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U.S. Air Force News

  • CMSAF experiences "Brave Defender" training

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy received a hands-on tour of Air Force Materiel Command's "Brave Defender" training area May 6 here.Brave Defender is a three-week deployment training course for security forces Airmen. The training is hosted by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron,

  • Building a better tomorrow, one NCO at a time

    Airmen serving with the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air and 447th Air Expeditionary Group are focused on building the foundation of the Iraqi air force. Equipment transfer and technical training are important, but a small group of NCOs are also teaching enlisted professional development as

  • Volunteers help take care of families during increased ops

    While military members from Aviano Air Base, Italy, were working at a higher operations tempo than normal, two civilians from the 423rd Force Support Squadron here volunteered for a "deployment" of their own.Christine Kaleikini and Natasha Matthews both volunteered to go to Aviano AB to support the

  • 537th AS Airmen fly again after 40 years

    It's been more than 40 years since 537th Airlift Squadron pilots have taken flight. That hiatus came to an end in early May, soon after first the 537th AS was reactivated May 6. The squadron was deactivated in the early 1970s at Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam. At the time, it was the 537th Tactical

  • Airmen help make Iraq a little greener

    Members of the 321st Expeditionary Logistical Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance Flight created a volunteer project called Operation Kirkuk Regional Air Base Cleanup at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq.On any given Sunday, the program allows anyone from any unit to spend a few hours

  • Bin Laden raid will help defeat al-Qaida, Obama says

    The death of Osama bin Laden and the unprecedented collection of intelligence material from the raid that killed the terrorist leader will help the U.S. deal a serious blow to al-Qaida, President Barack Obama said May 8 in a recent television interview.President Obama discussed the operation that

  • Afghans graduate from first Mi-17 "Train the trainer" course

    Seven Afghan Mi-17 instructors graduated from the first Mi-17 "Train the Trainer" upgrade course May 4 taught by AAF and U.S. Air Force instructors at the Afghanistan Premier Flight Training Center here."Afghan aircrew instructors are pivotal to growing independent combat flying forces, ultimately

  • Photo essay: Air Force Airmen participate in Thracian Spring 2011

    Members from the 435th Security Forces Squadron work in conjunction with Bulgarian air force paratroopers here April 29. Thracian Spring is a two-week, on-site training course designed to build partnerships between the Bulgarian and U.S. Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • U.S., Congolese military complete MEDLITE 11

    Airmen and Democratic Republic of the Congo service members finished a joint-medical exercise here May 5.The MEDLITE 11 exercise focused on aeromedical evacuation to improve the readiness of personnel. According to Lt. Col. June Oldman, the director of MEDLITE 11, the exercise focused on five key

  • Common interests, challenges discussed at African Air Chiefs Conference

    Shared interests and common challenges topped discussions between African air chiefs from 24 nations and their U.S. counterparts during the 2011 African Air Chiefs Conference April 26 through 28 here.The conference aims to foster communication and dialogue between regional and multilateral partner

  • U.S. will defeat terrorists, Obama tells troops

    The skill and courage of countless American military and intelligence professionals are why Osama bin Laden can never threaten America again, President Barack Obama told a cheering group of 101st Airborne Soldiers May 6 at Fort Campbell, Ky.President Obama told them about meeting yesterday with

  • Air Force firefighting operations conclude in Texas

    After performing 81 sorties and dropping 243,000 gallons of fire retardant over the wildfires that have been burning in South and West Texas, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel and their Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped aircraft headed home May 6.Officials from the

  • Air Force members recognized for decades of public service

    With 50 years of service each, two Air Force public servants were among 39 men and women recognized in the Pentagon courtyard May 5 with the Spirit of Service award honoring those whose government careers have spanned 48 to 68 years.As part of Public Service Recognition Week, May 1 through 7, Sara

  • Remembering pilot slain in Afghanistan

    Quiet giant. Humble. Tremendously respected. Genuine. These were the repeated words that friends and family members here used to describe the instructor pilot who was among the nine Americans killed during the April 27 Kabul International Airport shooting. Lt. Col. Frank Bryant Jr. made the ultimate

  • Secretary of Defense thanks Airmen at Seymour Johnson AFB

    With two months left as theSecretary of Defense, Robert Gates visited with active duty and Reserve Airmen here May 6.The visit marked the first time Secretary Gates visited here since he took office in December 2006. He presented the Bronze Star to Senior Master Sgt. Arnel Abad, a 4th Fighter Wing

