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  • 1,367 selected for SMSgt

    More than 1,360 master sergeants out of 12,834 eligible, have been selected for promotion to senior master sergeant, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today. The selection list will be released Thursday, 8 a.m. central time, after commanders have been notified, said Senior Master Sgt.

  • DOD Implements Secure Program for Mobile Devices

    The Defense Department is rolling out a program that will allow users of a range of mobile devices -- working anywhere from remote battlefields to the Pentagon to rapidly share classified and protected data across all components.More than 600,000 DOD employees, from soldiers on the front lines to

  • Vietnam War vet receives Bronze Star

    An Air Force retiree received a Bronze Star Medal with valor and a Purple Heart at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph's Taj Mahal Feb. 15, nearly 48 years after rescuing officers and protecting military resources during a deployment to Vietnam in 1965. Placido Salazar, who joined the Air Force in 1956,

  • SecAF visits 45th Space Wing

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited with 45th Space Wing Airmen here Feb. 21 as part of a weeklong visit to Florida. The secretary visited Patrick to not only thank Airmen, civilian and military alike, for their outstanding service, but also to discuss the potential impacts the service

  • Academy glider instructor named most active in nation

    For Mark Matticola, a civilian soaring instructor pilot assigned to the 94th Flying Training Squadron, being recognized as the most active glider instructor in the nation by the Soaring Society of America was easy. "I get paid to do my hobby every day," said Matticola, who was recognized earlier

  • Humanitarian award nominees sought

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2013 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award.The Fisher Award is presented annually to an individual or organization outside the Department of Defense that has demonstrated exceptional patriotism, generosity and

  • PTSD and TBI: One Airman's road to recovery

    Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder have been two topics of great discussion recently, thanks to the debate going on in the National Football League and the recovery of veterans as they return home from the war in Afghanistan.One person who has experienced both and is on the

  • AF releases pay and allowances continuation program

    Air Force senior leaders recently released Air Force policy on the Pay and Allowance Continuation program for Airmen who become wounded or ill while supporting a combat contingency. With the release of the Air Force PAC program policy, AFGM 34-02, Airmen will now officially have their own policy,

  • Academy cadet's research could save AF $4.9 billion

    An Air Force Academy cadet's research into how the Air Force buys missiles could save the service as much as $4.9 billion over five years while increasing the Air Force's inventory.Cadet 1st Class Chris Kirk found that the Air Force can buy some of the missiles regularly used in combat operations

  • Transit Center maintainers keep C-17s mission-ready

    When two out of four of the Transit Center at Manas' mission pillars rely on the C-17 Globemaster III, it's important those aircraft are ready to fly. The Airmen assigned to the 728th Air Mobility Squadron Operating Location-Alpha are responsible for maintenance of the C-17, ensuring the aircraft

  • F-35s grounded as precaution after crack found in engine blade

    All F-35s have been grounded as a precaution after a routine engine inspection revealed a crack on an engine blade, Defense Department officials said Feb. 22 here.Officials call this a "cautionary suspension of flight." The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fly F-35s.Inspectors found the crack in an

  • SecAF discusses sequestration impacts at AFA

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed more than 500 men and women on the final day of the Air Force Association's 29th Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition Feb. 22 here.During his address, Donley spoke about several issues that are on the Air Force's radar, including budget

  • AF releases criteria for new combat medal

    Air Force officials released nomination criteria for the new Distinguished Warfare Medal Feb. 15, following defense officials' announcement of the new decoration days prior. The DWM will be awarded to honor individuals for single acts of extraordinary achievement, not involving acts of valor, that

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. View the slideshow.

  • TFSC-SA, AFPC Web applications unavailable for system maintenance

    The Total Force Service Center-San Antonio, A1 Service Desk and Air Force Personnel Center Web applications will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Feb. 23 to 8 a.m. Feb. 24 CDT for system maintenance. The major personnel applications and systems affected by this maintenance event include all of AFPC's

  • CSAF, CMSAF kickoff AFA Orlando, leave few dry eyes

    Two senior Air Force leaders addressed more than 500 people at the Air Force Association's 29th Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition here Feb. 21, 2013.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark. A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody took to the stage with several points to

  • Sergeant continues family tradition with 'Sounds of Harmony'

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) At the age of 10, his father asked him to be a part of something that would forever change his life.Blessed with a gift that had been genetically passed

  • Simulator prepares medical staff for obstetric emergencies

    Child birth, although a natural process, can sometimes pose certain emergency risks.Advances in technology however, have been able to significantly decrease these maternal and prenatal risks associated with child birth. Most notably, the 366th Medical Group Obstetric service boasts such technology

  • Photo Essay: Can you dig it?

    A joke that's often heard in communications squadrons throughout the Air Force is, "You can talk about us, but you can't talk without us!" Although it's meant it jest, there is some truth to it.Airmen in the Air Force's communications squadrons ensure we have the capability to communicate through

  • Air Force unit to improve airfield security in Slovenia

    Airmen from the 435th Contingency Response Group here traveled to Cerklje Air Base, Slovenia, to conduct a security familiarization event Jan. 21 - 25.The 435th CRG is a uniquely suited organization for the mission of building partnership. With 42 different career fields, the unit members can engage

  • If sequestration triggers, furloughs begin in late April

    If sequestration is triggered next week, unpaid furloughs for civilian Defense Department employees will start in late April, Pentagon officials said here today.Sequestration is a provision in budget law that will trigger major across-the-board spending cuts March 1 unless Congress agrees on an

  • New medal to retain place in order of precedence

    The new Distinguished Warfare Medal will retain its place in the order of precedence among military decorations, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here Feb. 19.Much of the public discussion of the new medal has centered on its precedence. It ranks below the Distinguished Flying Cross and

  • Air Force units help recover diverted Navy aircraft

    Airmen from units deployed in support of Cope North 13 transported an R-11 refueling truck on a C-130 Hercules aircraft from here to Rota Island Feb. 13, to recover a Navy F/A-18 Hornet that diverted there due to weather a day prior.With the combined effort of Airmen from the 374th Aircraft

  • Panetta notifies Congress DOD preparing for furloughs

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has notified Congress that the Defense Department is prepared to implement furloughs for civilian personnel in response to the threat of sequestration.In a memo to all employees, Panetta vowed to continue working with Congress to avoid sequestration, which would add

  • Panetta issues message to DOD workforce on sequestration

    With major, across-the-board defense spending cuts scheduled to take effect March 1, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today issued a message to the Defense Department workforce.Here is the secretary's message:For more than a year and a half, the president, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and I have

  • Cadets work to decrease bird strikes

    A group of U.S. Air Force Academy cadets is working to put a dent in bird strikes that are  directly linked to the deaths of 250 people in 25 years and the cause of more than $700 million in damage to military-owned aircraft annually. "The impetus behind this capstone course is the devastating cost

  • Medical wing, San Antonio hospital collaborate to hone AF nursing skills

    The Air Force partnered with a community hospital to develop highly-skilled nurses who are trained for humanitarian and peacetime missions. These medical Airmen's skills are proven to increase patient survival rates in theater hospitals.Building the partnership was instrumental in meeting an

  • Airman, executive mobility take flight

    The Air Force Space Command commander announced implementation steps in the Air Force's efforts to heighten the Air Force's mobile operational potential of its Airmen and the real-time functionality of its executives. The first stage of distribution of mobile devices is focused on delivering

  • 2012 climate survey shows overall satisfaction with jobs, leaders

    More than 163,000 Airmen voiced their opinions in the online Air Force Climate Survey conducted May 11 - June 22, with results indicating Airmen are satisfied with unit performance and trust their leaders, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today.Conducted every two years, the climate survey

  • First Afghan Air Force C-208 CASEVAC a success

    In another historic step for the Afghan Air Force, an AAF Cessna 208 configured for battlefield casualty evacuation successfully transported a seriously injured soldier and three minor casualties from Kandahar, Afghanistan to Kabul International Airport Feb. 11. The Afghan-tasked, planned and led

  • ACC continues planning for sequestration impacts

    Air Combat Command officials continue to take actions to slow, and within the near-term dramatically restrict, fiscal 2013 spending in light of pending sequestration and a projected $1.8 billion shortfall in overseas contingency funding."We are prioritizing our efforts to sustain force structure and

  • AF splits space, missile career field for officers

    The Air Force has split the space and missile career field in an effort to ensure more focused development for officers performing these critical missions in increasingly complex operational environments, Air Force officials announced today.Under the old construct, more than 50 percent of

  • SecDef announces Distinguished Warfare Medal

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has approved a new medal designed to recognize service members directly affecting combat operations who may not even be on the same continent as the action.The Distinguished Warfare Medal recognizes the changing face of warfare. In the past, few, if any, service

  • Lazyman inspires participants to overcome obstacles

    Adapt and adjust.Tech. Sgt. Tawanna Sellars has heard those words countless times during her Air Force career. When Lt. Col. Robb Owens stepped into the 50th Space Wing Safety office a couple of weeks ago and announced he had signed every active-duty member of the office up for the base's Lazyman

  • AF airlift support to Mali hits 2 million-pound mark

    The Air Force reached a major milestone Feb. 12 when the service hit the 2 million pounds of cargo transported mark during airlift operations from Istres, France to Bamako, Mali and other partner nations in support of French military operations in Northern Africa. At the request of the French

  • Nellis prepares for F-35 arrival

    The 57th Wing is preparing for the arrival of four F-35 Lighting IIs Feb. 28.Arrival of the F-35s to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., will mark the first time in the aircraft's history operational tests will be performed on the aircraft."It's the largest [Department of Defense] acquisition project in

  • Former MTI sentenced during sexual misconduct trial

    In what has become the eighth courts martial in a series of allegations against military training instructors accused of various forms of sexual misconduct or assault, a former MTI was sentenced during a trial at Joint Base San Antonio -- Lackland, Texas.A sentence was returned Feb. 14 in the

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • AF implements enlisted date of separation rollback

    The Air Force will implement the enlisted date of separation rollback program this fiscal year, in addition to several voluntary force management programs that were announced Feb. 5, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today.The rollback will accelerate the date of separation for senior master

  • CSAF and CMSAF visit the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody visited the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Feb. 7 and 8 to meet Airmen and talk about service issues with them.Welsh and Cody toured work centers, giving service member's the opportunity to interact with

  • Bagram Airmen move Marmal

    Airmen forward deployed from the 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron at Bagram Airfield are helping to provide a vital role in moving personnel and supplies in northern Afghanistan. Members of the 455th EAPS Detachment 3 are tasked with loading and unloading every U.S. aircraft that that comes

  • Air Force libraries bridge the digital divide

    Need assistance setting up a budget, learning a new language or doing your homework? Look no further than your online Air Force library, where Air Force library staff work to meet customers' needs in an evolving digital world.Worldwide, Air Force libraries offer online learning resources, digital

  • Patrick NCO earns AF top CE manager award

    For Senior Master Sgt. Terry Wooldridge, being nominated for the 45th Space Wing-level award was surreal in itself.But his emotions didn't stop there. They were just warming up.After winning here at the Wing level, he was next declared the winner of the Air Force Space Command Award, and then later

  • AF medical leader recognized with AMA's top government service award

    Assistant Air Force Surgeon General, medical force development and nursing services, Major General Kimberly Siniscalchi, M.S.N., received the American Medical Association's (AMA) top government service award in health care, the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service. She was

  • Company grade officers selected for undergrad flying training

    Several dozen lieutenants and captains have been selected for the undergraduate flying training program, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.To see the list, go to http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130213-082.pdf.The UFT annual selection board convened in January to consider

  • Photo essay: AFSOC remembrance march

    Since 2009, Airmen from the Air Force Special Operations Command have participated in memorial ruck marches to honor special operators who  killed in action during the year. This year, five AFSOC Airmen made the ultimate sacrifice, and 16 of their commrades marched 450 miles along the Gulf Coast of

  • Mentoring tomorrow's STEM professionals more important than ever

    For many years, various organizations and reports have sounded the alarm when it comes to the United States and its educational standing among other nations in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, known as STEM. As each year passes, it seems American students fall lower and lower

  • East Coast joint training goes international

    "Under Air-Sea Battle, we will take 'jointness' to a new level, working together to establish more integrated exercises against more realistic threats." Following those words from former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, retired Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan

  • 'Mi Rey:' A deployed Valentine story

    It was a cold January evening in a little town called Muzquiz, in Coahuila, Mexico. Despite the chill in the air, she and a friend decided to go to the local dance hall. It was the kind of close-knit town where everyone knew each other, and dancing was a way to let loose on a Friday night.Her long,

