Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year

Master Sgt. Jessica Todd instructs Senior Airman Paul Charpentier on his test results, St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 18, 2012. Todd was chosen as the Outstanding Senior NCO of the year for the 133 Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/Released)

Outstanding 1st Sergeant of the Year

Master Sgt. Ryan Fenton, right, shows a video that he created to Staff Sgt. Tully Boushek, center, and Staff Sgt. Nathan Cotter, left, in St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 17, 2012. Fenton attended the Minnesota Vikings Military Appreciation Day and was showing Boushek and Cotter his placement in relations to the field. Fenton is the Outstanding 1st Sergeant of the Year for the 133rd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/Released)

Pumpkin Bars Anyone?

ST. PAUL, Minn. -Staff Sgt. Kathleen Quist, a services specialist with the 133 Airlift Wing Services Squadron, plates pumpkin bars to prepare for lunch Nov. 18, 2012 here. Quist made the pumpkin bars earlier in preperation for a special Thanksgiving meal during the November drill. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren)

Timberwolves Military Appreciation

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -Senior Airman Danielle Cooper from the 133rd Airlift Wing holds the flag during the National Anthem at the Minn. TImberwolves' Military Appreciation Night Nov. 9 at the Target Center. (U.S. Aif Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young.)

Timberwolves Military Appreciation

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -Airmen from the 133rd Airlift Wing prepare to present a giant flag for the National Anthem during the Minn. TImberwolves' Military Appreciation Night Nov. 9 at the Target Center. (U.S. Aif Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young.)

Minnesota Air Guard flies missions supporting storm relief

Minnesota Air National Guard Airmen using two C-130 “Hercules” military cargo aircraft flew five relief missions in support of Superstorm Sandy Nov. 3 and 4, 2012 in places like Joint Base Andrews, Md. and Kennedy Airport, N.Y. They delivered at least 5,000 pounds of supplies and at least nine passengers throughout the region. U.S. Air Force official photo

Minnesota Air Guard flies missions supporting storm relief

Minnesota Air National Guard Airmen using two C-130 “Hercules” military cargo aircraft flew five relief missions in support of Superstorm Sandy Nov. 3 and 4, 2012 in places like Joint Base Andrews, Md. and Kennedy Airport, N.Y. They delivered at least 5,000 pounds of supplies and at least nine passengers throughout the region. U.S. Air Force official photo

Minnesota Air Guard flies missions supporting storm relief

Minnesota Air National Guard Airmen using two C-130 “Hercules” military cargo aircraft flew five relief missions in support of Superstorm Sandy Nov. 3 and 4, 2012 in places like Joint Base Andrews, Md. and Kennedy Airport, N.Y. They delivered at least 5,000 pounds of supplies and at least nine passengers throughout the region. U.S. Air Force official photo

New Cyber Warriors

Master Sgt. Michael Wollenzien, (left) 133rd Communications Flight and Senior Airman Gunther Heeb, (center) 133rd Operations Support Flight of the Minnesota Air National Guard were sworn into the Kentucky Air National Guard Oct. 13, 2012 during a ceremony at the St. Paul Air National Guard base and were interviewed by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young of the 133rd AW public affairs office. “The degree in which the Minnesota National Guard has demonstrated its incredible excellence across the board with its flying units and now its cyber opportunities really show that we are on the leading edge, the tip of the spear,” said Brig. Gen. Worthe S. Holt, Jr., the Assistant Adjutant General-Air for the Minnesota National Guard as he presided over the reenlistment. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

New Cyber Warriors

Brig. Gen. Worthe S. Holt, Jr., (left) the Assistant Adjutant General-Air for the Minnesota National Guard swears in Senior Airman Gunther Heeb, (center) 133rd Operations Support Flight and Master Sgt. Michael Wollenzien, 133rd Communications Flight into the Kentucky Air National Guard Oct. 13, 2012 during a ceremony at the St. Paul Air National Guard base. The Airmen are in a program where they are members of the 223rd Intelligence Flight, based in Louisville, Ky., but will remain working in Minnesota. photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

"Bones" gets his teeth checked

Senior Airman Candis Rogers, a dental assistant from the 133rd Airlift Wing Medical Group practices taking an x-ray on a human skull for Readiness Skills Verification (RSV) training on Oct. 13, 2012 St. Paul, MN. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austen Adriaens/released

"Hercules sitting in the sun"

Sitting across the runway from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport a lone 133rd Airlift Wing C-130 “Hercules” awaits a mission assignment October 12, 2012. The 133rd provides the U.S. Air Force with tactical airlift support as well as support to the state of Minnesota in case of disaster or emergency. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

