A massive yellow bus delivered us to the place we would call home for the next 17 days. ‘Resort’ was used to describe the hotel, but it more closely resembled a modest college dorm: two twin beds and a small refrigerator in the corner. Later the outlet that powered the refrigerator would be capitalized to run a small oscillating fan to generate a modest breeze of relief as Mirgorod reached 97 degrees.
Lt. Col. Kirk Toomey of the California Air National Guard sits in a planning meeting before the launch of an intercept mission during SAFE SKIES 2011. Safe Skies 2011 is a military-to-military exchange between the US, Ukraine and Poland to enhance airspace security over the Ukraine and Poland in preparation for Eurocup 2012. (U. S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn, 144 FW/PA / Released)
An Ukrainian airmen walks in front of an Air National Guard F-16 on the ramp of Mirgorod Air Base, Ukraine during SAFE SKIES 2011. SAFE SKIES 2011 is a joint Ukraine, Poland, U.S. aerial exchange event promoting airspace security in preparation for the EUROCup 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Maj. Matthew T. Mutti, 104FW/CCE, Released).