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  • 37th Bomb Squadron Airmen, Canadian forces train

    Airmen from the 37th Bomb Squadron hosted five joint terminal attack controllers from the 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in a training exercise Oct. 28 in Alzada, Mont.The four-day joint exercise was designed to prepare the 37th BS Airmen for their upcoming deployment in January. "The training

  • Wounded Soldier saved through use of heart, lung machine

    A wounded Soldier incurred an injury that affected his lungs, and was transported on an aeromedical evacuation mission Oct. 21, from Afghanistan to Germany. The mission was carried out aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, with the use of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation machine. "This is the first

  • Officials stand up enlisted cyberspace defense operations career field

    Air Force officials added a new enlisted career field for cyberspace defense operators Nov. 1.The new specialty code, 1B4X1, is a retrain-in only specialty focused on computer network operations. The initial 1B4X1 cadre will comprise Airmen who are retraining from intelligence and cyberspace support

  • Airman close to death, wingman stays by his side

    What started as a stomach complaint one month ago for an Airman deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, turned into an emergency medical evacuation. Shortly after doctors at Joint Base Balad found fluid in Senior Airman Colton Brown's lungs, drainage tubes were placed, and he continued fighting for his

  • Are you ready for winter?

    If living in or traveling to a region that experiences snow and freezing temperatures, now is the time to make winter preparations. Please review the following preparation tips:Prepare a winter storm planKeep the following supplies on hand: Lantern/flashlight, batteries, non-perishable food, potable

  • Occupational analysts influence Air Force decision makers

    The Air Force's flying community logs thousands upon thousands of miles-per year fulfilling their mission, but 37 civilians based at Randolph AFB also are racking up the miles in their quest to assist the service's brain trust.Members of the Air Force Occupational Analysis office, assigned to Air

  • CMSAF visits Andrews, discusses Air Force issues

    More than 900 Airmen from Joint Base Andrews gathered to hear the Air Force perspective from the highest ranking enlisted Airman.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke to JB Andrews Airmen about joint readiness, deliberate development and building resiliency during an enlisted call

  • DOD takes steps to stop bullying

    Bullying once was an issue that most chalked up to an inevitable rite of passage. It is now being re-examined for its true impact by Defense Department school officials who are taking steps to protect military children.Last year, the departments of Education and Health and Human Services joined with

  • Whiteman Airmen support developing nations

    Members of the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron, along with members of the 729th Airlift Squadron, completed a humanitarian mission to Honduras, recently. The mission was part of the Denton Amendment. "The Denton Amendment provides humanitarian and civic assistance in conjunction with military

  • Partnering for improved medical care

    The patient for the day came through the door in a large black bag, and medics quickly dragged him onto the table. Then the patient's head popped off and a foot fell to the floor, but that was OK for the medics -- it was just a medical manikin.But when all the parts were in line and the day's

  • Training center launches Afghan pilots

    The commander of the Afghan air force air school and the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron is charged with training Afghan soldiers to operate in their air force. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Nichols discussed his specialized training facility in an Oct. 28 "DODLive" bloggers roundtable."(This

  • Community leaders share information, ideas with AFMC commander

    Eighteen civic leaders from across Air Force Materiel Command met with the commander Oct. 28, for a discussion of challenges that lie ahead in five significant categories tied to the AFMC mission.The civic leaders are members of the command's Community Liaison Program, a group of 40 people

  • VA backs 19 million home loans

    With mortgage rates at historic lows, veterans and military members continue to use the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program in record numbers to purchase a home or refinance their existing loans."Home ownership is one of the foundations of the American dream," said Secretary of Veterans

  • Air Guard adds psychological health directors

    Air National Guard leaders have created a new, wing-level position to provide mental health support to Airmen and their families before and after deployments."The Air Guard is the only service component that does not have military members who are mental health professionals or technicians," said

  • VA officials begin paying benefits for new Agent Orange claims

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure."The joint efforts of Congress and VA demonstrate a commitment to provide Vietnam veterans with treatment

  • Online tool tracks Airman deployment readiness

    An online tool available to Airmen aims to reduce the workload of tracking appointments and training in preparation for a deployment.The Personal Deployment Processing Tool, found on the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Online website, allows Airmen to review and track their readiness status for

  • CCAF represented at White House community colleges summit

    Lt. Col. Tim Albrecht, commandant of the Community College of the Air Force, served as the Department of Defense representative at a White House community college summit recently.A broad spectrum of people attended the summit, including administrators, educators, philanthropists and representatives

