Tornado relief

Mona Thomas expresses her appreciation for 1st Lt. Linna De Cuir for helping her find a few sentimenal items in the rubble of her Moore, Okla., residence, May 24, 2013. Her home was leveled by an EF-5 tornado that ripped through the town May 20. More than 600 airmen from the greater Oklahoma area volunteered to assist in the relief efforts. Du Cuir is assigned to the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron and hails from Lincolnton, N.C. Other volunteers came from Vance AFB, Okla., and Altus, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

Tornado relief

Capt. Ryan Gers, gives a homeowner family photos he uncovered, May 24, 2013, in the debris of a home leveled by a May 20 tornado that ripped through parts of Moore, Okla. More than 600 airmen from the greater Oklahoma area volunteered to assist in the relief efforts. Gers is assigned to the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and hails from Scottsdale, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

Tornado aftermath

A United States flag hangs from a home devastated by a tornado that hit the town of Moore; Okla. May 20; 2013 near Tinker Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Jon Quinlan)

Tornado aftermath

A twisted up sign from SW 6th and Telephone Road landed in the front yard of 137th Air Refueling Wing Oklahoma Air National Guard member, Master Sgt. Cherry Bina. Bina’s house was destroyed during the massive tornado that ripped through Moore Okla., on May 20, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

Flag in the aftermath

A United States flag flies from the ruble of a home destroyed in Moore, Okla. A powerful EF-5 tornado touched down approximately three miles south of Tinker AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Jon Quinlan)

Calif. wildfires

A C-130J from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing is prepared for possible use against wildfires. The aircraft from the California Air National Guard is equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or MAFFS, and can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant. (Courtesy photo)

Hurricane Sandy

A WC-130J Hercules loadmaster Chief Master Sgt. Rick Cumbo, from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, prepares a drop sonde used to measure and transfer weather data back to the aircraft while flying on a weather reconnaissance mission into Hurricane Sandy Oct. 29, 2012, somewhere over the Eastern coastline. The drop sonde is ejected into the storm from the WC-130J using a specialized launcher, which then transmits real-time weather information back to the aircraft. The 53rd WRS conducted weather reconnaissance missions in preparation for Hurricane Sandy making landfall along the Eastern coastline of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson)

Hurricane Sandy

A WC-130J Hercules, from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, flies into Hurricane Sandy Oct. 29, 2012 somewhere over the Eastern coastline of the U.S. The 53rd WRS conducted weather reconnaissance missions in preparation for Hurricane Sandy making landfall along the Eastern coastline of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson)

Hurricane Sandy

Tech. Sgt Chris Becyar, from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, conducts a pre-flight inspection on a WC-130J Hercules in preparation for a weather reconnaissance mission into Hurricane Sandy Oct. 29, 2012, at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The 53rd WRS conducted weather reconnaissance missions in preparation for Hurricane Sandy making landfall along the Eastern coastline of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson)

Hurricane Sandy

A WC-130J Hercules crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron walk to their aircraft for a weather reconnaissance mission into Hurricane Sandy Oct. 29, 2012, at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The 53rd WRS conducted weather reconnaissance missions in preparation for Hurricane Sandy making landfall along the Eastern coastline of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson)

Arizona, Japanese Partnership

Japanese Air Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Keisuke Ueda pre-flights an F-16 Fighting Falcon before a training sortie at Tucson International Airport, Ariz., Feb. 22. Ueda is one of three Japanese students currently enrolled in F-16 initial pilot training at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Dave Neve)

Arizona, Japanese Partnership

Japan Air Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Keisuke Ueda pre-flights his helmet with the help of Staff Sgt. Luis Aguilar, an aircrew flight equipment specialist at the 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International Airport, Feb. 22. Ueda is one of three Japanese students currently enrolled in F-16 initial pilot training here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Dave Neve)

