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  • 502nd ABW breaks ground on new headquarters

    The 502nd ABW got a little closer to establishing itself July 14 here as Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick, the 502nd ABW commander, was joined by various local and military officials in breaking ground for the wing's new headquarters.The 25,733-square-foot building will cost approximately $7.4 million and

  • Air Force agency participates in national veteran small business conference

    The largest conference for veteran-owned small businesses took place here July 19 through 22.The 6th annual National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo brought together more than 3,000 federal government and private sector attendees from across the nation. The theme of the conference was

  • Spouse jobs program to relaunch in October

    The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program will resume Oct. 25, but with some significant changes to the popular spouse employment program, a defense official announced today.Changes include a reduction in the amount of financial aid, a change in the population eligible to receive that

  • Air Force undersecretary testifies about efficiencies before House committee

    The Air Force undersecretary testified before the House Armed Services Committee July 22 about how Air Force officials are working with their Defense Department counterparts to control spending and transform business operations and create efficiencies.Also testifying were Elizabeth McGrath, the DOD

  • DOD, VA officials committed to wounded warrior care

    Caring for wounded and injured servicemembers is among the highest priorities for officials within the Defense Department, the acting deputy assistant defense secretary for clinical and program policy told Congress today. Dr. Jack Smith, a medical doctor, testified before the House Committee on

  • Deadline for voluntary separation pay applications draws near

    The extended application period for eligible officers to apply for voluntary separation pay at one and a half times the authorized separation pay rate comes to a close July 31.Officers eligible to apply for VSP include those in year groups 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004, in the grades of major and

  • Lajes Field Airmen support Pakistan air force on deployment to exercise

    On their way to the U.S. to sharpen their close-air-support skills, six F-16 fighter jets from Pakistan and their crew members stopped at here July 14 through 15 before heading to a Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.About 100 Pakistan air force pilots, maintainers and support

  • Squadron provides 'electronic armor' to global warfighters

    Approximately 170 professionals at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, use complex systems and produce information to arm warfighters with the knowledge needed to safely perform their duty. Providing electronic warfare analysis and support down range to joint and coalition warfighters is the mission of

  • Farnborough International Air Show highlights servicemembers, aircraft

    One of the largest air shows in the world kicked off here July 19, and U.S. servicemembers are among 1,500 exhibitors from around the world showing off the latest in aviation technology. Approximately 70 U.S. military and support members from bases across the world are participating in the

  • Successful airlift mission downrange highlights Dover capabilities

    Working with other agencies in a hostile environment on a quick turn around rotation, four airlift crews managed to deliver more than 100 helicopters to Army units at three locations in Afghanistan.U.S. Army teams assisted the C-5M loadmasters Naval Station Rota, Spain, and three locations in

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits key to recruiting and retention

    Proposed changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill would improve military readiness, a senior Pentagon official said July 21 at a Capitol Hill hearing.Robert E. Clark, assistant director for accessions policy in the office of the defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness, also said education

  • CSAF starts Turkey visit with ceremony honoring national leader

    The U.S. Air Force's top uniformed officer started a multi-day trip to Turkey by participating in welcome events here July 19.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz began his visit with a wreath-laying ceremony honoring the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, at

  • C-130J Super Hercules provides unique look at Air Force mission

    Approximately 285,000 spectators are catching a glimpse of the C-130J Super Hercules at the Farnborough International Air Show here July 19 through 25.Many people's idea about the U.S. military is fighter pilots putting bombs on target and fast-flying jets. The C-130J Super Hercules, however, offers

  • AETC inducts newest member into Order of the Sword

    More than 300 Airmen from across Air Education and Training Command gathered in a formal ceremony July 16 at the Gateway Club on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, July 16, to induct Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, the Air Education and Training Command commander, into the Order of the Sword. General Lorenz is

  • General outlines U.S. mission, challenges in Africa

    As U.S. Africa Command matures and strengthens ties with African nations, American interests on the continent become more stable, the command's top officer said July 20.Africom was established in October 2007 to "add value" to African nations by improving their military capacities and to help

