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  • Panetta vows to put national security, troops first

    Leon E. Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee June 9 that if he's confirmed as the next defense secretary, his first and foremost mission will be to protect the U.S. and ensure it has the "best-trained, the best-equipped and the strongest military in the world" to provide that defense.Mr.

  • Airlines officials revise policies for troops' checked baggage

    Military members traveling on orders on several major U.S. air carriers can check four, and in some cases, five bags without charge based on new policies the airlines instituted in recent days. Officials from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines announced the

  • Department recognizes environmental stewards

    The Defense Department today recognized its best stewards of the nation's natural and cultural resources at a Pentagon ceremony marking the 2011 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards."The Defense Department has long made it a priority to protect our natural and cultural resources," said Dorothy

  • Air Force civilian named IMFA Gold Plate winner

    An Air Force civilian was named the 2011 International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate winner here May 23.George Miller, the Air Force Services Agency food and beverage operations chief, is the first military member to receive the 56-year-old award that annually recognizes the

  • Shindand defenders take aim

    Security forces advisers from the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Wing and Italian air force conducted 9 mm pistol training for 20 Afghan airmen here recently.The classroom training, aimed to provide senior AAF officers formal instruction on safety, engaging a target and nomenclature of the weapon.

  • Free mobile app for basic military training available to Airmen

    A free mobile phone application geared toward people preparing for life in the Air Force and focusing on physical training was released June 2. The mobile app, called "Fundamentals," is available for download from the iTunes Store and will be available from the Android Market in early July. "The

  • Edwards team tests new brake system for C-130

    Members of the 418th Flight Test Squadron C-130 Hercules Wheel Brake System Improvement program here are testing the performance of carbon brakes and the new Mark IV Digital Antiskid Control Unit for the aircraft to replace the C-130's legacy brake system.Members of this test group said they know

  • NATO endorses decision to extend Libya operation

    NATO defense ministers have endorsed the decision to extend Operation Unified Protector by 90 days, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said here June 8. The extension authorizes NATO to continue operations through the end of September, the secretary general said during a news conference at the

  • Air Force leaders praise Tinker's efficiency, warfighter support

    Two Air Force senior leaders toured the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here June 6, and praised the partnerships they saw in action.Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton and former OC-ALC commander Lt. Gen. Loren M. Reno, who serves as the Air Force deputy chief of staff for logistics,

  • Historians write their own chapter with Air Force awards

    Air Force officials recently named the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency history office the recipient of the 2010 Brig. Gen. Brian S. Gunderson Award for overall history program management excellence and the Air Force Heritage Award for its heritage center and

  • Wisconsin ANG pilot safe following aircraft accident

    A pilot from the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing here is safe after ejecting from an F-16 Fighting Falcon over Adams County June 7 during a routine training flight. The pilot has been recovered south of Chester, Wisc., and is being medically evaluated. The aircraft has been located

  • Reservists complete combat aviation advisor training

    Training with their active-duty counterparts, five 919th Special Operations Wing reservists completed the baseline certification course May 27 that will lead to their recognition as combat aviation advisors.This was the first time Air Force reservists have taken this elite special operations course.

  • Air Force spouse, children recall evacuation following Japan earthquake

    The date, March 11, 2011, will never be forgotten by many people. It was the day that a 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan and a day that started the motions for an Air Force family to make a decision to evacuate to Spokane, Wash., or stay and risk their newborn baby's health.The choice for them was

  • U.S., Korean air forces rumble forward in Max Thunder 11-1

    The South Korean and U.S. air forces hosted a joint exercise here May recently to sharpen their ability to work together in a simulated wartime environment. The exercise, held annually, provided bilateral training to more than 320 personnel from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base and the 51st

  • Offutt Airmen join locals to help protect museum items from flood waters

    A call for help started a chain of events that culminated with members of Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.,  joining forces with three Boy Scout groups, more than 20 Omaha park personnel, retired submariners and members of the U.S. Coast Guard responding to rising flood waters at Freedom Park June

  • Former Air Force general sworn in as VA undersecretary for benefits

    Retired Brig. Gen. Allison A. Hickey, a 27-year veteran of the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve and a graduate of the first U.S. Air Force Academy class to include women, has been sworn in as the Department of Veterans Affairs' undersecretary for benefits."General Hickey is a

  • Multinational exercise kicks off in Macedonia

    Members from seven multinational forces gathered in Macedonia June 6 to kick off the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, or MEDCEUR 11. MEDCEUR, an annual regional and multilateral exercise sponsored by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is held in the spirit of

  • 'Critical Days of Summer' off to a great start

    For the 2nd consecutive year, the Air Force had zero mishap fatalities over the Memorial Day weekend. Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest, the Air Force chief of safety, said he was pleased with these results, but he reminded Airmen of the need for continued vigilance throughout the remainder of the

  • Airmen save Soldier from gas fire

    Two Airmen from the 466th Air Expeditionary Wing flightline security office saved a Solider from a gasoline fire May 26 here.Two members of the flightline security team had driven to a base gas station to refuel their truck. Staff Sgt. Alicia Estes was pumping the gas when Senior Airman Kourtlyn

  • First Doolittle Award presented to 4th Fighter Wing

    The 4th Fighter Wing received the inaugural Air Force Historical Foundation Doolittle Award during a ceremony at the Air Force Memorial here June 2.The Doolittle Award promotes the history and heritage of a unit as opposed to an individual. The award is named after Lt. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, a Medal

  • Thunderbirds set to kick off 2011 European tour in Turkey

    The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are practiced and ready to perform the first official demonstration of their 2011 European Tour. The team brought 78 of its nearly 120 Airmen on the six-week, transcontinental trip, arriving earlier this week at Cigli AB, just outside of the western coastal city of

  • Raven Claw forges future warrior-diplomats

    Trainees faced decisions ranging from eating fish heads full of teeth to providing the host nation with night-vision goggles and satellite imagery.Nineteen Airmen tested their powers of diplomatic negotiation and combat readiness in Raven Claw, a week-long exercise devoted to preparing future combat

  • DOD, Homeland Security collaborate in cyber realm

    Recognizing the huge national security implications of compromised U.S. computer networks, a senior Pentagon official said Defense Department officials are working with the Department of Homeland Security officials and others to shore up vulnerabilities against an increasingly sophisticated

  • Officials suggest new role for more capable Reserve force

    Capabilities gained from a decade of combat have transformed military reserve components into a full-spectrum operational force that should be integrated into the active fighting force, a defense official said June 3.Paul Patrick, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs for

  • Thunderbirds announce 2012 officer selections

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. William M. Fraser III, has officially selected the officers who will be joining the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds" for the 2012 demonstration season. Maj. Greg Moseley, a lieutenant colonel-select currently assigned to

  • Prime BEEF improves living conditions in Afghanistan

    Recently, a small team from the 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron traveled to forward-operating bases to improve the quality of life for service members at combat outposts in Southeastern Afghanistan. Prime BEEF stands for Base Engineer Emergency Force, and these teams of laborers, made up of

  • JAG corps announces law school programs

    Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from January through March 2012. The number of FLEP and ELP applicants selected in any academic year is determined based on the needs of the Air Force."Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and

  • U.S., Chinese leaders note progress on military ties

    U.S. and Chinese defense leaders said they are pleased with the progress the countries are making in re-establishing good military-to-military relations. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie held bilateral talks during the Shangri-La Dialogue here June

  • Captain shares Student Flight knowledge to help unit build program

    Capt. Bryan Williams, the Student Flight coordinator for the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., helped establish the new Student Flight training program for the West Virginia ANG's 130th Airlift Wing here.A Student Flight prepares new recruits for

  • Minot Airmen help neighbors as flood water rises

    With the Souris River threatening to break the levies already in place, thousands of Minot citizens, including military members, their families and DOD civilians, have been forced to evacuate the area here June 1.Many have sought shelter with friends and families outside of the evacuation areas. For

  • Guard provides presence patrols in Minot's evacuated areas

    Members of the North Dakota Air National Guard's 219th Security Forces Squadron began a new mission June 2 as they continued with flood operations here. About 50 Guardsmen began providing presence patrols in the city's nine evacuated zones. The Guard members' presence will help deter possible theft

  • EPLO assisting relief efforts after Massachusetts tornadoes

    At least two tornadoes struck parts of central and western Massachusetts June 1, prompting the Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate to deploy an emergency preparedness liaison officer to assist in the relief effort at the request of the defense coordinating

  • New 'milk stool' design may save dollars, backs

    A C-130 Hercules ramp support platform designed by four cadets here in May could save not only Air Force dollars but also the backs of the loadmasters who currently drag around 75-pound monstrosities, officials said.The newly designed "milk stool," as the ramp support platform is called, would weigh

  • DOD works toward successful transition in Iraq

    The recent Middle East turmoil underscores the importance of an active U.S. engagement in Iraq and a "shoring up" of relations with key regional partners, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East said June 1."(The Defense Department) strongly believes we must remain focused on

  • Team building drove president's choices, Gates says

    Building a team was the most important consideration as President Barack Obama made his choices for top national security positions, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said June 2.While he wouldn't give specifics about his advice to the president, Secretary Gates told reporters traveling with him to

  • First C-17 lands on refurbished runway at Shindand

    A C-17 Globemaster III landed at Shindand Air Base recently marking the first time the large military transport aircraft was needed to land at the base since the refurbished runway opened in December 2010.The landing marked a significant milestone as strategic airlift provides a critical and

  • Fallen tanker pilot to be honored in building dedication

    Airmen from the 911th Air Refueling Squadron will honor a fallen tanker pilot June 26 here by dedicating a new auditorium in his name. The event comes exactly 43 years to the day that the late Maj. Robert Francis Woods was declared missing in action after his plane crashed over Vietnam, and four

  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force visits Team Sheppard

    The Air Force's senior enlisted member got to step back in time to his days as a technical training student and instructor as he visited the Air Force's largest training base May 23 and 24 here."It is important to train the way we fight, and you are an example of that training," Chief Master Sgt. of

  • Training at MacDill provides skills to survive

    In the military, training can teach most things, but it can't teach the will to survive. That is something contained deep inside, said Staff Sgt. Patrick Ray, the NCO in charge of survival, evasion, resistance and escape training here.SERE training is essential for military members who fly, or

  • Space shuttle Endeavor lands for last time

    The space shuttle Endeavor touched down at the Kennedy Space Center June 1 at 2:35 a.m. EDT, ending the shuttle's 19-year flying career.The Endeavour crew completed four spacewalks and several maintenance upgrades on the International Space Station as part of the shuttle's final mission.Endeavour's

  • Bagram hospital provides care to all who need it

    The announcement over the hospital intercom blared the news: more casualties were arriving, many that the staff knew would need near-heroic measures to survive.The Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint Theater Hospital, one of the largest and best-equipped trauma facilities in Afghanistan, was preparing

  • New warrior, family operations center opens

    Air Force officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening for the Air Force's new Warrior and Family Operations Center here May 25.More than 200 people witnessed the opening of the 7,000 square-foot facility housing four programs: Air Force Wounded Warrior, Airman and Family Readiness,

  • New military working dog facility built to highest 'green' standard

    The 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog section here officially opened the first "green" kennel in the Defense Department May 20. The $1.6 million project included artificial turf, green construction techniques, a rain water collector and solar panels. "The artificial turf won't need

  • Deployed Airmen fuel combat outpost security

    Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight are assisting in the safety and security of thousands of U.S., Afghan and coalition troops at various forward operating bases and combat outpost throughout Afghanistan.Above these remote locations, aerostats

  • General Hostage to lead Air Combat Command

    The U.S. Senate confirmed the assignment of the newest commander of Air Combat Command. Lt. Gen. Gilmary M. Hostage III, whom the Senate also confirmed for appointment to the grade of general, will assume command of ACC at a later date.General Hostage currently serves as the commander of U.S. Air

  • Iraqi airmen, U.S. advisers celebrate bittersweet PME graduation

    More than 160 Iraqi airmen graduated from a two-week enlisted professional development course taught by U.S. Air Force advisers here May 28. The students, who learned skills designed to make them more effective leaders, supervisors and managers, were praised by their American advisers for their

  • Advisers open metals technology, sheet metal shops

    Advisers from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron held an inauguration ceremony here to commemorate the opening of a metals technology and sheet metal shop in Iraq's newest and largest maintenance hangar. The ceremony was held to honor the effort and dedication it took to build two fully

  • Firemen donate equipment to Afghan firefighters

    A deployed firefighter and a crew chief instructor teamed up with stateside firefighters to donate equipment to Afghan air force firefighters , bringing them one step closer to independent operations. Airmen from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and firefighters in Parkton, N.C., teamed up to

  • Handmade quilts cloak wounded warriors in love

    Service members categorized as critical care aeromedical transport team patients are all leaving the contingency aeromedical staging facility with a very special package: a handmade quilt stitched with love. Shortly after the January arrival of the current CASF team, quilts began arriving at the

  • Air Force officials to hold selective early retirement boards

    As part of the FY11 Force Management programs announced in early February, Air Force officials are preparing for the selective early retirement boards for lieutenant colonels and colonels to further size and balance the force within congressionally authorized end-strength levels. The lieutenant

  • Air Force leaders issue summer safety message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy send the following Critical Days of Summer safety campaign message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families:Memorial Day weekend through Labor

  • Maintainers prepare for F-35A training on F-35B and F-35C

    Air Force maintainers are getting hands-on experience with the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter here.Seven Airmen from the 33rd Fighter Wing arrived here recently to spend 75 days gaining firsthand experience maintaining the F-35B and F-35C variants, while those aircraft continue flight test

  • Competition integrates cyber capabilities, encourages new ideas

    Airmen from the 67th Network Warfare Wing took part in the first Cyber Nexus competition here May 17 to 19. The force-on-force event brought together operators from the Air Force's four cyber disciplines to compete as integrated teams. The four disciplines are network operations, defensive

  • Commissary Agency officials honor best stores for recycling

    Helping the environment has become a habit for a number of stores in the Defense Commissary Agency. Agency officials formally acknowledged these commissaries for their excellence in recycling May 25 as part of DeCA's Solid Waste Management Awards.The awards were developed to recognize store

  • Sather Airmen take Iraqi security training to next level

    The Iraqi air force will be a step closer to providing personal security for high-ranking officials after completing advanced security forces training with 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron instructors later this week.The advanced course, which is a precursor to personal security detail

  • Seven decades of flying come to a close

    More than 70 years of flying experience came to a close after one last flight in a Piper Saratoga aircraft May 20 in Valdosta, Ga.While retired Col. Clarence Parker has been a pilot for the majority of his life, the now 90-year-old has decided to hang up his wings and start a new chapter in his

  • The backbeat of the band

    Have you ever been to a concert? Have you ever sat in the audience before the band took the stage and marveled at the lights, stage and speakers that pepper the venue and wonder how it all came together? Long before the first note comes barreling through the sound system of a concert hall, hundreds

  • French pilots, families integrate into base, community

    Two French air force pilots are currently calling Moody Air Force Base, Ga., home. Commandant Yann Malard and Capitaine Sebastian Alvarez are currently integrated with a fighter squadron and rescue squadron, respectively, as they become proficient on their particular airframes. "The units here and

  • KC-135s get lighting upgrades

    The C/KC-135 Stratotanker is in and out of Southwest Asia, but these days it supports more than just air refueling operations. As the KC-135 performs more aeromedical evacuation missions, officials said they realized the fleet wasn't properly equipped to care for patients due to inadequate

  • Explosive ordnance disposal team trains Iraqi agencies to save lives

    Thousands of people have died from roadside bombs in Iraq. But even one death from these attacks is one too many, and an explosive ordnance disposal team from Contingency Operating Site Warrior is trying to prevent that number from getting any bigger.The 321st Expeditionary Operation Support

  • Experts discuss future long-range strike bomber requirements

    More than 30 military and civilian strategic air power experts gathered here May 5 to discuss ideas for a new long-range strike bomber. The Bomber Advisory Group examined past and current global strike success stories and strategic air power's role in the 21st century. The group also brainstormed

  • Secretary Donley congratulates new officers at Academy commencement

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke at the commencement address for the Air Force Academy's Class of 2011 at Falcon Stadium here May 25.Michael Donley congratulated the 1,021 graduates and challenged them to be lifelong learners, team players and doers after they have received their diplomas and

  • Tops in Blue set to kick off 'Rhythm Nation' tour

    Tops in Blue, the Air Force's expeditionary entertainment unit, kicks off their 2011 'Rhythm Nation' tour with a performance at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May 25.Tops in Blue is a group of Airmen comprised of 35 vocalists, dancers, musicians and technicians who perform for deployed service

  • Medics, aircrew members execute life-saving mission

    In the early hours of the morning on May 22, a group of Airmen here departed with a moment's notice for Pago Pago, American Samoa, to save the life of a critically ill child.Medical personnel from the 13th Air Force surgeon general's office and the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Det. 1, along

  • Photo essay: Refueling the fight

    Airmen from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron participate in multiple air refueling missions here May 8, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.View the slideshow.

  • Gates: Defense cuts must be prioritized, strategic

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he is determined that the department not fall victim to the mistakes of the past, "where the budget targets were met mostly by taking a percentage off the top of everything, the simplest and most politically expedient approach both inside the Pentagon and

  • Operation Joint Endeavor: Employers of guardsmen receive orientation

    Members of the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing and the Ohio Army National Guard's Camp Perry Joint Training Center hosted a joint employer event May 21, sponsored by the Ohio Adjutant General, welcoming 20 employers of Ohio Air National Guard and Army National Guard service members.The

  • Advisers from 3 bases converge for evacuation training

    Air Force and Army medical advisers from bases throughout Iraq converged here to conduct aeromedical evacuation training with their Iraqi counterparts May 18 to 19.Medical advisers and helicopter pilots with the 171st General Support Aviation Battalion at Camp Taji, medics from Joint Base Balad's

  • Warrior games about more than medals

    The 2011 Warrior Games officially came to an end here May 21 following closing ceremonies.The Air Force team, consisting of 23 wounded Airmen, earned 12 medals at the event.But for the athletes, the games were not just about medals. The Warrior Games were an opportunity for the current and former

  • Air Force takes silver in shooting competition

    A member on the Air Force shooting team took second place during the shooting finals at the 2011 Warrior Games May 19 here.Chatriex Goodson secured the silver medal for the Air Force team in air rifle standing SH1 category, meaning shooters are able to support a gun without a stand. Goodson

  • Pentagon, Homeland Security collaborate on cybersecurity

    In line with an agreement between the department secretaries last fall and a recently released White House proposal, the Defense Department is sharing cybersecurity information, capabilities and expertise with the Homeland Security Department, a Pentagon official said May 23.Robert J. Butler, the

  • Strong military is key to long-term U.S. success, Gates says

    The ultimate guarantee against success of aggressors, dictators and terrorists in the 21st century is the size, strength and global reach of the United States military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said May 22."Beyond the current wars, our military credibility, commitment and presence are

  • Hero Miles brings families to healing Warrior Games

    For wounded or injured servicemembers, family support is a vital lifeline during the initial and long-term recovery process that helps them find a new "normal" in their life.The Hero Miles program provides family members the commercial airline flights to the injured service member in the hospital or

  • Secretary urges careful thought in spending reductions

    Finding $400 billion in additional defense spending reductions over the next 12 years will require careful thought that considers the risks the reductions create, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here May 19.In a question-and-answer session with students at the U.S. Army Engineer School here,

  • Navy defeats Air Force, takes bronze

    The Air Force wheelchair basketball team fought to the end against the Navy, but it wasn't enough as the Navy edged out the Air Force 13-12 in the bronze-medal game May 20 during the 2011 Warrior Games here.The game started with Air Force possession. After a missed shot by the Air Force, the Navy

  • C2-Forward concept enhances combat capability

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe is showcasing a new concept designed to enhance a joint force commander's combat capability as part of the Combat Air Forces/Mobility Air Forces conference here May 23 and 24.The concept stemmed from the 2009 Joint Forces Exercise Austere Challenge, when 3rd Air Force was

  • Civilian career development webcasts continue May 26, June 21

    Webcasts designed to help civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers will be held May 26 for GS-12 and GS-13 civilians, and June 21 for GS-7 through GS-11 civilians. Hosted by officials of the Air Force Personnel Center civilian force integration directorate, webcast topics will include how to

  • 7th Intel Squadron named best in Air Force

    The 7th Intelligence Squadron was named the Outstanding Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit of the Year for 2010 as part of the annual Air Force ISR awards program and the National Military Intelligence Association Maj. Gen. Jack E. Thomas awards program. The 7th IS selection was made

