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  • Defense Department to start H1N1 flu vaccinations

    All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, a Defense Department health affairs official said Sept. 2 here. The H1N1 vaccination program will begin in early October, said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Wayne

  • Fiscal closeout may delay orders in hand

    Some Airmen may experience slight delays in receiving permanent-change-of-station orders in September as officials here begin implementing new procedures for closing out the fiscal year PCS budget. Active-duty Airmen with assignment report dates or a date eligible for return from overseas of January

  • Academy joins social media scene

    The U.S. Air Force Academy officially entered the social media sphere Aug. 28 with the launch of Web pages on two popular social networking sites. In order to offer the public a convenient way to see what's going on at the Academy, the public affairs office here has created a page on

  • Gates cites importance of acquisition reform

    It is imperative for the nation to get defense acquisition reform right, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Aug. 31 during a visit to Texas to tour the plants of two major defense contractors. Americans are getting value for their tax dollars spent in the defense realm, Secretary Gates said

  • Beale AFB first to incorporate Body Pump in fitness program

    "When your body starts to scream, tell it to shut up." That's the motto of the new Body Pump fitness program which began at the fitness center here Aug. 24. Several members of the 9th Force Support Squadron trained to become certified instructors of the program."We wanted to find the most relevant

  • Holiday Greetings teams ready to deploy

    Taping for one of the most recognizable holiday programs in America will begin soon, months before wreaths are hung and lights are strung in homes across the country. Broadcast teams from the Joint Hometown News Service in San Antonio will depart shortly after Labor Day to begin taping video holiday

  • Important updates in life require update in DEERS

    Important life events like moving or a child going off to college are milestones in military families' lives. No matter where their journeys take them, it's important for families to keep their Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System records up to date. For Tricare beneficiaries, keeping

  • Defense secretary touts F-35 as heart of future tactical combat aviation

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter factory here Aug. 31, assessing progress on what he called "the heart of the future of our tactical combat aviation." Secretary Gates walked through the mile-long production facility, getting

  • Secretary Gates to MC-12 workers: Your work is saving troops' lives

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave a pep talk to employees outfitting the MC-12 Liberty aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions Aug. 31 here, telling them their work is saving lives on the battlefield. Secretary Gates visited the L3 Communications plant here, getting

  • Innovative Airmen make jobs, lives easier

    Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing have applied the axiom "work smarter, not harder" to come up with solutions on the job that are saving manpower, time and money here in Southwest Asia. Examples of innovation are not limited to just one group. Each of the four groups assigned to the 379th

  • Airmen protect space assets in new Air Force commercial

    An Air Force commercial highlighting the role men and women in the Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., play in protecting satellite and other space assets begins airing Aug. 31 in television markets and select movie theaters across the country. "Space

  • 'Today's Air Force' features chief of staff first-year reflections

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the chief of staff of the Air Force reflects on his first year on the job, the Global Positioning System gets a high tech upgrade, and Airmen turn to a new program in Iraq to get help dealing with combat stress.Major changes have taken place across the Air

  • Base of preference requests can now be initiated online through vMPF

    Air Force Personnel Center officials have revamped the Voluntary Assignments Base of Preference Program to allow eligible enlisted members to initiate BOP requests online. Air Force members from the rank of E-8 and below can now apply for permanent change of station BOP, in-place BOP, or both

  • AFCENT commander, command chief visit JBB

    Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the new U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, and AFCENT Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff visited Joint Balad Base Aug. 25 to survey various missions and address some of the Airmen he now commands. During his visit, General Hostage met with Army officials from the

  • Officials outline adoption process for military working dogs

    Military working dogs have come a long way since the days of ancient Persia and Assyria, where they donned armor, spiked collars and warned of impending attack or charged on the enemy's cavalry. Modern battlefield and customs conditions bring forth complex and ever-changing challenges, and as such,

  • New vice chief of staff takes office

    Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler is the new vice chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding Gen. William M. Fraser III who held the position since October 2008. General Chandler comes to the Pentagon after two years of service as commander of Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S.

  • New supercomputer supports ISR research, development

    Desch, one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, will be dedicated during a ceremony here Aug. 31. The Desch is a custom-designed SGI Altix ICE 8200 supercomputer that has been optimized and will be dedicated exclusively to support real-time translation of synthetic aperture radar data into

  • Launch of civilian marketing campaign pivotal in filling Air Force jobs

    Over the next five years, Air Force officials plan to hire 20,000 more civilians into civil service. To help bases better market civilian job openings and recruit qualified applicants for current and future jobs, Air Force Personnel Center specialists will roll out the "Your Future" marketing and

  • Academy to transform character development program

    Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould unveiled plans Aug. 27 for a major transformation and expansion of the Academy's character development efforts. Plans include re-designating the Center for Character Development to the Center for Character and Leadership Development, or CCLD, and relocating

  • Green Flag provides Italian air force new insight on close air support

    Italian airmen sharpened their close-air-support skills in realistic combat conditions here during their first-ever exercise appearance at Green Flag West Aug. 9 through 20. Nearly 180 Italian airmen from four different squadrons comprised the "Reparto Autonomo Volo," or Autonomous Flying Wing, at

  • AMC wing hits high marks for nuclear surety

    Air Mobility Command Airmen showed strong support for "reinvigorating the Air Force nuclear enterprise" through a command-level no-notice inspection recently. From Aug. 17 to 24, the AMC Inspector General officials completed a no-notice Limited Nuclear Surety Inspection, or LNSI, of the 62nd Airlift

  • NASA accepting applications for aeronautics scholarship awards

    Officials in NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate will begin accepting scholarship applications on Sept. 1 for the 2010 academic year. The application deadline is Jan. 11, 2010. "These scholarships are a fantastic way to support our brightest students and encourage them to finish their

  • New GI Bill to heighten professional work force

    More college-educated professionals will enter the next generation's professional work force as a result of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said this week at the American Legion's 91st National Convention in Louisville, Ky. Secretary Shinseki lauded the

  • Info to abound at USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo

    USAF Marathon officials here say you should plan to be informed and inspired at the USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo on Sept. 17 and 18.Nationally-syndicated "consumer warrior" Clark Howard and Boston Marathon Director Dave McGillivray are just two of the speakers scheduled to provide

  • Air Force earns 6 campaign streamers

    A new chapter of military history was recognized here, Aug. 26, as the Secretary of  the Air Force added six campaign streamers to accompany the Air Force colors. The new streamers were presented by the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, and received by Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, U.S. Air Forces

  • 'Defender's Edge': A new approach to combat stress

    A new customized mental health program is helping security forces Airmen here manage combat stress.The "Defenders Edge" is tailored to those security forces Airmen who conduct missions on or outside the wire. This program is intended to improve Airmen's mental resiliency to combat-related stressors.

  • Engine program aims to meet military's need for speed

    The F-22 Raptor and F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets are fast, screaming through the air at twice the speed of sound.  But the SR-71 Blackbird was faster, flying Mach 3 until mechanical problems and exorbitant operating costs forced it out of service in the late 1990s. Now, Defense Advanced Research

  • U.S. Air Forces Africa help Nigerian C-130 fly again

    A group of active-duty Air Force and Tennessee Air National Guardsmen recently helped restore one of Nigeria's C-130 transport aircraft to flying condition as part of an ongoing military-to-military engagement between 17th Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Africa) and the West African nation. Lt. Col.

  • Defense Department Web site eases information delivery

    The new Defense Department Web site is designed to make military news and information more accessible, and also invites greater participation from the public, the department's top public affairs official said Aug. 25. "[Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates] wanted to hear back from people more. He felt

  • NCO donates kidney, begins 'donor chain'

    Valinda Jones, a nurse in Woodland Hills, Calif., has endured more than 14,500 hours of dialysis throughout the last five years -- that's eight hours a day, every day -- relying on a machine to filter impurities from her blood. Thanks to Master Sgt. Nicole Lanstrum, Ms. Jones is back to a living a

  • New munitions units advance nuclear weapons center role

    With the activation and assumption of command for the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Aug. 18, Air Force officials significantly advanced one of their top goals: reinvigorating the service's nuclear enterprise. The maintenance group was the last of four similar

  • New ergonomic seats installed in E-3 fleet

    For operators occupying the 19 control stations aboard E-3 Sentrys, 12-to-14-hour missions will become a bit more comfortable after new ergonomically designed seats are installed on the U.S. fleet. This Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft is the first of five legacy platforms to receive the

