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  • 'Guardian Angels' put to test at survival competition

    Two water survival instructors assigned here earned the Col. Bud Day trophy June 14 as winners of the 2007 SERE (survival, evasion, resistance and escape) Challenge -- a physically grueling and mentally exhausting competition among some of the Air Force's elite special operators. Staff Sgt. Michael

  • Airman's Roll Call addresses uniform updates

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on updates to the Airman Battle Uniform and physical training uniform. Air Force officials are cautioning Airmen to resist rushing to commercial manufacturers who have begun advertising the availability of the new Airman Battle Uniform. Officials said these

  • Barksdale bombers to fly in Koa Lightning

    Four B-52 Stratofortress aircraft and aircrew from the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deployed here from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., are scheduled to fly to Hawaii and back this week to participate in the latest Koa Lightning exercise. The B-52s will fly more than 18 hours and 6,880 nautical

  • Air Force's small business programs open doors for veterans

    When this a small business manufacturer received its aerospace quality standard certification late last year, the company had no idea how far that accomplishment would take them. The training M2 Global received from the Air Force's Manufacturing Technical Assistance Production Program opened doors

  • Pilots' missions relocate for Spangdahlem's runway repair

    Spangdahlem Air Base's runway closed June 15 and is scheduled to remain closed for repairs until mid-July. Although the 52nd Fighter Wing will cease flying operations from Spangdahlem, the pilots and crews from the 22nd, 23rd and 81st Fighter Squadrons will deploy to other locations and continue to

  • CSAF's Scope focuses on new medal, training

    The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen. This month, Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top issues include the Air Force's Combat Action Medal and ancillary training. "Since 9/11, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number

  • Kadena NCO court-martialed for child porn

    A non-commissioned officer recently received nine months confinement, reduction in rank to airman basic and a bad conduct discharge for possessing and displaying child pornography here. Staff Sergeant Jason M. Hooks, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, pleaded guilty to the charges before a military

  • Ophthalmology residency program gets high rating

    The American Academy of Ophthalmology recently ranked the ophthalmology residency program at Wilford Hall Medical Center here as one of the top residency programs in the nation. The ranking is based on high scores on an in-training ophthalmology exam called the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment

  • "Operation Air Force" cadets deploy to Southwest Asia

    Many students resuming classes in the fall will write the obligatory school report, "What I did over my summer vacation." But, at summers end, not many will be able to say they spent their summer in Southwest Asia to help support operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and operations in the Horn of

  • Summer lab gives cadets engineering experience

    A group of Academy cadets are spending their first weeks of summer getting their hands dirty to gain practical engineering experience. The three-week Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory exposes cadets to several aspects of civil engineering, including heavy equipment operation, steel bridge

  • Mentoring program can go long way for Air Force cadets

    The Air Force Cadet Officer Mentor Action Program has been mentoring young Air Force officers and cadets for nearly two decades. Currently, there are 12 active chapters. Officials at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command say they would like to see more bases initiate chapters. The program, also

  • Stress management critical for servicemembers

    In times of war, stress is inevitable. With the closure of the flightline here, added stress will be introduced, but the mental health clinic is providing seminars to deal with the situation."(Stress) impacts all areas of life -- honestly," said Maj. James Young, Mental Health Clinic flight

  • Red Flag-Alaska wraps up

    The second Red Flag-Alaska exercise of the year ended June 15 after two weeks of intense, air-combat training over Alaska's mountain ranges. "I think this was a great exercise," said Col. William Wignall, the Air Expeditionary Wing commander for the exercise. "The tactical problems presented by the

  • Top Air Force recruiters, trainers of year announced

    Air Education and Training Command announced the following Air Force winners of the 2007 U.S. Air Force Recruiter, Military Training Instructor and Military Training Leader of the Year Awards in the following categories: Recruiter of the Year Category: Staff Sgt. Jason Rodriguez, 344th Recruiting

  • Legendary fighter pilot Robin Olds dies

    Legendary fighter pilot, retired Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, died June 14 from congestive heart failure one month short of his 85th birthday.General Olds, rated a triple ace for having shot down a total of 16 enemy aircraft during World War II and the Vietnam War, served his country in assignments to

  • Convoy ops takes training, readiness, communication

    One key to successful convoy operations is preparation and if practice makes perfect, then the goal of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is perfection. A refined tactical security escort program devised by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Ilsley, is one way the security forces here hope to reach

