bolt action

An Airman breaks down the bolt carrier of his M-16 during the during the Phase II exercise Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Phase II included self-aid and buddy care, weapons, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive training. Airmen learned the proper procedures for self-aid and buddy care, field stripping a weapon and also how to wear and work in their chemical gear and gas masks. Three chalks of Eglin Airmen participated in Phase I and II exercises as part of an Operational Readiness Exercise throughout the week of Feb. 22-25. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Test profile

An Airman tests the seal on his gas mask during the Phase II exercise Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Phase II included self-aid and buddy care, weapons, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive training. Airmen learned the proper procedures on how to wear and work in their chemical gear and gas masks. Three chalks of Eglin Airmen participated in Phase I and II exercises as part of an Operational Readiness Exercise throughout the week of Feb. 22-25. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Weapon ready

Staff Sgt. Terence Walker, 96th Force Support Squadron, and Airman 1st Class McKenzie Young, 96th Medical Operations Squadron, familiarize themselves with their weapons during the Phase II exercise Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Phase II included self-aid and buddy care, weapons, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive training. Airmen learned the proper procedures for self-aid and buddy care, field stripping a weapon and also how to wear and work in their chemical gear and gas masks. Three chalks of Eglin Airmen participated in Phase I and II exercises as part of an Operational Readiness Exercise throughout the week of Feb. 22-25. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Buddy carry

Airmen from the 96th Air Base Wing practice securing the patient during self-aid and buddy care training at the Phase II exercise Feb. 24 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Phase II included self-aid and buddy care, weapons, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive training. Airmen learned the proper procedures for cleaning and loading their weapons and also how to wear and work in their chemical gear and gas masks. Three chalks of Eglin Airmen participated in Phase I and II exercises as part of an Operational Readiness Exercise throughout the week of Feb. 22-25. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Horton Hangar name unveiling

Lt. Col. (ret.) Dick Cole and Master Sgt. (ret.) Wes Fields unveil the newly named Horton Hangar, atop the Horton J-Primes Test Facility Feb. 23 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The hangar was named for Master Sgt. Edwin Horton, one of the original “Doolittle’s Raiders,” who, along with Cole, was part of a precedence-setting bombing mission of the Japanese mainland in World War II. Sergeant Horton served in the Army, Air Force and civil service for more than 45 years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kevin Gaddie)

The untold story

Rev. Jerry C. Jones speaks at the African American Heritage Luncheon Feb. 22 at the enlisted club. The luncheon, attended by more than 100 people, honored African American soldiers who fought in the Civil War. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sachel Seabrook)

Directions

Staff Sgt. Anthony Bagent, 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, signals his teammate to stop at the Load Crew of the Year competition Feb. 11 at Eglin. Teams competed against each other to see who could properly load munitions on an F-16 quickest with the fewest errors. Winners will be announced at the annual award banquet March 4. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sachel Seabrook)

Double check

Senior Airman Krystal Orth, 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, makes sure everything is secure on her team’s aircraft at the Load Crew of the Year competition Feb. 11 at Eglin. The blue and red teams competed against each other to see who could properly load munitions on an F-16 quickest with the fewest errors. Winners will be announced at the annual award banquet March 4. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sachel Seabrook)

Thanks for the gifts

Airman 1st Class Noah Blach, 96th Communications Squadron, presents Valentine’s Day cards to Air Force veteran David Woods Feb. 14, during his visit to 'Wellington Place' in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Airman Blach joined more than 200 Eglin Airmen who presented homemade valentines and flowers to local retirement home residents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kevin Gaddie)

Gift of love

Staff Sgt. John Dorriety, 46th Test Wing, presents Valentine’s Day cards to Air Force veteran Bill Colgan Feb. 14, during his visit to Wellington Place in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Sergeant Dorriety joined more than 200 Eglin Airmen who presented homemade valentines and flowers to local retirement home residents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kevin Gaddie)

Generational link

Chief Master Sgt. (ret) Walter Richardson, speaks with other attendees after the birthday celebration Feb. 3 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The chief joined the military in 1949 and served in the famous "Tuskegee Airmen," an Army Air Corps program that trained African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. Later in Chief Richardson's career, he served as an aircraft mechanic at Eglin and retired from Hulburt Field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Under the blade

The 53rd Wing hosted a mini-airshow as part of their 70th birthday celebration Feb. 3 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Six different aircraft types representing just a few of the airframes the 53rd Wing use to conduct their mission of operational testing and evaluation were on display. The wing was activated Jan. 15, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Wing 15

A 53rd Wing F-15 stands in front of the hangar during the 70th birthday celebration Feb. 3 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Six different aircraft types representing just a few of the airframes the 53rd Wing use to conduct their mission of operational testing and evaluation were on display. The wing was activated Jan. 15, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Wing CCs

Former 53rd Wing commander, Brig. Gen. (ret) Douglas Richardson, addresses the crowd at the wing’s 70th birthday celebration Feb. 3 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Current commander, Col. Michael Gantt (middle) and another former commander, Col. (ret) Bill Coutts are also pictured. The wing hosted a ceremony and cookout and a mini-airshow featuring six of the aircraft types that are flown by the wing. The wing was activated Jan. 15, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Wing salutes

53rd Wing members salute during the National Anthem during the wing’s 70th birthday celebration Feb. 3 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The hosted a ceremony and cookout and a mini-airshow featuring six of the aircraft types that are flown by the wing. The wing was activated Jan. 15, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Wing salutes

53rd Wing members salute during the National Anthem during the wing’s 70th birthday celebration Feb. 3 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The hosted a ceremony and cookout and a mini-airshow featuring six of the aircraft types that are flown by the wing. The wing was activated Jan. 15, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Best foot

The I-Step foot scanner provides a visual of the foot which can help to determine proper footwear and accurate measure of a person's true foot size. The scanner and other new features will be on display during the HAWC’s open house, Jan. 20. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Pod person

Senior Airman Sydney Sullivan, 96th Force Support Squadron, sits inside the “Bod Pod,” a system that determines a person’s body composition at the Eglin Health and Wellness Center, Jan. 11. The pod and other new features will be on display during the HAWC’s open house, Jan. 20. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Chill

Master Sgt. Christopher Calhoun, 33rd Maintenance Operation Squadron, carries out son William after they shared a ‘very’ quick dunk under the water at Eglin’s first-ever Polar Bear swim, held at Post’l Point, Jan. 7. More than 100 Team Eglin members braved the 34 degree temperatures and waded into Choctawhatchee Bay, including the 96th Air Base Wing commander and command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Walk back in

Seaman Denise Buckingham, Coast Guard Station Destin, begins to return to shore during Eglin’s first-ever Polar Bear swim, held at Post’l Point, Jan. 7. More than 100 Team Eglin members braved the 34 degree temperatures and waded into Choctawhatchee Bay, including the 96th Air Base Wing commander and command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Coast is clear...cold

Seaman Amber Underwood and members of Coast Guard Station Destin were the first to enter the water at Eglin’s first-ever Polar Bear swim, held at Post’l Point, Jan. 7. More than 100 Team Eglin members braved the 34 degree temperatures and waded into Choctawhatchee Bay, including the 96th Air Base Wing commander and command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Marine landing

The Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 marches in prior to diving in at Eglin’s first-ever Polar Bear swim, held at Post’l Point, Jan. 7. More than 100 Team Eglin members braved the 34 degree temperatures and waded into Choctawhatchee Bay, including the 96th Air Base Wing commander and command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

New technology

Commissioner Bill Roberts gets a briefing on the new helmet used for the Joint Strike Fighter by Laurie Albarino, Lockheed Martin, during a tour of the 33rd Fighter Wing Dec. 14. Photo by Kathy Newby.

Story time with the Gingerbread Man

“The Gingerbread Man” and Evelyn Acevedo, Child Development Center provider, read a story to both CDC and base library Story Time children at the base library Dec. 7. This was part of the base library's open house event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kevin Gaddie)