  • Blog offers support to military families

    Defense Department officials have launched a blog called "Family Matters" that is dedicated to providing resources and support to military families. The blog, which can be found at http://afps.dodlive.mil, features tips from experts, and military-related topics that discuss anything from deployments

  • Portal to AF past found at Frankfurt Airport

    Almost 13 years ago, members of the 626th Air Mobility Support Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, left their mark when they created and buried a time capsule. Today, Rhein-Main AB is closed and the Frankfurt Airport is undergoing construction for cargo buildings where the base's flightline

  • 3rd Bombardment Group reunites at Elmendorf

    Several members of the 3rd Bombardment Group reunited here Aug. 12 through 16 to honor an important chapter in the 3rd Wing's history.The 3rd BG, which was also known as the 3rd Attack Group, was stationed in Australia during World War II and is today's 3rd Wing. The members who reunited here were

  • Iraqi agency ready to take over civil aviation operations

    The Iraqi civil aviation authority staff will independently conduct day-to-day civil aviation operations beginning Aug. 25 after Airmen of the Regional Air Movement Control Center helped direct the organization stationed here. The Regional Air Movement Control Center staff worked for more than half

  • Iraqi air force brings ISR capabilities online

    Intelligence collection has become a valuable capability for the Iraqi air force in its push to provide security and stability. Unique to the Iraqi air force, the King Air Squadron 87 here boasts the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities necessary for detecting and deterring

  • VA simplifies compensation rules for post-traumatic stress

    The Veterans Affairs Department is taking steps to help veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced Aug. 24. "The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its

  • NATO AWACS proves interoperability during test

    A NATO E-3 AWACS took part in six-hour combat scenarios that demonstrated interoperability between its prototype interrogator and various joint platforms that interrogate in the same mode in July flying at an observation point 100 miles off the coast of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. During

  • Airman witnesses daughter's birth via webcam

    Airmen take pride in the electronic devices that allow them to listen to their favorite music, see distant targets or identify the movements of an enemy force.But one Airman assigned here used modern technology recently to witness something a little different and a lot more personal.Tech. Sgt.

  • Air Force Marathon makes history

    Registration for the 13th Annual United States Air Force Marathon has exceeded last year's total participation, making this the largest field in the history of the service's largest participatory athletic event. A weekly registration release, on Fridays, shows that as of Aug. 21, more than 7,410

  • Air Force unveils new fitness program

    Approval of the new Air Force fitness instruction in the coming weeks will bring about some of the most significant changes to the Air Force fitness program in the last five years.Those changes, which take effect Jan. 1, 2010, shift a greater responsibility of maintaining physical fitness 365 days a

  • Pacific Airlift Rally 2009 kicks off

    A biennial symposium involving Pacific Rim nations to enhance military airlift interoperability with a focus in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kicked off here Aug. 17. Pacific Airlift Rally 2009, co-hosted by the American and Royal Malaysian air forces, includes

  • Civilians can now apply for new professional development program

    Air Force civilian employees can now apply for a new professional development opportunity with applications due to Air Force Personnel Center officials by Sept. 4. The Civilian Acculturation Leadership Training program provides a unique in-residence experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,

  • 5 NATO countries take part in jump week

    Five NATO countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 9 thru 14. Parachuting out of the back of a C-130 Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron here, more than 250 paratroopers guided

  • Acquisition work force steps toward reform

    Big changes are ahead in the acquisitions community as Defense Department officials increase and reshape the acquisition work force so it's better postured to support the reforms Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Barack Obama are championing. The federal civilian defense acquisition

  • Gates, Mullen use new media to hear from troops, public

    Got questions you'd like to pose directly to the defense secretary or chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? Now is your chance! Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen have launched interactive, virtual town hall sessions through the Internet. The initiatives are part of a broad administration

  • Clinic traffic downrange shows need for hearing protection

    When gearing up for a mission in Afghanistan, servicemembers don't forget their helmet, gloves, weapon, eye protection or body armor. But what about hearing protection? Staff Sgt. Lee Adams, an ear, nose and throat technician here, said more than half of the patients seen in the ENT walk-in clinics

