HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • 'Treasure Hunters' meet Air Force leaders

    A team made up of Air Force Academy grads that recently competed on a reality-television show visited the Pentagon Sept. 7 and met with senior Air Force leaders. They also toured the Air Force Memorial site here. Husband and wife, Matt and Brooke Rillos, and their best friend, Matt Zitzlsperger,

  • Charleston C-17 squadron completes deployment

    The first full-squadron deployment of C-17 Globemaster III aircrews and leaders at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., came to a close Sept. 1.Lt. Col. Ricky Rupp assumed command of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Lt. Col. Lenny Richoux, both from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston

  • Freedom Walks to commemorate 9/11, honor veterans

    Tens of thousands of Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are preparing to put on their walking shoes during the next few days as they participate in Freedom Walks to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to honor veterans, past and

  • Air Force trains to fill Army deployments

    Located about an hour north of Biloxi, Camp Shelby has a reputation for weather that could make the devil sweat. The harsh weather ratchets up the realism of the training that some Air Force people receive before deploying to locations like Iraq and Afghanistan. The camp is one of the

  • Fall '06 Air and Space Power Journal available

    The College for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at Air University has published and distributed the Fall 2006 English edition of the Air Force's professional journal, Air and Space Power Journal. The journal serves as an open forum for the presentation and stimulation of innovative

  • Combined forces at leadership school benefit students

    Japanese and U.S. military forces have many training opportunities to interact and learn from each other, and that bilateral relationship is carrying over to the military education classroom. Walk into an Airman Leadership School class here and it resembles a coalition headquarters environment, with

  • Air University offers online language training

    Air University officials here are offering an opportunity to active-duty company grade officers to study a foreign language online at no cost. In an effort to fulfill the Air Force chief of staff's guidance to develop culturally and linguistically competent Airmen, Air University will present the

  • Rising fuel costs tighten Air Force belt

    The growing cost of crude oil combined with increasing fuel demands of the war on terrorism are forcing Air Combat Command officials to brace for a budget crisis while looking for future fuel alternatives. The Air Force paid approximately $4.2 billion for petroleum in fiscal 2005 -- almost $1.4

  • First wave of Airmen deploy from Ellsworth

    The first wave of about 550 Ellsworth Airmen deployed to various locations throughout Southwest Asia to support ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.The majority of the Airmen, from operational and maintenance units, left earlier this week to join the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and serve

  • Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

    With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

  • Lackland medics keep steady deployment pace

    More than 100 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing departed Wilford Hall Medical Center here earlier this week for various locations throughout Southwest Asia, including the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.Others will follow throughout September, with a final count of more than

  • Officer promotion board changes take effect Jan. 1

    The secretary of the Air Force has approved changes to the format of the selection brief presented to officer promotion boards to begin Jan. 1. Air Force officials will implement three changes to officer selection briefs, or OSBs; two changes deal with presentation of data related to developmental

  • AFMx21 defining, creating future of Air Force maintenance

    Maintenance leaders from the Air Staff and major commands met in Dayton, Ohio, to discuss the current state of Air Force maintenance, trends, fiscal realities and vision through the year 2016.Known as "Air Force Maintenance for the 21st Century," or AFMx21, the program is championed by Brig. Gen.

  • Air Force Reserve tops recruiting goal again

    For the sixth year in a row, Air Force Reserve Command officials have exceeded the command's recruiting goal.AFRC Recruiting Service surpassed its goal for the 2006 recruiting year Aug. 31 when officials accessed its 8,001st recruit as the number of people signing up continues to climb. Col. Francis

  • Plan for cyberspace available in near future

    Air Force leaders soon will define the service's plan for cyberspace. "I would expect, in a matter of weeks, to see us rolling out what I would call a cyberspace campaign plan on where we are going to go next," said Lt. Gen. Michael W. Peterson, chief of warfighting integration and Air Force chief

  • Airmen take Red Flag plunge

    Parachutists from around the Air Force took a plunge Sept. 1 into local Lake Mead drop zone in support of Red Flag 06-2. U.S. Air Force C-130 and Singapore Air Force Ch-47 Chinook crews provided Red Flag airlift operations in support of the jumps. Nellis Airmen also supported the mission by

  • 433rd Airlift Wing Airmen learn from Katrina

    When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast one year ago, members of the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, quickly joined others from across the country to help in the relief efforts.For some members, it was what they had trained for and they moved with a choreographed precision to

