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  • Airmen save Iraqi girl's life after IED blast

    Security forces Airmen, emergency medics and hospital staff here saved an Iraqi girl after an improvised explosive device detonated at her feet in July near Joint Base Balad. The girl and her family had just attended a Joint Base Balad-sponsored clothing-and-toys distribution for local children at

  • Airmen step back as Iraqis take control of mission support

    American Airmen don't run dining facilities for the Iraqi military here. They don't pump fuel and they don't make runs to ammunition storage points. At least not any more. All of these daily tasks that require the utmost attention to detail to supporting mission readiness are handled directly by

  • Airmen build ties with Iraqi families

    Forty-five Airmen volunteered to visit and distribute donated items to local families here July 24 as part of the Sather Air Base Good Neighbor Program. This program, which is sponsored by the Sather AB Rising Six, is made up of volunteers who take a trip once a month to distribute care packages to

  • Bombers fly down under

    Members of the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron here completed 10 sorties flying more than 110 hours while participating in Talisman Saber 2009 July 15 through 24 over Australia. The bilateral command post and field training exercise was designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and

  • General says Air Guard facing recapitalization issues

    One of the biggest challenges facing the Air National Guard today is replacing its fleet of aircraft that are approaching the end of their service lives, a senior Air National Guard official said July 29. "A big problem we have in the Air National Guard is figuring out how to recapitalize our aging

  • July 27 airpower summary: B-1B provides overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Shurakian, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and coalition aircraft

  • Photo essay: Drone recovery

    A crew from Florida Offshore demonstrated the recovery of a BQM-167 Air Force Subscale Aerial Target recently in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.  The Florida Offshore crew is contracted through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down

  • War hero brought home, laid to rest after 40 years missing in action

    As three rifle vollies rang throughout Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery July 27, the sounds meant a Vietnam War veteran who had been missing in action for more than 40 years was finally home to rest . Active-duty members, retirees and their families gathered at Chief Master Sgt. Quincy Adam's final

  • Air Force team to assess Iraqi air defense needs

    Air Force officials are sending an assessment team to Iraq to look at how the Iraqi military can field an air defense once American forces leave in 2011. The team is expected in the country shortly, said Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, during a roundtable July 28

  • Air Force doctor wins national award

    An Air Force doctor here was one of 10 receipients recently selected for the 2009 American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Award. Capt. (Dr.) Angelique Collamer is a physician, teacher and researcher assigned to the 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, but works in the

  • Lackland officer wins Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award

    The operating room flight commander at the 59th Surgical Operations Squadron here recently was selected the 2009 recipient of the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Military Award at the field grade officer category by the Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. Lt. Col. Jacqueline Mudd will be presented with the

  • Airmen aid coalition with multilanguage skills

    Thought not traditional Air Force linguists, two multilingual Airmen bring a unique skill to Manas Air Base. Capt. Jecek Dempnaik and Staff Sgt. Maria Hudgeons, who speak a combined seven languages, reduce communication barriers between Air Force members and coalition forces through written

  • Joint Base Balad troops aid first sergeant during heart attack

    Whether Joint Base Balad servicemembers have a wingman or a battle buddy, the ethos of helping a comrade in need arose during a basketball game here July 14. Headed by their coach, Army Sgt.1st Class Anthony Jones of the 699th Maintenance Company, a basketball team compiled of Airmen and Soldiers

  • Center gives troops tools to combat stress while deployed

    An innovative restoration program in Afghanistan is giving troops the tools they need to "stay in the fight" by helping them overcome the stresses and challenges of being deployed, the director of the Freedom Restoration Center at Bagram Airfield said recently. Army Capt. Donald Hawkins and his

  • July 26 airpower summary: C-17s help sustain coalition operations

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Surkhabad, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and coalition aircraft

  • 'One of a kind' war records staging facility gets Air Force, national review

    Air Force and the National Archive and Records Administration officials visited the only Air Force war records staging facility in existence for the first time during a trip here June 30 to July 2. The Air Force records officer and NARA representatives toured the Air Forces Central Staging Facility

  • First Iraqi student graduates from Aviation Leadership Program

    Iraqi air force 2nd Lt. Omar AlNuaimi became the first Iraqi to complete the Air Force Aviation Leadership Program upon his graduation from aviation training July 24 here after three years of training. The Iraqi airman earned his pilots wings with his fellow student pilots of Specialized

  • 12 nations activate groundbreaking Heavy Airlift Wing

    Senior diplomatic and defense officials representing 12 nations as well as NATO witnessed July 27 the official activation of a first-of-its-kind multinational strategic airlift unit at Pápa Air Base, Hungary. "I want to extend my thanks to all of the nations that chose to participate in SAC," said

  • Academy officials add unmanned aircraft system into curriculum

    U.S. Air Force Academy officials here integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. "The Air Force has made unmanned aircraft systems a priority for our service, and the value of these capabilities is evidenced on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lt. Gen. Michael C.

  • Winners announced for Rodeo 2009 competitions

    Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 ended here July 24 with a closing ceremony and the announcement of 74 awards including the coveted "Best of the Best" Award. The competition is the Air Force's and Air Mobility Command's premier mobility competition and included seven international competitors and observers

  • Remote base uses natural energy to power facilities

    A small Air Force Space Command base on the British-owned island of Ascension uses natural energy to help power its facilities. Called Ascension Auxiliary Airfield, the small base serves as a satellite tracking station for the 45th Space Wing.Located in the South Atlantic Ocean several thousand

  • July 25 airpower summary: A-10 provides armed overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Asadabad, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's provided armed overwatch

  • July 24 airpower summary: Reaper stops enemy attack

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Konduz, coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly

  • Co-pilot of Flight 1549 takes flight of different kind

    First Officer Jeff Skiles, co-pilot of the U.S. Airways flight that crash-landed in the Hudson River in January, took to the sky July 23 with the U.S. Air Force's Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds. "Of all the things I have been involved with since the accident, this has got to be the

  • Pilot for a day leaves Andrews with memories for a lifetime

    The flight suit she wore was just a little too big for her, so the pant legs had to be rolled up so as not to drag on the floor. And the black flip-flops she wore were a marked contrast to the heavy boots that most wear with a flight suit. But as she strode into the headquarters of the 121st Fighter

  • Airmen to improve intelligence support during exercise

    Members of the 693rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group will observe and learn how the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System enterprise operates worldwide during Sentinel Focus 2009 to be held Aug. 2 to 6. Headed up by the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

  • Joan Orr Spouse Award open for nominations

    Air Force members can now submit nominations for their spouse as the 2010 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year. The period of the award runs Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2009. The Joan Orr Spouse of the Year Award is sponsored by the Air Force Association and honors the significant contributions made by

  • Photo essay: Airborne training!

    The 342nd Training Squadron here conducted joint competency airborne training with an aircrew from the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 at Joint Reserve Base/Naval Station Fort Worth, Texas. The jumpers were survival, evasion, resistance and escape, or SERE, specialists, Marines,

  • Combat weather Airmen test out new initiative

    Combat weather Airmen from the 93rd Air Ground and Operations Wing, as well as units from all over the world are currently participating in a training exercise here to test a new total-force initiative. The total-force initiative proposes the need to consolidate training locations and resources for

  • July 23 airpower summary: F-15s provide cover for coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Lashkar Gah, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's provided armed

  • Solar wall saves Air Force money

    Air Force officials installed their first solar wall here in November 2008, and have saved the base $15,000 in energy bills so far. Francis Sheridan, the Elmendorf Air Force Base resource efficiency manager, was responsible for brainstorming the idea to install solar walls on the west and east sides

  • Secretary Donley visits mobility air forces competition

    The secretary of the Air Force received an in-depth look at the mobility world during a visit here July 22 for Air Mobility Rodeo 2009. Secretary Michael B. Donley toured the competition, met with Airmen and international partners, and experienced the sights and sounds of the many Rodeo events. "It

  • 2 Tuskegee Airmen visit Rodeo

    Two of the famous Tuskegee Airmen visited the Air Mobility Rodeo's opening ceremonies here July 19 to meet with competitors and share their stories. Retired Lt. Cols. Edward Drummond Jr. and Bill Holloman both spent time at McChord Air Force Base while in the service, and both now live in the

  • Air Force, community support Airman following surgical complications

    A 9th Intelligence Squadron Airman assigned to Beale Air Force Base, Calif., is hospitalized at the University of California Davis Medical Center. Airman 1st Class Colton Read is being treated there following complications from a July 9 surgery at the David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force

  • Unmanned aircraft take on increased importance

    The U.S. military's expanded overseas use of unmanned aircraft highlights the increased importance of such aerial platforms to current and future military operations, senior Air Force officers said here July 23. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan announced July 23 will serve as a template for

  • C-17 aircrew delivers RAAF fire truck during Talisman Saber 2009

    C-17 Globemaster III aircrew maneuvering below canyon walls, landed on a remote dirt runway to deliver a team of Australian and U.S. firefighters, along with a 23-ton fire truck July 19 during a mission in Northern Australia. This mission, part of Exercise Talisman Saber 2009, was to deliver a Royal

  • AMC commander: Rodeo beneficial for all participants

    Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 brings not only a serious competition, but also a plethora of shared knowledge and lessons learned, said the commander of Air Mobility Command. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte said the rich heritage and the 2,500 people from bases around the world participating in the event create an

  • Siblings reunite at Joint Base Balad

    For many families, deployments mean being apart from loved ones. For siblings Staff Sgt. Alissa Taylor and Senior Airman Robert Laxton a deployment to Joint Balad Base is a family reunion. "Back home, it's difficult to schedule time to see each other," said Sergeant Taylor, a 64th Expeditionary

  • July 21 airpower summary: A-10s pound anti-coalition forces in Afghanistan

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Surkhabad Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's released GBU-38's on an

  • July 22 airpower summary: F-15s provide overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Asmar, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's provided armed overwatch for

  • All eyes on total force Pacific Angel team

    A total force team of U.S. military eye specialists is worked together here to improve the eyesight of local East Timorese people as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009 in July. Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces humanitarian assistance operation in the Asia-Pacific region led by 13th Air Force

  • CCAF: A powerful weapon system in recruiting arsenal

    The Community College of the Air Force staff helps Air Education and Training Command officials accomplish their educational mission by attracting young men and women before they enter Basic Military Training. Staff Sgt. Charly Moreau of the 349th Recruiting Squadron can attest to the impact of the

  • Air Force's newest mobile air shelter part of Rodeo

    Contingency response Airmen competed using the Air Force's newest mobile air shelter during the Air Mobility Rodeo July 20 here.The hardside expandable light air mobile shelter is a command and control mobile air shelter designed to be set up on a new airfield within 48 hours and is teh first year

  • 'Flying Tigers' take mission to Afghanistan

    American volunteers flying shark-faced P-40 Tomahawks protected China during World War II, and their legacy has become a fixture in the war in Afghanistan.In homage to the storied airmen of the past, the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., has the iconic

  • Hawaii Guard members give Pacific Angel a lift

    More than 80 active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve medical and engineering Airmen are providing humanitarian assistance in Indonesia and Timor Leste with help from the Hawaii Air National Guard. A C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from the 204th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii,

  • Obama praises Senate vote on F-22 funding

    President Barack Obama praised a Senate vote that struck down $1.75 billion in additional funding in the fiscal 2010 defense budget for more F-22 Raptor fighter jets July 21 here. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recommended to the president earlier this year to end production of the F-22 at the

  • Photo essay: Realistic training with Red Flag

    Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted within the 15,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range complex, north of Las Vegas. Red Flag is managed by the 414th Combat Training Squadron and is one of a

  • Wounded Airman, wife use lessons from adversity to help others

    A wounded Airman and his wife plan to use the lessons they've learned about marriage and friendship through military service and adversity to help servicemembers who might be struggling after deployment or injury. Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon was wounded Oct. 24, 2007, while inspecting an improvised

  • Airmen's time tour makes follow-up visits

    In today's fast-paced, resourced-constrained environment, Air Force officials here said they are attempting to return a precious commodity to Airmen: time. A team, chartered by Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, the deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, will visit units at 11 Air Force

  • Aeromedical evac teams face off at Rodeo 2009

    Air Mobility Command's Rodeo 2009 continued July 20 here with numerous events including the aeromedical evacuation competition which tested the skills of aeromedical evacuation crews from around the world. The aeromedical evacuation events, which range from patient-offload tests to a timed scenario

  • 33rd Rescue Squadron wins 2009 Verne Orr Award

    The 33rd Rescue Squadron here was named the 2009 Verne Orr Award winner recently. Established by the Air Force Association in honor of Verne Orr, a former secretary of the Air Force, the award is presented annually and highlights any unit, regardless of size, that excelled above all others in using

  • Guam Airmen honor fallen aircrew with memorial

    As citizens of Guam made preparations to celebrate the island's 65th anniversary of liberation from foreign occupation, a group of government, civilian and military officials here paused July 20 to remember the six Airmen who died when their B-52 Stratofortress -- call sign RAIDR 21 -- crashed off

  • Tinker refurbishes F-22 air turbines

    As part of a new cooperative agreement, air turbines and more than 30 other components from the F-22 Raptor now undergo maintenance here.In a joint agreement between private manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and the Air Force, workers from the 550th Commodities Maintenance Squadron now

  • Family, friends gather to remember fallen crew of RAIDR 21

    The morning of July 21, 2008, six Airmen set out from Andersen Air Base, Guam, in their B-52 Stratofortress, call sign RAIDR 21, on what would be their final mission. Today, one year later, a small, solemn ceremony took place here in remembrance of the fallen RAIDR 21 Airmen: Maj. Chris Cooper,

  • Guard members bring unique skills to war effort

    A ground theater air control systems unit from the Wisconsin's Air National Guard deployed here in May brought experience and expertise to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The 128th Air Control Squadron from Volk Field, Wis., joined forces with their active-duty counterparts at the

  • Indonesian, U.S. team keeps water flowing for village

    Air Force civil engineers joined Indonesian military members and civilians to provide water to a rural Indonesian village here July 17. The Airmen, here as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009, worked alongside Indonesian counterparts to install a water pump and more than 900 feet of water

  • Heritage activities offer chance to volunteer

    Have some spare time on your hands? Want to give back to the Air Force community? The heritage activities in Air Force Materiel Command are looking for volunteers to help support museum operations. In addition to the National Museum of the United States Air Force here, AFMC officials have 14

  • Disassembly project to provide data to F-15 maintainers

    In a small building in the nearby town of Byron, Ga., five people are working on a painstaking project that could significantly impact the future of the F-15 Eagle. The crew from S&K Technologies is completely disassembling an F-15D fighter jet. The purpose of the project is to give Air Force

  • Total force impact evident at Rodeo

    The Air Force's total force concept is clearly on display at Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 here. Not only are lessons learned from interaction with Marine Corps members and international counterparts participating in the competition, but also from the coordinating components within the Air Force -- the

  • July 20 airpower summary: C-130s transport troops, cargo

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Qalat, Navy F/A-18E-F Super Hornets and Air Force B-1B Lancers

  • Humanitarian assistance team completes evaluation at Andersen

    After three days of simulations and exercises, the Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team, or HARRT, successfully completed its first operational utility evaluation here July 13 through 17. Combining the capabilities of the people in the 36th Contingency Response Group and the 36th Medical

  • Air Force to hire civilians to manage unit programs

    Squadrons with more than 50 military and civilian members could start seeing relief in managing their additional duties as early as this fall, with a 1,200 newly created civilian unit program coordinator positions. Feedback from the 2008 Airman's Time Assessment revealed Airmen were being pulled

  • Airmen keep exercise participants flying high down under

    The Northern Australian Outback offers many dangers to those who venture across its terrain, including six of the most venomous snakes in the world, saltwater crocodiles, and multiple poisonous insects. However, it is the young tigers, eagles and hornets in Australia's sky that are garnering much

  • July 19 airpower summary: Pave Hawks save lives

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Konduz, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's provided shows of force on

  • July 18 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Lashkar, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's strafed an enemy position

  • Mother Nature never takes breaks, neither do weather Airmen

    Even with today's modern aircraft technology, one uncontrollable factor -- the weather -- is often the deciding factor as to whether an aircraft gets off the ground. But uncontrollable doesn't mean unpredictable. Here in Southwest Asia, the eight-member weather flight of the 379th Expeditionary

  • LULAC, DOD honor citizen warriors at awards breakfast

    The League of United Latin American Citizens conference and exposition focused on diversity, outreach and military partnership with a co-sponsored Department of Defense Armed Forces Award Breakfast at the Puerto Rican Convention Center here July 16. LULAC National President Rosa Rosales; Brig. Gen.

  • British cadets nurture 'spirit of adventure' at Ramstein

    England's Air Training Corps sent numerous cadets to Ramstein Air Base in July in hopes to guide their cadets "to foster the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship."As one of the goals for cadets according to the Air Cadet Organization's Web site, cultivating

  • Remote ground radar keeps AOR personnel safe

    Danger is ever present in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. In Southwest Asia, there is a squadron dedicated to keeping Airmen safe by providing a complete snapshot of the battlespace. The more than 100 personnel from the 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron keep U.S. and coalition

  • Air Force officials establish core team for Nuclear Surety Inspections

    Air Force Inspection Agency officials here recently created a new team to increase the standardization and consistency of Nuclear Surety Inspections across the Air Force. The establishment of a centralized team of nuclear inspectors, known as the Air Force NSI Core Team, is another critical

  • Iraqi children get a kick out of donations

    Airmen and Soldiers here prepared and delivered donations from a stateside fraternity to Iraqi children who live near Joint Base Balad July 14 and 15. The Pennsylvania State University chapter of the social fraternity Phi Kappa Tau supports programs that increase the quality of life for terminally

  • Airmen open medical clinic in Indonesia

    Residents from this rural area of Indonesia were already waiting for medical services by the time American and Indonesian medical professionals opened a clinic at 8 a.m. July 16 at a local elementary school here.More than 300 patients were seen by medics in just the first day as word at the

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualties from F-15E crash

    Department of Defense officials here July 19 announced the names of two Airmen who died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in a nonhostile F-15E Strike Eagle crash July 18 near Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Killed were: -- Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minn. He was assigned to the 336th

  • July 17 airpower summary: B-1Bs strike enemy forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Surkhabad, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and B-1B Lancers released

  • Airmen, KC-135s support exercise in Australia

    Two KC-135 Stratotankers delivered 140,000 pounds of fuel to two B-52 Stratofortresses participating in Talisman Saber 09, currently underway in Australia, and scheduled through July 25. Talisman Saber is a U.S. Pacific Command-directed, bilateral command post and field-training exercise designed to

  • Air Guard flight crews undergo water survival training

    Thirty-five F-16 pilots and flight surgeons assigned to the 182nd Fighter Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base participated in required water survival and rescue training here. Members were briefed on the availability and use of tools contained in their survival gear. The water instruction ended with

  • UAS sensor operator training to begin at Randolph

    Air Force officials recently gave Randolph Air Force Base instructors the green light to begin training the next generation of enlisted sensor operators to support unmanned aircraft systems. Stemming from the high demand for unmanned aircraft and operators, the 1UOX1 Air Force Specialty Code career

  • Defense Department must end business as usual, Gates says

    Defense spending and program priorities cannot be divorced from the very real threats of today and the growing ones of tomorrow, the defense secretary told hundreds of members of the Economics Club of Chicago here July 16. "We stand at a crossroads," Robert M. Gates said. "It is time to draw the

  • July 16 airpower summary: F-16s support warfighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Surkhabad, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons demonstrated a show of

  • Airmen help hundreds in Timor Leste

    Thirty-seven Airmen from various medical and engineering units across the Air Force treated more than 300 East Timorese people as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009 at a local school here July 16. Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces humanitarian assistance operation aimed at improving military

  • AFOTEC members put unmanned aircraft through paces

    It's no secret that unmanned aircraft are widely used in today's war to provide information, surveillance and armed reconnaissance. What's not widely known is the evaluation process these aircraft go through before they are delivered to the warfighter. Members of Detachment 5 of the Air Force

  • USAFE officials stand up air ground operations wing

    The stand up of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's first wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen took place during a July 16 ceremony at Ramstein Air Base. The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing takes over the mission previously performed by two 86th Airlift Wing units here -- the Contingency

  • Photo essay: Alaskan load crews compete

    Aircrews from the 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here participated recently in a load crew of the quarter competition.  The competition demonstrated and tested quick weapons turn around.  View slideshow.

  • Task group recommends reconstruction of civilian personnel system

    A Defense Business Board task group has recommended reconstruction of the National Security Personnel System. Rudy DeLeon, the chairman of the group and former deputy defense secretary, said NSPS, a pay-for-performance system, tried to do "too much, too quickly," and his group recommended the

  • Chief Roy explains his road to CMSAF

    After completing high school, there wasn't much happening in Monroe, Mich., in 1982 for James A. Roy. He wanted to do something with his life where he could get some training and an education. He wanted to do something that wasn't what everyone else was doing. He enlisted as an airman basic in

  • Charleston officials provide dignified transfer training for Army chaplains

    More than 170 Army chaplain candidates gathered on the flightline here July 14 to receive training in the honors given to fallen servicemembers during dignified transfers of human remains. Last August, officials at the Army Chaplain Center and School at Fort Jackson, S.C., began coordinating with

  • 2010 Verne Orr Award nominations open

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here are now accepting nominations for the 2010 Verne Orr Award. The Verne Orr Award is sponsored by the Air Force Association and recognizes an Air Force unit which makes the most effective use of its human resources. The award is open to all Air Force units and

  • July 15 airpower summary: Reaper provides topcover

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Qalat, an Air Force MQ-9A Reaper released several guided bomb

  • 12-nation Heavy Airlift Wing takes flight with first C-17

    Twelve nations saw their dreams of strategic airlift come true as the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing they've built from scratch in less than a year received the "keys" to its first C-17 Globemaster III July 14 in Long Beach, Calif. During a ceremony at Boeing's final assembly facility, Col. John

  • 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year highlighted

    The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year are selected based on superior leadership, job performance, significant self-improvement/ personal achievements and base/community involvement. The Air Force Chief of Staff reviews the selections. The selections for the 2009 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

  • Weapons loaders arm jets for the fight

    Without the work of Airmen who load munitions on aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcons in the fight here would be no different than any commercial airliner in terms of strike capability. Combat missions occur around the clock here and weapons loaders from the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance

  • Photo essay: lock and load

    Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here protect the base and patrol around the perimeter.View the lock and load slideshow.

  • Airman's Roll Call: 12 Outstanding Airmen

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on this year's top enlisted members, the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.  An Air Force selection board recently selected them out of 33 nominees representing major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and the Air Staff. They are

  • July 14 airpower summary: F-15Es hit enemy positions

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Asmar, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force to

  • Hobby earns Spangdahlem Airman $10K

    Simpler, easier to use and saves time. This is not an ad for a new cleaning product, these are qualities being used to describe a new Web-based program the intelligence office here is employing to track training requirements. The new program dubbed "SpIDER System" is the creation of Master Sgt.

  • July 13 airpower summary: A-10s protect coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Ghazni, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force to

  • 17th Air Force members support presidential visit to Ghana

    Before President Barack Obama could land in Accra July 10, Airmen, Sailors and Marines were on the ground days in advance preparing for the visit.More than 150 Airmen in Accra and more than 1,000 Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima came together to form a task force to support the

  • 1st Combat Comm Airmen support presidential visit to Ghana

    More than 150 Airmen of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron set up forward communications for the President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana in July. The Airmen joined Marines in Accra and more than 1,000 Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima to form a task force to support the president's