NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Engineers develop improved robotic tractor

    Engineers here are designing, building and testing a more advanced, robotic trenching tractor so combat engineers can perform cable trenching and excavation missions in dangerous locations. An early version of the tractor was developed last year and used in Iraq.Air Force Research Laboratory’s

  • Taking care of patients in air

    Most military aircraft are not well known for passenger comfort.But when passengers are seriously ill or injured, a team of medical experts is always on hand to ensure as comfortable a ride as possible.“We are responsible for moving casualties in-theater as well as between theaters,” said Capt. Karl

  • Vietnamese boy finds success in AF blue

    Maj. Phuong Tran holds a deep appreciation for America.In 1975, at age 11, Major Tran, his family, and hundreds of other Vietnamese families fled Saigon, Vietnam, to escape communism.Although he knew nothing of the language or culture of the United States when he left his war-torn country, Major

  • ‘Military One Source' helps with family problems

    The Defense Department has established a "one-stop" place to go whenever servicemembers or family members need assistance with any kind of problem.It is called "Military One Source," and is available anytime, worldwide, said John M. Molino, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and

  • Expeditionary mindset provides stability, predictability for Airmen

    Nothing much stands out at the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va.The rooms upon rooms of cubicles are standard for a work center. A snack room provides lunch for those too busy to leave, and a larger parking lot would make people happier.Everything appears

  • Air Force uniform heads to French army

    When a French army sergeant asked Col. David Adams for his uniform, the colonel did not know what to think. When working at a NATO base with 30 different nations, the real meaning is not always in the message.Sgt. Willy Brunet, a signal noncommissioned officer with the French National Intelligence

  • Medical center responds to train derailment victims

    An early morning train collision and release of toxic fumes near San Antonio on June 28 sent at least 22 people to Wilford Hall Medical Center here for treatment. At least two people died as a result of the derailment.Workers from the 59th Medical Wing immediately responded, decontaminating people

  • General revises clothing policy for Airmen deploying to SWA

    All Airmen deploying to the Central Command area of responsibility must now ensure the clothing they pack is in step with a recent dress and appearance policy revision now in effect.The most significant change requires Airmen to wear either desert camouflage uniforms or physical training gear while

  • Officials announce Air Force chaplain service award winners

    Officials announced the Air Force chaplain service award winners on June 25.Established this year, the award program recognizes outstanding individual and organizational performance within the chaplain service. The 2003 winners are:-- Richard C. Schneider Award (chaplain’s assistant, Airman):

  • Yokota aircraft parts store never closes

    Airmen assigned to the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron is aircraft parts store element here work around the clock supporting the Air Force airlift mission in the Pacific region.The group of inventory management technicians receive, store and issue needed parts worth $46 million for C-130 Hercules

  • General Bradley will command Air Force Reserve

    On June 24, the Senate confirmed Maj. Gen. John A. Bradley as chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, and appointed him to the rank of lieutenant general. General Bradley is the former assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for reserve matters at the

  • Robotic warriors display capabilities

    Pentagon officials and guests were treated to a demonstration of the remote detection challenge and response, or REDCAR, initiative June 23.REDCAR uses unmanned robotic platforms to provide perimeter defense of Air Force bases and forward-deployed units.“With REDCAR we can integrate a family of

  • NCO earns American Legion Spirit of Service Award

    Her father picked up a soldier carrying his life in a duffel bag on his way home from Vietnam in 1971. He gave the man a little money and took him to his house to finish his journey home. This act of kindness influenced Staff Sgt. Catherin Lammon and motivated her to do community service.The

  • Congress recognizes four Air Force people

    Four members of the Air Force family received Congressional Award Gold Medals along with 171 other young men and women during a ceremony on June 23 at the Russell Senate Office Building.The program recognizes outstanding achievement in people ages 14 to 23 and involves setting goals in four areas:

  • Murray talks deployments, force shaping

    Combat needs, not current manpower standards, are what Air Force officials are using to determine how many people are filling the ranks, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray said. This, he said, is the first time in Air Force history that combat needs have been the determining

