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  • 'Bats' shield Airmen from harm

    Their mission is simple: save the lives of troops on the ground in Iraq by providing an electronic shield around them. That is the job of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. Known as the Bats, they take to the air every day of the week to actively support coalition warfighters in

  • Battle of Mogadishu hero passes, leaves behind legacy

    A former special tactics combat controller responsible for saving dozens of lives at the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993, was laid to rest recently, leaving behind a far-reaching legacy of valor, professionalism and combat success. Nearly 100 friends, family and teammates gathered to honor

  • 'Battle of survival:' Special tactics officer awarded Air Force Cross

    In a harrowing 10-hour battle amidst more than 100 insurgents, a special tactics officer kept the enemy at bay with a little help from above. Capt. Barry F. Crawford Jr. was awarded the Air Force Cross during a Pentagon ceremony April 12 for his heroic actions controlling the air space and calling

  • Battle uniform available to deploying Airmen this spring

    The Airman Battle Uniform is on track for distribution this spring to Airmen deploying as part of Air Expeditionary Forces 7 and 8. The new ABU is in production Dec. 7 and uniforms are being warehoused. The uniform will be ready for distribution to Airmen deploying as part of AEFs 7/8. Most Airmen

  • Battle-damaged C-5 repaired, ready for duty

    Workers in the C-5 Galaxy production branch here feel closer to the warfighter now that they have completed battle-damage repair on the C-5 hit by a missile shortly after takeoff in Iraq on Jan. 8.The aircraft left the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center on Feb. 23 -- two days ahead of schedule.The

  • Battlefield Airborne Communications Node ensures warfighter connectivity

    Three recent achievements demonstrate how a critical communications capability managed here is continuing to keep warfighters connected. The Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or BACN, translates and distributes imagery, video, voice and data, often from disparate elements, improving

  • Battlefield Airmen considered a weapon system

    The capabilities of battlefield Airmen are considered just as lethal as any advanced weapons system. For that reason, tactical air control party personnel, pararescuemen, security forces personnel and special operations weathermen have been included in the annual Weapons and Tactics Conference

  • Battlefield Airmen pay tribute to fallen commander

    More than 200 Airmen from the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing gathered at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida, on April 15 to mourn and pay tribute to Lt. Col. William Schroeder, who was fatally shot a week before.

  • Battlefield Airmen train for JTAC role at Pohakuloa Training Area

    Tactical air control party members from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron practiced and honed their skills calling in air strikes for B-2 Spirit stealth bombers during a week long training session as part of Exercise Koa Lightning. These battlefield Airmen serve as joint terminal attack

  • Battlefield Airmen train on Hickam

    Joint terminal attack controllers, or JTACs, found a unique place to train for close-quarters battle:  in one of Hickam's base housing areas. JTACs are part of a tactical air control party team. These battlefield Airmen live and work with Army ground units, and their main function is to coordinate

  • Battlefield Airmen use science to beat the heat

    Heat-related illness is a critical factor when personnel are operating in extreme temperatures. Dr. Reginald O'Hara and his exercise physiology research team at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, are working to reduce that heat stress.

  • Battlefield calls go through MacDill

    American military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan reach for their satellite phones when they want clear, secure and fast communications. More often than not, the operator who patches through their calls is sitting in a building here.People at the one-stop-shop Regional Satcom Support Center here

  • 'Battlefield docs' converge in Iraq to hone skills

    More than 40 "battlefield docs" -- surgeons and physician assistants from around Iraq -- converged at Air Force Theater Hospital May 21 here to hone their already razor-sharp surgical skills at the Tri-Service Extremity War Surgery Symposium. Battlefield medicine has greatly improved since the

  • Battlefield technology key to Atlantic Strike V

    As the convoy travels down the dusty path, the lead Humvee's Joint Terminal Attack Controller zeroes in on a potential target 1,500 meters in front of him. He sends the coordinates to the waiting aircraft above. "Target is verified JTAC, expending munitions." The aircraft releases its munitions

  • Battlelab brings force protection to the fight

    Running through a dust-filled Baghdad street with bullets flying, a field medic reaches two injured soldiers. One with a chest wound is barely breathing. The other is losing blood fast from a gunshot wound to his leg. There isn’t time to save both. So who dies and who gets to go home? This medic’s

  • Battlelab demonstrates new propeller balancing system

    The Air Mobility Battlelab recently demonstrated a new in-flight propeller balancing system that can greatly reduce propeller vibration levels and ground maintenance requirements.Currently C-130 Hercules propeller balancing procedures are similar to spin balancing the wheel of an automobile,

