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  • U.S. forces transition to Operation New Dawn

    The United States military marked a historic milestone Sept. 1 as it made the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn. This transition signifies a formal end to U.S. military combat operations and reaffirms the U.S. military's commitment to the Iraqi Security Forces and the

  • New Tricare Overseas Program contract begins

    Beginning Sept. 1, the new Tricare Overseas Program contract goes into effect, giving beneficiaries easier and greater access to health care outside the United States. International SOS Assistance, Tricare's overseas contractor, is partnering with military treatment facilities to give Department of

  • Compass Call squadron departs 386th AEW as a result of drawdown in Iraq

    The last EC-130H Compass Call assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing departed here Aug. 29 for deployment to another U.S. Central Command base, capping a 6.5 year tour of duty in which Compass Call crews flew some 23,300 combat hours in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.The 43rd

  • GPS Wing accepts first specialized GPS receiver cards

    Officials at Rockwell Collins successfully delivered 21 developed prototype ground-based GPS receiver application module modernized receiver cards developed under the Global Positioning Systems Wing's Receiver Card Development program. These GB-GRAM-M receiver cards recently have completed the

  • Six installations test consolidated food service operations

    Air Force Services Agency officials are slated to begin testing a re-engineering of Air Force food services this fall with a pilot program at six Air Force installations across the U.S. The pilot program, called the Food Transformation Initiative, will test a food delivery model aimed at improving

  • Joint aviation coordination cell established to aid Pakistan flood relief

    A number of Pakistan, U.S. and international organizations, both military and civilian, gathered at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala, Pakistan, Aug. 28 to form a joint aviation coordination cell aimed at streamlining air operations supporting Pakistan's flood relief efforts. After torrential rains

  • VA secretary addresses traumatic brain injury conference

    Recognizing the longstanding, integrated collaboration shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki gave the keynote address at the fourth annual Traumatic Brain Injury Military Training Conference Aug. 30 here."We -- DOD and VA -- simply

  • Toolkit helps separating servicemembers land jobs

    Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines separating from the military can get extra help in finding a job from a new Defense Department resource.Specialists in the Pentagon's Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy Office, part of the Office of Personnel and Readiness, recently developed the Career

  • Officials moving forward with cleanup at Tyndall

    Air Force officials announced plans to continue with environmental cleanup efforts in place at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, directed that the work move forward expeditiously and within the framework

  • Airmen 'lean' on AFSO21

    Senior leaders from the 37th Training Wing spent a day learning how to reduce waste, maximize resources and improve efficiencies by using the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program.AFSO21, a standardized approach for improving work processes and combat capabilities across the Air

  • Inactive ready reserve muster a success

    Officials from the 459th Air Refueling Wing hosted the second inactive ready Reserve muster of this year  to check the eligibility status of IRR members within 150 miles of the base and inform them of all their current Reserve benefits Aug. 21 here. Musters serve as an opportunity for inactive

  • AFMC leaders told to seek efficiencies, get back to basics

    Challenging times ahead and developing efficiencies to accomplish the mission were among the key topics highlighted at the semi-annual Air Force Materiel Command Senior Leaders Conference here Aug. 23 through 25.AFMC Commander Gen. Donald J. Hoffman led his center and wing commanders, along with

  • Enlisted force development initiatives approved

    The Force Management and Development Council members approved an initiative that will change the way the Air Force grows the next generation of senior enlisted leaders. The initiative originated with the Enlisted Force Development Panel and will enable the enlisted force to move forward in

  • Airmen deploy to Pakistan to assist with flood relief

    Approximately 40 Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing arrived in Pakistan Aug. 28 to support Pakistan's flood relief operations here. The Airmen will work at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala, Pakistan, in partnership with Pakistan government and military officials to support humanitarian

  • Virtual high school opens 'doors' to learning

    The Defense Department's newest high school is devoid of walls or windows, but yet has opened its "doors" this year to students throughout the world. The DOD Education Activity's virtual high school is an accredited distance learning program for military students, whether they're geographically

  • Senators weigh in on renewable energy at Nevada Forum

    Two senators addressed Nevada Forum attendees here Aug. 25 to laud the Air Force for its leadership in green initiatives and offer support in finding safe, compatible ways to continue renewable energy without impeding military training missions.During the second day of the three-day forum,

