http://www.af.mil AF.mil Top Stories en-US 2010 AF.mil Tue, 9 Feb 2010 18:49:28 GMT Tue, 9 Feb 2010 18:49:28 GMT Air Force Link RSS Generator http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189809 Almost five years and 120 surgeries after his vehicle passed over an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan that exploded, burning more than 80 percent of his body, Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro raised his right hand Feb. 8 and re-enlisted in the Air Force.

Maj. Gen Anthony Przybyslawski, the vice commander of Air Education and Training Command, administered the oath of enlistment to Sergeant Del Toro in the nearly packed base theater.

General Przybyslawski told an audience of family members, dignitaries, visitors, friends and many first-term Airmen that the sergeant, who spent three months in a coma after his injuries and was given a less-than-20-percent chance of survival, fought for more than four months to stay in the Air Force.  The general said that Sergeant Del Toro's experience and his desire to serve is something the Air Force needs.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Sean Bowlin) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189809 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 17:50:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189856 F-22 Raptors from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and Holloman AFB, N.M., participate in Red Flag here Feb. 1 through 4.  

Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted on a 15,000-square-mile range north of Las Vegas.

View slideshow.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189856 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 17:04:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189845 The Web-based project, "30 Days Through Afghanistan," kicked off Feb. 8 and aims to bring the people, the mission and the experiences of the International Security Assistance Force to a worldwide audience through the eyes of Tech. Sgts. Nathan Gallahan and Kenneth Raimondi.

Sergeant Raimondi, a broadcaster, and Sergeant Gallahan, a print journalist, are traveling throughout Afghanistan for 30 continuous days visiting each of the five regional commands and giving a first-hand perspective of the counter-insurgency mission. The two reporters will produce video and print news stories as well as document daily adventures through blogs and video blogs to showcase the troops in an interactive manner.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189845 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 16:36:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189823 Twenty-one aircraft from more than a six military units throughout the Pacific region arrived here for Cope North 10-1, a two-week annual bilateral exercise between U.S. forces and the Japan Air Self Defense Force that began Feb. 7.

This is the 11th time Cope North has been held here. U.S. and Japan officials have been conducting Cope North exercises since 1978.

About 24 aircraft will be working with two B-52 Stratofortresses, currently deployed here supporting the continuous bomber presence mission.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Senior Airman Shane Dunaway) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189823 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 15:19:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189818
This award recognizes the accomplishments of officers and enlisted members who have demonstrated the highest quality of leadership in the performance of their duties and their personal lives.

Nominees will be rated on their scope of responsibility, professional leadership, leadership image and community involvement from July 1, 2009, to June 30.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189818 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 15:13:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189808 Two teams of aerial demonstration pilots received their certification Feb. 4, from Gen. William Fraser III, the commander of the Air Combat Command, for the 2010 air show season.

"Certification is a chance for us to fly the show profile in front of General Fraser," said Maj. Mike Maeder, the newest pilot in the Strike Eagle demo team. "He will sign off on us being ready to fly the air show season."

Certification requires approval at the wing and numbered air force levels before the final endorsement is given from the commander of the ACC.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Harry J. Lundy) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189808 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 14:47:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189799
Major Bourland, 37, of Birmingham, Ala., was assigned to U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Miami, and had traveled to Haiti on official business the day of the earthquake.

He had been selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel in June 2009. Action is pending on a posthumous promotion to lieutenant colonel.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189799 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 14:13:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189768 An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed on takeoff in eastern Afghanistan Feb. 9 at approximately 1:50 a.m. local time.

The crash was not due to hostile fire. The crash site has been secured and there were no reports of injuries or property damage.

The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft. The MQ-1's primary mission is conducting armed reconnaissance.

A board will be convened to investigate the incident.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189768 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:07:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189773
Decertification means temporarily suspending maintenance activities in order to complete corrective actions and ensure operations comply with
the highest standards.

Decertification was at the request of Brig. Gen. Everett H. Thomas, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander at Kirtland AFB.

more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189773 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:00:45 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189758
This award is presented annually to an individual or organization who has demonstrated exceptional patriotism, generosity, and selfless dedication to the members of the United States armed forces and their families through an outstanding humanitarian act or service.

Nominee criteria are:
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189758 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:54:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189600 A March Air Reserve Base C-17 Globemaster III aircrew returned home Feb. 1 after flying a five-day humanitarian mission to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The nine-member crew from the 729th Airlift Squadron took 171,400 pounds of cargo and 25 Army and Air Force servicemembers into Haiti and airlifted 263 evacuees and aid workers out in a C-17.

