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  • DOD temporarily oversees selected Air Force programs

    Department of Defense officials announced March 28 that all major defense acquisition programs managed by the Air Force and designated acquisition category 1C programs will temporarily be placed under the authority of Michael Wynne, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and

  • Dominguez acting secretary of the Air Force

    With the resignation of Peter B. Teets, former acting secretary of the Air Force, Michael L. Dominguez is the new acting secretary.Mr. Dominguez also serves as the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs. He entered government service in 1983 as a program analyst on

  • Academy sports wrap: Falcon javelin thrower honored by conference officials

    Backed by a record-setting performance at the Arizona State University Invitational in Tempe, Ariz., javelin thrower Dana Pounds was named the Mountain West Conference Women’s Track and Field Co-Athlete of the Week, league officials announced March 29.With a toss of 182 feet 1 inch at the meet,

  • Bagram Airmen recover hundreds of pallets

    The numbers 88- by -108 by -2.25 inches and 290 pounds represent lifeblood for the Air Force’s logistics readiness officers and air transporters.They are the measurements of a pallet type used to carry combat supplies in and out of war zones … and they are “wanted.”A critical shortage of these

  • Final Joint STARS aircraft delivered

    Officials from the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., delivered the 17th and final E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft to the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins AFB, Ga., on March 23.The wing is the only unit to fly the aircraft. The Joint STARS

  • Pilots give feedback on F-16 upgrade

    F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., were here recently to give feedback to members of the F-16 Systems Group on upgrades made to the aircraft.Lt. Col. John Montgomery, 55th Fighter Squadron commander, and Capt. Jim Govin, a 55th FS pilot, flew two of the newly modified F-16s

  • No change expected at coalition base in Kyrgyzstan

    The political situation in Kyrgyzstan is expected to have no impact on coalition efforts there supporting operations in Afghanistan, an official at U.S. Central Command said here March 30.Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith said Kyrgyzstan’s new government leaders have “gone out of their way” to ensure the U.S.

  • Long-range plans key to winning anti-terror effort

    Defense, offense and long-range actions characterize U.S. operations in the war on terror, Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said here March 29. And while the first two are important, it is long-range actions that will ultimately help the U.S. win the war, he

  • Officials announce Air Force comptroller awards

    Air Force financial management officials announced the winners of the 2004 financial management and comptroller awards.They are:Financial Management and Comptroller: -- Organization, 347th Comptroller Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. -- Individual, Lt. Col. Trent Edwards of the 92nd Air

  • Second Predator crashes in Iraq

    An MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle crashed in Rawah, Iraq, at about 7 p.m. on March 30, officials said. The Predator is the second one to crash here this week.The aircraft was assigned to the 15th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. It was in the U.S. Central

  • Academy honors distinguished graduates

    Contributions to the Air Force and nation have earned two Air Force Academy graduates the academy’s distinguished graduate awards.Retired Col. Frederick Gregory and retired Gen. Ronald W. Yates have earned the 2004 Distinguished Graduate Award. The awards will be presented on behalf of the academy

  • 'Faces of Fallen' exhibit open at Arlington

    The faces remind us of what we have lost.“Faces of the Fallen,” an exhibition at the Women in Military Service to America Memorial here, features more than 1,300 portraits of servicemembers who have died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.Hundreds of family members came to see portraits of their

  • OSI keeps Baghdad Airmen, Soldiers safe

    Force Protection. To many Airmen, it means fishing for identification, showing it to the gate guard, and then going to work for a 12-hour shift. To the special agents of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 2408, force protection encompasses a range of discreet, 24-hour operations

  • Myers speaks to ROTC cadets of integrity, commitment

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff left the Arnold Air Society/Silver Wings National Convention here March 28 more confident than ever about the future of America’s military.About 1,500 ROTC cadets and civilians from around the country listened as Gen. Richard B. Myers spoke of the challenges

  • Through the eyes of a child

    The military working dog demonstration ended, and the audience dispersed, heading back toward an overflow parking lot where a fire truck and security forces patrol car waited.Lt. Col. Derrick Richardson of the 327th Contractor Logistics Sustainment Group here walked toward the pavilion when a small

  • Federal law assists troops' dealings with creditors

    Federal law prohibits mortgage lenders from immediately foreclosing on homes owned by servicemembers deployed overseas on military duty, a senior legal officer said here.All servicemembers, including those deployed, are protected under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, signed by President Bush on

  • Officials announce contracting awards

    Air Force officials announced the winners of the 2004 contracting awards.They are:Secretary of the Air Force Professionalism in Contracting: -- Supervisory, Christine Clark of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.-- Nonsupervisory, Suzanne White of the 50th

  • Unit deployment managers ensure readiness

    Described by officials as the squadron lifeline to deployment processes anywhere, unit deployment managers are tasked with ensuring their unit’s troops and cargo are ready for deployment.“Ask any commander who has a deployment mission, and they will tell you their UDM is invaluable,” said Lt. Col.

  • New course prepares NCOs for joint ops in Southwest Asia

    A new training course for senior enlisted leaders is giving them skills that are proving invaluable for those deployed here, officials said.The Command Senior Enlisted Leader Capstone Joint Operations Module course is giving warfighters the tools they need to operate in an environment in which they

  • Iraqi Freedom deployments help Airmen understand war

    For Tech. Sgt. Aaron Otte and Staff Sgt. Ron Beard, both security forces Airmen assigned to the 416th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron security forces flight and deployed here from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on past deployments is something they said they

  • Maintainers keep Stratotankers airborne

    A KC-135 Stratotanker is considered a support aircraft in the war on terrorism, but for many members of the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, that is an understatement.Tasked with the responsibility of keeping Air Force, sister service and coalition aircraft refueled and flying, these Grand Forks Air

  • Military dogs dig into security

    Not all Air Force equipment has engines, wings or even operating instructions. One unit here is responsible for equipment that has a mouth packed with sharp teeth and a hide of fur.“Osan has the largest operational dog kennel in the Air Force,” said Tech. Sgt. Jerry Woodard, 51st Security Forces

  • Official: Airmen less blue-, more fight-oriented

    Airmen are contributing to the success of coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan by being less blue- and more fight-oriented, said U.S. Central Command’s deputy director of operations.During a recent visit to the Pentagon, Brig. Gen. Douglas L. Raaberg described Air Force contributions to the

  • MQ-1 Predator crashes in Iraq

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed about 10 p.m. EST on March 26 in the vicinity of Balad, Iraq.The aircraft was assigned to the 15th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. It was in the U.S. Central Command area of operations supporting

  • Nine recently selected for promotion to E-8 must now re-compete

    Personnel officials are correcting circumstances that recently led to nine master sergeants being selected for promotion to senior master sergeant in the incorrect Control Air Force Specialty Code during the 05E8 cycle.The problem began when 46 Airmen who were attending the First Sergeant Academy

  • Officials announce selections to captain

    The captain promotion process selected 848 lieutenants out of 856 for promotion to captain. The results of the CY04D Quarterly Captain Selection Process are as follows:In-the-promotion zone:-- 733 line officers were selected from 737 considered for a 99.5 percent selection rate.-- 10 chaplains were

  • Twenty-six picked for Tops In Blue

    Air Force Services Agency officials have selected 26 Airmen to perform with the 2005 Tops In Blue troop.This is the 52nd year of the program.Airmen selected are:Male Vocalists: -- Capt. William Middleswart of the 496th Air Base Squadron at Moron Air Base, Spain.-- Staff Sgt. Fernando Alejandro of

  • Deployed Airmen take on a different enemy

    The hum of C-130 Hercules resonated throughout a base at a forward-deployed location as the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing’s mission of putting boots on the ground in Iraq continued.However, more than 300 Airmen took time from their duties to battle another enemy when they participated in a Relay for

