June 17, 2020

Readiness in a post-COVID world

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — The June 2020 unit training assembly marked the first time the 940th Emergency Management Office conducted chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training in a post-coronavirus environment.According to Tech. Sgt. Jim R. Stonebarger, a 940th Air Refueling Wing emergency manager, prior to COVID-19, the Air Force Instruction dictated

June 26, 2019

VA to decrease SGLI rates effective July 1

Good news for service members' wallets! Effective July 1, 2019, the SGLI premium rate is decreasing. If you have coverage now, nothing will change except the price will be lower. Premiums are dropping $4 per month for those with maximum coverage. SGLI is available in $50,000 increments, up to a maximum of $400,000.Learn how to get SGLI

June 24, 2019

Departing U.S. Transportation Command Chief of Staff worked behind the scenes to move USTRANSCOM forward

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill — During his more than two-year tour at U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John “Jay” Flournoy, Jr., chief of staff, focused on relationship-building and accessibility to others.

June 14, 2019

Running with faith: an Airman’s journey to redemption

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga — Standing there with a knife in hand and cold-hearted from the most devastating news of his life, Master Sgt. Brandan “Troy” Keel contemplated an irreversible decision. Looking into his wife’s eyes after learning she was pregnant with another man’s baby, he couldn’t fathom living anymore. Suicide, he thought, was imminent.

Oct. 18, 2018

“Joker’s Wild” comes back into play

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The fourth nose art dedication was unveiled Oct. 13, 2018 at the 940th Air Refueling Wing on one of eight KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the Reserve unit at Beale Air Force Base. Adding artwork to the front of an aircraft is a long-standing tradition, stemming back to World War I. From sharp teeth to combat cartoon characters, these paintings

April 12, 2018

“Summer”time starts at the 13th RS

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — Summer and Sunshine stood brightly onstage while rain poured outside the Valley Chapel. As Lt. Col. Karyn L. “Sunshine” Christen relinquished command of the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron April 7, Lt. Col. Summer A. Fields stepped up with a smile to fill her shoes. Col. David S. Edwards presided over the squadron’s change of command ceremony. He is

March 30, 2018

“… She never took ‘no’ for an answer…”

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — “Women are often treated differently in both my military and civilian career fields, since they are male-dominated. I’m an equipment operator here, working with heavy machinery, and I’m a geologist on the civilian side. We, as women, have to grow tough skin and show people we can do the work just as well as men can. Doing that has made me not want

Feb. 28, 2018

“… Saw it as a way out…”

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — Promoting to chief master sergeant was an indescribable moment for Martez D. Banks, 940th Operations Group superintendent. He felt fortunate to accept such a trusted position, however, he never planned to climb so high up the ranks.“It wasn’t a relief,” he said, explaining how pinning on chief was never his goal. “It wasn’t like ‘I’ve

Oct. 17, 2017

RIO Connect app revolutionizes access to information

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The latest release of the RIO Connect Individual Mobilization Augmentee Mobile Wingman application now enables Reserve Citizen Airmen to access common access card-secured sites from their mobile devices when paired with a mobile CAC reader and associated software.

Sept. 11, 2017

Earth Wind and Fire: Reservists own the skies

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. —    For the first time in the nearly 70-year history of the Air Force Reserve, all three special mission units have been called to action simultaneously due to a series of catastrophic events that have effected wide swaths of the U.S.     Reserve Citizen Airmen from across the country are conducting weather reconnaissance, aerial spray and airborne