  • Airmen help Trinidadian officials build disaster plan

    A military medical team is helping Trinidadian officials develop more comprehensive disaster plans, and also providing them the forum to coordinate their plans with other local agencies here July 20. Each agency represented at the Disaster Planning and Mass Casualty Response course has a disaster

  • Spouse jobs program to relaunch in October

    The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program will resume Oct. 25, but with some significant changes to the popular spouse employment program, a defense official announced July 20.Changes include a reduction in the amount of financial aid, a change in the population eligible to receive

  • U.S. and South Korean defense leaders announce Exercise Invincible Spirit

    Officials from the U.S. and South Korea announced July 20 a series of military exercises designed to send a strong, clear message to North Korea to stop its provocative and warlike acts.U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and South Korean National Defense Minister Kim Tae-young released a joint

  • Language Institute's mission reaches for the future

    With the buzzing of chatter, some in English, some in another tongue, and people moving about the building, the Defense Language Institute English Language Center here is a beehive of activity. The international military students attending the resident program here have a purpose, and the

  • Chief master sergeant of the Air Force visits Grand Forks AFB

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader visited Airmen here July 14 through July 16.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy met with Airmen from the 319th Air Refueling Wing and toured base facilities, which allowed him to witness firsthand how Grand Forks Air Force Base is preparing for its

  • Joint medical team prepares local officials during disaster training

    A joint team of medical instructors is working with local medical, government and emergency officials here July 19, to help them practice and coordinate their response efforts in the event of a disaster or mass casualty incident.The Defense Institute for Medical Operations team, composed of Air

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

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the chief of staff of the Air Force and his wife talk about Air Force family matters. In another segment, an Airman shares her story about dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.  A third segment features connecting cultures through music as the USAFE

  • Air Combat Command promotes CCAF degree

    Although having a Community College of the Air Force degree is important for all Airmen, Air Combat Command is encouraging its technical sergeants to achieve this educational goal. Currently, the command is seven points below the Air Force average of 42 percent, but the goal is to have 50 percent of

  • AFRL test marks return to 'in-house' rocket fuel development

    Air Force Research Laboratory scientists here returned to the organization's roots with their latest rocket test recently.AFRL technicians have tested rockets of all sizes and fuels of all make-ups for years. What makes this latest test unique is that all components of the test were developed at the

  • Guard members respond to brush fires in California

    Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems 2 aircraft from the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Island ANG Station, Calif., responded to a fire July 15 in Riverside County, Calif.Guard officials said the unit was requested by the U.S. Forest Service through the National

  • Air Force Deployment Transition Center welcomes premier class

    After six months of a combat deployment, followed by two straight days of travel, a 31-member explosive ordnance disposal team waited at the Ramstein Air Base baggage claim July 2 unsure of what the next three days would bring.Some of the EOD team members from the 755th Air Expeditionary Squadron in

  • ACC hosts MWD training seminar at Langley

    Military working dogs and their handlers from across Air Combat Command assembled here June 28 through July 2 for the first military working dog training seminar.The handlers and dogs attended the five day course, hosted by the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, to receive intensive education and

  • New Horizons Airmen spend day at Panamanian school

    More than a dozen Airmen and Marines from Task Force New Horizons spent a day with local children building rubber-band airplanes and playing games July 12 at the elementary school in Sansonsito, Panama.The servicemembers were a welcome addition to the day, said Lisbeth Acosta Corella, the school's

  • Seven WWII Airmen buried at Arlington National Cemetery

    The remains of seven Airmen missing in action from World War II were buried July 15 at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.The Airmen are Capt. Joseph M. Olbinski, Chicago; 1st Lt. Joseph J. Auld, Floral Park, N.Y.; 1st Lt. Robert M. Anderson, Millen, Ga.; Tech. Sgt. Clarence E.

