Forest friendly fire

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Kevin Heirs, Eglin Natural Resources prescribed fire program manager, goes over the area they have chosen to do a prescribed burn with crewmembers April 8. The fire management technicians at Jackson Guard's Natural Resources branch uses prescribed fire techniques to keep a delicate longleaf pine ecosystem thriving while keeping the military mission a priority year round. Eglin is the largest Air Force base in the U.S. with more than 464,000 acres of land, and is home to more than 77 state and federally listed rare species. With more than 100,000 acres burned last season, the goal is to burn a five-year average of 70,000 acres per year. So far this season, the fire management program has burned more than 76,000 acres. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Meares)

Forest friendly fire

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Jeremy Preston, Eglin Natural Resources wildlife section biological science technician, inspects a longleaf pine tree with a red cockaded woodpecker nest bored into the side April 8. The RCW is a protected species and requires special care during prescribed burns. The fire management technicians at Jackson Guard's Natural Resources branch uses prescribed fire techniques to keep a delicate longleaf pine ecosystem thriving while keeping the military mission a priority year round. Eglin is the largest Air Force base in the U.S. with more than 464,000 acres of land, and is home to more than 77 state and federally listed rare species. With more than 100,000 acres burned last season, the goal is to burn a five-year average of 70,000 acres per year. So far this season, the fire management program has burned more than 76,000 acres. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Meares)

JFIIT supports GFW

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A fighter pilot from the 23rd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany conducts final pre-flight checks before conducting a close air support mission during GFW 09-05 at Nellis AFB, Nev. In partnership with the Army’s National Training Center, the Air Force’s Green Flag West is improving joint integration and warfighting skills of fighter pilots and joint terminal attack controllers conducting close air support missions to support maneuver forces as they prepare for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Casey Bain)

JFIIT supports GFW

FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- Soldiers conduct situational training exercises as part of the ongoing NTC rotation 09-05 at Ft. Irwin, Calif. In partnership with the Army’s National Training Center, the Air Force’s Green Flag West is improving joint integration and warfighting skills of fighter pilots and joint terminal attack controllers conducting close air support missions to support maneuver forces as they prepare for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Casey Bain)

JFIIT supports GFW

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 23rd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, taxis to take-off during Green Flag West 09-05. In partnership with the Army’s National Training Center, the Air Force’s Green Flag West is improving joint integration and warfighting skills of fighter pilots and joint terminal attack controllers conducting close air support missions to support maneuver forces as they prepare for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Casey Bain)

Precision measurement

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Staff Sgt. Christopher Akin, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory technician, ensures survey equipment, telescopes and other optical measuring instruments maintain proper alignment on the short-range calibrator. PMEL is responsible for maintaining more than 22,000 pieces of equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Leslie Brown)

Precision measurement

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Eric Miller, right, assists Senior Airman Nathan Flannery, Precision Measurement Equipment Lab technicians, with research in a technical order procedure for calibrating a radio frequency generator. PMEL is responsible for more than 22,000 pieces of equipment assigned to 406 accounts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Leslie Brown)

New barracks open

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal held a ribbon cutting for the opening of its new student barracks March 24. Terri Withee, Director of Batchelor Housing, Navy Gateway Inns and Suites; Capt. Adam Guziewicz, NAVSEOD commander, Joe Alo, site manager, Commander Lynne Chapman, Whiting Field commander and Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, cut the ribbon. The building cost $11.8 million and provides 216 beds to support the school's students. (USAF photo)

Going green

Volunteers help spread mulch around Bldg. 670 as part of Earth Day activities last year. Earth Day activities will occur throughout the week of April 16-23. Photo by Jerron Barnett.

Going green

Volunteers haul appliances from Eglin reservation during Earth Day cleanup activities last year. More than 12 tons of illegally dumped debris was removed from Eglin reservation during the cleanup. Earth Day activities will occur throughout the week of April 16-23. Photo by Jerron Barnett.

