Features

Suicide Prevention in the Military, from Taboo to Timely
September 22, 2021 — Suicide prevention is a year-round effort. As September is Suicide Prevention Month, now is a time to reach out to others while also taking the time to look within... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Michele Lo Bianco, 305th Air Mobility Wing Operations commander, displays her box of remembrance. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. More than 1.7 million Veterans received treatment in a VA mental health specialty program annually.

Meet the new 87th Mission Support Group Commander
August 3, 2020 — The 87th Mission Support Group recently welcomed its new commander, U.S. Air Force Col. Janette D. Ketchum, to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Ketchum now leads a team of more than 3,100 personnel and is responsible for security forces, force support, communications, contracting and logistics readiness squadrons supporting 52,000 personnel across the DoD’s sole tri-service installation. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Janette D. Ketchum, 87th Mission Support Group commander.

From Army Reserve helicopter maintainer to Air Force medical group commander
July 30, 2020 — “I enlisted in the Army Reserve after college because I wanted to serve; however, I was not sold on the military as a career at that point. The Army offered me the opportunity to work on helicopters part-time and that was an easy sell,” said Colonel Charles “Scott” Hughes. Nearly 22 years later, Colonel Hughes is now the commander of the 87th Medical Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst after taking command June 25, 2020. ... MORE

Colonel Charles “Scott” Hughes took command of the 87th Medical Group during a change of command ceremony on June 25, 2020 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (Courtesy photo)

Airman becomes children’s superhero
August 2, 2019 — Huge smiles spread across children’s faces as a group of superheroes¬¬¬¬—including Captain America, Spider-Man and Wolverine— walked into the Nemours/Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children in support of Camp WeBelong July 31, 2019 in Wilmington, Delaware. Amongst the group was U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Long, 87th Force Support Squadron base honor guard NCO in charge... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Long, 87th Force Support Squadron base honor guard NCO in charge, volunteers to dress up as Captain America to give back to children and make them smile. (Courtesy photo)

Aircraft simulators: Training Airmen for real-world flights
March 4, 2019 — Being one of two Air Force installations that train Airmen to operate on a KC-10 Extender, Joint Base MDL has an important job of ensuring its students get the best possible training available. The KC-10 aircrew training simulator facility provides the students with instructors who not only have years of teaching experience but also their own... MORE

Steven Custis, KC-10 boom operator instructor, watches Airman 1st Class Nicholas Eddings, 32nd Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender boom operator, as he operates the boom in a KC-10 simulator on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Dec. 19, 2018. The KC-10 aircrew training simulator facility holds three simulators that allow coordination between boom operators, pilots and flight engineers simultaneously. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Katie Mueller)

Stellar Sailor leads by example
January 11, 2019 — The fluorescent lighting in the hangar glared off his glasses. He stood with rigid posture and a professional stance for an interview about his journey wearing the digital desert uniform. His spine was bone straight, arms in front of him with his hands overlapping each other. His shoulders squared and rolled back which made him seem taller. He... MORE

Petty Officer 1st Class William Martin, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 64 (VR-64) aviation structural mechanic, poses in front of a C-130 Hercules in a hangar on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Dec. 12, 2018. Martin has been assigned to VR-64 for less than a year and has received every rank he has made on the first try. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ariel Owings)

Airman awarded for heroic actions
December 30, 2018 — An American Airman walked around in a sea of coyote brown with his M4 carbine cradled in his arms, pointed toward the silt beneath his feet. Another day in the sweltering heat of Afghanistan. Every day he thinks of his four-year-old daughter who waits for his arrival back home in Georgia. He gifted his daughter a teddy bear that could... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Metzger, 38th Rescue Squadron pararescueman stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, (middle) smiles with Lt. Gen Charles D. Luckey, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command (left), and Edward T. Reilly, vice chairman of the of the Metropolitan New York USO (right), after being awarded the George Van Cleve Military Leadership Medal during the 57th Annual USO Armed Forces Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City, Dec. 12, 2018. Metzger and his team successfully rescued five injured Afghan allies during combat while on his second tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ariel Owings)

First sergeant overcomes pain for Justice
October 30, 2018 — She opened the door to her office with a broad grin from ear to ear. The braids in her bright blonde hair caught the light, the diamond stamped beneath her rooftop stripes stood prominent on each arm, completing her sharp sage appearance. Framed certificates line the wall and a wooden rack filled with coins of different shapes and sizes sits... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michelle Humphrey, 87th Air Base Wing Staff Agencies first sergeant, poses with her children, Hayleigh and Kosey Justice.

Air Mobility Command takes home Sadler Cup
September 25, 2018 — Purple haze blocked the team’s view charging toward the white arch that hung over the finish line. Five miles of challenging dismounted operations obstacles had the team covered in mud and dripping sweat. Struggling to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, the Air Mobility Command team held onto each other as they took their last... MORE

Senior Airman Anthony Hu, 6th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler and Air Mobility Command team member, performs pushups during the 2018 Air Force Defender Challenge on Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas, Sept. 13, 2018. Hu performed the last exercise of the combat endurance test on the last day of the three-day competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Ariel Owings)

New command chief inspires motivation, positivity
August 13, 2018 — Driving home for the summer after freshman year of college, a young man of 19 noticed a towering billboard on the side of the road. In bold camouflage colors, the words ‘U.S. Armed Forces’ stretched from one end to the other. It was in this moment the Flora, Illinois native made the decision to step into the recruiting office and see the... MORE