Vol. 41, No. 24 Thursday, June 13, 2013

Photo by Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell

Airman 1st Class Irina Velanovich, 6th Comptroller Squadron customer service technician, and Tech. Sgt. Juanna McWilliams, 6th CPTS NCO in charge of budget analysis, install window insulation during a Habitat for Humanity build in Seminole, June 2.

MacDill Airmen helping their community - page 12

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 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, Thursdays 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 recording service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or com-ments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or email macdillwingcom-mander@us.af.mil.

To view Col. Scott DeThomas’ re-marks 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.

Commander’s vision

Of symbolism and ‘zero tolerance’

Col. Scott DeThomas

Last month, one week after arriving in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility for his first combat deployment, Airman 1st Class Nathan Rajzer, 99th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, performed emergency pressure refueling for a flight of A-10s. Due to

his calm, steady performance under a stressful situation, the A-10s were able to complete their refueling in a timely manner and pro-vide close air support to coalition troops, who were engaged in lethal crossfire with enemy forces.

6th Air Mobility Wing shout-outs

by Col. Scott DeThomas6th Air Mobility Wing commander

This week we celebrate Flag Day, June 14. Originally developed to celebrate the birth of our nation’s flag, it has grown into a national day of recognition that dates back to Presi-dent Truman’s official signing of the Act of Congress in 1949 that designated 14 June as National Flag Day. Most Americans take great pride in the symbolism that emanates from “Old Glory” as she waves from the porches of homes or the hands of our nation’s heroes. For me personally, the flag is the highest ele-ment of symbolism that men and women who serve our nation represent. Of course, we have other symbols of service in the military.

The uniforms of our military services al-ways provide a symbol of the men and women who chose service before self. They represent a unique segment of society that volunteered to serve their nation and the sacrifices that they and their loved ones make in the name of

that service. Our neighbors outside our gates are proud of their service men and women that MacDill represents and often look to the uniform as reassurance that they are safe knowing that those of us in uniform are pro-tecting their freedoms.

Raising our right hand and taking the oath of enlistment or commission is another symbol of the profession of arms. The concept of serving “freely and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion” along with swearing to defend our Constitution “against all enemies, foreign and domestic” are two areas of the oath that ring true in all we do. They are key differences that separate the United States military from all other militar-ies in the world.

These symbols remind us of the impor-tance and value of our service but also of the responsibility that comes with it. Whenever any one of us fails in that in that responsibil-

See CORNER, Page 22

by Col. Rob Rocco6th Medical Group commander

Ever since I was a kid, every time there was a TV close-up of a pro-athlete scor-ing a touchdown or hitting a homerun, he almost always looked into the camera, smiled, waved and yelled, “Hi mom!” While I certainly un-derstood his desire to let his mom know he was thinking about her, I always wondered why he didn’t say, “Hi dad.”

Sure, mom was there at every game, made great sand-wiches for lunch and gave great hugs after fumbles or strikeouts. But to be honest, dad really drew the short straw here. After all, it was probably dad who took him to get his first baseball glove and dad who spent the ex-tra money to get that sweet baseball bat (the really cool, expensive one).

I betcha’ it was his dad who played catch with him late into the evening (even after a 12-hour shift) and come to think of it, it was his dad who taught him to swing a bat, how to catch a football and how to knock down a three-pointer to win the backyard NBA Championship about 200 times.

Here at home, I’m think-ing while you were “Hi mom-ing,” it was probably dad who taught you how to drive, helped coach the team, line the field, mow the infield and then take the team for burgers afterwards even though everyone knew all the team moms expected their boys home to eat something healthier and less fattening.

So this Father’s Day guys, when you hit the game win-ning shot, score a touchdown, or make a shoestring diving catch to win a playoff game, just this once, say “Hi dad.” And then later, when no one’s

watching, thank him for in-stilling in you the importance of loving and honoring your mom and for reminding you to shout “hi mom” when you actually do hit a game win-ning three-pointer, score a touchdown or knock in the winning run.

We love you mom, but this week our hats are off to dad. “Happy Father’s Day, pop, and if you don’t mind, can I bor-row the keys to the car?”

Your T-bolt TodayWeek in photos: page 4 Images from MacDill

NEWS/FEATURES

News/Features: page 21 Events, Chapel, more...

Commentary

News/Features: page 12 Airmen helping community

Dear Wing Ma’am, I just got home safe after a long deploy-

ment to my wife and kids. This is by no means my first rodeo and

I thank God that my wife is so incredibly strong and puts up with me. Coming back from this deployment was very different. It’s just not the same. There is definitely more strain on our relationship this time around.

She seems more angry with me and, it’s strange to say, after many years of marriage it’s like we were strangers after I got back. What is going on and please help me figure out how to fix it? ~Half-Hearted Hero

Dear Half-Hearted Hero,Re-establishing the bonds at home after a deployment is not an easy

thing. The joys of the initial homecoming are quickly followed by the chal-

lenges of readjusting to being together. The dynamics between couples may take some time to equalize. Recognize that reintegration can be a turbulent time for everyone in a military family and that it can be dif-ferent for each military couple.

Some couples experience a honeymoon phase followed by a rocky period. Remember, you are both adjusting to each other. Expect that it can take two to three months to readapt, so take some time to get to know each other and don’t rush. The physical relationship may re-sume, however intimacy takes longer to restore. Make sure you are taking time to tend to the relationship. Try to communicate more with your spouse.

It’s just not the same

Dear Wing Ma’am is written by Capt. Christy Cruz, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Wing Ma’am works as the Family Advocacy officer and clinical therapist at MacDill AFB. If you

want to ask Wing Ma’am for advice, please send your questions to 6MDOS.sgoh@us.af.mil. Let-ters are kept anonymous. Rights are reserved to edit published letters for style and length.

Not every question can be answered. This col-umn seeks to educate readers and should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional assistance.

See Wing MA’AM, Page 18

From Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Mazzone, 6th AMW command chief

Several Airmen informed me that I am wearing an unauthorized device on my BMT Honor Graduate Ribbon in my official photo. The device belongs on the Marksmanship Ribbon next to it. While the story involves a quick PCS, an oversight by the manufac-turer, and a couple of tornados, the responsi-bility is all mine. I apologize for any misrep-resentation, as that was never my intent. I assure you it is being corrected, and I appre-ciate those of you looking out for me.

Col. Rob Rocco

Hats off to dad

WEEK IN PHOTOS

(Above) Tech. Sgt. Robert Zehr, 6th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape special-ist, speaks to honorary commanders for the 927th Air Re-fueling Wing and 6th Air Mobility Wing about survival skills during a tour of MacDill Air Force Base, June 7. (Right) Air-men from the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron execute drill movement dress-right-dress during an open ranks in-spection at MacDill, May 31. The 6th LRS holds open-ranks inspections to ensure personnel meet standards of dress and appearance.

(Left) Senior Airman Curtis Jones, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operator, dribbles past a defender during an intramural soccer game at MacDill Air Force Base, June 5. The 6th LRS beat the 49th Material Maintenance Support Squadron 2-1. (Above) Airmen from MacDill attend “Sex Sig-nals,” an interactive improvisation show, June 7. The show will give Airmen across MacDill the op-portunity to better understand the importance the Air Force has placed on sexual assault prevention.

Photo by Senior Airman Melissa Paradise

Photo by Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell

Photo by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly

Photo by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly

by Staff Sgt. Joshua Midla6th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations

There I was, an airman thinking I was going on a normal Air Force deployment—normally a couple weeks of training and then four to six months in theater.

Usually we are grouped with a few other Airmen in the same career field and everyone is doing their normal job. A provincial reconstruction team’s mission is the exact opposite of this.

For me and another Airman, our tour started with about five months of pre-deployment training. Two months of that training was job specific, in our case it was vehicle mechanics. It gave us a basic understanding for the up-armored vehicles that we would be maintaining and operating.

The next three months were spent learning the essentials for the sec-ondary duties of combat skills training with the Army that we might have had to perform in country.

Next was the deployment itself.Unlike a regular tour on an actual base, a PRT mission consists of be-

ing located within an Afghan providence, in the middle of the city on a forward operating base the size of a football field. There, many branches of the armed forces are found working together as one to support the hu-manitarian effort of the providence and the mission of “winning hearts and minds.”

This sometimes consisted of multiple ‘outside the wire’ missions meet-

‘There I was…’NEWS/FEATURES

Courtesy photo

Staff Sgt. Joshua Midla during his deployment as a member of a provin-cial reconstruction team at a forward operating base.

See ‘THERE I WAS...’, Page 18

Settlement of estate

Col. Elizabeth Decker, 6th Medical Operations Squad-ron commander, re-grets to announce the death of Staff Sgt. Cheryl West-brook, formerly as-signed to the 6th Medical Group. Capt. Shelly Shildt has been appointed as the summary court officer to han-dle the disposition of the personal prop-erty of Westbrook. Anyone indebted to or having a claim against the estate of Westbrook should contact Shildt at 827-9755 or (321) 544-3574.

