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  • Brothers in arms march for cause

    Five states, 12 men, 13 batons, 24 pairs of boots, 600 pounds carried more than 800 miles all traveled for one cause: honoring special tactics Airmen who sacrificed their lives in combat. Special tactics Airmen from here and across the special operations forces community embarked on a 10-day

  • Search for missing pilot turns from rescue to recovery effort

    The commander of the 20th Fighter Wing, Col. Joe Guastella, issued the following announcement Oct. 17 regarding Capt. Nicolas Giglio, missing since a mid-air collision Oct. 15: "In spite of an intense search conducted by hundreds of professionals from the Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force, we have

  • Special tactics Airmen complete 800-mile march

    After walking more than 800 miles through five states, 12 special tactics Airmen arrived here Oct. 16, officially completing a memorial march for their fallen comrades. The marchers, made up of several combat controllers and pararescuemen and one combat weatherman, split up into six two-man teams

  • CMSAF Roy visits Scott Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Scott Air Force Base Oct. 15 and 16 to speak to the enlisted force here and to participate in a conference along with two former CMSAFs. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy learned how Airmen at Scott AFB enable combat power and

  • Elmendorf Honor Guard participates in funeral of H1N1 victim

    The Elmendorf Honor Guard served in the memorial service of an Air Force member at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Oct. 15. Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Rankin, who hailed from nearby Anchorage, died Oct. 4 from complications related to the H1N1 virus at his off-base residence in Glendale, Ariz. 

  • Missing F-16 pilot's crash debris found in ocean

    Coast Guard searchers found crash debris Oct. 16 in the Atlantic Ocean believed to belong to a missing Air Force pilot's F-16 Fighting Falcon that collided Oct. 15 with another F-16 near the South Carolina coast during a night-training exercise, said an Air Force spokesman. "The Coast Guard has

  • Kandahar Airmen fly missions of mercy

    They are the "Angels of the Battlefield," medics dedicated to transporting wounded U.S. and coalition servicemembers, as well as locals to the medical care they need. "It's our job to take care of these wounded warriors," said Maj. Dawn Rice, a flight nurse and medical director assigned to the 451st

  • ESC team efforts bring new combined air, space operations center to life

    An Electronic Systems Center team from here worked in the past few weeks to bring to life a new, state-of-the-art combined air and space operations center in Southwest Asia for joint and coalition combat forces. "We're constantly striving to bring enhanced AOC capabilities to the warfighters, and

  • Iraqi agency assumes full air traffic control at Baghdad airport

    The Iraq Civil Aviation Authority assumed full control of daily air traffic operations at the Baghdad International Airport air traffic control tower Oct. 1.Before the transition to full Iraqi control, air traffic operations at BIAP were conducted by Iraqis and U.S. Airmen assigned to the 447th

  • Airmen bid farewell to Spanish forces at Transit Center at Manas

    Airmen of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here held a ceremony to say goodbye to their Spanish counterparts as the Spanish Detachment vacated the Transit Center at Manas Oct. 13. During the ceremony, the Spaniards paid their respects to their fallen comrades and fallen American servicemembers by

  • Airman renders combat first aid to Soldiers

    An Air Force medic applied combat first aid to Soldiers when their vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device in Kapisa Province, recently. Senior Airman Ashley Jackson, a medic deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, with Kapisa Provincial Reconstruction Team was riding in a

  • Heavy Airlift Wing receives third, final C-17

    The third and final C-17 Globemaster III to complete the Heavy Airlift Wing aircraft inventory arrived here Oct. 12 and was welcomed by the Hungarian Chief of Defense General Laszlo Tombol and other civic leaders from the surrounding communities. The delivery of the third aircraft marks the

  • F-16s collide: one pilot, aircraft missing

    Two F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft collided during night training exercises Oct. 15 over the Atlantic Ocean about 40 miles east of Folly Beach, S.C. Captain Nicholas Giglio, from the 20th Fighter Wing here, and his aircraft are missing and a search is underway.The second F-16, piloted by Capt. Lee