  • Acquisition reform plays key role in Pentagon's cost savings

    Defense Department officials have the opportunity to save billions of taxpayer dollars through acquisitions reform, but only if they grow their workforce with the right federal workers in place to oversee contracts, a senior Pentagon official said July 15."There is a significant opportunity to save

  • DOD officials commit to disabled veterans' businesses

    Defense Department officials are committed to providing service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses with contracting opportunities, and are closer to its goal of awarding 3 percent of department contracts to such businesses, the acting director for the Pentagon's Small Business Programs Office

  • Hiring authority expanded to certain cybersecurity jobs

    Air Force managers hiring civilian federal employees for certain cybersecurity positions have been authorized to use the streamlined Schedule A hiring authority to help expeditiously fill more than 680 positions.The Department of Defense grants the use of Schedule A in specific cases, including when

  • Year of the Air Force Family promotes sense of community

    The Air Force's top uniformed officer and his wife welcomed the Air Force's newest Airmen into the service during a visit here July 8 and 9.The Basic Military Training graduation at the "Gateway to the Air Force" was the perfect backdrop for Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife

  • Officials announce NCO retraining program dates

    Approximately 4,345 Airmen will have the opportunity beginning July 15 to retrain as part of the fiscal 2011 NCO Retraining Program, Air Force officials announced.The NCORP is a two-phase program designed to sustain the enlisted force by moving second-term and career Airmen from overage Air Force

  • CMSAF visits Iraq, reflects on first year

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader landed here June 28 to spend three days visiting with Airmen and his Iraqi counterpart before departing June 30, which marked his one-year anniversary on the job.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy came to the area to speak with Airmen and discuss his

  • USAFE enlisted honor general with Order of the Sword

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe enlisted members surprised the USAFE commander July 14 when they invited him to receive the highest honor and tribute they can bestow upon an individual. Gen. Roger A. Brady was talking to students at the Kisling NCO Academy here about "leading in challenging times," when a

  • Outreach 'essential' to suicide prevention, official says

    Preventing suicide among servicemembers and veterans calls for comprehensive education and communication, the director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury said here July 14.Testifying before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Army Col. Robert

  • Schriever musician hits it big with original song

    When it comes to hobbies, many people just do what they love for fun. Seldom does a hobby actually pay off. For one Schriever Air Force Base staff sergeant, his love of music has paid off in a big way. Staff Sgt. Richard Justice, the NCO in charge of procedures in the 3rd Space Operations Squadron,

  • Air Force officials launch new uniform website

    Air Force officials launched a new public website this month to help educate and inform Airmen about the service's dress and appearance standards and policies. Air Force Directorate of Service's Uniforms and Recognition Branch officials, in conjunction with officials from the Air Force Personnel

  • Airdrops break records in Afghanistan

    When your unit is surrounded by an enemy hitting you with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, and mortar rounds are screaming in and you're running low on food, ammunition and everything else, you can't exactly send someone to Walmart for supplies. That's when you pray for an airdrop.

  • No more C-17s, DOD officials tell Congress

    The military has more than enough large transport planes, and the appropriation of any more in the next budget year will force some into premature retirement, Defense Department officials told a congressional panel July 13. "We have enough C-17s," said Mike McCord, the principal deputy

  • Deepwater Horizon airspace activity now coordinated at 601st AOC

    As the Deepwater Horizon response operation enters week 13 since an oil rig exploded April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico, senior Department of Defense and Homeland Security officials centralized airspace management operations in the 601st Air & Space Operations Center here. Officials said they made the

  • CSAF releases 'Vector'

    The Air Force's senior military leader released his vision for the future in a recent  CSAF Vector 2010 that outlined five priorities and the "way ahead" for Airmen to maintain these priorities. "Our Airmen are responding to the nation's call with agility, innovation and expeditionary presence --

  • Space control squadron team marks 5 years of continuous deployment

    Members of the 16th and 380th Space Control Squadrons acheived a milestone recently when their deployed mission, Operation Silent Sentry, surpassed five years of continuous deployed operations. The Airmen employ the Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System Deployable Ground Segment

  • Survey will permit informed decisions, official says

    Survey responses on the possible repeal of the law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military will allow leaders to make informed decisions, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said July 10.The survey was designed to be a confidential conversation between a Defense Department

  • Final MC-12 deployed to USCENTCOM AOR

    The 30th MC-12 Liberty was recently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility completing the initial deployment plan, an Air Force official announced July 9."We mobilized a significant industry base and every resource at our disposal, and delivered the first Federal Aviation

