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U.S. Air Force News

  • Kunsan Airmen paint arctic F-16s for Eielson

    Airmen from the 8th Maintenance Squadron corrosion shop recently completed painting an arctic scheme on one of their F-16 Fighting Falcons -- a first for Kunsan and soon Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. In October, Kunsan received its initial group of Block 40 F-16 aircraft under the Common

  • Moody unit consolidates to support battlefield Airmen

    Members of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing here will bring a new level of support to Airmen who specialize in ground-combat missions by consolidating units starting in January. The 93rd AGOW officials will consolidate the tactical air control party and battlefield weather specialties of the 3rd

  • Joint Task Force in Honduras unveils new public Web site

    Officials from U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force-Bravo here recently unveiled its new public-access Web page. The site, which can be found at http://www.jtfb.southcom.mil, is regularly updated with current news and photos from the JTF-Bravo Public Affairs Office. The site is the official news

  • Cultural, language center expands Air Force-wide

    Air University's Culture and Language Center is beginning an evolutionary change toward becoming an Air Force-wide institution focusing on culture and language throughout the service. Beginning next year, the center's mission will expand to include service-wide responsibilities as it becomes the Air

  • Boxing trio visits Hurlburt Field Airmen

    Boxing promoter Don King and two world champion boxers talked to Airmen and signed autographs during a meet-and-greet session Dec. 5 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Five-time boxing world champion Felix Trinidad and eight-time boxing world champion Roy Jones Jr., on their "We Care" tour, stopped at the

  • Operational readiness exercise tests Airmen, Marines

    Airmen from the 18th Wing joined with elements from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing to conduct a joint operational readiness exercise Dec. 3 to 7 here. During the week-long exercise, Kadena Air Base members and their Marine counterparts were tested on their ability to execute their wartime taskings,

  • Award winning program prevents suicides

    The 59th Medical Wing leads the Department of Defense in patient safety for significantly reducing the chances for inpatient suicides among high risk people. The 59th Mental Health Squadron's winning initiative, "Nurse/Mental Health Technician Change of Shift Safety Checks," led by Capt. Jose

  • Air Force receives 2 DOD disability awards

    Defense officials here lauded an Air Force civilian and 15 everyday heroes for overcoming disabilities, as well as named the Air Force an outstanding organization for hiring people with disabilities Dec. 4 in Bethesda, Md. Among the award recipients was Ronald Greenfield, the chief of staff for the

  • Thrift investment board sets 2008 TSP contribution limits

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board here recently announced that 2008's elective deferral limit for regular TSP contributions is $15,500, which is the same amount for 2007.In addition, contributions for the catch-up plan will remain at the same $5,000 limit set in 2006 and 2007."TSP is a

  • USAFE answers call of wounded warriors

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials made a recent donation of two, four-story buildings, and the buildings have saved hours on the road for wounded U.S. forces. The former Air Force hotels, transformed by $2.5 million renovations, provide convenient lodging for 190 to 200 wounded warriors on the

  • Survivor assistance program manager receives new A1 award

    He provided around-the-clock assistance to more than 200 families who suffered the loss of an active-duty member, mentored 25 Airmen seriously injured or wounded in action, and was appointed by the secretary of Defense to serve on the Independent Review Group at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

  • Air Force engineers improve Marine quality of life in Iraq

    Airmen are improving the lives and operating conditions of Marines by constructing more than $9.8 million in aircraft shelters, taxiways and temporary shelters at Al Asad Air Base. Deployed in an "in-lieu-of" tasking in support of the 20th Army Engineer Brigade, 557th Expeditionary REDHORSE

  • PERSCO teams do more than track 'boots on the ground'

    Every commander needs to know who is in the field and how those numbers affect Air Force readiness -- in short, how many "boots are on the ground." Each Personnel Support for Contingency Operations team's mission is to maintain deployed accountability and casualty reporting for all deployed Airman

