“Silly people doing silly things” at Misawa’s snowman competition

Asper Holmes, a member of the Misawa Theater Group, places the head on a tiny snowman during the Second Annual Snowman Build Competition Feb. 16, 2013 in Risner Circle at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The theater group’s creation was inspired by the Johnathan Swift novel, Gulliver’s Travels, and it won the first place prize of a $250 gift card. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

“Silly people doing silly things” at Misawa’s snowman competition

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason McQuarrie, 35th Maintenance Operations Squadron chief of training management, uses a pick to fashion a mohawk on his teams sculpture during the Second Annual Snowman Build Competition in Risner Circle at Misawa Air Base, Japan Feb. 16, 2013. McQuarrie was a member of the First Sergeants Team, whose entry was a surfer being chased by a shark. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

Don’t kill Nemo, use Misawa’s Recycling Center

Hajime Sasaki, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron solid waste manager, and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman David Washington, 35 CES recycling manager, push a large cardboard collection trailer into a building to warm it at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 11, 2013. The trailer, was full of frozen cardboard, which made it extremely hard to get out. The recycling center is located by the base veterinarian’s office. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

Don’t kill Nemo, use Misawa’s Recycling Center

A hydraulic claw crunches into wood pallets at Misawa Air Base, Japan, before swinging them to a truck bound for an off-base recycling center Feb. 11, 2013. Agencies and residents can bring recyclable materials to the Misawa Recycling Center for disposal. The recycling center has a bin, can or cage for most recyclable materials. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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, assists a Sollars Elementary School fourth grader on her class project at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2013. The Dragon Academy currently has 26 volunteers and the school is still looking for more volunteers interested in helping with the program. For more information on how to volunteer for the Dragon Academy, call Sollars Elementary School at 226-3933. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

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, 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, tries to slap the aft center body off of the major assembly low pressure turbine as part of the 35th Maintenance Squadron during the Dirty Jobs Program on Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2013. The program gives 35 MXS the chance to get the wing leadership up to their elbows in grease. (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

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Christopher Maire, 610th Air Control Flight unit deployment manager, climbs out of a reconstructed pit-dwelling at the Sannai-Maruyama site in Aomori, Japan, Feb. 2, 2013. Pit-dwellings, semi-subterranean structures with circular of oval floor plans, were the most common type of residential buildings during the Jomon period. (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)

Wild Weasels line nest with red feathers

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Taber, 35th Medical Group Family Health Clinic NCO in charge, writes down her donation for the Red Feather Bowlathon as Airman 1st Class Michael Blocker, 35 MDG Public Health technician, explains the significance of the Red Feather Campaign at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 6, 2013. The bowlathon is a fun way for people to participate and help raise money for the Misawa community. The Red Feather Campaign is a Japanese charitable program that supports local social welfare programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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)