Sharing knowledge and growing bonds at Dragon Academy

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Caitlin Suttie, 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs chief and Dragon Academy volunteer, helps a Sollars Elementary School third grader during a writing class at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2013. The Dragon Academy is an opportunity for the base community to volunteer at the school to help students in various subjects. If you want to volunteer at the Dragon Academy, contact Sollars at 226-3933 for more information. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

Getting down and dirty with MXS

U.S. Air Force Col. Matthew Dana (front), 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, tightens a bolt on the Sweeney torque multiplier as Senior Airman Michael Bond, 35th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion journeyman, ensures the equipment is secure during the Dirty Jobs Program on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2013. Bond is able to share his experience and tricks of his trade with his base leadership, thanks to the opportunity given to him by the Dirty Jobs Program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla)

Getting down and dirty with MXS

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent, 35th Fighter Wing command chief, works on a major assembly low pressure turbine during the Dirty Job Program at the 35th Maintenance Squadron on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2013. The program gives the squadron’s technical experts a chance to train wing leadership in the specifics of their career field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla)

Sannai-Maruyam: recovering old history

A miniature model of the Jomon period village, complete with snow, sits in front of the excavation entrance at the Sannai-Maruyama site in Aomori, Japan, Feb. 2, 2013. The excavation of this Jomon settlement unearthed many pit-dwellings, postholes of six-pillared buildings, wetlands filled with waterlogged trash, large burial mounds of adults and children and clay mining pits for pottery production. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Sannai-Maruyam: recovering old history

The large six-pillar tower and the longhouse are the largest architectural remains of the Jomon period village and stand at the Sannai-Maruyama site in Aomori, Japan, Feb. 2, 2013. The Sannai-Maruyama historical excavation site is located in Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan and is one of the largest Jomon Period sites. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Slippery Weasel: gaining confidence to drive this winter

A Slippery Weasel driving instructor demonstrates how to drive in snow at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 18, 2013. The Slippery Weasel Course is designed to help individuals who are not used to driving in snowy or icy conditions; however the course is open to anyone. There are two more classes being offered on Feb. 15 and March 1, from 9 to 11 a.m. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kia Atkins)

NFL stars give back to Misawa

Niles Paul, Washington Redskins tight end, talks to players at the Misawa Youth Football Clinic on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2013. At the clinic, participants had the opportunity to receive advice and learn skills from two National Football League players. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

NFL stars give back to Misawa

Lauren, Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader, teaches Misawa youth a couple moves at a cheer clinic on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2013. Lauren, along with the other three National Football League stars, came to Misawa to show their appreciation for what service members at Misawa do on a daily basis. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)

NFL stars give back to Misawa

Tara, Denver Broncos cheerleader, signs autographs after the Super Bowl party at the Misawa Club Complex on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 5, 2013. At the event, members of the base community had the opportunity to meet Tara as well as Lauren, Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader, and Washington Redskins players Niles Paul, tight end, and Darrel Young, fullback. The purpose of their visit was to show appreciation for what service members stationed in Misawa do every day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

NFL stars give back to Misawa

Darrel Young, left, Washington Redskins fullback, and Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent, 35th Fighter Wing command chief, take part in a competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 5, 2013. The objective was to see who could pull the most tissues out of a box in one minute. The purpose of the NFL’s stars visit was to give back to service members stationed at Misawa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

Club Beyond: More than a milkshake

More than 70 students from Robert D. Edgren High School filled the cafeteria for the first Club Beyond meeting to kick off the year, where students enjoyed milkshakes, a raffle, music and a skit at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 1, 2013. The club provides a place for the teens to gather weekly to play games, eat food, socialize and develop friendships among their peers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb)

Club Beyond: More than a milkshake

Middle school students fill the cafeteria after school during the first Club Beyond meeting to kick off the year at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 1, 2013. Since 1980, Club Beyond has served teens on over 45 military installations in the U.S., Europe and Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb)

Elementary Spelling Bee comes to E. N. D.

Students, family members and teachers applaud the spelling bee champion during the Cummings Elementary School Spelling Bee competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2013. The spelling bee competition is held annually on February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Elementary Spelling Bee comes to E. N. D.

A sixth grade student shows his award to the crowd after winning the final round of the Cummings Elementary School Spelling Bee competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2013. Three students from grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 made it to the final round of the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Hungry for Chinese

Miyuki Taneichi, 35th Force Support Squadron multi-cultural instructor, uses cooking chopsticks to transfer fried chicken to a glass dish during a cooking class in the Airman and Family Readiness Center kitchen at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2013. Every month, Taneichi holds two hands-on classes for Asian cooking enthusiasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Hungry for Chinese

Julene Martindale, left, shows Tomo Oyamada, how to make lemon chicken sauce during a Chinese cooking class in the Airman and Family Readiness Center kitchen at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 4, 2013. The class was led by Martindale, who knows how to make Chinese Lemon Chicken and wanted to share that knowledge with willing students. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

Lt. Gen. Fedder visits Misawa for first time

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Judith Fedder, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, talks to Airmen from the 14th Fighter Squadron and a visiting Japan Air Self-Defense Force service member while visiting Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 6, 2012. During her visit, Fedder complimented the Airmen of the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit for their great attitude and outstanding morale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

Lt. Gen. Fedder visits Misawa for first time

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Judith Fedder, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, greets 35th Security Forces Squadron Airmen during her visit to the Apple Gate at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 6, 2013. This was Fedder’s first visit to Misawa, where she greeted Airmen and inspected various locations around base throughout the day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

Save yen, shop at market

A Japanese customer examines a string of dried apples outside a stand at the Misawa 9th Day Market in Misawa City, Japan, Jan. 29, 2013. The 9th Day Market is a gathering of vendors who sell fresh produce directly from local farmers, rice field workers and fishermen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

You’ve got mail: post office upgrade

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Marc Bates, 35th Communications Squadron postal clerk, logs into the post office’s Trackpad designated computer at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2013. By plugging the handheld device into the computer, email notifications will be sent out to customers that have provided a valid email address to the customer service counter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

You’ve got mail: post office upgrade

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Marc Bates, 35th Communications Squadron postal clerk, matches a customer’s mailbox information to the name on the package at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2013. With the new upgrade, the post office can save time and manpower by switching to their new handheld devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

You’ve got mail: post office upgrade

A new Trackpad handheld device is displayed in the base post office at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2013. The Trackpad system makes postal work easier because the device is merged with the post office database, which consists of base populace mailbox numbers, and makes tracking mail more efficient. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

13th and 14th AMUs battle to claim “load crew of the quarter”

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Herriott (back), 35th Maintenance Group weapons standardization, evaluates as Airman 1st Class Michael Howell (front), Senior Airmen Stephen Kim (center) and Ronald Olney, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew members, load an AIM-9L/M on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a Load Crew of the Quarter Competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 18, 2013. This competition grades 13th and 14th Fighter Squadron AMU members on a variety of areas which include safety, appearance, speed and accuracy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla)

13th and 14th AMUs battle to claim “load crew of the quarter”

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Stephen Kim, 13th Fighter Squadron weapons load crew member, secures a AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile as Staff Sgt. Michael Nichter, 35th Maintenance Group weapons standardization, evaluates during the first Load Crew of the Quarter Competition of the 2013 calendar year at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 18, 2013. The inspectors look over the final product for any discrepancies that may deduct points from the winning team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla)