A solemn oath

LIBERTY ISLAND, N.Y. -- Twelve new recruits take the oath of enlistment into the Air Force Reserve during an enlistment ceremony held recently in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty by recruiters from the 514th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The dozen Airmen join the more than 71,000 men and women currently serving in the Air Force Reserve. The recruiters at the 514th Air Mobility Wing out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. administered (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Donna Jeffries)

Commanders share wing missions and kidney donation

Two wing commanders at Hill AFB, Utah, have taken the Air Force’s Total Force Integration to a whole new, and very personal, level. When Air Force Reserve Col. Keith “K2” Knudson, commander of the 419th Fighter Wing (on left) was diagnosed with kidney failure last year, his active duty counterpart, Col. Scott “Chemo” Long, commander of the 388th FW, volunteered to donate a kidney of his own. The 419th FW is a classic associate Reserve unit tied to the 388th FW. As part of their duties, Long and Knudson have worked closely on how best to capitalize on their shared equipment and facilities. Now they may soon be sharing a kidney. “We’re taking TFI to a different level,” Long joked. “We’re talking total organ integration.” (U.S. Air Force photo/Todd Cromar)

Airmen, Soldiers Team up for Galactic Task

Airmen and Soldiers secure the evening’s fourth and the final U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter aboard a U.S. Air Force C-5B Galaxy at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 31, 2012. It took the team approximately four hours to completely unload and load the massive aircraft before its early-morning departure. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)

Airmen, Soldiers Team up for Galactic Task

Airmen and Soldiers load a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter aboard a U.S. Air Force C-5B Galaxy at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 31, 2012. C-5 Aircrews and maintainers from the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing were positioned at Bagram to assist in the Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority from the departing 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and arriving 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)

Airmen, Soldiers Team up for Galactic Task

Airmen and Soldiers load a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter aboard a U.S. Air Force C-5B Galaxy at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 31, 2012. The C-5 can carry up to six Apache helicopters in a single load depending on configuration. The C-5’s payload capacity made it the ideal choice for the Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority process of the departing 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and arriving 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)

Airmen, Soldiers Team up for Galactic Task

Airmen and Soldiers load a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter aboard a U.S. Air Force C-5B Galaxy at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 31, 2012. C-5 Aircrews and maintainers from the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing were positioned at Bagram to assist in the Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority from the departing 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and arriving 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)