  • Mildenhall serves as base for Turkish C-130 engine replacement

    A team of 13 Turkish air force mechanics arrived here Aug. 17 to repair one of their C-130s after a maintenance inspection revealed problems with one of the aircraft's engines. Members of the 100th Maintenance Squadron lent support of its facilities and equipment to the team while they swapped out

  • CMSAF talks integrity, training, development

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force praised the enlisted force and highlighted several of his key priorities during a speech at the 2009 Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen's Conference here. "Everywhere I've traveled it's very apparent our Air Force places great trust in our

  • Teamwork keeps tankers flying

    A team of active-duty, Reserve and Guard servicemembers of the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here maintain aircraft built during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's era in temperatures exceeding 110 degrees here. The working dynamics at the 340th AMU differ from most Air Force bases working on KC-135

  • Communications directorate consolidates, stands-up

    The air logistics center here becomes the first in Air Force Materiel Command to stand up a communications directorate. As a part of an effort to consolidate the communications squadrons and the information technology directorates, the three AFMC ALCs are required to combine the two. In a ceremony

  • AF top enlisted leader visits Holloman

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Aug. 10 here to talk to base Airmen and see the Holloman Air Force Base mission.  Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy was given a tour of the base and shared his priorities with base members. "It's easy to align my goals with the Air

  • President visits Phoenix, meets Luke Airmen

    Fifty-one Airmen from Luke Air Force Base met President Barack Obama at the 110th Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention Aug. 17 in Phoenix. The base received an invitation from VFW officials for 50 Airmen to attend the opening session of the convention, as well as to hear the keynote speaker,

  • Travis Airmen provide presidential support

    Members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing here were there to smooth the way for President Barack Obama's two-day visit to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a North American summit held with leaders from Mexico and Canada Aug. 9 and 10. When the president travels, he relies on Air Force contingency

  • AF Research Lab scientist wins award for groundbreaking research

    Dr. Paul Barnes, an Air Force Research Lab scientist, has been selected as the winner of a 2009 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, award. Dr. Barnes has received the John L. McLucas Basic Research STEM Award for of his outstanding scientific achievements in superconducting

  • Dog days of summer

    A handful of Airmen and their canine companions deployed here as part of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron defend Bagram Airfield and search up to 700 vehicles on a daily basis. Since they inherited the base defense mission, the Airmen and their K-9s have found thousands of pounds of

  • Photo essay: new dog, handler develop bond at Moody AFB

    A military working dog handler with the 822nd Security Forces Squadron works with a new dog here recently. Senior Airman Beaun Clegg and Rreyana train and develop a bond so that the team will be combat ready.  Rreyana arrived in June from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.View the slideshow.

  • New unit, new way of doing international business

    Recently, a C-17 Globemaster III sat on the end of the runway here, as many others do, but this particular aircraft was quite different. As loadmasters and the crew paced around, completing preflight checklists, one couldn't help but notice the nation patches on their flight uniforms were

  • Robins unit answers urgent call for AC-130U repair

    A Robins Air Force Base unit recently developed a prototype infrared suppression system for the AC-130U Spooky. 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group personnel developed the prototype after receiving an urgent requirement for the IRSS. Working from a design by S&K Technologies, which also provided

  • Obama pledges support for troops, veterans

    America's men and women in uniform have done their duty and fulfilled every responsibility that's been asked of them, President Barack Obama said Aug. 17. "And now," he said, "a grateful nation must fulfill ours." President Obama offered high praise for the troops, calling them the heart and soul of

  • Enlisted sensor operators take flight in AF's newest career field

    The U.S. Air Force boasts more than 130 enlisted career fields and on Aug. 17 one more was officially welcomed as the first class of 10 enlisted unmanned aircraft system sensor operators began their technical school. Because of their capabilities, unmanned aircraft have become in exceedingly high

  • National Guard adds Liberia to partnership program

    Liberia will be the eighth African nation to take part in the National Guard's State Partnership Program. The National Guard will add Liberia to its State Partnership Program this year, bringing to eight the number of African nations taking part in the program. The addition fulfills a request from

  • New recruits enlist at Chicago Air and Water Show

    Following a full-throttle aerial display by Air Combat Command's F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team, 50 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 15 during the 51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show. "Today has been crazy... I'm beyond excited," said Michael Leonard, 20, from