  • Nellis to save $1 million annually with use of solar panels

    Officials from Nellis Air Force Base and SunPower Corp. are scheduled to finalize the commission of 15 megawatts in solar power to the base this month, making up North America's largest solar photovoltaic power system. When complete, the solar power will save the base $1 million annually. The switch

  • Misawa team forges international friendships on the field

    Bitter temperatures, rain and snow couldn't stop die-hard hard soccer players from coming out to play a game with local Japanese teams as part of a friendship tournament held between Misawa United and two Japanese teams from an off-base league here in November. Misawa United is a team comprised of

  • Operation Deep Freeze main season underway

    Active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, combined efforts to support the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. The main season, which opened Sept. 28, is the

  • Christmas radio program arrives just in time for holidays

    More than 3,300 country music radio stations nationwide will get a present in the mail this week, courtesy of the Air Force. This year's "Red, White, and Air Force Blue Christmas" radio program CD, featuring multiple Grammy Award-winning recording artist LeAnn Rimes, is not commercially available.

  • Communications network continues to evolve

    Two years after its standup, the Radio-over-Internet Protocol Routed network, or RIPRnet, has a very different mission and much greater reach than originally planned. The RIPRnet is a key communications network for both ground convoys and air operations throughout Iraq, consisting of 15 core sites

  • An Afghan education built from the ground up

    Coalition mentors stationed in northern Afghanistan continue to take interest in the country's future by investing time and money in the "younger generation." An embedded training team assigned to Afghan Regional Security Integration Command - North has partnered with members of the Afghan National

  • Virtual spouse support group holds conference at Fort Bragg

    Anticipatory grief, reintegration and relocation are terms that often resonate with military spouses. As servicemembers are fighting on the front lines, spouses at home are forming the support networks that are keeping families strong. This sacrifice and shared understanding was the focus of the

  • 50th anniversary of Air Force mission remembered

    On Nov. 27, 1957, at 6:59 a.m., six USAF pilots took off from Los Angeles and began what would be called Operation Sun Run. On that day, three new transcontinental speed records were established, and the speed and range of the McDonnell RF-101C was showcased. Years later, this mission would be

  • General focuses on mission, future of AWACS

    The E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control system aircraft and its crews have led the way into battle many times in the past and are achieving combat excellence today, the commander of the nation's only AWACS flying wing said Nov. 27. The focus now, however, is on the future, Brig. Gen. Lori

  • 'Mind of Mencia' entertains troops in Middle East

    American servicemembers were treated to a United Service Organizations show where they were exposed to the "Mind of Mencia" Nov. 28 in Southwest Asia. Comedians Carlos Mencia, who stars in the Comedy Central show "Mind of Mencia," and Brad Williams entertained more than 600 servicemembers with two

  • Testing center opens at Camp Bucca

    Air Force security forces members here will now be able to redeploy home with their career development courses completed as base officials opened a new testing center.With many Airmen arriving for duty in the middle of upgrade training, Air Force leadership at Camp Bucca decided a testing center was

  • Conference makes virtual training a reality

    The special weapons and tactics team quickly moves through the terrorist camp to the front of a safe house while forces from air and sea take out the rest of the camp. With precise and quick tactics, the team proceeds though the house, takes out the remaining terrorists, secures the hostage, and

  • DOD, VA begin disability evaluation program

    The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs recently implemented a test program for disability cases originating at the three major military treatment facilities and the VA hospital in the national capital region. The leadership of DOD and VA will review the program's progress over

  • CSAF's Scope highlights Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets Jr.

    The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen. Among Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top issues is the recent death of Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets Jr., the pilot of the famous Enola Gay. "We all know General Tibbets as the pilot of

  • Tricare beneficiaries save with mail-order pharmacy

    Nearly 20,000 Tricare beneficiaries are saving money on their prescriptions after making the switch to mail order through the new member choice center. After only two months of operation, beneficiaries saved approximately $600,000 on prescriptions by switching from retail to the Tricare Mail Order

  • White Hawk soars, becomes Air Force warrior

    During the month of November we take time to recognize the contributions made by Native Americans to our nation's defense. Less than one percent of Airmen claim to be of Native American ancestry. Senior Airman Shiloh White Hawk, who is deployed here from the 1st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Langley

