Commanders share wing missions and kidney donation

Two wing commanders at Hill AFB, Utah, have taken the Air Force’s Total Force Integration to a whole new, and very personal, level. When Air Force Reserve Col. Keith “K2” Knudson, commander of the 419th Fighter Wing (on left) was diagnosed with kidney failure last year, his active duty counterpart, Col. Scott “Chemo” Long, commander of the 388th FW, volunteered to donate a kidney of his own. The 419th FW is a classic associate Reserve unit tied to the 388th FW. As part of their duties, Long and Knudson have worked closely on how best to capitalize on their shared equipment and facilities. Now they may soon be sharing a kidney. “We’re taking TFI to a different level,” Long joked. “We’re talking total organ integration.” (U.S. Air Force photo/Todd Cromar)

Pentagon ceremony

Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, right, recites the oath of office to Air Force Chief of Staff Mark A. Welsh III during a ceremony in the Pentagon, Aug. 16, 2012. In addition to the promotion ceremony, Jackson was presented the Distinguished Service Medal for serving as deputy to the chief of Air Force Reserve. Jackson is the commander of Air Force Reserve Command and chief of the Air Force Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

AFRC Heritage Hall

Streamers commemorating Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom flank a flight jacket worn by retired Maj. Gen. Clay McCutchan. The Air Force reservist donated the jacket and other items to the Air Force Reserve Command Heritage Hall at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Keith Barr)

AFRC Heritage Hall

This display case of items from Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm includes a flight suit, cap and spent Bofors 40mm gun shell casing donated by retired Maj. Gen. Clay McCutchan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Keith Barr)

August Citizen Airman available online

From an HH-60 helicopter, Tech. Sgt. Keith Berry scans the flooded streets of New Orleans searching for survivors on Sept. 4, 2005. A provision of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act permits the secretary of defense to mobilize Air Force Reservists like Berry if they are needed to respond to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. (Master Sgt. Bill Huntington)

Jackson takes helm of AF Reserve Command

Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson became chief of the Air Force Reserve and assumed command of Air Force Reserve Command in a ceremony at the Museum of Aviation July 30. He replaced Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Jr., who retired from the Air Force with 39 years of military service. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry O. Spencer officiated the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexy Saltekoff)