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  • Photo essay: Santa, friends welcome C-17

    Three 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron leaders became visitors from the North Pole for a day and marshalled a C-17 Globemaster on the flightline here Dec. 22.  The squadron held a fundraiser to chose which person would dress as Santa, a reindeer or an elf. Maj. Aaron Sasson, the operations

  • Kits help children cope with deployments

    Each year thousands of military children are affected by either a mother or father deploying, and when this happened to the Choate family here, it sparked an idea helps prepare military children deal with deployments. In October, Maj. Eric Choate, an Air Operations Squadron Det. 1 delivery control

  • 8th Fighter Squadron flagship arrives

    The 8th Fighter Squadron received its first of 20 F-22 Raptors Dec. 21 here.The arrival of 8th FS flagship, a Langley Air Force Base Raptor, which came from maintenance in Palmdale, Calif., starts the next chapter of the "Black Sheep's" storied history that started in 1941 when the squadron was

  • Holloman Airmen train to fight back

    Airmen of the 49th Security Forces Squadron here received first responder to an active gunman training Dec. 15 to 17 from members of the Roswell Police Department special operations team in New Mexico.The training allowed defenders to practice the proper techniques to safely eliminate any emergency

  • Ellsworth members support Angel Tree program

    Rows of excited children watched and waited for Santa and Mrs. Claus' arrival on a B-1B Lancer float at the Youth and Family Services child care center in Rapid City, S.D.The float was sponsored by the 28th Operations Support Squadron staff as part of the Angel Tree gift program, and after arriving

  • Rocket-motor test supports NASA, DOD and commercial missions

    A high-visibility test on a second-stage developmental rocket motor set a new record in the Arnold Engineering Development Center's J-6 large-rocket motor-testing facility Dec. 9.Joe Migliaccio, the Aerospace Testing Alliance engineer who conducted the test, said the team fired an Alliant

  • Thunderbolts receive wing modification

    The A-10 Thunderbolt II will continue flying close-ground-support missions for the next two decades because of a reinforcement process wing replacement specialists call "Hog Up."The phrase originated about a decade ago during an upgrade of the aircraft's avionics system, partially because of the

  • Officials seek 10 enlisted for AFIT degree program

    Air Force Institute of Technology officials are offering 10 NCOs the opportunity to pursue an advanced science, engineering or management degree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and nominations are due to the Air Force Personnel Center here by Jan. 29, 2010. Ten NCOs from around the Air

  • Everybody knows that Santa is a paratrooper

    You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. But on Dec. 6 at Pope Air Force Base, it was not a team of reindeer, but Maj. Jeff Dasher, a navigator in the 95th Airlift Squadron who guided the mission for the 440th Airlift Wing's C-130 Hercules that flew a group of Soldier Santas across the

  • Fairchild officials host Single Airmen's Summit

    Fairchild Air Force Base officials recently commenced the Air Force's Single Airmen's Summit to address issues single Airmen. Issues were discussed in focus groups about community, safety, leisure, family, base support systems, personal growth and work and relationship concerns. These focus groups

  • Photo essay: Mountain Home AFB receives hypoxia simulator

    Airmen at the 366th Operations Group received the first on-base simulator-based hypoxia demonstrator for fighter aircrew Dec. 16, 2009 at the base hospital here. Hypoxia is an oxygen deficiency of the tissue and blood cells that causes impairment at high altitudes. View the slideshow.

  • Joint STARS engineers work sensor integration project

    Members of an Electronic Systems Center team here are using an aircraft identified for parts reclamation, or re-use, to reduce cost, save time and minimize risk during a process to integrate a sensor system on an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or Joint STARS, aircraft. In 2008,

  • American surgical team making a difference in southern Philippines

    Five Airmen are operating a fully-equipped trauma center, providing emergency care, basic medical care and educational services to hundreds of Filipino and U.S. troops on the southern island of Jolo, Philippines. The Air Force members are part of the forward surgical team assigned to Joint Special

  • Altus Airmen boost Canadian forward air control training

    Airmen here provided a first-time service to Canadian forces personnel with ground support for forward air controller training at Fort Sill Falcon Bombing Range, Okla., Nov. 24 through Dec. 8.Members of the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Canadian Forces Bagotville in Quebec, Canada, and Altus

  • Clinton, Gates urge appropriations bill passage

    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates issued a joint statement Dec. 21 encouraging Senate passage of the Defense Appropriations Bill. "We strongly urge Senate passage of the Defense Appropriations Bill today, prior to expiration of the current continuing

  • Preventing the 'after-the-holidays bill blues'

    Walking through a shopping mall, it's difficult not to notice holiday decorations, crowded stores and retailers claiming to offer the best deals of the season. Before pulling out their wallets, Airmen are encouraged to keep a few things in mind to help prevent the "after-the-holidays bill blues."The

  • Air Force officials stand up new squadron in Iraq

    Air Force officials held an assumption-of-command ceremony for the 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Dec. 15 80 feet above the flightline standing upon a control tower platform at Al Asad Air Base. The airfield was previously operated by the Marine Corps, but due to the drawdown, Air

  • Aviano Air Base hospital receives ENERGY STAR rating

    The Aviano Air Base hospital has received the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR rating, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. The base hospital is the first U.S. facility overseas to receive this distinction, and joins 96 other hospitals in the

  • Hurricane Hunters fly first winter storm

    Members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron here have been tasked by National Weather Service officials to fly their first winter storm of the season on the East Coast starting Dec. 25.The Air Force Reserve's 53rd WRS "Hurricane Hunters," assigned to the 403rd Wing here, normally collect

  • F-22s complete first Middle East deployment

    Airmen completed the first deployment of F-22 Raptors to the Middle East in mid-December.The fifth-generation fighters and their crews were in the area as part of a multinational exercise where pilots from a variety of nations train together in fighting a large-scale air war. This was the first

  • Santa makes early appearance for Cannon family

    Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but at the 27th Special Operations Wing here he is not the jolly fat man dressed in red. All one shopper at the base exchange knows is that someone who retired from the military made her family holidays a lot brighter. Charlotte Riojas said she was patiently

  • Doctors perform groundbreaking surgery at Walter Reed

    Doctors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the University of Miami collaborated to perform the first pancreas islet cell transplant Thanksgiving Day on an Airman whose pancreas was injured so severely in Afghanistan that it had to be removed.While serving with an Army unit in Afghanistan,

  • Airmen participate in 32nd Annual Bastogne Historic Walk

    Cold ears, foggy breath and muscle fatigue that 52nd Fighter Wing and geographically-separated units experienced in Bastogne, Belgium, may have been the only things they had in common with the Axis and Allies who walked through that same location more than 60 years ago.According to Ed Lapotsky,

  • Operation Christmas Drop is under way once again

    More than 12 months of preparation have gone into ensuring this year's four-day air drop mission, known as Operation Christmas Drop, goes smoothly, with countless fundraisers and many drop-off points made available to those wishing to donate supplies and help support Guam's island neighbors in the

  • Homeless find hope at closed California bases

    In California, as the temperature drops and the number of homeless people climbs, former Air Force bases around the state offer warm relief. Transitional housing is one of the many ways communities are using property on closed military bases for local benefit. These villages of hope offer the

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualty

    Department of Defense officials have announced the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr., 35, of Florence, Ky., died Dec. 15 of wounds suffered from the detonation of an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

  • Weapons school grad marks a first

    An Air National Guard MQ-1 Predator pilot marked the beginning of a new era Dec. 12 as the first unmanned aircraft pilot from a reserve component to graduate from the Air Force Weapons Instructor Course at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School here.Maj. Tammy Barlette, from the Arizona Air National

  • Football: Falcons' Chris Thomas selected to play in East-West Shrine game

    Air Force senior safety Chris Thomas has been selected to play in the 85th annual East-West Shrine Game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 23.Thomas was an honorable mention all-Mountain West Conference selection. He is the Falcon's active career leader in tackles with 287. This season, he

