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U.S. Air Force News

  • Former Kadena commander and spouse receive 2009 O'Malley Award

    The former Kadena Air Base, Japan, wing commander and his wife received the 2009 General Jerome F. O'Malley and Diane O'Malley Award Sept. 11 at a ceremony in the Pentagon. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the award and Sharon O'Malley Burg made two special presentations of

  • Air Force study uses virtual reality for PTSD

    A new virtual reality program to treat combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan experiencing post traumatic stress disorder is being used at Wilford Hall Medical Center here. Virtual reality exposure therapy is a computer-simulated virtual Iraq and virtual Afghanistan that allows Airmen

  • Air Force doctor studies new medication for traumatic brain injury patients

    A neurologist at the Wilford Hall Medical Center here is studying a medication that may significantly reduce chronic headaches and migraines without all the usual side effects from oral medications. Maj. (Dr.) Maria Alvarez, a 59th Medical Operations Squadron staff neurologist with a special

  • Wilford Hall opens new PTSD Clinic

    Wilford Hall Medical Center has a new clinic to treat patients who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. The PTSD Clinic offers evidence-based treatments and a virtual reality program to help Airmen returning from combat operations. PTSD is an anxiety disorder which can occur after a person

  • Blogging Airman sheds 70 pounds, ready to take on marathon

    As last Thanksgiving passed and the leftovers were all gone, one Airman had an epiphany about his portly self. Nearly a year later and 70 pounds lighter, Senior Master Sgt. Ken Holcomb is getting ready to run the Air Force Marathon Sept. 19 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He plans to blog

  • General Newton: People are priority No. 1

    "The Air Force is a great way of life and we are going to make it even better," said Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel at the 2009 Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. General

  • CSAF addresses AFA convention

    Gen. Norton Schwartz, chief of staff of the Air Force, spoke Sept. 15 on his vision for the future, jointness, the Year of the Air Force Family and honored heroic sacrifices of Airmen. The general made his comments in a keynote address at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and

  • Surgical residency receives full joint training platform accreditation

    The 81st Medical Group at Keesler AFB, which boasts the largest Air Force surgical training residency program, has received full Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accreditation as a joint training platform. The program was evaluated by the ACGME, the governing body for all United

  • DOD targets drug abuse during Red Ribbon Week

    "Drug free is the key" is the theme for Red Ribbon Week 2009 and is a reminder to TRICARE beneficiaries of the dangers of unhealthy lifestyle habits. Red Ribbon Week is the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention program, reaching millions of Americans during the last week of October every year.

  • Injured Airman credits training for saving her life

    The training one Airman received during the Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course at the Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and the quick reaction of her teammates is what she attributed to saving her life. While on a convoy in Iraq Aug. 21, Capt. Wendy

  • Air Force doctor advances cyanide poisoning treatment

    In espionage novels, cyanide capsules are swallowed by captured spies who would rather commit suicide than divulge classified information. But the highly toxic chemical used in so many works of fiction is a real threat for being used as a terrorist weapon. Maj. (Dr.) Vik Bebarta, a physician and

  • Labor Day weekend golfers help troops, families

    Maj. Dan Rooney knows that just a dollar or more added to your golf greens fees this Labor Day weekend can provide millions of dollars to help servicemembers and their families. Major Rooney, a professional golfer and an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard, is the founder

  • Policy change benefits disabled Airmen

    A policy change by Air Force Personnel Center officials here now allows some Airmen retiring with less than 20 years active service to receive retirement certificates. A change to Air Force Instruction 36-3203, Service Retirements, authorizes Airmen with less than 20 years of active service who are

  • Soldier conquers suicidal thoughts, urges others to get help

    Army Capt. Emily Stehr, a physical therapist with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, is in the business of healing. But five months after returning from Iraq, she was struggling with her own internal wounds of war that had not healed. She decided to kill herself. What stopped Captain Stehr was not

  • Ramstein Airmen support 15-nation medical training exercise

    Thirty-two members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, arrived here Aug. 25 in support of the Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe 2009. More than 600 people representing 15 nations will participate in this year's annual exercise with a focus on

  • Defense Department to start H1N1 flu vaccinations

    All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, a Defense Department health affairs official said Sept. 2 here. The H1N1 vaccination program will begin in early October, said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Wayne

  • Important updates in life require update in DEERS

    Important life events like moving or a child going off to college are milestones in military families' lives. No matter where their journeys take them, it's important for families to keep their Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System records up to date. For Tricare beneficiaries, keeping

