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  • Air Combat Command leader visits Mountain Home Airmen

    The commander of Air Combat Command visited the 366th Fighter Wing Airmen here March 7 and 8 to see them firsthand, thank them for their sacrifices and gain a better understanding of their mission, capabilities and challenges.Gen. William M. Fraser III's visit included a dinner with Idaho Gov. C. L.

  • Airman's vigilance prevents aircraft mishap

    Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aborted an F-15E Strike Eagle mission minutes before takeoff March 12 here when a crew chief noticed an oddity with the flight controls of an aircraft.Staff Sgt. Justin Wilson, a 494th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew

  • Construction begins on new fuel pipeline at Southwest Asia base

    Construction on a new 2.7-mile pipeline to bolster ground refueling operations for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing began March 17 at a non-disclosed base here.The $5.7 million project calls for the construction of an above-ground 8-inch carbon steel pipeline from the existing tanker truck offload

  • Civil engagement program helps prepare Iraq for future

    As U.S. officials prepare to draw down troops in Iraq, efforts are being made to ensure the effect on the country's infrastructure is minimal. Joint Base Balad's civil engagement program maximizes the base's resources and abilities and helps more than 800,000 Iraqis in the Salah ad Din Province. The

  • USAFE officials visit command's newest wing

    Gen. Roger Brady, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Chief Master Sgt. Pamela Derrow, USAFE command chief master sergeant, visited the Airmen of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing March 16 to see the unique blend of capabilities the unit brings to USAFE.The visit allowed General Brady and

  • 505th Command and Control Wing welcomes new Royal Air Force exchange officer

    Royal Air Force Wing Commander Allan Goodison recently took the reins as 505th Training Group deputy commander of development, here. Wing Commander Goodison will work with the 505th TRG commander integrating command and control or C2, operations with joint and coalition forces.Group members develop

  • Steering committee wraps up discussions

    Officials from 13 international air forces welcomed a new chairman after completing week-long discussions at the 59th Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Steering Committee March 12. The discussions, hosted by members of the 80th Flying Training Wing, covered the current syllabus, funding for the

  • Lajes officials take step toward solar power

    As part of the Air Force officials' renewable energy initiative, members of the 65th Civil Engineer Squadron have taken a step toward saving taxpayers money after installing and testing their first solar energy-producing panels in a military family housing unit Feb. 22 here. The panel unit costs

  • Predator passes 700,000 hours

    Airmen of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing reached a new flight milestone March 12 when they surpassed 700,000 flight hours in the MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft.The last 200,000 Predator hours were flown in just over 12 months compared to 19 months to fly the previous 250,000 hours and

  • U.S., Philippine servicemembers visit school children

    Philippine and U.S. servicemembers joined together to provide much-needed clothing and other every day items to local school children March 15 here.The community relations project took place during Balikatan 2010, an annual bilateral exercise involving the Philippine military, Philippine civil

  • DOD announces recruiting and retention numbers

    Department of Defense officials announced March 18 their recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for February 2010.Active Component:Recruiting Three of the four active services met or exceeded their accession goals for February 2010. The Marine Corps purposefully

  • Joint STARS resumes re-engining program with two major contract actions

    The 751st Electronic Systems Group has successfully resumed the system design and development phase of the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System re-engining program with the award of two large contract actions. The E-8C Joint STARS is an airborne battle management command and control

  • Precision airdrop training coming to Altus AFB

    A new training course will be soon implemented into the syllabus for all C-17 Globemaster III aircrew members attending technical training here.Air Force officials are relocating the improved container delivery system and joint precision airdrop system training to Altus Air Force Base in the coming

  • U.S., JASDF Airmen work side by side during ATR exercise

    Crewchiefs and fuels specialists worked side-by-side with their Japan Air Self Defense Force counterparts as a part of a cross-familiarization program during an aviation training relocation exercise March 8 through 12 at Tsuiki Air Base.   Staff Sgt. Curtis Roe and Airman 1st Class Curtis Watson,

