A gift from hometown America

Most service members are familiar with the feeling of receiving military awards. Decorations are symbols of their country's appreciation for exceptional achievements in the line of duty. Col. David Hafer, the commander of the 436th Operations Group, is no stranger to receiving military decorations;

Wrench-turners battle for top spot in Rodeo 2011 maintenance competition

Crowds cheered as the competitors of the maintenance skill competition, or MSC, entered the hangar July 25 during the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The event, which is new to Rodeo, tests a four-person team on normal daily maintenance activities that would be performed

Aerial porters participate in forklift driving course for Rodeo 2011

Mobility Airmen tested their speed, precision and teamwork skills while driving a forklift through an obstacle course, July 25 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The 10K forklift obstacle course was laid out with more than 20 three-foot orange cones and a pallet next to a pallet stacker."The 10K

Photo: Rodeo spirit from Joint Base Lewis-McChord team

Photo essay: Forming up for Rodeo 2011 opening ceremonies

Participants for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 are shown in formation for opening ceremonies for Rodeo on July 24, 2011, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Rodeo 2011, sponsored by the Air Mobility Command, is the Mobility Air Force's readiness competition. This competition focuses on improving worldwide

Photo essay: 'Pass and review' for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 opening ceremonies

Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., Air Mobility Command commander, and Brig. Gen. Rick Martin, Rodeo commander, participate in a pass and review during opening ceremonies for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on July 24, 2011. (Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, sponsored by AMC, is the

Expeditionary Center instructors bring decades of experience to Rodeo tactics competition

Airmen from the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center have brought "airpower" to the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011's combat tactics competition -- "Airpower...from the ground up" that is.The Rodeo umpires and support personnel for Rodeo's security forces combat tactics competition are almost all from the

Fairchild Airman passes away after motor vehicle accident

     Senior Master Sgt. Gary Gonzalez, a 92nd Air Refueling Wing Airman assigned to the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, died Saturday as a result of a single-vehicle accident in Medical Lake, Wash.     "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy," said Col. Paul Guemmer, 92nd Air Refueling Wing

New Fitness Center steadily progressing

Construction of the new Fairchild Fitness Center started in September 2010 and has been steadily coming to life ever since. It is scheduled to be completed and open for patrons in early 2012. The $19.7 million project was necessary because the current fitness center was originally constructed as an

Combined U.S.-Australian exercise showcases air mobility readiness, power

Airmen and aircraft belonging to the Air Force's Air Mobility Command, recently demonstrated the nation's ability to rapidly project power across the globe, delivering 245 U.S. and Australian paratroopers to their drop zone July 16 as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. The U.S. Pacific