Lt. Col. Dwayne Hall and his daughter, Madison

For one Air Force Global Strike Command officer and his daughter, singing is in the genes.

Lt. Col. Dwayne Hall and his teenage daughter, Madison, recently won first place in the family category of the Air Force’s Family and Teen Talent Contest. The pair earned a spot in the Air Force-level competition after placing first at their local “You Got Talent” competition, held at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.

Madison, who has received numerous musical academic scholarships, also took third place in the teen solo category singing “Blessed” by Rachel Lampa.

Colonel Hall said people are usually surprised to learn he has a hidden talent for singing. “Usually people say they didn’t expect that…I guess I am the Susan Boyle of the Air Force,” he said.

“We are a very musical family. Growing up, my mother played piano, my brother played the saxophone and I played the trumpet. We also sang on a local radio show where we grew up,” Colonel Hall said. “Music is a big part of our lives and that value has been passed down to my daughter,” he said. Colonel Hall is chief of lessons learned division at Global Strike Command here.

Madison has been a rising singing star since a young age. During high school, she was chosen to take part in the honors choir of the annual DoDDS-Europe Honors Music Festival, a highly competitive Department of Defense initiative for musically talented youth.

“Looking back at all the Air Force competitions I’ve participated in, they were all special in their own way and made me comfortable performing in front of audiences,” Madison said.

For the first-place win, Colonel Hall and his daughter sang the ballad “Can I Have This Dance” from the popular High School Musical film.

The Colonel’s singing talent has been employed on and off duty as he sings in the church choir, in addition to performing at weddings and official Air Force events.

When co-workers do find out about Colonel Hall’s singing ability, he said they are supportive, attending his competitions and cheering him on.

In addition to the Incirlik competition, Colonel Hall and his daughter participated in other Air Force talent challenges at Offutt AFB, Neb., and Peterson AFB, Colo.

by Maja Z. Stevanovich
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

Civil Air Patrol picture of Wahpeton, North Dakota and Breckenridge, MN Red River flooding on March 24, 2009.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Critical integration of efforts and resources has helped the citizens of North Dakota during the recent flooding that has hit that region in the past several days.

Part of that interagency integration has been placed in the hands of the Air Force Auxiliary, the official federal aviation arm of the Civil Air Patrol that provides indispensable emergency services to the U.S. Air Force and its customers.

The North Central Region of CAP has been flying AFAUX missions since March 19, when the unit received word about the potential of flooding in the Red River area of North Dakota, as well as other surrounding areas in Minnesota and South Dakota. Since then, they have flown more than 30 sorties and captured hundreds of visual images to give emergency responders and on-scene commanders the most up-to-date picture of the affected areas. In the case of flooding, CAP imagery can alert decision makers of damage to vital infrastructure, which can ultimately help save lives.

Falling under the operational control of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander, Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, the AFAUX works around the clock to assist federal, state, county and local government and law enforcement agencies. One of the added benefits of employing AFAUX in its role is the amount of money saved by the Air Force. On average, it costs $120 an hour to fly and maintain a CAP aircraft, whereas the cost of flying an Air Force fighter, helicopter or larger aircraft is much higher, making CAP a cost-effective force multiplier and essential part of Air Forces Northern’s Defense Support for Civil Authorities mission.

Air Forces Northern’s response is coordinated by U.S. Northern Command. USNORTHCOM is responsible for defense of the homeland and, when ordered by the President or Secretary of Defense, defense support of civil authorities.

U.S. Northern Command

Just as the men who fought World War Two are heading home to God in increasing numbers, so too are the women. The Air Force has done a nice thing by seeing that some of these courageous pioneers are recognized and get to fly at least one more time.

Maj. Jennifer King escorts Kay Gott, an original member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots from World War II, during the WASP’s final flight on a C-130 Hercules Sept. 25 at Irving, Texas. Major King is a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with the 315th Airlift Wing from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dawn Price)

Capt. Roseanne Teckman escorts an original member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots from World War II during the WASP’s final flight on a C-130 Hercules Sept. 25 at Irving, Texas. Captain Teckman is a flight nurse with the 315th Airlift Wing from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dawn Price)

For residents unable or unwilling to relocate in the face of Hurricane Ike, rising water and damaged roads made leaving home after the fact nearly impossible, save for the fearless men and women working through various relief agencies, including Texas Task Force- One, Federal Emergency Management Administration, and the Department of Public Safety.

In order to help stranded residents, “helispots,” or temporary helicopter landing zones, like school parking lots, have been set up in cities around the Gulf coast, according to Kenneth Larson, the Texas City helispot “on the spot” manager from TXTF-1.

In Texas City, to ensure pilots and ground crews can communicate clearly, Air Force Combat Controllers from the 125th Special Tactics Squadron, from Portland, Oregon, are on the ground directing the landing aircraft.

“We open up [helicopter landing zones] and run them for anybody,” said Technical Sgt. Guadagnuolo Stefano, with the 125th STS. “Army, Navy, Coast Guard, civilian, it doesn’t matter, that’s our entire job. We bring them in and get them safely out.”

Stranded residents from up and down the coast, along with companion animals, have been brought to Texas City, to board busses en route to KellyUSA in San Antonio.

During the run-up to Hurricane Ike, Texas emergency management agencies ramped up the number of emergency responders on call in the Gulf Coast area. Up to 10 states have been brought in to coordinate with TXTF-1, and FEMA through both federal response and state-to-state requests.

Along with air crews, there are urban search and rescue teams, as well as swift water rescue crews operating with federal agencies.

“This is just one of many operational pieces,” said Larson. “Everyone is working together to help out.”

DVIDS
By Sgt. Jennifer D. Atkinson
100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment