Vol. 42, No. 5 Thursday, January 30, 2014

News/Features: page 3History of USCENTCOM

News/Features: page 10Exercise build teamwork

News/Features: page 4CrossFit: fighting form

News/Features: page 8NCAA honoring Airman

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

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Keen

Aerographer’s mates 3rd Class Joshua Smart and 2nd Class Duston Brashears, both assigned to Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center, Stennis Space Center Mississippi, lift an unmanned underwater vehicle out of the ocean following a mine training exercise during the Interna-tional Mine Countermeasures Exercise 13. IMCMEX includes navies from more than 40 countries. More photos, page 10.

USCENTCOM special edition - begins page 3

by Sgt. Fredrick J. ColemanU.S. Central Command

Citizens from more than 80 countries died Sept. 11, 2001 - innocent men, women and children from across the globe. Within hours of the tragedy, coalitions involving many na-tions assembled to fight terrorism — literally hundreds of countries have contributed in a variety of ways — some militarily, others dip-lomatically, economically and financially. Some nations have helped openly; others prefer not to disclose their contributions.

The United States began building the co-alition on Sept. 12, 2001, and there are cur-rently 50 nations supporting the global war on terrorism. To date, 21 nations have deployed more than 16,000 troops to the U.S. Central Command region of responsibility. This coali-tion of the willing is working hard every day to defeat terrorism, wherever it may exist.

In Afghanistan alone, our coalition partners are contributing nearly 8,000 troops to Op-eration Enduring Freedom and to the Inter-national Security Assistance Force in Kabul - making up over half of the 15,000 non-Afghan

forces in Afghanistan. The war against terror-ism is a broad-based effort that will take time. Every nation has different circumstances and will participate in different ways. This mission and future missions will require a series of co-alitions ready to take on the challenges and assume the risks associated with such an op-eration.

Coalition forces have made important con-

tributions in the war against terrorism across the spectrum of operations. Particular contri-butions include, but are not limited to, provid-ing vital intelligence, personnel, equipment and assets for use on the ground, air and sea. Coalition members also have provided liai-son teams, participated in planning, provided bases and granted over-flight permissions - as

MacDill ThunderboltPublisher: Bill BarkerEditor: Nick Stubbs

The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt Newspa-pers, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S.

government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, includ-ing inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Mobility Wing or Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., of the products or service advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

Display advertising or classified advertising information

may be obtained by calling (813) 259-7455. News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted

to the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, 8208 Hangar Loop Dr., suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621, or call the MacDill Thunderbolt staff at 828-2215. Email: thunder.bolt@us.af.mil.

Deadline for article submissions is noon, Wednesdays to appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions are considered for publication based on news value and time-liness.

Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.

COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE

The Action Line provides two-way communication between the 6th Air Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. A 24-hour record-ing service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or email macdillwing-commander@us.af.mil.

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MacDill on the web

Countries united against terrorism

See COALITION, Page 9

Have news? Send it to the MacDill Thunderbolt at thunder.bolt@us.af.mil

USCENTCOM photo by Sgt. Fredrick J. Coleman, USMC

International military members from more than 50 countries make up the U.S. Central Command Coalition.

NEWS/FEATURES

by Sgt. Fredrick ColemanU.S. Central Command

Charris A. James was awarded a Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award Dec. 10, an award given by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for her continu-ous service as the chief of resources management at U.S. Central Command’s Re-sources and Analysis Directorate.

As chief of resources management, James is responsible for ensuring personnel, equipment and finances for the directorate are in order. James, an Omaha, Neb., native, started contributing to the command as an intern and was later hired full time in June 1994. James was the only member of Headquarters U.S. Central Command to receive the award in 2013.

CENTCOM civilian earns recognition from chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

NEWS/FEATURESCompiled by U.S. Central Command Historian Office

United States Central Command was established Jan. 1, 1983. As its name implies, CENTCOM covers the “central” area of the globe locat-ed between the European and Pa-cific Commands. When the hostage crisis in Iran and the Soviet inva-sion of Afghanistan underlined the need to strengthen U.S. interests in the region, President Jimmy Carter established the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force in March 1980. To provide a stronger, more lasting so-lution in the region, President Ron-ald Reagan took steps to transform the RDJTF into a permanent uni-fied command over a two-year pe-riod. The first step was to make the RDJTF independent of U.S. Readi-ness Command, followed by the ac-tivation of CENTCOM in January 1983. Overcoming skeptical percep-tions that the command was still an RDJTF in all but name, designed to support a Cold War strategy, took time. The Iran-Iraq war clearly un-derlined the growing tensions in the region, and developments such as Iranian mining operations in the Persian Gulf led to CENTCOM’s first combat operations.

