Dec 6, 2023
A miraculous recovery: Airman defies the odds
Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. – A year after a terrible car accident impacting four Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Airman 1st Class Matthew Sharp’s journey of recovery is a story of hope and determination.
Nov 30, 2023
Allvin formally welcomed as 23rd Air Force Chief of Staff
Joint Base Andrews, MD. (AFNS) – Promising to lead the Total Force with “humility and resolve,” Gen. David W. Allvin was ceremoniously welcomed into his role as the 23rd Air Force Chief of Staff Nov.17 during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews.
Nov 29, 2023
EOD career past, present, future
Eglin’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight hosted the Air Force’s first-ever EOD Heritage Panel Nov. 10, 2023.
The panel brought together career field managers to discuss the history, current state, and future of the EOD program. EOD has only had 10 total career field managers for the entire program, and this was the first opportunity to bring them all together, putting 270 years of EOD experience on one stage.
Nov 22, 2023
An Airman’s swing: A journey from the battlefield to the baseball field
Hurlburt Field – U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Travis J. Hackett, a member of the 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, has an inspiring story that intertwines his love for baseball and his dedication to serving his country.
Nov 15, 2023
Junior Officer reflection–Air Force Comptroller leading and living Agile Combat Employment (ACE)
Hurlburt Field – As an Air Force Comptroller, our ability to adapt to the ebbs and flows of the budget environment and our customer needs is what makes our career field essential to the success of our great nation and the Department of Defense. It is exactly the mind set we need as the Air Force shifts into the Joint All Domain environment. In the conflict against a peer competitor, it will be key to provide flexible and resilient formations to meet commanders’ intent–within the Air Force, we call it Agile Combat Employment.
Nov 14, 2023
SMART trailer helps restore firefighters in rough conditions
In 2020, an F-22 Raptor crashed deep within the Eglin range. In the barren location with nothing but trees, snakes, fires, and jet plane wreckage, emergency responders endured sweltering 100-degree May heat for hours without access to restrooms or just a cool place to sit down and recharge.
Oct 24, 2023
AFSOC embraces Extended Reality (XR) to enhance readiness
Hurlburt Field, Fla. – Extended Reality (XR) is revolutionizing the way Air Force Special Operations Command is approaching training and readiness. XR is an umbrella term that encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) to create a spectrum of experiences that range from fully virtual environments to overlays of digital content onto the real world. These technologies manipulate our perception of reality, hence the term “extended.” The manipulation of reality is at the core of XR, and it’s transforming the training landscape of AFSOC.
Oct 20, 2023
Resiliency message emphasizes community importance
Eglin Air Force Base – The base hosted two resiliency training sessions here Oct. 2.
Kristen Christy, a national resilience trainer, shared her message with base personnel, including her own heartbreaking story of tragic losses.
Oct 20, 2023
Marine Corps Valkyrie completes first flight
Eglin Air Force Base – The Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, a highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle successfully completed its first test flight here Oct 3.
The Marine Corps partnered with the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division to facilitate the ongoing research, development, test and evaluation of the aircraft.
Jun 9, 2023
Milton nonprofit helping veterans across northwest Florida
When veterans return from war, they face many challenges. Some struggle with readjusting to civilian life while others deal with physical scars or psychological trauma.
To help veterans reclaim their lives through treatment, services and other resources, Jamie Wells started Defenders of Freedom Florida in 2020. He serves as its CEO and president.