AFDW commander honored at star-studded event
May 11th, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Air Force District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Darren McDew got to rub elbows with a few Hollywood and music industry celebrities earlier this month.
McDew was among nine people inducted into the Boys and Girls Club of America Alumni Hall of Fame May 2 in San Diego, Calif.
Every year the organization recognizes distinguished alumni during the its national conference, according to a press release. The event honors alumni who have made major contributions in their fields.
McDew and his three brothers attended the Hampton Boys Club for five years while their father was stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va.
McDew was inducted along side with some names you might recognize.
Air Force District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Darren McDew poses with attendees during the Boys and Girls Club of America national conference after being inducted into the BGCA Hall of Fame May 2 in San Diego, Calif. Other inductees included Olympic swimmer Anthony Lee Ervin, actors Powers Boothe and Cuba Gooding Jr., ballet dancer Misty Copeland, playwright and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire, New York Yankee’s pitcher CC Sabathia, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association Ernest Stevens Jr., and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Charlotte C. Oliver)
Air Force District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen McDew with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, Ne-Yo, during the Boys and Girls Club of America national conference May 2 in San Diego, Calif. During the event McDew was inducted into the BGCA Alumni Hall of Fame which honors former BGCA members who have gone on to make major contributions in their fields to include sports, entertainment, business, medicine, politics, justice, art and education. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Charlotte C. Oliver)
Tags: Air Force District of Washington, Anthony Lee Ervin, CC Sabathia, Courtney B. Vance, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Lindsay-Abaire, Ernest Stevens Jr., Maj. Gen. Darren McDew, Misty Copeland, Ne-Yo, Powers Boothe, Ruben Studdard
Air Force Marathon is looking for volunteers
May 1st, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Not running the Air Force Marathon this year, but still want to be a part of the festivities? If that sounds like you, Air Force marathon officials have a mission for you.
Once again the September 15 race is looking for 2,000-plus volunteers to do everything from unwrapping the medals that runners receive at the finish line to post-race clean up. Volunteers do it all and race officials have announced that would-be helpers can start signing up at www.usafmarathon.com.
“We couldn’t have this marathon without the support of the volunteers,” Jeanette Monaghan, a volunteer coordinator, said in a press release. “We’ll have at least 30,000 people visit the sports and fitness expo on Sept. 13 and 14, and that part alone takes a huge amount of volunteers.”
Monaghan also encourages groups to register.
“Whether it’s a business, a civic group or even a student group, volunteering creates great team-building opportunities,” she said in the press release. “It’s also a good way for organizations to get exposure to the public, because they can wear their own logo apparel or even bring a sign to their shift.”
In addition to the volunteer positions at the expo, there will also be spots to fill on race day at the Air Force Museum and at the 5K event at Wright State University. Bands are also needed to provide entertainment for the runners along the course on race day, according to the press release. All of the positions are listed on the marathon’s website.
“The Air Force Marathon is such a fun event that a lot of our volunteers come back every year,” Monaghan said in the press release. “We even have runners who love the race so much that they come to town early just to volunteer at the Expo since they can’t help out on race day.”
For your hard work you’ll walk away from the experience with a little swag. All volunteers receive an Air Force Marathon T-shirt.
Tags: air force marathon, Air Force Museum, volunteers, Wright State University, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
New website a one-stop shop for all things Air Force housing
April 16th, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
It’s that time of the year where airmen and their families prepare to bid adieu to their current duty stations and start that all consuming process of moving to the next.
In an effort to minimize that stress, the Air Force has unveiled a new housing Website that features links to the housing pages of every Air Force installation around the world.
The new site features maps of each base, information on housing options and support services, links to other important moving related websites and a list of FAQs, according to a press release. The new site also includes information about local communities, schools and even the weather.
But the site apparently isn’t just for airmen with families. It also has information for single airmen who need to know more about the dorms, according to the press release.
Visit www.housing.af.mil for information about permanent change of station moves and base housing and off-base housing.
They did it! At least they think they did…
March 28th, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Senior Airman Thomas Hull, 50th Contracting Squadron, lobs a dodgeball at an unsuspecting Red Team member during the 40-hour dodgeball marathon. The marathon raised more than $1000 for the Air Force Assistance Fund. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Evans)
Shriever Air Force Base airmen set out to smash the world record for the largest dodgeball marathon and they think they did it. But it will be up to the good people of the Guinness Book of World Records to deem it so.