  • Airmen hone teamwork skills during live-fire training

    Firefighters from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron geared up and headed out to a nearby military installation here Oct. 27 and 28 for annual live-fire training, giving them a unique opportunity to hone their skills while working more closely as a team. Using a Mobile Aircraft

  • Chief Roy meets with top Afghan enlisted leader

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force met with the top enlisted leader of the Afghan air force here Oct. 27.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and Eid Mohammad, the command sergeant major of the air force in Afghanistan, discussed education, training and other issues relating to

  • AFIT graduates first class of cyberspace warriors

    Officials with the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Air Force Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence conducted the first Cyber 200 and 300 course graduation here Oct. 28. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, served as keynote speaker for this first class of

  • President proclaims November as Military Family Month

    President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating November as Military Family Month.Here is the text of the president's proclamation:We owe each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our armed forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are

  • Secretary of State delivers appreciation message to servicemembers

    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a message of gratitude and praise here Oct. 29 to all servicemembers willing to devote their lives to the defense of freedom.Secretary Clinton discussed the magnitude of such a commitment, and the impact it has on the lives of millions of

  • Mobility Airmen reach 20-million-pound milestone

    Though C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules flights subsided on Oct. 3, mobility Airmen with a contingency response element at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala are among more than 600 U.S. servicemembers who've helped achieve a new milestone of 20 million pounds of aid delivered.Officials with

  • Keep Focus on Troops, Mullen Tells Joint Forces Command

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the members of U.S. Joint Forces Command Oct. 29 for their efforts on behalf of the nation's warfighters while urging them to maintain that focus going forward.In a ceremony near the command's Norfolk, Va., headquarters, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

  • Airmen embracing fitness culture

    "Readiness," said the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, "is the primary purpose of developing the new fitness standard, and, so far, Airmen are stepping up to the challenge as the program normalizes." The new physical-training standard is a way to ensure Airmen are prepared to do the nation's

  • 'Stop Loss' special pay application deadline approaches

    Defense Department officials are working to remind veterans and current servicemembers who were involuntarily retained in the military under the "Stop Loss" program to apply for special pay before the Dec. 3 deadline.Servicemembers whose service was involuntarily extended or whose retirement was

  • 460th Space Wing wraps up first Cyber Lightning exercise

    Working under a carefully planned and escalating contested cyber environment on Oct. 15, members of the 460th Space Wing here successfully completed their first exclusively cyber-focused exercise."Exercise Cyber Lightning" was designed to test the wing' s capability to operate in a contested cyber

  • Air Force school focuses on cybersecurity

    "The wars of the future will be fought in the cyber domain" sounds like a bad movie tagline from 20 years ago, but it's becoming truer by the day, and the Air Force is readying troops for that battle.Brig. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, the commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology at

  • Airmen 'INVEST' in efficiencies

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler spoke about Air Force efficiency initiatives Oct. 28 as part of the Military Strategy Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies here."I don't think anybody in the Air Force will argue that we can't be more efficient at

  • Motorcycle group supports military funerals

    As the U.S. Supreme Court contemplates whether protestors outside military funerals are protected under First Amendment free-speech rights, a motorcycle group that travels the country attending those funerals as a show of support and respect rides on, undeterred by the political fray.About 200,000

  • South Dakota officials to pay veterans bonus

    Since World War 1, South Dakota officials have paid a bonus to residents who served on active duty during a wartime period and this tradition continues today. The current bonus program authorizes payments of up to $500 to current or former members of the Armed Forces who were legal residents of the

  • DOD officials unveil smart phone mental health application

    A free smart phone mobile application that will help servicemembers, veterans and family members track their emotional health is now available, Defense Department officials announced this week. The application was developed at the National Center for TeleHealth and Technology at Joint Base

  • Air Force museum director to retire

    Air Force officials announced Oct. 28 that retired Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf will retire as director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force effective Dec. 31.General Metcalf will retire after 14 years as the museum's director. Prior to joining the museum, he served for nearly 36 years on

  • Air Force Falcon visits Florida school children

    Approximately 300 middle school students saw a live American kestrel falcon during a presentation from the U.S. Air Force Academy falconry program Oct. 28 here.Cadet 3rd Class Danielle Cortez and her falcon Buzz Lightyear visited students at L.B. Johnson Middle School here as part of Air Force Week

