NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Force seeks female MTIs

    Staff Sgt. Lynn Barron came to Air Force basic military training in 1995 carrying one bag and one mental image of a basic military training instructor: a big, loud, gruff man with a "Smokey the Bear" hat.When Barron first encountered her MTI, the person she met was not quite who she was

  • AF announces Boeing inquiry results

    Air Force officials announced July 24 that the Boeing Company has committed serious violations of federal law. This determination is based on the service’s review into allegations of wrongdoing by Boeing during the 1998 evolved expendable launch vehicle source selection. As a result, the Air Force

  • Pentagon is scene of major exercise

    Fire trucks, ambulances and police cars from Arlington, Va., and nearby Fort Meyer sped into the Pentagon’s south parking lot early July 23.There was no emergency, however. These agencies were there to participate in the Pentagon's chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exercise called

  • Liberia evacuations continue

    Flying 200 feet above palm trees and myriad grass huts, the 56th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron completed its mission -- inserting the remaining members of the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team and evacuating more people from the U.S. Embassy in Liberia.The squadron, out of Iceland’s Naval Air

  • AMC reorganizing; activating 18th Air Force

    Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command here, announced a major reorganization of AMC. Key to the reorganization is the activation Oct. 1 of a new numbered Air Force with its headquarters here and the re-designation of AMC's two numbered air forces.

  • Travis puts new face on blood program

    A $1 million upgrade in frozen-blood processing and thawing here is expected to help level the inventory in the "feast-or-famine" business of blood collection in the Department of Defense.The Armed Services Whole Blood Processing Lab-West, a tenant unit at Travis, is one of two tri-service storage

  • Officer sets sights on silver oak leaves

    His personal data sheet is a blow-by-blow inventory of educational achievements, professional successes and impressive assignments that span a career of more than 16 years.When he went before the lieutenant colonel promotion board in November 2001, his chances for promotion looked promising.However,

  • August issue of Citizen Airman available

    The August edition of Citizen Airman highlights how F-16 Fighting Falcon instructors in Arizona are going above and beyond in their efforts to provide the Air Force with top-notch combat fighter pilots.The magazine tells how airmen from the 944th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base are kicking the

  • Reservist dies supporting OEF

    Master Sgt. David Scott, a reservist with the 445th Airlift Wing here, died July 20 of natural causes while supporting of Operation Enduring Freedom.Scott, 49, was deployed to the U.S. Embassy in Doha, Qatar, at the time of his death. While serving at the embassy, Scott coordinated and assisted in

  • Airman signs humanitarian contracts in Mali

    With thousands, sometimes millions of dollars at stake, contracting officers take their jobs seriously. They visit work sites, meet the employees and get a feel for the job at hand.Tech. Sgt. Brad Smith, of the 39th Contracting Squadron here, is no exception. But his most recent work site was not

  • Air Force clubs launch membership drive

    Many airmen joined the Air Force with dreams of seeing the world. Some actually do, while others spend a career at less exciting places and only dream of seeing the Alps, Waikiki or the Big Ben, according to Air Force Services Agency officials here.Agency officials hope to fulfill some of those

  • Officials announce OTS selections

    Air Force officials selected 11 enlisted airmen to trade in their stripes for gold bars after being chosen to attend Officer Training School, officials here announced July 23.Air Force Recruiting Service officials conducted OTS Selection Board 0306, which met here May 13 to 16. The board considered

  • Cadet court-martial date set

    A court-martial for Cadet 2nd Class Seth S. M. Tuatoo is scheduled for Aug. 6, according to officials here. Tuatoo is charged with using cocaine, which is a felony and a violation of Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The cadet waived his Article 32 hearing in May which sent his

  • Motorcycle crash kills airman

    An airman assigned here was killed in a motorcycle accident July 23 in Misawa City, Japan. Staff Sgt. Adam R. Peck, 27, died when his motorcycle collided with a truck driven by a Japanese civilian. The accident happened at an intersection about one mile from the base. Peck, who was wearing a

