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  • Special duty assignment pay now available for EOD Airmen

    Air Force officials recently approved special duty assignment pay for most Airmen in the explosive ordnance disposal career field. Since 2002, the overall retention rates for EOD Airmen has declined by 30 percent because of high operations tempo and the inherent dangers involved in this demanding

  • USAFE Airmen exchange ideas with Romanian counterparts

    The United States Air Forces in Europe command chief and three other Ramstein senior noncommissioned officers visited Romanian air force senior enlisted leaders at the Boboc Training Center, Romania, Sept. 22-27 as part of an ongoing USAFE theater security cooperation engagement. Chief Master Sgt.

  • Officer volunteers sought to operate unmanned aircraft

    Air Force officers are being sought as volunteers to operate unmanned aircraft systems. Applications are due to the Air Force Personnel Center no later than Nov. 3. The first ten officers selected will start UAS operator training in January 2009, and another ten will begin training in April 2009.

  • Readiness center offers personal, professional guidance

    Deploying can be difficult on servicemembers for a number of reasons. They may experience personal, financial and professional strains within the area of responsibility, which can detract from their operational readiness. One shop here shoulders the burden to ease that stress. Being the first and

  • Special Ops weathermen get new specialty code

    Air Force special operations weathermen now have a new specialty code they can call their own. Recruiters can enlist trainees directly into the 1W0X2 special operations weathermen career field since the new Air Force specialty code is now in the enlisted classification directory. Before this new

  • Chinese military delegation visits Hickam AFB

    A delegation from China's People Liberation Army visited here as part of a professional exchange with senior U.S. military enlisted personnel Oct. 2. The People's Liberation Army delegation of 12, led by Maj. Gen. Zhong Zhiming, chief of military affairs for the PLA Headquarters General Staff,

  • Tricare takes aim at childhood obesity

    October is Children's Health Month and Tricare has launched a new Web page at http://www.tricare.mil/getfit to promote a healthy lifestyle partnership aimed at military families. The new page serves as campaign "headquarters." The target? Childhood obesity. Tricare is partnering with the Defense

  • 'Today's Air Force' features Gulf Coast response

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the impact of and prompt response to the hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast. Airmen immediately came through, handing out five tons of water, four thousand bags of ice and six hundred meals. Another team effort is demonstrated by the Airmen behind

  • Volunteer program aims to go Air Force-wide

    What started off as a desire to volunteer at a local hospital now has the potential to spread Air Force-wide. Staff Sgt. Jewell Hicks Jr., an executive communications support Airman with the 375th Communications Squadron here, began Airmen for Children in July. The program encourages Scott Air Force

  • A revolution in the classroom

    In an era where computers and the Internet have changed almost every aspect of daily life, from shopping to working to entertainment, is it time for technology to change the way Airmen learn? For younger Airmen, it seems, the answer is yes. Air Education and Training Command officials recently

  • AFPC Spread the Word team launches global tour

    The Air Force Personnel Center Commander, Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain, will kick off an Air Force-wide "Spread the Word" briefing tour at Oct. 7 and 8 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. "AFPC is evolving to provide personnel services in new formats through new programs, and we want to communicate these

  • Gen. McKinley approved to lead Guard Bureau

    Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley was confirmed as the 26th chief of the National Guard Bureau by the Senate Oct. 2 in Washington, D.C. He will also become the first four-star general in the nearly 372-year history of the National Guard. The current director of the Air National Guard, General McKinley was

  • Senate confirms Gen. Fraser as next vice chief of staff

    General William M. Fraser III, a command pilot, will be the Air Force's next vice chief of staff, based on a Senate confirmation vote, which occurred Oct. 2. Now the president must offer the official appointment to the general before he can assume his new position. General Fraser, who now serves as

  • Senate confirms Donley to be next secretary of Air Force

    Michael B. Donley will be the next secretary of the Air Force based on an Oct. 2 Senate confirmation vote here. Secretary Donley had been designated by the president to begin serving as acting secretary on June 21, 2008. The former director of administration and management for the Defense

  • Tricare Reserve and Guard family benefit now permanent

    Eligible families of activated National Guard and Reserve members will continue to save up to $300 in annual deductibles now that a Tricare "demonstration" program is a permanent benefit. Eligible family members of Guard and Reserve personnel activated for more than 30 days under federal orders in

  • Feedback sought from servicemembers, their families

    The Military Health System invites wounded, ill or injured servicemembers and their families to respond to a new pair of questionnaires designed to help MHS leaders better understand the needs and expectations of the warriors in their care. The questionnaires -- one for wounded, ill or injured

  • Africa Command unfurls colors during Pentagon ceremony

    The flag for a new U.S. unified command that seeks to meld civilian expertise with military planning and logistics was unfurled Oct. 1 during a Pentagon ceremony. Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward unfurled the colors and told Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  • Air Force medics support trauma mission for warriors

    A recent influx of trauma cases at Wilford Hall Medical Center here sheds light on the importance of the hospital's civilian trauma mission with the city of San Antonio, and the high caliber of training it provides for military doctors and medics here. During the month of September, Air Force

  • Seventeenth Air Force stands up

    The air component for U.S. Africa Command declared initial operational capability Sept. 18 in an assumption-of-command ceremony on Ramstein which also celebrated the unit's Oct. 1 activation. Seventeenth Air Force, also to be known as Air Forces Africa, marked the coming activation by handing the

  • Charleston officials begin transporting new Army vehicles

    Charleston Air Force Base officials began receiving and immediately shipping six new Army High Mobility Engineer Excavator vehicles to warfighters in Southwest Asia Sept. 29 here. Charleston AFB is the first Air Force base to receive and ship the HMEE, which is a newly developed military

  • Officials enter agreement to create aerospace complex

    Air Force officials announced Sept. 25 that the service has signed a long-term lease agreement with Oklahoma County that will enable the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center to establish the Tinker Aerospace Complex here. The lease, which was signed Sept. 24, covers approximately 407 acres of land

  • DOD officials move toward civilian expeditionary capability

    Defense Department officials are moving forward with setting up a global expeditionary force for civilian employees, a senior Pentagon personnel official said Sept. 30. Patricia Bradshaw, deputy undersecretary of defense for civilian personnel policy, said operations in Iraq and Afghanistan pointed

  • Simulation center prepares medics for saving lives

    In this world where hospital staffs hold human lives in their hands, where do they train to function under this ultimate responsibility? When they are put under the stress of doing a job so important that even the military considers them doctors first and military second, where do they learn to

  • Defense contributions help NASA's 50-year legacy

    As the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration celebrate its 50th anniversary this week, Defense Department personnel also can take a bow for the key role they have played in lending technology and expertise to NASA's space exploration and research mission.NASA began

  • Provisional team prepares for cyber mission assurance

    The Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) staff here has spent a year defining and shaping the future of the service's cyberspace operations. There have been numerous contributions from the team that will assist the Air Force as it decides how it will "fly, fight and win" in the cyberspace domain,

  • MH-53s fly final combat missions

    Aircrews flew the remaining six MH-53 Pave Low helicopters on their last combat missions in support of special operations forces Sept. 27 in Southwest Asia. The last mission, a SOF logistical resupply and passenger movement throughout central and southern Iraq, marks their last combat mission before

  • Registry tracks effects of embedded metal fragments

    A Defense Department registry is helping officials gather data to be sure the long-accepted practice of leaving embedded metal fragments in wounded warriors' bodies as long as vital organs aren't threatened is valid. Officials at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology created the Embedded Metal

  • Officials identify pilot missing from Vietnam War

    Officials with the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced Sept. 30 that the remains of a U.S. Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Col. David H. Zook Jr., of West

  • Kadena Airmen aid injured mariners

    Kadena Air Base Airmen provided medical assistance to two injured mariners aboard a Panamanian freighter Sept. 27 750 nautical miles north of the island of Saipan in the Pacific Ocean. Pararescuemen and members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron left around 2:30 p.m. aboard an MC-130 flown by the

