Outstanding Airmen and First Sergeant

Air Force Reserve Command’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2012 from left are Airman – Senior Airman Frederick C. Danneman, 419th Medical Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah; NCO – Master Sgt. Shawn J. Jones, 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; and Senior NCO – Senior Master Sgt. Peter A. DeSanctis, 934th MXS, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn. AFRC’s Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year for 2012, right, is Senior Master Sgt. Daniel J. Anthony, 302nd Maintenance Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration)

Purple Up

Dr. Richard Rogers, Matt Arthur Elementary principal, speaks to the Johnson brothers while passing through the halls of the school during Purple Up day Friday, April 12, 2013. Mike Johnson is the youngest of the three brothers and said the best part of being a military kid is the traveling. He is five-years-old and has lived in four states. April is the month of the Military Child which recognizes their service, sacrifice and the hardships they face (U.S. Air Force photo by Chandra Brown).

Purple Up

From left, Nate Johnson, Mike Johnson and Matthew Johnson show off their Operation Military Kids dog tags in support of Purple Up at Matt Arthur Elementary School on Friday, April 12, 2013. The event was developed by Operation Military Kids, an organization dedicated to military families (U.S. Air Force photo by Chandra Brown).

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).

April issue of Citizen Airman available online

The April issue of Citizen Airman magazine features a salute to the Band of the Air Force Reserve, which will be inactivating Sept. 30. Also, the magazine includes stories on the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., passing a critical nuclear certification test; a mom who, inspired by her two sons, joined the Air Force Reserve and is now a squadron commander. Check out these and more stories on the web at http://www.citamn.afrc.af.mil. (U.S. Air Force illustration/Bo Joyner)

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)

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)

Band of AF Reserve returns from final deployment

Staff Sgt. Joshua Byrd, left and Master Sgt. Douglas Tejada, guitarists with the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, greet their fellow bandsmen after returning home from a nearly four-month deployment to Southwest Asia, March 8. They were part of a six-Airman deployment that played to small and large audiences throughout the theater of operations. Their return signaled the final deployment for the band, which will be deactivated in September, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/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)

Pentagon to honor Westover Airmen Family Readiness Center March 1

The Westover Airman and Family Readiness Center staff has earned the 2012 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award. This is the third time in the last five years the unit has earned the honor. Westover is among the Reserve component units that will receive recognition March 1 at the 2012 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Awards presentation. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Westover Public Affairs)

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)