JCSE special edition - starts page 2

Thursday, July 18, 2013
Vol. 41, No. 29
JCSE special edition - starts page 2
U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Tech. Sgt. Tanika Belfield
Col. Kirby Watson, Joint Communications Support Element commander, oversees JCSE at MacDill Air Force Base, which is comprised of three
active-duty squadrons, a U.S. Army Reserve Squadron and two Air National Guard units that deploy to provide en route, initial entry and early
entry communication support globally.
Critical Days of Summer, week 9: Water safety - page 14
COMMANDER’S CORNER
Thank you to the MacDill Air Force Base community
by Army Col. Kirby Watson
Joint Communications Support Element commander
On behalf of the soldiers, sailors, Airmen and
Marines of the Joint Communications Support
Element, I want to reach out to the MacDill Air
Force Base community, acknowledge and thank
you for the support you continue to provide the
JCSE.
The JCSE has been a part of the MacDill
community for 50 years helping to shape our
country’s history—from Desert One to Desert Storm, from support to humanitarian and
disaster relief efforts in Haiti, Pakistan and
Japan most recently, to providing missionessential communications support in the most
remote locations around the world in our
struggle against terrorism.
As the commander, I am very proud of
all this organization has done, is doing every
day and the sacrifice our service members and
their families endure. After 25 years of service I am still amazed at the quality of service
members and the families which our all-volunteer force retains. I am humbled by the same
level of support communities like the Tampa
Bay area have been providing for years.
JCSE has celebrated many victories and has
had its share of losses as well, yet through it
all it there has always been the steadfast assurance of the MacDill community coming together to help us through those events.
From U.S. Central Command, US Special
Operations Command and the 6th Air Mobility
Wing to the community of Tampa Bay, JCSE
has been blessed to have great teammates
marching side by side with us every step of the
way.
See CORNER, Page 17
6th Air Mobility Wing shout-outs
The 91st Air Refueling Squadron would like to give a shout-out
to Senior Airman Taryn Summers for saving the life of a local civilian. Summers, while volunteering at the Florida Hospital Tampa
Emergency Room as part of her emergency medical technician certification class, performed one hour of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient, which resulted in their full recovery. Also, she
has been working with a local animal shelter and has fostered 5
Col. Kirby Watson
kittens-with 2 successful adoptions so far. In addition to her offduty academic classes and volunteer work, she continues to raise
the bar as the unit’s new Unit Program Coordinator. Summers was
instrumental in helping to replace the outgoing UPC, and is vital
to the squadron’s Awards & Decorations process, Officer Progress
Report and Enlisted Progress Report, as the Command Support
Staff technician, maintaining accountability for the 140 electronic
flight bags, in-processing coordinator, and much more.
Commander’s vision
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 recording
service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or email [email protected].
MacDill Thunderbolt
Publisher: Bill Barker
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
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, including 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
To view Col. Scott DeThomas’ remarks on his vision for MacDill AFB,
go to www.macdill.af.mil and then click
on “Col. DeThomas’ priorities, mission,
and expectations video” in the upper
left corner.
may be obtained by calling 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: [email protected].
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 timeliness.
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.
NEWS/FEATURES
Your T-bolt Today
Deployment: a way of life
Week in photos: page 4
By Lt. Col. Thomas Foster
3rd Joint Communications Squadron
Images from around MacDill
News/Features: page 8
JCSE Vital Connection
News/Features: page 12
JCSE on the job
News/Features: page 16
JCSE: A history
Community: page 21
Events, Chapel, more...
Am I doing this right?
Since September 11, 2001
the word “deployment” has
been integrated into our vocabulary like any other word
we might use under normal
circumstances. Hearing
spouses say “My husband is
deployed,” or seeing a young
child at the airport holding
a sign that reads “Welcome
home Mommy! You’re my hero!” are now part of our society.
For many of us that wear the
uniform, deployment is a part
of our life. We train for it, and
our families get ready for it.
For the joint service members
assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element
and the 3rd Joint Communications Squadron, training and
mentality revolve around deployment.
The 3rd Joint Communications Squadron has been
tasked with supporting sev-
Dear Wing Ma’am,
I am a divorcee and a dad. When my kids
were toddlers they would come to stay with
me intermittently for holidays and short
visits as part of the custody agreement.
This year for summer break they will be
staying with me for about four months. Just
me and my five and six-year-old—all day
and all night. I have a good support system
and even have some leave approved so I can
show my kids a good time…but I am a little nervous about being a single
parent 24/7. How do I know that I am doing things right? I want to be a
good parent and not mess things—them—up. Any advice?
~Papa Bear
Dear Wing Ma’am is written by Capt. Christy Cruz, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Wing Ma’am works as the Resiliency Program
manager and clinical therapist at MacDill
eral units in the Central Command Area of Operations. The
squadron is currently structured into two troops, each
troop has two sections, each
of which contains 15 or more
joint service members, and
each section conducts fourmonth rotations in the CENTCOM AOR. Upon arrival to
3JCS, service members are
assigned to troops and sent to
the Joint Operations Communications School where they
learn technical aspects of our
tactical signal equipment, as
well as tactical training and
Combat Life Saving skills.
Upon completion of this 30
day course, service members
are reintegrated back to their
respective troops and assigned
to a team where they learn
their team’s dynamics, how
they are deployed and the
importance of being a team
player. The troop leadership
is tasked to provide training,
classes and exercises that will
Lt. Col. Thomas Foster
develop their joint service
members into even better
leaders. The end product is a
Joint Signal Service Member
that is able to function during
combat and maintain communications during the most
stressful of situations regardless of the environment.
See COMMENTARY, Page 20
Dear Papa Bear,
Being a parent can be the most fulfilling experience a person can
have. One of the most important things you can do as a parent is ensure
that your child feels loved. Feeling secure, knowing they can turn to you
for anything and feeling protected & safe will build a solid cornerstone
for your child’s development into adulthood. You don’t have to make the
right choice every single time. However, what you can strive for is being
a positive parent.
Being a positive parent means you are firm, fair and loving. Young
children are like little sponges…they notice everything. As a guideline,
I encourage you to never use violence. That means don’t use violence
with others and not towards your children. Explain your expectations
with clarity, keeping in mind their age, development and personality.
Make simple rules that they will be able to understand and be consistent when enforcing boundaries. This will help them in developing a
AFB. If you want to ask Wing Ma’am for advice, please send your questions to 6MDOS.
[email protected]. Letters are kept anonymous.
Rights are reserved to edit published letters for
See WING MA”AM, Page 14
style and length. Not every question can be answered. This column seeks to educate readers
and should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional assistance.
WEEK IN PHOTOS
Tech Sgt. Benjamin Springsteen, Joint Communications Support Element
technical controller, performs a quality assurance
check on a network enterprise system at MacDill Air
Force Base on July 9. Quality assurance checks ensure that wires and cables
of the network enterprise
system are connected and
working properly.
Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant
Photo by Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz
Tech. Sgt. Gerald Mastravito, Joint Communications Support Element assistant team chief, and Army Sgt. Cory
Wingate, JCSE team member, secure a tough box around
communication equipment after completing an Alert Posture Force certification at MacDill Air Force Base July 8.
Photo by Senior Airman Adam Grant
Army Sgt. Lane Dayley, Joint Communications Support Element communications
operator, performs a quality assurance check on a Hawkeye Light satellite at MacDill Air Force Base July 9. The satellite is a two-way ground station that enables
mobile communication.
Senator visits MacDill; announces he is satisfied with security
by Airman 1st Class Sarah Breer
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
Bill Nelson, Florida U.S. Senator, visited
MacDill Air Force Base Friday to address base
security and announced he is satisfied that the
base is protected from security threats.
Recently an individual was found to have
trespassed on base at least four times, once using a trash can to jump a fence protecting the
base perimeter. Nelson met with base leadership to determine what happened and why the
individual was able to get onto the installation.
Nelson said that base security is solid and
that the previous breaches had been handled
appropriately.
“I am convinced that (base security forces officials) are doing what they can and it is sufficient for our national security interests,” Nelson said.
The 6th Security Forces Squadron was been
recognized in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 as the
Air Mobility Command’s Large Security Forces
Unit of the Year. In 2009 and 2010 it was the
Air Force’s Large Security Forces Unit of the
Year.
