• The force behind the flight: AFE Airmen ensure mission readiness

    U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fuentes-Ayala, 6th Operation Support Squadron, aircrew flight equipment craftsman, peers through night vision goggles at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, May 19, 2026. Night vision equipment is maintained and inspected by AFE technicians to support aircrew mission

  • Debrief: the flight line’s central nervous system

    Behind every KC-135 Stratotanker sortie launched by the 6th Air Refueling Wing is a small but vital team assigned to the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. These Airmen collect, interpret, and communicate critical flight information - keeping the flight mission-ready and the wing’s operations

  • Fueling Lethality: 6th ARW extends Airpower during exercise Combat Archer

    A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 433rd Weapons Squadron receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron during exercise Combat Archer, Sept. 12, 2025, over the Gulf of America. Combat Archer provides the 6th Air Refueling Wing an opportunity to

  • MacDill celebrates 78th AF Birthday

    U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Sean Farrell, U.S. Special Operations Command deputy commander, left, and Airman 1st Class Noah Fritz, 6th Communications Squadron cybersecurity technician, cut the cake during the Air Force Ball in Tampa, Florida, Sept. 13, 2025. The cake cutting is an Air Force Ball

  • Catching up with the commander: Senior Airman Jeremy Francisco

    U.S. Air Force Col. Edward Szczepanik, 6th Air Refueling Wing Commander, recognizes Senior Airman Jeremy Francisco, a military working dog handler assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron, during a game of catch at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 18, 2025. As a patrol unit, Francisco and