Read July 23 edition - MacDill Thunderbolt

Vol. 39, No. 31
Night shift
Friday, July 23, 2010
It’s a whole other (working) world after dark - page 16
COMMENTARY
MacDill’s finest ‘firmly in the fight’
by Col. Lenny Richoux
6th Air Mobility Wing commander
“Firmly in the fight.” Those are
four powerful words that describe
mobility Airmen in today’s Air
Force. When it comes to ongoing
operations around the world in
Afghanistan and Iraq, that’s what
we, as Airmen, are: firmly in the
fight. Not a single day passes in
which an American Airman does
not directly contribute to fighting
terrorism around the globe. In
today’s Air Force, deployments
to clandestine and dangerous
locations are the norm, not the
exception. Look around the 6th
Air Mobility Wing and you’ll see
numerous examples of how MacDill AFB’s finest are firmly in the
fight.
Upon taking command of
the 6th Air Mobility Wing, I am
thrilled to join the men and women of Team MacDill and know
that we must work tirelessly to
be just that: a team. Teamwork
breeds excellence on every military installation, in every unit
and on every level. When the
members of a unit are united un-
der a common goal there’s no limit to what can be accomplished.
To be firmly in the fight, we must
fight as a team.
However, that teamwork ethos
that we all must adopt is something that we must carry with
us everywhere. With that idea
in mind, members of the 6th Air
Mobility Wing deployed abroad
are leading the way in the all-important team that consists of our
fellow military services and coalition partners.
Upon visiting the 6th Mission
Support Group’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, I learned
of a prime example of teamwork
on the highest level. During
his fourth combat deployment,
Tech Sgt. Jonathan Quast found
himself in southern Iraq training Iraqi Police on explosive ordnance disposal. Along with only
two teammates, he successfully
trained 60 Iraqis on the basics
of explosive ordnance disposal.
Common, shared experiences in
the face of danger often result in
creating personal bonds that will
stand the test of time, no matter
how different two cultures may
Photo by Tech Sgt. Tanika Belfield
Col. Lenny Richoux getting briefed by Tech Sgt. Stephanie Gregory, 6th
Air Mobility Wing executive assistant to the command chief.
be. Tech Sgt. Quast and his team
embodied the teamwork spirit
that is an absolute necessity to
help the United States and our partners win the fight around the world.
So in every situation, be it onduty or with friends downtown,
in or out of uniform, keep the
basics of teamwork close at heart
and know that being a member of
Team MacDill is a 24/7 requirement. And if you struggle to
understand your role in the team
concept, give Tech Sgt. Quast
a call, he can tell you all about
teamwork.
ACTION LINE
The 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 comments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636)
MacDill Thunderbolt
Publisher: Denise Palmer
Editor: Nick Stubbs
The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air
Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized
publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military
services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are
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government, the Department of Defense, the Department of
the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing.
The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement
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Display advertising or classified advertising information
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News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted
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Deadline for article submissions is noon, Thursdays to
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are considered for publication based on news value and timeliness.
Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity,
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and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.
NEWS/FEATURES
Your T-bolt Today
6th AMW sergeant recognized
NEWS/FEATURES: page 4
New commander jumping in
NEWS/FEATURES: page 4
New Vector released
SPORTS: page 8
Article 15’s March-June
NEWS/FEATURES: page 16
Team MacDill after dark
Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY: page 27
Events, movies, more...
CO2 poisoning
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns consumers that each year
there are about 30 deaths and 450 injuries
because of carbon monoxide poisoning from
the use of portable camping heaters, lanterns,
or stoves inside tents, campers, and vehicles.
• Do not use portable heaters or lanterns
while sleeping in enclosed areas such as tents,
campers, and other vehicles.
• Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness,
nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, and confusion.
• See a doctor if you or a member of your
family develops cold or flu-like symptoms
while camping. Carbon monoxide poisoning,
can easily be mistaken for a cold or flu.
• Carbon monoxide is especially toxic to
mother and child during pregnancy, infants,
the elderly, smokers, and people with blood or
circulatory system problems.
Senior Master Sgt. Rex Temple is a deputy inspector general with the 6th LRS, and a example to
all when it comes to relationship building between Afghan villiagers and U.S. forces. Here he is
pictured with village children during his time in Afghanistan.
by Nick Stubbs
Thunderbolt editor
Recognition is always nice, but it’s what you
do that gets you recognized that matters, and
Senior Master Sgt. Rex Temple, a member of
the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, has done
plenty. His efforts recently earned him a 2010
Airman of the Year honorable mention from the
Air Force Times.
