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  • Additional resources online to support NSPS conversion

    Online training courses are now available to help smooth the upcoming transition of more than 40,000 current Air Force National Security Personnel System employees into non-NSPS personnel systems. To facilitate the conversion, multiple resources have been added to the NSPS's official Web site,

  • Official details results of missile review

    Ballistic missiles are an increasing threat to the United States and the Defense Department must keep up with them, the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy said.James N. Miller, speaking about the department's Nuclear Posture Review April 20 before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said

  • Inaugural warrior and survivor care conference held

    "Care beyond duty" was the theme for the Warrior and Survivor Care Conference hosted by Air Force Personnel Center officials here April 6 through 9."The goal for this conference was to bring three major groups together: the recovery care coordinators, base level community readiness consultants and

  • Virtual world prepares mobility Airmen for real mission

    Airmen preparing for the worldwide mobility mission of the 621st Contingency Response Wing here now have a powerful new training tool. A state-of-the-art virtual firearms training simulator with a 300-degree field of view is now being operated by members of the 819th Global Support Squadron to

  • Airmen deliver new Army helicopter to Europe

    A C-17 Globemaster III loaded new Army light utility helicopters for delivery to the warfighters April 12 here.This marked the first time UH-72 helicopters were transferred directly overseas via Air Force transport. The C-17 assigned to the Mississippi Air National Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing in

  • Air Force officials cancel officer training boards

    Air Force Recruiting Service officials here announced April 14 that they are canceling the upcoming summer Officer Training School board and possibly other future boards until further notice. The board is being canceled due to the Air Force's recently announced overall Force Management program to

  • New AF dining program opens doors for retirees, base employees

    Air Force Services Agency officials are implementing a new Food Transformation Initiative, enabling base employees and retirees living near six bases to use military food service establishments previously reserved for active-duty Airmen. Retirees and base employees will pay the same menu price as

  • Photo essay: Strike Eagle, Fighting Falcon 'thunder' over Kentucky

    Two Air Combat Command demonstration teams landed at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base here April 15, just in time for "the thunder."The F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon are just two of many aircraft taking flight this weekend for the Thunder Over Louisville air show.  During the ACC

  • Photo essay: Doolittle Raiders meet for 68th reunion

    Some of the remaining members of the Doolittle Raiders participate in a question and answer session with the media here April 16. The Raiders continue to inspire those servicing in the Air Force. View the slideshow.

  • Aircrews kick off Red Flag-Alaska 10-2

    The initial briefings and familiarization flights are complete and now pilots and aircrews are participating in world-class aerial combat training over Alaska until the end of April.  Officials here are hosting Red Flag-Alaska 10-2. Air Force units from Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Kunsan Air

  • DOD announces recruiting and retention numbers

    Department of Defense officials announced April 16 their recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for March 2010.Active Component:Recruiting All four active services met or exceeded their accession goals for March 2010.-- Air Force - 2,835 accessions with a goal of

  • Keesler chief to compete in Warrior Games

    A chief master sergeant here is one of only 20 Airmen and Air Force veterans to participate in the inaugural Warrior Games, May 10 through 14, in Colorado Springs, Colo.Chief Master Sgt. Damian Orslene, the 81st Training Support Squadron superintendent, will represent the Air Force and compete with

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View slideshow.

  • Remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators named Air Force Team of the Year

    Air Force officials and Air Force Association representatives have named Air Force remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators as the 2010 Team of the Year.Each year, AFA officials, working with major command-level command chief master sergeants and the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air

  • Charleston officials support Operation Enduring Freedom build-up

    Members of the 4th Marine Logistics Group, 4th Atlanta Support Battalion, Charlie Company here are moving shipments of mine-resistant, ambush-protected, all-terrain vehicles overseas to a number of remote locations supporting the build-up for Operation Enduring Freedom.M-ATVs are armored vehicles

