Rags to Riches in the American Heartland

First Lt. Heather Greatting instructs Zoey, her 9-year-old Labrador retriever, to jump over a hurdle Feb. 11 during agillity training. The lieutenant obtained Zoey from a Labrador rescue center and currently competes with her in canine agility. Lieutenant Greatting is a space intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance systems employment analyst with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joshua Strang)

Rags to Riches in the American Heartland

First Lt. Heather Greatting follows Zoey, her 9-year-old Labrador retriever, over an obstacle Feb. 11 during agillity training. The lieutenant obtained Zoey from a Labrador rescue center and currently competes with her in canine agility. Lieutenant Greatting is a space intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance systems employment analyst with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joshua Strang)

QALAT, Afghanistan

A graduate of the basic nursing program here hurries to the front of the room to accept his certificate of completion Feb. 5 as three dignitaries from Zabul Province look on. The graduation ceremony was attended by (left to right) Director of Public Health Dr. Nazir Ahmadzai, Director of Education Mr. Abdul Nabi Wadan and Director of Ibn Sina Medical Dr. Fazul Rahman. The 12-month training program—facilitated by the joint Air Force and Army Provincial Reconstruction Team—teaches students the basics of nursing: taking vital signs, assessing overall health, initial patient screening, medical terminology and an overview of medications. The course is taught by a local Afghan employed by the PRT. (Air Force photo by Capt. Bob Everdeen)

QALAT, Afghanistan

Ahmadullah (left), a graduate of the basic nursing program here accepts his certificate of completion Feb. 5 from Director of Ibn Sina Medical Dr. Fazul Rahman. The 12-month training program—facilitated by the joint Air Force and Army Provincial Reconstruction Team—teaches students the basics of nursing: taking vital signs, assessing overall health, initial patient screening, medical terminology and an overview of medications. The course is taught by a local Afghan employed by the PRT. (Air Force photo by Capt. Bob Everdeen)

Abused Afghan woman to receive plastic surgery

QALAT, Afghanistan – Nazia Hookum Darr, 16, was brutally attacked here by her 40-year-old husband of three months on Christmas day. The man—who is still on the run from police—broke 16 of his wife’s teeth, shaved her head, cut off her nose and ears and poured scalding water on her hands and feet. The young woman is set to receive plastic surgery in Kabul following close coordination between the Afghan government and Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat, a joint U.S. Air Force and Army unit stationed here. (Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Michael Gauron)

AFMC Command Chief to retire

Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Hake, command chief for Air Force Materiel Command, takes part in a question and answer session with enlisted personnel during a January visit to Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The chief retires during a Feb. 1 ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. (Air Force photo by Sue Sapp)

Speed and accuracy

Canton sixth graders Drake Danner and Austin Blackerby quickly reposition their robot to perform a pre-programmed mission during a timed event at the FIRST LEGO League Ohio State Robotics Championship. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Educational Outreach Office co-sponsored the annual event which brought together 48 teams of students and mentors from across the state to demonstrate their problem solving skills and knowledge of environmental issues. The competition was held Jan. 12-13 at Wright State University. (U.S. Air Force photo/Derek Kaufman)

Ohio teams compete at FIRST LEGO League State Championship

LEGO Lab Rats team members Justin Mullaney, of McNicholas High School, and C.J. Howitt of St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati, review their robot's success performing various tasks with referee Dave Parker during the FIRST LEGO League Ohio State Robotics Championship. The 2008 event, co-sponsored by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Educational Outreach Office, brought together 48 teams of students and mentors from across the state to demonstrate their knowledge of environmental issues. The competition was held Jan. 12-13 at Wright State University. Parker works in the Air Force Materiel Command Information Assurance Office at Wright-Patt. (U.S. Air Force photo/Derek Kaufman)

QALAT, Afghanistan

Students of a basic Emergency Medical Technician training course here listen to their instructor during a graduation ceremony Jan. 8. The three-month EMT course—which is facilitated by Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat—is similar to a basic first aid class or the military’s self-aid and buddy care training. (Air Force photo by Capt. Bob Everdeen)

QALAT, Afghanistan

Basir Ahmed graduates from Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat’s basic Emergency Medical Technician training course here Jan. 8. The three-month course is similar to a basic first aid class or the military’s self-aid and buddy care training. (Air Force photo by Capt. Bob Everdeen)

