EOD destroys hundreds of pounds of deactivated rocket parts

Hot shrapnel flies hundreds of feet in the air when the Vandenberg’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team detonated an equivalent of 400 pounds of explosives April 26. Viewers stayed safe 3,000 feet from the explosion and the hazardous flying shrapnel, composed of propellant and hot metal fragments. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

EOD destroys hundreds of pounds of deactivated rocket parts

Connecting 250 pounds of C-4 together, Senior Airman Anthony Pascoe prepares for a large explosive operation at Vandenberg April 26. Explosive Ordnance Disposal, a unit of the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, disposed of explosive Titan II and Titan IV rocket components.

EOD destroys hundreds of pounds of deactivated rocket parts

With a Titan IV explosive detonator component in his right hand, Staff Sgt. Robert Brown explains how much explosive it will take to destroy the 4-inch steel cap at Vandenberg April 25. Two explosions, at a combined 800 pounds of explosive power, destroyed rocket material from the deactivated Titan II and Titan IV programs. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

30th Launch Group welcomes new commander

Col. Carl Frushon gives his first speech as the new commander for the 30th Launch Group at the Pacific Coast Club April 20. Colonel Frushon is coming from Royal Air Force Menwith Hill, United Kingdon, as the director of the Systems Engineering Group. He was also at Vandenberg as a Titan IV Launch Manager with the 4th Space Launch Squadron from September 1993 to September 1994. Colonel Frushon is prepared to take on the duties of the 30th Launch Group and continue the display of excellence at Vandenberg. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Adam Guy)

Whether the weather be fair...

During the final stages of flight preparation, Brad Barclay, Central Coast Weather Associates contractor, seals a helium balloon with cord at the 30th Weather Squadron building, April 11. The 30th WS releases balloons twice a day, 365 days a year.(Photo by Airman Jonathan Olds)

Whether the weather be fair...

A weather balloon begins its ascent after Brad Barclay releases it from the 30th Weather Squadron building April 11. The Central Coast Weather Associates contractor uses the balloons for weather forecasting and to provide a snap-shot of the atmosphere when released simultaneously with 300 other sites world wide. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

Vandenberg honor guard graduates mobile training course

Airman 1st Class Lyle Carter critiques and instructs Vandenberg’s Honor Guardsmen during a mock military funeral at the Lompoc Cemetery April 3, the final scenario in an extensive, eight-day training. Here to train Vandenberg’s Honor Guardsmen, Airman Carter is a formal training instructor and military training leader instructor and part of the Mobile Training Team from Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., a unit of the Air Force Honor Guard. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Rumsey)

Speech

Col. Stephen Tanous delivers a speech after recieving command of the 30th Space Wing on March 5 at Vandenberg.

Honor

Col. Jack Weinstein, former 30th Space Wing commander, pins the Bronze Star on Staff Sgt. Shane Cronin, 30th Space Communications Squadron, on March 1 at Vandenberg. Sergeant Cronin received the medal for his service in Iraq and was presented the medal at Colonel Weinstein's last commander's call. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Robert Lewis)

undercover

The Mission Support Squadron PERSCO team gets ready to engage enemy attackers during an exercise at North Star on Feb.23. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamie Lessard)

Get Down

Tech. Sgt. Scott Johnson from the 595th Space Group, searches an enemy prisoner of war, played by Master Sgt. David Matos, 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron, before transfer during a North Star field training exercise Feb. 23. (U.S. Air Force photo bty Staff Sgt. Jamie Lessard)

work

Tech. Sgt. Sheila White, 30th Mission Support Squadron, works on her computer at the Airman Family Readiness Center on Feb. 21. Sergeant White along with the Airman Family Readiness Center takes care of troops that are deploying and family members of deployed troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

TLC

Tech. Sgt. Sheila White, 30th Mission Support Squadron, prepares care packages for deployed military members at the Airman Family Readiness Center on Feb. 21. Sergeant White, along with the Airman Family Readiness Center, takes care of troops that are deploying and family members of deployed troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

CAC installation

Airman 1st Class Markell Jones, 2nd Range Operations Squadron, prepares to remove CD-ROM drives from a damaged computer and will eventually place them in another on Feb. 21at Vandenberg. Airman Jones is a client support administrator for his squadron and performs duties such as troubleshooting computer and network problems that can be ether hardware or software related. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nicole Roberts)

Stately

Senior Airman Keith Armour, a firefighter from the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron on Vandenberg, takes a quick break before going back to training during a base excercise on Feb. 13. Airman Armour just recently got back from a deployment in Iraq where he used this training in real-world situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jonathan Olds)

Break

Senior Airman Keith Armour, a firefighter from the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron on Vandenberg, takes a quick break before going back to training during a base excercise on Feb. 13. Airman Armour just recently got back from a deployment in Iraq where he used this training in real-world situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jonathan Olds)

Honor

Colonel Teresa Djuric, 30th Space Wing vice commander, delivers a speech during a Black History month ceremony at Vandenberg on February 1. The ceremony was to honor those of black heritage in our armed services and around the world for their important and respectable roles in today’s society ( Air Force Photo by Amn Adam Guy)

memorable pieces

Mrs. Monica Chisolm delivers a speech while Captain Johnny Galbert, 576th Flight Test Squadron, pieces together a puzzle during a Black History month ceremony at Vandenberg on February 1. The puzzle is to show the respectable leadership of those in the past decades including Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Booker T. Washington and many others who made a difference in black history. (Air Force Photo by Airman Adam Guy)

General's visit

Airmen in the 381st Trainign Group explain aspects of space training with community leaders, while General William R. Looney III, Air Education and Training commander, listens in (far right). General Looney escorted the group of community leaders from around the country to the 381st TRG to show how space and missile operators and maintainers are trained. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Carol McClelland)

Tracking

The FPS-16 radar sits atop Tranquillon Peak overlooking all of Vandenberg, including Space Launch Complex-6, and the shoreline. Tranquillon Peak's elevation of 2,126 feet is the highest point on Vandenberg AFB. The radar provides data and range safety for missile launches. This radar, along with its data system, will be tracking the upcoming Feb. 7 Minuteman III launch. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ashley Tyler)

Family time

Chief Master Sgt. Michael Sullivan, Air Force Space Command Command Chief, talks with Master Sgt. Steven Colon and the family of deployed member, Staff Sgt. Dan Diaz on Jan. 4, at Breaker’s Dining Facility on Vandenberg. (United States Air Force photo by Airman Melinda Fields)

The more you know

Airman 1st Class Lady Consolacion, 30th Medical Operations Squadron, asks Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael Sullivan questions about current situations and issues at Breakers Dining Facility at Vandenberg AFB on Jan. 4. (United States Air Force photo by Airman Melinda Fields)

Portraits in courage

Staff Sgt. Lealofi N. Lealofi (left), 30th Security Forces Squadron, interacts with the local children in Baghdad, Iraq. Sergeant Lealofi helped to prevent the deaths of more than 100 Iraqi civilians by taking charge during a fire in a local apartment complex. (Courtesy Photo)

Portraits in courage

Senior Airman Matthew R. Myhra, 30th Security Forces Squadron, patrols a convoy at Ali Al Saleem Air Base, Kuwait. Airman Myhra aided in the rescue of a Kuwaiti pilot after his aircraft crashed near the base. Airman Myhra sustained burns during the rescue and was released back to work the next day. (Courtesy Photo)