NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Coin-sized sensor can detect bombs

    An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded team has created an inexpensive sensor the size of a penny that detects bombs made with improvised peroxide explosive devices. The University of California at San Diego research team includes Dr. William Trogler, one of the inventors of the

  • U.S.-German exchange pilots showcase interoperability

    Enhancing the U.S.-German military-to-military relationship and promoting standardization and interoperability of equipment are key themes of the Berlin Airshow.Lt. Col. Marc Beutler, a German air force pilot assigned to the 14th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and is aircraft

  • Centralization at AFPC of separation actions complete

    Under the Personnel Services Delivery Transformation initiative, beginning May 30 the Air Force Personnel Center here became the service center for all separation actions to include providing Airmen with their separation orders and DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

  • 2-time Oscar winner presents film at Air Force Week

    Military medicine and wounded warriors took center stage in the "Fighting for Life" documentary produced by Terry Sanders shown during Air Force Week in Philadelphia May 28 at the Levitt Auditorium of the University of the Arts here. Directed by two-time Academy Award winner Terry Sanders and

  • CE Airmen complete projects to benefit U.S., Iraqi army

    Airmen from Detachment 6 of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron recently returned here from forward deployed locations where they were instrumental in building infrastructures for coalition and joint forces in Iraq. One project was to build a joint combat outpost in the Diyala River

  • KC-135: 50 years of refueling the fleet

    In an effort to modernize its aging tanker fleet, the Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to build the KC-45 aerial refueling aircraft in February. The new tanker is set to augment and eventually replace the KC-135 Stratotanker, currently the oldest airframe still in use by the Air Force.

  • RAF officers spin-up on 820th SFG roles, mission, training

    Two members from the Royal Air Force, Force Protection Centre at RAF Honington, United Kingdom, recently visited the 820th Security Forces Group at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as part of an exchange program between the units. Flight Lt. Dave Martin and Wing Cmdr. Tom Sawyer, Force Protection Centre

  • Service demographics offer snapshot of force

    The Air Force Personnel Center here recently published its demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force. This data is current as of April 30. More information can be found at the center's analysis branch website:

  • Vice chief, legendary pilot commemorate 60th anniversary of Berlin Airlift

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Duncan J. McNabb and legendary airlift pilot retired Col. Gail Halvorsen participated in a commemorative panel discussion of the Berlin Airlift May 27 in Berlin. The Air Force Association sponsored the panel to highlight the historic importance of the mission and

  • General addresses transportation needs during Air Force Week-Philadelphia

    The leader of U.S. Transportation Command addressed community leaders and hundreds of Airmen about the outlook of American military transportation May 27 at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Center here. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USTRANSCOM commander at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., spoke at

  • Academy Class of 2008 achieves long-awaited goal

    Cool temperatures with an overcast sky and a threat of rain made it no less bright for the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2008 when 1,012 graduates tossed their hats following a speech delivered by their commander-in-chief at the Academy May 28. "I am so pleased to stand before the future leaders

  • AETC plans 2009 Symposium in San Antonio

    Air Education and Training Command officials are planning the 2009 AETC Symposium -- scheduled for Jan. 15-16, 2009, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. A crowd of more than 2,000 military and civilian attendees from around the country attended the 2007 AETC Symposium, which

  • Airmen trace roots of independence during Air Force Week in Philadelphia

    Airpower roared over the birthplace of American independence as Airmen on the ground and in the air showed local citizens what the Air Force is all about May 27 during festivities supporting Air Force Week in Philadelphia. Throughout the Independence National Historical Park here, Airmen talked with

  • A tradition of honor: Servicemembers share pride in service

    "Our servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace -- many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of

  • 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

  • Chief McKinley awards rank of honorary chief

    An "Airman among Airmen" was awarded the honorary rank and title of a chief master sergeant in the Air Force during a ceremony here May 23. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, joined by more than 450 senior enlisted leaders attending the Airmen's Heritage Banquet during the 2008