  • 'Mission One' at NORTHCOM: Defending the homeland

    Developing regional response capabilities, stepping up preparations for a no-notice catastrophe and maturing partnerships are among priorities at U.S. Northern Command, the new deputy commander said here Oct. 26."We're working very closely with the National Guard and (the Office of the Secretary of

  • Airmen teach Krav Maga techniques to local law enforcers

    For nearly 40 exhausting hours last week, security forces Airmen taught self-defense and hand-to-hand combat tactics to a group of local law enforcement officials.Although the community and base members have a positive working relationship, this is the first time they have come together to share the

  • Air Force leaders and university officials honor Tennessee companies

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton honored six Tennessee manufacturing companies for supporting the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Executive Leadership Course at a ceremony in Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 14.Ms. Conaton, in collaboration with officials from the College of

  • Scammers prey on servicemembers

    Scams can include any trick used to gain information, money or resources. Scammers accomplish this by preying on a person until the scammer can piece together information or convince the individual to meet the scammers' needs. Even though servicemembers are a prominent part of the nation, they can

  • VA officials taking life-saving campaign to streets

    Nearly 1,200 life-saving advertisements are going up on city buses, bus shelters, rail and subway stations across the nation displaying a message of hope for those who have served their country and may be facing an emotional crisis. Department of Veterans Affairs officials are advertising the

  • Airmen MIA from WWII identified, returned

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Oct. 27 that the remains of two Airmen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Army Air Forces staff sergeants Claude A. Ray, 24,

  • Space leaders discuss operating in resource-constrained environments

    Air Force Space Command leaders along with civilian officials who have made a significant contribution to America's military space program came together here Oct. 21 to discuss the future and the lessons learned of operating in a resource constrained environment. The members shared first-hand

  • Air Force Week Cocoa Beach begins with proclamation ceremony

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp helped kick off Air Force Week Cocoa Beach during a proclamation ceremony here Oct 26. "We rely upon the public, who are here and in other parts of the country, to help us succeed," Ms. Conaton said to the more than

  • MAJCOMs to sponsor inaugural joint Air Force-level AFSO21 workshop

    Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, better known as AFSO21, is a fairly new program to the Air Force, but working smarter and more efficiently aren't new concepts. In an environment where the operations tempo is in constant 'do more with less' mode, four Air Force major command leaders

  • Air Force officials announce civilian service award winners

    Air Force officials have selected their nominees for the 55th Annual Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award.The award is the highest honor given by the secretary of Defense to career civilian personnel. It is presented annually to a small number of DOD civilian employees whose

  • Professional Bull Riders honor Nellis Airmen at world finals

    Members of the international Professional Bull Riders, Inc., association saluted the Air Force and the accomplishments of several Airmen during their World Finals in Las Vegas Oct. 22.The special-themed Air Force Night kicked off with a swearing-in ceremony for 25 members of the Delayed Enlistment

  • ROTC cadet receives engineering award

    Air Force officials here recognized an ROTC cadet during this year's Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Corporation convention in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 7 to 9. Cadet Jose Gutierrez, from the ROTC Detachment 645 at Ohio State University, earned the HENAAC 2010 Military ROTC Cadet Award

  • New medical forms will streamline veterans claims process

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released three new disability benefits questionnaires for physicians of Veterans applying for VA disability compensation benefits. This initiative marks the beginning of a major reform of the physicians' guides and automated routines that will streamline

  • Military spouses are heroes, first lady says

    The needs and concerns of military spouses, whose sacrifices benefit the nation, should be of concern to all Americans, First Lady Michelle Obama said Oct. 26."These women and men -- they are heroes, and it's time that we recognize the challenges they face and the obstacles they overcome and the

  • Chief Roy issues call for action in latest 'Perspective'

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman wants everyone's help to stem the alarming increase in the number of suicides among the total force Airmen,  active duty, guard, reserve and civilians. "We've had a drastic increase this year in the number of suicides among

  • Airmen finish 860-mile trek for fallen comrades

    Hundreds of people gathered here Oct. 21 to welcome the marchers from the Tim Davis Special Tactics Memorial March. They had just completed an 860-mile march across five states that started Oct. 9 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Each of the marching Airmen carried one or more wooden batons, each

  • Expeditionary Center Airmen honor Air Force's first female chief

    Every Airman should know the name Grace A. Peterson. She is the first woman to ever hold the rank of chief master sergeant.For the 200 people in attendance at the Expeditionary Center here Oct. 18, the first woman to be promoted to chief master sergeant 50 years ago sat in the front row of the hall

  • Langley AFB nurse earns national honor

    A nurse from the 633rd Medical Group here was recently recognized with a national award during the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Armed Forces Section's 2010 annual conference in Las Vegas.Capt. Marion Collins, a women's health clinic nurse manager with the group, was

  • Airmen, Sailors train together for future relief efforts

    Airmen from the 36th Mobility Response Squadron and Sailors from the Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO FIVE partnered during a field training exercise to foster a better working relationship Oct. 13, at Northwest Field, Guam.The joint training consisted of a series of 9-Line medical

  • Honor Guard exhibits excellence, represents service

    For Airmen assigned to the United States Air Force Honor Guard here, excellence isn't a trait to be desired, it's expected. "We are in the public spotlight day in and day out," said Staff Sgt. Eric Allen, the media librarian for the USAF Honor Guard. "So every time we do our job we have to make sure

  • Airmen evacuate injured New York Times photographer from Afghanistan

    Airmen aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aeromedically evacuated a New York Times photographer from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 24. Joao Silva, a veteran war photographer based in South Africa, was embedded with an Army patrol in Kandahar province when he was

  • Eglin completes second alternate fuel test

    Specialists at Eglin Air Force Base conducted their second aircraft performance evaluation using an environmentally-friendly, biomass-derived fuel, this time with an F-15E Strike Eagle.The jet flew at a variety of flight conditions, achieved supersonic speeds, and landed with no issues, though it

  • Air Force chief of staff honors retirees, praises Airmen

    The Air Force's top uniformed officer honored retirees and praised today's Airmen during a dinner here Oct. 22.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz was the guest speaker at the annual chairman's dinner at Air Force Village, an officers' retirement community here, in celebration of its 40th

  • Program Fills Gap for Returning Guard, Reserve

    Though the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program has eased the post-deployment process for thousands of Guard and Reserve members and their families over the past two years, officials are hoping thousands more take advantage of the Defense Department program in the coming months, the program's

  • Airmen aid largest movement of paratroopers in decades

    Civilian passengers catching connecting flights in and out of the Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana couldn't help but notice a massive formation of military cargo aircraft sharing their airspace. Beginning at dusk, nearly 30 cargo aircraft descended on the airport Oct. 18 as part of a

  • US, Bulgarian medics forge successful partnerships

    Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as well as other U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen, participated in Exercise Thracian Fall 2010 Oct. 18 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The three-week, combined exercise was designed to provide both U.S. and

  • LEAP program grows with second selection board

    Air Force Language and Culture Center officials added 260 participants from more than 400 active duty officer and cadet applicants to the Language Enabled Airman Program during their selection board in September, they said here Oct. 15.The Air Force program has grown since its first board, when 192

  • Air Force Village rededicated during special ceremony

    The wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz helped honor Air Force Village founders and administrators during a rededication ceremony here Oct. 22.Suzie Schwartz was the featured speaker at the ceremony, which marked 40 years of operation for this Air Force retirement home. It also

  • General Eichhorn assumes command of AFOTEC

    Officials at the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center held a change of command ceremony here Oct. 22 as Maj. Gen. David J. Eichhorn assumed command of the center from Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant.  Lt. Gen. William L. Shelton, the assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force, presided

  • Air Force Week is here! Take advantage!

    Designed to honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of all American Airmen, Air Force Week kicks off Oct. 23 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. With more than 35,000 Airmen currently deployed across the globe in support of contingency operations, the theme of this Air Force Week is Honoring Hometown Heroes. Free

  • Flu shot options are many for TRICARE For Life beneficiaries

    TRICARE For Life beneficiaries have a wealth of options when it comes to staying protected during the fall and winter flu season. Influenza vaccines are covered by Medicare at no cost to TFL beneficiaries as long as they are administered by a Medicare provider who agrees to accept the

  • Officials seek nominees for Pitsenbarger Award

    Officials at the Air Force Sergeants Association are seeking nominations for the 2011 Pitsenbarger Award.The AFSA Pitsenbarger Award is presented annually to an Air Force enlisted servicemember who has performed a heroic act, on or off duty, that resulted in saving a life or preventing serious

  • Gen. McKinley: Collaboration saved Minnesota fighter wing

    Collaboration between Duluth, Minn., and the Minnesota Air National Guard officials saved the 148th Fighter Wing from closure and will help it grow in the future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said Oct. 22."You don't see many chambers who recognize their local military," Gen. Craig R.