  • Executive order eases employment for military spouses

    President Bush has signed an executive order that will make it easier for spouses of servicemembers to get federal jobs. The order authorizes noncompetitive hiring of spouses and should make the hiring process easier and faster for those in this category, said Patricia Bradshaw, deputy

  • Minot officer under investigation for taking classified device

    An officer was charged with the theft of a classified item, and an Article 32 investigation hearing began Sept. 30 at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Capt. Paul A. Borowiecki, a missile combat crewmember with the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, is accused of stealing a classified missile launch control

  • World War II women aviators gather for final reunion

    The past and present came together Sept. 25 through 28 here as women aviators from different generations took part in the final reunion for the original Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. Women from across the country assembled to honor the courage and dedication of the pilots, and the

  • Troops complete disaster relief mission in Haiti

    The USS Kearsarge departed Haiti Sept. 29 after completing a 19-day disaster relief mission in the storm-ravaged Caribbean nation.  The humanitarian effort included robust helicopter and sealift support to U.S. relief efforts led by the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign

  • Little Rock Air Force Base shifting focus

    Officials from the 19th Airlift Wing will accept operational control of Little Rock Air Force Base Oct. 1 from 314th AW officials to become the base's host wing here. The 19th AW is an Air Mobility Command wing and the 314th AW is an Air Education and Training Command wing.   With an AMC wing taking

  • Servicemembers prepare for Afghan deployments

    Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers formed 12 Provincial Reconstruction Teams and are receiving training here as part of a 270-day rotation to Afghanistan in an effort to help rebuild the infrastructure and legitimize the Afghan government. Each PRT, consisting of a main body of Airmen or Sailors and an

  • CAP provides rescue resources during emergencies

    When disasters strike, there is a select group of volunteer pilots, search and rescue teams, and trained observers who help those in need. Missing persons, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and downed aircraft are some of the situations to which the Civil Air Patrol responds at a moment's notice.

  • More documentation necessary to replace, renew ID cards

    Homeland Security Directive 12 now requires retirees and family members seeking to renew or replace a military identification card to provide two types of ID. Retirees and family members needing identification cards must have two of the following types of current identification, one of which must

  • VA secretary establishes ALS as a compensable illness

    Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," soon may receive badly needed support for themselves and their families. The Department of Veterans Affairs secretary announced recently that ALS will become a presumptively compensable illness for all veterans with

  • Tricare retiree dental benefit available overseas

    Retired Tricare beneficiaries living overseas may enroll in the Tricare Retiree Dental Program beginning Oct. 1.The Enhanced-Overseas TRDP is available for all eligible uniformed service retirees and their families. "For many years, military retirees and their families have requested a dental

  • Airmen support new Hollywood movie 'Eagle Eye'

    Members of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations will get ready for its close-up Sept. 26 as the movie "Eagle Eye" will be released to selected theaters around the country. The movie stars Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan and is directed by D. J. Caruso."This was a great opportunity for

  • AEF move to AFPC now complete

    Air Force officials held a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony designating full operational capability for the Air and Space Expeditionary Force and Personnel Operations Directorate Sept. 26 at the Air Force Personnel Center here. The AEF Center, previously located at Langley Air Force Base, Va., became

  • U.S. troops help build Afghan air corps

    A team of 170 U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines have been tasked with recruiting, training and equipping the Afghan National Army Air Corps. "Our goal is to develop this Air Corps to be fully independent and fully operational, capable to meet (the) security requirements of Afghanistan," Air

  • Financial Services Center officials work through challenges

    The shift to processing pay and travel transactions at the newly established Air Force Financial Services Center here has caused some customers to see delays in the payments of travel vouchers and other transactions. "We are keenly aware of the impact that long processing time has on our Airmen and

  • Military leaders discuss National Guard role

    Air and Army Guardsmen from across 54 U.S. states and territories met to discuss current and future plans at the 130th conference of the National Guard Association of the United States Sept. 20 through 22 here. Some 2,000 citizen-Soldiers and citizen-Airmen heard from key military leaders including

  • Gen. Schwartz outlines future role, relationship with Guard

    The Air Force chief of staff reached out to National Guard leaders, inviting collaborative planning and support of the total force as he spoke at the National Guard Association of the United States Conference Sept. 22 here. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz addressed 2,000 citizen-Soldiers and citizen-Airmen

  • New battle gear improves capabilities for combat Airmen

    Battlefield Airmen will soon receive a new equipment item that will improve their ability to execute their combat duties. The new airman battle system-ground is a tactical ensemble, or equipment item, for Airmen who perform their mission outside the wire in close coordination with ground forces. "It

  • Bystander intervention vital in preventing sexual assault

    Air Force officials here are developing a bystander intervention training program for the annually-required Sexual Assault Prevention and Response training to enhance the annual training Airmen receive. The new training, geared for small groups and interactive skills development, helps train Airmen

  • Air Force Association honors AFMC during conference

    Air Force Association officials presented awards to six individuals and one team from Air Force Materiel Command during AFA's 24th Annual Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition. The conference took place Sept. 15-17 in Washington, D.C. The commander of AFMC, Gen. Bruce Carlson was

  • Civilian leaders learn strength of U.S. airpower in Europe

    Civilian business and community leaders got firsthand and sometimes hands-on exposure Sept. 23 to U.S. Air Forces in Europe's multiple missions of supporting warfighters, building partnerships and strengthening its historic NATO ties. U.S. Air Forces, Europe, or USAFE, is as critical to U.S.

  • Conference speakers say users' needs matter most

    Speakers at the sixth annual Network Centric Operations Conference held here Sept. 22 offered various perspectives on the pathways to achieving "net-centricity," but all agreed on the goal. It's about better serving the people whose missions -- and sometimes lives -- depend on receiving timely and

  • AAFES mobile field exchange heads to Galveston Island

    The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, at the request of the Texas National Guard, has moved a mobile field exchange from Ellington Field south to Scholes International Airport in Galveston, Texas. "We moved the MFE on Saturday and opened the doors on Sunday, Sept. 21," said the Fort Sam Houston

  • Partnership with New Zealand emphasized at air conference

    Partnership between the United States and New Zealand militaries is vital to meeting the security challenges of the Pacific region, said the 13th Air Force commander at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Chief of Air Force Conference Sept. 23. Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback provided a U.S.

  • Joint unmanned aircraft system mission crosses Atlantic

    An Air Combat Command RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., made a trans-Atlantic flight Sept. 20 with the assistance of Navy officials. The 19-hour flight from Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., to Southwest Asia had Air

  • STRATCOM leader charts nuclear path for American military

    The U.S. Strategic Command commander here recently laid out his vision for the future of America's strategic deterrence mission and the importance of nuclear stewardship. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton also outlined the necessary measures to correct the accountability and day-to-day management issues with

  • Airmen honor America's fallen

    Crouched in the shade of an elm tree between the Washington Monument and World War II Memorial here, a major used portable communications equipment Sept. 20 to direct three F-15 Eagle pilots to fly over a national tribute to honor America's fallen and their families. "It was inspirational and

  • Reserve C-130s begin aerial spraying in Louisiana

    An Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft and 10 reservists from the 910th Airlift Wing are scheduled to begin aerial spray missions in Louisiana from here Sept 22. Barksdale AFB was chosen as the base of operations for the aircrews and maintenance personnel because of its proximity to the spray

  • 'Today's Air Force' features an Antarctica ice landing

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" the Air Force reaches new heights on ice and in the air in Antarctica. Also, Airmen offer their assistance to provide medical relief to people in Zabul, Afghanistan. Finally, see how security forces Airmen deploy to Iraq to take on ground security. The 30-minute,

