Lifting spirits one car at a time

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 2nd Lt. Julian Vaiana, a 30th Civil Engineer Squadron energy manager, prepares the exhaust pipe on his car for welding here Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. The auto hobby shop is open to customers with base access offering a variety of services and a knowledgeable staff to help with automotive projects. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Lifting spirits one car at a time

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Oil drains from a car into a recovery container during an oil change at the auto hobby shop here Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. The auto hobby shop is open to customers with base access offering a variety of services and a knowledgeable staff to help with automotive projects. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Lifting spirits one car at a time

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Aaron Moreheart, an automotive specialist, inspects a windshield wiper blade at the auto hobby shop here Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. The auto hobby shop is open to customers with base access offering a variety of services and a knowledgeable staff to help with automotive projects. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Lifting spirits one car at a time

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Aaron Moreheart, an automotive specialist, tightens a battery connection on a pick-up truck at the auto hobby shop here Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. The auto hobby shop is open to customers with base access offering a variety of services and a knowledgeable staff to help with automotive projects. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Caroling on, saxophone quartet plays Christmas songs

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A saxophone quartet from the Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif., play Christmas carols in the 30th Medical Group foyer here Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. The quartet toured main base and played Christmas songs to members of Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Caroling on, saxophone quartet plays Christmas songs

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. James Butler, Staff Sgt. Ron Glenn, Airman 1st Class Issac Lamar and Airman 1st Class Caleb Brinkley from the Band of the Golden West from Travis AFB, Calif., perform Christmas carols in the 30th Medical Group foyer here Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. The saxophone quartet toured main base and played Christmas songs to members of Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Combat Arms fires off new training

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt. Anthony Cardenas, a 382nd Training Squadron resource advisor, fires an M9 pistol during the first class of the new Rifle Carbine Air Force Qualification course here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The new course, in which Airman fire nearly double the amount of rounds of the previous course, contains both basic firing positions (prone, sitting, kneeling, standing) and advanced tactical movements. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Combat Arms fires off new training

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt. Bien Covita, a 30th Comptroller Squadron deputy dispersing officer, fires an M16 rifle during the first class of the new Rifle Carbine Air Force Qualification course here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The new course, in which Airman fire nearly double the amount of rounds of the previous course, contains both basic firing positions (prone, sitting, kneeling, standing) and advanced tactical movements. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Combat Arms fires off new training

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Jesse Phillips, a 30th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms instructor, assists a student with the disassembly of an M4 carbine during the first class of the new Rifle Carbine Air Force Qualification course here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The new course, in which Airman fire nearly double the amount of rounds of the previous course, contains both basic firing positions (prone, sitting, kneeling, standing) and advanced tactical movements. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Combat Arms fires off new training

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt. Bien Covita, a 30th Comptroller Squadron deputy dispersing officer, disassembles an M16 assault rifle during the first class of the new Rifle Carbine Air Force Qualification Course here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The new course, in which Airman fire nearly double the amount of rounds of the previous course, contains both basic firing positions (prone, sitting, kneeling, standing) and advanced tactical movements. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Veteran Memorial

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.- Michael Stadnick Jr., Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States All American commander, plays taps during a ceremony to honor Santa Maria’s 97 fallen heroes held at the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial at Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center in Santa Maria, Dec. 7, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Scottie T. McCord)

Veteran Memorial

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.- Col. Lavanson C. Coffey III, 30th Launch Group commander, provides ceremonial remarks at an event honoring Santa Maria’s 97 fallen heroes held at the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center in Santa Maria, Dec. 7, 2011. The memorial honors heroes whom fought in World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War and the War on Terrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Scottie T. McCord)

VSC give back to Airmen

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — More than 5,000 cookies were donated to the Vandenberg Spouses Club annual Holiday Cookie Express here Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. Cookies will be given to Team V members who live in the dorms. (US Air Force photo/Jennifer Green-Lanchoney)

VSC give back to Airmen

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.— More than 25 Vandenberg Spouses Club members received more than 5,000 cookies from on base donations to the annual Holiday Cookie Express here Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. Cookies will be given to Team V members who live in the dorms. (US Air Force photo/Jennifer Green-Lanchoney)

798th MUMG Det 1 deactivation ceremony

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Phillip Boroff, 798th Munitions Maintenance Group commander, and Capt. Angel Guerrero, 798th MUMG Detachment 1, maintenance operation officer, retire the detachment guidon during a deactivation ceremony here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The deactivation is due to a major command change and realignment of functions placing the command, control and authority for the operational mission with the 576th Flight Test Squadron here. U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

798th MUMG Det 1 deactivation ceremony

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Phillip Boroff, 798th Munitions Maintenance Group commander, and Capt. Angel Guerrero, 798th MUMG Detachment 1, maintenance operation officer, retire the detachment guidon during a deactivation ceremony here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The deactivation is due to a major command change and realignment of functions placing the command, control and authority for the operational mission with the 576th Flight Test Squadron here. U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Flags fly at half staff commemorating Pearl Harbor

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Stephen Crookston, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron member, lowers a flag to half staff at the Avenue of flags here in honor of the 70th Anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor on the Avenue of Flags Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. The attack occurred on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Flags fly at half staff commemorating Pearl Harbor

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Stephen Crookston, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron member, lowers a flag to half staff at the Avenue of flags here in honor of the 70th Anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor on the Avenue of Flags Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. The attack occurred on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Annual tree lighting event shines bright

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team V members sit with Santa during the base tree lighting event here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The base celebrated the holidays with the lighting of the Christmas tree and a surprise visit from Santa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Annual tree lighting event shines bright

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team V members view the base tree during the base tree lighting event here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The base celebrated the holidays with the lighting of the Christmas tree and a surprise visit from Santa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Annual tree lighting event shines bright

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team V members watch the tree light up during the base tree lighting event here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The base celebrated the holidays with the lighting of the Christmas tree and a surprise visit from Santa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Annual tree lighting event shines bright

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Space and Sea Girl Scout troops sing a holiday song during the base tree lighting event here Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The troop sang many songs throughout the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Christmas Tree Lighting

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The Vandenberg Air Force Base Family Child Care program along with the parents and children send a special thanks to all deployed service members and their families here Monday, Dec. 5, 2011. Families can make and place ornaments or hang a yellow ribbon on the Christmas tree for their deployed loved ones at 345 Oceanview Ave. thru Dec. 25. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech Sgt. Scottie T. McCord)

Christmas Tree Lighting

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Elizabeth Bryant, a Vandenberg Air Force Base Family Child Care provider, thanks the VAFB leadership and community for supporting the Christmas tree lighting ceremony held Monday, Dec. 5, 2011. Anyone in the VAFB community is welcome to come to 345 Oceanview Ave. to decorate an ornament or hang a yellow ribbon for deployed heroes Dec. 5-25. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech Sgt. Scottie T. McCord)