Waldo Canyon Fires

Tammy Rich gathers personal belongings from her vehicle June 29, 2012, after residents were allowed to return to their homes at the Air Force Academy, Colo. Rich and her family, along with all everyone else residing on the Academy, were forced to evacuate their homes because of the Waldo Canyon fire that was threatening the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brad Sisson)

Academy firefighters battle Waldo Canyon fire

Tech Sgt. Jason Linta, Bobby Garza and Dean Prestia cut lines to create a firebreak to prevent fires from jumping at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., on June 28, 2012. Sergeant Linta is a firefighter assigned to the Academy and Garza and Prestia are firefighters assigned to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Waldo Canyon Fires

U.S. Air Force Academy residents Gwenn Garrett and her son Orion Garrett Johnson hurry and pack up their family's possessions during the Waldo Canyon Fire on the U.S. Air Force Academy June 27, 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by: Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Waldo Canyon Fires

U.S. Air Force Academy resident Emily Rich carrys a stuffed animal to the car as her family packs up their possessions during the Waldo Canyon Fire on the U.S. Air Force Academy June 27, 2012. Residents were allowed back after the initial evacuation for two hours to gather more belongings. The fires, which have burned more than 15,000 acres, began spreading to the southwestern corner of the Academy in the early morning, causing base officials to evacuate residents. Officials estimated that the fire had spread to about 10 acres of land belonging to the Academy. (U.S. Air Force Photo by: Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Waldo Canyon Fires

Firefighters head to the front line as they continue to battle several fires that burned into the evening hours in Waldo Canyon on the U.S. Air Force Academy June 27, 2012. The fires, which have burned more than 15,000 acres, began spreading to the southwestern corner of the Academy in the early morning, causing base officials to evacuate residents. Currently, more than 90 firefighters from the Academy, along with assets from Air Force Space Command; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; Fort Carson, Colo.; and the local community continue to fight the fire.(U.S. Air Force Photo by: Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Waldo Canyon Fires

A helicopter drops water on the fire as firefighters continued to battle the blaze that burned into the evening hours in Waldo Canyon on the U.S. Air Force Academy June 27, 2012. The fires, which have burned more than 15,000 acres, began spreading to the southwestern corner of the Academy in the early morning, causing base officials to evacuate residents. Officials estimated that the fire had spread to about 10 acres of land belonging to the Academy. U.S. Air Force Photo by: Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

153rd Airlift Wing MAFFS

Master Sgt. Marshall Davis conducts flight preparations at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., on June 27, 2012. Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System units from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing were activated June 24, 2012, to assist in fire-suppression efforts in the Rocky Mountain region. Davis is a MAFFS-qualified loadmaster assigned to the 187th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nichole Grady)

Vandenberg Air Force Base Hot Shots

A Vandenberg Air Force Base Hot Shots vehicle backs into the belly of a C-17 Globemaster III at Vanderberg Air Force Base, Calif., on June 27, 2012. Eighteen members of the Vandenberg Hot Shot crew, along with two crew carrier vehicles, one superintendent support vehicle and one all-terrain vehicle deployed to Colorado to support the wildland fire-fighting efforts. The Globemaster III is assigned to March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Arkansas Flood Photo of a Flooded Street

(Arkansas Flood photo of a flooded street/Sylvia Saab)

The morning after

Airmen with the 633rd Security Forces Squadron and 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron raise the U.S. flag at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Aug. 28, 2011, following Hurricane Irene. The hurricane caused widespread flooding and power outages throughout the state. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jason Joel Brown)

Hightail it

On a fog-covered flightline, Airmen from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., load and secure equipment onto aircraft in preparation for Hurricane Irene on Aug. 26, 2011. All JB McGuire aircraft were evacuated to Air Force bases around the country. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Dennis Sloan)

Preparing for the storm

Airmen fill sandbags Aug 25, 2011, in preparation for Hurricane Irene at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. The hurricane, which was a Category 1 storm by the time it hit the East Coast, brought heavy winds and flooding. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brittany Jones)