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  • AMC officials sign energy savings contract for McGuire

    An energy savings performance contract was signed by Air Mobility Command officials Dec. 23 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.The contract implements four energy saving projects at JB McGuire: heat plant decentralization, upgraded high-efficiency lighting, chiller plant improvements and

  • Beale officials send Global Hawk to aid in Haiti earthquake relief efforts

    Officials from the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron here launched an RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft from Beale Air Force Base Jan. 13 to assist with the humanitarian aid mission in Haiti after the country suffered a 7.0 magnitude earthquake Jan. 12. The squadron received the short-notice mission

  • Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus provides Airmen incentives

    Air Force officials have recently updated the Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus policy. All Airmen, regardless of career field, are now eligible for FLPB in a broad range of languages including those identified as "dominant in the force" such as Spanish, Tagalog, French, German, Italian,

  • Air Force officials participating in summer program

    Air Force organization officials have the opportunity to begin hiring students March 17 for temporary, funded positions as part of the 2010 Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities.Air Force officials are participating in the annual program sponsored by the Department of

  • Select bases to implement new civilian application procedure

    As early as mid-February, the rollout of a civilian hiring test initiative will require current Air Force civilian employees to follow new procedures when applying for jobs at select bases. Air Force civilians who want to apply for jobs at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas; Osan Air Base, Korea; or

  • December recruiting successes wrap up banner 2009

    Defense Department officials rang out 2009 as a successful recruiting year with solid recruiting successes in all four active components in December, Pentagon officials announced here Jan. 13. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps all met or exceeded their active-duty accession goals for

  • Program brings languages to senior officer PME

    As special guests of the Air Force Culture and Language Center staff, 20 instructors from the Defense Language Institute in Washington, D.C., and Monterey, Calif., are helping Air War College and Air Command and Staff College students cultivate basic language skills as part of the Strategic

  • Military preps for broader Haiti relief mission

    The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is headed toward earthquake-devastated Haiti and is scheduled to arrive tomorrow to provide airlift support for the disaster-response mission, the commander of U.S. Southern Command reported Jan. 13.Meanwhile, Gen. Douglas Fraser said, SOUTHCOM officials are

  • Mullen voices concern with military suicide rate

    Suicide is a growing problem in the military community, and its leaders must be committed to reversing that trend, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here Jan. 13.In an address to an audience of more than 1,000 military and other government agency health-care workers and officials

  • Air Force officials announce holiday safety results

    The Air Force had the lowest recorded number of private motor vehicle fatalities during the Thanksgiving-to-New Year's time frame -- one -- to include the lowest number of automobile fatalities -- zero. It was also the first time in 13 years the Air Force did not have a single active-duty death due

  • Air Force officials announce enlisted board, promotion schedules

    Air Force officials here have released new enlisted promotion board and testing schedules Jan. 14."The 2010 enlisted promotion rates look promising," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Long, the enlisted promotions, evaluations and physical fitness chief. "Nearly all 2009 rates slightly increased from 2008

  • Airmen transition into new fitness program

    As Airmen begin transitioning into the new testing cycle in January, officials worked to publish the new Air Force instruction to the Air Force Publications Web site Jan. 12, with an effective date of July 1.Air Force officials unveiled the new fitness program in August while still completing a

  • Budget for 2010 to help Guard equip, modernize

    Increased funding in the fiscal 2010 budget will allow the National Guard to modernize and equip its forces for state and federal missions, Guard officials announced here Jan. 11."This robust funding will constitute a significant strengthening of the Guard's equipment fill and modernization

  • Maintainers keep aircraft soaring

    Airmen from the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron maintenance flight keep A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft up and running, enabling them to provide close-air support throughout Afghanistan.By performing phase inspections after every 500 hours of flight, they make sure the aircraft are in the best

  • Cyberspace leaders hold career panel at Academy

    Senior officers with Air Force Space Command and 24th Air Force held a space and cyberspace career panel in the Academy's Fairchild Hall Jan. 11.The panel gave cadets in attendance a chance to ask the panelists questions about the future of space and cyberspace and how their future careers might fit

