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  • Air Force aviator strengthens U.S.-Japan friendship, ties

    An Air Force exchange pilot is strengthening bilateral ties and friendship between U.S. and Japanese military forces here. Capt. Justin Fletcher, an F-15 Eagle pilot, said that being assigned at the picturesque Japanese base located south of Tokyo is one of the most interesting and challenging jobs

  • Mobility bag test case begins

    Airmen will be returning from their deployment a little lighter because of a test to pre-position mobility bags in theater, potentially saving millions of dollars. The test began May 9.To make the deployable Air Force more agile and address concerns of people hand-carrying too many bags into the

  • Myers recognizes 'Operation Smile' stalwart

    A retired major general received the Chairman's Distinguished Public Service Award on May 10 in part for a smile -- Operation Smile.Retired Maj. Gen. William Lyon received the award from Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a Pentagon ceremony. General Lyon served as the

  • Academy sports recap: Buck selected for top tennis tournament

    Shannon Buck has been selected to play in the 2005 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Singles Championships. The Air Force Academy junior is the first player in school history to qualify for two separate NCAA Championships. He competed in the tournament two years ago.The 64-player, single-elimination

  • Air Force wins national library awards

    The Air Force won three out of four national Library of Congress awards, Federal Library and Information Center Committee officials announced in Washington recently.The 2004 National Awards for Federal Librarianship recognized two Air Force civilians one base for fulfilling the information demands

  • Pilot awarded Kolligian Trophy for combat mission

    Despite wounds and a helicopter crippled by enemy fire, an Air Force pilot safely flew his aircraft and crew home from Iraq.For his efforts, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper presented the Kolligian Trophy to Capt. Steven Edwards during a May 6 ceremony at the Pentagon. Captain Edwards,

  • Services director inducted into Boys, Girls Clubs Hall of Fame

    The director of Air Force Services was recently inducted into the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Hall of Fame.Arthur J. Myers, a Boys Club member in his native state of New Jersey, was nominated and selected for his public service and excellence in Air Force Services. The hall of fame induction

  • Flight engineer earns Pitsenbarger award for heroism

    For his display of heroism in the face of hostile enemy fire, a helicopter flight engineer from Hurlburt Field, Fla., has been named the 2005 Pitsenbarger award winner.Master Sgt. Robert Colannino Jr. was a flight engineer aboard an MH-53M Pave Low during a night resupply mission when his helicopter

  • Joint search and rescue center coordinates search efforts

    The sole purpose of 28 people in the joint search and rescue center at the Combined Air Operations Center is to step in when operations go awry and people in U.S. Central Command area of responsibility need help.Besides coordinating the efforts of seven main rescue coordination centers, the joint

  • Logistics Airman excels in passenger travel

    While most of her co-workers are helping servicemembers deployed here return home, one traffic management specialist is moving in another direction.With the deployment rotation in full swing, Senior Airman Latasha Ireland, with the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, has work to do.

  • Incirlik employee nominated for public service award

    An employee from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, is the Air Force nominee for the 56th annual William A. Jump Memorial Foundation Award, Air Force Personnel Center officials here announced May 6.He is Jude Sorg.The award is presented to a civilian career employee of the federal government, who is 37

  • Eye in the sky protects ground forces

    Soaring through the air looking for prey, the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle is an aircraft ground forces do not want to be without. With its large infrared eye, it surveys the land and relays intelligence to servicemembers in the field.“The Predator is the greatest reconnaissance tool the

  • Force structure, military value at heart of BRAC

    The U.S. military fighting the war on terrorism is far different from the military forces developed to confront the Soviet Union.Today's military is smaller than the Cold War force but is already more agile and more flexible. And experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan show that joint operations allow

  • Deployed security forces take on military police mission

    Because of a shortage of Air Force security forces in recent years, the Army has helped out by providing Soldiers at bases worldwide. The 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group’s Detachment 1, an Air Force detachment from Balad Air Base, Iraq, is repaying the security debt by filling the role of

  • Army hands over Strykers to Air Force

    With a handshake and the roar of a jet engine at Fort Polk, La., an Eielson unit became the first in the Air Force to own the latest addition to the service’s inventory – the Stryker armored vehicle.In a May 5 ceremony at Fort Polk, 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron officials obtained five of the

  • Cope Thunder wraps in Alaska

    Cope Thunder participants used Eielson’s 62,000 square miles of training airspace and met their objective: to fly, fight and win during Pacific Air Force’s premier combat airpower exercise that ends May 6.The two-week exercise took place here and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.“All Cope Thunder units had one

  • Munitions tracking going wireless

    Officials at the Operations and Sustainment Systems Group headquarters here said they soon will release a software update that will take the guesswork out of ordering munitions online. They also are testing technology that will keep tabs on Air Force munitions.The revised Combat Ammunitions System

  • AEF Airmen ensure mission continues at Soto Cano

    For more than 20 years, Airmen have been rotating in and out of this Central American base filling short-tour requirements. Now, Airmen can deploy here.“Soto Cano is one of our permanent party bases in which Airmen are also going to fill (Air and Space Expeditionary) requirements,” said Brig. Gen.

  • May issue of Airman available

    Read about how the Air Force Personnel Center supports Airmen, see how some single sergeants balance kids and work, and learn about a Hungarian-born pilot whose dreams of flying for the Air Force are coming true. These features and more highlight the May issue of Airman magazine, now available in

  • Air Force wrestlers take two medals at nationals

    Air Force wrestlers left the U.S. National Wrestling Championships on April 30 in nearby Las Vegas with a silver and bronze medal and qualified five wrestlers to attend the World Team Trials. “We came into this competition understanding we are rebuilding our team,” said Richard Estrella, Air Force

  • BRAC recommendations follow lengthy process

    Few people dispute that the U.S. military has too much infrastructure to face the threats and opportunities of the 21st century. The question is, what is the best way to close or realign installations to match challenges of the new world?Since 1988, the answer has been the Base Realignment and

  • Air Force continues search for Junior ROTC instructors

    Officials continue to search for qualified instructors to serve in rapidly expanding Air Force Junior ROTC programs, said Jo Alice Talley, chief of instructor management for Air Force Junior ROTC here.The Air Force is opening 48 new Junior ROTC units in high schools in 21 states, with more to

  • Air Force announces aviation resource management awards

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2004 Outstanding Air Force Aviation Resource Management of the Year Awards.The 2004 winners are:-- Airman of the Year: Airman 1st Class Dusty S. Stofan, 17th Special Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan.-- Noncommissioned Officer of

  • Air Force Motorcycle safety forum set for May 28

    A five-year review of motorcycle mishaps to Air Force members revealed incidents are on the rise. These mishaps resulted in 72 deaths from 1999 to 2003, and the Air Force ratio of mishaps per capita exceeded the national average.To increase motorcycle safety awareness, the Air Force Safety Center

  • Defense Department to resume anthrax vaccinations

    The Department of Defense will resume its Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, officials said May 3.A memorandum signed April 29 allows military commanders to resume the vaccination program using the emergency use authorization conditions issued by the Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 27,

  • Airman inspired by father’s service

    In her homeland, Airman 1st Class Duong Ngo looked over countless rows of rice crops while growing up on the south Vietnamese countryside in rural Ben Tre. Today, she looks over rows of deployment equipment at the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron mobility warehouse here. The mobility flight

  • Academy graduate named Cadet of the Year

    Second Lt. Delavane Diaz was named the British Air Squadron’s 2004 Cadet of the Year during an April 28 ceremony at the Pentagon. Lieutenant Diaz was honored for her performance as a cadet while enrolled at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The award was established in 2000 by the private British Air

  • Officials announce 2004 mission support awards

    Officials recently announced the winners of the 2004 Air Force Mission Support Awards. The awards recognize Airmen and their units for outstanding performance in the areas of personnel, military equal opportunity, professional military education and training. Winners for 2004 are: -- General

