Quick thinking—and action—last month by four airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, saved about $52 million worth of aircraft parts from being damaged or destroyed in an electrical fire. SSgt. Akeilee Murchison, SrA. Heather Libiszewski, A1C Mayra Colon-Santiago, and Amn. Martin Renzi responded within moments of detecting the Sept. 22 fire, which was caused by a broken gaslight fixture, in the unit’s parts store. Together they used a fire extinguisher to smother the flames, called for and directed members of the base’s fire department to the scene. “What these airmen did is a great thing, and we need to make sure all our airmen are prepared to take the initiative if a fire breaks out in their work centers,” said SMSgt. James Ferrari, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing ground safety manager. Faulty wiring was later determined to have caused the fixture to burst. (Balad report SSgt. Don Branum)
How Miss America 2024 Took the Air Force Somewhere New
Dec. 20, 2024
When 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh became the first ever active service member crowned Miss America on Jan. 14, top Air Force officials recognized a rare opportunity to reach women and girls who otherwise might not consider military service as an option.