Fifty-five airmen from Air Force Reserve Command’s 440th Airlift Wing at Pope AFB, N.C., deployed in two of their C-130H transports, along with nine colleagues from Pope’s active duty 43rd Airlift Wing, on May 25 to Ramstein AB, Germany, for a 16-day stint in Europe, including possible missions to Africa. The deployment is the first joint mission of the units to the European theater since they formed an association as part of BRAC 2005. “It is historic and it’s a first step in a long lasting relationship of things yet to come,” said Col. Michael Thornton, 43rd Operations Group commander. “We’re glad to see [the active duty personnel] step out and help out the Reserves with this type of mission, as well as the Reserves working together to season some of our aircrew on this type of mission.” As part of BRAC, the 440th AW moved in June 2007 from Milwaukee, Wis., to Pope. (Pope report by SSgt. Jon LaDue)
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.