)

Supervise the movers as they pack and load your household goods. This will reduce the number of damaged and missing items you ex-perience during your PCS.

File a “Notice of Loss or Damage” forms on-line within 75 - days of date of delivery. If you moved with the web-based Defense Personal Property System, file loss/damage on-line with-in 75-days through DPS. If you moved outside of the DPS system, submit your “Notice of Loss or Damage” at https://claims.jag.af.mil. (If you mail directly to the carrier, get a return re-

Military PCS and moving advice: How to submit a military claim

Graphic by Nick Stubbs

See MOVING, Page 15

WEEK IN PHOTOS

Photo by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly

Airmen from the 6th Communications Squadron stand at attention and wait to be inspected during open ranks inspection at MacDill Air Force Base, Sept. 30.

Photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph

Senior Airman Misty Howell, 303rd Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt weapons spe-cialist, loads a weapon onto an aircraft in preparation for an afternoon flight, Oct. 4 at MacDill Air Force Base. Members and aircraft from the 303rd FS were visiting MacDill on a temporary duty assignment.

Photo by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly

Senior Airman Atiba Timley, 6th Medical Support Squadron medical lab technician, processes specimens to be sent to the 6th Medical Group Clinic, Oct. 2, at the MacDill Brandon Clinic. The clinic processes more than 280 samples a day.

Photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph

Members of the 303rd Fighter Squadron prepare an A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft for flight Oct. 4, at Mac-Dill. Pilots, crew members and eight aircraft from the 442nd Fighter Wing were visiting MacDill on a tempo-rary duty assignment.

New Airmen have joined Team MacDill and have completed the First Term Airman Course here. Mac-Dill Air Force Base would like to welcome the entire group of new Airmen and congratulate them on be-ginning their journey.

The following Airmen graduated from FTAC class 13-J:

6th Aerospace Medicine Support SquadronAirman 1st Class Nicholas Hager, Martinsville, VA.Airman 1st Class Anna McQueary, Euless, TX.

6th Aircraft Maintenance SquadronAirman 1st Class Shannon Hess, Warrensburg, MO.Airman 1st Class Christian Mitchell, Woodland, CA.

6th Logistics Readiness SquadronAirman Aviana Genovesi, Omaha, NE.

Airman 1st Class William Spight, Montgomery, AL.Airman 1st Class Alexandra Zamago, South Sioux City, NE.

6th Maintenance SquadronAirman 1st Class Aaron Chambers, Redding, CA.

6th Medical Operations SquadronAirman 1st Class Brandon Cruz, Palmetto, FL.Airman 1st Class Jocelyn Valencia, Seminole, FL.

6th Operations Support SquadronAirman Alex Barnes, Apple Valley MN.Airman 1st Class Susan Chester, Deerfield, IL.Airman 1st Class Chantry Huffman, Walker, LA.Airman 1st Class Tyler Plummer, New Berlin, IL.Airman 1st Class Ryne Robinson, Newport AR.

6th Security Forces SquadronAirman 1st Class Vaughn Faubel, Borregosprings, CA.Airman 1st Class Allen Heydorf, Greenbackville, VA.Airman 1st Class Conner Pannell, Muncie, IN.Airman 1st Class Tyler Shryock, Estherville, IA.

NEWS/FEATURESMacDill welcomes new Airmen to the team

by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs

Furry friends from Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, visited MacDill Air Force Base Oct. 4, .During Seascape’s’ weekly Friday Family Fun Night, the animals and their handlers educated

fascinated children and adults.“The presentation is more educational than just going to the zoo,” said Tech. Sgt. Peter Little,

6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, of bringing his children to the presentation. “I want to expose

NEWS/FEATURESLowry Park residents visit Team MacDill

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner

A hyacinth macaw from the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Fla. is fed by its handler as members of Team MacDill observe Oct. 4, 2013 at MacDill Air Force Base’s beach. About 150 people gath-ered on the beach for the educational presentation put on by the zoo.

See ZOO, Page 16

Dear Wing Ma’am: With the new school year my teenage son has a new group of friends. I am glad he is getting out of the house more, but I just found an empty can of beer in his room? What should I do? - Con-cerned parent

Dear Concerned: Discovering that your child has consumed alcohol can be a scary thought for parents; it is important to sit down with your child and get the facts first.

