by Senior Airman Christina Bozeman, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, Dobbins Air Reserve BaseEvery year, the holidays seem to come around with a pressing force that is faster than the year before. Just when you've fiscally recovered from last season, preparing for the next seems like an unrealistic anxiety-filled goal. "I'm a single mom, and I have three kids, so I know how to save money," said Senior Master Sgt. Kathleen Petridis, Financial Management superintendent. Petridis may be as close to an expert as it gets when it comes to avoiding financial woes. Remember when you were little and …

by Chaplain (Maj.) Olga Westfall, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, Dobbins Air Reserve Base During this holiday season many people are trying to find the right gifts for the right people. My children can't wait until Christmas because they know they will have new gifts to unwrap. If you go to the shopping malls and stores you will find that people are buying things that they usually don't buy during other times of the year. Finding the right gift for the right person is a very important task. A gift, although it may not tell the true worth of the recipient, conveys the value and importance …

by Senior Airman Christina Bozeman, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, Dobbins Air Reserve Base Laptops, wireless internet and video teleconferencing: all of the necessary factors that are required to be up-to-date when it comes to electronic interaction. The 94th Communications Squadron, until recently, the 94th Communications Flight, at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, encompasses every aspect of electronics and then some, especially in this age's thirst to be connected. The comm flight used to be 94th Combat Communications. However combat comm left Dobbins Air Reserve Base, along with …

by Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, Dobbins Air Reserve Base Aeromedical evacuation crews bridge the gap between care in the field and care provided once a patient arrives at a hospital. These "Flying Samaritans" make flights from forward bases in Southwest Asia to the larger bases in Europe or stateside to transport wounded warriors from the battlefield and return those who have received care back to their duty locations. Although an aeromedical evacuation team usually flies with a C-130 aircrew, they can also fly on C-17 Globemaster IIIs, KC-135 …

by Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Members of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance presented Col. Timothy Tarchick, 94th Airlift Wing commander, and Angela Pedersen, 94th AW Airman and Family Readiness Office director, with 40 gift cards to a local grocery store. The gift cards will be used to help, not only Airmen, but also Marines, Soldiers and Sailors around Dobbins Air Reserve Base in need during the holiday season who, through no fault of their own, have entered into a financial crisis. "We are very grateful for Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance," …

by Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Members of the 94th Airlift Wing are returning from a four-month deployment, during which they formed half of a combat ready squadron—the other half of the squadron consisted of active duty Airmen from Pope Air Force Base, NC. "On behalf of the 94th Airlift Wing and everyone on this installation and in this community, welcome home!" said Col. Timothy E. Tarchick, 94th Airlift Wing commander. "Thank you for getting it done!" The first wave of 53 Airmen arrived Friday. Over the course of the deployment, the Aircrews flew …

by Chrissy Cuttita, Team Eglin Public Affairs Air Force officials begin their F-35A Lightning II Operational Utility Evaluation Sept. 10, an instrumental step in beginning joint strike fighter pilot and maintenance training for the service. Two 33rd Fighter Wing pilots at Eglin Air Force Base, along with two Air Force test pilots, will conduct the review expected to last approximately 65 days. "The start of the OUE is another huge milestone for the Air Force and the program as a whole," said Col. Andrew Toth, 33rd Fighter Wing commander. "We've been preparing for this event since the arrival …

The first C-130J Super Hercules for the Sultanate of Oman was formally accepted at ceremonies, Aug. 30, at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility.  This is the first of three C-130Js on order for Oman and is scheduled for delivery later this year. The new C-130J will be used to support internal country operations where its ability to operate out of remote austere airstrips will be invaluable. 

The first of six C-130J Super Hercules for the Iraqi Air Force recently completed its first flight in Marietta.  The Iraqi Air Force intends to use the C-130J for intra-theater support of its troops and humanitarian relief operations in various locations. These new transport aircraft will provide Iraq with the ability to operate seamlessly with U.S., NATO and coalition forces. The first C-130J for Iraq is scheduled for delivery later this year.

by 1LT William Carraway, Georgia Department of DefenseCaptain Jason Royal performed the swearing-in ceremony for his son Hector at Fort Gillem, completing Hector's enlistment into the Georgia National Guard. "I am so proud of him," said Captain Royal. "It is incredible to see what he has become and to have him serve with me in the Guard." Captain Royal works at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta. He deployed with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2009. His son Hector chose to enlist upon turning 17. Although still in high school, he will train as…

by Senior Airman Christina Bozeman, 94th Airlift Wing Public AffairsMold is alive, and mold is sneaky. It doesn't even need a constant source of water to sustain life, which isn't a very comforting fact. Mainly all it needs is a wet or damp surface to be a menace. Mold can be in your walls, shoes or on your food, and those are just places you can see. What about hidden places, like under carpets, in the attic and appliances? All molds aren't toxic, but if left to grow, they can be. So, how do we prevent this fuzzy troublemaker? Mold and mildew are both types of fungus. Even good mold like the…

Story by Pfc. Andrew Badeen, Public Affairs Office, Georgia Department of Defense The Georgia Army National Guard was declared champion of the second annual Adjutant General’s Defenders Cup competition, which pitted teams from the Georgia Army Guard, Georgia Air Guard and Georgia State Defense Force against one another in a friendly head-to-head-to-head competition of strength, fortitude and aptitude. While the State Defense Force won the first Defenders Cup last year, this year’s Army Guard team came back with a vengeance. This was the Air Guard’s first appearance at the Cup competition. …

Shelly Williams, of the Joint Forces Headquarters Family Support Group welcomed Soldiers and Airmen of the Georgia Guard to Operation Homefront's back to school event at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta last week.   The event featured free back to school supplies donated by the Dollar Tree.  More than 50 Soldiers received pens, pencils, calculators, paper and folders for their children who are returning to schools across North Georgia.

by Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Her favorite role in life is wife and best friend to her retired military man - a dentist by trade. After all, her mother had told her she had really rotten teeth, and that when she found a good dentist she had better keep him. So she did, through thick and thin, even after she divorced then remarried him. She says she loves to laugh, which became more apparent throughout her seminar, as she cracked jokes about some of the decisions and wrong turns she had taken through life. Guest speaker, Robin Harnist is a former U.S. …

by Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry, Public Affairs Office, Georgia Department of Defense As part of National Guard Bureau’s (NGB) initiative to continue the enhancement of Soldier performance and readiness along with the individual’s ability to better deal with life’s issues – big and small –  the Georgia Army Guard continues to build upon its resource of Master Resiliency Trainers (MRTs). The organization has been doing this by increasing the number of Resilience Trainer Assistants (RTAs) throughout its major subordinate commands around the state. “Life can throw anything and everything at us – …

by Sgt. 1st Class Gerard Brown, Public Affairs Office, Georgia Department of Defense Children of the Georgia Army and Air Guard as well as those of Reservists and active duty members will be participating in a program known as STARBASE from July 23, 2012 through July 27. STARBASE, which stands for Science and Technology Academics Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Education, is conducted at Dobbins Air Reserve Base and sponsored by the Georgia National Guard. “The program shows our young participants how math, engineering and science are useful in the real world,” Said Bill Wells, Director …

by Lolita C. Baldor and Paul J. Weber, Associated Press, Dobbins Air Force Base At least 31 female trainees have been identified as victims in a widening sex scandal targeting a dozen instructors at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, the Air Force revealed July 5, providing new details in an investigation that has rocked the service's training command. Six of the 12 instructors under investigation for misconduct face charges ranging from rape to adultery. A senior Air Force commander said nine of those instructors were in the same squadron, briefing reporters at the Pentagon at the same time …

by Senior Airman Elizabeth Gaston 94th Airlift Wing Public AffairsMembers of the Dobbins Air Reserve Base community are scheduled to host this year's annual Corn and Sausage Roast on July 18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lakeside facility here. Sponsored by the Square and Compass Club with assistance from the Dobbins Thrift Store, the Dobbins Chiefs and First Four Groups and the Airmen and Family Readiness Office, the event is intended to promote base camaraderie and benefit the Dobbins Emergency Assistance Fund for Reservists in financial need. "This event is to benefit the Dobbins family," …

by Senior Airman Elizabeth Gaston, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs The wife of an operations officer with the 94th Security Forces Squadron was named the 2012 Spouse of the Year at the annual Wing Family Day at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.Carissa Mayes, the wife of Capt. Robert Mayes, 94th SFS operations officer, was chosen by a panel of judges for her outstanding commitment to the Dobbins Air Reserve Base community. "Carissa is a phenomenal giver," said Angela Pederson, Airman and Family Readiness Office director. "She just gives of her time to whoever needs it. She comes out to the base and …

by Staff Sergeant Jonathan Dean, 4th Civil Support Team (WMD), Georgia Army National Guard The metro Atlanta area has robust capabilities when it comes to dealing with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) events. Many different agencies play a role in protecting Georgia’s citizens by training for and responding to these types of events. These agencies often utilize the expertise of the 4th Civil Support Team (CST) the Georgia National Guard to provide customized training. “We have participated in many exercises with the 4th CST in the past,” said Lieutenant Greg …