  • AF releases 2004 realignments

    The Air Force will lose 2,260 military and 2,839 civilian manpower positions, and 1,055 reserve drill authorizations next year, according to the 2004 force-structure announcement released July 23.Many bases, both active duty and reserve component, are affected by the realignment. In many cases,

  • Testimony shows congressmen science, technology highlights

    Air Force leaders showcased new technologies to members of the House Armed Services Committee at the Air Force Museum here July 19. The technologies would continue to be funded by $2.2 billion in fiscal 2004.Gen. Lester Lyles, the Air Force Materiel Command commander, and Maj. Gen. Paul Nielsen,

  • Workplace violence not 'shop talk'

    Workplace violence recently made national headlines at the Lockheed Martin plant in Meridian, Miss., where six people died and nine others were injured.Officials here, at Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force have a zero-tolerance policy on workplace violence, according to JoAnn Hutchison,

  • Airmen fly Marines to Liberia

    Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters flew a Marine antiterrorism security team to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, on July 21, according to officials here. They also evacuated 23 people.The airmen and helicopters are assigned to the 56th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron from Naval Air Station

  • Coalition kills Saddam's sons in 'fierce gun battle'

    Saddam Hussein's sons Qusay and Uday were killed today in a "fierce gun battle," U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, announced at a news briefing in Baghdad.The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said that based on a "walk-in tip," elements of the 101st Airborne Division, Special Forces and Air Force

  • Officials warn of heat-stress dangers

    As temperatures heat up across the country, heat stress is a concern that requires notice, according to officials here.Early signs of heat stress include dizziness, headache, dry mouth, unsteady walk, weakness and muscle cramps.“If you experience these symptoms, you should remove yourself from the

  • ‘Dateline NBC’ features Alaska ANG

    The NBC News program “Dateline NBC” features Alaska Air National Guard's pararescuemen accomplishing a high-altitude mountain rescue. The show is scheduled to air July 27. The story is about the 210th Rescue Squadron’s mission in 1998 that saved six travelers after their airplane crashed onto a

  • Suicide prevention begins with knowledge

    Suicide prevention begins with leaders at every level being knowledgeable about resources available to help those in distress. This is the message Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper wrote to commanders July 21.In the communiqué, titled ‘Seeking Help and Suicide Prevention,' Jumper urged

  • AF announces major selections

    More than 2,200 Air Force officers were selected for major by the 2003A promotion board, officials announced July 22. The board was held at the Air Force Personnel Center here May 5. Board officials considered 3,036 captains for promotion in the line, judge advocate general, chaplain, medical

  • Expeditionary prayer force serves Tallil AB

    Caring for casualties, nurturing the living and honoring the dead are all goals of an organization here that strives daily to uplift morale and spirituality.Within the walls of the chapel, a four-person staff stands ready to help those who seek religious growth -- or simply a sympathetic ear.“We're

  • Airman wounded in ambush

    Getting ambushed and shot will not stop a Tactical Air Control Party airman from going back to war.Tech. Sgt. Kevin Whalen was one three people wounded when their convoy was ambushed July 19 about 30 miles north of here.Whalen's job is to call in close-air support for soldiers on the ground. He is

  • Five students earn COF Awards

    Five high-school students from across the nation were awarded cash prizes totaling $17,000 during the Century of Flight Awards ceremony July 17 at the 2003 Dayton Air Show.The students, chosen from 175 competitors, received their awards from Maj. Gen. Paul Nielsen, Air Force Research Laboratory

  • Building a first-rate system

    It is all about building a first-rate personnel system to complement a first-rate military, said David Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.In an interview, Chu spoke about the changes that may come about if Congress allows Department of Defense officials to set up the National

  • IT conference set for August

    Military and industry information technology leaders will convene in Montgomery, Ala., Aug. 24 to 28 for the 2003 Air Force Information Technology Conference. Organizers estimate that 3,500 military and government employees and 1,500 vendors will attend. “This is a power-packed week of superb

