Dining halls compete for Air Force award

Natasha Spears, 81st Force Support Squadron salad preparer, sets fruit out on the salad bar at the Azalea Dining Facility, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Feb. 6, 2012. Keesler is this year’s Air Education and Training Command nominee for the John L. Hennessy Award as the top food service operation in the Air Force in the multiple facility category. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

2nd Air Force’s command chief gets acquainted with Keesler

Chief Master Sgt. Oscar “Deno” Mackin, 2nd Air Force command chief, provides a few encouraging words to students in the weather integration training and resources operation course at the Weather Training facility, Keesler Air Force Base, Jan. 30, 2012. Keesler is home to 2nd Air Force headquarters and the first of six bases the new command chief is scheduled to tour through June. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Exercise tests Keesler's HAZMAT response

Keesler Firefighters respond to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive exercise scenario Jan. 26, 2012, at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The Force Protection Condition exercise scenario included a terrorist group that was able to penetrate the base and park a truck with a four, hundred-gallon barrels full of anhydrous ammonia by the soccer field on G Street. A small improvised explosive device was “exploded” causing the anhydrous ammonia to pour from the trailer, exposing a group of ten Airmen who had just finished physical training. Immediately the Airmen simulated receiving skin and eye irritations and burns, coughing, chest pain and vomiting from exposure to the chemical. Two Airmen also simulated receiving broken bones from flying debris from the explosion. Also the 81st Medical Group and 81st Security Forces Squadron responded on scene. The exercise took place Jan. 23-27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Exercise tests Keesler's HAZMAT response

Assistant Fire Chief David Tenace, Keesler Fire Department, directs fire fighters at the scene of a Force Protection Condition exercise at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Jan. 26, 2012, while members of the Exercise Evaluation team observes their efforts. The exercise was a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive exercise with a scenario that included a terrorist group that was able to penetrate the base and park a truck with a four, hundred-gallon barrels full of anhydrous ammonia by the soccer field on G Street. A small improvised explosive device was “exploded” causing the anhydrous ammonia to pour from the trailer, exposing a group of ten Airmen who had just finished physical training. Immediately the Airmen simulated receiving skin and eye irritations and burns, coughing, chest pain and vomiting from exposure to the chemical. Two Airmen also simulated receiving broken bones from flying debris from the explosion. Also the 81st Medical Group and 81st Security Forces Squadron responded on scene. The exercise took place Jan. 23-27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Furniture on the move

Pete Robertson and Duane Olsen, Zero Waste Solutions recycling technicians at the recycling center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., load furniture for delivery to a local facility to be reused, Jan. 19, 2012. Keesler's aggressive recycling program diverted nearly 40 percent from landfills and returned $176,322 in proceeds to the base during 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

AETC Symposium

Gen. Edward Rice Jr., Air Education and Training Command commander; Army Maj. Gen. Richard Longo, deputy commanding general for initial military training, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command; Jeffery Bearor, executive deputy of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command; Navy Capt. Lee Steele, development, planning and analysis division director, Naval Education and Training Command; and Coast Guard Cmdr. Matthew Smith, training officer, Coast Guard Training Center; answer questions during the training panel session at the AETC Symposium in San Antonio, Jan. 12, 2012. The panel discussed joint training and what innovations and challenges the future might hold for military training in general. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Heiney)