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  • Maintainers keep aircraft soaring

    Airmen from the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron maintenance flight keep A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft up and running, enabling them to provide close-air support throughout Afghanistan.By performing phase inspections after every 500 hours of flight, they make sure the aircraft are in the best

  • Air Force officials release F-16 accident report

    Air Combat Command officials here Jan. 11 released the results of their investigation into the Oct. 15, 2009 collision of two F-16 Fighting Falcons that occurred 126 nautical miles southwest of Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. during a night close-air support training mission. The wingman died upon

  • Wings of Blue cadets jump into Rose Bowl

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's Wings of Blue, the Air Force parachute demonstration team, jumped into the Rose Bowl as part of pregame activities during the Citi Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif.Wings of Blue members dropped into the stadium of 93,000

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a look back at 2009

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," a look back is taken at the top stories of 2009. Stories covered range from the creation and stand-up of the Air Force's newest major command, to a heartfelt story about the Year of the Air Force Family.   Also featured are changes in the Post 9/11 GI Bill in

  • Air Force secretary visits Lackland, addresses priorities

    The secretary of the Air Force toured Lackland Air Force Base and presided over the latest Basic Military Training graduation here Jan. 8.Secretary Michael Donley toured the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills and Training complex, talked to base Airmen and discussed some of his top priorities for

  • USO plans family centers at Bethesda, Belvoir

    United Services Organization officials plan to build family centers at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., and Fort Belvoir, Va., to continue the USO's tradition of bringing troops a piece of home. The project was inspired by the Army Community Services center at Brooke Army Medical

  • Laws change for military, overseas voters

    Servicemembers and overseas voters shouldn't assume they automatically will receive ballots for the 2010 elections just because they have in the past. Previously, voters would receive absentee ballots for up to two cycles following their request, Bob Carey, Federal Voting Assistance Program

  • Tricare officials encourage eye exams

    Maintaining healthy eyes and vision is an important part of personal safety and quality of life. Getting an eye exam is a smart idea for anyone, whether or not he or she has vision problems. Active duty family members can get a routine eye exam every year, and retirees and their family

  • Airman earns Male Athlete of the Year title

    Becoming the Air Force Male Athlete of the Year is no easy feat.  It takes a lot of determination and dedication to achieve this status. This year's Air Force male athlete of the year is Capt. Ian Holt, a squadron command post missile combat crew commander for the 319th Missile Squadron.Captain Holt

  • Provincial reconstruction team expands hospital for Afghans

    A cornerstone ceremony for a new, modern wing of the Zabul Provincial Hospital took place Dec. 26, in Qalat, Afghanistan.The International Security Assistance Forces Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul is partnering with local community leaders to complete this project. Contractors have

  • Wounded vets to participate in first warrior games

    Approximately 200 wounded active duty members and military veterans will compete in the inaugural Warrior Games May 10 to 14 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Defense Department officials announced Jan. 7. The U.S. Olympic Committee will host the games, and events will include shooting, swimming, archery,

  • Photo essay: Kadena Airmen jump over le Shima, Japan

    Pararescuemen participated in high-altitude low-opening jumps over Ie Shima Island, Japan near here Dec. 23, 2009. The jump was part of routine training for the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and the 31st Rescue Squadron. View the slideshow.

  • Oregon F-15s scramble to escort Hawaiian Airlines flight

    Two Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagles, under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command, scrambled Jan. 6 when the pilot of a commercial airliner reported having a disruptive passenger on board. The F-15s, stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base, piloted by Air Guardsmen

  • Chief Roy highlights downrange Airmen

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force has released an "Enlisted Perspective" focusing on Airmen working downrange in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.After visiting during the recent holiday season, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy, the Air Force's top enlisted

  • Airmen teach Afghans the art of maintaining

    Airmen of the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group's aircraft maintenance section here, use their new knowledge and Air Force job skills to mentor Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers.The Airmen took a three-week course to learn how to maintain Russian MI-17 helicopters and incorporate it with

  • Photo essay: It's a dog's life

    Two dog handlers put one of the mlitary working dogs here through the obstacle course Jan. 5.  The dogs, usually German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois, train with their handlers to keep their sharpness, and are selected for duty based on traits such as intelligence and energy. View the slideshow.

