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  • Being an Air Force attaché is unique career opportunity

    Officers and enlisted Airmen are needed to play key roles in international military and political affairs. Benefits include travel, accommodations, and the opportunity to interact with people on almost every continent, in almost every country. At a recent conference at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii,

  • Being bilingual helps Air Force recruiters in Hispanic communities

    For Master Sgt. Ruben Perez, communicating with potential recruits involves much more than simply promoting careers in the Air Force. The 341st Recruiting Squadron recruiter's ability to "habla Espanol" with San Antonio's inner city youth and surrounding small-town Mexican-Americans helps him

  • Being 'green' is key part of commissary operations

    Each year, Defense Commissary Agency stores use more than 200 million gallons of water, spend more than $60 million on utility services and generate more solid waste than most mid-sized cities. However, as DeCA officials deliver the commissary benefit, they also are responsible for eliminating or

  • Being multi-capable: 366th FW Airmen train for Raging Gunfighter

    For the past month and a half, personnel have been engaged in the Multi-Capable Airman Rodeo, a training exercise that teaches Airmen from different squadrons skill sets from various Air Force specialty codes. This training is meant to prepare Airmen for exercise Raging Gunfighter at Michael Army

  • Being nosey pays off

    Because Sara Simms was nosey, the U.S. government saved more than $424,000. And she received a surprise, too. During a data review, Ms. Simms, a lead human resources assistant, noticed an unusual annotation on a Reservist’s record. Convicted of first degree felony, the reserve officer’s status was

  • Being Red Cross ready helps during emergencies

    Being prepared for emergencies is crucial at home, school, work and in the community, but how does someone prepare for something as devastating as an earthquake or tsunami? The best way to stay "Red Cross Ready" is to have a kit, make a plan and be informed, said Jane Dustman of the Yokota Air Base

  • Being smart with money while deployed

    While deployed, Airmen receive many entitlements. They receive combat zone tax exclusion, $225 hostile fire pay per month, $3.50 per diem and for those with families, $250 family separation allowance per month. Airmen who live in dormitories at their home station also receive basic allowance for

  • Belgian Air Component participates in first Red Flag-Alaska

    Twenty-seven members from the Belgian Air Component participated in their first Red Flag-Alaska exercise here. The BAC 15th Air Transport Wing 20th Squadron arrived here June 8, with two C-130 Hercules, and will be participating until June 25, when the exercise ends. Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air

  • Belgian air, space commander visits Luke AFB

    As Belgium prepares to transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the F-35A Lightning II, the nation is focused on ensuring its pilots and maintainers are fully equipped to operate and sustain the fifth-generation aircraft effectively.

  • Bemidji State beats Air Force, 4-3, in hockey overtime

    Jean Guy-Gervais scored the game-winning goal with 1:34 remaining in overtime as Bemidji State University beat Air Force, 4-3, in a College Hockey America game here Jan. 8.Bemidji State improved to 11-7-0 overall and 6-2 in the league for second place. Air Force fell to 9-9-2 overall and 3-5 in the

  • Bench stock 'vending machines' saving time for AMC's maintenance Airmen

    If you've ever gone to a vending machine to get your favorite beverage or snack, imagine using that same technology to dispense a particular part or tool you could use to fix a plane. In Air Mobility Command, through an initiative between maintenance Airmen and the command's Air Force Smart

  • Benchmark memo signings advance OSI partnerships

    On May 24, leaders from OSI, Air Force Security Forces and The Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps, signed a milestone memorandum at OSI Headquarters in Quantico, implementing a fully integrated Criminal Investigation and Prosecution capability.

  • Beneath the skies: Aircraft maintainers

    One of the largest support structures here at the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing can be broadly defined as aircraft maintainers. This not only includes those individuals who perform pre-flight, thru-flight (where an aircraft returns from a mission then embarks on another mission within a couple hours)

  • Beneficiaries must sign up for TRICARE automatic payment by May 31

    Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve who pay monthly premiums by check must switch to an electronic form of payment by May 31 to avoid losing coverage. TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card,

  • Benefits claim process for voluntary separatees

    Records for all Airmen separated or retired under the fiscal year 2014 Voluntary Separation Pay program were updated Nov. 5 to reflect eligibility for transitional medical benefits.

