Smith takes charge of 81st Training Group

Col. Maureen Smith shakes hands with Staff Sgt. Marcus Hyatt, 334th Training Squadron military training leader, following the parade held in conjunction with the change of command ceremony July 28. Smith is a recent graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. Smith is no stranger to Keesler — she attended the operations management course here in 1990 and became an instructor in the 335th Training Squadron’s command and control officer course five years later. Smith transferred to the manpower career field and served as chief of manpower management courses. In 1997, she became the 81st TRG’s executive officer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Adam Bond)

Smith takes charge of 81st Training Group

Col. Lynn Connett, left, turns over command of the 81st Training Group to Col. Maureen Smith July 28 on the parade field. Connett returns to the Pentagon as deputy director for manpower and personnel plans and integration for the Air Staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

A Midsummer Knight's Read

Marcella Kearns, 3, adjusts some of the leaves on the flower garland she made during the Medieval Faire at the Vandenberg Community Center July 28. Her parents are retiree Robert and Marcie Kearns of Gulfport. The event was the culmination of McBride Library’s A Midsummer Knight’s Read summer program. The children also made sand art in bottles and knight’s swords, played games and ate pizza. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Summer storms stymie soccer season

Jonathan Brown, 335th Training Squadron, and Dalton Nguyen, 333rd TRS-A, battle for the ball during a West Division game July 20. The 333rd TRS Spartans won, 4-3.

Strut Your Mutt spotlights Keesler’s furry family members

Dewi Clark, 81st Communications Squadron, holds her pet pomeranian, Chewy, during a Strut Your Mutt event at the Vandenberg Community Center July 22. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Back-to-school shoppers flock to base exchange

From left, Camryn and Layne Rankin shop for backpacks with their grandmother, Phyllis Horn, July 20 at the base exchange. Camryn, 5, and Layne, 11, are from Richland, Miss. Their grandmother is married to Myron Horn, a retired major. They live in Gulfport. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)