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  • 50th anniversary marks future cadets taking oath at academy

    Fifty years ago, 306 civilians took the oath July 11 at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver to become the first Air Force Academy cadets.Lt. Gen. Hubert R. Harmon was recalled from retirement to become the academy’s first superintendent. General Harmon, along with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Nathan F.

  • Military children win scholarships to space camp

    The Military Child Education Coalition is sending 15 children from military families to the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., this year.When the education coalition started the Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial Space Camp scholarship award four years ago, there was only enough money to send one

  • Program helps students cope with transitions

    It is a daunting and scary experience when school-age children wake up one morning realizing that they are in a strange new place, and, except for their family, they do not know anyone at all.They have no friends or peers to talk with and know nothing about the school they are about to enter, the

  • Air Force District of Washington becomes fully operational

    The Air Force District of Washington, which reactivated provisionally in January, assumed full operational capability in a ceremony here July 7.AFDW was first established in 1985 in response to the post-Cold War reduction in forces as a way to streamline the country’s transition into peacetime. It

  • Military taking precautions as Hurricane Dennis approaches

    Hurricane Dennis is bearing down on the United States, and servicemembers -- like others in the path of this Category 4 storm -- are taking precautions. The storm, which is moving toward the Florida Keys, has sustained winds of more than 140 miles per hour and could strengthen, said officials at the

  • Hurricane Dennis eyes Gulf Coast, packing major winds

    In a flurry of activity, the base is rushing hurricane preparations before the second major hurricane in 10 months makes landfall nearby. According to a hurricane statement released by The National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Dennis was a strong Category 4 hurricane, packing sustained winds of 150

  • Officials issue stop movement, Florida bases evacuated

    As people and aircraft evacuate some Florida bases July 8 with the approach of Hurricane Dennis, Air Force officials have placed a ”stop movement” order for people permanently moving to or transiting to some Florida and Missippi installations. Affected installations are Whiting Field, Hurlburt

  • Seconds can save lives

    1.5 seconds is all it takes. Granted, for those who take their time, it may take about four seconds, but it is still roughly about the same amount of time it takes to turn the key and start the car.People who take the extra couple of seconds to secure their seat belts can reduce their risk of injury

  • Academy athletes earn academic all-conference honors

    Air Force Academy baseball players John Meyers and Dustin Smith were named to the Mountain West Conference Academic All-Conference team July 7.Meyers, a civil engineering major, earned the honor with a 3.30 grade-point average and finished the season with 18 pitching appearances, striking out 18

  • Airman fights his way back to Iraq after serious injury

    Although a rocket attack cut his time short on his first deployment, an Airman with the 64th Helicopter Maintenance Unit here pledged to himself that he would endure whatever pain was necessary to get back in the fight.Following a year-and-a-half recovery from serious injuries to his hand which

  • ACC flying hours restored

    Air Combat Command officials restored an estimated $201 million to its flying hour program July 1 after receiving additional funds from Air Force headquarters.Air Force officials approved the restoration which will help alleviate the loss of readiness resulting from the $272 million, 31,349-hour cut

  • Services Airmen work to improve quality of life

    Long hours and long days fill the four months or more many Airmen spend deployed here, so a good quality of life is an integral part of mission success, said Maj. Brian Eddy, 332nd Expeditionary Services Squadron commander.The squadron’s goal is to contribute to the readiness and improved

  • Airmen teach C-130 ops to Iraqis, learn about sacrifice

    When a crew of instructors deployed here to teach Iraqi airmen the finer points of flying and maintaining C-130 Hercules, they knew they had a monumental task in front of them. But what they found was something unexpected. Slowly over several months, Iraqi and U.S. Airmen have developed lifelong

  • DOD changes emergency data form to prevent heartaches

    Two sad cases recently highlighted the need for servicemembers to designate who should receive their remains if they are killed in action.DOD has changed the Record of Emergency Data Form -- DD Form 93 -- to require servicemembers to designate exactly who should be declared the "person authorized to

  • New housing allowance guidelines won't result in pay cut

    Defense officials are eliminating the "geographic rate protection" clause that ensures servicemembers moving to a new area receive the same housing allowance as those already living there.Geographic rate protection is expiring in January because basic allowance for housing rates have reached a level

  • Death benefits, insurance increase for servicemembers

    Compensation for the survivors of servicemembers who die in combat zones and insurance coverage for servicemembers will both increase significantly this year.An increase in death gratuity benefits from $12,500 to $100,000 already has taken effect, and Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance maximum

  • Rumsfeld, Rice: U.S. will stand by Britain in face of terror

    If terrorists thought they could intimidate the people of a great nation during the attacks in London on July 7, "they picked the wrong people and the wrong nation," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said.History is filled with examples of tyrants, fascists and terrorists intent on carrying out

  • Andersen couple wins first sergeant, security forces awards

    A husband and wife at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, have each earned major Air Force-wide recognition. Senior Master Sgt. Robert Altenbernd is the 2005 Air Force First Sergeant of the Year, and his wife, Master Sgt. Nancy Altenbernd, received the 2004 Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Support

  • FEHB premiums extended for reservists, guardsmen

    Department of Defense civilian employees called to active duty supporting a contingency operation may continue their Federal Employees' Health Benefits coverage, and have the agency pay their share of the premiums, for up to 24 months.This applies only to reserve component civilian employees called

  • PACAF prepares for Cope North

    Units from the U.S. Air Force and the Japan Air Self Defense Force will take part in the annual Cope North exercise here July 11 to 21.Cope North is a bilateral exercise designed to enhance U.S. and Japanese air operations. It gives pilots from both countries opportunities to conduct training in

  • IG investigation prompts Air Force official's reassignment

    Michael L. Dominguez, acting secretary of the Air Force, and Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, have directed that Brig. Gen. Richard S. Hassan be reassigned as a result of an Air Force Inspector General investigation. General Hassan has been reassigned from director of Air Force Senior

  • CDPs provide civilian employees a voice in their career

    As part of civilian force development efforts, development teams are now using career development plans to provide employees at the GS-13 to -15 levels with development recommendations on their careers.The plans are forms that allow civilians to list their short- and long-term development goals.

  • Survey seeks input in shaping civilian personnel system

    Civil service employees who soon will come under the new National Security Personnel System have an opportunity to help shape the program.The new National Security Personnel System Factor Survey gives general schedule employees the chance to register their views about several performance factors

  • Undocumented workers at Seymour Johnson apprehended

    Forty-nine undocumented workers were apprehended here July 6 by base, local and federal officials.After being notified about undocumented workers here, Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents detained them in a successful operation. Working with OSI were the Defense Criminal Investigation

  • Bush, Blair condemn London terror attacks

    President Bush condemned the July 7 coordinated terrorist attacks in London and instructed U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials to encourage local and state officials to be "extra vigilant" to prevent similar attacks in the United States.Scotland Yard reported seven explosions at four

  • Air Force changes fitness test criteria

    Air Force officials are making a few changes to the physical fitness test used to assess the fitness of Airmen.In January 2004, the Air Force underwent a major change in the way it looked at fitness. As part of the Fit to Fight program, the service adopted a more stringent physical fitness

  • Quadrennial Defense Review process revs up

    The Quadrennial Defense Review looks to make sure the Defense Department is "arranged in the way that makes the most sense for the current situation," a senior Pentagon spokesman said July 5.The QDR is a congressionally mandated study used to analyze the full range of DOD activities. DOD officials

  • Becoming Thunderbird is dream come true for Nevada native

    She was only 5 years old when she saw an F-4 Phantom fighter jet soar and maneuver through the clouds during an air show. It was then she knew she would someday do the same.Now, 26 years later, Capt. Nicole Malachowski is getting her chance to do just that and enter the history book at the same

  • Report: Loss of control caused Predator crash

    The loss of control of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle caused it to run out of fuel and crash Jan. 14 at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia, Air Force officials said July 6. The $3.5 million Predator, which belonged to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base,

  • Web site delivers high-tech, hands-on health education

    Making the transition to a healthier lifestyle can make the difference between life and death for patients with cardiovascular disease.Through detailed illustrations, testimonials from other patients and other cutting-edge technologies, the CardioConnection Web site takes patient education well

  • F-16 maintainers make sure curtain gets raised

    Like a Broadway show, the stars get all the attention. But behind the scenes, key roles must be performed for the show to go on.The theater that the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing performs under features fast, agile fighter planes providing air support for troops on the ground. But without the hard

  • Moseley lauds education group's focus on military children

    The general nominated to be the next Air Force chief of staff praised the work of the military child education coalition here June 29 during the group's annual conference.Gen. T. Michael Moseley, currently the Air Force vice chief of staff, said the coalition not only is in the forefront of leveling

  • Expeditionary Airmen form unique personnel team

    More than 85 Airmen have begun serving 365-day deployments supporting the war on terrorism here, and about 200 positions are expected to be in place by December.For many people, the extended tour offers a unique opportunity to help freedom and democracy grow in Iraq; however, with that opportunity

  • Medical Airmen save infant's life

    Medics here recently saved the life of a local 3-month-old infant suffering from severe infection.The child’s father brought him to a forward-operating base where officials arranged for the baby to be brought here for care.Though the 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron’s Airmen do not routinely

  • Initial success or total failure; no in between for EOD

    One job for civil engineers does not allow for mistakes. It is either initial success or total failure.Explosive ordnance disposal units are made up of people of doubtful reliability and questionable mentality, according to a mission briefing put together by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Cowern, 40th

  • Andrews Airman helps save father, son

    An Airman with the 89th Airlift Wing’s dental squadron here helped rescue a father and son involved in a recent accident in nearby Waldorf.Master Sgt. David Klink, the squadron’s superintendent, was waiting in his vehicle at a stoplight at a T-intersection when he witnessed a truck barreling through

  • Air Force recognizes historical name of Iraqi air base

    What’s in a name? In the case of Ali Base, years of history. Ali Base, situated near the city of An Nasiriyah, in south central Iraq, is the main airfield in southern Iraq from which Iraqi, coalition and U.S. Airmen operate. Until January, coalition forces called the base Tallil. Now, all use the

  • Senate confirms Moseley as next CSAF

    The Senate has confirmed Gen. T. Michael Moseley as the next chief of staff of the Air Force. He is the current Air Force vice chief of staff.General Moseley met with members of the Senate Armed Services Committee June 29 during his confirmation hearing. Following the approval of the committee,

  • 60th Anniversary of World War II celebrated

    In honor of World War II veterans marking their 60th Anniversary, the World War II Airpower Committee hosted a commemoration ceremony at Arlington Cemetery June 30.The Air Force chief of staff honored airpower contributions to World War II during the ceremony by placing a wreath at the Tomb of the

  • C-130J conducts first-ever combat airdrop

    Air Force history was made June 30 when the newest addition to the cargo fleet proved its capabilities during the first-ever C-130J Hercules combat airdrop. The new J-model aircraft has been put to the test on various missions both at home and abroad on numerous occasions to ensure it meets all

  • Airman finds freedom in United States

    Most 12-year-olds are trading baseball cards and feeling hesitant about entering middle school. By the time young Duc Tien Luu was 12, he had been a Vietnamese refugee, attempted to smuggle himself into Thailand more than 10 times, was tortured in prison and sent back to his home country on strict

  • NASA gives go for space shuttle return to flight

    NASA officials cleared the space shuttle to return to flight. After a two-day flight readiness review meeting here, June 30th senior managers approved a July 13 launch date for the Space Shuttle Discovery.Retired Col. Eileen Collins, mission commander, and her crew are scheduled to lift off at 3:51

  • Leaders need guidance on religious discussions

    Bluesuiters in leadership positions need more guidance and education about when and where it is appropriate to discuss their faith. That testimony from Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel, came June 28 before the House Armed Service Committee military personnel