  • Bomb technicians lead fight against IEDs

    Improvised explosive devices have forced a change in modern combat, and deadly weapons can come in the form of a five-gallon bucket, a package in the mail or a filled-in pothole in the middle of the road. Staff Sgt. Armondo Robles and Airman 1st Class Rileigh Woodward, members of a military "bomb

  • Reconstruction project shifts to lifesaving mission

    An ordinary day for the Kapisa/Parwan Provincial Reconstruction team in Afghanistan became an unforgettable opportunity for an Airman from here to help save children's lives. Staff Sgt. Jonathan Okeefe, a 338th Training Squadron Det. 1 satellite, wideband and telemetry systems instructor at Fort

  • EOD Airmen help Iraqi police enhance skills

    Members of the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's explosive ordnance disposal team here and Iraqi police conducted joint training here Oct. 3, enhancing the Iraqi police's necessary skills detecting, safely approaching and disarming improvised explosive devices. An Iraqi police EOD team

  • Flight simulators help AMC to 'maximize value, minimize waste'

    In Air Mobility Command, the use of flight simulators as an Air Force Smart Operation for the 21st Century effort is helping significantly reduce costs, maximize training and make more aircraft available for operational missions. Through AFSO 21, initiatives provide a "dedicated effort to maximize

  • Airman comments about firefight

    "I won't forget them as long as I live."Those are the words of Capt. Gordon Olde, an F-15E Strike Eagle weapon system officer following a battle at a remote military base about 10 miles from Pakistan that erupted on the morning of Oct. 3 that highlighted the unbreakable bond between Airmen and

  • Luke Airman dies of H1N1 complications

    A Luke Air Force Base NCO died Oct. 4 from complications with the H1N1 virus at his off-base residence in Glendale, Ariz.Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Rankin, 25, died at approximately 4 a.m. and was unresponsive to emergency responders at his residence and then transported to a local hospital where he was

  • Airmen host Kyrgyz citizens during family day

    Friends and families of Kyrgyz workers at the Transit Center at Manas were able to get an up-close look at the Air Force working environment here and enjoy a day of fun during the Friends and Family Day event Oct. 9 here. The event, a tribute to thank the local community for their continued support,

  • McChord Airmen complete second humanitarian airlift to American Samoa

    A C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., touched down at Pago Pago International Airport on Oct. 10, delivering more than 42,000 pounds of Federal Emergency Management Agency cargo to American Samoa in support of ongoing relief operations. The mission was the aircrew's

  • Airmen train, advise, assist Iraqi helicopter pilots

    Air Force pilots from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here train, advise and assist Iraqi helicopter pilots around the clock, helping the Iraqis further develop their air force. Maj. Christopher Elam, an Mi-17 instructor pilot, and Maj. Jack Swinehart, a UH-1HP Huey military transition

  • Congress finishes work on authorization bill

    Congress has reached agreement on a $680.2 billion National Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal 2010. The bill authorizes a 3.4 percent military pay increase and full funding for the Defense Health Program, and it caps F-22 Raptor production at 187 aircraft. For civilian workers, it ends the

  • Craig Joint Theater Hospital team helps build Afghan nursing foundation

    Members of the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here recently began a mentorship program to help Afghan nursing. Malika Faqiri and Laila Farahi, two female Afghan National Army soldiers, attended a special two-week mentorship program here at the CJTH to work alongside U.S. doctors and nurses to hone

  • Oct. 11 airpower summary: Strike Eagles fly armed overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flew armed overwatch in the Asmar

  • McChord Airmen provide humanitarian airlift to Indonesia

    McChord Air Force Base Airmen from the 7th Airlift Squadron completed their second humanitarian airlift mission in just over a week Oct. 9, delivering more than 87,000 pounds of cargo here in support of relief operations following the deadly 8.0-magnitude earthquake that shook the island Sept. 29.

