New Air Force Recruits

Colonel Brad Space, 88 ABW commander, swears in new Air Force recruits during the first period break at the Dayton Gems Hockey game which was Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Appreciation Night. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

Noah Geier

Honorary Captain Noah Geier waves the Dayton Gems flag as he heads the team to center ice. Noah is the son of Tech. Sgt. Thomas Geier who is currently deployed to Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser).

Tech. Sgt. Mathew Kurian

Technical Sgt. Mathew Kurian shakes hands with Col. Brad Spacy, 88 ABW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. John Hoffman, 88 ABW command chief, at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Appreciation Night with the Dayton Gems Hockey at Hara Arena on January 29, 2010. Sergeant Kurian was one of the airmen recognized for his deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

Airmen mentor Afghans at Kandahar Regional Military Hospital

Maj. Joey Burks, an operating room nurse mentor, watches as doctors clean the amputated leg of an Afghan National Policeman Jan. 30, 2010. The patient lost his leg by an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province. Major Burks is a mentor with the Medical Embedded Training Team for the Kandahar Regional Military Hospital on Camp Hero, Afghanistan, and is deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nancy Hooks/Released)

Airman 1st Class Gerard Cerameau

Airman 1st Class Gerard Cerameau waits on the next text message from his friend in Haiti, to give him updates on his family. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Ted Theopolos)

AMC continues aeromedical evacuation relief in Haiti

Maj. John Lynch, 88th Medical Group Critical Care Air Transport Team, prepares a 3-year-old earthquake victim for aeromedical evacuation from Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Anastasia Wasem/Released)

Airmen deopying

Staff Sgt. Mark Kambell hugs his wife Clarissa, before climbing on the bus to be transported out to the aircraft to depart for Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photos by Ben Stasser)

88 SFS Deployment

Staff Sgt. Christopher Klein (left) and Tech. Sgt. Jason Grant (right) just arrived at building 143 to receive a transportation briefing before being transported out to the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photos by Ben Stasser)

Wright-Patt Airman recovering at Walter Reed

Airman First Class Ahja Nock (right) visits Senior Airman Tre Porfirio Dec. 29, 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Airman Porfirio is recovering after multiple surgeries following being shot in the back by an insurgent Nov. 21, 2009 while deployed to Afghanistan. Walter Reed doctors hope to release Porfirio in the coming weeks to Wright-Patterson Medical Center where he will continue his recovery. Porfirio is assigned to the 88th Communications Squadron and Nock to the 88th Medical Operations Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (courtesy photo)

Bellbrook students send wounded warrior greetings

Senior Airman Tre Porfirio (center), Airman First Class Ahja Nock, and Lt. Col. Rick Johns, hold a banner of get well wishes from Bellbrook (Ohio) Middle School students Dec. 29, 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Porfirio is recovering after a groundbreaking Thanksgiving Day surgery when doctors removed his damaged pancreas, harvested islet cells and transplanted them into his liver. A communications technician with the 88th Communications Squadron, Senior Airman Porfirio was shot in the back by an insurgent while deployed with an Army unit to Afghanistan. Nock is a mental health technician with the 88th Medical Operations Squadron and Johns is commander of the 88th Communications Squadron. All three Airmen are assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (courtesy photo)

Two brothers from Dayton taught the world to fly

Col. Brad Spacy and Stephen Wright place a wreath at the Wright Brothers Memorial overlooking Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on Dec. 17, 2009 during a ceremony marking the 106th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight. Mr. Wright is the Wright Brothers’ great grand-nephew and Col. Spacy is 88th Air Base Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bonnie White)

First Flight

After donning a costume reminiscent of the turn of the century, Brig. Gen. Paul Sampson tells the story of Dayton, Ohio’s most famous inventors, Wilbur and Orville Wright, during a ceremony Dec. 17, 2009 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The general was keynote speaker for a ceremony marking the 106th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight. Brig. Gen. Sampson is mobilization assistant to the commander of Aeronautical Systems Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bonnie White)

Program prepares Air Force nurses for rigors of deployment

The U.S. Air Force and University Hospital Cincinnati celebrated a one year partnership with the graduation of 14 new Air Force Nurse Transition Program nurses on Dec. 4, 2009. The NTP provides college graduate registered nurses the advanced clinical training and experience needed to become Air Force Nurse Corps officers and to prepare them for the rigors of deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Laura McGowan)

Program prepares Air Force nurses for rigors of deployment

2nd Lt. Erin Wood draws blood from a central line during training with the Air Force Nurse Transition Program at University Hospital in Cincinnati. The program celebrated its first year in operation with the graduation of 14 new Air Force nurses on Dec. 4, 2009. Lieutenant Wood hails from Tonganoxie, Tenn. (Photo courtesy of University Hospital Cincinnati)

Recruits

Thirty-one new Air Force recruits swear in front of thousands of spectators at the Wright State University basketball game on Dec. 3, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

Court Side Seats

From court side seats, Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. John Hoffman points to a play to Col. Bradley Spacy, 88th Air Base Wing commander during a Wright State University basketball game on Dec. 3, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

Systems Go

“Systems Go” band from the Air Force Band of Flight perform hits from the 70’s and 80’s during half time at the Wright State University basketball game on Dec 3, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

Swearing in new recruits

Col. Bradley Spacy, 88th Air Base Wing commander swears in new Air Force recruits in front of the Wright State basketball audience while Command Chief Chief Master Sgt. John Hoffman stands at attention. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

Born To Be A Chef

Working over a hot flaming stove is nothing new for seasoned chef Tech. Sgt. Rhodello Nuval. He says the main thing he has to guard against is complacency because he is so comfortable in the kitchen. (photo by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hannen)

New AFMC vice commander confirmed

Lieutenant General Janet C. Wolfenbarger was confirmed by the Senate Dec. 4, 2009 to three-star rank as Air Force Materiel Command vice commander. She is the Air Force's highest ranking female officer. (U.S. Air Force photo)

World War II 'three-star' attends WPAFB Retiree Appreciation Day

Dressed in World War II regalia as a three-star general of the mighty Eighth Air Force, Retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Bob Potts stands beside his historic staff car Nov. 13 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Potts, a native of Dayton, was invited to participate at the base's annual Retiree Appreciation Day. The event attracted more than 450 joint service retirees, spouses and Airmen nearing retirement from throughout the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/William Pugh)

WPAFB Retiree Appreciation Day attracts 450

Retired Army Maj. Gen. William Matz answers questions about retiree benefits during Retiree Appreciation Day Nov. 13 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Base officials said more than 450 participated during the day-long event, which included presentations, free medical screenings and an information fair. Matz is president of the National Association for the Uniformed Services and administrator of the Society of Military Widows. (U.S. Air Force photo/William Pugh)

WPAFB Honor Guard

Wright-Patterson AFB Honor Guard presents the Colors at the University of Dayton Football Game honoring military members and personnel at Wright-Patterson AFB. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Ben Strasser)

Air Force Band of Flight singer SSgt. Felita Rowe

Singer Staff Sgt. Felita Rowe from the Air Force Band of Flight sings the National Anthem at the University of Dayton Football Game honoring military members and personnel at Wright-Patterson AFB. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Ben Strasser)