Enlisted Call

Members of the audience listen intently to Gen. Carlson's words during the Enlisted Call at the base theater Dec. 10. (Skywrighter photo by Christy Webb)

Enlisted Call

Enlisted servicemembers consider thoughfully the weight of Gen. Bruce Carlson's words to them at Monday's enlisted call at the base theater in Kittyhawk Center. (Skywrighter photo by Christy Webb)

Airman's Holiday Cookie Drive

First Sergeants, led by Senior Master Sergeant Ray Munger, from the Air Force Research Laboratory, load trucks to begin the delivery of holiday cookies. The Airman's Holiday Cookie Drive collected cookies to donate to young Airmen across the base Dec. 6. (Courtesy photo)

Airman's Holiday Cookie Drive

Master Sgt. Patrick Luda from the medical center watches as other First Sergeants prepare to load the cookies collected during the Airman's Holiday Cookie Drive Dec. 6 into the delivery trucks. (Courtesy photo)

CFC 2007

Jacqueline Phillips, executive director of CFC, presents a gift to Manuel Gomez, Jr., the campaign chairman, at Thursday's awards breakfast. (Skywrighter photo by Christy Webb)

QALAT, Afghanistan

Governor Delbar Jan Arman shakes hands with Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jane Holl Lute before she departs Zabul Province Dec. 8. The high-level visit by the UN official was designed to discuss future coordination between the UN, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and the government of Afghanistan, especially in Zabul Province here. (Air Force photo by Capt. Bob Everdeen)

Dayton civic leader meets Wright-Patt Airmen in Afghanistan

Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. T. Michael Moseley recently invited civic leaders from across the country for a first-hand look at Air Force combat operations. Here J.P. Nauseef, president of the Dayton Development Coalition, meets Wright-Patterson Airmen currently deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Pictured sporting hats of the Dayton Dragons baseball team are (from left): Col. Barry Mines, Dean of Air Force Institute of Technology's Civil Engineer and Services School; Staff Sgt. Mychael Bulford, assistant NCOIC Student Services, AFIT Graduate School of Engineering and Management; Nauseef; and Airman 1st Class Valerie Johnson, Airman 1st Class Shawn Spithaler and Senior Airman Matthew Bollengier, all with the 88th Security Forces Squadron. (contributed photo)

Las Vegas

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base firefighter Jacob Hall drags a firehose a 75-foot distance before he triggers the stream of water to hit a volleyball-sized target, during the World Firefighter Combat Challenge XVI here Nov. 5. The hose drag is the fourth of five timed events which simulate the tasks firefighters face during actual fires. (Air Force photo by John Van Winkle)

Healthy Cooking

Walter Jackson, left, of the nutritional medicine flight at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center hones his knife skills alongside Chef Ken Arnone, one of only 61 master chefs in the United States. Arnone was invited by the flight to teach the food production staff how to make traditionally high-fat meals into healthier ones. (Air Force photo by Mark Pugel)

Base, Bombers team for 'Lights on After School'

Dayton Bombers player Chanse Fitzpatrick gives some tips to Chance Sanders at the booth he was working to celebrate the Lights On After School program at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. (Christy Webb/Skywrighter photo)

AFRL manager wins award

Marvin L. Gale received the Tibbets Award, named for Roland Tibbetts who is acknowledged as the “father of the SBIR program.” (Courtesy photo)

Young Heroes

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Young Heroes Association representative, Lt. Col. Rory Owen, presented Timothy Desmond Kingston and his sister Ada Lillian Kingston with Young Heroes Medals of Honor during a base ceremony on Oct. 4. Owen was also presented an honorary Young Heroes Medal. (Skywrighter photo/Charles Caperton)

QALAT, Afghanistan

Zabul Province Governor Delbar Jan Arman meets with Joint Chiefs Strategic Plans and Policy Director Lt. Gen. John Sattler on Oct. 9—the sixth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion against the Taliban—about the future of this southern province of Afghanistan. (Air Force photo by Capt. Bob Everdeen)

NAWBAHAR DISTRICT, Afghanistan

More than 125 men and boys attend a provincial-level shura, or meeting, here Oct. 2. Although the shura was facilitated by Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat—a joint U.S. Air Force and Army unit stationed in the country since April—the meeting was strictly an Afghan affair. Topics discussed included security, governance and reconstruction in this remote southern region of the country.