# Air Force Link Features

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- Wings of Change: McConnell AFB defenders add 1st female Raven Staff Sgt. Amanda Estores graduated from the Phoenix Raven Qualification Course, taking her place as McConnell AFB’s first female Raven and bringing a new sense of what is possible for Airmen who face adversity based on gender.
- Reclaiming Freedom: The story of A1C Hamna Zafar This is the story of Hamna Zafar, how she reclaimed her freedom and became a member of the United States Air Force.
- Egyptian-born, American-proud All Airmen sacrifice to serve but not many travel halfway around the world to put service before self like Senior Airman Yosry Zaki.
- Army paratrooper to Air Force photographer Justin Connaher, now an Air Force photographer at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, talks about his days as an Army paratrooper at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1997.
- Exchange officer builds trust with partner nation aircrew during Operation Christmas Drop U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lucas Crouch, Japan Self-Defense Force exchange officer, has worked as a special liaison between U.S. and Japanese air forces during Operation Christmas Drop.
- Service dog helps Airman fight battles back home Col. Adam Roberts, 555th RED HORSE commander, practices resiliency each day alongside his best friend and service dog, Porsche.
- Airman overcomes barriers to reach uncommon heights Stuebbe, one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year in 2019, will enter the Special Warfare career field after overcoming early challenges in his enlisted career.
- Indigenous Airman celebrates being among first to receive religious hair accommodation The U.S. Air Force recently approved a religious accommodation for a security forces Defender regarding his hair length. A decision that could pave the way for more indigenous Airmen to serve.
- First female joins TRF in three years Staff Sgt. Witherspoon is the first woman in three years to make it into the 90th Missile Security Operations Squadron’s Tactical Response Force team.
- Airmen support joint exercise, strengthen bonds Thanks to a partnership between the United States Marine Corps and the Language Enabled Airman Program, Airmen embedded with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Command Element as Tagalog interpreters during exercise KAMANDAG 6.
- Braving the Last Frontier: recounting the ITI 1,000-mile ultramarathon Maj. Joshua Brown completed the Iditarod Trail Invitational 1,000-mile ultramarathon in Nome, Alaska, becoming the first active-duty service member to compete in the ITI 1,000.
- Chabelley Airfield: A day in the life for the Airmen The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the early morning sky. Golden fingers of sunlight light the walkway to the road, where Airmen stood dressed in their interceptor body armor.
- Travis AFB Airman loses brother to domestic violence, uses random acts of kindness to keep his spirit alive After a tragedy involving Tech. Sgt. Victoria Baldwin's brother, Gabriel James Baldwin, she adopted their siblings. To memorialize her late brother, Baldwin started doing random acts of kindness in his name.
- Family bonds grow after recruiting first sergeant donates kidney to his brother Master Sgt. Christopher Florida, 339th Recruiting Squadron, Clinton Township, Michigan, knew his brother had a kidney ailment for years, but didn’t realize how severe it was until his brother revealed he needed a transplant.
- Air Force improves readiness for a diverse force Significant changes to the restrictions on women’s hair early in 2021 included allowing braids and ponytails in all uniforms, operational safety permitting.
- Airmen help make dream come true for special fan Capt. Dennis Conner, 701st Airlift Squadron, at Joint Base Charleston, flew a C-17 Globemaster III over the state’s coast during the “Salute From The Shore” celebration July 4. Little did he know the impact that flight that day would have for him, as well as a family watching from the shore, who would end up getting a private tour of the aircraft.
- Chaplain reflects on journey of perseverance, gratitude Chaplain (Maj.) Bitrus Cobongs' journey began more than 6,000 miles away in Nigeria, where his early aspirations consisted of being a youth minister, but through closed and opened doors, he ended up serving in the U.S. military.
- Determined to Serve: Critical care nurse joins Reserve at age 50 It was stories like this one that made Capt. Jennifer McGuigan feel particularly close to the families of the veterans in her care. Her children were only 8 and 9 at the time, but his words forever changed how she viewed the families of the veterans under her care.
- Becoming a SERE augmentee With hundreds of aircrew assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, the installation's two survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists are training SERE augments to help train aircrew personnel when their survival refresher training is due.
- How leaders helped Airman find support to overcome invisible wounds Maj. Chris Harmer left an abusive childhood home and joined the Air Force in 2004 to be part of something larger than himself.