Members of the 6th SFS are keeping the base
safe, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Nelson expressed his confidence that security will be kept at a heightened state.
“There are two things they (6th SFS officials)
have done,” Nelson said, “an enhancement of
the fence line and at the Maritime. Two, (they
are) talking to everyone, just to be aware of
what’s going on.”
Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing
commander, said that security at MacDill Air
Force Base is constantly improving and evolving to accommodate new threats, but the base’s
best asset is its people and the Tampa community.
In the past six weeks there have been three
attempts to illegally gain entry to MacDill. On
all three occasions someone from the local community alerted the installation or Tampa officials.
Security forces and the Tampa Bay community’s law enforcement agencies worked together and the attempts were thwarted before the
individuals made it to the base.
“We’ve taken measures to prevent the physical part of it, but the best way to prevent tres-
Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Breer
Col. Scott DeThomas, 6th Air Mobility Wing
commander, and Senator Bill Nelson speak to
media members during Nelson’s visit to the
base Friday.
passers and threats is to have everyone on
and around MacDill staying vigilant,” said DeThomas.
At the entry control points across base, security can be seen. Sentries at the gate tell the
rest of the community that only authorized perSee NELSON, Page 15
MISSION TEAMMATES
Vital connection further prepares JCSE for disaster relief
by Whitney Williams
U.S. Transportation Command Joint Enabling Capabilities Command lead communications specialist
The Joint Communications Support Element
sits alert as part of the Global Response Force.
In the past, GRF forces have deployed in support of humanitarian disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Gustav and, more recently, Hurricane Sandy.
Preparation for deployment in support of
disaster relief efforts includes participation in
exercises. May 15 and 16 members of JCSE
deployed to Colorado to provide communication support to U.S. Northern Command’s Vital
Connection program during an exercise. This
program includes a series of three annual exercises held in various states across the nation and is designed to test communications
interoperability during domestic emergency or
disaster relief operations.
During the exercise, more than 200 participants from local, state and federal agencies
assembled at the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Facility in Littleton, Colo.
to test the capabilities of their various communications systems during a simulated natural
disaster.
USNORTHCOM asked JCSE to participate
in this most recent iteration following their
successful performance during the first Vital
Connection exercise of 2013, which took place
at Camp Blanding, Fla. earlier in the year.
“USNORTHCOM was impressed with how
Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Guzman
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ricky Uth, Joint Communications Support Element member, sets up
an Early Entry Package during the Vital Connection exercise. The scalable, mobile nature of the
EEP allowed JCSE to set up anywhere on the training facility, providing extra space for other
exercise participants.
quickly the JCSE team was able to bring the
equipment up on all services, how quickly we
were able to extend services to customers as
well as the team’s overall knowledge,” said
Army Sgt. Michael Hope, JCSE team member,
who participated during both Vital Connection
iterations.
All Vital Connection exercises focus on the
same basic concept; a natural disaster in the
local area causes all communications, includSee DISASTER, Page 10
disaster
From Page 8
Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ricky Uth
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Guzman, a member of the Joint Communications Support Element, configures a PRC-117G Wideband Tactical Radio for use during the Vital Connection
exercise May 15 and 16 in Littleton, Colo.
ing those of crisis and emergency first responders, to go down. However, the exercises differ in
the type and level of support provided by the
participating agencies as well as the various
injects that are included to further stress and
test interoperability.
JCSE, which regularly provides rapidly deployable, en-route, early entry and scalable
communications capabilities to combatant commanders across the globe, was responsible for
providing commercial Internet, phone, video
teleconferencing and radio communications
on multiple channels and frequencies to more
than 60 personnel from local law enforcement
and emergency response teams.
“This exercise was different in the fact that
we had to provide a more extensive amount of
services to a much larger number of customers,”
Hope said. “We had to configure our equipment
differently than our standard setup, which is
something that is completely outside our normal day-to-day range.”
JCSE employed their Early Entry Package,
a modular, scalable communications system
which provides an added flexibility in tailoring
communications capabilities to the customer’s
requirements. As also seen during the previous
Vital Connection exercise, the scalable, mobile
nature of JCSE’s communications packages,
proved to be a critical asset to this type of operation.