  • American servicemembers mentor Afghan maintainers

    American servicemembers are mentoring the Afghan national army's 205th Maintenance Corps to keeping its fleet of more than 1,300 vehicles operational at Forward Operating Base Hero in Afghanistan. Capt. Eric McGreevy and Army Staff Sgt. Mark Reynolds of the U.S. maintenance mentoring team here train

  • New log-in notice to clarify computer use issues

    Defense Department employees soon will see a new notice on their government computer screens informing them that their e-mails are subject to monitoring and that use of the computer means they recognize and consent to that monitoring. The revised language will appear throughout the department within

  • F-15 A-D models ordered to stand down for additional inspections

    For the second time this month, the commander of Air Combat Command has directed a fleet-wide inspection of all ACC F-15 A through D model aircraft. The directive follows Nov. 27 findings stemming from the investigation of an F-15C mishap that resulted in the loss of that aircraft on Nov. 2 . Based

  • Football: Falcons Armed Forces Bowl bound

    The U.S. Air Force Academy football team on Nov. 26 accepted an invitation to play in the fifth annual Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl to be held Dec. 31 in Fort Worth, Texas. The agreement was made during a teleconference call involving Dr. Hans Mueh, the Academy athletic director, Tom Starr, the

  • AFSOC welcomes new commander

    Air Force Special Operations Command ushered in a new commander Nov. 27 in Freedom Hangar at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Lt. Gen. Donnie Wurster assumed command of AFSOC from Lt. Gen. Mike Wooley, during a ceremony presided over by Gen. Duncan McNabb, Air Force vice chief of staff. "It's with the deepest

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights ABU updates

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the airman battle uniform and meeting the needs of today's readily deployable Airmen. While the ABU becomes mandatory in November 2011, Airmen who deploy, as well as those in basic military training are being issued the new uniform now. As ABU supplies

  • SECAF addresses logistics professionals on future missions

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne spoke about the future of Air Force logistics before a crowd of more than 1,300 officers and civilians at this year's annual Logistics Officer Association National Conference. "For some time now, I've been talking about a new way of war, and you all have

  • Forum exposes private industry to business opportunities

    More than 100 representatives from private industry joined Air Force representatives at the Enhanced Use Lease Program Industry Forum in Dallas, Nov. 8. The forum solicited feedback and highlighted potential EUL projects. Through the EUL program, officials lease underused military assets, including

  • Brothers reunite on first deployment

    The night before Thanksgiving, Staff Sgt. Malik Calhoun, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, K-9 handler finished playing his last flag football game and hurried over to the phantom center just before midnight. There, a new team of Airmen who had just arrived were in-processing, and there

  • Aviation resource Airmen train for future success

    Known amongst each other as "one-charlies," Airmen in the Air Force's aviation resource management career field can get advanced training through a pair of courses in the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's Mobility Operations School at Fort Dix, N.J. The Host Aviation Resource Management course,

  • Downrange Air Force convoy support center opens

    The cutting of a chain linking two tractor trailers marked the opening of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's new convoy support center Nov. 24 in Southwest Asia. The new eight-tent center consolidates all of the Air Force convoy support functions here into one area and increases

  • Academy accepts bid to Armed Forces Bowl

    U.S. Air Force Academy officials have accepted a bid to play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on New Year's Eve at Fort Worth, Texas. The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, an ESPN regional television owned-and-operated event, will be aired at 11:30 a.m. CST on ESPN, live from Amon G. Carter

  • Airmen help establish Iraqi air force

    Camp Taji Airmen are helping rebuild the Iraqi air force.The camp, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, is home to the 370th Expeditionary Training Squadron made up of officer and enlisted Airmen from various career fields who are training Iraqis in several technical training

  • Spangdahlem bodybuilder makes professional debut

    A Spangdahlem Air Base Airman made his professional bodybuilding debut at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation World Championship Nov. 10 in New York City."I went as a representative of the U.S. Air Force, but I also went along with the German team assisting their amateur athletes competing in

