Electronic Systems Center charting 'smart' course with Blue Teams

An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure, according to the old adage, and the Electronic Systems Center has taken that message to heart. Air Force officials have vowed to improve its acquisition timeliness and cost through an initiative known as "Going Green" -- green symbolizing a program that

Class selected for cyber security boot camp

Forty men and women from across the country will focus on a futuristic "cybercraft" as they participate in the 2006 Class of the Advanced Course in Engineering Cyber Security Boot Camp. A joint selection committee of Syracuse University and Air Force Research Laboratory officials reviewed the

Heritage flight

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for March 4 to 6. Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 5 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter

General Lord retires from Air Force Space Command helm

After a 37-year career, Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, retired in a ceremony here today. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley presided over the event. There were more than 700 current and former defense leaders, active and retired military members and civic

Iraqi Air Force takes giant step forward

A fully certified aircrew takes flight and a single air base opens its gates. To Iraqi Airmen training alongside U.S. Airmen these feats represent giant steps toward independence and national security. Since November, the Air Force has taken on the mission of standing up the Iraqi Air Force,

Continued vigilance is everyone’s responsibility

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, taught us that the enemies of the United States are capable of striking high-value targets on American soil, and they’re willing to stop at nothing to do so. While the United States has been safe from terror attacks since that ill-fated day, continued

Langley unit receive its first Raptors

After two-and-a-half months of waiting, an aircraft with a 94th Fighter Squadron emblem has once again landed at Langley Air Force Base. But this time, the emblems were painted on the sides of two F-22A Raptors. Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, 94th Fighter Squadron commander, and Maj. Kevin Dolata, 94th FS,

Hostage negotiation exercise

Exercise Eagle Flag

Spiral 3 underway for JEFX ’06

Spiral 3 of the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment ‘06 kicked off March 2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. JEFX is an Air Force chief of staff-sponsored, major command-executed series of experiments that combine live-fly, live-play ground and naval forces, simulation and technology insertions into a

Senior leaders' testimony on Air Force posture available online

The Air Force’s top leaders testified before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees March 2 about the service’s posture for the coming fiscal year. In the written and opening statements to the committees, the leaders outlined how the new budget will help keep the service focused on winning

Air Force leaders testify on processes used to combat costs

The Air Force has seen a rise in the cost of doing business, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told members of the House Armed Services Committee during testimony March 1."We are experiencing unyielding second order effects that continue to drain our top line -- we are exhausting all our

Virginia Guard unit begins integrating with fighter wing

He wears a battle dress uniform and looks just like any other maintainer working on a F-22 Raptor, but this Airman is very different from most others in the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here. He is paid by the hour, reports to a different supervisor and has a 70-mile commute to and from Richmond

KC-135s serve as enablers providing air bridges

Their mission is critical to the global war on terrorism. They perform maintenance for the KC-135 Stratotankers that enable U.S. and coalition aircraft to sustain flight and take the fight to the enemy. Stratotanker maintainers are the keys to the KC-135’s success in supporting Operation Enduring

Kunsan units deploy to Singapore

More than 70 Airmen from the 80th Fighter Squadron and 80th Aircraft Maintenance Unit deployed from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, March 2 for Operation Commando Sling. The month-long deployment, involving joint warfare operations between the U.S. Air Force and its Singapore counterparts, will

Paintball wars

Air Force seeks new tanker

The Air Force wants a new refueler aircraft, something commercially available now, which can be modified to replace the existing KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. That testimony came from Air Force leaders associated with the tanker replacement program, Feb. 28 in front of the House Armed Services

Air Force announces selections to senior master sergeant

The Air Force has selected 1,303 master sergeants for promotion to senior master sergeant. The promotion list will be publicly released at 8 a.m. CST March 8, and the complete list should be available by 5 p.m. CST on the Air Force Personnel Center Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/eprom/. The

Air Force completes negotiations with St. Louis County Port Authority

The Air Force has completed negotiations with the St. Louis County Port Authority for the transfer of 39 acres in the Lemay community of St. Louis. The property, once home to the National Imagery Mapping Agency, was declared excess to the federal government by the General Services Administration in

Keesler infrastructure continues to improve after Katrina

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, people here don’t take things like electricity, drinking water, housing, offices and plumbing for granted. Thanks to a team effort, each day brings improvements in base infrastructure, facilities and utilities, as the base braces for the next hurricane season.

