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  • MSgt Sandra Plentzas,944th Fighter Wing chaplain assistant, was recently awarded the John Levitow Award following graduation from Senior NCO Academy March 11. (Courtesy photo)

    Luke reservist one of Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen

    It's been said lightning only strikes once, but that's not true for Luke. For the second time in three years, a base Airman has been named an Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year.Master Sgt. Sandra Plentzas, 944th Fighter Wing Chapel superintendent, was selected as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen for 2012."It is with the utmost respect and
  • Members of the 477th Fighter Group Development and Training Flight practice Drill and Ceremonies here May 20. The D&T flight stood up to teach Airmen the basics of Air Force customs and courtesies, Drill and Ceremony, and physical fitness prior to arrival at Basic Military Training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ashley Conner)

    New Air Force Reserve Enlistee training ensures BMT success

    The 477th Fighter Group welcomed seven new Reserve enlistees during the May Unit Training Assembly weekend. These Airmen make up the Development and Training Flight, a new Air Force Reserve initiative which prepares enlistees for Basic Military Training by educating them on Air Force customs and courtesies, drill and ceremony, and physical fitness
  • Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, testifies May 23, 2012, at the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations on Capitol Hill. Seated to the left of the general are Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve; Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink, chief of Navy Reserve; and Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of Army Reserve. National Guard Bureau Chief Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, Air National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt III and Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. William Ingram Jr. also spoke to the senators about funding in the fiscal 2013 President’s Budget request. (U.S. Air Force photo/Col. Bob Thompson)

    Reserve, Guard leaders discuss budgets, DOD cuts on Capitol Hill

    The top leaders from Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Reserve and National Guard programs provided statements and answered questions at a Senate hearing regarding their fiscal 2013 manning and budget proposals on May 23.Cutting budgets, making decisions and retaining the most capability were the hot topics led by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii)
  • Mr. Rex Ice, a civilian instructor for Central Texas College, begins the first day of the 301st Fighter Wing Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Development Course Monday, April 23, at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. This was the first joint class to be held at the wing and the largest multi-branch class to be held in the Air Force Reserve Command. During the class, NCOs learned leadership principles and how to conduct supervisory tasks. (Courtesy photo)

    Joint leadership class paves way for new horizons

    Two's company, three's a crowd, right?The 301st Fighter Wing Education office recently put this theory to the test when filling slots for the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Development Course.Participants are typically all Air Force NCOs, but this time, Army, Navy, and Marine Corp members were invited to attend. It is the first time for the
  • OPFOR (Opposing Force) unit members make a final attack on an HH-60 helicopter as it extracts a group of pararescuemen from the 929th Rescue Wing off the battlefield at Fort Polk, La., May 16, 2012. The Airmen were part of a combat search and rescue (CSAR) mission to rescue two downed pilots during the Patriot Saint exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeff Walston/Released)

    A "Readiness Exercise" for today's Air Force...PATRIOT SAINT

    Deep behind enemy lines, anticipation mounted as two fully loaded HH-60 helicopters approached their pre-planned drop-off point. As the helicopter blades whipped through the air above, a small guardian angel (GA) team, consisting of a highly-trained combat rescue officer (CRO) and several pararescuemen (PJs), were covertly inserted and quickly
  • Brig. Gen. William B. Binger, commander, 10th Air Force, threw out the first pitch during a Spring Training game Monday at Surprise Stadium in Ariz. The commander, visiting from Headquarters in Ft. Worth, Texas, donned a Rangers cap for the special event hosted by the City of Surprise. "It is an honor to have our Air Force partners here with us," said Surprise Mayor Sharon Wolcott. "We are so proud of our military members stationed right here at Luke Air Force Base, it is wonderful to be able to just get out and share the great American past-time of baseball with our men and women in uniform." "This was wonderful!" said General Binger, who admits he is fond of the West Valley and enjoys getting back to Arizona for flight currency training. "I got to fly this morning and enjoy this game this afternoon, this is a good day," he said. "I owe a huge thanks to the City of Surprise for their kindness and hospitality. The 944th Fight Wing is lucky to have such outstanding community support."

    10th Air Force Commander throws first pitch in Surprise

  • Air Force Reserve Command’s Outstanding Airmen of 2011, from left, NCO category: Tech. Sgt. Megan J. Legacy, 931st Civil Engineer Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.; Senior NCO category: Master Sgt. Sandra L. Plentzas, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.; Airman category: Senior Airman Merranda J. Moreno, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.; First Sergeant category: Master Sgt. Anthony G. Johns, 445th Operations Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. (Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Chance Babin)

    944th FW member honored as outstanding Airman of the year

    Air Force Reserve Command honored its outstanding Airmen of the year for 2011 during a ceremony here April 10.The winners who will represent the command in Air Force competition later this year are: first sergeant - Master Sgt. Anthony Johns, 445th Operations Support Squadron, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Senior NCO - Master Sgt. Sandra
  • Air Force Airman 1st Class Joseph Celona loads 20-milimeter rounds into an F-22 Raptor using a universal ammunication loading system under the supervision of Air Force Staff Sgt. Joel Bass on the flight line at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 25. An F-22 pilot will later fire the rounds at a target banner as training for combat operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett)

    Raptor Banner Shoot tests combat capability

    F-22 pilots from the 302nd, 525th and 90th Fighter Squadrons tested their aim during a banner shoot here April 23-27. A banner shoot is best described as aerial target practice for the F-22. The pilots fire the F-22's 20 millimeter cannon at a banner, measuring 8 feet wide and 40 feet long, being towed behind a Cessna 441 Conquest II. "We do it to

  • Safety requires personal commitment

    Citizen Airmen,As we begin to make plans to relax in the coming months, please keep in mind that the "Critical Days of Summer" is the timeframe when the Air Force experiences our greatest number of mishaps. Of note, AFRC accounted for 4 of 18 Air Force fatalities during this period last year.Our ultimate goal is to achieve zero mishaps; however
  • Staff Sgt. Darrell Williams, Air Force Reserve pararescueman (PJ), 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., climbs frigid Alaskan glaciers as part of his winter mountain training along with the Alaskan National Guard PJs. Williams is imbedded temporarily with the ANG, and is serving a three-week tour in Alaska to hone his cold weather rescue skills and augment the ANG Guardian Angel Airmen. While working with the ANG, Williams rescued an injured avalanche victim March 18, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/courtesy)

    Pararescue Airmen aid avalanche victims

    A pararescue Airmen who went to the aid of avalanche victims nearly became a victim himself when the rescue helicopter dragged him and his patient across the steeply sloped mountain March 18. Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Darrell Williams, a pararescueman with the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and the patient in the rescue basket,
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