Oct. 1, 2019

AFRC restructures enlisted grade force

ROBINS AFB, Ga. (AFNS) — The new grade restructure gives senior leaders more flexibility to meet mission requirements and gives Airmen more opportunities to promote.

April 30, 2018

“… Nothing worth having comes easily…”

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — After serving more than eight years as an enlisted member of the Air Force Reserve, Vesper M. Yasaharda took off her technical sergeant stripes to begin her journey as an officer. She graduated Air Force Officer Training School March 16, 2018, and pinned on the rank of second lieutenant. “I had always toyed with commissioning from the time I joined

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 19, 2018

Reservist earns highest grade in schoolhouse history

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — “School, study, sleep, repeat.”That was the life Senior Airman Brandon J. Fitch said he held himself to during his technical training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In addition to hundreds of hours in the Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program classroom, he dedicated nearly every other waking minute of his time to reading course materials. His

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

Feb. 14, 2018

Spouses get first-hand look at refueling

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — Thirteen husbands and wives of 940th Air Refueling Wing Reserve Citizen Airmen flew on KC-135 Stratotankers to watch air-to-air refueling Feb. 10.    It was the first spouse flight for the 314th Air Refueling Squadron since the wing’s re-designation to the tanker mission in 2016. The tankers, belonging to the 314 ARS at Beale Air Force Base,

Jan. 1, 2018

“… Looking forward to a new start …”

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — “I’ve had a lot to overcome in the past couple years. In 2016, I was tested for a gene linked to breast cancer, called the BRCA 1 mutation, since multiple women in my family have battled it. After testing positive and being told I had a very high risk for developing breast cancer by age 40, I decided to go through with preventative surgery and

Dec. 31, 2017

Same job, different clothes

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — For many reservists, work life does not end when they take off the uniform. Maj. Francis J. Tobias is one of these Airmen. Aside from a change of setting and suit and tie, his profession remains the same."I do the exact same job; I just change clothes," he said. In uniform, Tobias serves as the director of Equal Opportunity for the 940th Air

Nov. 22, 2017

“…They’re the reason I do anything…”

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California — “I was first assigned to Beale when I was active-duty. I was, and still am, an aircraft maintenance officer. I wanted to settle down and start a family, so I transferred to the Reserve. Now, I have been married for eight years and am a father of two. My wife loves Thanksgiving. We moved to a bigger home two years ago with the goal being to host all