Above and beyond best describes Sergeant
Temple’s recent deployment to Afghanistan,
where the 6th Air Mobility Wing deputy inspector general decided there was more to doing his
duty than, well, just doing his duty as a member of the Embedded Training Team with the
Afghan National Army.
It started with a simple request from an 8year-old Afghan boy: he wanted a pen from Sergeant Temple.
The boy’s humble need for a writing instrument inspired Sergeant Temple to team up
with his wife back in Tampa, who coordinated a
school supply drive for the children of Afghanistan. The drive produced 700 boxes of supplies,
collected from Florida and 11 other states. The
boxes included paper, stuffed toys, and of course,
plenty of pens among other things of use to the
children.
It was a great effort with a great result, but
it was not enough for Sergeant Temple. He saw
an opportunity to convert and unused mosque
into a library, and spearheaded the transformation. Throughout his deployment, he also made
certain as many people as possible could know
what kind of work the U.S. military was doing
in Afghanistan. He not only did weekly radio
stories, which aired on National Public Radio’s
Tampa affiliate, he also kept up an Internet
blog detailing his experiences in Afghanistan.
The blog not only kept people informed and
entertained, it was recognized as tops in the
Air Force category of the annual 2010 MilBlog
awards.
“I’m really honored that that someone I don’t
even know nominated me,” said Sergeant Temple of the Air Force Times award. “All this started out very small and it just sort of grew over
time; National Public Radio gave me a voice to
the public and it took off from there.”
Sergeant Temple also put in his time as a
warrior. He was a convoy commander in the war
zone, gunner or driver in 180 mounted combat
patrol missions during his deployment. He was
leading a nine-man team on a humanitarian
mission when it came under an ambush attack
from insurgents.
The team battled its way out of the fracas,
his leadership and actions earning him Sergeant Temple the Bronze Star.
NEWS/FEATURES
EOD Airman ‘firmly in the fight’
Trains Iraqi police forces to do EOD tasks on their own
One of 6th Air Mobility Wing Commander Col. Lenny Richoux’s first visits during his first
week on the job at MacDill was the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal team. While there he got some interesting insights into the uniqe duty, and a in-demand
job specialty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where EOD personnel from MacDill routinely are
deployed. The following is the deployed experience of Tech Sgt. Jonathan Quast’s training of
Iraqi police in EOD procedures, as told to Col. Richoux:
M
y most recent deployment was a sixmonth tour to southern Iraq. I had been
on three previous combat deployments
to other locations throughout middle and northern Iraq conducting typical EOD duties of safing UXOs, conducting post blasts, and disarming
IEDs.
In southern Iraq I carried out all of these missions along with a new, equally important task:
training Iraqi Police (IP) in all areas of EOD. I
Tech Sgt. Jonathan Quast, left front,
was paired with a LTC in the IP who commandwith Iraqi police officers he trained.
ed the provincial explosive response team. My
team’s whole mission was to partner with the Iraqis to make certain they would be able to
conduct EOD missions once US forces left Iraq.
My two team members and I trained 60 IP members in the basics of EOD. Our team was
assigned our own interpreter so we could successfully communicate with our Iraqi counterparts. We conducted information sharing and joint EOD operations with the IP to help
ensure a successful transfer of authority. Although they were many trying times that came
along with war and the mixing of two vastly different cultures, my team grew very close to
our Iraqi friends making those six months some of the most rewarding in my career.
CSAF releases ‘Vector’
by Janie Santos
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) — The Air Force’s senior military leader released his vision for the future in a recent
CSAF Vector 2010 that outlined five priorities and the
“way ahead” for Airmen to maintain these priorities.
“Our Airmen are responding to the nation’s call with
agility, innovation and expeditionary presence -- today,
nearly 40,000 American Airmen are deployed to 263 locations across the globe,” Air
Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said. “We’ve also demonstrated that modern
warfighting isn’t just about how many are ‘over there.’
“Our deployed-in-place Airmen are indispensable to the day-to-day defense of our nation, whether they are tracking and dispatching bad actors at intercontinental range,
maintaining constant vigilance from space, sustaining credible strategic deterrence, protecting networks, or patrolling the skies over the homeland,” General Schwartz said.