  • EQUAL listing available July 12

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for Airmen returning from overseas and continental United States mandatory movers from November through January 2006 will be available July 12.Airmen need to work through their military personnel flights or their commander's support staff to update their

  • Air Force takes part in joint training transformation

    Linking aircraft simulators with live forces and simulators of other services have been the Air Force’s most visible contributions to the Department of Defense's joint training transformation effort. DOD has been working to make training for war a team effort, pushing the four services -- who often

  • Air Force leaders send Independence Day message

    The following is an Independence Day message from Michael L. Dominguez, acting secretary of the Air Force, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“This July 4th, we celebrate our nation’s 229th year of independence. In those 229 years, the United States has embodied the principles of

  • Resnicoff: Taking oath involves personal change

    When individuals take an oath to enter military service, a change happens in who they are and what their obligations are. For Airmen, that change must involve a shift from the personal goals of a civilian to the greater goals of the Air Force, with an emphasis on the core values, said Rabbi Arnold

  • Liberty, freedom: An Airman’s journey

    Imagine living in a society where the length of a man’s hair or a woman’s skirt is determined by the government; where liberty and freedom are nonexistent to the majority. Sound far-fetched? Not for one Airman here; it is how he grew up.Chaplain (Capt.) Jin Choi, 5th Bomb Wing chaplain, was born

  • Airmen defend inside the wire

    One group of Airmen here enables local and third-country nationals to work here, which helps Kirkuk officials reduce military manpower needed and provide security to thousands of residents.Airmen escorts came from bases and various career fields throughout the Air Force and brought here to “defend

  • Airmen share culture with South Koreans

    Airmen here got to see what it is like on the “other side of the fence” recently when they spent the night learning and sharing experiences with more than 20 South Korean families from nearby Jeonju City.Airmen from several base squadrons volunteered for the Korean Red Cross Cultural Awareness

  • Moseley confirmation hearing held

    The Air Force chief of staff nominee testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee here June 29."I am deeply humbled and honored to be here," Gen. T. Michael Moseley said. "I truly appreciate the enormity and responsibility of the office of chief of staff of the Air Force."General Moseley,

  • Rumsfeld, Myers call on Americans to support troops

    In anticipation of upcoming Independence Day celebrations, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff asked for support of the troops and expressed confidence in the American people's spirit during a Pentagon town hall meeting June 29. This was the first time the town

  • Reservists, guardsmen bring skills to special missions

    Maj. Eduardo Alzona speaks eight languages -- nine, if you count "legalese."As an undergraduate, Major Alzona studied languages and later attended law school. So when Defense Department officials asked the reservist to teach Spanish to police officers in South Florida, it seemed like a natural

  • 50th anniversary of B-52 delivery

    Even though it recently turned 50, the B-52 Stratofortress is still capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory. And its lifespan has been calculated to extend beyond the year 2040. June 29 marked the 50th anniversary for the B-52, also known as the “Big Ugly

  • Report: Pilot’s failure to follow procedures caused F-16 crash

    A pilot's failure to follow standard F-16 Fighting Falcon operations procedures caused a D-model F-16 to crash short of the runway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., on March 18, Air Force officials said June 30.The incident happened when the pilot, assigned to Nellis' 57th Wing, was returning to the

  • Airmen get ACCES to better communication

    The most important word in a maintenance operation is “stop!” To help spread the work, the attenuating customized communications earpiece system was developed by Air Force Research Laboratory scientists and local F/A-22 Raptor specialists. The earpiece makes it easier for pilots and maintainers to

  • Civilian ensures Fourth of July celebration goes off with bang

    For Bob Howett, the Fourth of July is his time to shine, and he has the scar to prove it. During his final Air Force assignment here 25 years ago, the former jet mechanic discovered his love of fireworks. It is that love of explosives that has kept him pleasing crowds worldwide.Mr. Howett started

  • Dominguez talks about present course in Iraq, future for Airmen

    During the acting secretary of the Air Force’s visit here June 29, he said part of the reason he came was to pass on a message. “I want to let you know how deeply appreciated your service is by the men and women of the United States,” Michael L. Dominguez said. “There is a debate in our country