The tone you establish will likely influence the trust and level of honesty you both devel-op through high school and beyond. Be clear, be firm and share your expectations. Realize that there is a difference between experiment-ing and continuing to misuse alcohol.

No use of alcohol by a minor is acceptable; however, parents who drink can model respon-sible use and educate children about risks in-volved with misuse. Parents should be aware that underage drinking is illegal and parents who condone the use of alochol can be held legally liable.

Share with your child the potential dangers associated with drinking, but also share why adults drink and the effects. As children get older, they have more time for independent ac-tivities. Many states have strict laws when it comes to underage drinking that could impact your child’s privileges to drive. Independence is key to developing positive self-identity, yet parents should be a key facilitator with what activities are included. Keeping tabs on where your children go, who they hang out with and knowing their parents are helpful strategies.

It is important to have the conversation with your children about alcohol use start-ing at an early age and continuing on as they grow up. For more tips on what to say, visit www.drugfree.org.

DearWingMa’am

NEWS/FEATURES

by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

A handful of Airmen ensuring the quality of millions of gallons of fuel annually seems a task too great to imagine. But the reality is, that because of the hard

work demonstrated by one group of individuals entrusted with this vital task, the airlift and refueling missions Mac-Dill Air Force Base stay on course.

At MacDill, this group is made up of Air Force fuel labo-ratory technicians, and the art of fuel science is what they specialize in. These chemists are in charge of the more than 7 million gallons of jet petroleum 8 (JP-8) consumed and transferred by the base annually.

“When it comes to the testing of JP-8 we most commonly test five major categories: high solid levels, excessive wa-ter, proper color, fuel system icing inhibitors, and corrosion inhibitors,” said Staff Sgt. Craig Bratcher, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron lab tech NCO in charge.

This extreme attention to fuel detail is imperative; just one imperfection or anomaly in its makeup can be detri-mental to an aircraft or the mission.

“At first I didn’t truly understand the importance or significance of my job as it relates to fuel perfection,” said Bratcher. “It wasn’t until I saw firsthand where an aircraft was unable to take off due to improper fuel conditions, that it began to resonate—now I have a much better prospective of what the quality of my work means.”

Being that Bratcher is one of only two lab techs current-ly at MacDill, staying on top of the more than 350 annual delivery truck inspections and the dozens of quality checks of the seven million gallons of filtrated fuel is critical.

“Although the workload is never-ending, it feels good knowing that my labor is so important to the mission,” commented Staff Sgt. Dunae Nathaniel, 6th LRS lab tech. “This is what motivates me day-in and day-out to be the best at my job.”

As MacDill continues to be the premiere wing for provid-ing and enabling global strike and global reach, and de-livering world class distinguished visitor airlift and tank-er capabilities to the joint war fighting commanders, the members of the 6th LRS fuels section remain ready. Ready with the fuel that enables the fight.

Air Force fuel laboratory technicians are simply the best at what they do and after being hand selected amongst their peers, they undergo hundreds of hours of special-ized training at the Petroleum Laboratory Specialist Fuels Quality Control Course at Fort Lee, Va.

Once certified and a special experience identifier (SEI) is given, their amount of responsibility and importance to mission significantly burgeons.

The art and science of fuels

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Staff Sgt. Craig Bratcher, 6th Logistics Readi-ness Squadron NCO in charge of the fuels lab-oratory conducts and Ohms testing for stray electricity prior to using “bottle method test-ing,” Sept. 30 at MacDill

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Staff Sgt. Dunae Nathaniel, 6th Logistics Read-iness Squadron fuel laboratory technician, in-spects a fuel sample for consistency prior to diagnostics testing, Sept. 30 at MacDill Air Force Base.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

A flash point tester ignites a fuel sample at MacDill Air Force Base Fla., Sept. 30, 2013. Continuous testing of high solid levels, excessive water, proper color, fuel system ic-ing inhibitors, and corrosion inhibitors are conducted to ensure optimal conditions are met for aircraft consumption.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

