June 9, 2006

Chaplain, Life Skills offer sanctuary to people with suicidal thoughts

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — You’ve got two choices in front of you: the phone or the gun. You truly believe the gun will take the pain away. The phone… you’re not so sure. You don’t know what will happen if you pick up the phone, but you do know what will happen if you pick up the gun. Picking up the phone can save your life if you know who to call. “If given the opportunity,

June 9, 2006

SUICIDE: A do and die situation

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — In a recent First Term Airman’s Center suicide awareness briefing, Chaplain (Capt.) Franklin Watts asked everyone who knew someone who had committed or attempted suicide to raise their hands. Out of a class of almost 40 Airmen, all but three raised their hands. Their stories were as varied as they were horrifying – friends, loved ones, people they

June 9, 2006

Facing his career’s biggest change – retirement

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — The 1st Mission Support Group commander has endured and adapted to changes for 24 years. Now he faces the biggest change yet – retirement. What better way to finish a career than at colonel and from one of the Air Force’s “flagship bases?” asked Col. Kevin Rumsey during a recent interview. He was commissioned in 1982 after graduating from the

May 19, 2006

Whatever you do this summer ... Stay Safe

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — Each year, the Air Force stresses the importance of zero mishaps during the 101 Critical Days of Summer through PowerPoint slides, commander’s calls and safety briefings. For the most part, Airmen do their part to put safety at the forefront of his/her mind. What about those safety issues that tend to fall through the cracks, such as hyponatremia,

May 19, 2006

Langley's historic district: Honoring the past, embracing the future

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — Anyone who has been around Langley long knows it’s a place that’s always changing and growing. Yet, when you’re in certain places on base, you might feel as though you’ve been transported back to the past. In particular, when entering the Langley Field Historic District, you find yourself surrounded by buildings and landscapes that remain much the

May 1, 2006

Expeditionary Combat Skills Training prepares Airmen for combat roles

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — Pop quiz, hotshot. You’re walking back from the shower to your trailer at Balad Air Base, Iraq, when mortars start exploding 100 yards from where you’re standing. You’re in a towel, and the nearest hardened shelter is 200 yards from you. What do you do? Fortunately, if you’re going to the Central Air Forces Area of Operation on your next

April 20, 2006

AMDS closer to the mission than you think

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — Special Operations Forces missions throughout Iraq and Afghanistan are vital to the war effort, so it would be a shame if a mission had to be scrubbed because an operator got light-headed. The 1st Aerospace Medical Squadron deploys physiology technicians to make sure just such an occurrence doesn’t happen. “In a nutshell, any time an aircraft goes

April 20, 2006

Langley unit ensures T-Birds’ safety during performance

LANGLEY AFB, VA. — The Thunderbirds kicked off their performance season March 25, but one group of Langley Airmen has been working behind the scenes helping the team prepare since January. The Visual Intelligence Flight of the 36th Intelligence Squadron is the sole provider of overhead imagery for Thunderbird mission navigational planning. This detailed imagery

April 17, 2006

Keeping enemies in crosshairs: CATAM personnel keep Airmen ready for combat roles

Langley AFB, Va. — It takes approximately 10,000 rounds per week to teach Langley Airmen to shoot properly, but without experienced instructors, they may as well be firing blanks. The 1st Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance unit trains Langley Airmen basic weapon knowledge and marksmanship in seven different weapons including the M-4 rifle,

April 17, 2006

Expressing yourself: Virginia offers more specialty, personalized plates than other states

Langley AFB, Va. — In a military world, conformity is the norm – short haircuts, green uniforms and black boots. Alpha Airmen need to stand out from the crowd. An easy way to express themselves while still conforming to military standards is through a vehicle. Makes, models, colors, rims, stereos and plates make each vehicle different. Airmen don’t have to worry