  • Gen. Lew Allen dies

    Gen. Lew Allen Jr., the 10th chief of staff of the Air Force, passed away Jan. 4 in Potomac Falls, Va. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made but burial will be in Arlington Cemetery."General Allen was a visionary leader for our Air Force, a devoted husband and father, and a respected

  • Airmen help Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers take aim

    Airmen of the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group here are training 30 Afghanistan National Army Air Corps soldiers on the M-240B rifle in January here.For some of the ANAAC soldiers it was their first time shooting the gas-powered machine gun while for others it was their second, but the Airmen

  • Travis officials conduct mass launch

    Members of the 60th and 349th Air Mobility wings conducted the base's first mass launch of nine aircraft Dec. 21 at Travis Air Force Base.Base officials said the total force launch effort was an opportunity for operations, maintenance and support personnel to train together on a larger scale than

  • Obama condemns terrorists, reaffirms U.S. resolve

    President Barack Obama condemned the Dec. 25 terrorist attempt on the United States in his first 2010 weekly radio address Jan. 2, vowing to bring those involved to justice and outlining steps the administration is taking to protect the American people. Speaking from Kailua, Hawaii, the president

  • U.S. Forces-Iraq stands up in Baghdad

    A New Year's Day ceremony here marked another evolution of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as several major command groups merged into a single headquarters command, U.S. Forces-Iraq."This ceremony marks another significant transition here in Iraq," said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S.

  • Airmen train Kyrgyz officials on EOD mission

    A team of Airmen from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted a team of Kyrgyz officials during a five-day visit to learn about the explosive ordnance disposal operations at the Transit Center at Manas recently.The training, called Theater Security Cooperation, encompassed bringing security forces,

  • Lynn says fight against IEDs remains priority

    Defeating the terrorists' weapon of choice is and will remain a priority for the Defense Department, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here Dec. 30.Mr. Lynn spoke during a Pentagon ceremony where Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz stepped down as director of the Joint Improvised Explosive

  • Ali firefighters prepare Iraqis for future

    Firefighters from the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are bringing the goal of independent Iraqi operations to reality at Camp Ur, Iraq.In December, Ali Base firefighters assisted their Iraqi counterparts toward self-sufficiency through numerous training sessions and skills tests.With

  • Tyndall Airman named Female Athlete of the Year

    When she was just 5 years old, she was already learning to hit softballs in her family's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., backyard. The balls were pitched patiently, one after the other, by an encouraging father who saw something special in his little girl's extraordinary ability to connect a bat with a ball.

  • Iraqi kids, U.S. servicemembers enjoy another day of fun, education

    U.S. servicemembers hosted busloads of Iraqi children for a day of fun, games and culture sharing Dec. 19, 2009, as part of the ongoing base effort to directly engage the local populace here.The event marked the fifth of its kind in the last four months, each one focused on educating and

  • New Iraqi recruits get a leg up

    More than 330 Iraqi air force recruits marched in a parade before beginning their initial basic military course Dec. 28, at Camp Taji, Iraq.Normally recruits attend the 12-week BMT course at the Iraqi Army Regional Training Center prior to reporting to the air force training school on Camp Taji for

  • Air Force medics partner with Iraqi Ministry of Defense hospital

    Members of the Air Force Theater Hospital took the first step in partnering with members of Iraq's Ministry of Defense Hospital Dec. 22, to form the American-Iraqi Air Medical Evacuation and Medical Provider Training Course here. The first installment of training allowed the Iraqis to study burn

  • USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships

    The Airmen of U.S. Air Forces in Europe are charting new territory in tackling one of the Air Force's newest core functions: Building Partnerships.The lesson that international partnerships are essential to success in war and peace is not new. The Office of the Secretary of Defense directed U.S.

  • Georgia Air Guard teams with Army unit in Afghanistan

    Georgia Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron have teamed up with 48th Infantry Brigade Soldiers in eastern Afghanistan. The Airmen are assigned to several joint terminal attack controller units that will call in combat-air support for the 48th's fighters, said

  • Tricare officials expanded benefits and customer service in 2009

    The past year has been a busy one for Tricare officials with the introduction of a new Web-based counseling program and major enhancements to several other Tricare benefits.Introduced Aug. 1, the Tricare Assistance Program uses today's constantly evolving Web-based technologies to bring short-term

  • USO offers respite from traveling frenzy

    As the rest of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport bustled with holiday travelers Dec. 23, its USO Lounge offered military travelers -- many returning home from overseas deployments -- a welcome sanctuary of solace. The lounge is conveniently positioned near the

