6TH ARW 3RD QUARTER AWARDS CEREMONY
Please join Col Szczepanik, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander and Chief Ottenwess, 6th ARW Command Chief, as we recognize our quarterly award winners and nominees on October 30, 0900 at the Base Theater.
JCSE 44TH ANNUAL MATTAR RELAY RACE
The Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE) proudly invites you to participate in the 44th Annual George G. Matter Relay Race, honoring the memory of three fallen members—Lt Col George Mattar, Commander, Maj. Ralph Herman, Operations Officer, and Sergeant Major James Dixon, Operations Sergeant Major—who tragically lost their lives on January 13, 1982, in the crash of Florida Airlines Flight 90 at the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C. This annual event commemorates their service and sacrifice. Join us to honor our heroes, foster camaraderie, and celebrate the spirit of teamwork. To register your team, contact the POC below.
- DATE/TIME: November 5, 2025, 0730-1000
- LOCATION: JCSE Compound, 8532 Marina Bay Dr, Tampa, FL 33621
- POC: Jeff Dyal, phone: 813-828-0688, jeffery.c.dyal.civ@mail.mil
250TH MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL CELEBRATION
You’re invited to Celebrate 250 Years of Honor, Courage, and Commitment! Join Marines, veterans, families, and honored guests for an evening of tradition, ceremony, and celebration. Let us come together to honor the legacy of the Corps, pay tribute to our fallen, and celebrate 250 years of excellence. Semper Fidelis!
- DATE/TIME: Thursday, November 6, 2025; 5 PM-11:30 PM ET
- LOCATION: Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St, Tampa, FL
- DRESS: Military: Evening Dress/Blue Dress Alphas
- Civilian: Formal attire required (suits or equivalent)
- POC: SSgt Xiomara Hernandez, Xiomara.e.hernandez.mil@usmc.mil
UF AFROTC DET 150 CADET CAREER DAY – REQUEST FOR SPEAKERS
The University of Florida AFROTC Detachment 150 invites Air Force and Space Force officers to share their career experiences with 120 cadets on Career Day. Your insights into diverse career fields will inspire and guide our future leaders. Refreshments will be provided, and free parking permits will be available for all speakers. Join us to shape the next generation of Air Force and Space Force leaders!
- DATE/TIME: 13 Nov 2025, 1:55 PM – 3:50 PM
- LOCATION: TBD; Van Fleet Hall (3rd Floor), 2074 Stadium Rd, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608
- DRESS: OCPs/FDUs
- POC: Cadet Ernest Kretschmar, (707) 761-3185, ekretschmar@ufl.edu
MILITARY & VETERAN FAMILY MENTAL WELLNESS SUMMIT
The Military & Veteran Family Mental Wellness Summit is a comprehensive, community-centered event designed to address the unique mental health challenges faced by service members, veterans, and their families. With a powerful focus on education, prevention, and connection, this summit will bring together mental health professionals, military leaders, veteran advocates, and family support organizations to foster open dialogue, provide practical resources, and build stronger, more resilient families. FREE for all military, veterans and their families. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
ACTIVATE NEW TRICARE PRESCRIPTIONS WITH Q-ANYWHERE AT ALL MACDILL PHARMACIES
Q-Anywhere is LIVE NOW at all 6th Medical Group Pharmacies. To use Q-Anywhere, the patient can text “Get in line” to 1-833-224-5302 or visit https://cxmlink.com/MTF6031 to start a virtual ticket. Simply follow the prompts to activate your prescriptions. A few things to consider about Q-Anywhere include: (1) Main Clinic Pharmacy services are limited to patients who are assigned to a provider at the 6th Medical Group (2) Sabal Park Pharmacy services are limited to patients who are assigned to a provider at the Sabal Park Clinic (3) Prescriptions activated at the Drive-Thru Pharmacy will be available two duty days after the date requested at 8 a.m. (4) Refills are not requested through Q-Anywhere (please utilize refill line)
MACDILL AFB CHAPEL COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
The MacDill AFB Chapel has non-perishable food items available to all with base access Monday to Thursday 0900-1500 and Friday 0900-1200. (*Subject to change).
- DATE/TIME: Monday to Thursday 0900-1500 and Friday 0900-1200. (*Subject to change).
- LOCATION: MacDill AFB Chapel, Bldg. 355, 2204 Administration Ave MacDill AFB, FL 33621
- POC: MacDill AFB Chapel, 813-828-3621, 6ARW.HCAdmin@us.af.mil.