  • Air Force officials urge operations security vigilance

    Fraudsters continue to hijack accounts on social networking sites and spread malicious software, FBI officials said. One technique entices users to download an application or view a video that appears to be sent from users' "friends", giving the perception of being legitimate. Once the user responds

  • Airmen respond to Pakistan relief efforts

    Active duty and Reserve aircrews assigned to the 62nd and 446th airlift wings departed here Aug. 23 for Pakistan humanitarian relief operations.Officials said the U.S. has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan's call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that started

  • Operation Pacific Angel-Sri Lanka concludes

    Representatives from the U.S., Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mongolia concluded Operation Pacific Angel-Sri Lanka Aug. 14 through 22 here after providing humanitarian civil engineering and medical aid to people living in the Anuradhapura and Puttalam communities.Pacific Angel-Sri Lanka medical teams

  • Eagles soar for last time at Hickam

    Pilots from the 199th Fighter Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, completed their last training mission with the F-15 Eagle from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii Aug 25.The HIANG is upgrading to the F-22 Raptor, a fifth generation fighter, and received their first two Raptors in July.The ANG

  • Talking it out -- getting through deployment

    "The hardest part of my deployment was being away from my wonderful and beautiful wife," said Senior Airman Daniel Bolt, a 28th Munitions Squadron aircraft armament systems journeyman. Airman Bolt was part of a group of Airmen who returned home July 28 from a deployment to Southwest Asia in support

  • New York civic leader earns highest Air Force public service award

    The secretary of the Air Force awarded a public relations pioneer with the highest public service award given to a civilian here Aug. 24. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presented Chester Burger the Distinguished Public Service Award for his 15 years of volunteer service as an Air Force

  • Reservists support Pakistan relief efforts

    Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing responded to Pakistan's call for assistance following the devastating floods that began July 29. Four C-130 Hercules crews, along with two aircraft from the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and eight members of the 908th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here

  • Air Force officials announce changes to space functions

    Air Force officials announced the realignment of some Headquarters Air Force space functions Aug. 26, following the recent completion of a review of Headquarters Air Force space management and responsibilities, which was directed by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley in December 2009. In a

  • Airmen, aircraft showcased in Times Square

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Afterburner Monster Truck were two exhibits parked in the middle of Times Square here Aug. 26 as part of Air Force Week New York.Various Air Force exhibits were spread over two blocks of Times Square to help educate citizens of New York about Airmen and the Air Force

  • 13th AF concludes Asia-Pacific civil engineering summit

    A 13th Air Force-hosted civil engineering subject-matter expert exchange that included officers from 14 Asia-Pacific countries concluded here Aug. 22.The exchange allowed mid-level officers from regional Asia-Pacific partner nations to exchange views related to civil engineering operations, to tour

  • Air Force officials discuss training, energy compatibility at Nevada Forum

    The undersecretary of the Air Force and representatives from government, industry and the Department of Defense kicked off the three-day Nevada Forum here Aug. 24 to brainstorm ideal ways to blend military missions with renewable energy projects.Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton, the

  • Brothers in arms

    Two lieutenants from the 742nd Missile Squadron here contributed to a once-in-a-lifetime event by pulling their first and last alert together Aug. 19.What made this alert so unique is the fact that the two officers are brothers, and the scheduling factors aligned to allow a joint alert. An alert

  • Airmen help beautify New York landmark

    More than 30 Airmen helped clean up one of New York City's well-known military memorials as part of Air Force Week here Aug. 25.Despite rainy weather, Airmen from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst donned gloves and ponchos while they beautified the 11-acre Grand Army Plaza. This plaza is the opening

  • Kaiserslautern team takes on Little League World Series again

    The 11- and 12-year-old Kaiserslautern Military Community All-Star team made its second consecutive trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., after winning the Europe Region Tournament Aug. 3.This is the sixth time a team from Ramstein Air Base has earned a spot in the tournament

  • Language program application deadline nears

    Air Force officials are accepting application packages through Sept. 13 for officers interested in participating in the Language Enabled Airman Program, which offers an opportunity to develop a foreign language skill throughout an Airman's career.Launched earlier this year by Air Force Culture and