  • Air Force honorees to attend AETC Symposium Ball

    The 2010 Air Education and Training Command Symposium will honor five special Airmen at a formal ball Jan. 15 in San Antonio."The remaining five Air Force Medal of Honor recipients who were honored for valor during the Vietnam War will be recognized for their heroic actions and the sacrifices they

  • Holloman Airmen train to fight back

    Airmen of the 49th Security Forces Squadron here received first responder to an active gunman training Dec. 15 to 17 from members of the Roswell Police Department special operations team in New Mexico.The training allowed defenders to practice the proper techniques to safely eliminate any emergency

  • Woman's choice to drink, drive crushes captain's dream of flying

    Capt. Alan Yee had just finished pilot training and was out with friends celebrating. He and his friends realized they had one too many drinks to drive, and called a cab. As they were travelling down a 50 mph road, a truck slammed into their cab. Moments later, one friend in the cab was ejected out

  • Conference addresses unmanned aircraft systems use for 1st Air Force mission

    Conference attendees addressed issues related to unmanned aircraft systems' access into the national airspace system Dec. 9 through 11 here.The conference focused on ways Air Force officials can consolidate their efforts with other organizations to gain access into the national airspace system.The

  • American surgical team making a difference in southern Philippines

    Five Airmen are operating a fully-equipped trauma center, providing emergency care, basic medical care and educational services to hundreds of Filipino and U.S. troops on the southern island of Jolo, Philippines. The Air Force members are part of the forward surgical team assigned to Joint Special

  • Altus Airmen boost Canadian forward air control training

    Airmen here provided a first-time service to Canadian forces personnel with ground support for forward air controller training at Fort Sill Falcon Bombing Range, Okla., Nov. 24 through Dec. 8.Members of the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Canadian Forces Bagotville in Quebec, Canada, and Altus

  • Clinton, Gates urge appropriations bill passage

    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates issued a joint statement Dec. 21 encouraging Senate passage of the Defense Appropriations Bill. "We strongly urge Senate passage of the Defense Appropriations Bill today, prior to expiration of the current continuing

  • Airmen create partnerships in multinational exercise

    More than 300 Airmen partnered with colleagues from five other countries for an exercise held in Southwest Asia that concluded in mid-December.The event began in November and simulated a "large force employment," and gave participating nations a chance to develop solutions to potential issues that

  • F-22s complete first Middle East deployment

    Airmen completed the first deployment of F-22 Raptors to the Middle East in mid-December.The fifth-generation fighters and their crews were in the area as part of a multinational exercise where pilots from a variety of nations train together in fighting a large-scale air war. This was the first

  • Air Force officials debut first 3-D commercial

    The Air Force became the first military branch with a 3-D commercial when it premiered its new "Space" spot before the movie "Avatar" Dec. 18 here. The Palladium IMAX theater in San Antonio hosted a special screening of the movie and commercial for Randolph Air Force Base, Texas members."The

  • Doctors perform groundbreaking surgery at Walter Reed

    Doctors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the University of Miami collaborated to perform the first pancreas islet cell transplant Thanksgiving Day on an Airman whose pancreas was injured so severely in Afghanistan that it had to be removed.While serving with an Army unit in Afghanistan,

  • Homeless find hope at closed California bases

    In California, as the temperature drops and the number of homeless people climbs, former Air Force bases around the state offer warm relief. Transitional housing is one of the many ways communities are using property on closed military bases for local benefit. These villages of hope offer the

  • AFMC Freedom's Call Tattoo 2010 scheduled for June 25

    'Tis the season for most people to host or attend holiday parties; but, for officials, here, 'tis the season to be in the midst of planning for one of southwest Ohio's largest summer celebrations.The Air Force Materiel Command Freedom's Call Tattoo is Friday, June 25, 2010. Officials expect another

  • Weapons school grad marks a first

    An Air National Guard MQ-1 Predator pilot marked the beginning of a new era Dec. 12 as the first unmanned aircraft pilot from a reserve component to graduate from the Air Force Weapons Instructor Course at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School here.Maj. Tammy Barlette, from the Arizona Air National

  • Rescue crews train Japan Air Self Defense Force pilots

    Japanese Air Self-Defense Force pilots teamed up with 129th Rescue Wing aircrews here for refueling training Dec. 7 to 18.Maj. Eiji Sekine and Capt. Takeshi Tokuda, UH-60J helicopter pilots assigned to the Air Rescue Wing at Komaki Air Base, Japan, and Maj. Masahiko Miyazaki and Capt. Takemas