  • Airmen come to aid of Air Force widow

    Airmen here are pitching in to help a 72-year-old Air Force widow rebuild her house following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The effort is part of a base humanitarian relief operation partnered with local charitable organizations on 700 cases across the Gulf Coast since the hurricane in

  • Air Force, Navy weather forecasters form one front

    Air Force weather forecasters from the 21st Operational Weather Squadron welcomed Navy weather forecasters into their unit here Aug. 31. With a Navy drawdown and reach-back initiatives, the number of maritime weather forecasters in Europe was reduced by more than half. "Based on the cuts in theater,

  • Bagram C-130s drop high-tech cargo delivery system

    The same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy now allows cargo bundles dropped from cargo planes to steer themselves to drop zones. A C-130 Hercules from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here dropped supplies to a U.S.

  • Military helps wounded troops return to work

    Officials from the Defense Department and military services got together here Aug. 30 for the first "From Deployment to Employment" conference to discuss ways to better serve America's severely injured servicemembers. The day-long conference was a forum to exchange ideas about how to improve the

  • AFSO 21 team learns 'Lean' lessons from Dover Airmen

    An Air Force Smart Operations 21 team from the office of the secretary of the Air Force gained valuable insight into how to "Lean" a work process during a visit to Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 21 to 25. The AFSO 21 team from the Pentagon is comprised of 72 master process officers going through a

  • After Katrina: ACC's intel team applies lessons learned

    The men and women of Air Combat Command's intelligence directorate haven't been stocking up on distilled water and plywood, but they are prepared for the busy part of the 2006 hurricane season or any natural disaster that might affect the United States. "We're light-years ahead of where we were this

  • CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

    When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the

  • Air Force lieutenant breaks Army push-up record

    The installation record for the most push-ups in the gas chamber without wearing a mask was 162. And thus a challenge was made to the Airmen attending combat skills training here. Without a second thought, 1st Lt. Stephen Maddox picked up the gauntlet. He had certainly done more than 162 push-ups

  • Airmen experience tip of expeditionary spear

    Most Airmen have experienced the expeditionary air and space force, but for about 170 Airmen serving in the military personnel exchange program, the term "expeditionary" takes on a whole new meaning. Officers and senior NCOs serving in the MPEP are assigned to nearly three dozen foreign air forces

  • Airmen return to big family welcome

    Family, friends and squadron members welcomed home 13 Airmen with fresh grilled food, cold drinks and cheerful faces Aug. 29. After their nine-month deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving side-by-side with Army Soldiers to jointly handle security at Camp Bucca, the Airmen were met by

  • Homestead reservists prepare for Ernesto

    Air Force reservists of the 482nd Fighter Wing are preparing for landfall of Tropical Storm Ernesto on the Florida Peninsula here.  Pilots evacuated six F-16 Fighting Falcons to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 28. Another eight jets remained at Hill Air Force Base,

  • Rescue wing gears up for Tropical Storm Ernesto

    Air Force Reserve Command's rescue unit here is taking measures to prepare for Tropical Storm Ernesto as it heads toward central Florida. The 920th Rescue Wing will evacuate its aircraft to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., Aug. 29. Wing aircrews will fly their HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters and HC-130P/N

  • Keesler Medical Center rebounds from Katrina

    Keesler Medical Center, the second largest Air Force medical center, has made great strides in rebounding from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina one year ago. The facility is rapidly returning to its pre-Katrina status, both from the standpoint of the physical plant and services. Full

  • Airmen assist with volcano disaster relief

    An eight-person Air Force medical readiness team is providing assistance to Ecuadorians affected by the Tungurahua volcano eruption here Aug. 16. Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Travis AFB, Calif., Minot AFB, N.D., and Goodfellow and Lackland AFB, Texas, specialize in dermatology;

  • Leadership development program assists GS-15 advancement

    A new leadership development program called GS-15 LD provides a total force development vision for Air Force civilians in the GS-15 grade, preparing them for senior roles in the Department of Defense. "We're working hard to prepare these people to successfully lead at the Senior Executive Service

  • President Bush visits Keesler

    Airmen at Keesler Air Force Base got a surprise Aug. 28 when President George W. Bush passed through on his way to visit the Gulf Coast region. Base officials first learned about the visit Aug. 25 and rushed to make preparations for him to land in the area. "This isn't the first time the president

  • Bases work with FEMA to provide aid

    In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Air Force provided support in many ways -- some of that from a distance. Numerous bases worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by providing locations for use as staging points to accelerate the delivery of supplies to hurricane victims.