  • One unit's PT boot camp gets results

    What started less than two years ago as an innovative way to stay in shape, has evolved into a physical fitness tool for Airmen at the headquarters of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency here. The agency's physical training boot camp recently capped its three-phased

  • Aeromedical evacuation saves lives in Afghanistan

    An aeromedical evacuation capacity unrivaled anywhere in the world is saving the lives of wounded warriors in Afghanistan, said the officer here who oversees the effort at the combat theater's busiest aeromedical evacuation point.Equipment and procedures are being improved continually to move

  • Air Force secretary promotes fallen cyberspace captain to major

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley approved the posthumous promotion of Capt. Charles A. Ransom, a cyberspace Airman assigned to the 83rd Network Operations Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to the rank of major May 3.Maj. Ransom was killed by enemy gunfire at the headquarters building

  • Reserve tanker crew first operational crew to refuel F-35

    What started out as a routine mission for Airmen from the Air Force Reserve Command's 916th Air Refueling Wing turned into an historic 'first in flight' moment recently.Flying a KC-135R Stratotanker, a flight crew and a maintenance crew from the wing's 911th Air Refueling Squadron thought they were

  • Chief of staff addresses issues, surveys tornado damage

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz visited here May 4 and 5 to meet with Airmen and see the damage caused by recent tornadoes.During an all-call meeting, General Schwartz discussed several issues, including recent force management actions by Air Force officials, the repeal of the law

  • Officials announce personnel annual award winners

    The deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, or A1, recently announced the 2010 award winners for the A1 community.This year's winners are:Installation awards:Gen. Curtis E. LeMay Award, for best large-category force support squadron:1st Special Operations FSS, Air Force Special

  • Officials announce AF fuels management awards

    The 87th Air Base Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., recently received the Air Force's 2010 American Petroleum Institute Gold Award.The other award winners were:Silver Award - 86th Air Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany Bronze Award - 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Air

  • Memorial honors fallen warriors

    Hundreds of military and civilian personnel packed a dimly-lit hangar April 30 to pay their final respects to eight Airmen and one retired Army civilian contractor killed April 27 when a gunman opened fire during a meeting with NATO trainers."We come together to mourn the loss of nine brave

  • Report outlines progress in Afghanistan

    READY FOR REVIEWLast year's surge of U.S. and coalition forces into Afghanistan, with the simultaneous growth of Afghan forces, is leading to tangible progress for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, according to a biannual Defense Department report recently released.The final component of 30,000

  • Five military installations receive top honors

    Teams from five military installations around the world received top awards today for excelling at their mission despite the demands of war and recent natural disasters.At a Pentagon ceremony, Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, lauded the

  • Air Force officials announce criteria for basing of TACP/ALO training

    Air Force officials have released the criteria for basing tactical air control party and air liaison officer training.Recent and current operations have created an increase in demand for TACPs and ALOs to support Army units. The current TACP/ALO schoolhouse at Hurlburt Field, Fla., lacks adequate

  • Reserve tankers among 42 aircraft participating in Sea Lion 11-05

    Air Force Reserve Command KC-135 Stratotankers were among the 42 aircraft that converged in the sky over North and South Carolina to support Operation Sea Lion 11-05, a phase two operational readiness exercise centered at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.Stratotanker crews from the 916th Air Refueling Wing

  • Iraqi air force primed for power

    More than 30 Iraqi service members graduated from an introductory power production course taught by U.S. service members here May 2.Through the course, the instructors taught the basics of running generators, enabling the Iraqi military to safely generate their own power. The students, who come from

  • Officials announce Eglin as MQ-1 squadron candidate base

    Air Force officials announced May 3 the Eglin Air Force Base complex in Florida as a candidate for an Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 Remote Split-Operations squadron. "The selection of this candidate is the result of a deliberate, measured and transparent process," said Kathleen Ferguson, the deputy

  • Air advisers' feedback to shape future deployment training

    Representatives from the air adviser course at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., were in Iraq recently to query course graduates on the effectiveness of the course. Their efforts are intended to help shape future education and training the Air Force provides to Airmen who will engage in

  • 24th AF officials conduct first change of command

    Maj. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot assumed command of 24th Air Forces during a change-of-command ceremony here April 29.General Vautrinot replaced Maj. Gen. Richard E. Webber, who retired after 36 years of service. General William L. Shelton, the Air Force Space Command commander, presided over the

  • Photo essay: Service members drop fire retardant in West Texas

    Service members aboard a Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules drop fire retardant onto a West Texas wildfire April 27 and 28. The wildfires have spread across parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land.View the slideshow.