  • Airmen prepare for 2008 Berlin Airshow

    Aircrew and support personnel from bases in Europe and the U.S. have been hustling in over the last few days to prepare for one of the premier airshows in the world, the 2008 Berlin Airshow. The "Spirit of Berlin" C-17 Globemaster III, from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. and C-47 Skytrain heritage

  • Phillies recognize Air Force heroes, newest Airmen

    Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to experience the Air Force. The Philadelphia Phillies saluted the Air Force with festivities both on the field and around the ballpark as part of Air Force Week in Philadelphia ceremonies on Memorial Day here as the Phillies dismantled the Colorado Rockies

  • Air Force Week in Philadelphia kicks off with parade

    Airmen paraded down the streets of Bridesburg adorned with red, white and blue flags and banners May 26 to kick off not only Air Force Week in Philadelphia but also the city's annual Memorial Day parade Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command, led a contingent of Airmen and

  • AFPC accepting Academy instructor applications

    Officers interested in serving as instructors at the U. S. Air Force Academy for the 2009-2010 school year should submit their applications to the Air Force Personnel Center here by July 15. Instructor duty is a four-year special duty assignment available to qualified first lieutenants through

  • Seven countries hone fighter pilot skills during Maple Flag

    Fighter pilots from seven different countries, including the United States, participate in Maple Flag 41May 5-16 and May 19-30 at Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada. "Ask any U.S. fighter pilot and he'll tell you the best part about flying here is the unrestricted air space," said Maj. Derrick Johnson,

  • Coalition forces, local government thwart IED in Panjshir

    Many innocent Afghan lives were saved due to the quick action of a local farmer and the combined efforts of the Panjshir government and the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, May 23. A farmer, crossing one of his fields on a Panjshir mountain ridge, found an improvised

  • Meaning of Memorial Day hits home for deployed Airmen

    Airmen from Balad Air Base, Iraq, gathered to observe Memorial Day, May 26. The ceremony had personal significance for many Airmen in attendance. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing suffered the loss of three of its brothers-in-arms during the first half of 2008 -- Tech. Sgt. Anthony Capra, Staff Sgt.

  • Modernized asset provides increased capabilities

    Airmen from the Rhode Island, California and Maryland Air National Guard deployed with the Air Force's newest Hercules C-130J and C-130J-30 to enhance airdrop and airlift capabilities supporting military and civilians in Afghanistan. "The biggest advantages are its capabilities in terms of what it

  • 30 servicemembers become citizens

    Thirty military members from 14 countries took the oath of citizenship and officially became U.S. citizens in a ceremony at the Pritzker Military Library in Chicago May 23.  Brig. Gen. Darren McDew, director of public affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, was the keynote speaker at the

  • Safety Center site has something for every Airman

    You don't have to be a safety professional to benefit from the products and services of the Air Force Safety Center. Commanders and Airmen in every career field have something to gain by checking out the material on the Safety Center's Web site. That's the message senior officials here want Airmen

  • Air Force officials announce aviation resource management awards

    Air Force officials announced the 2007 Outstanding Air Force Aviation Resource Management award winners. The 2007 Aviation Resource Management award winners are: -- Airman of the Year is Airman 1st Class Cheryl A. Roach of the 493rd Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom --

  • CSAF addresses Air Force top enlisted leaders

    "We have to adapt to today's fight, but prepare for the fight of tomorrow," the Air Force chief of staff told more than 300 of the Air Force's top enlisted Airmen during the 2008 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit at Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex May 21. Gen. T. Michael Moseley spoke with chief

  • San Antonio area Air Force, Army medical centers to merge

    Medical care for military families in the San Antonio area is changing. Not in what it offers, but where, officals said. Wilford Hall and Brooke Army Medical Centers are set to merge by 2011 as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations. Combined, the two medical

