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  • Air Force, contracting officer earn DOD honors

    Department of Defense officials honored the U.S. Air Force with two small business awards -- one for outstanding performance within an individual small business emphasis area, the other recognized the contracting professional of the year. The Air Force received recognition for its leadership in

  • Act increases bonuses, education benefits for reserve

    Increased education benefits and more flexibility in awarding bonuses are among the quality-of-life improvements targeting National Guard and Reserve servicemembers in the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act.The act also provides for changes in how guardsmen and reservists are mobilized and

  • Air Force’s top leaders visit Southwest Asia

    The Air Force’s top civilian, officer and enlisted leaders visited more than 5,000 Airmen at this forward-deployed location Nov. 4 as they kicked off their swing through Southwest Asia.Sporting the Air Force’s new proposed utility uniform, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche, Chief of

  • Air Force selects 32 captains for intern program

    The Air Force Intern Program Central Selection Board selected 32 captains from among 487 candidates nominated by senior raters from across the Air Force. The board was held Sept. 20 to 24 at the Air Force Personnel Center here.The 18- to 24-month program combines hands-on experience as an intern in

  • Multinational exercise begins in South Atlantic

    The Atlantic phase of Unitas, the largest and longest-held naval exercise in the Americas, began here Nov. 3. This two-week exercise incorporates for the first time a U.S. Air Force unit that joins ships, aircraft and submarines from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and the United States.The 5th

  • Deployed Airmen getting new physical training uniform first

    When the Air Force chief of staff announced a new fitness standard in July 2003, he promised Airmen a new physical training uniform in which to prepare. That new uniform is now ready, and Airmen serving in Southwest Asia will be the first to get them, said Senior Master Sgt. Jacqueline Dean, the Air

  • Commissary scholarship program enters fifth year

    Applications are now available at commissaries and online for $1,500 academic scholarships for children of active-duty, Guard and Reserve servicemembers and retirees. The application window for the 2005 Scholarships for Military Children program closes Feb. 16.In five years, the Defense Commissary

  • Airmen may wear medals while awaiting system updates

    Air Force officials want to assure Airmen that wearing eligible decorations is authorized, even if they are not currently reflected in the military personnel data system.The affected decorations include the Korean Defense Service Medal, Gallant Unit Citation/Meritorious Unit Award, Global War on

  • American Indian business ‘proud provider’ to Uncle Sam

    During the War of 1812, a group of American Indians living in Alabama supported the United States in that war against Great Britain. Today, Poarch Creek Indians in Atmore, Ala., own and work in a company whose products find their way to Air Force warfighters.The tribal-owned small business, whose

  • Gary Sinise visits Luke, performs for troops

    Best known for his “Forrest Gump” character, Gary Sinise and his band named for the character, the Lt. Dan Band, came here to perform for servicemembers and their families.Mr. Sinise has been involved with veteran's groups for 20 years and has been performing with the United Service Organizations

  • Leaders unveil updated utility uniform colors, pattern

    Responding to Airmen’s feedback, Air Force leaders unveiled an alternative utility uniform color scheme and pattern Nov. 2 as part of the ongoing wear-test that was announced in August 2003.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper and Chief Master

  • DOD schools launch customer-satisfaction survey

    Department of Defense Education Activity officials want to hear the opinions of students, parents and teachers. They launched the 2004 customer-satisfaction survey Nov. 1.The survey is open to all 4th- to 12th-grade education activity students, their parents or sponsors, and teachers. The survey

  • Task forces enhance global mobility support

    Air Mobility Command’s expeditionary mobility task forces, now a year old, were highlighted during the 2004 Airlift/Tanker Association Convention here Oct. 29.Brig. Gen. Bobby J. Wilkes, commander of the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., described the units as

  • Law allows write-in ballot for U.S.-based troops, families

    The fiscal 2005 National Defense Authorization Act has made two changes available for some stateside voters, effective, where applicable, for the Nov. 2 election. Changes are: -- Servicemembers on active duty, in the Merchant Marine or a family member living in the United States but not at their

  • AFIT honors 2004 distinguished alumni

    The Air Force Institute of Technology honored two 2004 distinguished alumni here Oct. 29. Retired Maj. Gen. Robert R. Rankine and Dr. Edward T. Curran were selected for their pioneering roles in science, engineering and education.“The title of ‘distinguished alumnus’ is the highest honor that AFIT

  • Guardsmen making K-2 connections

    The C-130 Hercules aircrew from Saint Joseph, Mo., was told the night before that its mission tasking, called a frag (fragmentary order), was to fly supplies from Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, known as K-2, to Fire Base Salerno, Afghanistan.It was going to be a quick offload for the Missouri

  • Picture-perfect painting

    Aircraft leaving the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here make one final stop to complete the cycle of programmed depot maintenance.That stop is the paint hangar. What comes in are aircraft fresh from their test flights. What rolls out are planes freshly primed, painted and stenciled.The

  • Pennsylvania extends absentee-voter deadline

    Military and civilian residents of Pennsylvania living overseas received an eight-day extension on the deadline to get their absentee ballots counted.The extension came about when a federal judge settled a lawsuit Oct. 29 between the governor of Pennsylvania and the parents of two servicemembers,

  • 'Newslink' provides news from across Iraq

    Airmen deployed to Iraq, and their family and friends back home, now have an updated resource to help them stay current on Air Force news throughout the country.Iraq Newslink is a Web site built specifically to tell stories of deployed Airmen.The site, located at www.afnews.af.mil/iraq/index.htm, is

  • British team shoots to top at Defender Challenge 2004

    An eight-person British team took home the top award at the worldwide security forces competition Defender Challenge 2004 held here Oct. 22 to 28.The Royal Air Force Regiment took first in the grueling fitness challenge event and third in the Sadler Cup tactical exercise. These wins earned them the

  • Airmen roll past 1 million convoy miles

    The convoy escorts of the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron rolled over an impressive milestone recently when its Airmen passed 1 million miles driven for missions throughout Iraq.“From my standpoint, it’s a tremendous milestone,” said Col. Eric Pohland, 732nd Expeditionary Mission

  • New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1

    A new chief master sergeant of the Air Force insignia debuts Nov. 1, and stands out as a highly distinguished symbol representative of all Airmen, officials said.The new insignia contains the Great Seal of the United States of America and two stars in the upper blue field. The chevrons and the

  • Air Force institute honors researchers

    Air Force Institute for National Security Studies officials honored two researchers Oct. 26 at their annual conference here.Majs. William Casebeer and Troy Thomas received the Maj. Gen. Robert E. Linhard Award in recognition of their research titled: “Violent Systems: Defeating Terrorists,

  • Two Air Force units win DOD maintenance awards

    Two Air Force units were awarded Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards in recognition of outstanding achievements in field-level military equipment and weapon system maintenance during an awards banquet here Oct. 27.The 509th Munitions Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., won the recognition

  • ‘The Bird’ hopes to fend off ‘Aubie’ in mascot competition

    After defeating the University of Minnesota’s Goldie the gopher and Western Kentucky University’s Big Red, the Air Force Academy’s The Bird is now tied for the lead in the Mascot of the Year competition.“Those guys were pretty tough,” The Bird said. “Goldie’s a clever little dude with that tail of

  • DOD officials 'pause' anthrax vaccination program

    Department of Defense officials are "pausing" the anthrax vaccination program while they review a preliminary injunction issued Oct. 27 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.The injunction did not question the safety and effectiveness of the anthrax vaccine or the DOD immunization

  • Airmen prepare for humanitarian relief efforts

    More than 120 active-duty and Reserve Airmen from the 322nd Air Expeditionary Group arrived here Oct. 23 and 24 to set up airlift operations for the African Union. Within 48 hours, the Airmen established lodging, food service, communications, transportation, maintenance and public affairs. They

  • Leaders call for evaluation of suicide prevention efforts

    Air Force senior leaders are calling for commanders to conduct full reviews of suicide prevention efforts and to ensure that all Airmen are aware of resources such as life skills and other support agencies to address the service’s highest suicide rate in nine years.As of Oct. 27, 46 active-duty

  • New civilian personnel system brings sweeping changes

    The new human resource system known as the National Security Personnel System is scheduled to start for an initial 100,000 Department of Defense employees in the summer of 2005, Roger M. Blanchard said here Oct 25. He is the Air Force assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel Air Force

  • New office focusing on improving joint operations

    While U.S. military forces deployed to the Middle East continue operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaders at home are applying lessons learned from the campaigns to improve joint operations between the Air Force and Army.The first of nearly 20 Air Force and Army initiatives toward improving joint

  • Guard chaplains minister to wounded troops

    There was no doubt in anyone's mind, including his wife's and his father's, that Arkansas Army National Guard Spc. Ronald Baker was going to die. All that kept the man from Cabot, Ark., alive at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany was a life support system and his wife's concern for his

  • Four of a kind makes ‘six-pack’ for Edwards family

    As parents prepare to pick costumes for their children this Halloween, the Kearl family here will pick out six -- two for 3-year-olds Tanner and Hunter and four for 1-year-old quadruplets Cassie, Nathan, Jayson and Bryan.The Kearl family was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., when

  • AWACS tests new identification system

    Years of preparation paid off for the Airborne Warning and Control Systems Program Office during the test of a capability which will reduce the possibility of friendly-fire accidents.The test, held recently at the Navy test range at Patuxent River, Md., examined a new AWACS Identification Friend or

  • ‘Quiet Professionals’ praised by AFSOC commander

    The leader of the “Quiet Professionals” had plenty to say about the contributions Air Force Special Operations Command’s nearly 20,000 Airmen have made to the war on terrorism.“The men and women we have in our command are awesome, and it shows,” said Lt. Gen. Michael W. Wooley, AFSOC

  • Deployed Airmen build a better life in Kyrgyzstan

    Airmen deployed from the 78th Civil Engineer Group and 778th Civil Engineer Squadron here have their hands full.Nearly 100 Airmen from the two units have been working up to 16 hours a day, maintaining facilities and providing engineering design and construction for more than $35 million in new

  • Officials announce 2004 awards for air mobility excellence

    Airlift/Tanker Association officials recently announced the 2004 award winners for excellence within the air mobility community.The association recognized 27 people in five categories. These Airmen will be honored at its annual convention in Dallas on Oct. 29.The Young Leadership Award is presented

  • Online write-in absentee ballot offered for overseas voters

    Deployed or stationed overseas and still waiting for your state absentee ballot to arrive in the mail? There's no need to sweat it out any more.The online federal write-in absentee ballot gives U.S. citizens overseas who haven't yet received the absentee ballots they applied for the chance to vote

  • Crash victim identified

    Department of Defense officials identified an Airman who died in Afghanistan on Oct. 21.Airman 1st Class Jesse M. Samek, 21, of Rogers, Ark., died Oct. 21 from injuries he received when an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed during a medical-evacuation mission. He was a flight engineer assigned to

  • Elmendorf 'charged' by new technology

    Firefighters here may not look like modern-day energy pioneers, but they are, because of an innovative fuel cell project that is being tested in a fire station here. The project sounds a lot like a chemistry experiment."The fuel cell uses electrochemical energy conversion that combines oxygen and

  • Airman cashes in on pair of IDEAs

    An Airman’s pair of suggestions to have depot-level maintenance done at the wing level saved the Air Force more than $2.7 million and earned him two checks for $10,000 and $8,000 respectively, from the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Tech. Sgt. Mark Kobayashi, an Air Force

  • Air Force holds off Cal Baptist, 10-9, in water polo

    Despite a late rally by No. 18 California Baptist University, the 17th-ranked Air Force Academy water polo team was able to hang on for a 10-9 victory as Eric Swenson scored the winning goal in the final game of the Rocky Mountain Showdown here Oct. 17.Early on, it looked as if the Falcons (4-14)

  • Officials activate National Security Space Institute

    Air Force Space Command officials stood up a space education and training organization here recently that they said will provide the foundation to creating a new generation of space professionals. The National Security Space Institute will be the Department of Defense's single focal point for space

  • Airman’s American journey spans 13 years, two countries

    “My parents told us we were going to Disneyland, but they told me not to bring any clothes or toys because they would buy us new ones.”That was how Senior Airman Jesus Espinoza Ogarcia, now assigned to the 14th Medical Operations Squadron, was persuaded to leave his home in Puebla, Mexico, when he

  • Active-duty, reservists combine forces in Afghan sky

    In the Afghanistan sky, the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has a “rainbow” effect. Air Force Reserve and active-duty pilots have teamed together for an air and space expeditionary force deployment here to protect U.S. and coalition people from attackers whose aim is to disrupt the national

  • Thrift Savings Plan kicks off open season

    The federal government's Thrift Savings Plan kicked off its 2004 "open season" Oct. 15 with slogans to remind servicemembers and civilian government employees that they can increase their retirement coffers substantially by investing in TSP, a 401K-type savings program.Open season -- the period when

  • Internet coupons stretch commissary customers' savings

    Commissary shoppers are among the top coupon clippers in the world, but the "clipping" part may someday be history. The Defense Commissary Agency is helping customers increase their savings by making Internet coupon links available on the agency's Web site."Although we sell groceries at cost, we

  • Deployed postal workers help build morale

    In a deployed environment, morale is very important and comes in many forms, shapes and sizes, but often by mail.Three Airmen here are responsible for delivering mail to more than 2,500 people.“We can’t put a number on how many pieces of mail we get, but it’s around 2,600 pounds a day,” said Tech.

  • Family support centers target programs

    Family support centers around the Air Force are changing the way they do business to better serve the needs of communities.“Traditionally, we served customers who came into the center,” said Linda Olivia Smith, chief of Air Force family matters. “Now we’re doing more outreach -- going to the

  • Holiday greetings team visits Gwangju

    A lot of “I love you” and well wishes were spoken here Oct. 12 when 126 Airmen and Soldiers sent their holiday greetings home.An Army and Air Force Hometown News Service holiday greetings team stopped here as part of a worldwide tour to film messages from servicemembers to air on their hometown

  • Reserve unit begins deactivating

    Already hard-pressed aircrews at this active airlift hub will be even busier starting in December when two Reserve squadrons begin deactivating after two years on active duty.The 97th and 728th Airlift Squadrons, of the Air Force Reserve’s 446th Airlift Wing here, mobilized in February 2003. Both

  • Airman, wife arrested in murder plot

    Civilian authorities arrested an Airman from here and his wife Oct. 13 in a murder-for-hire scheme. He was already in custody at a local holding facility facing separate Air Force charges.Staff Sgt. Matthew Gladue, a weather systems technician with the 51st Combat Communications Squadron, and his

  • USO honors Airman at gala event

    The United Service Organizations honored an Airman from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, at the 2004 USO Gala here Oct. 14 for his unhesitating courage in saving the lives of two children.Seeing smoke coming from a house and learning that children were trapped inside, Senior Airman Nicholas Semonelle,

  • Relationship, money issues face some returning combatants

    Money, intimacy and re-establishing their relationship as a couple and with their children are some of the challenging issues facing families when servicemembers return after months away in Iraq or Afghanistan. A team of mental-health professionals from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress,

  • New government Web site offers one-stop financial education

    The Defense Department is part of a multiagency effort that resulted in the debut of a federal government Web site devoted to financial education Oct. 12.The mymoney.gov site has been in the works since March, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission taking the lead role in its development, DOD

  • AEF Battlelab becomes Air Warfare Battlelab

    The Air Expeditionary Force Battlelab, which stood up here in July 1997, recently became the Air Warfare Battlelab. The change reflects the 2003 realignment under the Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and better matches operational and testing functions. The battlelab focuses on

  • C-141 schoolhouse closes at Wright-Pat

    Air Force Reserve Command officials shut down the C-141 Starlifter schoolhouse here Oct. 14.A ceremony marked the closing of the school, officially called the C-141 Formal Training Unit. It was managed by the 445th Airlift Wing. Use of the facility, the only one of its kind in the Air Force, ended

  • Air Force names public service award nominee

    Tech. Sgt. Joseph Kazimer III is the Air Force’s nominee for the 2005 National Public Service Award.Sergeant Kazimer is the assistant noncommissioned officer in charge of communications maintenance for the 702nd Munitions Support Squadron at Buechel Air Base, Germany.The sergeant is credited with

  • Student Civil Air Patrol program takes flight

    While some middle-school students spend their free time playing video games or watching television, a recently chartered organization here is giving future Airmen the opportunity to experience crossing into the blue as Civil Air Patrol cadets.Unlike ROTC, the cadets’ involvement is not graded as a

  • Physician assistants strong support for military medical units

    Every 15 minutes, Maj. James Kahler lifts a medical record from the rack, enters an exam room, and his hunt begins anew.Part medical detective, part complaint department head, part confession-hearing priest, Major Kahler weighs verbal feedback against diagnostic examination to determine a prognosis

  • Tankers fuel war on terror

    The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing’s tanker squadron plays an essential role in the war on terror. KC-10 Extenders are a key part of the wings’ mission to provide coalition aircraft greater range and endurance for missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.Pilots of the 908th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling

  • Combat controllers call in big guns for troops in Afghanistan

    They are respectfully referred to as “the guys with the beards,” by their fellow Airmen here. It is distinction that few American servicemembers in Afghanistan can claim. Dressed in unmarked desert camouflage uniforms, these distinctive Airmen convoy across the Afghan plains, trek through mountain

  • Now showing: Oct. 11 edition of AFTV News

    The continuing Air Force role in Operation Enduring Freedom highlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Tech. Sgt. Joy Josephson explains the resupply mission by Air National Guard C-130 Hercules units operating from Uzbekistan. Another aspect of the service’s contribution to peace

  • POL Airmen fuel the wing

    “Without fuel, pilots are pedestrians.” This is a phrase uttered by many fuels specialists over the years. At a forward-deployed location, it is no different; except the phrase should be expanded to people who drive vehicles and use air conditioners, generators and anything else not

  • William Tell competition resumes after eight-year break

    The Air Force’s first William Tell air-to-air competition in eight years takes flight at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 8 to 19.William Tell 2004 will test aircrew performance in the air dominance and air sovereignty missions, while evaluating weapons use and the tactics used. The meet also

  • Air Force receives top DOD-level award

    The U.S. Air Forces in Europe communications and information directorate, which oversees the Air Force's communications and information-management effort in the European theater, was given top honors in the chief information officer awards team category Oct. 7.Defense Department officials honored

  • Uniform board incorporates feedback, alters design

    Based on feedback from the six-month wear test, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper decided to expand the current test program to include a pixelated tiger-striped pattern in a new color scheme on the proposed utility uniform.The expansion does not involve a full test; instead, there will

  • 'Master problem solver' wins Air Force award

    The challenge of keeping his computer customers connected is what drives Tony Bufford, winner of the Air Force’s Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award for 2004.Mr. Bufford, system administrator for the 81st Supply and Transportation squadrons, was also Keesler’s nominee for the award in 2000

  • Junior ROTC expands, seeks retirees to teach at new units

    Airmen planning to retire within the next couple of years and Airmen who have retired within the past five years may want to look to Junior ROTC before storing their uniforms, said Jo Alice Talley. She is the Air Force Junior ROTC instructor management chief.Air Force Junior ROTC will add 201 units

  • General Martin withdraws PACOM nomination

    Gen. Gregory S. Martin requested his nomination to be commander of U.S. Pacific Command be withdrawn hours after his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing Oct. 6.A Pentagon statement said General Martin “has requested that his nomination by the Bush administration to be the new U.S.

  • Myers: Changing military culture key to transformation

    The most important area for transformation is the space "between our warfighters' ears," said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.During an interview, Gen. Richard B. Myers addressed the need for servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians to transform the way they think. He said DOD

  • Drum line teaches leadership

    Hearts race as walls pulsate, surrounded by the deafening beat of drums. The audience sits on the edge of its seat as quickening tempos bring the rhythm to new heights.This may be a common scene at any rock ‘n’ roll concert, but there are no paid performers laying down the beat. They are just

  • DEET first line of defense against insects

    Whether hiking in the woods at home or serving in the sands of the Middle East, Airmen need a repellent to shield themselves from biting insects.The active ingredient in most skin-applied repellents is commonly referred to as DEET. It is a must on almost every deployment checklist and for good

  • Officials unveil employment initiative for wounded vets

    Injured servicemembers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan will get individualized job training, counseling and re-employment services, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao said Oct. 4.During a signing ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, Ms. Chao joined Army Maj. Gen. Kenneth Farmer

  • Memphis Belle to find new home at AF Museum

    Air Force officials announced plans Oct. 4 to relocate the World War II B-17 "Memphis Belle" to the Air Force museum near Dayton, Ohio.No date has been set, but officials said they expect the move to occur before the end of the year in conjunction with activities planned to observe the 60th

  • AMC officials recognize civil reserve employees

    Air Mobility Command officials have begun awarding hundreds of Aerial Achievement Medals and thousands of certificates of appreciation to the employees of commercial air carriers called to duty during the Civil Reserve Air Fleet activation in 2003.The fleet of commercial passenger and cargo aircraft

  • Former Air Force official gets nine months in prison

    Darleen Druyun, former principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisitions and management, was sentenced Oct. 1, to nine months in federal prison by a U.S. District Court judge.Earlier this year, Ms. Druyun pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate Title 18, Section 208(a) of the

  • Tyndall's youth sports program earns award

    The youth center staff here will receive one of five 2004 Excellence in Youth Sports Awards from the National Alliance for Youth Sports and Athletic Business magazine. Baseball all-star Cal Ripkin Jr. will present the award Nov. 12 in Orlando, Fla.The award recognizes organizations worldwide that

  • DOD expands anthrax, smallpox vaccination programs

    Department of Defense is expanding its anthrax and smallpox immunization programs following an evaluation conducted by the Military Health System. Air Force officials released service-specific guidance recently.Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs,

  • Airmen use GBU-38 in combat

    During one particular night shift recently, a team primarily composed of Air National Guardsmen conducted the first successful drop of a GBU-38 bomb in combat.The majority of the people connected to the effort came from the Alabama Air National Guard and were supplemented by Airmen from Illinois and

  • Recruiter guilty in murder-for-hire plot

    After a two-week general court-martial, Tech. Sgt. Rodney Wells was found guilty here Oct. 1 of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted conspiracy to commit murder. Sergeant Wells was also found not guilty of a third charge, which included three specifications of solicitation to commit murder and

  • Reserve pilots not reserved when protecting ground troops

    Ammunitions troops here charged with reloading a wingman’s A-10 Thunderbolt II Gatling gun had a busy night recently, following his return. New Orleans Air Force Reserve pilots proved that they are anything but reserved when it comes to protecting U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan. In defense of a

  • Upcoming summit shapes new sexual-assault policies

    Decisions made at a senior-leader summit are expected to have a sweeping effect on the Defense Department's sexual-assault prevention and response efforts, said the task force commander charged with turning the group's recommendations into DOD-wide policies.The Oct. 6 summit, made up of senior

  • Airmen brace for new fitness test

    The Air Force chief of staff fired a shot across the bow in July 2003 that got the attention of Airmen everywhere.Gen. John P. Jumper forewarned that a new fit-to-fight program would replace the cycle ergometry test and encouraged everyone to get ready. Staff Sgt. Kurt Hartmann did not, and he paid

  • Academy Airmanship operations take flight under AETC

    The U.S. Air Force Academy’s airmanship operations realigned under the Air Education and Training Command as the newly named 306th Flying Training Group on Oct. 1.The operations are elective courses at the academy and are aimed at giving cadets firsthand knowledge and understanding of the flight

  • Air Force ROTC detachments remain open

    Five Air Force ROTC detachments previously identified for closure will remain open on a two-year period of evaluation, as recently approved by Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche.The detachments are at the University of Memphis in Tennessee; University of Cincinnati in Ohio; Wilkes

  • Missile crewmember deploys with refuelers

    Most Air Force missile crewmembers spend the majority of their time in an underground launch control center monitoring intercontinental ballistic missiles. But one missileer experienced deployed life in the flying world.First Lt. Joe Page, a missile combat crew commander from Minot Air Force Base,

  • ‘Eyes of the North’ steady as AF moves mission to Guard

    Defending the homeland is one of the key missions of the Air National Guard, and Oct. 1, the Alaska Air National Guard will officially assume operations of the Air Force’s regional air operation center here. The center’s mission is to provide ready teams to operate and maintain North American

  • Despite predictable weather, specialists still keep busy

    When an area averages an annual temperature of about 100 degrees and less than 1 inch of rain, a person could assume that the weather is fairly predictable. One could also assume that a bunch of weather specialists would not be gainfully employed at such a location. But then again, everyone knows

  • Despite danger, convoy Airmen keep on trucking

    The hours are long, and their jobs are dangerous, but Airmen keeping supply lines running on northern Iraq roads are determined to keep on trucking. That is because they realize the importance of what they do, said Capt. Harley Smith, commander of more than 140 Airmen assigned to Detachment 1 of the

  • Air Force wins 10th-straight Service Academy Golf Classic

    The Air Force Academy golf team extended its winning streak to 10 on Sept. 26 and 27 at the annual Service Academy Golf Classic, as the Falcons finished four strokes ahead of Army with a three-round total of 1,107. Navy was third in the team standings (1,132), while the Merchant Marines came in

  • Tennessee Guard moves, prepares for C-5s

    Air Force officials signed a land-exchange agreement with the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority on Sept. 20 allowing the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 164th Airlift Wing more space to convert from C-141B Starlifters to C-5 Galaxys.Fred Kuhn, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for

  • Airmen help save lives following UH-60 crash at Tallil

    Just after 9:20 p.m. Sept. 21, two Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters took off from the flightline here.Two minutes later, something went horribly wrong with one of them.“The first thing I heard was a loud, dull thud, kind of like a fist hitting a wooden wall,” said Senior Airman John Byrum, a

  • U.S. military supports South African trade show

    U.S. military equipment and Airmen from the New York Air National Guard are here for the Aerospace Exhibition.The event marks the first time aircraft and guardsmen from New York have participated in a South African air show, officials said.Visitors will get a close-up look at four static displays:

  • Gotta fix ‘em before you fly ‘em

    Nestled in a small, nondescript building among a dozen aircraft revetments here, the 353rd Maintenance Squadron’s consolidated tool kit section hums with activity around the clock.With more than 1,600 bench-stock items, 200 pieces of test equipment and 120 hazardous materials, it is the first and

  • Number of officers receiving command pay reduced

    Command Responsibility Pay now received by some field-grade officers in command positions will end in October.In a Sight Picture titled, “Recognizing the Responsibility of Command,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced the Air Force would reduce the number of command positions that

  • New joint command stands ready to defend capital

    A new headquarters here will concentrate the military mission to help defend the nation's capital.The Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region will guard America's "center of gravity," said Army Maj. Gen. Galen Jackman, the new organization's commander.The command unites all Defense

  • Air Force continues efforts to locate POWs, MIAs

    People of the missing persons branch at the Air Force Personnel Center here continue their efforts to account for Air Force prisoners of war and those missing in action. Their work goes on even after the annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day commemoratives have ended.Master Sgt. Cheryl Wells and

  • AFRL tests new firefighting technology

    A new method of extinguishing fires is currently being tested and may revolutionize the way the Air Force and the nation fight fires.The Air Force Research Laboratory’s deployed base systems branch here has been developing new firefighting technology for nearly two years. Dubbed the ultra-high

  • Command, control: Prescription for aeromedical-evacuation success

    A battlefield injury or illness poses a threat to those deployed worldwide. When that threat turns into reality, the Air Force’s extensive aeromedical-evacuation network ensures wounded warriors are moved rapidly to a medical facility to get the care they need. The expansive network includes Airmen

  • Special ops maintainers team up on Kadena's tiny troubles

    Ehren Wahl and Wesley Brown are both staff sergeants, they are assigned to the 353rd Maintenance Squadron, and they each have spent most of their careers here on Okinawa, a tiny island in southern Japan. That is where the similarities end.Sergeant Wahl is an outspoken, 24-year-old from New York who