  • Running for more than fitness

    In a country at war against Taliban extremists who banned women's education, more than 900 runners and walkers participated in a Women's Equality Day 5K fun run and walk here. Congress designated "Women's Equality Day" in the United States Aug. 28, 1971. The date commemorates the 1920 passage of the

  • Joint review fosters communication, collaboration

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials recently traveled to Atlanta where they completed their yearly Joint Program Review of basic research funded projects. Hundreds of notable researchers and scientists attended this year's program representing the Air Force Research Laboratory,

  • Whiteman B-2s complete successful Andersen deployment

    After more than 140 sorties and 330 released weapons, B-2 Spirit aircraft, pilots, maintainers and support staff from the 509th Bomb Wing are returning home having completed another successful deployment here.Aircraft and Airmen from the 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons and 509th Maintenance Group at

  • Rumsfeld salutes servicemembers' global efforts

    America's 2 million men and women in uniform are meeting demands around the globe and "are doing a terrific job," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Aug. 25. But with 138,000 troops in Iraq and an ongoing need to modernize the force, defense officials "have to continue to find ways to see

  • Keesler keeps an eye on Ernesto

    As Tropical Storm Ernesto gets stronger and churns toward the Gulf of Mexico, Airmen at one Gulf Coast base are beginning to take notice. In a forecast report released today by the National Hurricane Center, weather forecasters expect Ernesto to become a powerful hurricane -- the first of the season

  • Life after Katrina, Airmen ready to help again

    The fifth tropical depression of the year is gathering force in the Caribbean Sea and making a beeline for the Gulf of Mexico. It might, or might not, turn into a hurricane. Either way, there is no doubt Airmen at bases along the Gulf Coast are wondering if they will soon have to hunker down and

  • Unique mission: Guarding a space wing missile complex

    The rolling prairie hills here are blanketed with wind-driven swaying fields of golden grain. With an average of nine people per square mile in this state, the farm lands here seem to be a postcard setting for tranquil, peaceful living. Appearances can be deceiving. One hundred and fifty Minuteman

  • Tenacious trainers triumph in Katrina's wake

    One of Keesler's most remarkable Hurricane Katrina success stories is the resurgence of the 81st Training Group. Training, Keesler's primary mission, has not only rebounded, but has flourished in the past year, said Col. Deborah Van De Ven, who took command of the 81st TRG a month after Katrina's

  • Keesler Air Force Base: One year after Katrina

    Bent but not broken by the worst natural disaster in the nation's history, Keesler's recovery continues to exceed expectations. "The damage to the base by Hurricane Katrina was a staggering $950 million. With that in mind, no one imagined in the days immediately after Aug. 29, 2005, we'd be where we

  • Joint dermatology program receives maximum accreditation

    Accreditation was awarded to the Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center Dermatology Residency Program Aug. 16. The accreditation signifies that the integrated Army and Air Force dermatology program meets or exceeds the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate

  • Ulchi Focus Lens kicks off in Korea

    Exercise Ulchi Focus Lens '06 kicked off Aug. 21 across the Korean peninsula. UFL, as the exercise is commonly known, takes place each year in the late summer. The command post exercise is designed to provide simulated combined training for U.S. and Korean forces and to strengthen the alliance

  • Ukraine officers visit RAF Lakenheath

    A group of Ukrainian military officers completed a five-day visit Aug. 18 to the 48th Fighter Wing here where they learned about U.S. Air Force training and operational processes. Part of a U.S. European Command-sponsored Joint Contact Training Program, the visit fosters bilateral cooperation

  • Letter to Airmen recognizes Air Force transformation

    In his latest "Letter to Airmen," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley discusses measures that will shape and transform the Air Force.  General Moseley said Airmen today are engaged in a vast array of missions from operating satellites in deep space to applying air power to the surface

  • Salvaged flight deck from C-5 mishap becomes tool

    The crew compartment belonging to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft that fell less than a mile short of Dover Air Force Base's runway April 3 has been salvaged for use in C-5 aircraft crew training. The compartment, commonly referred to as the aircraft's flight deck, was loaded onto a C-5 and airlifted to its

  • Holloman's BEAR ready to deploy

    As the first anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters in American history approaches, Holloman Airmen are prepared for anything. The 49th Material Maintenance Group maintains a constant state of readiness for equipment that might be tasked to support any Department of Defense or Federal

