HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Thermal curtains offer protection to B-52 aircrews

    Engineers here are designing a product to protect B-52 Stratofortress aircrews from a nuclear attack's blinding light. Designed by members of the 540th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron's B-52 Communications Navigation and Weapons Flight, prototypes for the thermal curtains will be ready sometime in

  • Kyrgyzstan mayors visit Manas

    Mayors and deputy mayors of the six largest villages that surround Manas Air Base met the Airmen and learned the mission of the base during a Dec. 10 tour here. Base and village leaders meet one another, discussed issues that affect both and developed stronger ties through which to resolve issues of

  • Air Force officials honor top recruiters for 2008

    Fourteen Air Force recruiters were named tops in their field for fiscal 2008 by Air Force Recruiting Service officials here in December. Operation Blue Suit program recognizes the best recruiters worldwide for their efforts in recruiting a diverse, high-quality volunteer force to fill career fields

  • Congress authorizes paternity leave

    Eligible Airmen are now authorized 10 days of nonchargeable paternity leave following the birth of their newborns, courtesy of the 2009 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress. The law applies to married, active-duty Airmen. The Airman's wife must have given birth to the

  • 'Today's Air Force' features Airmen training Iraqis

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how Air Force officers are sharing valuable leadership skills in an effort to train the Iraqi military on the proper tools to maintain security throughout their country. And while the use of technology facilitates our daily missions from

  • President Bush visits troops in Bagram

    President George W. Bush visited Combined Joint Task Force-101 servicemembers Dec. 15 at Bagram Airfield. "I am proud to be with brave souls serving the United States of America," President Bush said.The president expressed his well wishes to the troops during the holidays and thanked them for their

  • Dec. 12 airpower summary: Reapers watch or strike

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and an Air Force

  • Attacked Air Force recruiter in stable condition

    The Air Force recruiter who was stabbed outside her Harlem, N.Y., recruiting office Dec. 11 remains in stable condition. Staff Sgt. Sarah Charles, a recruiter with the 313th Recruiting Squadron, was speaking with a potential applicant when she was attacked by a female assailant. The recruiter

  • Alaska Guard continues Operation Santa Claus tradition

    Children from rural Alaskan communities were treated to an early Christmas this year as members of the Alaska National Guard completed Operation Santa Claus for young people in communities across the state. The 50-year community relations and support program provides toys, books and school supplies

  • B-1B aircrews bring unique capabilities to the fight

    B-1B Lancer aircrews of the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron guard warfighters from high above Iraq and Afghanistan while carrying the largest payload of any aircraft in the theater. Squadron members are responsible for close-air support, nontraditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

  • Public may comment on draft rules for spouse employment

    The public is invited to comment until Jan. 5, 2009, on proposed rules to speed up the hiring process for some military spouses seeking federal jobs. The Office of Personnel Management staff published the rules Dec. 5 in the Federal Register and drafted the regulations to implement an executive

  • Multinational recovery exercise kicks off at Davis-Monthan

    More than 850 ground recovery forces and 51 aircraft from the Department of Defense and numerous other countries kicked off a personnel recovery and combat search and rescue exercise Dec. 8 here. The two week-long Angel Thunder 2008 exercise allows U.S. and international military forces and numerous

  • Civil engineer crews improve Bagram infrastructure

    Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron work around the clock to improve Bagram Airfield's infrastructure to support Operation Enduring Freedom. There are 25 active construction projects valued at more than $73 million, with more than $221 million in construction is scheduled for

  • Arizona officials aim to end scams, predatory lending

    Financial scams and predatory lending against servicemembers and veterans is so common that the Arizona attorney general has created an advisory board to stop it. "We got so many complaints that were related to either veterans or active-duty military on our consumer line that I felt it was necessary

  • Gates praises war effort by troops in remote air hub

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a town-hall session with a hundreds of Airmen and Soldiers personally thanked the troops for their efforts Dec. 11 at this dusty, remote station. This austere outpost is a main air hub into Afghanistan, providing aerial refueling, combat airdrops, medical

  • Space station crew exchanges seasons greetings with Earth

    Soaring high above the Earth, the crew of the International Space Station beamed down season's greetings that will air on NASA Television starting Dec. 12. The public can return the extraterrestrial good will and send greetings to the crew by visiting: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/postcard The

  • Scholarships help retiree finish education

    Spouses with an eye on professional certification or a post-secondary education may not have to foot the entire bill, thanks to a National Military Family Association scholarship program. The group is accepting applications for its annual Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. The

  • Air Force leaders chair first nuclear oversight board

    Air Force leaders gathered to discuss efforts related to reinvigorating the service's nuclear enterprise Dec. 10 at the Pentagon. This was the first meeting of the newly-created Air Force Nuclear Oversight Board, which was created as part of the Air Force Nuclear Roadmap released Oct. 24. The board

  • Airman scheduled for court-martial at Academy

    Air Force officials here determined a case should proceed to a general court-martial against an Airman assigned to the 10th Medical Support Squadron here to begin Dec. 15 at the U.S. Air Force Academy.An Article 32 hearing determined the case against Airman 1st Class Derick R. Thompson, who is not a

  • Officials request NCO feedback for future assessments

    Staff sergeants through chief master sergeants throughout the Air Force are encouraged to share feedback with officials from the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron here right now. This feedback will help NCOs have a voice their own career advancements. Input from the Military Knowledge and

  • National Guard celebrates 372nd birthday

    National Guard officials are celebrating their 372nd birthday recognizing Dec. 13, 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony divided its citizen-soldiers, or militia, into the North, South and East Regiments. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was seven years old in 1636 when about 5,000 men, women and

  • Air Force recruiter stabbed in New York

    An Air Force recruiter was stabbed outside her Harlem recruiting office Dec. 11 at about 12:45 p.m. in New York City. Staff Sgt. Sarah Charles, a recruiter with the 313th Recruiting Squadron, is currently in critical but stable condition. Sergeant Charles was talking with a potential applicant at

  • Airman helps shape future Afghan firefighters

    Afghan firefighters at the Kabul International Airport stand ready to answer a call to save lives and resources here thanks to the dedicated efforts of their American counterpart. Master Sgt. Mike Marascia, Afghan fire protection mentor, has spent the last 11 months establishing the Afghan Joint

  • Air Force bands 'in the fight'

    Air Force bands like Air Force Materiel Command's Band of Flight located here perform thousands of concerts each year, with several performances in far away countries as part of a "hearts and minds" campaign being led by military bands. Since 2004, Air Force bands have been deploying to U.S. Central

  • AF plan could enable Iraq air sovereignty, independence

    Work being done here by officials of the Electronic Systems Center and its federally funded research and development center partner, MITRE Corp., is helping pave the way for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. ESC and MITRE International Operations specialists, in concert with a number of ESC

  • RED HORSE Airmen close chapter with Iraqis

    Airmen with the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron witnessed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a community center Dec. 5 in Hawr Rajab. Through a program called Village of Hope, RED HORSE Airmen taught Iraqi citizens the basics of construction over a 10-month period that yielded four remodeled

  • Reservists may qualify for early retired pay

    Department of Defense officials here have issued new guidelines for early receipt of retired pay for members of the Reserve components. Instead of having to wait until age 60 to receive Reserve retired pay, eligible members may receive retired pay prior to age 60 but not before age 50. Under interim

  • Airman's Roll Call: Managing stress during the holidays

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Airmen identifying and finding ways to deal with stress during the holidays. During the holiday season, Airmen may find themselves wrestling with a combination of stressors during this time. Some Airmen make holiday travel plans to visit loved ones or

  • Services meet or exceed November recruiting goals

    All active-duty and reserve-component U.S. military services met or exceeded their November recruiting goals, according to a Defense Department report. -- Air Force recruiting officials signed up 2,916 new active-duty Airmen, meeting their target number of enlistees for the month. -- Army recruiting

  • Medics, maintainers test skills at alternative careers

    How many steps does it take to prepare an F-16 Fighting Falcon to launch for a combat sortie? How stomach-turning is it to sit in on a surgery?  Staff Sgt. Ubong Okokon and Master Sgt. Mark Crew are dedicated to answering these questions and more for Airmen serving in the Air Force Theater Hospital

  • Letters, packages to Airmen increases during holiday season

    Postal workers of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing here doubled their workload for this holiday season and expect to double it yet again in the coming weeks. The holiday season for postal workers begins in the middle of November and generally goes through the middle of December. "We're currently

  • Airmen lead effort to rescue injured crewman at sea

    American Airmen and aircraft were part of an international effort over the Atlantic Ocean that saved the life of a crewmember who suffered a life-threatening head injury onboard a cargo ship Dec. 10 more than 320 miles west of Cork, Ireland. The Burmese crewmember was injured at sea on a

  • Southern Command, AF South leaders visit deployed troops

    Senior leaders from Southern Command and Air Forces Southern kicked off a week-long tour Dec. 8 to visit forward-deployed personnel and assist nearby communities in seven Latin American countries during the holiday season. A C-21 from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., carried the group to Forward

  • New year brings new tools to quit tobacco

    Department of Defense and Tricare officials are offering new innovative online tools to help servicemembers keep their New Year's resolutions to quit tobacco. The DOD-sponsored educational campaign, Quit Tobacco--Make Everyone Proud, is expanding its interactive Web site. Users can now create a blog

  • Air Guard to host three KC-135 associate wings

    Three Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker wings will become active associate units beginning this summer, Air Force officials here announced Dec. 10. Active-duty Airmen will be assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham, Ala., the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base,

  • Eielson Airmen start winter road show in Hawaii

    More than 125 Eielson Air Force Base Airmen and 10 jets left Dec. 6 through 8 to provide adversary training and support to members of the 199th Fighter Squadron and the Hawaii Air National Guard at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. This is their first stop for the 28 operations personnel and about 100

  • PACAF officials look to blogging to tell Air Force story

    Pacific Air Command officials here created a blog called PACAF Pixels in September to allow Airmen across the command to share, in a personal and authentic way, their service experiences.PACAF officials said this is a significant departure from traditional communication in the command, citing the

  • Wynonna Judd joins Reserve Band for TV broadcast

    Members of the Band of the Air Force Reserve and Air Force Strings teamed up with Wynonna and Naomi Judd and the Palmetto State Quartet for this year's Holiday Notes from Home concert recorded Dec. 9 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Viewers around the world will have a chance to see

  • Virtual training for real-world missions

    A $1.5 million virtual training environment housed in a hangar at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center here offers security forces personnel and other Airmen realistic fire team convoy training. Much like an IMAX, a 280-degree screen brings to life real-world scenarios designed to put a

  • Airmen show Iraqi army leaders base operations

    A handful of American Airmen are helping the Iraqi army turn a run down military base into an operational military hub.Taji Military Base is home to the country's only national-level maintenance and supply depots, and American Soldiers and Airmen advisers are assisting the Iraqis with everything

  • General addresses Reserve issues on Web cast

    The 4th Air Force commander took part in a worldwide Web cast panel discussion Dec. 4 here to provide an update on the Guard and Reserve. Major Gen. Robert E. Duignan was part of a three-person expert panel brought together for an appearance on "Front and Center," a monthly public affairs forum on

  • Procurement initiative secures DOD computers, saves money

    Department of Defense officials are among those of dozens of departments and organizations who have improved security for their laptop computers and saved taxpayers more than $92 million by using a new procurement initiative, a senior Defense Department official said here. DOD and the General

  • Air Force radio show features Faith Hill

    The 2008 "Red, White and Air Force Blue Christmas" radio special featuring country music's multi-award winning artist Faith Hill is arriving this week at more than 3,300 country music radio stations across the nation. In its 14th year, the radio special includes a selection of holiday classics from

  • Air Force officials announce OTS selection results

    A total of 223 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced Dec. 9. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 474 applications as part of Officer Training School

  • SAMMC construction project breaks ground

    Military leaders, construction officials and wounded warriors joined up Dec. 8 to break ground on the start of construction on the San Antonio Military Medical Center, a $724 million construction and renovation project at Wilford Hall Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center. The construction,

  • CJCS salutes servicemembers' success at awards dinner

    U.S. troops engaged in the global war on terrorism are doing "an exceptionally hard job exceptionally well," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs' annual awards dinner held here Dec. 8. "I believe our future is tied, as it always must

  • Wanna make an Air Force commercial?

    Senior leaders are asking Airmen to get behind the camera and submit a video for the next Air Force advertising campaign.  The contest has begun and runs until Jan. 9.  Airmen are encouraged to create a video depicting what their unit or they do to support the Air Force mission, as well as highlight

  • AMC unveils new mission statement and focus areas

    This past June, I issued a call for all AMC personnel to "return to basics," and I thank you for the renewed attention you've given to our core values and our mobility mission while restoring the Air Force's good name with your daily, outstanding mission accomplishment. Today, we build on that

  • Army unit augments Air Force to boost troop support

    As U.S. forces prepare to ramp up the operations tempo in Operation Enduring Freedom, a new unit here is helping prepare cargo to airdrop to the troops on the ground. The Army's 824th Riggers unit, a reserve unit based out of Ft. Bragg, N.C., began operations to support Air Force airdrops Dec. 3.

  • Operation Christmas Drop box-build complete

    After 55 years running, Operation Christmas Drop is the Air Force's longest running humanitarian airlift mission. This year marks the 56th annual Operation Christmas Drop. With only days left until boxes are delivered to the small islands of Micronesia, last-minute donations are still pouring in,

  • Sather Airmen work late to feed the force

    Sather Air Base is the busiest aerial port in Iraq, moving hundreds of American military members, civilian contractors, distinguished visitors and coalition forces every day as they travel in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For many of these travelers, the layover at this small military base on

  • U.S., Australian forces honor fallen coalition member

    U.S. Central Command's busiest aerial port of debarkation, or APOD, located at an air base in Southwest Asia, serves as the place of duty for Airmen of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group and the 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, as well as sister service and coalition force members. But it

  • Iraqi medics complete aeromedical evacuation course

    Instructors from the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio graduated 14 Iraqi air force medics from an aeromedical evacuation basics course here Dec. 4. The graduation ceremony was the culmination of 12 days of training that ended with a patient movement exercise

  • General Schwartz releases 2009 CSAF Reading List

    The chief of staff of the Air Force announced the 2009 CSAF Reading List Dec. 8. "Today's Air Force is the product of the pioneers who preceded us, and our Airmen are proudly carrying the torch," said Gen. Norton Schwartz, the service's 19th chief of staff. "In our professional development, we must

  • Obama taps Shinseki as next Veterans Affairs chief

    President-elect Barack Obama has selected retired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as his nominee to be secretary of veterans affairs. "As we seek a new national security strategy that uses all elements of American power, we must also remember those who run the greatest risks and make the

  • Gaming technology used for interactive military training

    Air Force Research Laboratory's researchers at Mesa, Ariz., unveiled the technological potential of its gaming research and development project publicly Dec. 1 during the 2008 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Fla. Members of the 711th Human Performance

  • Air Force selected for Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

    The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons have been selected to play in the 2008 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. Central Standard Time. The Falcons will take on the University of Houston from Conference-USA. This marks the second straight year that Air Force has

  • Airmen, Marines join forces during exercise at Kadena

    Japan-based Airmen and Marines came together for Exercise Beverly High 09-01 the first week of December at Kadena Air Base.Airmen of the 18th Wing integrated with Marines from Marine Corps Station Iawkuni as they executed their missions under simulated combat conditions.About 35 aircraft and 700

  • 'Today's Air Force' features Combat Skills Training

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights security and how Airmen are getting extra training while preparing for deployment downrange, especially if they're going to Iraq or Afghanistan. Airmen from many career fields are going to Combat Skills Training to develop a warfighter mentality. Also

  • Deterrence is not a fading concept, CSAF says

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz reminded community members and North Dakota's senior elected representatives at a luncheon here Dec. 1 that "deterrence is not a fading concept." As part of his visit to the base, the general discussed the concept for the new Global Strike Command. He

  • Air Force officials release new amendment to CSAR-X RFP

    Air Force officials released Amendment 7 to the Request for Proposals for the Combat Search and Rescue helicopter Dec. 5. The amendment contains minor changes that are intended to further clarify how Air Force officials will make their source selection decision. Beyond the clarifications, Amendment

  • Airmen procure mission success

    Members of the 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron here connect mission needs with the facilities, equipment and services that link military customers and the contractors who can meet those needs. "Our mission is to make sure we provide each customer with what they need and get it to them as

  • New TSP contribution limits set for 2009

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board recently announced an increase in the 2009 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions. The limit is now $16,500, up from $15,500 for 2008. In addition, contributions for the TSP catch-up plan will increase to $5,500, up from

  • Leaders encourage Airmen to apply for Academy

    Young, hard-charging Airmen are sought for entry into the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force Academy Preparatory School with the end goal of earning a commission, but must apply by Jan. 31, 2009. The Academy sets aside up to 85 slots for active-duty Airmen and up to 85 more slots for Guard and

  • Programs aim to strengthen military marriages, curb divorce

    Servicemembers and their spouses are flocking to a broad array of programs to help them strengthen their family relationships as the services step up efforts to curb divorce rates.Military divorce rates rose by .1 percent -- to 3.4 percent -- during fiscal 2008, with 492 more divorces than the

  • Presidency council ratifies U.S.-Iraq security pact

    The new U.S.-Iraq security pact that was approved by Iraqi lawmakers Nov. 27 was ratified by Iraq's presidency council Dec. 4, senior U.S. officials said.The two-part security pact consists of a strategic framework agreement that establishes the foundation of a long-term bilateral relationship

  • Airmen provide FAST coverage

    Upon landing one morning at a remote location in Iraq, two specially trained Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron took charge of security for a $30.1 million C-130 Hercules and its crew. Senior Airmen Rosie Munoz and Michelle Kendall assume this responsibility on a regular

  • Deployed Warbirds participate in Australian Aces North exercise

    Airmen deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, recently participated in the Australian Aces North exercise with personnel from the Australian Fighter Combat Instructor Course, which ended Dec. 4. The Aces North exercise is the capstone of the FCIC, which is the Australian equivalent of the U.S.

  • Re-invigorating nuclear enterprise a top priority

    Maintaining accountability and improving stewardship of the Air Force's nuclear program is the top priority, said the service's 19th chief of staff recently. Gen. Norton Schwartz said the Air Force has gone through some "rough" air in the realm of nuclear deterrence, but the service is already on

  • Kandahar team provides ammunition to win the fight

    With a munitions stockpile of 560 line items worth more than $11 million, the job of providing weapons to warfighters at Kandahar Airfield falls to a three-man flight. "We maintain and provide munitions to U.S. and coalition forces," said Master Sgt. James Bradley, the munitions accountable systems

  • Teamwork helps Manas handle holiday season mail surge

    The Manas Air Base Post Office staff knows to expect a huge influx of Christmas and holiday care packages, and to deliver the mountain of mail to base residents it takes teamwork from base volunteers. Between Thanksgiving and the first week of January, the Manas AB Post Office will receive roughly

  • E-8C's new engine program takes off

    America's eye in the sky, the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System,  or Joint STARS, will soon be faster, quieter, more efficient and more operationally effective with a major engine upgrade effort now under way here. Getting new engines on E-8C test aircraft is a major milestone for

  • NASA trains pilots to fly high

    To achieve their dreams of space flight, NASA astronauts must overcome many challenges -- challenges they can only receive at one place. Whether they are a pilot, navigator or mission specialist, Ellington Field, Texas, is the proving ground where astronauts earn their "wings" through the expert

  • Predator crashes at Joint Base Balad

    An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system crashed at about 7:30 a.m. Baghdad time Dec. 4 on the Joint Base Balad runway. The extent of the damage to the aircraft assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing is unknown at this time. The Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aircraft

  • Air Force doctor tackles movement disorders

    A neurologist at San Antonio Military Medical Center-South, or Wilford Hall Medical Center, is currently working to provide relief for patients suffering from movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. Maj. (Dr.) Maria Alvarez is the only movement disorders

  • Academy officials announce 2008 distinguished graduates

    Officials from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Academy's Association of Graduates have announced the winners of the 2008 Distinguished Graduate Award. Retired Maj. Gen. Donald Shepperd, Class of 1962, and Mr. John Martinson, Class of 1970, earned this prestigious honor for their singular and

  • Guard families eligible for child care subsidy

    For National Guard members who are about to deploy, there is a lot to think about before heading overseas. Changes have to be made to school and work schedules, arrangements have to be made for routine household chores, but for many, child care is one thing that weighs heaviest on their minds. For

  • Climate survey deadline extended to Dec. 14

    If you want to play a part in shaping the future of the Air Force, an effective and proven tool may be sitting in your inbox and you have until Dec. 14 to be heard. Since Oct. 1, an initial e-mail invitation and several follow-on reminders were sent out Air Force-wide, which included a link to the

  • Little Rock officials celebrate Arbor Day

    A single green ash tree was planted in the ground adjacent to the child development center consummating Little Rock Air Force Base's 15th Annual Arbor Day ceremony Dec. 1 here. The base earned its Tree City USA designation in 1993, and since that time, the base has maintained written policy

  • Lean initiatives in the Portuguese air force

    There have been many articles touting the benefits to the Air Force of Lean initiatives and Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21. It's not only the Air Force that is benefiting from Lean initiatives, however.  Other air forces have benefited from the Lean initiatives supported

  • Air Mobility Command officials set all-time sortie record

    Officials from Air Mobility Command's 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center here set a new record for the number of sorties planned in a 24-hour period in November. The new mark, set at 1,063 sorties, toppled the previous high of 1,051 set in February of 2008. Members of the 618th TACC are the

  • Military financial road show heads to Washington state

    As headlines scream news of an economic recession, a Defense Department team is heading to the Pacific Northwest Dec. 4 to help drive home the point that financial readiness is a big part of mission readiness. Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Bremerton in Washington state

  • CV-22s complete first operational deployment

    Four CV-22 Ospreys from the 8th Special Operations Squadron here returned after completing their first operational deployment supporting Exercise Flintlock 2009 in November in Bamako, Mali.The aircraft supported the training exercise in the Trans-Saharan region designed to build relationships and

  • Airman's Roll Call: Remembering Pearl Harbor

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and provides some facts to recall as this anniversary is observed. Classified as a defining moment in U.S. history, the attack stood as the most devastating enemy attack on U.S. soil until Sept. 11, 2001, another

  • Airmen bid farewell to two Doolittle Raiders

    Air Force men and women are mourning the deaths last week of two famed Doolittle Raiders, Maj. Gen. David M. Jones and Master Sgt. Edwin W. Horton, Jr.  They both served honorably in the April 1942 Doolittle Raid. General Jones died Nov. 25 at his home in Tucson, Arizona. Sergeant Horton passed

  • Andersen officials to transfer management functions to Navy

    The Joint Region Marianas will stand up in January as Andersen Air Force Base officials will relocate installation management functions to the commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas located on Guam.This was a result of almost four years of planning to implement this change to the law as a result

  • Secretary Gates tells Airmen nuclear mission vital to U.S.

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled here Dec. 1 to emphasize the importance of the Air Force's nuclear mission -- and in maintaining its long tradition of excellence -- to the men and women entrusted with carrying it out. Secretary Gates became the first defense secretary in memory to visit

  • CSAF: Airmen, Air Force integral part of joint fight

    With his first 100 days in office under his belt, the 19th chief of staff of the Air Force says the Air Force is in good shape. Gen. Norton Schwartz says that's because of the impressive job America's Airmen -- active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian -- are performing. The service's top military

  • Air Force officials reduce waste with recycling program

    Base officials here helped the environment by expanding their recycling program from plastic bottles and aluminum cans to include hazardous materials, chlorofluorocarbons, metals such as copper and steel, and cardboard boxes.The program resulted in payments that have amounted to $95,000 so far this

  • Airmen train for contingency operations during Silver Flag

    Airmen from all over the Pacific region trained to establish and sustain a forward operating base during Silver Flag 09-09 Nov. 16 through 22 at Kadena Air Base. In addition to their career field-specific training, the students were required to operate in simulated wartime conditions and to help

  • AETC opens virtual doors to MyBase

    Air Education and Training Command officals here launched a virtual world Dec. 2 targeting avatars, or people, interested in learning more about the Air Force. Second Life is a three-dimensional virtual world where users can socialize, connect and explore the digital universe using virtual

  • Space shuttle diverted, lands at Edwards

    Space Shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts landed after a 15-day mission to the International Space Station at about 1:25 p.m. PST Nov. 30 at Edwards Air Force Base.The shuttle was diverted to Edwards AFB, its alternate landing site, due to bad weather at Kennedy Space Station, Fla.

  • Internal training key to Iraqi air force independence

    As the Iraqi parliament works out the details of the new status of forces agreement that calls for American forces to withdraw from the country in 2011, Iraqi air force emergency responders from New al Muthana Air Base took the lead for the first time in a mass casualty response exercise Nov. 21 as

  • Air Force leaders reinforce zero tolerance for sexual assault

    Leaders from wing level to senior Air Force brass recently gathered for a two-day leader summit on sexual assault prevention and response here. Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz affirmed their commitment to eliminating sexual assaults in

  • Kadena volunteers spread holiday cheer to single servicemembers

    How do you bring a little cheer to more than 2,000 single servicemembers spending the holidays far away from family and friends? Perhaps 24,000 cookies is a good start. With this in mind, 500 volunteers from various organizations here mixed, rolled, sprinkled, decorated and baked thousands of

  • Manas Airmen help provide aid to Kyrgyz in need

    Manas Airmen, in conjunction with U.S. Embassy personnel in Bishkek, hosted a small ceremony Nov. 25 in which 31,680 meals-ready-to-eat and more than 100 cold weather sleeping bags were provided to the Kyrgyz Republic's Ministry of Emergency Situations, or MES, to help local Kyrgyz who may need

  • Hiring authority makes it easier to hire disabled employees

    Air Force officials are working to increase manager understanding of how to hire qualified people with disabilities. The Schedule A hiring authority, a noncompetitive government hiring process, allows federal employers to hire qualified people with mental retardation, severe physical disabilities or

  • 'Today's Air Force' features warrior care

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights a different type of therapy for wounded warriors. While most rehabilitation occurs within the walls of medical facilities, new and unique organizations are now able to treat wounded warriors outside medical facilities. Also featured is a plan to

  • Gates provides continuity as nation fights two wars, Obama says

    President-elect Barack Obama cited the need for continuity as the United States fights two wars in announcing, Dec. 1, that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will remain at the Pentagon when his administration takes over next month."At a time when we face an unprecedented transition amidst two wars,

  • Air Force family liaisons help wounded warriors, families

    Air Force family liaison officers have an important role in assisting wounded warriors and their families, a San Antonio-based Air Force senior noncommissioned officer said. The Air Force's family liaison officer program "truly is the lifeblood of taking care of our war wounded," said Chief Master