  • Disabilities don't stop marathoners

    A paralyzing injury from a motorcycle crash at age 20 took away Andy Houghton's ability to use his legs, but he still finished his first marathon Sept. 20. Mr. Houghton from Hollywood, Fla., completed the 26.2 mile 12th annual Air Force Marathon piloting a sleek handcycle equipped with a derailleur

  • Officials fight binge drinking through 'That Guy' campaign

    Now in its third year, a campaign managed by officials with the Military Health Systems and the Tricare military health plan continues the effort of Defense Department leaders to reduce excessive and binge drinking among 18 to 24 year olds serving in the armed forces. The "That Guy" campaign has two

  • Leaders pledge support to bring missing servicemembers home

    On a small parade field at the steps of the Pentagon and across the river from the skyline of the nation's capital, top military and political leaders today pledged to continue looking for missing servicemembers no matter the cost. "Over the past 230-plus years, a promise has been made to the men

  • Record field runs in 12th Annual USAF Marathon

    Nearly 7,400 runners came out beneath clear sunny skies for the 12th Annual running of the U.S. Air Force Marathon here. Nathan Peters of Grayling, Mich., was the overall winner of the full marathon posting a time of 2:30:47. Gone were the damaging winds, remnants of Hurricane Ike that rocked the

  • Baylor University ROTC unit celebrates 60th birthday

    Already recognized as one of the nation's oldest Air Force ROTC units, Baylor University's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 810 marked another milestone recently. The unit celebrated its 60th anniversary on the Baylor campus, commissioning 1,301 second lieutenants though the

  • USS Nassau delivers critical help to Galveston

    Military heavy equipment and teams began arriving onshore here Sept. 18 as part of a tremendous assistance effort for an area devastated by Hurricane Ike. Teams from the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau began the process of bringing supplies, equipment and people ashore to help with cleanup

  • Policy changes benefit Airmen deploying for 365 days

    Effective Oct. 1, Air Force officials here will implement policy changes to improve sourcing efficiency of 365-day deployments and ensure Airmen receive adequate notification prior to deployment. The new policy sets the deployment "accept or decline" option at three calendar days, streamlines the

  • JPAC teams serve on front lines of recoveries

    Tech. Sgt. Valda Wilson is an Air Force photographer. But last month in a harvested wheat field in the village of Strass near Germany's Hurtgen Forest, she spent most of her days with her hands full of dirt. Sergeant Wilson is one of about 10 members of a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team who

  • Base officials to save $800,000 by changing light bulbs

    Dover officials expect to save more than $800,000 a year with a new energy-saving initiative called Operation Change Out. The voluntary U.S. Department of Energy program suggests military facilities, like base residential areas, exchange incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent ones. "We're

  • General discusses role of Reserve

    The Air Force Reserve Command's vice commander addressed a gathering of service members and civilians Sept. 16 during a presentation at the 24th Annual Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here. Maj. Gen. Allan R. Poulin discussed the command's role in the war on

  • Hanscom Airmen learn how to identify drugs to fight crime

    Airmen of the 66th Security Forces Squadron here learned to recognize drugs and drug paraphernalia in the event they encounter them during their day-to-day duties during Sept. 17 and 18 training.Detective James Donovan, a narcotics officer with the police department of Saugus, Mass., showed Hanscom

  • Servicemembers to follow long absentee voting tradition

    A pen-and-ink drawing in the Oct. 29, 1864, issue of Harper's Weekly portrayed a long line of Pennsylvania Soldiers outside their A-framed tents, each awaiting his turn to vote in the 1864 presidential election. Artist William Waud's rendering captured the high interest in the high-stakes election

  • Air Force officials launch new community Web site

    Beginning Oct. 1, Air Force officials here will introduce a new Web site for Airmen and their families that provides a 24/7 resource for information on topics like relocation, military child education and finances. The new site phases out the "AF Crossroads" Web site while assuring most of the same

  • Louisiana Guard clears devastation in Cameron Parish

    A military response team arrived here Sept. 15 to begin cleanup operations in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Members of the Louisiana Army National Guard's 528th Engineer Battalion, 921st Engineer Company, from Windsboro, La., arrived in Cameron Parish to begin the task of returning the area to a

