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250308-Z-FG097-1597.JPG Photo By: Tech. Sgt. Shelby Thurman

..... - A crew chief with the 117th Maintenance Group signals a KC-135R Stratotanker belonging to the 117th Air Refueling Wing to come to a complete stop on the flight line at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Alabama, on March 8, 2025. The mission of the 117 ARW is to provide quality worldwide air refueling, airlift, support, logistics, intelligence, and medical services in support of its community, state, and the nation with its KC-135R Stratotanker fleet alongside its combat ready aircrews and support personnel. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Shelby Thurman) (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out identification badges.)

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This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at http://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations.html , which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.

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Video by Staff Sgt. William Frye

From Foster Care to Flight

Alabama National Guard

March 8, 2022 | 4:36

Sgt. Lisa Arnett, a CH-47 Chinook crew chief with the ALNG’s B Co. 1-169th Aviation Regiment, talks about her life, career, and motivations at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama, Feb. 8, 2022. Arnett’s childhood of trauma and abuse in the foster care system led her to service in the Alabama National Guard, which turned her story into a positive force of change for others like her.

All video shot by Alabama National Guard

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