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  • Joint Base MDL survives Hurricane Irene

    Hurricane Irene moved out of the area here Aug. 28, but not without leaving its mark.Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst experienced damaging winds and excessive rain, which caused flooding, base officials said.When the storm began to move out of the area, damage assessment teams spread out across the

  • SJAFB begins post-Irene clean up

    After winds and rain died down enough for crews to venture out, the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron put its Airmen to work cleaning up after Hurricane Irene starting Aug. 27.View the slideshow.

  • Panetta puts troops on standby for hurricane assistance

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has issued a prepare-to-deploy order for 6,500 active-duty service members from all of the services to support hurricane relief efforts if ordered, Pentagon spokesman George Little said Aug. 27.On requests from states for the department to provide hurricane relief

  • Scott AFB supports bases evacuating from Hurricane Irene

    More than 20 aircraft from various East Coast locations began arriving here Aug. 25 as part of Hurricane Irene evacuation efforts. So far, Scott Air Force Base has received:-- Eight F-15C Eagles and 26 support personnel from the 125th Fighter Wing from the Jacksonville Air National Guard in

  • JB MDL prepares for Hurricane Irene

    Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is actively preparing for Hurricane Irene, officials here said.The base entered Hurricane Condition III on Aug. 25, which is declared when the weather forecast predicts the arrival of 58 mph or greater winds within 48 hours."Hurricane Irene is expected to be a

  • 20th EBS Airmen assume continuous bomber presence in Guam

    More than 300 Airmen assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrived here recently to replace the 96th EBS in support of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence.The rotation of bomber aircraft is specifically designed to enhance regional security

  • Spads celebrate 94 years of air dominance

    Airmen from the 94th Fighter Squadron burned a piano in a traditional ceremony here Aug. 19, as part of the four-day 94th anniversary celebration that started Aug. 18. Although there are several stories of why the piano was burned, Capt. Jonathan Smith, the 94th FS assistant director of operations,

  • CMSAF visits 11th OG

    Members of the 11th Operations Group here provided a special tour Aug. 16 for the Air Force's highest-ranking enlisted member to take a candid look Airmen here do every day.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke with members of the U.S. Air Force Band, Air Force Honor Guard and the

  • ACC Airmen prepare for Hurricane Irene

    National Hurricane Center officials issued a number of advisories for the East Coast Aug. 25 in preparation for Hurricane Irene.Airmen, civilian personnel and their families at Air Combat Command units and installations near the projected path of a hurricane should take steps to adequately prepare,

  • SJAFB evacuates jets as Irene approaches

    As Hurricane Irene approaches, the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing began evacuating approximately 60 F-15E Strike Eagles and eight KC-135R Stratotankers to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25.In addition to the aircraft sent to Barksdale, the base also sent approximately 350 aircrew

  • Military bases prepare for Hurricane Irene

    Military bases along the eastern seaboard are securing for the Category 3 winds and rain of Hurricane Irene, defense officials said Aug. 25.The Defense Department is working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the U.S. government response, the officials added.The Defense

  • Reserve pilot spearheads Air Force's efforts to go green

    A historic agreement, introduced by a Reserve pilot from the 317th Airlift Squadron, between the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration establishes procedures for pilots called optimized profile descent, which will reduce noise, fuel costs and emissions effective Aug

  • MQ-9 sustains damage during landing

    A remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron sustained damage during landing here Aug. 24.The accident occurred at the end of a local training mission, officials said. The 29th AS is a remotely piloted aircraft flying training unit. No one was injured, and no private property

  • Airman inducted into Space Camp Hall of Fame

    An Air Force officer recently became the first U.S. Air Force space and missile operator inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame.Lt. Col. William Burke Hare III, the chief of operations for the Flight Test Execution Directorate at the Missile Defense Agency at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., was selected

  • CMSAF visits Offutt, speaks about tough decisions on horizon

    During a visit here Aug. 18 and 19, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy met with the enlisted members of Air Combat Command's largest wing and Offutt's tenant units. Roy took time to dispel some rumors and explain to Air Force members what's on the horizon. Understandably, one of the

  • 16th SPCS breaks ground for new global capability

    In a combined effort, the 16th Space Control Squadron and its Reserve associate unit, the 380th Space Control Squadron, broke ground July 28 for a Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection and Reporting System site in Hawaii.Lt. Col. Roger Sherman, the 16th SPCS commander, Lt. Col. Bob Claude, the

  • Seymour Johnson defenders begin 9/11 Ruck March to Remember

    Eight months ago, the 4th Security Forces Squadron commander and his training NCO sat down here and mapped out an idea to organize a ruck march from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to Ground Zero in New York in remembrance of defenders who were killed or injured in the 10 years since the terrorist

  • National Guard ready for Hurricane Irene

    National Guard adjutants general along the East and Gulf Coasts are currently awaiting the potential landfall of Hurricane Irene, but are prepared to act if called upon by their governors, Guard officials said Aug. 23.As of 3:30 p.m., the Florida National Guard 125th Fighter Wing, has upgraded to

  • Air Force youth of the year recognized in Pentagon ceremony

    Fifty teens were honored at the 2011 Air Force Youth of the Year Award ceremony Aug. 3 in the Pentagon auditorium here.The annual ceremony, held in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year Program, recognizes Air Force youth for contributions to their installation youth

  • Base makes room for more rotary wing aircraft in Afghanistan

    Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, increased its capacity recently when officials opened a new rotary wing apron with a goal of increasing capability to stage rotary wing aircraft.Approximately 112,000 meters in size, the apron has the ability to park 18 UH-60 Blackhawks, 14 CH-47 Chinooks and 10 AH-64

  • Air Force awarded for energy savings

    The Air Force was announced as the recipient of almost half of the U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program's 2011 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards earned by Department of Defense entities, and a quarter of awards overall. The awards are scheduled to be presented during

  • Altus Captain embarks on 'Journey of Freedom' to honor fallen heroes

    An Air Force captain is planning to bike from Arlington National Cemetery, Va., for approximately 150 miles and then run another 100 miles to Ground Zero in New York City, N.Y., Sept. 10-11 without stopping to rest. Capt. Chris Pace, a 58th Airlift Squadron instructor pilot, is calling his athletic

  • ESC awards contract for lightened instrument landing system

    Officials at the Electronic Systems Center here issued an $8.8 million contract award to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Network Systems Division Aug. 12 to provide the Air Force a deployable precision approach landing capability to support contingency operations or humanitarian missions across the

  • Airman uses research, experience to contribute to fight

    Neil Armstrong was once quoted as saying, "Research is creating new knowledge." One Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airman in Southern Afghanistan understands that mentality very well.Col. Sean Collins, the senior researcher for the Joint Combat Casualty Research Team, has been working to improve

  • Joint basing strengthens 673rd Security Forces Squadron

    More than 10 months after the former Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson merged to form Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; the 673d Security Forces Squadron is running on all cylinders, officials here said.Capt. Melissa Hull, the 673rd Security Forces operations officer, said it was a

  • 50th Space Wing gains control of newest GPS satellite

    Officials from the 50th Space Wing 2nd Space Operations Squadron accepted command and control of the second Global Positioning System Block IIF satellite Aug. 19. The Space and Missile Systems Center GPS Directorate, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., remained in control of the satellite

  • Exercise Eagle Flag focuses on joint task force-port opening

    The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center launched its Eagle Flag Exercise Aug. 13, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.The first week of the two-week exercise is designed to simulate unloading and the transportation of cargo received in a deployed environment. A joint task force-port opening, or

  • Recent grad's astro feats regarded as research crown 'joule'

    Look out, Richard Dean Anderson. There's a new MacGyver in town.His name is 2nd Lt. Michael Trubilla, and a prestigious award is in the 2011 Air Force Academy grad's very near future: Trubilla is scheduled to receive the Air Force Science and Technology Cadet Research Award Aug. 25 at

  • RED HORSE team rides in for Ulchi Freedom Guardian

    Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2011 augmentees from across the globe arrived here recently to find a tent city already set up by 254th RED HORSE members.Ulchi Freedom Guardian is an annual computer-assisted simulation command post exercise that focuses on training service members while exercising senior

  • Hawaii joint base trains for emergency preparedness

    Twenty-eight members of the emergency operations center here participated in incident management team training, including earthquake and flood drill scenarios, Aug. 9 to 12. This training, the first since the installation joint based, will ensure the IMT members know exactly what to do in case of

  • Yokota Airmen take to sky during Pacific Airlift Rally

    Seventy-eight members from the 36th Airlift Squadron here will test their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief abilities in the Pacific Airlift Rally held in Sri Lanka, Aug. 18 through 22. The Pacific Airlift Rally is designed to strengthen interoperability between nations in the Indonesian