OYSTER REEF CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
MacDill Environmental, in partnership with Tampa Bay Watch and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is constructing oyster reefs to protect MacDill’s shoreline! We are looking for volunteers to join us to install oyster shell bags and concrete oyster reef balls along the eastern shoreline of MacDill AFB. The oyster reef materials will help protect the coast during storms, reduce wave action and erosion, provide an attachment surface for water-filtering oysters to grow on, and create habitat for numerous species of fish and wildlife. The project will be accomplished outdoors, partially on land and partially in shallow waters. Participants can choose to get wet and should expect to get dirty. This is physical work, but way better than your typical PT! There are jobs for many different physical levels. Participants will be provided with the tools necessary to accomplish the project but should wear closed toe shoes (for in-water work, water shoes or old sneakers work well). Additional project-specific details will be provided to event registrants prior to the project date. Come out and join in our effort to make MacDill a better place to work and live! Registration is required; please contact POC to register.
- DATE/TIME October 21 and 22 Oyster Shell Bags, November 6 and 7 Oyster Shell Bags, 0900 to 1200
- LOCATION: MacDill AFB Shoreline
- POC: Mr. Eric Plage, Natural Resource Manager, 6 CES/CEIE, eric.plage.ctr@us.af.mil
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! – Family Fright Festival
Our Family Fright Festival is just around the corner, and we need YOUR help to make this year another success! We’re searching for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to lend a hand with this year’s festive fun! Volunteer opportunities include:
- Set-Up & Tear Down Crew
- Haunted House Control
- Bounce House Control
- Pumpkin Decorating
- Apple Fishing
Get involved, connect with your peers, and be a part of the community fun! Your help will create an unforgettable night for everyone! To sign up, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548A4AC29A5FBC61-57884843-fall#/
UF AFROTC DET 150 CADET CAREER DAY – REQUEST FOR SPEAKERS
The University of Florida AFROTC Detachment 150 invites Air Force and Space Force officers to share their career experiences with 120 cadets on Career Day. Your insights into diverse career fields will inspire and guide our future leaders. Refreshments will be provided, and free parking permits will be available for all speakers. Join us to shape the next generation of Air Force and Space Force leaders!
- DATE/TIME: 13 Nov 2025, 1:55 PM – 3:50 PM
- LOCATION: TBD; Van Fleet Hall (3rd Floor), 2074 Stadium Rd, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608
- DRESS: OCPs/FDUs
- POC: Cadet Ernest Kretschmar, (707) 761-3185, ekretschmar@ufl.edu
ANNUAL MACDILL AFB ARBOR DAY 2025 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
MacDill Environmental is hosting the Annual Arbor Day MacDill AFB Tree Planting, in partnership with Tree City USA. We are looking for volunteers to participate in planting trees on base. The project will be accomplished outdoors, on land. Participants will get dirty, so dress appropriately and wear close-toed shoes. MacDill Environmental will provide all materials needed to accomplish this project. The hope is to plant an area on base that has recently be thinned through MacDill’s prescribe burning initiatives. This volunteer event is an opportunity for community service hours and is open to children. Registration is required; please contact POC to register. More details will be provided to event registrants prior to the event.
- DATE/TIME: November 14, 2025, 0900-1200
- LOCATION: TBD (On Base)
- POC: Mr. Eric Plage, Natural Resource Manager, 6 CES/CEIE, eric.plage.ctr@us.af.mil
STAY HEALTHY THIS FLU SEASON: GET YOUR FLU SHOT TODAY!
Protect yourself and your community from the flu this season. The flu vaccine is safe and effective. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal or by calling the Appointment Line at 813-827-2273. The annual flu vaccine is now available for:
- Active-Duty Service Members
- Retirees
- Dependents
- All TRICARE Beneficiaries ages 6 months and older
- DATE/TIME: Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Training days, 1st and 3rd Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Walk-ins are welcome during the listed hours.)
- LOCATION: Immunizations Clinic inside MacDill Main Clinic
- POC: Immunizations Clinic, 813-827-9371
DRONE AWARENESS/SAFETY
Drones are not allowed on, or within 5 miles of, MacDill AFB. They can pose a variety of security dangers including espionage, smuggling, hacking, dangerous payload, and more. If you see a drone on MacDill AFB, observe it from a safe location and report it to Security Forces (813) 828-3322 immediately. For your safety, DO NOT approach drones. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses the DRONE acronym for their recommended procedures:
- Detect. Direct attention outward and upward. Attempt to locate and identify individuals operating the drone.
- Report incident to Security Forces on-base or the FAA Regional Operations Center (ROC) off-base.
- Security Forces: (813) 828-3322
- Florida is in the East ROC: (404) 305-5180, 9-ESA-ROC@faa.gov
- Observe drone and maintain visibility of the device.
- Notice features: identify type of device (fixed wing/multirotor), its size, shape, color, and payload.
- Execute appropriate police action.
- MacDill AFB No Drone Zone: https://media.defense.gov/2023/Oct/11/2003317561/-1/-1/0/231011-Z-PQ017-1001.JPG
- If you see something, say something!
- Submit a tip: https://www.osi.af.mil/Submit-a-Tip/