Military Archive

An Eglin firefighter recently earned a Defense Department honor for Fire and Emergency Services.

Joseph Suddarth, Jr. claimed the 2024 Fire Service Instructor of the Year award for efforts in safeguarding and advancing vital national interests and assures military readiness and resilience.

Falls Church, Va. – Thirty-five Air National Guard and 10 Reserve component Airmen executed a surge initiative to address severe backlogs at military entrance processing stations across the United States throughout 2024. This effort, characterized by its rapid implementation and innovative solutions, underscores the vital role the Guard and Reserve play in recruiting the next generation of service members.

The waters around Eglin’s main base and range area are now considered RESTRICTED. The restricted area includes six specific waterways open for ID Card holders and guests with a visitor’s pass only. The posture change comes due to identified emerging air and waterborne threats against defense installations.

Barksdale Air Force Base, La. – It’s no accident Tech. Sgt. Anfernee Morgan and Staff Sgt. Gage Babbs earned simultaneous cadre positions this year at the Integrated Defense Leadership Course, an Air Force Reserve Program that prepares Security Forces personnel for combat environments.

Hurlburt Field – Hurlburt Field cagers knocked down 16 free throws in the fourth quarter Jan. 10 to top Eglin 76-68 in men’s basketball action in Aderholt Fitness Center.

The Gulf Coast rivalry game tipped off a weekend tournament where four military squads clashed, including teams from Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Scott AFB, Illinois. The loss was Eglin’s only blemish in a three-game Military Basketball Association round-robin schedule.

Hurlburt Field, Fla. – “Is there a doctor on board?”

Sitting in his aisle seat toward the back of a commercial flight, Air Force Staff Sgt. William Flaspoehler saw the flight attendants scrambling for help.

Hurlburt Field – Active-duty personnel, local veterans and members of the public gathered Dec. 14, 2024, at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for the annual Wreaths Across America Placement Ceremony.

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas – Tiffany Zaloudek became the first female survival, evasion, resistance, escape specialist to earn the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, Nov 1.

The Next Generation Aircrew Protection team performed innovative vapor purge testing on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship at Hurlburt Field, Florida, from June 24 to December 6, 2024.

The 96th Test Wing and local emergency response agencies participated in a large-scale aircraft accident response exercise Dec. 11.