Grand Forks AFB: 2012 - A Year in Review Published Dec. 30, 2012 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- As 2012 comes to a close, it's easy to look back and say that our Airmen, family and friends enjoyed another exciting and successful year at Grand Forks. Col. Tim Bush, commander of the 319th Air Base Wing, praised his personnel in a recent message, saying that each Airman has "significantly contributed to enhancing our nation's security and defending our interests and values worldwide." "Whatever your role, every Airman makes a difference," Bush said. "You make me immensely proud to serve you as the 319 ABW and Grand Forks AFB Commander." Here's a look back at some of the stories from the year: Local Airman wins AMC trip to Super Bowl For the second straight year, a Grand Forks Airman won a trip to football's biggest stage to attend an all-expenses paid trip to Super Bowl XLVI. Senior Airman Matthew Burt entered the Air Force-wide "Football Frenzy" contest, in which one winner is selected for each major command. 319th FSS hosts Super Bowl Extravaganza The 319th Force Support Squadron hosted another successful and entertaining Super Bowl Extravaganza event here on Jan. 21. More than 500 Airmen, friends and family filled up J.R. Rockers and the Northern Lights Club for the event, where approximately $38,000 worth of autographed helmets, jersey, photos and footballs were given away via raffle ticket drawings. Chad Johnson and Donovan Mitchell, along with Thomas Lenning of Brookings, S.D., decided to split a $5,000 grand prize payout evenly three ways. Chief Kaiser visits Grand Forks Chief Master Sgt. Richard Kaiser, Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Air Mobility Command, visited members of the 319th Air Base Wing on Feb. 28. Scouts open time capsule More than 25 Girl Scouts took a step back in time here when they opened a 25-year-old time capsule left behind by former Scouts on March 12. Inside was a slew of history, all dated back to 1987 - the 75th anniversary of Girl Scouts. Photo story: Staying fit with martial arts Master Sgt. Luis Vela of the 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron instructed free Military Combat Jujitsu classes for base Airmen. To view the photo story, click here. Parker earns Air Force-wide award The U.S. Air Force named Tech. Sgt. Tomeka Parker of the 319th Air Base Wing as the Solomon Starks Jr. Equal Opportunity Director of the Year for 2011. Parker arrived in Grand Forks in November 2010 and single-handedly filled a two-person EO office assignment responsible for more than 1,300 Airmen and civilians - one that had been vacant for two years. Rueben earns several awards Ask Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Rueben about his recent award, and he'll likely have to ask you, "Which one?" Rueben has earned the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Firefighter Award; the Air Mobility Command Fire Officer of the Year; the Air Force Sergeants Association Division 89 NCO of the Year; and the 319th Air Base Wing's NCO of the Year. All of the awards were for 2011. "I feel very blessed," said Rueben, a master sergeant select and member of the 319th Civil Engineer squadron. Honor Guard sponsors youth in Devils Lake The Airmen of the 319th Air Base Wing's Honor Guard have promised to sponsor 20 children from Sweetwater Elementary School in Devils Lake, N.D., about 75 miles west of the base, for the next three years. About half of the school's 200 children qualify for the federal Free and Reduced Price Meal Program. As heartbreaking as it sounds, too many go hungry over the weekends. Base youth inspiration for play Kathy Coudle-King, a local theater director, wanted to shed light on the lives of military children, so she turned to students who attend school on Grand Forks Air Force Base. Her interaction with the students resulted in "Deployed," a one-act play comprised entirely of their own words that was performed at the Fire Hall Theatre in downtown Grand Forks. Athletes of the Year named Two Grand Forks Airmen were recognized as the base's 2011 Athletes of the Year during an April 13 ceremony at the Northern Lights Club. Capt. John Bone, of the Area Defense Counsel, and Tech. Sgt. Robyn Kaufhold, of the 319th Communication Squadron, were the selected nominees. Throughout the year, Kaufhold completed her fifteenth and sixteenth marathons of her running career. Bone earned first-place finishes in both the Cinco de Mayo and Independence Day 5ks, along with setting the course record while winning the base's half marathon. He also participated in squadron intramurals, playing basketball, softball and leading his team to a runner-up finish in the base soccer championship. Air Force legend speaks during ceremony An Air Force legend helped recognize Grand Forks newest chief master sergeants during a ceremony at the base club. Retired Chief Master Sergeant Robert Gaylor, the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1977 to 1979, served as the keynote speaker for the Chief's Recognition Ceremony. Gaylor's inspirational and humor-filled speech helped honor Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Crafton and local civic leader Jim Bradshaw, who was named the first-ever honorary chief master sergeant at the base. Grand Forks personnel 'Soar Into Shape' In just 63 days, 320 base residents managed to lose a total of 926 pounds - and see their collective waistlines drop by 283 inches - in the 5th Annual "Soar Into Shape" fitness challenge co-sponsored by the Health and Wellness Center and the Fitness Center. Competitors - either individually or as part of a four-person team - battled through various challenges, including timed obstacle courses and water workouts, and attended the more than 35 fitness and nutrition classes offered over the nine weeks. Warriors Games held The Air Force team - including a technical sergeant from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. - brought home nine medals in track and field events during the 3rd