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  • Mechanic snares $10,000 through IDEA program

    William Durham was watching an infomercial about a year ago that featured a steamer blasting away caked-on pizza residue from an oven. He was amazed at how easily the steamer cleaned bathrooms, ovens and even barbecue grills. Part of Mr. Durham's job as a mechanic with the 76th Maintenance Wing is

  • Rain doesn't stop San Antonio's Freedom Walk

    Off and on rain, symbolic tears, fell upon the more than 1,200 walkers who took part in San Antonio's first Freedom Walk Sept. 11 in remembrance of the tragic attacks that scarred America five years ago. "Remembering the Pentagon, the World Trade Center in New York, and Shanksville, Pa., the America

  • Internship promotes international relationship

    A medical summer internship program between Japan and Misawa Air Base builds bridges between nations, develops professional relationships and improves international health care. "Instead of flying to the states (to experience American medicine), they come to Misawa," said Paul Sayles, 35th Medical

  • Officials announce T-3A Firefly final disposition

    Nearly a decade after the Air Force stood down the T-3A Firefly fleet following three fatal accidents, Air Force officials made a final disposition decision to salvage the aircraft in place. Base officials here announced the selection of TOTALL Metal Recycling Inc., of Granite City, Ill., to handle

  • USAFE sets course with AFSO 21

    To best meet the challenges of the road ahead, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander assembled leaders throughout the command here to initiate USAFE-wide implementation of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. "We're going to determine where we're going in the future, and AFSO 21 will

  • ESC awards $627.8 million task order

    The Electronic Systems Center's 554th Electronic Systems Group awarded a $627.8 million task order Sept. 7 to Computer Sciences Corporation for systems integration support.The order includes configuring, deploying and conducting training and change management activities for the Expeditionary Combat

  • Freedom Walks to commemorate 9/11, honor veterans

    Tens of thousands of Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are preparing to put on their walking shoes during the next few days as they participate in Freedom Walks to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to honor veterans, past and

  • Air University offers online language training

    Air University officials here are offering an opportunity to active-duty company grade officers to study a foreign language online at no cost. In an effort to fulfill the Air Force chief of staff's guidance to develop culturally and linguistically competent Airmen, Air University will present the

  • Rising fuel costs tighten Air Force belt

    The growing cost of crude oil combined with increasing fuel demands of the war on terrorism are forcing Air Combat Command officials to brace for a budget crisis while looking for future fuel alternatives. The Air Force paid approximately $4.2 billion for petroleum in fiscal 2005 -- almost $1.4

  • Researchers aim to enhance air vehicle systems

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials here recently awarded the University of Washington and three partner universities a grant worth approximately $6 million over five years to study the design of air vehicles capable of collecting and storing solar and heat energies. The

  • Air Force Research Lab names 2006 fellows

    Air Force Research Laboratory officials are honoring seven scientists and engineers as new fellows during an annual awards banquet Sept. 19 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Designed to recognize and reward AFRL's most outstanding in-house scientists and engineers, the fellows

  • Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

    With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

  • Lackland medics keep steady deployment pace

    More than 100 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing departed Wilford Hall Medical Center here earlier this week for various locations throughout Southwest Asia, including the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.Others will follow throughout September, with a final count of more than

  • Armed Forces Voters Week focuses on electronic options

    The Defense Department is focusing efforts to ensure servicemembers stationed overseas and in the United States know their options for voting in the 2006 congressional and local elections. Sept. 3-9 is Armed Forces Voters Week. Officials caution that this is the last safe week to submit a Federal

  • Former KC-135 pilot reminisces about plane's glory days

    Retired Lt. Col. Bill Fisher has lived a story that only a few can tell -- he was among the first Air Force pilots to fly the KC-135 Stratotanker. As Tinker Air Force Base prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the KC-135's maiden flight, Colonel Fisher reminisced about the glory days. "I was

  • Small Diameter Bomb I delivered ahead of schedule

    The culmination of more than five years of extraordinary teamwork was realized when the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb was successfully delivered to the warfighter ahead of schedule and under cost. "This achievement represents an unparalleled team victory for the combined Air Armament Center and

  • Retired chief can't say goodbye to KC-135

    Nearly 50 years after retired Chief Master Sgt. Bobby McCasland boarded his first KC-135 Stratotanker, he is still in the KC-135 business. Today, he is a program manager for a team building a Test Tanker 2 KC-135R for the Air Force. Chief McCasland is also honoring his roots and making arrangements

  • AFMx21 defining, creating future of Air Force maintenance

    Maintenance leaders from the Air Staff and major commands met in Dayton, Ohio, to discuss the current state of Air Force maintenance, trends, fiscal realities and vision through the year 2016.Known as "Air Force Maintenance for the 21st Century," or AFMx21, the program is championed by Brig. Gen.

  • F-35 Lightning II JSF testing marks program milestone

    Arnold Engineering Development Center officials just completed aerodynamic testing on two variants of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to support flight testing of the plane later this year. With this latest test, the AEDC staff surpassed 8,000 hours of JSF testing in the center's

  • Air Force Reserve tops recruiting goal again

    For the sixth year in a row, Air Force Reserve Command officials have exceeded the command's recruiting goal.AFRC Recruiting Service surpassed its goal for the 2006 recruiting year Aug. 31 when officials accessed its 8,001st recruit as the number of people signing up continues to climb. Col. Francis

  • SBP offers option for retirement financial planning

    The Survivor Benefit Plan has a lot to offer retiring Airmen as part of a solid financial plan, and the open enrollment period runs through Sept. 30.Along with savings, investments and insurance, the SBP affords the opportunity to provide financially to an Airman's spouse for life. One benefit

  • Airmen take Red Flag plunge

    Parachutists from around the Air Force took a plunge Sept. 1 into local Lake Mead drop zone in support of Red Flag 06-2. U.S. Air Force C-130 and Singapore Air Force Ch-47 Chinook crews provided Red Flag airlift operations in support of the jumps. Nellis Airmen also supported the mission by

  • Operational missile defense test a total success

    A test of the Ground-based Missile Defense System today was a total success, said Lt. Gen. Henry A. Obering III, director of the Missile Defense Agency.General Obering called today's test, the first operational one for the system, a huge step in fielding of the missile defense shield. He said he

  • Airmen come to aid of Air Force widow

    Airmen here are pitching in to help a 72-year-old Air Force widow rebuild her house following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The effort is part of a base humanitarian relief operation partnered with local charitable organizations on 700 cases across the Gulf Coast since the hurricane in

  • Lawmakers, DOD take aim at payday loan sharks

    Interest is building on Capitol Hill in putting a nationwide cap on the interest rates lenders can charge servicemembers for loans, a measure the Defense Department is pushing to protect its force. A General Accountability Office study released last month offers insight into how payday-lending

  • Bagram C-130s drop high-tech cargo delivery system

    The same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy now allows cargo bundles dropped from cargo planes to steer themselves to drop zones. A C-130 Hercules from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here dropped supplies to a U.S.

  • Military helps wounded troops return to work

    Officials from the Defense Department and military services got together here Aug. 30 for the first "From Deployment to Employment" conference to discuss ways to better serve America's severely injured servicemembers. The day-long conference was a forum to exchange ideas about how to improve the

  • AFSO 21 team learns 'Lean' lessons from Dover Airmen

    An Air Force Smart Operations 21 team from the office of the secretary of the Air Force gained valuable insight into how to "Lean" a work process during a visit to Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 21 to 25. The AFSO 21 team from the Pentagon is comprised of 72 master process officers going through a

  • Military members transition into life after deployment

    Fourteen military couples from across the U.S. left their homes Aug. 24 for a different kind of mission at Lantana Lodge, a lakeside resort at Jordan State Park in northern Denton County, Texas. The couples, who had been separated for months due to deployments in combat areas around the

  • Electronic travel system streamlines business process

    The Air Force has completed deployment of a new computerized travel system at all its major installations. The Defense Travel System was installed Aug. 10 at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., marking the end of a nearly three-year deployment of the system to bases in both the United States and

  • NASA invites students to help astronaut count the stars

    NASA and the Canadian Space Agency are collaborating on a new education activity that helps students become astronomers. The Star Count Project will investigate the visual quality of the night sky and help assess the extent of atmospheric light pollution.There are many factors that affect how many

  • CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

    When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the

  • Airmen experience tip of expeditionary spear

    Most Airmen have experienced the expeditionary air and space force, but for about 170 Airmen serving in the military personnel exchange program, the term "expeditionary" takes on a whole new meaning. Officers and senior NCOs serving in the MPEP are assigned to nearly three dozen foreign air forces

  • Operation Deep Freeze under way with C-17 support

    A C-17 Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., has flown four missions from Christchurch, New Zealand, kicking off the 2006 to 2007 season for Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, known as Operation Deep Freeze.Servicemembers and equipment will stage to

  • Keesler Medical Center rebounds from Katrina

    Keesler Medical Center, the second largest Air Force medical center, has made great strides in rebounding from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina one year ago. The facility is rapidly returning to its pre-Katrina status, both from the standpoint of the physical plant and services. Full

  • Leadership development program assists GS-15 advancement

    A new leadership development program called GS-15 LD provides a total force development vision for Air Force civilians in the GS-15 grade, preparing them for senior roles in the Department of Defense. "We're working hard to prepare these people to successfully lead at the Senior Executive Service

  • Air Force legend passes away at 86

    Retired Brig. Gen. Robert F. McDermott, U.S. Air Force Academy dean of the faculty from 1956 to 1968, died Aug. 28 in San Antonio. He suffered a stroke Aug. 17 and died at Brooke Army Medical Center. He was 86. The namesake of the academy's McDermott Library, he began his military career as a combat

  • Chief McKinley says force shaping will build stronger force

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley acknowledges that today's force shaping initiatives will impact many Airmen, but the benefits will help build a stronger Air Force of tomorrow. Force shaping addresses both the size and shape of the force, and Air Force officials prioritize shaping

  • AF Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame inducts 6

    Six trailblazers were inducted here Aug. 24 into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame for their significant accomplishments in the advancement of space and missile programs in the Air Force. The inductees, whose work formed the basis upon which Air Force Space Command now operates,

  • Joint review fosters communication, collaboration

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials recently traveled to Atlanta where they completed their yearly Joint Program Review of basic research funded projects. Hundreds of notable researchers and scientists attended this year's program representing the Air Force Research Laboratory,

  • Web site to outline voting options for Americans overseas

    A new Web site being developed by the Defense Department will provide information on electronic voting options for servicemembers and other U.S. citizens living overseas. The Integrated Voting Alternative Site is scheduled to be accessible Sept. 1. It will include information from all 55 states and

  • Defense Department set to kick off 'Why We Serve' tour

    In an effort to help the American people understand why U.S. servicemembers choose to serve their country and what the experience entails, the Defense Department has launched a program it calls "Why We Serve." "Essentially, Why We Serve is an armed forces-style grassroots movement to reconnect with

  • Unique mission: Guarding a space wing missile complex

    The rolling prairie hills here are blanketed with wind-driven swaying fields of golden grain. With an average of nine people per square mile in this state, the farm lands here seem to be a postcard setting for tranquil, peaceful living. Appearances can be deceiving. One hundred and fifty Minuteman

  • Tenacious trainers triumph in Katrina's wake

    One of Keesler's most remarkable Hurricane Katrina success stories is the resurgence of the 81st Training Group. Training, Keesler's primary mission, has not only rebounded, but has flourished in the past year, said Col. Deborah Van De Ven, who took command of the 81st TRG a month after Katrina's

  • Joint dermatology program receives maximum accreditation

    Accreditation was awarded to the Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center Dermatology Residency Program Aug. 16. The accreditation signifies that the integrated Army and Air Force dermatology program meets or exceeds the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate

  • Air Force leaders attend Blue Summit

    More than 600 senior Air Force leaders gathered here Aug. 24 at the invitation of their top uniformed leader to discuss issues of importance to that service. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley invited all general officers from the ranks of active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force

  • Ulchi Focus Lens kicks off in Korea

    Exercise Ulchi Focus Lens '06 kicked off Aug. 21 across the Korean peninsula. UFL, as the exercise is commonly known, takes place each year in the late summer. The command post exercise is designed to provide simulated combined training for U.S. and Korean forces and to strengthen the alliance

  • Ukraine officers visit RAF Lakenheath

    A group of Ukrainian military officers completed a five-day visit Aug. 18 to the 48th Fighter Wing here where they learned about U.S. Air Force training and operational processes. Part of a U.S. European Command-sponsored Joint Contact Training Program, the visit fosters bilateral cooperation

  • Letter to Airmen recognizes Air Force transformation

    In his latest "Letter to Airmen," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley discusses measures that will shape and transform the Air Force.  General Moseley said Airmen today are engaged in a vast array of missions from operating satellites in deep space to applying air power to the surface

  • Tracking technology improves sustainment

    Air Force Materiel Command members are taking advantage of Automatic Identification Technology and finding ways to improve it. Logistics and depot maintenance experts demonstrated some cutting-edge tracking technology projects during an AIT Showcase Aug. 15 attended by senior AFMC people. The

  • Little Rock Airmen train Romanian maintainers

    Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 4, are providing first-of-its-kind training for Romanian air force maintainers with a custom-made program at the C-130 Center of Excellence here.Det. 4 members built training classes specifically for the Romanians, and then four separate classes of

  • Products to revolutionize space weather forecasts

    Predicting the harmful effects of space weather on a U.S. military asset or mission has been advanced with the delivery of a prototype that combines environmental information with system specifications and thresholds. The prototype, which consists of five computer-generated products, provides

  • Small-diameter bomb ready for war on terror

    Four major acquisition programs -- developed in parallel -- have come together to provide Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crews with a revolutionary capability that combines accuracy and reduced collateral damage. Military and civilian employees in seven locations worked together developing the four

  • New senior acquisition executive on board

    Air Force officials recently named the new assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. As the Air Force's new senior acquisition executive, Sue C. Payton is responsible for all Air Force research, development and non-space acquisition activities. She provides direction, guidance and

  • Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

    More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

  • Academy engineering among nation's top programs

    Several U.S. Air Force Academy undergraduate engineering programs rank among the top in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report's America's best colleges 2007 rankings. The U.S. News & World Report rankings were released Aug. 18. The rankings are separated by which universities offer

  • AEF Center reassigned to Air Force Personnel Center

    The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center will be assigned under the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley announced today. The reassignment, which becomes effective Aug. 29, will synergize operations between the two centers

  • Unit fires first live air-to-air missiles in South Korea

    With the call "Fox 2," pilots here employed AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on Aug. 16 for the first time in the history of 7th Air Force in Korea, serving as the driving force behind implementing a weapon system evaluation program here.The initiative by the 80th Fighter Squadron here to shoot live,

  • COMUSAFE concludes Russian visit

    Improved relations and future operational cooperation between U.S. and Russian air forces was the goal of a four-day visit to Russia by the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.Gen. Tom Hobbins, who visited Moscow and Lipetsk Air Base Aug. 14 to 17, said the military-to-military relationship

  • Falcons eye 'Return to Dominance'

    The Air Force football team broke out new uniforms for its annual media day following their first fall practice last week. The players told reporters the 2006 season will be the Falcons' "Return to Dominance." "Their motto sends a great message to me," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said.

  • Viper Lance pilots trade rides

    Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

  • Space Command focuses on tailoring mission with new triad

    Strategic deterrence, securing the space domain and recapitalizing on a lesser budget are among the priorities for the Air Force Space Command commander.In keeping with the theme, "Global missions... meeting the challenge," Gen. Kevin P. Chilton spoke on the future of Air Force space missions at the

  • AETC preparing for reduced civilian authorizations

    Air Education and Training Command officials are looking at ways to streamline organizations to smaller, more agile forces and organizational structures to reduce the effect of reductions in the civilian workforce next spring.The Air Force plans to reduce its civilian workforce strength by 2,000

  • Deployed Airmen register for marrow program

    The faces on posters that call attention to a number of worthwhile volunteer causes are often lost in the hustle of accomplishing the daily mission. However, the association of one poster to a deployed Airman at a recent drive in Southwest Asia put a face on the critical need for all to register as

  • B-2 Spirit exceeds mission standard

    The B-2 Spirit exceeded Air Combat Command's fully mission capable rate standard of 51 percent in June, a feat not achieved since September 2004. Keeping the B-2 ready for war is an effort that requires the hard work and support of everyone who works on base, said Col. Bob Dulong, 509th Maintenance

  • AFSO21 Leans out uniform development

    In January, a limited number of the new Air Force utility uniforms will roll off production lines. Their arrival will mark the end of a nearly five-year development cycle. Lessons learned from development of the Airman Battle Uniform will be applied to the Air Force's next uniform project, the

  • C-5 Galaxy undergoes dynamic runway testing

    As part of the C-5 Galaxy's Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, the aircraft is undergoing dynamic taxi testing to check the structural strength and flexibility of the four-engine modification. The main focus of the RERP testing was the C-5 structure's movement when traveling over

  • Modifications to extend service life of A-10s

    At first glance the A-10 Thunderbolt II cockpit looks like a Category 5 tornado just touched down in the middle of it. The chaotic scene, with hundreds of loose wires and instrumentation ripped from consoles, is really the beginning of modifications that will extend the service life of A-10s while

  • Cyber Security Boot Camp graduates Class of 2006

    Thirty-five college students from across the nation were recognized Aug. 10 as graduates of the 2006 Advanced Course in Engineering, or ACE, Cyber Security Boot Camp, a 10-week program at the Air Force Research Laboratory information directorate. This year's class included 19 Air Force cadets, three

  • Bagram security forces fly away to support airlift mission

    Security forces protect Air Force people and resources worldwide, even when those resources are on the move at more than 300 mph. The C-130 Hercules cargo plane is the primary means of moving supplies and troops around Afghanistan. Aircrews frequently land at remote, dirt landing strips to support

  • Dental corps aims to stem shortage

    It may be a tooth and nail struggle for the Air Force to keep its dentists, but its dental service is dedicated to providing expert care to Airmen worldwide, said the director of the Air Force Dental Corps here recently. "I think Airmen need to know that we are committed to providing them the dental

  • Wings combine strengths to solve Raptor issue

    Four wings are combining efforts to analyze, develop and test a new advanced medium-range air-to-air missile data collection system for the first F-22A Raptor at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Wing, 46th Test Wing, 1st Fighter Wing and 325th Fighter Wing worked side by side to solve the

  • Officials announce clarification of EPR criteria, policy

    The Air Force has released a policy to clarify senior rater endorsement and stratification procedures for enlisted performance reports. While many supervisors and senior NCOs looked to completion of the Senior NCO Academy and a Community College of the Air Force degree as criteria for consideration

  • Thrift Savings Plan augments retirement

    The Thrift Savings Plan's automatic and matching contributions form a key part of the Federal Employees' Retirement System, or FERS, offering federal civilian employees opportunities to increase their retirement income. FERS civilian Thrift Savings Plan account holders automatically receive a

  • 'Spirit of Solano' arrives at Travis

    The much anticipated C-17 Globemaster III, the "Spirit of Solano," arrived home at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on Aug. 8. Festivities began with a flyover of all three major airframes now based at Travis: the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender and C-17. The crowd of approximately 2,000 applauded as Maj.

  • Royal Air Force pilot makes history in B-2 Spirit

    At first glance, he looks like any other Air Force pilot: olive-green flight suit, polished boots and a bluish-gray flight cap with rank insignia prominently displayed. On closer inspection, you realize the little differences.His shoulder boards don't feature bars or leaves, but instead a

  • Air Guard pilots train in escape, evasion

    A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots from the Idaho Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron ascended the mountains here Aug. 6 for a refresher on escaping the enemy and evading capture should they ever be shot down. The training they hope they never have to use is important because, while the United

  • Program assists heroes in reaching next level

    They gave something that they can never get back, and a group here does its best to ensure these heroes smoothly move on to the next phase of their lives. Palace HART -- Helping Airmen Recover Together -- is a program that assists Airmen injured in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Many

  • More programs added to virtual MPF

    The Air Force will add the Selective Re-enlistment and Career Job Reservation programs to the Virtual Military Personnel Flight, furthering Personnel Services Delivery Transformation. Beginning Sept. 1, the automated SRP process will e-mail commanders a monthly roster notifying them of their Airmen

  • Weather agency employs new forecast model

    The Air Force Weather Agency headquartered here took the first steps to use the new Weather Research and Forecasting model, known as WRF, for operational forecasts. The WRF model, the first worldwide fine-scale computer forecasting program in nearly a decade, was created through a collaborative

  • Airpark dedication honors Tuskegee Airmen

    More than 50 Tuskegee Airmen attended an airpark dedication ceremony in their honor Aug. 2 in front of the 944th Fighter Wing headquarters here. The airpark features an F-16 Fighting Falcon static aircraft painted in World War II Tuskegee colors in recognition of the "Red Tail" warriors of the

  • 'Ready Elmendorf' will prepare PACAF's F-22s

    Pacific Air Forces officials are excited about bringing the F-22 Raptor to the command. Aircraft crews will start their training in Virginia before actually landing on the Alaskan tarmac."Through a concept known as 'Ready Elmendorf,' Alaska's aircraft and pilots will initially operate at Langley Air

  • Awareness crucial in motorcycle safety

    The thrill of motorcycle riding is one that many Americans will experience during these 101 critical days of summer. With gas prices and temperatures rising, many people feel that now is the perfect time to get on their bikes. But before doing so, motorcyclists should consider a few things before

  • Letter to Airman asks Airmen to become communicators

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne recognizes the importance of every Airman communicating the Air Force story, especially the contribution the Air Force makes to the nation's security.  The secretary said that success of an enhanced strategic communication

  • New Air Force lieutenant colonels selected for SDE

    The lieutenant colonel central selection board held at the Air Force Personnel Center here has identified senior developmental education "selects." Officers identified as selects join a resource pool of officers who will be considered for future attendance at in-residence SDE. SDE enhances the

  • PACAF leaders see flash of future in Georgia

    Senior leaders from Pacific Air Forces toured the F-22 Raptor production facility here Aug. 3 and got a look at the command's first 5th-generation fighter aircraft. Raptor 4087, bearing "AK" on its tail, is bound for Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It will be the first of 36 Raptors, in two

  • New structures, names for SMC organization

    The Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center has reorganized and renamed its organizations to mirror the traditional Air Force structure in a ceremony July 31. The center activated six subordinate wings, 21 groups, 12 squadrons, 20 divisions, two system offices and the 61st Air Base Wing,

  • Officials prepare for F-22 arrival

    As Pacific Air Forces prepares to bring the F-22 to the command next year, the Headquarters PACAF F-22 Program Integration Office is working to ensure no detail is overlooked. The job is not a small task. The integration office staff is responsible for guiding, coordinating and synchronizing the

  • New AFIT commander focuses on military education system

    Brig. Gen. Paula G. Thornhill accepted command of the Air Force Institute of Technology from Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Air University commander, during a ceremony July 31.  She replaced Brig. Gen. Mark T. Matthews who will become the director of plans and programs at Air Combat Command. "Every

  • Air Force museum launches new Web site

    The National Museum of the United States Air Force is getting a new look online. The museum's new site features easy-to-navigate links to nearly 4,000 pages of museum news, exhibits, research information and more. In addition, more than 4,000 photographs will be available to download. The new Web

  • Wynne: We are logisticians of information

    As does its enemies, the Air Force considers cyberspace a warfighting domain. The Air Force has always been in the business of flying and fighting in the air, and in past decades, has included space in that mission. This year the Air Force expanded its mission to include cyberspace -- the domain of

  • 'Your Guardians of Freedom' site set to scale down

    Budget constraints and contract services reductions have forced officials  to make changes to the "Your Guardians of Freedom" Web site starting Oct 1. The Web site enables Air Force members to order pins for employers of activated Guardsmen (E pin), parents (P pin) and spouses (S pin). Pin

  • Five personnel centers scheduled for realignment

    In an effort to provide and deliver services in the most effective and efficient way for the Air Force, military officials plan to realign about 170 civilian personnel positions to the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. From the 170 positions, 135 are slated to realign

  • Air Force cycling team wraps up RAGBRAI

    One hundred Air Force cycling team members finished in two columns of 50 in Muscatine, Iowa, on July 29, dipping their front wheel in the Mississippi River, the traditional end to the ride across the state. The Air Force team participated in the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across

  • Small-diameter bomb makes F-15E squadron more lethal

    When the 494th Fighter Squadron deploys to Southwest Asia later this year, its new small-diameter bomb will make its F-15E Strike Eagles even more lethal. The squadron will be the first to use the Air Force's new Guided Bomb Unit-39 bomb. It is a thin, Global Positioning System-guided 250-pound bomb

  • Global Hawk passes 10,000 flight hours milestone

    The Global Hawk unmanned aerial system continues to prove its utility and effectiveness in the global war on terror, having flown more than 10,500 flight hours by late July. The Global Hawk achieved 10,000 flight hours in June, with its ratio of combat flying hours to non-combat hours increasing to

  • Reserve income replacement begins Sept. 1

    The Reserve Income Replacement Program became effective as of Aug. 1. The first RIRP payments for eligible service members will begin in Sept. 1.The RIRP was developed to provide specific payments to eligible members of the National Guard and Reserve who are involuntarily serving on active duty --

  • ROVER adds extra set of eyes to sky

    A demonstration of the Remote Operated Video Enhanced Receiver during field training here on July 28 allowed basic cadets an opportunity to see how an extra set of eyes in the sky is a critical weapon in military arsenals."It's important to take a new group of leaders and have them interface on the

  • Analysis system changes name, expands scope

    U.S. Joint Forces Command has changed the name of its Joint Warfare System to Joint Analysis System to better reflect the program's capabilities. The program's manager, Navy Cmdr. Gregg Martin, said he is hopeful the use of JAS will expand to support many U.S. organizations outside the Department of