  • Academy cadets to conduct rocket static fire test

    Cadets in the FalconLaunch program here will conduct a fully integrated static test fire of the FalconLaunch-8 rocket's propulsion system Jan. 15 in Jacks Valley, Colo.FalconLaunch is a two-semester course for cadets to gain hands-on experience, "learning space by doing space." Over the course of

  • Officials urge collaboration in suicide prevention

    There are no clear-cut answers to suicide prevention, but through collaboration and team work from federal and private institutions, the nation can better address the challenge, Defense and Veterans Affairs department officials said today.In a joint Defense-VA conference, titled "Building Strong and

  • Ali Base drawdown in full swing

    Ali Base is in full drawdown mode following the presidential directive to reduce the American military presence in Iraq, and to withdraw combat forces by December 2011.The Air Force presence here will be less than one-third what it is today by the end of August, according to Col. Dennis Hunsicker,

  • Gates will remain as secretary at least another year

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will stay in office for at least another year, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell confirmed here Jan. 7. Secretary Gates met with President Barack Obama before Christmas and committed to another year on the job, Mr. Morrell said. Then-President George W. Bush

  • Joint basing at Charleston moves forward with activation of 628th ABW

    Eighteenth Air Force officials activated the 628th Air Base Wing during an assumption-of-command ceremony Jan. 8 at Charleston AFB.The activation of the 628th ABW is the latest step toward the stand up of Joint Base Charleston Jan. 31. The joint base stand up in late January will begin the next

  • Podcast Series Addresses Post-deployment Challenges

    Servicemembers and their families can get help coping with post-deployment stress through a new series of podcasts profiling the personal stories of those who have lived it. "Combat brings individuals face-to-face with the harshest demands imaginable. In fact, it's impossible to be unaffected by

  • Chairman calls strategy year's greatest challenge

    Executing the president's strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan presents his biggest challenge, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told a CNN reporter Jan. 10. However, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said he sees progress being made in both countries. "In December, we recruited to an exceptionally

  • Toolkit helps answer servicemembers' health care questions

    One in five servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from major depression or post traumatic stress disorder, according to officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.To help servicemembers affected by a behavioral or other

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a look back at 2009

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," a look back is taken at the top stories of 2009. Stories covered range from the creation and stand-up of the Air Force's newest major command, to a heartfelt story about the Year of the Air Force Family.   Also featured are changes in the Post 9/11 GI Bill in

  • Jan. 7 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 7, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan: Asadabad Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft

  • Jan. 6 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan: Lashkar GahA Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft

  • Air Force secretary visits Lackland, addresses priorities

    The secretary of the Air Force toured Lackland Air Force Base and presided over the latest Basic Military Training graduation here Jan. 8.Secretary Michael Donley toured the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills and Training complex, talked to base Airmen and discussed some of his top priorities for

  • USO plans family centers at Bethesda, Belvoir

    United Services Organization officials plan to build family centers at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., and Fort Belvoir, Va., to continue the USO's tradition of bringing troops a piece of home. The project was inspired by the Army Community Services center at Brooke Army Medical

  • Airmen of Note dominate jazz chart

    The Airmen of Note's self-released holiday album "Cool Yule" has steadily marched up JazzWeek magazine's Jazz Weekly chart. "Cool Yule" topped out at number 2 for the week of Jan. 4. "Cool Yule" consists of 17 traditional holiday favorites arranged with a big band and swing theme. It was recorded

  • Laws change for military, overseas voters

    Servicemembers and overseas voters shouldn't assume they automatically will receive ballots for the 2010 elections just because they have in the past. Previously, voters would receive absentee ballots for up to two cycles following their request, Bob Carey, Federal Voting Assistance Program

