Taking a breather

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Staff Sgt. Jahmal Daniels, a 96th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department firefighter, watches other crews waiting for his turn to enter a multiplex unit where a kitchen fire was set as part of a training exercise June 20. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity in base housing scheduled for demolition. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Training to fight

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Hansen, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, enters a multiplex base housing unit to start a fire inside the kitchen June 20 as part of a training exercise. Eglin firefighters experienced flames inside a kitchen and bedroom in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. Sergeant Hansen started the blaze in the kitchen as part of his duties as non commissioned officer in charge of training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Preparing to fight

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A second crew of firefighters with the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department wait to enter a multiplex unit where a kitchen fire is blazing inside as part of a training exercise June 20. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity in base housing scheduled for demolition. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Preparing to fight

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A second crew of firefighters with the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department wait to enter a multiplex unit where a kitchen fire is blazing inside as part of a training exercise June 20. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity in base housing scheduled for demolition. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Suiting up for action

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Kyle Kruger, a 96th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, suits up to battle a training fire if it gets out of hand during a training exercise June 20 in base housing. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

A closer look

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Wooden pallets and hay fuel a fire in a multiplex housing unit as 96th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters wait waits for a bedroom fire to reach its peak to see how it will react during a training exercise June 20. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. George DeShields)

Fire trainging

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The first crew of 96th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters take a break after battling a kitchen fire June 20 in base housing as part of a training exercise. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

A closer look

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A 96th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter helps control a kitchen fire in a multiplex housing unit June 20 in base housing as part of a training exercise. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique real fire training opportunity. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin?s housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. George DeShields)

Training for a fire

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A crew of firefighters with the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department wait for their turn to enter a multiplex unit where a bedroom fire is blazing inside as part of a training exercise June 20. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity in base housing scheduled for demolition. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Taking a breather

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Staff Sgt. Jahmal Daniels, a 96th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department firefighter, waits for his turn to enter a multiplex unit where a kitchen fire was set as part of a training exercise June 20. Eglin firefighters experienced the flames in a controlled scenario, part of a unique "real fire" training opportunity in base housing scheduled for demolition. Houses along Foster Drive, slated for demolition as part of Eglin's housing privatization initiative, were used for the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

POL trains Iraqis on fuel delivery

Tech. Sgt. Terrance Ladd, 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, attaches a filter to a fuel line to test JP-8 for water and contamination. The fuel is pushed through a fabric disc from the base?s fuel source and reveals its condition. The brown bottle collects the filtered fuel and is dumped back into the tank. ergeant Ladd is Sather?s fuels lab technician. Sergeant Ladd is deployed from Eglin AFB.

Honored Guest

Tech Sgt. Chad Wilkey, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, welcomed the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, to his deployed location. Secretary Gates coined the sergeant for being selected as NCO of the month for the 477th Expeditionary Readiness Squadron. That was just one of the highlights of Sergeant Wilkey's week; he was selected for master sergeant, his daugther Brittan was selected to attend the Colligate High School next fall at the local college, and his birthday was June 15. (courtesy photo)

Airmen honored for service

Airmen from the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Flight received medals May 14 in recognition of their service while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Eagle surge

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Staff Sgt. Andrew Parker, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, supervises the refueling operation of an F-15C here. The 33rd Fighter Wing is conducting surge operations May 8-10, averaging more than 80 sorties a day. Surge operations test maintainers' abilities to generate more sorties than normal and give pilots an increased number of flying hours in a condensed time period. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks)

Accepting responsibility

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Brig. Gen. Ted Bowlds, Air Force Research Laboratory commander, presents Col. Kirk Kloeppel the Munitions Directorate flag during a change of command ceremony held May 4 at the Air Force Armament Museum. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Fleck)

Sharp Troop

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Senior Airman Justin Richman, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels specialist, prepares a fueling unit to be filled at the fill stand. Originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa, Airman Richman has been in the Air Force for four years. In his off-duty time, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family. Airman Richman was recently selected as a Sharp Troop by the Eglin Chiefs' Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Craig McDonnell)

Flightline night-MARE

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airman 1st Class Lawrence Freeman, 96th Security Forces Squadron, tries to keep civilian bystanders away from a simulated F-16 crash site during the major accident readiness exercise April 3. The MARE was in preparation for the 2007 Eglin Air Show April 14-15. There were two other incidents that tested Eglin Airmen's emergency response capabilities: a vehicle borne chemical weapon attack and a bomb threat on a C-130 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Flightline night-MARE

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Eglin firemen carry a victim to the medical staging area during the major accident readiness exercise April 3 after responding to a simulated F-16 crash. The MARE was in preparation for the 2007 Eglin Air Show April 14-15. There were two other incidents that tested Eglin Airmen's emergency response capabilities: a vehicle borne chemical weapon attack and a bomb threat on a C-130 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Flightline night-MARE

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Eglin medical Airmen from the 96th Medical Group treat victims of a simulated F-16 crash during the major accident readiness exercise April 3. The MARE was in preparation for the 2007 Eglin Air Show April 14-15. There were two other incidents that tested Eglin Airmen?s emergency response capabilities: a vehicle borne chemical weapon attack and a bomb threat on a C-130 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Flightline night-MARE

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Eglin firemen carry a victim to the medical staging area during the major accident readiness exercise April 3 after responding to a simulated F-16 crash. The MARE was in preparation for the 2007 Eglin Air Show April 14-15. There were two other incidents that tested Eglin Airmen's emergency response capabilities: a vehicle borne chemical weapon attack and a bomb threat on a C-130 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Flightline night-MARE

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Senior Airman Robert Chaney , 96th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive Ordnance Disposal Team 1, takes a photograph of the explosive found on a C-130 during the major accident readiness exercise April 3. The MARE was in preparation for the 2007 Eglin Air Show April 14-15. There were two other incidents that tested Eglin Airmen's emergency response capabilities: a vehicle borne chemical weapon attack and a bomb threat on a C-130 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Lending legal assistance

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Amy Budney, an attorney with the 96th Air Base Wing Legal Office, looks over legal paperwork with Hawthorn House resident Monique Fouts. Capt. Budney was one of three attorneys from Eglin who volunteered to help enlisted Air Force widows who live at Hawthorn House in Shalimar, the Air Force Enlisted Village's assisted living residence. The Air Force Enlisted Village provides a home for the surviving spouses of enlisted member at three locations near Eglin: Bob Hope Village, Teresa Village and Hawthorn House. (Photo by Jodi Jordan)

Nice Cut

Staff Sgt. Anthony Brown, 58th Fighter Squadron Life Support Airman, carefully removes Velcro from a new G-suit to get the suit ready for use. Sergeant Brown makes up part of the 33d Fighter Wing Life Support Section that was awarded best small unit in Air Combat Command for 2006.

Checking it twice

Senior Airman Rob Hall, 60th Fighter Squadron Life Support Airman, accounts for a new radio he just added to a pilot's gear. Life Support responsibilities include maintaining and accounting for all of pilot gear before and after each sortie. Airman Hall makes up part of the 33d Fighter Wing Life Support Section that was awarded best small unit in Air Combat Command for 2006.