• 54th ARS boom operator trades boom for gold bars

    He lays on his stomach with his head supported by a chin pad keeping his eyes steady. Both hands are carefully operating two joysticks that control the 20-foot boom off the end of the KC-135 Stratotanker. His eyes focus as he makes contact with the aircraft he is refueling 2,000 feet above the

  • They call him the yo-yo guy

    "Being able to show them something that possibly blows their mind gets them talking, gets them more personable, and gets them more focused on what we're doing. Also, it gets them to want me to get done quicker so I can show them more yo-yo tricks."Staff Sgt. Toby Ratcliffe pauses, considering the

  • Chaplains pray for those thinking suicide

    It was small gathering; a few professionals, and some who have simply come because they care, very deeply. Some have been touched by tragedy, and others are doing what they can to avoid it. Each of those present believe in a Higher Purpose."Let us pray..."Chaplains at the Altus main chapel gathered

  • Two mighty 97th Airmen become American citizens

    Two Airmen from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron here became American citizens when they took the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance in Oklahoma City Dec. 15.Airman 1st Class Andre Hulse, originally from San Ignacio Belize, is a water fuels maintenance journeyman and Airman 1st Class Kyle Hacker,

  • Mighty 97th Lieutenant settles dispute downrange

    A lieutenant from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron went beyond his normal duties downrange when he helped settle a dispute between the Afghan Border Patrol and a contractor.1st Lt. Joshua J. Carroll, 577th Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force Squadron, Task Force Rakkasan Detachment deputy officer in

  • 3 Altus Airmen receive Air Force Combat Action Medal

    "It was just a bad day," Sergeant Nolan said, as he recollected the events of the day his convoy fell under attack. "It was a long day. I wanted to go home and then "boom" there was a flash of light and debris covered the truck." Tech. Sgt. Travis L. Nolan, Senior Airman Jennifer L. Kearns and

  • Drugs don't fly with Altus AFB

    "Drugs don't fly with us" the unofficial motto of the Drug Demand Reduction team here, and a phrase Air Force DDR managers hope all Airmen will take to heart."The Department of Defense uses one of the strongest drug use deterrents in the world - random drug testing," said Mrs. Donna L. Butte, DDR

  • Sharing is caring

    One of the most useful tools for sharing information is the social media share button, said Tech. Sgt. Jennifer D. Seidl, NCO in charge of the 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs here. But it seems as if some people are afraid of using the share button because they don't know what it is or how to

  • Altus Airman deployed to 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group

    When you think of security forces you think of action, such as weapons and defense not the thankless routine of paperwork. "We know we have done our best job when no one knows we exist, because that means we performed our administrative duties with minimum delays in support of the Defense Force

  • Two Altus friends aim high

    "Deep down, I know that I have a purpose." said 19-year-old John Veirs. John Veirs and good friend 18-year-old Wade Wanke are in the delayed enlistment program for the United States Air Force. Both have their hearts set on becoming a part of one of the Air Force's elite teams, Pararescue. Pararescue