  • Historical exhibit showcases 'Father of the Air Force'

    When faculty and students enter the Academy's Arnold Hall they now get a closer look at the Father of the United States Air Force. An exhibit honoring Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold that has been in the works for three years has come to fruition. According to Paul Martin, a museum specialist who serves as

  • Logistics leaders address Air Force future

    A summer lecture series devoted to logistics brought past and present air logistics center leaders together here recently for a panel discussion and question and answer period. Hosted by the Logistics Officer Association's Crossroads Chapter, the "Logistics over Lunch" attracted approximately 70

  • Google Voice answers nation's call

    Google is tinkering with a new service that could transform the way troops on the frontlines communicate with their families on the homefront. Google Voice assigns users a single U.S. phone number that can ring at phones in multiple locations like the home, office or on a cellular device -- all at

  • Lonely Eagles ceremony recognizes fallen Tuskegee Airmen

    Beside a folded flag, a single flame burned atop the table of honor before dozens who gathered to honor fallen Tuskegee Airmen in a ceremony here Aug. 7. Part of the 38th Annual Tuskegee Airmen Inc., convention, the Lonely Eagles Ceremony memorialized air, ground and operations crew from the

  • National Guard officials work toward continuous improvement

    National Guard officials have implemented a new program designed to streamline operations and in the end cut costs and improve efficiency in day-to-day activities.The Continuous Process Initiative, or CPI, combines the Army's Lean Six Sigma program and the Air Force's Smart Operations for the 21st

  • 14 force support courses move to Maxwell

    Fourteen force support courses will transition from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to the Eaker Center for Professional Development at Maxwell AFB, Ala. by Oct 1."We are always focused on educating, developing and preparing our career field leaders, and recent changes to the emerging force

  • Redesigned NCO retraining program begins with voluntary phase

    The 2010 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program has a new look and focus as Air Force officials here seek to fill approximately 1,124 shortage career field and special duty positions. The entire program has been reduced from nine months to 120 days to better serve both Airmen and the Air Force

  • Quick hire of military spouses starts in September

    Under a personnel rule that takes effect Sept. 11, some military spouses could be quickly hired for federal jobs without going through the usual competitive process. Officials from the Office of Personnel Management here issued the authority's final regulatory guidelines Aug. 12, which are posted in

  • 'Today's Air Force' features standup of new command

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the stand up the service's first new major command in nearly three decades is highlighted. Also featured are Airmen with special skills train for combat in Afghanistan and the best-of-the-best food service professionals in Europe compete for top honors. Air

  • Military members, families keys to year of success

    After a year in the job, the Air Force chief of staff said he is still impressed with the contributions of Airmen of every specialty, stateside and overseas."It's still stunning to see what our Airmen are doing," Gen. Norton Schwartz said.  "There is work to do. There are challenges to face. But

  • VA creating 28 new vet centers

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced Aug. 14 that combat veterans will receive readjustment counseling and other assistance in 28 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans Affairs will establish vet centers in 2010. "VA is committed to providing

  • DOD, VA work to create lifetime electronic records

    For servicemembers who still remember hand-carrying their medical records back and forth to appointments, the new virtual lifetime electronic record will help prevent misplaced paperwork and help providers maintain and offer quality health care, the acting director of the program said Aug. 13.

  • Deliberate path ahead for Airmen

    New co-chairs assumed their leadership positions as the Enlisted Force Development Panel met at the Pentagon Aug. 5. Daniel R. Sitterly, the force development director for the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy, are now

  • Osan cross servicing program fosters good relations

    The first combat cross servicing program evaluation of the year for Osan Air Base Airmen took place Aug. 10 when two South Korean F-5's landed on the flightline here. The Osan AB combat cross servicing program is a mutual agreement between the U.S. and South Korean air force that allows maintainers

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research launches social media outreach

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research announced Aug. 11 the launch of two new pages on Facebook and Twitter. To follow AFOSR on each site, type "AFOSR" in the search box on each page. The new AFOSR Facebook and Twitter pages will provide real-time information on AFOSR stories, accomplishments,

  • Air Force employee serves more than half a century

     When a 19-year-old Army recruit left New York City for Fort Dix, N.J., in 1944, he never imagined that 65 years later he would still be serving with the military. Anthony Duno had no idea where his Army service would lead him or how long it would last, but the humbling experience of growing up