  • Airmen honor fallen veterans in Paris

    Inside eight lanes of swarming traffic on western end of the Champs-Elysees, hundreds of tourists and local Parisians silently watched Gen. Roger Brady, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, join French and American hosts in laying a wreath of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Framing

  • USAFE program builds working relationships

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe patches can be seen around the world because of the command's robust military-to-military program, which is one of several theater security cooperation components. USAFE works with more than 60 countries on three continents annually to share information and enhance

  • Cadet cyberwarriors head to AFIT

    Two Air Force Academy first-class cadets will soon be the first graduates to go directly from the Academy to the Air Force Institute of Technology's cyber warfare track. Cadets 1st Class Aaron Gross and Nicholas Fritts have followed the Academy's undergraduate cyber warfare degree track as computer

  • Gaming, simulation training in near future for military

    Defense Department officials are looking for ways to integrate a structured learning environment and gaming to train military members, a senior official said. "Structured learning environments are doing very well, but games offer such a tremendous motivational component to users," said Robert A.

  • NCAA coaches 'touchdown' in AOR

    Servicemembers here pulled out their team banners and school spirit May 22 when five National Collegiate Athletic Association football coaches from various universities throughout the states stopped to thank Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines for their service on the first leg of the Armed Forces

  • Navy, Air Force train together to showcase capabilities

    In an effort to enhance the Air Force's weapons delivery capabilities and the Navy's F-18 Hornets' intercept capabilities, the 96th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron here and the aircrew of Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) of the USS Nimitz have been participating in joint training exercises off the

  • Secretary encourages Airmen to be 'agents of change'

    Airmen must be capable of explaining what the total Air Force is doing and where it is going, said Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne during an Air Staff Call May 22 at the Pentagon. The Air Staff Call targeted action officer, senior noncommissioned officer and mid-grade civilian levels of

  • Air Force leaders send Memorial Day message

    In a joint Letter to Airmen, the Air Force secretary and chief of staff send their Memorial Day message to Airmen and their families worldwide. Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley remind Airmen that May 26 is a day that Americans remember and pay

  • Former Air Force pilot, NFL star touts opportunities for veterans

    Chad Hennings has been known by many titles in his life: U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, Gulf War veteran, Dallas Cowboy. The three-time Super Bowl champion now can go by one more title: small-business advocate. "Small business is the lifeblood of America," Mr. Hennings

  • Military better prepared than ever for disaster relief

    The Defense Department and U.S. military are better prepared than ever to aid disaster-relief efforts, and have improved measures for tracking military families affected by catastrophe, a top Pentagon official here said May 21. Among other services, department entities are poised to assist with

  • 'Today's Air Force' features disaster relief

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how the U.S. Air Force provides life-saving relief anywhere in the world. One example is the humanitarian relief Air Force aircrews have flown to China. Airmen are working around the clock to deliver food, blankets and tools to care for the

  • NCO found guilty, sentenced in court martial

    Staff Sgt. Victor J. Rodgers, (who is not a cadet), from the 10th Medical Support Squadron here, was found guilty by a military judge of six violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The violations included disorderly conduct by knowingly filming a fellow Airman without her consent while

  • VA secretary focuses on continuum of care

    Five months after taking the helm of the nation's second-largest cabinet department, the secretary of veterans affairs laid out his priorities and talked of transitioning the organization to meet the needs of veterans today as well as those of the next generation. Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr.

  • Dover Airman to receive CFC Hero Award

    A Dover Airman was recently awarded the 2007 National Combined Federal Campaign Military Hero Award for his efforts with the CFC and other volunteer activities in the community. Capt. Thomas Abell, the 436th Mission Support Squadron Military Personnel Flight commander, will receive the annual CFC

  • Memorial Day posters available for download

    Memorial Day honors men and women who have died during military service to the United States. To show respect to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, two posters are available for download and display. The first poster shows a joint-service honor guard carrying a flag-draped

  • Airmen in Honduras host special day for local children

    Members of the 612th Air Base Squadron hosted an orphanage children's day complete with games, swimming, lunch and piñatas May 18 at Soto Cano Air Base. About 40 volunteers from the squadron came out to make sure children from the Hogar de Guadalupe Orphanage in El Conejo, Honduras, had a

  • Airmen can use regular detergent on ABUs

    Airmen are now authorized to wash their Airmen Battle Uniforms in regular detergent, regardless if the detergent uses optical brighteners announced Air Force leaders here recently. On March 25, the Army released a memorandum concluding that ABUs laundered with detergents containing optical

  • Malmstrom recognized with Canada's top military honor

    Canadian Forces and the Malmstrom Air Force Base members gathered here May 17 to recognize the actions of the base community in the wake of a fatal aircraft accident during an open house practice May 18, 2007. Canadian Forces Capt. Shawn McCaughey, a Snowbirds aerial demonstration team pilot, was

  • Air Force Marathon, early registration saves money

    Several key dates are quickly approaching for people interested in running in the 2008 U.S. Air Force Marathon here. Participants can save money by registering early; the first deadline for savings is May 31. Early registration will help the marathon staff better plan for the event. "People can

  • Top leaders unite for senior enlisted summit

    More than 350 of the Air Force's top enlisted leaders converged on Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex to participate in the 2008 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit May 18 to 23. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, along with hundreds of Air Force command chief master sergeants,

  • Promotion, developmental education releases combined

    Air Force officials here recently announced they will begin combining the public releases for officer promotions and developmental education announcements as part of an ongoing effort to streamline personnel processes. The new initiative will start later this year with the September 2008B lieutenant

  • Operation Toy Drive to bring joy to Iraqi orphans

    Approximately 40 volunteers from the base Company Grade Officers' Council here are on a mission to bring joy to the faces of local Iraqi orphans. Through Operation Toy Drive, the group collected toys and plan to present the gifts to Iraqi children in May. "We just received care packages from so many

  • Officials plan events for Air Force Week in Philadelphia

    Air Force officials will spread "brotherly love" as airpower will be displayed for Air Force Week in Philadelphia May 26 through June 2. Activities in the Philadelphia metro region will begin on Memorial Day and culminate with an Air Exposition featuring the Air Force Demonstrations Squadron, the

  • USAFE officials continue to build partnerships

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials joined representatives from seven countries in Bucharest, Romania, May 5 to 9 to participate in a Building Partnership Seminar.  The seminar was part of the Unified Engagement series, a transformation wargame designed to explore future joint warfighting concepts

  • Military conservation agents recognized for support

    From chasing bears out of housing, enforcing fish and wildlife laws, to educating the public, the efforts of Elmendorf's military conservation agents tend to be behind the scenes and rarely noticed ... until now. The program was recently recognized by the National Military Fish and Wildlife Agency

  • Airmen 'pump' blood to warfighters, civilian casualties

    At the heart of the Blood Transshipment Center here, a five-member team pumps blood to Southwest Asia, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and the Horn of Africa.The team, along with a group of volunteers, processes thousands of units of life-saving blood for warfighters and civilian casualties

  • Joint force employees share process improvement ideas

    More than 1,000 military and civilian defense department employees came together May 13 to 17 to compare process improvement notes during a four-day conference in Lansdowne, Va.During the 2008 Department of Defense Continuous Process Improvement Symposium, Airmen from around the world shared input

  • AMC Airmen posturing to support China, Burma humanitarian relief

    Mobility Airmen are posturing for possible relief efforts for victims of China's earthquake, planners from the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center here said May 16. While the 618th TACC has no defined requirements to provide military airlift assistance, at least one AMC aircrew is on alert to fly an

  • Military medical advancements benefit civilian health care

    Psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries are primary areas of study in military medicine, said a senior Department of Defense medical official here recently. "What we are learning in studies will lead to some major breakthroughs in the world of medicine," said Dr. Michael E.

  • AFMC surgeon general: joint medical teams saving lives

    The Air Force offers one of the best medical services in the world, Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Richard A. Hersack said May 15 during his visit here. General Hersack, who became the Air Force Materiel Command surgeon general last fall, said he couldn't be more proud of the medical workers in the command and

  • Elmendorf Airmen lend a hand

    People need four things to survive: Food, water, clothing and shelter. Ten members of the First Term Airman Center here recently volunteered to help provide one of these basic needs for underprivileged families May 3 in Anchorage, Alaska. The FTAC NCO in charge, the flight leader and eight students

  • Elmendorf NCO receives DOD honor

    Department of Defense officials recently recognized an Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, NCO for significant contributions to the sustainment, beddown and/or operational capability of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles for the 3rd Wing here. Staff Sgt. Wayne Zuiderhof of the 3rd Equipment Maintenance

  • Multinational exercise in Croatia wraps up

    Croatia hosted the closing ceremony for the 2008 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, or MEDCEUR, here May 14. MEDCEUR is a Joint Chiefs of Staff regional, multilateral exercise sponsored by U.S. European Command. The exercise provides an opportunity for medical people to share

  • Iraqi air force supports Mosul, other operations

    Members of the Iraqi air force integrated and synchronized with Iraqi special forces in an effort to dissolve the al-Qaida in Iraq influence since early May in Mosul, Iraq. In less than two weeks, the Iraqi air force members have moved more than 3 tons of cargo and 251 passengers into Mosul using

  • Air Force club members eligible for scholarships

    Air Force Clubs are offering 25 scholarships valued at $1,000 each to club members and their families through a themed essay contest. Essays must be 500 words or less and written on the subject of "The Most Important Person in My Life." Interested applicants may visit the Air Force Clubs Web site

  • Iraqi air force performs medical evacuation

    May 14 marked another significant event when members of the Iraqi air force flew its first medical evacuation mission since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The crew consisted of an Iraqi pilot, flight medic and aerial gunner -- each with a U.S. military counterpart -- as they transported

  • Officials extend spouse career advancement initiative

    Career and training opportunities for military spouses just got better, as the Defense and Labor departments' career advancement demonstration project has been expanded to include all active-duty military spouses, along with four additional career fields. "In the first days of the demonstration

  • Officials to explore cyberspace mission at symposium

    Air Force officials invite military and civilian defense personnel, industry and business leaders, academics and others interested in the Air Force's cyberspace mission to attend its upcoming symposium to analyze and discuss the service's role in cyberspace. Aimed at engaging military, industry and

  • Anheuser-Busch offers free theme park admission

    For the rest of this year, sitting in Shamu the killer whale's "splash zone" or talking turkey with a big yellow bird are just two activities servicemembers and their families can enjoy for free at Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks. Through its "Here's to the Heroes" program, which began in 2005, the

  • U.S. flights continue to deliver supplies to Burma

    A total of eight Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft have delivered supplies to Burma as part of the U.S. relief effort following Cyclone Nargis, a senior military official said May 14. Five C-130s delivered water, blankets, rations, mosquito netting and plastic sheeting May 14. "We have to have

  • SECAF discusses 'culture shift' toward continuous process improvement

    Speaking to more than 500 military members and civilians representing all services, as well as interagency and international partners, during the Department of Defense Continuous Process Improvement Symposium May 13, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne emphasized Department of Defense officials

  • Air Force officials award strategic partner contract

    Air Force officials here recently announced the award of the Personnel Services Delivery Transformation - Strategic Partner contract to Lockheed Martin Services, Inc. The PSDT-SP includes strategic planning, business process re-engineering, change management and total force service center

  • Airmen to visit World War II cemetery on Memorial Day

    A Memorial Day ceremony to commemorate the memory of the American war dead who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 25 at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold, France. The ceremony includes a fly over by a C-130 Hercules, the playing of the French

