Earth Day event inspires next generation

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Jada Bard (touching), and Ciara Lewis get exposure to some of the wildlife that exist in the Northwest Florida ecosystem at the Earth Day event hosted at Cherokee Elementary School April 20. The event was designed to give children the opportunity to get hands-on experience with animals they normaly wouldn't get to see and learn the importance of protecting the environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Earth Day event inspires next generation

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- (right to left) Talani McLaughlin (touching), Tyler Honda, Kaitlynn Kerr and Madison Bezner get exposure to some of the wildlife that exist in the Northwest Florida ecosystem at the Earth Day event hosted at Cherokee Elementary School April 20. The event was designed to give children the opportunity to get hands-on experience with animals they normaly wouldn't get to see and learn the importance of protecting the environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

JSF breaks ground

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Kevin Billings, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, speaks at agroundbreaking ceremony, marking the beginning of construction of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter training facility began after a March 20, here. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

JSF breaks ground

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Kevin Billings, Maj. Gen. David Eidsaune, Maj. Gen Erwin Lessel, Maj Ge. Charles Davis, Brig. Gen Jon Davis, Rear Adrmiral David Philman, Don Searles, State Senator Don Gaetz and State Representative Ray Sansom break ground marking the beginning of construction of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter training facility began after a March 20, here. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Keeping fit key factor for continued health

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Children play a game of basketball at the Eglin Youth Center March 5. Keeping active is a important factor to maintaining a healthy life. FitFactor, a U.S. Air Force Services Family Member Programs initiative, promotes physical activity and healthy eating selections for youth between the ages of 6-18. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Securing pandemic

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airman 1st Class Donald Bacha, 96th Security Forces, stands guard ensuring tight security at the Eglin Fitness Center during an exercise Feb. 4, preventing the spread of a simulated pandemic of a form of the pneumonic plague. As a result of the simulated plague, the base hospital became the main Triage Site where medical personnel diagnosed the potentially infected. Patients identified as infected were taken to the Eglin Fitness Center for additional surveillance and isolation to prevent further spread of the pandemic. These exercises are conducted at Eglin to maintain constant mission and emergency readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Anthony Jennings)