  • Charleston Airman shows strength for recovery

    An explosives ordnance disposal technician with the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron mustered the strength to brace himself and stand for the first time in three weeks Aug. 21 after an explosion turned his deployment upside down. "I just want to take each day slowly but surely. In the next week or two

  • Proposed leave rule would provide for warrior care

    Defense Department federal employees could receive up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a military family member injured in the line of duty if an Office of Personnel Management proposal is adopted. The proposal would allow eligible federal employees to take 26 "administrative work weeks"

  • Air evacuation liaison team's battle buddies wear Army green

    Airmen with an Air Mobility Command air evacuation liaison team and Soldiers from Army patient administration staff trained with each other during Joint Readiness Training Center Exercise 09-09 at Folk Polk, La., through Aug. 25. Their goal: prepare for Middle East deployments. "Our main goal is to

  • 'Defender's Edge': A new approach to combat stress

    A new customized mental health program is helping security forces Airmen here manage combat stress.The "Defenders Edge" is tailored to those security forces Airmen who conduct missions on or outside the wire. This program is intended to improve Airmen's mental resiliency to combat-related stressors.

  • New ergonomic seats installed in E-3 fleet

    For operators occupying the 19 control stations aboard E-3 Sentrys, 12-to-14-hour missions will become a bit more comfortable after new ergonomically designed seats are installed on the U.S. fleet. This Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft is the first of five legacy platforms to receive the

  • Blog offers support to military families

    Defense Department officials have launched a blog called "Family Matters" that is dedicated to providing resources and support to military families. The blog, which can be found at http://afps.dodlive.mil, features tips from experts, and military-related topics that discuss anything from deployments

  • VA simplifies compensation rules for post-traumatic stress

    The Veterans Affairs Department is taking steps to help veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced Aug. 24. "The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its

  • Airmen, community help vets

    Beale Air Force Base volunteers teamed with partners from the Yuba-Sutter community to transform a shady patch of lawn at the River Bottoms Park here into a mini tent city used to provide assistance to veterans in need Aug. 20 through 22. "It's good to help out and give back to them," said Staff

  • Platelet donations bring troops home

    The pint-sized bags of cloudy, yellow liquid may not look like much, but the fluid inside them has proved to be a lifesaving substance to injured servicemembers. "Platelets heal. I've seen it firsthand," said Lt. Col. Thomas Jordan, the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron platelet

  • Air Force unveils new fitness program

    Approval of the new Air Force fitness instruction in the coming weeks will bring about some of the most significant changes to the Air Force fitness program in the last five years.Those changes, which take effect Jan. 1, 2010, shift a greater responsibility of maintaining physical fitness 365 days a

  • Clinic traffic downrange shows need for hearing protection

    When gearing up for a mission in Afghanistan, servicemembers don't forget their helmet, gloves, weapon, eye protection or body armor. But what about hearing protection? Staff Sgt. Lee Adams, an ear, nose and throat technician here, said more than half of the patients seen in the ENT walk-in clinics

  • Flying hospital staff gives wounded fighting chance

    At any given moment, a call can come in requiring an entire aeromedical evacuation staff here to stop what they are doing and begin preparing to care for the wounded and sick headed their way. The team of Airmen will pull supplies, alert additional crewmembers, get updates from aid stations and make

  • Obama pledges support for troops, veterans

    America's men and women in uniform have done their duty and fulfilled every responsibility that's been asked of them, President Barack Obama said Aug. 17. "And now," he said, "a grateful nation must fulfill ours." President Obama offered high praise for the troops, calling them the heart and soul of

  • DOD, VA work to create lifetime electronic records

    For servicemembers who still remember hand-carrying their medical records back and forth to appointments, the new virtual lifetime electronic record will help prevent misplaced paperwork and help providers maintain and offer quality health care, the acting director of the program said Aug. 13.

  • U.S., Vietnam host Asia-Pacific military nursing symposium

    The United States and Vietnam co-hosted more than 200 nurses from 14 countries during the 3rd Annual Asia-Pacific Military Nursing Symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam Aug 3 through 7. The five-day conference, hosted by officials from the U.S. Pacific Command and the Vietnam People's Army, focused on nursing

  • Iraqi official tours Joint Base Balad medical facilities

    The Iraqi deputy governor of the Salah Ad Din Province visited the Air Force Theater Hospital and Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps Clinic here Aug. 5 to develop ideas for improving health care within his district. Ahmed al-Krayem toured units within the facility and talked to several members of the