“God’s Backyard Bible Camp under the Sun,” a vacation Bible school, runs June 24 through 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the base Chapel. All Pre-K through 8th graders are invited. Our ecu-menical VBS will in-clude classroom Bible activity, music, recre-ation, crafts and re-freshments.

Registration is weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., or online via the Cha-pel website: www.macdill.af.mil/macdill-chapel/. This is a free program sponsored by the MacDill Chapel Community. For more information, call Di-ane Baggerly or Cathy Lavelle at 828-3621.

Chapel vacation Bible school

by Senior Airman Michael Ellis6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

“We’re streamlining processes and becoming more efficient in order to show that we’re be-ing good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars,” said Master Sgt. Marcus Watson, Diner’s Reef Din-ing Facility manager.

Commencing June 17, customers will note changes in operational hours.

While hours are being slightly reduced, the quality of service will remain intact, according to Senior Master Sgt. Deb Parsons, 6th Force Support Squadron food service superinten-dent.

“The facility remains open to all base per-sonnel and guests, and our customers do not pay a surcharge or tax on their meal purchase,” Parsons said.

Diner’s Reef recently expanded its menu op-tions and seating capacity. The approximately 350-seat facility currently serves more than 277,000 meals annually. Grab-n-Go options such as sandwiches and salads are available between the daytime meals for anybody who cannot dine during the established breakfast,

lunch and dinner hours.In addition to a change in hours, Air-Force

wide facilities will no longer have a bus staff to clear tables after customers dine.

Watson added, referencing the necessary changes considering funding constraints, “Overall, we want to minimize waste and the impact to customers.”

New hours of operation will be:Monday - Friday Breakfast: 6 – 9 a.m.Grab-n-Go: 9 – 10:30 a.m. Lunch: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Grab-n-Go: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.Dinner: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.Grab-n-Go: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.Midnight meal: 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Weekends/Holidays/Wing down daysBreakfast: 6 – 8:30 a.m. Grab-n-Go: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.Lunch: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Grab-n-Go: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Dinner: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.Midnight meal: 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

NEWS/FEATURESBudget cuts equal changes in food services on MacDill

Airmen from MacDill Air Force Base with Jean Nkomeje, new homeowner, during a Habitat for Humanity build in Seminole, June 2. Twelve Airmen from MacDill dedicated seven hours to the build.

Senior Airman Brandon Armagost, 49th Material Maintenance Support Squadron fuel support equipment technician, saws roofing materials during a Habitat for Humanity build in Semi-nole, June 2. Habitat for Humanity helps low-income families build and buy their own homes. Families must meet certain in-come requirements and be willing to perform sweat equity to help build their own homes and the homes of others.

Airmen from MacDill Air Force Base assist during a Habitat for Humanity build for a new hom-eowner in Seminole, June 2. Twelve Airmen from MacDill dedicated seven hours to the build.

story and photos by Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to help low-income families, like Jean Nkomeje, build and buy their own homes at a no-prof-it price with the help of volunteers. Nkomeje and his family were brought to the United States from Rwanda through the United Nations eight years ago. Nkomeje spoke only his native language, French, when he ar-rived. He and his family spent five years in Cleveland before moving to Florida. In order for Nkomeje to have a home built he had to meet certain income require-ments and be willing to perform sweat equity to help build his home and the homes of others. He also had to attend budgeting workshops designed to help him become a more successful homeowner.

Airmen in the communityHabitat for Humanity build

Airmen from MacDill Air Force Base with Jean Nkomeje, new homeowner, during a Habitat for Humanity build in Seminole, June 2. Twelve Airmen from MacDill dedicated seven hours to the build.

Staff Sgt. Peter Flores, 6th Air Mobility Wing chapel assistant, staples insulation to a house’s framework during a Habitat for Humanity build in Seminole, June 2.

Airmen from MacDill Air Force Base assist during a Habitat for Humanity build for a new hom-eowner in Seminole, June 2. Twelve Airmen from MacDill dedicated seven hours to the build.

by Capt. Brian Gonyou6th Medical Operations Squadron

The 6th Medical Group continues to enhance current medical special-ties and add new ancillary services for military beneficiaries.

In view of today’s tightened fiscal environment and budgetary restric-tions, an allergy and immunology clinic was recently added to the large list of clinical services we have to offer. The MacDill Air Force Base allergy clinic opened its doors May 1 and is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and management of a wide array of allergies.

