• To vaccinate or not to vaccinate

    That is the age-old question that is resurfacing with the recent outbreak of pertussis ("whooping cough") in Hillsborough County, which is primarily due to inadequate immunity of the local population. That immunity could be corrected through vaccination. Of course, if you are active duty, the point

  • MacDill Airmen: honorary captains at USMNT World Cup

    Two MacDill Airmen were awarded the role of honorary captains during the first game of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team 2014 World Cup qualifier, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, June 8. With more than 23,000 in attendance, Staff Sgt. Dieudonne Batawila and Senior Airman Eduardo Flores, both

  • It's time to take heat seriously

    "The heat was hot," read a famous opening line of a story once entered in a bad writing contest.The inane and redundant nature of the sentence aside, it nevertheless sums up what we've been experiencing of late around Tampa Bay. So what is it that makes the heat hot? Three things, according to the

  • More than 500 join Fitness Month events

    The numbers are in, and with more than 500 participants May Fitness Month was a huge success at the MacDill Short Fitness and Sports Center. Kicking off the month was a walking and running incentive, in which more than 70 people tracked their steps for 31 days. Some participants walked more than

  • Use, possession of 'Bath Salts' forbidden

    The powerful mind bender known as Bath Salts may be available in some states and online, but any Airman worth his or her salt should know this dangerous substance is off limits under Air Force rules. Bath Salts, which is not to be confused with Epsom Salts or other substances added to bath water,

  • Meet the new LRS commander

    Maj. Gilbert Collin assumed command of the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, May 31. He took time out to introduce himself to the MacDill community and answered a few questions from the ThunderboltThunderbolt: What do you expect of the Airmen under your command? Collin: My expectation is simple: I

  • MacDill Key Spouse Program: a vision in purple

    The color purple has historical reference for royalty and distinct implications of imperial power or high rank. With that in mind, purple is a fitting color for Key Spouses. At MacDill, Key Spouses are distinguished by many characteristics and can be identified in public by their purple shirts. You

  • JCSE training exercise: As close to real as you can get

    When it comes to training for actual battlefield conditions, location is everything.That's why the 2nd Joint Communications Support Element based at MacDill, packed up and headed for the dense forest of Myakka State Park for a training exercise designed to prepare them for the kinds of medical

  • NOAA armed with latest and greatest for hurricane 2012

    While most Tampa Bay residents are crossing their fingers and hoping hurricanes give us a miss this year, James McFadden, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's chief of programs, is "looking forward" to the 2012 storm season.That's not to say he's hoping for plenty of hurricanes,