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U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Force hiring more small businesses

    As Air Force officials focused on acquisition of weapon systems and related hardware, Air Force Materiel Command stands to make a noticeable contribution to a stepped-up effort by the federal government to increase awards of contracts to small businesses.In summer 2009, Department of Commerce and

  • Samurai surge at Yokota

    Seven C-130 Hercules aircraft took off as part of a Samurai Surge exercise here Nov. 4.Launching the fleet is an operation that occurs when Airmen launch as many aircraft available on the ramp simultaneously, known locally as Samurai Surge."The C-130s here at Yokota Air Base are the only tactical

  • First production C-5M arrives at Dover

    The first production C-5M Super Galaxy arrived for duty at Dover Air Force Base Nov. 5.  Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., commander of Air Mobility Command, flew the Super Galaxy from Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., to its operational home at Dover AFB."The creativity and hard work demonstrated

  • Air Guard adds psychological health directors to wings

    Air National Guard officials have created a new position at the wing level to provide mental health support to Airmen and their families before and after deployments."The Air Guard is the only service component that does not have military members, who are mental health professionals or technicians,"

  • Fisher House to be dedicated at Dover Air Force Base

    Air Force leaders, elected officials and distinguished guests are scheduled to dedicate the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen on Dover Air Force Base, Del., Nov. 10. The Fisher House for Families of the Fallen is a unique facility among the Fisher House Foundation's 49 other Fisher Houses

  • Air Force officials name deputy assistant secretary for energy

    Air Force officials named Dr. Kevin T. Geiss the new deputy assistant secretary of energy for the Air Force Nov. 4.Dr. Geiss will lead the Air Force's Energy Office, comprising a staff of 11 people dedicated to energy policy development and support of energy-focused programs."Energy is an enabler

  • Air Force Medal of Honor recipients highlighted on AF.MIL

    The Medal of Honor is the highest award for heroism in military action that this nation can bestow. It is awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. A special Web section has been developed on AF.MIL to recognize U.S. Air Force recipients

  • Thunderbird maintainers keep show running behind the scenes

    Throughout its 57 years in existence, the Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team has never canceled a performance due to maintenance issues. When you factor in the Thunderbirds' most recent air show performance Nov. 6 and 7 during AirFest 2010 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, continuing the

  • Air Force defeats Army, secures Commander-in-Chief's trophy

    The Air Force Academy Falcons defeated the Black Knights of West Point 42-22 Nov. 6 at Michie Field here. The teams have now battled on the gridiron 45 times with the Falcons leading the series 31-13 with one tie. This is the fifth-straight Air Force victory against Army."Fine victory," said Falcon

  • Military-connected schools benefit from grants

    Department of Defense Education Activity officials awarded more than $38 million in grants this year to public schools serving military children across the nation.Officials awarded the grants to 32 military-connected school districts to boost student achievement and ease the challenges associated

  • Commercial showcases aeromedical evacuation Airmen

    An Air Force commercial highlighting the roles Airmen play in Air Force humanitarian relief efforts begins airing in television markets and select movie theaters across the U.S. in November."Med Evac" highlights the Air Force's aeromedical evacuation mission during disaster relief efforts. The

  • Retired Guardsmen preserve war history, camaraderie

    At the Jackson Barracks Military Museum here, Wednesdays are a time for reminiscing and restoration for the members of the 122nd Bomb Restoration Squadron Unit.The unit is a group of volunteer retired Guardsmen who help to restore old military aircraft and cannons for the museum, and the members

  • 'Stand down' serves homeless veterans in Charleston

    More than 2,068 homeless people, both veterans and civilians, received aid from local volunteers at the 11th annual Stand Down Against Homelessness, Oct. 28 and 29, at North Charleston Armory Park, S.C.More than 300 local military and civilian volunteers supported the event. Sponsored by the Ralph

  • Photo essay: Barksdale Airmen prepare for challenge

    Airmen from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron take part in a training exercise here Nov. 4, 2010, in preparation for the Global Strike Challenge. The challenge is a four-day competition for security forces Airmen.View the slideshow.