  • Investigation leads to indictments

    The Defense Department’s inspector general announced July 18 criminal indictments against two former Boeing Co. managers.Joseph E. Schmitz said that a joint investigation by officials from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations resulted in the

  • Vietnam vet ensures others never forgotten

    As a young boy, Roberto Barrera remembers looking through stacks of pictures his father had taken while stationed in Italy as an Army infantry private during World War II. The images stirred his curiosity and interest in the military and, shortly after high school, he decided to enlist in the

  • Air Force cyclist overcomes injuries

    On July 20, 2002, Capt. Matt Stanley was hit by a vehicle while cycling down highway near Del Rio, Texas. One year later, Stanley will celebrate recovering from serious injuries by cycling 500 miles across Iowa.Stanley, a T-6 Texan II instructor pilot here, is taking part in the Register’s Annual

  • Wilderness Challenge set for October

    The Mid-Atlantic Region Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department is conducting the third annual “Wilderness Challenge” outdoor extreme-sports match Oct. 2 to 4 in Fayetteville, W.V.The annual event is set to take place with the Appalachian Mountains and the Gauley River as the backdrop for more

  • Initial SARS test results are negative

    Initial test results for all 12 people confined to their homes because of possible Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are negative for the virus, according to officials here. But more tests are being conducted and definitive results may not be available for another two to three weeks.The airmen had

  • Process strips paint off B-1s

    Layer by layer, a B-1 Lancer here sheds paint under a pressurized assault by tiny bits of plastic.It is the first aircraft at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center to be stripped by the dry-media process in the high-tech facility used to remove paint.The medium is a mix of plastics, each with

  • Legal professionals become JAG Corps

    Air Force lawyers, paralegals and court reporters are no longer part of the Judge Advocate General’s Department; they are now in the “JAG Corps.”The change is part of two secretary of the Air Force directives designed to eliminate confusion and clarify the duties and responsibilities of the JAG and

  • PACAF names first responders

    Military commanders used to look at a deployment location and ask, “Who’s going in first?” Gen. William J. Begert, Pacific Air Forces commander, answered that question for PACAF by creating the 613th Contingency Response Group here. “We were developed to provide a short-notice, light and lean,

  • CMSAF: Airmen want good leaders

    Leadership, quality-of-life issues, retention and Stop-Loss were subjects discussed by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force during a visit here recently.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray asked airmen to tell him what they saw as positive and negative aspects of service today.

  • Multinational effort rebuilds runway

    Servicemembers from five nations are working together to rebuild the runway here.Completion of this Army-funded project is anticipated for November, according to Capt. Elton Sledge, of the 455th Civil Engineer Squadron. Airmen from the 455th CES are working with Army engineers and servicemembers

  • Now showing: July 21 edition of AFTV News

    The Air Force supply line for troops fighting the war in Iraq is spotlighted in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. Marty Rush accompanies a C-5 Galaxy crew from California to Baghdad to illustrate the continuing role the Air Force is playing in keeping the ground troops

  • Medical boards not always career-enders

    Airmen may think that being medically "boarded" means an end to a military career, but that is not always the case, according to medical officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.While the goal of the medical-review system is to maintain a fit and vital force, officials say the Air Force does

  • Airman convicted of drugs, forgery

    An airman received a bad conduct discharge, 20 months confinement and forfeit of all pay and allowances after being convicted of several crimes in a general court-martial here.Airman Basic Joseph J. Loehr, of the 377th Medical Support Squadron, pleaded guilty to willfully disobeying a superior

  • Guardsmen detail close-air support

    Three days into Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lt. Col. Dave Kennedy got a new mission: Go to Tallil Air Base in Iraq and ready it for A-10 Thunderbolt II missions.Kennedy, the commander of the Michigan Air National Guard's 110th Operations Group, knew the mission could be an enormous asset in the war