  • Locals send big 'thank you' to Offutt Airmen

    Every year, a message appears in local fields near Offutt Air Force Base for Airmen to read as they fly overhead.Although the fields are covered by snow for most of the winter and filled with soybeans for the majority of the summer, the message is written to make sure Offutt AFB Airmen know the men

  • Exercise preserves U.S., Bulgarian partnership

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base's 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, as well as U.S. Army jumpmasters teamed with Bulgarian armed forces to conduct Exercise Thracian Spring 2011 April 26 to May 6 here. The bilateral training exercise brought U.S. and Bulgarian military forces

  • Airman saves seizing Soldier

    An Airman assigned to the 647th Civil Engineer Squadron here performed self aid and buddy care on a Soldier suffering from a seizure April 15."I was at a benefit concert for a Bible study I attend," said Senior Airman Jesse Cornell. "We were sitting there, listening to the guy play and sing, and all

  • Air Force announces fighter training mission preferred basing decision

    Air Force officials announced May 3 that Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, is the preferred location for consolidation of the Introduction Fighter Fundamentals training units.The Air Force conducts IFF training at five locations, producing 450 IFF graduates per year. Over the years, the Air Force IFF

  • Cyberspace Airmen mourn wingman killed in Afghanistan

    Department of Defense  officials announced April 29 the death of Capt. Charles A. Ransom, a cyberspace Airman assigned to the 83rd Network Operations Squadron, at Langley Air Force Base, Va.He died April 27 at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan of wounds suffered from gunfire while

  • Mrs. Mullen spotlights family issues in new blog

    Building resilience and providing long-term support are keys to strengthening military families and better equipping them to weather the frequent, multiple deployments so prevalent in this decade of war, the wife of the nation's top military officer said."We've never asked a generation of families

  • Air Guard assists critical-care evacuations

    Minutes after takeoff here, Col. (Dr.) Charles Chappuis jumped to his feet aboard a C-17 Globemaster III to check on Army Spc. Adam Castagna, one of three critical patients under his care being transported to the U.S. for advanced medical care.Dr. Chappuis is the surgeon for a three-person Air

  • 36th AS helps map Japanese water currents

    In an effort to help track the movement of seawater along northeastern Honshu, members of the 36th Airlift Squadron, in coordination with the Japanese government, dropped seven Davis Drifter buoys off the coast of Japan April 29.The buoys will aid scientists from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office

  • 33rd RQS wins third straight "Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year" award

    A split second after a two-man rescue team touched ground, the ear-shattering explosions of rocket-propelled grenades, or RPGs, rang out overhead. Capt. Koa Bailey and Master Sgt. Roger Sparks, a combat rescue officer and a pararescueman from the Alaska Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron,

  • Pacific Air Forces honors Medal of Honor recipient

    Pacific Air Forces Airmen gathered in the Courtyard of Heroes April 29 here to honor the most recent Medal of Honor recipient.Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger, who saved three of his fellow Airmen's lives before finally succumbing to enemy fire during a classified mission in Laos March 11, 1968,

  • Pilot killed in Afghanistan

    An Airman assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing here was killed April 27 in Kabul, Afghanistan, when a shooter opened fire at the Kabul International Airport, killing eight U.S. service members and one contractor.Maj. Jeff Ausborn, a 99th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, was deployed

  • Troops explore emerging energy solutions

    As officials work to shrink the military's operational energy footprint, experts in solar power, microgrids and "smart" generators recently took that technology to a crucial jury: the troops.Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who deal hands-on with battlefield power converged here April 12

  • Academy military trainers receive mark of distinction

    As long as there's been an Air Force Academy, an elite group of NCOs has played a key role in the development of future leaders for the Air Force, and now those NCOs wear a formal mark of distinction.Academy Military Training NCOs, more commonly known as AMTs, were recently authorized to wear an