Meeting of the minds

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Maj. Scott Foley, 96th Security Forces commander, speaks with a law enforcement officer at the first quarterly law enforcement luncheon March 20 organized by the 96th Security Forces Squadron and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The luncheon is scheduled to be a quarterly event to foster teamwork among area law agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Noel Getlin)

Meeting of the minds

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Law enforcement officials from three agencies talk after the first quarterly law enforcement luncheon organized by the 96th Security Forces Squadron and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The luncheon is scheduled to be a quarterly event to foster teamwork among area law agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Noel Getlin)

Operational test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Lt. Col. Sam Shaneyfelt, recent 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron commander, laughs after talking about the test process at Eglin. The 85th TES pilots test F-15 and F-16 capabilities in combat-simulated scenarios. (Noel Getlin/U.S. Air Force photo)

Operational test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Test pilots with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron are briefed before flying a mission recently. The 85th TES pilots test F-15 and F-16 capabilities in combat-simulated scenarios. (Noel Getlin/U.S. Air Force photo)

Operational test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Aircraft of the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron fly over the Gulf of Mexico. The test squadron flies the F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Viper aircraft. (Jake Melampy/Courtesy photo)

UDMs ensure Airmen are ready to deploy

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Tech Sgt. Kedrick wright, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron unit deployment manager, completes paperwork for Tech. Sgt. Amy Barnett. Sergeant Barnett is preparing to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit deployment managers bear the brunt of making sure Airmen are ready to deploy. UDMs monitor the readiness of each unit member and interface with the personnel readiness function. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Going solar

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Master Sgt. Mark Baughman, 46 Aircraft Maintenance RED Support Section Chief, examines a solar panel on top of of the Squadron's Hangar 102. His unfunded request of $25,000 paid for10 panels that are expected to generate 50 percent of the hangar's power and save nearly 70,000 killowatts of electricity over the panels' 30-year lifespan. (USAF photo/Airman Christopher Jacobs)

Eglin Airman Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Month

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Master Sgt. Shane Dalkey, J4 NTM-I Forward, was chosen as the U.S. Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Month for December 2008. Maj. Gen. David Clary, Director Air Component Coordination Element, Multi-National Force-Iraq,, presented him with his certificate and "magic carpet" at a short ceremony their location. Sergeant Dalkey is deployed from the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. (USAF photo)

Center vice visits the AOR

Col. Arnie Bunch, Air Armament Center vice commander, stands to the right of Gen. Donald Hoffman, Air Force Materiel Command commander, as they visit Eglin Airman in the AOR. Colonel Bunch was part of a seven-day tour with the general to talk to Airmen about AFMC products. (USAF photo/Senior Airman Courtney Richardson)

Working it out

Staff Sgt. Tonya Allen, fitness specialist, shows Trish Moye how to work on nautilus equipment at the Health and Wellness Center. The HAWC has equipment, classes and programs for civil service civilians, retirees and family members in addition to active duty. (U.S. Air Force photo/Noel Getlin)

Eglin Fires Team Helps Prepare Aircrews for Combat

A-10 fighter pilots from the 354th Fighter Squadron conduct pre-flight checks before their first CAS mission during GFE rotation 09-04 at Barksdale AFB, La. (JFIIT photo/Casey Bain)

Eglin Fires Team Helps Prepare Aircrews for Combat

An A-10 fighter pilot prepares for a CAS mission with some help from his ground crew during GFE rotation 09-04 at Barksdale AFB, La. (JFIIT photo/Casey Bain)

Equipment test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Capt. Vaimana Conner, 58th Fighter Squadron electronic combat officer, hooks his helmet to a machine that tests the oxygen mask communication connections. The 33rd Fighter Wing’s fighter pilots fly F-15C Eagles in air-to-air combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Noel Getlin)

Suiting up

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Capt. Vaimana Conner, 58th Fighter Squadron electronic combat officer, puts on his flight gear. The 33rd Fighter Wing’s fighter pilots fly F-15C Eagles in air-to-air combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Noel Getlin)