Feb. 9, 2014

50th Intelligence Squadron Changes Hands

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Lieutenant Colonel Julie Spears took command of the 50th Intelligence Squadron at a ceremony held February 8, on Beale Air Force Base, Calif.The 50 IS provides fully-qualified system support personnel to sustain and maintain the robust communications and computer network required to fully integrate into the Distributed Common Ground System

Feb. 6, 2014

Reserve squadron augments PACAF AFFOR during Keen Edge 2014

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii — Reservists from the 713th Combat Operations Squadron deployed to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, to support Headquarters Pacific Air Forces during Keen Edge 2014, Jan. 24-31. KE14 is a joint/bilateral exercise designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability between the U.S. military and the Japan Self Defense Force. The joint

Feb. 5, 2014

Leaving a better Air Force

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. — Recently, I volunteered to write an article on mentoring, thinking I was pretty good at putting words on paper. If only it were that easy. The honest fact is I'm not really sure how to explain mentoring. After 19 years in the Air Force, I just know it when I see it. My first military experience as a mentor started when I graduated Airman Leadership

Feb. 5, 2014

Full-time student, part-time Airman prepares for transition with Yellow Ribbon

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Being a full-time college student is a full-time job. Students sometimes feel stuck in a never-ending cycle of going to class, doing homework, studying and writing papers over and over again. For one student and Citizen Airman, that cycle is about to be disrupted for something completely different: a military deployment. Airman 1st Class Donel

Feb. 3, 2014

PHAP provides vital assistance to reservists

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — "How many of you have deployed, once, twice, three times?" asked Ernest Farmer to 433rd Security Forces airmen packed into a briefing room here, Jan. 25.Farmer, a Psychological Health Advocacy Program outreach specialist with the Air Force Reserve Command, deployed three times as a mental health technician during his Air Force career. "I wasn't

Jan. 30, 2014

Air Force Structure commission releases final report

ARLINGTON, Va — The National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force has posted its report on the Commission' s website at http://afcommission.whs.mil.The commission visited Tinker AFB, Aug. 20, 2013 with the intention of seeing total force integration in action among active Air Force, Reserve, and Air National Guard units and observing cost-efficient

Jan. 24, 2014

940th Wing reservist connects with others through music

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va — It began with a flourishing and bellowing call to arms. Almost immediately, the brass symphony was accentuated by the deep resonance of a bass drum before being replaced by a playful, orchestral melody.The music flowed together, hinting toward a great conclusion to this "Prelude to Adventure." "I wanted to capture the emotion of when you are

Jan. 23, 2014

Telling the story

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Lightning flashes deep in the clouds as rain thunders down on the roofs of buildings and creates large puddles on the ground. The electricity zapping through the air is the only natural light source in that area as the moonlight is blocked by the dark clouds above. Time goes on, dawn approaches and the rain stops; the clouds begin to dissipate. The

Jan. 16, 2014

New SecAF to Airmen: With change comes opportunity

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The Air Force's most senior leader gave insight into her life and shared career advice with Airmen across the Air Force during her first town hall Jan. 9. Speaking from the Pentagon auditorium, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James spoke about her 32 years of defense experience, passing on lessons she's learned, and encouraging Airmen to

Jan. 10, 2014

Beale's Reserve wing reports $36 million impact on local economy

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Jobs, contracts and construction projects funded by the 940th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., funneled more than $36 million into area communities, according to the Air Force Reserve unit's fiscal year 2013 economic impact statement. That figure is down from last year's economic impact by more than $5 million due primarily to a decrease in