A flash point tester ignites a fuel sample at MacDill Air Force Base Fla., Sept. 30, 2013. Continuous testing of high solid levels, excessive water, proper color, fuel system ic-ing inhibitors, and corrosion inhibitors are conducted to ensure optimal conditions are met for aircraft consumption.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Staff Sgt. Craig Bratcher, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in charge of the fuels laboratory, inspects a fuel sample for consistency prior to diagnostics testing, Sept. 30

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

A free-water detector is used at MacDill Air Force Base during an ultraviolet water testing pro-cedure on Sept. 30. The detector is used to evaluate the amount of water that gets displaced into the jet petroleum 8 that is consumed by MacDill’s aircraft.

by retired Air Force Col. Billy GrahamRetiree Activities Office director

The next time you are in the AAFES food court area, take a look at our “new” Retirement Activities Office kiosk. Thanks to the AAFES man-ager, Nicole Carter, and her staff, the ki-osk dedicated to the RAO has undergone a great transforma-tion. There is a dis-play of Vietnam war memorial items (one came from the Presi-dent himself), along

with pictures of our local commanders. This kiosk is not al-ways manned, since we have a shortage of volunteers. If you have some spare time, please volunteer to help this RAO provide support to our mili-tary families and all active duty personnel. To volunteer, sim-ply stop by the main RAO located near the commissary and sign up. Also, with the tax season beginning in January of 2014, we will need additional volunteers to be tax counselors. If you are

interested in becom-ing tax counselors, please call us at 828-4555, or 828-0248 and leave your name and telephone number. We will contact you when all dates are firm for the upcoming tax season.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, the Veterans Post, a monthly newspaper for military veterans has been permanent-ly closed down. The reason for this is un-known at this time.

Because of bud-get constraints, the RAO will not be able to host a base-wide

Retiree Appreciation Day this year. How-ever, the MacDill 6th Medical Group (base Clinic) will host an appreciation event for military retirees on Saturday, November 2, 0900 hrs-1500 hrs. The clinic will be open for health screenings such as blood tests, flu shots, etc.

Security has been tightened at entranc-es into MacDill AFB as a result of the in-cident at the Wash-ington Naval Yard. Please allow yourself some extra time if you plan to come to

the base.There is a new re-

treat for wounded veterans just opened in September 2013 in Bluemont, Virginia – the Boulder Crest Retreat for Military & Veteran Wellness. This retreat can pro-vide private accom-modations and recre-ational and healing facilities to 250-500 families each year. The web address is http://bouldercrestre-treat.org/ and the telephone number is 540-554-2727.

As a reminder to WWII veterans,

the National Hon-or Flight Network has a chapter in the Tampa-St. Peters-burg area, known as Honor Flight of West Central Florida (HF-WCF). I have talked to several veterans who participated, and they said the experi-ence was wonderful. The network provides a l l - e x p e n s e - p a i d flights to Washington so that WWII veter-ans - members of our “Greatest Generation” - can visit the memo-rials in Washington, DC, dedicated to their service and sacrifice. How to contact: u Web address: www.honorflight.orgu Sign up for a flight: www.honorflightwcf.orgu Write to: H o n o r Flight of West Central FloridaP.O. Box 55661St. Petersburg, FL 33732 u Email to: i n f o @honorflightwcf.orgu Telephone: ( 7 2 7 ) 498-6079

There is a special campaign at the Viet-nam Veterans Memo-rial – the “Faces Never Forgotten” campaign. Organizers for the new underground ed-ucational center plan to start building a new facility to honor

Monthy message from the Retiree Activities Office

See RAO, Page 18

NEWS/FEATURES

by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

“More than anything, a healthy mindset, progressive thinking, and the thought of continual self-improvement are what always keep me going. I’m continuously eager to learn and I’m yearning to set new standards.”

These are well-anchored, self-driven thoughts motivating one of Mac-Dill’s finest--Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chase, 6th Communications Squadron assistant NCO in charge of MILSTAR.

In early 2012 and again in 2013, Chase was selected as one of only 10 members to represent the U.S. Air Force’s highly competitive traveling triathlon team--a feat that he had only previously dreamed of.

“The hundreds of hours of training, day in and day out finally paid off,” commented Chase. “I already knew the Air Force opened endless op-portunities, but in this regard, I get to work and train with exceptionally talented individuals that share a similar passion.”

When Chase is not training 14 to 22 hours a week and racing in more than 20 annual races, he spends his time as a certified professional train-er and a mentor to his fellow military members.

“I’m continuously reaching out to those who are struggling with diet and physical training scores, and as a professional coach I’m currently mentoring eight athletes on a daily basis,” commented Chase. “I write their training plans and suggest nutritional strategies to attain their goals.”

And as a professional coach, Chase once again ceases to fail...“One of my greatest accomplishments came when an athlete I coach

dual qualified for the Ironman World Championship and for the half Ironman World Championship--I’m very excited about that,” exclaimed Chase.

Most recently, Chase’s trained athlete Capt. Hila Levy, from the 35th Operations Squadon, Misawa, Japan took first place in her age group during the 70.3-mile Ironman in Tokoname, Japan, which guaranteed her one of 30 qualification slots for the 2013 Ironman World Champion-ships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii--an arduous 140.6-mile trek that hosts roughly 1800 of the world’s greatest athletes.

As Chase’s athletic accolades pile up, he continues to pad his résumé by working on his fourth degree (micro-biology), to go along with his In-ternational Sports Sciences Association Master Trainer and USA Triath-lon Level 1 Coaching certifications.

“Top-level athletes and military professionals focus on their weak-

nesses, work on them and never making excuses,” commented Chase. “I plan to use this mind-set on each of my endeavors, as to become a ranked professional triathlete and to inspire others to take charge of their life and become the best version of themselves as humanly possible.”

Chase sums up his motivation and goals quite well, stating--”I live for fitness and health, and I love to help others meet their goals. I feel tre-mendously fortunate to have the support of my leadership and friends as I graciously represent our great nation.”

NEWS/FEATURES

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chase, U.S. Air Force Triathlon Team athlete and 6th Communications Squadron assistant NCO in charge of MILSTAR, is pictured at MacDill Air Force Base. In early 2012 and again in 2013, Chase was selected as one of only 10 members to represent the U.S. Air Force’s highly competitive traveling triathlon team.

MacDill standout once again represents AF on triathlon team

of them honestly, so I knew exactly what I was getting into,” said Stray-er. After all of Strayer’s questions were answered to her satisfaction, the decision to cross train from airborne surveillance to a flight attendant was finally made. “It was a very interesting transition,” said Strayer. ”I had to essentially start all over and work my way up.”Strayer stays busy with constant training on safety equipment, emer-gency procedures and egress procedures. Thus far, she has provided support in eight missions.“Strayer has already received ground training sessions,” commented Master Sgt. Sedrick Roberson, 310th AS flight chief and C-37A evalua-tor flight attendant. “So at the discretion of her instructor, we will put her in front of a ‘recommend ride’.”Part of a flight attendant’s job is making initial contact with an aid or a mission partner they are supporting. When flying, flight attendants

also have to be flexible and adapt to various circumstances. There are many mission changes they go through on a daily basis; it’s a critical part of their job. “When you first start initial training, it’s a little intimidating, because when I was in transportation the highest ranking person I worked un-der was a captain or maybe a squadron commander,” said Roberson. “So getting thrown into a pool where you’re working hand-in-hand with four-star generals and congressional delegation is quite a differente.”Strayer uses her previous training as a trainer to overcome difficult situations.“Strayer has problem-solving-skills that enable her to excel as a stu-dent,” commented Roberson. “She has motivation and drive and stays in the books and emergency procedures.”Strayer has been a student for awhile; now, she is ready to be a crew member.“It’s a hard job but the rewards are definitely worth it,” said Strayer.

TRAINERFrom Page 3

ceipt).File the actual claim within 9 months directly with carrier to get full

replacement value. Do not get estimates unless asked; beyond 9-months, file with the Air Force Claims Services Center. (Note: settlement will be based on depreciated replacement costs). File DPS moves on that site – all others go to the AFCSC.

A full replacement does not mean all new stuff; the carrier can re-place, pay full value or repair damaged items.