  • First aircraft to undergo high velocity maintenance at Robins

    The first Air Force aircraft to undergo the new high velocity maintenance program arrived July 31 at Robins Air Force base. High velocity maintenance is designed to shorten the time the aircraft is down for maintenance and inspections. The C-130 Hercules will be used to validate this new maintenance

  • Tuskegee Airmen convention recognizes top Airmen

    Four honorees received awards during the 38th Annual Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., convention at the Palace Station Hotel Aug. 7 here. Among dozens of original and later-generation Tuskegee Airmen, the honorees at the Aug. 6 through 9 convention were recognized for outstanding leadership, professionalism

  • Air Force officials welcome new surgeon general

    The Air Force's 20th surgeon general took office during a Pentagon ceremony presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Aug. 12 here. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green was the Air Force's deputy surgeon general since August 2006, and he replaced Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush,

  • Monument to honor Air Force first sergeants at Enlisted Heritage Hall

    The Air Force First Sergeants Academy at Gunter Annex is currently in the process of developing a monument to honor the work and dedication of Air Force first sergeants, said the academy's director of education. Senior Master Sgt. Michael Bellerose said the monument will consist of two life-sized

  • Airmen hand over visitation operations at Camp Bucca

    A ceremony was held to mark the end of Air Force participation in visitation operations at Camp Bucca's theater internment facility as the Army assumed responsibility of the mission Aug. 10 here.More than 120 Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron were recognized for bringing

  • Museum officials launch virtual tour

    National Museum of the U.S. Air Force officials here launched a free museum tour podcast on their Web site so visitors have access to a wealth of information as they tour the museum.The podcast, available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil, acts as virtual tour when visitors are exploring the application

  • Inaugural Academy UAS class pins on wings

    Members of the first class of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Unmanned Aircraft System and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Education Program received their UAS wings Aug. 11 during a ceremony here.The class included four hand-picked cadre, all second degrees, with the remainder third

  • Robins maintainers give pilots unobstructed vision

    Members of the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron transparency shop here has a "clear" mission: to ensure there are no blemishes in F-15 Eagle canopies that could impact pilots' views. When the shop restores a canopy, it saves the Air Force about $350,000 from buying a new one. About 10 percent of

  • Luke Airmen to test new stain resistant footwear

    Stain resistant, low maintenance boot prototypes will soon be tested by Airmen at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. "This boot is expected to be a solution for low-maintenance footwear that upholds a professional military image no matter the environment," said 1st Lt. Ashley Hawkes, the airman battle

  • AFSO 21 senior leader course aims to improve future processes

    An Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century senior leader course took place here Aug. 3 and 4 to help leaders from across Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continue improving processes in the future. The two-day course aimed at colonels, GS-15s and chief master sergeants was kicked off by Maj.

  • Iraqi official tours Joint Base Balad medical facilities

    The Iraqi deputy governor of the Salah Ad Din Province visited the Air Force Theater Hospital and Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps Clinic here Aug. 5 to develop ideas for improving health care within his district. Ahmed al-Krayem toured units within the facility and talked to several members of the

  • Air Force family's 'Extreme' home revealed

    Amid a hearty "welcome home" shout-out from Airmen and volunteers, an employee from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, fought back tears as he and his family saw their new, custom-built home for the first time Aug. 6 here. James Terpenning, a civilian computer specialist, received the house

  • Technology convergence could prevent war, futurist says

    The convergence of "exponentially advancing technologies" will form a "super-intelligence" so formidable that it could avert war, according to one of the world's leading futurists. Dr. James Canton, CEO and chairman of the Institute for Global Futures, a San Francisco-based think tank, is author of

  • Total-force team airdrops 10-ton artillery load

    A team of Bagram Airfield Airmen airdropped an M198 artillery piece to an Army unit in a remote Eastern-part of Afghanistan Aug. 8. New York, Ohio and Missouri Air Guard members joined with reservists and active-duty Airmen to form the total-force aircrew that loaded and delivered the 155 mm

  • Air Force Global Strike Command activated

    Air Force officials stood up a new major command to oversee all of its nuclear forces in an activation ceremony Aug. 7 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Global Strike Command will provide combat ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of