“ equipment is extremely relevant due to the
fact that we were able to support two different
military units on our network while continuing to also provide communications to our primary customers and we were successful in that
task,” said Hope. “Additionally, the mobility of
the Early Entry Package gave us the option of
setting up our site anywhere on the training
facility, which opened up extra space for other
participants.”
To add realism to the Vital Connection exercise, USNORTHCOM incorporated injects,
which consisted of intermittent power failures,
to further validate that JCSE, along with the
other participants, are prepared for the unpredictable nature of a disaster relief operation.
“The exercise was realistic in the sense that
most of the participants needed our services
because their equipment continued to malfunction,” Hope explained. “This was very helpful in
preparing us for possible real-world operations
in the future because each team member was
actively engaged in helping multiple customers
at any given time during the entire exercise.”
Mr. Mark Jensen, a joint interoperability
communications planner with USNORTHCOM
who coordinates the Vital Connection exercises,
was impressed with the support JCSE brought
to the exercise and said, “JCSE provided an
outstanding effort and engaged in the full spectrum of communications interoperability with
fellow military, federal, state and local units to
accomplish the exercise objectives.”
The goal of Vital Connection was to test the
interoperability capabilities between civilian
and military agencies and ultimately, provide
better communications services to first responders. JCSE was a key factor in meeting that goal
and will continue to be a value-added capability
that is readily available, if and when disaster
strikes. JCSE plans to also participate in the
final iteration of the 2013 Vital Connection exercise series in September.
Staying in touch: JCSE makes it happen
T
he Joint Communications Support Element is a unit within the
Department of Defense, whose communication support for contingency operations is directed by the United States Transportation Command. JCSE is a tactical unit that has the ability to operate at
the tactical, operational, and strategic level. MacDill Air Force Base is
home to the JCSE headquarters, which is comprised of three active-duty
squadrons, a U.S. Army Reserve Squadron and two Air National Guard
units that deploy to provide en route, initial entry and early entry communication support globally.
Water Safety Tips
u Never swim alone
u Don’t drink then swim/boat
u Take swimming lessons
u Know your limits
u Know the area
u Check depth and temperature before
jumping in
u Wear a life jacket
Children
Kids who drown in residential pools had
been:
u Last seen inside their home
u Gone for less than 5 minutes
u In the care of either or both parents at
the time.
WING MA’AM
From Page 3
sense of responsibility and respect.
Lastly, show them lots of affection! Words
of encouragement, appreciation, a smile, hugs
and kisses do wonders for a child’s self-esteem
and self worth. Check out some of the helpful
resources in our community like the Youth Center at 828-7956 or through Chaplain Services
at 828-3621. Remember, you don’t have to be
perfect to be the perfect parent.
nelson
From Page 6
sonnel are allowed on base.
Security implementations from extra random vehicle inspections, having military working dogs at the gate at random times, having
more security forces members at the gate, and
random upgrades in force protections levels ensure that the base population is kept safe.
If there is a security concern on base, citizens
should call the security forces command post
at 828-3322. At all times, the base community should remember that if something is seen,
then authorities should be called. Even if an incident seems to be insignificant, it could alert
security forces to a bigger issue.
For more information on Eagle Eyes please
visit www.macdill.af.mil and search ‘Eagle
eyes.’
MISSION TEAMMATES
JCSE: A history
A
dapted from the full history of the Joint
Communication Support Element which
can be found on the MacDill Air Force
Base homepage (after publication- we will put
the whole thing up on the website)
In early January 2010, a catastrophic 7.0magnitude earthquake rippled through Port-auPrince, Haiti, affecting more than three million
people and resulting in one of the worst natural
disasters in history. More than 250,000 homes
and buildings were destroyed including the
Presidential Palace, National Assembly building and headquarters of the United Nations
Stabilization Mission in Haiti. Additionally, the
earthquake knocked out communications systems and electrical networks that were essential to respond to the various needs of Haitian
citizens during this time of extreme devastation.