Shake your tail

Lit only by the lights of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport October 12, 2012 five 133rd Airlift Wing C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft taxi into position in preparation for a night training mission. The 133rd provides the U.S. Air Force with tactical airlift support as well as support to the state of Minnesota in case of disaster or emergency. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

Spinning props

Lit only by the lights of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport October 12, 2012 five 133rd Airlift Wing C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft taxi into position in preparation for a night training mission. The 133rd provides the U.S. Air Force with tactical airlift support as well as support to the state of Minnesota in case of disaster or emergency. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

Water survival

A member of the 133rd Airlift Wing is taking part in water survival training at the Army Training Site Arden Hills, Minnesota Sept. 16, 2012. The airman is using an LPU-10P air crew life preserver to swim towards the safety of the life raft. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari L. Giles/released

The Escape

Members of the 133rd Airlift Wing are taking part in survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) training at the Army Training Site Arden Hills, Minnesota Sept. 16, 2012. The captured airmen are escaping from the holding cells, running towards the shelter of the woods. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari L. Giles/released

floating the day away

Lt. Col. David Nelson swims in the waters of small lake at the Army Training Site Arden Hills, Minnesota Sept. 16, 2012 with a aircrew life preserver helping to keep him afloat. The Airmen of the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard are taking part in their annual survival including survival equipment, lift raft familiarization, parachute disentanglement and rescue techniques. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

"hoping for rescue"

Lt. Col. Andrew Burda Commander 109th Airlift Squadron holds a signal flare aloft during water survival training tat the Army Training Site Arden Hills, Minnesota Sept. 16, 2012.. The Airmen of the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard are taking part in their annual survival including survival equipment, lift raft familiarization, parachute disentanglement and rescue techniques. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

"Water Wings"

133rd Airlift Wing members swim in the waters of small lake at the Army Training Site Arden Hills, Minnesota Sept. 16, 2012 with their aircrew life preserver keeping them afloat. The Airmen of the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard are taking part in their annual survival including survival equipment, lift raft familiarization, parachute disentanglement and rescue techniques. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

"Hands up"

Airman 1st Class Jonathan Roberts a 133rd Security Forces apprentice role plays the role of a captor guarding captured members of the 133rd Airlift Wing during survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) training Army Training Site Arden Hills, Minnesota Sept. 16, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

Fun run kicks off family day

A five kilometer fun run launched family day for the 133rd Airlift Wing on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012 at the St. Paul Air National Guard base. The Minnesota Airmen and families enjoyed a beautiful late summer day to celebrate most members being home from deployments. Festivities continued through the day, such as a hay ride, archery range, a classic car show and food catered by Fat Lorenzo’s. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Mark Moss/released

Riding on the flightline

The 133rd Airlift Wing held its annual family day Sept. 15, 2012 St. Paul, Minnesota the event was officially kicked off in the Wing’s north hanger by Wing Commander Colonel Greg A. Haase, as he shared some details about the past year of the Wing and its future. Events for children and family members included a fish pond, archery, climbing wall, hay ride, bean bag toss, hammer bell, bouncing room, hay rides, and a home run derby. The static display of one of the Wing’s C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft on the flightline always one of the most popular attractions for families to explore. Food was provided free of charge and served by Fat Lorenzo’s of Minneapolis to the Airmen and their families. Air Force by Staff Sgt. Austen Adriaens/released

All systems are go!

The 133rd Airlift Wing held its annual family day Sept. 15, 2012 St. Paul, Minnesota the event was officially kicked off in the Wing’s north hanger by Wing Commander Colonel Greg A. Haase, as he shared some details about the past year of the Wing and its future. Events for children and family members included a fish pond, archery, climbing wall, hay ride, bean bag toss, hammer bell, bouncing room, hay rides, and a home run derby. The static display of one of the Wing’s C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft on the flightline always one of the most popular attractions for families to explore. Food was provided free of charge and served by Fat Lorenzo’s of Minneapolis to the Airmen and their families. Air Force by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released

Taking over

The 133rd Airlift Wing held its annual family day Sept. 15, 2012 St. Paul, Minnesota the event was officially kicked off in the Wing’s north hanger by Wing Commander Colonel Greg A. Haase, as he shared some details about the past year of the Wing and its future. Events for children and family members included a fish pond, archery, climbing wall, hay ride, bean bag toss, hammer bell, bouncing room, hay rides, and a home run derby. The static display of one of the Wing’s C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft on the flightline always one of the most popular attractions for families to explore. Food was provided free of charge and served by Fat Lorenzo’s of Minneapolis to the Airmen and their families. Air Force by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/released