  • Altus training operations begin to recover from ice storm

    Looking at Altus Air Force Base, the only signs of this year's ice storm are limbless trees that had to be trimmed down after the storm covered the base in a thick sheet of ice. However, members of the 97th Training Squadron are just now recovering from its lingering effects.The ice storm hit Altus

  • Air Force Uniform Office planning for the future

    Officials in the Air Force Uniform Office here are developing a seven-year strategic plan, which will be used to provide Air Force Uniform Board members vital uniform technology information to assist in making decisions on allocating limited resources to pursue the board's priorities.Priorities for

  • TRANSCOM gives U.S. key advantage, commander says

    One of the U.S. military's greatest advantages over its adversaries is its ability to move an enormous amount of equipment and people quickly anywhere in the world, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command told the House Armed Services Committee March 17. Gen. Duncan J. McNabb said he was

  • New members appointed to VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has appointed six new members to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises Department of Veterans Affairs officials on a wide array of issues affecting women veterans."VA remains committed to providing quality, timely care

  • Tsuiki ATR exercise concludes

    The departure of the final two F-16 Fighting Falcons from Tsuiki Air Base March 12 signaled the end of a weeklong aviation training relocation exercise between the 35th Fighter Wing from Misawa AB, Japan and the Japan Air Self Defense Force. Approximately 90 Airmen and five F-16s were deployed from

  • Officials implement second DOS rollback

    Air Force officials announced March 17 the need for a second enlisted date of separation rollback with a mandatory DOS of June 30, 2010. This program is part of an overall effort to maintain a quality enlisted force and meet the congressionally mandated end strength.In November, officials announced

  • SOUTHCOM provides support to relief operations in Chile

    U.S. military officials are providing support to the ongoing relief efforts in Chile following the 8.8- magnitude earthquake that struck the country in late February. "U.S. military personnel have been working with local and international responders to provide relief to the hard-hit areas," said

  • U.S. Cyber Command preparations under way, general says

    Preparations for the formal establishment of U.S. Cyber Command are under way, a senior military officer here reported to Congress March 16. The formal launch of the new organization is awaiting congressional approval of its commander, according to Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, the commander of U.S.

  • 'Home of the Blue' campaign showcases privatized military family housing

    With an average of more than 500 new or renovated homes entering the privatized housing inventory each month, the Air Force goal of creating quality homes and thriving communities for Airmen and their families is well under way. Now officials at the Air Force Center for Engineering and the

  • Airmen train Iraqi EOD squad

    The eight Iraqi men drove up to the Ali Base main gate in two sparkling clean, white Ford F-350 trucks, replete with police badges emblazoned on the doors and light bars on the roofs . Waiting to meet them were three Airmen in a joint explosive ordanace disposal rapid response vehicle.The Iraqis

  • New protocol to provide early brain injury detection

    Defense Department officials are rolling out a new set of guidelines for the treatment of mild traumatic brain injury among servicemembers in combat areas. "We're morphing from a symptom-based approach in theater to an incident-based approach," a senior official said March 15 during a "DoDLive"

  • New ATC tower opens for business

    A newly constructed air traffic control tower opened for operation March 12, here."This is a monumental day for the U.S. Air Force, the Army Corps of Engineers and for the future of the Iraqi air force," said Lt. Col. Michael Richardson, the commander of the 407th Expeditionary Operations Support

  • Thunderbirds ready for 57th season

    The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" flew their acceptance show March 11 and were approved by Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of Air Combat Command, to start their 2010 show season."The acceptance show is the culmination of the hard work and dedication by our entire

  • DOD official notes rise in sexual assault reporting

    Reports of sexual assault involving servicemembers rose by 11 percent in fiscal 2009, a senior Defense Department official said yesterday. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 3,230 reports of sexual assault were filed. An increase in reporting was a goal for the department, said Kaye Whitley,

  • AETC Airmen lead way to efficient energy practices

    Improving Air Force energy efficiency depends on its Airmen and the sharing of their innovative ideas, said the service's acting senior energy official during her Headquarters Air Education and Training Command visit here March 2."They need to ensure they follow through with those ideas by