  • Aircrew training, diversion saves Soldier

    Aircrews must display skill and ingenuity in handling difficult or unusual situations. While flying a combat mission supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom recently, a C-130 Hercules crew’s skillful actions prevented a potential loss of life.After picking up more than 50 Soldiers in Iraq, the aircraft

  • New program aims to improve moving process

    Full replacement value for lost or damaged items is among several changes taking effect in October as part of a new program called “Families First” which aims to improve the moving process for military families. “We’re going to have a lot of happier campers because they are not going to be losing

  • Officials announce new heath-care benefit for Guard and Reserve

    A new health-care plan, with coverage comparable to that enjoyed by federal employees under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance plan, will be available to eligible members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families April 25, Defense Department officials announced here March 24

  • Combat Talon undergoes risk reduction testing

    An MC-130E Combat Talon I completed the first risk reduction flight here March 15 after undergoing several months of improved avionics modifications. Airmen from the 418th Flight Test Squadron conducted the flight.The aircraft arrived here in October from the Air Force Reserve Command's 919th

  • Officials announce 2005 Hennessy Trophy winners

    Air Force Services Agency officials have announced the winners of the 2005 Hennessy Trophy Awards.Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is the winner in the single-facility category, and Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the winner in the multiple-facility category.The Air Force Reserve Command award winner is the

  • Teets: Air Force's biggest challenge is recapitalizing the fleet

    During a roundtable discussion at the Pentagon March 22, the acting secretary of the Air Force discussed space, the F/A-22 Raptor and business ethics.Peter B. Teets retired from public service March 25. He held additional titles, including Department of Defense executive agent for space and

  • F-15 crashes in Nevada

    An F-15 Eagle crashed at about 8:35 a.m. March 25 about 50 miles northeast of here.The pilot ejected safely and was flown back to the base. He and the aircraft are assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron.A board of officers will investigate the accident.

  • Transient alert Airmen catch, park, launch aircraft

    How many folks do you know that can get a 550,000-pound steel aircraft to follow them down the street? The Airmen at transient alert here can.KC-10 Extenders, C-5 Galaxies, C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III’s, 747s and 757s -- if it flies into Manas, the Airmen at transient alert can catch it,

  • Combat communicators provide more than ‘terabyte’ of support

    If you ask Staff Sgt. Brandon Miranda what a “terabyte” is, the communications-computer systems operations journeyman with the 416th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron communications flight here will tell you it is a computer server that can store more than 1,000 gigabytes.For the nearly 1,000

  • Female officer balances work, family

    Balancing a career and a family is difficult for everyone. When that career in question is commanding the 103 personnel in the medical operations squadron here, the challenge can be immense.Lt. Col. Joycelyn Elaiho, a pediatric nurse practitioner who is the 66th Medical Operations Squadron

  • Exercises prepare Airmen for deployment

    The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center here nominates sourcing for about 38 exercises each year so Airmen can exercise their deployment capabilities before actually deploying, officials said.Exercises provide a realistic contingency environment to familiarize combat operation forces and

  • Life-support team puts pressure on high-flying pilots

    People feeling too much pressure may say something like, “You make my blood boil.” If high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft pilots lose cabin pressure, their blood literally could boil.U-2 pilots fly in the rarified atmosphere more than 60,000 feet above the earth, and a loss of cabin pressure

  • Air Force receives last F-16

    The general who was the F-16 System Program Office director here when the contract for the aircraft was awarded delivered the Air Force's last F-16 Fighting Falcon on March 18.While the Lockheed Martin Aero plant in Fort Worth, Texas, will continue to produce F-16s for international coalition

  • Officials recognize company for contributions to war on terror

    Air Force officials recognized FedEx for the company's support to the military during the war on terror with a brief surprise ceremony at the Pentagon on March 22.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper presented Frederick W. Smith, FedEx chief executive officer, with a certificate of

  • ACC officials release Predator crash report

    Crew error was the primary cause of an MQ-1L Predator remotely piloted aircraft crash during a training mission Sept. 22 at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nev., according to an Air Force report released by Air Combat Command officials March 23.Officials said the pilot failed to correct a

  • Personnel chief outlines NSPS, other initiatives

    Defense Department civilians soon will be paid for productivity rather than longevity, while in the future, servicemembers may be required to serve longer tours of duty and spend more time in the military before becoming eligible for retirement.These initiatives are part of efforts by officials to

  • General explains new DOD sex-assault policy

    The new guidelines for reporting incidents of sexual assault within the military create, for the first time, a Defense Department-wide standard that will provide victims with the support they need after incidents occur and help commanders get to root causes of the problems, the head of the Pentagon

  • AFIT graduates Class of 2005

    More than 230 scientists and engineers received graduate and doctorate degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology here March 21. AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management held its 2005 graduation ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The graduating class was

  • Raptor important tool in maintaining air dominance

    Critics of the F/A-22 Raptor claim the aircraft is a "Cold War weapons system," but the Air Force chief of staff said it is a critical tool in maintaining air dominance."The Cold War ended, but the airplanes that were built to fight in the Cold War are still in production and have been delivered

  • CSAF: Raptor, Eurofighter complementary

    The Air Force chief of staff added to his 5,000-plus flying hours with familiarization flights in both the F/A-22 Raptor and the Eurofighter aircraft.Gen. John P. Jumper said the Eurofighter is both agile and sophisticated, but is still difficult to compare to the F/A-22 Raptor. He is the only

  • Officials announce new chief of AF Scientific Advisory Board

    Acting secretary of the Air Force Peter B. Teets selected Heidi Shyu as chair of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board on March 22. The board is an independent group that provides technical advice to Air Force leaders. Ms. Shyu, an electrical engineer with Raytheon Company, will start her duties

  • Joint Red Flag bringing big picture together

    One of the nation’s largest integrated exercise involving live and virtual simulations is well under way at locations throughout the United States.Joint Red Flag is a training exercise for U.S. military and coalition forces to enhance operational effectiveness, exercise officials said. More than

  • Congress hears testimony on manpower, recruiting

    By the end of the year, the Air Force will have reduced its number of personnel to the congressionally mandated limit, said the service's deputy chief of staff for personnel during testimony on Capitol Hill on March 16.While speaking before the House Armed Services Committee subcommittee on

  • Hill employees get down to details

    Just like investigators tracing threads back to the source of a crime, science and engineering laboratory employees use science to solve mysteries here. However, instead of dark overcoats, they wear lab coats. The laboratory is divided into four main sections: chemical science, material science,

  • College tests offered for Airmen manning internment camp

    Armored Humvees roll in and out of here several times a day escorting supply convoys. But they brought a unique passenger and cargo to this remote outpost March 17.The passenger was Staff Sgt. Alan Smith, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing test control officer. His cargo was a box full of College Level

  • Services work together, keep convoys off streets

    As Operation Iraqi Freedom continues, American servicemembers are put in harm’s way daily. The Department of Defense’s various services are working together to make Iraq a safer place for the servicemembers. This is the primary thinking behind the Tanker Air Lift Control Element, a mostly Air

  • Officials announce Air Force safety awards

    Air Force safety officials announced the winners of the 2004 safety awards.They are:-- Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award: Category I, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Category II, Air Force Academy, Colo. -- Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois Memorial Award: Air Combat

  • Special ops request funding to modernize, transform

    A continued need for modernization and transformation of special operations forces brought that community’s leaders to Capitol Hill on March 17 to testify on their portion of the president’s military spending request.The fiscal 2006 defense budget request that President Bush submitted to Congress

  • Creek Defender convoy prepares security forces Airmen

    Airmen of the 786th Security Forces Squadron here proved their grit alongside more than 80 U.S. Air Forces in Europe security forces Airmen at a convoy and static position live-fire event March 14 at a training range in nearby Baumholder.The Creek Defender exercise primed the participants for

