Lean Week comes to Randolph

Gone is the Air Force before super computers and modern technology. Gone are the, "We used to do it this way," and "When I was an Airman..." mindsets. Even gone, is the Air Force of fifteen years ago. Today's Air Force is a highly streamlined, technology-driven entity that is tasked more and more

Lean Week Charter Plan announced, promotes elimination of waste across board

Facilitators, team leads and unit managers are set to conduct Air Force Smart Operations 21 objectives at the Mission Support Group, Medical Group, Operations Group and Maintenance Directorate within the12th Flying Training Wing. Randolph Air Force Base has scheduled the Lean Week initiative for

Officials seek enlisted medical community's input for Web

The Defense Department is looking for input from the enlisted medical community as it sets up a new Web portal that will enable medics and corpsmen to share lessons learned and suggest ways to improve patient care. The portal will provide a forum for the estimated 80,000 enlisted medical

Top acquisition official: Tanker acquisition top priority

Officials from the Government Accountability Office testified before Congress July 10 here about their decision to uphold Boeing's protests of the Air Force's selection of Northrop Grumman Corp. to produce 179 new tankers that would replace the aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. In its report, GAO

Defense Department to deliver more, improved child care

The recent ribbon-cutting at the largest military child care center underscores the commitment of Defense Department officials to provide more and better child-care for military families, a senior defense official said. A July 15 ribbon-cutting at Fort Myer, Va., marked the official opening of a new

Air Force leaders share women's perspectives

Servicemembers learned more about the perspectives of women in the military during a leadership forum here July 17. The forum was part of the Tuskegee Airmen Convention ending July 20. Senior leadership spoke about several issues, including the heroism of Tuskegee Airmen, the history of women in the

New Kyrgyzstan medical facility offers high-quality care

376th Expeditionary Medical Group officials cut the ribbon on a new hospital building here July 17. After nearly seven years operating out of a tent facility, the new building includes updated inpatient area, an operating room, emergency room, a new laboratory, a dental office and three individual

Symposium gets to core of Air Force's role in cyberspace

In an effort to bring together minds and ideas from across the cyberspace community, Air University officials hosted a week-long cyberspace symposium here recently. Some 250 professional civilian and military information experts gathered to discuss the implications of cyberspace, especially with

California firefighting commander: 'Great job' by Airmen

People in California noticed the job Airmen at McClellan Airfield performed in fighting California's wildfires and could not stop telling the commander of U.S. Northern Command during his July 17 visit to Sacramento. "State leaders are stumbling over each other trying to thank you guys!" said Gen.

Combat-identification technologies tested

War fighters from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are testing new battlefield systems that can discern friend from foe during the "Bold Quest Plus" joint military demonstration being conducted at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The demonstration's purpose is to provide warfighters with

Peru's chief of staff sees 'New Horizon'

Dr. Luis Cabeña, Peru's Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defense, visited the New Horizons Peru 2008 base camp and project sites July 12 and 13. The U.S. Southern Command-sponsored program brings humanitarian assistance to the people of Peru.After reading reports and stories about the New Horizons

Human performance training optimizes Airmen

As the Air Force continues to scale down its numbers, it's more important than ever to have Airmen performing their missions at the highest levels. This means working smarter, not harder, and doing it safely. Helping to optimize the performance of members here is the goal for the 18th Aerospace

Airmen donate clothes, sports items to Malian

Months of hard work came to fruition for Airmen from Aviano Air Base, Italy, when they delivered boxes of clothing to a local orphanage July 16 in Mali. When Airmen from Aviano found out they were going to Mali for a medical mission, they joined efforts with the local community to gather more than

Officials announce major upgrade of AFPC Secure

A new, updated version of AFPC Secure will go live on July 19. All AFPC Secure Web applications will be down from 6 a.m. Central Daylight Time July 19 until 4 p.m. CDT July 20 to support this changeover. After July 20, users should replace any book-marked links for AFPC Secure with the new links.

Air Force officials buy 'offices in the air'

Air Force officials recently approved the purchase of pallets that will provide work and rest areas for senior leaders traveling aboard mobility aircraft. The service is purchasing two types of removable mobile command workspaces for use by military and senior civilian leaders who are required to

302nd AEG conducts its 21st day of California wild fire support

Aircraft and firefighters from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group began their 21st day of aerial firefighting support missions July 16 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. On July 15, aerial assets of the 302nd AEG did not perform aerial firefighting missions due limited

AETC first to receive new acquisitions authority

Air Education and Training Command became the first major command authorized to pursue services acquisitions valued at up to $500 million, following the signing of an agreement between the command and Air Force Acquisitions officials. The new agreement is expected to help streamline the acquisition

Airman under fire; Pararescueman saves two girls

The day started out as normal as they do in a combat area of Afghanistan, said Tech. Sgt. Clinton Beck, a pararescueman with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron.He awoke with his team of elite special operators and began planning the day's mission, he said. As the team approached their target, they

Hurricane Hunters deploy to U.S. Virgin Islands

Hurricane Hunters have deployed from the Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing here to a forward operating location on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to be in position for storm flights. After Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew missions into Hurricane Bertha

'Send it our way, we'll get the job done!'

Air Mobility Command Airmen in Southwest Asia work around the clock to ensure passengers and cargo move in and out of the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility, proudly proclaiming, "You need it, we move it." The 255 members of the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, a tenant unit of

Iranian threat justifies missile defense, general says

Iran's launch of a missile with a 2,000-kilometer range last week is a concrete example of the threat the world faces from missile proliferation, the chief of the Missile Defense Agency said here July 16. Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering, said the United States is concerned specifically about the

Airframes transform to save lives

Fixed wing aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster III, can transform into aeromedical evacuation, or "aerovac," airframes, allowing medical personnel to care for larger patient loads, over longer distances, at higher altitudes, with a greater ability to care

Air Force doctors begin medical exercise in Panama

Air Force and Panamanian doctors began seeing patients here at a local school as part of Medical Readiness Training Exercise-Panama July 14. On the first day patients began lining up, hundreds upon hundreds waited in orderly fashion; looks of curiousness and anticipation on their faces. Some looked

A new leg to stand on

Servicemembers take part in Baghdad Boilermaker

The first Baghdad Boilermaker started with two Airmen from New York who just wanted to run the country's largest 15-kilometer race. Master Sgts. James Carrabba and Jeffrey Conant, both deployed from the 174th Fighter Wing in Syracuse, N.Y., have run the original Boilermaker in Utica, N.Y., a

Airmen return from humanitarian, training deployment

A 10-person team of Airmen from the 21st Medical Group at Peterson AFB returned from a two-week medical readiness exercise in San Miguel, El Salvador, July 3. The El Salvador deployment was part of an ongoing U.S. Southern Command MEDRETEs initiative in Central, South America and the Caribbean. This

Coalition doctors remove tumor, save Afghan girl's life

On a warm morning in early June, a worried Abdullah Haqim walked with his daughter into the weekly Coalition medical clinic in Farah province, Afghanistan. Six-year-old Gulzana was sick and local Afghan doctors could not diagnose or treat the painful swelling that had engulfed her left eye. The

New language program Web site aids deploying troops

Officials who oversee a Defense Department program that provides cultural and linguistic training to soon-to-deploy military personnel have activated a new Web site. Launched this month, the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center's new online resource offers deploying servicemembers

Enlisted medical training to consolidate at Fort Sam Houston

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Medical Education and Training Campus here July 10 marked another step toward what leaders are calling the largest consolidation of training in the history of the Department of Defense. Upon completion in 2011, the joint campus, led by tri-service leadership, will

Working dog kennels receive massive renovation

Military working dogs transitioning through a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility are receiving a "bone-a-fide" upgrade to their accommodations, courtesy of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. The renovations, which included floor stripping and resealing, and the

Depot technicians begin using automatic test station

The Versatile Depot Automatic Test Station, or VDATS, was put to the test here July 9 as it examined its first production asset as an Air Force and Department of Defense Family of Testers member. Operators used VDATS to test a decoder assembly from the Pave Penny pod, which is a targeting device

'The Swoose' finds new home at Air Force museum

The Swoose, the oldest surviving B-17 Flying Fortress and the only "D" model still in existence, was transferred from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Shipment of this unique aircraft from Washington, D.C., is in progress and it is expected

EOD flights take out 'things that make you go boom'

Improvised explosive devices account for more than 40 percent of all U.S. servicemember deaths, but a small group of professional Airmen make the roads of Baghdad a little safer by taking out any IED, explosively formed penetrator or unexploded ordnance that gets in their way. The 447th

NASA researchers evaluate sensor technology

NASA researchers are evaluating an advanced, fiber optic-based sensing technology that could aid development of active control of wing shape. Controlling a wing's shape in flight would allow it to take advantage of aerodynamics and improve overall aircraft efficiency. The Fiber Optic Wing Shape

Lackland doctor leaves Afghan legacy

A doctor here, who recently returned from an Afghanistan deployment, left a lasting legacy at the neurosurgeon's former deployed base.Lt. Col. (Dr.) Randall McCafferty, from the 59th Surgical Specialties Squadron, was deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, where he established the first

Recycling contract turns trash into treasure

War is messy -- literally -- but U.S. forces, contractors and Iraqis found a way to turn the military's trash into Iraq's economic treasure. Albu-Hussan-based Almandhour United Company oversees waste-management operations here following a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 10 that commemorated the opening

Veteran helps others achieve American dream

A bureaucratic mix-up. That's how Eugene Toni explained being drafted in the Army to his mother. If he had told her the truth, "she would have killed me," said the 58-year-old. In reality, there was no mix-up. Mr. Toni was attending Camden County College in New Jersey and working part-time at a

Airman's packaging idea cuts hazmat response time

One Airman's initiative has cut the response times for hazardous material teams from hours to minutes, and his supervisors want civil engineer units throughout the Air Force to adopt the idea. Senior Airman Michael Blair, an emergency management equipment technician with the 332nd Expeditionary

Giant squids land at Dover AFB

A Reserve aircrew from the 326th Airlift Squadron landed July 11 at Dover Air Force Base, Del., with two giant squids in their cargo compartment. The two sea creatures were transported in a C-17 Globemaster III from Europe and will be delivered to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Enlisted education gets new namesake

The official designation ceremony of the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education July 11 was the last in a series of events transforming Air University into streamlined centers for professional education, research and doctrinal development. The Barnes Center will serve as the umbrella

Officials conduct 'Road Show' for acquisition transformation

The Installation Acquisition Transformation initiative, a comprehensive restructuring of continental U.S. installation acquisition practices, is moving forward as Air Force contracting officials continue traveling to affected bases to explain the changes ahead. Under the transformation, Air Force

Fire retardant reload operations moved to Channel Islands

The 302nd Air Expeditionary Group moved some critical fire retardant reloading equipment to the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station July 8 to increase the efficiency of modular airborne firefighting systems-equipped C-130 Hercules in battling wildfires in California. The purpose for setting

Eye doctors give patients new outlook

Eye doctors deployed to the Air Force Theater Hospital in Iraq see more than twice as many eye traumas than they encounter at their homestations. Among their patients are Iraqis and American servicemembers who have suffered eyesight-threatening injuries. Ophthalmologists can't always save their

Iraqi air force acquires new aircraft from U.S. forces

U.S. forces transferred ownership of 11 aircraft to the Iraqi air force July 9 during a ceremony at New Al Muthana Air Base. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, signed over eight Cessna 172s and three Cessna Caravan 208s worth more than $9

New MH-53M helicopter exhibit opens at AF museum

Several high ranking officials from Air Force Special Operations Command, industry and the community recently joined personnel from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force for the official opening of the museum's new MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter exhibit. Air Force special operations forces used

System helps determine 'health' of Air Force aircraft

Military aircraft must be safe, reliable, and ready at a moment's notice to complete their mission. Unexpected maintenance, and even scheduled maintenance checks, can keep an aircraft out of service when needed most. That's where Integrated Systems Health Management, or ISHM, comes in. ISHM is a

AFOTEC officials hold first space summit

Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here, hosted the organization's first space summit July 1 and 2. Senior leaders from AFOTEC, the Under Secretary of the Air Force Directorate of Space Acquisition, the National Geospatial and

Maintainers keep C-130's flying during wildfire operations

As the fires in California continue to threaten lives and property, maintainers from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group ensure that the modular airborne fire fighting system-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft are ready to fly and drop fire retardant on time and on target. When it comes to getting the

AF introduces civilian acculturation, leadership program

Applications are now being accepted from Air Force civilian interns and Student Career Employment Program graduates for the Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training program. This opportunity is a chief of staff initiative designed as an intensive leadership development program for civilians

Spinning electrons research could enhance AF computers

Scientists funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research have used a single photon technique to observe the evolution of individual electron spins in semiconductor nanostructures. Their work has already contributed to the new field of semiconductor spintronics - an emerging technology which

RED HORSE engineers move full-speed ahead in Peru

A 64-member team of Air Force civil engineers are making speedy progress here in the completion of several construction projects supporting New Horizons-Peru 2008, a U.S. and Peruvian humanitarian effort to bring relief to underprivileged Peruvians. The Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational

Pentagon officials reopen bidding on tanker contract

Defense Department officials have reopened the bidding process for a multibillion-dollar midair refueling tanker contract, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. The announcement comes after Government Accountability Office officials last month found improper practices related to the $35

Afghan print plant supports mission, training

Mentoring the Afghan National Army staff at the Kabul print plant is a great mission, said Maj. Paul Kaster, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan ANA communications mentor. But, he says he may have worked himself out of a job. Major Kaster, deployed from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.,

Airman's Roll Call: Achieve your personal best

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on starting an aerobics regimen now, not when your annual fitness test is a week away. Today's Air Force is expeditionary, and Airmen are being tasked to do more and do it more often. These tasks require Airmen to be physically capable of performing at peak

California fire support missions continue July 4

Airmen from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group launched their ninth day of Aerial support missions July 4 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. The aircrews, flying Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft, focused their firefighting efforts on the

C-130s continue aerial firefighting operations in California

Aircraft from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group continued aerial firefighting support missions July 5 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. C-130 Hercules aircraft flew 25 sorties in approximately 50 flight hours. Twelve sorties flew to the Goleta, or Gap, fire located

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visits 302nd AEG

During a visit to the California National Guard fire fighting training facility at McClellan Airfield here, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger paid a brief visit to the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group to wish Airmen a happy 4th of July and thank them for their service in assisting with

Teamwork helps Airmen fight fires

Airmen of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group continued to work with national agencies July 5 to support firefighting efforts in California. Launching from McClellan Airfield, eight Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft flew a total of 40 sorties July 5 and dropped a

Sather Airmen make each shot count

The scene is a typical firing range, not unlike what one would find built for a gun club or on an Army post or Air Force base. The line safety officers meticulously watch the novice shooters, holding their weapons properly, aiming at a silhouette target further down the range. "Is the line ready,"

Air Force, Boeing officials upgrade C-130 cockpits

Members of the 418th Flight Test Squadron here working with Boeing officials are currently conducting communication, navigation, radar and air data testing on two C-130 Hercules aircraft here as part of the Avionics Modernization Program. The Avionics Modernization Program, or AMP, upgrade includes

Airmen fight California fires for 12th day

Airmen of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group here began their 12th day of aerial firefighting support missions July 7 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. The 302nd AEG military airborne assets performed 69 airdrops delivering more than 100,300 gallons of fire retardant and

Promotion release 'virtual' success

It was deathly quiet at 7:45 a.m. at the Air Force Personnel Center here June 26. Both here, and around the world, noncommissioned officers eligible for promotion to technical and master sergeant hit the Internet, hoping someone had posted the promotion list prior to the 8 a.m. scheduled release. At

Andrews Airman participates in national golf tournament

When he was in high school, Senior Master Sgt. Kirk Kessler worked part-time at a golf course in Mobridge, S.D., to earn some cash and play the sport for free. As he mowed the fairways and greens, he didn't think much of the game. "I played a little bit, but I didn't take the game seriously," he

President salutes wounded Airman at medical center groundbreaking

A scar peeked out from beneath the navy blue beret Staff Sgt. Scott Lilley borrowed to wear July 3 during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here. "Luckily we have the same size head," said the cap's owner, Staff Sgt. Michael Barczik of Andrews Air Force

Iraqi air force soars through U.S.-guided exercise

Members of the Coalition Air Force Training Team assigned to the 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here have been training and mentoring Iraqi air force members in their functional areas for years. Recently, the 370th AEAS staff partnered with members of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group at

AETC officials welcome new commander

Air Education and Training Command officials welcomed their new commander in a change-of-command ceremony July 2 at Randolph Air Force Base. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz assumed command of AETC as Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, the Air Force vice chief of staff, presided over the ceremony.General Lorenz is

Airman laid to rest after 30 years

For 10 years, Capt. Christopher Joyce has carried the memory of Senior Master Sgt. James Caniford around his wrist. Sergeant Caniford, a former 16th Special Operations Squadron illuminator operator, was recently identified after more than 30 years listed as missing in action from the Vietnam

Former Secretary of the Air Force Seamans dies

The ninth secretary of the Air Force died June 28 at his home in Beverly, Mass. Dr. Robert C. Seamans Jr., 89, became the Air Force's top civilian official in 1969 at the height of the Vietnam War and served until 1973. He oversaw a complex process of weapon systems modernization when the U.S. was

Air Force strives to enhance communications networks

Officials from the Air Force, Army and Navy are now funding a Finnish research program that explores new approaches for improving telecommunications network management. The ultimate goal is to build on this basic research and create a cognitive network that will use rational decision-making methods

Air Force, Army leaders discuss new concept of operations

Air Force and Army leaders met June 30 to discuss developing a new joint unmanned aerial system concept of operations and maximize the contributions these systems provide to joint forces in the field. Gen. John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander, met with Army Gen. William S. Wallace, Army

Acting secretary shares his perspective with Airmen

The U.S. Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do will remain in place, said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley during a July 1 visit here.In his first visit to an Air Force base since being named to the position, Secretary Donley

Air Force officials clarify uniform change announcements

As the Air Force transitions from the legacy battle dress to the modern airman battle uniform, questions and concerns are bound to come up, said the head of Air Force uniform and recognition branch. "Anytime there is new information about uniforms for Airmen, we will get that out to the field as

Personnel Center officials on target to complete AEF merger

Vince Fonner walks into the newly constructed operations center at the Air Force Personnel Center here to check on a couple of new high-resolution monitors. He nods his approval as workers begin to carefully position them in the work areas. Although some keyboard trays need to be installed and a few

Cyberspace career fields, training paths, badge proposed

Air Force officials recently proposed a plan to develop its enlisted and officer corps into Airmen who specialize in establishing, controlling and fighting in the cyberspace domain. That's according to Maj. Gen. William T. Lord, the Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) commander who referenced

Recruit sheds weight to join Air Force

A Charleston-area resident weighing 253 pounds lost more than 80 pounds in eight months to meet weight requirements to join the Air Force in time to go to Basic Military Training July 1. "I wasn't surprised that I weighed too much (then), but I really didn't know the weight limit would be that low,"

Air Force medics join Navy mission

Twenty-eight Air Force medics from across the Pacific region are spending time on the open sea as they participate in Pacific Partnership 2008. Alongside other public health and preventive medicine professionals from the Navy, Army, U.S. Public Health Service and the Military Sealift Command, the

Pilot tackles Typhoons during exchange duty in England

When an American F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot was given the opportunity of applying for an exchange posting, he had no hesitation in selecting a tour to fly the F-2 Typhoon with the Royal Air Force. "I was attracted by the opportunity to fly a new airplane, to go somewhere different and be part of

Tuskegee Airman dies

Retired Lt. Col. Charles Dryden, 87, one of the famed "Tuskegee Airmen" who broke the military's color barrier by becoming a World War II fighter pilot, died June 24 in Atlanta. Colonel Dryden was born Sept. 16, 1920 in New York City to Jamaican parents. He graduated from Peter Stuyvesant High

Air Boss Conference brings leaders together

Leaders from around the world came together here June 26 to 27 to discuss deterrence and evaluate the war plan used to ensure peace and stability in South Korea. The 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces and Osan Air Base Commander Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Wood hosts the Air Boss Conference annually. The

Airmen give dead engine new life

There is life after death. Airmen of the 934th Maintenance Squadron here took a T-56-A-7 turboprop engine with more than 22,000 hours of total time running destined for the "bone yard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and now use it to train unit members. The engine was condemned and its

Guard chief: Firefighting, flood efforts 'outstanding'

The chief of the National Guard Bureau assessed the National Guard's California fire and Midwest flood-fighting efforts firsthand June 26 and 27 calling their support "superb." "They're handling very difficult and complex issues in a very competent and professional manner," said Army Lt. Gen. H.

Officers may apply for Test Pilot School

The next annual Air Force Test Pilot School Selection Board will convene Oct. 27 through 30 at the Air Force Personnel Center here, and officers interested in applying should submit their applications to AFPC by Sept. 15. The school trains pilots, navigators and engineers to develop, test and

Airmen donate medical equipment to Bulgarian hospital

Airmen from Homestead Air Reserve Base recently raised $2,800 to purchase a new cardiac monitor for the children's ward at local hospital during a deployment to Graf-Isnatievo Air Base, Bulgaria. Reservists from the 482nd Fighter Wing deployed with 10 F-16 Fighting Falcons to train with Bulgarian

Veterans honor Berlin Airlift's 60th anniversary

American, British and French veterans have returned to Germany to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. Dr. Helmut Trotnow, the curator of the Allied Museum in Berlin, attributed part of the dissolution of the Soviet blockade to the U.S. armed forces involved in the airlift. "This

National Guard on duty from coast to coast

About 2,300 Air and Army National Guard members remain on duty in the Midwest, down from a peak of more than 5,700, officials reported. Meanwhile, officials in California called for more aircraft to fight the wildfires. While the number of guardmembers needed on the ground went down, the number of

Airmen bring joy through cooking at Center for the Intrepid

The apartment-style kitchen on the fourth floor of the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio was bubbling with excitement June 24 as the sound of conversation and the smell of delicious foods permeated the air. The Center, located near Brooke Army Medical Center, provides traumatic amputee

South Korean army UAVs enhance training at Kunsan

Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron here and South Korean army soldiers teamed up for combined nuclear, biological and chemical training June 23 and 24 at Kunsan Air Base. The two-day training course presented the two forces with scenarios requiring them to protect and sustain mission

Berlin Airlift vets return to Germany for anniversary

For 50 years, Dub Southers recalled the grueling hours he worked at an air base in northern Germany at the start of the Berlin Airlift, not the historical significance of what he helped achieve as a flight engineer and crew chief. He remembered well the stacks of coal being shipped in from local

Air Force officials announce library of the year winner

Air Force Library Program officials announced the winner of the Air Force Library of the Year award June 12 here.The Eglin Base Library, with an eight-man staff, was recignized for their outstanding customer focus and satisfaction."Even in times of scarce budgets, we still aim to fulfill our

Doctor provides medical care in native country during mission

"I see myself in their faces." These are the words of Maj. Victor Inga, an Air Force doctor participating in New Horizons-Peru 2008, a humanitarian mission providing relief for underprivileged Peruvians. Major Inga uttered these words seconds after he watched yet another young Peruvian boy walk

Airman's Roll Call: leave management

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on leave management, and as many Airmen are aware of a few days away from work can have a beneficial effect them. Therefore, an aggressive leave program is an essential military requirement. A recent policy change increased the number of days members may accrue

Reserve pilots utilize A-10s in support of Total Force Integration

Air Force Reserve Command pilots recently took flight in an A-10 Thunderbolt II here in support of an Air Force-wide initiative designed to integrate reservists, guardsmen and civilians with active-duty Airmen. The Total Force Integration initiative, which was established by Air Force officials at

Servicemembers begin medical mission in Peru

American servicemembers kicked-off medical mission New Horizons-Peru 2008, a U.S. and Peruvian humanitarian initiative scheduled through Aug. 31 to provide relief to underprivileged Peruvians.The humanitarian medical mission, currently staffed by 35 Air Force medics, will provide free medical care

AFCYBER headquarters staff to operate virtually

Air Force Cyber Command officials announced their intent to spread out headquarters staffing among nine locations so it can meet the 45 percent manning requirements needed for initial operations. "Normally, a major command headquarters will house all its staff functions at one place, but because the

Stenner takes reins of Air Force Reserve

Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr. assumed command of the Air Force Reserve and its 68,000 members June 24 in a ceremony at the Air Force Memorial here. He succeeds Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, who held the post since 2004. "I'm excited to lead the finest group of warriors I have ever known," General

Guard aircraft, aircrews battling California wildfires

Army and Air National Guardmembers from California and North Carolina were supporting firefighting efforts in Northern California June 24 following a state active duty call up by Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger and a request for airborne firefighting assets by the Interagency Fire Center. The governor's

Iraqi airmen reach maintenance goals, keep fleet soaring

While Iraqi air force pilots continue flying sorties to aid stability in their nation, Iraqi maintainers on the ground here have recently achieved important benchmarks to keep their fleet in the air. Airmen with the Iraqi air forces' 3rd Squadron took over a wide variety of maintenance duties on the

Mullen urges Joint Staff to speed up warfighter support

The nation's top military officer called on the Joint Staff today to speed up efforts to get new capabilities to warfighters and to focus on building capabilities needed to win not just the current war, but future wars as well. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told

Born of controversy: The GI Bill of Rights

It has been heralded as one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever produced by the federal government, one that impacted the United States socially, economically and politically. But it almost never came to pass. The Servicemembers' Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill

Eglin team prepares Small Diameter Bombs for warfighters

Guided munitions such as the Small Diameter Bomb have helped change the way wars are fought. SDBs, prepared by 681st Armament Systems Squadron members here, give aircrews the ability to destroy targets that would normally be passed over due to the proximity of friendly troops, civilians, structures