  • U.S. officials give base to Iraq's government

    U.S. Forces-Iraq gave control of Hawk Base back to the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi air force Jan. 1, as part of the U.S. drawdown and transfer of responsibility from U.S. forces to the Government of Iraq security forces.The transfer of Hawk Base, to include 31 facilities, four generators and

  • Airmen leave a footprint in Afghanistan

    Twenty-one Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing here recently returned from a 60-day deployment to Afghanistan where they augmented port operations at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.Lt. Col. Daniel Krall, the commander of the 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron, requested help from

  • Provincial reconstruction team expands hospital for Afghans

    A cornerstone ceremony for a new, modern wing of the Zabul Provincial Hospital took place Dec. 26, in Qalat, Afghanistan.The International Security Assistance Forces Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul is partnering with local community leaders to complete this project. Contractors have

  • New era begins for Joint Base Langley-Eustis

    Ninth Air Force officials activated the 633rd Air Base Wing during a change-of-command ceremony Jan. 7 here.The 633rd ABW officials assumed host unit duties from the 1st Fighter Wing officials, which served in that capacity since 1975. Maj. Gen. William L. Holland, the 9th Air Force commander,

  • Defense, Veterans Affairs step closer to integrated records

    The Defense Department soon will join a Veterans Affairs Department and Kaiser Permanente partnership designed to improve the way military veterans and the nation receive health care, the VA's top health affairs policy advisor said Jan. 6. For the past month, officials at Kaiser Permanente and

  • Transit Center Airmen compete against Kyrgyz in basketball game

    Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas defeated a Kyrgyz Russian Slavic University basketball team 93-51 in a game here Jan. 5. This was the Transit Center's third game and second victory against a local team. The Kyrgyz team started strong and was up one point after the first three minutes, but

  • No need to feel SAD during the winter

    Occasionally feeling depressed is normal. Everyone has days when they feel low, irritable or sad, but these moods usually last a few days and disappear.As the season changes and the days get shorter, some people develop symptoms of depression. Sadness and lack of energy and motivation are not a

  • Strategic, Space command officials improve GPS coverage

    Officials from the U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command here initiated an effort that will improve global coverage for users of the Global Positioning System constellation. The need to support U.S. and allied military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where terrain in geographically

  • Chief of staff dedicates Center for Families of the Fallen

    The Air Force chief of staff dedicated the new Center for Families of the Fallen at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center here Jan. 6."For many of us, this dedication is a bittersweet event," said Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff. "This center is emblematic of our

  • New facility fulfills needs for families of the fallen

    The staff of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center has been providing dignity, honor and respect for fallen warriors, and care, service and support for their families since the unit was activated on Jan. 6, 2009. So it was only appropriate that a new facility that will carry that family

  • Airmen teach Afghans the art of maintaining

    Airmen of the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group's aircraft maintenance section here, use their new knowledge and Air Force job skills to mentor Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers.The Airmen took a three-week course to learn how to maintain Russian MI-17 helicopters and incorporate it with

  • California governor boosts support to combat vets

    California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a new state initiative to better help returning combat veterans land jobs and get whatever assistance they need to secure housing, health care and other veterans' services. The governor unveiled the Operation Welcome Home outreach campaign during

  • Jan. 3 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:Qalat An Air Force B-1B Lancer aircrew provided

  • Stop-loss payments continue, but some no longer eligible

    The fiscal 2010 defense budget extends payments to servicemembers involuntarily extended on active duty under the so-called "Stop Loss" program, but those who received a bonus for voluntarily re-enlisting or extending their service no longer qualify for retroactive stop-loss pay. Defense Department

  • Obama condemns terrorists, reaffirms U.S. resolve

    President Barack Obama condemned the Dec. 25 terrorist attempt on the United States in his first 2010 weekly radio address Jan. 2, vowing to bring those involved to justice and outlining steps the administration is taking to protect the American people. Speaking from Kailua, Hawaii, the president

  • Air Force officials activate newest expeditionary unit

    The Air Force's newest expeditionary unit, the 586th Expeditionary Support Squadron, was activated in a special ceremony Jan. 2 at an air base in Southwest Asia.Col. John Williams, 586th Air Expeditionary Group commander, passed command of the newly formed support unit to Maj. Gregory

  • U.S. Forces-Iraq stands up in Baghdad

    A New Year's Day ceremony here marked another evolution of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as several major command groups merged into a single headquarters command, U.S. Forces-Iraq."This ceremony marks another significant transition here in Iraq," said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S.

  • Dec. 31 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 31, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:AsmarAn Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle provided armed

  • Dec. 29 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:AsadabadAn Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon provided

  • Falcons snatch 6 interceptions, win 47-20

    Six interceptions powered the Air Force Academy to a 47-20 win over the University of Houston Cougars in the Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 31 here.This was the third time the Air Force Academy and University of Houston met on the gridiron in two years. The Academy trounced the Cougars 31-28 during the

  • Dec. 28 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 28 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:AsadabadAir Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided

  • Dec. 27 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 27 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:QalatAir Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided armed

  • Ali firefighters prepare Iraqis for future

    Firefighters from the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are bringing the goal of independent Iraqi operations to reality at Camp Ur, Iraq.In December, Ali Base firefighters assisted their Iraqi counterparts toward self-sufficiency through numerous training sessions and skills tests.With

  • Tyndall Airman named Female Athlete of the Year

    When she was just 5 years old, she was already learning to hit softballs in her family's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., backyard. The balls were pitched patiently, one after the other, by an encouraging father who saw something special in his little girl's extraordinary ability to connect a bat with a ball.

  • Iraqi kids, U.S. servicemembers enjoy another day of fun, education

    U.S. servicemembers hosted busloads of Iraqi children for a day of fun, games and culture sharing Dec. 19, 2009, as part of the ongoing base effort to directly engage the local populace here.The event marked the fifth of its kind in the last four months, each one focused on educating and

  • New Iraqi recruits get a leg up

    More than 330 Iraqi air force recruits marched in a parade before beginning their initial basic military course Dec. 28, at Camp Taji, Iraq.Normally recruits attend the 12-week BMT course at the Iraqi Army Regional Training Center prior to reporting to the air force training school on Camp Taji for

  • Dec. 25 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 25 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air operations in Afghanistan:AsmarAir Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft provided

  • Dec. 23 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 23 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:Lashkar GahAir Force MQ-9A Reaper aircraft provided

  • USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships

    The Airmen of U.S. Air Forces in Europe are charting new territory in tackling one of the Air Force's newest core functions: Building Partnerships.The lesson that international partnerships are essential to success in war and peace is not new. The Office of the Secretary of Defense directed U.S.

  • Three vaccines now available at Tricare network pharmacies

    Tricare beneficiaries can now receive select vaccines with no out-of-pocket expense at retail pharmacies.For the first time, beneficiaries can visit Tricare retail network pharmacies to receive seasonal flu, H1N1 flu and pneumonia vaccines at no cost. This expanded coverage is available to all

  • Think about family members if considering suicide

    Thirty years ago today, Dec. 29, my father forever changed my life, as well as the lives of his other family members. He took a shotgun and shot himself in the head. His death certificate reads, "Self-inflicted gunshot wound."I can't tell you how many times I've heard people joke about something

  • Tricare officials expanded benefits and customer service in 2009

    The past year has been a busy one for Tricare officials with the introduction of a new Web-based counseling program and major enhancements to several other Tricare benefits.Introduced Aug. 1, the Tricare Assistance Program uses today's constantly evolving Web-based technologies to bring short-term

  • Dec. 22 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 22 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:KandaharAir Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided

  • SECAF outlines future, thanks Airmen during Kadena visit

    Outlining the Air Force's future was the focus of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley's Airmen's Call during his visit here Dec. 22, part of a six-base Pacific tour in which the secretary is reconnecting with the region and thanking Airmen serving overseas during this holiday season. The

  • MC-12 arrives, heralds activation of 4th ERS

    The newest aircraft to the Air Force's inventory arrived Dec. 27, 2009, to Bagram Airfield. The MC-12 aircraft, tail number 090623, was the first of an undisclosed number of aircraft for the new 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here.Following the MC-12's arrival, the 4th Expeditionary

  • Servicemembers brighten spirits of Philippine children

    Twenty members of Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines spent a special holiday evening visiting children at the Social Development Center in Zamboanga City Dec. 23. "It made me feel really good to give my time and spend time with the kids," said Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Cross.

