Air Force Reservist enjoys hometown pride in Iowa

ADAIR, Iowa -- Maj. Gen. Linda S. Hemminger, grand marshall of the Annual Jesse James Parade, waves to her neighbors in Adair, Iowa, July 22, 2006. General Hemminger handed out pens and pencils as she represented her job in the Air Force Reserve as a mobilization assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General for Nursing Services and the Assistant Surgeon General for Health Care Operations. She went through the parade a second time, handing out candy as a registered nurse with the Cass County Memorial Hospital, Home Care/Hospice, Atlantic, Iowa. She spends about half of her time working at the Pentagon and half of her time working for the hospice. "I have lived in this community for 25 years," the general said. "Being a Citizen Airman is a huge support for the military. We can't be full time but we bring so much from our civilian jobs and represent the communities we live in." (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Jolene Bottor)

Patriot 06

Senior Airman James Young (left), 442nd Medical Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.; Senior Airman Richard Danford (center), 138th Medical Group, Oklahoma Air National Guard; and Tech. Sgt. Christopher E. Miller, 442nd MDS, perform an X-ray during Expeditionary Medical Support System training at Fort McCoy, Wis., as part of Patriot 06. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Chance Babin)

IRR Muster

Senior Master Sgt. Janet Riley (right) assists Renee Mariscal as she and other members of the Individual Ready Reserve update their civilian employment information during a muster exercise held at the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver July 20, 2006. IRRs are Air Force members who have served on active duty but still have a military service obligation to the Air Force. Annually, ARPC orders IRRs to report to an Air Force base, usually within 150 miles of their residence. Upon arrival, their records are updated, and they receive a basic medical screening and several briefings. This is a routine process to allow ARPC to look at the activation process, not to initiate activation. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Cheresa D. Theiral)

Panjshir PRT medics visit remote Afghan district

Maj. Kurt Workmaster checks the blood pressure of an elder in the Paryan District on July 16. Three medics from the Panjshir PRT treated more than 200 patients during a Medical Civic Action Program, or MEDCAP, mission that was coordinated by the Panjshir director of health. Major Workmaster is the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team physician assistant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. John Cumper)

Outstanding Airman

Senior Airman Eric J. Pena, an Air Force Reserve combat arms instructor at the 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., is one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Outstanding Airman

Senior Airman Eric J. Pena, from the 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., mans a turret gun during a convoy operation in Baghdad in February 2005. An Air Force reservist, Airman Pena was selected as one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Security forces get life-saving training

Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron load a simulated wounded comrade into an ambulance during a combat life saver exercise at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, June 15, while other security forces guard against hostile forces. (US Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

Security Forces get life-saving training

Tech. Sgt. Robert Taverna simulates a wounded Airman in a security forces combat life saver exercise at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, June 15. It's the job of his squad mates, including Staff Sgt. Thomas McMahon (left) to drag the litter he is on to a waiting ambulance. Both sergeants are deployed to the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron from the Air Force Reserve's 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. (US Air Force photo/Maj David Kurle)

Asian Pacific American Heritage Week

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Robert "Lance" Chu, mobilization assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General for Healthcare Operations at Bolling Air Force Base, Wash. D.C., speaks at the military awards luncheon at the Federal Asian Pacific American Council's national conference in Hawaii May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bo Joyner)

Reservist gets F-22 pilot training slot

NAVAL AIR STATION JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas -- Maj. Randy Cason, performs a preflight inspection on a F-16 Fighting Falcon here before takeoff. Major Cason is assigned to 10th Air Force and is the first Air Force Reservist to be selected to attend F-22 pilot training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Bill L. Goben Jr.)

Patriot Defender MOUT training

Reserve security forces students practice tactical movements at the St. Elijah MOUT facility, Fort Hood, Texas, during the Patriot Defender exercise April 30 to May 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Dustin Doyle)

Patriot Defender Convoy

Reserve security forces troops operate the lead vehicle in a convoy practical during the Patriot Defender exercise at Camp Swift, Texas, April 30 to May 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jonathan Jones)