  • Rescue crews train Japan Air Self Defense Force pilots

    Japanese Air Self-Defense Force pilots teamed up with 129th Rescue Wing aircrews here for refueling training Dec. 7 to 18.Maj. Eiji Sekine and Capt. Takeshi Tokuda, UH-60J helicopter pilots assigned to the Air Rescue Wing at Komaki Air Base, Japan, and Maj. Masahiko Miyazaki and Capt. Takemas

  • Airmen, Soldiers participate in Operation Thunderstruck

    One-by-one, 10 Charleston-based C-17 Globemaster IIIs took off from Charleston Air Force Base Dec. 16 in support of exercise "Operation Thunderstruck." While Charleston AFB is no stranger to launching a large number of aircraft in a short period of time, this year's exercise is different than ones

  • Opportunities available in financial management

    Air Force line officers interested in applying for the Financial Management Leadership Program must submit their nominations to the Air Force Personnel Center by Jan. 5.The four-year program specializes in Air Force leadership development by providing an opportunity for line officers outside the 65F

  • Roger that: What the Air Force life means to me

    When Chief Master Sgt. Malcolm McVicar answered the question, "What does the Air Force life mean to me," on www.MyAirForceLife.com, he answered, "The Air Force family is the family that grows each day as you meet new Airmen. Like a traditional family, they are always there when you need them the

  • Weather warriors endure 'turbulent climb'

    Airmen from Det. 1, 607th Weather Squadron participated in a tactical training scenario dubbed Operation Turbulent Climb here Dec. 5.The weather warriors at Camp Red Cloud are stationed 15 miles from the Korean Demilitarized Zone and would likely be one of the first to see action if hostilities were

  • Retired first sergeant leaves special legacy

    When Senior Master Sgt. Clayton French was honored at his Nov. 20 retirement ceremony, most of the guests in attendance learned the 81st Medical Operations Squadron first sergeant would leave a significant legacy to the service to which he devoted more than 28 years of his life.  Sergeant French had

  • Multinational wing completes first mission into Iraq

    A recent flight into Iraq marks another unit milestone for the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing based at Pápa Air Base, Hungary.The airlift mission into Iraq by the wing, which comprises 12 member nations, facilitated the deployment for members of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq."Each time we fly a

  • Airmen perform operations with Kyrgyz surgeons

    Air Force surgeons at the Transit Center at Manas and Kyrgyz doctors worked together to performed surgical operations Dec. 11 in a local hospital here.The team of medical Airmen led by Col. (Dr.) Jerrold Flyer, 376the Expeditionary Medical Group commander, assisted with two separate operations,

  • Partnership between air forces in the making

    Officials from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted Afghan National Army Air Corps officials Dec. 19, here, to explain how an American combat wing operates day to day.Brig. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and other Airmen from operations, maintenance and mission

  • Traumatic stress response team helps Fort Hood victims

    An Air Force medical team trained in helping people recover from traumatic events returned from Fort Hood, Texas, after responding to the Nov. 5 shootings, which left 13 people dead and dozens injured.The Traumatic Stress Response team, led by Maj. Sheila Beville, a 59th Mental Health

  • Airmen to deliver bikes to Afghan children

    With the assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard and Anchorage volunteers, more than 20 disadvantaged children in Afghanistan will get new bikes this month.The bicycles, together with parts and tools, were donated by the Anchorage Community YMCA, The Bicycle Shop, Paramount Cycles, Chain

  • Offutt Airman dies at off-base residence

    An Airman from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., died Dec. 11 at his off-base residence as the result of an apparent gunshot wound .  Senior Airman Michael Garcia is a member of the 55th Operations Support Squadron here. Airman 1st Class Corey Hernandez, a member of the 55th Communications Squadron, has

  • Airmen distribute donations to orphanage in Kyrgyzstan

    Several Airmen stationed at the Transit Center at Manas here recently delivered more than 60 boxes to a local orphanage that were sent by a dental college in Texas and others throughout America.Kyrgyz children and teachers at the Nizhanchuisk Orphanage and School had no idea what was in store for

  • Cadets bring holiday cheer to children in need

    U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets sponsored the "Toy Trick," an event to gather toys for less fortunate children, at the Falcons hockey team's match against American International College Dec. 5 in the Cadet Ice Arena here.  After the Falcons scored their first goal, fans tossed donated toys onto the

  • NASA WISE Delta II launch successful

    Mission planners are celebrating Vandenberg's final launch of the year following the successful launch of a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 Dec. 14 at 6:09 a.m.The rocket carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite.With confirmation of the payload's delivery into orbit

  • Squadron highlights capabilities during Afghan rescue mission

    A soldier is wounded during a joint British and Afghanistan National Army patrol in Helmand Province. Shot through both legs, his condition worsens while being cared for by the medics. It is time to call in the professionals to get him off the battlefield and to the hospital. The radios erupt with

  • 'Today's Air Force' features changes in tattoo policy

    In this edition of Today's Air Force, Air Force officials do an about face on a controversial tattoo policy. Plus, see how a new driving simulator in Germany prepares Airmen for the Autobahn. And Airmen in Belgium take time to remember some of the heroes of WWII. For two weeks the Air Force had a

  • Ramstein Airmen train in Israel

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany participated in an exercise Dec. 1 through 10 at Nevatim Air Force Base, Israel to accomplish various training requirements for the C-130J Super Hercules which are not allowed in Germany because of country regulations."Training is hard to achieve in Germany

  • Refueling is lifeline of U.S., NATO air operations

    Thirty Royal Danish air force F-16 Fighting Falcons took to the sky over their homeland Dec. 8 to rendezvous with a Royal Air Force Mildenhall-based KC-135 Stratotanker and perform semi-annual aerial refueling training. The mission fortified both operational readiness and mutual trust between the

  • AFGSC missile wings conduct limited inspections

    Each of Air Force Global Strike Command's three missile wings successfully passed a no-notice limited nuclear surety inspection Dec. 8, the first such inspections launched by the new command.Inspection teams of nine to 10 members, including observers from U.S. Strategic Command and oversight from

  • Airman helps rescue 3 injured warriors during battle in Afghanistan

    An Air National Guard member from the 129th Rescue Squadron here recently returned home from her deployment to Afghanistan after being wounded by enemy forces while rescuing three injured American Soldiers July 29. Capt. Mary Jennings, an HH-60G Pave Hawk co-pilot, launched her rescue helicopter,

  • Airmen build future Afghan pilot training base

    Airmen restored an airfield that will eventually become the home of the Afghan National Army Air Corps undergraduate pilot training in Shindand, Afghanistan.Airmen deployed from the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., worked side-by-side with Afghan and coalition

  • Joint Chiefs chairman sends birthday message to National Guard

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sends the following birthday message to members of the National Guard: "On the 13th of December each year, we celebrate the creation of one of America's most enduring institutions: our National Guard. The Guard has a proud history of

  • Families of deployed Airmen warm up to Hearts Apart holiday party

    Hearts Apart morale program members organized an annual holiday party to help families adjust to seperation from deployments Dec. 4 at Hurlburt Field. With this year designated as the Year of the Air Force Family, many people understand that deployments are a way of military life and there are times

  • USO officials honor 5 Air Force Medal of Honor recipients

    Officials of the Metropolitan New York USO held their 48th Annual Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner and honored the only five living Air Force Medal of Honor recipients Dec. 9 in New York City. The USO's Distinguished Service Award was presented to Col. Bernard F. Fisher, Col. James P.