  • Battlelab develops C-5 aircrew night vision system

    C-5 Galaxy aircrews must tape over some white lights in the cockpit of their huge aircraft before missions into a “blacked out” environment when they must use night vision goggles.Sometimes crews use flashlights or even pull circuit breakers and light bulbs for other light systems to minimize the

  • Battlelab gives armor 'thumbs up'

    Air Mobility Battlelab officials here recently completed their evaluation of a life-saving vehicle armor kit produced by the Army.The Armor Survivability Kit was designed by experts from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command. The kit provides protection from a range of threats in

  • Battlelab improves in-flight patient care

    Specialists at the Air Mobility Battlelab here have resolved a significant lighting deficiency aboard aeromedical evacuation aircraft by developing a portable lighting kit prototype.Because of insufficient lighting, several care providers reported having difficulty assessing patients, observing

  • Battlelab initiative aims to speed KC-10 cargo loading

    Though the Air Mobility Battlelab deactivated here Sept. 24, one of its final initiatives shows great potential to help KC-10 Extender crewmembers do their jobs faster and decrease aircraft weight. With the KC-10 Lightweight Cargo Net and Hoist Initiative, the Air Mobility Battlelab, or AMB, sought

  • Battlelab initiative improves flight deck safety

    Aircrews flying KC-135 Stratotankers to hot climates may have an easier way to keep their flight decks cool when on the ground thanks to the Air Mobility Battlelab's KC-135 Hot Weather Cooling Sock initiative. "This initiative addresses a current problem where aircraft maintainers use a standard

  • Battlelab technicians develop solutions for warfighters

    With sand whipping across your face and sweat dripping down your forehead, you squint through the scope at the enemy target."The third building on the left," you shout into the radio. A garbled transmission is returned. Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath and hope the pilot heard you. The

  • Battlelab turns ideas into innovation

    Anyone who has ever done business with the Air Force Information Warfare Battlelab here knows the people of that organization recognize a good idea when they see one.Just ask retired Master Sgt. Chuck Doig.Nearly four years ago the senior noncommissioned officer submitted an idea to the battlelab to

  • Battlelabs help identify problems facing warfighters

    Airmen from seven Air Force battlelabs visited Air Force Special Operations Command headquarters here recently in an effort to identify the top 10 issues on the minds of warfighters.The battlelabs’ Warrior Outreach program provides an opportunity for battlelab staffs to meet face-to-face with the

  • Battlespace command, control center protects region

    The Air Force's newest Battlespace, Command and Control Center officially opened during a ceremony here Feb. 26 adding new systems and upgraded capabilities for the 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron as well as becoming their permanent new home. The center allows persistent command and control

  • Battlestar Galactica docks for sneak-peek at Columbus

    The Sci-Fi Channel’s mantra -- “Fuel the Imagination” -- was the theme of the night as Battlestar Galactica television series fans invaded the Columbus Club for a celebrity-style sneak preview. The Season 2 premiere episode of Battlestar Galactica was shown a day early -- Jan. 5 --to approximately

  • Battling the heat

    48th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters extinguish a simulated battery fire inside an aircraft fire trainer March 8 at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. Firefighters must train constantly to stay proficient in their aircraft rescue and firefighting skills. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Perry

  • Bay Area ANG unit rescues Navy contractor

    The California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing conducted a long-distance rescue mission over the Pacific Ocean Nov. 12, saving the life of a seriously ill 63-year-old civilian contractor on board the USS Guadalupe.

  • 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

  • Bazaar school reopens to Afghan children

    In a symbolic gesture, a young Afghan boy cut the ribbon of the new bazaar school during a ceremony Jan. 21.About 50 Afghan boys gathered around Netherlands Col. Kees Marselis, Kandahar Airfield deputy commander and chief of staff, as he spoke about the initiative that went into making the new

  • BDUs in short supply

    Backorders from the military supply system are affecting the availability of battle dress uniforms in military clothing sales stores. Both Army and Air Force clothing stores are out of stock on selected sizes of the enhanced hot weather and temperate BDU coats and trousers.The military supply

  • Be disaster aware, take action to prepare

    Devastating earthquakes, floods, wildfires and tornadoes never announce a time or place – that’s why it’s important to be prepared! Air Force Emergency Management is using National Preparedness Month this September to encourage Airmen and their families to “Be Ready!”

  • Be leery of fraud, theft

    Credit card fraud and identity theft are things to be leery of. Even so, often times people do not think they can become a victim of these crimes. But either can ruin the victim’s credit line for years.“Identity theft and credit card fraud occur in several different ways,” said Capt. Patrick

  • Be prepared for flu season

    Colder temperatures signal the start of the flu season, which runs primarily between December and April. With a nationwide shortage of vaccine this year, health officials say it is important to know the symptoms of this contagious respiratory illness, and what to do if a person is infected.The flu

  • Be prepared for tornado season

    Driving to work Sept. 7, 2004, Senior Airman Joshua Hjemvick saw cloud cover and well-defined rain showers south of the base. Suddenly, the forecaster from the 28th Operational Weather Squadron saw flying debris from the buildings to his right. He stopped the car and threw it into reverse, but

  • 'Be Ready' to be a hero

    September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness on the importance of emergency preparedness.

  • 'Be safe' is course guideline

    Master Sgt. William Miller, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, maneuvers an all-terrain vehicle through the base's new safety course. The course is required before operating an ATV on Al Udeid and is taught by a certified Special Vehicles Institute of America

  • Be thankful for contributions of military spouses

    In my nearly 20 years of military service, I have moved 12 times. It is more frequent than most service members, but yet not that unusual. Along the way in my career, I picked up a spouse. She has moved a total of nine times in our 13 years of marriage. Our children are just breaking into double

  • Be the change: The power of representation

    Comic book illustrator Shawn Martinbrough met with Pentagon Airmen to speak about the power of representation Feb. 20, 2018. A native New Yorker, he has illustrated Black Panther, Batman, Luke Cage Noir, Captain America, and Hellboy characters for Marvel and Detective Comics.

  • Be there, be aware: Help prevent suicide

    When we focus on our health, it’s easy to pay attention to physical health versus mental well-being. Ignoring mental health concerns like anxiety and depression can lead to worsening symptoms and more serious issues. For some people, these issues may include an increased risk of suicide.

  • Beale AFB Airmen launch ACC minority outreach initiative

    Airmen from Beale Air Force Base visited a California intermediate school as part of Project Quesada, an initiative to reach more minority students for pilot and STEM career field opportunities within the U.S. Air Force.

  • Beale AFB first to incorporate Body Pump in fitness program

    "When your body starts to scream, tell it to shut up." That's the motto of the new Body Pump fitness program which began at the fitness center here Aug. 24. Several members of the 9th Force Support Squadron trained to become certified instructors of the program."We wanted to find the most relevant

  • Beale AFB land-use deal closer to reality

    An undeveloped stretch of prairie at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., is one step closer to becoming the next premiere commercial development in the Air Force's enhanced-use lease portfolio.Officials with the Air Force Real Property Agency will begin negotiations with representatives of Beale Community

  • Beale AFB pilots new Multi-Capable Airman course

    The intent of the course is to develop Airmen who are proficient in their primary AFSC by equipping them with expeditionary skills and training which they can employ in deployed environments or on home station if needed.

  • Beale AFB STEM capabilities inspire new generation

    Students from For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology came to Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Aug. 3, to be a part of FIRST robotics founder and Chief of Space Operations civic leader, U.S. Space Force, Dean Kamen’s, high altitude flight in a U-2 Dragon Lady and to witness first-hand

  • Beale Airman recognized for heroic act

    An Airman from Beale Air Force Base, California, was awarded the Airman’s Medal July 29 for his heroic actions in saving the life of a fellow Airman.

  • Beale Airman selected as enlisted legislative fellow

    The Air Force has announced Senior Master Sgt. Lavor Kirkpatrick, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron imagery analyst instructor, as its second ever enlisted legislative fellow. There were 21 nominations for this year's Secretary of the Air Force Legislative Liaison fellowship. Col. Phil Stewart, 9th

  • Beale Airmen prepared to welcome 450 of their neighbors

    Like Airmen at many other Air Force bases, the Airmen of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., are constantly working to be good neighbors with the civilian communities outside their front gate. The Beale community may soon have a chance to demonstrate just how far they will go as they make preparations to

  • Beale Airmen 'Read Across America'

    Airmen from the 9th Communications Squadron here joined in the nation's largest reading celebration March 2, at Arobga Elementary School, here. The Airmen interacted with schoolchildren as they read their favorite books during the National Education Association's Read across America week. The

  • Beale Airmen, ISR assets support California wildfires

    Members of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing are currently flying U-2 and Global Hawk surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft and collecting high-altitude imagery of the wildfires in Southern California in support of the U.S. Air Force Northern Command's mission there. A U-2 from Beale Air Force Base

  • Beale expands environmental cleanup ability

    Beale Air Force Base environmental members, in conjunction with environmental consultants, recently completed a project that greatly expands the base's ability to perform critical environmental cleanup operations. The project uses a revolutionary process that naturally cleans contaminated

