Aeromedical Evacuation

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - Soldiers in Iraq secure the wreckage of the Humvee Army Sgt. Jeff Beltran was riding in before it was struck by an improvised explosive device. All three soldiers riding in the vehicle survived the blast that occurred while on patrol near Taji, Iraq. Sergeant Beltran was treated in the field by Army Spc. Mitch Barone, and then on an aeromedical evacuation flight by Tech. Sgt. Selina Barone, Specialist Barone's mother. Sergeant Barone is a Reservist with the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at McChord.

Pittsburgh Reservists' preparation pays off

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan -- Deployed Reserve members from the 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, celebrate their team's victory as the loudspeakers boom "Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl!." They packed their "Terrible Towels" before deploying in hopes that the Steelers would do well in the playoffs. Preparation paid off. The Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XL, 21-10, over the Seattle Seahawks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Laura Gale).

Assisting Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command

Tech. Sgt. Joe Baker, 302nd Fighter Squadron Life Support, Air Force Reserve Command, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., stands with some of the Vietnamese people who helped him dig for remains.

New Years' over Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- In the glow of a C-130 Hercules' cargo compartment, Staff Sgt. Jason Hall keeps an eye out the window for signs of an attack. The crew flew a New Year's Eve mission to deliver passengers and cargo. Members of the Air Force Reserve Command's 731st Airlift Squadron are ending their Southwest Asia tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

C-130J Delivery

Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of Air Force Reserve Command, sits in in the cockpit before takeoff in a new C-130J Hercules Monday from the Lockheed-Martin facility in Marietta, Ga. General Bradley helped ferry the Herc from Marietta to the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The flight took about one hour.

World-class firefighters

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (AFPN) -- Staff Sgt. Harry Myers aims a fire hose at a target during an event at the World Firefighter Combat Challenge here. Sergeant Myers is a firefighter with the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matt McGovern)

Firefighter challenge

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (AFPN) -- Tech. Sgt. Mike Melton competes against another firefighter on the second day of the World Firefighter Combat Challenge. The competition ends Dec. 3. The Travis Team Firefighters are trying to retain their title as world champions. Sergeant Melton is a firefighter assigned to the 349th Civil Engineer Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew McGovern)

Operation Seasons Greetings

Trick Pony, Country Music Award winners, join up with Blues Traveler's John Popper to hitch a ride and entertain U.S. troops in Germany, Turkey, a forward-operating base in Southwest Asia, and a final stop at Keflivik, Iceland. From left, Ira Dean, Heidi Newfield, John Popper and Keith Burns bring it all together to tell the troops thanks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken Hackman)

Helping the wounded get home

Technical Sgt. Katheryn Bicker (left) prepares Technical Sgt. Karla Jeremiah-Griffith for her next watch at Ramstein's 435th Contigency Air Staging Facility. The two shift leaders help wounded troops get home as soon as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Bob Thompson)

Back home

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- Reservists from the 41st Aerial Port unload a 5,000 pound generator from a C-130J Hercules. The aircraft returned home after flying missions out of Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., since Hurricane Katrina bashed apart its home base. The 403rd Wing mission, which includes the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's "Hurricane Hunters" and the 815th Airlift Squadron's "Flying Jennies," fully reinstated its mission at Keesler after Hurricane Katrina damaged their home unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chance Babin)

Wilma relief

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Refueling specialists from the 482d Fighter Wing have refueled more than 200 tractor trailers engaged in Federal Emergency Management Agency Hurricane Wilma relief operations. Their operation began Oct. 20. U.S. Air Force photo by Lisa M. Macias)

Wilma relief

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- The Hurricane Wilma clean-up process began immediately after the storm passed here. As part of the clean-up, several base agencies moved into different buildings to ensure the continuity of mission-essential functions. Wilma hit the base Oct. 24. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lisa M. Macias)