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U.S. Air Force News

  • Recruiter guilty in murder-for-hire plot

    After a two-week general court-martial, Tech. Sgt. Rodney Wells was found guilty here Oct. 1 of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted conspiracy to commit murder. Sergeant Wells was also found not guilty of a third charge, which included three specifications of solicitation to commit murder and

  • Patient support pallet used for first time on KC-10

    Air Mobility Command supports more than 24,000 worldwide patient movements on nearly 2,500 aeromedical-evacuation missions annually, yet none had been scheduled on a KC-10 Extender mission until now.In a special request by South Korean officials to the U.S. State Department, a South Korean college

  • Reserve pilots not reserved when protecting ground troops

    Ammunitions troops here charged with reloading a wingman’s A-10 Thunderbolt II Gatling gun had a busy night recently, following his return. New Orleans Air Force Reserve pilots proved that they are anything but reserved when it comes to protecting U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan. In defense of a

  • Falcons narrowly fall to No. 22 Utah in volleyball

    The Air Force Academy women’s volleyball team dropped a close 3-1 Mountain West Conference decision to No. 22 University of Utah here Oct. 1. The Falcons, who had not taken a game from the Utes since 1999, handily downed the nationally ranked team in the first game. After dropping the next two

  • Fitness first piece of puzzle to healthier lifestyle

    “It makes you feel better.” “It reduces stress.” “It lowers blood pressure.”“Pick up any fitness magazine, and it’ll give you a bunch of boring definitions of what fitness will do for you,” said John Gahagan, 92nd Services Squadron fitness center director here.But to him, fitness means something a

  • Upcoming summit shapes new sexual-assault policies

    Decisions made at a senior-leader summit are expected to have a sweeping effect on the Defense Department's sexual-assault prevention and response efforts, said the task force commander charged with turning the group's recommendations into DOD-wide policies.The Oct. 6 summit, made up of senior

  • WAF Band still making music

    A military band that was formed when the Air Force was just 4 years old performed four concerts here, more than 40 years after the group’s deactivation.The Women in the Air Force Band, in conjunction with its annual reunion, gave back to the nation in the Lone Star State. After three days of

  • Overall health more than fitness, nutrition

    What do a pack of cigarettes and a clenched fist have in common? They are both signs of bigger problems.The first, a pack of cigarettes, has many detrimental effects on the body. Not only can it cause cancer, but it also increases the chance of emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and many

  • Air Force golfers finish 17th at Tucker Invitational

    Despite a solid showing by Tyler Goulding, the Air Force golf team struggled Oct. 2 to finish 17th at the William H. Tucker Invitational, held by University of New Mexico at their 7,354-yard, par-72 course here. Arizona won the tournament with a 9-under-par 855, while University of Nevada-Las

  • Air Force takes 16th place at NorCal water polo tournament

    The 19th-ranked Air Force Academy water polo team recorded a pair of losses Oct. 3 to end its long weekend at the NorCal Tournament here. The Falcons started with a narrow 8-6 loss to No. 12 California State University-Long Beach before falling to ninth-ranked Pepperdine University, 8-3, in the

  • Flying training selection board date set

    The next undergraduate flying training board will be held at the Air Force Personnel Center here Feb. 8. Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 29.Eligible officers are those with a birth date after May 1, 1975, and a total active federal commissioned service date after May 1, 2000. Hopefuls must

  • AF women’s soccer ties Davis, falls to Riverside

    Air Force Academy battled University of California-Davis to a 1-1 double-overtime tie, but fell to UC-Riverside, 3-2, during nonconference women’s soccer action. The Falcons end the nonconference portion of their season at 3-7-1.UC-Davis Aggies (3-6-1) took an early 1-0 lead Oct. 1 at the

  • Airmen brace for new fitness test

    The Air Force chief of staff fired a shot across the bow in July 2003 that got the attention of Airmen everywhere.Gen. John P. Jumper forewarned that a new fit-to-fight program would replace the cycle ergometry test and encouraged everyone to get ready. Staff Sgt. Kurt Hartmann did not, and he paid

  • Academy Airmanship operations take flight under AETC

    The U.S. Air Force Academy’s airmanship operations realigned under the Air Education and Training Command as the newly named 306th Flying Training Group on Oct. 1.The operations are elective courses at the academy and are aimed at giving cadets firsthand knowledge and understanding of the flight

  • Air Force ROTC detachments remain open

    Five Air Force ROTC detachments previously identified for closure will remain open on a two-year period of evaluation, as recently approved by Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche.The detachments are at the University of Memphis in Tennessee; University of Cincinnati in Ohio; Wilkes

  • Nutrition not fast claim, but way to go

    The low-carb diet. The low-fat diet. The cabbage soup diet. The grapefruit diet. The shake diet.There are “miracle” pills that claim weight loss without ever stepping foot in a gym. And there are all the herbal supplements for the Earth- and body-conscious consumers.It is all enough to make a

  • October issue of Airman available

    Read about how Airmen are becoming “fit to fight,” learn how two Air Force recruiters survived an explosion in Iraq, and discover how one correctional-custody program keeps Airmen from crossing out of the blue. These features and more highlight the October issue of Airman magazine, now available in

  • Air Force announces selections to captain

    The captain promotion process results showed 2,796 lieutenants were promoted to captain. The list is posted on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/offprom/.During the selection process, 2,813 officers were considered. The results of the CY04B Quarterly Captain

  • Navy boots AF out of trophy bid

    Air Force Academy’s chances to regain the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy got booted by the “worst kicker in college football” Sept. 30 when a Navy field goal handed the Falcons a 24-21 loss here.During the game, ESPN commentators referred to Midshipman place-kicker Geoff Blumenfeld’s 0-4 track record

  • Shaw trains still chugging

    History stops here often. It chugs to a halt about three times a week outside an elongated single-story building as two 80-ton locomotives deliver jet fuel to the fuels management flight. Shaw's rail operation, which has been active since 1941, is almost an anomaly in the Air Force."We're one of

  • Service sends holiday greetings to hometown newspapers

    The Army and Air Force Hometown News Service will open its Internet print holiday greeting program to servicemembers of all branches worldwide. The program, now in its fifth year, opens for submissions Oct. 1 through Dec. 5. The program is Internet-based to allow any servicemember to send a

  • Memo improves job protection for guardsmen, reservists

    Attorney General John Ashcroft and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao have signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure employment rights of people returning from military service are vigorously protected.The memorandum streamlines and strengthens enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and

  • Officials not destroying military personnel files

    National Archives and Records Administration officials here are not destroying any military records, they said.The officials said they are trying to counter an Internet rumor advising veterans to apply for their official military personnel files to save them from destruction.There is no truth to

  • Judge advocate general steps down amid investigation

    The Air Force’s top lawyer was granted a request to be relieved from his duties until an inspector general investigation about certain activities is resolved.On Sept. 22, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper approved a request by Air

  • Airmen pull underground alert

    Officers from the 742nd Missile Squadron and others like them continue to carry on a 40-year legacy by pulling alert at a seemingly plain-looking wooden building on the North Dakota prairie. Located 60 feet below is the most important part of the facility -- a steel-reinforced capsule no larger

  • Officials release Predator accident report

    Crew error caused an MQ-1L Predator unmanned aerial vehicle to crash during a training mission June 14 at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nev., according to an Air Force report released Sept. 30.The instructor pilot allowed the student pilot to continue too far into a landing approach

  • Tornado damages ANG aircraft, buildings in Delaware

    Many people from the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing here witnessed C-130 Hercules aircraft “dancing like ballerinas,” as a tornado struck here Sept. 28.The surprise funnel cloud touched down in the late afternoon at New Castle County Airport, damaging several of the wing’s

  • Deployed Airmen experience local tradition

    Airmen deployed to the 3rd Air Expeditionary Group here experienced a South Korean tradition Sept. 28 that is more than 2,000 years old.Every year during the harvest season when the moon is full, South Koreans celebrate a holiday similar to the American Thanksgiving called Chu Sok or Harvest Moon

  • Stress management team helps when it counts

    Life-altering events have different effects on people, and a team of stress management specialists here help people deal with these events.The critical-incident stress management team features specialists trained to help prevent or mitigate stress when a sudden death, tragedy, serious injury or