  • Guard wing transitions to Langley

    The Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing records its last F-16 Fighting Falcon training mission June 20. The wing, which has flown the F-16 since 1991 and is the nation's first ANG unit to fly the F-22 Raptor, will conduct associated operations with the 1st Fighter Wing here. More than

  • Retired colonel killed in Iraq

    The Air Force lost one of its own when a retired colonel, working as a civilian contractor and traveling with a convoy, was killed June 12 near Tikrit, Iraq, when the convoy was attacked. Retired Col. Mike Butler was working for DynCorp International as the senior deputy program manager, working in

  • Travis team preps for air mobility competition

    "On your marks, get ready, set ... go!" With that, four Travis Airmen sprint toward a C-5 Galaxy, its engines blasting. The Airmen, members of the 60th Aerial Port Squadron's Rodeo Team, were practicing a C-5 engine running on (and) offload, where they must load and unload a C-5 and a C-17

  • Air Force, Navy test fuel spill response

    With ships coming in and out of the port, there's always the possibility for accidents. A Navy fuel facility at Hachinohe port provides fuel to Misawa Air Base. If an oil spill happens there the response must be quick and effective. While the facility has its own people trained to respond to such

  • Changes in works for Air Force PT uniform

    The Air Force uniform board is working to resolve Airmen's issues with the Air Force physical training uniform, which became mandatory for wear in fall 2006. The board has received nearly 500 inputs from Airmen including suggestions on ways to improve the uniform, and some of those changes are in

  • Uniform officials warn Airmen about knockoff ABUs

    Commercial manufacturers have begun to advertise sale of the new Airman Battle Uniform at various online Web sites. Air Force officials warn Airmen these uniforms are not the authorized items provided by the Air Force's official source, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, and may not meet the

  • Firefighters suit up for HAZMAT training in Iraq

    A convoy winds through the streets of Iraq, when a technician in the lead vehicle sees an unexploded ordnance device near the road. As he moves closer, he notices the smell of chlorine gas. It's time to take protective measures. For firefighters from the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's

  • Course prepares mobility team leaders

    Of the 57 in-residence and online courses offered at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's Mobility Operations School, one course targets future leaders in mobility command and control. The Mobility Air Forces Mobile Command and Control Leadership Course, offered four times a year with 16

  • Command, control battle lab closes doors after one decade

    The Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Battlelab held its official inactivation ceremony here June 14. The C2ISRB was one of seven battlelabs established by the Air Force in 1997 to address the acquisition system's inability to rapidly field technology and the

  • Army Air Force P-47 recovered in the Netherlands

    Though the Air Force is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, U.S. Air Forces in Europe is marking 65 years of service. One reason for this seemingly strange discrepancy was recently found deep in the muddy farmlands of the southwest Netherlands. Dutch workmen from the district water board

  • C-27J Spartan named as Joint Cargo Aircraft

    The U. S. Army announced a $2.04 billion contract award June 13 to L-3 Communications Integrated Systems for their C-27J Spartan to be the Joint Cargo Aircraft. This JCA program is a combined Air Force and Army effort to have an airframe that will meet warfighter needs for intratheater airlift.

  • 'Golden Medic' integrates Army, Air Force medical teams

    Leaders of the joint Army and Air Force medical exercise here stressed the importance of the services working together. "Golden Medic 2007 is an extraordinary opportunity for all services - active, Guard and Reserve, in addition to our coalition partners," said Col. Mike Dankosky, Air Force Reserve

  • 'Golden Medic' aeromedical team ready to transport

    The 706th Provisional Wing stood up here June 10 at the Augusta Regional Airport in preparation for "Golden Medic 2007" June 12-19. Golden Medic, in its 13th year, is the Army Reserve's largest annual exercise. It integrates several armed services' medical components in response to wartime medical

  • Civil engineer Airmen paving way for Iraqi Army

    Members of the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are constructing a 44,000-square-foot concrete drill pad at Camp Mittica, Iraq. The pad will be used for training by the Iraqi Army. The Air Force was approached by the United Kingdom Brigade forward commander for assistance in standing up

  • Air Force officials announce airfield operations awards

    Air Force officials announced the winners of the 2006 Air Force Airfield Operation Awards June 13. Airfield operations include airfield operations and control, specifically airfield management and air traffic control. The 2006 winners are as follows: Airfield operations flight complex of the year:

  • Pilots get taste of combat during Red Flag-Alaska

    The exercise is Red Flag, but it is in Alaska this time, not Nevada. There are similarities -- both exercises focus on advanced tactical training for aircrew members against air and surface threats. Both employ an aggressor force in the air and from the ground. Both have similar training objectives

  • Academy announces 1st six athlete hall of famers

    The Air Force Academy has announced the inaugural class for induction into the Air Force Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. The six inductees -- Alonzo Babers, Bob Beckel, John Clune, Chad Hennings, Michelle Johnson and Brock Strom -- will be inducted Oct. 19 in Colorado Springs. The six inductees

  • Airmen train for worst-case scenarios at Red Flag

    When a pilot gets shot down in combat, it takes more than luck to bring him or her back home, which is why Red Flag-Alaska exercises prepare Airmen for any situation. "(These exercises are going to) give some of our aircraft commanders and the people who are flying an idea of what to expect if a

  • Changes in Air Force to ultimately benefit Airmen

    An Air Force-wide plan to reduce the number of Airmen while saving money for equipment upgrades will be difficult, but ultimately, beneficial, said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. During an enlisted call here June 6, Chief McKinley spoke with Airmen about the Air Force

  • Aircraft incident at Eielson Air Force Base

    An F-15 Eagle and an F-16 Fighting Falcon were involved in a midair collision over the Pacific Alaska Range Complex at 11:23 a.m. June 11. Both aircraft were participating in a training mission. The F-15, assigned to Langley Air Force Base, Va., crashed in a rural area. The pilot ejected safely and

  • F-22 Raptor team garners Collier Trophy

    The National Aeronautic Association presented its Robert J. Collier Trophy to the Lockheed Martin Corporation for their role in the development of the Air Force's F-22 Raptor. The Air Force was part of the team awarded the honor, one of the nation's most prestigious prizes for aeronautical and space

  • Air Force band is expeditionary instrument of peace

    There was no waiting for the world to change one recent spring day in Afghanistan when Air Force Band members took matters into their own hands and united with a group of local elementary school students for an afternoon of friendship and music. Singing pop songs by artists such as John Mayer, who

  • Rollover trainer turns up the HEAT on safety

    Before security forces teams deploy from Moody, they are now being put through the "spin cycle" of the Air Force's only vehicle rollover trainer. The Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, or HEAT, is able to realistically simulate a vehicle rollover in a safe environment and will save lives in a

  • Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights Space Command and its multi-faceted mission, ranging from helping pilots navigate around the world to detecting and tracking objects in space above the United States and maintaining America's nuclear arsenal. And be part of an Air Force joint

  • Airmen, Iraqi air traffic controllers work together

    Standing 200 feet above Baghdad International Airport in a weathered control tower, Air Force air traffic controllers are busy directing aircraft while their Iraqi counterparts get certified through intensive formal training and hands-on experience. It's a job that is extremely challenging, yet

  • Journal focuses on developing Airmen, leaders

    The College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at Air University has published and distributed the Summer 2007 English edition of the Air Force's professional journal, Air and Space Power Journal. The journal serves as an open forum for the presentation and stimulation of innovative

  • Award-winning combat videographer keys in on people

    Tech. Sgt. Gary Burdett's videography documents the up-close-and-personal actions of America's fighting forces around the world.Sergeant Burdett, a 16-year military veteran and a member of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., is the Defense Department's Military

  • Combat photographer braves bullets to tell stories

    An award-winning Air Force photographer routinely braved bullets and bombs to tell the military's story through the lenses of his cameras to be named the Defense Department's Military Photographer of the Year for 2007. Combat photographer Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Lock also earned that honor in 2002 and

  • Tricare officials: be prepared for hurricane season

    With meteorologists predicting another active Atlantic hurricane season, Tricare officials are urging beneficiaries to prepare now before a hurricane causes evacuations or limits access to health care. The Atlantic storm season is underway and hurricanes and typhoons at home and abroad may affect

  • Allies team up for joint exercise at Kunsan

    Members of the 8th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Korea air force have teamed up for a joint training exercise June 8 at Kunsan Air Base. Two South Korean F-16s from the 111th Fighter Squadron, two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 35th Fighter Squadron, Airmen of the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Unit

  • Marines play along in Red Flag

    Marine Corps aircrews from the Yuma, Arizona-based 513th Marine Attack Squadron traded their desert landscape for Alaska's "last frontier" and found themselves players in a whole new game at this year's Red Flag-Alaska June 4. Joining fellow pilots from the U.S. and several allied nations, Marine

  • Latest 'Vector' focuses on wingmen for life

    The Air Force chief of staff released his latest vector for Airmen and it focuses on the importance of being a wingman for your fellow Airmen. The wingman concept reflects the ultimate confidence we all must have in our fellow Airmen -- we trust each other, quite literally, with our lives, Gen. T.