  • UAV Battlelab stands up at Indian Springs

    Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field near here is entering a new era in providing unmanned aerial vehicle support to the combat air force.Currently the only installation with a fleet of operational remotely piloted aircraft, Indian Springs is now also the home of the Air Force’s Unmanned Aerial

  • EOD is making Afghanistan safe for future

    Today, there are literally tons of explosive materials hidden throughout Afghanistan. Some, like land mines the former Soviet Union liberally scattered around the countryside, lie deceptively under a thin veneer of dirt. Others lie hidden away in caches of weapons carefully horded and

  • NCOs help with air cover

    More than 200 noncommissioned officers are helping the Army by providing air cover for patrols protecting convoys, performing raids, responding to mortar and road attacks, and training Iraqis to provide their own security.They are part of a tactical air control party, which is a self-supporting team

  • Airmen attend Coast Guard academy

    For a few select senior noncommissioned officers, attending the U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy in Petaluma, Calif., is an opportunity to embody the school’s motto, “Altus Tendo -- I Reach High.” It is also a chance to teach their classmates about the mission and expeditionary nature

  • C-5 workers take to sky

    A group of C-5 Galaxy production workers recently took to the sky to become more familiar with the huge aircraft they work on every day.The flight was the first of a series of familiarization flights maintenance officials have scheduled to show workers how important their jobs are.“The organization

  • Cadets get ‘constructive’ engineering experience

    Cadets exchange computers, backpacks and books for hard hats, lumber and a bulldozer when they sign up for a summer civil engineering course.The entry-level course takes place in the academy’s Jacks Valley at the field engineering and readiness laboratory. The five-week program acquaints 60 cadets

  • Doctor reports from field

    Keeping in touch with family and friends at home is a high priority for many deployed Airmen, but Lt. Col. (Dr.) John Torres, or "Dr. John" as he is known back home in Colorado, goes a step further.Besides being an emergency room doctor, Dr. Torres records a medical segment three times a week for

  • Mechanics finish six-year F-15 engine upgrades

    Jet engine mechanics have turned the final wrenches on a unique F-15 Eagle engine upgrade program here, saving the Air Force more than $100 million, officials said. For the last six years, more than 100 jet engine mechanics with the 18th Maintenance Group have been converting F-15 engines. They

  • TACC commander receives management award

    The commander of the Tanker Airlift Control Center has received the 2003 Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche presented Brig. Gen. Paul J. Selva with the award during a ceremony at the Pentagon on June 16.“I have the coolest job on the planet, because I

  • Laughlin Airmen get fit during 'adventures'

    “Are you fit to fight?” That is the question Air Force officials are asking Airmen these days, and it is the catch phrase for the new fitness focus.One squadron here upped the ante among its Airmen recently asking, “Are you fit to race?”More than 100 Airmen from the 86th Flying Training Squadron

  • Reserve volunteers needed for force-protection duties

    Reserve component enlisted Airmen in any career field are eligible for a unique program allowing them to help protect Air Force bases nationwide. The air reserve component force protection volunteer program gives individual mobilization augmentee, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members

  • Air Force family fights fire with generosity

    A first-term Airman from the 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here, her husband, and their two small children were left homeless when an unexplained fire destroyed everything in their base housing unit recently.Out of the ashes of this tragedy, however, rose an unexpected phoenix. The Vazquez's

  • New focus puts future training over the 'edge'

    Department of Defense servicemembers participating in Northern Edge '04 have a new focus this year, joint warfighter training, as well as a different focus in 2005, homeland defense.Pacific Command and Northern Command officials have agreed to share Alaska Command's premier joint exercise.In

  • Morón keeps aircraft moving, projects expeditionary air power

    About halfway between the United States and the Middle East, the runway here was recently labeled by Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche as “the irreplaceable gateway” for aircraft, cargo and troops headed for central and Southwest Asia . U.S. Air Forces in Europe leaders visited here

  • Secretary, three others receive NAACP awards

    The Air Force secretary and three other Airmen received NAACP awards for outstanding and noteworthy efforts in implementing policies and programs which promote equal opportunity in the military.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche garnered the National Association for the Advancement of

  • Flag has been powerful symbol, rallying point

    It was not all that long ago that everyone seemed to be flying an American flag.In the days and weeks after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, American flags sprouted from everywhere.At the World Trade Center site, New York firemen hoisted an American flag amid the rubble. At the

  • Convoy course prepares Airmen for duty in Iraq

    Air Education and Training Command leaders saw the need for the Basic Combat Convoy Course for Airmen during a visit to Iraq in March, and 37th Training Wing experts here assembled the course in record time.The first platoon of Airmen began the course June 7, training to relieve transportation

  • Gas pump in the sky

    When an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot runs low on fuel, he has two choices: Radio in to the closest air base control tower for landing and refueling permission, or stay airborne and fill up from a gas station in the sky -- the KC-135 Stratotanker. You can imagine which gets him back into the fight

  • Air Force journalists win DOD awards

    Air Force print and broadcast journalists won nine categories in the 2003 Thomas Jefferson Awards for excellence in military media. The results were announced by Defense Information School officials here.The awards recognize military and civilian employee print and broadcast journalists for

  • Airmen honor fallen commander in chief

    Airmen nationwide will pay tribute this week to former President Ronald Reagan who died at his home June 5 from pneumonia as a complication of Alzheimers. President Reagan, who was 93, served as the 40th commander in chief from 1981 to 1989.Air Force participation in the state funeral includes

  • Total-force effort supplies OEF

    Every day, between 50 and 100 tons of equipment and supplies arrive here, flown in around the clock by a constant stream of cargo aircraft.Since this is a combat environment, getting the aircraft down, unloaded and quickly off the ground again is extremely important. Keeping that logistical

  • Flexibility helps 497th CTS Airmen succeed in Singapore

    Col. John Rogers Jr. credits being able to “think outside the box” to the success of his Airmen who successfully perform their daily mission here. Colonel Rogers is commander of the 497th Combat Training Squadron, a 36-person group comprising the basic functional elements of a small-scale fighter

  • Jumper shares view on AEF cycle length extension

    The Air Force chief of staff announced the extension of the baseline for deployments from 90 to 120 days and the change of the air and space expeditionary force cycle from 15 months to 20 months. The changes will take place beginning with AEF Cycle 5 in September, said Gen. John P. Jumper in his

  • Now showing: June 7 edition of AFTV News

    The continued increase in an Air Force presence in the Pacific region spotlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Tech. Sgt. Rusty Barfield reports on the planned addition of a C-17 Globemaster III unit at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, that will complement a buildup of air and

  • Vehicle maintainers keep operations rolling

    The flightline here is a hive of activity as vehicles swarm about accomplishing various tasks: a jammer carries bombs here, a loader removes cargo from a C-17 Globemaster III over there.Should one of those vehicles break, it could have catastrophic consequences for the mission, so ensuring that does

  • A-10 pods help track bad guys, protect friendly forces

    When lightning strikes, it affects the surrounding area. The same could be said of an A-10 Thunderbolt II strike, especially when complemented by the advanced capabilities provided by the Litening precision targeting pod system.The navigation pod provides A-10 pilots with more than improved attack

  • Air Force announces business awards

    Winners of the 2003 Secretary of the Air Force Small and Disadvantaged Business Awards were recognized by Peter B. Teets, undersecretary of the Air Force, in a ceremony June 1.“As President (George W.) Bush said recently, small businesses and the entrepreneur spirit are ‘really what America has

  • Airmen, Soldiers team up to move payload

    Airmen and Soldiers here are joining forces to get passengers and cargo in and out of Baghdad International Airport rapidly.Airmen from the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s aerial port flight and Soldiers from the 368th Cargo Transfer Company’s 4th Platoon and from the 386th