  • Air Force announces selections to lieutenant colonel

    Line and biomedical science corps board members selected 1,482 majors for promotion to lieutenant colonel.The entire list will be posted on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site Oct. 1 at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/offprom/ by 2 p.m. CDT.The board considered 7,331 officers.Results of the line

  • Missile crewmember deploys with refuelers

    Most Air Force missile crewmembers spend the majority of their time in an underground launch control center monitoring intercontinental ballistic missiles. But one missileer experienced deployed life in the flying world.First Lt. Joe Page, a missile combat crew commander from Minot Air Force Base,

  • Hockey team participates in Air Force survival training

    A water-survival class normally held for aircrew members here was turned into a day of cross-training for American Hockey League players Sept. 23.The Philadelphia Phantoms participated in an all-day Air Force water-survival training exercise in hopes to build core strength and a “little mental

  • WC-130J team tracks hurricanes with improved radar system

    Experts here battled 155-mph winds and penetrated two hurricanes 15 times recently to put the WC-130J Hercules’ improved weather-radar system to the test.Together with Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., joint test team experts flew

  • Airman likes being part of bigger picture

    "I just love knowing that I'm part of taking care of this country and making sure that we keep all the freedoms that we have now," said Staff Sgt. Georgina Baldwin. "I just love it. I love the military. It's just like one big family."Sergeant Baldwin, an allergy and immunization technician with

  • ‘Eyes of the North’ steady as AF moves mission to Guard

    Defending the homeland is one of the key missions of the Air National Guard, and Oct. 1, the Alaska Air National Guard will officially assume operations of the Air Force’s regional air operation center here. The center’s mission is to provide ready teams to operate and maintain North American

  • Research lab experts test joined-wing demonstrator

    Researchers here flew a 7 percent scaled Joined-Wing Technology Demonstrator for the first time Sept. 22, putting the future of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft design through its initial paces.Air Force Research Laboratory experts designed and are developing the SensorCraft

  • Guardsmen, aircraft wow South African crowd

    They were daunted by the size of the C-5 Galaxy transport and KC-135 Stratotanker, and mesmerized by the sleek, bold designs of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and F-16 Fighting Falcon.So it was easy for crowds of children and military enthusiasts to swarm to New York Air National Guardsmen

  • Missed opportunities lead to AF’s 3-1 volleyball defeat

    Despite four players with double-digit kill totals and a huge come-from-behind victory in the first game, the Air Force Academy women’s volleyball team dropped a disappointing 3-1 match to local rival Denver on Sept. 28. The Falcons rallied for a 36-34 win the first game, before succumbing 30-18,

  • Despite predictable weather, specialists still keep busy

    When an area averages an annual temperature of about 100 degrees and less than 1 inch of rain, a person could assume that the weather is fairly predictable. One could also assume that a bunch of weather specialists would not be gainfully employed at such a location. But then again, everyone knows

  • Falcons take on rival Navy

    The Air Force Academy Falcons welcome the Navy Midshipmen in a nationally televised football game Sept. 30 at Falcon Stadium. The game will be carried on ESPN and can be heard on Westwood One radio stations. Game time is 5:45 p.m. MDT.The Falcons are 2-1 overall and 1-1 in Mountain West conference

  • Humanitarian airlift brings $15 million in aid to base

    The largest amount of humanitarian aid to enter the Kyrgyz Republic since it became its own country in 1991 came by way of C-17 Globemaster IIIs from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., on Sept. 23.About $15 million worth of medicines and medical supplies were unloaded at the Bishkek International

  • Despite danger, convoy Airmen keep on trucking

    The hours are long, and their jobs are dangerous, but Airmen keeping supply lines running on northern Iraq roads are determined to keep on trucking. That is because they realize the importance of what they do, said Capt. Harley Smith, commander of more than 140 Airmen assigned to Detachment 1 of the

  • Academy town hall meeting reaches worldwide audience

    The Air Force’s three top leaders opened a town hall meeting here Sept. 27 by speaking about the service’s force size and its future in space.Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper explained the current force management is “not a cut” but designed to reshape the force. “It is getting us down to where