  • Benefits may change for ex-POWs

    President George W. Bush has proposed legislation to Congress that would improve benefits for former prisoners of war, responding to the needs of Operation Iraqi Freedom POWs."What we're proposing is to eliminate the current requirement in federal law that a former POW must be detained for at least

  • Benefits offset exchange rates at overseas military banks

    Servicemembers overseas will not suffer from higher currency exchange rates at military banks, officials said, because allowances increase to offset the higher rate.Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials said that overseas servicemembers and other customers of the Community Bank have asked

  • Benson’s two goals lead women’s soccer to 2-0 win over Toledo

    Midfielder Meredith Benson netted two goals to lead the Air Force Academy women’s soccer team to a 2-0 win over the University of Toledo here Sept. 5. The Falcons improve to 2-2-0 on the season, and the Rockets fall to 2-1-0.Air Force dominated from the outset scoring the first goal at the

  • Berlin Airlift exhibit to reside at Travis Air Museum

    Retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, the man known fondly as the "Candy Bomber" for his role in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, cut the ribbon on the Berlin Airlift Exhibit Dec. 10 at the Travis Air Museum here.After traveling to 29 different cities, the exhibit now has a permanent home at the museum. Mr.

  • Berlin Airlift vets recognized by German government

    Veterans of the Berlin Airlift were recognized by the German government for their bravery and sacrifice at an Oct. 15 ceremony here.The ceremony celebrated the 60th anniversary of the operation and marked the opening of a six-week exhibit on the Berlin Airlift at the air museum at Travis Air Force

  • Berlin Airlift vets return to Germany for anniversary

    For 50 years, Dub Southers recalled the grueling hours he worked at an air base in northern Germany at the start of the Berlin Airlift, not the historical significance of what he helped achieve as a flight engineer and crew chief. He remembered well the stacks of coal being shipped in from local

  • Berlin Airlift vets return to Rhein-Main

    Forty-nine Berlin Airlift veterans visited here Oct. 13 to recognize the 55th anniversary of one of the end of the largest humanitarian airlift missions in the history of the U.S. Air Force.The visit culminated in a dinner where Lt. Gen. Arthur Lichte, U.S. Air Forces in Europe vice commander,

  • Berlin Airshow kicks-off on a 'high note'

    Aircraft soaring high over the crowd, music blaring at high levels and numerous high-profile guests dropping in for a visit helped kick the 2008 Berlin Airshow off on a high note here May 27. More than 15 flight demonstrations wowed the crowd during the first day in Berlin. These

  • Berlin Candy Bomber meets children of today, yesteryear

    The Candy Bomber met children of all ages at an open house here March 22, including a man who received chocolate dropped to him as a child in Germany.Retired Col. Gail Halvorsen received his nickname for dropping candy tied to parachutes from his C-54 Skymaster to children during the Berlin

  • BESPIN-AFIMSC alliance improves mission support capabilities

    BESPIN and AFIMSC are partnering to develop two mobile applications: an app connecting the military community to base events and an app to improve contractor accountability. The apps were two of the top three ideas chosen during AFIMSC’s inaugural Innovation Rodeo March 1.

  • Bessie Coleman: Woman who 'dared to dream' made aviation history

    A young woman from rural east Texas, who grew up in a hardscrabble existence as one of 13 children born to poor sharecropper parents, became an unlikely choice to pave the way for future African-American accomplishments in aviation and the U.S. Air Force.Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman would go on to be

  • Best Air Force journalism announced

    A panel of civilian journalists, teachers and public relations professionals have selected the best in Air Force print and broadcast journalism for the 51st annual Air Force Media Contest. Senior Airman Brian A. Stives, of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is the Air

  • Best in Air Force: Columbus AFB Airfield Ops hard work recognized

    The 14th Operations Support Squadron’s Airfield Operations Flight is responsible for the daily care and feeding of both Columbus AFB owned airfields as well as the control of all 234 14th Flying Training Wing aircraft and civilian aircraft utilizing the surrounding airspace.

  • Best little repair shop in Afghanistan

    There are no Web ads, gorilla-suit wearers standing on the corner flipping arrow signs or even a simple "Open for Business" sign; there is just a makeshift, plywood plaque that describes exactly what it is -- "Tan Box Bike Repair."For service members at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, with bicycle

  • BEST newsletter keeps civilians current

    The Benefits and Entitlements Service Team newsletter is the best source of information about benefits affecting Air Force appropriated fund civilians, and Air Force Personnel Center officials are encouraging more people to subscribe. By subscribing to the BEST newsletter, civilians have immediate

  • BEST newsletter keeps civilians current

    Less than 10 percent of Air Force civilians are taking advantage of a way to get information about their benefits, and Air Force Personnel Center officials here are encouraging more people to participate.By subscribing online to the Benefits and Entitlements Service Team newsletter, Air Force

  • Better intel boosts Air Force munitions drops, sorties flown

    In 2006, the Air Force dropped more than 1,700 munitions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A year earlier, the Air Force dropped only 176 munitions as part of that same operation. The increase is due to better intelligence, said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the U.S. Central Command Air Forces

  • Better prosthetics coming for wounded warriors

    From developing a new microprocessor-controlled prosthetic leg to a non-chafing socket device, the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center here is making big strides in advancing prosthetic science to improve wounded warriors' quality of life.The center reaches out to a broad spectrum

  • Better than aviation education is a really cool patch

    About 43,000 Boy Scouts departed this Army installation Aug. 3 after 10 days of scouting, camping and learning. As part of the 2005 National Scout Jamboree, Boy Scouts nationwide gathered to make new friends, practice their scouting skills and earn "merit badges." Thanks to retired Lt. Col. Tom

  • Better-equipped National Guard still faces critical shortages

    Equipment critical to both domestic and warfighting missions and aircraft essential to guarding the nation's air sovereignty remain areas of concern for the National Guard. That was the message Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the Air National Guard, and Army Maj. Gen. Raymond W. Carpenter,

  • Betty 'Tack' Blake: Only surviving member of 1st WASP class

    Last year, a young female pilot recently showed her 91-year-old guest the F-16 Fighting Falcon she flies at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. She thanked Betty "Tack" Blake several times as she talked about her job, so Blake finally asked the young captain why she was thanking her."Because you started it,"

  • Betty Welsh: 'We are family, we are different'

    Speaking to a group of key spouses from the 501st Combat Support Wing at Royal Air Force Croughton July 16, Betty Welsh smiled, and explained how she grew from a girl who lived with her family until she was 22, into an Air Force spouse and wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III.

  • BEVERLY BULLDOG shows teeth

    Senior Airman Christopher Kaffer challenges Staff Sgt. Derrick Spencer at an entry control point July 22 at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. The Airmen are participating in a peninsula wide operational readiness exercise, BEVERLY BULLDOG 08-03, held to train U.S. forces throughout South Korea. Airman

  • Biden announces housing assistance program expansion

    Vice President Joe Biden May 14 announced the Defense Department's plan to expand its housing assistance program with $555 million devoted to servicemembers forced to sell their homes at a loss due to the country's struggling housing market. The financial support comes from President Barack Obama's

  • Biden to Academy graduates: 'This is your moment'

    Vice President Joe Biden, the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement speaker, told graduates and newly-commissioned second lieutenants from the class of 2009 "this is your moment to bend history to the service of a better day." "You will carry our skies and beyond on your backs. I promise you, we will

  • Biden to Class of 2014: 'You carry America on your back'

    The Air Force Academy's Class of 2014 will face new missions as the United States draws down in Afghanistan, but the challenges they encounter will be no less formidable and complex, Vice President Joseph R. Biden said during the Academy's commencement May 28.

  • Biden, al-Maliki honor troops' sacrifices during Day of Commitment Ceremony

    Vice President Joe Biden attended the Government of Iraq Day of Commitment Ceremony in the Al Faw Palace at Victory Base Complex, Iraq, Dec. 1, 2011.Biden joined Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Ambassador to Iraq James F. Jeffrey in commemorating the

  • Biden, wife visit troops in Southwest Asia

    Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, met with more than 1,000 service members assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing and their coalition partners from five nations March 7 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

  • Biden: U.S. honored to have helped Japan after tsunami

    Humanitarian aid has flowed both ways between the United States and Japan, and American aid to Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami is just the latest example of two close allies working together, Vice President Joe Biden said in Japan today.Biden visited the Sendai Airport, which was

  • Bidens host holiday dinner for wounded warriors

    Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, hosted an early Thanksgiving feast for wounded warriors and their families in their home at the U.S. Naval Observatory here Nov. 21.With turkeys and trimmings steaming on the tables, the Bidens kept their remarks short, but both expressed their

  • Big bangs destroy 2,000 munitions

    Airmen from the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight detonated 2,000 munitions, keeping them the out of the hands of insurgents. It took four detonations to destroy the weapons, which members of the Iraqi national guard had captured. After each big bang,

  • Big bird

    A Russian AN-124 is refueled here Feb. 27. The aircraft and crew are under contract to help ship equipment. The aircraft, which has the NATO reporting name Condor, is the world's largest and highest-flying cargo capacity aircraft in production. It is designed for long-range delivery and air

  • Big 'bird' is watching

    Staff Sgt. Andrew Johnson (left) and Senior Airman Nicholas Guthmiller review a maintenance checklist on a B-1 Lancer at a forwarded-deployed location in Southwest Asia. Both airmen are crew chiefs with the 28th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (Photo by Senior Airman Tia C. Schroeder)

  • Big Brother finds enrichment in giving back

    He was only 3 years old when he unexpectedly lost his father to a heart attack in 1986. Although too young to understand how to grieve for his dad, Richard Cooper’s life changed in an instant.

  • Big Brother reunites with ‘little’

    After losing his life possessions to a fire, his parents separating and losing motivation to do daily activities, one boy found help from an Airman now stationed here.As a preteen, Xzavior Hill said he had no direction to his life. His goal was simply to pass each day with as little effort as

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters visits 3rd Operations Group

    As he dangled from parachute risers, 12-year old Keegan Hall looked down at a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific. Deftly controlling his parachute's toggles, Keegan successfully maneuvered into a stand-up landing on the ship's pitching deck.Peering through virtual reality

  • Big Brothers, Sisters visit Eielson fighter squadron

    Eighteen children from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Fairbanks, Alaska, met Airmen from the 355th Fighter Squadron and received an up close and personal look at an A-10 Thunderbolt II when they visited here Sept. 30. "The 355th FS not only wanted to help (Big Brothers Big Sisters) in that

  • Big leap forward in detecting ground targets from cosmos

    When launched in 2010, a football-field-in-length demonstrator radar antenna, weighing more than 5 tons, will serve as the forerunner for the future of America's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets in space. Administered by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles

  • Big month for small Alaskan town

    August marked a big month for the citizens of a little town in Alaska as military members will finish the Operation Alaskan Road project Aug. 31 in Metlakatla, Alaska.The Metlakatla Indian Community hosted a dedication ceremony Aug. 6 honoring the military for their commitment to complete the

  • 'Biggest Loser' brings success to determined Airmen

    Several headquarters-based Airmen recently credited the health and wellness center's "Biggest Loser" program for helping them lose weight and bond with each other along the way.The program is inspired by the hit television show that features contestants vying to shed the most pounds in a specified

  • 'Biggest Loser' comes to Osan

    Airmen from the 51st Medical Group here are getting ready for the Air Force's new fitness program that starts January 2010. By taking a popular television show and adapting it to a military lifestyle, the Airmen have created their own "Biggest Loser" competition. The 10-week competition consists of

  • Biggest-loser contest encourages weight loss

    Fitness center and health and wellness center officials here are starting a biggest-loser contest to encourage Airmen and civilians to lose weight and build better lifestyles. The competition begins Jan 5, and is scheduled to continue through early April."This contest is about losing weight," said

  • Bikers raise money for wounded warriors during Cycling Classic

    Nearly 1,000 riders participated in the two-day Air Force Cycling Classic raised almost $35, 000 for a charity that supports wounded warriors and the families of military members who have died serving their country May 30 and 31 in Virginia. The cycling classic combined a technical sprint race, a

  • Biking brings hope to wounded, recovering veterans

    Members from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, volunteered as part of the Ride 2 Recovery (R2R) program and brought more than 20 wounded and recovering veterans together for the Vegas Challenge Feb. 1-3 in Blue Diamond, Nevada.

  • Bilateral training benefits U.S., Japanese enlisted leaders

    Nine Japan Air Self-Defense Force senior enlisted leaders took part in their first U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Symposium here as part of a bilateral exchange. Fifty-eight U.S. Air Force and Japanese senior NCOs participated in academics and training June 19 to 23 to learn how to be better first

  • Bilateral training hones U.S., JASDF capabilities

    U.S. and Japanese military aircraft joined to practice defending Okinawa from simulated enemies during joint bilateral training here Feb. 22 through 26. The training involved a variety of aircraft flying simulated hostile scenarios aimed at training personnel for joint planning and execution of

  • Bilateral training strengthens American, Japanese ties

    A group of Japan Air Self Defense Force enlisted members recently experienced the on- and off-duty life of an American Airman during a bilateral exchange program held at Kadena Air Base Feb. 12 to 18.The exchange program, a 5th Air Force initiative established to bolster cultural and professional

  • Bilateral training strengthens U.S., Japanese alliance

    Japan Air Self-Defense Force members frequently deploy to U.S. Air Force bases, and when they do, they need to know how to properly maintain equipment, even if it's not something they typically work on.That is why aerospace and ground equipment shop members recently took the time to get their

