The smell of food, the sound of music, and stormy weather filled the air for the 25th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta at Hurlburt Field.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE -- One of the Air Force's newest aircrew flight equipment teams is now the Air Force's best.

HURLBURT FIELD - Before hundreds of Air Commandos, citizens of the Emerald Coast and static displays of special operations aircraft, Col. William West assumed command of the 1st Special Operations Wing during a July 3 change of command ceremony at the Freedom Hangar.

When Navarre High School alum Ensign Tyler Barker graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy recently, two of his former JROTC instructors were there to attend the event along with his parents, Brian and Donna Barker.

A bright yellow “Don’t tread on me” flag stood out against a protective blanket of red, white and blue flags and posters, effectively symbolizing the defiant, patriotic atmosphere outside East Hill Church of God in Christ in Pensacola on June 22. It was a scene where hundreds of Americans lined the street, forming a human barrier outside the funeral ceremony for fallen soldier, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jesse Lamar Thomas Jr., who died June 10 while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistran. The counter protestors were geared up for the arrival of Westboro Baptist, a Kansas-based group renowned for inflammatory pickets at military funerals.

From tug-of-war to knot tying, Navarre High School incoming freshman competed in a variety of physical activities and competitions at the Navy Junior ROTC summer camp program last week. All 84 first-year cadets participated in the week-long camp and had their graduation on June 21.

A Spectre is a type of AC-130 gunship that is used in the Air Force Special Operations Command, and it is also the name of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post in Mary Esther.

HURLBURT FIELD - Lieutenant Col. Kirk W. Peterson relinquished command of 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron to Maj. Timothy D. Voruz during a June 13 change of command ceremony.

HURLBURT FIELD -- Honorary commanders watched from a safe distance with night-vision scopes, as a AC-130U Spooky gunship flew overhead firing a 25 mm Gatling gun rounds and 105 mm shells at training targets during a live-fire exercise in late May on the Eglin Range on Eglin Air Force Base. 

More than 20 volunteers from the Hurlburt Field 823rd Red Horse Unit rolled up their sleeves to form and pour the concrete driveway for a family foster home located in the Children in Crisis, Children’s Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach.  Technical Sergeant Dan Hall coordinated the training days for the work group that worked well into the nighttime for three days to get the job done on time.