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  • Thrift savings plan contribution limits increase in 2013

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board has announced the 2013 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions increased from $17,000 to $17,500 for 2013, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The TSP catch-up plan contribution limit will remain at $5,500. TSP is a

  • Thrift Savings Plan improves security measures

    The Thrift Savings Plan will begin using account numbers to improve individual account holder security effective in October. TSP officials will mail new account numbers to participants in September replacing the use of Social Security numbers as the primary means to identify current civilian and

  • Thrift Savings Plan kicks off open season

    The federal government's Thrift Savings Plan kicked off its 2004 "open season" Oct. 15 with slogans to remind servicemembers and civilian government employees that they can increase their retirement coffers substantially by investing in TSP, a 401K-type savings program.Open season -- the period when

  • Thrift Savings Plan offering improvements

    The Thrift Savings Plan's new computerized record-keeping system, now set to kick off in November, will provide more control of accounts for investors and faster processing of transactions, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.During the transition period Aug. 19 to Sept. 16, access

  • Thrift Savings Plan officials warn against unsanctioned app

    A free iPhone app for the Thrift Savings Plan available at the Apple App Store could pose a security risk, program officials warned.A notice on the Thrift Savings Plan website says the "TSP Funds" app, which asks participants for their account login information, is not sanctioned."This app is not

  • Thrift Savings Plan open season begins April 15

    Civilian and military employees can sign up for or change Thrift Savings Plan accounts during "open season" from April 15 to June 30."TSP is an easy, long-term retirement savings plan that everyone should consider," said Maj. Alessandra Stokstad, chief of the Air Force Personnel Center's contact

  • Thrift Savings Plan open season begins Oct. 15

    Civilian and military employees can sign up for, or change, their Thrift Savings Plan contribution amounts during the "open season" Oct. 15 to Dec. 31."TSP is a long-term retirement savings plan, which everyone should consider," said Senior Master Sgt. Felipe Ortiz, superintendent of the Air Force

  • Thrift Savings Plan open season ends Dec. 31

    Civilian and military employees still have time to sign up for or change Thrift Savings Plan accounts during the current open season."With the holiday season rapidly approaching, we want to remind everyone that open season dates have changed, and this year ends earlier than in past years." said

  • Thrift Savings Plan provides retirement nest eggs

    About 614,000 servicemembers are saving for retirement in the federal Thrift Savings Program, which was opened to military members in 2002, a senior Pentagon official here said March 19. The TSP, explained Chuck Witschonke, assistant director of military compensation for economic analysis, is a U.S.

  • Thrift Savings Plan toll-free service begins July 1

    A toll-free telephone service for Thrift Savings Plan participants and beneficiaries begins July 1.Callers will be able to receive TSP account or transaction information via the service daily around the clock. They will also be able to speak to a participant service representative at one of two call

  • Through Airmen's Ears: A journey into music resonates success

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Under the steel-grey wings of an MQ-1L Predator A on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum here, visitors took their

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman blogger aims high

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Coming back to a new school year was difficult, even for an experienced teacher. Her new special education math class was crowded. Twenty students

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman strives to become pro fighter

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Most people dream of getting rich, or houses with white picket fences, but one Airman's dream is to be locked in a blood-stained steel cage with a

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: 65 years later, WW II veteran returns to England

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)On a typical day from 1942 to 1945, the flightline on Royal Air Force Alconbury, England, would be full of activity as aircrews, maintainers and weapons

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: A coin to remember

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It was just past 11 o'clock at night, July 30, and Airman 1st Class Mariah Alexander was beginning to fall asleep in her dorm room. Suddenly, the phone

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: A pilot who can do it all

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Just three short years ago, Lt. Aaron Berry was maintaining A-10 Thunderbolt IIs. Today, he's flying them.In April 2009, then-Tech. Sgt. Aaron Berry was

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Academy cadet selected as a USA Rugby All-American

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Cadet 2nd Class Jackson Bristol has kept his passion for rugby alive with a simple approach: he never stops playing the game. January through December,

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Academy coach to return to work after two strokes

    Every day Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous is reminded to keep fighting when he glances at the bright green wristband on his right arm that reads: "Tough times don't last, tough people do." Oosterhous, the men's tennis coach here and only active-duty head coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy, wears the gift

  • Through Airmen's eyes: AEDC's Airman aims for the future

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)One of the military's most effective recruiters is often a person's older brother.Senior Airman Eric Ball is the first to acknowledge