  • Air Force officials release results of T-38 accident investigation

    An Air Force accident investigation board has determined that a failure in the rudder operating mechanism caused the crash of a T-38 aircraft on a training mission 12 miles north of Edwards AFB, Calif., on May 21, 2009. The report states the failure was most likely due to maintenance issues. Maj.

  • Nominees sought for 2010 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award

    Air Force Personnel Center recognition programs section officials here are requesting nominations for the 2010 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award. Nominations are due to AFPC by April 22, 2010. There are three categories for award: Airman, NCO and Senior NCO. The period of service for the award

  • General impressed with Airman, Soldier synergy at Fort Hood

    The commander of Air Combat Command visited Fort Hood in early October to visit the Airmen of the 3rd Air Support Operations Group here who provide tactical air support for Fort Hood's ground troops, including the 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 4th Infantry Division, now

  • Interpreters key to Air Force efforts in Indonesia

    The Air Force humanitarian assistance rapid response team deployed here in response to the recent earthquakes in Indonesia has treated more than 600 patients since opening the mobile field hospital to local residents Oct. 7 here, and one hurdle to overcome was the language barrier. The HARRT mission

  • Andersen Airmen keep HARRT beating

    Air Force medical professionals are providing care to victims of the recent earthquakes here, and behind them is another group of Airmen working behind the scenes to keep the operation running smoothly. The 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, is providing operations

  • Oct. 9 airpower summary: F-16 provides cover for medevac missions

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft flew armed overwatch in the

  • Ramstein pilot receives Cheney Award

    A C-130E Hercules instructor pilot was presented the Cheney Award by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Oct. 8 for his leadership in planning humanitarian aid missions to the country of Georgia.The Cheney Award is presented each year to a service member who demonstrates an act of valor,

  • Top enlisted Airman visits Andrews Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, whose family calls this base home but who himself is "just TDY here," briefed a standing room-only audience of Joint Base Andrews Airmen here Oct. 7 at an Enlisted Call during his first official visit to the base. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force

  • Lifesaving cadets receive Commendation medals

    Six U.S. Air Force Academy cadets here received Air Force Commendation medals during the noon meal Oct. 5 here for actions that saved the lives of a man in Salt Lake City Jan. 18 and three Panamanian citizens June 13. 2nd Lt. Christopher Tulk, Cadets 1st Class Benjamin Garoutte and Joshua Lapso, and

  • Air Force officials launch updated Key Spouse program

    As part of the July 2009-July 2010 Year of the Air Force Family initiative, the service's senior leaders have announced the launch of a revised and standardized Key Spouse program. Paula Roy, wife of Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy, is the senior spouse champion for the program and

  • Airmen treat hundreds of Indonesian earthquake victims

    An Air Force Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team is helping local medical professionals treat an increasing number of patients here in the wake of recent earthquakes. The 69-member HARRT has cared for more than 200 patients since arriving here Oct. 5. Common ailments treated include

  • USO gala honors troops, sacrifices

    It was a tough act for Hollywood at the annual USO Gala here last night. The stars were out at the black-tie event held in a posh hotel in the popular Adams Morgan area. More than 800 actors, musicians, models, football stars and top politicians mingled during drinks and dinner. But it wasn't the

  • Reaper takes flight at Holloman

    The first MQ-9 Reaper to arrive here made its first local flight Oct.1, expanding the capacity for the remotely piloted vehicle formal training unit here. Instructors from the 432nd Operations Group, Det. 3, conducted the first flight, while members from the 432nd Maintenance Group, Det. 1,

  • Photographer's pictures of Airmen now in Library of Congress

    A desire to show the non-flying side of the Air Force motivated a British photographer, and now his 60-photo "Cleared Hot!" exhibition is part of the Library of Congress. "I met a lot of Air Force people and the first question they're asked is, 'What type of plane do you fly?'" Nicholas Price said.

