I've always felt that people matter and I have tried to help them all I could. Most of my life experiences have included taking care of others.
I'm an Air Force officer, a nurse, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and the list goes on. Many times as a supervisor, and in my deployment position as chief nurse at the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, I often was engaged with people who required American Red Cross services. I never imagined being a recipient of these services and having others have to take care of me.
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The recent arrival of Air National Guard air traffic controllers in Haiti has greatly increased the number of flights safely entering and leaving the country's air space.
Twelve Air Guard air traffic controllers and an airfield operations officer are deployed to Haiti, said Scott Duke, the chief of the Air National Guard's airfield services division, and additional air traffic control assets from the Air Guard are scheduled to arrive within the next few days.
"The test of how well we are assisting and helping with the ongoing operation can be found in the numbers," Mr. Duke said. "Before our presence, the daily count for arrival aircraft was around 90 per day." By (Jan. 28), he added, the number of daily operations had jumped to 120.
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When a disaster strikes, getting relief supplies in isn't always a simple proposition.
Can the airport's runway support the weight of cargo aircraft? What is the security situation like? What equipment does the airport have for unloading and loading? How many people and the means to support and supply them will be needed?
All of these questions and more are in the realm of the members of the Joint Task Force Port Opening at Toussaint L'Overture International Airport here. The unit, operating under the U.S. Transportation Command, opened the airport after the magnitude 7 earthquake hit Haiti Jan. 12 and has been responsible for operations on the airport's ramp since then.
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Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley announced Jan. 27 during a Pentagon ceremony that the next Fisher House will be established on Dover Air Force Base, Del.
The house will provide lodging for families coming to the base to witness dignified transfers of their loved ones' remains at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center there.
It will open in the fall 2010.
"What a generous way to support those in the greatest need; those whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice and have given their lives to defend our nation," Secretary Donley said.
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U.S. Air Force Academy cadets and members of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force on the FalconSAT-5 satellite Jan. 11 through 22 here.
The primary mission of the FalconSAT-5 is to perform space weather measurements using on-board sensors in collaboration with remote ground sites.
The FalconSAT-5 mission spacecraft is being integrated and flown by the Department of Defense Space Test Program and is supported by AFRL officials.
"We are doing full operational testing of the satellite, so we're testing out all of the sub-systems, including the thruster, which is the AFRL-provided payload," said Brian Beal, an AFRL program manager.
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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.
View the
slideshow.
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Airmen from across the United States are participating in the Haitian earthquake joint relief effort while the as Air Forces Southern members guide the effort from hundreds of miles away in the Arizona desert.
Air Force officials have an integral role in the relief efforts, from reopening the Toussaint L'Ouverture Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and dedicating hundreds of hours of flight time to airlift aid into Haiti, to help maximize efficiency of airfield operations and providing emergency medical care to Haitian citizens in need.
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National Football League representatives visited Airmen, civilians and earthquake victims Jan. 27 at Homestead Air Reserve Base.
The visit, which was unannounced, was a surprise to many and helped lighten the mood during ongoing relief efforts.
"They didn't expect us at all," said Julie Warner, a line captain for the New England Patriots cheerleaders.
Ms. Warner was one of seven Pro Bowl cheerleaders and two team mascots who visited the base. According to NFL officials, other cheerleaders visited locations throughout southern Florida.
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The 12th Air Force Southern vice commander, and the 612th Air Operations Center deputy commander arrived in Haiti to act as lead members of the Air Component Coordination Element supporting Joint Task Force-Haiti Jan. 12 here.
Brig. Gen. Darryl W. Burke, the 12th Air Force Southern vice commander, and Col. Dave Uselman, the 612th AOC deputy commander, will lead the team whose primary function is to liaison between the JTF, joint forces air component commander and related staffs coordinating the flow of air traffic during Operation Unified Response.
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Along with sending medicine, food and teams to operate the airfield within hours of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, Air Force officials also sent in an unlikely, but most valuable asset: a lawyer.
Military lawyers, such as Lt. Col. Randon Draper, 18th Air Force Legal Office here, assist commanders with rules of engagement issues as well as any political-legal impediments to providing access, security and logistics for Department of Defense relief efforts.
"We also handle any type of unusual or unique situations that arise, such as the much publicized effort to process the adoption and evacuation of Haitian orphans," said Colonel Draper, who arrived in Port-au-Prince with the 621st Contingency Response Wing Jan. 14. The 621st CRW, from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., is a team responsible for airfield operations.
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