Chief Master Sgt. Ruben Gonzalez Jr., command chief at Vance Air Force Base, gestures during an interview earlier this week. Gonzalez is getting ready to leave Vance for a year-long tour in Iraq. (Staff Photo by Candice Budgick)
When Chief Master Sgt. Ruben Gonzalez Jr. leaves Vance Air Force Base in July for a year-long deployment to Iraq, he will take with him a shiny silver dollar.
He doesn’t intend to spend it, but will instead use it to help him remember his tenure at Vance.
In February, Gonzalez passed by Lt. read more...
The chief of staff of the Nebraska Air National Guard is featured speaker at the graduation ceremony for Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 09-09 at 10 a.m. read more...
A lightning strike is photographed near Vance during a thunderstorm last summer. (Photo by Master Sgt. Gary Rann)
Lightning is basically a discharge of static electricity. But unlike the shock your wool sweater can produce, lightning can generate 300 kilovolts, travel at 60,000 miles per second and reach temperatures of 54,000 F, according to NASA’s Web site. read more...
During feedback sessions with troops or when I’m out and about talking with airmen I’m often asked, “What do I need to do to get your job?” or “How do I get to be a flight commander or senior NCO?”
My first response is normally, “Grow where you’re planted.”
In simple terms — be the absolute best at your current job, the best at what’s in your current span of control, or what you currently are tasked to do, and the rest will take care of itself. read more...
It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone as peace officers around the world celebrated National Peace Officers Memorial Day, today, and National Police Week, Sunday through Saturday. read more...
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) — An Air Mobility Command C-17 Globemaster III and its crew, operating in conjunction with U.S. read more...
Members of Vance’s Focus 5/6 prepare more than 100 breakfast burritos for the Vance Chapel’s celebration of the 58th annual National Day of Prayer. Pictured (left to right) are Staff Sgt. James Anderson, Staff Sgt. Omar Robinson, Tech. Sgt. Debra Reddecliff and Tech. Sgt. Laura Rosenzweig. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joe B. Wiles)
More than 60 Team Vance members combined breakfast burritos and prayer May 7 at the Community Chapel Activity Center in observance of the 58th annual National Day of Prayer. read more...
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) — The Department of Veterans Affairs opened its doors to accepting Post-9/11 GI Bill applications May 1. read more...
Editor’s Note: Recipients announced at www.militaryscholar.org are preliminary and are contingent upon determination of military dependency status by the scholarship evaluation firm. read more...
FRIDAY THE 13TH — A group of young adults discover a boarded up Camp Crystal Lake, where they soon encounter Jason Voorhees and his deadly intentions. read more...
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — Much of military life may be by the book, but the new Air Education and Training Command Innovation Center promotes creative ideas on airman training and education. read more...
• Duty: Public Affairs technician, 71st Flying Training Wing.
• Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Favorite PT regimen: Tennis.
• Mission contributions: Currently serving as Wing Staff Agency unit deployment manager, Hill is working with the Vance AFSO21 office to establish a Wing Deployment Center to streamline and standardize base deployment processing. read more...
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — The 13th annual 2009 U.S. Air Force Marathon takes place Sept. 19 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. read more...
Drivers pulling up at gates on Air Education and Training Command bases will enter bases using the Defense Biometric Identification System, where gate guards use hand-held scanners to read the bar codes on common access cards. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration)
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) — Drivers pulling up at gates on Air Education and Training Command bases will have something new to greet them later this year — the Defense Biometric Identification System, or DBIDS. read more...
First lady Michelle Obama sits for an interview with Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Liz Murry, Pentagon Channel anchor and producer, for Military Spouses Day May 7 at the White House. The First Lady is a strong supporter of military spouses and families. (White House photo by Samantha Appleton)
WASHINGTON — First Lady Michelle Obama was surprised to learn the majority of military families feel their struggles often go unnoticed, she said during an interview with The Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.
“I just saw the results of a recent survey done by Blue Star Families that shows that 94 percent of military families feel as if the country doesn’t understand their challenges,” Obama said. read more...
A patron interacts with a vendor at Enid's Farmers Market. (Staff Photo by Candice Budgick
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) — The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to their country. read more...
Maj. Eriik Nikula, an instructor in the 97th Flying Training Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, stands next to the T-37 Tweet May 1 that helped him reach the 4,000 flying hour milestone. With the Tweet scheduled for retirement this summer, Nikula will be the last Air Force pilot to log that many hours in the airframe. The last Tweet left Vance in October 2006. (U.S. Air Force by Lou Anne Sledge)
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas —Maj. Eriik Nikula had two thoughts on his mind May 1 during a training mission: The completion of 4,000 hours in the T-37, and the loss of a friend one year earlier to the day. read more...
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 1st Lt. Bryson S. George, C-17, McChord AFB, Wash.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 1st Lt. Whitney B. Nanna, KC-135, McConnell AFB, Kan.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 1st Lt. Dallas E. Varwig, KC-10, Travis AFB, Calif.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Sean R. Birney, C-5, Travis AFB, Calif.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Eric M. Bowers, C-17, McChord AFB, Wash.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Jesse L. Caldwell, C-5, Dover AFB, Del.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Nathan J. Chott, C-17, McGuire AFB, N.J.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 Ensign Andrew J. Ingram, E-6, Tinker AFB
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Robert O. Lantz, RC-135, Offutt AFB, Neb.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Troy M. Martin, KC-135, Nebraska Air National Guard
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Austin M. Noble, C-21, Scott AFB, Ill.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. James A. Putnam, C-17, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Brian D. Rosenberg, RC-135, Offutt AFB, Neb.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Aaron M. Russell, KC-135, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 2nd Lt. Grant J. Scholl, C-17, Charleston AFB, S.C.
Graduates, JSUPT Class 09-09 Ensign Emilio J. Valdez, E-6, Tinker AFB
Disclaimer:
The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the U.S.
Air Force of this Web site or the information, products, or services contained
therein.
