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While skiing in the Italian Alps,
Senior Airman Sebastian d’Alton, an Air Force Pararescueman with the 57th Rescue Sq., Aviano AB, Italy, put his rescue training to use when he encountered an injured Austrian skier. The man had a deep leg wound, and d’Alton immediately applied a tourniquet and packed the wound to stop the bleeding until a helicopter arrived. Despite never having performed a real-world alpine rescue and having limited medical supplies, he improvised and, with help from a nearby Italian couple, stabilized the skier. “The training we receive does a great job of pushing you through stressful moments over and over again,” d’Alton said. “You start with intense physical training, but by the end, it’s all about technical skill and problem-solving under pressure.”
After returning from a birthday trip to London, Lt. Col. Jeremy Strohmayer expected a quiet evening at Anchorage, Alaska’s airport—but things quickly changed. While waiting for his luggage, he saw a woman collapse and he immediately jumped into action. Strohmayer, the anesthesia flight commander at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, performed lifesaving measures, including CPR, airway suctioning, and oxygen support. His medical training kicked in as he stayed calm and followed emergency protocols. “My thought process at this point was she’s a patient and this patient needs compressions, so I just fell into the protocol of doing the job,” said Strohmayer.
Lt. Col. Kari Armstrong, commander of the 142nd Maintenance Squadron, help save a leukemia patient’s life after being matched through the Department of Defense Bone Marrow Program. More than 10 years after registering, she was contacted as a match and underwent five days of injections followed by a six-hour duration of blood cycling to extract needed cells in San Diego. Despite discomfort, she didn’t hesitate. “Once they start preparing the patient [for donation], if you pull out, they will die. That was all I need to know,” she said. Months later, she learned the patient had survived. Armstrong called it an honor and encourages more service members to join the donor registry.
Senior Airman Nicole Kleymenov, a boom operator with the 344th Air Refueling Squadron, played a key role in Exercise Fighting Wyvern 25-01, refueling fighter jets midair over Italy as part of ACE, enhancing combat readiness with allies and partners. Originally on a path to become a lawyer, she changed direction after taking a discovery flight, which explores the world of aviation for newcomers. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be in aviation,” Kleymenov said. Now training to become a boom operator instructor, she’s focused on developing her teaching skills and plans to apply for Officer Training School. “I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” she said. “I love it.”
Senior Airman Christopher Neal, a physical medicine technician with the 42nd Medical Group at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., delivers targeted physical therapy to help Airmen stay mission-ready in support of Human Performance Flight. A former student athletic trainer with a degree in health promotion, Neal now treats 80 to 120 patients weekly as part of a two-person team. “Each patient is like a puzzle,” he said. “You build relationships while trying to figure out what’s best for them.” From dry needling to high-intensity rehab, Neal tailors care for individual needs. He plans to pursue a career in law enforcement to continue serving others beyond the clinic.
Senior Airman Yasmin Freckleton, a mental health technician with the 386th Expeditionary Medical Squadron at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, is strengthening Airmen’s mental resilience in high-stress environments. When two mental health incidents struck her squadron in December 2024, Freckleton led crisis response efforts, offering stability and support. She was later recognized as an Air Force Medical Service Trusted Care Hero. “In contested environments, mental resilience is just as critical as physical readiness,” she said. Through daily check-ins, wellness sessions and resource sharing, Freckleton empowers Airmen to stay focused, adaptable, and mission-ready under any condition.
A joint task force of Air National Guardsmen and Reservists conducted human space flight support training Jan. 14–17 at Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. Units from Hawaii’s 204th Airlift Squadron, South Carolina’s 315th Airlift Wing, and Florida’s 308th Rescue Squadron practiced open-ocean search and rescue airdrop techniques for astronaut recovery. “We’re conducting realistic drops of both personnel and equipment,” said Capt. Nicolas Walsh, 308th RQS. With the rise in missions like SpaceX and Artemis, human space flight support alerts are expected to increase. The exercise included 10 airdrops and 30 pararescuemen jumps, enhancing readiness for future spaceflight recovery operations.
Maj. Jennifer Trewett, a reservist with the 307th Bomb Wing, co-founded the Red River Raiders Futbol Club (RRFC) in Bossier City, La., in December 2024. The nonprofit team, now competing in the United Soccer League 2 (USL2), offers local athletes a path to professional soccer. Initially hesitant, Trewett was inspired by community support and her own lifelong love of the game. “This USL2 team . . . is a path to pro,” she said. “This gives them the ability to get more time on the pitch, videotape, build highlight reels, and send that off to professional MLS soccer teams.” Balancing military duties and club leadership, Trewett credits a strong team effort for RRFC’s early success.