  • Elmendorf Airman finishes Iditarod

    The only active-duty servicemember to compete in the 1,161-mile Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race this year crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska at 12:13 p.m. local time March 20.Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Knolmayer, Elmendorf’s chief of surgery, finished the race in 58th place out of 63 finishers. He was on

  • Academy sports wrap: Boxers take title

    Backed by five gold medalists, the Air Force Academy boxing team claimed its 26th consecutive regional title March 19 at the National Collegiate Boxing Association's West Regional Championships in Reno, Nev. With 64 team points, the Falcons easily won the team title to continue their winning

  • New DOD sexual-assault policy affords victims privacy

    New guidelines for confidential, restricted reporting of sexual assaults in the Defense Department were announced March 18 in a Pentagon briefing.“The policy allows victims -- and here’s the big change -- to report a sexual assault to specified individuals without necessarily initiating an

  • Air Force seeks Airmen for detainee operations

    The Air Force needs about 100 enlisted Airmen to serve in Iraq as interrogators, analysts, and command and control specialists later this year.Eligible volunteers from across the total force, who want to serve at the forefront of the war on terror, must be sharp and meet certain qualifications,

  • Changing DOD's global posture an 'enormous undertaking'

    Pentagon officials’ move to change their global footprint will be an “enormous undertaking” that will be “unprecedented,” the Defense Department’s director of strategy on global posture said here March 17.Barry Pavel said this could well be the first time that any country has purposely designed a

  • Officials release QF-4 drone accident report

    Failure of an unmanned QF-4E drone to react properly to controller inputs led to its intentional destruction during a mission Sept. 8 over White Sands Missile Range near Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., according to an Air Force report released March 18.The remotely-piloted jet was assigned to the

  • DOD officials release tri-service academy climate survey data

    Department of Defense officials released survey data from the three service academies March 18 on the climate of sexual harassment and assault among cadets and midshipmen.During the spring of 2004, the DOD inspector general conducted the survey at the military service academies in response to a

  • Military pay, allowances recognize troops' contributions

    Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Defense Department leaders and U.S. legislators “have worked together to increase servicemembers’ basic pay by more than 21 percent,” a senior DOD official told House Armed Services Committee members March 16.DOD officials remain “committed to taking care of

  • OIF two years later: Progress continues on all fronts

    On March 18, 2003, the clock was ticking on President Bush’s ultimatum for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq within 48 hours.The next day, two days after the president’s televised ultimatum, coalition forces launched operations to disarm Iraq.“On my orders, coalition forces

  • Predator fleet to expand

    Air Force officials plan to expand the current Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle fleet to as many as 15 squadrons.This increase, announced March 18, is in response to the escalating demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability in the war on terrorism. The plans are intended to

  • F-16 crashes at Nellis

    An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed short of the runway here at about 8:30 a.m. on March 18. The pilot ejected safely and was taken to the base hospital for evaluation, officials said.The aircraft was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Weapons School’s 16th Weapons Squadron. A board of officers

  • SRB list drops to 32 specialties

    Air Force officials made significant changes to the selective re-enlistment bonus program as a result of continuing force-shaping efforts. Based on the findings of a review in October, officials have published the latest list, which contains 32 Air Force specialties, down from 62.The new list is

  • Teets submits resignation

    Peter B. Teets, acting secretary of the Air Force, announced his resignation March 18, to take effect March 25. “I'm honored to have served the president, the secretary of defense and with the dedicated Airmen of America’s Air Force and the men and women of the National Reconnaissance Office over

  • Airmen ready to rapidly repair runways

    Whether from a natural disaster or an enemy attack, when a runway is damaged, a dedicated team of civil engineers rapidly spring into action to make that landing strip usable.Known as a rapid runway repair team, the group comprises a crater team, a mat team, an airfield lighting team and a mobile

  • OIF experience benefits Airmen deployed elsewhere

    For two years now, Airmen have deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving either in Iraq or locations elsewhere in Southwest Asia.Many Airmen deployed here said previous experience supporting OIF has paid dividends in understanding even more their current deployment supporting Operation