  • Pilot describes Baghdad crash

    Maj. Jim Ewald had just finished a close-air support mission over Baghdad when his A-10 Thunderbolt II was hit by an Iraqi surface-to-air missile April 8. It physically moved the plane "like the hand of God," Ewald said during a Pentagon interview July 16.Ewald is a pilot with the 110th Fighter

  • Langley tests new traffic safety vests

    Gate guards here are testing a new, light-emitting, traffic safety garment called the integrated tactical traffic vest that could make directing traffic in the dark safer. The new vest uses fiber-optic light rope woven through the vest's mesh along with traditional reflective material and

  • Controllers receive AFA award

    Five tactical-air command and control airmen accepted the Air Force Association’s Air Force Outstanding Team of the Year award July 14 in Arlington, Va.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray coordinates with command chief master sergeants to select the career field to receive the award.

  • Mars rovers using AFRL batteries

    As the Mars exploration rovers "Spirit" and "Opportunity" race toward the Red Planet, part of the Air Force Research Laboratory is soaring with them.The two rovers, expected to touch down and explore opposite sides of Mars in early 2004, are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries researched

  • Benefits may change for ex-POWs

    President George W. Bush has proposed legislation to Congress that would improve benefits for former prisoners of war, responding to the needs of Operation Iraqi Freedom POWs."What we're proposing is to eliminate the current requirement in federal law that a former POW must be detained for at least

  • Airmen support operations in Liberia

    It is a hot, humid, rainy day here, and airmen from the 56th Rescue Squadron out of Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, are feeling the heat. The airmen, along with others from the 786th Security Forces Squadron at Sembach Air Base, Germany, deployed here July 13 to support operations in Liberia.

  • Tallil’s post office delivers

    As the Air Expeditionary Force “Blue” rotation gains momentum, so does life at one organization here. The Air Force’s local post office helps troops stockpile goodies from home and lighten their load when they leave.The post office has come a long way since it opened and continually tackles

  • Academy contract workers indicted

    Federal and military law enforcement organizations joined forces to identify 44 people for allegedly using fraudulent identification information to gain access to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.Of the 44 contract employees indicted by a federal grand jury, 27 were arrested July 15, according to a

  • Civilian career brief now online

    Air Force civilians now have the ability to view their own career information online from any Internet-connected computer, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here.The virtual Civilian Career Brief offers information that might help in career planning like current position data, pay

  • Airmen can carry over more leave

    Some active-duty airmen will be allowed to accumulate more than 60 days of annual leave after the fiscal year ends, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here. The airmen must have been unable to take leave because they were supporting contingency operations.Air National Guard and Air

  • Long-term care enrollment continues

    Initial enrollment for long-term-care insurance has ended, but, people can still apply for care, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here. People eligible include Air Force active-duty, selected Reserve, appropriated-fund civilian employees, retirees and qualified family members.The

  • PSAB equipment gets 2nd chance

    As the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing here draws down and inactivates this summer, there is a large amount of equipment that must be accounted for, organized and disposed of.That job falls to four airmen from the base’s 363rd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron who oversee the defense

  • AF Marathon offers new race options

    Air Force Marathon officials will add two new options to this year’s Sept. 20 race. Besides the full-marathon and marathon-team races, this year’s event features a 13.1-mile half marathon and a 5km (3.1 mile) race. The half-marathon race will be on a loop-back course that will share the start and

  • Museum welcomes pioneering technology

    Two aircraft technology demonstrators will become part of the U.S. Air Force Museum in a turnover ceremony July 16.The Bird of Prey and X-36 technology demonstrators will be officially transferred to the museum during the ceremony.Featuring a shape similar to its Klingon namesake from “Star Trek”

  • SARS tests are negative so far

    The initial test results of the laboratory samples taken from the first 10 people here who may have been exposed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are negative for the virus, according to health professionals with the 7th Medical Group.Of the first samples that were sent to an Air Force lab and

