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  • Iraqi surgeons attend annual conference in Germany

    Iraqi air force flight surgeons attended the annual U.S. Air Forces in Europe Flight Surgeon Conference held March 11 through 21 at Ramstein Air Base. Major (Dr.) Abdulrazzaq and Lt. (Dr.) Hazem Prior participated in seven sessions of partnering as part of a Multinational Security Transition Command

  • Medal of Honor recipients visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Two Medal of Honor recipients visited with Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 10 here. Retired Army Col. Robert Howard and retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell, visited as part of a Medal of Honor Society tour of the area of responsibility. The Vietnam veterans who earned the

  • Leader magazine transitions from print to online

    In keeping with the evolving mediums for information dissemination, the Leader magazine has ceased production of its print version and has become the Leader Online. The new Web site features Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets and

  • Military doctor cites need for early intervention of autism

    A Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences faculty member discussed Autism Awareness Month recently and the importance of early, proper diagnosis and treatment of children. "Parents should feel confidence in raising questions about whether their child has autism," Dr. Janice Hanson told

  • Moving beyond the F-22

    This op-ed piece appeared in the Washington Post on April 13, written by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.The debate over whether to continue production of the F-22 Raptor has been one of the most politically charged and controversial budget

  • Congresswoman visits Altus

    Officials from the 97th Air Mobility Wing here welcomed the 5th district congresswoman of Oklahoma April 9 as she toured Altus Air Force Base for her assessment of the state's military readiness. Rep. Mary Fallin is currently the only Oklahoma member of the House Armed Services Committee in

  • Robins maintenance group wins silver in Shingo Prize

    Members of the 402nd Electronics Maintenance Group here has taken silver in the Shingo Prize, which recognizes world-class operational excellence strategies and practices in business and public sector/government owned facilities. The 402nd EMXG employs 1,407 people who test and repair avionics on a

  • New 'eMagazine' informs servicemembers, families

    All the support programs in the world won't do any good if no one knows about them, so the Defense Department's principal director for military community and family policy started the office's new "eMagazine." "What I found when I came up here was they have great programs and so forth, but they

  • 'Voices of Men' gives unique insight on sexual assault

    Nobody would expect a guy dressed like Austin Powers to educate people about sexual assault awareness. But as part of the nationwide observance this month to raise awareness about one of the country's most under-reported crimes, Defense Department officials here developed fresh initiatives and

  • Academy space fleet continues to grow

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's space fleet grows even larger this year with the launch of one satellite, continued operations of a second satellite and design work underway for a third. The newest addition will be FalconSAT-6, which is on the drawing board now. The FalconSAT space fleet is a series of

  • VA secretary embraces 'personal calling' of serving veterans

    Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki is a no-nonsense leader who wants veterans to measure his performance and that of the department he leads through concrete results, not rhetoric. "Veterans have been given a lot of promises over a bunch of years, and I have assured them that they should

  • 'Today's Air Force' features dignified transfers

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the new policy for the transfer of fallen military members, a Purple Heart Medal recipient, a winter sports clinic for the disabled and a smoldering type of training: firefighting. A new policy has been approved by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

  • Space Station module name to be announced April 14

    NASA's newest module for the International Space Station will get a new name on April 14. Agency officials plan to make the announcement with the help of Expedition 14 and 15 astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." The program will air at 11:30 p.m. EDT. The name,

  • Reserve commander meets with deployed reservists

    Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., Air Force Reserve Command commander, visited with Reserve members April 8 and 9 during a multi-base tour of the Air Forces Central area of responsibility. General Stenner, who is also chief of Air Force Reserve, took the opportunity to dine with Reservists and

  • BEAR builds new quarters for forces at Manas

    A Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources team recently made room for the influx of coalition forces here as more military forces shift from Iraq to Afghanistan. A nine-member Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources team, known as BEAR, lent their construction skills to Manas Air Base where two 4,000

  • Ceremony recognizes new NATO members

    A flag ceremony marking the accession of Croatia and Albania as the 27th and 28th members of NATO was held April 8 at Allied Air Component Command Headquarters Ramstein. Gen. Roger A. Brady, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and NATO Allied Air Component Command at Ramstein officiated the