About twenty airmen from the base attempted to break the record as a cool way to raise money for the Air Force Assistance Fund, though they had the support of plenty of their fellow airmen to get the job done.
To break the record they had to play dodgeball for more than 31 hours, so they set their sights on a goal of playing for 40 hours. Learn who the current record holder are and what else the airmen had to do to beat them here.
On March 22 and 23, it was the Red Team versus the Black Team and they battled to the 40-hour finish by playing 859 games of dodgeball, according to a press release from Schriever’s 50th Space Wing Public Affairs.
The Black Team won the marathon with 440 wins to the Black Team’s 419. But it looks like airmen who might need the assistance fund will be the real winners. The marathon raised more than $1,000 thanks to cash donations and pledged funds.
Col. James Ross, 50th Space Wing commander, commended the players for their hard work and the wing for rallying in support of the event.
“I’m so proud of all the support; the families, coworkers, leadership, volunteers and sponsors support,” Ross said in the press release. “This is just another example of how Team Schriever can come together and excel at anything they put their minds to.”
Continuous video of the event will be sent to the Guinness Book of World Records for validation before Schriever is officially awarded the record, according to the press release.
Tags: dodgeball, Guiness Book of World Records, marathon, Schriever Air Force Base, world record
Schriever Airmen Take Aim at Dodgeball World Record
March 15th, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
You probably couldn’t imagine playing dodgeball for more than a few hours, let alone more than 31 hours — the longest dodgeball marathon, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
But that’s what airmen at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado plan to do March 22-23. They’ll attempt to break the Hometown Dodgeball and Albany Dodgeball teams of Albany, N.Y. — current record holders of almost two years for a game that lasted 31 hours 11 minutes and 13 seconds — by playing dodgeball for 40 hours.
Breaking the record is no small feat. To do it, playing members must stay in the same area for the entire 40 hours, including sleeping and eating there, according to a press release from Schriever Air Force Base. To pull the whole thing off not only is there a need for about 20 players, volunteers are needed to referee, man food stations, record the whole thing and provide emergency assistance in case someone gets hurt or sick. The whole thing will go down at the Schriever fitness center.
If they succeed they’ll, join the Air Force Academy in Guinness Book of World Record and dodgeball history. The academy briefly held the record for world’s largest dodgeball game and you can read about how that went here.
The idea to go after the record apparently came from three airmen in the 50th Space Communications Squadron, according to a press release.
“We originally thought about breaking the record ourselves,” Senior Airman Michael Bruno, said in the press release. “Once we looked at it more we realized the potential it had to be something more.”
That something more will be raising money for the Air Force Assistance Fund.
Tags: 50th Space Communications Squadron, air force academy, dodgeball, Guiness Book of World Records, Schriever Air Force Base
Air Force Marathon Events Expected to Sell Out Early
March 15th, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
If you’ve been dragging your feet about finally signing up for the Air Force Marathon, you might want to make a decision fast.
Not only is the time to sign up before a price increase goes into effect approaching, but marathon officials are predicting that the event might be sold out before it does.
On April 2, the cost of the full and half marathons increase to $90 and $75, respectively. The 10K will go up to $45, while the 5K will remain at $25. The prices go up further on June 2, but that’s only if there are any spots remaining.
Prices for the full and half are currently $85 and $70, while the 10K and 5K are $40 and $25.
“We traditionally experience a huge surge in registrations prior to a price increase,” marathon director Molly Louden said in a press release. “At the pace the race is selling out this year, we fully expect the 10K will be closed out before the April 2 price increase. The other races will be very close to selling out as well. The entire event is already more than 50% full.”
Marathon officials added an additional 1,500 runners this year, but expect the event to sell out even faster than it did in 2011, according to the press release.
The Air Force Marathon will be held Sept. 15 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, according to the press release. Participants start and finish at the National Air Force Museum, and spectators are welcome at the museum or in downtown Fairborn. Other events include a half marathon and 10K to be held on the 15th. The Air Force 5K hosted by Wright State University will be run on Sept. 14 at the Wright State University Nutter Center. The Sports and Fitness Expo will also be held at the Nutter Center on Sept. 13-14.
All registered runners receive a T-shirt, hat, patch and goodie bag. Everyone who finishes a race also gets a medal that this year features the B-2 Spirit bomber. Medals are presented at the finish line by a senior Air Force officer, according to the press release.
The Air Force Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifying event and the course goes past a number of historic landmarks including Huffman Prairie where the Wright Brothers perfected manned flight.
For more information see http://www.usafmarathon.com.
Tags: air force marathon, price increase, Wright Brothers, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Mustache March Madness
March 1st, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
It’s that time of the year again when airmen of every age and rank trade in the their regulation clean shave and allow their facial hair to bloom like the first flower buds of spring in honor of triple ace Brig. Gen. Robin Olds.
Olds was famous for his skills as a decorated fighter pilot and for the signature handlebar mustache he grew while serving in Vietnam. But if you’re really serious about your stache and feeling competitive check out the Mustache March website here and follow this manifesto to ensure that your facial follicles are bragging-rights worthy.
Tags: Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, March Madness, Mustache March, Mustache March Madness, Mustache March Manifesto
Boxers eye Olympics
February 21st, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Senior Airmen Kent Brinson and Adam Hassan are on the hunt to add some Olympic gold to the gold and silver hardware they earned at the Armed Forces Boxing Championships this year.
Heavyweight fighter Brinson and super lightweight fighter Hassan are members of the Air Force Boxing Team that took home three medals — two gold, one silver — during this year’s championships at Camp Pendleton, Calif., according to a press release. Air Force Reservist Kenneth DeJesus-Cruz, who is based at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, brought home the other gold medal, according to the press release.
The men were just three of the six boxers that represented the Air Force at this year’s championship, according to the press release. The other fighters were Dustin Southchack, super featherweight, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland; Daniel Logan, super middleweight, Tinker AFB, Okla.; Thomas Jacobs, light heavyweight, Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
Brinson, who is based at Fort Carson, Colo. and Hassan, who is based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. are prepping for the upcoming Olympic games which will be held in London this year, according to the press release. DeJesus-Cruz might not be able to compete because of a prior military commitment
Both airmen will compete in the 2012 USA National Boxing Championship Feb. 27 through March 3, which is the official qualifying tournament for the 2012 Americas Olympic Qualifier.
Tags: 2012 Olympics, Air Force Boxing Team, Armed Forces Boxing Championships, USA National Boxing Championship
Trainees to get new digs at JB San Antonio-Lackland
February 21st, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
New basic military training housing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is on pace to be ready some time late this summer, according to a press release from the base.
The $900 million dollar project has been under construction since 2009, but it looks like it’s going to be worth the wait.
The Air Force is constructing four airmen training complexes and two dinning/classroom facilities to replace eight housing and training buildings built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The old basic training facilities apparently were scattered around Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, but the new facilities will consolidate BMT into a central area, housing up to 1,200 trainees, according to the press release.
The construction that will be finished by late summer, is the first phase of the project known as the east campus. Plans have also been designed for a BMT west campus. That part of the project is expected to be complete some time in 2018, according to the press release.
Tags: air force, basic military training, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland
African-Americans in aviation to be profiled during Black history month
February 1st, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Black history month starts today and the Air Force wants you to know some of the African-American men and women who helped make aviation and the Air Force what it is today.
The Air Force will profile a different African-American man or woman each day in aviation or Air Force history during the month of February, according to a press release.
The series, which the service is using to help mark Black history month, will start with Bessie Coleman, who at the beginning of the 20th century was forced to leave the U.S. to fulfill her aviation dreams, but would eventually become the first African-American woman to earn a pilot’s license.
The series also will highlight men like Eugene Jacques Bullard, the first African-American military combat pilot, and William Powell, a licensed pilot, navigator and aeronautical engineer.
The Tuskegee Airmen and other men and women who were early pioneers in the Air Force also will be featured over the next 29 days, according to the press release.
Tags: Bessie Coleman, black history month, Eugene Jacques Bullard, Tuskegee Airmen, William Powell