  • Airmen provide humanitarian assistance in Kyrgyz village

    Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas here participated in a humanitarian mission in Iskra Village April 14. Airmen brought food, clothing and entertainment items to patients at the TokMok Psychoneurologic Boarding House.This boarding house, which falls under the Kyrgyz Republic State Agency for

  • Mrs. Obama, Dr. Biden praise military children

    The wives of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden paid tribute to military children, honoring their strength and sacrifice, in a Month of the Military Child video message posted on the White House Web site."As a grateful nation, it is our sacred responsibility to stand by our military

  • Northwest Field critical to training, ecosystem

    Andersen Air Force Base's Northwest Field has, over the years, become a critical training asset to support current operations.Along with essential contingency training, the area is also important to the future of Guam's ecosystem, with several endangered species calling the area home.Northwest Field

  • Air Force officials reduce Palace Chase obligation

    Air Force officials here recently reduced the Reserve commitment for officers and enlisted members participating in Palace Chase temporarily as part of Air Force management measures to balance the force while meeting a congressionally mandated end strength. The three-to-one officer and two-for-one

  • Barksdale Airmen restore B-17G for 8th Air Force museum

    Airmen, volunteers and contractors here are busy preserving, restoring and painting a B-17G Flying Fortress for the 8th Air Force Museum in honor of Maj. Gen. Lewis E. Lyle, a World War II B-17 pilot.The aircraft being restored will be preserved to the best extent possible and replicated as the

  • Education activity launches interactive resource

    Officials with the Department of Defense Education Activity's educational partnership have launched an interactive educational resource for military families, military leaders and school leaders.The resource, "Students at the Center," provides information on important policies, procedures and best

  • Cadets, students 'CANVAS' networks in hacking challenge

    Seventy college and high school students hunted down design and implementation weaknesses for a fictional social networking site during the 2010 Computer and Network Vulnerability Assessment Scenario April 2, here. College students from Colorado State University, the University of Colorado at

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View slideshow.

  • Air Force officials launch language program for Airmen

    Officials at the Air Force Culture and Language Center here recently launched a program designed to identify Airmen with foreign language abilities and foster those skills throughout their careers. The Language Enabled Airman Program is the first career-long program designed to offer

  • Air Force officials honor top Public Affairs communicators

    Air Force Public Affairs Agency officials here announced the results of the 2009 Air Force Media Contest in writing, photography and broadcasting April 7.Winners in writing and broadcast categories advance to represent the Air Force in the annual Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Awards

  • Official offers tax guidance as deadline looms

    With the April 15 tax deadline around the corner, a defense official has offered guidance on how troops can file their returns, and reminded servicemembers to submit their forms on time. Servicemembers have two options for filing: they either can seek advice from a legal assistance office on their

  • April 6 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 6 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Air Operations in AfghanistanClose-Air SupportLashkar GahAir Force MQ-9A Reaper

  • Photo essay: Ellsworth Airmen keep B-1s flying

    Crew chiefs for the B-1 Lancer give it a close structural inspection here March 31 before the Lancer is ready for another mission.  They are assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. View the slideshow.

  • Cadet of the year receives honor from Air Force chief of staff

    An Air Force ROTC cadet at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology received the 2009 Air Force Cadet of the Year Award from the Air Force chief of staff during a ceremony at the Pentagon April 5.Sponsored by the Air Squadron of the United Kingdom, the cadet-of-the-year award goes to the

  • Shinseki vows to reduce VA's claims backlog

    Prioritizing the work ahead shortly after his first anniversary on the job, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said his focus for the year ahead is on reducing the disability claims backlog. "We are going to break the back of the backlog this year," Secretary Shinseki said during an

  • Barksdale Airmen build homes for needy families

    More than a dozen Barksdale Air Force Base Airmen came together to help give a deserving family the gift of a lifetime March 20 in downtown Shreveport, La. The volunteers met up at the building site with Habitat for Humanity volunteers, family members and workers from the Military Entrance

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View slideshow.