Five wings compete in 'Tanker Winter Games'

Five 18th Air Force KC-135 wings came together for the first “Tanker Winter Games” here Feb. 23 through 26. Crews from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Robins AFB, Ga., MacDill AFB, Fla., Fairchild AFB, Wash., and here gathered not only for some friendly competition, but also for a chance to learn

Guard rescue wing still making mark on history

Amid the quiet picturesque towns sprinkled across Long Island, N.Y., are more than 800 Airmen who are a part of history. They are the men and women of the 106th Rescue Wing -- a unit that battled the “Perfect Storm,” witnessed the TWA Flight 800 disaster, supported response efforts after the

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 2 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Airmen learn desert survival from SERE

 What would you do if you got stuck in the desert? Twenty Airmen with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing found out when the Kuwait Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape team -- better known as SERE -- taught a one-day desert survival class in February. Tech. Sgt. Joshua Anderson and Senior Airman

Fueled and ready

Tent teardown

Security Forces training

'Fastnacht' Parade

Test wing shadows test-firing of Tomahawk cruise missile

Using both of Eglin Air Force Base’s water and land test ranges, a Navy Tomahawk cruise missile was launched in February from the USS Boise, a Los Angeles-class submarine under way in the Gulf of Mexico. Seconds after launch, the Tomahawk transitioned to cruise flight. It flew a fully guided

Commander declares 2006 ‘Rebirth of SMC’

Stressing processes, partnerships and people, the Space and Missile Systems Center commander told about 100 Aerospace Corporation employees they play a vital role in the “rebirth of SMC” and continued mission success. Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel spoke Feb. 16 as part of The Aerospace Corporation’s

Civil engineers do their part in rebuilding Iraq

Civil engineers wage the war on terrorism by stepping outside the wire and bringing the fight into the streets. They are the only Air Force unit in Iraq who come with armored dump trucks, excavators and concrete, repairing the many craters pitting the roads in Kirkuk and surrounding area. The

GPS helps warfighters track ‘bad guys’

When U.S. forces get to Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re finding dry, featureless terrain with no real landmarks or points of reference to use when they travel across these wide-open and often dangerous landscapes. In the past, maps and a compass were the decisive tools used by servicemembers to track

B-52 generation

Air Force announces promotions to major

Air Force officials selected 2,134 captains for promotion to major in the 2005 line of the Air Force, chaplain, judge advocate general and biomedical sciences corps boards. The list of promotion selects will be posted on the Air Force Personnel Center Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/offprom by

More personnel actions available online

Like MyPay and LeaveWeb before, the Air Force is bringing even more military personnel flight actions online. The process, called personnel services delivery transformation, takes effect March 31, and will encompass even more options than those of the Virtual MPF site already on the Internet. “We’re

Colorado College students study Schriever’s falcons

Although wildlife on and around the “little base on the prairie” seems scarce, if people were to roam the base’s acreage, they would see a landscape teeming with animal life. While a visit to Schriever Feb. 8 did not result in a wildlife encounter for a Colorado College group, it did offer an

Air Force football schedule released

A visit to Falcon Stadium by Notre Dame Nov. 11, a season-opening game at national power Tennessee Sept. 9 and conference home games against BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico and Utah highlight the Air Force football schedule, released March 2 by the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons sandwich the

Major dies in training accident

Maj. Bryan Adrian, a student with the 342nd Training Squadron, died during training here Feb. 15. He was transported to Wilford Hall Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:55 p.m. Major Adrian, a 41-year-old from Anchorage, Alaska, was taking part in water confidence training as part of

Force shaping issues explained to Congress

The Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel testified on force shaping and its effect on Airmen before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee March 1. Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady's testimony was presented to the committee that ensures servicemembers have the resources needed

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 50 close-air-support missions March 1 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Preparing for a contingency

General Scott, “God Is My Co-Pilot” author, dead at 97

Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott Jr., World War II fighter ace and author of the 1943 book “God Is My Co-Pilot” has died. The general passed away Feb. 27 in Warner Robins after a stroke. He was 97. Though the general retired from the Air Force in 1957, for the following decades he continued to serve the

Live fire provides realistic training scenarios

As black smoke towered skyward and flames shot from a building engulfed in fire, a crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the base fire department save the day and the building. What they found instead was the 332d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s fire and emergency services flight deployed

Guard tests world’s first multi-person rescue basket

An Air National Guard rescue unit successfully tested the world’s first multi-person rescue basket, a cage-like device that, once certified, can carry up to 15 people. “We really could have used this after hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” said Lt. Col. Brad Sexton, a program manager in the Air National

President Bush makes surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan

President George W. Bush and the First Lady, Laura Bush, made a surprise visit here March 1 to remind troops their mission in Afghanistan is still an important fight in the global war on terrorism. “You are fighting an enemy and bringing them to justice so they won’t hurt our fellow citizens again,”

Big leap forward in detecting ground targets from cosmos

When launched in 2010, a football-field-in-length demonstrator radar antenna, weighing more than 5 tons, will serve as the forerunner for the future of America's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets in space. Administered by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles

Order of Friendship Medal

Maintainers prepare for Raptor

The F-22A Raptor's unequaled capabilities bring some unique challenges to Air Force maintainers here. Not the least of which is gearing up a support machine to handle the maintenance workload when the first Raptors arrive for modifications in April. About 18 of the 21st century fighter aircraft will

Air Force announces preferred F-22A locations

The Air Force's preferred alternatives for the third and fourth operational F-22A beddowns are Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, today . “Although we must still complete the environmental analyses required under the

Protein study a real eye opener

Warfighters will never have the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but a specialized whey protein supplement under study here could enhance mental and physical performance. A double-blind Air Force Research Laboratory study was launched Feb. 3 as part of an operational readiness

Hospital lab provides life-saving products, procedures

The Air Force Theater Hospital here can do amazing things every day and is able to save lives through the hard work and dedication of the entire staff. But many of the life-saving procedures they perform would not be possible without the information and blood products the laboratory provides. “We

Bird flu -- fact and fiction

A global outbreak of disease -- that is what many people think when they hear the words “bird flu.” But is it really the next pandemic or just fowl play? Properly named avian influenza, this virus has spurred global awareness and growing concerns about the possibility of the virus mutating into a

Maintenance troops

U.S. Men's National Soccer Team

Troop movement

Ramstein Airmen train Iraqis to fly, fix C-130s

Ramstein Airmen deployed to Iraq to train Iraqis on the C-130 Hercules aircraft -- standing up the first Iraqi airlift squadron under the country’s new regime. A Ramstein pilot, navigator and enlisted maintainers deployed from August through January to train their Iraqi counterparts to fly and

Special operations focus of senior leader discussion

Senior leaders from the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Air Force Air Staff met recently to discuss the role of airpower in special operations. The talks involved 16 senior leaders, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Army Gen. Bryan Brown, commander of SOCOM. The

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions Feb. 28 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

New Horizons 2006

Flightline access goes high-tech

Security measures have soared to new levels since the global war on terrorism began. The nation and most of the world has seen everything from expanded intelligence and law enforcement capabilities to bolstered transportation security and airline passenger screening. While the Department of Homeland

Air Force symposium promotes better environmental stewardship

The 2006 U.S. Air Force Environmental Training Symposium, an educational training program for nearly 2,000 members of the Air Force, other government agencies and national academia began Feb. 27 and runs through March 3 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. "The United States Air

Defense Department working to prevent sexual assault

Defense Department leaders are committed to preventing sexual assault, said the commander of the Department of Defense's Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response. "To achieve this goal, in 2005, we have vigorously implemented a comprehensive sexual assault prevention and response

Post-deployment program shows early promise

Although in its fledgling stages, a program designed to accurately identify post deployment physical and mental health issues has already produced promising results, a senior Defense Department official said Feb. 27.“The post deployment health reassessment is a way to show servicemembers we care

No typical day for OSI agents

For many people, the three letters “O-S-I” conjure up images of intrigue, adventures, glamour and risk. However, for agents assigned to the Office of Special Investigations, the federal-level investigative service represents long days, serious work and countless hours of writing. “In a deployed

Tiger team tackles operational security violations

A couple of Airmen sat in the base food court chatting about their return to the United States the next day. Excited to be going home, they compared flight times. Meanwhile, 3 feet away, a third-country national took mental notes. He knew someone who would pay for flight information. The aircraft

First deployed civilian sexual assault response coordinator arrives in region

Airmen already know the pace here is much different than home. “Frenetic” is the word Donna Rathbun uses to describe the operations tempo on base. “The mission is always in the forefront,” she said. “There isn’t time for outside distractions or mistakes. Airmen are working long hours, and there’s

Air Force vision embraces warfighters, heritage

Heritage, future innovations and focus on the joint warfighter are three key points in the newly released Air Force Vision document, “Lasting Heritage…Limitless Horizons: A Warfighter’s Vision.” This vision document, released to Airmen worldwide Feb. 28, replaces the older “Vision 2020” version,

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 48 close-air-support missions Feb. 27 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Weapons cache discovery

Vehicle operators return home after teaming with Army

Seven vehicle operators with the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron returned to work Feb. 21 after driving the war-ravaged roads of Iraq for nearly six months. “We were the last medium to light (Air Force-operated) gun trucks solely responsible for providing security to convoys,” Staff Sgt. Scott

Air Force realigns combat search and rescue ops

Administrative control for select active-duty Air Force combat search and rescue assets is transferring from Air Force Special Operations Command to Air Combat Command. “Our military must always have the combat capability to rescue its people ... our warriors ... wherever and whenever required,”

U.S. military brings cheer to children’s home

Christmas came in February for the Children’s Home of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as about 20 members of the U.S. and Philippine military brought smiles and gifts with them Feb. 26. Located outside Clark Air Base, the home is for abandoned girls 6 to 16. The servicemembers, participating in

Advertising team spotlights special ops

An aircrew displays teamwork while firing 105 mm artillery from their gunship at night. Special operators freefall toward Earth at terminal velocity. Battlefield Airmen descend from hovering helicopters by rope, pilot small unmanned aerial vehicles and call for close air support. The Air Force’s

Program speeds up complaint processes

Air Force officials here recently extended an Equal Employment Opportunity pilot program from 31 test bases to all installations worldwide. The program, called the Compressed Orderly Rapid Equitable process, or CORE, focuses on cutting EEO’s case-processing time. In conjunction with the General

In any weather

Total force in action with Predator operations

The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center’s implementation of total force initiatives continues as more Guard and Reserve members integrate into Predator operations here. In an Air Force first, the center selected Reserve Lt. Col. John Breeden, to command the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, one of three

ARPC expands customer support for drilling reservists

Beginning March 3, Air Reserve Component members will be able to speak to an Air Reserve Personnel Center customer service representative the first weekend of each month from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MST. “ARPC will now be manned Saturdays and Sundays to help better serve all ARC Airmen,” said Col.

Acquisition career track may be redirected

Bringing more engineers into the Air Force acquisition career field is a priority for Air Force Materiel Command's top officer. Gen. Bruce Carlson, AFMC commander, discussed this topic and other issues with 170 people attending the 2006 U.S. Air Force Acquisition Leaders Forum. The event was held in

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for Feb. 25 to 27. Coalition aircraft flew 54 close-air-support missions Feb. 26 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to

Partners in the desert

Relief mission tests Hickam's new capability

Flying a “loaner” C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, a mixed active-duty and Guard aircrew flew the 15th Airlift Wing’s first contingency response mission. The aircraft, from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., flew relief supplies to Clark Air Base, Philippines, Feb. 22. It was the first time a mixed crew

Joint STARS keeping eye on the ground

High over Iraq, an E-8C Joint STARS aircraft surveys hundreds of miles of the country at a time, looking for insurgent activity, controlling those situations and taking action if needed. The aircraft's crew ultimately keeps ground troops safer by communicating with convoys and directing air power to

Tuskegee Airmen visit Spangdahlem

Philippine relief mission provides hands-on training

A C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., along with an aircrew from here, delivered relief supplies to Clark Air Base, Philippines, Feb. 22. The village of Guinsaugon, on the Philippine Island of Leyte, was hit by a killer 100-foot deep mudslide Feb. 21. Filipino officials fear

One team, one fight

While most Airmen here are on 15-month or two-year tours, one cog in the base mission has new faces every 30 days. Members of the 90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom by refueling C-17 Globemaster IIIs on missions to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Medical group helping keep 'boots on the ground'

Airmen are maintaining the health of troops and helping the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing meets its mission -- put “boots on the ground” and support the aeromedical evacuation of sick and injured servicemembers. The 386th Expeditionary Medical Group does this key mission with the help of its medical

Preschoolers tell Katrina stories with art

Art is the key that unlocked the thoughts, fears and memories of some Keesler preschoolers after Hurricane Katrina. The hallways of the child development center and some doorways at the Keesler Medical Center now serve as galleries for storm-inspired artwork by 3- to 5-year-olds. The scribbles,

Are you there?

Providing positive influence

Air Force implements new cell phone restriction

The Air Force is implementing a new cell phone restriction for drivers. Beginning Feb. 27, drivers are not allowed to talk on their cell phones while driving on Air Force installations without a hands free device. This policy is part of the Department of Defense’s Joint Traffic Guidance. This

Alliance focus

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions Feb. 23 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Training center uses combat lessons to evolve

Security forces in Europe are preparing for deployment to war zones with an up-to-date curriculum. The mission of the 786th Security Forces Squadron’s regional training center, otherwise known as "Creek Defender," is to provide predeployment integrated base defense training for U.S. Air Forces in

Airmen help secure Iraq’s infrastructure

Forty percent of Iraq’s oil and 14 percent of the world’s oil supply comes from Kirkuk, Iraq. Since oil is the lifeline of Iraq, it’s important to secure the country’s pipelines from danger and help make the oil run as efficiently as possible. That’s where the three-man POInT team comes in.Tech.

Guard mount

Balikatan 2006

Coalition mercy missions: Bringing heroes home

The thunder of the C-130 Hercules engine vibrates through the cabin as the aircraft lifts off of the runway. Today’s mission is different than most. Today, Australians and Americans leave pallets and passengers behind, making room to gather the wounded and bring them back home. Affectionately called

Keeping Tuzla’s airfield operational

There was a time in the late 1990s when Tuzla Air Base was crawling with hundreds of Airmen. As times changed, the duty of airfield maintenance has increasingly moved into the hands of contractors, but the Air Force still has a presence at the base. While the majority of the U.S. military presence

EOD Airmen remove, detonate World War II-era bomb

Explosive ordnance disposal Airmen with the 16th Civil Engineer Squadron destroyed a World War II-era explosive device found in Pensacola. The 100-pound photo-flash bomb, common to the World War II or Korean War period, was found by construction workers Feb. 14 clearing storm debris in the waters of