  • VA eases claims process for veterans with PTSD

    The Veterans Affairs Department will publish a final regulation July 13 intended to ease the claims process and improve access to health care for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The new rule, to be published in the Federal Register, will relax the evidence requirement if the PTSD

  • Hiring authority key in meeting goals, faster hiring

    As the Air Force continues to seek highly qualified employees to compliment its growing civilian work force, officials are promoting active use of the Schedule A hiring authority to fill these positions with qualified people.Schedule A hiring is a special streamlined hiring authority available to

  • NSPS positions assigned GS pay grades

    With only weeks remaining to classify Air Force civilian jobs into the General Schedule personnel system, Air Force classifiers are ensuring National Security Personnel System positions have a current GS title, series and grade before the NSPS conversion out date.With the fiscal 2010 National

  • Air Force commuters reminded to use, but not abuse transportation benefits

    U.S. Department of Transportation officials recently reiterated Mass Transportation Benefit Program requirements and expectations to all DOT managers, supervisors and participants. The DOT statement also reminded users about the serious consequences associated with any violations of those

  • F-22 Raptor rolls out in Hawaii

    Top military and local community leaders gathered here July 9 for a dedication service for the F-22 Raptor.Hundreds of onlookers gathered with members of the 199th Fighter Squadron, 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard and people from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to welcome the F-22, a fifth

  • Air Force wounded warrior rides from coast to coast

    A combat controller, who last year was laying in a hospital fighting for his life, is now riding his bicycle across America as part of his rehabilitation and to inspire other wounded warriors.Along with 19 of his teammates, Staff Sgt. Marc Esposito from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air

  • Four Little Rock aircrews take part in largest joint exercise formation

    Four Little Rock Air Force Base aircrews took part in the largest formation ever assembled for a joint forcible entry exercise June 22 and 23 at Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg, N.C.The formation of 18 Air Force cargo airplanes, featuring 10 C-130 Hercules aircraft and eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs

  • Upgrade allows civilians to update awards online

    Civilian employees can now update their non-monetary awards through the self-service module in the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System using the "Awards and Bonuses" tab in "My Biz." The ability to update non-monetary awards, such as length of service recognition, exemplary civilian service award

  • Cyber Command synchronizes services' efforts

    Leaders of the new U.S. Cyber Command have a long to-do list in creating central oversight for the military's computer networks, including synchronizing what the services already have in place, officials said June 8."We have lots of decisions to make in the cyber domain," said Vice Adm. Carl V.

  • Information assurance scholarship available to officers, civilians

    Officers and civilians have until Jan. 31 to apply for the Information Assurance Scholarship Program, a special developmental education program available for the 2011 academic year. The program pays the full cost of tuition, select fees and required books for graduate degrees in subjects such as

  • Airman rescues baby from fire

    While off-duty and visiting a friend at a nearby fire department July 2,  an Airman from here responded to a call of a dwelling fire with people trapped inside.With the dwelling fire located around the corner from the fire station, Senior Airman John Muirhead, of the 87th Civil Engineer Squadron

  • New ejection seat added to T-38

    The T-38 Talon is receiving an upgrade that officials said will improve aircrews' safety and comfort.Representatives from Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Inc. are in the early stages of installing their new escape systems in all T-38Cs at Randolph AFB after completing the same project at Laughlin AFB,

  • Restoration complete for Vietnam War Memorial statue

    The newly refurbished Three Servicemen Statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was unveiled July 8 after six weeks of restoration."This is a very noteworthy event," said Jan Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. "It's very noteworthy for the history of the Vietnam

  • Gates, Mullen urge participation in survey

    Noting the importance of getting the opinions of those who would be most affected by a possible repeal of the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, urged servicemembers to provide their input July 8.

