12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sgt. Channel Bolton-Scholl, a crew Chief with the 446th Maintenance Squadron, McChord Air Force Base Wash., is one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen. Each year the Air Force picks its top Airmen from the regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve for recognition based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements. Sergeant Bolton-Scholl embodies all the traits Air Force Reserved Command is looking for in its Airman of the Year, according to her supervisor, Master sgt. Keith Chase, 446th MXS aero repair section chief. "She excels at her job and the task at hand," he said. "She is a very hard worker. I never have to tell her to get anything done after she is shown the job tasks for the day." Sergeant Bolton-Scholl is currently deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is her second deployment to U.S. Central Command's area of operations.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Dillon, a structures technician with the 910th Civil Engineer Squadron out of Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio, cuts a block during a construction project in Georgetown, Guyana, as part of New Horizons Guyana. The U.S. Southern Command-sponsored humanitarian event is intended to benefit thousands of Guyanese in Georgetown and its outlying areas. (Airman 1st Class Perry Aston)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A C-17A Globemaster III aircraft from the 729th Airlift Squadron refuels from a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft with the 336th Air Refueling Squadron during a training mission July 7 over Lake Havasu in Arizona. Both squadrons are part of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing from March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (Master Sgt. Rick Sforza)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matt Couch, a loadmaster with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, communicates with the pilot as they prepare for a 10-hour mission into the remnant of Hurricane Felicia at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, in August. Hurricane Felicia reached peak strength as a category 4 storm with sustained winds of more than 145 mph. (Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Brayden Flink hugs his father, Staff Sgt. Jacob Flink, a 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, upon his return to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Sergeant Flink was among nearly 300 Airmen from the 419th and 388th Fighter Wings who were completing a four-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Staff Sgt. Kyle Brasier)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Staff Sgt. Shane Olguin (right) and Airman 1st Class Chris Gonzalez, both from the aircraft pneudraulics systems shop assigned to the 452nd Maintenance Squadron, check the fluid flow of an AV843 hydraulic test stand during an inspection on March Air Reserve Base, Calif. The stand is used for bench-checking hydraulic and pneumatic components. (Tech. Sgt. Carolyn Erfe)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Aaron Scott, a boom operator from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron, fills out paperwork during an aerial refueling mission in the skies over Arizona. The 336th ARS is part of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (Master Sgt. Rick Sforza)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Members of Marine Air Group 29 out of New River, N.C., landed at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., May 12 in three CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopters to iron out training issues for the week with Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing. The unit will be deploying with wing pararescuemen later this year to the Horn of Africa to provide search and rescue support for the region. The two services honed their skills by conducting various types of training that will help them work in unison. The training also included some air-to-air refueling with the HC-130P/N Hercules squadron at Patrick. (Master Sgt. Chance Babin)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Representing the 477th Fighter Group, the Double Deuces carry a 200-pound dummy during the litter carry event at the 2009 Hero Games in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. From left are Lt. Col. Dave Piffarerio, Tech. Sgt. Jorge Mendoza, Staff Sgt. Spencer Walcott and Staff Sgt. Danielle Foster. The Air Force Reservists are assigned to EImendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. (Staff Sgt. Andrea Knudson)

An aircrew from Air Force Reserve Command's 729th Airlift Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., prepares to off-load an FBI rapid deployment team and vehicles from a C-17A Globemaster III aircraft at Ramey Airfield, Puerto Rico. FBI agents took part in Patriot Hoover 2009, a large-scale air mobility exercise involving AFRC and Puerto Rico Air National Guard units. (Master Sgt Rick Sforza)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]