  • Air Force wins 10th-straight Service Academy Golf Classic

    The Air Force Academy golf team extended its winning streak to 10 on Sept. 26 and 27 at the annual Service Academy Golf Classic, as the Falcons finished four strokes ahead of Army with a three-round total of 1,107. Navy was third in the team standings (1,132), while the Merchant Marines came in

  • Airman gives static aircraft makeovers

    It might be the 96th Air Base Wing’s Air Force Armament Museum but for one Airman, he feels it belongs to him.Senior Airman Rick Miller, an aircraft structural maintenance journeyman for the 33rd Maintenance Squadron, can be found at the museum, donating four to five hours a day, four days a week.

  • McGuire welcomes first C-17 Globemaster III

    People here welcomed the nation’s newest, most modern airlifter Sept. 24 during a special arrival ceremony.“The Spirit of New Jersey” is the first of 13 C-17 Globemaster IIIs McGuire will eventually receive.“It is just a wonderful day for McGuire,” said Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S.

  • Tennessee Guard moves, prepares for C-5s

    Air Force officials signed a land-exchange agreement with the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority on Sept. 20 allowing the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 164th Airlift Wing more space to convert from C-141B Starlifters to C-5 Galaxys.Fred Kuhn, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for

  • Air Force wins 2004 Armed Forces Golf Championship

    The Air Force golf team won the 2004 Armed Forces Golf Championship at Fort Carson, Colo., Sept. 21 to 25.The host Army team jumped to a three-stroke lead over the Air Force (731-734) after the first day of play. Team’s scores are determined by adding the 18-hole stroke total of the six men and

  • Airfield manager flies U.S. flag for Afghan children’s aid

    Each time Barry McKelvy sees the U.S. Flag waving from the air control tower here, he knows his nation’s symbol is providing comfort for Afghan children. Mr. McKelvy, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing’s flag-flying program coordinator, flies flags in honor of family and friends for donations. The

  • Airmen help save lives following UH-60 crash at Tallil

    Just after 9:20 p.m. Sept. 21, two Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters took off from the flightline here.Two minutes later, something went horribly wrong with one of them.“The first thing I heard was a loud, dull thud, kind of like a fist hitting a wooden wall,” said Senior Airman John Byrum, a

  • Now showing: Sept. 27 edition of AFTV News

    The latest edition of Air Force Television News focuses on the conflict in Afghanistan. Tech. Sgts. Pachari Lutke and Joy Josephson spent a week in the Kyrgyz Republic, reporting on the Air Force mission in this former Soviet territory and how Airmen there are supporting Operation Enduring

  • Sun outage affects AFN TV, radio

    Viewers and listeners of the American Forces Network may experience brief programming interruptions Sept. 28 to Oct. 12, as the fall "sun outage" period occurs.These seasonal outages, which take place each spring and fall, affect all satellite communications, including the AFN radio and television

  • Service launches online pay enhancements

    The online pay account information system of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, myPay, is offering new enhancements and upgrades for all users.All myPay users can now assign a restricted access personal identification number to a designated individual to view pay information; however, the

  • Women’s soccer loses 1-0 match at Colorado College

    Forward Stevie Kernan scored the only goal of the match with 13:58 left in the first half Sept. 25, lifting Colorado College to a 1-0 victory over Air Force in NCAA Division I women’s soccer at the college.The CC Tigers extended their undefeated streak to six games and improved to 5-3-1 for the

  • Trial ends for Air Force translator

    Senior Airman Ahmad al-Halabi, a supply clerk who served as a Guantanamo Bay translator, was found guilty of three charges and four specifications of violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The trial ended here Sept. 23.Col. Barbara Brand, the military judge for the case, sentenced

  • Deployed Airmen visit South Korean orphanage

    More than a dozen Airmen deployed to the 3rd Air Expeditionary Group here joined their South Korean counterparts for a visit to a local orphanage Sept. 24.Airmen witnessed the smiles, laughter and boundless energy of more than 80 children.“This was a wonderful opportunity to join with our (South