  • Obama: Health care reform won't affect VA, Tricare

    In ongoing discussions about health-care reform, President Barack Obama offered assurance Aug. 4 to those receiving medical care through Tricare or the Department of Veterans Affairs: Your benefits are safe. Eligibility for health care under VA or Tricare "will not be affected by our efforts at

  • Tricare deputy director highlights new programs

    Tricare officials are enhancing programs and services as part of an ongoing commitment to provide quality health care for military families, the new deputy director of Tricare Management Activity said. One of the key Tricare initiatives is to enhance the contact beneficiaries and their family

  • Ophthalmology residency program receives top accreditation

    The San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Ophthalmology Residency Program at Wilford Hall Medical Center here has obtained the highest level of accreditation.Officials with the Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education have awarded the residency program a five-year

  • Air Force aeromedical evacuation teams give British soldier fighting chance

    Three Air Force aircraft along with multiple aircrew, aeromedical evacuation teams, and agencies from around the world gave a British soldier a fighting chance at life in late July after the soldier sustained multiple gunshot wounds and had his blood supply replaced more than 10 times at a military

  • National Resource Directory contains a wealth of information

    The National Resource Directory is an online resource for wounded, ill and injured servicemembers, veterans, their families and those who support them. The NRD provides information on, and access to, medical and non-medical services and resources across the country which will help them reach their

  • Physical therapists keep servicemembers in the fight

    Aircraft mechanics make sure the airframes they are assigned to are in impeccable condition, fine tuning them, ensuring there isn't any excessive wear and tear so these precision machines are ready to do their part in the today's fight. The human body is also a precision machine and needs to be well

  • Uncertainty about military suicides frustrates services

    The most frustrating part about suicide prevention is the uncertainty about what causes troops to take their lives, top military leaders said here July 29. This near-unanimous chorus was sounded on Capitol Hill when the second-ranking military officers of each service testified about military mental

  • H1N1 cases identified at Hurlburt

    Four Hurlburt Field Airmen have tested positive for the H1N1 virus in July and 59 others currently have symptoms consistent with the H1N1 virus. Most of the illnesses are clustered within one work center and a few are roommates with members who are from that work center. All are recuperating well,

  • War hero brought home, laid to rest after 40 years missing in action

    As three rifle vollies rang throughout Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery July 27, the sounds meant a Vietnam War veteran who had been missing in action for more than 40 years was finally home to rest . Active-duty members, retirees and their families gathered at Chief Master Sgt. Quincy Adam's final

  • Joint Base Balad troops aid first sergeant during heart attack

    Whether Joint Base Balad servicemembers have a wingman or a battle buddy, the ethos of helping a comrade in need arose during a basketball game here July 14. Headed by their coach, Army Sgt.1st Class Anthony Jones of the 699th Maintenance Company, a basketball team compiled of Airmen and Soldiers

  • Center gives troops tools to combat stress while deployed

    An innovative restoration program in Afghanistan is giving troops the tools they need to "stay in the fight" by helping them overcome the stresses and challenges of being deployed, the director of the Freedom Restoration Center at Bagram Airfield said recently. Army Capt. Donald Hawkins and his

  • CMSAF addresses House Armed Services subcommittee

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force gave testimony before the Military Personnel Subcommittee for Family Support Programs here July 22. "We will remain engaged on our family support programs, and we plan on constantly improving the programs we already have in effect," said Chief Master Sgt.

  • Air Force, community support Airman following surgical complications

    A 9th Intelligence Squadron Airman assigned to Beale Air Force Base, Calif., is hospitalized at the University of California Davis Medical Center. Airman 1st Class Colton Read is being treated there following complications from a July 9 surgery at the David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force

  • DOD announces new Tricare regional care contractors

    Department of Defense officials here have announced the selection of new Tricare managed care support contractors for the North and South Tricare regions in the United States.The third generation contracts are worth an estimated $55.5 billion more than the base and five options periods. Transition

  • Wounded Airman, wife use lessons from adversity to help others

    A wounded Airman and his wife plan to use the lessons they've learned about marriage and friendship through military service and adversity to help servicemembers who might be struggling after deployment or injury. Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon was wounded Oct. 24, 2007, while inspecting an improvised

  • Defense, Veterans Affairs officials collaborate on brain injuries

    More than half of U.S. servicemembers seriously injured in Iraq or Afghanistan and admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center here suffer from traumatic brain injury, according to Defense Veterans Brain Injury Center officials. "The most common injury that we see is, of course, traumatic brain

  • Volunteers ensure success at Veterans Wheelchair Games

    Disabled veterans of all ages and skill levels are competing in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games here July 13 through 18, but while the athletes are earning the spotlight, the nearly 3,000 volunteers behind the scenes have worked to make sure every event runs smoothly. "These Wheelchair

  • Sesame Workshop aims to help military children, keep families connected

    "Sesame Street" usually conjures visions of Muppets teaching young children their letters and numbers, but they also teach life lessons to help military children cope with deployments, injuries and now, loss. The newest phase of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative is aimed at

  • Former Airman competes in veterans wheelchair games

    Swimming 100 meters is difficult. Swimming this distance without the use of your legs seems near impossible. Yet, this is exactly what Terri Fuda did July 15. She is taking part in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games here, where she competed in the 100-meter freestyle swimming event at

  • Wheelchair athletes participate in national veteran's competition

    William Ethridge won't stand up to greet people, he won't give up his seat for a lady and if someone drops something in front of him, he won't help pick it up. But he doesn't do these things because he's rude or indifferent; he just physically isn't able to. Mr. Ethridge is paralyzed from the waist

  • Web site features jobs for disabled veterans

    With more than 3,000 job openings, the creators of a new Web portal are hoping to attract disabled veterans seeking employment. "Our current project is to spread the word that we are here," said Diana Corso, the executive director of disABLEDperson Inc., a nonprofit group aiming to reduce the

  • New approach to PTSD offers servicemembers greater privacy, reduced stigma

    Servicemembers seeking help for deployment-related post-traumatic stress disorder now have the option of being treated through primary care channels at a new pilot program offered at Wilford Hall Medical Center here. The primary goal of this new research program is to offer effective therapy for

  • Veterans wheelchair games kick off in Spokane

    More than 500 disabled veterans rolled into the convention center here to take part in the 2009 National Veterans Wheelchair Games July 13 through 19. The event, which is sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Department of Veterans Affairs, began July 13 with a wheelchair basketball

  • Air Force Academy officials responding to flu cases

    U.S. Air Force Academy health professionals are currently caring for a number of basic cadets exhibiting symptoms consistent with the Centers for Disease Control criteria for influenza-like illness, or ILI. Since July 6, 88 cadets have met the CDC criteria for ILI. These cadets are receiving medical

  • Def Leppard, Raven Drum Foundation offer free concert tickets

    The rock group Def Leppard and Raven Drum Foundation have started giving away 100 free concert tickets to military members and veterans with military ID for each show in the 2009 Def Leppard summer concert tour to honor the military and provide a little fun and excitement over the summer months.

  • Air Force wounded warrior visits White House

    Senior Airman Duane Dunlap enjoyed a very special Independence Day with President Barack Obama. Airman Dunlap, a security forces journeyman assigned to the 59th Patient Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was one of five Airmen chosen to participate in a Fourth of July Salute to the Military

  • Aerial gunners provide cover for lifesaving mission

    Air Force combat search and rescue crews on HH-60G Pave Hawks fly throughout Afghanistan to provide airlift and medical care to servicemembers wounded on the battlefield. More often than not, this requires them to fly into and operate in extremely hostile and precarious situations and locations,

  • Wounded EOD technician has big plans

    One step on May 11 changed the life course of an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron here. Staff Sgt. David Flowers, 28, was deployed with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, when he was wounded by an anti-personnel mine on

  • New PTSD program answers need for comprehensive treatment

    Symptoms of combat stress and post-traumatic stress disorder for wounded warriors include continual nightmares, avoidance behaviors, denial, grief, anger and fear. Some servicemembers battling these and other symptoms, can be treated successfully as an outpatient while assuming their normal duties,

  • Wounded warrior program assists Airmen, families

    Air Force officials here have developed a new program to assist Airmen in need because wounded warriors and their families remain a top priority. The recovery care coordinator is designed to be an "ultimate resource" for seriously wounded, ill, or injured service members. RCCs work closely with

  • H1N1 case confirmed at Goodfellow

    Air Force officials confirmed June 25 that the first case of the H1N1 virus was diagnosed at Goodfellow Air Force Base. The affected person is a dependent of a military couple stationed at Goodfellow AFB, and the patient is being treated by the 17th Medical Group pediatric staff. Base personnel have

  • AF medical service celebrates 60 years

    Air Force medical service officials commemorated 60 years of service here June 25. Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush hosted the event at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk to honor the medical service's contributions over the last 60 years and to highlight the way ahead.