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: AF captain coaches ultra fitness while deployed

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Six days a week, her iPhone alarm - a soothing instrumental melody - goes off at 4:10 a.m.She puts on her PT uniform, stops by her office to check

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: AF firefighter is part of the family

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)"If something happens and you're in a fire, it doesn't matter who's next to you, as long as you can trust they can get you out," said Airman 1st Class

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: AF pilot helps Iraqis earn their wings

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Mounted aboard an armored suburban with a pistol at his side, one of Laughlin's own begins his days in Iraq checking in on classes miles apart, filled

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: AF sets Airman on target

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) The archer stands still with his sight adjusted, eyes on target and breath held as he pulls back his trigger. After taking a final aim, Tech. Sgt. Kevin

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Air Force sniper recalls brutal battle in Iraq

     (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)With rockets exploding around him and the entry control point in complete chaos, a security forces Airman took decisive action to help quell the enemy

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman amasses huge comic book collection

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) Super-speed, excessive strength, X-ray vision--realistically, no human can obtain these skills naturally, but comic books provide a way to vicariously

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman battles breast cancer

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)"I was 21 years old and didn't think I was strong enough to beat two cancers -- I thought my life was over," said Senior Airman Latisha Chong.Chong, a

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman becomes 'pin up' girl for charity

     (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Military members often help their local communities with volunteer work, but one Nellis Air Force Base Airman is aiding her favorite charities as an

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman continues softball dominance

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)While many airmen who play the sport avidly hope to make the Air Force softball team once or twice in their careers, Master Sgt. Tony Patrick has donned

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman creates important database program

    When an expensive contract on an Air Force aircrew flight equipment database program was not renewed, bases across the world had to find local solutions to fill the void. Some had to turn to time consuming spreadsheets or paper records. At Dover Air Force Base, Del., one Airman created a solution to

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman embraces 'Art of Eight Limbs'

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Participating in a combative sport widely referred to as the "Art of Eight Limbs" might seem intimidating.Senior Airman James Turner, on the other hand,

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman engineers musical masterpieces

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)On the Christopher Newport University campus, in Newport News, Va., Ferguson Hall teemed with activity as spectators found their seats. The din of

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman enlists father's help to improve KAF

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Airmen from the 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron conducted a retreat ceremony at the contingency aeromedical staging facility here

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman inspires through music

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Born and raised in Newton, Miss., a real life "small town," he had watched many of his family members join the military and knew he would soon follow."My

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman journeys to top of the world

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)The Tibetans call it "Chomolungma," meaning "mother goddess of the world." Global Positioning System satellite equipment measures its peak at 29,035

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman keeps mission on target

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It was a bright, sunny day recently as Senior Airman Kimara Duncan wheeled her toolbox out to the flightline here. The air was warm and filled with the

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman overcomes tough past

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)He stepped out his door and looked down the street. He saw homes with tires for walls and rust-covered steel roofs. For one Airman, this was

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman puts crosshairs on life goal

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)To the naked eye, she was totally invisible. Even in the middle of an open field, she blended in with the sparse grasses and bushes that made up her

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman receives Bronze Star with Valor

    In August of 2011, exactly two days after celebrating his birthday, Master Sgt. Gene Jameson, III, found his combat communications training put to use inside a compound at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.One year later, he was recognized for his heroism with a Bronze Star Medal with Valor during a

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman reflects on journey from maintainer to pilot

    "I remember the first time I climbed into an F-16 (Fighting Falcon) and the canopy closed," he said. "I had my mask on, and it was so quiet. I was amazed at how quiet and peaceful it was. At that moment, I knew the cockpit was where I was meant to be."To get into that cockpit, Maj. Robin Lytle had

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman returns 'home' to help recover MIAs

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)An officer stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base traveled thousands of miles earlier this year to return to his birth country of Vietnam for the first

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman returns to Afghanistan as mentor

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Assigned to the Pentagon after a successful tour in Afghanistan, he soon volunteered to return. Too much work was left to do."My first tour involved

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman saves lives, delivers twins

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It was a typical day for Senior Airman Rainier Jeffrey as he rode to the Upolu Hospital in Samoa. As a medical technician deployed out to sea with the

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman saves man from drowning

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)A recent family outing turned into a lifesaving event for a Keesler Air Force Base medical technician.Airman 1st Class Shaina Buller, a medical

