Dental specialists train to deploy

Dental specialists here trained in expeditionary field dentistry April 3 to 7. The training demonstrated how dentistry fits into the concept of deployable medical and dental assets and the expeditionary medical support, or EMEDS, facility. “This training supports the heart of the Air Force medical

U.S., Australian forces team up in realistic training

Three Air Force B-1 Lancers recently flew more than 7,000 miles and 16 hours to participate in the Royal Australian Air Force’s Aces South exercise, providing realistic training for the coalition partners. “It was a tremendous success for all parties,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Curran, commander of the

Globemaster III fleet increases at Hickam

The fourth C-17 Globemaster III to arrive here marks the transition from training to execution for the 15th Airlift Wing and the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Wing.Beginning this month, the C-17 will pick up regular scheduled taskings from Pacific Air Force’s Air Mobility Division. The composite

Phoenix Stripe brings together total force

Forty-six junior noncommissioned officers and civilians from around the Air Force participated in Air Mobility Command's Phoenix Stripe program here April 4 to 7. Phoenix Stripe is a professional development program geared toward providing up and coming staff and technical sergeants with an overview

Network passwords will soon be a thing of the past

Airmen have been carrying around some pretty high-tech identification cards in their wallets for quite a while now. That technology will soon be put to good use. For many, the Common Access Card, or "CAC," is just a replacement for the green military ID card used for so many years. But the card can

'My Stuff' lets Airmen track requests

Airmen can now track the status of requests and correspondence sent to the Air Force Contact Center via the "My Stuff" tab on the Air Force Personnel Center public Web site.Airmen need a separate user identification and password to access My Stuff because the new software cannot be accessed at this

Air Force announces new call center locations

The proposed sites for the Air Force Financial Services Center and the Air Force Claims Service Center were announced by Air Force officials April 10.The preferred location for the AFFSC is Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., while the preferred location for the AFCSC will be in the Dayton, Ohio, area.

CENTAF releases airpower summary report

Coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air-support missions April 10 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15

Vital Guardian tests Guard's critical capabilities

National Guard Counterdrug Program Airmen and Soldiers came to the nation’s capital to support Vital Guardian, the Guard’s first critical-capabilities exercise. The major training exercise, held last week, tested the Guard’s ability to respond to a devastating event, such as a terrorist attack with

Spring 2006 quarterly issue of Airman available

Read about how space-based capabilities are helping fight the war on terrorism, travel with a joint convoy mission through Iraq, follow the struggles of the Air Force family’s tiniest members as they receive life-saving care at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Wilford Hall Medical Center. These

Airmen, Soldiers join forces for joint cargo aircraft

Airmen and Soldiers are teaming up to get a new cargo aircraft. The Joint Cargo Aircraft will fill a vital combat readiness need for both services. The Air Force has been looking into a new aircraft, smaller than a C-130 Hercules, to fill airlift operations, and the Army needs to replace its current

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary report

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary report for April 8 to 10. April 10 In Iraq April 9, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons providing close-air support to coalition troops successfully strafed a group of men trying to plant an improvised explosive device near Samarra.

Airmen train for air evac

Digging defensive fighting positions, driving with night-vision goggles and during chemical warfare training and hiking in to camp sound like Army training -- right? They are actually part of the annual training required for Pope’s 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. “We are considered first

CENTAF releases airpower summary report

Coalition aircraft flew 47 close-air support missions April 6 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting

Ramstein wins CINC Installation Excellence Award

Brig. Gen. Robert C. Kane, 86th Airlift Wing and Kaiserslautern Military Community commander, announced April 6 that Ramstein won the 2006 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence, saying the base is "truly the biggest, busiest and best in the U.S. Air Force." “I’ve known it for

Top Air Force print and broadcast journalists announced

A panel of civilian journalists, teachers and public relations professionals have selected the best in Air Force print and broadcast journalism for the 50th annual Air Force Media Contest. Senior Airman Joe Lacdan, from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., is the Air Force Print

Vandenberg launches Minuteman III

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg today at 6 a.m. The launch was part of a developmental test to demonstrate the weapon system’s effectiveness in a stressed environment on extended range. The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled

Ionospheric forecasts improve warfighter communication efficiency

During specific times of the year over the Earth's equatorial region, turbulence in the ionosphere, known as scintillation, causes extended degradation for Department of Defense navigation and communication satellites.  But a sensor package installed at each of 14 locations worldwide has helped

AF launches cyberspace task force

Cyberspace. The word generally conjures up images of computers, wires, connections and hardware. But, for the Air Force, cyberspace is far more than that. “Cyberspace is a domain where the Air Force conducts operations," said Dr. Lani Kass, director of the Air Force Cyberspace Task Force. It is the

Defense leader thanks lawmakers for support of special ops

Ultimate victory in the "long war" requires the U.S. military to adopt more unconventional and indirect approaches in the way it fights, and the Defense Department is doing just that, the Pentagon's top special operations official told a Senate panel here April 5. In testimony prepared for delivery

CENTAF releases airpower summary report

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary report.In Iraq on April 5, U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close-air support to coalition troops who identified insurgents emplacing an improvised explosive device in the vicinity of Al Miqdadiyah. The F/A-18s successfully

Moseley: Air Force’s job won’t get easier

The Air Force chief of staff told visitors at Capitol Hill Club in the nation’s capital April 4 the service will face serious challenges in the coming years. However, Gen. T. Michael Moseley said the service will use all its capabilities to continue its joint warfighting efforts while going through

GPS signal enhances navigation, timing

Warfighters now have a new way to receive Global Positioning System location and timing data -- online. The 2nd Space Operations Squadron here is delivering Zero Age of Data Navigation Message Replacements, or ZAOD NMR, on the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network. The first end user of this new

CENTAF releases airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 52 close air-support-missions April 4 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

Association of Graduates names distinguished grads

The Air Force Academy’s Association of Graduates has named retired Generals Hansford T. Johnson, Class of 1959, and Michael E. Ryan, Class of 1965, as the 2006 recipients of the association’s Distinguished Graduate Award. The award honors academy graduates for a lifetime of service to the nation,

C-5 crash doesn’t diminish historian’s view of aircraft

The C-5 Galaxy crash at Dover Air Force Base, Del., April 3 placed the aging aircraft in the spotlight once again. With no deaths reported, military officials are cleaning the crash site and are convening a board of officers to investigate the cause of the accident. But the crash does not tarnish

Air Force releases 2006 posture statement

The Air Force released its “posture statement” detailing the service’s missions and priorities over the next year. The 52-page document’s introduction asks Airmen to look from their heritage to the horizon, taking lessons from the past and adapting them for the future. It also opens with a letter

ACC takes combat search, rescue assets under wing

Air Combat Command took administrative control of select Air Force combat search and rescue assets from Air Force Special Operations Command April 3 as part of a realignment announced in February. The transfer ensures the Air Force core competency of combat search and rescue, or CSAR, is directly

CENTAF releases airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 58 close-air-support missions April 3 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

17 Airmen survive Dover C-5 crash

The 17 Airmen aboard the C-5 Galaxy that crashed near Dover Air Force Base, Del., today all survived, a 436th Airlift Wing spokesman said. However, there is still no official word on the condition of the survivors, wing spokesman 1st Lt. Jamal Beck said. “We’re still gathering information,” he said.

Nuclear Weapons Center the right organization at the right time

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nuclear Weapons Center has been activated.” With that announcement March 31, Kirtland Air Force Base took another important step in its long history as a center of nuclear activity. In a ceremony replete with military tradition, Col. Gregory Foraker, formerly the director

Provincial reconstruction teams training for Afghanistan

Department of Defense teams created and designed to help with the reconstruction, security and governing of Afghanistan are training here before deploying for 365 days. Twelve provincial reconstruction teams, or PRTs, have been training here since January. The PRTs are from the Air Force, Army and

Airmen volunteers help improve medical facilities in Kyrgyzstan

Airmen are working to improve the lives of patients at two Bishkek medical facilities. Last week, volunteers from the Manas Air Base Outreach Society, or MABOS, visited patients in a children’s heart ward and a burn unit in medical centers in Bishkek. They delivered donated medical supplies, linen,

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for April 1 to 3. In Afghanistan April 2, an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Oruzgan. The B-52 successfully dropped GBU-31 precision-guided JDAMs

SkyTote to demonstrate high-speed flight with vertical takeoff

Air Force Research Laboratory scientists are working on a novel unmanned air vehicle called SkyTote that will take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but also transition into horizontal flight like a conventional aircraft. SkyTote's primary mission is to deliver a payload to a specific point

New center provides single contact for mobility air forces

Air Mobility Command moved toward a supply process transformation March 29 when the Regional Supply Squadron here was re-designated as the Mobility Logistics Support Center. The center will provide mobility air forces with one stop for ordering, shipping and tracking supplies to troops worldwide.

Personnel Services Delivery System initiative begins

The Air Force Contact Center’s Web-based services and contact center officially began taking calls after a ceremony at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The center is part of a new initiative called Personnel Services Delivery Transformation, or PSD, which uses

Air Force expects to choose tanker contractor by mid-2007

The Air Force hopes to have a contractor selected for a KC-135 Stratotanker replacement by mid-2007. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told members of the aerospace industry March 30 the service is hoping to make a source selection for the KC-135 aircraft by the middle of 2007. The Air

Response teams prepare for chemical, nuclear threats

In an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, a lab sits fully stocked and prepared to produce chemical weapons of mass destruction. A tip leads the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to the location. Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear defense teams suit up and prepare to raid the

SECAF testifies on future budget concerns

The Secretary of the Air Force explained the Air Force priorities that drive the fiscal 2007 budget request to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee on defense March 29. Secretary Michael W. Wynne told the committee there are three crucial areas of concern for the Air Force --

Ramstein airlift mission at full speed

This airlift hub is now the main “pit stop” on the United States-to-Iraq supply route because of its high-tech facilities and ability to fix aircraft. That makes Ramstein not only the “gateway to Europe,” but also the “gateway to U.S. Central Command,” said Col. Jeff Derrick, commander of the 723rd

Exchanging with pilots from 'down under'

The mission of U.S. Air Force’s refueling aircraft is to carry out global air refueling, airlift and humanitarian assignments. That mission is not only accomplished by U.S. pilots. Foreign exchange pilots from Australia assigned to Fairchild help their U.S. counterparts achieve that mission. The

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 58 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom March 30. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

Air Force, Army to purchase small cargo aircraft

By 2010, both the Army and the Air Force may be flying the same aircraft  to provide airlift inside places like Afghanistan and Iraq. The Secretary of Defense has given approval for the Army and the Air Force to work together to purchase those aircraft. The Army has been calling it a "Future Cargo

Global Hawk 'sets sail' from Edwards

A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle known as N-1 took off from Edwards' main runway March 27 on a one-way mission to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The N-1, an RQ-4A Global Hawk -- one of two acquired by the U.S. Navy through the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program -- is the first of

USAFE reaching out to establish security ties

Airmen and their counterparts from other countries meeting to discuss ways to fix runways may not impact the war on terror like an airstrike against al Qaeda forces. But these face-to-face meetings could one day lead to a security accord that could help combat terrorism, said Mike McMullan, chief of

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Asadabad, Afghanistan, March 29. The A-10s fired 244 cannon rounds and successfully expended one 500-pound

Deployed emergency responders show off skills, equipment

Explosive ordnance disposal, medical emergency responders and firefighters combine their skills to respond to several emergencies or the same emergency within a matter of minutes. Their Kyrgyzstan counterparts were invited to the base to see the equipment vital to the Americans’ success and learn

Air chiefs discuss Middle East challenges

Air chiefs from 13 nations gathered here March 25 to 27 for the fifth Middle East Air Symposium to discuss issues and challenges facing the region. The focus of the talks was the unconventional roles of air forces in the changing security environment. King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of

Collaboration improves solar storm forecasting

A new partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Weather Agency seeks to reduce the impact of space environmental effects on Department of Defense assets through better forecasting of violent solar storms. Space-based communications, navigation and surveillance systems

Space mission supports Operation Iraqi Freedom

An Army ground patrol in Iraq is ambushed. Pinned down by sniper fire, the commander calls for air support with his satellite phone. Within moments an F-16 Fighting Falcon is overhead. The jet drops a 500-pound precision-guided bomb on a two-story building housing the enemy, causing only minimal

Targeting pods enhance battlefield awareness

An armed F-16 Fighting Falcon is “watching” the road below for the convoys rolling through a dangerous land. The concept of using fighter aircraft equipped with targeting pods to monitor the battlespace is known as non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or NTISR. Air Force

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.In Afghanistan March 28 , an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, Predator, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and Royal Air Force Harrier GR7s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Gereshk. The

Kingpins use blend of old, new technology to counter threats

In the sky over Iraq, technology developed in the 1940s helps fight a 21st century war. From their unique vantage point, the Kirkuk long-range radar surveillance site searches the sky. It’s almost as if the slow cyclonic pace hypnotizes everything in the airspace to spill their deep dark secrets --

Ramstein’s transformation edging toward fruition

Parts of this hectic airlift hub are still under construction as the historic base transforms into the Air Force’s European super base. The work is part of the Department of Defense’s largest ongoing construction project -- a $500 million boon for the base near Kaiserslautern, said Col. Carlos

Cope Thunder exercise now Red Flag - Alaska

The Air Force chief of staff has announced the Cope Thunder exercise held in Alaska will be renamed and enhanced so it provides complementary training on the same level as the current Red Flag exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Red Flag - Alaska coupled with Red Flag - Nellis will provide

Flying, fighting in space important to Air Force

Space is an integral part of the Air Force mission. Whether someone is flying an airlifter, sending an e-mail or surveying a new runway, chances are space-based weather forecasting, navigation or communications systems helped make it possible. In fact, the Air Force is boldly developing new systems

Predators deliver data, firepower in Iraq

“I never thought I’d be doing anything like this,” said Airman 1st Class Kyle Bridges from his seat at an RQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ground control station. “I signed up to be an imagery analyst, which I thought was going to be a cool job. Instead I was offered the chance to be a sensor

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for March 25 to 28. An Air Force MQ-1 Predator flying in Operation Iraqi Freedom identified anti-Coalition forces placing an improvised explosive device near Balad Air Base, Iraq. The aircraft successfully expended an AGM-114

Maintainers repair Iraqi police station radio

For four members of the 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, their latest job was not a usual one. Three ground radio maintainers and their flight commander responded to a request to fix a high frequency radio belonging to an Iraqi police station. The HF radio is important because of its

Controllers bring airpower directly to fight

Airmen working side-by-side with the Army has become common place these days. But long before Airmen began performing convoy duties and other jobs historically done by their Army counterparts, Tactical Air Control Parties were assigned to Army combat maneuver units around the world. TACPs live,

Manas AB and local Kyrgyz communities forge bonds of friendship

With warm and milder weather, spring has brought opportunities for the base and local community to strengthen friendly relations. Emergency responders on base pulled out all the stops to host officials and staff from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency for an annual tour and barbeque March 18. The two

Three Air Force trailblazers among Hall of Fame inductees

Three Air Force trailblazers were among the five women inducted into the Women in Aviation, International, Pioneer Hall of Fame here March 25. An audience of more than 2,000 witnessed the induction of retired officers -- Maj. Gen. Jeanne Holm, Maj. Gen. Betty Mullis and Lt. Col. Betty Jane Williams.

Squadron keeps deployed Airmen in touch with their families

During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, deployed troops looked forward to mail call. This was their primary mode of communication with family and friends. However, letters could take weeks or even months to arrive. Today’s warriors still receive mail, but now they have instantaneous

Medics use Smart Ops 21 to decrease patient notification time by half

For the past year, the 436th Medical Group here has applied a continual improvement process many people often associate with maintenance personnel and programs. LEAN, Six Sigma and Continual Process Improvement are all programs the Air Force has introduced into the maintenance career fields over the

Stage facility provides aircrews one-stop support

A management team at this base is helping aircrews spend less time preparing for flying with a streamlined, one-stop approach to en route mission planning. The result is an increase in mission velocity, said Lt. Col. James Kirk, commander of the 726th Air Mobility Squadron. That leads to a more

Air Force releases UAV strategic vision

The Air Force recently completed a vision document to provide high-level guidance to service development and integration of unmanned aircraft for the next 25 years. While the Air Force has been experimenting with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles since 1962, the technology has only recently evolved to a

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 48 close-air-support missions March 23 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

SECAF makes first official tour of Pacific Region bases

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne is currently touring the Pacific Region to introduce his top priorities for the Air Force -- winning the war on terrorism, fostering mutual integrity and respect, and revitalizing for the service’s aging infrastructure and fleet. The 21st secretary of the

Air Force pilot becomes one of newest astronauts

A former F-22A Raptor test pilot has now joined the ranks of an even more elite group of pilots. Lt. Col. James Dutton became an astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration following his graduation in February. “I wanted to be an astronaut when I joined the Air Force so I always

Cheney gives Oath of Enlistment to servicemembers at Scott

Nine servicemembers and one enlistee had the privileged opportunity to raise their right hand and receive the Oath of Office from the vice president of the United States. During a recent visit to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Vice President Richard Cheney assisted 375th Airlift Wing commander Col.

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 22 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and

Spangdahlem airlift hub still growing

Nine months after setting up shop at this long-time fighter base, the 726th Air Mobility Squadron continues to set up a key airlift hub. Squadron Airmen are easily handling the sometimes sporadic traffic of heavy transport aircraft that transit through this hilltop base, whether coming from the

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 21 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Reservists' mission keeps 'boots on the ground'

It’s hot, dry, windy and dangerous on the air base. Sand blows in your face and stings like it would at the beach. But this is no beach. This is where people from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., are playing a vital role in the war on terrorism, thousands of miles from home. Chief Master Sgt. Tim

C-17s would help USAFE’s air mobility business

As the need grows for more Air Force transports to move cargo and troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Air Forces in Europe is feeling the pinch. Today, most Air Force airlift missions support military operations in the two countries, said Col. Phil Bossert, commander of 16th Air Force’s air

CV-22 delivered to Air Force

A new chapter in Air Force aviation opened March 20 as the first operational CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft arrived here. The aircraft was flown from the test wing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., by Lt. Gen. Michael W. Wooley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, to the 58th

Fighter aircraft help apprehend insurgents

Air Force fighter aircraft pilots helped apprehend three suspected insurgents accused of mortaring Balad Air Base, Iraq, March 16. The pilots, who flew two F-15E Strike Eagles with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, were on a close-air-support mission near Balad when mortars were detected by the

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 20 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. In addition, 14 Air Force, Navy, Royal Air

C-17 surpasses its 1 millionth flying hour

A C-17 Globemaster III on a routine air evacuation mission from Iraq flew the Air Force transport fleet past the 1 millionth flying hour mark on its return to this airlift hub today. There were no bands or dignitaries waiting for the plane -- from the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift

Joint Strike Fighter program crucial to future air dominance

Keeping the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program on track is important because the Air Force needs to replace aging aircraft and it is an important complement to the F-22A Raptor aircraft. That Capitol Hill testimony came March 16 from Lt. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, deputy chief of staff for Air

Chief of staff releases 'Letter to Airmen'

In his latest “Letter to Airmen,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley remembered the third anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The March 19 anniversary marked the removal of an oppressive and dangerous regime, and the culmination of a joint and coalition intense effort on land, air

C-17s deliver relief to Kauai

“The Spirit of Hawaii - Ke Aloha," Hickam’s first C-17 Globemaster III, delivered 27,000 pounds of recovery equipment to Kauai, Hawaii, after a dam burst, isolating thousands of residents and tourist along the island’s north shore. What was intended to be a routine training mission turned into a

Electronic Systems Center team pushing 'smart' process, culture change

An Electronic Systems Center team is working to save time, money and tons of material, all while increasing security when America's most sensitive information is distributed. The Cryptologic Systems Group, located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is working to institute an electronic "key" process

KC-135 aircrews ‘fuel the fight’ for B-52s

In six short weeks, deployed KC-135 Stratotankers have delivered more than 11 million pounds of fuel to B-52 Stratofortresses that have flown forward into Afghan airspace to provide close air support for U.S. and coalition forces on the ground. Without this fuel, the B-52s would not be able to carry

Responsive, affordable satellite enhances support to warfighter

In the battle environment, every second counts, and accelerated (within 10 minutes) information downloaded to the joint warfighter, to be demonstrated in the upcoming TacSat-3 mission, could result in victory, but more importantly, in lives saved. Planned to launch in summer 2007, the TacSat-3

Combat-ready for 50 years: B-52s fly past another milestone

The B-52 Stratofortress reached a milestone March 12 with the 50th anniversary of the first B-52 wing being declared combat-ready. The 93rd Bombardment Wing was declared combat-ready March 12, 1956, after being activated June 29, 1955. Although it had been declared combat-ready for 10 years, the

Iraqi security forces, coalition launch 'Operation Swarmer'

Iraqi and coalition forces today launched the largest air assault operation since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in southern Salah Ad Din province to clear a suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra, military officials reported. "Operation Swarmer" began this morning with

F-15s, MiGs are allies in the sky

Multinational pilots from the United States and Malaysia have joined forces in the Pacific skies for Cope Taufan ‘06, a three-week air-to-air training exercise designed to sharpen air combat tactic skills and promote closer relations between allies. Cope Taufan, Taufan meaning “big storm” in

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's air power summary.Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions March 14 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s air power summary.Coalition aircraft flew 50 close-air-support missions March 13 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter

Gen. Renuart: U.S. strategy built for new threats

The U.S. military has sculpted its strategy to account for the different threats, cultures and circumstances posed by the global war on terror, said the Joint Staff's chief of strategic plans and policy. While the Defense Department does focus a great deal of effort on Iraq and Afghanistan, the war

Combat cargo capability

Air Force captures five Nunn-Perry awards

Five Air Force company teams captured Nunn-Perry awards at the annual Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé conference in Atlanta on March 8. The awards recognize efforts by DOD prime contractors (mentors) and their protégé small businesses to advance the protégé company as a competitive partner in

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary report

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary report for March 11 to 13. Coalition aircraft flew 54 close air support missions March 12 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and

What’s in a name?

The Space Warfare Center here became the Space Innovation and Development Center in a formal ceremony March 8. The name has changed, but the organization’s mission remains the same, the commander said. “One of the things I want people to understand is that there’s no change in our mission,” Col.

The nose knows -- military working dogs complete security forces mission

“Get 'em!” With one swift movement, military working dog Breston is off like a flash, covering the distance between his handler and his target in just a few fluid strides. The reward for his speed and agility is a nice juicy bite. Of course the juicy bite was just the “bite suit” but Breston, a

Analysis of tanker fleet alternatives released

The RAND Corp. released an executive summary March 7 detailing its findings from an analysis of alternatives study to replace the Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. The report states, "A fleet of medium to large (300,000 to 1,000,000 pounds maximum gross takeoff weight) commercial derivatives is

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 36 close-air-support missions March 9 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

Warfare center creates mobility warriors

Every day more than 550 Airmen pick up a proverbial sword and shield and step onto the battlefield. Their sword is knowledge honed to a razor’s edge by experience and technology; their shield, the Air Mobility Warfare Center; their battlefield, deployed locations around the world. “We are