Enter the Joint Communications Support Element, which arrived in Haiti within 24 hours
of the earthquake and provided the first joint
and secure communications capabilities in the
country. JCSE communications equipment enabled the Haitian government to communicate
with the U.S. President, Secretary of Defense,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Department of State to identify the way ahead for
relief operations. In addition, the JCSE provided the initial secure voice, network and videoteleconference capabilities for the Joint Task
Force –Haiti commander, Lieutenant General
Ken Keen, USA, and his staff. Without JCSE’s
ability to provide these essential communications capabilities in the time period immediately following the earthquake, it is possible that
U.S. humanitarian assistance efforts may not
have been as successful.
The Establishment of JCSE
JCSE, a subordinate command of the Joint
Enabling Capabilities Command, was originally established at MacDill Air Force Base,
Florida, in 1961 as the Communications Support Element under the now disestablished
U.S. Strike Command. With just over 400 Air
Force and Army personnel assigned, the CSE
was established to serve as a quick response
communications unit during crisis and contingency operations. In 1972, the Navy and Marine
Corps joined the CSE, and it was appropriately
re-designated as JCSE.
Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Guzman
More than 200 personnel from local, state and federal agencies gathered at the Highlands Ranch
Law Enforcement Training Facility in Littleton, Colo. to test the capabilities of their various communications systems during a simulated natural disaster during Vital Connection. This exercise
was hosted by U.S Northern Command and presented by the Colorado Division of Homeland
Security & Emergency Management and the Colorado Army National Guard.
Despite JCSE’s continuous evolution over the
last 50 years, the essence of the original CSE
mission has remained at the forefront. JCSE’s
persistent focus on expeditionary, joint communications support has taken it all over the world
to assist in some of the most highly publicized
U.S. military operations of the last half-century.
Additionally, as a multi-service and eventually a fully joint unit, JCSE had the unique
ability to enable commanders to communicate
across multi-service platforms and leverage the
most efficient means of communication to accomplish the mission.
Within the past 10 years, JCSE’s primary
focus has been on operations in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility following the attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror.
JCSE members were deployed within weeks of
9/11 and were actively involved in operations
in Afghanistan no more than two months later.
JCSE troopers were some of the first military
responders to arrive in Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in March of 2003 and have
since maintained a continuous presence in the
country throughout that operation (from March
2003 through August 2010) and the duration
of the follow-on mission, Operation New Dawn
(from September 2010 through December
2011).
Value Beyond the Battlefield
Part of what makes JCSE stand out from other communications units is the 24 hours a day,
7 days a week reach back support it provides.
See HISROTY, Page 20
CORNER
From Page 2
We are more than
teammates; we are
friends, neighbors and
classmates. We sit side
by side at sporting
events, movies, chapel
services, school and
other local community gatherings. You
cry with us at family
events to say goodbye to our deploying
service members. You
help take care of our
spouses and families
while we are gone and
you are there again
to laugh, smile and
welcome us home. You
have even been there
to help escort and say
goodbye to those we
have lost. We could
never ask for this kind
of support, it is given
freely and with open
hearts.
To call MacDill and
the Tampa Bay community our friends
doesn’t seem to capture the wealth and
depth of your support to our service
members and their
families. To all those
that have been on this
50-year journey with
JCSE, Command Sgt.
Maj. Lemuel Brock
and I want to express
our deepest gratitude
for allowing us to be
part of this great community.
The more I think
about it, the more I
can only describe this
enduring relationship
as……..family.
MISSION TEAMMATES
JCSE begins support to Pacific Partnership 2013
By Julianne Sympson
Joint Enabling Capabilities Command Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. — A nine-man team from the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron (JCSS) deployed on May 24 to provide
essential communications services to efficiently and effectively meet the
mission requirements of Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) until September.
The 224th JCSS is a Georgia Air National Guard unit aligned to the
Joint Enabling Capabilities Command’s Joint Communications Support
Element (JCSE).
PP13 is the largest annual disaster response-preparation mission in
the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, and integrates medical, dental and veterinarian experts and engineers from the Department of Defense, civilian agencies and non-governmental organizations during a four-month
voyage to several remote island nations in the South Pacific. PP13 emphasizes a cooperative approach to disaster-response preparedness in
the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region, while building mutual trust, strengthening relationships and enhancing lasting regional stability and security.