  • Bootcamp gives veterans an entrepreneurial edge

    Starting your own business can be a daunting venture even under the best of circumstances. But add to that the challenges of being a service-disabled veteran, and the experience can be overwhelming. That scenario troubled Mike Haynie, a former Air Force major. A few months after beginning his new

  • Judge advocate general announces award winners

    Maj. Gen. Jack L. Rives, the Air Force judge advocate general, has announced the 2007 Judge Advocate General Award winners. The award recipients will be formally recognized at an awards banquet during KEYSTONE 2008, the JAG Corps' leadership summit, to be held the first week of November in

  • Aircrews stand by to continue Burma relief mission

    For Capt. Trevor Hall, flying a C-130 Hercules to deliver humanitarian relief is largely what his mission is all about. Captain Hall and his aircrew were one of a handful of C-130s allowed to deliver relief supplies to the people of Burma in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Nagris that swept through the

  • USO dedicates new lounge at Reagan National Airport

    Servicemembers transiting through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, near Washington, D.C., now have a new area to spend time between flights after the recent dedication of a new United Service Organizations lounge. This newly relocated lounge provides a home away from home for traveling

  • Board seeks nominations for in-residence schools

    The annual Air Force Reserve Development Education Designation Board will convene at the Air Reserve Personnel Center here in November to select Reserve officers for in-residence developmental education schools for the 2009-2010 academic year. The board will select qualified Airmen to attend

  • NORAD, USNORTHCOM open integrated command center

    North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command unveiled their new integrated command center in a ceremony May 13 attended by dignitaries from both Canada and the U.S. The command center opening coincided with NORAD's 50-year anniversary of the partnership between Canada and the

  • Humanitarian aid provided to more than 1,600 Salvadorans

    An 18-person medical team made up of Airmen and Soldiers spent two days operating a makeshift clinic at an elementary school near Comasagua, El Salvador, May 7 and 8 during Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias 2008. The team, part of the Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element at Soto Cano Air Base,

  • Air Force hosts 36th annual National Image Conference

    Air Force officials recently hosted the National Image Conference in Las Vegas.  The theme was "From Heritage to New Horizons." National Image Inc. was founded in 1972 to address the needs of Hispanic employees in the federal government and later was expanded to increase its impact on employment,

  • Camp Eggers staff visit Afghan girls' school

    Nearly 70 members of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan delivered backpacks, toys and school supplies to the Zabuli Education Center for Girls and Women May 8 outside of Kabul. American servicemembers from Camp Eggers visited the school as part of the volunteer community relations

  • Guardian Challenge awards announced

    Guardian Challenge, the Air Force's premier space and missile competition, reached its zenith after dinner the evening of May 9 as competitors anxiously awaited the results of the contest. Riding a wave of enthusiastic chanting, Gen. C. Robert Kehler, the commander of Air Force Space Command, took

  • Misconceptions about social networking Web site cleared up

    In recent months, erroneous information has circulated around the Air Force about the commercial social networking Web site airforce.togetherweserved.com. The inaccurate information first appeared in an operational security briefing that received wide dissemination across the Air Force, primarily

  • Prepositioning weapons at Balad to save $1.3 million

    Balad Air Base has been chosen by Air Force leaders to be the test base for a weapons prepositioning initiative expected to save the Air Force approximately $1.3 million per year in transportation costs. This initiative involves the prepositioning of M-9s and M-16s that will allow certain Airmen to

  • Airmen, Soldiers hone skills of Afghanistan National Police

    A Parwan Police Mentoring Team traveled to Dandar, a small village in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, May 8 to instruct  members of the Afghanistan National Police on hand-to-hand combat, community policing, coordination-cell training and criminal investigation. The PMT is a highly-efficient

  • Individual deployment information now visible on vMPF

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here have taken another step to support Airmen and ensure all members know their air expeditionary force deployment status. Airmen can now access this information through the center's virtual military personnel flight, or vMPF. This capability provides real-time