Do not forget the 9 months and 75 day rules!The base legal office is here to assist with any questions that may gen-

erate after viewing the Claims Service Center (CSC) website at https://claims.jag.af.mil

PCSFrom Page 3

them to science and nature.”About 150 people interacted with the animals as their handlers ex-

plained about the animals, their habitats, habits, and what they like to do.Melinda Mendolusky, Lowry Park Zoo animal care manager, explained

that they participate in programs such as this to keep people informed on what is going on around the world and what they can do to help.

“We want to provide an opportunity for military families to see the animals and become educated,” said Mendolusky. “We want to fulfill the mission statement of the zoo, to give the community a deeper apprecia-tion of animals as a whole.”

As the sun set on the event, Team MacDill bid farewell to the animals.“My favorite animal was the porcupine,” said Samantha, 6, daughter

of Little. “I learned that he doesn’t shoot his quills, but if you touch him, it will hurt.”

ZOOFrom Page 8

MACDILL COMMUNITYEVENTS

FridaySeaScapes Beach House

Friday Bash! 4-8 p.m. Free bar snacks, DJ, and bar bingo ($2 a card/cash). Drink specials and guaranteed $100 weekly club card winner!

Arts & Crafts CenterOpen Scrapbooking, 11 a.m.–3

p.m. Free. Are you a novice at scrapbooking and looking for a hand getting started, or are you familiar with the tools and tech-niques and just looking for a fun way to socialize while you scrap-book? Kit Taylor, our creative memories consultant, is avail-able to assist you in any step in the scrapbooking process, from organizing your photos to page layouts and assembly. Feel free to bring snacks or lunch with you. Call the Arts & Crafts Center at 828-4413.

MacDill Lanes & Family Fun Center

Club Appreciation Bowling, 6–8 p.m. All AF Club members and their family members bowl for free. Not a club member? Join today; it pays. Visit a club mem-bership rep at Bldg. 53 or call 828-1466. Call 828-4005 to re-serve your spot today.

SaturdayArts & Crafts Center

Scrap Party at 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $5 Join this special day of fun and festivities. Bring your scrap-booking supplies and photos and scrap to your heart’s content. Please register in advance, so we can plan accordingly. All attend-ees will have their names put into a special door prize drawing valued up to $25! Call the Arts & Crafts Center at 828-4413.

Protestant serviceSunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary 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

Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hall-Kirchner

Melinda Mendolusky, Lowry Park Zoo animal care manager, introduces members of Team MacDill to a rhino rat snake at MacDill Air Force Base, Oct. 4. Mendolusky taught those in attendance at the base beach about 10 animals native to Florida or the rain forest.

Our forebears realized early, at the end of the Great War, they would need to keep the brightest and most capable Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines. We are faced with the same requirement. In order to maintain the competitive edge, we must identify early our phenom-enal officer and enlisted Airmen. We expect more from them and we hold them to far higher standards. Moreover, our Airmen must plan for their future based on a competitive landscape. As leaders, it is our responsibility to mentor and guide them through this journey. It will not be an easy road to navigate, but there are things we can emphasize.

For example, we should ensure our Airmen are taking advantage of all available education opportunities. From professional military

education to civilian education, our Airmen must see the benefit to advancing their learning. Furthermore, our Airmen should recognize their job performance will be even more influential in their standing as a member of our Air Force. We should encourage them to upgrade as soon as feasibly possible, and at times perform at levels above their current pay grade.

The quote from John Quincy Adams is most fitting, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” The times ahead will be just as challenging as the years of the past. As leaders we must ensure we are preparing our Airmen to meet those challenges and be successful.

CORNERFrom Page 2

every single Vietnam veteran who died in the war. The Education Cen-ter at The Wall is projected to open in 2016 and will include a wall of faces, each with a photo and personal story.

Friends and families of Vietnam veterans are encouraged to mail in photos, along with personal notes about the servicemen. Photos may also be submitted online. For information on how to submit the pho-

tos, visit the website http://www.buildthecenter.vvmf.org/pages/call-for-photos.

For more information on the education center, visit http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces or call 866-990-WALL.

Have a wonderful Harvest season and a fun-filled Halloween cel-ebration.

RAOFrom Page 12