McConnell Air Force Base Features

Bravo Zulu: Coast Guardsmen join Airmen Leadership School

Staff Sgt. Felicia Przydzial — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:02:12 GMT

The shade of blue may be different, but the meaning behind the uniform remains the same. Brought together by their commitment to serve, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen worked together during Airmen Leadership School class 26-Foxtrot.

Airman in the Dugout

Airman 1st Class Tavian Sims — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:28:51 GMT

“The way I see it, the people who succeed in baseball are the same ones who succeed in the military,” said Jay Thomason, United States Air Force Academy graduate and Wichita Wind Surge utility player. “Both require rigorous discipline and attention to detail. The Academy prepared me to play professional baseball.” Jay realized at an early age his calling was to serve, not only as an inspiration to those who would come after him, but also as an homage to those who came before and paved the way for him. That calling took its form in the shape of him becoming an Air Force Academy graduate, while also making it into the professional baseball league. Jay aims high and toes the line of professionalism with strength.

O-T-(YES): The journey from enlisted to officer

Senior Airman Amelio Brown — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:54:00 GMT

Being selected for officer training school is regarded as a prestigious honor for some of those who wish to commission. The 9-week course takes enlisted members and civilians, who hold at minimum a bachelor’s degree, and teaches them the foundations of military leadership, and affords them the opportunity to become an officer who will lead the men and women of the U.S. Air Force.

McConnell says goodbye to Cherokee Rose

Airman 1st Class Patrick O’Neill — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:56:08 GMT

McConnell is the home of 18 KC-135 Stratotankers. Each one has its own story to tell, but one in particular has made its name in history. A record breaker, war hero, and valued member of Team McConnell – Cherokee Rose left McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Precision under pressure: Training the next generation of tactical experts

Airman 1st Class Paula Arce — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:59:00 GMT

Over the jagged and unforgiving canyons of the Death Valley mountain range, a KC-135 Stratotanker banks hard right and left, dips up and down. The jet, equipped with a sharp and laser focused crew of three pilots, one boom operator and two crew chiefs, navigates with confidence in this uncommon low-level mission. A rare sight in the area, the KC-135 treads in airspace that only small agile aircraft typically take on.

Detachment 8 – where KC-46 crew chiefs are born

Airman 1st Class Patrick O’Neill — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 19:36:09 GMT

McConnell is the original home of the KC-46A Pegasus. The KC-46 took its first flight in 2014, and in 2019, the 373rd Training Squadron’s Detachment 8 began to train crew chiefs on the new airframe. It takes a village of Airmen to raise a young aircraft, and it all starts here.

McConnell’s new veterinarian

Senior Airman Paige Weldon — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:22:00 GMT

The smell of a chemical cleaner lingers in the room and stings my nose as I enter. The bright fluorescent lights cast a harsh shadow on everything in sight. The tile floor feels especially cold against my exposed feet. My nose finds a mat of peanut butter and I almost don’t feel the needle slip under my skin. I let out a yelp and feel the arms of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Coble, 22nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, wrap around my body.

The Quiet Guardians of McConnell: DAF Police Officers

Senior Airman William Lunn — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:31:00 GMT

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) police officers work alongside Air Force security forces. These personnel, clad in dark blue, are not enlisted. They do not wear the Air Force camo, yet they stand at the gate, patrolling the base to ensure that nothing goes sideways.

Tornado Season: Be Prepared, Not Scared

Airman 1st Class Paula Arce — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:12:00 GMT

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- As winter fades, the reality of tornado season sets in. In Kansas, tornado season runs from March through June, with April and May being the most active months. However, tornadoes can–and do–occur at any point of the year, making preparedness a year long priority.

Jonathan Murphy: Occupational Safety Civilian of the Year

Airman 1st Class Patrick O'Neill — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 21:21:53 GMT

Jonathan Murphy, 22nd Air Refueling Wing occupational safety manager, won 2024 Air Force Occupational Safety Civilian of the Year. Murphy’s hard work and innovative efforts set him apart when it came to protecting personnel and assets. His ideas saved the Air Force money and labor over a multitude of exercises and contingencies.

From Law Studies to Foreign Skies

Airman 1st Class Paula Arce — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:12:00 GMT

“I was in college to become a lawyer, but I started college when I was 16, and by the time I was in my early 20s, I was already burnt out. It was all just sitting in an office, pushing paper. I wanted something different.”

From High School to High Altitude

Airman 1st Class Patrick O’Neill — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:28:00 GMT

Lt. Col. Christopher Smith awaited a bittersweet connection as he embarked on his last flying mission as the 349th Air Refueling Squadron commander at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 11, 2025.

A SARC's sweet escape

Press Operations — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:29:00 GMT

The job of a sexual assault response coordinator (SARC) isn’t for the weak. SARCs, even on their worst day, must show deep empathy, emotional intelligence and immense strength while guiding victims through hard times. The weight of such responsibility can take a toll on some. For Vickie Hayden, 22nd Air Refueling Wing SARC, finding a way to unwind after caring for others all day is vital.

Boots on the ground: Hardwood Floor and Foreign Soil

Senior Airman Felicia Przydzial — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:42:00 GMT

In 2022, Madalyn Kime’s boots hit the ground for the first time, in more ways than one.

Sully's Full Circle: A Sibling Reunion at 25,000 Feet

Airman 1st Class Gavin Hameed — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 21:46:00 GMT

"I thought I heard his voice and was like, 'Is that him? I don't know.’” At an altitude of 25,000 feet, Capt. Elizabeth "Sully" Brakefield, 344th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, experienced an unforgettable moment as she refueled a formation of U.S. Navy EA-18 Growlers, including one with her brother, U.S. Navy Lt. Lawson Brakefield, a Naval Flight Officer assigned to the "Vikings" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

McConnell youth wins Southwest 2024 Military Youth of the Year

Airman Paula Arce — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 19:02:06 GMT

Sunday McGowan, a member of McConnell’s Keystone Club program, was named Southwest Military Youth of the Year during a ceremony in Dallas, Texas, on April 6, 2024.

The Untold Stories: 23 McConnell Airmen receive medal upgrade for OAR

Staff Sgt. Tryphena Mayhugh — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 13:00:00 GMT

The call came in. Orders were made. Bags were packed. And they were out the door. In a short 17 hours, 70-80 McConnell Airmen scrambled together and took off to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, where they spent several weeks in August of 2021 supporting the 123,000 refugees evacuated from Afghanistan during Operations Allies Refuge. McConnell sent a tanker force comprised of six aircrews and four KC-135 Stratotankers to provide air refueling capabilities during OAR. Those 23 Airmen were awarded the Air and Space Achievement Medal for their actions during the evacuation, but in December of 2023, Air Mobility Command upgraded them to the Air Medal-Combat Device.

McConnell Airmen refine skills during Lethal Defender

Airman 1st Class William Lunn — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 21:01:00 GMT

Security Forces personnel “Defenders” assigned to McConnell AFB engaged in Lethal Defender, a week-long combat exercise near Salina, Kansas.

McConnell Air Force Base Embarks on Memorial Walk Restoration Initiative

Staff Sgt. Adam Goodly — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:06:00 GMT

Airmen at McConnell Air Force Base have embarked on a mission to restore and revitalize the Memorial Walk, a hallowed site commemorating the sacrifices of past and present Airmen.

18th Air Force visits McConnell

Airman 1st Class Felicia Przydzial — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:40:00 GMT

Major General Corey Martin, 18th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Tom Blount, 18th Air Force command chief, visited Team McConnell on September 26-28, 2023. The 18th Air Force leadership spent three days visiting and conversing with Airmen about the projects they are currently working on or have recently completed.