  • AF sends tanker report to Congress

    Air Force officials July 14 took the next step in replacing its 43-year-old KC-135 Stratotanker fleet by sending Congress a report outlining the proposed lease of Boeing KC-767A tankers.Under the lease, 100 aircraft would be delivered five years sooner than under a traditional procurement plan,

  • Airman, friend help deliver baby

    An airman here watched his son come into the world in a way he and his wife never expected.Airman 1st Class Aaron Taylor, of the 27th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, and his wife, Jessica, welcomed Aidan recently with the help of their neighbor and a clear telephone connection. Jessica woke up at

  • Shaw airmen help save local boy

    Three Air Force maintenance troops recently helped save a local boy from drowning at their apartment complex's pool."It was about 8:30 (on a) Sunday night," said Senior Airman James Winter, an electrical/environmental systems journeyman in the 20th Component Maintenance Squadron here. "We had just

  • AWACS techs get paperless link

    The E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System became the first weapon system to provide technicians with a paperless link between an aircraft parts manual and the base supply system.Technicians from the 552nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron here have been participating in a test program for a

  • Positive outlook makes any job satisfying

    It is a subject that makes most people uncomfortable. Faces grimace, noses wrinkle and even the strongest of stomachs can easily weaken at its mere suggestion. But to Tech. Sgt. Randall Lovett, it is really nothing new. It is simply another day at the office.With meticulous organization and a

  • Former academy leader to retire

    The former superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy will retire from active-duty service effective Sept. 1.The announcement of Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager’s retirement came from Air Force officials at the Pentagon on July 10. It followed a decision by Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche

  • Officials report SARS symptoms

    Several airmen and non-military people who had potential contact with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome victims have been isolated at home here. They exhibited mild to moderate respiratory illness symptoms, according to 7th Medical Group physicians here.The symptoms meet the medical criteria to be

  • Family recovering after fire

    A Tinker airman deployed to Iraq is home helping nurse his family to health after a fire recently destroyed their home.The 2-year-old daughter of Staff Sgt. Steven Mitchell, a power production chief with the 34th Combat Communications Squadron, was the most seriously injured. She had first- and

  • Employee jailed for bomb threat

    A base civilian employee was sentenced in federal court July 8 after pleading guilty to making a bomb threat on base.Yolanda Aparicio was sentenced to two years imprisonment in a federal facility and ordered to pay $786,860 in restitution.Besides imprisonment, the wage-grade employee in the C-5

  • Identity theft lands cop in confinement

    An airman was discharged from the Air Force, given 14 months confinement and reduced to airman basic after being convicted of several identity-fraud-related crimes during a recent general court-martial here.Senior Airman David A. Daniel, from the 377th Security Forces Squadron, was charged with

  • AF names 12 outstanding airmen

    Air Force officials announced the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2003 on July 10. The top airmen were chosen from a field of 46 members representing organizations at all levels of command throughout the Air Force.The winners are:-- Staff Sgt. Omar Ali Abed, from the 37th Security Forces

  • Risk management can improve safety

    With the first half of the 101 Critical Days of Summer almost finished, 14 airmen were killed in private motor vehicle accidents. Eight of those killed were involved in motorcycle mishaps, including one during the Fourth of July weekend. Air Force leaders are emphasizing operational risk

  • Now showing: July 7 edition of AFTV News

    The latest edition of Air Force Television News is the finale of a two-part presentation featuring a historic town hall meeting held at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. The program features the secretary, chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force fielding questions from

  • Planning helps financial future

    For young airmen, the future can seem too far away to deal with now; however, many have learned that their decisions today have a great effect on their lives ahead. This is true especially when it comes to finances, according to the personal financial manager here.Dottie Blesse talks to young

  • Officials announce AF services awards

    Air Force Services Agency officials announced the winners of the 2003 services awards July 7.Misawa Air Base, Japan, won the Gen. Curtis E. Lemay Trophy for best overall services unit at a large base. Incirlik AB, Turkey, won the Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank Trophy for best services at a small base.

  • News subscription service available

    Air Force Link, the Air Force’s premier Web site, has launched a new subscriptions management page. From this Web page, people can manage their subscriptions to a variety of news and information services delivered via e-mail.The Air Force News Agency offers free subscriptions, delivered directly to

  • Combat controller earns Pitsenbarger award

    A combat controller from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., has been named the 2003 Pitsenbarger award winner.Staff Sgt. Gabriel Brown was selected for his heroism while supporting Operation Anaconda during Operation Enduring Freedom.While attached to the 75th Ranger Regiment, his quick-reaction

  • Moody NCO earns first sergeant award

    A senior noncommissioned officer assigned to the 347th Maintenance Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., is the recipient of the 2003 Air Force First Sergeant of the Year award.Master Sgt. Jeffery Hollinshead is being recognized for transforming a marginal unit into a first-rate one, while

  • Tiger Woods e-mails airman

    Finishing first four times this year on the PGA tour while ranking second on the money list, people hardly ever see Tiger Woods without a golf club in his hand. Recently though, Tiger may also have been seen with a laptop, as he participates in the Jocks to GIs Direct program, run by ESPN.com.Jocks

  • Unsafe choice kills two airmen

    People may think “it’s not going to happen to me.” But they need to think again. No one is immune; preventable vehicle crashes happen all the time, according to safety officials here. Automobile crashes do not mean just cuts, bruises and broken bones. They can mean permanent disfigurement or

  • 200,000 parents receive pins

    Your Guardians of Freedom, the Air Force’s grass-roots outreach information and recognition program, has touched the lives of more than 200,000 parents of airmen, a Pentagon official has announced.The program began in 2002 as a way for Air Force leaders to personally recognize the employers of

  • Air Force names top combat controllers

    Four veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom earned top honors as the Air Force’s 2002 Combat Controllers of the Year, according to officials.Capt. Patrick Ward, from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the Combat Control Company Grade Officer of the Year.Ward served as the

  • Roche will receive ‘Order of the Sword’

    Air Force noncommissioned officers will bestow their highest honor on the secretary of the Air Force as they induct him into the service’s Order of the Sword on Sept. 13 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.Dr. James G. Roche received word of his induction during the recent Town Hall Meeting at the Air

  • Lancer drops joint standoff weapons

    A B-1B Lancer test crew here recently dropped the Joint Standoff Weapon for the first time from the long-range bomber, according to Air Force Flight Test Center officials here.The four-person test team from the 419th Flight Test Squadron released two standoff weapons as part of ongoing separation

  • Combat training goes rangeless

    The P5 Combat Training System introduced recently promises to revolutionize training by allowing warfighting pilots to test their skills anywhere, versus in limited air space, according to Air Armament Center officials here.The system uses pods that communicate with each other. The pods enable

  • President rallies crowd in July 4 address

    People here have been crucial to victories in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to President George W. Bush during a July 4 address. And their work “has given America the finest Air Force in history,” he said.Kicking off Independence Day activities, Bush addressed nearly 20,000 people who weathered

  • Kadena athlete trains for Ironman

    Stealing a page out of contemporary military doctrine, Shawn Hnatko trains like he will fight. His war will be Oct. 18 on Hawaii’s Big Island and will last more than 10 hours. His enemy is also his only ally -- himself.“Ten hours is a long time to battle the demons,” he said of his date with the

  • AEF rotations begin at Tallil

    Five airmen stepped off a C-130 Hercules aircraft June 30 to become the first Air and Space Expeditionary Force Blue arrivals here.The AEF Blue rotation is the first of two 120-day tours designed to replace most people who are still deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and help normalize the

  • Rugby players named ‘All-Americans’

    Five members of the Air Force Academy’s two-time national championship women’s rugby team were named to the Women’s Collegiate All-Americans for the 2002 to 2003 academic year July 3. First team all-American honors went to 2003 academy graduate, now-2nd Lt. Tess Labowitch and sophomore Leslie

  • Officials release HH-60 crash report

    Air Force investigators were unable to determine the primary cause of the March 23 crash of an HH-60G Pave Hawk in Afghanistan.Investigators found substantial evidence that three factors contributed to the accident, according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released July

  • Hometowns support troops with Operation Tribute to Freedom

    More than 1,000 hometowns across the nation will join the Defense Department this Fourth of July in recognizing hometown heroes and honoring the men and women who have served in the war on terrorism. The recognition is part of Operation Tribute to Freedom, and Army Maj. Gen. Anders B. Aadland,

  • KC-135 adds communications-relay capability

    While mostly known as a “flying gas station,” the KC-135 Stratotanker has served in many mission roles throughout its 45-plus years of service.The aircraft has been a flying command post, an observation platform for the Open Skies Treaty, a zero-gravity simulator and a flying hospital.Soon, this

  • July issue of Airman available

    Learn about the first group of airmen to fly around the world, take a look at the opening strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom and read about Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray and his journey to represent the enlisted force. These features and more highlight the July issue of Airman

  • Wilford Hall plays part in cancer study

    Wilford Hall Medical Center researchers were involved in the recent study on the drug finasteride’s ability to prevent prostate cancer. Wilford Hall was the largest study site, providing roughly 10 percent of the participant population, for the seven-year, nationwide study named the Prostate Cancer

  • Aviano 'prince' wins hand of returning warrior

    After being off to war for more than six months in a country ruled by royalty, it’s fitting that an airman from here returned into the waiting arms of her Prince Charming.Well, actually, Prince Charming wasn’t waiting; he was running a few minutes late, and Tayeisha Gibbs was not happy.The senior

  • AAFES waiting on uniform fabric

    Delays in getting certified fabric have backed up production of selected Air Force and Army optional uniforms. Those items include Air Force polyester/wool blend shirts and blouses, polyester slacks and skirts, mess dress uniforms and officer service coats sold through the Army and Air Force

  • Air Force leaders send Independence Day message

    The following is an Independence Day message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“For 227 years, Americans have gathered on the Fourth of July to celebrate the virtues of freedom, democracy, and patriotism, and to commemorate the

  • Events to highlight nation's support

    More than 4,000 military troops and Department of Defense civilians will take part in Independence Day events across the United States. The events are part of Operation Tribute to Freedom, the DOD initiative encouraging Americans to thank and support U.S. troops.The servicemembers and civilians

  • Ganci airmen rebuild children's playground

    About 40 children from the nearby Kyrgyzstan Tuberculosis Research Institute are smiling more broadly since airmen from here completed a playground.More than 68 airmen here put the finishing touches on the playground and dedicated it to the children June 30.The initial idea for the project started

  • Luke officials ground F-16s

    Officials here grounded F-16 Fighting Falcons with certain type of engine July 2 after investigators of a June 10 crash found a fleet-wide engine-related problem.The aircraft will be grounded until all aircraft with this type of engine have replacement parts installed, according to Col. Philip

  • Officials release Reserve, Guard promotions

    Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here announced the fiscal 2004 major and lieutenant colonel promotion selection board results July 1. The results were for Air National Guard line and nonline officers and Air Force Reserve judge advocate general officers and chaplains. The boards selected

  • Cadet referred for court-martial

    A general court-martial has been referred for Cadet 3rd Class Douglas L. Meester for violating the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, according to officials here. Charges were preferred against Meester on May 13, for rape, forcible sodomy, conduct unbecoming for providing alcohol to minors and

  • Officials: Tire failure caused crash

    Tire failure caused an Air Force T-38 Talon aircraft to veer off the runway and crash here March 19, according to an accident investigation board report released July 1.Catastrophic failure and disintegration of the right main tire caused the aircraft to crash into a barrier support stanchion