KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Tyree Leverette, an aircrew flight equipment technician for the 403rd Operational Support Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., unwinds the cords of a BA-30 Low Profile Parachute system before packing it May 2, 2021. The new parachute systems, in addition to being 25% lighter than the outgoing BA-22s, are designed to be less susceptible to accidental deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Tyree Leverette, 403rd Operational Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., fastens the cords of a BA-30 Low Profile Parachute system to an apparatus that facilitates the assembly and packing of the parachute into its backpack May 2, 2021. Gradually, the Air Force is making a branch-wide transition to the BA-30s for certain aircraft. (U.S. Air Force by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Tyree Leverette, 403rd Operational Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., fastens the cords of a BA-30 Low Profile Parachute system to an apparatus that facilitates the assembly and packing of the parachute into its backpack May 2, 2021. Gradually, the Air Force is making a branch-wide transition to the BA-30s for certain aircraft. (U.S. Air Force by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Ronald Patton, aircrew flight equipment technician for the 403rd Operations Support Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., reinforces a BA-30 Low Profile Parachute system April 29, 2021. Patton repairs flight equipment to ensure it is safe to use in the event of an in-flight emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A multitude of BA-30 Low Profile Parachute systems hang in the 403rd Fabrication Flight building on Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April 29, 2021. The 403rd Operations Support Squadron received 60 of these systems to replace the bulkier BA-22 parachute systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Ronald Patton, 403rd Operations Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., works on a Butler Parachutes BA-30 Low Profile Parachute system April 29, 2021. The BA-30 is new to the the two flying squadrons the 403rd OSS supports, replacing the BA-22. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Gehl, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technician, and Bora Gunay, 580th Software Engineering Squadron test engineer, check the software on two aerial reconnaissance weather officer stations at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April 21, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgt. Carlos Ramirez, 403rd Wing Command Post readiness reporting manager, answers questions about current base operations over the phone at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April 11, 2021. The command post manages and performs a multitude of command and control operations that, depending on the call they receive, can vary from minor issues to major incidents. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The 403rd Wing Command Post team: (back left to right) Tech. Sgt. Marvin Mercado, Staff Sgt. William Garrett, (front left to right) Master Sgt. Carlos Ramirez, Senior Master Sgt. Brian Harms, Master Sgt. Desirae McIntyre, and Master Sgt. Shawna Smith, pose for a photo at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April 11, 2021. The command post manages and performs a multitude of command and control operations that depending on the call they receive, can vary from minor issues to major incidents. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.

Col. Stuart M. Rubio, 403rd Operations Group commander at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and Capt. Grant J. Talkington, 5th Operational Weather Flight commander at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., look on as members of the Shaw AFB honor guard present the colors during an assumption of command ceremony at the 28th Operational Weather Squadron pavilion at Shaw April 9, 2021. As commander, Talkington is responsible for the readiness, agile deployment, and effectiveness of unit members fulfilling exercise and contingency operations for base weather stations, operational weather squadrons and Air Operations Centers worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.

Col. Stuart M. Rubio, 403rd Operations Group commander at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and Capt. Grant J. Talkington, 5th Operational Weather Flight commander at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., stand at attention as Airman 1st Class Baylor Smith passes by with the United States flag during an assumption of command ceremony at the 28th Operational Weather Squadron pavilion at Shaw April 9, 2021. The mission of the 5th OWF is to provide the world's most disciplined, trained, and effective reserve weather force ins support of U.S. Central, European, African, and STRATEGIC Commands anywhere, anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.

Col. Stuart M. Rubio, 403rd Operations Group commander at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., hands the 5th Operational Weather Flight guidon to new commander Capt. Grant J. Talkington during an assumption of command ceremony at the 28th Operational Weather Squadron pavilion at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. April 9, 2021. The flight is a geographically separated unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share