  • Who's calling?

    Not many people can say they received a phone call from the president of the United States on Christmas Eve. Tech. Sgt. Donald Pedro, an 821st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron fuels advisor, was honored to receive a phone call from his commander in chief, Barack Obama, to wish him a merry

  • Ophthalmic surgeons employ cutting-edge technology

    Ophthalmic surgeons here are the first in the Defense Department to employ a state-of-the-art laser that will shorten recovery times for corneal transplantation. Members of the ophthalmology department assigned the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, now use a femtosecond laser to

  • Dec. 21 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 21 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:SanginNavy F/A-18C Hornets provided armed overwatch

  • Dec. 15 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 15 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:ShurakianAn Air Force B-1B Lancer provided armed

  • Kits help children cope with deployments

    Each year thousands of military children are affected by either a mother or father deploying, and when this happened to the Choate family here, it sparked an idea helps prepare military children deal with deployments. In October, Maj. Eric Choate, an Air Operations Squadron Det. 1 delivery control

  • Holloman Airmen train to fight back

    Airmen of the 49th Security Forces Squadron here received first responder to an active gunman training Dec. 15 to 17 from members of the Roswell Police Department special operations team in New Mexico.The training allowed defenders to practice the proper techniques to safely eliminate any emergency

  • Air Force secretary visits Airmen at Hickam

    As part of his six-base tour in Pacific Air Forces, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley visited here Dec. 18 and spoke to Airmen about several Air Force issues. "I'm delighted to be here with Team Hickam and to reacquaint myself with the mission here," said Secretary Donley to more than 600

  • Rocket-motor test supports NASA, DOD and commercial missions

    A high-visibility test on a second-stage developmental rocket motor set a new record in the Arnold Engineering Development Center's J-6 large-rocket motor-testing facility Dec. 9.Joe Migliaccio, the Aerospace Testing Alliance engineer who conducted the test, said the team fired an Alliant

  • Air Force Marathon registration opens with special Jan. 1 pricing

    If getting fit is part of your resolution for 2010, you can ring in the new year by signing up for the Air Force Marathon.Online registration for the marathon opens Jan. 1 at 12:01 a.m., and to encourage early sign ups, the Air Force Marathon Office is offering special discounted registration rates

  • Tricare program for gray-area reservists on its way

    A new program will offer "gray-area" reservists the opportunity to purchase Tricare health care coverage.While qualified members of the Selected Reserve may purchase premium-based coverage under Tricare Reserve Select (TRS), retired National Guard and Reserve personnel did not have Tricare health

  • Thunderbolts receive wing modification

    The A-10 Thunderbolt II will continue flying close-ground-support missions for the next two decades because of a reinforcement process wing replacement specialists call "Hog Up."The phrase originated about a decade ago during an upgrade of the aircraft's avionics system, partially because of the

  • After retirement hang up the uniform, but keep Tricare

    Active-duty servicemembers must use Tricare Prime or Prime Remote, but retirees who are not eligible for Medicare may be eligible for Tricare Prime or choose Tricare Standard or Extra. Each program has advantages pertaining to cost, location and convenience.If space is available, continuing care in

  • Woman's choice to drink, drive crushes captain's dream of flying

    Capt. Alan Yee had just finished pilot training and was out with friends celebrating. He and his friends realized they had one too many drinks to drive, and called a cab. As they were travelling down a 50 mph road, a truck slammed into their cab. Moments later, one friend in the cab was ejected out

