National Night Out teaches community watch, fun for all

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Caleb Leduc, a 10-year-old resident of Vandenberg, swings at a pad held by Staff Sgt. Michael Myers, 30th Security Forces Squadron, during the National Night Out on Aug.10. National Night Out is an event designed to increase children's awareness of safety. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jonathan Olds)

National Night Out teaches community watch, fun for all

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tony Arsenault, an 8-year-old resident of Vandenberg, receives a sticker from a security forces Airman during the National Night Out on Aug.10. National Night Out is an event designed to increase children's awareness of safety. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jonathan Olds)

Vandenberg’s heritage day brings many together as one

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A member of an African dance ensemble from Los Angeles dances to the beat of a live band during the Cultural Heritage Day here on Aug.10. Vandenberg's Cultural Heritage Day combined all annual cultural observances into one gala event of food, music, dance and displays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Vandenberg’s heritage day brings many together as one

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A member of an African dance ensemble from Los Angeles dances to the beat of a live band during the Cultural Heritage Day here on Aug. 10. Vandenberg's Cultural Heritage Day combined all annual cultural observances into one gala event of food, music, dance and displays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Vandenberg’s heritage day brings many together as one

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A member of Mariachi Lobos plays a guitar during a live performance at the Cultural Heritage Day here on Aug.10. Vandenberg's Cultural Heritage Day combined all annual cultural observances into one gala event of food, music, dance and displays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Vandenberg’s heritage day brings many together as one

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Members of Mariachi Lobos play the violin during a live performance at the Cultural Heritage Day here on Aug.10, 2008. Vandenberg's Cultural Heritage Day combined all annual cultural observances into one gala event of food, music, dance and displays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Vandenberg’s heritage day brings many together as one

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Donna Rathbun, 30th Space Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response coordinator, looks at a Rosie the Riveter doll at the women's history month booth during the Cultural Heritage Day event on Aug. 10. Vandenberg's Cultural Heritage Day combined all annual cultural observances into one gala event of food, music, dance and displays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Kids on vehicles get hands-on time during Touch-a-Truck

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Josh Braxton, 2, and Hailey Bolles, 3, mock test drive an armored humvee during the 30th Space Wing Touch-a-Truck event on Aug. 4. The Touch-a-Truck event is sponsored every year by the 30th Services Division to allow parents and their children to get a hands on look at fire engines, armored humvees, loaders, 30-ton aircraft cargo loaders and transporters, and launch vehicle tracking stations work. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Adam Guy)

Leaders mentor junior officers at Birds and Bars Dinner

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- During the Birds and Bars Dinner, 30th Space Wing Commander Col. Steve Tanous speaks with junior officers about the values of mentorship in the Pacific Coast Club Warrior Room on July 31. The dinner gave lieutenants and captains the chance to gain leadership perspective from base commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Raymond Geoffroy)

Leaders mentor junior officers at Birds and Bars Dinner

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- During the Birds and Bars Dinner, 30th Space Wing Commander Col. Steve Tanous speaks with junior officers about the values of mentorship in the Pacific Coast Club Warrior Room on July 31. The dinner gave lieutenants and captains the chance to gain leadership perspective from base commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Raymond Geoffroy)

76th Helicopter Squadron Final Flight

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Two UH-1N helicopters from the 76th Helicopter Squadron land outside the hangar following their final flight on July 31. Both helicopters are scheduled to be reassigned to F.E. Warren AFB following the inactivation of the 76th HS during a ceremony at the hangar at 10 a.m. on Aug. 2. The ceremony brings a 49-year era of helicopters at Vandenberg to a close. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

76th Helicopter Squadron Final Flight

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A UH-1N helicopter from the 76th Helicopter Squadron drops steamers during its final flight at Vandenberg on July 31. The helicopter is scheduled to be reassigned to F.E. Warren AFB following the inactivation of the 76th HS during a ceremony at the hangar at 10 a.m. on Aug. 2. The ceremony brings a 49-year era of helicopters at Vandenberg to a close. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