  • President signs bill, aids military spouses

    The President signed a bill Nov. 11 to help ease the strain on military families who frequently travel from state to state and country to country.President Barack Obama signed the bill, known as the 'Military Spouses Residency Relief Act,' as an amendment to the 2003 Servicemembers Civil Relief

  • Photo essay: Moody Airmen return home

    Families and friends were ready to greet members of 822nd Security Forces Squadron as they returned here Dec. 8, 2009 from a six-month deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq. During the deployment, the squadron performed joint expeditionary taskings and performed outside-the-wire security operations and

  • Seymour Johnson civilian earns DOD disability award

    A civilian at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., received the 2009 Outstanding Department of Defense Employee with a Disability Award Dec. 8 at a ceremony in Bethesda, Md.Charles Hare is the in-service work plan programmer for the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron. "I was overwhelmed," Mr. Hare said.

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

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

  • Robins officials help fix vital warfighters' equipment issue

    A Robins Air Force Base team is working to resolve a top equipment issue for warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan. About a dozen people in the 642nd Combat Sustainment Group are involved with developing specifications for a redesign of flightline air conditioners that are critical to the operation of

  • Building on Bold Quest, airborne network moves forward

    A team from the Electronic Systems Center here is now building on some encouraging airborne networking results achieved during Bold Quest 2009, the Joint Forces Command-led exercise conducted in November.Despite some issues that took the main test aircraft off line, officials from the 653rd

  • Lakenheath Airmen hold Christmas party for special children

    Royal Air Force Lakenheath Airmen partnered with the Starlight Foundation to host a Christmas party for terminally and seriously ill children Dec. 5 at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, England.More than 70 volunteers from the 48th Fighter Wing participated in the traditional party that finds its

  • Entertainers put on a show for troops in Southwest Asia

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

  • Thunderbirds officials announce 2010 schedule

    Officials from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," here announced its 2010 airshow schedule. The team's 57th show season is scheduled to take them to more than 65 shows in 27 states and Canada. Lt. Col. Case Cunningham will join the team as commander and leader for the

  • Photo essay: Crews prepare for KC-135 mission

    Airmen from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron prepare KC-135 Stratotankers for a refueling mission Dec. 2, 2009, at an airfield here.  The squadron refuels  joint and coalition aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.View the slideshow.

  • DOD officials host disability awards ceremony, forum

    Defense Department officials highlighted the Pentagon's programs for people with disabilities Dec. 8 and recognized accomplishments of employees with disabilities. Clarence Johnson, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for plans, served as host for the department's disability awards ceremony and

  • Hickam officials pay tribute to Airmen's storied legacy

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

  • Nominations open for 2010 DOD Employee with a Disability Award

    Awards and decorations officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here are seeking nominations for the 2010 Outstanding Department of Defense Employee with a Disability Award.This Secretary of Defense award recognizes the contributions and achievements made by physically or mentally disabled

  • Bolling members take 'Amazing Race' challenge

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

  • Laughlin Airmen give special opportunity to one of their own

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

  • Kandahar Airmen focus on safety

    Members of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Safety Office here work around the clock to keep safety hazards to a minimum.There are three disciplines: weapons, ground and flight safety, and members of each discipline conduct inspections, program evaluations and mishap investigations. They also

  • NORAD officials ready to track Santa's flight

    It's that time of the year again and North American Aerospace Defense Command officials are getting ready to track Santa Claus.The NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, www.noradsanta.org, is now live and features fun holiday games and activities that change daily. The Web site is available in seven

  • Alert mission protects U.S. airspace, interests

    Shaw Air Force Base Airmen supporting the Operation Noble Eagle alert mission provide quick-reaction support to protect U.S. airspace and significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches."We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt.