  • Vet receives four-legged friend

    Retired Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon, a former 56th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, was investigating an improvised explosive device in Kirkuk, Iraq, in October 2007, when it detonated nearly two feet from his face. As a result, Sergeant Slaydon lost his sight and his

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters visits 3rd Operations Group

    As he dangled from parachute risers, 12-year old Keegan Hall looked down at a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific. Deftly controlling his parachute's toggles, Keegan successfully maneuvered into a stand-up landing on the ship's pitching deck.Peering through virtual reality

  • Two in Air Force among DOD's best employees

    Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III paid tribute to eight people who distinguished themselves among more than 700,000 others and were selected to receive the Defense Department's annual top civilian employee awards."They understand that working for the department is a public trust that

  • Squadron tests newest F-22s, live-firing of missiles

    F-22s Raptor crews from the 90th Fighter Squadron here deployed to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 30, to participate in exercise Combat Archer, the air-to-air evaluation portion of the Air Force's Weapons Systems Evaluation Program.90th FS members are training and being evaluated with the

  • Nominations open for public administration award

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 7th annual Department of Defense David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. This award recognizes non-managerial career civilian employees who demonstrate great leadership potential as future federal executives. To be eligible,

  • Hill AFB energy project full steam ahead

    Officials are set to begin negotiations on a unique enhanced use lease project that could process recyclables and municipal solid waste at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and the surrounding community.Officials at the Air Force Real Property Agency and Hill AFB will soon begin negotiations with Ogden Hill

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • Not just an average flight simulator

    Officials from the 23rd Operations Support Squadron started their first HC-130 Hercules simulator course here recently.This simulator doesn't train just the pilot and co-pilot, it trains the entire crew. "The purpose of the simulator is to bring up situations that the crew could run into during a

  • Wingmen in right place, right time save lives

    Being at the right place at the right time may have saved the life of a surgical nurse assigned to the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron here Sept. 6. Capt. Scott Thallemer was on temporary duty at the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center when two fellow nurses saved him from

  • Admiral, Mrs. Mullen speak out on veterans' challenges

    With Veterans Day around the corner, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and his wife, Deborah, sat down with reporters this week to raise visibility on issues important to military families and veterans.The Mullens' interviews Nov. 3 with the Pentagon Channel and other news

  • AFRCC members assist in search for missing aircraft with four onboard

    Air Force Rescue Coordination Center officials here worked with Wyoming Department of Military Affairs and Fremont County Emergency Management officials to search for a small aircraft with a father and three of his sons on board that went missing Oct. 25.According to the Mooney M20J's flight plan,

  • USAJOBS to be single source for Air Force job seekers

    Current civilian employees will have a single source to apply for vacant Air Force positions beginning Nov. 15 when they join other job seekers already using USAJOBS.Air Force civilian personnel officials announced the decision in October that almost all hiring will be accomplished through USAJOBS

  • Airmen support Antarctica mission

    Active-duty and Reserve Airmen from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., spent a few days supporting Operation Deep Freeze at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and related their experiences to the Defense Department's "Armed with Science" blog recently.Among the officers

  • Engineers testing eight-blade prop for C-130

    Engineers with the 418th Flight Test Squadron are currently testing a C-130H3 cargo plane equipped with Hamilton Sundstrand NP 2000 propellers.The new eight-bladed composite propellers are shaped to provide additional thrust in the takeoff and low airspeed range while using the current C-130

  • Nov. 2 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Energy conscious consumers share a ride

    Energy conservationists had a good thing going when the city of Colorado Springs offered bus service here. Fuel, wear and tear on personal vehicles and the long drive out from distant parts of the city made riding the bus a smart move.But when budget cuts forced the city to end bus service here in

  • Officials award Manas Transit Center fuel contract

    Defense Department officials have awarded a $315 million one-year contract with a one-year option to the London-based Mina Corp. Ltd. to supply 96 million gallons of jet fuel to the U.S. Transit Center in Manas, Kyrgyzstan.The Transit Center in Manas, near the capital city of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, is