  • Falcon defensive lineman to be featured on CBS College Sports

    A senior defensive lineman for the Air Force Academy's Falcons football team will be featured on "Inside Academy Football," a 30-minute CBS College Sports Network program that debuts Oct. 9 from 5-5:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. The segment on Cadet 1st Class Ben Garland was filmed the week of

  • Afghanistan National Army Air Corps stands up new wing at Kandahar

    Afghan government officials and religious leaders, along with senior officers from both Afghan and coalition forces stood up the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps second wing here in a dedication ceremony Oct. 5. The wing, based at Kandahar, hosts rotary wing aircraft and supports multiple

  • Thunderbirds perform for Malaysian audience

    Royalty, foreign diplomats, senior military members and civilians alike welcomed the members of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron with open arms as the Thunderbirds arrived at Subang Air Base Sept. 30 for the third stop on their Far East Tour. Lt. Col. Derek Routt, the Thunderbirds'

  • Unit surpasses consecutive 7,000 days with forces in Southwest Asia

    Members of the 55th Wing from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and their RC-135V/W Joint Rivets have been deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility every day for the past 7,000 days. The RC-135 is a reconnaissance aircraft supporting theater and national-level consumers with near

  • AMC, AFRC establish associate flying squadrons

    Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command are working to establish three active associate flying squadrons in 2010. About 500 active Airmen will associate with Air Force Reserve units at Keesler AFB, Miss.; March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; and Peterson AFB, Colo., by 2012. Lt. Col. Carlos

  • Air Force secretary takes action on DOD IG report

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley took administrative action against retired Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the former Air Force chief of staff, for his role in the Thunderbird Airshow Production Services contract. The decision follows completion of a Department of Defense Inspector General

  • Airmen provide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance

    Leaders at every level need battlefield information, and because of Airmen with the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron ... now they know. With their RQ-4 Global Hawk and U-2 aircraft, the Airmen excel at providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for everyone from combatant

  • Oct. 6 airpower summary: Airlift crews keep missions moving forward

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Nuristan, coalition aircraft continued to provide responsive airpower to

  • Mildenhall sergeant saved by peers after heart attack at gym

    When firefighters here responded to a call at the Hardstand Fitness Center Aug. 26, they expected to find a conscious individual by a treadmill. What they found was the chance to save a life. Staff Sgt. Jacob Silvia, one of the firefighters, recalls walking up to the gym anticipating giving oxygen

  • Brooks wing reorganizes as base takes next step toward closure

    In a move designed to better manage Air Force operations at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio as the installation moves toward the BRAC-mandated 2011 closure, officials have reorganized the 311th Human Systems Wing into the 311th Air Base Group.Col. Harry R. Kimberly III became the commander of the

  • Air Force HARRT arrives in Indonesia

    An Air Force humanitarian assistance rapid response team arrived at the Bandar Udara International Airport Oct. 5 with approximately 200,000 pounds of medical and contingency response equipment. The 69-member team set up a mobile field hospital near the M. Jamil hospital here to work closely with

  • Gen. Wyatt: Associate missions must continue

    The Air National Guard's associate missions with the active duty and Air Force Reserve need to continue beyond the new missions formed after Base Realignment and Closure in 2005, the director of the Air Guard said here Oct. 6. Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III told members of the Minuteman Institute for

  • Mobility commander addresses Incirlik Airmen

    The Air Mobility Command commander talked with Incirlik Air Base Airmen Oct. 5 in the middle of a trip through the Operation Enduring Freedom area of responsibility. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte conducted two town hall meetings with Airmen from the 385th Air Expeditionary Group and the 728th Air Mobility

  • Special tactics Airmen honor fallen teammates

    Twelve Airmen began a memorial ruck sack march Oct. 6, to honor 12 fallen special tactics teammates killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. An estimated 824 miles later, the dozen warrior Airmen will arrive Oct. 16 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. In between, six two-man teams will relay through five states, 24

  • Kadena maintainers train on Japanese equipment during exercise

    Maintainers from the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here worked alongside their Japanese hosts Oct. 2 to learn how to use aerospace ground equipment during an aviation training relocation exercise at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan. The Airmen trained on the Japan Air Self Defense Forces' AGE, which they

  • Global Strike Command leader updates progress

    Air Force Global Strike Command's top officer provided an update on the command's progress toward full operational capability during a speech at the Capitol Hill Club here Oct. 2. Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, the AFGSC commander, outlined the progress in bringing online the first new major command in

  • Kadena Airmen aid Indonesian recovery operations

    Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group from here are supporting humanitarian relief operations near Padang in western Indonesia after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake and a slightly smaller one struck Sept. 29 and Oct. 1. Members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and 17th Special Operations

  • Bench stock 'vending machines' saving time for AMC's maintenance Airmen

    If you've ever gone to a vending machine to get your favorite beverage or snack, imagine using that same technology to dispense a particular part or tool you could use to fix a plane. In Air Mobility Command, through an initiative between maintenance Airmen and the command's Air Force Smart

  • USAFE officials ramp up for improved PT program

    United States Air Forces in Europe Airmen will see major changes in the fitness program starting Jan. Some of the Air Force-level modifications include testing twice a year versus once and having fitness assessment cell representatives conduct the biannual testing at the main installations to

  • Sheppard officials launch Nuclear Accountability Course

    Air Force officials took another important step in reinvigorating their nuclear enterprise here Oct. 5 with the launch of the Nuclear Accountability Course providing realistic, hands-on training to Airmen assuming duties making them responsible for nuclear weapons. Delivered by the 82nd Training

  • Change in post-deployment stabilization promotes predictability, equality

    The recent deployment deferment policy change institutionalizes an equitable deferment period of six months for Airmen completing 365-day indeterminate TDYs or an unaccompanied, short tour permanent change of station. Prior to the release of the new Air Force Instruction 36-2110, Assignments, which

  • Allen Army Airfield to save Air Force money, provide tactical training

    Air Force officials here opened Allen Army Airfield Sept. 29 to give Elmendorf Air Force Base C-17 Globemaster III aircrews a closer airstrip to practice assault landings and saving the military thousands of dollars.Before the opening of Allen Army Airfield, located about three miles north of Fort

  • Edwards detachment stands up to test joint strike fighter

    Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center officials here stood up Det. 1 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 2 to lead the operational test and evaluation of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. Det. 1 will bring an additional 581 personnel to Edwards AFB for joint strike fighter

  • Guidance released on 100 percent cotton airman battle uniform

    Air Force senior leaders here issued guidance clarifying the wear of the 100 percent cotton airman battle uniform. According to a message dated Sept. 7, only Airmen in jobs that meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, requirements are authorized to wear the 100 percent cotton

  • ACC officials hold bomb wing transition summit

    Staff members from Air Combat Command and Air Force Global Strike Command along with representatives from Headquarters Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command met Sep. 30 to work on solutions for the smooth transition of ACC's three bomb wings with nuclear missions to AFGSC. On Feb. 1, 2010, control of

  • Air Force officials dedicate C-130 to Army's 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan

    Air Force officials here dedicated a C-130 Hercules to the Soldiers of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Afghanistan Oct. 5 at Bagram Airfield. The transport was originally dedicated at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Oct. 25, 2008, to Fort Bragg's entire 82nd Airborne Division based in

  • Family uses technology to cope with deployment separation

    Talking every day with the man she married is sometimes a challenge for Amanda Gutierrez, but even though he is deployed they can still discuss family issues face to face. Technology like e-mail, Web cams and texting helps bridge the 8,000 mile gap between Texas and Afghanistan. Saturday morning

  • Airmen deploy to Indonesia to help quake victims

    Airmen assigned to Pacific Air Forces left here and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 5 on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs for Padang, Indonesia, to provide medical care to those affected by the recent 7.6-magnitude earthquake. The humanitarian assistance rapid response team combines medical and

  • 'Today's Air Force' features projection of air power

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," U. S. and Japanese airmen exchange ideas and information, Army Black Hawk pilots get a little help from the Air Force for training missions over Misawa and college football fever hits bases overseas. It's common for people to join the military for the

  • Eglin wing transitions to become first F-35 training unit

    Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing here transitioned from an operational F-15 Eagle unit to the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter training unit during a ceremony Oct. 1 at Eglin Air Force Base. Col. David Hlatky assumed command of Air Education and Training Command's newest wing whose

  • Airmen use space to develop warfighting technology

    A group of Airmen at NASA's Johnson Space Center here is using space to help develop technology for the warfighter. Making up the Department of Defense Spaceflight Payload Office, these Airmen work in a small office deep inside the center's mission control, where they support three kinds of

  • Fuel efficiency among top priorities in AMC's energy conservation

    Imagine your frustration when the price of gas goes up 50 cents and it adds $12.50 to the cost of filling up your 25-gallon tank. Now imagine adding $25,575 to the cost of filling the tank of a C-5 Galaxy that holds 51,150 gallons. The Air Force is the Department of Defense's largest consumer of

  • Reconstitution of materials supports fight, saves money

    Members of the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here began to prepare for the drawdown of servicemembers serving in Iraq by starting to reconstitute their materials and equipment here. Soon after arriving in June, members of the 407th ECES completed an inventory of all items from

  • As KC-135Es retire, Air Force officials' focus shifts to KC-X

    One of the last of the KC-135E Stratotankers to retire made its final flight Sept. 28 to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and after more than 50 years of service, tail number 56-1503 will be relegated to a life as one of several planes used for aircraft maintenance training on the base. This KC-135E

  • AMC simulator linking initiative making pilot training better

    Air Mobility Command is not only training its pilots, it's doing it better. The command is linking its aircraft training simulators through numerous bases to make a good flight crew an even better flight crew. This simulator linking initiative is part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st

  • Samoa relief winds down; efforts continue elsewhere

    As the U.S. military continues to provide assistance to victims of storms and earthquakes in the Philippines and Indonesia, tsunami relief operations in American Samoa are tapering off, a Defense Department spokesman said here Oct. 5. The humanitarian-relief operation in American Samoa "is

  • Top enlisted leader visits Maxwell-Gunter

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited with chiefs, first sergeants, enlisted instructors and Maxwell Air Force Base Airmen during a Sept. 25 visit here. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited with senior enlisted Airmen attending the Senior NCO Academy's Chief

  • Oct. 2 airpower summary: Tankers refuel 246 aircraft

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flew armed overwatch in the Asmar area.

  • Air Force humanitarian team set to depart for Indonesia

    An Air Force humanitarian assistance rapid response team is preparing to depart on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs out of Japan and Guam to provide disaster relief to Indonesia. Seventy-one Airmen, along with associated supplies and equipment, are scheduled to fly from Yokota Air Base, Japan; and Andersen

  • McChord Airmen deliver equipment to American Samoa

    A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., touched down at Pago Pago International Airport late Oct. 1, bringing nine Federal Emergency Management Agency members and 17,000 pounds of cargo to American Samoa in support of relief operations. The mission was McChord's first humanitarian

  • AMC officials blend Guard, Reserve, active-duty units

    Air Mobility Command officials here continued their total force integration efforts Oct. 1 with the stand up of three active associate units that now combine active-duty units and Airmen who accomplish the KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling mission with their Reserve and Guard counterparts. The three

  • Wounded warriors get heros' welcome at Andrews

    Minutes after the hulking C-17 Globemaster III rolled to a stop on the tarmac here Sept. 28, two oversized ambulances backed up to its rear loading ramp to receive its precious cargo: 23 wounded warriors and sick or injured servicemembers in need of advanced medical care. Most of the patients

  • Hawaii Air Guard doctor details American Samoa recovery effort

    Capt. Nathaniel Duff is a physician's assistant with the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard based at Hickam Air Force Base. He is a member of the medical team embedded with the chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosives enhanced response force package that was on the first

  • Wright Flyer replica crashes

    An authentic replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer III crashed at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field here at approximately 9:30 a.m. Oct. 1. Vintage aircraft builder and pilot Mark Dusenberry, was flown by CareFlight helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton where his injuries were initially identified

  • UAS career field decisions, ISR organization discussed at summit

    Air Force leaders met at an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance summit here Sept. 29 to discuss ISR organizational plans and further refine a blueprint for unmanned aircraft systems career fields. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and

  • Airmen return from Africa Partnership Station 2009 support

    Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing here recently returned from a six-month split deployment to West Central Africa in support of Africa Partnership Station 2009, which is an initiative aimed at improving maritime safety and regional security on the African continent. Africa Partnership

  • Hawaii Guard members assess damages in American Samoa

    Hawaii National Guard members assessed damages in the Pago Pago and Leone villages of American Samoa Oct. 1 after arriving to the tsunami-ravaged island after a C-17 Globemaster III flight from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. More than 30 active-duty Guard members split into two groups to conduct

  • First M-ATVs arrive in Afghanistan

    Two mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles arrived at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on Oct. 1, after being offloaded from a C-17 Globemaster III. The M-ATVs arrived less than a day after leaving Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 30. The M-ATV's are the first of their kind in

  • Mobility Airmen continue to deliver for warfighters

    Mobility Airmen delivered 4.1 million pounds of goods were dropped to forward operating bases, combat outposts and other austere locations in support of ground forces in September continuing to feed, fuel and arm the fight.September marked the fourth consecutive month of an escalation of supplies

  • Air Force demilitarizes big backlog of nuclear weapons-related components

    Air Force officials here have undertaken a massive effort to demilitarize more than 100,000 nuclear weapons-related legacy assets from its intercontinental ballistic missile, aircraft and space test programs. Under a $35 million, five-year plan funded by the Air Force chief of staff, Air Force

  • NORAD fighters escort troubled aircraft

    Two F-16 Fighting Falcons intercepted a civilian aircraft Sept. 30 over Muncie, Ind., at the North American Aerospace Defense Command's direction and stayed with the aircraft and its unconscious pilot until it crashed, NORAD officials reported. NORAD scrambled the Air National Guard F-16s at about

  • New protective vehicles head to Afghanistan

    The first parcel of an influx of vehicles designed to protect troops from deadly roadside bombs is expected to arrive overnight in Afghanistan, said a Defense Department spokesman Sept. 30 here. The expected delivery comes soon after department procurement officials awarded an order for more than

  • Joint force employs humanitarian effort in American Samoa

    Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs departed here Sept. 30 with approximately 100 military personnel to provide humanitarian assistance to the island of American Samoa. The island nation was struck Sept. 29 by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake generating 15-foot waves and destroying whole villages. At least 111

  • Charleston Airmen supply CENTCOM first M-ATV shipment

    Charleston Airmen began the distribution Sept. 30 of a new version of the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle from here. The MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles, or M-ATVs, were the first to be delivered to the Afghanistan theater for operational use, and many more are to come said, David Hansen, deputy

  • Scott AFB wing changes name, adds new mission

    The 375th Airlift Wing here officially became the 375th Air Mobility Wing Sept. 30 as a result of the Air Force's most recent Total Force Integration effort.The TFI effort called for the creation of an associate unit consisting of active duty KC-135 pilots, boom operators and maintainers who will