  • Saving servicemembers' lives one flight at a time

    Some might say doctors don't make house calls anymore, but that's exactly what the Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, do on a daily basis. They bring the hospital to the wounded. A typical aeromedical evacuation, or AE, crew turns

  • Misawa squadrons swap out Iraqi mission

    Two F-16 Fighting Falcons flying thousands of feet in the air track a pair of vehicles full of known al-Qaida insurgents on the ground. The vehicles stop at a location free of collateral damage, and command officials make a decision. The F-16s drop precision-guided munitions and destroy the

  • June 6 airpower summary: F-16s provide overwatch in Iraq

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations June 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles made multiple strafing passes,

  • U.S., Japanese Airmen meet for cultural exchange

    Air Force and Japan Air Self Defense Force officers came together at the JASDF's Meguro College here May 31 for an English language cultural exchange. During the year-long Command and Staff Course at the college, JASDF majors and captains learn the necessary skills to take on future challenges. One

  • June 5 airpower summary: Transports sustain operations

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations June 5, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles watched over advancing

  • Incirlik medics train with new decon field equipment

    Air Force medics have a vital mission in the event of a chemical or biological attack as they must be able to decontaminate large groups of people quickly and effectively in the event of an attack.Incirlik Air Base Airmen are prepared for such an attack and the base is one of only two Air Force

  • Tanker Task Force keeps Red Flag flying

    KC-135 Stratotankers, aircrews and maintainers are providing air refueling support to aircraft from Alaska's Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force Bases to ensure Red Flag-Alaska meets its training goals. More than 1,400 military members from the United States, Singapore and Australia are in Alaska to

  • Air traffic controller honored by FAA

    Capt. Todd Lobato, chief air traffic control trainer for the Utah Air National Guard's 299th Range Control Squadron, was honored recently by the Federal Aviation Administration as the FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. Captain Lobato received this award for his role as the aviation safety

  • Exercise tests fast-response unit's capabilities

    Members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are here conducting a weeklong exercise that will test the unit's ability to set up operations at a seized air field. Called Operation Hydra, the training is taking place at the Castle Airport and Aviation Development

  • 2006 Super Bowl champs visit Randolph

    Champions know about the importance of quality teamwork and the Super Bowl XLI champion Indianapolis Colts are no exception. To help improve their teamwork relationship with the Air Force, members of the Colts championship team visited Randolph Air Force Base June 1 to gain a better understanding

  • New Pentagon Channel show helps troops get 'Fit for Duty'

    Hosts of a new show coming to the Pentagon Channel want to make troops hurt, sweat and push them to their limits, but most of all the new show aims to ensure members of the U.S. military are "Fit for Duty." "Fitness is as much a part of the military as the uniform," said retired Master Sgt. Jim

  • Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights a device called the targeting pod, whicht ensures pilot accuracy and minimizes collateral damage on the battlefield. Also in this edition, experience how Airmen co-exist alongside Soldiers, Sailors and Marines performing their duties as joint

  • June 1, 2 airpower summary: Airlift key to mission success

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations June 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted shows of force

  • Joint forces combine for Red Flag-Alaska exercise

    More than 1,400 military members from the United States, Singapore and Australia have converged on Alaska to sharpen their collective warfighting edge in Red Flag-Alaska 07-2, which runs from May 31 to June 15. Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training

  • Bird avoidance job going to the dogs

    Officials  from the 459th Air Refueling Wing hired a new member to the wing staff.What makes this new employee different is the recent wing addition is a four-legged member who answers to the name Jackson. Nearly seven months old, Jackson is the only dog hired in the history of the 459th ARW. Owned

  • SECAF: Dominance in cyberspace is not optional

    The Air Force's senior leader's message was clear: dominance in cyberspace is not optional.  He made that case to attendees May 23 at the inaugural 55th Wing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Symposium in Omaha. "Our own nation's neural network resides in cyberspace," Secretary of the

  • 'Week in Photos' features Airmen around the globe

    The "Week In Photos" Web feature on Air Force Link provides visitors with photos that highlight Air Force missions around the world. Among this week's photos are: In Alaska, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot fires the aircraft's 30mm Gatling gun May 29 during Red Flag-Alaska 07-2 over the Pacific Alaska

  • Air Force officials promote sustainability

    In general terms, it's development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In the Air Force, it's the capacity to continue the mission without compromise. In a word, it's sustainability. Without it, operations are diminished

  • Joint forces combine for Red Flag-Alaska exercise

    More than 1,400 military members from the United States, Singapore and Australia converged on Alaska May 31 to sharpen their collective warfighting edge in Red Flag-Alaska 07-2, which runs through June 15. Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises

  • Fallen Airmen memorialized at Hurlburt

    Members of the 720th Special Tactics Group dedicated a state-of-the-art training center and an adjacent roadway here May 30 in honor of four air commandos killed in the line of duty in recent operations. An Iraqi Air Force SL7 light aircraft crashed May 30, 2005, about 80 miles northeast of Baghdad,

  • CENTCOM leader visits Oman, builds relationships

    Continuing to build long-term relationships throughout the Middle East, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces visited Oman and Omani Air Force senior leaders to discuss cooperative interaction between their respective countries. As part of continuing and ongoing CENTCOM theater security

  • May 29 airpower: Predators sting the enemy

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped general purpose

  • Creek Defender preps security forces for potential battle

    A Humvee drives down a seemingly quiet street, when from nowhere, gunfire erupts leaving a haze of smoke and empty shells. With little response time, the convoy reacts, spraying round after round at a target whose only objective, is to eliminate the American threat. But this is no war zone; rather,

  • Airmen save lives in Africa with medical team visit

    For residents of two remote Kenyan villages where common colds and cuts can have deadly outcomes, a mobile U.S. military medical team recently brought more than just healthcare -- it brought life. Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa servicemembers conducted a Medical Civic Action Program in

  • May 28 airpower summary: Airlift reduces need for convoys

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier fired rockets at enemy

  • Changes on horizon for Air Force pilots

    The Air Force recently announced there are changes forthcoming in aircrew management. A new process called Transformational Aircrew Management Initiatives for the 21st Century, or TAMI-21, is intended to account for force structure changes that have caused imbalances in pilot inventory distribution

  • 'Today's Air Force' highlights global operations

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights one of the major elements in the success of global U.S. Air Force operations, the help and cooperation of allied nations like Romania.Featured is a segment showing how 42 countries come together in the largest communication exercise in the world

  • Week in Photos features Airmen around the globe

    The "Week In Photos" Web feature on Air Force Link provides visitors with photos that highlight Air Force missions around the world. Among this week's photos are: At Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, firefighters battle a blaze as part of a training exercise. During the 101 Critical Days of Summer,

  • May 26 airpower summary: Transports strengthen coalition forces

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations May 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer released a guided bomb

  • May 25 airpower summary: F-16 supports coalition exchange

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations May 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer released guided bomb unit-31s

  • May 24 airpower summary: Tankers fuel fleet

    Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles released guided bomb unit -38s

  • African air chiefs discuss cooperation, challenges

    Leaders from 14 African nations' air forces gathered here this week to discuss cooperation and challenges affecting the African continent. The African Air Chiefs Conference provided an opportunity for nations to come together and candidly discuss a wide array of important issues, said Brig. Gen.

  • Air Force secretary presents leadership awards

    The secretary of the Air Force presented four recent professional military education graduates with awards for their outstanding leadership May 17 at Maxwell Air Force Base. Secretary Michael W. Wynne presented the Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Awards, which are given annually to recognize a

  • Language, cultural studies gain more focus at service academies

    Gen. George Washington would probably roll over in his grave if he knew the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. -- the school he advocated to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign military expertise -- is increasingly sending its cadets overseas to learn with and from their foreign

  • Air Force artist depicts C-17 in 'Waikiki Sunrise'

    When the "Spirit of Hawaii Ke Aloha" landed on the flightline here in February 2006, it symbolized a new era in airlift for the Pacific. That first jet has since been joined by seven others, comprising the first C-17 Globemaster III squadron based outside the continental United States. Artist Keith

  • Bombers rotate at Andersen

    Airmen from the 2nd Bomb Wing's 20th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrive here May 26 to begin a four-month deployment. The Louisiana-based aircraft, aircrew, support and maintenance members will replace their fellow Barksdale Airmen from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, who

  • Personnel officials improve four Airman assignment programs

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here recently improved four Airman assignment programs to further streamline Web-based personnel processes in support of Personnel Services Delivery and personnel transformation initiatives. The four programs include the Career Airman Base of Preference Program,

  • Air Force accessions program celebrates 10 years

    Three of the Air Force's leadership training programs -- ROTC, Officer Training School and Junior ROTC -- were joined together in 1997 to create what is now the Air Force Officer Accessions and Training Schools, or AFOATS. Earlier this month, members of the AFOATS staff celebrated their

  • Maintainers increase combat capability of B-1

    Airmen at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing proved just how crucial it is to be trained and work efficiently while responding to a "catastrophic" hydraulic system failure during a B-1 Lancer combat mission. The aircrew had to perform an emergency gear extension upon returning to base due to the

  • Finance officer wins DOD-level award

    An Air Force financial management officer here won the Best in Department of Defense award for Financial Management Initiative May 22. Lt. Col. Robert Bickel, the deputy director of the Air Force's new Financial Management Center of Expertise was named the individual contributor category winner by

  • 115 chosen for Officer Training School

    Air Force officials here May 23 selected 115 men and women from across America for an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 476 applications as part of Officer Training School Selection Board

  • Air Force's OTS, ROTC staffs prep for summer training surge

    While many are planning big vacations and some relaxation during the next few months, Officer Training School and ROTC cadre members are "digging in" for a busy summer. The OTS staff will train more than 800 commissioned officer trainees between June and August. The "summer surge" is in addition to

  • 'Battlefield docs' converge in Iraq to hone skills

    More than 40 "battlefield docs" -- surgeons and physician assistants from around Iraq -- converged at Air Force Theater Hospital May 21 here to hone their already razor-sharp surgical skills at the Tri-Service Extremity War Surgery Symposium. Battlefield medicine has greatly improved since the

  • PACAF command chief speaks about road ahead

    The Pacific Air Forces top enlisted adviser visited Elmendorf Air Force Base May 15 to 17 and spoke to Airmen about what it will take to succeed in the Air Force. Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Bishop, the PACAF command chief master sergeant, returned to Elmendorf AFB for the second time in six months to

  • Attack controllers help ensure air strike accuracy

    The days of carpet bombing are over. In today's military it's about surgical strikes and preventing unnecessary collateral damage. Training to make this happen at Misawa Air Base is the team of pilots and joint terminal attack controllers, called JTACs, before they deploy to fight the war on

  • Attack controllers call in air strikes at Kansas range

    As F-16 Fighting Falcons circle overhead, joint terminal attack controllers from the 1st Air Support Operations Squadron keep an eye on a nearby village. Only this village isn't in Iraq or Afghanistan. It's Kansas and the Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range. The joint terminal attack controllers,

  • Indy Motor Speedway salutes servicemembers

    Amid the howl of revved-up racecars, Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials showcased their 27th Armed Forces Day program May 20 with a group enlistment of recruits from all services and other military-themed events. Track officials held their Armed Forces Day activities in conjunction with final

  • Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the warrior ethos and how Air Force leaders are giving Airmen a new sense of pride as warriors, starting at basic training. Also featured is a compelling story on how children of deployed parents cope by bonding together with other children

  • PT keeps Airmen fit to fight

    Airmen here are taking part in an age-old military tradition -- unit physical training. The Air Force Physical Training Program, known as the "Fit to Fight" program, helps keep Airmen in top shape and prepares them to fight the war on terrorism when deployed forward. "You see Airmen in the mountains

  • Vietnam visit strengthens military ties

    The U.S. Pacific Command deputy commander met with military and civilian leaders in Vietnam recently, looking for opportunities to build upon a small yet developing relationship and to identify possible future military engagement activities. Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf led a military delegation that

  • Balad Airmen say goodbye to fallen warrior

    Honored as a leader, brother, teacher and true friend, an Airman killed fighting the war on terrorism was remembered by Airmen of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, both at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and at Camp Liberty near Baghdad May 18. Staff Sgt. John T. Self lost his life May 14 while on his 79th

  • Self-defense course kicks way into training

    Traditional thinking for Air Force pre-deployment preparation may have Airmen reading the Airman's Manual from front to back and getting in some form of combat skills training at home station. Would that same effort include learning about the Linear Infighting Neural-override Engagement, or LINE,