When she was just 5 years old, she was already learning to hit softballs in her family's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., backyard. The balls were pitched patiently, one after the other, by an encouraging father who saw something special in his little girl's extraordinary ability to connect a bat with a ball.
No one could have predicted then where these childhood practice sessions might lead. Nearly three decades later, a huge payoff occurred.
Now 32, and a member of the Air Force and a security and requirements supervisor at Tyndall's 601st Air and Space Operations Center, Master Sgt. Karrie Warren has been named the U.S. Air Force Female Athlete of the Year for 2009.
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Providing pay and benefits during deployments, sending care packages to deployed employees, allowing time off, and celebrating military service with send-off and homecoming ceremonies are just a few commitments that the Guard and Reserve's top employers are honored for each year.
Officials here are asking Guard and Reserve servicemembers to speak out and honor their patriotic employers.
With ongoing global operations, support from employers for Guard and Reserve service is more critical now than ever, said Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve officials.
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Whether they are conducting patrols on the ground, riding in convoys or performing clearing operations in villages to search for insurgents, coalition forces know members of the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here stand ready 24 hours a day and seven days a week to provide close-air support anywhere throughout Afghanistan.
This includes armed overwatch, armed reconnaissance and armed convoy escort with the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
"We get to work with the guys on the ground and they're the ones who are in the heat of it all day," said Capt. Doug Witmer, an A-10 pilot with the 354th EFS. "It's always rewarding when we can support them and help them do their job and get home safely because, ultimately, that's their goal."
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The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons hosted the University of California-Davis Aggies here Dec. 22 at Clune Arena. The Falcons rallied to defeat the Aggies, 69-57.
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Considered by some to be an old-timer in a modern-day aircraft fleet, the C-130H Hercules proved its worth once again, successfully completing its 10,000th mission of the year for the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here Dec. 23.
C-130H, tail number was 74-2065, based at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, has been transporting thousands of troops and tons of cargo within the Southwest Asia area of responsibility since October as it has on deployments past.
"While 10,000 missions in a year is a feat that has been reached before, it is the teamwork of everyone involved from maintenance, logistics readiness and the air terminal operations center, to the many other support functions that makes this a noteworthy milestone," said Col. Mark Czelusta, 386th Operations Group commander. "Like the rest of our airlift community, the 737th EAS did not reduce its taskings or its commitment through the holidays. It is truly a unit that is 'all in'."
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Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
Air Operations in Afghanistan:
Asadabad
An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The friendly forces requested air power assistance in the form of a precision-guided munition. The F-16 delivered a precision munition against a suspected enemy position and succeeded in destroying the enemy fighting position. No further enemy action was noted.
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U.S. servicemembers hosted busloads of Iraqi children for a day of fun, games and culture sharing Dec. 19, 2009, as part of the ongoing base effort to directly engage the local populace here.
The event marked the fifth of its kind in the last four months, each one focused on educating and entertaining local youths.
The engagements began in late August, when medical professionals invited about 30 local kids to the base for a health and wellness fair. In early October, base officials began expanding and standardizing the "Iraqi Kids Day" program, regularly organizing larger-scale occasions.
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A handful of Airmen attached to the base command group work with Sailors to maintain the infrastructure of buildings, feed troops, provide shelter and ensure basic needs are met at this remote Marine base.
The BCG comprises servicemembers from varied career fields who oversee the day-to-day upkeep of the base.
"Our mission in Al Asad is compared to a city mayor," said Senior Master Sgt. Maria Kraft, the BCG facilities management chief, who is deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. "We are responsible for all the roads, maintaining the infrastructure of the base, running water, making sure the troops are fed and have a warm bed."
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Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 25 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
Air operations in Afghanistan:
Asmar
Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. When the friendly forces reported taking enemy fire, a request for air support was made. The point of origin for the enemy fire was confirmed and precision-guided munitions were released on the target ending the enemy fire and action.
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Members of the Air Force Theater Hospital took the first step in partnering with members of Iraq's Ministry of Defense Hospital Dec. 22, to form the American-Iraqi Air Medical Evacuation and Medical Provider Training Course here.
The first installment of training allowed the Iraqis to study burn care as well as practice proper medical evacuation techniques when transporting patients. Classes are scheduled for every two weeks, and topics will vary to achieve the goal of helping Ministry of Defense officials establish a stronger medical program.
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