  • Airmen receive SECAF leadership awards

    Four Airmen were recognized for outstanding leadership while attending Air University schools during an awards ceremony here May 25.The Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award recognizes those who demonstrated the greatest leadership while students at Air University schools.Recipients were:--

  • June issue of Citizen Airman available

    The June issue of Citizen Airman, the official magazine of the Air Force Reserve, is now available in print and online at www.afrc.af.mil/HQ/citamn/. Extra Hands -- When a group of people is carrying a load and the weight increases, a few extra hands can help relieve some of the burden of the

  • American, Korean engineers ‘cement’ friendship

    Two old friends got together on the flightline here recently, and the result is an expanded strategic airlift ramp that will significantly enhance current operations. It will also serve as a key enabler for a major airfield military construction, refurbishment and replacement project that will

  • Future total-force concept aims to increase combat capability

    Active-duty Airmen, guardsmen and reservists working together to support the Air Force mission in a war zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan is not unusual. However, in a concept being studied at the Air Warfare Center, Airmen from all components will work together supporting the Air Force's RQ/MQ-1

  • Air Force names communications, information award winners

    The following Airmen, teams and units are winners of the 2003 Air Force Communications and Information awards for 2003.Air Force communications and information individual award winners are:-- Outstanding Field Grade Officer: Maj. Kimberly Ullman from the Pentagon in Washington.-- Outstanding

  • Officials approve wear of expeditionary medal

    Air Force officials have authorized wear of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal which was approved by President Bush in 2003.The Department of Defense campaign medal applies to active-duty, Reserve and Guard servicemembers deployed abroad on or after Sept.11, 2001, for operations

  • Risk management, clear thinking key to safe summer

    Losing 66 Air Force people to private motor vehicle and seven to nontraffic-related accidents in 2003 prompted officials to carry out the most aggressive 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign in recent history.Air Force commanders are sending the word out to their people: Be safe!In a letter

  • New system saves money, manpower

    Air Force Materiel Command experts are replacing decades-old instrument landing systems at six locations with state-of-the-art equipment.The new systems will save money and manpower and allow quicker maintenance. They work off circuit cards and computers rather than tubes and older hardware

  • Guardsmen bring hospitals to field

    The Air National Guard’s air surgeon and director of medical services explained what expeditionary medical support systems mean for the Air National Guard during a recent conference here.“They move us from an ambulatory-care mission to a critical-care mission,” Col. Randy Falk said during the Air

  • Airman carries on female family tradition

    Throughout history, men in the same families have served side by side and generation after generation.Grandfathers, fathers and sons fought together in the Revolutionary War. Brothers clashed with brothers during the Civil War. It was not unusual to find brothers, uncles and in-laws serving

  • Airmen make drops in Thailand

    “Kanto 95, winds are light, you’re cleared to drop.” As the C-130 Hercules from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, rumbled overhead at 600 feet, the cargo was released and floated under a full canopy into a dormant rice paddy.Five people from the 353rd Operations Support Squadron’s

  • Now showing: May 24 edition of AFTV News

    The affect of extended activations on Air Force reservists, Air National Guardsmen, their families and employers, spotlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News.Tech. Sgt. Bill Scherer travels to Pennsylvania to profile Jillian Mentkewicz, a senior airman in the Air Force Reserve who is

  • Last Randolph T-38A simulator shut down

    After 26 years of training thousands of pilots, the last full-motion T-38A Talon simulators here was retired. The once state-of-the-art equipment is being replaced by virtual reality trainers designed to reproduce the cockpit of the new T-38C aircraft. Ron Hamada, now a training manager at the Air

  • Three Airmen participate in dog-sled expedition

    It is one thing to appreciate the hardened life of the Inuit; it is another to actually live it. Three tenderfoot Airmen, 1st Lt. Lance Brenneke, Tech. Sgt. Dan Rea and Staff Sgt. Chris Knabe, got a taste of arctic frontier life while on a six-day dog-sledding expedition from Qaanaaq to Siorapaluk

  • Civilian guards tapped to control base gates

    People entering the gates at 11 Air Force bases are being greeted by some new faces. About 400 contracted civilian guards began providing entry controller services at selected active-duty bases May 18. The bases gaining civilian guards are Andrews Air Force Base, Md.; Bolling AFB, D.C.; Hill AFB,

  • Yokota mail detachment is largest, busiest

    Detachment 2 of the Air Postal Squadron here operates the Air Force’s largest and busiest central mail processing activity. Its 48-person team of Airmen and local Japanese workers oversee the movement, sorting and distribution of more than 50 million pounds of mail annually.Det. 2 also has remote

  • Medics help with war stress

    Their stories and experiences are harrowing: improvised explosive devices and small-arms fire attacks, comrades killed and injured in action and near-death experiences. It is the unfortunate reality of a combat environment that many U.S. servicemembers are confronted with daily throughout Iraq.

  • Center ensures blood ships safely

    No matter who you are, they have your type.“They” are the six-person staff at the blood transshipment center here. The team, part of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, is the first rotation here since the one-of-a-kind center was relocated in March. The Airmen ship blood supplies everywhere in

  • Members of ‘greatest generation’ visit memorial

    They have been called the “Greatest Generation,” and now a fitting tribute to them adorns the National Mall here, set between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.“It is A-No.-1-plus,” retired Master Sgt. Paul Bradford said of the World War II Memorial. “But it’s 50 years late.”Sergeant

  • Airmen haul Operation Secure Tomorrow cargo

    The instant a C-141 Starlifter stops taxiing at its designated spot on the runway here, 84th Aerial Port Squadron reservists rapidly unload its cargo and immediately load material for the return flight. In a matter of minutes, without ever shutting down its engines, the cargo plane is airborne

  • Large Package Week puts the ‘air’ in airborne

    A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules passed overhead and green parachutes dotted the evening sky above nearby Fort Bragg on May 11. Eight seconds later, the first Soldiers from the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps charged across the ground launching a simulated airfield assault.The Large Package Week

  • Air Force announces aviation resource management awards

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2003 Outstanding Air Force Aviation Resource Management of the Year Awards. The 2003 winners are: -- Headquarters Aviation Resource Management of the Year: Master Sgt. Andrea Wilcox from Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

  • Air Force takes four White House-level environmental awards

    The Air Force received 2004 White House Closing the Circle awards for four environmental programs.Closing the Circle awards are presented to federal agencies that demonstrate outstanding achievement in environmental innovation, recycling, and waste and pollution prevention.The 2004 Closing the

  • Blood donors necessary in war, peace

    It may seem like blood centers are always asking for more. The fact is, there is a constant need for blood.Technological advances have a lot to do with this continuous need for blood, said Capt. Christine Murphy, the 48th Medical Group executive officer here. More and more, there have been

  • Now showing: May 10 edition of AFTV News

    Man’s thirst for flight highlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Stories from Staff Sgts. Melissa Allan and Leigh Bellinger illustrate two different ways flying has occupied and enriched two people’s lives.Sergeant Allen profiles Maj. Andrew Lurake. Despite having his leg

  • Command post controllers key to information flow

    There is an organization that many people think is the place to go for information. In part they are; however, the unit is a lot more than that. Airmen in the command post do much more than just pass along information, especially in a combat zone. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s command post

  • Deployed reservists help charities in Kyrgyzstan

    Air Force reservists from here deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, are supporting combat operations in Afghanistan. They also are helping to make life better for people near there.Airmen of Air Force Reserve Command’s 908th Airlift Wing arrived at the old Soviet airfield in early December to

  • Officials name aircrew life support award winners

    Air Force officials recently announced the 2003 Outstanding Air Force Aircrew Life Support of the Year award winners.These awards recognize the accomplishments of aircrew life support people and programs.The 2003 winners are:-- Outstanding Aircrew Life Support Headquarters Staff Member: Master Sgt.

  • Guardian Challenge champions announced

    The scores are in. Teams from 21st Space Wing, 91st SW and 45th SW garnered top honors at Air Force Space Command's Guardian Challenge 2004.Trophies were presented to AFSPC's top space and missile warriors during a ceremony here May 6.The 21st SW at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., earned the

  • Edwards fire training goes high-tech

    Firefighters here took part in a training exercise May 3 that was designed to keep them on their toes.The unit underwent interior fire-suppression training in a high-tech simulator that creates a realistic environment without causing any monetary damage, said Tom Keightley, 95th Air Base Wing’s fire

  • Official: AF nurses provide key support in OEF, OIF

    Air Force nurses have provided tremendous support in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, treating more than 200,000 patients throughout Southwest Asia, Maj. Gen. Barbara C. Brannon told the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on defense April 28.General Brannon, the Air Force’s

  • Brother escorts brother in sister-service convoy

    When Lt. Col. Greg Harbin landed at the airport in Mosul, Iraq, he knew he had to travel to the operational headquarters on the other side of town. He also knew an Army convoy would be escorting him. What he did not know was that his brother would be the convoy commander.Colonel Harbin was there

  • Security forces provide protection on, off Bagram

    Besides their more traditional role of providing installation security, security forces Airmen here have taken on two other important combat-related responsibilities supporting the war on terrorism.Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron are providing security for convoys

  • 1st Air Force looks inward to keep America safe

    It was the day the screens went black. Sept. 11, 2001, was the day that breathed life into what some considered a “sunset mission.” It was the day when everything changed. In the hours before the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, 1st Air Force and the Continental United States North

  • Air National Guard unit fights wildfires

    California Air National Guardsmen from the 146th Airlift Wing launched aircraft outfitted for aerial firefighting May 5 to aid in the fight against Southern California wildfires.The wing's first missions of the day were flown against Santa Barbara County's Cachuma fire.The Ventura County-based

  • SECAF approves medal for tornado relief efforts

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche has approved awarding the Humanitarian Service medal to Airmen who directly participated in tornado relief for the civilian community surrounding Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., in November 2002.To qualify for the award, a person must have been assigned

  • MacDill teams compete in Tampa's first dragon boat race

    Skinny, colorfully painted dragon boats swiftly paddled through Tampa's downtown Garrison Channel on May 1 during their Asia Fest. The boats, including one from the base here, competed in Tampa's first Dragon Boat Race.The MacDill team, composed of people from various base organizations, finished

  • History Channel features Predator on ‘Mail Call’

    The History Channel show “Mail Call” will feature a segment on the MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle on May 9.“Mail Call” is a weekly series that answers viewer’s questions about technology, weapons and equipment used throughout history by the armed forces. A production crew visited nearby

  • Airmen help warriors get home safely

    At an hour when most people are fast asleep, 59th Medical Wing medics from Wilford Hall Medical Center here were wide-awake anticipating the return of 14 servicemembers injured in Iraq.Standing sentinel, a row of 14 ambulances lined the San Antonio International Airport flightline awaiting the

  • Exhibit illustrates French, American cooperation

    The Air Force's vice chief of staff participated in the dedication of an exhibit here May 1 that honored some of the first Americans to fly aerial-combat missions.The exhibit, at the New England Air Museum at Bradley International Airport, commemorates the heroism of American aviators who flew for

  • U.S. participates in multinational air combat exercise

    U.S. Air Force and Navy units are here participating in Maple Flag 37, an international air-combat exercise held May 3 to 14 by the Canadian air force.About 20 aircraft and 600 people from the United States are practicing combined air operations with air forces from Canada, Germany, France, New

  • Secretary of defense announces environmental awards

    Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the winners of the 2003 Secretary of Defense Annual Environmental Awards on May 3. Air Force winners are:-- Natural resources conservation, small installations: Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.-- Natural resources conservation, individual: Gregory

  • Water polo team wins five games in tournament

    The Air Force Academy water polo team won five games in the Rocky Mountain Water Polo Tournament, including a four-overtime victory over the alumni/seniors team. Teams traveled from Florida and New Mexico to participate in the spring tournament, held here May 1 and 2. In the highlighted game of the

  • Presence policy helps define expeditionary force

    The secretary of the Air Force recently signed a policy clearly defining the structure and role of the air and space expeditionary force within the joint warfare environment. The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Presence Policy, among other things, defines AEF, outlines its command structure and

  • Officials name manpower, organization winners

    Officials have named the winners of the 2003 Air Force Manpower and Organization awards. They are:-- Headquarters-Level Field Grade Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. Timothy Clary from the Air Force manpower requirements determination squadron here.-- Headquarters-Level Company Grade Officer of the

  • AF Climate Survey results reveal progress in most areas

    The 2003 Air Force Climate Survey results have been analyzed, and final reports have been released to unit-level leaders for action. The survey ran Oct. 1 to Nov. 23.“As the leaders of the world’s greatest air and space force, we share a commitment to continually seek improvement. The survey

  • Team brings medical aid to Sri Lanka

    A decades-long war has claimed tens of thousands of Sri Lankan lives, and land mines continue to maim an untold number of civilians caught up in the aftermath of the war. A team of 20 military medical specialists began a weeklong humanitarian surgical training mission here known as blast,

  • Idaho Air Guard helps test new stackable cargo pallets

    As part of an ongoing Air Expeditionary Force Battlelab initiative, a team tested a new bilevel aircraft loading system aboard an Idaho Air National Guard C-130 Hercules here April 22.People from the battlelab, a think tank for new and innovative ideas based at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho,

  • First Air Force provides top cover for America

    While much of the Air Force is engaged overseas, one organization has remained behind to fulfill a mission equally important -- Operation Noble Eagle, the air-defense mission aimed at preventing terrorist attacks in the United States.The organization comprises Air Force active-duty and reserve

  • Combat controllers play key role in war on terror

    The largest class of future combat controllers is training at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., to provide critical skills required in the war on terrorism. The current class of 32 students will help bolster the cadre of 360 combat controllers -- special-operations forces who deploy quickly into

  • Pentagon Memorial Fund seeks donations

    The Pentagon Memorial Fund campaign was officially launched here April 22 during a ceremony on Capitol Hill.Almost $30 million is being solicited, according to a news release from the Washington public relations firm that is handling fund raising for the memorial.About $17.5 million of collected

  • Officials working to speed military mail system

    Acknowledging that problems persist in the military mail system, Defense Department officials said they are taking steps to improve the process.A report in April by the General Accounting Office, which oversees government agencies and spending, said long-standing problems with military mail delivery

  • Elmendorf jet-engine technician earns $10K for IDEA

    A simple idea can be worth a lot of money; at least that is the case for Staff Sgt. Kevin Jackson. The 25-year-old jet-engine technician was awarded $10,000 for his submission to the Air Force's Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Sergeant Jackson, assigned to the 3rd

  • Air Force honors units for maintenance effectiveness

    The Air Force honored the winners of the 2003 Maintenance Effectiveness Awards at a banquet here.The 2003 Maintenance Effectiveness Award winners include:-- Munitions/Missile Category: 509th Munitions Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.-- Maintenance/Component Repair/Equipment Maintenance

  • Sheppard sergeant becomes 250,000th CCAF grad

    An aircraft maintenance instructor from the 362nd Training Squadron here will leave a footnote in the history books of the world's largest community college when he graduates April 23.When Staff Sgt. Kalaeone Needham gets his associate degree, he will be the Community College of the Air Force's

  • CES plays role in Honduras exercise, Airmen recount experiences

    It was a trip that two sergeants said they will not soon forget. They were among 48 Airmen from the 934th Civil Engineer Squadron who deployed here recently to participate in New Horizons 2004 as part of Joint Command Task Force Orengo.The main focus of the exercise was to build local schools,

  • Nurses keep up heartbeat of 379th AEW

    In stark contrast to the white sheets of the hospital bed and a patient in a light blue paper gown, a nurse in a brown and tan desert camouflage uniform checks the patient’s vital signs on the nurse’s ward.In lieu of the clinically white uniform, the seven-person nursing team wears combat boots and