  • Care plan to encompass more military families

    The Defense Department's family care plan policy will be expanded in the coming months to encompass a wider population of military parents, a defense legal expert said. The new policy will require military parents with custody of children from a previous relationship to file a family care plan, said

  • More customers using MyPay for faster, safer service

    When the Defense Finance and Accounting Service first launched the myPay Web-based pay account system in 2000, less than 500,000 military members, military retirees, annuitants and federal civilian employees were listed as online users. Today that number includes 3.7 million users with access to pay

  • Airmen, Chileans treat patients at new expeditionary hospital

    Just five days after their arrival in Chile, Airmen from an Air Force Expeditionary Medical Support team along with Chilean medics are treating patients at the newly built mobile hospital March 15 here. Chilean surgeons and anesthesiologists worked side-by-side with their Air Force counterparts to

  • Day 35 of '30+ Days Through Afghanistan'; project wraps up

    With this edition of "30+ Days Through Afghanistan," the Web-based project, which kicked off Feb. 8, has come to an end. The project aimed to bring the people, the mission and the experiences of the men and women assigned to the International Security Assistance Force to a worldwide audience through

  • Air Force's new undersecretary sworn in

    The Senate confirmed the nomination of Erin C. Conaton to become the next undersecretary of the Air Force March 4 and she began her transition into the office after being sworn in March 15."This is a great day for the Air Force," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "Erin will be a

  • U.S. Airmen train with Thai, Singaporean counterparts during Cope Tiger

    As Cope Tiger 2010 flying operations entered their second week March 9, U.S., Royal Thai and Republic of Singapore air force teams met mission objectives each time they went up in the air, according to exercise officials here. Capt. Jeff Watts, an air battle manager deployed here from Kadena Air

  • Pacific partners close Cope Tiger with ceremony

    U.S., Thai and Singaporean servicemembers marked the end of Cope Tiger 2010 with a closing ceremony March 12 here.Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong, the Royal Thai Air Force commander in chief, served as the host and presided over the ceremony. He was joined by Gen. Gary North, the Pacific Air

  • Official announces plans to curb fighter program's cost

    Defense Department officials will require a shift to a fixed-price contract in their negotiations with Lockheed Martin for the initial production phase of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, a defense official said here March 15 in a briefing at the Pentagon. Department officials also will

  • March 10 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations March 10 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:Close-Air SupportAsadabadAir Force MQ-1B Predator

  • Kirkuk Airmen build desks for Iraqi children

    Several Airmen from the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here volunteered to refurbish desks for school children in March.The idea for refurbishing the school desks sprang from a conversation Chief Master Sgt. Tom Pizzi, the 506th ECES chief enlisted manager, deployed from McChord Air

  • NSPS Web site adds features to track transition

    New features on the redesigned NSPS Web site give employees the opportunity to follow the progress as Air Force officials prepare to transition more than 44,000 current Air Force National Security Personnel System employees into non-NSPS personnel systems.To enhance transparency in operations, the

  • Airey House, Court dedicated to first chief master sergeant of the Air Force

    The first chief master sergeant of the Air Force was remembered and honored March 10 at a dedication here of the house and street where CMSAFs reside."(We are here to) honor our first chief master sergeant of the Air Force, Paul Airey," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, number 16 of

  • New process available for selecting retirement option

    Officers and enlisted Airmen reaching 15 years of active-duty service will have new procedures in place beginning April 1 to accept enrollment in the Redux retirement plan. Airmen will receive an electronic notification of their eligibility for the High-3 Choice retirement plan that allows members

  • Defense secretary discusses Iraq, Afghanistan with deployed troops

    Servicemembers quizzed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates about Afghanistan, the elections in Iraq and the Iran situation during a question-and-answer period March 11 here. Secretary Gates spoke to members of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which has been deployed here since January 2002 in

  • Diversity outreach unites Academy, community

    When is being at the end of your rope a good thing? How about when you're a middle- or high-school student visiting the U.S. Air Force Academy's rock climbing wall as part of the Cadet Wing's Youth Diversity Outreach program?Nearly 30 teenagers from the local community spent a full day with cadets,

  • First Sergeant Academy curriculum, organization mirrors total force

    The life of an Air Force first sergeant is truly a tale of two experiences. There exists the joy of watching Airmen receive well-deserved promotions and recognition, and there is the disappointment and sadness at receiving a 3 a.m. phone call from a law enforcement desk or casualty affairs. These

  • Employment program to resume for enrolled spouses

    The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program, commonly known as MyCAA, will resume March 13 for the more than 136,000 spouses who already have established an account, the Defense Department official who heads up the program announced March 11 here. Officials announced a temporary halt in

  • American servicemembers help Afghans make strides

    Some Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul military members will soon prepare to travel back to their duty stations after assisting their Afghan partners with improvements in Zabul province communities.Over the course of 10 months, the collective staff completed more than 65 projects, totaling more

  • Defense secretary comments on tanker competition, other issues

    The recently released request for proposals for the Air Force's next-generation tanker aircraft was fair, the Defense secretary said here March 11, and he expressed disappointment that Northrop-Grumman has withdrawn from the competition for the $35 billion contract. Secretary Robert M. Gates also

  • DOD officials identify more phases for Iraq medal

    Department of Defense officials announced March 10 that additional campaign stars are authorized for wear on the Iraq Campaign Medal.The campaign stars recognize a servicemember's participation in DOD-designated campaigns in Iraq. Airmen who have qualified for the ICM may display a bronze campaign

  • VA targets $39 million for homeless veterans

    The Department of Veterans Affairs is allocating $39 million to fund about 2,200 new transitional housing beds through grants to local providers."VA is committed to ending the cycle of homelessness among Veterans,"said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We will use every tool at our

  • Manpower agency officials name annual award winners

    Air Force Manpower Agency officials recognized their 2009 top performers recently during an annual awards luncheon here.The awards recognized the top military members, civilians and teams throughout the Air Force Manpower Agency."The winners represent the best across the Air Force at helping

  • Policy to mandate head injury evaluations

    Defense Department officials said they expect to launch a new policy in the coming months that will make head-injury evaluations mandatory for all servicemembers who may have concussions. The current guidelines for treating servicemembers with such injuries allows for them to come forward on their

  • 'Legends of Aerospace' visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

    The first and last men to walk on the moon, the commander of Apollo 13, the last Air Force pilot "Ace" and the SR-71 chief test pilot, all "Legends of Aerospace,"  were the honored guests of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing March 8 at an air base in Southwest Asia.Hundreds of servicemembers flocked

  • American, Afghan docs begin surgical process for young burn victim

    An American facial thoracic surgeon and an Afghan medical team from Kandahar Regional Medical Hospital partnered March 1, here to help heal a young man who had severe burn injuries for six months.Thirteen-year-old Abdul Rahman was severely burned in a cooking incident in his home. His father managed

  • Cyber Control System launch under way

    Electronic Systems Center program managers are in Virginia the week of March 8 for a contract kick-off meeting on Increment One of the Cyber Control System, after awarding the critical $8.9 million contract to Electronic Data Systems, a Hewlett Packard company, two weeks ago.CCS Increment-1 will

  • Air Guard officials tweak recruiting Web site

    Considering today's explosive popularity of social media and online research it may come as no surprise that military recruiting Web sites are rushing to keep up with new technologies and trends.Air National Guard officials are riding that wave with more personal interactivity in their public

  • Female World War II pilots lay wreath at Air Force Memorial

    More than 1,000 civilians and servicemembers watched as World War II Women Airforce Service Pilot corps remembered their sisters-in-arms during a wreath-laying ceremony March 9 at the Air Force Memorial here.Several WASPs, many clad in their World War II-era service uniform, placed roses next to the

  • Trip to war region heightens general's resolve

    The commander of the Air Force Materiel Command returned here recently from a trip to Southwest Asia to interact with Airmen who depend on his command for the supplies, parts and maintenance services they need to get their jobs done.General Donald J. Hoffman shared his message for the AFMC work

  • March 7 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations March 07 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:Close-Air SupportAsmarAir Force F-15E Strike Eagle

  • Women pilots of World War II inspired generations

    Under a clear blue sky, beneath the spires of the U.S. Air Force Memorial here, military aviators gathered March 9 here to pay homage to the achievements of the first women to fly military aircraft during World War II. The memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony, with a reception afterward, was

  • Remnant of Lackland's past gets new home

    The last of three remaining remnants from Lackland's World War II-era housing facilities, a military open-bay barracks, was moved to a site behind the History and Traditions Museum.The only basic military training dormitory left from the 1940s, Bldg. 6351 was loaded by a crane onto a flatbed trailer

  • Single Airman Working Group opens support structure discussion

    Air Force officials here established the Single Airman Working Group to evaluate and develop morale and support programs for its members as part of the Year of the Air Force Family.Officer and enlisted single Airmen representatives from each major command and subject-matter experts from several

  • Utah Air Guard mission in Chile changes from training to humanitarian

    Four members of the Utah Air National Guard's 151st Air Refueling Wing based here had a rude awakening Feb. 27 when the 15th floor of their hotel in Santiago, Chile, started to shake. Deployed to Chile to provide flying and maintenance support to the Chilean air force on their new KC-135 "E" model

  • NFL players visit Bagram Airmen

    Four National Football League players visited Bagram Airfield servicemembers March 5, as part of a USO tour of the U.S. Central Command area of operations.Mario Williams, a defensive end for the Houston Texans; Jason Whitten, a tight end for the Dallas Cowboys; Vernon Davis, a tight end for the San

  • U.S. South Korean militaries kick off joint exercise

    American and South Korean military members kicked off Exercise Key Resolve/FOAL Eagle 10 March 8 and will train for 10 days here. The annual joint/combined command post and field training exercise is defense-oriented and designed to ensure the South Korean and U.S. alliance is prepared to defend

  • 24 cadets receive Academy's first UAS-RPA wings

    Four junior and 20 sophomore U.S. Air Force Academy cadets received the first unmanned aerial systems-remotely piloted aircraft wings awarded in the school's 55-year history during a function at the Dean's Heritage House Feb. 25, here.  Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, the Academy superintendent and Brig. Gen.

  • Fledgling eagles learn to fly

    Twenty-four F-15E Strike Eagle pilots and weapon systems officers graduated the 333rd Fighter Squadron basic course during a ceremony March 6 at the Walnut Creek Country Club in Goldsboro, N.C. "The 'B-Course,' as it is affectionately known, is a nine-month program designed to mold novice pilots and

  • VA secretary seeks improved Agent Orange claims process

    Veterans Affairs officials announced March 9 an aggressive new initiative to solicit private-sector input on a proposed fast-track Veterans' claims process for service-connected presumptive illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. "This will be a new way of doing business and a

  • Airmen to train Iraqi air force college students

    Airmen will teach the first Iraqi air force college pilot-training course beginning in March with Iraq's new T-6A trainer.The tandem-cockpit aircraft, that began arriving in Tikrit, Iraq, Dec. 16, is the platform Iraqi airmen will use to transform the college into a cornerstone of Iraqi air

  • U.S. Air Force medics train fledgling Afghan medical corps

    Airmen assigned to the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here are teaching Afghan soldiers at the Afghan National Army Air Corps Command Air Corps Medical Service Clinic the skills necessary to keep their soldiers on the battlefield. "The standards we are setting here are critical," said

  • Select bases begin using new civilian application procedure

    The planned Feb. 22 rollout of a civilian hiring test initiative activated on schedule, requiring current Air Force civilian employees to follow new procedures when applying for jobs at select bases. Air Force civilians applying for jobs at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas; Osan Air Base, South

  • New Military Health System site makes information accessible

    Military Health System officials have launched a new Web site that provides a single point of entry to military health news, information and resources. The site, Health.mil, is part of the Defense Department's continued commitment to make health information available and easy to find, officials

  • Air Force mortuary staff ensures dignity, honor for fallen

    Under a deluge of rain, the 757 touched down here late at night, returning Army Staff Sgt. Michael David P. Cardenaz home. He had been killed just a few days before in an enemy attack in Afghanistan. With family and friends near, an Army carry team marched in slow, measured steps to the aircraft,

  • American servicemembers help bring education to Afghan community

    The American Provincial Reconstructive Team in Zabul and 451st Air Expeditionary Wing leaders joined the provincial governor and community leaders as they gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 25 of the newly-built all-boys Sheik Mati High School and dormitory here. The 240-bed facility will

  • AAFES officials open first 'green' BX at Randolph

    Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials unveiled its first-ever environmentally friendly base exchange to shoppers when it opened the doors of the new Randolph Air Force Base Exchange March 5.The new Randolph Air Force Base BX is AAFES' first exchange built to the environmental standards set

  • AFMC leader visits Tinker, highlights civilian issues

    The Air Force Materiel Command executive director called upon civilians to broaden their career paths, as a changing Air Force turns to more civilian leadership, during a visit that began Feb. 22, here. During the visit, Dr. Steven Butler had breakfast with the junior force council, spoke to

  • March 4 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations March 4 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:Close-Air Support SurkhabadAir Force B-1B Lancer and

  • March 1 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations March 4 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:Close-Air SupportSurkhabadAir Force B-1B Lancer and

  • Air Force leaders outline plans before Senate committee

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz testified March 4 before the Senate Armed Services Committee to outline specifics about their $119.6 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2011."The last two decades of sustained operations have strained our

  • Missouri Air Guard C-130s, crews fly to Chile

    Two Missouri Air National Guard C-130 Hercules transport aircraft with 47 crewmembers are en route March 5, to aid earthquake-ravaged Chile. 139th Airlift Wing officials sent the two aircraft, crews and maintenance support personnel from Puerto Rico, where they had been supporting U.S. Southern

  • Air Combat Command leader visits Davis-Monthan Airmen

    The commander of Air Combat Command visited Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Feb. 23 and 24 to learn more about the base mission and thank the Airmen, civilians and family members for their service. With Davis-Monthan AFB's Airmen continuously deployed around the world, to include supporting relief

  • 'Dot Mil Docs' celebrates 100th episode

    Dot Mil Docs, the Military Health System's official podcast, celebrates its 100th episode this week. Dot Mil Docs is a weekly audio podcast that features military medical professionals and other military health experts from across the DOD. The program upholds the Military Health System's commitment

  • U.S., Luxembourg partnership supports U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan

    As President Barack Obama's plan to plus up U.S. forces in Afghanistan goes into motion, members of the 86th Materiel Maintenance Squadron here are helping one of U.S. Air Force's in Europe's largest movement of war readiness materiel since Operation Desert Storm in 1991."The pure size of it alone

  • Budget balances security, economics, Lynn tells Congress

    The fiscal 2011 defense budget request includes modest but necessary spending increases in line with President Barack Obama's effort to balance national security with economic needs, the deputy defense secretary told Congress members March 4 here. The $708 billion request "reflects the

  • Global Positioning System continues improvement initiative

    Building on the January 2010 upgrade to the Global Positioning System ground control segment, Air Force Space Command engineers will be installing another software release primarily designed to support the pending mid-2010 launch of the first GPS IIF space vehicle. Engineers at the Global

  • C-130 low-cost, low-altitude combat airdrops now operational

    A C-130 Hercules aircrew conducted a new method of airdrop that makes deliveries more accurate and flexible for resupply of small, mobile forces Feb. 6, in Afghanistan. The C-130 aircrew from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, performed the first-ever low-cost, low-altitude combat airdrop to re-supply

  • U.S., Thai servicemembers conduct personnel airdrop training

    U.S. Airmen and Royal Thai Air Force members conducted personnel airdrop training from a C-17 Globemaster III as part of Cope Tiger 2010 here on March 3.More than 60 qualified jumpmasters completed three separate jumps near Bangkok, Thailand, as the first major activity of the Cope Tiger field

  • 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' review seeks broadest input

    The Defense Department's review on the potential impact of repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military will solicit input from troops of every service and rank -- as well as their families -- through surveys, focus groups and social media tools, the team heading up the review told

  • Joint project lifts economy, skills in Kirkuk

    A joint project involving the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron readiness management support engineers and a local contractor ishelping Iraqis rebuild their nation on the concepts of learning and earning. The various civil engineers are all involved in upgrading the base sanitary sewer

  • Bilateral training hones U.S., JASDF capabilities

    U.S. and Japanese military aircraft joined to practice defending Okinawa from simulated enemies during joint bilateral training here Feb. 22 through 26. The training involved a variety of aircraft flying simulated hostile scenarios aimed at training personnel for joint planning and execution of

  • Retiree dental coverage available for purchase

    Good oral health is an important part of maintaining overall health and a military retiree's access to dental coverage doesn't end when they hang up their uniform. With the Tricare Retiree Dental Program, retired servicemembers can purchase affordable dental coverage for themselves and their

  • Tricare news available fast and easy at Media Center

    Don't feel like waiting for the next newsletter to get all the latest Tricare news? Visit the new media center at www.tricare.mil/mediacenter for the hottest links to Tricare's social media and updates to what's happening with Tricare.The new media center makes it easier than ever for beneficiaries

  • Museum remembers 'Aztec Eagles'

    National Museum of the Air Force officials revealed a new exhibit Feb. 26 here dedicated to Mexican airmen who fought alongside U.S. forces in World War II.Members of the Mexican air force Escuadron 201, commonly referred to as the Aztec Eagles, are featured in the exhibit. "The Mexican Air Force,"

  • Officials offer tips to help children develop healthy habits

    March is National Nutrition Month and with that comes an increased focus on healthy eating. Nutrition is an integral part of health in all individuals, especially in children, and Airmen and their families should take some time this month to assess your eating habits and how they may be affecting

  • Airmen prepare BEAR base for troops in Afghanistan

    Holloman Air Force Base Airmen began the movement of approximately 150 truckloads of assets that will directly support joint and coalition forces in Afghanistan Feb. 24 here.Members of the 49th Materiel Maintenance Group, the Air Force's only Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources base, have been

  • Eglin optometrist keeps eye on goal

    An Eglin Air Force Base optometrist was recently named the Optometrist of the Year for The Armed Forces Optometric Society, Association of Military Surgeons and the Air Force.Lt. Col. Annette Williamson of the 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron here also served as the lead optometry consultant for the

  • DOD social media policy balances Web 2.0 with security

    The new Department of Defense policy allowing access to social media from computers connected to the military's unclassified network balances the mission value of Web 2.0 tools and the need for security, a top defense official said. Since being hired as principal deputy assistant secretary of

  • Air Combat Command leader visits Holloman Airmen

    The commander of Air Combat Command visited here Feb. 22 to get an up-close look at the Holloman Air Force Base mission.Gen. William M. Fraser III, and his wife, Bev, visited base Airmen and answered their questions during a basewide all-call earlier that morning.General Fraser explained the main

  • Airmen help thousands in Philippines

    Operation Pacific Angel 10-1 officially ended Feb. 22 after seven days of civic assistance projects here that provided medical care to nearly 14,000 patients, veterinary care to more than 3,300 animals, and new classrooms for approximately 480 local children.Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and

  • Senior DOD leader visits 17th Air Force officials

    The deputy assistant secretary of Defense for African affairs visited 17th Air Force officials here Feb. 24 to get a firsthand look at the air component's programs and objectives in support of U.S. Africa Command. Vicki Huddleston, a career diplomat with the Department of State including service as