HomeNews

News Search

  • U.S. Air National Guard Master Sgt. La'Tonya June works at 117th Intel Squadron, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Ala., Oct 20, 2020. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Tech. Sgt. Jim Bentley)

    Master Sergeant La’Tonya June wins First Sergeant of the Year

    Master Sgt. La’Tonya June serves as First Sergeant at the 117th Intelligence Squadron and she has earned recognition as First Sergeant of the Year 2019.An Imagery Analyst for over 14 years, June emphasized the importance of supporting airmen, especially given the squadron’s 24 hour a day mission set. Her position involves helping them through
  • KC-135R Takes Off During Training Mission

    Supporting Freedom - Members from the 117th Support Large Scale Exercise

    Airmen from the 117th Air Refueling Wing supported exercise Neptune Falcon in Phoenix, Az. from Oct. 16 to Oct. 24, 2020.The exercise spanned eight days in which airmen from the 117 ARW worked with airmen from other units from across the United States in this “Interoperability Exercise” to make the mission happen.According to U.S. Air National
  • Senior Airman Smith Wins Airman of the Quarter and Airman of the Year

    Senior Airman Gabriel Smith Wins Airman of the Quarter and Airman of the Year

  • Sumpter Smith Airmen Train to Survive Water Landing

    Sumpter Smith Airmen Train to Survive Water Landing

    Airmen from the 117th Air Refueling Wing participated in water survival training at Oak Mountain State Park on October 18, 2020.The training consisted of a short classroom style discussion before moving to a more hands on approach, entering a raft and setting up a canopy for water collection, sun protection and more.According to Tech. Sgt. Justin
  • Airmen from the 117th Air Refueling Wing refuel fighters during Savannah Swift, an exercise in Savannah, Georgia, from Sept. 11 to Sept. 24, 2020.

    Fueling Freedom-117th Refuelers Keep Fighters In The Sky

    Airmen from the 117th Air Refueling Wing refuel fighters during Savannah Shift, an exercise in Savannah, Georgia, from Sept. 11 to Sept. 24, 2020.The exercise spanned six days where our KC-135s refueled fighters locked in a red vs. blue format dogfight. The fighters present included F-15s, F-16s, F-35s, and T-38s. On top of the refueling, the 117th
  • Members of the 117th Air Refueling Wing participate in a blood drive on Aug. 14, 2020 at Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala. The donated blood went to local blood banks and will be used for conventional purposes like blood transfusions but extra vials of blood were taken to test for COVID-19 antibodies. Angelita Robinson, collection specialist II for the American Red Cross, explained that she’s done thousands of blood drives in her 20 years with AMCROSS but testing for COVID-19 antibodies is a new step they have added. “It's to check to see if a donor has the antibody,” Robinson said. “If a donor recovered from the Coronavirus they would have antibodies still in their blood systems.” According to Robinson, having the antibodies in the bloodstream doesn’t mean a person currently has COVID-19. “Any time a person has an illness or condition certain antibodies are built up in the blood,” she said. “A person who does have the antibodies will be wanted to donate plasma so they can develop some kind of vaccine.” A donated unit of blood will be put in extra vials that go to a lab. Tests are conducted in labs using a plasma process for the antibodies which can be used in a vaccine. Even without testing of antibodies donated blood can help save a life. “We still need blood for patients that are in the hospital like accident victims or people who need transfusions for surgeries,” Robinson said.

    Bleeding For A Cure

    Members of the 117th Air Refueling Wing participate in a blood drive on Aug. 14, 2020 at Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala.The donated blood went to local blood banks and will be used for conventional purposes like blood transfusions but extra vials of blood were taken to test for COVID-19 antibodies. Angelita Robinson, collection specialist II for the
  • 117 MDG Brings Medical Services to Units

    117 MDG Brings Medical Services to Units

    The 117th Medical Group implemented a mobilization shot team on 25 July to assist units in accomplishing their missions and in facilitating Airmen to meet their medical immunization requirements.The two-person team comprised of Lt. Col. Pam Carroll, Chief Nurse, and 2nd Lt. Cory Tarvin, Clinical Nurse, brought immunization medical services to work
  • 117th Operation Support Squadron OCP Patch

    117th Operation Support Squadron, Earns First Approved Spice Brown Patch

    Congratulations to the 117th Operations Support Squadron, as of now, the only unit at the 117th  Air Refueling Wing with an approved official spice brown emblem. Lt. Col. James Whaley's selected Point of Contact should be receiving info on the approval, as well as which vendor to use when ordering any patches. The image shown is of the approved
  • Members of the 117th Maintenance Group disassemble an A-26 Invader at the Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, Ga., June 22, 2020. This aircraft will be relocated to Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, Ala. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Tech. Sgt. Jim Bentley)

    117 MXG Moves A-26 From Warner Robins

    Airmen from the 117th Maintenance Group traveled to the Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, Ga. to disassemble and relocate an A-26 Invader.This mission served two purposes. The Invader will be restored and put on display at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base. This move also constituted the annual Crash Damage or Disabled Aircraft Recovery
  • Daughter of 117 ARW Airman Wins Scholarship

    Daughter of 117 ARW Airman Wins Scholarship

    Anna Elizabeth Harris received the 2020 Enlisted National Guard Association/United Service Automobile Association Scholarship here on May 15.The $1000 scholarship was the top award of its kind and the winner was determined by a combination of high school GPA, extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation.She has received multiple
RSS