  • Officials train a resilient family, force

    Officials from Seymour Johnson Air Force base hosted a resiliency training session for Air Combat Command dependents Aug. 12 here."Spouses and teenagers deal with the deployment schedules and battle rhythm that our active-duty forces deal with each and every day," said Col. Patrick Doherty, the 4th

  • Space ops squad calls on reliable spare for active service

    The 2nd Space Operations Squadron here is set to swap out an underperforming satellite with a handy spare this week. During late May, 2nd SOPS analysts began noticing signs that SVN-30, a Global Positioning System IIA vehicle, was no longer maintaining the gold standard of performance. Engineers in

  • Motorcycle ride kicks off 9/11 memorial observances

    One of the first of many tenth-anniversary commemorations of the 9/11 terror attacks will begin Aug. 18 as almost 2,500 motorcyclists launch the 11th America's 9/11 Ride that begins in Shanksville, Pa., and continues over the next three days to the Pentagon and World Trade Center crash sites.The

  • Space Command retires workhorse satellite

    Members of the 3rd Space Operations Squadron, along with their counterparts from the 53rd Signal Battalion, waved a fond farewell to a trusted old friend Aug. 12. Lt. Col. Kevin Mortensen, 3rd SOPS commander and Lt. Col. Benjamin Jones, 53rd SB commander, took the honors, shutting down the final

  • Joint Base Charleston holds air transport conference

    More than 140 people attended an Air Transportation Test Loading Activity conference Aug. 11 and 12 here. ATTLA is the Department of Defense agency responsible for approving airlift cargo before it can be transported by aircraft. Loadmasters, aerial porters and representatives from various agencies

  • Spouses can honor employers with award

    Civilian spouses of Reserve and National Guard members often must rely on the flexibility and support of their employers, particularly during deployments. While most employers will grant a time-off request and, in some cases, a shift change for their spouse employees, others go above and beyond in

  • Photo Essay: Quitters never win...Winners never quit

    Airmen from the 51st Security Forces Squadron here try out for the Osan Quick Response Team Aug. 9, 2011. The QRT provides immediate response to any high-risk situation including barricaded suspects, workplace violence, domestic violence and abuse response, school violence and disaster response. To

  • Communications upgrades keep warfighters connected

    The Theater Deployable Communications Team at the Electronic Systems Center here is continuing to ensure warfighters have the key communications infrastructure they need while deployed."We are looking for capability modernization and to update the equipment modules that make up TDC as they get to

  • Boots on the ground: Moody Airmen march to ground zero

    Most people can recall exactly where they were when they heard the tragic news of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. From the service members who acted as first responders to the middle and high school students who are now defenders of freedom, that day symbolizes a painful time in history.Now 10 years

  • Upcoming show to display military land, sea, ground robots

    More than 6,000 experts from 30 countries will be gathering here Aug. 16-19 for this year's largest robot and unmanned systems show.Hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, called AUVSI, Unmanned Systems North America 2011 will feature workshops, panels and

  • Fairchild goes green in a 'concrete' type of way

    Contractors who are working on the new runway here are crushing tons of concrete from the old runway and going 'green' by recycling it.The suggestion came in October of last year when engineers here started laying out the blueprint for its brand new $43 million runway."When the contractors brought

  • Officials announce civilian workforce hiring freeze

    Air Force officials announced the implementation of a 90-day hiring freeze effective immediately.A firm commitment to keep spending within requested levels led to implement the hiring freeze across the civilian workforce, officials said.In addition to a 90-day hiring freeze, the officials plan to

  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band goes viral

    Without microphones or sound equipment, Sidewinder performed a half-hour acoustic set for 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron Airmen working the night shift at the passenger terminal pallet yard Aug. 8 at an air base in Southwest Asia.The fan uploaded a video of vocalist Staff Sgt. Angie Johnson

  • Kadena Airmen clean up after 60-hour typhoon

    Cabin fever, lock down and boredom.These are just a few of the words that were being used to describe their time during Typhoon Muifa, but not for all Airmen here. More than 125 Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Group were on duty during and after the slow-moving yet destructive typhoon."During

  • NATO countries land successful jump week

    More than 200 paratroopers from six NATO countries participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 8 through 11.Paratroopers from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Army jumped out of aircraft from Papa

  • ACC aviator garners federal recognition

    Lt. Col. Shelly Black, the deputy chief of Headquarters Air Combat Command's Personnel Recovery Division, received the 2011 Federally Employed Women Military Meritorious Service Award July 18 at the 42nd National Training Program in Philadelphia, Penn., for her significant contributions in

  • DOD releases names of Airmen killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

    Three Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen died Saturday morning when their aircraft, a coalition CH-47 Chinook, crashed in the Maiden Wardak Province in eastern Afghanistan. They were among 25 U.S. Special Operations Command operators who died in the crash, which also took the lives of five

  • Aviano maintenance group earns top DOD award

    The 31st Maintenance Group here was announced as a Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award recipient Aug. 9. The award is one of six presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The 31st MXG competed against 'large' category

  • U.S. and RCAF civil engineers improve lives in Cambodia

    When patients couldn't get care from the clinic here due to a washed-out road, the U.S. and Cambodian militaries partnered together to give back to the community. A team of Airmen and Soldier civil engineers who deployed here in support of Pacific Angel Cambodia 11-1, and Royal Cambodian Armed

  • 2011 Department of Defense Maintenance Awards Winners Announced

    Department of Defense officials announced the 2011 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards for depot and field-level units Aug. 10. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The 2011 Robert T. Mason

  • Partnered again--Russia and NORAD conduct Exercise Vigilant Eagle 2011

    Within minutes after takeoff, the first fighter aircraft are visible off the left wing and Exercise Vigilant Eagle 2011 is well underway. The Russian Federation Air Force and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) conducted their second Vigilant Eagle cooperative exercise Aug 5-9,

  • ISAF airstrike kills insurgents who caused helicopter crash

    Coalition forces used a precision airstrike to kill Taliban insurgents involved in the Aug. 6 downing of the helicopter carrying 30 U.S. service members and eight Afghans, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan said Aug. 10. In a briefing from his headquarters in the Afghan

  • Army, AF units take aim during joint training exercise

    Army and Air Force units teamed up for a joint training exercise at Jikdo Island Aug. 5, firing AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, rockets and 30mm munitions at the range. Jikdo is a range facility on two islands off the western coast of Korea, near Kunsan. For this training mission, weapon systems officers

  • Reservist reenlists after 19-year break, sworn in by son

    Nineteen years after separating from the active duty Air Force, Scott Long enlisted into the Reserves. Now he's Staff Sgt. Long, with the 476th Maintenance Squadron as a fuel systems craftsman.Sergeant Long's son, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Brandon Long, 1-169 Aviation Support Battalion liaison officer,

  • Airmen enhance relationships, airfield ops in Cambodia

    The ability to deploy anywhere in the world within 12 hours to build an air base and sustain airfield operations is a capability few countries have the capacity to accomplish.Airmen deployed here in support of Pacific Angel Cambodia 11-1 are exchanging ideas and sharing best practices on this

  • Massachusetts Air Guard unit heads north for training

    Aircrews and maintainers from the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing deployed here in early August for training.  It provided a different setting for the aircrews to train and allowed the maintenance Airmen to work in a deployed environment.View the slideshow.

  • Airmen help prevent disease in Cambodia, one mosquito at a time

    U.S. Air Force medical specialists are partnering with local experts here to hunt and trap some of the world's most dangerous insects, carrying some of the world's deadliest diseases. In an effort to conduct surveillance and encourage Cambodians to expand their technology and health care, the

  • Rescue coordination center team assists in mission that saved 60 hikers

    Severe weather on July 29 flooded a hiking path on Mount Whitney near Lone Pine, Calif., leaving 60 hikers stranded. Officials with the California Emergency Management Agency reached out to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center here for assistance. "Although there was a large number of

  • Air Force employee one of five selected for special award

    Michael Nakai, an information technology specialist at the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., was selected as one of five recipients of the 2011 Judith C. Gilliom Outstanding Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities Award. He was presented the

  • Air Force Medical Service's first 'Sergeant Major' to be honored

    The late Chief Master Sgt. Raymond T. Smith once told a reporter: "The Vietnam conflict has brought the services closer together. We've got to keep it that way."When he made that remark in 1970, he was serving as the first enlisted senior NCO for the entire Air Force Medical Service. So new was his

  • Malicious websites pose threat to Air Force network

    The discovery of spoofed Air Force websites means Air Force network users must maintain vigilant awareness before entering passwords into Air Force sites.The 624th Operations Center, located here, is alerting Airmen across the service about malicious websites posing as official Department of Defense

  • McKinley: America must preserve Tuskegee Airmen's legacy

    As the accomplishments of the World War II-era Tuskegee Airmen fade into U.S. history, a grateful nation must work to keep their legacy alive, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said at the 40th annual Tuskegee Airmen convention."The reality of human behavior is that the further in time we get

  • U.S., Cambodia partner for civil military assistance mission

    U.S. Airmen are partnering with their Royal Cambodian Armed Forces aircrew, engineer, and medical counterparts this week for a combined civil military assistance mission in Koh Kong Province, Cambodia, scheduled to run through Aug. 12. The mission, known as Operation Pacific Angel 11-1, is part of a

  • Academy to host Native American consultation

    The 10th Air Base Wing commander will host representatives from up to 14 Native American tribes Aug. 9-11 as part of a consultation to develop memoranda of understanding among the Academy and the tribes.Col. Thomas Gibson, in his role as host for the nation-to-nation talks, will formally welcome

  • Wounded warriors, families deserve best care, Chiarelli says

    The military has made great strides in warrior care over the past decade of war, but much work remains to be done, particularly when dealing with the invisible wounds of war, the Army vice chief of staff said Aug. 8.Speaking at the Warrior Transition Command's Warrior Care and Transition Program

  • New airframe, squadron on Kandahar Airfield

    Members of the 451st Expeditionary Operations Group welcomed their newest unit, the 702nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, here at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, recently. The 702 EAS is a tactical transport squadron comprising Army and Air Force Guard members flying C-27J Spartans to provide

  • Rescue reservists support successful rocket launch

    Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here supported the successful United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch Aug. 6. The Atlas carried the Juno spacecraft for NASA.Juno launched from Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and is tasked with investigating the

  • Leaders offer condolences in wake of helicopter crash

    Senior U.S. leaders extended condolences Aug. 6 to the families of American and Afghan forces lost in an International Security Assistance Force helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan Aug. 6.Thirty ISAF service members, a civilian interpreter and seven Afghan commandos were killed when a coalition

  • Sheppard innovates Web-based self-inspections

    Innovation in the checklist industry has found its way to the Sheppard Air Force Base Self-Inspection Program through the Management Internal Control Toolset. MICT is a web-based self-inspection software tool used to manage, track and close self-identified work center deficiencies. The days of

  • Joint training builds NATO partnership

    About 230 Sabers recently returned from Campia Turzii, Romania, where Romanian and U.S. Air Force Airmen conducted combined training and strengthened the partnership between the NATO countries.Spangdahlem Air Base officials sent operations, mission support, maintenance and logistics readiness

  • Hurlburt Field preferred for MQ-1 remote split-operation unit

    Air Force officials announced Aug. 4 that Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the preferred alternative for the Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 remote split-operations squadron. Hurlburt Field will receive a single MQ-1 RSO squadron consisting of 140 personnel and associated equipment. This action does not

  • Morocco receives first F-16s

    Morocco is the latest U.S. partner nation to receive the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a historic event marked by a ceremony here Aug. 4. The new Block 52 aircraft will supplement the Royal Moroccan Air Force's existing fleet of fighter aircraft and will contribute to the upgrade and modernization of the

  • 58th SOW pararescuemen save lost hiker

    A helicopter crew and pararescuemen assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base recovered a hiker Aug. 1 who had been lost in Colorado since July 30. The HH-60 Pave Hawk crew of four Airmen from Air Education and Training Command's 58th Special Operations Wing, and two pararescuemen from Detachment 1, 342nd

  • Nominees sought for 2012 Verne Orr Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2012 Verne Orr Award. The Air Force Association established this award in honor of former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr to recognize mission-oriented unit accomplishments and achievements in utilizing personnel to their full potential in

  • Polish, American sister wings celebrate 1-year anniversary

    The 86th Airlift Wing commander visited Poland's 3rd Airlift Wing here Aug. 3, marking the one-year anniversary of the "sister wing" relationship between the two units.The wings began working closely in 2008, when Polish air force officials first entertained the idea of vastly improving their

  • Hero honored at new William A. Jones III Building

    Joint Base Andrews unveiled a new display in the recently-opened William A. Jones III Building on July 28, both of which honor the life and service of Medal of Honor recipient Col. William A. Jones III. The display dedication, presided over by Maj. Gen. Darren McDew, the Air Force District of

  • Eielson AFB Airmen join university for emergency management exercise

    First responders and plans and programs teams here joined staff members from the University of Alaska and local emergency management teams July 27-28 to conduct emergency management exercise at the UAF campus.The university's first large-scale exercise tested emergency responders the first day and

  • CBRN Challenge 2011 showcases emergency response capabilities

    CBRN Challenge 2011 wrapped up July 22 with the team from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., representing Air Mobility Command, taking top honors.Held at the Center for National Response, or CNR, in Gallagher, W.Va., 50 warriors, representing 10 major commands, gathered to showcase their capabilities

  • Secretary of the Air Force talks with Airmen while visiting Vance AFB

    "We're committed to ensuring that the United States continues to have the world's finest Air Force for generations to come," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley during his stop here July 27.Donley spent three hours at Vance AFB, accompanied by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy

  • Panetta praises new leaders following Senate confirmations

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta praised six officers Aug. 2 after the Senate confirmed their nominations for key leadership positions, including the military's two top uniformed posts."I would like to congratulate (Army) Gen. Martin Dempsey and (Navy) Adm. James Winnefeld, who the Senate confirmed

  • Senior leaders talk big picture with SMART scholars

    Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation program scholars have unique opportunities to leave a lasting legacy in the U.S. defense community, Air Force senior leaders said during the SMART scholar summer orientation, which took place July 11-14 in Washington, D.C.Nearly 300 SMART program

  • Nominations open for Spirit of Hope Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2012 Spirit of Hope Award.The award recognizes a military member, civilian or organization that epitomizes the values of Bob Hope -- duty, honor, courage, loyalty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication.Organizations and base-level personnel

  • Nominations open for Joan Orr Spouse Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2012 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year Award.The Air Force Association Joan Orr Spouse of the Year Award honors significant contributions made by non-military spouses of Airmen from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31The nominee's spouse must be serving in

  • Combined exercise tests interoperability between coalition partners

    Firefighters from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing completed a training scenario with the French and host nation firefighters here July 25 to test their interoperability. The exercise helped break through communication barriers and foster relations between the firefighters."The purpose for this

  • Academy ranked among nation's best colleges

    The Air Force Academy received top-10 rankings in most available professors, low drug and alcohol use, and best school administration, according to The Best 376 Colleges book, released today by Princeton Review.The Princeton Review ranks the Air Force Academy's faculty fifth in the nation in "most

  • Langley F-15 trucked cross country to enshrinement

    For nearly 40 years, the 1st Fighter Wing here flew the venerable F-15 Eagle, helping to cement its place as one of the most successful fighters in aviation history. On July 22, however, one of the 1st FW's last F-15s began its final journey, leaving Virginia for northern California -- but not in

  • First Air Force F-35 pilot part of aviation history

    With the arrival of the joint strike fighter, the military continues setting the historic milestones for the worldwide aviation industry in preparing the first F-35 Lightning II pilots.Lt. Col. Eric Smith became a part of history himself recently as the first Airman to fly the new stealth fighter

  • Kunsan AB Airmen put new firefighting suit through week-long test

    Thirty-three Airmen from here participated in a field test of the new Joint Firefighter Integrated Response Ensemble July 25 - 29, providing data and feedback for researchers from the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.Kunsan AB firefighters donned the JFIRE suit for a

  • McChord Airmen recognized for historic Antarctic mission

    The C-17 Globemaster III aircrew members of "Ice 68" from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings here were recognized by Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., the commander of Air Mobility Command, July 29 for their part in evacuating an ailing government contractor from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, June

  • Top award winners named for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011

    The Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 competition drew to a close here July 29 with the 97th Air Mobility Wing earning the "Best Air Mobility Wing" title during the awards presentation for the air mobility competition.In the closing ceremonies, the Rodeo commander addressed the thousands of people who had

  • Professional development key to Airmen's success

    In a culture where deployments are part of daily life and Airmen regularly perform duties above their rank, professional development is an important piece of cultivating the enlisted force to meet mission requirements, Air Force leaders said recently at the 2011 Air Force Sergeants Association

  • SAFE SKIES 2011 closing ceremonies, mission complete

    SAFE SKIES 2011 came to a close here July 29 after twelve days of what officials said were successful flying training missions. Lt. Gen. Vasyl Nikiforov, the deputy commander of the Ukrainian air force, addressed the 130 Air National Guardsmen as they stood in formation on the ramp here. Across from