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  • Packing it in

    Former Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady probably never imagined having to use some of the survival equipment packed by survival equipment Airmen into his parachute when he took off in his F-16 Falcon June 2, 1995, from Aviano Air Base, Italy. The reality of why pilots are saddled with the bulky

  • Bullseye!

    A colonel and member of the Air Force Skeet Team plants his feet and assumes his stance, rifle in hand. With a command of "Pull!" a clay disc goes soaring through the air. The rifle gives an ear-ringing crack as the colonel fires - and misses his target completely. A second shooter steps up, much

  • Tough, but fair

    Col. Edward "Red" Black, Sheppard's first commander, was a tough, but fair man. His demeanor was one that garnered praise from higher-ranking officers, but also one that, unbeknownst to him, hindered his ability for promotion. A reputed tough but fair commander who loved good cigars, Colonel Black

  • Fill 'er up, sir

    On an average flying day, Sheppard uses about 130,000 gallons of JP-8+100. Pilots looking to fly depend on a fleet of green refueling trucks to bring fuel from the bulk storage tanks to the flight line. Like postal couriers, the refuel drivers transport the fuel and give full service delivery

  • Captain gains knowledge, appreciation of Oman

    There's a stretch of land about the size of Kansas in the Middle East. It's surrounded by countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yet it has as much land covered by tropical jungles and mountain ranges as desert. It has a government with a financial surplus instead of

  • Weighing in

    Anyone with an inner ear infection can understand how important a center of gravity is as things seem to swirl about and maintaining balance becomes a survival skill. Now imagine piloting an aircraft that has no center of gravity and trying to land it. A three-day course here trains crew chiefs how

  • To protect and serve

    The call of a crow is the only thing that interrupts the steady symphony of a street light, an air conditioner and crickets as three 82nd Security Forces Squadron Airmen crouch behind their cars and two more wait by an unlocked door. What began as an exercise of a perimeter sweep turned into a

  • Soldier discusses military service after training at Sheppard Field

    As each day passes, the United States loses more and more veterans of World War II. Fate would have it that a Soldier would reconnect with a letter he wrote to his mother 63 years ago that was found in the wall of a home in Smith County, Texas - at least by a telephone conversation. Jack C. Coursey,

  • Writing in a wall

    Jack Coursey is no different than any other young enlisted member sitting in the barracks waiting for the next set of military training. His thoughts are consumed with his surroundings and the surroundings he once knew before he made the decision to join the military. But in 1943, much like today's

  • Like father, like son

    "Vela, time to go do your 'I love my Daddy' thing," Tech Sgt. Eric Nicholson yelled when it was time for Airman 1st Class Mathew Vela's interview. Airman Mathew Vela was stationed here for technical school with the 361st Training Squadron until Sept. 15. At the same time, his father was a training