An Air Force medic here received a personal telephone call from President Barack Obama on Thanksgiving Day.
Senior Airman Ashley Jackson, a member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Kapisa, was chosen as one of 10 military members who spoke to the president while deployed abroad.
Airman Jackson, originally from Lakeville, Minn., provides combat medical support to members of the PRT that venture into local communities to help with development projects in Afghanistan.
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Two significant holidays occur during the month of November every year - Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. In the United Kingdom, Veterans Day is called Remembrance Day, but the sentiment is the same. Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day, is a day to think about veterans who have served and those who sadly -- but heroically -- made the ultimate sacrifice in past and present wars.
Thanksgiving is the one day each year we watch football, and eat loads of turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. More importantly, however, it is a day for us to consider those things we are truly most thankful for -- our families, friends, freedom and hopefully, the servicemembers who protect our freedom.
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Master Sgt. Linda Adams has been an elementary school teacher for the past four years.
After just one day on the job in the current school year, however, she departed on a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia with her Air Force Reserve unit from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
"I was able to say 'hi' to my new class and then I was off," said Sergeant Adams, the 746th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support section NCO in charge.
But this teacher has bridged the distance by keeping up with her students online. Sergeant Adams' school, Kate Shepard Elementary in Mobile, Ala., maintains a blog site where students can write to and speak with local officials.
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Several military organizations are working together to provide servicemembers with healthy, good-tasting, sustainable and nutritionally sound combat rations.
"We're charged with a fairly awesome task, and that is to fuel the Defense Department's most flexible and adaptable weapons platform, and that, of course, is the individual warfighter," said Gerry Darsch, director of the Defense Department's Combat Feeding Program at the Massachusetts-based Natick Soldier Systems Center during a Nov. 23 interview on the Pentagon Channel podcast "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military.
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The Air Force's top officer and enlisted member paid a Thanksgiving visit to Airmen who are deployed to the NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan and Combined Air Power Transition Force here.
During an Airmen's call, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy spoke about the Air Force's role in the current conflict in Afghanistan and thanked the Airmen and their families back home for their unwavering sacrifices.
The visit was special for the two Air Force leaders as they were able to spend some of their time meeting and speaking to the Airmen who are deployed alongside sister services and coalition forces to train, equip and mentor Afghan forces to secure their country against terrorism.
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It's a few hours a month, but the break the Armed Services YMCA Respite Child Care program provides parents with a deployed spouse always is welcome. And since the program's Oct. 1 nationwide expansion, many more parents will benefit.
The Armed Services YMCA, as part of a Defense Department contract, provides health and wellness opportunities, including the Respite Child Care program, for reserve-component servicemembers and their families across the country through their local YMCAs.
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Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, celebrated Thanksgiving by serving turkey and other holiday favorites to the Airmen serving remote tours in South Korea.
The general departed here Nov. 21 to visit Kunsan and Osan Air Bases, South Korea, taking with him Maj. Gen. Jan-Marc Jouas, PACAF director of operations, plans, requirements and programs, Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean, PACAF command chief, and four members of the Air Force Civilian Advisory Council.
The trip also provided an opportunity for the council members to gain an understanding of the life Airmen experience while stationed here. While touring the two bases, the group found many opportunities to interact with Airmen, viewing military working dogs, getting an up-close look at an F-16 Fighting Falcon, and meeting many of the Airmen who support the mission at the two bases.
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Airmen witnessed a bunch of turkeys roaming around Bagram Airfield Thanksgiving Day. Also some kite flyers, a mock F-16 Fighting Falcon and even jolly ol' St. Nick.
The cast of characters were part of the first Thanksgiving Day parade at Camp Cunningham, where the majority of Airmen stationed here live and work. Thirteen decorated vehicles stood in for the balloons and floats at the recreation of the famous annual New York City event.
The teams had four weeks to create their entry during their downtime. The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing has been breaking several mission-related records and needed a short break from the high operations tempo to "relax and recharge," said Travis Luethe, the recreation manager at Camp Cunningham.
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This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
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"I am here to tell you that I work for you," said Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of Air Combat Command, during his visit to deployed Airmen at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Nov. 23 and 24, 2009.
After a day of touring base operations, maintenance and support functions, General Fraser addressed his "boots on the ground" in an evening Airman's call and assured them that their priorities were his as well.
"The sooner we get our job done, then the sooner you get to come home to your family and loved ones who are making just as many sacrifices...in order for you to be here, staying focused on today's fight," General Fraser said.
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