  • Beale family selected as Air Force FitFamily of the month

    The family of a 9th Support Division Squadron member here was selected as the Air Force's FitFamily of the Month for March after logging more points than any other Air Force family on the program's Web site.The FitFamily Web site provides a venue for families to participate in family activities and

  • Beale Global Hawk deploys for first time

    The 9th Reconnaissance Wing's RQ-4 Global Hawk program passed a significant milestone by completing its first operational Global Hawk deployment July 19 from Beale Air Force Base to Andersen AFB, Guam. "This is the first time in United States Air Force history that we've deployed the Global Hawk

  • Beale hosts Boy Scout expo

    Thousands of Boy Scouts from across the northern California region came to Beale Air Force Base Sept. 28 to 30 to celebrate 100 years of scouting. The event was a cooperative effort to bring more than 6,500 scouts and leaders to the base for a weekend of camping and activities. "We're very

  • Beale officials send Global Hawk to aid in Haiti earthquake relief efforts

    Officials from the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron here launched an RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft from Beale Air Force Base Jan. 13 to assist with the humanitarian aid mission in Haiti after the country suffered a 7.0 magnitude earthquake Jan. 12. The squadron received the short-notice mission

  • Beale officials use AFSO 21 to improve munitions training process

    Members of the 9th Munitions Squadron conducted a value stream mapping event June 23 thru 26 here to streamline the squadron's process of handling munitions for training classes. Officials from the Beale Air Force Base Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century Initiatives Office, Air Combat

  • Beale receives Installation Excellence Award

    Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld has announced the winners of the 2004 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence. Beale Air Force Base, Calif., was selected as the Air Force winner.The other winners include:Fort Stewart, Ga.Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif.Naval

  • Beale reservist with Haitian ties volunteers

    As soon as the call came out for volunteers to participate in Haitian earthquake relief efforts, 940th Wing reservists here stepped forward. One of the first to volunteer was Tech. Sgt. Francois Celestin, a services flight member whose family lives in the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti."It's a very

  • Beale selected for Resilient Energy Demonstration Initiative

    The Air Force has selected Beale Air Force Base, California, as the lead site for its Resilient Energy Demonstration Initiative (REDI) to develop and deploy innovative energy resilience technologies and business models, and then apply the results to other missions and installations across the Air

  • Beale squadron welcomes Brown Bag University

    The Air Force provides opportunities and financial support for school, both personal and professional. Many bases also offer on-base programs so Airmen don’t have to commute to a local college. For the first time at Beale AFB, a school is now coming right to a squadron. “The concept of Brown Bag

  • Beale takes next step in energy resilience

    The Defense Logistics Agency and the Air Force released a request for information regarding the pursuit of energy resilience at Beale Air Force Base, California, on June 8.

  • Beale’s Global Hawk mission extends worldwide

    Airman with the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron here are part of the Air Force’s only operational Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle unit.The $35-million Global Hawk is used to provide Air Force and joint battlefield commanders near real-time, high-resolution intelligence, surveillance and

  • Beams of light honor those who died at Pentagon

    People kept a respectful silence as 184 beams of white light emanated from the Pentagon's center courtyard, rising into the night sky Sept. 10 like lonely wraiths searching for lost loved ones. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England signaled for the lights to be turned on just before 9 p.m., as

  • BEAR Base saves money, supports mission

    The Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) Base at Holloman Air Force Base recently saved the Air Force more than $5 million in assets through recovery and refurbishment of deployed electrical distribution equipment.

  • BEAR builds new quarters for forces at Manas

    A Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources team recently made room for the influx of coalition forces here as more military forces shift from Iraq to Afghanistan. A nine-member Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources team, known as BEAR, lent their construction skills to Manas Air Base where two 4,000

  • Bearing assembly failure caused F-16 crash in Utah

    A bearing assembly failure caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to crash in an unpopulated dry area close to Carrington Island in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, during a training mission March 30, according to an Air Force report released Aug. 7. The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft, sustaining minor

  • BEAST gets rave reviews a year after opening

    Air Force officials here had high expectations for the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training course that opened in December 2008, which coincided with the expansion of Basic Military Training to 8.5 weeks. "I think the BEAST is running exceptionally well," said Col. Shane Courville, the 737th

  • Beauty and the buff

    Senior Master Sgt. Mark Bernard polishes the C-135E Speckled Trout aircraft before it departs from here Oct. 25 on an executive airlift mission to the Pacific. The white-and-silver Speckled Trout is used primarily for avionics flight testing, but its secondary mission is transporting Air Force

  • Becoming a boom

    From an early age, Airman 1st Class Shelby Bowling, a 350th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, had an idea of what she wanted to do when she grew up. It wasn't until midway through her time in college that life provided her an opportunity to take a chance.