  • Original song competition at MyAirForceLife.com

    More than 70 years ago, Capt. Robert MacArthur Crawford, an Airman with the Army Air Corps, won an original song competition with an entry that eventually became the official song for the U.S. Air Force. Captain Crawford wrote the lyrics and music to "Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder."Starting

  • Photo essay: Ellsworth team sets off big 'bang'

    The explosive ordnance disposal team from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron here set off shaped charges during training March 30. The training prepares the EOD team for real world problems. View slideshow

  • Beale family selected as Air Force FitFamily of the month

    The family of a 9th Support Division Squadron member here was selected as the Air Force's FitFamily of the Month for March after logging more points than any other Air Force family on the program's Web site.The FitFamily Web site provides a venue for families to participate in family activities and

  • Eligible officers may apply for VSP April 1

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here begin accepting applications for voluntary separation pay April 1 from eligible officers.Officers in nine Air Force specialties across five year groups who are being considered to meet the 2010 Reduction in Force Board convening Sept. 20 are eligible to

  • General Schwartz releases 2010 CSAF Reading List

    The Air Force chief of staff announced his latest CSAF reading list April 1. "I am pleased to announce my 2010 reading list, which provides valuable ways for all Airmen to further their professional education and augment their leadership skills,"  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz

  • Photo essay: Dogs run final course

    Three military working dogs here are due to be medically retired April 6, and took a final run at the kennel obstacle course March 25.  The dogs and their partners are assigned to the 56th Security Forces.View the slideshow.

  • Air Force officials conclude 2010 NCO retraining program

    The 2010 NCO Retraining Program has concluded with 966 Air Force NCOs identified to transition to new career fields and the successful introduction of two new procedures. Efforts to rebalance the NCO force are being considered a success this year, officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here

  • Radar bound for Bagram will help pilots avoid birds

    A trailer with antennas and wires temporarily parked on base awaiting transit to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, might not look like much, but it could save the military lives and money when it gets shipped later this spring. The trailer contains a Merlin Aircraft Birdstrike Avoidance Radar System

  • Social media sites soon will be open on the Air Force Network

    Air Force officials are opening the Air Force network to allow access to Internet-based social-networking sites. Initial access will be available at five Pacific Air Forces bases March 30, and will begin opening sites Air Force-wide later in April.This change in policy is a result of the Department

  • Shaw dormitory earns national environmental award

    Shaw Air Force Base's newest Airmen's dormitory, building 421, has earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The award was presented in a ceremony here March 16.The building earned the distinction for a number of

  • Elmendorf Airmen complete airdrop using 3-D weather technology

    Airmen from Elmendorf Air Force Base completed the first improved container delivery system drop using new 3-D weather technology March 19 over Tin City, Alaska.The new system allows for better drop precision, factors in the altitude, wind speed, wind direction, terrain and other circumstances that

  • Photo essay: Kadena Airmen train for survival

    Members of the 909th Air Refueling Squadron train in proper survival and evasion procedures as part of a local operational readiness exercise here March 25. The exercise tests the readiness of Kadena Airmen. View the slideshow.

  • Military families get free access to caregiver network

    Military families now have free access to an online network of quality caregivers who can assist with everything from babysitting to dog walking. Sittercity is the nation's largest online source for local babysitters, nannies, elder care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers and tutors, and contains

  • Reporters reflect on '30 Days Through Afghanistan'

    Two Air Force journalists behind an ambitious NATO International Security Assistance Force project to traverse Afghanistan in one month and file daily reports in words, photos and video recapped their experiences in a March 25 "DOD Live" bloggers roundtable. The Web-based project, titled "30 Days

  • Air Force officials team up with Kenny Bernstein Racing team

    Air Force recruiting officials announced March 26 that the Air Force will begin a new partnership with Kenny Bernstein Racing as a sponsor of the Coparts/Lucas Oil top fuel dragster for the remaining 20 races in the 2010 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. "It is with a great deal of patriotic pride

  • Latest 'Portraits in Courage' released

    The stories of heroism, valor, sacrifice and bravery of 17 Airmen appear in the fourth edition of the Air Force's Portraits in Courage now available.The stories are compelling: Airmen who call in close-air support following an improvised explosive device attack, save the life of an Afghan

  • Air Force officials reduce current accessions goal

    Air Force officials here are reducing the service's current active-duty enlisted recruiting goal from 31,750 to 29,384 for the remainder of fiscal 2010. This reduction is one of the measures the Air Force uses to manage force manning to meet authorized Air Force end-strength. Force management is a

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Airmen expand mobile hospital in Chile

    Airmen from an Air Force Expeditionary Medical Support team and Chilean army members expand the mobile hospital March 23 here. The expansion will better meet the medical needs of the population surrounding Angol until a permanent hospital can be built.View slideshow.

  • Air Force leaders expand force management options

    Due to the high volume of traffic on the Air Force Personnel Center personnel services Web site following this announcement, Airmen experiencing difficulty accessing the site may direct their questions concerning force management to their base military personnel sections or the Total Force Service

  • Air Force officials continue plans to modernize GPS

    Through the years, the Global Positioning System has become one of the most widely-used Air Force applications.Today GPS is used in everything from farming and aviation to public safety, disaster relief and recreation, not to mention its military purpose of providing precision navigation and timing

  • Photo essay: Special tactics Airmen jump at night

    Airmen from the U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Training Squadron participated in a high altitude, low opening or HALO, mission near here March 16 during Exercise Emerald Warrior 2010. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Academy freshmen attain status

    Freshman in the class of 2013 participate in the annual recognition events here March 12.  Recognition consists of several days of mentally and physically demanding activities, and culminates with the ascension of the freshmen into the ranks of upper class cadets. View slideshow.

  • Former chief of staff laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

    The 10th chief of staff of the Air Force was laid to rest in a full-honors ceremony March 22 at Arlington National Cemetery, but his legacy lives with today's Airmen through his emphasis on developing camaraderie, pursuing history and recognizing excellence.Gen. Lew Allen Jr. passed away Jan. 4 in

  • Air Force officials name 2009 public service award winners

    Air Force officials here recently announced the four Air Force winners and nominees for the 2009 Government Employees Insurance Company Public Service awards.Jeffery Hikes of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., James Ratliff of Scott AFB, Ill., Bill James of Lackland AFB, Texas, and Norman Morrisette of

  • Photo essay: Lacrosse Falcons beat Black Knights

    The Air Force Falcons met the Army Black Knights in an action-packed lacrosse contest held March 13 here at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Black Knights 8-7 in overtime. View slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcons defeat South Dakota State

    The Air Force Falcons went against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits March 5 in a baseball game held here at Falcon Field. The Falcons rallied with 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to win the contest 12-11. View the slideshow.

  • Additional bidder could enter tanker competition

    A company that had been partnering with Northrop Grumman before it withdrew from the KC-X tanker competition has asked for additional time to submit a proposal, a senior defense official confirmed March 19. Defense Department officials are considering European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co.'s

  • VA officials set to kick off winter sports clinic

    More than 400 injured veterans have signed up to take part in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., the largest adaptive event of its kind in the world, scheduled from March 28 through April 2."This VA winter clinic is an extension of the superb

  • Air Force leaders issue 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' message

    The three top Air Force leaders have issued a service-wide message explaining how Air Force people will support the Department of Defense working group evaluating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation.Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master

  • DOD announces recruiting and retention numbers

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

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View slideshow.

  • Air Force Uniform Office planning for the future

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

  • Photo essay: Crews train to fight fire

    Firefighters from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville, Fla., train with a live fire burn pit March 13 at the Air National Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center here. The burn pit re-creates most scenarios of a real aircraft fire. View the slideshow.