  • Air Force officials honor 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

    Air Force officials here recognized the service's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at an awards dinner Sept. 15 during the Air Force Association's 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here. The 2008 award recipients were drawn from 33 people representing major commands,

  • AF's top pastor discusses role of 'combat' chaplains

    The Air Force's top chaplain said military chaplains are working hard in deployed environments to help ensure servicemembers have their constitutional right to worship God in their own way. Maj. Gen. Cecil Richardson, Air Force chief of chaplains, addressed attendees of the 2008 Air Force

  • Aerial spray team deploys to Louisiana

    Ten reservists and an Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules from here flew to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 17 to begin aerial spray missions throughout that state in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Another three specially equipped C-130s will deploy to Barksdale AFB Sept. 18. The base in Shreveport,

  • ACC runners seek 'niki' at Air Force marathon

    Your heart feels like it's beating in your throat. Your shirt is soaked, and as you come around that last turn on the track, you feel great as you conquer your annual 1.5 mile fit test run. Now picture doing that 17 more times. On Sept. 20, several members of Air Combat Command will be doing just

  • Air Force officials up bonuses by $93 million

    Officials have released the latest selective reenlistment bonus list containing 88 Air Force specialties, effective Sept. 15.The new program includes a $93 million budget increase, almost triple the amount of the current program. This will allow for greater distribution of bonuses across Air Force

  • AAFES supports troops bringing relief to Ike victims

    As troops bring help to the Houston area in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Army & Air Force Exchange Service officials are currently doing their part to support them with a Mobile Field Exchange.A MFE is a retail store in a 53-foot trailer that carries merchandise such as snacks, drinks and

  • Guard unit makes final preparations for Predator flights

    Members of the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing here are now ready to begin training the Airmen on the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system. March Air Reserve Base officials expect to fly its first "live" training sortie in January from the former George Air Force Base, now known as Southern California

  • Gen. Schwartz addresses Air Force future

    The chief of staff of the Air Force addressed Air Force Association Air and Space Technology Convention delegates Sept. 16 here to share his vision for the future of the service. "The work we must accomplish is serious stuff," Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said, "but I know we are up to the task." Part of

  • Former Joint Chiefs chairman remembers 9/11

    Sept. 11 was a day of remembrance across the country as Americans reflected on the events that occurred that day in 2001. Gen. Richard B. Myers, the now-retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to Maxwell to speak at the Air Force Wargaming Institute. While here he shared his unique

  • General Odierno takes command of forces in Iraq

    Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno assumed command of Multinational Force Iraq from Army Gen. David H. Petraeus during a ceremony at al Faw Palace here Sept. 16. The change of command occurs after incredible progress in the country, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who traveled to Baghdad to

  • Joint patrol provides Airmen with valuable knowledge

    It's been more than 30 years since the Vietnam War ended and since the Air Force has been solely responsible for a base's defense in a war zone, but that's all about to change at Joint Base Balad by the end of September. The Air Force is taking responsibility for base defense from the Army, and to

  • Reserve rescue team pulls 17 from floodwaters

    Air Force reservists assigned to the 331st Air Expeditionary Group, a inter-agency search and rescue unit based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, rescued 17 people from Hurricane Ike flood waters Sept. 13 in a small Texas town.The reservists, deployed from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force

  • General Schwartz kicks off AFA convention

    The Air Force Association's 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition got underway here Sept. 15. In remarks to open the conference, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said service leaders will work to regain America's trust by improving its performance, citing work

  • Northern Command commander surveys damage from Ike

    The commander of U.S. Northern Command and other senior military leaders surveyed the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Ike Sept. 15 from HH-60G Pave Hawks. "We've seen an integrated team that has worked together pre-landfall and post-landfall to provide whatever Texas might need in terms of

