Pentagon to honor Westover Airmen Family Readiness Center March 1

The Westover Airman and Family Readiness Center staff has earned the 2012 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award. This is the third time in the last five years the unit has earned the honor. Westover is among the Reserve component units that will receive recognition March 1 at the 2012 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Awards presentation. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Westover Public Affairs)

Family, Medical Leave Act expands protections for military families

More support has been extended to military dependents through expansions of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which include unpaid, job-protected time off for care of injured servicemembers or veterans, and activities arising from a servicemember’s deployment. (Graphic Courtesy of US Department of Labor)

Westover commander, wife, nominated for O'Malley Award

Col. Steven Vautrain, and his wife, Katie, have been nominated for the Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award, which recognizes their dedication to the people and mission at Westover ARB. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt. Timm Huffman)

AF Reserve announces revised force structure actions

Air Force Reserve Command is moving forward with force structure changes authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013. Major actions include creation of intelligence, cyber and network warfare units; retirement of some C-5A, KC-135 and A-10 aircraft; and the inactivation of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a reconnaissance squadron. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Philip Rhodes)

‘Lucky’ Airman goes from ‘jumping on grapes’ to Presidential Ball

Staff Sgt. Ivanka Vrechkov poses with her grandparents, Pene Stefanov and Ruska Stefanova in Varna, Bulgaria. Vrechkov, a Knowledge Operations Manager assigned to the Air Force Reserve Policy and Integration Office in the Pentagon, landed two spots at the President's Inauguration Military Ball Jan. 21. Vrechkov, a naturalized American citizen, feels very lucky to be attending this historic event. “I came from a little village in Bulgaria and now I’m going to be at a party with the President of the United States – the greatest nation on earth. It feels surreal.” (Courtesy photo)

‘Lucky’ Airman goes from ‘jumping on grapes’ to Presidential Ball

Staff Sgt. Ivanka Vrechkov, a Knowledge Operations Manager assigned to the Air Force Reserve Policy and Integration Office in the Pentagon, landed two spots at the President's Inauguration Military Ball Jan. 21. Vrechkov, a naturalized American citizen, feels very lucky to be attending this historic event. “I came from a little village in Bulgaria and now I’m going to be at a party with the President of the United States – the greatest nation on earth. It feels surreal.” (U.S. Air Force photo)

Obama Signs $633 Billion Defense Authorization Act

President Barack Obama signed the $633 billion fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act into law Jan. 3. The legislation, which cleared Congress last month, authorizes the department to act in any number of instances. The act allows the department to institute pay raises, bonuses and incentive pay for personnel. It includes a 1.7 percent pay raise for military personnel, and contains $527.5 billion for DOD's base budget, $88.5 billion for overseas contingency operations and $17.8 billion for national security programs in the Energy Department and Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

AFRC Band

Tech. Sgt. Ryan Miles, horn section leader, Band of the U.S Air Force Reserve interacts with North Cobb High School Band students during a music clinic on Dec. 12, 2012. The clinic provided students with different performance and delivery techniques, ways to listen while rehearsing a piece in a small group, and the requirements for being an Air Force musician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chandra Brown)

AFRC Band

Tech. Sgt. David Vittetoe, percussionist, Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, speaks to North Cobb High School Band students on ways to better their skills when playing percussion during a music clinic on Dec. 12, 2012. The clinic provided students with different performance and delivery techniques, ways to listen while rehearsing a piece in a small group, and the requirements for being an Air Force musician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chandra Brown)

AFRC Band

Senior Airman Mary Gant and Senior Airman Kelly Fussell speak to North Cobb High School Band students about their experiences as a musician in the military during a music clinic Dec. 12, 2012. The clinic provided students with different performance and delivery techniques, ways to listen while rehearsing a piece in a small group, and the requirements for being an Air Force musician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chandra Brown))

4 CTCS Entry

COTONOU, Benin (Sept. 12, 2012) A Beninois child waits for medical care during a Medical Civic Action Program as part of an Africa Partnership Station (APS) visit. APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Donald R. Allen)

4 CTCS Entry

U.S. Air Force pararescue personnel from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (ERQS), climb a rope ladder to board an SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter from 10 Escuadrilla of the Spanish navy July 16, 2012, off the coast of Djibouti. The 82nd ERQS and Spanish navy were practicing alternate insertion and extract (AIE) procedures during a joint training exercise in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Donald R. Allen)