  • Becoming an MTI? There's an app for that

    There's a smart phone application for just about everything these days, including joining the ranks of the Air Force's military training instructor corps. The app, simply called "Air Force MTI," is free and available for Apple, Android and Blackberry devices."It takes a special person to be an MTI,"

  • Becoming Thunderbird is dream come true for Nevada native

    She was only 5 years old when she saw an F-4 Phantom fighter jet soar and maneuver through the clouds during an air show. It was then she knew she would someday do the same.Now, 26 years later, Capt. Nicole Malachowski is getting her chance to do just that and enter the history book at the same

  • BEEliners bring humanitarian aid to St. Croix

    As Army and Marine Corps helicopters delivered humanitarian aid throughout St. Croix, an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Travis Air Force Base, California, landed Sept. 23, 2017 at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix, bringing humanitarian aid to residents affected by Hurricanes Irma and

  • Beer 30 for 30: An ADAPT story

    Staff Sgt. Hersey, a recovering alcoholic, went through the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment program this past year.

  • Behavior studies may improve irregular warfare techniques

    Scientists in the Defense Department's Modeling and Simulation Coordination Office, or MSCO, are doing their part to improve irregular warfare techniques by studying human social and cultural behaviors. "Modeling and simulation is just the representation of the real world," Jesse Citizen, MSCO

  • Behavioral specialist evaluates military working dogs

    Military working dogs are a special breed and so is a specialist who works with them.Dr. Walter Burghardt, the chief of Behavioral Medicine and Military Working Dog Studies at the  Daniel E. Holland MWD Hospital here, jokingly calls his specialty "an Army of One." But right now, there are no

  • Behind mother’s love: Enlisting for child’s chance

    Hundreds of Airmen erupt into cheers and applause in a hangar after a name is announced. Among the crowd, a young Airman screams in disbelief. With tears of joy streaming down her face, she makes her way onto the stage to shake the commander’s hand.

  • Behind the helmet of the F-35A Demonstration Team’s newest pilot

    As the pilot and demonstration team commander, Wolfe will fly the demonstration routine for two years, serving as a role model and inspiration to those that are interested in pursuing military service or a career in aviation. Part of her and her team’s mission will be helping young men and women

  • Behind the iron mask: Airman builds heroic persona to help others

    Beneath every superhero’s mask is an individual who enters society with a mission to leave it better than he or she found it.Iron Man is one of the many superheroes who not only lives in comic books, but also thrives on the big screen, and is seen as a hero to many.Tech. Sgt. Brian Thornton, a 628th

  • Behind the red line: Vital OR staff supports 12 specialties

    Members working in the operation room at the Mike O' Callaghan Federal Hospital strive to provide the best medical support to military members and their families, and authorized DOD and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries.From preparation to the end of surgery, these Airmen and civilians work around the

  • Behind the scenes look shows AFGSC Airmen at work

    In the nearly six decades since the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system was first conceived in the late 1950s, the weapon system has evolved to meet new challenges and assume new missions. Staff Sgt. David Clark takes us to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and introduces us to the

  • Behind the scenes, Airmen help to open hospital

    Airmen on a medical mentoring team have been working hard to ensure the successful opening of an Afghan national army hospital here for the past several months. The team's original mission was to mentor their ANA counterparts and teach them the necessary medical skills to treat Afghan military and

  • Behind the scenes: Yokota supports Nepal

    Members of Yokota Air Base, serving at the primary airlift hub in the Pacific region, often deploy to provide humanitarian aid to countries stricken by natural disasters. In recent years alone, the 374 Airlift Wing has deployed to support regional countries such as Japan after the Tohoku earthquake

  • Behind-the-scenes look at saving lives

    It was his first deployment to Afghanistan, and to make matters worse, he was assigned to one of the busiest trauma centers in the region. Staff Sgt. Caleb Gibson felt a sense of shock, pride and satisfaction as he watched U.S. military medical personnel treat injured troops. "It was shocking to see

  • Behind-the-scenes work continues as air show set to begin

    One of the world’s premier air shows gets underway May 16, but military organizers have been working behind the scenes for several months to ensure a successful display of U.S. military aviation at the 2006 Berlin Air Show. Initial groundwork began two years ago when the previous Berlin Air Show

  • Being a reservist requires ‘juggling act’

    Recognizing that Air Force reservists must balance military obligations with family and civilian-employment requirements, the service’s senior reservist pledged to reduce unnecessary pressures.“I want to say ‘thank you’ to families and employers -- they make great sacrifices in order for Reserve