Eglin’s Instructor of the Year award winners

Blaise Durante, the Air Force deputy assistant secretary for acquisition integration (left) and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Merchant, the Air Armament Center commander (right), present the annual Air Armament Academy’s Blaise Durante Instructor of the Year awards April 2 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The winners were Robbie Norris, for the college of science and technology category (not pictured); Wanda Riley, for the college of acquisition category; Peggy Shepherd, for the college of installation, sustainment and management category; and Jerry Griffith, for the college of test and evaluation category. The instructors were recognized for their contributions to professional education. The Air Armament Academy was established in 2003 to ensure Eglin personnel have a wide variety of training opportunities available to promote effectiveness in the workplace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kevin Gaddie)

Honoring the flag

An all-female flight and flag detail perform the retreat ceremony in honor of Women’s History Month, March 29. More than 30 women participated in the ceremony. To see more photos of the all-women flag detail go to facebook.com/teameglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Honoring the flag

An all-female flight salutes while the base flag is lowered at the retreat ceremony March 29. The flag detail and flight positions were filled by women in honor of Women’s History Month. More than 30 women participated in the ceremony. To see more photos of the all-women flag detail go to facebook.com/teameglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Honoring the flag

Master Sgt. Deaira Smith, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 2, makes the final fold of the base flag during the flag folding portion of the retreat ceremony March 29. The flag detail and flight positions were filled by women in honor of Women’s History Month. More than 30 women participated in the ceremony. To see more photos of the all-women flag detail go to facebook.com/teameglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Honoring the flag

Members of the flag detail bring the flag together at the retreat ceremony March 29. The flag detail and flight positions were filled by women in honor of Women’s History Month. More than 30 women participated in the ceremony. To see more photos of the all-women flag detail go to facebook.com/teameglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Honoring the flag

Senior Airman Jennifer Fernandez, 96th Medical Group, and Staff Sgt. Tenisha Lewis, 728th Air Control Squadron, part of the flag detail salute during the National Anthem at the retreat ceremony March 29. The flag detail and flight positions were filled by women in honor of Women’s History Month. More than 30 women participated in the ceremony. To see more photos of the all-women flag detail go to facebook.com/teameglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

AF award winner

Eric J. Kitchen, the technical adviser with the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., recently won the Arthur S. Flemming Award in the applied science, engineering and mathematics category. The annual Air Force award recognizes the outstanding contributions of federal employees on either a sustained basis or through a single exceptional accomplishment achieved or completed during 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kevin Gaddie)

EOD school

Rear Adm. Donald Quinn, the commander of Naval Education and Training Command, observes Senior Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Joseph Severino, an instructor at Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, as he initiates shock tube during a tour of the improvised explosive device division, March 14. NAVSCOLEOD, located on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., provides high-risk, specialized, basic and advanced EOD training to over 2,200 U.S. and partner nation military and selected U.S. government personnel each year. (U.S. Navy photo/ Ensign Elizabeth Allen)

Major saves during deployment

Maj. Raynae Leslie, the 96th Medical Support Squadron’s chief of clinical laboratory services at Eglin AFB’s hospital, pulls a unit of blood from the cross-matched shelf for issue for a transfusion. Leslie and her team provided more than 400 pints of blood to a U.S. Army Ranger, helping save his life during her 2011 deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kevin Gaddie)

Honor Guard

Members of the Eglin Air Force Base honor guard pass the American flag above the casket during a mock funeral as part of the honor guard graduation. Approximately 16 new Airmen graduated from the 80-plus-hour course. Prior to the graduation, the Airmen perform a full honors, military funeral to include flag detail, the 21-gun salute, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Hold tight

(Left) Airman 1st Class Taurie McCurdy and five other members of the Eglin Honor Guard hold the flag tight above the casket during a mock funeral as part of the honor guard graduation. Approximately 16 new Airmen graduated from the 80-plus-hour course. Prior to the graduation, the Airmen perform a full honors, military funeral to include flag detail, the 21-gun salute, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Hold tight

Airman 1st Class Wayne Phillips and five other members of the Eglin Honor Guard hold the flag tight above the casket during a mock funeral as part of the honor guard graduation. Approximately 16 new Airmen graduated from the 80-plus-hour course. Prior to the graduation, the Airmen perform a full honors, military funeral to include flag detail, the 21-gun salute, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

With Reverance

Members of the Eglin Honor Guard carry the flag-draped casket during a mock funeral as part of the honor guard graduation. Approximately 16 new Airmen graduated from the 80-plus-hour course. Prior to the graduation, the Airmen perform a full honors, military funeral to include flag detail, the 21-gun salute, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Reverance

Members of the Eglin Honor Guard remove the flag-draped casket from the hearse during a mock funeral as part of the honor guard graduation. Approximately 16 new Airmen graduated from the 80-plus-hour course. Prior to the graduation, the Airmen perform a full honors, military funeral to include flag detail, the 21-gun salute, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The bugler

Airman 1st Class Brittany White, of the Eglin Honor Guard, holds her bugle prior to a military funeral performance at the honor guard graduation at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 16 new Airmen graduated from the 80-plus-hour course. Prior to the graduation, the Airmen perform a full honors, military funeral to include flag detail, the 21-gun salute, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The detail

Airman 1st Class Eric Esser and other Airmen stand ready to present the colors at the honor guard graduation ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 16 new Airmen graduated from the 80-plus-hour course. Prior to the graduation, the Airmen perform a full honors, military funeral to include flag detail, the 21-gun salute, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

EOD Airman

Staff Sgt. Travis Groeschel, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the 96th Civil Engineer Group, moves an extendable arm to a simulated suspicious package during a demonstration at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The EOD flight is responsible for many of the range missions involving explosives. They also respond to suspicious packages or recovered unexploded ordnance found in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

EOD Airman

Staff Sgt. Travis Groeschel, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the 96th Civil Engineer Group, is outfitted in his bomb suit before performing at demonstration at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The EOD flight is responsible for many of the range missions involving explosives. They also respond to suspicious packages or recovered unexploded ordnance found in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Building to care

Toys and games wait to be played with in one of the many classrooms at the new Child Development Center, Jan. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The new CDC had it’s ribbon cutting Jan. 13, here. The $11 million project was funded through the Base Realignment and Closure based on the scheduled relocation of families from the 7th Special Forces Group and the arrival of the joint strike fighter in 2011. The CDC will open for child care Jan. 17. When all the CDC facilities open, they will care for 744 children on a daily basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Building to care

A Child Development Center kitchen worker opens up new utensils, Jan. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The new CDC had it’s ribbon cutting Jan. 13, here. The $11 million project was funded through the Base Realignment and Closure based on the scheduled relocation of families from the 7th Special Forces Group and the arrival of the joint strike fighter in 2011. The CDC will open for child care Jan. 17. When all the CDC facilities open, they will care for 744 children on a daily basis. (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, completes checks of his 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 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 Christopher Rose, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares the F-15 for the small diameter bomb load 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 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, 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

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, checks the placement of the AIM-9 while Airman 1st Class Christopher Rose keeps the weapon still 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.)