  • Re-enlistment pilot program available down range

    A program designed to speed the re-enlistment process at deployed locations began this month. The Deployed Re-enlistment Pilot Program, developed by officials at the Air Force Personnel Center and U.S. Air Forces Central Command, is being tested at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. If successful,

  • Incirlik Airmen to fight binge drinking through That Guy campaign

    Airmen kicked off the That Guy campaign here at its monthly Wing Run Oct. 29.That Guy campaign has two goals: to reduce alcohol abuse and raise awareness of the negative, short-term social consequences of excessive drinking to young servicemembers."More than half of the Airmen at Incirlik are

  • Airman receives hometown promotion

    An NCO born in El Salvador was promoted to master sergeant before family and military representatives from the U.S. and El Salvador in his hometown during a promotion ceremony Oct. 29 here.Master Sgt. Fred Campos, a logistics planner for Special Operations Command South, moved to the U.S. when he

  • Nobel Prize-winning graphene research highlights AFOSR-funded physicists

    Officials at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, announced recently the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to Professor Andre Geim and Dr. Konstantin Novoselov from the University of Manchester for their 2004 graphene research.Mr. Geim and Dr. Novoselov achieved science's

  • Country star shines for Balad

    Trace Adkins performed here Nov. 2 for more than 1,500 servicemembers and civilians.The performance was part of Mr. Adkins' third USO tour to support deployed servicemembers. For fans like Army Sgt. 1st Class Amanda Prier, the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command Military Justice NCO in charge,

  • Air Force officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 500 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the November enlisted supplemental promotion process. The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended

  • 11-year-old becomes a pilot

    When an 11-year-old becomes a pilot, it's a headline maker. When an 11-year-old survives potentially terminal brain cancer, it's a headline maker. And the heroes who made both of those things possible for 11-year-old Ryder Lum were the doctors and staff of Kapiolani Women's and Children's Hospital,

  • Airmen help Soldiers meet airborne school requirements

    Paratroopers sat side-by-side both crushed and cozy from the weight of the massive parachute packs on their laps. Each jumper's eyes squinted from a combination of fatigue and flying dust kicked up by the ferocious winds whirling in from the C-17 Globemaster III's side doors. Loadmasters and

  • 37th Bomb Squadron Airmen, Canadian forces train

    Airmen from the 37th Bomb Squadron hosted five joint terminal attack controllers from the 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in a training exercise Oct. 28 in Alzada, Mont.The four-day joint exercise was designed to prepare the 37th BS Airmen for their upcoming deployment in January. "The training

  • Wounded Soldier saved through use of heart, lung machine

    A wounded Soldier incurred an injury that affected his lungs, and was transported on an aeromedical evacuation mission Oct. 21, from Afghanistan to Germany. The mission was carried out aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, with the use of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation machine. "This is the first

  • Officials stand up enlisted cyberspace defense operations career field

    Air Force officials added a new enlisted career field for cyberspace defense operators Nov. 1.The new specialty code, 1B4X1, is a retrain-in only specialty focused on computer network operations. The initial 1B4X1 cadre will comprise Airmen who are retraining from intelligence and cyberspace support

  • Nov. 1 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Oct. 30 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Oct. 29 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Oct. 28 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Airman close to death, wingman stays by his side

    What started as a stomach complaint one month ago for an Airman deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, turned into an emergency medical evacuation. Shortly after doctors at Joint Base Balad found fluid in Senior Airman Colton Brown's lungs, drainage tubes were placed, and he continued fighting for his

  • Academy officials break ground on solar array

    U.S. Air Force Academy officials broke ground on their latest and most ambitious solar energy project Nov. 1 here.The 6-megawatt solar array will occupy 30 acres of the Academy's land and is scheduled to be completed next summer.The solar array is the result of a partnership between the Air Force

  • Are you ready for winter?

    If living in or traveling to a region that experiences snow and freezing temperatures, now is the time to make winter preparations. Please review the following preparation tips:Prepare a winter storm planKeep the following supplies on hand: Lantern/flashlight, batteries, non-perishable food, potable

  • Nominations open for William A. Jump Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 62nd Annual William A. Jump Memorial Award.The Jump Award annually recognizes a federal employee for his or her outstanding service in administration and notable contributions to the efficiency and quality of public service. Nominees must have

  • Occupational analysts influence Air Force decision makers

    The Air Force's flying community logs thousands upon thousands of miles-per year fulfilling their mission, but 37 civilians based at Randolph AFB also are racking up the miles in their quest to assist the service's brain trust.Members of the Air Force Occupational Analysis office, assigned to Air

  • Ramstein Airmen host German counterparts

    In the spirit of partnership, members of the 37th Airlift Squadron hosted 11of their counterparts from the German Luftwaffe Oct. 25 through 29 here. The German airmen, along with two C-160D Transall aircraft assigned to the Lufttransportgeschwader 62, traveled from Flugplatz Wunstorf to spend a week

  • Open season set for three civilian benefit programs

    Office of Personnel Management officials have announced open season for three civilian benefit programs beginning Nov. 8 and lasting through Dec. 13. The three programs are the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, and the Federal

  • CMSAF visits Andrews, discusses Air Force issues

    More than 900 Airmen from Joint Base Andrews gathered to hear the Air Force perspective from the highest ranking enlisted Airman.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke to JB Andrews Airmen about joint readiness, deliberate development and building resiliency during an enlisted call

  • Affordable Care Act impacts federal benefits

    Several provisions of the Affordable Care Act will be implemented Jan. 1 affecting eligibility and benefits for appropriated civilian employees under the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Federal Flexible Spending Account programs.One of the provisions of Public Law 111-148 changes FEHB

  • Photo essay: PRT Zabul patrols area

    Air Force, Army, Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture personnel assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul patrol here for situational awareness Nov. 1. The team works with the government of Afghanistan to improve stability and

  • Nominations open for 2011 First Sergeant of the Year award

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations for the 2011 First Sergeant of the Year award.The award recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by Air Force members in the first sergeant special duty career field.Nominations must include examples of leadership and

  • Holloman centrifuge takes last spin

    Members of the Physiological Training Center concluded 22 years of centrifuge training here with its final spin Oct. 27.The culmination of the centrifuge training mission at Holloman AFB was directed by the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure of 2005, which announced the consolidation

  • DOD takes steps to stop bullying

    Bullying once was an issue that most chalked up to an inevitable rite of passage. It is now being re-examined for its true impact by Defense Department school officials who are taking steps to protect military children.Last year, the departments of Education and Health and Human Services joined with

  • Whiteman Airmen support developing nations

    Members of the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron, along with members of the 729th Airlift Squadron, completed a humanitarian mission to Honduras, recently. The mission was part of the Denton Amendment. "The Denton Amendment provides humanitarian and civic assistance in conjunction with military

  • Fairchild Airmen rescue 6 in one day

    Airmen from the 36th Rescue Flight saved six people and a dog during two different operations in Northern Idaho Oct. 28. Unexpected snowfall, up to 3 feet in some places, stranded a father and daughter as well as a group of campers among the 7,000-foot peaks of the densely forested mountain ranges.

  • Partnering for improved medical care

    The patient for the day came through the door in a large black bag, and medics quickly dragged him onto the table. Then the patient's head popped off and a foot fell to the floor, but that was OK for the medics -- it was just a medical manikin.But when all the parts were in line and the day's

  • Training center launches Afghan pilots

    The commander of the Afghan air force air school and the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron is charged with training Afghan soldiers to operate in their air force. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Nichols discussed his specialized training facility in an Oct. 28 "DODLive" bloggers roundtable."(This

  • CSAF honors hometown heroes at Air Force Week

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz helped honor some of central Florida's hometown heroes during a dinner Oct. 29 at Air Force Week Cocoa Beach 2010 here. Air Force Week is a public communication program that allows community members the opportunity to meet Airmen and learn about the Air

  • Community leaders share information, ideas with AFMC commander

    Eighteen civic leaders from across Air Force Materiel Command met with the commander Oct. 28, for a discussion of challenges that lie ahead in five significant categories tied to the AFMC mission.The civic leaders are members of the command's Community Liaison Program, a group of 40 people

  • VA backs 19 million home loans

    With mortgage rates at historic lows, veterans and military members continue to use the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program in record numbers to purchase a home or refinance their existing loans."Home ownership is one of the foundations of the American dream," said Secretary of Veterans

  • Air Guard adds psychological health directors

    Air National Guard leaders have created a new, wing-level position to provide mental health support to Airmen and their families before and after deployments."The Air Guard is the only service component that does not have military members who are mental health professionals or technicians," said

  • VA officials begin paying benefits for new Agent Orange claims

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure."The joint efforts of Congress and VA demonstrate a commitment to provide Vietnam veterans with treatment

  • Online tool tracks Airman deployment readiness

    An online tool available to Airmen aims to reduce the workload of tracking appointments and training in preparation for a deployment.The Personal Deployment Processing Tool, found on the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Online website, allows Airmen to review and track their readiness status for

  • Squadron aims to reduce use of air-sickness bags

    Even the bravest fighter pilots and toughest medical-evacuation helicopter pilots may occasionally need an air-sickness bag. Air sickness has nothing to do with how tough or strong someone is. It's a complex problem with a variety of causes, which affects many people to varying degrees. For aircrew,

  • Laughlin lieutenant loses leg, returns to pilot training

    A lieutenant here received word Oct. 29 that he will return to pilot training at the 47th Flying Training Wing here within the next month.1st Lt. Ryan McGuire lost a leg in a boating accident 13 months ago. Since the accident, Lieutenant McGuire has completed rehabilitation using his prosthetics,

  • Iron Chefs compete, prepare 'Fit to Fight' dishes

    Five teams of culinary artists dashed to the commissary here for the secret ingredient of the base's second annual "Fit to Fight" Iron Chef competition, Oct. 27. "The theme this year is 'Fit to Fight'," said Tech. Sgt. Amy Peterson, the 35th Force Support Squadron Falcon feeder manager. "This is a

  • CCAF represented at White House community colleges summit

    Lt. Col. Tim Albrecht, commandant of the Community College of the Air Force, served as the Department of Defense representative at a White House community college summit recently.A broad spectrum of people attended the summit, including administrators, educators, philanthropists and representatives

  • Airmen hone teamwork skills during live-fire training

    Firefighters from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron geared up and headed out to a nearby military installation here Oct. 27 and 28 for annual live-fire training, giving them a unique opportunity to hone their skills while working more closely as a team. Using a Mobile Aircraft

  • Energy initiatives, space capabilities top priorities for Air Force

    When the Air Force saves energy, it also saves money, the environment and possibly even lives, according to Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton. Ms. Conaton discussed ongoing service energy initiatives, as well as Air Force space programs, during a visit here Oct. 27 for Air Force Week

  • Chief Roy meets with top Afghan enlisted leader

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force met with the top enlisted leader of the Afghan air force here Oct. 27.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and Eid Mohammad, the command sergeant major of the air force in Afghanistan, discussed education, training and other issues relating to

  • AFIT graduates first class of cyberspace warriors

    Officials with the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Air Force Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence conducted the first Cyber 200 and 300 course graduation here Oct. 28. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, served as keynote speaker for this first class of

  • President proclaims November as Military Family Month

    President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating November as Military Family Month.Here is the text of the president's proclamation:We owe each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our armed forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are

  • Oct. 27 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Oct. 26 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • No. 8 Utes survive AIr Force comeback, 28-23

    Five turnovers sabotaged the Air Force Academy's offense as the Falcons fell to the University of Utah at Falcon Stadium Oct. 30.This was the second straight week the Falcons faced a team ranked both in the top 10 of the nation and the BCS rankings, and was fourth nationally-ranked opponent the

  • Air Force officials initiate service-wide upgrade to Windows 7

    In a continuing effort to meet emerging threats, Air Force officials initiated the service-wide upgrade of operating systems to Windows 7 Oct. 29. "This upgrade keeps with life cycle management best practices for information technology systems," said Col. Mark Ware, 24th Air Force director of

  • Secretary of State delivers appreciation message to servicemembers

    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a message of gratitude and praise here Oct. 29 to all servicemembers willing to devote their lives to the defense of freedom.Secretary Clinton discussed the magnitude of such a commitment, and the impact it has on the lives of millions of

  • New capability brings live JTAC training closer to the real thing

    A new capability to broadcast a combined live, virtual and constructive, or LVC, picture using distributed models and simulations brings live training for joint terminal attack controllers closer to training like they fight.The new capability was developed by members of the Air Force Agency for

  • Mobility Airmen reach 20-million-pound milestone

    Though C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules flights subsided on Oct. 3, mobility Airmen with a contingency response element at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala are among more than 600 U.S. servicemembers who've helped achieve a new milestone of 20 million pounds of aid delivered.Officials with

  • Tips for a safe, happy Halloween

    There are many ways to keep children safe at Halloween, and common sense can do a lot to prevent a tragedy. One way parents can help is to pick out or make a safe costume. Make sure that the costume is fireproof. Dress children in bright costumes so others can see them. If their costumes are dark,

  • Photo essay: Pararescuemen demonstrate their skills during Air Force Week

    Pararescuemen from the Air Force Reserve Command's 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., perform a freefall water rescue demonstration here Oct. 27. The demonstration was part of Air Force Week Cocoa Beach, a weeklong event showcasing U.S. Air Force capabilities and increase public

  • Keep Focus on Troops, Mullen Tells Joint Forces Command

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the members of U.S. Joint Forces Command Oct. 29 for their efforts on behalf of the nation's warfighters while urging them to maintain that focus going forward.In a ceremony near the command's Norfolk, Va., headquarters, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

  • Airmen embracing fitness culture

    "Readiness," said the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, "is the primary purpose of developing the new fitness standard, and, so far, Airmen are stepping up to the challenge as the program normalizes." The new physical-training standard is a way to ensure Airmen are prepared to do the nation's

  • 'Stop Loss' special pay application deadline approaches

    Defense Department officials are working to remind veterans and current servicemembers who were involuntarily retained in the military under the "Stop Loss" program to apply for special pay before the Dec. 3 deadline.Servicemembers whose service was involuntarily extended or whose retirement was

  • 460th Space Wing wraps up first Cyber Lightning exercise

    Working under a carefully planned and escalating contested cyber environment on Oct. 15, members of the 460th Space Wing here successfully completed their first exclusively cyber-focused exercise."Exercise Cyber Lightning" was designed to test the wing' s capability to operate in a contested cyber

  • Wanted: Energy vampire slayers

    An "energy vampire," or phantom load, is energy that continues to be drawn by appliances or accessories when they are turned off or disconnected. The following is a list of easy steps anyone can take at work and home to kill energy vampires once and for all:-- Use daylight instead of electric light

  • Air Force school focuses on cybersecurity

    "The wars of the future will be fought in the cyber domain" sounds like a bad movie tagline from 20 years ago, but it's becoming truer by the day, and the Air Force is readying troops for that battle.Brig. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, the commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology at

  • Port Dawg Challenge tests skills, strengthens camaraderie

    Out on the tarmac, noise from a C-130 Hercules drowns out the sounds of morning. Its four engines are still running with no plans to stop. Five Air Force Reservists brave the hot gusts from the jet's propellers and rush toward the ramp, which they lower to the ground. The Airmen load a Humvee and a

  • Airmen 'INVEST' in efficiencies

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler spoke about Air Force efficiency initiatives Oct. 28 as part of the Military Strategy Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies here."I don't think anybody in the Air Force will argue that we can't be more efficient at

  • Motorcycle group supports military funerals

    As the U.S. Supreme Court contemplates whether protestors outside military funerals are protected under First Amendment free-speech rights, a motorcycle group that travels the country attending those funerals as a show of support and respect rides on, undeterred by the political fray.About 200,000