Homecoming

140609-Z-VA676-012 - Airmen of the 127th Air Refueling Group return to their home station of Selfridge AirNational Guard Base, Mich., June 9, 2014, after a deployment to southwest Asia and the Central Command Area of Responsibility. The deployment for the 127th ARG was the last of a three-year-long series of "rolling mobilizations" during which small groups of Selfridge Airmen -- and often one or two KC-135s -- were forward deployed on an ongoing basis. With the conclusion of the rolling mobilizations, the 127th ARG will return to a more traditional Air Expeditionary Force schedule for possible future deployments, meaning more members of the unit will likely deploy if called upon, but will likely deploy less often. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by TSgt. Dan Heaton)

Top Photos from 2014

Published Dec. 29, 2014
127th Wing Public Affairs

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- A visit by the Secretary of the Air Force, operations at "zero-dark-thirty" and Airmen returning home from deployment are highlighted in the 127th Wing's top photos from 2014.

Two of the photos, homecoming of 127th Security Forces personnel in March, shot by now-retired civilian photographer John S. Swanson, and a June photo of the return of 127th Air Refueling Group Airmen, taken by Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton, each drew more than 1,000 likes and positive comments when shared on the 127th Wing's Facebook page.

"Our Airmen remain fully engaged, be it training here at Selfridge or deployed to wherever our country needs them," said Penny Carroll, 127th Wing chief of public affairs. "Sharing their story through photos and other means helps our community to fully appreciate the dedication to service before self demonstrated by our Airmen."

Three of the photos in this year's Top Ten were taken during operations conducted before dawn, known in military lingo as "zero-dark-thirty." The photos, by Master Sgt. David Kujawa, Tech. Sgt. Rob Hanet, and retired Master Sgt. Terry Atwell, each capture a 127th Wing aircraft - either an A-10 Thunderbolt II or a KC-135 Stratotanker - in dramatic lighting.

Some images, such as a photo of the Nov. 6, visit to Selfridge by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, taken by Heaton, capture major news events - her visit was the first to Selfridge by an Air Force Secretary in at least 30 years. Others, such as a photo of munitions being loaded into an A-10, taken by Staff Sgt. Samara Taylor, capture the day-to-day life around the 127th Wing.

A selection of the 127th Wing's top photos from 2014, along with a selection of news and feature articles and videos created by the 127th Wing Public Affairs office, will be forwarded to the National Guard Bureau for consideration as the best stories, photos and videos from 2014. A selection of the 127th Wing's videos is available at www.youtube.com/127WG.

About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operation Command by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 97th year of continuous military air operations in 2014.