This year’s PP13 teams will work within the host nations of Samoa,
Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Papau
New Guinea.
JCSE’s mission-tailored communications services will ensure PP13’s
medical, dental and veterinary teams can forge solid and enduring lines
of communication between the partner and host nations during their
work together. To meet mission requirements during PP13, the JCSE
team is employing four Initial Entry Packages – highly mobile, commercial air transportable communications kits, which can provide secure
and non-secure voice and video teleconferencing capabilities for up to
four users each.
“The uniqueness that we bring to the communications field is a great
fit for this mission based on the equipment we use, our small logistical
footprint and how we can easily maneuver within country from the setup, maintenance and tear down of the communications systems at each
destination,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James Wombolt, a member
of the JCSE team deploying in support of PP13.
Upon arrival at each destination, JCSE’s communications expertise
allows the teams ashore to pass information to doctors onboard USS
Pearl Harbor efficiently and effectively. This support will enhance coordination and information sharing regarding patient movements, equipment and supplies.
“The doctors and nurses will be able to pass larger amounts of information quicker and easier back to the ship due to the increased
bandwidth and communications services we are providing,” explained
Wombolt. “Additionally, we can even provide them the ability to reach
specialists at their home station as well, if need be.”
For half the JCSE team, this is their first deployment with the 224th
See PACIFIC RIM, Page 20
history
From Page 16
In addition to its world-class communications equipment, JCSE ensures reliable communications
through its Joint Network Operations Center , maintained from its headquarters at MacDill Air
Force Base. The JNOC employs, operates and defends the DISN-TE enterprise 24/7, while providing assured network availability, information protection and delivery across the full spectrum of
operations. Moreover, it provides the only military-specific communication network using EoIP
technology. Essentially, the JNOC is JCSE’s heartbeat for real-time situational awareness.
Key to Continued Success
JCSE’s success is a direct result of the combined efforts of its highly trained, dedicated, and
professional members. Fortunately, JCSE’s stellar reputation allows it to seek out only the best
network and system administrators, satellite and field radio operators, and data network specialists from each Service. For those in a communications specialty, a position at JCSE is a desirable
stepping stone that often leads to key assignments when they return to their respective services.
The Joint Communications Support Element is regarded as the center of excellence in joint
military communications. Its communication/equipment packages are cutting edge, its services are
extremely reliable, its members are the most highly skilled and its performance is flawless. JCSE’s
exceptional communication technology and service already has impacted or soon will impact every
single member of the Armed Forces. As technology advances at an increasingly rapid pace in the
next few years, JCSE will be sure to remain at the forefront to lead the charge as the Voice Heard
‘Round the World.
commentary
From Page 3
The process to deploy a troop into the CENTCOM AOR takes much coordination, and with the
assistance of several organizations on MacDill Air Force Base, this process has become efficient
and streamlined. The 6th Medical Group does a great job screening every joint service member
that will enter any AOR. Deployment briefs that troopers need are conveniently done in one location by numerous organizations that range from legal resources, family readiness group guidance, chaplain services, Military One Source and even spouse support programs.
Once a service member and their team have transitioned into the CENTCOM AOR, they
are then integrated into other units while supporting them with critical C4I assets. After four
months of being downrange, service members look forward to return to the United State as a
combined unit - each team with different experiences and more knowledge than before. Teams
get to experience the final phase of deployment when they return to MacDill. They look forward
to seeing familiar faces from 3JCS and possibly even seeing a sign created for them by a loved
one.
To those of us in a military community, this is our world. This is just another day at the office.
For 3JCS, this is the reason we train, and it is that for which our families prepare. This is our
way of life.
pacific rim
From Page 18
JCSS; yet these communication experts are eager to work closely with the medical and civil assistance teams to provide connectivity across the full range of civic action projects for the duration of
the mission. By providing this direct support, the JCSE team will see firsthand how the expertise
they bring to the mission enhances interoperability and maintains open lines of communication
at each site.
“Like many of my teammates this is a new experience but I can’t wait to provide the handson, tactical support. It’s something I enjoy doing,” said JCSE member, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt.
Dorsey Wade.
The JCSE team eagerly awaits arrival in Samoa, the mission’s first destination, and is looking forward to demonstrating their ability to provide mission-critical support to PP13. Deploying
in support of this disaster-response preparedness mission is an incredible opportunity for these
members who are excited to contribute to this great cause and further strengthen the communications skill sets they bring to the joint force.
MACDILL COMMUNITY
EVENTS
Friday
Career Fair - Youth Center
Noon – 3 p.m. More than 50
companies will be participating.
Dress professionally & bring resumes. Call A&FRC at 828-0145
for more information.
EFMP Parent Support Meeting
- Airman & Family Readiness
1 p.m.-2 p.m., 8105 Condor Rd,
Bldg 18 (next to Post Office)
SeaScapes Beach House
Friday Bash. 4-8 p.m. Bar
snacks and drink specials. Guaranteed $100 club card winner, Bar
Bingo - $1,000 jackpot, Trivia and
DJ.
Family Fun Night. Fun starts
at 5 p.m. Food and drink specials.
$2-and-under menu items for kids.
Kid’s activities. Free ice cream
sundae bar (peanut free) with all
meals.
Saturday
MacDill Lanes
(Every third Saturday) Famarama Bowling, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., kids
bowl for $1 a game. Food specials:
burgers, New York pizza, Lucky
Dogs, rootbeer floats, vanilla milk
shakes, chocolate sundaes. 8284005.
Graphic by Senior Airman Adam Grant
Sunday
Club Member Appreciation
Day
At the Bay Palms Golf Complex,
club members enjoy free golf and
cart. Must show valid club card
upon check-in at Pro Shop. Call
840-6904.
Wednesday-Saturday
SeaScapes Summer Nights
Open 4-9 p.m. Evening dinner
specials. Come relax and enjoy the
view.
CHAPEL SCHEDULE
Protestant services
Sunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary Service
Islamic services
Friday - 1:30 p.m. - Muslim Prayer Service
Catholic services
Saturday - 5:30 p.m. - Mass
Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass
Call the chapel at 828-3621 for more information or visit the chapel web site
at http://www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel.
BRIEFS
Museum of Science and Industry
military appreciation
Through Labor Day military members can get
into the Tampa Museum of Science and Industry’s permanent exhibits for free. Anyone with
a military ID (active or retired) and dependents can visit http://www.mosi.org/plan-yourvisit/special-offers.aspx for more information.
Tinker summer closing
Tinker Elementary will be closed during the
summer, reopening July 29. Hours of registration will be Monday through Thursday from
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30
p.m. until Aug. 9. Monday-Friday operations
will resume Aug. 12.
Commissary will close Mondays
The commissary will close on Mondays
through Sept. 30 as a result of furloughs because of sequestration. Other days of operation remain Tuesday through Sunday.
MARC book club meetings
The MacDill Area Resilience Center Book
Club had an enthusiastic showing last meeting. “Calico Joe” was selected as the club’s
first month’s read. It can be downloaded to an
e-reader for free from the base library. Next
meeting will be at 5 p.m. on July 25 and we’ll
discuss the first month’s novel. “Joe” is a father-son reconciliation novel that centers on
baseball in the early 1970’s, so next meeting
will have a baseball theme. Wear a favorite
jersey or cap, and enjoy ball park goodies. For
more information, contact Lt. Col. Rachelle
Nowlin at [email protected] or 827-9529.
Critical Days of Summer
The Critical Days of Summer are in full
swing. The MacDill Safety Office has a goal
of being “safe ‘n sound—all year ‘round.” Work
center briefs about numerous topics and
driving under the influence will take place
throughout from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
PCSing overseas with a pet?
The veterinary clinic needs to evaluate your
pet at least six months before you change to
an overseas duty station. Some countries require extra shots, vaccinations and a special
tracking chip that the veterinary clinic must
sign off on before your pet can travel with you
overseas. Please do not wait until the last minute to have your pet checked out, because your
pet will not be allowed to travel with you. For
more information call 828-3558 or 828-3559.
Visit the official MacDill Air Force Base website at www.macdill.af.mil