Fire fighters send packages to deployed Airmen

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech. Sgt. Blaine Barker(left) and Senior Airman Keith Armour, 30th Civil Engineering Fire Fighter Squadron, organize packages to be sent out to deployed Airmen here recently. Fire fighters here gathered items to make care packages to boost morale for deployed Airmen in their squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Satran)

Airmen simulate deployment to prepare for combat situations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Cameron Currie of the 30th Space Wing Public Affairs helps fasten a gas mask during a mock attack at the North Star exercise April 24 here. The exercise's purpose is to prepare Airmen for combat and deployed environments. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Airmen simulate deployment to prepare for combat situations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airmen of the 30th Security Forces Squadron escort detainees back to base during the North Star exercise April 23 here. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Airmen simulate deployment to prepare for combat situations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airman 1st Class Brian Cardenas of the 30th Medical Group checks the chlorine level in the "water buffalos" for contamination during the exercise here. Checking chlorine levels in the water tanks ensures the military is meeting environmental standards. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Guardian Challenge Prep

Members of the 30th Security Forces Squadron Guardian Challeng Team practice some of the events they may expect to endure during their portion of the competition. The events include various weapons and field training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Satran)

Guardian Challenge Prep

Members of the 30th Security Forces Squadron Guardian Challeng Team practice some of the events they may expect to endure during their portion of the competition. The events include various weapons and field training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Satran)

CES Electrical Flight

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. , -- Staff Sgt. Benjamin White and Staff Sgt. David Lewis, both members of the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, utilize an extend-o - stick to shut off the power source of a building in the process of being upgraded on April 1. (U.S. Air Force Photo / SrA Christopher Hubenthal)

CES Electrical Flight

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. , -- Staff. Sgt. Benjamin White and Staff. Sgt. David Lewis, both members of the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, utilize an extend-o - stick to shut off the power source of a building in the process of being upgraded on April 1. (U.S. Air Force Photo / SrA Christopher Hubenthal)

LCG comes together to face Challenge

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 1st Lt. Michael Hoadley, a flight vehicle engineer with the 4th Space Launch Squadron, calls 911 to treat injured personnel during a Guardian Challenge launch rehearsal on March 28. The GC trainers provide a series of anomalous conditions. This provides the GC team with familiarity of the launch count down manual and trains them on some of the day-of-launch systems that can become problems or barriers in achieving a successful mission launch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

LCG comes together to face Challenge

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 1st Lt. Michael Hoadley, a flight vehicle engineer with the 4th Space Launch Squadron, and Capt. A.J. Ashby, 4th SLS flight commander, go through terminal count down and procedures during a Guardian Challenge launch rehearsal on March 28. The GC trainers provide a series of anomalous conditions. This provides the GC team with familiarity of the launch count down manual and trains them on some of the day-of-launch systems that can become problems or barriers in achieving a successful mission launch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Dental lab: Readiness with a smile

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech. Sgt. Jacqueline Williams, the 30th Medical Operations Squadron dental lab NCO in charge, reconstructs a tooth model for a patient at the dental lab Mar 13. Dental technicians must use a combination of technical knowledge and artistic skill to create durable crowns and prosthesis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

Dental lab: Readiness with a smile

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech. Sgt. Dewayne Luster, a dental lab technician with the 30th Medical Operations Squadron, inserts fake teeth into the model of a patient's mouth as part of the reconstruction process in the dental lab Mar 13. Dental technicians must use a combination of technical knowledge and artistic skill to create durable crowns and prosthesis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

30th OG ready to win Guardian Challenge

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 1st Lt. Ryan Thomas, the chief of current operations for the 30th Operations Group here, monitors the actions of 1st Lt. Lauren Neely (background) during a simluated launch March 10. Lieutenant Thomas is the primary range operations officer for the 30th Operations Group Guardian Challenge team, while Lieutenant Neely is the alternate. The team will compete in Guardian Challenge on March 24-26. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

30th OG ready to win Guardian Challenge

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 1st Lt. Erin Smith, an instructor in the 2nd Range Operations Squadron, runs countdown operations during a simulated launch March 10. Lieutenant Smith is the range control officer for the 30th Operations Group Guardian Challenge team. The team will compete in Guardian Challenge on March 24-26. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

North Star

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Glenn McAlister, 30th Mission Support Squadron first sergeant folds the flag for retreat during a North Star Exercise here March 5. The exercise is a military resource in the Global War on Terrorism. Airmen engaged in defending, securing terrain and training to be better prepared for deployed base operations. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Longoria)

Northstar

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- 1st Lt. Andrea Taylor, 30th Space Communications Squadron, waits out a mock chemical attack here March 6 during a North Star exercise. The exercise is a military resource in the Global War on Terrorism. Airmen engaged in defending, securing terrain and training to be better prepared for deployed base operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cole Presley)

1st ASTS

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Capt. Joseph Fortin, 1st Air and Space Test Squadron training section chief, operates a console and performs a pre-launch checklist during the FTG-03 launch attempt on May 25, 2007. Members of the 1st ASTS follow along in the countdown checklist as the launch conductor reads the count over the net.( U.S Air Force Photo )

Airmens Medal

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech. Sgt. Joe Reuter, a 148th Space Operations Squadron satellite communications maintenance team leader, was presented with the Airman's Medal March 1. The Air Force awards the medal to Airmen who display acts of heroism in a non-combat environment, by voluntarily risking their own life, to save another. (Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Trey Lewis)

Military Working Dogs Help Protect Base Personnel

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Shawna Richards, a entry controller with the 30th Security Forces Squadron, trains her military working dog, Baiky,on Feb. 26. Security forces train their bomb and drug sniffing dogs to seek out illegal items and potential threats. Handlers prepare the dogs for duty using obstacles designed to simulate real scenarios. Military working dogs have been used by the U.S. armed forces since World War I. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

30th Medical Group Runs Through Code Blue

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Capt. (Dr.) Daniel Rohweder, a family practice physician with the 30th Medical Group, gives a patient suffering from a simulated heart attack shock treatment during a code blue exercise on Feb. 28. Code blue is used to indicate a patient with injuries or illnesses that present an immediate life-threatening emergency, most often a cardiac arrest. The medical group has monthly training days to ensure that they are prepared for any situation that may come their way. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

30th Medical Group Runs Through Code Blue

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Capt. (Dr.) Daniel Rohweder, a family practice physician with the 30th Medical Group, gives a patient suffering from a simulated heart attack shock treatment during a code blue exercise on Feb. 28. Code blue is used to indicate a patient with injuries or illnesses that present an immediate life-threatening emergency, most often a cardiac arrest. The medical group has monthly training days to ensure that they are prepared for any situation that may come their way. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Warrior of the Week, Feb. 28

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Chuck Spice is a superintendent in the Operations Division at the National Reconnaissance Office-Vandenberg squadron. He has been directly involved with the Atlas V launch since the beginning of the program in defining launch site requirements, ensuring the successful transport of the satellite from the factory to the launch site, providing the Integrated Processing Facility required, certifying NRO-V readiness for each space vehicle test, and guaranteeing proper communication configuration during the actual launch campaign. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Local Community Discovers Underwater Life at Cabrillo High School

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Students explain the characteristics of jellyfish to visitors on Feb. 20. Cabrillio High School presented the local community with a look at the underwater habitats surrounding the Central Coast and the Channel Islands. The exhibits, which were part of a student-ran aquarium, are used to teach hundreds of elementary school students of the different ecosystems living around them. Nine of the students in the class are military dependents from Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Local Community Discovers Underwater Life at Cabrillo High School

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Students from Cabrillio High School presented the local community with a look at the underwater habitats surrounding the Central Coast and the Channel Islands on Feb. 20. The exhibits, which were part of a student-ran aquarium, are used to teach hundreds of elementary school students of the different ecosystems living around them. Nine of the students in the class are military dependents from Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)