  • AMC commander praises airlift effort

    The general in charge of providing the Air Force airlift for the war on terrorism thanked Airmen here for being ready to do their part. Gen. Duncan McNabb, the AMC commander, called Little Rock Airmen his "band of brothers" and thanked them and their families for "standing tall and defending the

  • Symposium focuses on needs of young veterans

    Registration is open for the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans scheduled for Oct. 18 to 21 in Chicago. The event will bring together a diverse and representative group of 1,500 active-duty servicemembers, reservists and veterans to find solutions to the challenges servicemembers

  • Little Rock Airmen train Romanian maintainers

    Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 4, are providing first-of-its-kind training for Romanian air force maintainers with a custom-made program at the C-130 Center of Excellence here.Det. 4 members built training classes specifically for the Romanians, and then four separate classes of

  • Ceremony honors combat controller killed in Afghanistan

    A memorial service here Aug. 25 will honor a 23rd Special Tactics Squadron combat controller who was killed in action in Afghanistan Aug. 19.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, who was working side-by-side with the Afghan National Army as part of a special operations forces team, died when his convoy was

  • Products to revolutionize space weather forecasts

    Predicting the harmful effects of space weather on a U.S. military asset or mission has been advanced with the delivery of a prototype that combines environmental information with system specifications and thresholds. The prototype, which consists of five computer-generated products, provides

  • Air Force legal leaders meet with Afghan counterparts

    Two Air Force legal leaders visited Southwest Asia in August, stopping in Kabul, Afghanistan, for a two-day seminar with Afghan military legal leaders on the rule of law.Maj. Gen. Jack Rives, Air Force judge advocate general, and Col. Lindsey Graham, appellate military judge, met leaders from the

  • Small-diameter bomb ready for war on terror

    Four major acquisition programs -- developed in parallel -- have come together to provide Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crews with a revolutionary capability that combines accuracy and reduced collateral damage. Military and civilian employees in seven locations worked together developing the four

  • Air Force, Japan train to fight fires together

    Airmen from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are training to put out fires on base today with Japanese firemen from four local fire departments. These fires were part of a joint firefighter training exercise. "The most important reason is that we have a mutual-aid agreements with all of these departments,"

  • F-16 accident investigation complete

    Air Force officials have completed their investigation of the April 11 F-16 Fighting Falcon accident near Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., which resulted in the loss of the 56th Fighter Wing aircraft. The accident investigation board determined the cause of this mishap to be an engine explosion. The

  • Americans, Hondurans team to fix broken bones

    A medical team of eight people from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, treated more than 200 Hondurans during a two-week training exercise Aug. 5 to 19.The team of eight medical professionals, led by Lt. Col.

  • AFPC names O'Malley Award winner

    The former Keesler Air Force Base commander and his wife who led the base's recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina recently won the 2006 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. Maj. Gen. William Lord and his wife, Cynthia, received the award that recognizes the wing commander-and-spouse team

  • Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

    More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

  • CV-22 testing accelerates in August

    The CV-22 Osprey, an aircraft unlike any other, is now in the midst of a test unlike any other.In the developmental test and evaluation phase, CV-22 testing has primarily been conducted by Bell-Boeing. However, when the Naval Air Systems Command requested an electronic warfare integrated assessment

  • Senior leaders eye robust intelligence capabilities, people

    Several active duty and retired senior leaders from the Air Force intelligence community gathered with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley at the Pentagon recently as part of an intelligence summit and strategy session. The leaders are reviewing how and when the Air Force uses

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold pre-game practice at MacDill AFB

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers broke training camp Thursday and in an unprecedented move for the team, held its day-before-game walk-through at MacDill AFB, Fla. The Buccaneers, who play their second pre-season game against the Miami Dolphins Saturday, have a long-standing relationship and community

  • Malmstrom, Patrick, Peterson tops at Guardian Challenge

    Inside Hangar 140 here, the air was thick with anticipation as teams from across Air Force Space Command maintained nervous conversation over dinner Aug. 17, awaiting the announcement of the Guardian Challenge 2006 winners. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, reminded a highly motivated crowd

  • Unit fires first live air-to-air missiles in South Korea

    With the call "Fox 2," pilots here employed AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on Aug. 16 for the first time in the history of 7th Air Force in Korea, serving as the driving force behind implementing a weapon system evaluation program here.The initiative by the 80th Fighter Squadron here to shoot live,

