ArmedForces.com

Supplying four squadrons of F-16 Fighting Falcons, AC-130 gunships, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles with the munitions necessary to meet mission requirements can be a difficult task for any Airman.

Tech. Sgt. James Poirrier, 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, met the high demand for munitions requests as the noncommissioned officer in charge of munitions control. He was responsible for shipping, receiving, storing, delivering, inspecting and building the ammunition that supplied the war-fighting aircraft at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
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Deploying can be stressful for anyone.

Returning home can bring a whole new set of challenges and everyone needs a person to talk to from time to time.

Staff Sgt. Sharon Morrisey, a chaplain assistant from the Pope Chapel filled that role while stationed at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. She helped support the spiritual needs and well-being for both the permanent party and transitioning personnel, by facilitating chapel programs, activities, administrative responsibilities and visitations.
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The Paralegal Career Field encompasses functions relating to military justice, including court reporting, administrative boards reporting, accident and collateral investigations, depositions, and other legal proceedings. That mission is never more important than when they are deployed.

Tech. Sgt. Dwayne Bell, 43rd Airlift Group Judge Advocate Paralegal, recently returned from a deployment from Kabul Compound, Afghanistan. This gave him the opportunity to perform duties he wouldn't have had the chance to stateside.
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For two days last week, four Ramstein Airmen traveled to O'Fallon, Ill. We were there to attend the funeral of our fallen wingman, Airman 1st Class Zac Cuddeback.

Before we departed Germany, we learned that back in Illinois, the community was placing several thousand large American flags along Airman Cuddeback's arrival route. Upon Zac's arrival on March 12, hundreds of patriots would stand silent on this same route.

We missed Zac's arrival by a couple of hours but later that night, as we approached the town of O'Fallon, we started seeing them -- American flags -- hundreds upon hundreds of them.
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Even though most military vehicles with weapon mounts offer some form of protection, manning them can be extremely hazardous. Exposed to Improvised Explosive Devices, rocket-propelled grenades and enemy sniper fire in the Area of Responsibility, Air Force gunners are extremely vulnerable.

Recently, Airmen of the 18th Air Support Operations Group began training with a new weapon system that will reduce casualties and shelter Airmen from potential enemy threats. That system is the XM153 Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station.
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Team Pope, along with the 82nd Airborne Division, took the lead in initiating the first ever Joint Operational Access Exercise here, from Feb. 8 to Feb. 16. Pope and the 82nd Airborne Division worked diligently with various other units to prepare our service members with the skills necessary to achieve their missions in joint operational and wartime situations.

JOAX kicked off with Large Package Week and transitioned into the exercise, formerly known as Joint Forcible Entry Exercise. Similar to JFEX, JOAX exists as a training mission between the Air Force and Army ensures not only individual proficiency and qualifications are maintained, but also increases effectiveness and obtains a greater working knowledge of each service's operational mission.
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