NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • 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

  • Langley officials take first step toward Joint Base Langley-Eustis

    Officials from the 1st Fighter Wing here will release two of its four groups to the soon-to-be-established 633rd Air Base Wing Jan. 7; the first step toward the congressionally directed Joint Base Langley-Eustis that begins initial operational capability next month.The purpose of the 633rd ABW is to

  • Secretary Gates to discuss progress, drawdown in Baghdad

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here Dec. 10 to meet with Iraqi and U.S. military leaders about continuing progress toward building Iraqi security forces and drawing down the U.S. force presence here to 50,000 by late August. The visit, Secretary Gates' first since July, comes as the

  • Air Force officials launch satellite to enhance military communications

    Air Force officials successfully launched a new-generation military communications satellite from here at 8:47 p.m. EST Dec. 5 when a Delta IV rocket carried a Wideband Global SATCOM into space. WGS satellites are designed to provide high-capacity communications to U.S. military forces and the

  • Promotion to E-8 to require resident Senior NCO Academy

    Completion of the resident Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy or a sister service equivalent becomes a requirement for promotion to senior master sergeant effective Jan. 1, Air Force officials announced Dec. 9 as part of a policy change.The change in the professional military education

  • McConnell 'Heroes at Home' program helps military children

    The Parents as Teachers Heroes at Home program offers servicemembers and military spouses here free family support and education for their children, prenatal to three years old.  The Department of Defense provides funding for the program at installations with high deployment rates. Currently, two

  • Educators explore virtual reality as learning tool

    Some people teleported, others flew and some just walked into the holographic auditorium for the Global Learning Forum event here Nov. 19.Though they arrived by different means, everyone in attendance had one thing in common: they did not really exist. Neither did the lecture hall in which they were

  • Defense officials visit Dover C-5M testing

    The senior adviser to the secretary of Defense on operational and live fire test and evaluation of DOD weapons systems flew on the C-5M Super Galaxy during a local air refueling qualification operational test and evaluation sortie Dec. 7 at Dover Air Force Base, Del.Dr. J. Michael Gilmore, the

  • Joint Chiefs chairman: Al-Qaida remains dangerous

    Al-Qaida remains a danger, and the area along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan is the epicenter of global Islamic extremism, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Foreign Press Center here Dec. 8. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen reiterated to foreign journalists that he fully concurs

  • Air Force officials announce OTS selection board results

    A total of 117 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced Dec. 9. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 461 applications as part of Officer Training School

  • Entertainers put on a show for troops in Southwest Asia

    A "kid" kept servicemembers entertained for hours here Dec. 6: triple-platinum recording artist Kid Rock.Kid Rock brought his Twisted Brown Trucker Band, along with comedian Carlos Mencia and singer songwriter Jessie James, here as part of Tour for the Troops 2009.The Tour for the Troops 2009 is

  • New Air Force plan targets energy

    Air Force officials here released a new energy plan Dec. 9 to serve as the framework for communicating Air Force energy goals and to further expand a culture shift "where Airmen make energy a consideration in everything we do."Debra Walker, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations,

  • Hickam officials pay tribute to Airmen's storied legacy

    Airmen and their families gathered at Hickam Air Force Base's historic flag pole Dec. 7, for the 68th remembrance ceremony to honor those men and women who lost their lives in the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor. "On a similar morning 68 years ago on these very grounds, our world changed forever,"

  • Bolling members take 'Amazing Race' challenge

    Nearly 40 people from the National Capital Region competed in an obstacle course-style competition Dec. 4 at Bolling Air Force Base. Events ranged from paintball to low-crawling, wheelchair racing, barrel-rolling and bicycling.Competitors raced across a 5.5-mile area on Bolling AFB and Anacostia

  • Laughlin Airmen give special opportunity to one of their own

    Laughlin Air Force Base Airmen hosted the Air Force's newest pilot here Nov. 20. Nicholas "Nicky" Pena, 3, was sworn in as an honorary pilot at the 87th Flying Training Squadron. Nicky, who has an anaplastic ependymoma brain tumor, was invited to be a part of Laughlin AFB's Pilot for a Day program.

