EOD is the BOMB

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. – Airman 1st Class Jeff Kinney, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal team member, conducts training on driving a robot wirelessly from inside the base support response vehicle, Feb. 27. This training is done to enhance reconnaissance skills and help EOD technicians defeat improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

EOD is the BOMB

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airman 1st Class Jeff Kinney, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal team member, performs a function check on the AFMSR and the F-6 robot, Feb. 27. These robots are both designed to destroy improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

EOD is the BOMB

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. – Airman 1st Class Fernando Aguilera, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal team member, operates a robot, Feb. 27. Aguilera is checking to ensure that the robot is capable of picking up an improvised explosive device. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

EOD is the BOMB

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airman 1st Class Fernando Aguilera, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal team member, examines at a land mine, Feb. 27. This mine is designed as a defensive weapon to explode when stepped on. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

Structuring the mission

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Adam Boyd, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron structural supervisor, polishes a wooden door with polyurethane, Feb. 27. The polish provides a durable protective finish that guards against the absorption of moisture. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

Structuring the mission

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Adam Boyd, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron structural supervisor, dips a brush in polyurethane before polishing a wooden door, Feb. 27. The polyurethane prevents moisture from absorbing into the wood. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

Structuring the mission

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Michael Rafael, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron structural journeyman, welds a box blade for a snow plow, Feb. 27. Structural journeymen are responsible for maintaining knowledge and proficiency in metal layout, metal fabrication, welding, cutting, brazing and lock-smithing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

Somewhere over the rainbow

A B-2 Spirit from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., flies over the Pacific Ocean during a training mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam Feb 2, 2013 in support of USPACOM's in-theater training objectives.

B-2 Spirits deploy to Andersen Air Force Base

A B-2 Spirit bomber from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., lands after participating in a training mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam Feb. 03, 2013. Two B-2 Spirits temporarily operated from Andersen in support of USPACOM's in-theater training objectives. (Courtesy photo/Capt. Aaron Young)

B-2 Spirits deploy to Andersen Air Force Base

A B-2 Spirit bomber, from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., takes off for a mission during a training mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam Feb. 2, 2013. Two B-2 Spirits will temporarily operate from Andersen in support of USPACOM's in-theater training objectives. (Courtesy photo/Capt. Aaron Young)

The 509th Medical Lab – the behind-the-scenes cure

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Earl Angeles, 509th Medical Group Medical Laboratory Scientists, looks at cuvettes, Feb. 20. The cuvettes are examined by a chemistry analyzer to determine what the person test value is based off color changes. The test value of a person can range from problems cholesterol, urinary tract infection, diabetes or many others illnesses. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

The 509th Medical Lab – the behind-the-scenes cure

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Nathan Knox, 509th Medical Group Medical Laboratory Scientists, looks at cuvettes, Feb. 20. The cuvettes are examined by a chemistry analyzer to determine what the person test value is based off color changes. The test value of a person can range from problems cholesterol, urinary tract infection, diabetes or many others illnesses. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

The 509th Medical Lab – the behind-the-scenes cure

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sergeant Raul Loyo, 509th Medical Group Laboratory Technician, checks expiration dates on the gram stain equipment, Feb. 20. This equipment used to differentiate bacterial species into two large groups, gram-positive and gram-negative. ( U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

The 509th Medical Lab – the behind-the-scenes cure

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sergeant Raul Loyo, 509th Medical Group Laboratory Technician, streaks a urine plate, Feb. 20. Plate is used to determine if the urine has a urinary tract infection; which is determined if bacteria grows within the urine or not. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)

Cancer survivorship brings ‘hope’

KNOB NOSTER, Mo. -- June Tripp, small cell cancer survivor, recounts stories of her experiences during cancer treatment, Feb. 19. June believes in the power of positive thinking and is grateful for the support of family, friends and community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Heidi Hunt)

Cancer survivorship brings ‘hope’

KNOB NOSTER, Mo. -- June Tripp, small cell cancer survivor, demonstrates the radiation mask she used during her radiation therapy, Feb. 19. June endured 15 days of radiation treatments to help shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. (U.S. Air Force photo/Heidi Hunt)

‘It’s a hard knock life!’ for jet engine mechanics

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airman 1st Class John Kincaid, 509th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion apprentice, installs a cannon plug on a B-2 Spirit engine Feb. 13. The cannon plug is used by maintainers as a disconnect point for electrical cables. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

‘It’s a hard knock life!’ for jet engine mechanics

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Brady Dell, 509th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion journeyman, checks the actuator of a B-2 Spirit engine for tightness, Feb. 13. One loose bolt could destroy the multi-million dollar engine during flight and possibly cause a B-2 to crash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

‘It’s a hard knock life!’ for jet engine mechanics

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Kaitlyn Fawber, 509th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion journeyman, inspects a test cell rivet, Feb. 13. The test cell is a $2.9-million-facility used by jet engine mechanics to test the serviceability of jet engines. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

‘It’s a hard knock life!’ for jet engine mechanics

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Senior Airman Kaitlyn Fawber, 509th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion journeyman, shines a flash light on a test cell exhaust tube rivet, Feb. 13. The rivet maintains the sound-proofing in the cell. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

‘It’s a hard knock life!’ for jet engine mechanics

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Eric Barnes, 509th Maintenance Squadron test cell assistant section chief, and Airman 1st Class Lester Popham, 509th MXS aerospace propulsion apprentice, close an inlet bell mouth for a B-2 Spirit engine inside the test cell, Feb. 13. The inlet bell mouth distributes and guides air into the motor to allow the engine to run smoothly in the test cell. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

‘It’s a hard knock life!’ for jet engine mechanics

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Eric Barnes, 509th Maintenance Squadron test cell assistant section chief, and Airman 1st Class Lester Popham, 509th MXS aerospace propulsion apprentice, close an inlet bell mouth for a B-2 Spirit engine inside the test cell, Feb. 13. The inlet bell mouth stabilizes air and simulates an engine in flight while in the test cell. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson) (Released)

FTAC stays resilient

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. – Airman 1st Class Matthew Roberts, 509th Maintenance Squadron egress systems apprentice, completes an exercise during resiliency training at the First Term Airmen’s Course, Feb. 14. The Airman received the new comprehensive resilience training that focused on the Air Force Comprehensive Airmen Fitness model. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane) (Released)

FTAC stays resilient

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airman 1st Class Matthew Roberts, 509th Maintenance Squadron egress systems apprentice, discusses his way of dealing with problems with Airman 1st Class Tanya Pettis, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems technician, during the new comprehensive resilience training, Feb. 13. The MRT course was adapted from the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology program, and is intended to create a positive work environment. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane) (Released)