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Grand Slam Wing celebrates Air Force’s birthday

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Across the Air Force, military members celebrated the service's 66th Birthday. There was no exception for deployed troops at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, who were treated to a full night of entertainment here Sept. 18.

The evening's events kicked-off with a cake cutting ceremony. As Air Force tradition dictates, the junior and most senior Airmen made the first cut. The 379th EAW commander, Brig. Gen. Roger Watkins, alongside Airmen 1st Class Katherine Hagan and Jacob Warren, 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron surveillance technicians deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, sliced the cake in the traditional fashion.

Next, was the "You Got Served" dance competition, where Grand Slam service members showcased their talents through well-choreographed dance routines. With their dance mi to the beats of popular hits, Senior Airman Stephan Hall and Staff Sgt. Ephraim Colburn were declared the winners. Hall is a 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron services journeyman deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and a Dayton, Ohio, native. Colburn is a 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron issue 10 supervisor, deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, U.K., and hails from Philadelphia.

Afterward, the U.S. Air Forces Central Command's band, the "Blue Yonders," rocked the stage in Irish folk style putting on a performance of folk, Reggae and pop hits before singing "Happy Birthday" and the Air Force Song for the service's 66th year.

The eventful night allowed deployed service members here a chance to celebrate the accomplishments noted by the Air Force's leaders from the youngest of the U.S. military branches.

From 1947 to today, Airmen have accomplished the Service's core missions - air and space superiority; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; rapid global mobility; global strike; and command and control, leaders said.