  • Father & son take to the air

    It's not every day a father gets to dogfight against his son in a high-performance fighter aircraft, 20,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. It's even rarer when the aircraft being flown by the son is the same tail number that the father flew almost thirty years earlier. That's exactly what happened

  • Phoenix Raven training highlights capabilities of security forces Airmen

    For Staff Sgt. Ian Martin, the figure 1709 is more than just a number, it's the beginning of a new life.The number means the staff sergeant, who is from the 121st Security Forces Squadron at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, is the 1,709th person to become a Raven. Air Force security

  • Reservists fly Operation Deep Freeze Springfly missions

    Ten reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing deployed Sept. 4 to Christchurch, New Zealand in support of Operation Deep Freeze, 2008-2009 Springfly. Springfly is the ODF ramp up phase to prepare buildings and equipment, as well as pave the overland traverse to the South Pole, in preparation for the

  • Ex-fighter pilot-led team trains flyers on data link network

    A team of former fighter pilots and other experts are making sure F-15 and F-16 squadrons are fully prepared to use a sophisticated communication network critical to operational success across the globe. No U.S. fighter squadron can deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan without the critical data link

  • Airmen, bears coexist on Hurlburt Field

    Security forces members from Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base, along with local civilian officials, gathered at the weapons range learn bear aversion tactics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission here recently. The training participants learned various techniques to

  • Team augments Afghan doctors, builds treatment capacity

    With the assistance of Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team medics, doctors in Panjshir province treated 473 Afghan patients this week in two districts, Rohka and Shutol. Crowds of people gathered at the clinics shortly after Capt. Glenn M. Little, medical team chief, and medical technicians

  • Airmen, Soldiers aid people affected by Hurricane Ike

    Airmen from the Texas Air National Guard and Soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard banded together with civilian emergency responders to help people affected by Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas, Sept. 14. Joint responders assisted with people at a local high school before busing them to San

  • Top military health official promotes prostate cancer awareness

    As a man afflicted with prostate cancer, the Defense Department's top military health official has a unique perspective on the importance of promoting awareness about the disease. Now in his eighth year living with an aggressive form of cancer, Ward Casscells, M.D., the assistant secretary of

  • Religious support teams provide hope after Ike

    For the first time, military chaplains and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster are collaborating their efforts to provide cohesive spiritual response to those affected by the next hurricane. "During [Hurricane] Katrina, chaplains and religious advisors were reactive and working

  • Rescue personnel fly first flights from Randolph

    Three HH-60 Pave Hawks and aircrews belonging to the 331st Air Expeditionary Group took off from here earlier the afternoon of Sept. 13 carrying search and rescue personnel to the Galveston, Texas, area in the wake of Hurricane Ike. The flight marks the first of many that may leave from Randolph Air

  • Summer research program benefits Academy cadets

    When officials at the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., launched a new and powerful mentoring program in March, it energized the center's involvement in the Academy's Cadet Summer Research Program. Six months later, seven

  • Little Rock AFB hub for hurricane aeromedical teams

    Three C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron, 53rd AS and 62nd AS here were deployed Sept. 10 to perform aeromedical missions in preparation for Hurricane Ike's landfall in southern Texas with seven additional C-130s from the base on "standby" status. The aircrews transported

  • Airmen stand ready to provide hurricane relief at Randolph

    Airmen with the 331st Air Expeditionary Group are staged at Randolph Air Force Base ready to respond with aid Sept. 12 as Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast. The group, made up of nearly 600 people, brings with it units and capabilities from across the Air Force. Among them are search and

  • Airmen share information via new blog

    In an effort to open up online conversations with Airmen, families and the public, officials in the Secretary of the Air Force's Office of Public Affairs are launching a new blog called Air Force Live Sept. 14. "Air Force Live allows us to reach a vast online community who may not necessarily know

  • 'Landing Gear' aims to help at-risk Airmen

    Air Force Medical Service officials are releasing a prevention education program that provides focused education specifically targeted at Airmen at risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, and other deployment-related mental health problems. Entitled Landing Gear, the training fulfills