By late 1988, the regional strategy still largely focused on the potential threat of a massive Soviet invasion of Iran. The new CENTCOM Com-mander-in-Chief, General H. Nor-man Schwarzkopf, was convinced that the changing international climate made this scenario far less likely. He began to focus his atten-tion on the possible emergence of a new regional threat--Iraq’s Saddam Hussein--and translated these con-cerns into the summer 1990 com-mand post exercise Internal Look. There was an eerie similarity be-tween the exercise scripts and the real-world movement of Iraqi forces which culminated in Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait during the final days of the exercise. U.S. President George Bush responded quickly. A timely deployment of forces and the for-mation of a coalition deterred Iraq from invading Saudi Arabia, and the command began to focus on the liberation of Kuwait. The buildup of forces continued, reinforced by U.N. Security Council Resolution 678, which called for Iraqi forces to leave Kuwait. On January 17, 1991, U.S. and coalition forces launched Operation Desert Storm with a massive air interdiction campaign, which prepared the theater for a co-

alition ground assault. The primary coalition objective, the liberation of Kuwait, was achieved on February 27, and the next morning a cease-fire was declared, just one hundred hours after the commencement of the ground campaign.

The end of formal hostilities did not bring the end of difficulties with Iraq. Operation Provide Comfort, implemented to provide humani-tarian assistance to the Kurds and enforce a “no-fly”zone in Iraq, north of the 36th parallel, began in April 1991. In August 1992, Operation Southern Watch began in response

to Saddam’s noncompliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 688 condemning his brutal repres-sion of Iraqi civilians in southeast-ern Iraq. Under the command and control of Joint Task Force South-west Asia, coalition forces in this operation enforced a no-fly zone south of the 32nd parallel. In Jan. 1997, Operation Northern Watch replaced Provide Comfort, focusing on enforcing the northern no-fly zone. Throughout the decade, CEN-TCOM operations such as Vigilant

U.S. Central Command headquarters, MacDill Air Force Base

See CENTCOM, Page 16

The history of U.S. Central Command

(USCENTCOM photo by Sgt. Fredrick J. Coleman, USMC)

Charris A. James holds her Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award

story and photos by Sgt. Fredrick J. ColemanU.S. Central Command

As the afternoon approaches at U.S. Central Command, the air begins to fill with sounds of rubber weights and medi-cine balls striking the ground followed by the groans of pain as the last repetitions are completed during the workout.

Members of USCENTCOM who take part in CENTCOM CrossFit, one of two CrossFit military affiliates aboard Mac-Dill Air Force Base, gather daily to con-duct a variety of exercises designed to in-crease strength and endurance.

“CrossFit is very universal in nature,” said Melissa Santoni, an instructor for CENTCOM CrossFit. “The workouts can be scaled to strength and skill level al-lowing anyone who’s interested to get in-volved.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve been work-ing out for one day or 10 years, when you workout with us, all we ask is that you give everything you have and continue to get better.”

No workouts will ever be the same in a workout week. The program is designed to keep your body guessing, said Santo-ni. As a result your body works harder to keep up with the varying workouts and prevents plateauing, or reaching a point in which the gains in strength and endur-ance stop.

Workouts conducted by the CENTCOM CrossFit are derived from the daily work-outs posted CrossFit headquarters web-site.

CENTCOM CrossFit keeps bodies in shapeNEWS/FEATURES

(Far left) Gunnery Sgt. Zebulon Ping completes lunges with a 45-pound plate over his head during a workout a CrossFit CEN-TCOM. (Left) Au-gustine Rodriguez completes the fi-nal repetitions of kettle bell swings during a CrossFit CENTCOM work-out.

Edwin Melendez completes burpees while Gunnery Sgt. Zebulon Ping completes kettle bell swings during a team exercise with CrossFit CENTCOM.

Attention all Army officersAt the direction of the Chief of Staff of the Army, all Army Officers must be trained on the

revised Officer Evaluation Report and Reporting System to be implemented Army-wide April 1. A Mobile Training Team from the Army Human Resources Command will conduct this train-ing at the MacDill Air Force Base Theater from Tuesday, Feb. 4 to Thursday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Officers of other services and DoD Civilians who rate or senior rate Army officers are also strongly encouraged to attend this training. For more information, contact Sgt. Vartanian at 529-1084.

Free tax helpThe Retiree Activities Office’s tax season has begun. Free filing assistance on a walk-in basis

is available any day between Feb. 3 and April 15 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day except holidays. The RAO office is right next to the Commissary. Personnel in uniform will be accom-modated any week day between 8:30-11 a.m. The RAO number for any other information is 828-4555.

Strawberry Festival free for military, vetsThe Florida Strawberry Festival scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, is free for all active, re-

serve, retired military, veterans, law enforcement and first responders with a valid ID.

BRIEFS

Be sure to visit www.macdill.af.mil

NEWS/FEATURESby Sgt. Fredrick J. ColemanU.S. Central Command

The NCAA will honor a U.S. Central Com-mand Airman for his contributions during and after his time as a student athlete.

Air Force Capt. Kenneth Corigliano, a mem-ber of USCENTCOM’s Joint Intelligence Cen-ter, has earned a place on the NCAA Division II 40th Anniversary Team, an honor given to only 48 prior D-II athletes.

Corigliano, a native of Bradenton, Fla., at-tended St. Leo’s University in St. Leo, Fla., where he graduated in 2006, the same year he earned his commission in the Air Force. Dur-ing his time at St. Leo, he became a member of the school’s cross-country and swim teams in preparation for the physical demands of be-coming a military officer. Although he never earned conference honors as an athlete, he was recognized as Athlete of the Year for the school in 2006.

In addition to the recognition he earned as an athlete, Corigliano earned academic honors as well. He earned a fellowship with former Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, as an inaugural fellow during the Base Realignment and Clo-sure Program.

Corigliano became an intelligence officer following his commissioning in 2006. Corigli-ano’s success in the Air Force hasn’t come easy. His path to where he is now took an unexpect-ed detour in 2011. Corigliano’s life changed forever while riding his bike on a two-lane highway to Sarasota to visit a friend work-ing at a hospital, he said. While he was rid-ing on the bike path, a motorist didn’t see him on his bike and hit him in a head-on collision. Corigliano said his anticipation of what could

happen leading up to the accident is probably what saved his life.

“I was doing everything right that I could possibly do. I rode in the bike lane and had all my protective equipment on. I think the only thing that saved my life was my helmet,” he said. “I could see the car that eventually hit me, through the windshield of another car and started to apply brakes. The next thing I

know, I crashed head first through the wind-shield, and my bike was destroyed.” Corigliano suffered two major head injuries during that accident, when he crashed through the wind-shield and when his head hit the ground after the driver stopped, sending him back through the windshield.

As a result of his accident, Corigliano un-

CENTCOM Airmen to be honored by NCAA, tells story of perseverance

USCENTCOM photo by Sgt. Fredrick J. Coleman

Air Force Capt. Kenneth Corigliano, a Bradenton, Fla. native, has earned his place on the NCAA 40 Year Team for his time competing on Florida’s St. Leo University swimming and cross-coun-try teams. Corigliano is a member of U.S. Central Command’s Joint Intelligence Center.

See NCAA, Page 12

well as sizable contributions of humanitarian assistance. Countries represented at USCENTCOM include Afghanistan, Alba-

nia, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hun-gary, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mace-donia, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Singa-pore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Tonga, Tur-key, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Yemen.

COALITIONFrom Page 2

Compiled by U.S. Central Command Public Affairs Office

Exercise Eager Lion and the International Mine Countermea-sures Exercise (IMCMEX) are two of the major exercises con-ducted by U.S. Central Command, in addition to the more than 60 conducted, to enhance partnerships between U.S. forces, inter-national military and other international organizations.

Eager Lion is a multi-national exercise designed to strength-en military-to-military partnerships and enhance security and stability in the region. The exercise conducted in 2013 focused on Integrated Air and Missile Defense, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Regularly scheduled exercises such as Eager Lion allow U.S. forces the opportunity to operate with, contribute to, and learn from their partners, all while promoting long-term peace in the region. It also demonstrated U.S. Central Command’s dedication to the Kingdom of Jordan and regional partners, and the com-bined efforts to sustain regional security and stability.