  • Air Force spurs communication at diversity senior working group

    Air Force officials met with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, industry leaders and other service representatives during the service's diversity senior working group here Oct. 17 through 18.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Adm. Mike Mullen both spoke to the group, during

  • Air Force musicians take a visible stand against drug abuse

    The Air Force's Band of the West is reaching out to thousands of school children in San Antonio with a "Stay in School" and "Say No to Drugs" message.In a 10-year partnership program with the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Band of the West's rock n-roll ensemble "Top Flight"

  • Joint STARS demonstrates key network-enabled weapons capability

    An Electronic Systems Center team is wrapping up work on a demonstration here aimed to greatly improve network-enabled weapons capabilities for joint forces. The Battle Management Directorate's E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Modernization Branch has been participating in the Joint

  • AF officials release officer, civilian developmental education board results

    More than 860 officers and 90 civilians were selected for intermediate and senior developmental education opportunities during the 2010 Officer and Civilian Developmental Education boards conducted here.The officer and civilian selectee lists are available on the Air Force Personnel Center public

  • Schriever AFB adventure racers claim Air Force title

    After they crossed the finish line in the 2009 Wilderness Challenge adventure race, Capts. Stephen Toth, Caitlyn Diffley, Joseph Revetariano and Senior Airman Cory Marion felt like they had reached their physical limits. Two days of running, hiking, paddling and biking throughout West Virginia's

  • Freethinkers, Pagans discuss intersections of mind, spirit

    Members of the Air Force Academy's Freethinkers group invited members of the Special Program in Religious Education earth-centered spirituality group to discuss their beliefs, views and experiences during a SPIRE meeting here Oct. 18.SPIRE members set aside time each week for the religiously diverse

  • Jordanian, American fighters refuel above Jordan

    Jordanian and American pilots recently met several thousand feet over Jordan where they exchanged knowledge and fuel. An aircrew operating KC-10 Extender from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. refueled eight F-16 Fighting Falcons over Jordan as part of Falcon Air Meet 2010 -- a two-week exercise bringing

  • Proper nutrition, exercise is essential to mission success

    Like an aircraft needs jet fuel, a person's body needs proper nutrition to replenish itself and function at peak performance. In today's military environment, with increased deployments and new physical testing requirements, it's even more imperative that Airmen know the importance nutrition can

  • Nellis remembers fallen Airman

    For more than 200 years, individuals have volunteered to serve in the U.S. military. Since 2001 more than 4,900 servicemembers have lost their lives in service to their country. These members took an oath to protect the ideals and freedoms allotted to citizens by the U.S. Constitution and to help

  • Officials tout Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

    With more than 260,000 students attending about 6,000 colleges and universities this fall under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, officials are continuing an active outreach effort to ensure current military members and veterans don't miss out on the new program's education benefits.Participation is up

  • One month of construction helps a small island

    Eighteen Air Force civil engineers and Navy Seabees spent 41 days on the outer islands of Yap, Micronesia, remodeling and rebuilding a high school as part of Operation Pacific Unity, a humanitarian civil engineering effort. "The buildings needed a lot of work," said Master Sgt. Marco Thresher, the

  • JET Airmen: 'Fit to fight any given day'

    Airmen often have a reputation of being "behind the scenes," never in the action, but persona is changing with Air Force's heavy involvement in joint tasking operations where Airmen are performing non-traditional jobs and missions alongside sister service members.There are many Joint Expeditionary

  • NATO partners strengthen bonds with Airmen through discussion

    Senior NCOs met with NATO partners Oct. 13 here for a panel discussion gain insight on other nations' military standards, customs and courtesies, and traditions.In addition to the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and Belgium were represented at the panel. The American SNCOs took turns

  • A different way to take the pain

    Acupuncture has long been a form of medical care, originating in ancient China and moving west through the world. It has only recently started to gain momentum during the last few decades in the U.S.Recently, military medical officials have begun investigating a type of acupuncture and its benefits

  • AFPC officials conduct retirement webinars for Airmen

    Air Force Personnel Center officials are set to conduct a series of web-based seminars highlighting the retirement process for active-duty Airmen. These webinars are scheduled to be held every quarter to help Airmen successfully navigate through the retirement and separation processes.The

  • Air Force museum director to receive national award

    The director of the National Museum of the Air Force was recently selected as a recipient of the National Aeronautic Association Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Award.Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf is one of four recipients this year who will be honored at the NAA Fall

