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The Air Force Falcons took on the San Diego State Aztecs at Falcon Field here April 22. The Falcons defeated the Aztecs 7-3.

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Building resilience in families and ensuring they have access to effective support programs are just a few of the steps the services are taking to ensure a high quality of life for troops and their families, the services' senior enlisted leaders said during a town hall meeting here April 28.

"At the end of the day, we as a nation don't do well promoting resiliency ... that ability to bounce back," said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III. "If we can instill (resilience) in our Soldiers and in families, ... we believe we're going to have a stronger force, and we need a stronger force to get through these challenges."
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Air Force Special Operations Command became 4,200 tons closer to securing effective alternative energy solutions and even greater environmental stewardship here April 26.

Following a ceremony, the transportable plasma waste-to-energy system began converting 4,200 tons of garbage per year to usable energy and producing intangible benefits by reducing the command's overall carbon footprint.

"This is history in the making," said Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, who was on hand for the ceremony. "This is the first waste-to-energy project of this technology to go into an air base. It has been a long time in the making."
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Many service men and women report that stress is a major reason they smoke or chew tobacco, since military life produces unique pressures and challenges.

But a recent article published on the Department of Defense's tobacco cessation website, http://www.ucanquit2.org, explains how tobacco actually increases stress and why stress levels go down after people kick the nicotine habit.

According to the article, tobacco users feel normal after using nicotine, but stress levels rise in between smoke or chew breaks. Thus, tobacco users are kept constantly bouncing back and forth between feeling normal immediately after using and feeling increasingly stressed as the hours since their last intake of nicotine go by.
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Members of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron here have recently been named the winners of the Zenko Kai Award, an award given by Japanese government officials to any residents, military included, who have performed outstanding community service.

The squadron members were honored for their good deeds between March 2010 and March 2011.

Japanese and American members of the 18th LRS cleaned and performed repairs at a local nursing home and also presented the residents with homemade banana bread and gifts.
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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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An Air Force Academy assistant professor was killed in Kabul April 27.

Maj. Philip D. Ambard gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to the U.S. Major Ambard arrived at the Air Force Academy's Department of Foreign Languages in December 2003.

"The U.S. Air Force Academy family is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own, Major Phil Ambard, and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends," said Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, the superintendent of the Academy. "While we grieve this loss, we are committed to helping Major Ambard's family through this extremely difficult time. Phil's ultimate sacrifice is special in that he touched the lives of so many people -- cadets, Airmen, friends and family -- and he will have a lasting effect on all."
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Calling personnel issues his greatest comfort and greatest concern, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today praised U.S. service members for the way they've adapted through a decade of war.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told attendees at a Government Executive Magazine leadership briefing that while he is most proud of the flexibility and adaptability of U.S. military forces, he also is concerned that Americans is losing touch with the U.S. military.

The experience in Iraq illustrates the adaptability of U.S. service members, Admiral Mullen said, noting that when he took office in 2007, the U.S. surge into Iraq was underway and the levels of violence in the country were high and looked to be going higher.
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Officials from the 374th Medical Operations Squadron Pediatric Clinic hope to promote early literacy and better reading habits by hosting the Reach Out and Read Program for families here starting May 2.

The program provides 6-month-old to 5-year-old children with a free age-appropriate book during their pediatric wellness visit. There will also be a volunteer available to read books to children in the waiting room.

Fourty-seven military bases, including 18 Air Force bases, are currently participating in Reach Out and Read. Yokota Air Base will be the first U.S. military base in Japan to incorporate the program into their pediatric wellness plan.
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Aircrew members participate in a surge week here April 14. The purpose of the surge week is to make up lost flying time by increasing the operations tempo.

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