307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Maj. Andrea Anderson, a clinical nurse assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., checks on a patient’s progress in the 10th Medical Group’s clinic at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 23, 2011. She was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Senior Airman Cynitra Pollard, a medical technician assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., lies on a stretcher during a training exercise at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 23, 2011. She was one of the passengers, during a simulated vehicle accident. With possible spinal injuries Pollard was stabilized, removed from the vehicle, secured to a board, and moved on to a stretcher. She was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

307th BW Airmen train at USAFA

Master Sgt. Nordyica Woodfork, a laboratory technician assigned to the 307th Medical Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., spots several possibly different bacteria growths on an agar media plate in the bio lab at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 22, 2011. Woodfork isolated one of the shapes to place on a new plate to store for a 24-hour growth period. She was part of a group of 307th Bomb Wing Airmen who were at the Academy as part of their annual tour training, Aug. 13-26, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Betty Stephens/Released)

917 MDS says farewell to icon

Master Sgt. (Ret) Aunshelle J. White presents an American Flag to her sons during an emotional retirement ceremony at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Nov. 7, 2010. Sergeant White retired after 22 years of service with the 917th Wing. Many of Sergeant White’s family and friends filled the base theater at Barksdale for the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston)

Ounces of prevention

Staff Sgt. Bradley Beams, 917th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, B-52 aircraft mechanic, receives the mist injection of the flu vaccine from Technical Sgt. Akerele Adeyemi, 917th Medical Squadron, medical services attendant, in the A-10 Hangar at Barksdale Air Base, La., October 4, 2009. Unlike the “flu shot,” which is an inactivated (killed) vaccine injected into the muscle, the flu mist, is a live, attenuated (weakened) influenza vaccine sprayed into the nostrils. Influenza viruses are always changing. Because of this, influenza vaccines are updated every year, and an annual vaccination is recommended, but is mandatory for the military. These “seasonal” influenza vaccines are formulated to prevent annual flu, and do not protect against pandemic H1N1 influenza. It takes up to two weeks for protection to develop after the shot, and protection lasts up to a year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston)

Ounces of prevention

Technical Sgt. Jeff Walston, 917th Wing, public affairs technician, opts to receive the traditional needle injection of the “seasonal” influenza vaccine from Lt. Col. Beverly Lewis, 917th Medical Squadron, clinical nurse, in the A-10 Hangar at Barksdale Air Base, La., October 4, 2009. Unlike the flu mist, which is a live, attenuated (weakened) influenza vaccine sprayed into the nostrils, the “flu shot” is an inactivated (killed) vaccine, which is injected into the muscle. Influenza viruses are always changing. Because of this, influenza vaccines are updated every year, and an annual vaccination is recommended, but is mandatory for the military. These “seasonal” influenza vaccines are formulated to prevent annual flu, and do not protect against pandemic H1N1 influenza. It takes up to two weeks for protection to develop after the shot, and protection lasts up to a year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Akerele Adeyemi)