  • Academy site of town hall meeting Sept. 27

    Arnold Hall here is the setting for a town hall meeting Sept. 27 featuring Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James Roche, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper and Chief Master Sgt. Of the Air Force Gerald Murray.The meeting begins at 1 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on The Pentagon Channel

  • U.S. military supports South African trade show

    U.S. military equipment and Airmen from the New York Air National Guard are here for the Aerospace Exhibition.The event marks the first time aircraft and guardsmen from New York have participated in a South African air show, officials said.Visitors will get a close-up look at four static displays:

  • Gotta fix ‘em before you fly ‘em

    Nestled in a small, nondescript building among a dozen aircraft revetments here, the 353rd Maintenance Squadron’s consolidated tool kit section hums with activity around the clock.With more than 1,600 bench-stock items, 200 pieces of test equipment and 120 hazardous materials, it is the first and

  • Families of students using assignment deferment program

    Sixty-three Air Force families with a child who entered his or her senior year of high school this year will get to stay additional time at their current duty stations.The High School Seniors Assignment Deferment Program allows senior master sergeants and below, and officers up through the rank of

  • Pax terminal gets Airmen where they need to be

    Long hours spent working in temperatures hovering around 100 degrees has made a trip home one of the sweetest ideas for Airmen in Southwest Asia. However, many troops face delays and hang-ups that would frustrate the most patient traveler. Fortunately, the “Mighty 8th” is ready to help.The

  • White House breakfast honors American Indian servicemembers

    President Bush took honored those to whom the newest Smithsonian Institution museum is dedicated Sept. 23.He praised the contributions of American Indians, both military and civilian, from Sacagawea's presence with Lewis and Clark to the Code Talkers of World War II."The National Museum of the

  • Political activity rules basically same for active-duty, reserve

    Citizen Airmen serving in the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve follow the same rules governing political activity as their active-duty compatriots.Questions about what Airmen can or cannot do abound in this presidential election year, and some situations have become national news. The rules

  • Number of officers receiving command pay reduced

    Command Responsibility Pay now received by some field-grade officers in command positions will end in October.In a Sight Picture titled, “Recognizing the Responsibility of Command,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced the Air Force would reduce the number of command positions that

  • Air Force issues ‘stop movement’ for Patrick, Cape Canaveral

    Air Force officials have issued a “stop-movement’ order for people permanently moving to or transiting Patrick Air Force Base or Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., based on the probability that Hurricane Jeanne will affect the area.This order also effects any duty location serviced by either base's

  • Academy grad dies in Iraq

    A 1989 Air Force Academy graduate died Sept. 14 while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Kevin M. Shea, 38, of Washington, D.C., died from injuries received during enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, Department of Defense officials announced Sept. 15.Major Shea earned a

  • Some Airmen can carry over 'use or lose' leave

    Active-duty Airmen who were unable to take leave because they supported contingency operations may be allowed to accumulate more than the normal 60 days after the fiscal year ends.Those affected can retain up to 120 days of leave until Sept. 30, 2005, said Air Force Personnel Center officials here.

  • New joint command stands ready to defend capital

    A new headquarters here will concentrate the military mission to help defend the nation's capital.The Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region will guard America's "center of gravity," said Army Maj. Gen. Galen Jackman, the new organization's commander.The command unites all Defense

  • Air Force continues efforts to locate POWs, MIAs

    People of the missing persons branch at the Air Force Personnel Center here continue their efforts to account for Air Force prisoners of war and those missing in action. Their work goes on even after the annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day commemoratives have ended.Master Sgt. Cheryl Wells and

  • Volunteer coach shares passion for boxing

    A maintainer here offers people an alternative to being on the street, one that teaches them lifelong skills. In turn, those people teach him how to become a better coach and allow him to be involved in the sport he adores."I love boxing," said Staff Sgt. Edward Rivas, a flying crew chief with the

  • Airborne network takes 'wireless' to new heights

    Leaders at all levels can soon access information from their home stations regardless of where they are in the world thanks to an airborne local-area network.Engineers at the 412th Flight Test Squadron here and the Air Force systems networking program office at Gunter Annex, Ala., developed and