  • Barksdale officials host Charter Chief golden anniversary

    Officials from the 2nd Bomb Wing here hosted a golden anniversary celebration to honor Air Force pioneers Dec. 1.Exactly 50 years ago on Dec. 1, 1959, 625 Airmen were promoted and pinned as the first-ever chief master sergeants. Called the Charter Chiefs, these Airmen secured their place in history

  • Twitter accounts feed job opportunities, news to customers

    Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr.   The Web is fueling society's digital hunger for real-time information and dialogue, and officials at the Air Force Personnel Center and the Air Force Services Agency are serving up the first course. Two Twitter accounts currently are being managed by the public

  • Task force finds improvement in sexual assault response

    Defense Department officials have made progress in improving their response to the needs of sexual assault victims, but they need to do more, a special task force has determined. The Defense Task Force on sexual assault in the military services has turned their report over to Defense Secretary

  • Support improves for families with special needs

    Officials are working to boost the resources and support the Defense Department's Exceptional Family Member Program provides to military families with special needs. "Most people are aware of EFMP as a mandatory enrollment program, but we're working to raise awareness of the family support we can

  • U.S., Malaysian air forces participate in live-flying exercise

    U.S. and Malaysian airmen participated in a live-flying exercise involving air combat training in Malaysia from Nov. 9 through 20.Members of the 67th Fighter Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, took their F-15 Eagles to TUDM Butterworth, Malaysia, to train with the Royal Malaysian Air Force's

  • Veterans more likely to avoid foreclosure with VA-backed loan

    Despite problems in the nation's housing market, mortgage loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs had a lower foreclosure rate than any other type of home loan in the industry, as of the end of the last fiscal year."The dedication of VA's loan professionals, the support of our partners in

  • Air Force officials reinforce tattoo, body alteration policy

    Air Force senior leaders here have taken steps to ensure Air Force dress and personal appearance standards are applied consistently across the service."It's about enforcing and maintaining Air Force standards," said Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, the deputy chief of staff for manpower and

  • Top leaders spell out president's strategy

    Top U.S. government and military officials here spelled out President Barack Obama's new war strategy Dec. 6, even as hundreds of Marines launched a new offensive in southern Afghanistan.Both Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on three major

  • Football: Air Force accepts bid to Armed Forces Bowl

    Air Force officials here accepted a bid Dec. 6 as the Mountain West Conference representative to play in the 2009 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, scheduled to be held Dec. 31 in Fort Worth, Texas.The U.S. Air Force Academy will play against the 25th-ranked Houston Cougars of Conference-USA at

  • Security forces Airmen end operations at Camp Bucca

    Members of the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron officially ended operations during a deactivation ceremony Dec. 3 at Camp Bucca, Iraq. The furling of the squadron guidon marked the end of the squadron's three-year partnership with the Army providing counterinsurgency, detainee operations

  • Base retiree activities offices worldwide need volunteers

    Retiree activities office members currently need volunteers at 109 offices at active-duty, Reserve and Guard bases around the world. "All of the retiree activities offices are suffering for a new group of people to volunteer because the core of (current volunteers) are getting sick, getting older

  • Deputy defense secretary outlines protections for information

    Although information technology enables the Defense Department to make gains in military capabilities, those gains come at a cost, the deputy defense secretary told industry executives in New York. "The Defense Department makes a tempting target," Mr. William J. Lynn III said. "We have 7 million

  • HIV/AIDS vaccine has promising results

    Through combined military research programs and medical cooperation, the Defense Department has been able to accomplish incredible promise in a future vaccine development for HIV and AIDS, a senior official in that effort said Dec. 3. "The U.S. Army has sponsored a vaccine program which has now, for

  • Transportation officials confident in Afghan deployment

    U.S. Transportation Command officials are confident they can accomplish the mission of delivering 30,000 U.S. troops and their equipment to Afghanistan when they are needed. Planners at the command based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., are working with operations specialists at U.S. Joint Forces

  • CMSAF visits Kandahar Airmen

    The Air Force's top enlisted Airman visited Kandahar Airfield Nov. 28 through 30 to say thank you to the Airmen here.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy said he took this time to better understand the full spectrum of a deployment for an Airman on ground-level. He said he wanted to see

