MILITARY RETIREMENT: Lt. Col. Kalen J. Jeffers, a Rayne native, closed out an illustrious career with the Air Force during retirement ceremonies May 8. Jeffers, left, is pictured with his wife, Barbara, and close friend, Col. Miniham, right, who oversaw the retirement ceremony.
The son of Lloyd and Faye Jeffers was born 25 Jan. 25 1963. He graduated from Rayne High School in 1981 and from Louisiana Tech University in 1985. He entered the United States Air on Feb. 18,1986 6 and was commissioned an officer on May 16, 1986. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, in May 1987 and was assigned to Yokota AB Japan. Before departing for Japan, he married the former Ms. Barbara Ann Scelfo.
He arrived in Japan in October of 1987 and joined the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron. While at Yokota AB, he participated in two TEAM SPIRIT Exercises, upgraded to aircraft commander and was the chief of squadron mobility. In April of 1991, he was assigned to Reese AFB, Texas, as a T-37 instructor pilot with the 33d Flying Training Squadron. In August of 1992, He joined the 52d Flying Training Squadron as an instructor pilot flying the new T-1A training aircraft.
The 52d was the first squadron to operate the T-1 A and his flight was the first in the Air Force to train undergraduate student pilots in the T-1A. In August 1994, he was assigned to Ramstein AB, Germany, with the 37th Airlift Squadron as a C-130 pilot. While at Ramstein, he was assistant chief of group tactics, the operations group executive officer and the chief of squadron stan/eval.
Also, he upgraded to instructor and evaluator pilot, and flew missions in support of Operations PROVIDE PROMISE, ABLE SENTRY, JOINT ENDEAVOR and JOINT GUARD. In August of 1998, he was assigned to Dyess AFB, Texas where he joined the 39th Airlift Squadron. While with the 39th, he was an assistant operations officer, chief of group tactics and led a squadron deployment in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.
In December of 2000, he was assigned to Langley AFB, Virginia, where he worked on the Air Combat Command Headquarters staff as a branch chief. In June 2003, he returned to Dyess AFB and joined the 40th Airlift Squadron as the chief pilot. From October of 2004 to October of 2006, he served as the 317th Airlift Group Director of Staff where he supervised the completion and opening of the $16 million operations and maintenance squadron building.
During his last seven years at Dyess, he deployed eight times as an aircraft commander, assistant operations officer, operations officer, Air Force advisor, air operations center team chief, and squadron commander. During his Air Force career, Colonel Jeffers has flown over 100 combat missions and logged over 600 hours of combat time.
His awards include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, The Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.
Jeffers and his family relocated to Seattle, Washington, where he will be the civilian manager of the flight simulator at McChord Air Force Base.
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