  • Academy sports recap: Falcons snap 47-game losing streak

    Karl Bolt's 11th inning walk-off home run snapped the Air Force Academy's 47-game Mountain West Conference losing streak April 30 at home.The Falcons defeated Brigham Young University 8-7 in a game called by umpires April 29 because of darkness. The game was tied 7-7 after nine innings.Bolt, who was

  • JSTARS reaches 10,000 combat hours in Southwest Asia

    The E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System reached 10,000 combat hours in Southwest Asia.The aircraft and its operators, maintainers and support people have had a continuous presence in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility since July 2003 as part of the 379th Air Expeditionary

  • Two Airmen among recipients of military service award

    Two Airmen were among the six recipients of the annual Government Employees Insurance Company Military Service Awards. For 17 years, GEICO has recognized servicemembers from all branches of the service -- including the Guard and Reserve -- for work in drug and alcohol abuse prevention, fire and

  • Winners save Air Force millions

    Eight Air Force teams and three people recently received top honors for their money-saving improvements to the Air Force.The Air Force Productivity Excellence Award recognizes Airmen, Air Force civilians and small groups who have made substantial improvements in productivity. The winners' efforts

  • Air Force journalists win DOD awards

    Air Force print and broadcast journalists won 10 categories in the 2004 Thomas Jefferson Awards for excellence in military media.The awards recognize military and civilian employee print and broadcast journalists for outstanding achievements in furthering the Department of Defense internal

  • Former Thunderbird searches for Phantoms

    From the roar of the jet engines to the rumble of a motorcycle, one former Thunderbird cannot get enough of life on the road.Retired Col. Gary Younglove, retired administrative officer for the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, made his first stop here recently on a nationwide journey to

  • Promotion study guides hit streets in May

    The latest edition of enlisted promotion study guides will hit the streets by the end of May, Air Education and Training Command officials here said.Both the Promotion Fitness Examination and the U.S. Air Force Supervisory Examination, officially known as Volumes 1 and 2 of Air Force Pamphlet

  • Training ensures reservists ready to go

    Air Force Space Command reservists tested a common training assembly concept here April 22 and 23 to ensure nearly 350 individual mobilization augmentees were trained and ready for mobilization.Reservists need to be trained at the same level as their active-duty counterparts. While active-duty

  • Vehicle operations named 'Team of the Year'

    Five enlisted vehicle operations Airmen were selected to represent the career field which the Air Force Association has named 2005 Team of the Year.Airmen selected to represent the vehicle operations career field are Master Sgt. Dennis Ross, from Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.; Tech. Sgt. Jason

  • Wilford Hall team flies to Alaska to evacuate infant

    A 10-month-old girl battling a severe case of pneumonia was flown 4,000 miles by Airmen from Wilford Hall Medical Center here April 28.Carle David was hospitalized in Anchorage when officials requested help. The neonatal critical-care air transport medical team, which stays prepared to launch on

  • Airmen strut their stuff for civilian leaders

    As part of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, a weeklong tour of military installations for top civic and community leaders nationwide, the 347th Rescue Wing pulled out all stops April 26 for the visiting group of civic leaders.The tour highlights the latest U.S. military equipment and

  • Expeditionary supply technicians order up success

    Ensuring continuous supplies are available to support military operations here falls in part to a group of six Airmen from the 416th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron’s supply section.If vital aircraft spare parts for the C-130 Hercules are needed, it is their responsibility to order and

  • Technology unites Airmen in matrimony

    Nearly 7,000 miles of desert and ocean could not keep two Airmen from tying the knot. Maj. Heather Villasenor, who is at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia, married Lt. Col. Michael Bryant on April 26. The wedding was held in Southwest Asia -- and Virginia. Colonel Bryant, the Joint

  • Air Force garners 18 Presidential Rank Awards

    White House officials recently released the names of the 2004 Presidential Rank Award recipients. The awards program was established to recognize career senior executive service and senior professional people who exemplify the highest level of integrity, leadership and personal conduct and who have

  • Wounded troops, families receive free airline tickets

    Through the good will and generosity of thousands of people with unused frequent flier miles and U.S. airlines, the Fisher House Foundation has given out nearly 3,000 free airline tickets to war-wounded servicemembers and their families since the giveaway program started in January 2004.About 1,000

  • Space, air warfare centers integrate capabilities

    The Air Force is integrating some forces to better manage air, space and information operations combat capabilities to support missions worldwide, Air Force officials announced April 26. Elements of Air Force Space Command’s Space Warfare Center at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., will integrate

  • Academy sports recap: Cadet wins powerlifting collegiate nationals

    Michael Tuchscherer bench pressed more than twice his body weight during the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals this month, earning him first place.He is the first cadet to earn this honor in 17 years.Tuchscherer, from Corydon, Ind., made a national record with a 551-pound bench press. The

  • Airman’s actions save neighbor’s home

    An Airman here recently extinguished a house fire that threatened to destroy a nearby Panama City home.Master Sgt. Dave Delmar, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron’s noncommissioned officer in charge of plans and programs, used garden hoses to extinguish the fire, saving his neighbors’ home and most of

  • Airmen receive panoramic night-vision goggles

    Nighttime missions are about to get a whole lot clearer, and that is only the beginning of a much-anticipated acquisition program here.Air Force special operations aircrews received their first shipment of 20 panoramic night-vision goggles April 25.The current contract calls for 400 goggles, and

  • Air Force officials announce OTS selections

    More than 130 people were selected for an Air Force commission, Air Force Recruiting Service officials here announced April 26.The officials considered 231 applications as part of Officer Training School Selection Board 0504, which selected 138 people for a 60-percent selection rate. Of those, 29

  • Spangdahlem Airmen train with new high-tech weapon

    The sound of gunfire ricocheting off concrete walls is an everyday occurrence for Airmen at the combat arms training and maintenance unit here. At one of the few indoor Air Force firing ranges, the range features a target retrieval system and a hard gel backstop that will soon be replaced by a steel

  • McConnell holds wingwide fitness test

    More than 1,200 Airmen from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing took their physical fitness test here April 22.All 1,200-plus Airmen completed their run and received a series of “wingman” briefings within a four-hour span, but working out the logistics of the wingwide test took months of planning.To

  • U.S., Japanese Airmen train together during air refueling

    American fighter pilots are helping Japanese airmen expand their F-15 Eagle combat capabilities during hands-on air-to-air bilateral refueling training here.The Japanese F-15 aircraft mechanical refueling capability is identical to U.S. Air Force F-15s. However, it was not until Japanese officials

  • Center receives DOD’s most powerful supercomputer

    Aeronautical Systems Center’s major shared resource center officials here announced April 25 the installation of the newest and most powerful supercomputer in the Department of Defense.The 2,048-processor supercomputer will aid weapon systems design of innovative materials, advance design concepts,

  • Military struggling with rising health-care costs

    Rising medical costs and the expansion of health benefits for retirees, guardsmen and reservists, and their families, are putting a strain on the military health-care system, Defense Department health and personnel officials told members of Congress on April 21.“Rising health-care costs are not

  • Quadrennial Defense Review focuses on future

    The four capabilities the Air Force brings to the joint warfighting environment will be the focus of the service's contribution to the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review.Officials in the office of the secretary of defense produce the Quadrennial Defense Review every four years with input from the

  • Senior intelligence officer selected for promotion

    The Department of Defense’s senior uniformed intelligence officer was selected for promotion and reassignment April 22.Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden was selected for promotion to general along with a reassignment as principal deputy director of National Intelligence in Washington. He is currently the

  • Air Force leads in purchase of reusable energy

    The Air Force topped the list of purchasers of renewable energy in 2004, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.The service bought nearly 321,000 megawatt-hours for use on bases nationwide. In fact, the Air Force was responsible for more than 40 percent of the renewable power purchased by

  • Newly designed chamber increases aircraft safety

    Technicians in the Tank and Cooler Unit at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here push the limits of weapons systems to ensure their safety in the field, sometimes with explosive results.“One of our prime tasks is doing proof pressure testing … before sending them to the field,” said Steven

