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

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

  • Podcast Series Addresses Post-deployment Challenges

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

  • Chairman calls strategy year's greatest challenge

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

  • Mobility commander visits Georgia, Florida wings

    The commander of Air Mobility Command visited the 165th Airlift Wing, the 6th Air Mobility Wing and the 927th Air Refueling Wing to continue his efforts to view the air mobility mission "through the eyes of the Airmen."Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., who took the seat as AMC commander in late November,

  • Air Force officials study brain injuries

    Compression chambers used to treat divers who experienced "the bends" after ascending too quickly may offer clues to treating wounded warriors suffering traumatic brain injuries. An Air Force study at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio hopes to determine if hyperbaric oxygen therapy shows

  • Air Force secretary visits Lackland, addresses priorities

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

  • USO plans family centers at Bethesda, Belvoir

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

  • Airmen of Note dominate jazz chart

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

  • Laws change for military, overseas voters

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

  • Tricare officials encourage eye exams

    Maintaining healthy eyes and vision is an important part of personal safety and quality of life. Getting an eye exam is a smart idea for anyone, whether or not he or she has vision problems. Active duty family members can get a routine eye exam every year, and retirees and their family

  • Air Force officer becomes namesake for prestigious award

    The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy recently named an award after an Air Force officer who commanded the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and provided leadership for the first Air Force detachments conducting convoy escort missions at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.Established in 2009, the Lt.

  • Airmen leave a footprint in Afghanistan

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

  • Airman earns Male Athlete of the Year title

    Becoming the Air Force Male Athlete of the Year is no easy feat.  It takes a lot of determination and dedication to achieve this status. This year's Air Force male athlete of the year is Capt. Ian Holt, a squadron command post missile combat crew commander for the 319th Missile Squadron.Captain Holt

  • Provincial reconstruction team expands hospital for Afghans

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

  • Wounded vets to participate in first warrior games

    Approximately 200 wounded active duty members and military veterans will compete in the inaugural Warrior Games May 10 to 14 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Defense Department officials announced Jan. 7. The U.S. Olympic Committee will host the games, and events will include shooting, swimming, archery,

  • New era begins for Joint Base Langley-Eustis

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

  • Defense, Veterans Affairs step closer to integrated records

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

  • Transit Center Airmen compete against Kyrgyz in basketball game

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

  • Strategic, Space command officials improve GPS coverage

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

  • Chief of staff dedicates Center for Families of the Fallen

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

  • New facility fulfills needs for families of the fallen

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

  • Gen. Lew Allen dies

    Gen. Lew Allen Jr., the 10th chief of staff of the Air Force, passed away Jan. 4 in Potomac Falls, Va. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made but burial will be in Arlington Cemetery."General Allen was a visionary leader for our Air Force, a devoted husband and father, and a respected

  • General to receive Order of the Sword

    Retired Gen. John D. W. Corley, the former commander of Air Combat Command, is scheduled to be inducted into ACC's Order of the Sword Jan. 13 during a ceremony in Omaha, Neb. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor the enlisted corps can bestow on an individual and recognizes someone for

  • Mullen underscores importance of academy experience

    On hand for a pair of service academy football bowl games in Texas Jan. 2 , Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscored the symbolism of the matchups for troops around the world.But he also emphasized the importance of looking at an academy experience as a potential for

  • Air Force officials activate newest expeditionary unit

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

  • Military academy bowl victories shine light on armed forces

    The Air Force and Naval academy football teams triumphed in their respective bowl games Jan. 2, shining a spotlight on the servicemember-athletes comprising the rosters and the armed forces they represent.Military honors were replete here at the 5th annual Armed Forces Bowl, which pitted the

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

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

  • Airmen train Kyrgyz officials on EOD mission

    A team of Airmen from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted a team of Kyrgyz officials during a five-day visit to learn about the explosive ordnance disposal operations at the Transit Center at Manas recently.The training, called Theater Security Cooperation, encompassed bringing security forces,

  • Program helps servicemembers transition to civilian life

    The Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program is working to prepare servicemembers and their families for a successful transition to civilian life. "We are trying to ensure that (servicemembers) transition from active duty back to the civilian community is a smooth and seamless one," Ron

  • Lynn says fight against IEDs remains priority

    Defeating the terrorists' weapon of choice is and will remain a priority for the Defense Department, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here Dec. 30.Mr. Lynn spoke during a Pentagon ceremony where Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz stepped down as director of the Joint Improvised Explosive

  • Ali firefighters prepare Iraqis for future

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

  • Officials encourage Guard, Reserve to honor employers

    Providing pay and benefits during deployments, sending care packages to deployed employees, allowing time off, and celebrating military service with send-off and homecoming ceremonies are just a few commitments that the Guard and Reserve's top employers are honored for each year. Officials here are

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

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

  • New Iraqi recruits get a leg up

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

  • Air Force medics partner with Iraqi Ministry of Defense hospital

    Members of the Air Force Theater Hospital took the first step in partnering with members of Iraq's Ministry of Defense Hospital Dec. 22, to form the American-Iraqi Air Medical Evacuation and Medical Provider Training Course here. The first installment of training allowed the Iraqis to study burn

  • Airman sees Christmas spirit in Afghanistan

    Maj. Tobin Griffeth, a legal officer from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, was featured recently in the San Antonio Express-News for a goodwill mission he helped foster while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.Major Griffeth, a University of Texas graduate, along with Capt. Katie Illingworth,

  • USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships

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

  • Think about family members if considering suicide

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

  • Tricare officials expanded benefits and customer service in 2009

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

  • SECAF outlines future, thanks Airmen during Kadena visit

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

  • Servicemembers brighten spirits of Philippine children

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

  • Air Force senior leaders pay holiday visit to Global Strike Command Airmen

    The Air Force's top uniformed officer and top enlisted leader each visited Air Force Global Strike Command wings for Christmas, spending the holiday with Airmen charged with the nuclear strategic deterrence mission and global strike operations.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz visited

  • USO offers respite from traveling frenzy

    As the rest of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport bustled with holiday travelers Dec. 23, its USO Lounge offered military travelers -- many returning home from overseas deployments -- a welcome sanctuary of solace. The lounge is conveniently positioned near the

  • Ophthalmic surgeons employ cutting-edge technology

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

  • Air Force honorees to attend AETC Symposium Ball

    The 2010 Air Education and Training Command Symposium will honor five special Airmen at a formal ball Jan. 15 in San Antonio."The remaining five Air Force Medal of Honor recipients who were honored for valor during the Vietnam War will be recognized for their heroic actions and the sacrifices they

  • Kits help children cope with deployments

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

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

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

  • After retirement hang up the uniform, but keep Tricare

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

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

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

  • Officials seek 10 enlisted for AFIT degree program

    Air Force Institute of Technology officials are offering 10 NCOs the opportunity to pursue an advanced science, engineering or management degree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and nominations are due to the Air Force Personnel Center here by Jan. 29, 2010. Ten NCOs from around the Air

  • Everybody knows that Santa is a paratrooper

    You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. But on Dec. 6 at Pope Air Force Base, it was not a team of reindeer, but Maj. Jeff Dasher, a navigator in the 95th Airlift Squadron who guided the mission for the 440th Airlift Wing's C-130 Hercules that flew a group of Soldier Santas across the

  • New program helps Tricare beneficiaries battle lung diseases

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

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

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

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

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

  • Retirement answers live with new AFPC Webinar series

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

  • President signs 2010 Defense budget into law

    Defense officials are hailing passage of the fiscal 2010 budget that funds military programs and wartime operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and provides a military pay raise. President Barack Obama signed the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act into law Dec. 19 after the Senate approved it

  • Conference addresses unmanned aircraft systems use for 1st Air Force mission

    Conference attendees addressed issues related to unmanned aircraft systems' access into the national airspace system Dec. 9 through 11 here.The conference focused on ways Air Force officials can consolidate their efforts with other organizations to gain access into the national airspace system.The

  • American surgical team making a difference in southern Philippines

    Five Airmen are operating a fully-equipped trauma center, providing emergency care, basic medical care and educational services to hundreds of Filipino and U.S. troops on the southern island of Jolo, Philippines. The Air Force members are part of the forward surgical team assigned to Joint Special

  • Clinton, Gates urge appropriations bill passage

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

  • Holiday Notes from Home airs Dec 23-25

    Several stars join the Air Force bands in this year's Holiday Notes from Home concert on the American Forces Network and the Gospel Music Channel this holiday season.The hour-long special will air on the Gospel Music Channel Dec. 23 at 10 p.m and will feature Amy Grant, Brian McKnight, Take 6, the

  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visits Afghanistan

    The United States' most senior military officer visited Airmen and other coalition forces here to learn more about counterinsurgency efforts in Dec. 16 Afghanistan's Kapisa province.Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with French Brig. Gen. Marcel Druart, the

  • Santa makes early appearance for Cannon family

    Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but at the 27th Special Operations Wing here he is not the jolly fat man dressed in red. All one shopper at the base exchange knows is that someone who retired from the military made her family holidays a lot brighter. Charlotte Riojas said she was patiently

  • Air Force officials debut first 3-D commercial

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

  • Two brothers from Dayton taught the world to fly

    Aviation enthusiasts, Air Force officials and local government leaders gathered here Dec. 17 to remember how two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, changed the world.The brief ceremony, held adjacent to the Wright Brothers Memorial on base, recognized the 106th anniversary of the first powered flight at

  • Airmen participate in 32nd Annual Bastogne Historic Walk

    Cold ears, foggy breath and muscle fatigue that 52nd Fighter Wing and geographically-separated units experienced in Bastogne, Belgium, may have been the only things they had in common with the Axis and Allies who walked through that same location more than 60 years ago.According to Ed Lapotsky,

  • Homeless find hope at closed California bases

    In California, as the temperature drops and the number of homeless people climbs, former Air Force bases around the state offer warm relief. Transitional housing is one of the many ways communities are using property on closed military bases for local benefit. These villages of hope offer the

  • Good things come in small packages

    Imagine driving home from the base exchange with your spouse and child. It's Christmastime -- the first away from the rest of your family -- and the thought pops into your mind, "What can I do for others who are away from their families as well?"It was at this moment that Project Rudolph was born,

  • AFMC Freedom's Call Tattoo 2010 scheduled for June 25

    'Tis the season for most people to host or attend holiday parties; but, for officials, here, 'tis the season to be in the midst of planning for one of southwest Ohio's largest summer celebrations.The Air Force Materiel Command Freedom's Call Tattoo is Friday, June 25, 2010. Officials expect another

  • Air Force nurses welcome Iraqi colleagues, share skills

    Seventeen Iraqi medical care providers recently attended the December installment of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group's Iraqi Nursing Partnership Program here.As the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq continues, the program is intended to further the medical capabilities of local

  • Law allows spouses to keep residency while under orders

    A new law protects military spouses from being taxed for work performed in states where they're living outside their home states as a result of military orders. President Barack Obama signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, an amendment to the 2003 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, on Nov.

  • Military housing allowance rates set for 2010

    Military members will see an average raise of 2.5 percent in housing allowance rates in 2010, a BAH program analyst for the Defense Department here said Dec. 16. The increase comes to average of around $37 per month for the more than 900,000 servicemembers expected to draw the basic allowance for

  • Opportunities available in financial management

    Air Force line officers interested in applying for the Financial Management Leadership Program must submit their nominations to the Air Force Personnel Center by Jan. 5.The four-year program specializes in Air Force leadership development by providing an opportunity for line officers outside the 65F

  • Armed forces 'strong, healthy, ready,' survey says

    Members of the armed forces are strong, healthy and ready to accomplish their mission, a survey of their health-related behaviors has revealed. Defense Department officials Dec. 16 announced the final results of 2008's survey of health-related behaviors among active-duty military personnel.

  • Roger that: What the Air Force life means to me

    When Chief Master Sgt. Malcolm McVicar answered the question, "What does the Air Force life mean to me," on www.MyAirForceLife.com, he answered, "The Air Force family is the family that grows each day as you meet new Airmen. Like a traditional family, they are always there when you need them the

  • Retired first sergeant leaves special legacy

    When Senior Master Sgt. Clayton French was honored at his Nov. 20 retirement ceremony, most of the guests in attendance learned the 81st Medical Operations Squadron first sergeant would leave a significant legacy to the service to which he devoted more than 28 years of his life.  Sergeant French had

  • Multinational wing completes first mission into Iraq

    A recent flight into Iraq marks another unit milestone for the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing based at Pápa Air Base, Hungary.The airlift mission into Iraq by the wing, which comprises 12 member nations, facilitated the deployment for members of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq."Each time we fly a

  • Officials seek feedback on family programs

    Defense officials have launched virtual "listening sessions" in hopes of gaining more insight into the effectiveness of military family programs, a Pentagon official said Dec. 15. The anonymous, online survey solicits feedback from servicemembers and their families on the military's educational

  • Airmen perform operations with Kyrgyz surgeons

    Air Force surgeons at the Transit Center at Manas and Kyrgyz doctors worked together to performed surgical operations Dec. 11 in a local hospital here.The team of medical Airmen led by Col. (Dr.) Jerrold Flyer, 376the Expeditionary Medical Group commander, assisted with two separate operations,

  • Partnership between air forces in the making

    Officials from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted Afghan National Army Air Corps officials Dec. 19, here, to explain how an American combat wing operates day to day.Brig. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and other Airmen from operations, maintenance and mission

  • Traumatic stress response team helps Fort Hood victims

    An Air Force medical team trained in helping people recover from traumatic events returned from Fort Hood, Texas, after responding to the Nov. 5 shootings, which left 13 people dead and dozens injured.The Traumatic Stress Response team, led by Maj. Sheila Beville, a 59th Mental Health

  • Airmen to deliver bikes to Afghan children

    With the assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard and Anchorage volunteers, more than 20 disadvantaged children in Afghanistan will get new bikes this month.The bicycles, together with parts and tools, were donated by the Anchorage Community YMCA, The Bicycle Shop, Paramount Cycles, Chain

  • Crime lab casts net ahead of cyber criminals

    Public fascination with television's "CSI" forensic detectives and with the virtual reality depicted in the "Matrix" films may be partly responsible for the high level of interest garnered by a Defense Department contest to solve cyber crimes. The Digital Forensics Challenge was created by Jim

  • Airmen distribute donations to orphanage in Kyrgyzstan

    Several Airmen stationed at the Transit Center at Manas here recently delivered more than 60 boxes to a local orphanage that were sent by a dental college in Texas and others throughout America.Kyrgyz children and teachers at the Nizhanchuisk Orphanage and School had no idea what was in store for

  • Year of the Air Force Family short story competition coming soon

    Air Force Services Agency officials are accepting short story competition entries Dec. 20 through Feb. 14, as part of the Year of the Air Force Family.This is an opportunity for Airmen to express what living the Air Force life means to them, their family and their friends. Entries must be be 300

  • NASA WISE Delta II launch successful

    Mission planners are celebrating Vandenberg's final launch of the year following the successful launch of a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 Dec. 14 at 6:09 a.m.The rocket carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite.With confirmation of the payload's delivery into orbit

  • Squadron highlights capabilities during Afghan rescue mission

    A soldier is wounded during a joint British and Afghanistan National Army patrol in Helmand Province. Shot through both legs, his condition worsens while being cared for by the medics. It is time to call in the professionals to get him off the battlefield and to the hospital. The radios erupt with

  • Air Force officials to begin involuntary phase of retraining for NCOs

    In order to rebalance the NCO force, more than 700 Airmen volunteered this fall to retrain through the NCO retraining program. However, more than 300 additional Airmen are needed to retrain to ensure all career fields are equally manned.Phase II, which identifies non-volunteers for retraining,

  • Ramstein Airmen train in Israel

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany participated in an exercise Dec. 1 through 10 at Nevatim Air Force Base, Israel to accomplish various training requirements for the C-130J Super Hercules which are not allowed in Germany because of country regulations."Training is hard to achieve in Germany

  • Ramstein members bake goods for local Airmen

    Ramstein Air Base area spouses' organizations joined forces Dec. 11 to bring some holiday joy to servicemembers here.Members of the Ramstein Officer Spouses' Club, Kaiserslautern/Landstuhl Spouses' Association and the Ramstein Enlisted Spouses Association brought sheets full of cookies and baked

  • Nellis commander completes 6-show run on 'Jeopardy!'

    The set wasn't the same as he remembered from watching the show in its inaugural season more than 25 years ago. The chalkboard scheme has been replaced by liquid crystal display screens; the money at stake has doubled; and contestants are no longer limited to just five wins. From the first day Col.

  • President promises conditions-based Afghanistan transition

    Any changes in U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan when security responsibility starts to transfer to the Afghans in July 2011 will be considered in light of the situation on the ground at that time, President Barack Obama said Dec. 10 in Oslo, Norway. With Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg

  • 2010 Thrift Savings Plan contributions remain at 2009 limits

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board here announced Dec. 11 the 2010 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions will remain at $16,500, unchanged from 2009. Contributions for the TSP catch-up plan also remains at the $5,500 limit set in 2009."TSP is a long-term

  • Airmen build future Afghan pilot training base

    Airmen restored an airfield that will eventually become the home of the Afghan National Army Air Corps undergraduate pilot training in Shindand, Afghanistan.Airmen deployed from the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., worked side-by-side with Afghan and coalition

  • Joint Chiefs chairman sends birthday message to National Guard

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sends the following birthday message to members of the National Guard: "On the 13th of December each year, we celebrate the creation of one of America's most enduring institutions: our National Guard. The Guard has a proud history of

  • Families of deployed Airmen warm up to Hearts Apart holiday party

    Hearts Apart morale program members organized an annual holiday party to help families adjust to seperation from deployments Dec. 4 at Hurlburt Field. With this year designated as the Year of the Air Force Family, many people understand that deployments are a way of military life and there are times

  • USO officials honor 5 Air Force Medal of Honor recipients

    Officials of the Metropolitan New York USO held their 48th Annual Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner and honored the only five living Air Force Medal of Honor recipients Dec. 9 in New York City. The USO's Distinguished Service Award was presented to Col. Bernard F. Fisher, Col. James P.

  • President signs bill, aids military spouses

    The President signed a bill Nov. 11 to help ease the strain on military families who frequently travel from state to state and country to country.President Barack Obama signed the bill, known as the 'Military Spouses Residency Relief Act,' as an amendment to the 2003 Servicemembers Civil Relief