'AOR Week in Photos' highlights deployed Airmen in Southwest Asia

Published June 8, 2009
By Master Sgt. Mikal Canfield
AFCENT Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A new product is highlighting U.S. Air Force Airmen, equipment and weapons systems deployed to Southwest Asia.

The "AOR Week in Photos" features photos of Airmen deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other bases in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Created weekly by the Combined Air and Space Operations Center Public Affairs office, the photos are a compilation of the best pictures taken by Air Force Public Affairs photographers.

"The 'Week in Photos' is a great way to highlight the efforts of our deployed Airmen while showing off the work of our talented photographers," said Chief Master Sgt. Lemuel Casillas, U.S. Air Forces Central superintendent and theater imagery manager.

Photos featured have varied between aircraft being refueled over Afghanistan to Airmen on working construction projects in Iraq. JET - or Joint Expeditionary Tasking - Airmen deployed to Forward Operating Bases are also frequently featured.

"A lot of people don't realize just how many Airmen we have deployed to JET positions working with Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan," said Col. August Schalkham, USAFCENT Director of Public Affairs. "Including these images in the 'Week in Photos' is just one of the ways we're ensuring folks back home remember the Air Force is playing a big role in the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism."

The idea for the "AOR Week in Photos" came from the daily slideshow of photos compiled and released by the Joint Combat Camera Team at the Multi-National Core - Iraq.

"We were aware of the ComCam Daily photo slideshow and thought it would be great if we could come up with something similar focused on specifically highlighting deployed Airmen," said Chief Casillas.

Public Affairs offices in the AOR each submit their top photo for consideration. Photos taken by the U.S. Air Forces Central Combat Camera teams and other deployed photographers are also considered.

According to the Chief, photos are intended to be a good mix of operational activities and other activities such as commander's events.

After the photos are selected, the images and captions are compiled in a slideshow. The slideshow is typically between 12-15 slides, but can be longer if the quality and variety of photos dictates including additional images, added Chief Casillas.

Once the slideshow is complete, it is turned into a short movie file and posted on the AFCENT Web site at www.afcent.af.mil/. Music from the free downloads section of the U.S. Air Force Band Web site - www.usafband.af.mil/recordings/ - is added to the movie file. A different song is used each week.

People are also able to subscribe to the "AOR Week in Photos" and receive an email link to the movie file each week by sending an email to join-afcent_weekinphotos@lyris.dmasa.dma.mil.

"We encourage people to subscribe to the 'Week in Photos' if for no other reason than to be able to see what kind of hard work is being done by our Airmen in the field," said Colonel Schalkham. "The slideshow can be a weekly reminder of the progress being made in the fight against terrorism and efforts of our Airmen to bring peace and security to this region."