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  • 117 ARW Leaders Present World War II Service Medals

    Leaders from the 117th Air Refueling Wing presented a local World War II veteran his service medals here on Saturday.Army Cpl. Andre Vanbrabant, 88, tried to get his medals replaced when they were nowhere to be found and was told that it would take two years to replace them. Vanbrabant's son David,

  • 117th Participates in Navajo Exercise

    Over 400 members of the 117th Air Refueling Wing participated in a Navajo exercise here from September 10-13. The goal of the exercise was to get airmen away from computer based training (CBT's) and teach them using hands-on instruction. "This also gives airmen time to accomplish ancillary training

  • Boy Scouts Tour Base Fire Department

    Boy Scouts from two different Alabama troops visited the 117th Air Refueling Wing's Fire Department here as a part of earning their Aviation Merit Badge yesterday.Troop 160, Oneonta, Ala., and Troop 97, Remlap, Ala., toured the fire department and learned about the equipment used by fire fighters.

  • Shadow Box Returned to Family

    A lost shadow box of a former member of the 117th Air Refueling Wing was returned to his family here yesterday. Tech. Sgt. Richard E. Thomason joined the 117 ARW in 1948 as a firefighter. He received the shadow box when he retired in 1972. A shadow box is a glass front box that encompasses the

  • 18th Air Force Commander Visits 117th Air Refueling Wing

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Lt. Gen. Darren McDew, the 18th Air Force commander, visited the 117th Air Refueling Wing here on Tuesday and Wednesday.McDew met with Brig. Gen. Steven Berryhill, Alabama Air National Guard commander, Col. Cliff James, 117 ARW commander and other commanders on base.McDew was lead

  • CBRNE Exercise provides valuable training for 117th ARW first responders

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- The 117th Air Refueling Wing CBRNE Response Team participated in an exercise today as a way to test the ability to respond to a variety of potentially hazardous situations. Technical Sergeant Steve Gaunt, the 117th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Manager, was a key player in

  • 117th Air Refueling Wing commander responds to KC-135R crash

    The news of a KC-135R Stratotanker crash in Kyrgyzstan was a cause for concern throughout the 117th Air Refueling Wing today. The wing has been flying the KC-135R since 1994 and currently has personnel deployed in the Kyrgyzstan area. In an effort to respond to possible involvement in the crash, Col

  • Bay of Pigs veteran honored

    Captain Thomas "Pete" Ray was honored today during a short wreath laying ceremony.Ray, a pilot from the Alabama Air National Guard was killed on April 18, 1961 during the Bay of Pigs invasion as part of a CIA secret mission authorized by President John F. Kennedy. Ray's body wasn't returned to the

  • Command Chief retires after 41 years of service

    Command Chief Master Sgt. Mickey R. Phillips retirement ceremony was held today here on base. The command chief is the highest ranking enlisted member in the 117th Air Refueling Wing. Phillips was the fourth command chief to serve the commander of the 117th Air Refueling Wing. Chief Master Sgt.

  • Military Pay Section Highest Ranked

    The 117th Air Refueling Wing Military Pay section is the highest ranked guard unit in processing military pay documents for the second consecutive month. The Air National Guard standard is to have 95 percent processed within 30 days. The 117th Air Refueling Wing Military Pay processed 97.02