Purple Up

From left, Nate Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Anne Johnson, and Mike Johnson attend an event March 2008 at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. As military children, the Johnson brothers have lived in more than four states in the past 10-years. Nate Johnson, a student at Matt Arthur Elementary School says it’s fun being a military kid, but the hardest part is being unable to play with his dad (Courtesy photo by Anne Johnson).

Two jobs, one purpose

In his civilian job, Lt. Col. Jon Burgess, an individual mobilization augmentee, talks to the Compassion staff and two children about a project in the outlying neighborhoods by Bangalore, India in April 2012. Burgess is a marketing director for Compassion International. As an IMA, Burgess is assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Courtesy photo)

Reservists providing communications support for African Lion exercise

Master Sgt. Aaron Smith Jr. fine tunes a radio frequency module shot to the Marine Forces Africa command center while Master Sgt. Megan Reed ensures the primary satellite communications antenna is stable in support of African Lion 2013 in Morocco on April 9. Smith and Reed are both assigned to the 55th Combat Communications Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. African Lion is an annually scheduled, bilateral U.S. and Moroccan sponsored exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's tactics, techniques and procedures. This year, the 55th CBCS was selected to provide communications support for the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA. Will Toussaint)

Reservists providing communications support for African Lion exercise

Master Sgt. Alex Torres, left, and Tech. Sgt. Johnny Gordon of the 55th Combat Communications Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., perform maintenance on a communications equipment cooling unit in support of African Lion 2013 in Morocco on April 9. African Lion is an annually scheduled, bilateral U.S. and Moroccan sponsored exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's tactics, techniques and procedures. This year, the 55th CBCS was selected to provide communications support for the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA. Will Toussaint)

If it isn't you, it's the person next to you

WASHINGTON – Air Force Secretary Michael Donley directed a comprehensive review of the service’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program as a result of information provided by a survey of active duty members, officials said March 16. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

April is Sexual Assault Prevention Month.

WASHINGTON – Air Force Secretary Michael Donley directed a comprehensive review of the service’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program as a result of information provided by a survey of active duty members, officials said March 16. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

April 15 is signup deadline for AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summits

April 15 is the deadline to sign up for the 2013 AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summits. The week-long camps for 14-18 year old dependent teens of current Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard members will be held June 16-21 in Dahlonega, Ga., and Aug. 13-18, at Estes Park, Colo. For more information, visit the Georgia 4-H program website at http://www.georgia4h.org/afrangteensummit. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

April 15 is signup deadline for AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summits

April 15 is the deadline to sign up for the 2013 AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summits. The week-long camps for 14-18 year old dependent teens of current Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard members will be held June 16-21 in Dahlonega, Ga., and Aug. 13-18, at Estes Park, Colo. For more information, visit the Georgia 4-H program website at http://www.georgia4h.org/afrangteensummit. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Congress reviews reserve forces equipment needs

Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, chief of Air Force Reserve, joined other Reserve and National Guard senior leaders on Capitol Hill March 19 to testify and answer questions. Jackson, who also commands Air Force Reserve Command, and the other senior leaders spoke about the need to update and replace their combat-worn equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Col. Bob Thompson)

Warning: TSP Funds app not sanctioned by TSP

The Thrift Saving Plan website warns patrons to avoid downloading and installing the free "TSP Funds" app from the Apple App store. The app is not sanctioned by TSP. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Philip Rhodes)

Band of AF Reseve returns from final overseas deployment

Tech Sgt. Steven Moore, an audio technician with the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, embaces his son Matthew during the welcome home celebration at the Macon Regional Airport, March 8. Moore and five other members of the band completed a nearly 4-month deployment to Southwest Asia. Their return signaled the final overseas deployment for the band, which is slated for deactivation at the end of September 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Philip Rhodes)

Band of AF Reseve returns from final overseas deployment

Family members eagerly await the return of their loved ones at the Macon Regional Airport March 8. Six members of the Band of the Air Force Reserve completed a nearly 4-month deployment to Southwest Asia. Their return signaled the final overseas deployment for the band, which is slated for deactivation at the end of September 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Philip Rhodes)