  • COMUSAFE concludes Russian visit

    Improved relations and future operational cooperation between U.S. and Russian air forces was the goal of a four-day visit to Russia by the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.Gen. Tom Hobbins, who visited Moscow and Lipetsk Air Base Aug. 14 to 17, said the military-to-military relationship

  • Maintainers keep jets healthy, safe during Viper Lance

    While most participants involved in Exercise Viper Lance 2006 here call it a day at sunset, the workday is just beginning for maintainers on the night shift.Of the more than 250 Airmen here for the air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercise, roughly 170 support the maintenance mission. Viper

  • 'Natural Fire' provides assistance to African nations

    Three East African nations and the United States are participating in Natural Fire 2006, a multilateral training exercise that is providing medical, veterinary and engineering civil assistance.The exercise includes approximately 1,000 servicemembers from the United States, Tanzania, Uganda and

  • Medical records nearer to going electronic

    Medical troops throughout the Air Force soon will be using the Department of Defense's global electronic health record system to keep track of patient records. The Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, known as AHLTA, is the largest system of its kind, defense officials said. The

  • Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

    For more than two years Airmen have been driving convoys for the Army on some of the most dangerous roads in the world. From their Army camp to the border of southern Iraq and to the most northern reaches of a country roughly the size of California, members of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics

  • Viper Lance pilots trade rides

    Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

  • Space Command focuses on tailoring mission with new triad

    Strategic deterrence, securing the space domain and recapitalizing on a lesser budget are among the priorities for the Air Force Space Command commander.In keeping with the theme, "Global missions... meeting the challenge," Gen. Kevin P. Chilton spoke on the future of Air Force space missions at the

  • AETC preparing for reduced civilian authorizations

    Air Education and Training Command officials are looking at ways to streamline organizations to smaller, more agile forces and organizational structures to reduce the effect of reductions in the civilian workforce next spring.The Air Force plans to reduce its civilian workforce strength by 2,000

  • Air Force recruiting meeting its goal for 7th year

    The Air Force is on track to make its recruiting goal this year, marking the seventh consecutive year the service has brought in the right number and mix of new Airmen. To date, 25,645 people have enlisted in the Air Force and entered active duty in fiscal 2006. That puts the Air Force on pace to

  • California Air National Guard embraces new mission

    The sun heats a Nevada desert landscape as a small group of warriors focus on computer terminals. These men and women know their actions directly support others facing the heat of another desert half a world away. Members of the California Air National Guard's 163rd Air Refueling Wing have spent the

  • Massachusetts gains new Air National Guard unit

    As part of the Air Force Total Force Integration initiative, the Massachusetts Air National Guard will establish a distributed ground station unit here. A DGS unit provides real-time intelligence processing, exploitation and dissemination for commanders. Experienced members of the Massachusetts Air

  • COMUSAFE boosts U.S.-Russian relations with visit

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe is in Russia to bolster relationships and security cooperation between U.S. and Russian Air Forces during a visit Aug. 14 to 17. Gen. Tom Hobbins' visit is reciprocal for one taken by Gen. Col. Aleksandr Zelin, deputy commander in chief of the Russian

  • Justice Department Web site explains military rights

    The Department of Justice has launched a Web site to protect servicemembers' rights, said the attorney general. Alberto R. Gonzalez, speaking to the Disabled American Veterans annual convention in Chicago, said the Justice Department has made it a priority to enforce civil rights laws for American

  • Cyber Security Boot Camp graduates Class of 2006

    Thirty-five college students from across the nation were recognized Aug. 10 as graduates of the 2006 Advanced Course in Engineering, or ACE, Cyber Security Boot Camp, a 10-week program at the Air Force Research Laboratory information directorate. This year's class included 19 Air Force cadets, three

  • Physiological training crucial for aircrews

    Approximately 35,000 students take physiological training each year to gain a better understanding of survival in the flight environment. It covers problems in both high and low altitudes and recommends procedures to prevent or minimize human factor errors that occur in flight.Airmen at the 21st

  • Bagram security forces fly away to support airlift mission

    Security forces protect Air Force people and resources worldwide, even when those resources are on the move at more than 300 mph. The C-130 Hercules cargo plane is the primary means of moving supplies and troops around Afghanistan. Aircrews frequently land at remote, dirt landing strips to support

  • Comm team keeps Viper Lance participants connected

    One mile of cable, six pallets of equipment and three days to set up fully functioning communications for a forward base is standard work for members of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron. Thirteen members of the 1st CBCS, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are here to support Exercise

