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  • BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Airman 1st Class Dominique Maniece, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Fly Away Security Team member, provides security for a C-130J Hercules aircraft, Sept. 9. Maniece is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Krista Rose)

    97th SFS Airman ensures secure flights in austere areas downrange

    "Rough landing in 15 minutes," the C-130J crew chief yelled as he passed the two security forces members sitting in jump seats of the Hercules aircraft. The security forces "Defenders" silently checked their weapons, adjusted their body armor and sat calmly. They braced themselves for the hard landing and bumpy ride to an abrupt stop - signaling

  • 2011 Combined Federal Campaign

    The 2011 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) kicked off at Altus Air Force Base on September 6th. The CFC allows members of the military and government employees to donate money to worthy causes and help those less fortunate than themselves. The base's campaign goal is 100,000 dollars this year. "We have set a lofty goal, but we think with some hard
  • ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Air Force Capt. Chris Pace, 58th Airlift Squadron instructor pilot, is planning to bike from Arlington National Cemetery, Va., for approximately 150 miles and then run another 100 miles to Ground Zero in New York City, N.Y., Sept. 10-11 without stopping to rest. Pace is calling his athletic quest the “Journey of Freedom” and he is doing it in support of The Disposable Heroes Project, which is a non-profit organization that supports wounded and fallen warriors and their families. His overall goal is to complete this event in 36 hours and raise at least $25,000 for the DHP. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenneth W. Norman / Released / 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

    Altus Captain embarks on "Journey of Freedom" to honor fallen heroes

    "I am going to finish - whether I have to walk the last 50 miles or however far it is, I am going to finish ... I have told myself that. No one is going to let me stop, I have already told my family not to try and stop me. It is going to be very mentally and physically demanding," said Capt. Chris Pace about his upcoming challenge. Air Force Capt.
  • ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Firefighters from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron prepare their gear to simulate a rescue as part of fall protection rescue training in the KC-135 inspection bay Aug. 9, 2011. The 97th Maintenance Directorate trained personnel how to properly remove unconscious individuals from safety harnesses and rescue individuals who fall while performing maintenance on top of aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marianne E. Lane/ 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs-Released)

    Lifeline rescue plan

    Mr. Smith feels dizzy, light headed, all the blood is draining from his face, he starts to sweat, and then everything goes black. Everyone is shouting, but he hears nothing because he has passed out and fallen from the top of an aircraft. He is dangling by a harness that is cutting off circulation by way of his femoral artery- he has six minutes
  • Senior Airman Juan Ramirez and Airman 1st Class Dillon Boutin, both 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron electrical systems journeymen, work with U.S. civilians and Iraqi Airmen to help repair a fountain in front of the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters building at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, July 20. Ramirez is deployed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and is a native of Las Vegas, Nev., and Boutin is deployed from Altus AFB, Okla., and is a native of Layfayette, La. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber R. Kelly-Herard)

    97th CES Airman works with Iraqi airmen downrange

    The establishment of the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters building at Joint Base Balad is another forward step toward the transition as part of the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq by the end of this year. A project to repair a fountain in front of the building recently began that is fostering collaboration between about 20 U.S. Airmen and civilians and
  • ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Senior Airman Nickolas A. Eykamp, 97th Operations Support Squadron air crew flight equipment technician and unit physical training leader, exercises at the rope station during a high intensity circuit training at the fitness center July 13, 2011. Eykamp is one of many unit PTLs on base who lead their Airmen in physical training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenneth W. Norman / Released / 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

    Altus PTLs raise bar for fitness

    In today's Air Force with physical training test parameters becoming more and more stringent, personal fitness can make or break an Airman's career. Airmen are not alone in their fight to maintain a healthy level of exercise and balanced diet. Each unit has a designated Physical Training Leader. It is the responsibility of PTL's to teach their
  • Battle Creek, Mich. -- Strongman Mark Kirsch pulls a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 54th Air Refueling Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, weighing 140,000 pounds at the Battle Creek Field of Flight and Balloon Festival, Battle Creek, Mich. July 1, 2011. The KC-135 was the first Air Force plane to ever be pulled by a strongman. (Courtesy photo by the Battle Creek Enquirer)

    Mighty 97th tanker gets towed by mighty man

    "We have the first officially sanctioned U.S. Air Force active duty jet to be pulled by a strongman in history," said Tech. Sgt. Phil Landram, 54th Air Refueling Squadron chief of scheduling.During the Battle Creek Air Show and Balloon Festival July 1-4 in Battle Creek, Mich., Strongman Mark Kirsch made history by being the first Strongman to pull
  • U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Casey Fletcher, 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron meteorologist, ties the radiosonde to the weather balloon before launching it at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, May 28. The radiosonde travels up with the weather balloon to transmit data back to a computer telling the wind speed, atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity.

    Weather you want it or not, it's still going happen

    Rain hitting rooftops, flashes of light fill the sky followed by rolling thunder. The wind picks up as rain turns into ice, tapping on windows and vehicles.People scramble to get off the streets, and over the airwaves the order comes out: "Seek shelter!" Then the power goes out.Rain, sun, clouds, tornado and winter warnings are just a few weather
  • Volunteers fly a tattered American flag from a street sign in Joplin, Mo., May 28, 2011. Sixteen Airmen from Altus Air Force Base delivered donations to Joplin, as well as helped search for survivors May 27-28. (Courtesy photo)

    Altus AFB volunteers provide support to Joplin, Mo.

    The evening of May 22 seemed like any other for Staff Sgt. Jason Smith, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron unit deployment manager, until he turned on the news and learned that a devastating tornado had demolished Joplin, Mo. "I was just heartbroken after what I saw on television," Smith said. "Every day that passed, the death toll would rise and I
  • WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. – Fort Sill’s Bravo Battery 1-14 Field Artillery’s fire a rocket from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System April 27. The HIMARS offers the firepower of a multiple-launch rocket system on a wheeled chassis. This training is part of the culmination of a multi-year development effort to enhance the capability and utilization of the launcher on the battlefield. (U.S. Army courtesy photo by White Sands Missile Range)

    Altus AFB supports HIMARS joint training mission

    Altus Airmen partnered with their Army brethren from across southwest Oklahoma, west Texas and Alabama for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System training April 27.The training helped to test the efficiency of the HIMARS weapon, which offers the firepower of a multiple-launch rocket system on a wheeled chassis. The 97th Air Mobility Wing offered an
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