Commander introduces wingman video

Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, Air Force Reserve Command commander, records a video introduction for the AFRC Wingman Toolkit website in front of an F-4 Phantom at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., March 4, 2013. It was in an F-4 that then-Capt. Bob Pardo pushed his wingman to safety during the Vietnam War. Retired Lt. Col. Pardo's story is highlighted on the Wingman Toolkit website. For everything you need to know to be a good wingman, visit the website at www.afrc.wingmantoolkit.org. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bo Joyner)

AF Reserve activates cyberspace operations group

Air Force Reserve Command activated the 960th Cyberspace Operations Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, March 1, 2013. As the first cyberspace group in the Air Force, the 960th CYOG will have administrative control over 10 Reserve cyber organizations spread throughout the country. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Maria Eames)

Family, Medical Leave Act expands protections for military families

More support has been extended to military dependents through expansions of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which include unpaid, job-protected time off for care of injured servicemembers or veterans, and activities arising from a servicemember’s deployment. (Graphic Courtesy of US Department of Labor)

Command announces Public Affairs Communication Excellence Awards

Air Force Reserve Command announced the winners of the 2012 Public Affairs Communication Excellence Awards Feb. 8. Winners will represent the command at the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs competition. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Philip Rhodes)

Welcome home briefing

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Col. Richard Burchfield, the new 21st Space Wing individual mobilization augmentee to the commander, welcomes Team Pete personnel back from their deployments Jan. 23 at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. The Peterson Welcome Home Briefing provides a central location for important information and includes briefings from the chapel and public health, financial readiness information, and more information intended to help personnel transition home from deployment. Other topics included construction updates and changes affecting the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Craig Denton)

Westover commander, wife, nominated for O'Malley Award

Col. Steven Vautrain, and his wife, Katie, have been nominated for the Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award, which recognizes their dedication to the people and mission at Westover ARB. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt. Timm Huffman)

‘Lucky’ Airman goes from ‘jumping on grapes’ to Presidential Ball

Staff Sgt. Ivanka Vrechkov (right), poses with her father Alexi Stefanov, brother Petko Stefanov and mother Rusanka Stefanova in Varna, Bulgaria. Vrechkov, a Knowledge Operations Manager assigned to the Air Force Reserve Policy and Integration Office in the Pentagon, landed two spots at the President's Inauguration Military Ball Jan. 21. Vrechkov, a naturalized American citizen, feels very lucky to be attending this historic event. “I came from a little village in Bulgaria and now I’m going to be at a party with the President of the United States – the greatest nation on earth. It feels surreal.” (Courtesy photo)

‘Lucky’ Airman goes from ‘jumping on grapes’ to Presidential Ball

Staff Sgt. Ivanka Vrechkov poses with her grandparents, Pene Stefanov and Ruska Stefanova in Varna, Bulgaria. Vrechkov, a Knowledge Operations Manager assigned to the Air Force Reserve Policy and Integration Office in the Pentagon, landed two spots at the President's Inauguration Military Ball Jan. 21. Vrechkov, a naturalized American citizen, feels very lucky to be attending this historic event. “I came from a little village in Bulgaria and now I’m going to be at a party with the President of the United States – the greatest nation on earth. It feels surreal.” (Courtesy photo)

Reservists to get help with travel vouchers

Air Force Reserve Command is adding resources and changing business practices to make travel voucher processing easier for reservists. Throughout FY13 the command will increase the number of Defense Travel System travel technicians to assist reservists with their travel vouchers. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Obama Signs $633 Billion Defense Authorization Act

President Barack Obama signed the $633 billion fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act into law Jan. 3. The legislation, which cleared Congress last month, authorizes the department to act in any number of instances. The act allows the department to institute pay raises, bonuses and incentive pay for personnel. It includes a 1.7 percent pay raise for military personnel, and contains $527.5 billion for DOD's base budget, $88.5 billion for overseas contingency operations and $17.8 billion for national security programs in the Energy Department and Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

AFRC Band

The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve hosted a music clinic for young musicians at North Cobb High School Dec. 12, 2012 during their holiday tour throughout Georgia. The clinic provided students with different performance and delivery techniques, ways to listen while rehearsing a piece in a small group, and the requirements for being an Air Force musician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chandra Brown)

AFRC Band

Tech. Sgt. David Vittetoe, percussionist, Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, speaks to North Cobb High School Band students on ways to better their skills when playing percussion during a music clinic on Dec. 12, 2012. The clinic provided students with different performance and delivery techniques, ways to listen while rehearsing a piece in a small group, and the requirements for being an Air Force musician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chandra Brown)