  • Ramstein Airmen train with sister wing in Poland

    Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Contingency Response Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, traveled to the 33rd Air Base here Aug. 13 through 19 for combined training with Polish military forces. Operation Screaming Eagle, the weeklong off-site training, aimed at sharing knowledge,

  • Direct communication between Airmen key to suicide prevention

    More than a decade in the making, the culture of the "wingman" approach to suicide prevention is still evolving as risk factors and causes of suicide are becoming more widely understood. The wingman concept should be very familiar to most Airmen. Suicide prevention training has been incorporated

  • Former professional baseball player says Air Guard is his winning team

    When Staff Sgt. Trevor Harvey lights the candles on the altar before Mass on drill weekends, he favors the hand that once pitched to Ken Griffey Jr. "During one game I pitched, he hit a ball over 500 feet," said Sergeant Harvey, who now serves as the chaplain's assistant with the Arizona Air

  • Ask the question

    When Tech. Sgt. David Bales got the call that an Airman he supervised was drunk and talking about "ending it all," he immediately drove to the dormitory. He'd been around too many successful and attempted suicides to just attribute "ending it all" to a case of drunken rambling. As an intelligence

  • Air Force Research Lab conducts second successful robot refueler test

    The test of a robotic refueling system by researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate in late July 2010 marks the second successful test of technology that could dramatically change the way the U.S. military services its aircraft.The prototype device

  • Air Force encourages employees to cash in on ideas

    Highlighting a new Department of Defense-led program designed to produce money-saving ideas that improve the way the DOD operates, Air Force Undersecretary and chief management officer Erin C. Conaton is encouraging civilian and military employees to share their ideas online at

  • Mental health clinic works to help Airmen, families

    Members of the 673rd Medical Group Mental Health Flight here have been working hard to meet the mental healthcare needs of military members and their families.The military life can be a stressful one, said Maj. Alexsa Billups, a member of the 673rd MDG. "It's up to the individual people to come to

  • Air Force chief of staff thanks Airmen, families in accepting award

    The Air Force's highest ranking officer was awarded one of the Air Force Sergeants Association's top honors during the organization's Professional Airmen's Conference and International Convention here Aug. 18.In pre-taped remarks, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz accepted the 2009

  • Shinseki says VA's home loan program continues to stay strong

    Mortgage loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs continue to have the lowest rate for serious delinquency and foreclosures in the industry. "The continued high performance of VA loans is due to the dedication of VA's loan professionals, the support of our partners in the mortgage

  • Air National Guard aircrews aid with Pakistani flood relief

    Air National Guard aircrews have been working to provide relief supplies to areas affected by the flooding of the country of Pakistan since the beginning of the operation in late July.Col. Greg Nelson, the deputy director of mobility forces for Air Force Central Command, is a member of the

  • Renovated heritage museum reopens

    Air Force officials reopened a newly-named and renovated enlisted heritage museum here Aug. 12.In addition to spending $730,000 to renovate a building that has housed the museum since 1956, the name was officially changed from the History and Traditions Museum to the USAF Airman Heritage Museum.Gen.

  • Air Force family, strategic balance among top SecAF priorities

    At the Air Force Sergeant's Association Professional Airmen's Conference here Aug. 18, the Air Force secretary emphasized his commitment to Airmen and their families, and a focus on strategic balance to best support current and future operations.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed

  • Commissary eggs unaffected by recall

    As of Aug. 19, military commissaries are not affected by the massive Wright County Egg voluntary recall, Defense Commissary Agency food safety officials reported. Although the commissaries may carry some of the brands mentioned in the Aug. 13 recall action, the eggs sold in military stores are not

  • AFI 36-2301 outlines new developmental education guidance

    Air Force Instruction 36-2301, establishing policy and responsibility for developmental education, has undergone substantial revision, officials said Aug. 13.In addition to language governing attendance, eligibility, selection and removal criteria, the revised instruction provides procedures for

  • Center seeks paperless Air Guard, Reserve records

    Employees at the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver are working to securely convert thousands of paper and microfiche personnel records to an electronic format for Air National guardsmen and Air Force Reserve Airmen. "These records represent reservists' careers from the moment they are gained to

  • U.S. mission in Iraq officially changes Sept. 1

    A fundamental shift will take place at the end of the month in the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq, a Pentagon official said Aug. 19.The change in mission from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn reflects the improvement in conditions in Iraq and officially will end the U.S. combat mission