  • Airmen help Kyrgyz build homes, hope for the future

    Even the rain couldn't dampen the spirits of 20 local Kyrgyz families who received keys to their new homes Nov. 23 from Habitat for Humanity, and built with the help of Airmen here. Many of them, or their family members, had spent the last six months helping construct the four residential structures

  • First CMSAF earns Lifetime Achievement Award

    The first chief master sergeant of the Air Force announced he had learned the secret to winning awards to those in attendance at the Senior NCO Academy auditorium Nov. 20 here."The secret is simple  -- just live long enough," said retired Chief Paul Wesley Airey. "If you live long enough, (the

  • Operation Seasons Greetings brings holiday cheer to overseas Airmen

    What do you get when you cross a country music star, a latin pop sensation, a comedian and some cheerleaders? Ask Airmen here and they'll say a star-studded holiday tour called Operation Season's Greetings, which performed for the base's residents today. "It was cool," said Airman 1st Class Bryce

  • AMC commander discusses modernization, recapitalization issues

    Modernization of its aging fleet is one of the top priorities for Air Force leaders but it is complicated by program delays and budget limits, the commander of Air Mobility Command told members of the Logistics Officer Association in a speech here recently. The rising costs of modernizing the C-5

  • 'Dashboard' puts Guard, Reserve Airmen in driver's seat

    An enhancement to the virtual Personnel Center-Guard and Reserve, or vPC-GR, is scheduled to launch in December and will put Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen in the driver's seat of their personnel transactions. The new vPC-GR "dashboard" will streamline the way Airmen manage their vPC-GR

  • Bright Star brings together coalition forces

    Sixty Charleston Airmen recently participated in the oldest training exercise in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility aboard three C-17 Globemaster IIIs. Bright Star 07, hosted by Egypt in cooperation with USCENTCOM and U.S. Army Central Command, was held in Cairo from Nov. 3 to 19

  • Ramstein receives first upgraded C-130

    Bigger, faster, stronger. That is what the Air Force has in mind with its new J model C-130 Hercules aircraft, unveiled at Ramstein Nov. 9, and meant to replace the C-130E. With an extended cargo bay and added features, the C-130J is set to attack and execute any mission set in front of it,

  • Wilford Hall Medical Center: 50 years of medical excellence

    Hospital officials and guests commemorated Wilford Hall Medical Center for 50 years as the Air Force's medical flagship in a ceremony here Nov. 16 that marked medical excellence from 1957-2007.Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, commander of the 59th Medical Wing, led the ceremony to celebrate the

  • 3rd Medical Group ready for Soldiers' return

    The 3rd Medical Group here is ready to provide treatment to the more than 3,700 Soldiers from Fort Richardson's 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, who have returned or are preparing to return from deployment. "The men and women of the 3rd Medical Group have been making the

  • Servicemembers celebrate Thanksgiving in a new way

    Approximately 70 people from Joint Task Force Bravo made a five-and-half-mile hike up Comayagua Mountain Nov. 17 to bring a Thanksgiving-sized feast of more than 600 pounds of food to villagers in La Sampedrana, Honduras. The hike was the third in a series of five planned by Chaplain (Capt.) Chad

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights personal websites, blogging

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Airmen's public Web responsibilities to the Air Force, each other and the American public. To conduct day-to-day missions, Air Force people use new technology, which has carried over into the personal lives of Airmen. Today's Airmen are able to send messages

  • AF building bridges on energy, environment

    The Air Force's top energy and environmental steward wrapped up a week-long mission to Europe, building an energy awareness consortium among key air force and commercial aviation leaders Nov. 16. "Our goal was to connect with our counterparts in the French and British air forces, to build a

  • CCAF officials launch new Web-based tool

    Community College of the Air Force officials have launched a new Web-based tool that provides students education and national certification information related to Air Force occupational specialties. The Credentialing and Education Research Tool, or CERT, is an online research tool that links CCAF

  • Air Guard officials break ground for new readiness center

    Officials broke ground on a $52 million Air National Guard Readiness Center expansion here Nov. 19. When completed, the four-story complex will unite the existing ANGRC here with its Air Guard offices in Arlington, Va. Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Air National Guard director, said the expansion on

  • New 400-hour phase inspection equates to lives saved

    F-15E Strike Eagle maintainers here recently became the first in the Air Force to implement a new inspection process that promises greater airpower capability throughout Afghanistan. Shortly after becoming the first deployed F-15E unit in the Air Force to return to full operational capability

  • Americans text 'Thanks' to troops

    For those seeking a quick way to show appreciation for troops' serving far from home this holiday season, look no further than "Giving Thanks," a new initiative from the Defense Department's America Supports You program. America Supports You connects citizens and corporations with military personnel

  • New IO course expands technology knowledge

    Recent studies indicate more than one billion people worldwide digest information through the Internet alone. The Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center brought together 12 flag officers from across the defense department and governmental agencies Nov. 6 through 9 to learn how to

  • Gen. Hobbins honored with Order of the Sword

    With all the pomp and circumstance the U.S. Air Forces in Europe enlisted corps could muster, some 800 guests witnessed the induction of Gen. William T. Hobbins, USAFE commander, into the Order of the Sword here tonight. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor enlisted Airmen can bestow on an

  • EagleCash lands at Ali Base

    An Air Force EagleCash Card program team has been flying throughout the area of responsibility for the past six months implementing a time- and money-saving technology in southern Iraq. The three-person team, which included a member of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and two members from U.S.

  • SECAF honors international affairs office with award

    The secretary of the Air Force presented members of the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs office with the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award November 15. "Air Force International Affairs has been recognized over the years as one of the premiere organizations

  • Officials announce new selective reenlistment bonus list

    Following a selective reenlistment bonus review, Pentagon officials have released the latest SRB list, effective Dec. 15, containing 43 Air Force specialties. "Our SRB analysis process proved invaluable, and we were able to modify the list to apply bonuses to our most critical needs," said Senior

  • Officials begin to clear F-15Es to full-mission status

    Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft are now undergoing a safety inspection that will return them to flying status according to an order issued Nov. 11 by Gen. John Corley, the commander of Air Combat Command. Each of the 224 E-model aircraft require the completion of a 13-hour time-compliance

  • 44-year-old C-130 flies final combat mission, ends service

    After 44 years of service and more than 29,500 flying hours, a C-130 Hercules flew its final combat mission Nov. 13 from Southwest Asia and will next be heading to the boneyard. Aircraft 63-7865 from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and currently assigned to the 386th Air

  • AFRICOM helps partners confront stability challenges

    The U.S. military's unified command responsible for operations across Africa will help nations there confront poverty, disease, terrorism and other challenges that affect regional security and stability, U.S. officials said here Nov. 14.However, U.S. Africa Command-sponsored initiatives will

  • Personnel center to deployers: Don't leave without guide

    Most Air Force members being deployed to a foreign country have little knowledge of the culture they'll work in for the next four to 12 months. They don't know a Hijab from an Abaya or a Dishdasha from a Gutra. How many times a day can you say hello to someone in Kyrgystan? Why can't you eat with

  • U.S., Australia share new communications satellites

    Representatives from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force met at the Australian Embassy here to sign a memorandum of agreement that will provide both nations assured access to the Wideband Global SATCOM system, expanding the WGS constellation to six satellites. The expansion will

  • UAV detachment stands up at Creech

    A new detachment has been established at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., to manage MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle operational test and evaluation and force development evaluation for Air Combat Command. The Airmen assigned to Det. 4, a unit of the 53rd Test Management Group based

  • AF top JAG: 'Rule of law' critical for success in Iraq

    A fair justice system, which holds people accountable for their actions, is vital in stopping the violence in Iraq, said the Air Force's top judge advocate general recently during a tour of Southwest Asia. Maj. Gen. Jack L. Rives visited the men and women of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing during a

  • Wing's emblem symbolizes the 'first'