  • Counselor presented national drug/alcohol abuse prevention award

    An Airman assigned here received the Government Employees Insurance Company Military Service Award at a ceremony April 18 in Washington.Tech. Sgt. Jeannie Washington was selected as the Air Force recipient of the award, which recognized service members from each branch, as well as the guard and

  • Travis civil engineers inspect, repair 17 generators for use in Japan

    Recently, the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency's Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection Repair Team here was tasked to inspect and repair 17 generators, which will be used to help power Yokota and Misawa air bases in Japan.Due to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March and caused

  • Food transformation continues to see positive results

    The Air Force Food Transformation Initiative was launched Oct. 1, 2010, at six installations, with a goal of better serving the dining needs of today's Airmen. Air Force officials said they are pleased with the pilot program's initial results, which are aligned with the Department of Defense's

  • Logistics Airmen play crucial dual-role before Kirkuk transition

    As U.S. military forces pack up their things and transition out of Iraq, Airmen from the 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron have their hands full.With less than eight months remaining before the security agreement deadline, 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen are

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualties

    Department of Defense officials announced April 29 the names of eight Airmen who were killed April 27 at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.They died of wounds suffered from gunfire. Killed were:Maj. Philip D. Ambard, 44, of Edmonds, Wash. He was

  • Kadena AB Airmen awarded Japanese community service award

    Members of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron here have recently been named the winners of the Zenko Kai Award, an award given by Japanese government officials to any residents, military included, who have performed outstanding community service. The squadron members were honored for their good

  • Korean soldiers integrate into Bagram's base defense

    South Korean special forces soldiers will begin standing watch at various security towers around the airfield here starting May 1.The 30 South Korean soldiers are currently training with Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron in preparation for South Korean integration into the

  • MEDLITE 11 benefits from experiences of Air National Guard members

    Air National Guard officials are bringing a critical depth of experience and demonstrating its ability to be a seamless player as part of total force during the MEDLITE 11 exercise here, the director of operations for MEDLITE 11 said April 26."MEDLITE is showing that we can execute our mission,

  • Secretary Donley visits ROTC students at Southern Cal

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley met with cadets from University of Southern California's Air Force ROTC Det. 60 April 25 during a visit to the USC campus here. Following a tour of the detachment's offices and dayroom, the secretary took time to talk with cadets and answer their questions.

  • New unit adds outreach, education to contingency response mission

    A new air mobility unit activated April 19 in a ceremony here, marking the genesis of a new mission for the expeditionary air mobility specialists of the 621st Contingency Response Wing. By order of the secretary of the Air Force, members of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron will provide

  • Aerial porters unload cargo for all of Iraq

    When a runway closed in Turkey, officials scrambled to find another way to get supplies to U.S. forces in Iraq.The answer was quite simple; the Federal Aviation Administration-approved flightline at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, which is the only place in country where civilian U.S. flagged aircraft can

  • Exchanging aeromedical evacuation training across the continents

    With outside temperatures reaching above 95 degrees and temperatures inside the classroom feeling much warmer than that, the total force instructors of the Air Force active duty, National Guard and Reserve have started their course instruction portion of MEDLITE 11 to the more than 70 Congolese

  • Service members support Arctic Care in rural Alaska

    The Alaska National Guard is joining forces with active-duty and Reserve units across the nation to provide support for Operation Arctic Care April 15 through 30.Led this year by deployment support officials from the Army Reserve's 807th Medical Command, Arctic Care is an annual two-week mission

  • Continuing to strengthen nuclear operations: Munitions squadrons to realign

    Air Force officials announced April 27 here plans to transfer munitions squadrons responsible for nuclear mission support from Air Force Materiel Command to Air Force Global Strike Command in the next 12 months.This is another step in continuing to strengthen the nuclear enterprise; under a previous

  • Air force leaders from Africa, U.S. meet in Ethiopia

    Air force leaders from more than 20 nations across Africa joined with U.S. Air Force leaders here April 26 to discuss aviation issues and develop partnerships across the continent.The 2011 African Air Chiefs Conference, which runs through April 28, is hosted by Air Forces Africa, also known as 17th

  • Air Force evacuation team carries wounded warriors home

    By many accounts, 20-year-old Army Spc. Dustin Morrison is a living miracle and a testament to the military medical system that's getting medical care to wounded warriors and moving them to progressively advanced levels of care faster than ever before.Specialist Morrison, an Iowa Army National

