North Star prepares Vandenberg Airmen for deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Jason Levy, 614th Space Communications Squadron, dons his gas mask during a chemical attack exercise during North Star on Aug. 23. North Star is designed to teach Airmen the combat skills needed while deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

North Star prepares Vandenberg Airmen for deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Kevin Graves, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, takes a break after practicing to field strip an M-16 rifle during a North Star exercise on Aug. 23. North Star is designed to teach Airmen the combat skills needed while deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

North Star prepares Vandenberg Airmen for deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airmen participating in a North Star exercise call out the names of their team members before in processing on Aug. 23. North Star is designed to teach Airmen the combat skills needed while deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

North Star prepares Vandenberg Airmen for deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airmen participating in a North Star exercise wait in line to be in processed on Aug. 23. North Star is designed to teach Airmen the combat skills needed while deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

AOR receives first Operation Warrior Comfort shipment

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Deployed Airmen receive the first Operation Warrior Comfort packages to arrive at the Contingency Air Staging Facility, or CSAF, which cares for sick and wounded Airmen and Soldiers transiting through on their way to Germany for care. The donations from Vandenberg will provide some of the wounded troops with clothes since most of them arrive to the CASF with nothing but the clothes on their backs. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Vandenberg welcomes Airmen returning from 6-month deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lt. Col. Patrick Donley, 30th Security Forces Squadron commander, welcomes back Senior Airman Andrea Cordova after she returns with other 30th SFS Airmen from deployment on Aug. 22. The 25 Airman, who compose two teams, return from a six-month deployment at Al Udied, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jonathan Olds)

Vandenberg welcomes Airmen returning from 6-month deployment

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airmen of the 30th Security Forces Squadron salute as fellow members return home from a deployment on Aug. 22. The 25 Airman, who compose 2 teams, returned from a six-month deployment at Al Udied, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jonathan Olds)

Vandenberg host education fair

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.--The Vandenberg education center hosted an education fair that allowed members of team Vandenberg to find out more about educational and career oppurtunities. Airman Naomi Gordon, 30th Medical Group, listens as she figures out what her next step is in furthuring her education.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Wesley Carter)

Vandenberg hosts education fair

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE--The Vandenberg education center hosted an education fair that allowed members of team Vandenberg to find out more about educational and career oppurtunities. Airman 1st Class Ieshia Pledger listens as she learns how she can finish her CCAF. (US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Wesley Carter)

Texas Blowout to cookout cocheo park for OKC

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASECanadian Air Force Sgt. Marc Corriveau, 533rd Training Squadron, treats Jacob Cronin, 5, to a snow cone during the 17th annual Texas Blowout Barbecue held in Cocheo Park Sept. 9, 2005.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Orly Tyrell)

76th Helicopter Squadron takes fini-flight, wet down

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, enjoys a scenic view of Vandenberg during the 76th Helicopter Squadron's final flight July 31. The 76th HS is set to inactivate during a ceremony at the hangar at 10 a.m. on Aug. 2, bringing a 49-year era of helicopters at Vandenberg to a close. The squadron's mission of space launch security will continue to be maintained by unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the 30th Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Richard Freeland)

Vandenberg volunteer awarded AF youth of the year

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Austin Camblin, chosen as Air Force Services Youth of the Year, runs the Fit Factor youth program at the Vandenberg Youth Center. The award is provided to motivate 10- to 18-year-old children to stay involved in the Fit Factor program. The 15 year old is a Cabrillo High School sophomore and has volunteered with youth center for three years. He also participates in the Red Cross Program, the Southern California Special Olympics and the Wise Guys, which is a program that teaches financial and business tools to teens. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Kristi Emler)