  • Air Force 2005 design and construction award winners named

    Air Force officials announced the winners of the 2005 Air Force Design Awards, Air Force Agent Awards and Air Force Design Excellence Awards.Recipients of an honor award in the design competition:-- Concept Design: indoor community pool at Osan Air Base, South Korea.-- Interior Design: bowling

  • Joint Red Flag 2005 kicks off at Nellis

    More than 10,000 servicemembers from all four military branches, along with troops of some coalition forces kicked off Joint Red Flag 2005 March 14. The goal of the training exercise, which is scheduled to end April 2, is to develop improved joint training and experimentation

  • DOD programs ease force stress without hiking end strength

    Ongoing Defense Department transformation initiatives are designed to relieve force stress without increasing the number of military forces, a senior defense official told House Armed Services Committee members March 16.“By focusing attention on efforts to reduce stress on our forces, we believe we

  • Kadena children get deployment experience

    With a mobility bag slung heavily over one shoulder, the petite “Tech. Sgt.” Natasha Dumpert stands in a deployment line waiting for her immunizations before setting off for a deployment to Iraq.Oh, by the way, Natasha is 8-years-old and her immunizations are jellybeans.Natasha, along with more than

  • Airman gets 35 years for forcible sodomy conviction

    An Airman here was found guilty of forcible sodomy in a court-martial and sentenced to 35 years confinement. After three days of testimony and deliberation, a panel of officers found Staff Sgt. Michael Rangel, of the 97th Communications Squadron, guilty of forcible sodomy on diverse occasions and

  • Allegations surface, faith in promotion tests remains high

    A number of Airmen at several bases have been implicated recently in the possible compromise of Weighted Airmen Promotion System testing material. Despite this finding, Air Force officials expressed confidence in the integrity of the system and testing continues across the Air Force."For more than

  • Airman convicted of possessing child pornography

    An Airman was found guilty of possessing child pornography during a court-martial held here March 10.Airman Ryan Stephens, of the 18th Security Forces Squadron, was sentenced to eight years confinement after being found guilty at a general court-martial of two charges of possessing child

  • SAR teams pay close attention to detail

    The military teaches all Airmen to pay close attention to every detail, but for search and recovery teams, attention to detail is not just important, it is a way of life.If an accident were to happen involving Airmen, the team would be called into action. The team, consisting of at least 26 Airmen,

  • TMO Airmen keep people, cargo flowing

    The 2,000-pound, $100,000 aircraft part sitting in the maintenance hangar did not get here by a commercial carrier; it was packaged, shipped, tracked and delivered by Airmen of the Traffic Management Office.The Airmen in the 376th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s TMO section have seen an influx of

  • Sustainable security needs risk-based approach

    Risk management must guide decisions on preventing, responding to and recovering from terrorist attacks, the new homeland security secretary said here March 16.Michael Chertoff spoke at George Washington University in his first major address since taking office Feb. 15.“A nation as vital and

  • Personnel records to stay at AFPC

    Airmen who retire or separate don't have to wait several months to receive requested copies of certain records because of a recent change in how the Air Force maintains personnel records.The 49-year-old practice of sending nearly 5,500 personnel records each month to the National Personnel Records

  • Air terminal operators keep OEF freight, passengers moving

    It could be a C-130 Hercules loaded with Airmen and Soldiers heading down range, a civilian cargo plane loaded to the hilt with mail for deployed troops or a C-17 Globemaster III carrying humanitarian supplies for some remote village in Afghanistan.Any time an aircraft lands with material for

  • Airmen keep Iraqi airways clear

    As 1st Lt. Damian Wanliss enters his cold, dark office, dimly lit by the green glare of the screen ahead, he takes a deep breath and anticipates another day of directing traffic in the chaotic Iraqi sky.The lieutenant, a 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron weapons control officer, is just one

  • Voting assistance program kicks off slogan contest

    Federal Voting Assistance Program officials are accepting entries until July 10 for the program’s latest slogan contest.The winning slogan will be featured in the program’s 2006-2007 media campaign, which will focus on increasing voter awareness among U.S. citizens worldwide and encouraging them to

