HOMENews

News Search

  • 1st Lt. Russell Shoultz, 403rd ASTS, was recently awarded EMT Paramedic of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign War in Louisiana. With more than16 years experience in saving lives, his winning the state award qualifies the lieutenant as a candidate for the national award. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Tabitha Spinks)

    On the Job

  • Lt. Col. Doug Lipscombe endures the traditional hose down after his fini flight. Dousing is a ritual of honor bestowed upon aviators who are retiring from service or sometimes moving on to a new job at a different unit. Colonel Lipscombe served with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron as an Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer and instructor. He retired with 28 years of military service. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Tabitha Spinks)

    Final Splashdown

  • Brig. Gen. Richard Moss pins Ann Kranz, at her retirement ceremony in June. Mrs. Kranz completed 36 years of federal service, of which 19 were served with the 403rd Wing. Family and friends joined her at Vrazels restaurant to celebrate and show appreciation for her hard work and dedication. She was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award by General Moss and received a letter of appreciation from the Department of the Air Force signed by President George W. Bush. This marks the end of a more than remarkable career. Mrs. Kranz began her federal service career at the Keesler Commissary in 1971 and quickly excelled leading to several promotions at 81st Medical Center and other agencies on the base. She first worked for the 403rd Tactical Airlift Wing as a budget analyst in 1991 and left the Wing for two years from 1998-2000 to serve at Headquarters, Pacific Air Force, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Since returning, she spent her last seven years with the 403rd as the Financial Analysis Officer where she held great responsibilities. "I?ve kept a job since I got out of high school and never really had quality time. Now, I get to spend time with my family and visit with friends for lunch with no worries about limited time," said Mrs. Kranz. "I?ve always enjoyed reading and I?ve been able to just kick back and read book." She and her husband, Michael, are currently gearing up for a cruise on the Queen Mary II. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Tabitha Spinks)

    Cruising Into Retirement

  • Getting ready for the upcoming Operational Readiness Exercise in September and Operational Readiness Inspection in December, the 41st Aerial Port Squadron conducted an in-ranks inspection during the June Unit training assembly. Citizen Airmen throughout the wing have been testing their Ability to Survive and Operate by donning the protective gear each UTA and conducting additional training both in the chemical warfare gear and in classroom settings. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Martin)

    Saddle Up

  • The Hurricane Hunters answer the call to an early kickoff of this year's hurricane season, which arrived nearly a month early with the development of Subtropical Storm Andrea off the coast of Georgia. This year, the state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer which allows the Citizen Airman of the Hurricane Hunters to constantly measure surface winds directly below the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. James Pritchett)

    Hurricane Hunters Flying Felix

    The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters are currently deployed to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands where they are flying state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft into Hurricane Felix in support of the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Felix very quickly became a monstrous category five hurricane in a matter of days and its path is ominously close
  • Al Roker, weatherman for NBC's Today Show, flew with the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters into the eye of Hurricane Dean on August 19. Mr. Roker said the flight was not as turbulent as he expected and the eye of the storm (in background) was amazing. The Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron have been flying Hurricane Dean since August 16, sending life-saving data via satellite to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. The Hurricane Hunters are using a 'smurf' to help them this year. The Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer, affectionately called 'smurf' measure the intensity the winds at the surface continuously as the WC-130J flies through the storm.

    53rd Flies Dean with Al Roker

  • The Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" mark the start of the hurricane season on June 1 by keeping an eye on disturbances in the Pacific and Caribbean. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, the only operational hurricane reconnaissance squadron in the world, started early this year when they flew Subtropical Storm Andrea in early May. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 17 named storms with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes. This season, the state-of-the-art WC-130J will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer, which continuously measures surface winds and rainfall rates occurring below the aircraft. The data collected by the Hurricane Hunters increase the accuracy of the National Hurricane Center Forecast up to 30 percent. (Air Force Photo/ Tech. Sgt. James Pritchett)

    Hurricane Hunters Pinpoint Dean

    The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters are currently deployed to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands where they are flying state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft into Hurricane Dean in support of the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Dean blasted its way into the Caribbean uprooting trees, downing power lines and damaging homes and other structures
  • KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A flack vest and Kevlar helmet become everyday wear for troops deploying in support of U.S. contingencies. Master Sgt. Alan Bourgeois, 403rd Maintenance Squadron, and others from the 403rd Wing got a taste of wearing the gear as they processed and prepared for transportation to Volk Field, Wis. for training. Airmen from the 403rd Wing and 433rd Airlift Wing spent a week in Wisconsin training on Ability to Survive and Operate procedures.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Tabitha Spinks)

    Ready, Set, Go: Wing Inspection Prep Begins with Volk Exercise

    Nearly 350 Reservists from the 403rd Wing deployed during April UTA to Volk Field, Wis. for a week of Operational Readiness Inspection training. During out-processing, the troops were given safety briefings and were introduced to Operation Brilliant Thunder, the scenario that will put their skills to the test. They geared up from head to toe in
  • VOLK FIELD, Wis.. -- Members of the 403rd Wing arriving here were greeted with their first official task of the deployment -- filling sandbags. Senior Master Sgt. Lisa Baldelli, NCOIC, 403rd Services Flight, got a little more than her share on the shovel filling six sandbags before she was able to hand it off to the next person. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Michael Duhe)

    Shovel, Hydrate, Gas, All Clear: Reservists Learn Combat Survival Skills

    Upon arriving at Volk Field, Wis., the Citizen Airmen of the 403rd Wing team quickly settled into practicing their skills at operating in a combat environment. The first order of business was filling two sandbags each. For the next two days, they "set up shop" and attended training courses, including Self-aid and Buddy Care and Explosive Ordnance
  • Airman Addison Brown, 403rd Maintanence Group, takes a swing at the ball during one of the intramural softball games. Brown is new to the unit "We all come down to the same level with the same goal in a sport environment,"says Raye Johnson, 403rd mission support flight and assistant coach. " The team builds morale and gives everybody a chance to get to meet people from other parts of the unit." (US Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Tabitha Spinks)

    Just a Swingin'

RSS