With the mild winter weather conditions and many outdoors activi-ties here in Florida, the local population is inundated with more than favorable conditions that produce high allergic symptoms and reactions. The allergy clinic will provide care for patients with many conditions to include bee, wasp, grass, cat, house dust mite allergies, and many envi-ronmental allergens.

Patient education for house dust mite elimination and self-administra-tion of epinephrine will also be offered. Injections for desensitization of patients with these and many more allergies could prove beneficial to the

near elimination of symptoms over time. Allergies may have been a problem for you since you were young or

you may have developed them over the years. For many people allergies are a minor nuisance, but for others they can be debilitating or even life threatening. Our goal is to provide the MacDill community with a more comprehensive and timely solution to their allergy problems.

Consultative services are provided for patients with allergic condi-tions such as anaphylaxis (potentially life threatening allergic reaction), asthma, drug allergies and eczema, just to name a few. If something is making you sneeze, itch, flare up, puff up, grumble, groan or just not feel as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as you should, an allergy or intolerance could be the culprit.

Our mission is to provide you with the best possible health care to im-prove your quality of life. To be seen in the allergy clinic all it takes is a referral from your primary care manager.

Call the clinic at 828-CARE (2273) to make an appointment and dis-cuss your symptoms with your provider. The allergy clinic is co-located with the immunizations clinic on the first floor of the Medical Group and its hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Medical group adds new clinic services for allergy sufferers

by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

“I never would have imagined that I would spend my Mother’s Day with all four of my children at a funeral home with one in a coffin.”

That was the vivid picture Renne Napier, mother of the late Meagen Napier, painted during an alcohol awareness briefing held at MacDill Air Force Base May 31.

Almost 11 years ago to the day, Meagan Napier and her friend Lisa Jo Dickson were killed by drunken driver Eric Smallridge as they headed home. Shortly after, Renne Napier made it her life’s mission to prevent more unnecessary deaths like that of Meagan’s.

As the message continued, Renee made sure that each of the more than 500 individuals in the standing-room-only theater knew that the impact

Mother of DUI victim brings story to MacDill

See DUI, Page 16

Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro

Renne Napier, mother of the late Meagen Napier, addresses the crowd at the MacDill base theater.

Heat Cramps: Less severe than heat illnesses, but an

early sign that trouble is on the way. You may notice muscular pains and spasms.

Heat Exhaustion: It typically occurs when people exercise

heavily or work in hot, humid conditions, where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to skin increases in an effort to cool, but blood flow to vital organs decreases. If not treated, the victim may suf-fer heat stroke

Heat Stroke: This is when the body’s temperature con-

trol system stops working; body tempera-ture can rise so high it causes brain damage or death.

Heat stroke is life threatening

of one selfish decision impacted so many. Midway through the presentation, and to the

surprise of many, Eric Smallridge emerged from the crowd and took the stage.

“Every day I ask God why I wasn’t the one to die instead of them,” Smallridge said with deep emotion. “If only I could trade places with them so they could realize the great lives they should have had, but I can’t and they can’t, and I will live with that reality every single day the rest of my life.”

Smallridge made it clear to the audience that no matter what the circumstances—peer-pres-sure, bad judgment, or not wanting to leave your vehicle overnight, driving under the influence should never be an option. Asking a sober friend or taking a taxi is a much better decision than ending up killing someone and being renamed Inmate P22679, he said.

Napier and Smallridge ended by asking ev-eryone in the audience to take two pledges—one never to drive if you have been drinking, or to get into a car with a driver that has been drinking. The second pledge was to spread the message of the devastating consequences of driving under the influence.

DUIFrom Page 14

Yes, that means talk about your feelings. Expect some feelings of anger, insecurity, abandonment, happi-ness and love. Invest in spending some one-on-one time together. Be observant of the tasks she did while you were gone and avoid power struggles over money, chores and parenting.

If your relation-ship continues to be strained, seek guid-ance from a neu-tral third party like the Military Fam-ily Life Consultants (426-4145/731-6133), Chaplain Services (828-3621) or Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647).

WING MA’AMFrom Page 3

ing the locals, delivering needed goods to the community and transfer-ring supplies.

Back on base, we sometimes found ourselves doing a wide variety of tasks that we never imagined we would do. Normally I am a vehicle mechanic, so I figured that my job would be maintaining mission ve-hicles and seeing that they were prepared for any instance. That wasn’t the case—a couple of us were usually maintaining a $2 million surveil-lance camera, performing roaming security patrols within our FOB, and guarding the FOB during 8-hour shifts while everyone else was asleep.