  • Welsh: Sequestration will 'undermine' readiness

    Unprecedented budget factors have placed the nation's defense strategy in jeopardy, senior Department of Defense leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 12.During his opening remarks, the chief of staff of the Air Force stressed the severity of the current fiscal

  • Photo essay: Eglin AFB active shooter exercise

    When Airmen enlist in the Air Force, they take an oath to defend the Constitution "against all enemies, foreign and domestic."To uphold that vow, Airmen must remain vigilant and train to be prepared in the worst-case scenario. Airmen at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., participated an active shooter

  • DISA highlights increase in use of collaboration tool

    Use of a Web-based application designed to offer an information exchange environment for Defense Department users has grown markedly as defense spending cuts loom, Defense Information Systems Agency officials said.Since 2007, Defense Connect Online has been the "go-to" mechanism among several new

  • Airmen march 450 miles to honor fallen

    Sixteen Airmen from Hurlburt Field, Fla., took part in a 450-mile, six day ruck-march, in honor of five fallen Air Commandos.Of the sixteen, were four teams which included members from the 319th Special Operations Squadron, the 34th SOS, the 18th Flight Test Squadron and the 25th Intelligence

  • Panetta signs memo extending benefits to same-sex partners

    Calling it "a matter of fundamental equity," Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today signed a memorandum to the service secretaries and the Pentagon's top personnel official extending benefits to same-sex partners of service members.Here is the secretary's announcement of the policy

  • Photo essay: Tuskegee Airmen

    The Tuskegee Airmen were an elite group of African-American pilots in the 1940s. They were pioneers in equality and integration of the armed forces. The term "Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African-Americans to fly and maintain combat

  • Airmen and Afghans join forces to repair local wells

    Airmen and local Afghan elders gathered around a broken water well in a small nearby village here and traded ideas about how to fix a pump and bring fresh groundwater back to the village.Members of the 777th Expeditionary Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force Squadron took on the task of

  • Band builds partnerships through music

    The U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band joined bands from seven other nations here at the Musikschau Der Nationen (Music Show of the Nations) Jan. 23 - 27 to remember veterans of all nations that fought in World War I and World War II. The five-day festival, which was attended by 22,000 people, displayed

  • CSAF and CMSAF visit Bagram Airmen

    On their first visit to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody had many words for the Airmen here.The two they said most often were "thank you."Throughout their visit, which included the 455th Expeditionary

  • AF EOD techs train Afghan border police

    Afghan Border Police explosive ordinance disposal technicians are one step closer to being qualified after a joint training validation event with U.S. Air Force EOD technicians, Feb. 5.Being validated will allow the ABP to receive more equipment to train more technicians, and respond safely to

  • Act like a Superhero

    I was recently picking up a few items at a local retail chain at lunchtime; everywhere I walked, someone wanted to shake my hand or say, "Thank you for your service." It made me proud to be wearing the uniform of the U.S. Air Force.While waiting in the checkout lane, I noticed a little boy shopping

  • Ramstein Airmen train with Israeli air force

    The 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Contingency Response Group conducted a Flying Training Deployment with the Israeli air force's 103rd Squadron Jan. 27 to Feb. 8 here. The FTD advanced the ability of both American and Israeli air and ground crews to perform in combat operations, as well as

  • African Americans in leadership

    The 1950s were a tumultuous time for the United States as the winds of changes blew across the country and the social landscape was transformed as the Civil Rights movement went into full swing. In 1954, the Supreme Court case ruling in Brown v. Board of Education overturned laws that permitted

  • Cannon debuts latest in moving target technology

    Explosions shook the air as the white truck, almost invisible through the dust and smoke, weaved its way across a training range towing a target being shot at by 40mm rounds from aircraft patrolling the sky. Special operations Airmen from here tested the remote-controlled truck, the latest in

  • Officers eligible for promotion should review records before MilPDS upgrade

    The data feed from the Military Personnel Data System to the Air Force promotions data systems will not be available during the March MilPDS upgrade. Some officers eligible for promotion consideration may be affected, including those eligible for the calendar year 2013A colonel line of the Air

  • AF leaders: Sequestration, more budget cuts will be devastating

    Sequestration would leave the Air Force with untrained people, a lack of equipment and be "devastating" to the service, officials said Feb. 7.The warning echoes what Department of Defense officials have stated for months about across-the-board defense cuts, in addition to an ongoing continuing

  • Reservist enjoys dual careers

     For one airman assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, being a reservist allows her time to pursue other passions while also serving her country."It's like living two completely different lives," Senior Airman Denice Luke said. "That's why I like it so much." Luke is an

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • Fueling the high flyers - U-2 tube food calms cravings in the cockpit

    Pureed peach cobbler, chicken-a-la-king, key lime pie, or even the classic sloppy joe in a metallic tube don't compare to a home cooked meal, but U-2 pilots say the food they eat while flying long missions is delicious.While wearing a fully pressurized suit, pilots aren't able to open the visors on

  • Vance AFB air traffic controller selected for direct appointment to Academy

    Approximately 2 percent of enlisted Airmen who apply to the U.S. Air Force Academy are selected each year for direct appointment. This year, one of the air traffic controllers here is among them.Airman 1st Class Sage Keltee, from the 71st Operations Support Squadron, will be leaving for the Academy

  • Medic awarded Purple Heart for deployed actions

    An Air Force medic assigned to dangerous duty with an Army logistics convoy unit when deployed to Afghanistan two years ago was awarded the Purple Heart during a ceremony at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.Staff Sgt. Jasmine Russell, 2nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Personnel Reliability Program

  • Leadership roundtable demonstrates solidified partnership

    While nearly 2,000 Airmen from three countries began two weeks of intense training at exercise Cope North 2013 Feb. 4, leaders from the U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force discussed the invaluable impact the exercise has on the readiness of their forces. Gen.

  • AF Teen Council plans 2013 growth, development events

    How many times have you said, "Man, I'm so bored."? If you said it once, you've said it too many times. The Air Force Teen Council has many events planned this year that will get you on your feet, including four projects, collectively known as the 2013 Teen Movement Project. Designed to benefit

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman amasses huge comic book collection

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) Super-speed, excessive strength, X-ray vision--realistically, no human can obtain these skills naturally, but comic books provide a way to vicariously

  • Senior NCO used lifesaving skills during parade tragedy

    To some, Self-Aid and Buddy Care is just another training course but to others, it has meant life or death during their career. One Airman proves just how important this course was in last year's Hunt for Heroes parade tragic accident. Master Sgt. Christopher Doggett has served in the Air Force

  • Reserve RED HORSE Squadron to be activated at Beale

    The Air Force has formally announced the activation of the 583rd RED HORSE Squadron here.The mobile heavy construction civil engineering unit will be the sixth such squadron in the Air Force Reserve Command and the first on the West Coast. The squadron will stand-up in March, according to a memo

  • 1,000 supporters pay respects during memorial service for fallen pilot

    Airmen, civilians, family and friends honored the life and memory of U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and combat veteran  during a memorial service today at Aviano Air Base.Maj. Lucas "Gaza" Gruenther, a pilot assigned 31st Fighter Wing, went missing during a nighttime training mission over the

  • First F-35A four-ship flies over Eglin

     Increasing capability is becoming routine for the F-35 Lightning II team.The 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit produced a four-turn-four for the 58th Fighter Squadron flying Jan 31. "The pilots flew four F-35As in the morning and the maintainers performed routine maintenance for airworthiness after

  • Medical team achieves cutting-edge patient transfer

    Marking a first for military medical care in the United States, an Army and Air Force team successfully transported a critically ill woman using a special form of heart-lung bypass from San Antonio Military Medical Center to New York City in January 2013.This mission marked the military's first

  • Air Force nuclear force anticipates budget constraints

    The Air Force Global Strike Command predicts budget cuts triggered by sequestration will reduce B-52 flying hours by 10 percent and lead to a 20 percent reduction in overall flying hours should the law kick in on March 1, Air Force Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski said.Kowalski, the commander of Air Force

  • Air Force Hoops promotion tips off March 1

    Air Force bowling centers and golf courses will host an Air Force Hoops promotion during the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship Tournament from March 1 to April 8.Air Force Hoops, a free scratch-off game, gives participants the opportunity to win

  • Former CSAF inducted into AFSOC Order of the Sword

    More than 30 years after first arriving at Hurlburt Field as a young MC-130E Combat Talon pilot, the former chief of staff of the Air Force returned to receive the highest honor the enlisted force can bestow upon an individual. Nearly 700 enlisted Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen from

  • CSAF, CMSAF visit Grand Slam Wing

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody visited with the Airmen of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Feb. 2 and 3.Welsh and Cody held an Airman's Call as part of a multi-base tour to meet with Airmen throughout the U.S. Central Command area of

  • AF chief of staff releases 2013 reading list

    The Air Force chief of staff published his professional reading list Feb. 1.In a message on the website, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said, "We are the world's greatest air force because of our Airmen...and we must continue to strengthen that team." He asks Airmen to take a look at the list that

  • Top AF leaders visit Kandahar Airfield

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody visited Airmen here Feb. 4 to thank them for their service and to discuss their priorities for the Air Force.Welsh and Cody, along with other Air Force senior leaders from the Pentagon and Air Forces

  • Air Force increases projected KC-46 flying hours, crew ratio

    The Air Force has increased planned life-cycle flying hours and aircrews assigned to the new KC-46A refueling tanker to make optimal use of the commercially-proven aircraft's fuel efficiency, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. Compared to the Eisenhower-era KC-135 Stratotanker, the KC-46

  • Top 10 facility energy accomplishments of 2012

    The fiscal year 2012 Annual Energy Management Report is making its way to Congress and lawmakers will likely be impressed by Air Force facility energy accomplishments. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center submitted the report to the Office of the Civil Engineer in November. It has since been sent to

  • JB Charleston reservists deliver humanitarian aid to Guatemala

    Reservists from the 300th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., traveled more than 2,700 miles to deliver about 77,000 pounds of cargo to a children's hospice facility in Guatemala Feb. 3.The Airmen loaded a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft with a donated school bus and supplies acquired

  • NJ Airmen among first on ground, supporting French operations in Africa

    More than 100 Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, located here and at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are currently supporting airlift missions transporting French soldiers and military equipment from Istres, France, to Bamako, Mali.The 621st CRW, often the first on the ground, is

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: F-22 pilot physician takes safety to new heights

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) Powerful thrust, paired with unparalleled agility, propels the grey fighter jet through the sky, in ways unfathomable to earlier generations of

  • Air Force Medical Service announces 2012 Annual Award winners

    The Air Force Surgeon General's Medical Force Development Directorate announced the winners of the Air Force Medical Service Annual Award competition Feb. 5. The competition included individual and team awards, based on criteria outlined in Air Force Instruction 36-2856, "Medical Service Awards."

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: The Stoks standard

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)In six months Staff Sgt. Ryan Stoks expedited more than 413 missions and moved more than 18 million pounds of cargo to set new aerial port expeditor

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman struggles back from rare illness

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Imagine having to relearn all the things you learned as kid: how to eat, how to walk, how to talk. Imagine how frustrated and devastated you would

  • Air Force announces NASCAR sponsorship for 2013

    The Air Force renewed its NASCAR partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 43 car with driver Aric Almirola for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. "RPM's strong legacy in NASCAR and Almirola's values and character are a great fit for the Air Force and the type of recruits that we look

  • Red Flag 'rocks on'

    Airmen and aircraft from around the world as well as their coalition counterparts descended on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada for Exercise Red Flag 13-2 Jan. 21 through Feb. 1.Red Flag exercises are designed to help U.S. and international airmen prepare for real-world combat scenarios.Click the

  • AF implements voluntary FY13 force management programs

    The Air Force will implement several voluntary officer and enlisted force management programs for fiscal year 2013, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced today.Announced in the January release of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013, the authorized active duty Air Force

  • Michigan base to test missile counter-measure prototype

    The Air National Guard has begun installing a new prototype missile counter-measure device on aircraft at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. If tests on the prototype conclude favorably, as expected, the device could mean safer travels for KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and additional job security for

  • AF selects primary, alternate test pilot school candidates

    More than 50 Air Force officers have been selected as primary or alternate Air Force and Navy test pilot school selectees, and one will attend the Epner Test Pilot School in France, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today."Selectees, identified during the 2012 selection board, will fill July

  • Waterproof: Missile Retrievers not afraid to dive in

    When the weather forecast calls for tall waves, mean currents and high winds in the Gulf, the last thing most people want to do is jump into it. For Ray Gallien and Steve Shafer, two of the commercial divers aboard the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron's three Missile Retriever boats, it sometimes