annual Warrior Games. Kevin Murphy, of the 319th Civil Engineering Squadron at Grand Forks, took first place in men's shot put open combined with a distance of 12.84m. "It was pretty dramatic," Murphy said of his gold medal win. "I won on my final toss of the day, and ended up winning by about a centimeter." Tops in Blue rock Grand Forks Hundreds of patrons gathered at the Chester Fritz Auditorium in downtown Grand Forks on June 30 to see the spectacle of Tops in Blue. Tops in Blue is a group of Airmen composed of 35-40 singers, dancers and technicians working to raise morale in Airmen and military families across the world. Global Hawk launches from Grand Forks The 69th Reconnaissance Group reached another milestone Aug. 7 with its first flight of a Block 40 RQ-4 Global Hawk from the flightline here. Previously, the 69th RG had only conducted flights in deployed environments. "We at the 69th Reconnaissance Group are very proud of our first successful flight of the RQ-4 Global Hawk," said Col. J. Scott Winstead, 69th RG commander. Detachment 27 stands-up on Grand Forks The 319th Air Base Wing welcomed a new detachment to the base in support of Global Hawk missions and operations. Detachment 27 - assigned to the 372nd Training Squadron on Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas - first planted its flag here in late August this year and has steadily been growing since. Airmen recognized for courageous service Two Airmen were recognized for their courageous service during a tribute ceremony Aug. 12 at the East Grand Forks Civic Center. Master Sgt. Clifford Monroe, 319th Civil Engineering Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Kristoffer Schneider, 319th Medical Support Squadron, were presented awards. Schneider was part of a group of Airmen preparing to deploy from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, to Afghanistan when they were attacked at Frankfurt International Airport by a lone gunman. Two Airmen were killed and Schneider and another Airman were wounded in the attack. Monroe was recognized for his actions during his fourth deployment, in Afghanistan, where he came under direct and indirect fire more than 35 times. 319th MDG earns 'outstanding' rating The 319th Medical Group received an outstanding rating following its 2012 Health Service Inspection. The score of 96 is the highest score this year in the Air Force and the third highest score recorded since the Medical Air Force Inspection Agency's Operations Directorate began conducting health services inspections 12 years ago. Diversity embraced in Multicultural World Showcase The third annual Multicultural World Showcase celebration took place at Liberty Square here Aug. 30. Hundreds of Airmen, civilians, family and friends came together to celebrate the three-hour event - a festive gathering that highlighted cultures from around the world. Network 56 earns Presidential award The Network 56 organization was presented the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Gold Level) during an Oct. 12 ceremony at the Northern Lights club here. Network 56 earned the gold level recognition thanks to 1,086 hours of community service. The group volunteered for 70 events from November 2011 to September 2012, generously helping charitable organizations and causes throughout the surrounding community, including Airmen Against Drunk Driving, Toys-for-Tots, Relay for Life, the Salvation Army and the North Country Food Bank in Crookston, Minn. Family Deployment Line Nearly 250 Grand Forks Air Force Base family members got a glimpse of life as a deployed Airman Oct. 20 through a free Family Deployment Line event. The idea behind the event was to give families the opportunity to show children ages 3-16 a firsthand look at what Airmen experience when preparing for a deployment. CFC goal topped The Warriors of the North wrapped up the 2012 Combined Federal Campaign on Nov. 9. This year's campaign reached a total contribution of $70,347 surpassing its original goal by 27.9%. Grand Forks captain works mission in Vietnam An officer stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base traveled thousands of miles this year to return to his birth country of Vietnam for the first time in eight years. But Capt. Huy Tran wasn't there to reunite with his own family or friends. His mission was to help search for and recover missing Vietnam War personnel, a rewarding experience Tran says he won't soon forget. GFAFB named StormReady Grand Forks Air Force Base became one of a handful of military installations in the northern part of the Midwest to be certified as "StormReady" by the National Weather Service. StormReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs through advanced planning, education and awareness. Grand Forks is one of 39 U.S. military installations to earn the certification and the only military site to be categorized as StormyReady in the state of North Dakota. Child Care Program wins honors The 319th Force Support Squadron here was recognized as the Air Mobility Command Family Child Care Program of the Year for 2012. Pamela Schumaker, family child care coordinator, said the child and youth programs have been working hard to improve youth functions on base, and this award directly reflects what they have achieved. AMC commander visits Just two weeks into his new job leading the Air Mobility Command, Gen. Paul Selva visited the Airmen of Grand Forks on Dec. 13 and shared his top priorities. During an all-call with the Warriors of the North, Selva explained his top three priorities as mission accomplishment, mutual care and respect among Airmen, and training mobility Airmen. Heartland of America Band performs Members of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band spread some holiday cheer here during a Dec. 18 and 19 visit. Five members from the 45-member strong musical squadron, based at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., performed in front of audiences as large as 60 people at 22 locations around Grand Forks AFB.