  • Alaska ANG KC-135s provide 'edge' anytime, anywhere

    Between eight and 12 KC-135 Stratotankers from Eielson Air Force Base depart each day, providing fuel to as many as 18 aircraft in one mission for Northern Edge 2008.The missions, flown by the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Air Refueling Wing, deliver the fuel aircraft need to remain engaged in

  • Airmen ready to render aid to Burma

    About 45 members of the 36th Contingency Response Group took a seven-hour flight to Utapao Air Base, Thailand, to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Burma. Published reports indicate more than 100,000 people were killed after a cyclone caused massive flooding in southern Burma May 3.

  • 'Today's Air Force' features AF Personnel Center

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights a 21st-century administration facility. With the advancement in technology; the Air Force Personnel Center has facilitated the move of many administrative issues making it easier for Airmen to access important information. While Air Force people

  • Defense forum highlights need for scientists, engineers

    Air Force and U.S. officials forecast a serious shortage of scientists and engineers. That assessment was made by Joe Sciabica, executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory, during a Regional Defense Forum here May 6. About 370 business and government leaders attended the event to foster

  • Guardian Challenge competition kicks off with spirit

    Guardian Challenge, the only space warfighter competition in the Air Force, is 17 years old and going strong. The competition pits the best-of-the-best space warfighters against each other, determining the top space wing teams in the Air Force. About 500 participants, supporters and local

  • AF Marathon officials spread word about upcoming event

    Officials from the U.S. Air Force Marathon office made a stop at the Pentagon May 6 and 7 to increase awareness for the Sept. 20 event held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. This is the twelfth year for the annual marathon, and officials hope to make it the biggest year yet. "Our

  • Robins NCO Academy prepares to close

    The Robins Air Force Base Noncommissioned Officers Academy officially closes May 20, one of several academies that have closed or are closing soon. The school started decreasing its staff a few months ago when the staff learned about the pending inactivation, said Chief Master Sgt. Roy Lapioli, the

  • Fitness 'In Training' program helps runners achieve goals

    Air Force fitness has a new program that may improve Airmen's running goals. The "In Training" program, accessible from the Air Force Fitness Web site, www.usafsports.com, has guides for runners of all fitness levels. New runners can use the program to learn how easy it is to start a training

  • Pentagon seeks to fund research in national security

    Defense Department officials here are developing a proposal to finance university research on national security-related issues, a senior Pentagon official said May 7. The Minerva Consortia, as it's called, would have the academic and intellectual communities focus on certain physical and social

  • Dover Air Force Base cited as premier installation

    The premier installations from each military service and the Defense Logistics Agency were recognized at a Pentagon award ceremony May 8. John J. Young Jr., undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, presented the Commander in Chief's Annual Awards for Installation

  • Secretary marks 10th annual Military Appreciation Month

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates marked the 10th annual Military Appreciation Month May 8 and thanked those who support America's troops through the Defense Department's America Supports You program. "This month marks the tenth anniversary of the U.S. Senate establishing May as a month to honor our

  • Servicemembers support El Salvador disaster relief exercise

    A forward-deployed team of more than 20 Joint Task Force-Bravo Airmen and Soldiers set up shop here May 4 to support a regional disaster relief exercise involving military and civilian agencies from throughout the Western Hemisphere. Designated Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias 2008, the U.S. Southern

  • Workforce cuts drive shift in personnel services delivery

    Personnel Services Delivery and Program Budget Decision 720 are two key programs that continue to push significant transformation in the Air Force. One of the newest changes making its way here is a product of both the streamlined personnel processes and increased manpower cuts resulting from PSD

  • U.S. military ready to provide aid for stricken Burmese

    A flotilla of U.S. Navy vessels, rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, U.S. Air Force planes and thousands of servicemembers are ready to assist Burma's cyclone-stricken people, if asked, a senior Defense Department official said here May 7. "We still are prepared and stand ready to provide assistance if