  • Jordan, U.S. commence exercise in Southwest Asia

    Falcon Air Meet 2010 officially kicked off Oct. 19 at Azraq Royal Jordanian Air Base in the country of Jordan. The two-week exercise brings servicemembers from various countries together to share doctrine and procedures, strengthen relationships, and improve regional security. A friendly competition

  • Family care plan change addresses custody questions

    A recent change in Defense Department policy highlights why servicemembers and deployable civilians, who also are custodial parents, may want to seek legal help in arranging their children's care during deployment.DOD Instruction 1342.19, "Family Care Plans," was revised in May to require such plans

  • CMSAF completes three-country African engagement

     Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy met with senior leaders here from the Senegalese air force as the final leg of a three-nation senior leader engagement Oct. 15. The tour, which included stops in Botswana and Djibouti, focused on sharing information on enlisted development. Besides

  • Cyberspace is the new domain of warfare

    With the creation of the U.S. Cyber Command in May and last week's cybersecurity agreement between the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, DOD officials are ready to add cyberspace to sea, land, air and space as the latest domain of warfare, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III

  • Spending reforms top Defense priorities

    Pentagon officials should start seeing results from major spending reforms launched by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in the summer of 2010, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said Oct. 14.The entire Defense Department is working to change the way it does business to become more

  • US, Afghan bands speak universal language

    The Air Force Central Command and Afghan National Army bands played to a packed house of more than 400 Afghan and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan members at the Afghan air force base Oct. 16 here. NATC-A advisers, who are helping build the Afghan air force by training pilots, maintainers and

  • Senior Pentagon official: Military must reduce use of fossil fuels

    The Defense Department's current reliance on expensive, difficult-to-transport and finite fossil fuels affects cost-reduction efforts as well as war-fighting operations, a senior Pentagon official said."Certainly, for current operations and for the future, one of the things we're really focused on

  • 8th Fighter Wing Airmen take on Max Thunder

    Members of the 8th Fighter Wing and Republic of Korea Air Force are participating in the fourth annual Max Thunder exercise, hosted by Kwangju Air Base officials Oct. 15 to 22.Max Thunder is a bilateral training exercise intended to increase interoperability between Republic of Korea and U.S.

  • Firefighter Combat Challenge returns to Ramstein after 5-year hiatus

    For the first time in five years, firefighters and emergency responders from throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe came together here Oct. 9 for the 2010 Firefighter Combat Challenge. The return of the event, previously put on hold due to real-world demands, also marked the end of the Kaiserslautern

  • LEAP program grows with second selection board

    The Air Force Language and Culture Center added 260 participants from more than 400 active-duty officer and cadet applicants to the Language Enabled Airman Program during its selection board in September, officials said here Oct. 15.The Air Force program has grown since its first board, when 192

  • Top enlisted Airman visits Horn of Africa

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force spent a day here to see firsthand the role Airmen play in the mission of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and throughout the U.S. Africa Command theater.During the Oct. 13 visit, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Airmen in

  • Defense Cyber Crime Center officials host challenge

    Airmen and civilians are now able to submit solutions for the 2010 Defense Cyber Crime Center Digital Forensics Challenge to compete against more than 975 teams for a chance to win 11 different prizes.The DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge is a public, online, and international Challenge held annually

  • State-of-the-art cardiovascular services available at Travis AFB

    With equipment that can only be found in four other hospitals in the nation, surgeons here recently performed the first operations while using a new state-of-the-art, hybrid cardiovascular operating room. It took a team of medical professionals here three years to bring the cardiovascular services

  • Airmen in Pakistan relate 2005 earthquake to 2010 flood operations

    Approximately five years ago, more than 60 Airmen from the 818th Contingency Response Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., were notified to pack their bags and deploy to Pakistan.  Their mission was to support relief efforts after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake left more than 80,000 people

  • One step at a time: Airman recovering after crash

    Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis wanted nothing more than to walk through the doors to the 8th Special Operations Squadron building.His friends and colleagues cheered him on as he accomplished that goal Oct. 8; a feat that just a few months ago seemed nearly impossible.Sergeant Curtis was a flight engineer

  • Basic trainees begin cyber training

    The importance of defending cyberspace was taken to a new level when cyber training became a permanent fixture of the Air Force basic military training curriculum.The first trainees attended a four-hour course devoted to defending the Air Force networks and operations in cyberspace Oct. 4. The