Features

Opportunities for Reservist brings appreciation for brothers in arms
September 9, 2009 — As I write this I know my words won't give justice to these stories and the individuals they're about. It is often said that not enough is done to accurately highlight the sacrifices made to advance freedom and to protect this country. And it's true. Not enough can be said or done, but we must continue to try. This summer I had the privilege to... MORE

Lt. Col. Gordon Smith, a paratrooper from WWII, shows Major General Michael Dubie, Adjutant General of the State of Vermont, the French National Order of the Legion of Honour at Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, June 17. Colonel Smith received the medal on behalf of all paratroopers who jumped over Normandy on June 6, 1944. The Order was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is France’s highest decoration. (Air Force photo/Capt Bryan Lewis)

Back to school academic success begins at home
August 25, 2009 — Parents can learn unique and creative ways to help their children have a successful school year and take home $20 worth of free materials Sept. 23 during two parent workshops at the Airman and Family Readiness Center here. Frequent moves and parental deployments present unique challenges to a military child's education. The Military Child Education... MORE

Bleeding gums – A silent warning?
August 13, 2009 — We've all experienced the results of overaggressive flossing - the accidental "snap" of the floss between the teeth and the ensuing presence of blood on the floss or toothbrush. It happens and it's okay, but what if your gums bleed every time you floss? Every time you brush? What if your gums are red, swollen or tender? Is this okay? These may... MORE

Recovery mission takes a wild turn
August 13, 2009 — A member of Team Charleston recently returned from an eventful mission in Laos with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command . Master Sgt. Wesley Housel, a member of the 437th Operations Support Squadron, volunteered to take part in one of these missions. According to Sergeant Housel this was a task he has always wanted to be a part of. "What is... MORE

Master Sgt. Wesley Housel sifts through dirt while conducting a recent recovery mission in the Houaphan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Sergeant Housel was a digger assigned to a 10-member recovery team on a 36-day deployment to Laos in an attempt to recover the remains of Americans lost during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Housel is with the 437th Operations Support Squadron and was assigned to the Joing POW/MIA Accounting Command.

The Area Defense Counsel – Advocate in times of need
August 4, 2009 — You've seen our photos. You've read the posters, "the Area Defense Counsel's office works for you, not the command." But who are we and what do we do? As you might have guessed, we are active duty attorneys and paralegals. Unlike the legal professionals at the legal office, we don't work for the base commander. The Area Defense Counsel was... MORE

The Area Defense Counsel was established in 1976 to provide defense services independent from the base legal office and commander. They represent active-duty members in action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice at courtsmartial and nonjudicial punishment actions.

Requirements to operate a motorcycle: Do you know them?
July 29, 2009 — According to the Air Force Safety Center, the United States Air Force has already experienced 18 fatalities during the 101 Critical Days of Summer. Of those 18, five were motorcycles, and unfortunately, Air Mobility Command owned two of those five fatalities. After AMC experienced it's second motorcycle fatality, wing safety conducted a motorcycle... MORE

The Air Force has experienced five fatalities involving motorcycles during the 101 Critical Days of Summer and out of those five fatalities, two members were from Air Mobility Command. (Courtesy photograph)

Air Force combat camera team discusses role of media in military
July 13, 2009 — The media has played a major role in every American military conflict, from the use of newspapers and pamphlets, to stoke the American Revolution, to embedded journalists in the Middle East. But a story often lost in the mix is of the military photojournalists; those men and women in uniform whose weapon of choice isn't an M4 carbine with a laser... MORE

AMC commander visits Airmen in Southwest Asia, highlights mobility's role
July 7, 2009 — Like clockwork, an Air Mobility Command aircraft departs on a mission within the area-of-operations every two minutes of every hour of every day. Providing the three cornerstones of the command's mobility mission - airlift, aerial refueling and aeromedical evacuation - AMC Airmen have provided constant wartime support for operations throughout... MORE

Hurricane Hunters prep for upcoming storm season
July 7, 2009 — Members of the Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron deployed to their detachment in St. Croix recently to fly training missions over the Caribbean in preparation for the 2009 hurricane season. Unit Airmen are part of the 403rd Wing located at Keesler AFB, Miss., and are the only Department of Defense unit currently... MORE

Staff Sgt. Karon Evans washes the flight deck windows on a Hurricane Hunter WC-130J Hercules before a training mission leaving St. Croix, V.I. Sergeant Evans is a crew chief assigned to the 403rd Wing from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The training mission covered the Air Force Reserve Command's weather reconnaissance mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Desiree N. Palacios)

Streamlined process eliminates lengthy redeployments
June 4, 2009 — Crowds of families and friends swarming the base passenger terminal waiting to meet redeploying Airmen are a regular sight at Charleston AFB. The Airmen they greet have all been tasked to carry out their share of the global Air Force mission. Taking on their own share of the Air Force mission at Charleston AFB with a bit of ingenuity, the 437th... MORE