• Mission first, people always

    Experience counts for alot in both the military and civilian workforce, and no one knows this better than the new director of the 97th Maintenance Directorate, T.O. Hilley. As a military aircraft maintainer, Mr. Hilley achieved the rank of chief master sergeant, and he now holds the highest civilian

  • Cure for the warm-weather woes

    Looking for something to do? The 97th Services Squadron has a solution for you... The days are getting longer and the temperature warmer. This means only one thing: spring is here, and spring time at Altus Air Force Base opens the door to many possibilities. It's time to get out and do something,

  • OG superintendent shares views after 29-year career

    Chief Master Sgt. Dalton Pratt, superintendent of the 97th Operations Group, retires at 10 a.m. Thursday in a ceremony at the Freedom Community Center, after 29 years of active duty service in the Air Force. Although the chief was a positive force in the adoption of new training methods and

  • When darkness falls, life support helps aircrew find their way

    This is part two of a three-part series on C-17 and NVG training at Altus Air Force Base. In 2003, Altus Air Force Base made preparations to deliver formal night vision goggle training to aircrews enrolled in the C-17 school here. The 97th Operation Support Squadron Life Support Flight initially

  • Rain, sleet or dark of night, C-17 pilot training must go on

    This is the final article in a three-part series on C-17 and night vision goggle training at Altus Air Force Base. Growing up, Capt. Gordon Roman dreamed of flying aircraft at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., like his father, retired Lt. Col. Marc Roman, a former reservist who had flown C-5s with the

  • End of an era: Bradley retires after 10 years as A-TEAM director

    After 41 years of service in the military and leading the A-TEAM since its inception 10 years ago, Michael Bradley, director of the 97th Maintenance Directorate, will retire. Role of civilians "Civil service has changed a lot in the last ten years," said the aircraft maintenance management

  • Sisters share racing success

    The driver staged the dragster as the engine crackled and shook behind the tight driver's seat and roll cage. The Christmas tree lights at the Wichita Raceway track blinked down the tree and racing slicks spun slightly as the driver launched the car down the strip. Just over 8 seconds later the

  • There are stories to be told

    Boasting a full selection of everything from educational and reference books to classic literature, anyone with base access and an I.D. card can make use of the Altus Air Force Base library. The library offers a 22,000 volume library, computers and reading programs for children. Adults can increase

  • Ops officer offers account of Iraq deployment

    In the middle of January, 2006, while completing Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, I had a message to call Major Kevin Sherrick, 97th Security Forces Squadron commander. After a few moments of trading SOS stories, he notified me of an upcoming deployment and required training before hand. I