  • Keeping social networks free-speech friendly

    So, you think Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are just for fun and games? Think again. Since Department of Defense officials authorized military personnel to use these sites, social networking has become serious business. With every new freedom comes new boundaries and more opportunities to get into

  • U.S., Sri Lankan engineers begin repairing dilapidated school

    A team of more than 20 U.S., Sri Lankan, and Mongolian civil engineers started repairing a dilapidated school here Aug. 16, as part of Operation Pacific Angel-Sri Lanka. The engineers dug trenches, laid water lines to the outdoor restroom facilities and built classrooms at a local school. As the

  • 2011 retraining program in full swing

    Airmen have almost a month remaining to voluntarily retrain in Phase I of the 2011 NCO Retraining Program before the program's involuntary Phase II begins Sept. 20. Air Force officials identified 1,061 opportunities for Airmen to retrain out of their current career field under NCORP. Airmen can

  • 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron Airmen participate in ISR demo

    In late July and early August, members of the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron participated in Empire Challenge 10, a live intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance interoperability demonstration. The annual endeavor, sponsored by the undersecretary of Defense for intelligence, aims to enhance

  • Volunteer mentors support families of fallen

    The day Scott Warner saw Marines standing at his front door, his world came to a crashing halt.The servicemembers told Mr. Warner that his son, Marine Pvt. Heath Warner, had been killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq's Anbar province.Mr. Warner and his family, including his two younger sons, tried to

  • C-17 squadron sets new standard in deployed airdrops

    Members of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here dropped more than 1,192,000 pounds to 22 different drop zones, including fuel, water, food and additional supplies needed by servicemembers on the ground at forward operating bases across the area of responsibility.The endeavor, called

  • Academy repeats as 'Best in the West'

    The Air Force Academy received "Best in the West" ranking for the fourth-straight year in U.S. News and World Report's 2011 Best Colleges rankings released Aug. 17.The Academy also earned second place in the nation for best undergraduate engineering specialties of aerospace, aeronatical and

  • New Horizons Airman organizes donations to Panamanian children

    Capt. Aaron Jackson knew before he volunteered to deploy to Panama for New Horizons that he wanted to do something special to improve the quality of life for children in Darien Province, so he sent a message to friends and family back home to see if anyone would donate items.From a simple letter and

  • CMSAF shares perspective about readiness, development, resiliency

    The Air Force's top NCO spoke at the Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen's Conference Aug. 17, citing readiness, deliberate development and resiliency among Airmen and their families as his main focuses.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy said statistics of 40,000 Airmen

  • AMC officials approve funds for CAF initiatives across command

    More than 168 initiatives spread throughout 12 Air Mobility Command bases directly supporting Comprehensive Airman Fitness were approved for funding by command officials Aug. 11.Comprehensive Airman Fitness, or CAF, began July 1 at AMC. Officials said CAF is not a program, "but an approach to better

  • Dover Reserve aircrew supports Canada's Operation Boxtop

    The Air Force Reserve Command's 326th Airlift Squadron put another "pin" on the map due to its recent support of Canadian Operation Boxtop.The aircrew's mission was to deliver a Halverson 25K-loader to Thule Air Base, Greenland, for transport to a Canadian air base referred to as Canadian Forces

  • Pilots serve as instructors in Saudi Arabia

    Six pilots with the United States Military Training Mission Air Force Division here embedded at several Royal Saudi Air Force bases to train, advise and assist Saudi Arabian pilots in their operations, all to support the common interest of both nations. The Airmen say some knowledge of Arabic is

  • Medical team trains for emergency response

    Air Force medical professionals participated in a massive joint forces field-training exercise recently simulating a terrorist attack in the U.S.The 10-day exercise, held at Camp Atterbury, Ind., allowed servicemembers to participate in a war game scenario and know their specific duties in case a

  • Air Force officials reviewing command, control training infrastructure

    Air Force officials awarded an independent-study contract to DP Technology Services Inc., Aug. 16, for studying the development of an advanced operational-level C2, or command and control, training campus. "This study is the first step in developing a solution which will benefit Air Force C2 in the

  • New integrated defense tool offers heightened security

    Airmen in the 23rd Security Forces Squadron recently hosted a team of specialists here who introduced base personnel to a new tool aimed at improving security at military installations around the world.The ForcePRO software, created by a civilian company, is designed to help security planners

