Purple People

Team Eglin commuters entering and exiting the base may notice purple figures around the base. The exhibits were placed at both gates and the commissary by Family Advocacy for Domestic Violence awareness month. The three free-standing, life-sized figures are a variation on the Silent Witness project, established in 1991 and honors those who died as a result of domestic violence. The purple people will greet commuters throughout October. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sam King Jr.)

A helping hand

A 53rd Wing honorary commander gets help pulling himself out of a parachute during water survival training at Post’l Point, Sept. 28. Designed for training pilots in the use of water survival equipment after an ejection over the sea or an emergency landing, the exercises provide an interactive environment for community members to work with Airmen. The honorary commander program pairs civic leaders and wing leadership together to exchange ideas and educate civilians about Air Force life. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Water survival training

Kevin Tingle, the 29th Test Systems Squadron honorary commander, receives safety instructions from Airmen during water survival training at Post’l Point, Sept. 26. Designed for training pilots in the use of water survival equipment after an ejection over the sea or an emergency landing, the exercises provide an interactive environment for community members to work with Airmen. The honorary commander program pairs civic leaders and wing leadership together to exchange ideas and educate civilians about Air Force life. The 53rd Wing currently has 11 honorary commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Towing the line

Dr. Eric Goldberg, the 513th Electronic Warfare Squadron honorary commander, is towed away from shore to simulate being drug by a parachute after a water landing during water survival training at Post’l Point, Sept. 28. Designed for training pilots in the use of water survival equipment after an ejection over the sea or an emergency landing, the exercises provide an interactive environment for community members to work with Airmen. The honorary commander program pairs civic leaders and wing leadership together to exchange ideas and educate civilians about Air Force life. The 53rd Wing currently has 11 honorary commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Commander assistance

Lt. Col. Chad Fager, the 513 Electronic Warfare Squadron commander, assists his honorary commander, Dr. Eric Goldberg, during water survival training at Post’l Point, Sept. 28. Designed for training pilots in the use of water survival equipment after an ejection over the sea or an emergency landing, the exercises provide an interactive environment for community members to work with Airmen. The honorary commander program pairs civic leaders and wing leadership together to exchange ideas and educate civilians about Air Force life. The 53rd Wing currently has 11 honorary commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Aircraft security

Airman 1st Class Kirk Tate, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, secures an enemy combatant during a Fly Away Security Team training session Sept. 17 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The course, taught by 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron instructors, brought together security forces Airmen from McConnell AFB, Kansas and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., to learn how to protect aircraft and handle a potential hostile situation. Tate was cut when the night vision goggle mount on his helmet hit the bridge of his nose while subduing a simulated enemy. (US. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Aircraft security

An Airman stands guard as simulated passengers board the aircraft during a Fly Away Security Team training session Sept. 17 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The course, taught by 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron instructors, brought together security forces Airmen from McConnell AFB, Kansas and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., to learn how to protect aircraft and handle a potential hostile situation. (US. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Aircraft security

Staff Sgt. Aaron Lathrop, of the 22nd Security Force Squadron (left) and Airman 1st Class Brandon Smith, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, move in to take down an enemy combatant during a Fly Away Security Team training session Sept. 17 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The course, taught by 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron instructors, brought together security forces Airmen from McConnell AFB, Kansas and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., to learn how to protect aircraft and handle a potential hostile situation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Combatives

Airman 1st Class Brandon Smith, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, forces his opponent to submit during the “King of the Mat” competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The competition is part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. Smith went on to win the competition, never losing a match. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Combatives

Security Forces Airmen grapple for control during the “King of the Mat” competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The competition is part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another.The course, taught by 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron instructors, brought together security forces Airmen from McConnell AFB, Kansas and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., to learn how to protect aircraft and handle a potential hostile situation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Combatives

Airman 1st Class Oscar Gomez-Villatoro, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, puts his opponent in a choke hold during the “King of the Mat” competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The competition is part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Combatives

Security Forces Airmen grapple for control during a “King of the Mat” competition training at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another as part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Ready to play

From left, Eglin Air Force Base soccer team members Jeff Gibson, Rich Bonsra and Ryan Curtis await the kickoff of the quarterfinal game against Columbus AFB. Eglin won the Defender’s Cup soccer tournament with a 2-1 win over Fort Bliss, Texas in the championship game. (Courtesy photo)

First salute

Sgt. 1st Class Todd Wilson, an instructor at Naval School, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, salutes as he walks past the posted sideboys during the chief petty officer pinning ceremony held by the Navy's F-35 Lightning II squadron, VFA-101, Sept. 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Wilson and a Marine EOD instructor volunteered to participate in the chiefs’ induction process and ceremony to become honorary chief petty officers. There were four Sailors who pinned on the new rank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Congratulations

Newly-pinned Chief Petty Officer Robert Powell embraces his sponsor after receiving his new combination cap during his pinning ceremony held by the Navy's F-35 Lightning II squadron, VFA-101, Sept. 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. A new chief’s sponsor guides them through a six-week induction process. The combination cap helps signify the transition from E-6 to chief. There were four Sailors who pinned on the new rank. A Marine and a Soldier were also pinned as honorary chiefs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Post the colors

Naval Air Station Pensacola’s color guard presents the colors at the beginning of a chief petty officer pinning ceremony held by the Navy's F-35 Lightning II squadron, VFA-101, Sept. 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The ceremony formally marks the transition from E-6 to chief. There were four Sailors who pinned on the new rank. A Marine and a Soldier were also pinned as honorary chiefs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Eyes front

A Sailor with Naval Air Station Pensacola’s color guard waits to bring in the colors at the beginning of a chief petty officer pinning ceremony held by the Navy's F-35 Lightning II squadron, VFA-101, Sept. 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The ceremony formally marks the transition from E-6 to chief. There were four Sailors who pinned on the new rank. A Marine and a Soldier were also pinned as honorary chiefs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Salute

The pilot and crew chief salute each other as the F-16 Fighting Falcon taxies toward the runway for another sortie Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Nose to nose

An Airman waits to give the weapons clearance to an F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to a sortie Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

In good hands

The crew chief receives a quick hand shake from the pilot before they begin the preflight checks of an F-16 Fighting Falcon on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

F-16 prep

309th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airmen prepare an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a sortie on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Pre-flight complete

Senior Airman Dominique Wilson, a crew chief with the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, completes his pre-flight checks of an F-16 Fighting Falcon on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

All female team perform base retreat

An all female detail team presents the flag to Col. Antonio Douglas, the 96th Test Wing installation vice commander, during a retreat ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Aug. 23. The flight and detail team were all female in honor of Women’s Equality Day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

All female team perform base retreat

Senior Airman Jessica Tanedo, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, folds the base flag during a retreat ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., Aug. 23. The flight and detail team were all female in honor of Women’s Equality Day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)