  • Coalition forces, Kirkuk officials partner to care for bombing victims

    The bright pink soccer ball was clearly out of place on the flightline here June 22; however, it was in just the right place to begin the healing process for a 9-year-old girl atop a stretcher being carried on board a Turkish air force C-130 to be aeromedically evacuated to Ankara, Turkey. She was

  • Officials work to lessen impact of deployments on children

    Defense Department officials here are working aggressively to reduce the impact of multiple deployments on the children of military families. "The department recognizes that these multiple, long-term deployments are really tough on families," said Barbara Thompson, director of the Pentagon's Office

  • Suicide prevention message rolls through cities nationwide

    The Department of Veterans Affairs took to the road, literally, when it decided to advertise about its "VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline" on public transportation buses in 124 communities across the country. "We continue to look for new, innovative ways to reach our veterans," said Tammy Duckworth,

  • Airmen mentor Afghan counterparts to provide care

    Air Force medics here are working hand-in-hand with their counterparts from the Afghan National Army, out of a co-located clinic, to provide mentoring on medical equipment, administration and military medical care. The three-person staff, consisting of a physician's assistant, independent medical

  • Laos, Thailand, U.S. officials host disease surveillance workshop

    In a cooperative effort to improve their ability to detect, respond to and contain infectious diseases in the Asia-Pacific region, medical experts from Laos, Thailand and the United States participated in a four-day disease surveillance workshop in Laos June 6-9. The conference was hosted by the

  • Plastic surgery not just performed for cosmetic reasons

    "A nip here, a tuck there, a Botox injection, or enhancements to make me more attractive," is the answer you get from most people if they are asked, "What does a plastic surgeon do?" Although a plastic surgeon is required to do a certain number of cosmetic procedures to keep up a skill set in his or

  • American hospital in Afghanistan holds health fair

    The Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint Theater Hospital here opened its doors June 13 to highlight a number of services available to servicemembers in the regional command east area of operations. In an event that involved weeks of planning, the hospital staff came together to construct unique

  • Mullen: Warfighters, families, wounded warriors drive budget request

    The nation's top military officer told Congress June 9 that the fiscal 2010 defense budget request puts money where it's needed: to recruit and retain the quality troops and their families who form the foundation of the all-volunteer force. But Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

  • Ceremony honors 293 medical graduates

    Dr. Kenneth Torrington, dean of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, honored 293 physicians and allied health care providers during the annual SAUSHEC awards and graduation ceremony June 5 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. SAUSHEC is the

  • President Obama visits wounded warriors

    The commander in chief focused his attention on wounded warriors during a June 5 visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. President Barack Obama paid bedside visits with U.S. and coalition servicemembers as well as joining an enthusiastic crowd of outpatients at the USO Warrior Center. Along the

  • Air Force researcher wins top science award

    A Wilford Hall doctor has received one of the highest distinctions a researcher can achieve, according to medical officials here. Maj. (Dr) Vikhyat Bebarta, chief of medical toxicology and a staff emergency physician, is the recipient of the Best Basic Science Research Award, presented by the

  • Joint Base Balad's support team focuses on mission, quality of life

    Base residents are the beneficiaries of additional benefits since the Base Operating Support-Integration team conducted its initial planning meetings 11 months ago.In general, BOS-I is a changeover of base support functions that includes food service, lodging, vehicle operations, supply, fuel, base

  • Bikers raise money for wounded warriors during Cycling Classic

    Nearly 1,000 riders participated in the two-day Air Force Cycling Classic raised almost $35, 000 for a charity that supports wounded warriors and the families of military members who have died serving their country May 30 and 31 in Virginia. The cycling classic combined a technical sprint race, a

  • Senior veterans set to compete in Golden Age Games

    Nearly 700 American military veterans from conflicts ranging from World War II to the Persian Gulf war arrived here June 1 to prove that their best days are still ahead of them as they prepare to compete in the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games.The games are the world's largest sports

  • NCAA coaches visit wounded warriors in military hospital

    Henry Bautista wasn't one of the U.S. servicemembers seven NCAA football coaches visited at a U.S. military hospital in Germany May 29, because servicemembers are not the only ones risking their lives in dangerous places like Iraq. Mr. Bautista, a field representative for a light armored vehicle

  • AF dermatologist uses laser to treat wounded warrior scars

    Maj. (Dr.) Chad Hivnor, chief of pediatric dermatology at Wilford Hall Medical Center here, is using a new fractional laser to treat battle scars on troops injured in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. "The laser softens the texture of the scars," said Doctor Hivnor. "We are following

  • Streamlined disability evaluation system introduced at Elmendorf

    Wounded, ill and injured Airmen entering into the Disability Evaluation System here are now enrolled in a new pilot evaluation process. This new joint Department of Defense-Veterans Affairs effort is designed to streamline and expedite disability recovery and processing to create improved treatment,

  • Control center staff seeks to defeat combat stress in Iraq

    Fighting a war can be stressful, no matter what job you do in the military. Staff members at combat stress control centers throughout Iraq work to fight stress -- or at least to teach people how to manage it. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Alicia L. Tschirhart, a psychiatrist, commands the Kalsu Combat Stress

  • DOD officials promote 'World No Tobacco Day'

    For the first time, the Department of Defense is endorsing the observance of World No Tobacco Day by encouraging servicemembers to participate. The effort is part of DOD's multiyear tobacco cessation campaign, Quit Tobacco--Make Everyone Proud. "On Memorial Day, when we reflect on the sacrifices our

  • VA researchers study advanced prosthetic arm

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have announced a three-year study of an advanced artificial arm that easily allows those with severe limb loss to pick up a key or hold a pencil. "This arm is a high-tech example of how VA researchers are continually modernizing the materials, design and

  • VA Web site helps college counselors aid veterans

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials launched a new Web site to strengthen the connection between college and university mental health professionals and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts studying on their campuses. "Many of our newest veterans are beginning their post-service lives

  • Airmen 'unleash' new recovery program for patients

    Trained in explosives detection, narcotics detection and more, military working dogs here are now assisting in a different type of fight: The fight to rehabilitate patients at the Air Force Theater Hospital here. Members of the AFTH medical staff here held the first session of the K-9 Visitation

  • Team offers Airmen outlet for traumatic stress

    With Airmen deploying now more than ever, it only makes sense for Air Force officials to create resources for the Airmen once they get back to their home station. One of these resources is the traumatic stress response team, which was introduced Air Force-wide in 2006. All Air Force bases with a

  • Wounded major fulfills career milestone

    An Air Force major recovered from injuries suffered in Afghanistan to complete 20 years of honorable service. "I decided pretty early on what I wanted to do," Maj. Matthew Conlan said. "I was going to get back on the job and continue serving. I wanted to finish what I started." Major Conlan,

  • 'Her War' podcast aims to help military wives

    When Melissa Seligman's husband left for his second deployment to Iraq, she knew all too well what was expected of her. "I was expected to be the nice, caring, understanding military wife and mom," Mrs. Seligman said. "No military wife wants to admit that she is hurt -- and sometimes angry and very

  • Air Force chief of staff visits Osan

    The common themes of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz's remarks to more than 400 Airmen gathered here May 11 were teamwork and excellence, key elements in mission accomplishment as well as in Airmen's personal lives. The general also reminded the crowd that all Airmen are a part of the

  • Apheresis broadens impact of blood donations

    Rose Weatherly plays a major role in providing life-saving blood products to patients at Keesler Medical Center and, literally, around the world. Ms. Weatherly, a registered nurse, is the apheresis supervisor with the 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron's pathology and clinical laboratory

  • AFMC senior leader reflects on suicide close to home

    With a phone call on the night of Jan. 29, the "You Matter" suicide campaign at Robins suddenly became more personal to Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer. The commander of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center suspected something was wrong when the phone rang at 9 p.m. because most people who would be calling her

  • DOD officials promote 'World No Tobacco Day'

    The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to their country. Living freedom to the fullest by reducing unnecessary health risks is one way to honor the memories of those who've died, DOD officials say. Just around the corner

  • Airmen, veterans can now apply for new GI Bill

    The Department of Veterans Affairs opened its doors for accepting Post-9/11 GI Bill applications May 1. All Airmen and former Airmen with at least 90 days of active duty service since Sept. 11, 2001, can choose to apply for education benefits, which begin Aug. 1 under the new GI Bill law. To apply

  • Wounded warrior receives surprise promotion

    Staff Sgt. Daniel Acosta woke May 7 thinking he was a senior airman. He was surprised to discover that he was promoted to staff sergeant without his knowledge. Lt. Col. Michael Glass, 59th Medical Support Squadron commander, advised Sergeant Acosta that Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, deputy chief of staff

  • CDC confirms H1N1 case involving military dependent

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials confirmed one isolated case of the H1N1 flu virus involving a military dependent at Nellis Air Force Base. The dependent, an 11-year-old boy, is one of two cases announced in Clark County by the Southern Nevada Health District May 5. He has fully