  • Leaders outline space-cadre strategy

    Earlier this summer, Undersecretary of the Air Force Peter B. Teets and Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, outlined for Congress their strategy to develop the professional space cadre the nation needs to acquire and operate future space systems. One of the first things they

  • First Hispanic woman grad credits academy for her success

    Not only was Linda Garcia Cubero the first Hispanic woman to graduate the Air Force Academy, she was the only Hispanic woman to graduate from any of the nation's service academies in 1980, when the first classes with women graduated.President Gerald R. Ford signed legislation Oct. 7, 1975, allowing

  • AFRL tests new firefighting technology

    A new method of extinguishing fires is currently being tested and may revolutionize the way the Air Force and the nation fight fires.The Air Force Research Laboratory’s deployed base systems branch here has been developing new firefighting technology for nearly two years. Dubbed the ultra-high

  • Partnership brings space to classroom

    More than 300 students and teachers boarded yellow buses for a field trip like no other. No, they did not visit the zoo or any of the local tourist attractions; they ventured all the way to space -- well, Air Force Space Command headquarters here.The students were invited as part of the “Space in

  • Duke Field aids relief efforts after hurricanes

    Duke Field picked up a new mission after Hurricane Ivan passed through northwest Florida with 140-mph winds and deadly tornadoes that caused billions of dollars of damage and at least 18 U.S. deaths.Duke Field became a logistical staging area for 40 people from the Federal Emergency Management

  • Airmen run missile-alert facilities

    For the last 40 years, the great plains of North Dakota have been housing the 91st Space Wing’s intercontinental ballistic missiles. The missile-alert facilities are manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.There are security forces who protect and operators who run the nation’s greatest deterrence

  • Airmen need to heed Hatch Act rules

    As the election season swings into high gear, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel has filed complaints against two federal employees deemed in violation of the Hatch Act.The complaints address the use of "politically partisan electronic-mail messages while on duty," OSC officials said.The Hatch Act

  • ATOC keeps troops, supplies moving

    Get ‘em in, get ‘em out. From troops to supplies, the Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s air terminal operations center here take care of it all, ensuring aerial transport lines keep flowing smoothly.With only about one-fifth the number of people with which the aerial

  • Command, control: Prescription for aeromedical-evacuation success

    A battlefield injury or illness poses a threat to those deployed worldwide. When that threat turns into reality, the Air Force’s extensive aeromedical-evacuation network ensures wounded warriors are moved rapidly to a medical facility to get the care they need. The expansive network includes Airmen

  • Special ops maintainers team up on Kadena's tiny troubles

    Ehren Wahl and Wesley Brown are both staff sergeants, they are assigned to the 353rd Maintenance Squadron, and they each have spent most of their careers here on Okinawa, a tiny island in southern Japan. That is where the similarities end.Sergeant Wahl is an outspoken, 24-year-old from New York who

  • Dental technician becomes U.S. citizen

    American citizenship for many people comes with birth in this country, while others choose it later on in life. For one Airman here, the teenage dream of American citizenship started by leaving the country of his birth, was realized Sept. 16 in a federal courtroom ceremony where he took the oath of

  • Reserve hands off Operation Deep Freeze missions

    Air Force Reserve Command C-141 Starlifter aircrews will stop flying Operation Deep Freeze airlift missions to Antarctica in February.When the new season starts in August 2005, mission responsibility will revert back to the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. The Reserve took on the

  • Airmen remain in control of their futures

    In spite of the Air Force’s force-shaping measures, Airmen are learning they remain in control of their futures, even in over-manned career fields.There are choices for those whose re-enlistments are coming up soon: retrain, join the Guard or Reserve, join the Army with “Operation Blue to Green” or

  • AFRL experts supporting C-5A evaluation program

    Scientists and engineers here are literally putting parts of a C-5 Galaxy under a microscope to help Air Mobility Command officials determine the cargo giant's current condition and future needs.Materials integrity experts from the Air Force Research Laboratory's materials and manufacturing

  • Deployed contracting makes it happen

    It is hard to believe that a stroke of a pen can cost the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars; it is even harder to believe that it is a staff sergeant’s pen that does this nearly every day.Such is the job of 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron Airmen at a forward-deployed location.

  • Flying dog’s parachute lands at U.S. Air Force Museum

    A parachute made for a dog that flew alongside pilots during the Berlin Airlift was recently added to the Berlin Airlift Exhibit at the U.S. Air Force Museum here.The parachute, donated by Clarence Steber, was worn by his boxer, Vittles, during their flights on C-47s and C-54s to help deliver food

  • Airmen evacuate injured Russian sailor

    Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 56th Rescue Squadron raced 230 miles to evacuate an injured 19-year-old sailor from a Russian destroyer Sept. 14. The mission off the southern coast of Iceland began after squadron officials were notified of the situation at 1:25 p.m. “We always keep one

  • Mountain Home ‘maintainer’ readies skis for season

    Flanked on two sides by nearby mountains, this high-desert fighter base is a short drive from prime wintertime skiing, snowboarding and sledding hotspots.Though the temperature is still in the 80s, Idaho’s winter season starts in mid-September for the staff of the busy outdoor recreation supply

  • Virginia Air Guard responds to Florida storms

    Nearly 50 Virginia Air National Guardsmen responded to hurricane relief efforts in Florida, making it the first time their unit has deployed to Florida for a natural disaster.The 203rd Red Horse Squadron from Virginia Beach deployed to assist in the clean-up efforts after Hurricane Frances and wound

  • Air Force medics take control of combat hospital

    Troops with emergency medical needs will now visit the Air Force Theater Hospital while deployed to Iraq.Central Command Air Forces officials announced that Sept. 20, Air Force medics took control of the base hospital, formerly known as the 31st Combat Support Hospital.The decision to transfer

  • Civil engineers do whatever it takes to keep ‘em flying

    Airman 1st Class Aaron McDonald radios the air control tower for clearance to enter the runway. His mission: Break up five different 24-inch squares of damaged runway sections and put them back together again before the next aircraft takes off. He has less than an hour to clear each one. Each

  • Airman goes green to aid OIF medical mission

    When Senior Airman Gary Doran graduated from the Department of Defense biomedical equipment technician’s course in 2002 and moved to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., he thought his time at the joint-service school would be his last experience working with Soldiers for a long time. In fact, he said he

  • AF officials announce marathon results

    Helped by cool temperatures and a sunny sky, more than 3,800 runners from 48 states and 10 foreign countries ran in the eighth annual U.S. Air Force Marathon here Sept. 17, with about 2,000 spectators and more than 1,800 volunteers assisting.Wheelchair competitors began the 26.2-mile race at 7 a.m.,

  • Academy water polo falls thrice at So-Cal Tournament

    Despite some gutsy performances, the 18th-ranked Air Force Academy water polo team was unable to record a victory in the So-Cal Tournament, held by the University of Southern California. The Air Force Falcons fell 12-1 in the first game to the USC Trojans on Sept. 18, before dropping a

  • Air Force announces team-excellence awards

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced the five teams selected for 2004 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards during a ceremony Sept 14.Fifteen teams were nominated for the awards, which recognize outstanding team performance and promote systematic process improvement. The awards

  • Air Force working to combat stressors

    The war on terrorism is placing many stresses on the Air Force, but Airmen are responding well to those stresses, and leaders are working to alleviate them.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray -- the service's highest-ranking enlisted person -- said there are more than 29,000 Airmen

  • Air Force expands awards eligibility to recognize civilian teams

    The Air Force has expanded the eligibility criteria for the Time-Off Incentive Award to include recognition of civilian teams.The Civilian Team Incentive Award allows supervisors to grant a time-off award to individual employees who comprise a team. The team's joint achievements must contribute to

  • Cadet found not guilty in court-martial

    A general court-martial found Cadet 2nd Class Matthew Ward not guilty Sept. 17 of steroid-related charges. Charges were preferred June 1 against the academy running back for two different violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice’s Article 112a: Wrongful Use and Possession of a Controlled

  • Air Force teams take two simulation awards

    Two Air Force teams are recipients of Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation Awards.The Air Force winners are:Acquisition -- Simulation and Analysis Facility Joint Unmanned Combat Air System Simulation Team from the advanced computational analysis directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force