  • NCAA football lifts morale for doctors, wounded troops

    Two Air Force doctors brought spirit to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here with help from NCAA football program officials.The hospital is a first-rate facility, but it just needed some personality, said Capt. Matt Howard a native of Camden, Ark. native."Everything was black and white," said

  • 2009 tax form, pay statement availability announced

    Air Force retirees with a myPay online account can now download their annual account statements. Annuitant statements will be available online Dec. 14.There will not be a cost-of-living adjustment increase for military retirees or annuitants in 2010. COLA increases are determined each year based on

  • Nominations sought for 2010 American Legion service award

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here are now accepting nominations for the 2010 American Legion Spirit of Service Award.The award is sponsored by the National Headquarters of the American Legion and is presented annually to an enlisted member from each of the military branches for outstanding

  • CMSAF visits deployed Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke with and visited deployed servicemembers at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, during his first U.S. Central Command area of responsibility tour as the service's top enlisted leader. During various discussions with

  • Afghanistan, Iraq drive landmark defense review

    The Quadrennial Defense Review under way within the Defense Department will be unlike any other: the first to be driven by current wartime requirements, to balance conventional and nonconventional capabilities, and to embrace a "whole of government" approach to national security, Deputy Defense

  • Lynn cites aerospace role in Afghanistan strategy

    Aerospace assets will be critical to the success of stepped-up operations in Afghanistan, from delivering troops to ferrying logistical support to providing lifesaving intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to ground forces, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn told industry

  • Convoy 911: Joint unit extends battlespace communication

    As coalition convoys travel through Iraq, C-130 Hercules aircraft circle overhead, listening to ground radio traffic and ready to respond to any request for assistance from those convoys. Keeping those C-130s flying is the mission of the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines from the 777th

  • Officials launch new Air Force community Web site

    Air Force officials have launched a new Web site to meet social and informational needs of Airmen, civilians, retirees and their families.The entire Air Force family: all Airmen, married and single; spouses; children; Air Force civilians; and retirees are invited to log on to

  • Force protection Airmen add another layer of armor in base defense

    Composed of Airmen from 60 different Air Force specialties, the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron force protection unit here aids in defending the base against hostile actions inside the wire. Force protection escorts are charged with monitoring and safeguarding local and third country

  • Former MAC commander remembered

    Gen. Paul K. Carlton, former commander of the Military Airlift Command, passed away Nov. 23 in San Antonio at the age of 88. General Carlton was commander of MAC from Sept. 26, 1972, to March 31, 1977."General Carlton's accomplishments as a commander will be remembered and honored; he embodied the

  • Manas Airmen further relations with Kyrgyzstan with 'hoops' game

    A team of Airmen here competed with Kyrgyz athletes in a basketball game Nov. 20, at a local sports facility at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.In the game between the Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas and a team of students put together from a local university, the Airmen defeated their counterparts,

  • 3-year South Korea option opens up to federal employees

    A 36-month tour option has been approved for federal employees accepting accompanied tours to select bases in South Korea, a move designed to create greater continuity of operations, increased long-term savings and an improved quality of life for civilian employees and their families.A memorandum by

  • Squadron commander receives Nebraska Admiralship

    A special ceremony for Maj. Dana McCown's promotion to lieutenant colonel Nov. 24 became much more as Nebraska first lady Sally Ganem took to the podium during the ceremony.. The wife of Nebraska governor Dave Heineman bestowed Colonel McCown with an Admiralship in the Great Navy of Nebraska for the

  • MC-12 reaches 1,000th combat mission

    Members of the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here, recently reached 1,000 combat sorties in the MC-12W aircraft only five months after arriving in-theater.Currently operating only at Joint Base Balad, the MC-12 is one of the Air Force's newest platforms for intelligence, surveillance

  • Team uses Afghan airwaves to counter flu misinformation

    Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team servicemembers recently took to the airwaves to combat misinformation about the spread of the H1N1 flu virus here.Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, team senior medical officer from McLean, Va., and Navy Lt. j.g. Stacy Gross, team information operations officer from

  • Retired chief shares experiences with Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

    When Airmen deploy to places like Iraq and Afghanistan they accomplish difficult and challenging missions. Unfortunately some return injured or even having paid the ultimate price for freedom. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program is committed to caring for wounded Airmen, their families, and the