  • Randolph officer found guilty in court-martial

    An Air Force officer was tried and found guilty in a general court-martial at the Randolph Air Force Base federal courtroom at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 9. Lt. Col. Christopher T. Kugel was charged with dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer after he admitted to having affairs with several

  • Air Force still hiring

    Despite rumors to the contrary, the Air Force is still hiring. People interested in joining are always encouraged to apply, even in light of the Air Force's recently released force-shaping initiatives. To match the Air Force's new strength numbers, next year's recruiting goals have reduced by nine

  • New Web portal to help enlisted career development

    Enlisted Airmen will soon have a new development Web site portal designed to meet all of their career development needs, allowing them to navigate different aspects of their time in service from their desktop computers, Air Force officials here said. My Enlisted Development Plan, or MyEDP, is

  • Airman recognized for work with Iraqi army

    "This is a big deal ... this is a big deal ... a Bronze Star!" said Col. Michael Boera, 36th Wing commander. He was presiding over a ceremony in which Tech. Sgt. Ruben Vazquez of the 36th Medical Operations Squadron was awarded a Bronze Star for his service as an independent duty medical technician

  • 33rd Fighter Wing gains F-35 training mission

    Air Force officials announced plans to assign the mission of training new Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and allied F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter pilots and maintainers to the 33rd Fighter Wing here. Final planning for the move is dependent on the results of the ongoing environmental impact

  • History comes full circle for black aviators

    The past and present came together Aug. 4 as black aviators from different generations took part in a historic flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. An all-volunteer, black aircrew from the 315th and 437th Airlift Wings at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and the 446th AW at McChord AFB, Wash., flew

  • Reserve unit participates in 'Safe Seas 2006'

    Aerial spray operations and maintenance people from the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, continue to hone their aerial spray application skills. Most of the time aerial spray crews work to control biting insects such as mosquitoes and flies. During the second week of

  • Thrift Savings Plan augments retirement

    The Thrift Savings Plan's automatic and matching contributions form a key part of the Federal Employees' Retirement System, or FERS, offering federal civilian employees opportunities to increase their retirement income. FERS civilian Thrift Savings Plan account holders automatically receive a

  • Top chief elaborates on Airman pride

    The top enlisted Airman shared his thoughts on Airman pride during his visit here. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley was in San Antonio to check out basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and security forces expeditionary training at nearby Camp Bullis.The chief was impressed

  • C-17 Globemaster III crew doing its part

    A long day of loading and unloading cargo off of the C-17 Globemaster III is nothing new to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron aircrew. On this day the crew was able to fly in more than 80 aircraft pallets full of supplies to Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The deployed

  • Royal Air Force pilot makes history in B-2 Spirit

    At first glance, he looks like any other Air Force pilot: olive-green flight suit, polished boots and a bluish-gray flight cap with rank insignia prominently displayed. On closer inspection, you realize the little differences.His shoulder boards don't feature bars or leaves, but instead a

  • Air Guard pilots train in escape, evasion

    A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots from the Idaho Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron ascended the mountains here Aug. 6 for a refresher on escaping the enemy and evading capture should they ever be shot down. The training they hope they never have to use is important because, while the United

  • 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

  • Medic discovers more about himself during PRT mission

    When a suicide bomber slammed and ignited his missile-laden vehicle into the Humvee in front of Staff Sgt. Eric Mathiasen, the Air Force medic exploded into action. He did not think about his wife or two children, or that there was unexploded ordnance lying about. He just grabbed his medical bag and

  • Rescue wing saves 122 people since June 1

    The Airmen of the 347th Rescue Wing saved 66 people from potentially fatal injuries and another 56 from critical injuries in Afghanistan since June 1.These numbers not only show deployed Moody Airmen are accomplishing the mission, but that lives are being saved, said Col. Eric Kivi, 347th Operations

  • KC-10 maintainers keep mission flowing

    KC-10 Extender maintainers work long days on the flightline with temperatures reaching nearly 135 degrees on the scorching concrete, and it is even hotter in the KC-10s parked on the ramp. These are the conditions facing the Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The

  • Airpark dedication honors Tuskegee Airmen

    More than 50 Tuskegee Airmen attended an airpark dedication ceremony in their honor Aug. 2 in front of the 944th Fighter Wing headquarters here. The airpark features an F-16 Fighting Falcon static aircraft painted in World War II Tuskegee colors in recognition of the "Red Tail" warriors of the