  • Jumper stresses core values, spiritual strength

    As part of service in the Air Force, Airmen are expected to embrace its core values, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said in a Chief’s Sight Picture released June 28. These values -- integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do -- are a guide that binds Airmen

  • Report: Reduced visibility caused midair collision

    Air Force officials have completed their investigation of the midair collision between a T-37 Tweet and a civilian crop-duster Jan. 18 near Hollister, Okla., which resulted in a civilian pilot’s death.Accident investigators determined there were two causes to the accident. First, the Tweet aircrew,

  • Airman missing from Vietnam War identified

    The Department of Defense POW/MIA Personnel Office announced June 29 that the remains of an Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial.Lt. Col. Darel Leetun of Hettinger, N.D., will be buried with full military honors July 8

  • President thanks troops, urges Americans to thank them too

    President Bush expressed his gratitude June 28 to the nation's servicemembers and their families, and urged Americans to take time on Independence Day to make their own gesture of thanks.President Bush spoke at Fort Bragg, N.C., in a nationally televised address."To the Soldiers in this hall and our

  • 60th Fighter Squadron wins air-superiority trophy

    For the second time in less than 10 years, the 60th Fighter Squadron is the winner of the Raytheon Trophy.Started in 1953 by Hughes Aircraft Company, the trophy is given annually to the top air-superiority or air-defense squadron in the Air Force.“It’s quite an honor -- bottom line it’s the highest

  • B-1 commemorates its 20th at Dyess

    It has more than 20 years of service, has more than 100 world records for speed, payload, range and time to climb and has become the bomber of choice for warfighters in all theaters -- but the B-1B Lancer is just getting started. The multimission bomber commemorates its 20th anniversary since its

  • Command chief board announces results

    Air Force officials have announced the results of the 2005 Command Chief Master Sergeant Candidate Board held June 6 to 10.Command chief master sergeants serve as senior enlisted advisers to commanders at wing, numbered Air Force, field operating agency and major command levels. When the senior

  • Pilot ejects safely after F-16 skids off runway

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot ejected safely after an emergency landing June 28 at nearby Lamar Airfield.The accident occurred during a training flight in a southeast Colorado military training area. He was attempting an emergency landing after receiving a cockpit fire warning indication. The

  • Official: DOD committed to veterans' health care

    The Defense Department will work with the Veterans Affairs Department to help cover a shortfall in VA funds because of increased dental benefits claimed by returning veterans of the war on terrorism, a top DOD health official told Congress on June 28."The Department of Defense is firmly committed to

  • Mobility bags must be packed, ready

    When most people plan to travel, they take time to make sure they have packed everything they will need for their trip. Sometimes, forgetting a toothbrush can put a damper on a vacation. However, in the military, troops must be ready to go at a moment’s notice. On a deployment to a hazardous duty

  • Airman flies to Dog Island to test radio communication

    An avid private pilot and amateur radio operator assigned here participated in Field Day 2005 on June 25, a national emergency preparedness exercise aimed at ham radio operators.Working alone on a desolate island, Lt. Col. Edward Linch combined his two passions and brought a concept he has long

  • Last TSP 'open season' ends June 30

    The restrictions of having only two open seasons each year for civilian and military members to sign up for, stop, resume or change their Thrift Savings Plan contributions has ended.Public Law 108-469 goes into effect July 1, eliminating restrictions on contribution elections that have always been

  • National group honors General, Mrs. Myers

    The National Military Family Association honored Gen. Richard B. and Mary Jo Myers during the group's annual luncheon June 27.The group honored the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his wife for their leadership and dedication to improving the lives of military families.Mary Jo Myers thanked

  • Band member selected for ‘Hope’ award

    Air Force Personnel Center officials recently announced the U.S. Air Force Band’s superintendent here as the recipient of the 2005 U.S. Armed Forces Spirit of Hope Award for the Air Force.Senior Master Sgt. Ann Hinote has been a band member for 17 years.The Spirit of Hope Award is presented annually

  • Airman tests new body armor

    Carried into the Air Force theater hospital, wounded badly in the shoulder and thigh, a servicemember is lucky to be alive. The body armor he was wearing protected his vital organs but could not stop the bullets from tearing into his unprotected body parts.It was not all just luck though. The

  • Air Force approves Afghanistan, Iraqi campaign medals

    Air Force officials have authorized Airmen to wear the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal.The Department of Defense campaign medals apply to active-duty Airmen, reservists and guardsmen deployed on or after Oct. 24, 2001, for Operation Enduring Freedom and March 19, 2003, for

  • AMC competition wraps up: 6th AMW takes Rodeo crown

    The 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., was named Best Air Mobility Wing on June 24 following Rodeo 2005 at McChord AFB, Wash.Rodeo 2005, Air Mobility Command’s international competition that focuses on improving the skills of air mobility professionals, ended June 24. The

  • New Air Force adviser chosen for values, vision

    Air Force officials have created a new adviser position to help ensure the Air Force's core values are integrated into all aspects of the service's operating concepts, policies and vision.Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, former national director of the Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish

  • Airmen, Soldiers open lines of communication

    Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the area surrounding Baghdad International Airport has developed into a series of bases, each with its own unique role in fighting the war on terrorism.Now, a small group of Airmen and Soldiers are working together to link each of those bases together

  • West Nile Virus remains threat in U.S.

    Most people remember Sept. 11, 2001, as the day terrorists attacked America. But for one family here, it marks the day their 2-year-old son died from West Nile Virus.Summer is here in full force, and people are thinking about the 101 Critical Days of Summer -- vehicle accidents, sports injuries,

  • Officials urge Airmen to be wary of scams

    “Congratulations! You’re the winner of $6 million. All we need you to do is contact our agent to begin the claim process.”At one time or another, most people have received this type of offer in the mail or by e-mail. This “to-good-to-be-true” offer is in fact a scam to entice people to give up

  • Total force Samaritans in the sand help friend, foe

    As the story goes, a good Samaritan helped an injured stranger along a well-traveled road in the Middle East more than 2,000 years ago.Today, hundreds of miles farther east, reservists of the 433rd Medical Squadron are working with about 140 Airmen of the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical

  • Potential recruits list critical to 'all-recruited' force

    The term "all-volunteer force" is a misnomer, a senior Defense Department personnel official said here June 23.In truth, the U.S. military is an "all-recruited force," and its success depends on recruiters having access to potential recruits, said Dr. David S. C. Chu, undersecretary for personnel

  • Coalition, NATO forces take pride in Afghanistan's progress

    Afghanistan "has come alive," thanks to progress made during Operation Enduring Freedom, and troops serving there cannot help but feel motivated knowing the role they are playing in that progress, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe said here June 23.Gen. Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong described

  • Exercise trains U.S. forces for combat missions

    Airmen, Sailors and Marines got a taste of realistic combat during Pacific Air Force’s premier combat-air power exercise, Cooperative Cope Thunder, which ended here June 24.About 400 U.S. forces and their 30 aircraft conducted operations together during two weeks of large-force employment training.

  • Cadet finishes second at track and field championships

    U.S. Air Force Academy cadet Dana Pounds wrapped up an incredible season with a second-place showing at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships here June 23.Pounds, the top collegiate javelin thrower once again, threw 177 feet, 4 inches to place second overall behind American record-holder Kim

  • Leaders say timetable for troops’ return would be mistake

    Setting a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal in Iraq would be a mistake, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee here June 23."Some in Congress have suggested that deadlines be set," Secretary Rumsfeld said. "That would be a mistake; it would throw a lifeline

  • Reserve Tricare enrollment requires contact center support

    The Air Force Reserve Contact Center here is the sole point of contact for Air Force reservists to enroll in Tricare Reserve Select, officials announced June 17.This is the first time Air Reserve Personnel Center officials have provided a service to all reservists under a centralized personnel

  • Air Force teams compete in pit-stop challenge

    Millions of NASCAR fans each year watch as professional pit-stop crews speedily change out tires and refill gas, but eight Air Force teams got to experience this rush for themselves. The Air Force’s car, No. 21, visited here June 23 to conduct a pit-stop demonstration and competition. The Air Force

  • Air Force transformation in Europe aiding terror war

    The transformation taking place throughout the Defense Department started early for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, which began reshaping and repositioning its assets 15 years ago and is now better prepared to support the war on terrorism, the command's top officer said June 23.Gen. Robert H. "Doc"

  • U-2 pilot identified

    Department of Defense officials identified the pilot killed in a U-2 surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft crash June 22 in Southwest Asia.Maj. Duane Dively, 43, of Rancho California, Calif., had completed flying a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and was returning to his base when

  • Airmen add armor to convoy vehicles

    Airmen here are adding life-saving armor to large trucks to protect troops on convoy missions throughout Iraq. While these monsters of the road may look menacing now, it was not always this way, officials said. In many cases, their complete transformation can be traced back to the Airmen of the

  • Airdrop, refueling events take flight at Rodeo 2005

    The airdrop and air refueling event at Rodeo 2005 included 33 international and U.S. aircraft on a mission to become the best of the best.“These crewmembers were sent by their wings and their nations to represent them, having gone through intense training to hone their skills to be the best

  • C-17s cross globe to assist international exercise

    Six C-17 Globemaster IIIs flew from Alaska to Australia June 18 to 21 to help launch the Talisman Saber 2005 international exercise. The exercise involved more than 6,000 Australian and 10,000 U.S. servicemembers from the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy.The C-17s were from here and Charleston AFB,

  • Seymour Johnson crew carries Reserve torch at Rodeo

    Aircraft at Rodeo 2005 come in many shapes and sizes, but one thing they have in common is their need for a steady supply of fuel.The 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., is one of nine refueling wings, and the only Reserve refueling wing, competing here. The wing flies the KC-135

  • New system improves KC-135 performance, saves money

    After years of development, the wheel and brake system improvement program for the KC-135 Stratotanker is ready for implementation by workers at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here.The steel brakes currently used on the KC-135 are being replaced with carbon brakes which allow the aircraft to

  • Life support takes new meaning for deployed Airmen

    Two small shops with more than double the workload as at home station pray their efforts supporting Operation Enduring Freedom are all for naught.That is because lives depend upon flawless work on the life support equipment in their care. If the equipment is never used, life support Airmen say that

  • Rodeo closing ceremony broadcast live

    The closing ceremony for Rodeo 2005 will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. PDT on June 24.The U.S. Air Force’s premier air mobility competition features more than 30 U.S. and international teams and dozens of mobility-related events, including airlift, aerial refueling and medical evacuation.This marks

  • Taking fight to the enemy

    Once the plane is airborne and the fasten seatbelt light goes off, there is a flurry of activity as crewmembers hustle to get their various tasks done. As the aircraft continues on its heading, the crew of the E-3 Sentry, with its many buttons, switches and gadgets, gets set for their part in a

  • Teams flex muscle during Rodeo fitness event

    The 715th Air Mobility Operations Group team from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, finished first in the fit-to-fight competition at Rodeo 2005 here June 19 with a score of 297 points.The competition, worth a possible 300 points, was the first in Rodeo history, stemming from the desire of Gen. John P.

  • Guard Airmen join total force Rodeo

    A 19-person team from the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio, is the only Air National Guard unit competing in Rodeo 2005.“It is our honor to be here and further the tradition of the citizen-Soldier,” said Maj. Dave Johnson, 121st ARW team commander. “We are proud to go shoulder to shoulder

  • Competitors battle ants and obstacles on Rodeo course

    One hundred million ants, 800 possible points, 150 pounds to carry, 13 umpires, eight obstacles, five teams, two visiting generals, and one endurance course … priceless.Participants in the aeromedical evacuation endurance course event may be new to Rodeo, but they took the challenge head-on and made