76th Helicopter Squadron Deactivation Ceremony

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 30th Operations Group Commander Col. Andre Lovett speaks to an audience of about 100 people during the 76th HS inactivation ceremony at the hangar on Aug. 2. The squadron supported space launch, land and water rescue, fire suppression and many diverse training missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Adam Guy)

76th HS deactivates, celebrates misison, outstanding team

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 30th Operations Group Commander Col. Andre Lovett furls the 76th Helicopter Squadron's guidon flag with the unit's final commander during the 76th HS inactivation ceremony at the hangar on Aug. 2. The squadron supported space launch, land and water rescue, fire suppression and many diverse training missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Adam Guy)

Polish president visits Vandenberg’s MDA sites

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Trey Obering presents a pin from an interceptor missile to Polish President Lech Kaczynski during a press conference on July 17 in the 76th Helicopter Squadron hangar. Standing between them is Staff Sgt. Radoslaw Ciesielski, a native Polish speaker and the NCOIC of facility maintenance and operations for the 30th Space Wing and 14th Air Force headquarters building. The Polish president came to Vandenberg to tour missile defense facilities located on the base and meet with Missile Defense Agency officials. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. William Greer)

Polish president visits Vandenberg’s MDA sites

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Polish President Lech Kaczynski speaks at a press conference in the 76th Helicopter Squadron hangar on July 17 following a tour of missile defense facilities and meeting with Missile Defense Agency officials. The trip gave the president an opportunity to get an impression of the MDA program at a time when Polish and U.S. governments are negotiating a missile defense system in Poland. President Kaczynski came to Vandenberg two days after holding diplomatic discussions with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. William Greer)

Youth center raises, releases painted lady butterflies

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg Youth Center students and faculty release painted lady butterflies June 29 after being grown from a crystalisis stage as part of a summer science project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet)

Youth center raises, releases painted lady butterflies

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg Youth Center students and faculty release painted lady butterflies June 29 after being grown from a crystalisis stage as part of a summer science project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet)

Youth center raises, releases painted lady butterflies

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg Youth Center students and faculty release painted lady butterflies June 29 after being grown from a crystalisis stage as part of a summer science project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet)

JROTC visits Vandenberg, gets feel for Air Force life

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael McNiff prepares hamburgers with Senior Airman Andrew Adams for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps luncheon at Cocheo Park. The 144th Fighter Wing command chief master sergeant and the sheet metal journeyman with the 144th Maintenance Squadron brought students and dependents of Air and Army National Guard from Fresno, Calif., to Vandenberg to show them the occupational impact and lifestyle demands of their parents, many of whom live nowhere near a military installation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristi Emler)

Lompoc Flower Festival celebrates American history

Col. Benjamin Huff, 30th Mission Support Group commander, rides on a fire engine with the Vandenberg Middle School Cheerleaders during the 55th Annual Flower Festival Parade in Lompoc on June 23. The festival celebrated the theme of American History on Parade as bands, floats, equestrian units, drill teams, and clowns entertained the crowd. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Lompoc Flower Festival celebrates American history

Lt. Col. Lesa Toler, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander, waves to the crowd during the 55th Annual Flower Festival Parade in Lompoc on June 23. The festival celebrated the theme of American History on Parade as bands, floats, equestrian units, drill teams, and clowns entertained the crowd. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Gear, course preps riders for safe trip on highway to danger zone

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Motorcycle safety begins with protective equipment and the motorcycle safety course, both of which are required for all Vandenberg riders. (Courtesy image/30th Space Communications Squadron)

PCC reveives extreme Italian makeover

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- For the Italian space community's first satellite launch from Vandenberg, the Italian Ministry of Defense transformed the Pacific Coast Club into a non-conventional viewing site for the Italian COSMO Sky-Med satellite launch on June 7. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Corenthia Fennell)