  • C-130J testers accomplish first five-bundle sequential airdrop

    Developmental test and evaluation on the J-model C-130 Hercules came to a head when testers successfully completed the first five-bundle sequential low velocity airdrop here recently.As part of the test program, 418th Flight Test Squadron Airmen tested software upgrades by rigging five bundles

  • Nothing inside hidden from radiology flight

    A flight of Airmen working in the Air Force Theater Hospital here take up-close and personal pictures all day.The radiology flight Airmen take pictures of people’s insides so doctors can better heal their patients.“In this deployed environment the conditions aren’t as good as what we’re use to, but

  • Officials announce Air Force chaplain service award winners

    Officials recently announced the Air Force chaplain service award winners for 2004.Established last year, the award program recognizes outstanding individual and organizational performance within the chaplain service. The 2004 winners are:-- Outstanding Chaplain Assistant Airman of the Year:

  • Officials announce environmental award winners

    Officials recently announced the Air Force, Department of Defense and White House environmental award winners.The winners of the 2004 Air Force General Thomas D. White Environmental Award are:-- Environmental Quality Award (Industrial): Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.-- Environmental Quality Award

  • Guard, Reserve leaders testify on Capitol Hill

    The directors of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve testified April 20 on readiness and management support before the Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee.Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, Air National Guard director, told senators he sees positive benefits to the community basing

  • Officials announce visual-information winners

    Defense Information School officials at Fort Meade, Md., recently announced the winners of the 2004 visual information awards. The awards recognize, reward and promote excellence among servicemembers for their achievements in military photography, videography and graphic arts, officials said. Air

  • Child-abuse prevention begins at home

    More than 900,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect in 2003 with many suffering from neglect, followed by physical and sexual abuse, and emotional or psychological maltreatment, according to a National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System report.Eighty percent of the perpetrators were

  • Reserve, active-duty pilots battle for air superiority

    In the animal world, a 500-pound gorilla would pose relatively no threat to a 1,200-pound Mako shark swimming at 65 mph. However, when these two creatures take on the form of fighter pilots and step into an F-15 Eagle or F-16 Fighting Falcon to face off in the sky, anything is possible. For two

  • Services presents marketing excellence awards

    Air Force Services officials here recently announced the winners of the Achievement in Marketing Excellence Awards. This is the premier for this awards program, modeled after the American Advertising Federation’s “Addy Awards.” “Air Force Services marketing developed this recognition program to

  • Airmen guard diverse flying mission

    With fighter, tanker, cargo, transport, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft at the largest wing in the area, the flightline at a forward-deployed location is nothing short of active.Such diversity of aircraft and missions requires a level of uniformity that keeps maintenance

  • Dad travels world with 'Mini Alyssa'

    Nine-year-old Alyssa DeGreef has seen quite a bit of Central Asia from her cozy seat in her dad’s pocket.Lt. Col. Mike DeGreef, 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, has carried a small copy of a picture his daughter, Alyssa, drew of herself since he was

  • Weather Airmen protect shuttle

    Airmen of the 45th Weather Squadron here methodically calculate and determine if weather will threaten a future shuttle launch. Rain, lightning, wind and cloud coverage can instantly delay or “scrub” any shuttle, mission or rocket launch.“We have temperature, wind and rain constraints (because of)

  • Officials announce 2004 organizational excellence award winners

    The Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council recognized the following units as 2004 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award winners during the specified periods of time:-- Air Education and Training Command headquarters: Oct. 1, 2002, to Sept. 30, 2004.-- Air Force Special Operations Command

  • Airman spends free time living only way he knows -- fast

    While other 16-year-olds were satisfied driving around the neighborhood, Warren Howard was not happy unless he was driving at least 85 mph around an oval track.Now a master sergeant and the environmental coordinator with the 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron here, began stock car racing in 1977

  • Academy sports recap: gymnastics coach honored

    Air Force Academy men’s gymnastics head coach Lou Burkel was named West Region Coach of the Year by the Collegiate Gymnastics Association April 6. He also was awarded the Richard M. Aronson Special Service Awards, which honors individuals who have provided exceptional service to the