    The shield of the 509th Bombardment Wing is rich in tradition as each symbol on the shield represents some part of the past.  The wing's emblem was approved July 10, 1952 and has remained unchanged for 55 years. The yellow shield has a representation of an atomic cloud between a pair of blue

  • Air Force Reserve to operate with fewer reservists

    Air Force Reserve Command will operate with a smaller force in 2008. The fiscal 2008 Defense Appropriations Act signed by President George W. Bush Nov. 13 funds an end-strength of 67,500 reservists. Last year the projected end strength was 74,900. The new legislation also approves 9,999 full-time

  • New initiative offers education, training funds for military spouses

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates joined Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Nov. 14 in supporting a new initiative to help military spouses get the education and other credentials needed to pursue careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations.Secretary Gates praised the new Military Spouse Career

  • Not just another day at the office

    Staff Sgt. "Dean" was having a bad day at the office. As an Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller embedded with ground forces, his job was to serve as liaison between the ground commander and aircrews. On the afternoon of Oct. 27, the ten-vehicle convoy he was traveling with in Southern

  • Book offers lessons on fighting terrorism with airpower

    Airpower is a valuable weapon in the fight against terrorism but only if it is applied with discrimination and care, according to a new study of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War published by Air University officials. Widespread criticism of Israel for relying on its air force to attack Hezbollah

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights promotion notification

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on fielding a new web-based, virtual enlisted promotion release system. As one of America's leaders in technological development, innovation and process improvement, it is important the Air Force uses innovation in every aspect of operations to benefit all

  • New Tricare beneficiary Web site available

    Tricare Prime and Prime Remote beneficiaries in the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska, can enroll online with the new beneficiary Web enrollment, known as BWE. "The new online system may be one of Tricare's most convenient tools to date," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, the deputy director of

  • Medical mission becomes primary focus following Noel

    Military members deployed to the Dominican Republic to assist the island nation recover from Tropical Storm Noel are gearing up for a new, more focused mission. A team of 13 servicemembers from Joint Task Force-Bravo's Medical Element, based at Soto Cano Air base, Honduras, arrived Nov. 8 to provide

  • 'Today's Air Force' features mentoring Afghan airmen

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the mentorship of the new Afghanistan air corps with the help of Air Force English, academy and mission mentors. Also featured is the California fires and the role the C-17 Globemaster III played in the by hauling people, supplies, and equipment

  • Postured to help: 3rd Air Force ready

    Third Air Force officials have developed a new, quick-response humanitarian assistance capability to support the European theater, and Nov. 5, they launched a 36-hour Humanitarian Relief Operation 9-1-1 exercise to test it. The exercise scenario challenged the ability of Airmen at Ramstein to

  • Travis firefighters become four-time world champions

    Under the lights of the original Las Vegas strip, firefighters from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., won a fourth consecutive Scott World Firefighter Combat Challenge here. In a time of 4 minutes, 37.89 seconds, the Travis team earned the right to keep their trophy another year. "It was amazing to win

  • Secretary and chief of staff send Veterans Day message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley send this Veterans Day message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force: On Veteran's Day, our nation honors the great Americans who have stood ready to give life itself on behalf of freedom in

  • Vietnam wall speaks to both present and past

    At a time when wounds and memories of a long and bitterly protested war were still open and raw, when veterans were treated as villains instead of heroes, an Army veteran by the name of Jan Scruggs conceived the idea of building a memorial to honor those who served in Vietnam. Facing more opposition

  • Chief McKinley updates Airmen on Air Force priorities

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley recently reaffirmed the Air Force's three top priorities as winning the war on terrorism, developing and caring for Airmen and their families, and recapitalization and modernization. The Air Force's top enlisted Airman then spelled out where the

  • Whiteman home to Cold War reminder

    Whiteman is the only missile base that has a intercontinental ballistic missile launch control facility (known as Oscar-01) located on base. From 1963 to 1995, Whiteman was home to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, which operated the Minuteman II ICBM weapon system. The wing consisted of the 508th,

  • Service-disabled veterans key to meeting military missions

    Three Air Force winners were among 19 organizations and individuals honored at the first Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Awards Ceremony Nov. 5 at the Pentagon. The group of entrepreneurs and department acquisition officials earned praise from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England

  • Warfighters gather to train for close-air-support operations

    More than 200 warfighters from around the world gathered to combat a simulated enemy force comprised of insurgent groups, roadside bombs and hidden snipers Nov. 6 through 9 at the Avon Park Military Training Complex in central Florida. Atlantic Strike VI, a semi-annual training event sponsored by

  • AFRL wins workforce development award

    The Air Force Research Laboratory's director of personnel is excited about winning a highly coveted award, not just for her own organization, but because of what it says about the entire lab. "This is an AFRL award, an enterprise-wide effort, that says AFRL cares about its people," said Personnel

  • Airman takes next step toward her American dream

    One Airman's version of the American dream includes some children and a bakery of her own. It is a dream Airman 1st Class Olga Bilobol now has as a brand-new American citizen following a Nov. 6 naturalization ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base. "It means so much to me that I have a hard time

  • Upgraded A-10s prove worth in Iraq

    A new version of the A-10 Thunderbolt II has been flying over Iraq providing close-air support for the ground troops from Al Asad Air Base for nearly two months. As part of the Precision Engagement Upgrade Program, the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Wing has been converting it's A-10s from A to

  • Boxing: Air Force earns 6-4 decision over Army

    The Air Force boxing team earned a hard-hitting 6-4 victory over Army in the annual dual meet between the two programs, Nov. 2, in the Academy's upper boxing room. The Falcons, who opened the night with a pair of victories in front of the packed house, took the final three matches to secure the team

  • Live-fly exercise trains Airmen for combat mission

    More than 100 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern Airmen will train the way they fight as they participate in Mesa Fury 2007, a large force exercise Nov. 5 to Nov. 9. Mesa Fury 2007, a joint forces exercise, is designed to allow Airmen and participating Department of Defense combat units an

  • Football: Falcons ride record-breaker Hall over Army

    The way Air Force's Chad Hall gains ground would normally make an infantry soldier proud. Instead, the Falcon z-back broke the spirit of some future ground troops when he ran wild for 275 yards, leading the bluesuiters to a convincing 30-10 win over inter-service rival Army, before a season-high,

  • Partnership offers Airmen better business support

    Building on the service's efforts to educate Airmen on consumer-related issues, the Air Force began an official partnership with the Council of Better Business Bureaus recently. The partnership encourages Airmen and their families to use the bureau's free programs, services and materials while

  • Injured servicemembers get away from hospital to fish

    A bad day fishing is a whole lot better than a good day at work, said one Soldier here. For 38 injured servicemembers from the Warrior Transition Unit from the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, a day of free fishing meant a day away from treatment to have some fun on this south

  • B-2 arrives at Whiteman AFB

    When 15-year John H. Belanger took his first flying lesson in Menominee, Mich., little did he realize he'd be making aviation history 27 years later by co-piloting the B-2 bomber during arrival ceremonies at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Nor did this lieutenant colonel realize exactly what he was

  • JTF-Bravo deploys to support Tropical Storm Noel relief

    A team of 19 Airmen and Soldiers and two helicopters from Joint Task Force Bravo departed here Nov. 5 heading for the Dominican Republic to assist with recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Noel. The 19 servicemembers and two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were loaded on a C-5 Galaxy from the

  • AETC wins inaugural marathon major command trophy

    Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, is the Air Force's first recipient of the USAF Marathon MAJCOM Challenge Commander's Trophy. The announcement was made Nov. 2 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., by Gen. Bruce Carlson,

  • DLA-Warner Robins shop humming along following transition

    At a glance, you can't differentiate between Defense Logistics Agency employees and Air Force civilians in the F-15 Eagle wing shop here. Yet work continues to run smoothly following the mid-October activation of DLA-Warner Robins here in which DLA gained 240 employees from the Air Force. The new