  • Military housing allowance rates set for 2010

    Military members will see an average raise of 2.5 percent in housing allowance rates in 2010, a BAH program analyst for the Defense Department here said Dec. 16. The increase comes to average of around $37 per month for the more than 900,000 servicemembers expected to draw the basic allowance for

  • Airmen, Soldiers participate in Operation Thunderstruck

    One-by-one, 10 Charleston-based C-17 Globemaster IIIs took off from Charleston Air Force Base Dec. 16 in support of exercise "Operation Thunderstruck." While Charleston AFB is no stranger to launching a large number of aircraft in a short period of time, this year's exercise is different than ones

  • Opportunities available in financial management

    Air Force line officers interested in applying for the Financial Management Leadership Program must submit their nominations to the Air Force Personnel Center by Jan. 5.The four-year program specializes in Air Force leadership development by providing an opportunity for line officers outside the 65F

  • Weather warriors endure 'turbulent climb'

    Airmen from Det. 1, 607th Weather Squadron participated in a tactical training scenario dubbed Operation Turbulent Climb here Dec. 5.The weather warriors at Camp Red Cloud are stationed 15 miles from the Korean Demilitarized Zone and would likely be one of the first to see action if hostilities were

  • Retired first sergeant leaves special legacy

    When Senior Master Sgt. Clayton French was honored at his Nov. 20 retirement ceremony, most of the guests in attendance learned the 81st Medical Operations Squadron first sergeant would leave a significant legacy to the service to which he devoted more than 28 years of his life.  Sergeant French had

  • Close encounters of the FalconSAT kind

    Satellites from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Department of Energy intentionally passed within five kilometers of each other in orbit Dec. 13, with one satellite's sensors trained upon the other.The two satellites are the Academy's cadet-built FalconSAT-3 satellite and the Cibola experimental

  • Multinational wing completes first mission into Iraq

    A recent flight into Iraq marks another unit milestone for the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing based at Pápa Air Base, Hungary.The airlift mission into Iraq by the wing, which comprises 12 member nations, facilitated the deployment for members of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq."Each time we fly a

  • Airmen perform operations with Kyrgyz surgeons

    Air Force surgeons at the Transit Center at Manas and Kyrgyz doctors worked together to performed surgical operations Dec. 11 in a local hospital here.The team of medical Airmen led by Col. (Dr.) Jerrold Flyer, 376the Expeditionary Medical Group commander, assisted with two separate operations,

  • Partnership between air forces in the making

    Officials from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted Afghan National Army Air Corps officials Dec. 19, here, to explain how an American combat wing operates day to day.Brig. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and other Airmen from operations, maintenance and mission

  • Traumatic stress response team helps Fort Hood victims

    An Air Force medical team trained in helping people recover from traumatic events returned from Fort Hood, Texas, after responding to the Nov. 5 shootings, which left 13 people dead and dozens injured.The Traumatic Stress Response team, led by Maj. Sheila Beville, a 59th Mental Health

  • Patriot 7 exercise teaches ISR skills to enhance situational awareness

    About 30 Air Force, joint and coalition trainees participated in Patriot 7, an exercise using intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to support irregular warfare missions Dec. 6 through 11, here.The week-long field training prepared servicemembers to use full motion video while conducting

  • Airmen distribute donations to orphanage in Kyrgyzstan

    Several Airmen stationed at the Transit Center at Manas here recently delivered more than 60 boxes to a local orphanage that were sent by a dental college in Texas and others throughout America.Kyrgyz children and teachers at the Nizhanchuisk Orphanage and School had no idea what was in store for

  • Squadron highlights capabilities during Afghan rescue mission

    A soldier is wounded during a joint British and Afghanistan National Army patrol in Helmand Province. Shot through both legs, his condition worsens while being cared for by the medics. It is time to call in the professionals to get him off the battlefield and to the hospital. The radios erupt with

  • C-27J training operations center opens

    Air Force, Army and community officials celebrated the opening of a new cargo plane schoolhouse Dec. 9, here.The C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft Schoolhouse will be used to train pilots of the C-27J, the new cargo plane used to reduce the need for ground convoys in dangerous areas.After  years of

  • Ramstein Airmen train in Israel

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany participated in an exercise Dec. 1 through 10 at Nevatim Air Force Base, Israel to accomplish various training requirements for the C-130J Super Hercules which are not allowed in Germany because of country regulations."Training is hard to achieve in Germany

  • Refueling is lifeline of U.S., NATO air operations

    Thirty Royal Danish air force F-16 Fighting Falcons took to the sky over their homeland Dec. 8 to rendezvous with a Royal Air Force Mildenhall-based KC-135 Stratotanker and perform semi-annual aerial refueling training. The mission fortified both operational readiness and mutual trust between the

  • Secretary Gates thanks Kirkuk's Airmen, Soldiers

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates addressed more than 300 Airmen and Soldiers here Dec. 11.  "I know some of you are finishing up your tours and I just want you to know how grateful I am for the service that you've rendered," Secretary Gates said. "Your mission here is still critical to preserving

  • AFGSC missile wings conduct limited inspections

    Each of Air Force Global Strike Command's three missile wings successfully passed a no-notice limited nuclear surety inspection Dec. 8, the first such inspections launched by the new command.Inspection teams of nine to 10 members, including observers from U.S. Strategic Command and oversight from

  • Nellis commander completes 6-show run on 'Jeopardy!'

    The set wasn't the same as he remembered from watching the show in its inaugural season more than 25 years ago. The chalkboard scheme has been replaced by liquid crystal display screens; the money at stake has doubled; and contestants are no longer limited to just five wins. From the first day Col.

  • President promises conditions-based Afghanistan transition

    Any changes in U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan when security responsibility starts to transfer to the Afghans in July 2011 will be considered in light of the situation on the ground at that time, President Barack Obama said Dec. 10 in Oslo, Norway. With Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg

  • 2010 Thrift Savings Plan contributions remain at 2009 limits

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board here announced Dec. 11 the 2010 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions will remain at $16,500, unchanged from 2009. Contributions for the TSP catch-up plan also remains at the $5,500 limit set in 2009."TSP is a long-term

  • Airmen build future Afghan pilot training base

    Airmen restored an airfield that will eventually become the home of the Afghan National Army Air Corps undergraduate pilot training in Shindand, Afghanistan.Airmen deployed from the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., worked side-by-side with Afghan and coalition

  • Educators explore virtual reality as learning tool

    Some people teleported, others flew and some just walked into the holographic auditorium for the Global Learning Forum event here Nov. 19.Though they arrived by different means, everyone in attendance had one thing in common: they did not really exist. Neither did the lecture hall in which they were

  • Joint Chiefs chairman: Al-Qaida remains dangerous

    Al-Qaida remains a danger, and the area along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan is the epicenter of global Islamic extremism, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Foreign Press Center here Dec. 8. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen reiterated to foreign journalists that he fully concurs

  • Air Force officials announce OTS selection board results

    A total of 117 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced Dec. 9. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 461 applications as part of Officer Training School

  • New Air Force plan targets energy

    Air Force officials here released a new energy plan Dec. 9 to serve as the framework for communicating Air Force energy goals and to further expand a culture shift "where Airmen make energy a consideration in everything we do."Debra Walker, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations,

  • Thunderbirds officials announce 2010 schedule

    Officials from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," here announced its 2010 airshow schedule. The team's 57th show season is scheduled to take them to more than 65 shows in 27 states and Canada. Lt. Col. Case Cunningham will join the team as commander and leader for the

  • Bolling members take 'Amazing Race' challenge

    Nearly 40 people from the National Capital Region competed in an obstacle course-style competition Dec. 4 at Bolling Air Force Base. Events ranged from paintball to low-crawling, wheelchair racing, barrel-rolling and bicycling.Competitors raced across a 5.5-mile area on Bolling AFB and Anacostia

  • Laughlin Airmen give special opportunity to one of their own

    Laughlin Air Force Base Airmen hosted the Air Force's newest pilot here Nov. 20. Nicholas "Nicky" Pena, 3, was sworn in as an honorary pilot at the 87th Flying Training Squadron. Nicky, who has an anaplastic ependymoma brain tumor, was invited to be a part of Laughlin AFB's Pilot for a Day program.

  • Task force finds improvement in sexual assault response

    Defense Department officials have made progress in improving their response to the needs of sexual assault victims, but they need to do more, a special task force has determined. The Defense Task Force on sexual assault in the military services has turned their report over to Defense Secretary

  • Alert mission protects U.S. airspace, interests

    Shaw Air Force Base Airmen supporting the Operation Noble Eagle alert mission provide quick-reaction support to protect U.S. airspace and significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches."We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt.

  • U.S., Malaysian air forces participate in live-flying exercise

    U.S. and Malaysian airmen participated in a live-flying exercise involving air combat training in Malaysia from Nov. 9 through 20.Members of the 67th Fighter Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, took their F-15 Eagles to TUDM Butterworth, Malaysia, to train with the Royal Malaysian Air Force's

  • General briefs coalition, Afghan forces on way ahead

    Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, held a press conference here Dec. 2, to address the way ahead following President Barack Obama's speech regarding the increase of coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2010. It's been a long war, General

  • Air Force officials reinforce tattoo, body alteration policy

    Air Force senior leaders here have taken steps to ensure Air Force dress and personal appearance standards are applied consistently across the service."It's about enforcing and maintaining Air Force standards," said Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, the deputy chief of staff for manpower and

  • Top leaders spell out president's strategy

    Top U.S. government and military officials here spelled out President Barack Obama's new war strategy Dec. 6, even as hundreds of Marines launched a new offensive in southern Afghanistan.Both Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on three major

  • Base retiree activities offices worldwide need volunteers

    Retiree activities office members currently need volunteers at 109 offices at active-duty, Reserve and Guard bases around the world. "All of the retiree activities offices are suffering for a new group of people to volunteer because the core of (current volunteers) are getting sick, getting older

  • Deputy defense secretary outlines protections for information

    Although information technology enables the Defense Department to make gains in military capabilities, those gains come at a cost, the deputy defense secretary told industry executives in New York. "The Defense Department makes a tempting target," Mr. William J. Lynn III said. "We have 7 million

  • Dover C-5Ms complete test in surge operations

    The C-5M Super Galaxy team has completed another stage of operational test and evaluation with the conclusion of surge operations at Dover AFB. The surge operations consisted of 31 days of delivering essential cargo and flying sorties nonstop, from Dover AFB to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, without

  • Transportation officials confident in Afghan deployment

    U.S. Transportation Command officials are confident they can accomplish the mission of delivering 30,000 U.S. troops and their equipment to Afghanistan when they are needed. Planners at the command based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., are working with operations specialists at U.S. Joint Forces

  • CMSAF visits Kandahar Airmen

    The Air Force's top enlisted Airman visited Kandahar Airfield Nov. 28 through 30 to say thank you to the Airmen here.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy said he took this time to better understand the full spectrum of a deployment for an Airman on ground-level. He said he wanted to see

  • Eglin Airmen join Marines in combat fitness test

    Eglin Air Force Base Airmen joined the Marines during their annual combat fitness test Nov. 25 here. Airmen who came out for the combat fitness test accepted the invitation from Marine Sgt. Maj. Bonnie Skinner of the 501st Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron to try out the newest addition to the

  • CMSAF visits deployed Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke with and visited deployed servicemembers at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, during his first U.S. Central Command area of responsibility tour as the service's top enlisted leader. During various discussions with

  • Airmen lead training course for Iraqi police

    Airmen assigned to the Iraq Police Transition Team here started a new class Nov. 18 for recent graduates of the Iraqi Police Academy as an effort to further enhance their capabilities as officers securing their communities.The five-day class is part of an on-going effort to transition responsibility

  • Force protection Airmen add another layer of armor in base defense

    Composed of Airmen from 60 different Air Force specialties, the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron force protection unit here aids in defending the base against hostile actions inside the wire. Force protection escorts are charged with monitoring and safeguarding local and third country

  • Afghanistan -- the way ahead: McChrystal sends message to troops

    Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has posted a message to the troops on the way ahead. The full text follows: We have been presented a great opportunity to take the tremendous work of our coalition force to the next level. The clarity, capability and

  • Squadron commander receives Nebraska Admiralship

    A special ceremony for Maj. Dana McCown's promotion to lieutenant colonel Nov. 24 became much more as Nebraska first lady Sally Ganem took to the podium during the ceremony.. The wife of Nebraska governor Dave Heineman bestowed Colonel McCown with an Admiralship in the Great Navy of Nebraska for the

  • Retired chief shares experiences with Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

    When Airmen deploy to places like Iraq and Afghanistan they accomplish difficult and challenging missions. Unfortunately some return injured or even having paid the ultimate price for freedom. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program is committed to caring for wounded Airmen, their families, and the