  • Air Force team launches first advanced satellite

    A team from the 45th Space Wing successfully launched the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite onboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from Launch Pad 41 here Aug. 16 at 7:07 a.m. "This is an historic launch of an important asset to our nation's military and our allies," said Undersecretary

  • Physician mentors Afghan doctors

    Maj. (Dr.) Robert Sarlay Jr. has become fond of a quote by T.E. Lawrence: "Better the Arab do it tolerably than you do it perfectly." Not that he considers himself a modern-day Lawrence of Arabia. Ordinarily, Dr. Sarlay is a man of less exotic tastes. When he's not practicing emergency medicine at

  • Civilians given 60-day access to records after separating

    Air Force Civilian Service employees are now able to access their electronic Official Personnel Folder for up to 60 days following their date of separation.This new capability allows employees to log into the AFPC Secure website from a personal computer using a user ID and password and download a

  • 480th activated as Spangdahlem's newest F-16 squadron

    The 480th Fighter Squadron was activated as the 52nd Fighter Wing's newest F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron as of 13 Aug. at 1:48 p.m.The new squadron comes after the Combat Air Forces Restructuring plan transitioned 21 F-16s assigned to the 22nd and 23rd fighter squadrons here to the 148th FW at

  • Realignment, closure plan continues on track

    It's "all systems go" here as officials at this Army Installation prepare to receive three new organizations and about 5,700 of their employees as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission plan.Fort Meade is among hundreds of major focal points in implementing the most sweeping BRAC

  • Ramstein team takes on Little League World Series again

    The 11- and 12-year-old Kaiserslautern Military Community All-Star team will make its second consecutive trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., after winning the Europe Region Tournament Aug. 3. This is the sixth time a team from Ramstein Air Base has earned a spot in the

  • Modernization ahead for Defense Department schools

    A program to improve Defense Department schools and ensure 21st century learning environments for military children is set to begin in October, department officials said Aug. 12.Officials from the Department of Defense Education Activity will address some $3.7 billion in construction and renovation

  • Academy ranked 11th-best school in nation by Forbes

    The Air Force Academy was ranked the 11th-best college in the nation on Forbes Magazine's 2010 America's Best Colleges list, which was released Aug. 12.The rankings are compiled by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, which evaluated more than 600 undergraduate programs.

  • Airman answers unusual call, saves life through donation

    When most Airmen come into the Air Force, they know their service could include being called upon to do something that could save a life. However, one such Airman answered the call in a way very few could. Staff Sgt. Charles Newberry, a personnel specialist assigned to the 311th Air Base Group's

  • Alaska Guard completes two missions, awarded 12 saves

    Members of the Alaska Air National Guard fought the ever-changing weather conditions in their state to complete two complicated rescue missions this week. Officials from the Alaska ANG and U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people from a crash of a single-engine float plane that occurred 17-miles north

  • Program helps military voters with upcoming election

    All 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia will hold general elections Nov. 2. Puerto Rico won't be holding an election this cycle. All military members, their family members, and citizens residing outside the U.S. who haven't registered or requested an absentee ballot this year

  • Airman receives top honors from American Bar Association

    The 3rd Air Force-United Kingdom director of legal services here was named the top Air Force judge advocate by officials from the American Bar Association.Col. James Durant III accepted the 2010 Outstanding Military Service Career Judge Advocate Award from Lt. Gen. Richard C. Harding, the Air Force

  • Follow me, save me, repair me: crash recovery

    The 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron's wheel and tire, transient alert, and crash recovery flight is a flight with three unique missions housed under one roof, that deals with out-of-the-ordinary aircraft, wheels and damage.Members of the wheel and tire shop handle all F-16 Fighting Falcon

  • Holloman defenders train with FBI

    Members of the 49th Security Forces Squadron fine-tuned numerous law enforcement techniques during two days of training with members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albuquerque division, here Aug. 5 and 6.The FBI Special Weapons and Tactics agents worked with Holloman AFB defenders while

  • 'Vigilant Eagle' tests NORAD, Russian response

    An automated female voice commands over onboard speakers, "Traffic! Traffic! Descend! Descend!" as a North American Aerospace Defense Command F-22 Raptor approaches the right wing of the track of interest. Five minutes after take-off from Anchorage en route to the Far East, Fencing 1220, a