  • Air Force Academy selected as ‘Best Value College’

    The U.S. Air Force Academy is one of the nation’s "best value" undergraduate institutions, according to a Princeton Review report.The New York-based education services company announced April 18 that it chose the academy as one of 81 schools it recommends in the new 2006 edition of its book,

  • Airmen cross 100-mission milestone

    Somewhere out there is an old Air Force veteran who has been around and has seen practically everything. Impressing him will not be easy, but you try. First, you tell him you just logged 100 combat missions in a tanker. Impressive, but he does not flinch. Then you tell him you did it in just

  • C-130 maintainers keep mission-capable rates high

    C-130 Hercules maintainers with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here are keeping mission-capable rates for C-130s as high as 15 percent above the Air Mobility Command standard.“Mission-capability rates are a measure of the percentage of time an aircraft is capable of performing its designed

  • Officials announce recipients of 2004 PA achievement awards

    Air Force officials have announced the 2004 Air Force public affairs achievement award recipients.They are:Winners of the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs director’s excellence awards are:-- Major command category: The Brig. Gen. Harry J. Dalton Jr. Award goes to U.S. Air Forces

  • Brain Injury Center treats new affliction for war on terrorism

    Land mines, rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices are taking their toll on deployed U.S. troops’ bodies. What is not as easily recognizable is the damage these weapons are doing to servicemembers’ brains.Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is becoming an increasingly common

  • Airmen rescue Icelandic fisherman

    Airmen of the 56th Rescue Squadron here completed their second rescue in a month when they evacuated an injured Icelandic fisherman April 10.They flew a fisherman suffering from multiple injuries and having difficulty breathing after receiving a blunt trauma caused by a broken cable about 200 miles

  • Life-support techs keep OEF airlifters rescue ready

    For C-130 Hercules aircrews flying a combat airlift mission, there are various forms of lifesaving equipment on the plane and on the Airmen every time they fly.Whether it is a parachute or a helmet, aircrews here are fitted with the best equipment available from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift

  • AFRC streamlines augmentee program

    Air Force Reserve Command officials here are working with other major commands to streamline management of individual mobilization augmentees.In the past, the Air Force's 12,900 IMAs in the Selected Reserve reported administratively to the various active-duty units where most of them are assigned.

  • Two chiefs, one marriage, love for Air Force

    In a small farming town near what was then Loring Air Force Base, Maine, 18-year-old Roger Sirois made a decision. What he did not know was it would lead him and his high-school sweetheart on a 25-year personal and professional journey. In 1980, Roger asked his girlfriend, Lisa Warrington, to

  • Airmen keep B-2 Spirits safe

    The B-2 Spirit bomber’s capabilities to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most heavily defended targets depend on Airmen who help maintain the aircraft’s stealth characteristic. Mechanics deployed from the 509th Maintenance Squadron’s low observable section apply

  • Airman’s life-altering decision takes turn for the better

    Before Airman 1st Class Shannon Cavasos enlisted in the Air Force, she was at a crossroads in her life.With high-school graduation on the horizon, the Midland, Texas, native lived alone her senior year after her mother moved away. Her mom sent her small checks to cover bills while she cleaned

  • EOD protects people from explosive hazards

    Putting their lives on the line, sweating in heavy bomb suits, lugging cumbersome equipment, working with robots and occasionally blowing things up is all part of the job for Airmen with the explosive ordnance disposal unit here.“I enjoy my job. I get to blow stuff up,” said Senior Airman Chris

  • Ship takes heroic legacy to the fight

    A fallen Air Force hero from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., was honored April 8 at the Military Ocean Terminal here. A Navy cargo ship was named for Air Force Cross recipient Tech. Sgt. John Chapman.The combat controller’s legacy will live on as the Motor Vessel Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman carries

  • Contact lens wear discouraged on deployments

    Blowing sand, smoke and fine dust particles are an eyeball’s worst nightmare. Now imagine holding up your unit because you have “something in your eye.” This type of scenario is exactly what optometrists said they fear most when Airmen wear contact lenses instead of their glasses while working in a