March ARB officials have sent six missions and 40 Airmen to help move cargo into and evacuees out of Haiti since Jan. 15 as part of Operation Unified Response. They have evacuated more than 900 American citizens and legal aliens to the United States and flown in more than 1.5 million pounds of equipment and supplies to Haiti, following the 7.0 earthquake which struck there Jan. 12.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Capt. Ashley Norris) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189600 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:53:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189755
Air Operations in Afghanistan:

Close-Air Support

Bagram

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircrews provided armed overwatch for a friendly-forces dismounted patrol. The aircrews conducted a show of force, with flares launched, to deter anti-Afghan forces activity.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil () http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189755 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:35:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189754
The mission was flown at the request of the government of Sweden and included supplies donated by Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian relief supplies were transported by the Bulgarian air force to Papa AB, then prepared for onward movement to combine with cargo being assembled in Sweden.

Only the host nation of Hungary has moved cargo directly out of Papa AB before, so the cargo transfer made this the first true cargo hub operation of the SAC HAW program.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Capt. Juha Miettinen) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189754 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:23:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189388
For every mission a pilot at Red Flag flies, the CIC briefs them three times, and the briefers adopt a special mentality to do it.

"We have to try to outsmart the bad guys," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Dyck, the Red Flag CIC night NCO in charge deployed from the 48th Operations Group at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. "We try to figure out what they're going to do next so the pilots know what to expect. If we've done our jobs right, they'll always succeed."
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Tech. Sgt. Chris Stagner) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189388 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:10:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189741 Several members of the National Democratic Institute in Kyrgyzstan toured the Transit Center at Manas here Feb. 6. 

The young adults, although not touring as part of official NDI business, said they came away with a more accurate view of the military installation, and are eager to take their knowledge and apply it in their work places.

"I have heard of the Transit Center and I wanted to see it for myself," said Turdumbaev Uranbek, the trip organizer.

Now 22, he spent a year in the United States during high school, as part of an exchange program, and now works in the NDI news department.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189741 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 09:21:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189739 The earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12, changed the lives of countless people forever.

Perhaps no one group has been more exposed to the bare humanity of the disaster than the medics who were on the forefront, providing lifesaving care to those who survived the 7.0 earthquake.

Maj. Jon Earles, one of four critical care nurses with the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron, treated more than 100 patients during his time in Haiti Jan. 21 through 24, with other medical technicians at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Airman 1st Class Joe McFadden) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189739 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 09:07:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189734 Two 81st Medical Group medical teams from here are providing vital care to Haiti earthquake victims who are airlifted to hospitals in Florida.

Two, three-person critical care air transport teams from the 81st Medical Operations Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, are bringing aid to the earthquake survivors.

The team members includes emergency medicine physicians, critical care nurses and respiratory therapists.

Their teams have treated "all ages of victims," from children to adults, said Major Boskovich.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Steve Pivnick) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189734 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 06:38:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189693 The first remotely piloted aircraft exchange officer stationed at the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., is not bothered by the 5,000 miles between the state of Nevada and her native England.

"It has been an opportunity that money can't buy," said Royal Air Force Sqn. Ldr. Adele Stratton. "This post is the only exchange job within the rapidly evolving RPA community, and as the first incumbent, I have found it to be an interesting couple of years."

more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Ashley M. Wright) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189693 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 18:13:00 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189681 Altus Air Force Base officials temporarily ordered three KC-135 Stratotankers and three C-17 Globemaster IIIs along with 67 aircrew and maintenance members to Lackland AFB, Texas, Feb. 4 to resume limited aircrew training operations.
 
Aircrew training at Altus AFB came to a halt when a severe ice storm swept through the base Jan. 28, knocking out power to the base.

"This ice storm has had a major impact on our training operation," said Col. Ty Thomas, the 97th Air Mobility Wing commander. "Our first challenge was to get power back to our housing areas and ensure our families were stable, then we had to get started on a return to training."
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Staff Sgt. Clinton Atkins) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189681 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 17:20:47 EST http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189331 The Year of the Air Force Family is an initiative focused on enhancing the support and care provided to those who firmly stand behind our Airmen on a daily basis. For one Air Force family stationed at Osan Air Base, the focus of the Year of the Air Force Family has expanded. It's about having an even greater impact by meeting the needs of others through the option of adoption.

Col. John Marselus, the 607th Air and Space Operations Center commander, and his wife, Kim, traveled to Addis Adaba, Ethiopia, in January where they picked up their newest son Caleb, a 5-year-old orphan whom they had just adopted.
more...]]> afnews@afnews.af.mil (Chief Master Sgt. Sean Stevenson) http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189331 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:32:00 EST