In his “Vector,” General Schwartz discusses continuing to strengthen the Air Force
nuclear enterprise, partnering with the joint and coalition team for today’s fight, develSee VECTOR, Page 21
Wing commander jumping
into job with both feet
by Nick Stubbs
Thunderbolt editor
If you are part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing or
work at MacDill in another capacity, and you have
not bumped into the new wing commander, Col.
Lenny Richoux, you probably will sooon.
Becoming the 6th Air Mobility Wing commander means having to get a handle on a diverse list
of groups, squadrons and units, not to mention the
added diversity unique to MacDill Air Force Base
and its various commands and mission partners.
Col. Lenny Richoux, who took command of
the wing last week, is wasting no time working
his way around the base in what can only be described as an intense immersion designed to not
only bring him up to speed on each of the units
under his command, but also get some one-on-one
time with as many servicemembers as possible.
The 6th AMW mission is big, and the job at
MacDill is just as large, which means jumping in
with both feet is mandatory, said Colonel Richoux,
who added he is anxious to meet everyone at MacDill and be fully briefed so he can get to work.
“I don’t want the honeymoon to last long,” Colonel Richoux said. “My idea is to get down to the
work of the mission as quickly as possible.”
The colonel isn’t kidding. He’d already met on
location with the the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, the 6th
Operations Group, 91 Air Refueling Squadron,
310 Airlift Squadron, and 6th Operations Support Squadron by the end of his third day on the
job. Since then he’s met and toured with the 6th
Maintenance Group, the 6th Mission Support
Group, the 6th Communications Squadron and
6th Medical Group.
In the coming days, he’ll be working his way
around base, visiting elements of the wing, as
well as mission partners and base tenants. It’s an
extended tour at a base as large and complex as
MacDill, but essential to getting the perspective
and understanding needed for effective and informed leadership, and to support the major DoD
nerve center for operations in Afghanistan and
Iraq.
COMMENTARY
Air Force TRICARE benefits shine: national health care reform
by Col Gregory B. Canney
6th Dental Squadron commander
The excitement and passion of the health
care reform debate have faded since the
spring, as the oil spill and Russian spies have
dominated national news. But the 6th Medical Group still fields questions on our health
care benefit and if changes will occur.
As most military members, families and
retirees know, lifelong medical coverage may
be the most valuable benefit of all. Although
some beneficiary groups face slight increases
in premiums or co-pays in the future, having
a solid health plan brings considerable peace
of mind. In spite of occasional hurdles and
frustrations, such as changing Primary Care
Managers and 14 minute waits for prescription refills, the Air Force Medical Service provides world class care. The TRICARE plan
provides incredible value that is hard to repli-
cate in the civilian sector and is in stark contrast to what millions of Americans face every
day – no medical coverage at all!
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act signed by President Obama on March 23
2010 does not affect TRICARE. On April 26
2010, the House Armed Services Committee
released a statement on H.R. 4887, the TRICARE Affirmation Act, and declared that the
TRICARE military health plan already meets
the minimum requirements for health insurance coverage and that military health coverage will not be adversely affected by the new
health care reform law. Defense Secretary
Robert Gates reassured service members and
their families that excellent health care remains a high priority for both him and the
President.
So it is comforting in these turbulent and
uncertain economic times that the military
health benefit is solid and enduring. The 6th
Medical Group has improved access to care
by adding providers and streamlining schedules. We’ve added active duty sick call hours
each day at 7 a.m. and the Brandon Community Clinic expanded hours until 10 p.m. each
night.
Deployment rates for the medics are at an
all time high but the MDG continues to improve customer service and maintain high
standards to keep the 32,000 empanelled patients in good health and deployable.
The Medical Group’s vision is one we work
toward each day: “First choice for worldclass health services: reliable, responsive, renowned.”
Additional information is available at www.
tricare.osd.mil, click on “National Health Care
Reform and TRICARE”, stop by the TRICARE
Service Center located on the second floor of
the new clinic at 3250 Zemke Ave, building
1078, or call a Government Health Benefits
THE JUSTICE FILES
Article 15’s March
1 through June 30
Over the past four months, the MacDill Legal Office processed fourteen (14) nonjudicial
punishment actions under Article 15, UCMJ,
involving Airmen in the 6th Air Mobility Wing
and associate units at MacDill Air Force Base.