  • New program helps Tricare beneficiaries battle lung diseases

    Even after quitting, smoking can lead to serious health problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but Tricare officials are committed to helping beneficiaries quit smoking and stay smoke-free.Smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exposure to

  • Air Force facility energy program celebrates successes, plans for future

    Do motion detectors control the lights in your building? Does the air conditioner seem to work better these days? Perhaps you can now look out the window and see a large wind turbine generating power for your base. In 2009, the Air Force reduced the amount of energy used per square foot (i.e.,

  • Chairman sends holiday message to troops, families

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dec. 22 issued the following holiday message: "As America celebrates this holiday season, our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen are serving around the world. Families and friends at home can enjoy the holidays in

  • 'America's AOC' tracks Santa this Christmas Eve

    Members of the 601st Air and Space Operations Center here will once again track Santa Claus on part of his journey around the world this Christmas Eve, and media interested in tracking Santa are invited to visit "America's AOC" Christmas Eve.In conjunction with the "NORAD Tracks Santa" program, the

  • Retirement answers live with new AFPC Webinar series

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here launched a series of Web conferences, called Webinars, designed to provide retirement-eligible Airmen the information they need to submit their retirement applications."We designed these Webinars to better serve our customers and enable more direct

  • Dec. 18 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 18 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air operations in Afghanistan:Orgun-EAir Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft flew

  • Fairchild officials host Single Airmen's Summit

    Fairchild Air Force Base officials recently commenced the Air Force's Single Airmen's Summit to address issues single Airmen. Issues were discussed in focus groups about community, safety, leisure, family, base support systems, personal growth and work and relationship concerns. These focus groups

  • Altus Airmen boost Canadian forward air control training

    Airmen here provided a first-time service to Canadian forces personnel with ground support for forward air controller training at Fort Sill Falcon Bombing Range, Okla., Nov. 24 through Dec. 8.Members of the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Canadian Forces Bagotville in Quebec, Canada, and Altus

  • Clinton, Gates urge appropriations bill passage

    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates issued a joint statement Dec. 21 encouraging Senate passage of the Defense Appropriations Bill. "We strongly urge Senate passage of the Defense Appropriations Bill today, prior to expiration of the current continuing

  • Preventing the 'after-the-holidays bill blues'

    Walking through a shopping mall, it's difficult not to notice holiday decorations, crowded stores and retailers claiming to offer the best deals of the season. Before pulling out their wallets, Airmen are encouraged to keep a few things in mind to help prevent the "after-the-holidays bill blues."The

  • Air Force officials stand up new squadron in Iraq

    Air Force officials held an assumption-of-command ceremony for the 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Dec. 15 80 feet above the flightline standing upon a control tower platform at Al Asad Air Base. The airfield was previously operated by the Marine Corps, but due to the drawdown, Air

  • Aviano Air Base hospital receives ENERGY STAR rating

    The Aviano Air Base hospital has received the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR rating, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. The base hospital is the first U.S. facility overseas to receive this distinction, and joins 96 other hospitals in the

  • Hurricane Hunters fly first winter storm

    Members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron here have been tasked by National Weather Service officials to fly their first winter storm of the season on the East Coast starting Dec. 25.The Air Force Reserve's 53rd WRS "Hurricane Hunters," assigned to the 403rd Wing here, normally collect

  • F-22s complete first Middle East deployment

    Airmen completed the first deployment of F-22 Raptors to the Middle East in mid-December.The fifth-generation fighters and their crews were in the area as part of a multinational exercise where pilots from a variety of nations train together in fighting a large-scale air war. This was the first

  • Air Force officials debut first 3-D commercial

    The Air Force became the first military branch with a 3-D commercial when it premiered its new "Space" spot before the movie "Avatar" Dec. 18 here. The Palladium IMAX theater in San Antonio hosted a special screening of the movie and commercial for Randolph Air Force Base, Texas members."The

  • Dec. 16 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 16 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in Afghanistan:AsadabadAir Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided