April 1, 2014

Air Force reservist captures two PACAF awards

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Maj. Alison Hamel, a 713th Combat Operations Squadron intelligence officer, was named the 2013 Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Reserve/Guard Officer of the Year and the 2013 PACAF Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Awards Program Reserve Officer of the Year. "It's definitely an honor, not so much from the perspective of winning,

March 27, 2014

Reservist shares perspective on balancing the triad

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Balancing reserve commitment, civilian career and personal life can be a struggle for reservists. But Capt. Francis Tobias, 940th Wing Equal Opportunity Director, may have mastered the trick.Tobias said he doesn't prescribe to the three-legged stool analogy often used to depict the Reserve triad of family, civilian job and military. He feels life's

March 21, 2014

Reserve career fair piques interest of Beale airmen

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Reserve recruiters sponsored an on-base career fair here, March 19, to provide active-duty members with information about career opportunities and Reserve benefits. The event took place on the heels of the Air Force's Fiscal Year 15 Force Structure Plan released earlier this month. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said the plan called

March 14, 2014

Don't press your luck this St. Patrick's Day - drive sober

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — For many Americans, St. Patrick's Day has become synonymous with drinking. Unfortunately, that means drunk drivers have made the holiday very dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 269 people were killed by drunk drivers on St. Patrick's Day from 2007-2011. In 2011 alone, 45 people lost thier lives. The most

March 10, 2014

AFRC announces 940th Wing to gain KC-135s

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The Department of Defense budget request for fiscal year 2015 includes a major change for the 940th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The Air Force Reserve Command confirmed today that proposed changes for the Air Force Reserve structure include the addition of eight KC-135R Stratotankers to the reserve wing's mission set."That's welcomed news,"

March 7, 2014

Father retires son

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Col. Joseph H. Battaglia, II, (right) looks over his retirement certificate with his father, retired Col. Joseph Battaglia, who presided over his son's retirement ceremony, March 1, at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The colonels each served 30 years in the Air Force before retiring. The younger Battaglia, a 1984 Air Force Academy graduate who

March 2, 2014

940th Civil Engineer Flight changes command

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Capt. Jesse Cason took command of the 940th Civil Engineer Flight from Lt. Col. Michael Onines at a ceremony, March 1, on Beale Air Force Base, Calif.The mission of the 940 CEF includes fire emergency services and emergency management forces. Fire emergency services provide air rescue fire fighting in support of major combat, regional conflict or

Feb. 27, 2014

Social media: Unwanted eyes may be watching Airmen, families

EILSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — Social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr can provide an instantaneous and highly entertaining feedback stream of your daily activities to friends and family. The latest videos of dogs running with fireworks in their mouths, kittens tumbling in the snow or Internet memes of celebrity humiliations populate the news feeds of people

Feb. 18, 2014

Outstanding Airmen of the Year announced

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The 940th Wing recognized its 2013 Airmen of the Year at commander's call during the unit training assembly, here, Feb. 9.Special recognition went to Tech. Sgt. Tilly Blake, who, in addition to garnering the wing's Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, was named the Team Beale NCO of the Year at a base-wide awards banquet the night prior.Blake, an

Feb. 12, 2014

Mandatory training keeps you ready to ride

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M — Motorcycle riding season, for most locations, is almost here. Air Force riders must prepare before the first ride of the season. Preparation involves more than awareness of, and attention to, the mechanics of the motorcycle. Mental and physical preparation of the rider, and up-to-date mandatory training, are just as important.Motorcyclists who are