Maintainers compete for load crew of year

Airman 1st Class Christopher Rose, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares the F-15 for the AIM-9 missile Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maintainers compete for load crew of year

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, secures the AIM-9 missile before moving it to the jet Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maintainers compete for load crew of year

Airman 1st Class Mark Timpani, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares the F-15 for the AIM-9 missile Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maintainers compete for load crew of year

Staff Sgt. Anthony Childers, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, guides the loader toward the Joint Direct Attack Munition during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a JDAM and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maintainers compete for load crew of year

It takes all three 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew members to position the small diameter bomb on the F-15 during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a SDB onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maintainers compete for load crew of year

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, verifies the checklist for the Joint Direct Attack Munition during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a JDAM and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Legendary pizza

Jason McWilliams, of the 96th Security Forces Squadron, combines some cheese with his gulp of water during a pizza-eating contest at Legends Sports Grill Jan. 5 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The team competition of devouring three large pizzas in 10 minutes or less was part of the official grand opening of Legends Sports Grill, a new restaurant at Eglin’s old enlisted club. SFS beat out four other teams, finishing off their pizzas in under eight minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Legendary pizza

Brandon Lugo and Patrick Barbarino, from the 46th Test Wing, try to scarf down three large pizzas in 10 minutes as the pizza-eating contest’s only two-person team, Jan. 5 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The contest was part of the official grand opening of Legends Sports Grill, a new restaurant at Eglin’s old enlisted club. The 96th Security Forces Squadron team beat out four other teams, finishing off their pizzas in under eight minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

family strength training

Ben Gleason, Military Fitness Program Liaison, teaches Master Sgt. Chris Calhoun and his son how to box jump. Special training was provided during family strength training classes Dec. 19 to 20 at the Eglin Field House. Parents and youth, ages 13 to 18, were taught free weight movements. For more information on future events, call 882-6028 or send an e-mail to benjamin.gleason@eglin.af.mil. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

family strength training

Daron Calhoun practices the dead lift he learned during a family strength training class Dec. 19 at the Eglin Field House. Parents and youth, ages 13 to 18, received special training in free weight movements. For more information on future events, call 882-6028 or send an e-mail to benjamin.gleason@eglin.af.mil. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

SFS team

James Baker, the 96th Security Forces Squadron quarterback, takes the snap at the goal line during the base intramural flag football championship game against the Air Armament Center Dec. 15 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. SFS beat the Air Armament Center team 19-14 to claim the title. It had been three years since they’d been the champs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

AAC team

Brian Nagle, the Air Armament Center quarterback, scrambles by a 96th Security Forces Squadron defender during the base intramural flag football championship game Dec. 15 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. SFS beat the Air Armament Center team 19-14 to claim the title. It had been three years since they’d been the champs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

SFS team

Josh Ballard, a 96th Security Forces Squadron player, runs by Air Armament Center defenders during the base intramural flag football championship game Dec. 15 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. SFS beat the Air Armament Center team 19-14 to claim the title. It had been three years since they’d been the champs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

AAC team

Jimmy Herold, Air Armament Center coach, tosses a pass to an open teammate during the base intramural flag football championship game against the 96th Security Forces Squadron Dec. 15 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. SFS beat the Air Armament Center team 19-14 to claim the title. It had been three years since they’d been the champs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POL distribution

Each day, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen keep Eglin aircraft flying by ensuring their tanks are filled with JP-8. When a call for a refuel or defuel comes in, the goal for a petroleum, oil and lubricants operator is to deliver it in 30 minutes or less. Last year, more than 14 million gallons of fuel and cryogenics products were delivered by the flight to fulfill the 8,000 test and training missions on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POL distribution

The fuel nozzle is the single-point of entry and exit in the lifecycle of JP-8 fuel at Eglin. The nozzle delivers the fuel to the base from tanker trucks. Also, the nozzle transfers it from a storage tank into the Air Force’s fuel trucks. Finally, it is the delivery mechanism used from the fuel truck to the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POL distribution

Senior Airman Jason Lord, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, opens the valve to release the JP-8 to fill up his 6,000 gallon R-11 tanker truck. The fuel flows from a large storage tank into the truck. It will remain in the vehicle until it is delivered to the aircraft. Last year, more than 14 million gallons of fuel and cryogenics products were delivered by the flight to fulfill the 8,000 test and training missions on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POL distribution

Staff Sgt. Chad Gagnon, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, pours the fuel drained from the bottom of the tank of an R-11 truck into a storage container during a morning inspection at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Each morning, Airmen from the petroleum, oil and lubricants flight inspect every fuel truck in the fleet to include checking the seals, lights, the hoses for tears or gashes and taking fuel samples from the bottom of each tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POL distribution

Staff Sgt. Daniel Blowers, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, tightens a loose bolt on an R-11 truck during its morning inspection at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Each morning, Airmen from the petroleum, oil and lubricants flight inspect every fuel truck in the fleet to include checking the seals, lights, the hoses for tears or gashes and taking fuel samples from the bottom of each tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POL distribution

Airman Jonathan Quinchia, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, adjusts a dial while refueling a 46th Test Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. When a call for a refuel or defuel comes in, the goal for a petroleum, oil and lubricants operator is to deliver it in 30 minutes or less. Last year, more than 14 million gallons of fuel and cryogenics products were delivered by the flight to fulfill the 8,000 test and training missions on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

POL distribution

Staff Sgt. Chad Gagnon, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, drains the fuel from the bottom of the tank from an R-11 truck during its morning inspection at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Each morning, Airmen from the petroleum, oil and lubricants flight inspect every fuel truck in the fleet to include checking the seals, lights, the hoses for tears or gashes and taking fuel samples from the bottom of each tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Airman honored with Air Force Cross display

Staff Sgt. Robert Gutierrez looks at the display case containing his Air Force Cross citation and other memorabilia, which was dedicated to him at the Enlisted Professional Development Center Dec. 5 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Gutierrez received the award “for extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy of the United States in Harat Province, Afghanistan” from President Barack Obama on Oct. 5, 2009. During a nighttime raid, Gutierrez, assigned as a special tactics combat controller to an Army Special Forces detachment, was shot in the chest. Though in intense pain, he engaged Taliban fighters with gunfire and directed two strafe runs, which decimated the enemy force and allowed his team to escape the kill zone. Gutierrez is a member of the Special Tactics Training Squadron at Hurlburt Field. (Courtesy photo)

Toys for Tots

The local Marine Toys for Tots collected more than 13,000 toys for emerald coast children last year. Marines of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 and Navy EOD school are collecting toys again this year. (Courtesy photo)

The lab

Airman 1st Class Troy Hall, with the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, shakes a quart jar sample of JP-8 to create a vortex. The vortex brings up any sediment and water that may be contained in the fuel. A visual inspection of the vortex is accomplished before any JP-8 can be offloaded from the barge to Eglin’s storage tanks. Airmen in the Eglin fuels lab evaluate more than 200 aviation and ground fuel samples each month. These steps are taken to ensure water, additives and sediment amounts are at or below the proper levels. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)