  • Thunder Lab teaches future Afghan pilots vital skills

    The Afghan air force base in Kabul is home to the Thunder Lab, an English immersion program designed to improve the English, aviation and professional skills of Afghan air force officers awaiting pilot training.The immersion lab was the idea Col. Creig Rice, the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing vice

  • Training prepares civilian employees for deployment

    A training program is equipping Defense Department civilian employees with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully deploy in support of humanitarian, reconstruction and combat-support military missions across the globe.The joint civilian expeditionary work force training, a 10-day

  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force visits Ramstein Airmen, families

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy and his wife, Paula, visited with Airmen here July 7. The chief and Mrs. Roy visited the 603rd Air Operations Center, 435th Contingency Response Group compound, the new Deployment Transition Center and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center."It's an

  • In-theater medical treatment keeps warriors in the fight

    A group of deployed Airmen stands around a table, carefully performing their jobs, as they've trained for years to do. Doctors stand over a patient, meticulously inserting a long, cylindrical laparoscopic tube through, what appears to be, the patient's abdomen. An anesthesiologist monitors his heart

  • Improved physical fitness uniform coming to a store near you

    After much planning, anticipation and constructive feedback, the Army Air Force Exchange Service and the Air Force Uniform Office officials have partnered to bring an improved physical training uniform to select military clothing sales stores in July.The IPTU, which consists of a running jacket,

  • Recruiting service films Lackland training

    Building on the recent success of its website's basic military training video, Air Force Recruiting Service officials returned to Lackland Air Force Base June 21 through 25 to film several technical school career fields for a new AirForce.com technical training video.The new video is part of the

  • Texas Air Guard prepares security forces Airmen for deployment

    On the desert ranges of Fort Bliss, Texas, there is a lot of open space for Soldiers to train and prepare for combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army operations are well-known here, but active-duty, guard and Reserve security forces Airmen are on the range too.Texas Air National Guard members trained

  • All military medical training roads now start at METC

    The future of military medical training arrived here June 30 with the opening of the Medical Education and Training Campus.The METC is an integrated campus under a single university-style administration, with more than 100 courses available to students. "Today marks a significant milestone in the

  • Officials recognize contributions to diversity

    Air Force officials have selected the winners of the 2010 Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award for their contributions to the joint fight and role in enhancing an organizational culture that values diversity. The BIG Meritorious Service Award is awarded to a military member and a

  • Three Airmen celebrate first Independence Day as U.S. citizens

    Three Airmen in the 23rd Mission Support Group here are celebrating their first Fourth of July as U.S. citizens. They are Airmen 1st Class Alexandra Fleig, Rangel Robinson and Christopher Canlas. Airmen Fleig and Robinson, both 23rd Force Support Squadron customer support representatives, and Airman

  • Air Commando One honored, remembered

    More than 500 friends, family members and servicemembers gathered at here to honor and remember "Air Commando One" during a memorial ceremony July 2.Airmen of all ranks, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Medal of Honor recipient retired Col. George "Bud" Day attended the

  • Wing-level team helps Airmen, civilians cope with traumatic events

    A variety of events, from a death in the family to battlefield casualties, can take a tremendous psychological toll on servicemen and civilians alike.Air Force officials are taking a proactive role in dealing with such crises, instituting wing-level teams that prepare Airmen and civilians for

  • Official details foreign language program's progress

    The military's efforts to have more language-qualified servicemembers are beginning to pay off, the Defense Department's senior language authority said this week.Nancy E. Weaver testified June 29 before the House Armed Services Committee's oversight subcommittee.Knowing the language, knowing the

  • Mullens advocate more reserve support

    Military leaders are working hard to create the same kind of support network for the reserve components that exists for active duty servicemembers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said July 1.Adm. Mike Mullen made the comments as part of his regular podcast to troops. Joined by his wife,

  • Airmen participate in RIMPAC 2010 international maritime exercise

    The 613th Air and Space Operations Center here is serving as the central hub for data and voice communications during the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise June 23 through Aug. 1. The state-of-the-art facility enables a multinational team to provide command and control of air and space assets

  • Medical readiness center opens at Camp Bullis

    A new era in military medical readiness training opened at Camp Bullis June 25, as Air Force officials cut the ribbon on an $18 million Medical Readiness Training Center.Center officials will host all initial, sustainment and future medical readiness training. The center will also allow officials to

  • New military working dog facility built to highest "green" standard

    In an effort to be environmentally friendly, members of the 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog section are currently undergoing green construction, which began in January with an estimated completion date at the end of July. While the project did not cost enough to be required to be