“Eager Lion is an excellent example of teamwork that brings together military forces and inter-agency partners from around the world,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Catalanotti, director, USCENT-COM Exercises and Training Directorate. “This exercise chal-lenges the participants to respond to realistic, modern-day se-curity scenarios by integrating a variety of disciplines in the air, on land and at sea. Our relationship with Jordan and the 19 partner nations involved in the exercise is built on a foundation of interoperability that brings us closer together and enhances regional stability.”

Eager Lion provided multilateral forces with the opportunity to promote cooperation and interoperability among participating forces, build functional capacity, practice crisis management and enhance readiness. Approximately 5,000 U.S. military personnel from all services participated in last year’s exercise.

The largest exercise of its kind in the region, IMCMEX 13 ex-ercised a wide spectrum of defensive operations designed to pro-tect international commerce and trade, mine countermeasures, maritime security operations and maritime infrastructure pro-tection.

Hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet, IMCMEX 13 was conducted in three phases: a three-day sympo-sium on maritime infrastructure protection, an afloat operations phase, and a re-integration phase where participants discuss best practices and lessons learned for future exercises.

“This multidisciplinary defense exercise is focused on mari-time security for commerce and trade from the port of origin to the port of arrival,” said Commodore Simon Ancona, deputy commander, Combined Maritime Forces, and commander of last year’s International Maritime Exercise Force (IMEF).

Other major exercises scheduled to take place later this year include Eagle Resolve and Regional Cooperation.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Edward R. Guevara Jr.

(Above) U.S. Marine Corps combat engineers assigned to Battalion Landing Team 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct counter improvised explosive device training with the Jordanian Armed Forces during Exercise Eager Lion 2013 in Al Quweira, Jordan, June 12. Exercise Eager Lion 2013 is an annual, multinational exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships and enhance security and stability in the region. (Right from top to bottom) The Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce leads a formation of ships partici-pating in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise. Jordanian Maj. Gen. Awani al Adwan, chairman of the joint task force with the Jordanian army and Maj. Gen. Robert Catalanotti, U.S. Central Command director, Exercises and Training, shake hands after officially beginning Exercise Eager Lion 2013 during a press conference at Amman, Jordan, June 9, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Gray, an Evansville, Ind., native, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear officer in charge assigned to Battalion Landing Team 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducts equipment familiarization with the Jordanian Armed Forces on a chemical agent monitor during Exercise Eager Lion 2013 in Al Quweira, Jordan, June 15, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps combat engineers assigned to Battalion Landing Team 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct counter improvised explosive device training with the Jordanian Armed Forces during Exercise Eager Lion 2013 in Al Quweira, Jordan, June 12, 2013. Capt. Glenn Allen, commander of Task Force 52, speaks to multinational service mem-bers aboard Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce before the start of the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise.

USCENTCOM exercises enhance relationships between U.S, international armed forces

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Edward R. Guevara Jr.

(Above) U.S. Marine Corps combat engineers assigned to Battalion Landing Team 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct counter improvised explosive device training with the Jordanian Armed Forces during Exercise Eager Lion 2013 in Al Quweira, Jordan, June 12. Exercise Eager Lion 2013 is an annual, multinational exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships and enhance security and stability in the region. (Right from top to bottom) The Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce leads a formation of ships partici-pating in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise. Jordanian Maj. Gen. Awani al Adwan, chairman of the joint task force with the Jordanian army and Maj. Gen. Robert Catalanotti, U.S. Central Command director, Exercises and Training, shake hands after officially beginning Exercise Eager Lion 2013 during a press conference at Amman, Jordan, June 9, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Gray, an Evansville, Ind., native, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear officer in charge assigned to Battalion Landing Team 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducts equipment familiarization with the Jordanian Armed Forces on a chemical agent monitor during Exercise Eager Lion 2013 in Al Quweira, Jordan, June 15, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps combat engineers assigned to Battalion Landing Team 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct counter improvised explosive device training with the Jordanian Armed Forces during Exercise Eager Lion 2013 in Al Quweira, Jordan, June 12, 2013. Capt. Glenn Allen, commander of Task Force 52, speaks to multinational service mem-bers aboard Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce before the start of the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise.

Photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Sandberg

Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Scott Griffin

Photo by Marine Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels

Photo by Staff Sgt. Edward R. Guevara Jr.

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Keen

derwent a series of surgeries to remove the pieces of glass and gravel in his body and was recently released from a poly-trauma rehabilitation program, a program for people who have sustained multiple injuries from the same incident that affect more than one organ or system in the body. He still has occasional struggles with memory and dizziness.

His road to recovery is far from over, he said. However, the support he’s received from his family, friends and co-workers has helped relieve some of the stress involved with rehabilitating a head injury. He said his USCENTCOM family has made all the difference in his continued effort to recover from his injuries.

“They don’t treat me any different, but understand the limitations and the process in dealing with major head injuries. They understand when some days are better than others with dizziness and nausea. Yet,

they never made me feel like less of an officer when I have to leave early because I’m not feeling great.”

His accident hasn’t steered him away from his passion of compet-ing in extreme races, such as mud runs and obstacle course races. He volunteers with Hope for the Warriors, an organization established to help post 9/11 military veterans, their families, and the families of fall-en troops who have suffered physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty, according to their Web site, www.hopeforthewarriors.org. He’s coordinated a variety of events with the organization UNation.

Corigliano said he will continue to help service members rehabilitat-ing injuries to adjust to life outside of the hospital after his active-duty tenure in the Air Force. He will use himself as an example of why an injury doesn’t mean you stop doing what you love.

NCAAFrom Page 8

Honoring the fallen Army Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe, U.S. Central Command senior enlisted leader, gives his remarks during the Iraq War Memorial Dedication Ceremony at Hillsborough Memorial Park here Dec. 14. During his remarks, he complimented the residents of Hillsborough County as being the most supportive and patriotic citizens in the country. The event also included remarks from U.S. Special Operations Command Deputy Commander, Army Lt. Gen. John Mulholland; a rifle salute conducted by a local Marine Corps League chapter followed by a rendition of Taps; and a group of Gold Star mothers who read the 190 names of the men and women from Florida, including their own children, who were killed dur-ing Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

Photo by Marine Sgt. Fredrick J. Coleman

Warrior, Vigilant Sentinel, Desert Strike, Desert Thunder (I and II), and Desert Fox responded to threats posed by Iraq to its neighbors or sought to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions in the face of Saddam’s con-tinued intransigence.

The 1990s also brought significant challenges in the east African nation of Somalia as well as from the growing threat of regional terrorism. To prevent widespread starvation in the face of clan warfare, the command responded in 1992 with Operation Provide Relief to supply humanitarian assistance to Somalia and northeastern Kenya. CENTCOM’s Operation Restore Hope supported UNSCR 794 and a multinational Unified Task Force, which provided security until the U.N. created UNOSOM II in May 1993. In spite of some UNOSOM II success in the countryside, the situa-tion in Mogadishu worsened, and a series of violent outbreaks ultimately led President Bill Clinton to order the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Somalia. Throughout the decade following the Gulf War, terrorist attacks had a major impact on CENTCOM forces in the region. Faced with attacks such as the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers, which killed 19 American airmen, the command launched Operation Desert Focus, designed to relo-cate U.S. installations to more defensible locations (such as Prince Sultan Air Base), reduce the U.S. forward “footprint” by eliminating nonessential billets, and return dependents to the United States. In 1998 terrorists attacked the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 250 persons, including 12 Americans. The Oct. 2000 attack on the USS Cole, resulting in the deaths of 17 U.S. sailors, was linked to Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaida organization.

The terrorist attacks on American soil on Sept. 11, 2001, led President George W. Bush to declare a war against international terrorism. CENT-COM soon launched Operation Enduring Freedom to expel the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which was harboring Al Qaida terrorists, hosting terrorist training camps, and repressing the Afghan population.

In the wake of 9-11, the international community found Saddam Hus-sein’s continued lack of cooperation with United Nation Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions regarding weapons of mass destruction unacceptable. Hussein’s continued recalcitrance led the UNSC to authorize the use of force by a U.S.-led coalition. Operation Iraqi Freedom began March 19, 2003.

Following the defeat of both the Taliban regime in Afghanistan (Nov. 9, 2001) and Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq (April 8, 2003), CENT-COM has continued to provide security to the new freely-elected govern-ments in those countries, conducting counterinsurgency operations and assisting host nation security forces to provide for their own defense.

Beginning in Oct. 2002, CENTCOM conducted operations in the Horn of Africa to assist host nations there to combat terrorism, establish a se-cure environment, and foster regional stability. These operations primar-ily took the form of humanitarian assistance, consequence management, and a variety of civic action programs.

The command has also remained poised to provide disaster relief throughout the region, with its most recent significant relief operations in response to the Oct. 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and the large-scale evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon in 2006.

On Oct. 1, 2008, the Department of Defense transferred responsibility for Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Somalia to the newly established Africa Command. Egypt, home to Exercise Bright Star, the Department of Defense’s largest reoccurring military exercise, remained in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility.

CENTCOMFrom Page 3

MACDILL COMMUNITYEVENTSFridaySeaScapes Beach House

Crab Night! 3-8 p.m. The every-day bar menu is also available from 4 p.m. until close. Buckets of... •1# snow crab legs, 1# shrimp $17.50 • 1# snow crab legs, 1/2# shrimp $13.65 • 1# snow crab legs 9.75 • 1# shrimp $9.50 • 1/2# shrimp $6.50 *All portions are served with Old Bay potatoes & corn, melted butter • Pitchers of beer $4.

SaturdayBay Palms Golf Tournament

Two Person Las Vegas Scram-ble, 8 a.m. shotgun start. There are four divisions of men, women, se-niors and mixed. Call Pro Shop to register at 840-6904.

Seascapes Beach HouseSteak-n-Date Night served from

5-8 p.m. Creole seasoned or black-ened rib eye with garlic roasted potatoes, fresh vegetable du jour and crispy French bread and but-ter $15.95. Add a house salad with your choice of dressing $1.95. Ask about our dessert and drink spe-cials.

SundayBoomers Bar & Grill

SUPER BOWL PARTY! Doors open at 4 p.m. Watch the game on the big screens. Food specials, drink specials. grand prize give-away – club members: register to win a 60-inch LG HD flat screen TV. Must be a club member to win. For more info, call 840-2020.

WednesdayValentine’s craft bazaar

Raccoon Creek Pavilion, Bldg. 2017 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Shop for yourself, a friend, or buy your Val-entine a gift.

Protestant serviceSunday - 11 a.m. - Contemporary Service Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - FAMCAMP Service

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

Catholic servicesSaturday - 5:30 p.m. - Mass

Sunday - 9:30 a.m. - Mass

Monday-Wednesday - 12:10 p.m. Mass

Call the chapel at 828-3621 for more information or visit the chapel web siteat http://www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel.

CHAPEL SCHEDULE

International eatsThe Spanish Armed Forces serve food to the attendees of the annual Coalition Dinner, recently at MacDill Air Force Base. More than 40 countries from the Coalition Village at MacDill participated in the event.

Photo by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Gonterman

Be sure to visit the official MacDill Air Force Base web site at www.macdill.af.mil

by Sgt. Fredrick J. ColemanU.S. Central Command

Rafael Colon has been making the service members and civilians of U.S. Central Command look their best for 10 years as the USCENT-COM barber.

Colon originally started out at the base barbershop and was in-formed of a position at USCENTCOM in 2003, where he would es-tablish his own shop. Colon said he never knew what military ranks looked like or who some of the top officials were. When he later found out who they were, he’s always had a sense of pride in his craft know-ing that some of the nation’s top military leaders have chosen him to help keep them look sharp.

In his time, he’s given haircuts to several top-ranking military of-ficials to include Gen. Martin Dempsey, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. John R. Allen, previous commander of Inter-national Security Assistance Forces and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan; and Gen. James N. Mattis, previous commander of U.S. Central Command. Rafael’s schedule is never empty. Taking appointments as early as 6 a.m., he’s dedicated to helping the USCENTCOM team look its best.

CENTCOM barber keeps unit looking sharpNEWS/FEATURES

Photo by Sgt. Fredrick J. Coleman

Barber Rafael Colon begins his day at 6 a.m., keeping his U.S. Central Command customers looking good.