  • Conaton speaks on AF biomass fuel use at open house

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton spoke to media about the milestone of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team's first use of a biomass fuel blend in two of their jets here during the 2011 Joint Service Open House May 20.The Air Force has a vested interest in the use of

  • Cadets attempt to break world record

    As a way to wind down after the completion of finals week, cadets here attempted to break a Guinness World Record by staging the world's largest dodgeball game.More than 3,500 cadets, divided into two teams, faced off May 18th on the Academy's Terrazzo to beat the record for the largest dodgeball

  • 'Golden hour' initiative pays off in Afghanistan

    Two years ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates traveled throughout Afghanistan, promising deployed troops he would make sure they had everything they needed to accomplish their mission -- including more forward-deployed medical capabilities in the event they were wounded.The goal, Secretary Gates

  • Marine Corps shoots down Air Force in wheelchair basketball action

    In a defense-heavy match-up, the Marine Corps defeated the Air Force 46-10 in the wheelchair basketball competition May 19 at the 2011 Warrior Games here. This is the third loss for the Air Force wheelchair basketball team.In the first half, both teams put up a strong defensive front allowing just a

  • Army marches through Air Force

    Earning a shot at gold, the Army took down the Air Force in the sitting volleyball semifinals during the final semifinal game at the second annual Warrior Games here May 19. Though the Air Force started the series with the first point, they traded the Army point for point for most of the game. An

  • Air Guard Airmen establish air hub for earthquake-relief exercise

    More than 40 members of a contingency response element from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing operated a key patient-movement hub here as part of National Level Exercise 2011.The exercise is designed to test the local, state and national response to a simulated earthquake along

  • Joint Air Operations Center stand-up part of National Level Exercise 2011

    Kentucky Air National Guard officials stood up a joint air operations center here May 16 to serve as the main command node for all of the state's fixed-wing and rotary aircraft that are participating in the largest earthquake-response exercise in U.S. history.The week-long event, called National

  • Air Force makes splash in swim prelims

    Members of the Air Force team qualified in five swimming events during the 2011 Warrior Games preliminary competition here May 18.Matt Pirrello secured two spots in the finals for the Air Force team in the men's 50m long course freestyle single limb amputee and the 100m long course freestyle SLA.

  • Photo essay: RED HORSE on a drop zone mission

    RED HORSE Airmen perform jump missions and operate their own drop zones here May 12. The jumps were part of the 414th Combat Search and Rescue Squadron's training and certification of 3 RED HORSE Airmen as drop zone control officers, enabling the RED HORSE Airmen to perform jump missions and operate

  • Gates shares views on Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan

    During a question-and-answer session here May 19, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave U.S. Army Engineer School students his view of the situations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.Though the current agreement between the U.S. and Iraq calls for all U.S. forces to be out of Iraq by the end of

  • Civic leaders take road trip to understanding

    Seventeen representatives from German federal, state and local governments were escorted to the U.S. May 9 through 13, by Lt. Gen. Stephen P. Mueller, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe vice commander, for an insider's look at how Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases fit into the Air Force mission. The

  • Warrior Games welcomes new faces

    For the second year, the Warrior Games has returned here, bringing competition among all branches of the military and Coast Guard, during a week-long series of sporting events. The Air Force Warrior Games team has seen many veterans return, but there are also many new faces joining them.These

  • JTACs show off new capability during digital demo

    Joint terminal attack controllers with the 607th Air Support Operations Group here recently showed off new digital capabilities during a demonstration with members of the South Korea air force.The demonstration showcased advanced equipment the controllers use when transmitting digit data to aircraft

  • National Guard supports final Endeavour flight

    Air National Guard members from Illinois, New York and Virginia were on hand for the final launch of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour here May 16. The Guard members provided front-line medical and emergency rescue support in the event of an incident.Col. Joe Maslar, the chief of aerospace medicine for

  • Thunderbirds to perform first demo with alternative fuel

    The Thunderbirds will use alternative fuel, unprecedented for any Department of Defense aerial team, at the Joint Services Open House here May 20 and 21, officials said May 18. The team will fly with Camelina-based hydrotreated renewable jet fuel as part of the nation's overall strategy to reduce