Call to heroes

Col. Tony Douglas, 96th Test Wing installation deputy commander, encourages children to prepare for push-ups at their last stage of the processing line during Operation Hero at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 20. The event, sponsored by the 96th Test Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center, teaches children the experiences their military family members go through during predeployment and while out in the field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Heroes inspect an F-15

A parent and group of children find shade under an F-15 Eagle during Operation Hero at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 20. More than 250 children registered for the event, sponsored by the 96th Test Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center. Operation Hero teaches children the experiences their military family members go through during predeployment and while out in the field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

A hero's smile

Capt. Kathy Konops, 9th Special Operations Squadron, reveals to Violet Bellino her camouflage face paint, during Operation Hero at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 20. Violet’s father, Sgt. Michael Bellino, is with the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501. The event, sponsored by the 96th Test Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center, teaches children the experiences their military family members go through during predeployment and while out in the field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Sports talk

Matias Ferreira, a Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team player, talks to players from the Eglin Air Force Base joint military softball team over lunch at Legends restaurant, Oct. 22. The two teams will face off to raise awareness of the sacrifices and resilience of military members Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. at Morgan Sports Center in Destin, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Gon)

Weapons load

Senior Airman Adrian Pamintuan, of the 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, double checks the connecters on the F-16 wing as his teammates move an MK-82 to be loaded during a weapons load competition Oct. 19 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Pamintuan and his team competed in the quarterly competition against an F-15 load crew team. The competition was measured by how quickly, safely and accurately the teams loaded an MK-82 and an AIM-9M to their respective aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Wrench-turner

Senior Airman Adrian Pamintuan, of the 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, loosens a bolt on an F-16 prior to mounting a bomb to the wing during a weapons load competition Oct. 19 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Pamintuan and his team competed in the quarterly competition against an F-15 load crew team. The competition was measured by how quickly, safely and accurately the teams loaded an MK-82 and an AIM-9M to their respective aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)