  • Tinker reservists to participate in Navy fleet exercise

    More than 180 reservists from the 507th Air Refueling Wing along with four KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft will join forces with the U.S. Navy during July to support a U.S. Pacific Fleet exercise.The exercise, called RIMPAC, for Rim of the Pacific, is a series of multinational maritime exercises

  • Defense officials authorize medal for Chile relief efforts

    Airmen who participated in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Chile following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake Feb. 27, 2010, are eligible for the Humanitarian Service Medal.U.S. military members must have provided humanitarian assistance for at least one day between March 6

  • Ramstein Airmen pay St. Baldrick's $6,645 for haircut

    Does a free haircut sound like a good deal? Perhaps it sounds even better when a free haircut raises awareness and money to combat cancer in children. Ninety-eight people volunteered to give up their locks to participate in the first St. Baldrick's event at Donnelly Park here June 26. The

  • AFIT handbook wins engineering book-of-the-year award

    The Military Industrial Engineering Handbook, authored and co-edited by two Air Force Institute of Technology professors, Dr. Adedeji Badiru, head of AFIT's Department of Systems and Engineering Management, and Dr. Marlin Thomas, the dean of the AFIT Graduate School of Engineering and Management,

  • Database provides mission readiness information

    The Defense Department's readiness reporting system, designed to provide a comprehensive overview of a unit's manpower, skill sets, equipment and capabilities as well as mission requirements, is nearing full operational capability, a top official said.Development of the Defense Readiness Reporting

  • Air Force stands up deployment transition center at Ramstein Air Base

    Airmen in selected career fields returning from the area of responsibility now have access to enhanced post-deployment support with the service's stand up of the deployment transition center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, officials here said June 30.The DTC provides deployment returnees an

  • New Horizons opening ceremony echoes spirit of friendship, cooperation

    New Horizons Panama 2010 officially opened at Santa Librada Elementary School June 29 with a ceremony featuring senior leaders from the Panamanian government as well as the United States.The motto for this year's New Horizons exercise, an annual U.S. Southern Command humanitarian assistance mission,

  • Reflections on the water: Outward Bound veteran expeditions

    Through a joint effort between various foundations, servicemembers who are veterans of operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom can receive a free Outward Bound expedition.Outward Bound offers white water rafting trips, cliff diving and group fitness, hikes and teambuilding exercises. Life on

  • Hurricane Hunters show Alex strengthen into Category 2 storm before landfall

    Hours before an aircrew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron left for an after-midnight flight into Hurricane Alex, the storm had just been upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane. By the time the crew returned from more than seven hours inside the storm, the data they gathered showed

  • General Schwartz recommends reading selections

    The Air Force chief of staff announced his latest reading recommendations July 1, all from the CSAF reading list. "Defining events across the globe continue to shape our service in very consequential ways," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said. "Rising regional tensions, the oil spill

  • Air Force trauma care center consolidates with Army

    As part of the move to the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Wilford Hall Medical Center, the Air Force's only level 1 trauma center, will discontinue trauma care beginning July 1.All severely injured trauma patients from San Antonio, Bexar and surrounding counties, and South Texas, will go to

  • Tricare officials implement new formulary search tool

    Beneficiaries and providers can use the new Tricare formulary search tool to find the most up-to-date information about prescription medications.Located at http://pec.ha.osd.mil/formulary_search.php, the new formulary search tool allows beneficiaries to easily find which medicines are in the uniform

  • CMSAF visits 380th AEW, touts importance of Airmen's mission

    Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy visited the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing June 26 through 28 as part of his tour of bases in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.The Chief said it was important that he got to see the mission of the 380th AEW."I came here to view the

  • Ukrainian airmen visit Ramstein, gain knowledge of AF capabilities

    Airlifters from the Ukrainian air force visited here June 21 through 25 to participate in an engagement focused on airlift interoperability. The five-day trip showcased the 86th Airlift Wing's operation and support capabilities to the Ukrainian airmen."The goal of the visit was to assist the

  • Online program helps military families vote absentee

    Defense Department officials launched an Internet-based program June 28 to help servicemembers and other Americans living overseas vote more easily in November's elections. The new online voting assistant at www.fvap.gov will make the registration and absentee ballot application process "quick,