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

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

  • Kandahar Airmen complete 265,000 push ups

    Sixty-three members of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing completed a total of 265,597 push ups throughout the month of November.Nov. 30 ended the wing's 30-day challenge in which Airmen were challenged to complete 10,000 push ups between Nov. 1 through 30. Tech. Sgt. Jason Whitehorn, of the 451st AEW

  • Moody community pay respect to fallen warrior

    Members of Moody Air Force Base came together Dec. 3 to pay their respects to a fallen Army Soldier during a fallen warrior ceremony as he was transferred from the base to Harrington Funeral Home located in Valdosta, Ga. Army Staff Sgt. Briand Williams, originally from Sparks, Ga., which is located

  • Security forces Airmen end operations at Camp Bucca

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

  • Dover C-5Ms complete test in surge operations

    The C-5M Super Galaxy team has completed another stage of operational test and evaluation with the conclusion of surge operations at Dover AFB. The surge operations consisted of 31 days of delivering essential cargo and flying sorties nonstop, from Dover AFB to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, without

  • Transportation officials confident in Afghan deployment

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

  • CMSAF visits Kandahar Airmen

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

  • NCAA football lifts morale for doctors, wounded troops

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

  • Nominations sought for 2010 American Legion service award

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

  • Eglin Airmen join Marines in combat fitness test

    Eglin Air Force Base Airmen joined the Marines during their annual combat fitness test Nov. 25 here. Airmen who came out for the combat fitness test accepted the invitation from Marine Sgt. Maj. Bonnie Skinner of the 501st Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron to try out the newest addition to the

  • Department focuses on F-35 costs, fair tanker competition

    Pentagon officials are working to halt spiraling costs in the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft program while ensuring competition for a new refueling tanker remains fair to all contenders, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here Dec. 2. Mr. Lynn told the Aerospace and

  • Airmen lead training course for Iraqi police

    Airmen assigned to the Iraq Police Transition Team here started a new class Nov. 18 for recent graduates of the Iraqi Police Academy as an effort to further enhance their capabilities as officers securing their communities.The five-day class is part of an on-going effort to transition responsibility

  • Convoy 911: Joint unit extends battlespace communication

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

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

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

  • Former MAC commander remembered

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

  • Commander outlines Global Strike Command mission, vision, values

    The men and women of 20th Air Force and the 90th Missile Wing hosted the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command during an historic Air Force milestone as the command assumed responsibilities for the intercontinental ballistic missile mission Dec. 1.While at F.E. Warren, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz

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

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

  • Squadron commander receives Nebraska Admiralship

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

  • MC-12 reaches 1,000th combat mission

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

  • Air Force officials release F-15E accident investigation report

    Air Combat Command officials here Dec. 1 released the results of an F-15E Strike Eagle in Afghanistan July 18 stating a flight lead weapons system officer's incorrect assessment of a training target's elevation led to the crash, according to the ACC Accident Investigation Board report. The crew was

  • Airmen watch over calm November in Iraq

    Iraqi and coalition efforts had combined to sustain the stability in Iraq set new records in November with zero airstrikes, zero weapons releases and zero shows of force.The last time aircrews had a clean streak was in June; however, June also had 16 reports of troops in contact, but in

  • Air Force Global Strike Command officials assume ICBM mission

    Air Force Global Strike Command officials here assume the Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile mission Dec. 1. The ICBM transfer is part of a phased approach to unify all Air Force nuclear-capable assets under one command, officials said. The new command gains three missile wings with the

  • Father, son meet in Afghanistan

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

  • DARPA officials launch network challenge competition

    Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency officials will take the Internet technology that agency researchers helped create 40 years ago a step farther Dec. 5 with a contest aimed at bringing people together to solve tough problems. And they have sweetened the "DARPA Network Challenge" with a

  • CONOP test finding success for Air Force in Iraq

    According to air mobility experts on the ground in Iraq, initial results of the ongoing U.S. Army direct support mission Concept of Operations test there indicate what Air Force and Air Mobility Command officials have said all along: the Air Force supports this mission 100 percent.The CONOP test

  • Academy cadet awarded Marshall Scholarship

    A senior cadet here has been named a 2010 Marshall Scholarship winner.Cadet 1st Class Austin McKinney, from Canton, Mich., is the Air Force Academy's 11th Marshall Scholar.Cadet McKinney plans to obtain two separate master's degrees at the University of London in England, one in Latin American