  • First GPS IIF satellite on station

    Officials from the Air Force Space Command's Global Positioning Systems Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center here have announced the first GPS IIF satellite arrived on station Aug. 1. This indicates the satellite is in its designated orbital position and ready for its final phase of on-orbit

  • Military working dogs defend 386th Air Expeditionary Wing

    These canines are truly an Airman's best friend, especially when it comes to saving lives.The military working dog section of the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron has the unique mission of safeguarding the base here with highly motivated K-9 partners. The dogs' powerful sense of smell is

  • Gates strives to change Pentagon's culture

    The initiative to reduce Defense Department overhead and to eliminate duplicative capabilities is part of a larger thrust to change the culture of the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here Aug. 9.The department must be more frugal with the taxpayers' money and must put what money it

  • More than 1,100 schools partner with VA on GI Bill

    Paving the way for recipients of the post-9/11 GI Bill to attend higher-cost schools, Department of Veterans Affairs officials have entered into more than 3,200 agreements with over 1,100 schools for the upcoming academic year under the "Yellow Ribbon" program. Schools can enter into multiple

  • VA officials announce test of paperless claims processing system

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have selected their regional benefits office in Providence, R.I., to test a paperless system and new procedures to improve processing of veterans' claims for disability compensation."This test program marks a major milestone in VA's move to paperless

  • Air Force officials to release staff sergeant promotion list

    Air Force officials selected 13,518 of 28,510 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 47.41 percent.The average score for those selected was 282.88, with an average time in grade of 1.97 years and an average time in service of 4.55 years, respectively. The

  • McKinley tells Guard enlisted force to prepare for prolonged overseas role

    The National Guard likely will continue to play a significant role in overseas contingency operations for the foreseeable future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here Aug. 8."Just like we have in Kosovo for 14 years and the Sinai (and) the Horn of Africa, I think the National Guard will

  • Leadership key to tackling suicide, Medal of Honor recipient tells guardsmen

    Leadership at all levels is the key to lowering the suicide rate among servicemembers, a Medal of Honor recipient told National Guard members here Aug 8. Retired Army Maj. Drew Dix received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam. Now, he has been talking with servicemembers about resiliency

  • TAP helps Airmen transition to civilian life

    Airmen planning to separate or retire are encouraged to participate in the Air Force transition assistance program to help them make informed decisions on life after active-duty service.Department of Defense officials partner with Department of Labor and Veterans Affairs officials to provide TAP

  • Airman missing in action from WWII identified

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Aug. 6 that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. John P. Bonnassiolle of

  • Air war architect reflects on Operation Desert Shield 20 years later

    The day retired Gen. Charles A. Horner received the call 20 years ago that eventually launched Operation Desert Shield he was flying his F-16 Fighting Falcon, engaged in an air-to-air training mission near the North Carolina coast with two F-15 Eagles from Langley Air Force Base, Va. General Horner,

  • Major learns to get back up after fall

    Waking up alone, face down and bleeding, on the sun-baked granite rock after falling face-first 50 feet from the top of a mountain is where U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet David Garay found himself June 2, 1997, only one day after his 19th birthday.Garay, now a major, lived through the fall and

  • Senate confirms Mattis for top CENTCOM post

    The Senate unanimously confirmed Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis as commander of U.S. Central Command.General Mattis, who previously served as NATO supreme allied commander for transformation and commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., received the Senate nod Aug. 5.In his new

  • Fightin' Fifty-Fifth on the cusp of historic milestone

    Historic, monumental and simply incredible are just a few ways to describe the milestone soon to be attained by the men and women of the 55th Wing.On Aug. 9, the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth will surpass 20 years of continuous deployment to U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility by its personnel and

  • Air Force Cycling Team rides across Iowa

    More than 160 men and women of the U.S. Air Force joined thousands of bicyclists for the 38th Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, better known by the cyclists as RAGBRAI. The Air Force Cycling Team, or AFCT, under the leadership of Lt. Col. Joseph Robinson, donned their team

  • Medical researchers help wounded warriors

    A team of medical researchers from the 59th Medical Wing Clinical Research division is here working to help servicemembers affected by vascular, or circulatory, injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan."Vascular injury rates in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are five times higher than previously reported