  • Bilateral training teaches enlisted leaders to care for Airmen

    Instructors from the Air Force First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., prepared 99 enlisted leaders from around Japan to better care for their airmen May 11 through 14 here.First Sergeant Academy instructors conduct 13 active duty first sergeant seminars every year. Each time

  • Bill payment arrives in deployed Airman’s package

    The Elvis Presley song goes, “Return to Sender.” The song came true for a Lott, Texas, woman who attempted to pay a bill which was accidentally delivered to a forward-deployed location here. Like millions of Americans, Mary Morris sent a bill payment via the U.S. Postal Service. Apparently, her

  • Billing date changes for government travel card

    Air Force government travel card billing cycles for individually billed accounts will begin closing out on the 22nd of each month beginning in March. The current cycle ends the third day of every month, so cardholders will experience a long cycle running Feb. 3 through March 22. Bank of America will

  • Bin Laden buried at sea, official says

    Osama bin Laden received a Muslim ceremony as he was buried at sea, a senior defense official said here May 2.The religious rites were performed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the North Arabian Sea, the official said, and occurred within 24 hours of the terrorist leader's

  • Bin Laden raid will help defeat al-Qaida, Obama says

    The death of Osama bin Laden and the unprecedented collection of intelligence material from the raid that killed the terrorist leader will help the U.S. deal a serious blow to al-Qaida, President Barack Obama said May 8 in a recent television interview.President Obama discussed the operation that

  • Binding material to save Osprey engines

    The 58th Special Operations Wing has a plan to mitigate aircraft engine damage that happens during training missions using a biodegradable binding material at practice landing zones.TerraLOC — a material is described to 58th SOW officials as "Gorilla Glue on steroids," by its manufacturer -- binds

  • Binge drinking often a problem during holidays

    The holiday season is upon us, and it's a time when many people find themselves celebrating at parties where alcoholic beverages are being served. Therefore, it is important that everyone know what they are dealing with when it comes to consuming alcohol.The National Highway Transportation Safety

  • Bio shop provides peace of mind

    It is a hot day, and an Airman has been walking around base for most of it. He is thirsty, so without thinking he grabs a bottle of water, trusting the water is safe to drink, and with good reason. The Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Aerospace Medical Squadron’s bioenvironmental engineering

  • Bio-based products enhance national security

    The use of biological-based products is important to the nation's economy and to national security, because these products help reduce America's dependence on foreign energy resources, the deputy secretary of defense said Sept. 12. The Defense Department is the largest purchaser of products in the

  • Bio-environmental Airmen monitor Colorado Front Range air quality

    Visibility continues to change dramatically along the Front Range of Colorado Springs, Colo., as wildfires burn on the western edge of the city. With the air quality affected by the fires, Air Force Space Command bio-environmental Airmen are monitoring the situation to allow commanders to better

  • Bioenvironmental engineers keep people healthy

    Staff Sgt. Terrence Jaimungal dips a vial into the Back River and comes back up with water, dirt, grass and other visible objects. But it is the things that cannot be seen by the naked eye that Sergeant Jaimungal is concerned with -- things most Airmen will not notice but can do them harm, such as

  • Bioenvironmental techs test for toxins near Tokyo

    Among the typical crews for disaster relief in mainland Japan is an atypical crew. Amid concerns for the environment, two Airman from the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron's Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight has responded to the disasters there. While other crews from here perform search-and-rescue

  • Biofuel research could result in alternative energy source

    Air Force-funded biofuel researchers are investigating ways to produce large quantities of hydrogen gas using photosynthetic microbes, commonly known as algae and cyanobacteria. In large quantities, the hydrogen gas could function as a renewable, cheap and clean energy source for future military

  • Biological team protects Balad Airmen from bioterrorism

    Two lab technician Airmen team up as a pair of modern "CSI-type" technicians, using test tubes, centrifuges, and other sophisticated testing equipment to keep Balad Air Base Airmen safe. Maj. Thomas Shaak and Staff Sgt. Raul Gutierrez are assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group's

  • Biomedical maintainers ensure combat medical success

    Airmen of the 332nd Medical Support Squadron Biomedical Maintenance Flight here help save lives by ensuring proper preparation of patients prior to air evacuation from the theater of operations every day.The Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base is the hub for en-route patient care, and

  • Biomedical Sciences Corps appreciation week

    The 96th Medical Group will observe Biomedical Sciences Corps Appreciation Week beginning Jan. 23 to recognize the organization’s efforts and contributions to Air Force medicine.