"Us three, we're very blessed to be in the families we're in, being able to wake up on Christmas day and know we have presents under the Christmas tree. A lot of kids don't understand it's not like that for everyone, and we want to have an impact on kids in need by giving them a Christmas they can remember." — Koda Oller, Garber High School senior

“Many people ask me if the wing is OK after all of this … the simple answer is no … we are not … we miss our friends and wingmen. But very soon, we will be … because we have to be. And tomorrow, Vance Air Force Base will continue training our next generation of aviators. Because that is what we are called to do.” — Col. Corey Simmons, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) — Two soon-to-be-retired chief master sergeants sat next to each other on interview chairs, teasing each other and laughing as they spoke. They both give an impression of being easy-going, yet enthusiastic.

ENID — The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is inviting the public to donate and take advantage of $600,000 in matching funds, part of which will directly benefit Loaves & Fishes of Northwest Oklahoma.

ENID — Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 S. 4th, will host its annual Victorian Christmas in the Humphrey Heritage Village, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 6.

From GPS location services to communications, the United States’ dependence on space capabilities is well documented, the vice commander of Air Force Space Command said.

ENID — With the distribution date for this year’s Toys for Tots program less than a week away, local organizers say the effort is short of the donations needed to meet demand.

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett insisted to the Senate Armed Services Committee Dec. 3 that the service is moving aggressively to fix chronic problems with privatized housing while also acknowledging that the “Air Force owns part of the responsibility” for …

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. — I have never been good at doing nothing.

Before the expansion, only Veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities could shop in person. (Active-duty service members, their dependents and military retirees also have in-store and online privileges.)

A recent study warns military members, their families and veterans to be wary of scams that have fleeced almost $405 million from about 1 million people since 2012.

The memorials, being on base, are not open to the general public, but are open to anyone with access to the base, according to Vance public affairs.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) -- Leaders from the 16th Air Force, also known as Air Force Cyber, recently launched an initiative to streamline its cyber weapon systems tools called “12N12.”

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) — The trio shuffled into the small room with canes and walkers to record their testimonies of the first confrontations of the Cold War and how the allies prevailed without firing a shot, saving a former enemy from oppression.

AIR FORCE ACA­DEMY, Colo. (AP) — Like many fathers and sons, the Birdows tossed the football around the yard.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 518 W. Randolph, is inviting the community to join with the church in making tax-deductible donations to a $1 million matching campaign for disaster relief and development.

ENID, Okla. — A new house sprang up in the city’s southeast side last Friday, as volunteers from several states gathered to build the home for a local wounded veteran.

Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is unveiling a new resource, and recruiting churches, civic groups and good Samaritans to help families in the state’s adoption and foster care systems.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, will open three drop-off sites in the Enid area Nov. 18-25 for people to deliver gift boxes for children in the developing world.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CAMP BULLIS, Texas — More than 1,100 Security Forces airmen gathered Nov. 8 for the 12th Annual Defender Ruck, hosted by the 343rd Training Squadron, in honor of the 186 Defender airmen who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom.

Eighteen junior officers are scheduled to graduate in Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 20-03, in a graduation ceremony set for 10 a.m. today in the Vance Air Force Base Auditorium.

Deirdre Gurry, director of Enid Woodring Regional Airport and former commander of the 8th Flying Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base, has been presented the 2019 Geraldyn Cobb Award of Oklahoma Military Aviation Distinguished Service from The Ninety-Nines.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Those who aspire to one day become a U.S. Air Force aviator must first meet several requirements, including height, before they are considered for pilot training.

A new bill that went into effect Friday aims to improve quality of life for military families in Oklahoma, by allowing military spouses to transfer professional licenses and credentials from other states.

Organizers have increased the size of this year’s Veterans Day Parade, set for 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Enid.

United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma is inviting the community to participate in its annual World Day of Kindness on Wednesday.

Volunteers are needed to help with a community-wide project to build a new home for a wounded veteran.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) — Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the first African American general in the Air Force, once said, “I could have been a teacher. I could have been a doctor or a lawyer, if I wanted to, but I didn’t — I wanted to be a pilot.”

Youth and Family Services of North Central Oklahoma’s annual Project Santa program begins Thursday.

ENID — No two people face a cancer diagnosis in exactly the same way. But Lyndsay Watts’ response to breast cancer has been unique, indeed.

The Air Force’s all-new advanced trainer aircraft, the T-X, officially has been named the T-7A Red Hawk. The plane will replace the T-38C starting in 2023.

The new director at Our Daily Bread is seeking volunteers and community support to expand the ministry’s presence in the community.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) — Millions of people in every corner of the world lack basic supplies for food, water and education. In an effort to mitigate some of these issues, the Department of Defense created the Denton Cargo Program, which allows the Air Force to deliver private…