Common offenses included absence without
leave, making false official statements, failure
to obey an order, and assault consummated by
battery.
On Mar. 9, a Staff Sergeant from the 6th
Force Support Squadron received an Article 15
for misuse of a Government Travel Card. His
punishment consisted of a reduction to the
grade of Senior Airman and a Reprimand.
On Mar. 15, a Master Sergeant from the 6th
Medical Operations Squadron received an Article 15 for storing sexually explicit images on
a Government computer. His punishment consisted of a suspended reduction to the grade of
Technical Sergeant, forfeiture of $750.00 pay,
15 days extra duty, and a Reprimand.
On Mar. 16, a Senior Airman from the 6th
Security Forces Squadron received an Article
15 for disrespect to a superior non-commissioned officer. Her punishment consisted of a
reduction to Airman First Class, suspended forfeiture of $961.00 pay, and a Reprimand.
On Mar. 19, an Airman First Class from the
6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron received an
Article 15 for failure to pay a debt. Her punishment consisted of a suspended reduction to
the grade of Airman, 30 days extra duty, and a
Reprimand.
On Mar. 30, a Senior Airman from the 6th
Medical Support Squadron received an Article
15 for failure to obey a lawful order. His punishment consisted of a reduction to the grade of
Airman First Class and a Reprimand.
On Apr. 5, an Airman First Class from the
6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron received an
Article 15 for making false official statements.
His punishment consisted of a reduction to the
grade of Airman and a Reprimand.
On Apr. 12, a Senior Airman from the 6th
Operations Support Squadron received an Article 15 for making a false official statement. His
punishment consisted of a suspended reduction
to the grade of Airman First Class and 30 days
extra duty.
On Apr. 12, an Airman First Class from the
6th Contracting Squadron received an Article
15 for assault consummated by a battery. His
punishment consisted of a suspended reduction
to the grade of Airman, 14 days restriction to
base, 14 days extra duty, and a Reprimand.
On Apr. 12, an Airman First Class from the
6th Communications Squadron received an Article 15 for assault consummated by battery.
His punishment consisted of a reduction to the
grade of Airman and a Reprimand.
On Apr. 12, a Senior Airman from the 6th
Communications Squadron received an Article
15 for failing to go to his appointed place of duty. His punishment consisted of a reduction to
the grade of Airman First Class and a Reprimand.
See ARTICLE 15, Page 10
Congratulations to the NCO Academy graduates class 10-5
Distinguished Graduates
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Gordon, 6th Force Support Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Pablo Vales, 6th Dental Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Velez, 6th Security Forces Squadron
Graduates
Tech. Sgt. Mashonda Brown, United States Special Operations Command
Tech. Sgt. Cyril Castleberry, 6th Operations Support Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Andrew Clarke, 6th Medical Operations Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Alan Clay, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Henry Fells, 6th Maintenance Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hart, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Gregg Lehmann, 6th Medical Support Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Alan Matthews, 310th Airlift Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Angela Messer, 6th Medical Operations Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Dwight Noel, 6th Force Support Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Donovan Thompson, 6th Communications Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Scott Wiedermann, United States Central Command
Tech. Sgt. James Yelvington, 6th Medical Group
article 15
From Page 8
On May 3, a Staff Sergeant from USSOCOM
received an Article 15 for operating a government vehicle while intoxicated. His punishment
consisted of a suspended reduction to the grade
of Senior Airman, forfeiture of $650.00 pay per
month for 2 months, 14 days extra duty, and a
Reprimand.
On Jun. 7, a Staff Sergeant from the 6th Security Forces Squadron received an Article 15
for falsifying an official document and being absent without leave. His punishment consisted
of a forfeiture of $1462.00 pay per month for 2
months and a Reprimand.
On Jun. 14, an Airman First Class from the
6th Communications Squadron received an Article 15 for theft of government property. His
punishment consisted of a reduction to the
grade of Airman Basic, forfeiture of $723.00 pay,
and a Reprimand.
On Jun. 15, an Airman First Class from the
6th Comptroller Squadron received an Article
15 for disrespect towards an officer, failure to
obey an order, and being absent without leave.
His punishment consisted of a reduction to the
grade of Airman and a Reprimand.
SPORTS/RECREATION
Find the lucky golf
ball, win $100
by Nick Stubbs
Thunderbolt editor
Who knew having some fun while honing
your golf skills could earn you an easy $100?
No, it doesn’t involve closest-to-the-pin wagers, just keeping an eye out for a specially
marked golf ball from the ball dispenser at the
Bay Palms Golf Club driving range. The promotion, called “Test Drive,” and runs throughout Air Mobility Command, allocated $3,000
to MacDill, which means as many as 30 people
could end up winners.
Any customer spending $3 or more at a participating 6th Force Support Squadron eatery
will be given a Free Test Drive card, which can
be redeemed at the golf course for a driving
range token. The token is then used to get a
bucket of driving range balls from the dispensing machine. If luck is with you, amongst those
balls is a special signature ball that entitles
the holder to a crisp $100 bill.
All is not lost if the bucket doesn’t produce
a winner. In addition to the free balls, the Test
Drive card also entitles the holder to 50 percent off golf lessons by a club pro, as well as
other local discounts.
“This program is a great way to reward our
customers with an opportunity to win some
cash”, stated Col Frank Jones, Chief, Services
Operations Division (AMC), “and at the same
time hopefully introduce the game of golf to a
new audience.”
Golfers and wannabes are encouraged to
visit a participating restaurant on base and
pick up their Test Drive card and bring it to
the course. The promise is, “not only will you
have a blast, you may just be one of your base’s
lucky winners.”
Working the graveyard shift
It’s ‘another world’ at MacDill after dark
by Nick Stubbs
Thunderbolt editor
T
he hot Florida sun falls in the Gulf and another day at MacDill
Air Force Base gives way in a final sizzle. Tiny bats feed on mosquitoes in an insectivorous frenzy, the headlights of those working past dinner zigzag through the streets, until they square up on
the exit gates, as the long, slow cooling of the blacktop beneath them
begins.
It is an end, but also a beginning, while most of the workforce of a
vibrant and bustling Air Force Base is heading home for the night, the
night hawks are just getting started.
Among them are members of the 6th Security Forces Squadron, the
fire department, the watchdogs in the Command Post, all of whom are
on the clock until the sun is up. Others, like those manning the Air
Traffic Control Tower, are working well into the night before calling it
quits. The satellite communications flight of the 6th Communications
Squadron is a 24-7 operation. Together they make up the graveyard
shift, working in what one called the “different world of MacDill at
night.”
It’s a bit before midnight on a Friday night when Staff Sgt. Sergio
Creco, 6th Security Forces patrolman checks in at the security forces
headquarters. The Reservist from Miami has been busy patrolling the
dimly lit streets, looking for anything out of place, a light on where it
shouldn’t be, a gate ajar an noises that don’t belong. It’s pure police
duty without the attendant distractions of the day.
“You can focus on the job more,” he said. “It’s more about the duty
and less about the politics.”
By politics, Sergeant Creco meant the prerequisite encounters with
members of the daytime workforce, mini briefings with virtually anyone, including supervisors and officers, including of his own unit, all
of which are part of working when the sun is shining.
Tech Sgt. Jerrod Klein, assistant flight chief of 6 SF’s Delta unit,
knows just what he means.
“Its more pure police work in the traditional sense,” he said. “You
are focused on the job at hand and doing what cops do.”
For all security forces members, the hours are long. Many work as
many as 70 hours a week, perhaps 80 if there is training that has to
be completed. Days overlapping and blending into nights, rotating in
and out of 12-hour shifts, it can blur one’s sense of time and place and
mess with internal time clocks.
“We don’t do what we do for the money,” said Sergeant Kleine, adding it’s “about who you are here,” while slapping his palm to his chest
where his heart is.
The Delta team, and the other flights, have a unique bond of brotherhood that helps a lot.
“We’re a tight-knit, good flight here,” said Sergeant Klein. “You have
to realize that we are with each other here more than we are with our
(Above right) Ed Warwick mans the dispatcher’s station at the Fire De
emergency calls and alarms for the entire base. (Above right) Assistant
fore bunking for the night. Firefighters are on duty 24-7 at MacDill, alwa
own families.”
The duty calls for bucking up and getting it done, and after a while
the long hours, including graveyard shifts, come natural.
“I love it,” said Sergeant Creco of working at night. “It’s something
you get used to after doing it for a while.”
It can be a little spooky. Sergeant Klein recalls many nights at the
dark, southern extremes of the base, where there is just woods and
swamp, George Noory’s Coast to Coast AM show playing on the radio.
The show, which focuses on alien abduction tales, ghost encounters
and big foot sightings has a way of getting under one’s skin in the
inky black at the lonely, isolated end of MacDill, he said.
Like police, firefighters are on call 24-7 at MacDill. Members of
the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire Department are always on
duty. They bunk on base at the fire stations, and with the exception of
dispatch are not working through the night unless there is an emergency, but there are a lot more “emergencies” than one might imagine.
Most end up being false alarms, but firefighters “have to respond, because if you don’t, that’s when it turns out to be the real thing,” said
Kenneth Ploense, chief of training and operations officer on duty Friday nights. It’s about 11:30 p.m. and he’s getting ready to bunk until
Photos by Nick Stubbs
epartment crash station. From his desk he monitors
t Fire Chief Kenneth Ploense makes late rounds beays ready for an emergency.
Photo by Nick Stubbs
Security Force patrolman Staff Sgt. Sergio Greco in his patrol car just before the midnight hour on a Friday night. Outside his window is Tech Sgt.
Jerrod Klein, Chief of Delta Flight, which he refers to as the best flight in
the Air Force.
6 a.m., but he takes time to show a sleepy reporter around the crash
station near the south end of the air field. It’s a relatively new building, complete with kitchen facilities, two-man bunkrooms, classrooms
and a gym. It’s designed to support the crew on site, so they are never
caught away from their stations in case of an emergency. Sitting in a
large series of bays is the rolling hardware of the trade, shining red
and chrome in a sodium vapor glow. Crash trucks, ladder and pumper trucks, ambulances and trailers equipped for hazmat scenes. Fire
suits, gloves and oxygen masks are in neat piles, ready for firefighters
to scoop them up as they scramble to the appropriate vehicle. Now,
they sleep, but up and alert with multiple computer screens, phones
and radio surrounding him is Ed Warwick, emergency dispatcher. On
one LCD screen is a map of the base, several of the buildings lit up in
green, blue or red, indicating alarms, fault signals. All have been accounted for, and false alarms are common in Tampa, where electrical
storms play havoc with the systems.
The job is black and white, he said. Rarely gray. It’s either quiet
and uneventful, or everything is busting loose, which few nights in
between.
“It can change in an instant,” he says, adding that he likes the night
shift. After eight years on the job, he’s gotten used to it.
One of his primary jobs is to answer 911 calls. Because callers near,
but outside the base may connect with the cell tower at MacDill before a city or county tower, many calls for help off base arrive at MacDill first, he said. Those are quickly relayed to the appropriate city or
county agency, Mr. Warwick said. The city and county does the same
for MacDill if either receives an emergency call.
‘During storms it can get pretty busy (due to alarms being triggered) with responses,” Mr. Warwick said.
While many can be sorted out as mistakes, it’s the general, or full
alarms that get all the attention, said Chief Ploense.
“We have to respond,” he said. “There is no taking chances on a full
alarm.”
Other times the dispatcher gets calls that defy how to respond.
“We got a call from a lady at the Fam Camp once that a manatee
was being attacked by a shark,” recalled Mr. Warwick. “We weren’t really sure how to respond to that one.”
Over at the Command Post, the nerve center of the 6th Air
See GRAVEYARD, Page 18
graveyard
From Page 17
Mobility Wing, “everything that goes on at
MacDill passes through us,” said Staff Sgt.
Chris Ramseur, senior emergency controller.
Like everyone at the Command Post, he shares
graveyard shift duties. As of late, the rotation
calls for three months on nights, followed by
three months of day shifts, both of which are
12-hour stints.
The job is very different at night, as there is
less activity, particularly flight missions, but
it can heat up quickly, said Sergeant Ramseur,
which means the controllers have the unenviable task of waking up the wing commander
– even if it is 3 a.m.
“We’re the bearers of bad news sometimes,”
he said. It’s part of the job.
The function of the Command Center is essential to the operation of the base.
“We are the eyes and ears of the wing commander,” said Sergeant Ramseur. “We gather
information and then we disseminate it to the
appropriate parties.”
Emergency dispatches, monitoring radio traffic, flight following (tracking flights
through their missions), mission alerts for
air crews and dozens of other tasks fall to the
Command Post. And there’s no letting up just
because the high levels of activity during the
day give way to the quieter nights.
“It’s usually quiet, depending on the flying
level, which is pretty much what determines
how busy we are,” said Sergeant Ramseur.
“But things can change in a heartbeat (if there
is an emergency or operational need).”
During those times, the Command Post becomes “the” hub, monitoring all activity and
serving as the conduit of information.
It’s the critical nature of the job that makes
it important to be alert and ready for action,
said Sergeant Ramseur, who added that he
and others try to adapt to the shift into working nights within three to five days. Once acclimated to the hours, it’s not bad, he said.
“It’s definitely an adjustment,” he notes. “After you’ve been doing it for a while you accept
that it’s just part of the job.”
And as that job winds down each night, a
new work day for the majority of people at
(Foreground) Staff Sgts Tom Charlow and Sandra Ruela, both Resrvists with the 927th Air Refueling Wing, and Staff Sgt. Jarvous Blake, afterhours inside the Command Post. Sergeants
Ruela and Charlow like nights, as they say it
allows them to get more paperwork done.
MacDill begins.
They’re the regular folk – the day timers
– many of whom don’t notice the headlights
heading off base as they head on, while the
bats are at roost, and the cool blacktop starts
to heat up.
HEALTH
Hillsborough issues health
advisory, mosquito threat
TAMPA FL, — The Hillsborough County Health Department has
issued a Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory for Hillsborough County.
Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisories are issued when animal surveillance data indicates a rise in arbovirus transmission activity, indicating the increased potential for human infections, or when a locallyacquired single human case of exotic or endemic arboviral disease has
been confirmed. In the past weeks, two horses in Hillsborough County
have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, (EEE).
The Hillsborough County Health Department continues to remind
residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may
cause encephalitis disease. Hillsborough County Mosquito Control and
the health department continue surveillance and prevention efforts
and encourage everyone to take basic precautions to help limit exposure by following the Florida Department of Health recommendations.
To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, Florida Department of Health, (FDOH) recommends that individuals remain diligent
in their personal prevention efforts. These efforts should include the “5
D’s” for prevention:
Dusk and Dawn - Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking blood. For many species, this is during the dusk and dawn hours.
u Dress - Wear clothing that covers most of your skin.
u DEET - When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes,
repellents containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or N, Ndiethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are recommended. Picaridin and oil of
lemon eucalyptus are other repellent options.
u Drainage - Check around your home to rid the area of standing
water, which is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Make sure that
pools and spas have continuous circulation and appropriate chlorinaSee MOSQUITO, Page 24
vector
From Page 4
oping and caring for Airmen, modernizing inventories and training,
and recapturing acquisition excellence.
“Since I became your chief we have had to make some tough decisions, primarily focused on three challenges: restoring credibility to
our nuclear enterprise, enhancing our contribution to today’s fight,
and recapturing acquisition excellence,” he said. “As demanding as we
will continue to be in those areas, I am pleased with the progress we’ve
made to date; but also believe we must seize this moment and look
ahead.”
To read this Vector and other senior leader viewpoints, go to the
information section on www.AF.mil.
MOSQUITO
From Page 20
tion to prevent mosquitoes from laying
eggs.
Tips on Repellent
Use:
u Always read label directions carefully for the approved
usage before you apply a repellent. Some
repellents are not
suitable for children.
u Products with
concentrations of up
to 30 percent DEET
are generally recommended. Other effective mosquito repellents, as reported
by the CDC in April
2005, contain Picaridin or oil of lemon
eucalyptus. These
products are generally available at local pharmacies. Look
for active ingredients
listed on the product
label.
u Apply insect repellent to exposed
skin, or onto clothing,
but not under clothing.
u In protecting
children, read label
instructions to be
sure the repellent is
age-appropriate. According to the CDC,
mosquito repellents
containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should
not be used on children under the age of
three years. DEET is
not recommended on
children younger than
two months old.
u Infants should be
kept indoors, or mosquito netting should
be used over carriers
when mosquitoes are
present.
u Avoid applying repellents to the
hands of children.
Adults should apply repellent first to
their own hands and
then transfer it to the
child’s skin and clothing.
u If additional protection is necessary,
apply a permethrin
repellent directly to
your clothing. Again,
always follow the
manufacturer’s directions.
Tips on Eliminating Mosquito
Breeding Sites:
Getting rid of
breeding sites is one
of the keys to prevention. Mosquitoes
breed in standing
water, so check your
yard at least once a
week or more.
u Clean out eaves
and gutters.
u Remove old tires
or drill drainage holes
in those used in playgrounds.
u Turn over or remove empty pots.
u Pick up beverage
containers and cups.
u Check tarps on
boats or equipment
that may collect water.
u Store canoes and
small boats upsidedown.
u Replace water
in birdbaths and pet
feeding dishes.
u Change water in
plant trays, including
hanging plants.
u Also, make sure
window and door
screens are in good
condition. Have an
older neighbor or
family member? See
if they need help installing or repairing
screens.
Area physicians
should contact their
county’s health department if they suspect an individual
may have contracted
a mosquito-borne illness. Department of
Health laboratories
provide testing services for physicians
treating patients with
clinical signs of mosquito-borne disease.
Symptoms may include fever, headache,
tiredness, and body
aches, occasionally
with a skin rash (on
the trunk of the body)
and swollen lymph
glands.
DOH continues to
conduct statewide
surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses, including WNV
and Eastern Equine
Encephalomyelitis (EEE), St. Louis
Encephalitis (SLE),
malaria and dengue.
Residents are encouraged to report dead
birds via the web site
http://myfwc.com/
bird/.
For more information on mosquitoborne illnesses, visit
DOH’s Environmental Health Website at
http://www.doh.state.
fl.us/environment/
community/arboviral/index.htm, or the
CDC website at http://
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/
dvbid/westnile/index.
htm.
You may also call
the WNV Hotline at 1888-880-5782 or contact your local county
health department
(http://www.hillscountyhealth.org/ http://
www.pinellashealth.
com/) or MacDill’s
Public Health office
at 827-9601.
MACDILL COMMUNITY
EVENTS
Friday
Surf’s Edge Club
Membership Dinner from 5:30-9
p.m. All-U-Can-Eat Buffet!
Saturday
Bay Palms Golf Complex
Saturday Morning Junior Golf
Clinic* from 8:30-9:30 a.m. for ages
8-17. Cost: $3 pp includes the use of
clubs *Free for DePLAYment Tag
Pass Holders
Monday-Friday
MacDill Lanes Bowling Center
Tween/Teens Summer Bowling
Special* from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $1 a
game. $1.50 shoes. *depending on
lane availability.
Tuesday
Surf’s Edge Club
“Meals in Minutes” Lunch Buffet
– Soul Food from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday
Bay Palms Golf Complex
FREE Golf Clinic for Tweens/
Teens and Active Duty from 12-1
p.m.
Wednesday
Outdoor Recreation Marina
Tween/Teen Shoreline Fishing
from 9-11 a.m. (ages 10-17) $2 per
person (includes rod, reel & bait)
*Free for DePLAYment Tag Pass
Holders **Under 16 must be accompanied by parent**
Surf’s Edge Club
“Meals in Minutes” Lunch Buffet
– Italian from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Thursday
Surf’s Edge Club
“Meals in Minutes” Lunch Buffet
– Mexican/Spanish from 11 a.m.-1
p.m.
Change of command
Photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph L. Swafford Jr.
From right, Maj. Samantha Ray, 6th Communications Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Aaron Meadows,
and Col. Donald Barnes, 6th Mission Support Group commander, salute during the 6 CS change of
command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base July 14. Major Ray assumed command of 6 CS from
Lt. Col. Aaron Meadows.
CHAPEL SCHEDULE
Protestant services
Sunday - 9 a.m., Traditional Service
10:30 a.m., Religious Education, Noon, Gospel Service
& 9 a.m., service, FamCamp Multipurpose Center
Wednesday - 10:30 a.m., Women of the Chapel
Thursday - 11:30 a.m., Officers’ Christian Fellowship
For more information regarding the Chapel or Chapel services, call 828-3621.
AT THE MOVIES
Catholic services
Saturday - Mass, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday - Mass, 10:30 a.m.
Monday to Thursday: Mass, 12:10 p.m.
Saturday - Sacrament of Reconciliation, 4:30 p.m., (or by appointment)
Islamic services
Friday - 1:15 p.m.
Jewish services - Call 828-3621
$4 for adults / $2 for children 828-2780
Friday - 7 p.m.
Saturday - 3 p.m.
Saturday - 7 p.m.
THE KARATE KID (PG)
THE KARATE KID (PG)
JONAH HEX (PG-13)