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman sees big picture during deployment

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Even when deployments are "inside the wire," for many service members they can be "outside the comfort zone." For Senior Airman Justin Peattie, a

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman shows skills as F-22 demo pilot

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)The serenity of a sleepy, morning sky broke as a dark form rose from the ground and blotted out the sun. An F-22 Raptor maneuvered through the dawn,

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman steps up, fills AFCENT Band's vacancy

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)When Senior Airman Jamie Horner first stepped off the airplane in Southwest Asia, she had one mission in mind: to prepare the installation for natural

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman strengthens Russian ties at Manas

    Not many Americans can say they are originally from Russia. Even fewer can say their military deployment has strengthened their family. For 2nd Lt. Liya Smolina, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Theater Security Cooperation chief host nation liaison, that's exactly the case.

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman struggles back from rare illness

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Imagine having to relearn all the things you learned as kid: how to eat, how to walk, how to talk. Imagine how frustrated and devastated you would

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman swears allegiance, attains dream

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)An 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron airman assigned here was full of nerves on the morning of Nov. 16, as he was about to become a U.S. citizen in a New

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman takes 'once-in-a-lifetime' journey

    Leave is something military members typically earn, with hard work, dedication and long hours. Those members usually use their precious time off to recharge their batteries and relax, not Airman 1st Class Jessica Tharp.Tharp, an aerospace propulsion journeyman assigned to the 18th Component

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman takes pride in building future leaders

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It is a simple word to describe a powerful human trait or action; the ability to influence or guide a group of people to complete an act greater than

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman takes wingman concept to new level

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It was a typical night for Senior Airman Dara Alexander; working as a receptionist at the Langley Inns, Langley Air Force Base, Va., ... until the phone

  • Through Airmen's eyes: Airman walks on water

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)The human body is made up of approximately 60 percent water. With that knowledge, as temperatures rise in Southwest Asia, it is crucial for service

  • Through Airmen's eyes: Airman, MMA fighter pulls no punches

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Every step was agony. With the brutal pain of blisters cutting through his feet, amplified by the weight of the combat gear and 55-pound rucksack he

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman, Vietnam POW looks back

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) Forty years have passed since the United States ended its involvement in the Vietnam War, and 40 years have passed since many of its sons who engaged in

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman's quick reaction saves girl's life

    An Airman doesn't have to be on the battlefield to risk his life for others, to react within a moment's notice to a crisis and to be a hero.It started out as a beautiful weekend summer day at Sullivan's Island, S.C.Desperate pleas for help were echoing faintly over the rolling ocean waves. The pleas

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: An immigrant's climb to the top

    For decades, America has been known around the world as a place of opportunity, a reputation that has drawn people from all corners of the world to inhabit there. It's this reputation that motivated a husband and wife to leave a former communist nation of Yugoslavia with their two boys in tow in

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Boom operator reaches 7,500 flying hour milestone

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Master Sgt. Todd Buit, the 92nd Operations Group standards evaluations NCO in charge and career boom operator, reached for the sky and broke records in

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Brother, sister in arms, blood

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen' s Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Growing up with a brother or sister can be tough if they're bigger than you and they bully, tease or steal the last cupcake. You know, the cupcake with

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Building partnerships by building a school

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)The driver pulled down a small side street busy with activity and I realized my finger was already set on the shutter release button of my camera. I was

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Cadet candidate overcomes adversity

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Home has never been where 18-year old William Roe's heart is. A cadet candidate at the Academy's Preparatory School, Roe hopes to one day be an officer

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Captain makes mark in Afghan culture

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)With his rugged beard and long hair, Air Force Capt. Nick Plante is not your typical service member serving overseas in Afghanistan. Dressed like a local

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Capturing history one brush stroke at a time

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Armed with his Nikon D90 camera, Warren Neary, Air Force Reservist, civilian and artist stands in 22-degree weather to capture and witness the history of

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Chaplain overcomes adversity, delivers hope

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)As the proud owner of three master's degrees and a doctorate, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Tillery has dedicated his life to service in the U.S. Air Force.