We found time for our camaraderie, though, assembling card tourna-ments, playing board games and playing basketball. Any other free time was spent sleeping, talking with family and going to the gym. Everyone seemed to get along fairly well between the services, especially for as much time as we had spent together. We all seemed to get even a little closer after a group of our Army security forces was hit by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device outside the wire on a walking mission.

All in all, the deployment itself was a great experience. I learned a lot of new skills—some that were put to use and some that were not—but it was still fun to have been given the chance to learn. My time was filled with good moments and great friends—some that I will never forget. Yes, at some points I wished that it would all just be over and we could just go home, but I wouldn’t change the time that I gave and served on my deployment.

‘THERE I WAS...’From Page 6

MACDILL COMMUNITYEVENTS

FridaySeaScapes Beach House

Friday Bash from 4-8 p.m. Bar snacks and drink specials. Guar-anteed $100 club card drawing, Bar Bingo - $1,000 jackpot, Trivia and DJ.

Family Fun NightFun starts at 5 p.m. Food and

drink specials; $2-and-under menu items for kids; kids activi-ties; free ice cream sundae bar (peanut free) with all meals.

Airman & Family Readiness Center

Deployed Family Event from 6-8 p.m. at United Skates of America. Please RSVP call 828-0145 or 655-9281.

MacDill LanesClub Member Appreciation

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

SaturdayMacDill Lanes

Father/Child Tournament at 3 p.m. $15 Entry. Baker format where the child throws every odd # frame, Dad every even # frame for three games.

TuesdayYouth Center

Ronald McDonald kicks off the library’s Children’s Summer Reading Program at 10:30 a.m. “Have Book, Will Travel.”

Tuesday-SaturdayMacDill Lanes

Father’s Day Week – Dad bowls free until 6 p.m., when bowling with his child. Child pays $1 a game and $1 for shoes.

Protestant servicesSunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary Service

Islamic servicesFriday - 1:30 p.m. - Muslim Prayer Service

Catholic servicesSaturday - 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 siteat http://www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel.

CHAPEL SCHEDULE

Photo by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly

Family and friends of Team MacDill paint pictures of characters during a military appreciation event hosted by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service at MacDill Air Force Base May 29. During the event there were activities such as painting, music and a culinary display.

ity, that failure invites deeper reflection by all of us. And so, another event will join Flag Day on our calendars this month: the Secretary of Defense has ordered a Sexual Assault Stand-Down Day to address the acceleration of this crime within the armed services. As I reflect on our cherished symbols of military service in light of these sexual assaults, I can’t help thinking about the true meaning of the words in our oath of office “against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Often times, there are two clear and distinct sides of a conflict, the good and the bad, and we immediately associate the bad side as the enemy side. Other times, though, the enemies we face are not so quickly recognized.

How would you characterize, for example, those of our fellow service members behind the rising number— 60 percent by some estimates—of sexual assaults against other service members? Or how would you describe our own brothers and sisters in arms who have not ensured zero tolerance means zero tolerance with regard to sexual assault? In addition to the outright betrayal and incredible pain they’ve intro-duced into the lives of their victims, military sexual assailants and those who’ve tolerated their actions have undermined our combat capability. Thanks to their traitorous attacks on their fellow fighters, America’s military personnel must now divide their personal energy, attention and effort between enemies without and enemies within.

That’s no way to win wars. After all, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”.

These attacks are destroying the lives of our teammates and tar-nishing cherished symbols of military service that you and our for-bearers have polished for more than two centuries of honorable ser-vice.

They must come to an end, and we are the ones to bring that end about. It starts with men and women embracing the concept of zero tolerance meaning zero tolerance. It starts with those who see others exhibiting behavior that could lead to sexual assault and putting a stop to it, simply because it’s the right thing to do. It starts with lead-ers and followers having the moral courage to intervene when neces-sary to stop behavior that contributes to or fosters an environment that is tolerant of improper behavior.

Each of you has a role in setting those conditions that allow our ser-vice men and women to serve without fear. These conditions are set by leaders and supervisors at all ranks. The conditions are also set by fol-lowers who cultivate respect and trust as critical elements of our mili-tary that are not compromised at any level. Only then will we elimi-nate this scourge that threatens our people, our warfighting capability and the treasured symbols of our great nation.

CORNERFrom Page 2