  • Officials implement second DOS rollback

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

  • Photo essay: Falcons beat Army Black Knights

    The Air Force came out on top in a best of three series with the Army's Black Knights in an Atlantic Hockey Association quarterfinal March 12, at the Cadet Ice Arena here.View slideshow.

  • ISR Wing members contribute to the fight

    Members of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing are assisting coalition forces with the expanding need for ISR data in Southwest Asia by processing, exploiting and disseminating information coming from remotely piloted aircraft.More than 4,100 Airmen, civilians and

  • Air Force pilot MIA from Vietnam War is identified

    The Department of Defense announced March 16 that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Air Force Maj. Curtis Daniel Miller of Palacios, Texas, will be buried on March 29

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

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

  • AETC Airmen lead way to efficient energy practices

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

  • More customers using MyPay for faster, safer service

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

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

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

  • Interpreters crucial to Iraqi training mission

    U.S. Airman serving in the Iraq training and advisory mission - Air Force must accomplish their objective to "Train, Advise, and Assist" but when the students speak a foreign language, how is it possible?One word: Interpreter."What we do here is not just interpretation for conversation," said Joe,

  • MQ-1 Predator crashes in Southern Afghanistan

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft crashed in Southern Afghanistan at approximately 11:45 p.m. Kabul time March 14. The crash was not due to hostile fire. The crash site has been secured and there were no reports of injuries or property damage.The aircraft is a medium-altitude,

  • Day 34 of '30+ Days Through Afghanistan'

    The Web-based project, "30 Days Through Afghanistan," kicked off Feb. 8 and aims to bring the people, the mission and the experiences of the men and women assigned to the International Security Assistance Force to a worldwide audience through the eyes of Tech. Sgts. Nathan Gallahan and Kenneth

  • Day 33 of '30+ Days Through Afghanistan'

    The Web-based project, "30 Days Through Afghanistan," kicked off Feb. 8 and aims to bring the people, the mission and the experiences of the men and women assigned to the International Security Assistance Force to a worldwide audience through the eyes of Tech. Sgts. Nathan Gallahan and Kenneth

  • NSPS Web site adds features to track transition

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

  • Remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators named team of year

    Air Force and Air Force Association officials recently announced remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators as the 2010 Team of the Year.AFA officials named five enlisted Airmen in the RPA sensor operators' career field as individual 2010 Team of the Year award winners.Each year, AFA officials

  • New process available for selecting retirement option

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

  • Day 32 of '30+ Days Through Afghanistan'

    The Web-based project, "30 Days Through Afghanistan," kicked off Feb. 8 and aims to bring the people, the mission and the experiences of the men and women assigned to the International Security Assistance Force to a worldwide audience through the eyes of Tech. Sgts. Nathan Gallahan and Kenneth

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Black light inspection

    Microscopic iron solution over parts inside a magnetic particle machine reveal a rainbow of colors March 9 at the non-destructive inspection shop here. The process is crucial in identifying defective aircraft parts to prevent possible failure due to microscopic cracks and fractures on the surface. 

  • Solar array to 'dim' Luke's electric bill

    Members of the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron here are exploring ways to reduce the multi million dollar electric bill and go 'green' with plans to build one of the largest solar arrays in the Air Force by December 2011 at Luke Air Force Base.2nd Lt. Christopher Warshaw, the 56th CES energy projects

  • Employment program to resume for enrolled spouses

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

  • Day 31 of '30+ Days Through Afghanistan'

    The Web-based project, "30 Days Through Afghanistan," kicked off Feb. 8 and has been bringing the people, the mission and the experiences of the men and women assigned to the International Security Assistance Force to a worldwide audience through the eyes of Tech. Sgts. Nathan Gallahan and Kenneth

  • American servicemembers help Afghans make strides

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