  • Pentagon officials retrieving mail during anthrax alert

    Pentagon officials are working to collect an estimated 8,000 pieces of mail that passed through the building’s mail-processing facility between March 10 and 14.A test done March 14 on a sample of mail collected March 10 from the Pentagon’s remote delivery facility indicated a preliminary positive

  • Deployed Airmen, Soldiers reach out to Bedouin children

    A convoy of Army and Air Force vehicles assembled recently at the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s armory here, but this was not a standard convoy. These trucks were not carrying materials for troops; they were loaded with toys, shoes, clothes and other items donated to an outreach

  • BRAC turned out to be good news for Texas capital

    Though the fear of losing jobs and revenue grips nearby cities and towns when the Defense Department decides to close a military installation, the bad news can be made good.Such was the case when Bergstrom Air Force Base here closed in 1993, its fate sealed by the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure

  • DFAS and myPay officials assure personal-data security

    With “phishing” scams occurring more frequently, Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials said they want to assure customers that every precaution is taken to secure data.Customers should be aware that the agency and its Web-based system, myPay, will not ask for personal or financial

  • Air Force Portal provides reduced sign-on to myPay

    Airmen have one less password to remember thanks to a new link between the Air Force Portal and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service myPay Web site. With much of the Air Force transitioning from face-to-face customer service to online self-help Web sites, many Airmen are left with several

  • Eglin Airmen go to war with stumps, trees

    When Hurricane Ivan hit the coastal area here Sept. 16, destructive winds as high as 130 mph knocked down power lines and countless trees. It left a devastating mark on the landscape of Northwest Florida, including nearby Bob Hope Village, one of two Air Force Enlisted Village locations.Six months

  • Benefits offset exchange rates at overseas military banks

    Servicemembers overseas will not suffer from higher currency exchange rates at military banks, officials said, because allowances increase to offset the higher rate.Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials said that overseas servicemembers and other customers of the Community Bank have asked

  • Civil engineers prepare to ‘close the gaps’ at Bagram

    Bagram’s 9,800-foot runway will undergo major repairs beginning at the end of March to maintain operations in and out of the busiest airfield in Afghanistan. Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron said they plan to spend 16 weeks replacing 28 shattered slabs of concrete using a

  • Officials announce interim acquisition executive

    Peter B. Teets, acting secretary of the Air Force, has named a new interim member to the Air Force acquisition and management community's leadership team.Timothy A. Beyland has been assigned, on an interim basis, as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition and

  • Guard Airmen help drive transformation

    A C-5 Galaxy and a prototype of the Army’s new general-purpose cargo vehicle arrived here March 12.The vehicle is for use with both the C-5 and the C-130 Hercules, and has the ability to go for 72 hours without stopping to refuel. The ability to transfer cargo directly from the aircraft and carry

  • Escorts serve as base’s second line of defense

    They come from different career fields, but while deployed, they come together to serve as a critical line of defense for the base.Deployed Airmen throughout U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility serve as escorts to foreign workers daily. The program falls under each base’s expeditionary

  • Two deployed KC-135s get rare engine swaps

    If a consumer rating service reviewed Air Force aircraft, the KC-135 Stratotanker would most certainly earn a “Best Buy” rating. After all, it is one of the most dependable aircraft in the Air Force inventory and would definitely get high marks for reliability.But, even the best can have the

  • C-130 crew delivers cargo, morale to remote locations

    When Soldiers, Sailors or Marines need something moved, C-130 Hercules crews here answer the call, and recently, that request took one 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron crew to Africa and beyond.Their cargo ranged from helicopter rotors to medical supplies to personal mail. Their mission was to

  • Myers: Work toward jointness, but take pride in services

    Jointness is the way ahead, but that does not mean Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are going to merge into some national joint force, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here March 13.Gen. Richard B. Myers spoke to U.S. servicemembers at the embassy here and complimented them on