Air Attach?? visits 403rd Wing and Keesler facilities

Members of the Air Attach?? from Washington, D.C., familiarized themselves with the 403rd Wing during a visit of facilities at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (US Air Force Photo illustration by Capt. J. Justin Pearce)

North Bay Elementary Tours 403rd Wing

Third graders from North Bay Elementary toured 403rd Wing facilities March 25 to expand their horizons about the Air Force Reserve's flying missions here. They concluded their tour with a walkthrough of a WC-130J aircraft (US Air Force photo illustration by Capt. J. Justin Pearce).

Biloxi JROTC tours WC-130J

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Ragusa, 403rd Wing Chief of Safety and Hurricane Hunter pilot, gives members of the Biloxi High School Junior ROTC a tour of a WC-130J cockpit on March 22, 2013. The JROTC toured Keesler AFB during an annual visit (U.S. Air Force Photo by TSgt Jessica L. Kendziorek).

403rd Wing swept by Miss. Surge

The Mississippi Surge Hockey team poses for a photo next to a WC-130J with Lt. Col. Douglas Fairtrace, MSgt Jeff Stack, Lt. Leesa Froelich, Lt. Col. Shannon Hailes, members of the 53rd WRS, and MSgt Brian Lamar, 403rd Wing public affairs, during a tour at Keesler Air Force Base March 18, 2013. The hockey team visited the 403rd Wing, taking in a static tour of a WC-130J, the aircraft maintenance shop and the propulsion shop. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jessica L. Kendziorek)

Changing the Culture

Chaplain Lance Hoggatt stresses the seriousness of the consequences of drunk driving to his fellow wingmen, and was among several guests who spoke during an urgent 403rd Wing commander's call March 15 at the Roberts Maintenance Facility here. The commander's call was held in response to a recent drunk driving incident involving several military personnel, and centered on the negative impacts of drunk driving, as well as resources Airmen could use to prevent future incidents from happening. Additionally, in efforts to promote a change in culture concerning alcohol, a policy was announced restricting the use of alcohol at any 403rd Wing facility (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. J. Justin Pearce).

Father would be proud

Lt. Col. Eugene B. Essex, Director of Contingency Plans and Exercises, Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wis., retired today at a ceremony here at Keesler. Essex watches as the 81st Keesler AFB honor guard performs the flag folding ceremony. Essex concluded a family military tradition after following in his father, a Tuskegee Airman's, footsteps. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek)