Air Force Airman Michael A. Starr has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Starr completed an eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Starr's parents are Tammy and Michael Starr of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Starr graduates from basic military training

LAUREL HILL —Sgt. Derek Gibson's friends in Laurel Hill ensured the New England native deploys abroad with the taste of one of his favorite treats fresh in his mouth.

Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce President Dennis Mitchell; his wife, Joan, a Laurel Hill School teacher; and their daughter, Muncelle, a Crestview attorney, hosted the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) soldier, his wife, Kristen, and several other friends for a farewell lobster boil on Monday.

"Somewhere along the line, he had mentioned he loves Maine lobster and I thought, 'Hmmm, we're going to fix that boy up,'" Dennis said.

Kristen Gibson works with Muncelle Mitchell, whose family "sort of adopted" the Gibsons, Dennis said. The Mitchells frequently host the couple and their dogs at their country property outside Laurel Hill.

Joan asked the school's leadership class to help; students Tasha Head and Gage White produced a banner that hanged between two trees.

"Thank you for keeping us safe," it read. "See you again soon. We love you."

"I was real proud of those kids," Dennis said. "They made a nice sign. I was impressed."

The leadership class will track Gibson and four of his buddies while they're deployed outside the country, sending them packages and corresponding with them.

Although when Sgt. Gibson and his comrades will return stateside isn't known, "the welcome-home party is already in the planning stages," Mitchell said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill family sends 7SFG soldier off with a favorite treat

CRESTVIEW —  Free counseling services are now available to military families with children attending several Okaloosa County schools.

Students attending Crestview High School, Shoal River Middle School and Antioch and Bob Sikes elementary schools can receive help from the Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Counseling program. The service also is available at Eglin Air Force Base's Family Readiness Center.

Whether a parent is away on duty, or a child has difficulty adjusting to new settings, 18 full-time, certified counselors are available for support, said Larry Lumpkin, a school liaison officer at Eglin AFB.

"There was quite a need for this program, (particularly) in the Crestview area," he said, referring to military growth from the 7th Special Forces (Airborne) Group, in addition to military families from Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and Duke Field. "The (military) children in this area are good candidates for this program."

Crestview High School Principal Bob Jones has already noticed how the school's two counselors have integrated with students.

"They are usually in hallways and lunchrooms talking with students," he said. "They also attend several of our football games … they have already made themselves a part of our community."

CHS guidance counselor Karen Jeanette said the Military and Family Life counselors are a welcome addition.

"They’ve been a great asset for student referrals, as some students speak with the MFLC (counselors) first and then are referred to their current school counselors for further assistance," she said in an email.

 "In addition, the MFLCs typically have more time to work individually with students on concerns that arise outside of school, allowing us to help focus on academics and personal/social concerns inside school."

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free counseling for military children now available in Crestview schools

CRESTVIEW — As Veterans Day approaches, area schools, civic and community organizations are planning events to honor residents who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

Events that have been announced include:

Crestview Exchange Club veterans flag display: Anyone can designate a flag to honor a certain veteran for the club's annual display, Nov. 9-23, at Crestview High School. For a $25 donation, a tag will be attached to a flag with the honoree's name, service information and the donor's name. Tags will be presented to donors after the display. Call 496-4842 for more details.

Southside Center ceremony: The 3- to 5-year-old pre-kindergarten Tiger Pups and school staffers will honor veterans 9:30 a.m. Nov. 8 at the school's black-topped play area. Veterans may attend, Principal Linda Dukes said. The Baker ROTC honor guard will present the flag. 

Area school observances: Several Crestview area schools will also hold student-led observances honoring veterans Friday, including Riverside Elementary School, 9 a.m.; Davidson Middle School, 9 a.m.; Walker Elementary School, 9 a.m.; Northwood Elementary School, 1:30 p.m.; and Shoal River Middle School, 2 p.m.

Crestview Veterans Day Parade and memorial service: The American Legion Post 75 hosts the city's annual parade, 9 a.m. Nov. 11 on Main Street.An "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" memorial ceremony is 11 a.m. at the Okaloosa County Veterans Memorial at the corner of Courthouse Terrace and Main Street.

Laurel Hill School veterans celebration: Leadership Program students host their annual recognition of area veterans Nov. 12, beginning with an 8 a.m. coffee social in the school library. Veterans will proceed to the multi-purpose room; students can meet with them after a brief program. Veterans are encouraged to bring photos, medals and other items from their service years. Veterans planning to attend should call teacher Hazel Harper, 652-4111, prior to the event.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community, school events planned to honor area veterans

Air Force Airman William C. Reed has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Reed — the son of Sara DePue of Crestview, and David Reed of Clermont, Ga. — is a 2012 graduate of Crestview High School.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Reed completes Air Force Basic training

CRESTVIEW — Capt. Thomas Cieslak, the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s newly appointed public affairs officer, said the group’s size, for now, is expected to stay steady.

That’s between 3,500 and 4,000 soldiers and support personnel, he said.

The 7th Special Force’s members and their families have become integral to the Crestview community since the base opened in October 2011. Cieslak — acknowledging a lapse of accessibility that occurred when its former public affairs officer transferred — assured Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce members Thursday that the group is "pushing to get back into the community."

One of the best ways the community can support the 7th Special Forces is to understand that the group's low-key, often covert operations preclude releasing too much information, Cieslak said.

That, he said, limits opportunities for homecoming celebrations when troops return from missions.

"There's certain things we just can't discuss," he said. "It protects the soldiers that are down there (on missions in Latin America) and their families back here."

Cieslak, who assumed his new duties less than a month ago, decided to live in Crestview because of its proximity to the south county beaches and the north county countryside’s peaceful calm.

"We have never experienced a support group like we've found here in Crestview," Cieslak said. "It's opened my eyes a lot about how supportive the area is."

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 7SFG public affairs officer: group’s size to stay steady for now

CRESTVIEW — Louis Richard has a lot to celebrate, including a loving wife, four adoring children and a miracle that let him enjoy them 40 years after surviving a jet crash.

On Oct. 12, Richard was surrounded by his wife, Mary, their grown children and nine friends to observe what the family calls "Crash Day.” It’s the anniversary of the Oct. 11, 1973, crash of his U.S. Air Force T37 jet trainer.

This year's observance marked the mishap's 40th anniversary.

A 16G crash

"My claim to fame: I am one of the few pilots who have more take-offs than landings," Richard jokes.

Richard and his copilot, Lt. Larry Dodson, were members of the 88th Flying Training Squadron of the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard (Texas) Air Force Base.

They were on a routine training flight when the plane went down in a field near the base. The plane crashed with a force of 16Gs, or 16 times the force of gravity.

The impact peeled back the front of the aircraft, making the pilots' compartment the leading edge as it plowed along 300 yards of Texas farmland. Both airmen survived.

"The Frederick (Texas) physician who pulled body bags from his vehicle ran up and asked, 'Where are the bodies?'" Richard said. "I replied, 'Here we are!'"

His daughter, Bridget Richard of Crestview, said a subsequent investigation couldn't find a cause for the accident.

"They (her father and Dodson) don't remember anything going wrong," Bridget Richard said. "It just happened and it was all a blur."

Lucky— fortunate

"The accident investigation board president stated that we were lucky to be alive," Louis Richard said. "I replied, 'No sir, we were fortunate. If we were lucky, we wouldn't have crashed.'"

The anniversary party is an annual event the family holds to celebrate their husband and father's survival and continued presence among them, Bridget Richard said.

It is also a time for her father to remember lost Air Force friends, she said.

"He gave a toast to all his comrades who didn't make it and died in airplane crashes," she said.

Louis Richard retired as a major at Hurlburt Field on Sept. 30, 1988, after 20 years in the Air Force.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview family celebrates 40th anniversary of father's jet crash survival

Last weekend’s Gulf Coast Two-Day Undefeated Bike Ride, benefiting the EOD Warrior Foundation, raised $46,428 toward a $70,000 goal, and more donations were expected as of press time.

On Saturday and Sunday, 44 cyclists rode almost 200 miles from Niceville to Panama City and back in the effort to raise money and awareness for the foundation.

Many riders — who included Crestview residents Lamar Estridge and Paul Yungandreas — are active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses who took part to support the foundation that helps wounded EOD warriors, families of wounded and fallen EOD warriors and honors fallen EOD service members.

This is the second year for the Gulf Coast Two-Day Undefeated Bike Ride, which is one of three main rides. The West Coast ride also took place this past weekend and the East Coast Ride took place Sept. 28 and 29. There were also “world-wide, virtual rides” in locations that included Germany, Italy, Afghanistan, Guam, Bahrain and several locations in the U.S.

The combined rides raised $325,000 toward a $395,000 goal, a spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Riders net $46K for EOD Warrior Foundation

Air Force Airman Shawn L. Reynolds graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills.

Basic training graduates earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Reynolds' dad is Louis Reynolds of Crestview. The airman is a 2007 Crestview High School graduate.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Reynolds completes Air Force basic training