  • Semifinalists selected for employer support awards

    Defense Department officials announced April 25 that 148 employers have been selected as semifinalists for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.The Freedom Award is DOD's highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the National

  • Japan Minister of Defense highlights bilateral capabilities at Yokota

    Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa visited here April 23 to observe the capabilities of the Japanese Central Readiness Force and the U.S. military's chemical biological incident response force.This was the first visit to Yokota Air Base by a Japan Defense Minister since the Ministry of

  • Honor guard provides unique opportunity

    The hurried commotion of people chatting and finding their seats overwhelms the room. A group of five people stand in the background; not one Airman says a word and all stand tall and unwavering. These five Airmen are silent for a purpose. They are the color guard detail for the retirement ceremony

  • Theater security unit stands up at Manas

    Transit Center officials and the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and Reserve affairs stood up the Theater Security Cooperation Division April 23 here as part of an ongoing effort to build and expand relationships with global partners.Daniel B. Ginsberg toured the transit center and

  • Fitness center at Tyndall receives LEED Platinum award

    The fitness center here was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum level, the highest rating possible as of Aug. 20, 2010, under the group's green building rating system. The fitness center opened Aug. 20, 2010, and is the first building in

  • Energy conservation sticks at Scott AFB

    When the members of the Scott Energy Conversation wanted to make the ideas of energy conservation and awareness "stick" they decided to get literal. The group created small, 1.5-inch diameter circular stickers to place on energy-consuming items such a computer monitors, light switches and coffee

  • Army, Air Force maintainers keep helicopters flying

    Many people might not think of the Air Force if they look out onto the rows of helicopters that stretch across the ramps of Kandahar Airfield. Most of them belong to the U.S. Army.A handful, however, belong to the helicopter crew chiefs of the 451st Expeditionary Air Maintenance Squadron. Many of

  • Vendors attend Industry Day for Manas Transit Center

    To learn how to do business with the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, 244 vendors attended Industry Day here April 22. The 376th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron holds Industry Day twice each year to inform businesspeople on the procedures required to qualify as a vendor with the center."We

  • Air Guard, Reserve continue to fight Texas wildfires

    As of April 25, the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group continues to battle the wildfires that are raging throughout areas of southern Texas. The 302nd AEG, comprising Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units, has assisted with fire fighting efforts throughout the week. The group currently has six

  • Photo essay: Airmen and Soldiers conduct airdrop and sling-load training

    Members of the 820th Red Horse Squadron, the Nevada Army National Guard and the Army's Aerial Delivery Field Service Department participated in airdrop and sling-load training here April 15. The training is designed to help the services to closely work together in preparation for their deployed

  • Iraqi air force leaders thank U.S advisers, celebrate 80th anniversary

    U.S. Air Force and Iraqi officials opened a state-of-the-art air operations center here as the Iraqi air force celebrated its 80th anniversary April 21. The grand opening of a $9 million AOC at Hawk Base here kicked off a series of festivities celebrating the anniversary of the founding of Iraq's

  • Post-disaster energy conservation continues with program at Yokota

    Energy conservation measures here recently increased with the start of the No Heat, No Cool program that began April 18. Members of the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron began shutting off the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in facilities and residential housing buildings as part of a

  • DOD authorizes medal for Pakistan relief efforts

    Department of Defense officials have approved the Humanitarian Service Medal for service members who participated in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Pakistan following the flooding in Swat Valley on July 31, 2010.Military members must have provided at least one day of

  • DOD officials recognize Air Force for environmental accomplishments

    Each year, Department of Defense officials recognize military personnel, teams and installations for excellent stewardship of natural and cultural resources entrusted to their care. Conservation efforts across the Air Force over the past year were rewarded April 15, when the Air Force was announced

  • Iraq withdrawal agreement still stands, Mullen says

    All American troops will be out of Iraq at the end of the year in accordance with the security agreement signed in 2008, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today."There are no plans, nor has there been any request from the Iraqi government, for any residual U.S. force presence here

  • Officials eliminate exception to short-tour credit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz approved rescinding a temporary policy established in 2003 that allowed Airmen to receive short-tour credit for overseas TDYs of at least 181 consecutive days. The effective date of the new policy will be announced at a later date.Although the policy

  • Air Force on track with KC-46A program

    Air Force and Boeing Company officials met for the KC-46A program post-award conference recently to discuss program specifics, including a technical overview of the program. The discussions, which took place in Harbour Pointe, Wash., featured details of the in-line production process, draft

  • Mullen: Meeting reaffirms U.S.-Pakistan ties

    Reaffirmation of the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistani militaries was the most important aspect of his meeting last night with his Pakistani counterpart, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today. The meeting at Army House in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad was the first

  • Doolittle Raiders visit Offutt Air Force Base

    Almost 69 years to the day since their famous air raid on Japan, the five surviving Doolittle Raiders gathered April 14 through 17 for their annual reunion, this year in Nebraska.Included in this year's events, spread throughout Omaha and Lincoln, was a visit to meet the men and women of Offutt Air

  • Airmen provide vital link in Japan earthquake and tsunami relief

    From a windowless vault within the Pacific Air Forces headquarters building, Airmen from the 561st Network Operations Squadron, Det. 1, provided the network support required to allow more than 770 sorties to deliver aid workers and supplies to Japan, starting March 12. "I'm excited to be part of

  • Elmendorf Airmen deploy to Kadena, test capabilities

    A group of pilots and maintainers from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, deployed here earlier in 2011, along with their F-22 Raptors, to test their capabilities in a new environment, setting records in the process.During their stay here, they

  • 2011 Team of the Year named

    Air Force and Air Force Association officials selected five first sergeants as the 2011 Team of the Year.Each year, the AFA recognizes a specific enlisted career field, as well as Airmen from across the Air Force, in that specialty, who demonstrate professionalism, technical expertise and

  • DOD officials authorize Armed Forces Service Medal for Haiti relief efforts

    Department of Defense officials approved the Armed Forces Service Medal for personnel assigned to Operation Unified Response who participated in humanitarian relief assistance to the people of Haiti following a 7.0 earthquake Jan. 12, 2010.Members who supported Operation Unified Response between

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a look around the service

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force" the Air Force Academy Falcon football team reclaims the coveted Commander in Chief's Trophy after an 8 year drought. Plus, Airmen partner up with their Afghan allies to protect Kandahar Airfield from insurgent attacks.  And, see how a squadron in the U.K. paid

  • DOD: U.S. continues support of NATO operations in Libya

    A U.S. military fighter jet destroyed two of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's surface-to-air missile sites near the Libyan capital of Tripoli April 18, continuing U.S. support of NATO operations there, officials reported.Since NATO took the lead of multilateral operations in Libya on April 1, U.S.

  • NASA specialists to descend on Offutt

    More than 20 NASA flight crew, ground crew and technicians are scheduled to arrive here late this month as the base's newest, if only temporary, members. The team will bring a NASA ER-2 to participate in the Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment over Oklahoma. This U-2-based platform

  • Budget cuts demand more DOD buying power

    As Defense Department officials seek additional cost cuts to support President Barack Obama's deficit-reduction efforts, weapons systems and other major procurement programs certainly will be on the table, but won't be enough to achieve the president's goals, the Pentagon's acquisitions chief said

  • 4th SOPS closes the door on operations legacy

    In a ceremony held April 11, 4th Space Operations Squadron members decommissioned the Satellite Mission Control Subsystem, or SMCS, and the Air Force Command Post Terminal, closing the door on a legacy of operations."Today we turn the lights off on the command and control system that has been

  • Air Force Climate Survey yields insights

    More than 172,000 Airmen across the Air Force voiced their opinions in the online Air Force Climate Survey from Oct. 8 to Nov. 28. After experts performed a comprehensive analysis, officials have recently released the total force results on the Air Force Portal. The climate survey is designed to

  • Yokota AB Airmen provide Afghan military with 'props'

    Airmen from here helped airmen in the Afghan National Army Air Corps get off the ground and take control of maintaining Afghan national security.The Yokota AB Airmen were tasked to package and ship 15 sets of propellers, three blades per set, to the ANAAC for their growing fleet of C-27A

  • First combat systems officers graduate from training program

    Ten lieutenants, including nine active-duty members and one member of the Wyoming Air National Guard, became the first class of combat systems officers to graduate from the 479th Flying Training Group's CSO training program here April 15. Previously, the Air Force had separate training tracks for