  • Dec. 1 golden anniversary of chief master sergeant rank

    Chief master sergeants weren't a part of the Air Force's enlisted structure when the service was formed in 1947. In fact, it took 11 years after the fact until the rank even existed.This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment by Air Force officals of the rank of chief master sergeant,

  • Father, son meet in Afghanistan

    There's a saying that a parent would do anything for his children, and that even includes deploying to war to be with their child.During the "Year of the Air Force Family," Tech. Sgt. Thomas Leaman, a reservist from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Petersen Air Force Base, Colo., decided he needed to be

  • Airman advises Iraqis on ISR missions

    A U.S. Air Force officer assigned to the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission is an adviser to Iraqi intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance airmen within the Iraqi Air Operations Center.Capt. Sean Reynolds, an IAOC intelligence advisor, helps Iraqi airmen with ISR mission scheduling and

  • Chief of staff visits Manas, celebrates Thanksgiving with Airmen

    The Air Force chief of staff met with deployed members and Airmen during a two-day visit to the Transit Center at Manas Nov. 26 and 27.In his first visit here since becoming the Air Force's top officer, Gen. Norton Schwartz celebrated Thanksgiving with the men and women of the Transit Center during

  • Air Force officials accepting nominations for public administration award

    Air Force officials are now accepting nominations for the 6th Annual Department of Defense David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. This award recognizes non-managerial career civilian employees who demonstrate great leadership potential as future federal executives. To be eligible,

  • President extends Thanksgiving wishes to Airman serving in Afghanistan

    An Air Force medic here received a personal telephone call from President Barack Obama on Thanksgiving Day.Senior Airman Ashley Jackson, a member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Kapisa, was chosen as one of 10 military members who spoke to the president while deployed abroad.Airman Jackson,

  • Reservist keeps in touch with students

    Master Sgt. Linda Adams has been an elementary school teacher for the past four years.After just one day on the job in the current school year, however, she departed on a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia with her Air Force Reserve unit from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss."I was able to say 'hi'

  • 'First-strike ration' aims for better nutrition

    Several military organizations are working together to provide servicemembers with healthy, good-tasting, sustainable and nutritionally sound combat rations. "We're charged with a fairly awesome task, and that is to fuel the Defense Department's most flexible and adaptable weapons platform, and

  • PACAF commander celebrates Thanksgiving with Airmen in Korea

    Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, celebrated Thanksgiving by serving turkey and other holiday favorites to the Airmen serving remote tours in South Korea.The general departed here Nov. 21 to visit Kunsan and Osan Air Bases, South Korea, taking with him Maj. Gen. Jan-Marc Jouas, PACAF

  • Respite child care expands to all 50 states

    It's a few hours a month, but the break the Armed Services YMCA Respite Child Care program provides parents with a deployed spouse always is welcome. And since the program's Oct. 1 nationwide expansion, many more parents will benefit.The Armed Services YMCA, as part of a Defense Department contract,

  • Joint program aims to reduce firefighter injuries

    Firefighting may be near the top of the Defense Department's list of high-risk occupations, but there's a move afoot to make it safer. According to reports, Defense Department firefighter injuries -- more than 1,000 new incidents each year -- have cost the department nearly $30 million a year. When

  • AETC commander presents Educator of the Year awards

    The 2008-2009 Air Education and Training Command Educator of the Year awards ceremony here Nov. 16 honored three individuals who made significant contributions to AETC's educational mission during the academic year. The AETC Educator of the Year awards are presented to the top enlisted, officer and

  • Commander, chaplain talk about holiday stress

    The holiday season is almost upon us and some deployed Airmen may find themselves wrestling with a combination of stressors during the 40 or so days between Thanksgiving and the New Year.Many Airmen can find themselves overwhelmed with feelings of sadness or depression because they miss friends and

  • Agency delivers 'taste of home' to deployed troops

    How do you plan Thanksgiving dinner for 180,000 people more than 6,000 miles away? If you're a food buyer at the Defense Logistics Agency, you start by making a shopping list in April for meals to be served to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Providing superb meals to our U.S. troops is a

  • Airmen mentor Iraqi police officers

    Security forces Airmen mentored their Iraqi counterparts during a meeting at a local police station here Nov. 15 as part of an on going training program and in anticipation of upcoming elections.The Airmen work as part of a police training team and are assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Security

  • Air Force secretary discusses state of force at Global Warfare Symposium

    The Air Force's top civilian leader delivered a key note speech regarding the service's future with special attention to the space mission at the 2009 Air Force Association Global Warfare Symposium here Nov. 20. At the conclusion of the two-day summit, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley outlined

  • Records transfer marks historic milestone

    The transfer of approximately 177,000 official military personnel files from the Air Force to the National Archives and Records Administration here Nov. 18 marked a milestone as the final service to make its historical documents a part of the public record."This is an especially historic day for the

  • Transfer of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits easier with new virtual application

    A new module in the virtual Military Personnel Flight that will simplify the process of transferring Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to dependents is set to launch this month.The new vMPF module will check an Airman's eligibility and allow him or her to fill out, sign and send the required statement of

  • Trade Commission officials offer gift card tips

    Because distance often separates extended and even immediate families in military life, gift cards are a popular choice for holiday gift-giving. After all, one size fits all, and the recipients can get exactly what they want from a retailer or restaurant. But the Federal Trade Commission advises

  • Singapore celebrates partnership with Air Force

    U.S. government and Republic of Singapore officials celebrated their partnership during the Peace Carvin V inauguration of the F-15SG fighter detachment Nov. 19 here.The ceremony honored the Peace Carvin V F-15 detachment known as the 428th Fighter Squadron, which will operate up to 12 F-15SG

  • Kirkuk Airmen train Iraqis to help themselves

    Airmen of the 521st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here are tasked with helping Iraqis train their new pilot corps and prepare qualified Iraqi pilots to assume mission operations."The better we do our jobs, the fewer people they'll send to replace us until we don't have to be here at all," said

  • Celebrities thank troops at Thanksgiving concert

    Gary Sinise and the Lieutenant Dan Band made their first appearance in Afghanistan performing for hundreds of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Coast Guard members Nov. 23 here.This visit is one in a long line of entertainment and celebrity visits to boost morale of servicemembers who are away from home

  • Commander receives 2009 Space Trophy

    The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center commander received the 2009 Gen. Thomas D. White Air Force Space Trophy Nov. 20 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant received the trophy, which is awarded annually to a military or civilian employee of the Air Force for the most

  • Health care gains recognition as bridge to stability

    A theory gaining momentum among counterinsurgency and military medical experts is that the health of a nation's people affects the health of a nation. While no formal study has confirmed a causal connection, evidence culled from U.S. commanders as well as American allies and adversaries, suggests a

  • Academy visit brings smiles to Cadet for a Day

    For Hannah Marklin, 16, and the Academy's most recent Cadet for a Day, it was a weekend packed with tours, football, aviation, demonstrations and hanging out with some 100 new friends.Hannah, her parents and friend Evan Simon, visited the Academy Nov. 12 through 14 and were feted by Cadet Squadron

  • Air Force officials enhance community support information

    As Air Force officials continue to modernize information sharing to meet 21st century mission requirements, manpower and personnel force development officials have taken a look at the official community Web site of the Air Force to increase its effectiveness. Transition is under way of the Air Force

  • Physical training uniform made in America

    Air Force officials partnered with American industry to ensure the new physical fitness uniform is not only upgraded with better material and functionality, but also is 100 percent America made.The new PTU outer garment running suit is being manufactured near Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and

  • CMSAF visits Canada to build PME partnership

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader visited multiple locations in Canada Nov. 17 through 20 to build a permanent enlisted professional military education partnership with one of America's closest allies.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Ottawa, Ontario, and

  • American engineers conduct quality assurance training in Afghanistan

    Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team engineers conducted quality assurance training for more than 30 Afghan contractors, foremen and engineers at the Civil-Military Operations Center in downtown Khost, Afghanistan recently.The engineers conduct monthly training to address issues found during project

  • Mullen offers thanks to military families

    President Barack Obama has proclaimed the week of Nov. 22-28 as National Family Week, and the nation's top military officer has issued a message to all military families in honor of their contributions to the nation. Here is the text of the message from Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint