More than 1,000 officers from 10 career fields are on the calendar year 2013 squadron commander candidate list, Air Force officials announced today.

Functional developmental teams meet annually at AFPC to consider eligible officers for squadron command opportunities. Basic eligibility requirements include functional expertise, grade requirements and permanent change of station eligibility. For more specific career field requirements, officers should refer to the appropriate career field page on the myPers website at https://myPers.af.mil.

"Squadron commanders have a fundamental role in the success of our Air Force today," said Joseph Marchino, AFPC assignments manager. "It's where the rubber meets the road in terms of impacting day-to-day operations, and it's a major step in the development of Air Force leaders."

Wing hiring officials, major command functional managers and Air Force Personnel Center assignment teams will use the candidate lists to fill projected 2013 squadron commander vacancies, with those selection results tentatively planned for a late January release.

"It's important to note," Marchino adds, "not all officers on these candidate lists will get command assignments. Development teams typically select more qualified officers than projected vacancies to account for a variety of unprojected events."

Officers who are not selected for command remain on the candidate list, eligible for any unprojected command opportunities that arise throughout the year.

To see the candidate list, go to http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-121114-026.pdf. For information about command opportunities and other personnel issues, go to https://mypers.af.mil.

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- Air Force Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing here were awarded the 4th Air Force 2011 Aircrew Excellence Award during the annual Raincross Trophy Dinner at the Riverside Convention Center, Riverside, Calif., Nov. 7.

The award winners were aircrew members, Lt. Col. Montgomery McDaniel, 728th Airlift Squadron, Maj. John Caplinger, 313th Airlift Squadron, Maj. Tim Davis, 728th AS, Chief Master Sgt. Jim Masura, 446th Operations Group, and Senior Master Sgt. Marshall Dellinger, 728th AS.

The award, which is given to the 4th Air Force aircrew who demonstrates notable dedication and commitment to the Air Force's air, space, and cyberspace mission, was presented as part of the 4th Air Force Commander's Conference events.

"(Col. Bruce Bowers, 446th AW commander) and I couldn't be more proud of the Team McChord crewmembers and their receipt of the 2011 Aircrew Excellence Award," said Col. Richard Grayson, 446th AW vice commander. "Their heroic efforts and superb performance are indicative of the outstanding Airmen we have in the 446th AW and the amazing work they do around the world, day in and day out."

In late June 2011, a civilian research contractor, working under the National Science Foundation at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, became ill. Due to the inability for the contractor to receive adequate care, the NSF, with help from U.S. Transportation Command, planned an aeromedical evacuation. Once the AE mission was cleared, TRANSCOM tasked McChord with performing the mission.

When the McChord crew, which was a combined crew of Reservists and active-duty aircrew members from the 62nd Airlift Wing here, was assembled, they were airborne less than 16 hours.

After landing at Christchurch, New Zealand, the crew prepared to embark for Antarctica immediately after the minimum flying weather conditions was met.

On June 30, the McChord crew departed for what turned out to be the first C-17 Globemaster III mid-winter Antarctic mission. After a night-vision-goggle landing at Pegasus Air Field, Antarctica, the loadmasters and critical care air transport team had the patient loaded in less than 45 minutes.

From the time the crew departed McChord Field for the 9,100-mile trip it took less than 48 hours to get the patient admitted into the hospital in Christchurch.

In addition to the AE mission, the crew also delivered supplies to the people at McMurdo Station. Mail, fruit, vegetables, and other goods were delivered in order to boost morale for the residents, who otherwise wouldn't have been resupplied until August.

Before departing back to McChord Field, the crew was also tasked to load a variety of equipment from the arctic environment and return it to the U.S.

The endeavor undertaken by the Team McChord crew proved, not only to be lifesaving, but also reiterated the TRANSCOM motto, "to deliver unrivaled, full-spectrum deployment and distribution solutions," according to Bowers.

Accepting the award at the dinner on behalf of the entire crew were Bowers and Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Mack, 446th AW command chief.

As the aroma of roasted turkey, fresh cooked carrots and garlic potatoes filled the air, approximately 200 members of the Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol, filled the seats of the seasonally decorated ballroom at the McChord Field Collocated club here, Nov. 10, in celebration of their 71st Fall Anniversary Banquet.

It was the largest annual opportunity for Civil Air Patrol members of Western Washington to dine, dance and visit with old friends of the organization and to meet and greet new members.

Chartered by congress December 1941, the government thought the CAP would be a great way to use America's civilian aviation resources as an aid to the war effort. The CAP is a federally supported, nonprofit organization and is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

Their mission? According to congressional mandate, it includes search and rescue, disaster relief, emergency services and homeland security operations - to save lives and to reduce human suffering. It has an all-volunteer membership of aviation minded people with backgrounds representing all socio-economic groups. Membership ranges in age from 12 to 18 for cadets, while senior leaders range from 18, to, well, way beyond in some cases.

Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Eleanor Baker and Lt. Col. Evelyn Lundstrom-Weiss, both of Seattle, are shining examples of how the family-like atmosphere associated with the CAP can entice some folks to remain for a lifetime.

They've both been active members for 63 of CAP's 71 years. Interestingly enough, Baker and Weiss were both born on Sept. 10, 1930 - they're identical-twin sisters.

At 82, the twins enjoyed a bit of celebrity status at the event, and having arrived to the occasion adorned in identical evening gowns, it was extremely difficult for even some who had known the two for years, to tell one from the other. At their dinner table, sisters Baker and Weiss shared many stories of the Civil Air Patrol's history, as personal witnesses to practically all of it.

"We both wanted to be flight attendants when we were very young," Weiss said, "but back then you had to be a nurse to be a flight attendant so it just wasn't in the cards financially. That's when we got involved with the Air Patrol; it gave us so many opportunities to be involved with aviation in ways we never could have expected."

The ladies said that they had begun in the CAP as two very shy, young girls, but through the years and through all of the opportunities the air patrol had given them, they were taught to have courage, and their self esteem and confidence grew strong. Today, the sisters insist that neither of them has been shy for years. In fact, they are the official historians for the Washington Wing CAP, which is headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Immediately following dinner, the members were treated to inspirational and entertaining words from the evening's keynote speaker, I Corps Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell.

Troxell spoke of how proud he was of the accomplishments of the Civil Air Patrol. He shared a few of his own experiences of younger life and of his years coming up through the ranks to arrive in the uniform that he wears today. He spoke of the importance of leadership values, traits and traditions.

"It's Americans like all of you, and like the men and women who serve in our armed services, who help to make up the one percent of our country who are willing to risk it all when duty calls," said Troxell. "Whether or not any of you younger cadets later decide to join one of the branches of the armed forces, I have no doubt that America will have no shortage of heroes thanks to people like you."

Troxell was given a standing ovation for his remarks and was called back to the podium two more times in appreciation and for questions.

As the event wrapped up, the lights went dim and music began to play, the dance commenced and took the group into the night. Laughter, conversation and good cheer could be seen and heard as members of the Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol enjoyed the remainder of their 71st Fall Anniversary Banquet.

An Airman assigned to the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, currently deployed to Christchurch, New Zealand with the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, took her oath of enlistment while standing on the frozen sea ice at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Nov. 19.

With an American flag and a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft as the backdrop, Tech. Sgt. Tara Jackson, 62nd AMXS instrument and flight control craftsman, who is deployed in support of Operation Deep Freeze, re-enlisted under the hand of Lt. Col. Brent Keenan, 304th EAS commander.

"While re-enlistment ceremonies are conducted all over the world, this event was unique in that it took place on just 81 inches of frozen sea ice over McMurdo Sound," said Keenan.

The ceremony took place while cargo and passengers were being offloaded from the aircraft, on a mission which carried 43 passengers and 61,000 pounds of cargo to McMurdo Station. Additionally, 31 passengers were transported back to Christchurch on the return leg of the mission.

"Immediately after Jackson's re-enlistment, she got right to work refueling the aircraft with 4,600 gallons of fuel needed for the 5-hour flight back to Christchurch," he added.

During this time of year, the McMurdo Sound freezes over with sea ice. However, in less than one month, the current site of the re-enlistment will be nothing but open ocean water.

Photo: Tech. Sgt. Tara Jackson (right), 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron instrument and flight control craftsman, receives the oath of enlistment from Lt. Col. Brent Keenan, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander, Nov. 19, 2012, on the frozen sea ice on McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Jackson, who is deployed with the 304th EAS in Christchurch, New Zealand, took the oath on the frozen runway which is just 81 inches thick. (Courtesy photo)

Members of the 446th Maintenance Squadron came out on top in the Care and Share food drive competition. The members of the squadron earned the coveted Care and Share Trophy for their efforts supporting the 446th Airlift Wing's Thanksgiving Food Drive. The average donation per person, for the squadron, was worth $26.76, for a total value of $3,399, and 1,560 pounds in food and funds donated. (Courtesy photo)

This year, for the first time, the annual McChord Holiday Craft Bazaar will be held on a Saturday in an effort to increase attendance. The event, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1, is a great way to shop for the friends and family on your list this holiday season.

"We are not trying to make money - just offer an outlet for military spouses to showcase their crafts," explained McChord Community Club special event coordinator Erika Scott-Small. "So if you're looking for unique, handmade gifts come out and join us - admission is free!"

The bazaar will be inside the McChord Community Club, located in Bldg. 700 on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, McChord Field.

"This is the third year I've been involved with this and it continues to grow each year," she said. "We're hoping that this year is even bigger and better since it won't be during the week."

So far there are 25 vendors confirmed, but that list is growing and there's still time for interested vendors, crafters and artists to get involved. Cost to vendors is affordable at just $10 for one table and $15 for two tables. For more information, call (253) 982-0718 during regular duty hours, Monday through Friday.