  • Tax rates change for retirees, annuitants

    Retirees and annuitants may see a change in the amount of money they receive May 1 thanks to a new tax credit. Public Law 111-05, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17. This act authorized a tax credit for most workers including

  • Air Force officials discuss building partnerships

    The Building Partnerships Symposium concluded March 25 here with members from around the Air Force discussing the necessity of including building partnerships into Air Force doctrine."This symposium was important because we were able to create a clear definition of building partnerships for the Air

  • Active-duty, reserve components meet recruiting goals

    All 10 active-duty and reserve military components met or exceeded their recruiting goals in March, with the Marine Corps adding the highest percentage of active-duty members, Defense Department officials announced April 10. The Army Reserve led the reserve components, and all four active

  • Nominations sought for DOD outreach awards

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations for the 2009 Department of Defense Outreach Awards. There are nine different awards, each with its own eligibility requirements and deadlines. These awards include: Federal Asian Pacific American Council Military Meritorious Service Award:  The 2009

  • Airmen make pledge to prevent sexual assaults

    While American and coalition forces continue fighting the war on terrorism, there are silent criminals among the warriors who cause battle wounds of another kind: sexual assault. There were 165 sexual assault reports in Iraq and Afghanistan during fiscal 2008, a dramatic increase compared to the 131

  • Pararescuemen conduct water test of new NASA capsule

    Six pararescuemen from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., conducted recovery testing on a mockup of NASA's next-generation spacecraft March 8 at the Trident Turn Basin here. The team of pararescuemen from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing deployed an inflatable flotation collar during the test of

  • President salutes former prisoners of war

    President Barack Obama issued a proclamation April 9 marking Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, noting that American prisoners of war exemplify the courage and sacrifice that defines the nation's men and women in uniform. "These brave warriors have paid a massive share of the costs of freedom,

  • VA budget adds mental-health services for combat vets

    The proposed Department of Veterans Affairs funding request will provide more post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury services to combat veterans, as well as other mental-health care and services for wounded warriors, President Barack Obama said April 9. "The nightmares of war

  • Reading program reaches out to military families

    Through the program's military initiative, doctors and nurses at 20 military hospitals, including one in Germany, soon will receive training on how to promote early literacy for children. They also will be provided with free books to present to parents with children ages 6 months to 5 years when

  • Ceremony to recognize vets not eligible for Vietnam Wall inclusion

    One-hundred twenty-three American heroes from the Vietnam War era will be honored posthumously this month during the annual In Memory Day ceremony, according to Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. In Memory Day was created to pay tribute to the men and women

  • Tiered construct defines future expeditionary skills training

    A guarantee to eliminate duplicate expeditionary skills training requirements for all Air Force personnel through a four-tiered construct is now in effect by officials here. "This new construct ensures Airmen receive appropriate expeditionary education and training at the appropriate time," said

  • Intel deputy unveils ISR capability planning process

    For the first-time, Air Force technicians have developed a consolidated process and corporate governance structure to improve intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities in air, space, ground and cyberspace to meet current and future challenges facing the United States and its Allies

  • Developmental education application deadlines set

    Civilians and officers considering intermediate or senior developmental education in academic year 2010 to 2011 have until May 1 and May 6, respectively, to submit their applications for consideration by the selection board here. Officers apply using a Web-based application, while civilians submit

  • Eielson emergency teams respond to base fire

    Eielson Air Force Base emergency responders responded to a fire in a base housing residence within five minutes and helped mitigate property damage April 6 here. "There was smoke coming out of an upstairs window and a woman was screaming that her daughter was still inside," said Staff Sgt. Cody

  • Security forces unit provides combat support to Iraq

    Airmen from the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Det. 3, provide outside-the-wire combat support by doing everything from patrolling as police transition teams to performing intelligence operations to using military working dog teams to help Iraqi police with security. "The mission of

  • CSAF addresses 386th Airmen during AOR visit

    The Air Force's top officer spoke to 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen as part of a visit to the Air Forces Central area of responsibility April 6 and 7. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz also took time to visit the Airmen of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group and speak with the combat

  • Safety experts spearhead efforts to minimize bird strikes

    Americans witnessed firsthand the severity of bird strikes when U.S. Airways Flight 1549 crash landed in the Hudson River in New York City after hitting a flock of birds in January. Lt. Col. Charles Wallace and his team of seven safety experts with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Safety Office here

  • Top spouse discusses deployment family issues

    The Air Force's top spouse discussed the challenges Air Force members and their spouses face during deployments while she visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 6 and 7. Suzie Schwartz, wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz, has long been considered a champion of military spouses

  • AFMC will use new media to announce award winners

    Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs officials are venturing into the world of new media and for the first time will attempt to report the annual AFMC Enlisted Awards live as names of Airmen selected are announced April 9 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. A Public Affairs

  • Officials say cyber defense costly

    Defending the Defense Department's global information grid from attacks cost the U.S. military more than $100 million over the past six months, U.S. Strategic Command officials said April 8. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, Stratcom commander, and Army Brig. Gen. John Davis, deputy commander of Joint Task

  • Center team works to connect new fighters, bomber

    An airborne networking team here is working to connect low-observable aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II and B-2 Spirit with each other, and with the rest of the force. These aircraft rely on a number of technological advantages to defeat adversaries and

  • Airmen in personal effects office take small items to heart

    Watches, coins, photos, dog tags and necklaces. To many, these are just items carried or worn by military members, even when serving in places like Iraq or Afghanistan. For families of the fallen, these simple items may be cherished keepsakes that serve as reminders of their son or daughter who paid

  • Heritage Coat production uncertain despite favorable reviews

    Though Air Force officials here have not made a final decision on the new service coat, pre-decisional results show Airmen who sampled the Heritage Coat gave it high marks. Survey feedback showed 92 percent of wear test participants deemed the coat suitable for military uniform, and overall 66

  • AF Small Business officials spread word about innovation

    Air Force Small Business officials spread the word about the innovation, agility and efficiency of small businesses to more than 1,400 contracting professionals attending the National Contract Management Association, or NCMA, World Congress here April 5 to 8. Ronald A. Poussard, director of the Air

  • Helicopter pilots train Japanese forces on air refueling

    A team of HH-60G Pave Hawk pilots here provided a three-day intensive course on air refueling to Japanese Self Defense Forces helicopter rescue pilots in late March over Japan. The training, given by pilots from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, gave JASDF members hands-on helicopter air refueling training.

  • Airmen help launch satellite into orbit

    The Air Force's second Wibeband Global Satellite Communications satellite was successfully launched into orbit April 3 by officials from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. WGS-2 joins the service's first WGS satellite that was launched Oct. 10, 2007. The WGS system significantly increases the

  • Air Force officials take delivery of first MC-12

    Winning the fight from up high just got more advanced since the recent delivery of the MC-12 Project Liberty special mission turboprop aircraft. The MC-12 is the first of its kind for the Air Force and is set to venture downrange in May. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for

  • Dutch, U.S. air forces unite for training

    Boarding an airplane can be cumbersome. Most cabins are roughly 8 feet wide and 6 feet high, with an aisle barely wide enough to fit a person and a carry on. Imagine navigating through the cabin in the dark, loaded down with gear. Add an element of thick black smoke and the intense heat of a fire,

  • Space education seeks prominence

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's newly-released special area of emphasis, "Space as a Contested Environment," draws attention to the reality that the United States can and will be challenged in space, and that military education needs modification to address this reality. The overall goal

  • Airman's Roll Call: Sexual Assault Awareness Month

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Web sites, campaigns and other events, observing Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Defense Department officials launched a new Web site and campaign April 3 that gives servicemembers fresh initiatives and new teaching methods to prevent sexual

  • 'Visions of Valor' portraits honor heroes

    "Visions of Valor" are on display at the U.S. Air Force Academy as a collection of black-and-white portrait photographs of 140 Medal of Honor recipients was presented by TriWest Health Alliance officials April 3 at the McDermott Library here. David McIntrye, the TriWest chief executive officer,

  • Beale AFB land-use deal closer to reality

    An undeveloped stretch of prairie at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., is one step closer to becoming the next premiere commercial development in the Air Force's enhanced-use lease portfolio.Officials with the Air Force Real Property Agency will begin negotiations with representatives of Beale Community

  • Family care forum kick starts Year of the Air Force Family

    Senior Air Force officials and family care professionals set the direction for the Year of the Air Force Family April 2 here. More than 200 Air Force behavioral specialists, chaplains, family advocacy personnel and other family support members separated April 1 into five groups and focused on

  • Ramstein welcomes new J-model C-130

    Ramstein's first J-model C-130 Super Hercules aircraft was welcomed by a capacity crowd April 7 during an arrival ceremony here. Tail number 8601, the first of 14 J-models in production for the 86th Airlift Wing, also serves as the first Air Force Super Hercules permanently stationed at an overseas

  • World War II aviators share stories, experiences

    It's rare today to be able to sit down with living legends and pick their brains of past experiences and commitment during their military aviation careers. Three such individuals provided that opportunity for servicemembers and civilians here March 31 during "Lunch with the Legends" at the base

  • U.S., Indian air forces discuss partnership efforts

    Senior air force officials from India and the United States met here March 25 through 29 to discuss operational concepts and to chart the way ahead for future training exchanges and exercises. This year's executive steering group meeting focused on the review and assessment of joint and combined

  • KC-135 supports F-16 crews tracking stolen Cessna

    A KC-135 Stratotanker crew supported and refueled F-16 Fighting Falcons as the figher aircraft pilots closely trailed a stolen Cessna from a Canadian flight school crossed the U.S.-Canada border April 6 were on its trail. The Cessna 172, stolen by its pilot from a flight school in Thunder Bay,

  • Guard F-16s intercept suspicious aircraft

    Airmen on Air National Guard fighter aircraft from two states intercepted a suspicious aircraft as it flew into U.S. airspace April 6. North American Aerospace Defense Command officials directed F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing from Duluth, Minn., to initially intercept the

  • Officials discuss Air Force role for Africa Command

    Officials from Air University, U.S. Africa Command and the 17th Air Force kicked off a symposium March 31 to foster recommendations for the Air Force's involvement for Africa Command. The 17th Air Force, also known as U.S. Air Forces Africa, is the air arm of the new unified command and the main

  • Environmental award winners announced

    Air Force officials announced April 7 the winners of the 2008 Gen. Thomas D. White Environmental Award. The winners are: Environmental Quality Award for Industrial Installations: Hill Air Force Base, Utah (AFMC) Environmental Quality Award for Reserve Component including Air National Guard: 179th

  • Servicemembers assist Afghans with economic development

    For more than eight years, the government of Afghanistan has been building from the ground up, using millions of dollars in aid from foreign governments and private organizations. These funds impact both the central government in Kabul and the country's 34 provinces. Due to the unique relationships

  • Drill team prepares for upcoming drill season

    Members of the Air Force Honor Guard drill team completed its annual training camp in March at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. During their month long temporary duty, the team learned a new routine for the 2009 drill-season with the biggest change being the addition of Max Impact, the Air Force's

  • April 5 airpower summary: F-15Es deter enemy

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 5, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a B-1B Lancer destroyed an anti-Afghan pillbox near Musa

  • Service demographics offer snapshot of force

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here have released the current demographics report which offers a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force. This data is current as of March 31 and also can be found at the Air Force Demographics Web site.  Statistics are rounded to the nearest

  • Gates lays out defense budget recommendations

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates laid out his recommendations for the 2010 budget during an April 6 Pentagon press conference . The secretary said he included his experiences in national security to make the decisions. To start, Secretary Gates plans to significantly restructure the Army's Future

  • AF Research Lab personnel begin VPP journey

    Building on an already strong culture of safety, Air Force Research Laboratory personnel began the process recently to incorporate the Voluntary Protection Program into all levels of the organization. Since its inception by Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials in the early 1980s,

  • Iraqis provide new line of security for Joint Base Balad

    Another layer of outer perimeter security was added here April 1 to help protect the men and women of JBB, and the new initiative is staffed by more than 100 local Iraqis from the surrounding area. "This contract is a first of its kind," said Lt. Col. Raymond Reyes, JBB Regional Contracting Center

  • Precision: Everyday standard at base lab

    Calibrating a weapon system properly is the difference between striking at the heart of an enemy force or possibly hitting the friendly forces engaged with that same enemy. Members of the 46th Maintenance Squadron's Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory here are the purveyors of accuracy and

  • AF transports U.N. official to Germany after hostage ordeal

    An American United Nations official held hostage for two months in Pakistan was transported from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, by an Air Mobility Command air-refueling jet and its crew April 5. According to Associated Press reports, John Solecki, the local head of the

  • Medics, volunteers help servicemembers recover for duty

    The 379th Expeditionary Medical Group nurses and technicians here join forces with base volunteers in a program to help servicemembers with non-debilitating injuries or non-urgent surgical needs to fully recover and get back in the fight. The In-Theater Care Program was established to treat patients

  • Teamwork ensures Thunderbirds performance

    Airmen from three commands came together to prepare the Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcons in time for the Keesler Air Force Base airshow April 4 after inclement weather damaged five of the aircraft's noses.The damage from the weather occurred as the Thunderbirds arrived for the airshow and was

  • Airman helps Iraqis bury past, rebuild future

    It has been said that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, but a group of Iraqi contractors, with the help of an American Airman, are taking a different approach. They are burying the past to rebuild a new future. The past, in this case, are three villas located in the

  • SECAF visits Expeditionary Center, McGuire

    Citing the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center as a "critical component of the Air Force's ability to train Airmen," Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley pronounced his first familiarization visit to the center here on March 31 a success. "The Air Force mission to fly, fight and win ... in air,

  • Airman missing from Vietnam War is identified

    The remains of a U.S. Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified recently and have been buried with full military honors, said officials from the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper Jr., from Phoenix, was buried April 3 at the National

  • VA secretary expects big impact from post-9/11 GI Bill

    All systems are on track for this summer's rollout of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said he expects to have as monumental an impact as the original World War II-era GI Bill of Rights. Secretary Shinseki, who served as Army chief of staff from 1999 to

  • Maxwell legal services wins government-wide award

    The director of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency's Directorate of Legal Information Services, or AFLOA/JAS here, said he was notified March 27 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School that his organization had won the government-wide 2009 W. Edwards Deming Award. Col. Peter

  • AF officials cite quicker process for filling acquisition jobs

    In an effort to speed up hiring in the critically manned acquisition career fields, Air Force Personnel Center officials here announced a streamlined process to fill key civilian jobs in half the time. The growing shortage in acquisition positions resulted in Department of Defense officials

  • Kirtland provides Airmen, location for 'Terminator Salvation'

    Airmen here recently supported a different kind of war, one against futuristic machines out for world domination. The Airmen performed as extras on the set of "Terminator Salvation," which filmed several scenes in a hangar on the base's flightline. The movie is the latest in the popular

  • 'Today's Air Force' features RED HORSE units

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how the RED HORSE units are paving the way for progress in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also featured, security forces are involved in a close quarters training exercise and a large inventory for the F-16s in Poland. See what might be the largest construction

  • Memorial service honors fallen team leader

    Servicemembers and civilians deployed to International Security Assistance Force Regional Command-South gathered to pay final respects to a fallen Airman April 6 in the base chapel of Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers, 30, was killed April 3 by an improvised explosive

  • AF officials look at bigger role for small business

    The Air Force is looking to support small businesses in a big way, two top service officials said during a visit here April 2. David Van Buren, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, and Ronald Poussard, director of Air Force small business programs, said during a

  • Air Force officials separate E-7, E-6 promotion release dates

    Air Force officials here are initiating a new process to separate the release dates for the master sergeant and technical sergeant promotion lists. The new master sergeant promotion list will now be released on May 14 and the technical sergeant list will be released on June 18 after 12 years of

  • Airman killed in Afghanistan identified

    Department of Defense officials announced April 5 the identity of an Airman killed while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers, 30, of Hopewell, Va., died April 4 near Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned

  • Airmen cover the fallen with American flags for families

    For some, it means red, white and blue. It means 13 stripes for the original colonies and 50 stars for the states. For the families of the fallen, the American flag means so much more. Because of this, two Airmen assigned to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center here take their mission

  • Airman killed in Southern Afghanistan

    An Airman assigned to the 755th Air Expeditionary Group in Kandahar was killed by an improvised explosive device in Southern Afghanistan April 4. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.Comment on this story   (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View

  • Military communications satellite successfully launched

    An Air Force team successfully launched a new-generation military communication satellite from here April 3 at 8:31 p.m. (EDT) when an Atlas V rocket carried a Wideband Global Satellite Communication satellite into space. These satellites are designed to provide high-capacity communications to U.S.

  • New satellite model showcased in dedication ceremony

    Air Force Space Command officials, in partnership with Lockheed Martin representatives, unveiled a one-quarter scale model of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite here April 1 during a ceremony in the AFSPC headquarters building. "It is phenomenally important to us and the warfighting

  • Air Force instructors empower Iraqi warrant officers to lead

    Twenty-nine Iraqi air force members graduated from the warrant officer professional development course at the Iraqi air force schoolhouse with help from their U.S. Air Force instructors here March 28. The largest class to date demonstrates the commitment of the Iraqi air force throughout the ranks

  • Groups use social networking sites to reach out to supporters

    From fundraising to volunteering, troop-support groups are taking full advantage of social networking Web sites to reach out and gather support for troops at home and abroad. "We created three MySpace pages a few years back and a Facebook page this year," said Andi Grant, president and founder of

  • Fiscal 2010 budget to reflect 'fundamental shift' in defense

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will make budget decisions this weekend that will indicate a "fundamental shift in direction" for the department, the Pentagon press secretary said April 3. "These are not changes to the margins," Geoff Morrell said. The changes will affect the fiscal 2010 Defense

  • Contingency response element deploys to Basra

    Nearly 50 members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are deployed here in support of coalition and joint operations. The mission of the 615th CRW-Contingency Response Element is to support the transition from British to U.S. responsibility of

  • Combat rescue, special tactics retention bonuses available

    Qualified special operations officers are now eligible for a maximum of $100,000 in critical skills retention bonus money if they voluntarily extend their active-duty service commitment for up to four years. The bonuses are due in part to a $2.5 million deposit from Department of Defense

  • Air Force officials announce OTS selections

    A total of 308 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 April 3. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 865 applications as part of Officer Training School

  • Generals discuss future issues at National Space Symposium

    The commander of Air Force Space Command was the keynote speaker for the 25th National Space Symposium March 31 in Colorado Springs, Colo. "Space is no longer just the high ground. It is an integral part of the joint fight," said Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler.The general is responsible for the

  • Air Force takes combat air acquisitions priorities to Hill

    As airpower takes on an increasingly critical role in the joint fight, Air Force and Navy officials testified before the House Appropriations Committee March 25 here to outline the services' top combat air acquisition priorities. Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford, the acquisition deputy to the

  • Air Force Assistance Fund campaign ends May 1

    This year's Air Force Assistance Fund "Commitment to Caring" campaign, from Feb. 9 to May 1, provides Airmen the opportunity to contribute to any of the four official Air Force charitable organizations. Now in its 36th year, 100 percent of designated AFAF contributions benefit active-duty, Reserve,

  • Kehler: Spherical battlespace is new theater of operations

    The world is no longer flat and information is no longer static. Neither can military operations confine focus to one area of a conflict while remaining oblivious to interconnections with the larger picture. It is time the view of the battlefield is turned upside-down. This is the message of the

  • AFPC officials launch improved Airmen Development Plan

    Active-duty officers, and soon civilians, can now more effectively map their careers with the recent phase two launch of the Airmen Development Plan. The phase II version includes a new audit trail feature and the ability to generate weekly e-mail notifications. The ADP application was introduced in

  • NATO brings Albania, Croatia into security alliance fold

    Just ahead of NATO's 60th anniversary, the collective security alliance added Albania and Croatia April 1 as the newest members.The enlargement marks only the sixth time the organization has expanded its borders, and brings to 28 the number of allies that will celebrate six decades since a dozen

  • CES Airman maps base 'hot spots'

    Six hours of helicopter flight time has the potential to save the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy savings. Master Sgt. Joseph Hudson, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron infrastructure superintendent, received a bird's-eye view of Yokota's more than 1,700 acres during six

  • NASA joins 'around the world in 80 telescopes'

    A collection of NASA missions will be involved in a live event April 3 that will allow the public to get an inside look at how these missions are run. "Around the World in 80 Telescopes" is a 24-hour webcast that is part of the "100 Hours of Astronomy" event for the International Year of Astronomy

  • Andersen officials give up-close view of F-22, B-2

    More than 400 military spouses, Department of Defense employees, Guam civic leaders and local community members received a firsthand look at two F-22 Raptors, a B-2 Spirit and a KC-135 Stratotanker on display March 28 here. Crewmembers from each aircraft answered questions from the flock of visitors