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Chaplain serves deployment in Antarctica

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)As the cool winter air begins to roll into Sioux City, Iowa, one Air Force Chaplain is feeling a much colder breeze.Chaplain (Capt.) William Vit, a

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Chief discusses how family, pet help PTSD issues

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Coming back from deployment, Airmen face the home-station work environment, reintegrating with family and settling back into day-to-day life.What happens

  • Through Airmen's eyes: Combat medic shares story about 'just doing his job'

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Even though it was only one of more than 300 combat missions he was a part of while deployed last year, it was a day he will never forget. On that day,

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Crew chief keeps B-2s ready for long journeys

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story)His hands are glazed from spatters of grease and oil. His uniform reeks of hydraulic fluid after working a 12-hour shift maintaining a B-2 Spirit.Airman

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Cuban boy fulfills dream of becoming American Airman

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Under a star-studded night in their native Cuba, a young boy and his stepbrother made a promise to each other. If they ever somehow made it to the United

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Deployed Airman draws inspiration from desert canvas

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) Some might see the desert as brown, dusty and generally void of life. But while they may fail to see much color in the desert skyline, one maintenance

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Deployed Airman lives her core values

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Just two months into her first deployment, Air Force Airman 1st Class Rhiannon O'Leary is staying busy. While working for the 451st

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Dog Handler brings her values to career

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It's 6 p.m., and Chrach, a military working dog whose name is pronounced "Crash," is anticipating his evening meal.His handler has been feeding him twice

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Eglin couples make NCO rank together

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)When Air Force officials announced who'd made staff sergeant Aug. 3, two Team Eglin families received twice the good news.Senior Airmen Joseph and Nicole

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Enlisted Airman receives scholarship to Harvard

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It has been said that nothing in life worth having comes easy. For some, it's getting promoted to staff sergeant and for others; it's getting a full

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: F-22 pilot physician takes safety to new heights

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) Powerful thrust, paired with unparalleled agility, propels the grey fighter jet through the sky, in ways unfathomable to earlier generations of

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Father, son reconnect after a year apart

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Finding time to travel home to their family can be a challenge for many service members due to the sporadic movement and occasional deployments a

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: First sergeant flexes natural muscle

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Where are you at 3:40 a.m.? Master Sgt. LaJuan Fuller, 366th Civil Engineering Squadron first sergeant, is at the gym. He's been up for more than an hour

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Flight surgeon notches 1,000 F-16 hours

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)When people began telling Col. Donald Majercik, a flight surgeon here at the Vermont Air National Guard, that he was 20 hours short of 1,000 flight

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Following dream as American, Academy cadet

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)When Senior Airmen Shujie Yan immigrated to the United States from China in 2006, she was a freshman in high school. One year later, she had big dreams

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Following the footsteps of a life cut short

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)They shared the same name. They flew and fought the same types of Wild Weasel fighter jet missions. They looked alike and the family says they even

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Four Airmen bound by blood, oath

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)The sky was glowing on a quiet Sunday morning over Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Crisp air filled the trainee's lungs as he snapped to attention and

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: From combat boots to dancing shoes

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)One Air Commando recently traded in his combat boots for dancing shoes in an effort to help children in need. Staff Sgt. Curtis Krenzke, a 23rd Special

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: From maintenance to medicine

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Twenty-one Airmen from across the Air Force were selected for the 2013 Interservice Physician Assistant Program, with training scheduled to begin

  • Through Airmen's eyes: From paralegal to war fighter

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)One day he was helping someone with a power of attorney as a paralegal and the next day he helped protect unarmed colleagues from enemy fire in a war

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: From victim to victorious

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)"You can be the victim, or you can be victorious." This has become the life motto for Tech. Sgt. Tanya Evans, the 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Going for the Gold

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)On July 5, 2011, Senior Airman Gideon L. Connelly was involved in a motorcycle accident in Baltimore County with serious damage to his left leg. The

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Guard Airman stays committed to giving

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)For more than 12 years, Senior Master Sgt. Craig Sanborn has routinely fought with Burlington, Vt., traffic to go to the American Red Cross. Once there,

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Guard service leads Airman to extremes

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Staff Sgt. Sophia Mantzouris of the 386th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron said she knew she wanted to enlist on active duty from the time she was a little

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Hawaiian Airman brings in-your-face refueling to OEF

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Looking out the window of his boom pod at 30,000 feet, in the middle of nowhere, with himself and the open air -- that is what Master Sgt. Eric Faurott

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Heavy Metal Airman

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)A dim room, a single blue light and a heat source hot enough to melt metal may not sound like an ideal work environment for a women, but for one Airman

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Hero at 30,000 feet

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