Equipment inspection

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airman 1st Class Julian Martinez, an F-16 avionics technician with the 20th Component Maintenance Squadron, initiates a confidence test on the improved avionics intermediate station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Louis Rivers)

Fertile Keynote

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Captain Matthew Feeman, an F-16 alert pilot from Shaw's 55th Fighter Squadron, approaches a Cessna airplane, flown by South Carolina's Civil Air Patrol, to attempt communication, as part of exercise Fertile Keynote Nov.19. Shaw's alert Airmen work 12 or 48-hour shifts to make sure the mission functions 'round the clock. "Holidays too," said Senior Master Sgt. William Partin, alert NCO-in-charge. "I think if you talk to the folks, you'll find very few who are disgruntled." Airman First Class Andrew Norton doesn't have a problem with it. "Usually on holidays the colonels come by and drop off food," he said. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cowley)

Fertile Keynote

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Captain Matthew Feeman, an F-16 alert pilot from Shaw's 55th Fighter Squadron, approaches a Cessna airplane, flown by South Carolina's Civil Air Patrol, to initiate a "head butt" as part of exercise Fertile Keynote Nov. 19. A head butt is an action taken by the intercepting aircraft, after other communications like radio contact have failed, to redirect the intruder in the appropriate direction. Shaw Airmen supporting the alert mission, from maintainers to pilots, standby 'round the clock in case they are needed. "We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt. William Partin, alert NCO-in-charge. "I want everything to be ingrained in them so they can get the mission done." (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cowley)

Shaw F-16 lands at Green Flag.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- An F-16 from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., participates in a Green Flag exercise Nov. 18 at Nellis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. William Coleman)

CAP C-17 flight

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.-Colonel Dean Anderson, 20th Fighter Wing vice-commander, speaks to Civil Air Patrol cadets on the mission of Shaw AFB and the F-16 aircraft July 1, 2009. CAP cadets toured Shaw AFB and took an incentive ride on a C-17 from Charleston AFB.(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Matt Davis)

CAP C-17 flight

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.- A C-17 Globemaster III arrives from Charleston AFB to give incentive flights to Civil Air Patrol cadets July 1, 2009. CAP cadets toured Shaw AFB and took an incentive ride on a C-17 from Charleston AFB.(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Matt Davis)