  • Vehicle maintainers keep Balad moving

    People here rely on hundreds of vehicles every day to accomplish the mission, and the Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle maintenance section are responsible for keeping those vehicles on the road.“We have more than 800 vehicles in our fleet,” said Chief Master

  • Airmen help improve B-2 aircraft maintenance in Guam

    Airmen from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., are helping improve aircraft maintenance for future rotations of B-2 Spirit bombers worldwide during a deployment here. “Our deployment is going fairly well, but there have been some unique maintenance challenges for us here,” said

  • New campaign medals recognize Iraq, Afghanistan service

    Two new campaign medals announced April 7 recognize servicemembers for their contributions in Iraq and Afghanistan.Defense Department officials announced the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal for servicemembers who directly supported Operation Enduring Freedom between Oct. 24, 2001,

  • Air Force aggressively meeting challenges

    The two senior leaders of the Air Force spoke April 6 on Capitol Hill about budget cuts, the service's commitment to meeting end-strength requirements, total-force integration and fleet recapitalization. During testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee on defense, Michael L.

  • Official details DOD efforts to transform, retain quality force

    Defense Department officials are working to reduce stress on the force and negate the need for more people in uniform, a top official said here April 6.“Transformation of how the U.S. military is structured … is the biggest way in which the department is working to reduce demand on U.S. forces,”

  • Navy to name ship in honor of fallen Airman

    The Navy will rename one of its cargo ships April 8 after an Air Force combat controller from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.A 670-foot cargo ship in the Navy's Military Sealift Command, currently named Motor Vessel Merlin, will be renamed MV Tech. Sgt. John

  • Security forces receive realistic deployment training

    Crawling around the wet grass in England may not, at first glance, compare much to being in hostile territory. But for 13 Airmen of the 100th Security Forces Squadron here, it felt pretty real.Spending 12 to 15 hours each day for five days at the training complex here, Airmen rode around in Humvees

  • Airman earns GEICO award

    Government Employees Insurance Company officials selected a firefighter from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., as the recipient of their 2004 GEICO Military Service Award in the fire prevention and safety category.Senior Master Sgt. Charles Funkhouser installed more than 200 smoke detectors in one day.

  • Little Rock receives second C-130J

    The Air Force's second active-duty J-model C-130 Hercules joined the other in the 314th Airlift Wing fleet here April 5.Flown by Lt. Gen. John Baker, Air Mobility Command vice commander, the aircraft is assigned to the 48th Airlift Squadron, which has been training aircrews to fly it since February

  • PT still mandatory for those on profile

    Many Airmen believe being on profile is an escape route from participating in unit physical training, but officials here said it is not.“Just because a (person) has a profile that says ‘no running, jumping, crunches, push-ups, and no cycle ergo’ does not mean that the (Airman) cannot go to the

  • Modified game show prepares Airmen for ORI

    The answer was, “The upper receiver, the lower receiver and bolt receiver,” but the question eluded the runner-up team during an operational readiness inspection “Jeopardy” tournament here.“I wish I had known the three parts of an M-16,” said Senior Airman Sarah Rogers, a crypto-maintenance

  • F.E. Warren 0-0-1-3 program teaches responsible drinking

    The 0-0-1-3 program here began one year ago as a reaction to a national health crisis. Binge drinking, underage drinking and driving under the influence had become all too common. “(Alcohol) has affected every community every campus (and) pretty much every place that touches lives across the

  • Academy cadet wins $30,000 scholarship

    Cadet 2nd Class Christopher Culver is among the 75 winners of the Truman Award nationwide, Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation officials announced recently. The scholarship provides $30,000 for graduate study, along with priority admission and supplemental financial aid at certain premier

  • Airman teaches Soldiers to call for CAS

    "Continue dry," crackled through the radio as Army Spc. Jarrod Stranahan guided British pilots onto a target.Specialist Stranahan, a forward observer for the 5th Infantry Regiment, is one of 20 Soldiers who participated in emergency close-air-support training at here recently.Infantry units are