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  • AFOTEC hosts cadets for summer research program

    The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is hosting the United States Air Force Academy's Cadet Summer Research Program for a second year at locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Kirtland. During the program, cadets work on real-world Air Force projects during five-week

  • American hospital in Afghanistan holds health fair

    The Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint Theater Hospital here opened its doors June 13 to highlight a number of services available to servicemembers in the regional command east area of operations. In an event that involved weeks of planning, the hospital staff came together to construct unique

  • Airmen take over C-21 maintenance mission

    For the first time in the history of the U.S. Central Command, the C-21s, the military version of the Learjet 35A, are being maintained by Airmen rather than contractors. The 119th Aircraft Maintenance Unit stood up May 30 after 25 Airmen deployed here for 60 days from the North Dakota Air National

  • Afghan officer earns pilot wings

    The first Afghan officer to train in the United States in nearly 50 years earned his pilot wings in a ceremony today at Columbus Air Force Base. Lt. Faiz Mohammed Ramaki was presented his pilot wings by Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, after completing the Aviation Leadership

  • Airmen execute Project Liberty

    Eighteen months ago officials created a plan to bolster the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission by adding a new platform to the ISR inventory. Now the Airmen assigned to the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Detachment 1 here at Camp Liberty, Iraq, are charged

  • AFPC officials seek GEICO award nominations

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here are currently seeking nominations for the 2009 Government Employees Insurance Company's Military Service Awards. The annual GEICO awards recognize enlisted servicemembers from all military service branches, Guard and Reserve for their contributions to

  • SECAF visits Paris to honor memorial and support air show

    The Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, accompanied a congressional delegation of six senators that arrived in Paris June 13 to partake in a wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette, in Marnes-la-Coquette. The members of the congressional delegation, who were also on

  • Pararescuemen demonstrate special jump capabilities

    Pararescuemen from the 58th Rescue Squadron stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., demonstrated the rigged alternate method zodiac, or RAMZ, capabilities in the Caribbean June 9 for members of the Belize National Coast Guard and local media. Before the team jumped out of a C-130J Hercules into

  • Air Force officials update uniform board decisions

    Air Force officials today announced policy updates in the 98th Virtual Uniform Board decisions posted June 10. The following provides a snapshot of approved uniform wear. Follow-on messages will be released that contain detailed guidance and instructions. All information will be incorporated into

  • Memorial recognizes those killed in NATO operations

    NATO officials dedicated a monument here June 12 to personnel killed during alliance operations. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the stone marker outside the front door of the alliance's headquarters will serve as a reminder of the weight of the decisions made in the facility.

  • Air Force wishes Army 'Happy Birthday'

    Since its birth on June 14, 1775, a year prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Army has been a stalwart protector of and vital contributor to American freedom and advancement. On behalf of all Airmen, Air Force leaders wish all members of the U.S. Army a happy

  • Admiral Mullen offers leadership lesson to National Defense University grads

    Flanked by rows of professors cloaked in traditional academic regalia, the nation's top military officer offered one final, brief lecture June 11 to a group of graduating senior military officers at the National Defense University here. But Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

  • Officials look to colleges, universities for civilian employees

    As Air Force officials seek the best and brightest talent for the civilian workforce, they continue to actively recruit students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The Student Career Experience Program, or SCEP, allows qualified college students to apply at participating state

  • Law gives military renters more protection against foreclosures

    President Barack Obama's latest efforts to look after home renters gives military members additional protection if the homes they rent are foreclosed, a Defense Department official said today. The president's Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 was signed into law on May 20. The

  • Airman honored for ambassadorship, volunteerism

    For her efforts in founding the Iraqi Kids Outreach program, a first lieutenant from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, recently received honors during the Defense Department's annual meritorious service awards banquet in San Antonio. The 366th Services Squadron's 1st Lt. Sarah Flackus was the Air

  • 618th TACC initiative wins DOD recognition

    The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center here was awarded first prize for the best operational improvement initiative during the Defense Department's second annual Continuous Process Improvement Symposium June 1 through 3 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Va. All military branches were

  • MC-12 flies first combat mission

    The Air Force's newest intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft flew its first combat sortie June 10 over Iraq.The MC-12 Liberty, assigned to the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, arrived in Iraq June 8 and took off from Joint Base Balad at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time

  • May recruiting shows across-the-board success

    May was a banner recruiting month for every military service, but especially for the Marine Corps, which topped its active-duty goal by 42 percent and its Marine Corps Reserve goal by 12 percent, Defense Department officials announced today.The Marine recruiting successes represent a particularly

  • Chief McKinley sends last 'Perspective'

    In his last "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted leader encourages Airmen to take advantage of all that the Air Force offers. "I am very grateful to the Air Force and all the leadership over my 30 years that has provided me the opportunity to serve my country, raise my family, see

  • Education activity lowers kindergarten pupil-to-teacher ratio

    Kindergartens at many Department of Defense Education Activity schools will have fewer students per teacher when classes resume in the fall. A student-to-teacher ratio that has ranged from 24-to-1 to 29-to-1 will drop to 18-to-1. "We've made the decision to place an additional classroom teacher and

  • Mullen: Warfighters, families, wounded warriors drive budget request

    The nation's top military officer told Congress June 9 that the fiscal 2010 defense budget request puts money where it's needed: to recruit and retain the quality troops and their families who form the foundation of the all-volunteer force. But Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

  • Guard looks to new media to attract recruits

    The end strength for the Army and Air National Guard remained above 100 percent in May due in part to various social media outlets, such as You Tube, Facebook and Twitter, currently being used by both services. "Social networking and new media as a whole is the fastest growing communication medium

  • Hanscom to lead Air Force efforts in interoperability demo

    Officials here are busy setting up a mock air operations center for the annual Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration, which will run June 15 through 25. Hanscom is once again serving as a major host site for CWID and the lead Air Force site. Operators from the Air Force, other services,

  • Russians visit Dyess as part of START Treaty

    Dyess Air Force Base officials hosted a 10-person Russian-led team of inspectors who arrived May 29 here to visit the base as part of a Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty inspection. The inspection team updated data relating to the 7th Bomb Wing's compliance with terms of the START treaty. The purpose

  • Operation Southern Partner servicemembers paint brighter future in Belize

    Nearly a dozen servicemembers of Operation Southern Partner found time between their subject matter exchanges to help renovate and enhance the New Stella Maris School for the Physically Disabled with a fresh coat of paint here June 8. The small, 13-classroom school in the Belize City center was

  • Servicemembers join World War II vets at National Mall

    Nearly 45 volunteers from the Fort Meade community gathered at the National Mall May 27 to help give 55 men and women who served during World War II a chance to see the memorial dedicated to their service. "These vets are our living military heritage," said retired Master Sgt. Russ Wagner, the

  • General Gould takes command of the Academy

    Lt. Gen. Michael Gould took command of the U.S. Air Force Academy as the 18th superintendent during a ceremony here June 9. General Gould is a class of '76 Academy graduate and the first superintendant to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Prep School.General Gould comes to the Academy from Scott Air

  • Air Force officials revise fitness program

    The need for a "clear, understandable and simpler" fitness program will mean significant changes to the Air Force's current fitness program, said the service's top officer during a senior leadership conference held June 4 through 6 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Air Force Chief of Staff

  • Questions abound in cyber theater of operations, vice chairman says

    Cyber operations simply are another theater of operations for the U.S. military, and the Defense Department must apply the same analytical rigor and resources to it as it would to any other theater, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said recently. "There will be a cyber capability at

  • Ceremony honors 293 medical graduates

    Dr. Kenneth Torrington, dean of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, honored 293 physicians and allied health care providers during the annual SAUSHEC awards and graduation ceremony June 5 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. SAUSHEC is the

  • Advisory team votes yes to building partnerships doctrine

    The LeMay Center hosted the biannual Air Force Doctrine Advisory Group in May resulting in the Department of Defense's first building partnerships doctrine. "The AFDAG prioritizes efforts and direction for Air Force doctrine," said Col. Russ Smith, director of doctrine development. "We bring

  • Information managers transform into knowledge operations managers

    Airmen in the former information management career field started a two-part transformation Oct. 31, 2008, as they changed their job titles to knowledge operations managers.Airmen in the knowledge operations management career field will undergo another transformation in October 2009 when it

  • Communications Airmen meet to discuss career field's transformation

    Senior enlisted communicators from around the Air Force held a conference at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., May 19 through 21 to discuss details for the upcoming communications Air Force specialty code conversions.During this transformation, the largest in the history of Air Force communications, more

  • CORONA yields personnel decisions, mission requirements

    Air Force senior leaders addressed numerous strategic and personnel issues, from manpower re-alignment to uniform changes to nuclear enterprise initiatives, when they met here for CORONA TOP June 4 through 6. "This is a forum where we need to address everything from fundamental strategic issues to

  • Wright-Patt building earns Air Force leadership in energy certification

    The Air Force Institute of Technology's new academic building here recently achieved the base's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design "Silver" certification rating, a nationally accepted benchmark for facility design, construction and operation. LEED is an Air Force initiative for

  • Mobility Airmen, aircraft begin moving Strykers into Afghanistan

    Members of Air Mobility Command's hub for global airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation here are "all in" with its commitment to support joint worldwide operations, kicking off efforts this week to airlift more than 300 Stryker vehicles to military forces in Afghanistan. The term Stryker

  • Air Force flight surgeons hand over training mission to Iraqis

    As U.S. forces withdraw over the next year, Iraqi air force members have begun the process of taking over the new missions and responsibilities including the aeromedical training of flight medical technicians here. The four-week training course is now taught by Iraqi flight medics with coalition

  • Airmen test emergency response at Joint Base Balad

    Airmen in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here participated in a major accident response exercise June 5 at Joint Base Balad. "A MARE is an opportunity for the 332nd AEW disaster response force to conduct response actions, evaluate emergency response plans, solidify tactics, techniques and

  • Mildenhall tanker crew deploys to Sweden for exercise support

    Air and ground crews from U.S. Air Forces in Europe joined military units from 10 other nations June 8 for Exercise Loyal Arrow 2009, a 10-day exercise hosted by the Swedish air force's Norrbotten Wing here. A team of 15 Airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing from Royal Air Force Mildenhall,

  • President makes stop at Ramstein Air Base

    President Barack Obama passed through Ramstein Air Base on his way to spending some time with wounded warriors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, June 5. The president's visit was his first to the hospital since coming into office. The visit to LRMC was closed to the public and media, as

  • Air Force researcher wins top science award

    A Wilford Hall doctor has received one of the highest distinctions a researcher can achieve, according to medical officials here. Maj. (Dr) Vikhyat Bebarta, chief of medical toxicology and a staff emergency physician, is the recipient of the Best Basic Science Research Award, presented by the

  • AFSOUTH gearing up for New Horizons Guyana

    Nearly 650 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen are preparing to take part in New Horizons Guyana, a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored annual exercise starting July 1.The exercise is designed to strengthen ties with partner nations in Central and South America through combined quality-of-life

  • FEMA says National Guard essential to hurricane response

    The National Guard is essential to hurricane response, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told lawmakers here June 5. And the National Guard and U.S. Northern Command stand ready to support civil authorities in the 2009 hurricane season, added NORTHCOM's director of operations, Army

  • Air mobility maintains the fight in Afghanistan

    Being in a fight is easy; it is having the ability to stay in the fight until you win that is the hard part. This is especially true in the new type of war being fought by the coalition forces in Afghanistan where the enemy's strategy is to outlast the resolve and sustainment capability of U.S. and

  • Misawa implements new financial in-processing system

    New arrivals here can now in-process with the base finance office using the Permanent Change of Station In-Processing System, or PiPS. Misawa is the first base in the Pacific Air Forces to implement PiPS, a web-based financial system that provides general PCS in-processing information and discusses

  • Vice chairman: Deterrence plays into overseas basing decisions

    The overseas basing choices the United States makes for its military forces are a factor in deterring potential enemies, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said June 4 here. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright told a gathering at the Center for International and Strategic Studies here

  • Stateside donations give Kyrgyz students tools of art trade

    Members of the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group here delivered handmade art easels and art supply donations in May to children of the Atbashinskaya School in Manas Village, Kyrgyzstan.The art supplies came from care packages sent from American servicemembers' family and friends in the United States

  • Officials announce commander of 24th Air Force

    Air Force officials announced June 4 the commander of 24th Air Force, a new numbered Air Force focused on the cyber mission. Maj. Gen. Richard E. Webber will assume command of the NAF later this year.Currently, General Webber is the assistant deputy chief for air, space and information operations,

  • Airmen aboard hospital ship, providing humanitarian help

    For Airmen traveling aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort, 10 days spent in Colon, Panama, meant helping bring smiles to thousands of grateful Panamanians through the U.S. Southern Command's mission Continuing Promise 2009.From April through July, Airmen, along with servicemembers from all military

  • Academy of Military Science moving to Maxwell

    With the Academy of Military Science moving from Tennessee's McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base to Maxwell Air Force Base's Officer Training School, all Air Force commissioning sources, except the U.S. Air Force Academy, will be under one roof. "Starting this fiscal year, all officer trainees will

  • Bikers raise money for wounded warriors during Cycling Classic

    Nearly 1,000 riders participated in the two-day Air Force Cycling Classic raised almost $35, 000 for a charity that supports wounded warriors and the families of military members who have died serving their country May 30 and 31 in Virginia. The cycling classic combined a technical sprint race, a

  • Panjshir reconstruction team bids farewell to fallen comrades

    The dining facility at Forward Operating Base Lion where Airmen and Soldiers typically exchanged stories and laughter was instead filled with reminiscing and tears as the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team honored four of its fallen comrades May 31. Lt. Col. Mark Stratton, the team's commander,

  • Lab officials confirm Airman has H1N1 flu

    An active-duty officer from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was diagnosed June 3 as the first case of H1N1 Flu in Wayne County, N.C.Officials from the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Lab at Brooks City Base, Texas, confirmed the officer assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing was treated

  • Senior veterans compete to win at Golden Age Games

    Military veterans competing in the National Veterans Golden Age Games each year have their own reasons for participating. Some come out for the camaraderie, while others come to socialize and catch up with old friends. But others simply come to win. This year's 23rd Annual National Golden Age Games

  • Spouses get taste of security forces' life

    Airmen of the 18th Security Forces Squadron here held a civilian police academy course for Kadena Air Base spouses to give an inside look at what happens behind the scenes of a security forces patrolman. "This is a course geared toward not only educating the base populace on the range of services we

  • Demonstration to showcase life-saving information-sharing technologies

    Wildfires in California, hurricanes battering the East Coast and insurgents attacking a U.S. convoy are among simulated real-time events that will put life-saving information-sharing technologies on center stage during the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration scheduled for June 15 to

  • St. Lucia police team with Airmen during Operation Southern Partner

    Nearly 30 members of the Royal St. Lucia police force's special service unit worked with a U.S. Air Force Guardian Angel team here June 1 through 3 to enhance search and rescue efforts for the island nation.The Guardian Angel team deployed for Operation Southern Partner is comprised of a combat

  • Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft makes first flight

    Members of the Air Force Research Laboratory and Lockheed Martin's famed 'Skunk Works' launched a new era of aircraft manufacturing technology and performance with the successful initial demonstration flight of the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft June 2 at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif.

  • Gates visits Elmendorf, addresses servicemembers

    The secretary of Defense held a town hall meeting and visited military members June 1 at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Some of the topics Secretary Robert M. Gates spoke about deployment increases and return dates, Air Force cutbacks, future replacement aircraft and weapon upgrades. "What I'm here for,

  • Multinational mobility unit welcomes top Air Force mobility Airman

    The first-of-its-kind mobility unit comprising airmen from 12 nations recently hosted the commander of Air Mobility Command at Pápa Air Base, Hungary. The Heavy Airlift Wing, the operational-level unit of the Strategic Airlift Capability consortium of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations, brought

  • Air Force jobs, people on display during Air Force Week Salt Lake City

    Pioneer Park here has been transformed into an Air Force "playground" during Air Force Week Salt Lake City. The park is the site for the "Our Nation's Defenders Showcase," an event that highlights Air Force specialties, skills and people through exhibits, interactive games and various

  • Guard's mobilization training, readiness good for America, chief says

    The National Guard is giving more back to the America in the 21st Century through its increased readiness and ability to rapidly deploy for federal and state callouts, the Guard Bureau's top military officer said. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told an audience June 1 at

  • Senior veterans set to compete in Golden Age Games

    Nearly 700 American military veterans from conflicts ranging from World War II to the Persian Gulf war arrived here June 1 to prove that their best days are still ahead of them as they prepare to compete in the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games.The games are the world's largest sports

  • Officials activate 617th Air and Space Operations Center

    Officials at 17th Air Force took another big step toward full operational capability May 29 with the activation of the 617th Air and Space Operations Center here. The new AOC gives leaders at 17th AF, also known as Air Forces Africa, an increased command and control capability integral to their

  • Airman uses training to help man hit by train

    Senior Airman Eric Slaugh was returning to Cannon Air Force Base from leave in December when he encountered a snowstorm in northeastern New Mexico, a storm that would detour him into assisting in saving someone's life. After missing a turn because of the near whiteout weather conditions, the Slaugh

  • Kandahar Airmen protect servicemembers from IEDs

    Improvised explosive devices kill people. The vast majority of military members serving in combat make it a point to go out of their way to avoid them. For the Air Force explosive ordnance disposal team at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, they make it a point to go out of their way to find them.

  • Secretary Gates calls on Asian partners for help in Afghanistan

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today called on U.S. allies in Asia to render more aid to bolster the fight in Afghanistan. In his opening remarks at the "Shangri-La Dialogue" Asia security summit here, Secretary Gates said terrorist groups rooted in training camps along the Afghanistan-Pakistan

  • Military training instructors transform recruits into Airmen

    Rising at 3 a.m. is a small sacrifice for military training instructors.  The future of the Air Force awaits.With uniforms in perfect order, they pull the immediately identifiable campaign hats low and straight, down their foreheads to nearly the eyebrows. With stern voices and stoic physical

  • Tuskegee Airman passes away

    An original Tuskegee Airman passed away May 26 in Cleveland.Retired Sgt. James F. Travis Sr. served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 and became an aerial engineer, gunner and crew chief attached to the 477th Bombardment Group during World War II.Trained at Tuskegee, Ala., he flew in P-47 and

  • DeCA officials announce outreach award winners

    Defense Commissary Agency officials recognized seven commissaries for outstanding outreach May 20 during the agency's 2009 Conference and Training Event in Richmond, Va.  Air Force commissaries took four of the seven awards.The winning commissaries are Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (best outreach to

  • Deployment opportunities available for civilians

    Whether it's helping Iraqis with reconstruction projects or assisting Afghans with their motor pools, Air Force officials rely on its civilian workforce to help meet global mission requirements. And the Air Force is not alone, as more than 1,100 Department of Defense civilians volunteered to fill

  • Guard chief emphasizes communication, collaboration, coordination

    Communication, collaboration and coordination are the keys to navigating challenging times when it is hard to discern true north, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said May 27 here. "The National Guard has evolved over the last eight years into a force ... that has been through the crucible of

  • NCAA coaches visit wounded warriors in military hospital

    Henry Bautista wasn't one of the U.S. servicemembers seven NCAA football coaches visited at a U.S. military hospital in Germany May 29, because servicemembers are not the only ones risking their lives in dangerous places like Iraq. Mr. Bautista, a field representative for a light armored vehicle

  • U.S. combat troops on pace to leave Iraqi cities by June 30

    American combat troops are on pace to leave Iraqi cities by the June 30 deadline stipulated by the U.S.-Iraq security agreement, U.S. officials in Baghdad said yesterday. Army Brig. Gen. Keith Walker, commander of the Iraq Assistance Group, said in a news conference that security throughout the

  • Fishing community gives back to military

    Active-duty, Guard and Reserve servicemembers from each branch competed in the third annual combat fishing tournament here May 21. The tournament has grown from 66 servicememebers in 2007 to nearly 300 in 2009.  Taking this many people out wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the 30 boat captains

  • OTS selection board results announced

    A total of 200 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 today. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 798 applications as part of Officer Training School

  • 'Today's Air Force' features security forces

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights security forces at Misawa Air Base, Japan; Hurricane Hunters from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and the Critical Days of Summer.Security forces Airmen from Misawa AB were graded on gate security, how they handle a crisis such as a robbery, and on other

  • Air Force officials publish new nuclear operations doctrine

    Air Force officials here published its newest version of Nuclear Operations doctrine June 1 to replace the 11-year old existing doctrine. One of the most significant updates to new Air Force Doctrine Document 2-12 is the change in the focus of nuclear operations from a Cold War stance to one more

  • Air Force named among top HBCU supporters

    In a 2009 survey, U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine recently named the Air Force among the "Top Supporters of Historically Black Colleges and Universities." USBE & IT magazine and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Science at Howard University, Washington,

  • Photo essay: Training for military working dogs

    A military working dog attacks his handler on command at the training grounds on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Military working dogs are enrolled in a 60- to 90-day training program where they are taught to detect explosives and drugs. They are also taught deterrence training and how to protect

  • Joint team moves critically ill infants over holiday weekend

    A joint team of U.S. servicemembers spanning the globe from Japan to Texas successfully moved two critically ill infants needing specialized care over the Memorial Day weekend. The infants -- one 9 months old and the other 20 days old when moved -- were flown from Kadena Air Base, Japan, to San

  • President announces cyber security office

    The nation's computer network infrastructure will be defended as a national strategic asset, President Barack Obama said here May 29. In a White House announcement, President Obama said he will appoint a cyber security coordinator for the critical infrastructure that all Americans depend on. "We

  • Servicemembers gear up to provide New Horizons for Guyana

    Nearly 650 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen are preparing to take part in New Horizons Guyana, a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored annual exercise starting July 1 designed to strengthen ties with partner nations in Central and South America through combined quality-of-life improvement projects.

  • AFSOUTH set to begin Operation Southern Partner in Caribbean

    More than 60 Airmen from across the Air Force are preparing to board a C-130J Hercules on May 30 to participate in the second iteration of "Operation Southern Partner" in seven Caribbean and Latin American nations. The Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern)-led event is aimed at providing

  • Gates downplays rhetoric on North Korea

    As the plane flying him to a security conference in Singapore travels into a storm of regional unrest stirred up by this week's North Korean nuclear tests, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates May 29 downplayed the swirling rhetoric and said he sees no need to adjust U.S. military forces levels in the

  • Streamlined disability evaluation system introduced at Elmendorf

    Wounded, ill and injured Airmen entering into the Disability Evaluation System here are now enrolled in a new pilot evaluation process. This new joint Department of Defense-Veterans Affairs effort is designed to streamline and expedite disability recovery and processing to create improved treatment,

  • Chief Airey laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery

    Surrounded by family and friends, colleagues and fellow Airmen, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Paul Airey was laid to rest here May 28. More than 400 people came to Ft. Myer, Va., for his funeral service and then on to Arlington for his grave site ceremony. Located in section 34, Chief

  • Control center staff seeks to defeat combat stress in Iraq

    Fighting a war can be stressful, no matter what job you do in the military. Staff members at combat stress control centers throughout Iraq work to fight stress -- or at least to teach people how to manage it. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Alicia L. Tschirhart, a psychiatrist, commands the Kalsu Combat Stress

  • Airmen in joint motor pool keep vehicles rolling

    Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here work with their Army compatriots in the base motor pool to keep the squadron's tactical vehicles running like clockwork. Four members of the Air Force security forces unit are part of a joint motor pool and learning more than they

  • DOD officials promote 'World No Tobacco Day'

    For the first time, the Department of Defense is endorsing the observance of World No Tobacco Day by encouraging servicemembers to participate. The effort is part of DOD's multiyear tobacco cessation campaign, Quit Tobacco--Make Everyone Proud. "On Memorial Day, when we reflect on the sacrifices our

  • VA Web site helps college counselors aid veterans

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials launched a new Web site to strengthen the connection between college and university mental health professionals and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts studying on their campuses. "Many of our newest veterans are beginning their post-service lives

  • Airmen contribute to the fight in Iraq

    The 586th Air Expeditionary Group is one of three Air Force groups organized to complete joint expeditionary taskings and is contributing significantly to operations in Iraq and Kuwait, the group's commander said. Col. Alan Metzler, 586th AEG commander, spoke with journalists and bloggers during a

  • Biden to Academy graduates: 'This is your moment'

    Vice President Joe Biden, the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement speaker, told graduates and newly-commissioned second lieutenants from the class of 2009 "this is your moment to bend history to the service of a better day." "You will carry our skies and beyond on your backs. I promise you, we will

  • Defense officials identify Air Force casualties

    The Department of Defense officials announced May 27 the death of two Airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died May 26 near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. Killed was Lt. Col. Mark E. Stratton II, 39, of Houston, who was

  • Airmen 'unleash' new recovery program for patients

    Trained in explosives detection, narcotics detection and more, military working dogs here are now assisting in a different type of fight: The fight to rehabilitate patients at the Air Force Theater Hospital here. Members of the AFTH medical staff here held the first session of the K-9 Visitation

  • Dedication culminates efforts of embedded American advisors

    More than 250 U.S. servicemembers and Afghan security forces celebrated seven years of military cooperation during a monument dedication ceremony at Camp Blackhorse here May 14. The ceremony also culminated the efforts of nearly 20 Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors who have embedded with the 5th Kandak

  • Air War College faculty hosts 56th National Security Forum

    For the 56th consecutive year, civilians from across America came to Maxwell-Gunter for the National Security Forum during the week of May 18. The forum, hosted by the faculty of the Air University Spaatz Center for Officer Education's Air War College and sponsored by the secretary of the Air Force,

  • Air Force officials test new constant-pressure fuel system

    Air Force officials officially began to test a 50-50 mixture of synthetic and JP-8 fuels in a Type 3 constant-pressure fuel hydrant system here May 18. Fuel tankers, including five trucks with 100 percent synthetic fuel and three with the 50-50 blend, arrived at the base May 17 to unload 113,000