RAF Lakenheath welcomes new mission, aircraft

The first two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 56th Rescue Squadron arrived here from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, via a C-17 Globemaster III June 12 and 13. Five aircraft and many operators and maintainers are moving here as part of the reallocation of the Iceland-based unit. “We’re

JIB communicates Northern Edge 2006 mission

Most people think of men and women in uniform wearing Kevlar vests and armed with rifles when they hear “military.” For the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines working here in the joint information bureau at Exercise Northern Edge 2006, pens, notebooks and cameras are just as critical as their

Tanker Task Force keeps Northern Edge flying

If a driver could fill up the car with gas without stopping, imagine how efficient driving would be. The Tanker Task Force here provides efficient service to drivers in the air at Northern Edge, Alaska’s joint training exercise. Seventeen tankers and 12 total force units from around the country

Air Force announces integration, information award winners

The winners of the Air Force’s annual Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer Awards for 2005 have been announced. “Each year, the quality of the nominations we receive shows we have troops at every level of command who continue to excel in conducting warfighter missions around the

International media focus on C-17 training

Australian TV Channel 9 focused its camera June 12 on 12 Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules and CC08 Caribou pilots and loadmasters here receiving transition training to the C-17 Globemaster III. About 3,000 aircrew members are trained here annually, along with 15 to 35 international students

Hawaii Airmen to deliver health care to Fiji

Pacific Air Forces and 15th Medical Group Airmen left here June 14 on a health care mission to Suva, Fiji, where they will train Fijian military leaders and participate in a humanitarian outreach program. “We’re going to be working with the Fiji Ministry of Health and Fiji School of Medicine to

FOD is Public Enemy No. 1

Tiny objects make big trouble for jet engines -- something smaller than a fingernail can destroy an engine worth hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars. Foreign object damage, or FOD, typically occurs when small objects such as hardware fragments from aircraft are ingested into the

Keesler newcomers face family housing hurdles

As this base struggles with housing shortages from Hurricane Katrina's wake, Airmen being assigned here accompanied by family members need to have a plan before they leave their current assignment. Due to Katrina, permission for servicemembers to bring their family members to Keesler has become much

Hurricane Hunters track down Alberto

Air Force reservists from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s “Hurricane Hunters” began flying the year’s first storm missions June 10 into Tropical Storm Alberto. The Hurricane Hunters found that the center of the cyclone had abruptly reformed near the deep convection and was relocated some

Air Force urologist receives first-place recognition

An Air Force urologist received first-place recognition for best urologist-in-training scientific paper at the national meeting of the American Urologic Association in Atlanta, an event attended by more than 10,000 international participants. Maj. (Dr.) Kyle Weld is the urology department assistant

Maintainers keep B-2s soaring during deployment

Maintaining the world’s most advanced multi-role bomber isn’t an easy job. It requires Airmen work long hours to ensure every inch of airframe is ready to launch at a moment’s notice. Anything less would jeopardize the safety of the aircrew, or in the case of this unique aircraft, compromise the

Airman trains Hollywood actors for 'Transformers' movie

For authentic military aspects, DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures looked no further than Air Force Airmen for the major motion picture production “Transformers.” Actors trained for their individual military parts with an Air Force senior NCO. Master Sgt. Ray Bolinger, combat controller with the 22nd

Virtual 'heavies' key to Northern Edge simulations

The days of deploying an E-3 Sentry and other command and control aircraft to military exercises may soon be a rarity. With a large crew and an aging airframe, airborne warning and control systems, or AWACS, are expensive to deploy for a two-week training opportunity. But thanks to powerful computer

Teams combine efforts to save lives

In an effort to build better relationships and save lives, the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire Department and Manas International Airport Emergency Response team joined forces and trained June 6 to 7. “We have a memorandum of agreement that allows either party to request

Training exchange strengthens ties between U.S., Argentina

A delegation from the Argentinean air force completed a weeklong visit on June 9 to the 479th Flying Training Group here as part of an international exchange program. Capt. Gustavo Pollastrelli, Capt. Juan Sabalua and 1st Lt. Roberto Montaldo, all Argentinean instructor pilots from Mendoza Air Force

Bracing for the storm

It’s hurricane season again, and Air Force bases along the Southern coastline are bracing for what many experts are predicting could be another busy summer. In 2005, four major hurricanes -- Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma -- combined to produce more than $1 billion in damage to Air Force

Northern Edge aims for air, sea dominance

“Our end result (of Northern Edge 2006) is to establish complete dominance in the air and at sea,” said Col. John Marselus, chief of the Joint Exercise Division, or JED, for U.S. Alaskan Command.The focus of the annual joint-service exercise is to prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the

Commando Warrior prepares Airmen for war on terrorism

Weapons tactics. Night operations. Improvised explosive devices and convoy training. Knowledge of all four areas is important.  That knowledge aids in the survival and victory of a combat unit. But that knowledge isn't inherently known by everyone in the military; it has to be learned. That's where

Air Force announces annual Public Affairs Achievement Awards

On behalf of Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Col. Michelle Johnson, director of Public Affairs and deputy director of Strategic Communications here, announced the 2005 Public Affairs Achievement Awards.“My heartiest congratulations to

Joint training in Vermont mountains

VA beefs up data security procedures

The Department of Veterans Affairs is revamping its data security procedures following last month's theft of a VA laptop computer that contained personal information of veterans and military personnel still in uniform, the secretary of the VA told a congressional committee. "We will stay focused on

New squadron first step in C-130 training pipeline

The first stop C-130 Hercules aircrew members will make in the training pipeline before operating the "Herc" is at the newly created 714th Training Squadron here. Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson assumed command of the squadron in a ceremony June 5 in the base's newest C-130 hangar. Col. Andy Hamilton,

AETC deploys new pilot screening for fiscal '07

Air Education and Training Command officials here announced they will field a new psychomotor skills test to be required of all candidates meeting pilot selection boards after Oct. 1. The replacement of the Basic Aptitude Test with the new Test of Basic Aviation Skills represents a command

Missileers receive new computer capabilities

Airmen who pull alert in ICBM launch control centers deep underground in remote locations around the country are virtually cut off from the outside world. Ensuring America’s intercontinental ballistic missile force is ready at a moment’s notice may be considered a lonely, isolated job with an

Force shaping necessary for AF budgetary management

As Air Force officials continue to implement 2006 force shaping initiatives, they prepare for the majority of personnel reductions set for fiscal 2007. They plan to reduce the service's current size by 40,000 full time equivalent positions by 2011. This amounts to roughly 35,000 active duty

First group of Air Force civilians now part of NSPS

Although there have been only two pay periods since the Department of Defense’s new civilian pay system began, the transition to the National Security Personnel System has been smooth, said an NSPS official here. “The system conversion to NSPS went very well,” said Deborah Carlton, NSPS deputy chief

Cadets experience summer school for warriors

Summertime for university students is normally the chance to relax and unwind after surviving grueling semesters of cramming for exams and researching term papers. Some students spend this time at home with their family; some travel to tropical vacations spots. Some students go to a war zone.

DOD consolidates detainee medical care policy

The Defense Department issued an instruction June 6 detailing the standards of medical care in detainee operations. DOD Instruction 2310.08, "Medical Program Support for Detainee Operations," reaffirms the responsibility of health care professionals to protect and treat all detainees under their

Small aircraft take on some of the biggest missions

Patrolling the sky over Iraq for more than 2,250 hours in May, the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here leads the largest unmanned aerial vehicle operation in the world with one of the Air Force’s smallest aircraft -- the MQ-1 Predator. Providing “real-time eyes-in-the-sky,” the squadron

Medical wing stands ready for hurricane response

Commanders at Wilford Hall Medical Center have approved a plan slated to improve medical responses to hurricane emergencies throughout the continental United States. The 59th Medical Wing’s Critical Care Air Transport Team Rapid Hurricane Response Plan was approved and adopted May 26. Hurricane

24/7 personnel services are here

The Air Force is changing in shape and size, and military personnel flights, or MPFs, are part of this change. Their transformation is called personnel services delivery. Phase One of the transformation has seven groups of changes projected to be in place by December 2007. Two recent changes allow

Air Force family members participate in national spelling bee

Four Air Force families from around the world gathered here to support their children who were participating in the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee May 31 to June 1. These four families formed an unofficial team of support that came from their military connection and shared pride in their

Housing privatization reaches many milestones

The Air Force housing privatization office has reached several major milestones in its seven-year effort to improve base housing for Airmen and their families, an Air Force official said recently. “We are gaining momentum,” said Col. Michael Smietana, chief of Air Force housing. “We’re very close to

No flight plan, no Northern Edge

The echoes of jet engines roaring over the snow-capped Chugach Mountains are a thrilling byproduct of many moving parts comprised of U.S. servicemembers on the ground. The 3rd Operations Support Squadron Airfield Management Office here creates flight plans for more than 70 aircraft a day and

Command and control a 24/7 operation

The Combined Air Operations Center here, also known as the CAOC, is the command and control hub for all air operations within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Staffed and monitored around-the-clock, the coalition professionals working in the CAOC can seamlessly perform command and

SPORT provides eyes for Edwards mission

The room is dark. The only light comes from computer screens and monitors along with blinking lights on various machines. Seven people sit in front of monitors that project green dots and lines. It may look like this group is playing games in an arcade, but in reality they are playing a crucial role

Airmen pitch in for worthy cause in Iraq

Many Airmen deploy to foreign countries for months, never seeing the people whose lives they affect. They are either hundreds of miles from the conflict or are within the safety of their military compound for their entire tours. But for Airmen at Sather Air Base at Baghdad International Airport,

AETC housing privatization on track

Despite delays caused by Hurricane Katrina, Air Education and Training Command is still on track to meet its goal of privatizing 100 percent of military family housing. The Housing Privatization Initiative was approved by the Department of Defense in 1996 as a more timely and cost-effective way to

Hurricane Hunters ready to take on 2006 storm season

It was a quiet opening day of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron spent the day training and getting ready for what forecasters say will be another active season. Though the season officially began June 1 and ends Nov. 30, last year these

Secretary Wynne expects Airmen to continue to excel

While visiting various installations in the San Antonio area May 31 to June 2, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne talked about the importance of core values, technology and training facing today’s Airmen and the Air Force. The secretary focused on what the Air Force expects from its Airmen

Three F-16 wings deploy to Korea

Elements of fighter wings from three Air National Guard units have deployed here this week in support of their air expeditionary force rotations. Components of the 150th, 140th and 120th Fighter Wings from the New Mexico, Colorado and Montana Air National Guard, respectively, have been renamed the

Egress training

Australians learn from U.S. C-17 mission

Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, arrived here last week at the Australian Defense Force’s request. U.S. Airmen are moving Australian forces and equipment to Darwin, Australia, to allow the Australian military to quickly respond to unrest in neighboring East Timor. Each

Doctor named as examiner for national quality award program

An Air Force Reserve Command doctor has been selected to the 2006 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award. The award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. Col. (Dr.) William B.

Air Force Link inaugurates 'Perspectives'

The Air Force Link "Web exclusives" page for the month of June takes a unique look at three separate stories, not only through the lenses of three Air Force News photojournalists, but through their personal narrations as each tells the unique perspective of his story in his own words. Each

Rumsfeld voices confidence in academy graduating class

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld told the 879 second lieutenants who graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy today that their challenge will be to go beyond a simple change of process. “Our country did not survive and become great through timid responses or aversion to risk,” he said. “Ours

Combat mobility element moves cargo quickly, safely

The 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, sent a pair of its C-17 Globemaster IIIs here to support the Australian Defense Force. U.S. crews are shuttling cargo and Australian military forces to strategic locations within the country.This operation involves moving massive amounts of cargo, and

Pencils and scalpels: Artists help providers illustrate the cure

For many communicators, success is measured by how accurate they are in providing information to help get bombs on target or assist with enemy kills. Yet, there is one group of communication specialists who measure success by lives saved through their ability to illustrate medical procedures.For

Vehicle searches provide first line of defense

During the early morning hours in Southwest Asia, the vehicle search team of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron doesn’t get out of bed.They’re already at work. They’re up and about in the vehicle search area, or VSA, ensuring vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and other

From playing fields to battlefields

Sports and the military share a common bond journalistically. It’s not unusual to read about a classic battle, how a player had plenty of fight left, how a team showed a warrior mentality or how they were outnumbered.Sports have liberally borrowed clichés from the GI world for years. Now it’s the

AFSO 21 initiative leads to safer flying at Lakenheath

As Air Force Smart Operations 21 went Air Force-wide this year, the 48th Fighter Wing here jump-started its program with weekly AFSO 21 initiatives briefed at wing stand-up. “I want every Airman, civilian and (Ministry of Defense) employee on this base to understand, first of all, what AFSO 21 is,

Wild Blue Country headed yonder

Ten of the 74 academy bandsmen are traveling to the Middle East in June to provide entertainment support.Wild Blue Country, the country music group, will spend much of June and July traveling to forward operating bases that have never had live entertainment. They are the first musicians from the

Airmen train Iraqi soldiers on base defense

When most Airmen think of base defense, they may think about security forces checking ID cards at the gate. However, a U.S. team in Iraq is showing that base defense means much more. A group of five security forces Airmen and their Army commander have combined to form a base defense unit, or

Airmen set sail aboard USNS Mercy for humanitarian mission

Three Airmen from the 374th Medical Group here are deployed to the U.S. Navy hospital ship, USNS Mercy, as it travels through Southeast Asia on a humanitarian mission.The mission is an opportunity for a U.S. team consisting of medical professionals from the Air Force, Army and Navy to work with

Airmen expand horizons through education

The commandant and the superintendent of the Community College of the Air Force recently visited here and shared their views on the importance of pursuing higher education.Col. Thomas Klincar, the commandant, spoke of the bond he felt with the base.“I am especially excited to be here for the (CCAF)

AFSO 21 crucial to achieving new vision

Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century will be crucial to achieving the 50th Space Wing’s new vision, said Col. John Hyten, wing commander. “If someone asks you how we can do things smarter, tell them AFSO 21 gives us free rein to cut through red tape,” Colonel Hyten said. “With AFSO 21, we

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials release the airpower summary for May 26 to 29.May 29Coalition aircraft flew 36 close-air-support missions May 29 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The missions supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to

Mission of security forces constantly evolving

Through the eyes of Staff Sgt. David Brown, the mission of the security forces has changed since the beginning of the war in Iraq. After all, this is his eighth deployment since Operation Iraqi Freedom started. As a sign of things to come, Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron

VA working to prevent future information loss

The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun a thorough examination of policies and procedures after the loss of 26.5 million veterans' personal information, the VA's leader told the House Armed Services Committee May 25. "I've formed a task force ... to examine comprehensively all of our

Raptors find new nest in Alaska

After flying more than 3,200 miles over land, ocean, mountains and glaciers, six F-22 Raptors arrived here May 23 from Langley Air Force Base, Va. Though it isn’t the first time the Raptors have flown over snow-capped mountains, it is the first time they have flown outside of the continental United

Air Force reconsiders retention for 192 lieutenants

The Air Force recently notified 844 lieutenants that they would not be retained as a result of the April 2006 Force Shaping Board. An anomaly with some records during the board process means 192 of the lieutenants not selected for retention will have their records reconsidered by a special board

Afghan fortress site of Taliban's last deadly siege

Just a few minutes drive from where an Air Force embedded training team is mentoring Afghan National Army soldiers is the site of the Taliban’s last deadly siege.It is also the location where the first American died in the war against terrorism following Sept. 11, 2001; where John Walker Lindh --

Kenney Headquarters maximizes support to joint warfighters

The Gen. George C. Kenney Headquarters reaches its one-year anniversary June 1. Known as KHQ, the headquarters staff commands air, space and information operations for joint forces throughout the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Korea. Consisting of three elements -- the Pacific Air Operations Center,

DOD works to further reduce military suicides

Suicide rates within the military are about half those in the civilian military-aged population, but the Defense Department is reaching out to its members to help further reduce the incidence of suicide within the ranks, a top military doctor said. The suicide rate for military members during 2005

Air Force Services announces LeMay, Eubank winners

Each year, the Air Force recognizes the best Services units by presenting the Gen. Curtis E. LeMay and the Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank awards. The LeMay trophy recognizes the best unit in the large base category, bases with 6,000 or more military and civilians assigned. The Eubank trophy recognizes

Class of 2007 cadets learn their future Air Force jobs

Some 1,000 junior class cadets learned May 19 what their future Air Force jobs will be, a full year ahead of their graduation date.Until recent changes to the personnel system, cadets waited until the fall semester of their senior year to learn their career assignments. Undergraduate pilot training

Test parachutists jump to conclusions

It has been said there is no good reason to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.  But a small cadre of Airmen here have a very good reason to do so -- saving lives. They don’t wear the maroon beret of the Air Force pararescue troops.  They are members of the 418th Flight Test Squadron’s test

Air Force women first, men second in armed forces volleyball

The Air Force women’s team took top honors and the men's team came in second at the 2006 Armed Forces Volleyball Championship here May 11 to 18.The Air Force women faced the host Army team in their first match, beating them three straight games -- 25-13, 25-16 and 25-13.Kristin Huitt (a 2nd

Robotic vehicle helps clear minefields

Building roads and airfields in Afghanistan presents a unique challenge that stateside heavy equipment operators don’t encounter … minefields. That is why members of the 823rd Red Horse -- or Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers -- here joined the Air Force Research

Airmen help rebuild a nation

After a six-day killing frenzy of local Afghans, the Taliban seized control of this city in 1998. In November 2001, with U.S. assistance, the Afghan Northern Alliance recaptured the city of 180,000 residents. Today, Airmen continue to assist Afghanistan in its war against extremists by mentoring the

IT modernization: Leveraging the power of information

Since January, the Air Force has been busy modernizing itself through the Secretary of the Air Force initiatives embodied in Air Force Smart Operations 21. The Air Force's communications and information community is part of that modernization effort. Their focus is on restructuring information

Air Force announces OTS selection board results

One hundred seventy-seven men and women have been selected for the opportunity to become Air Force officers, officials here announced May 19.Of those, 37 enlisted members earned the chance to attend Officer Training School and trade their stripes for gold bars as second lieutenants.   The Air Force

Combat arms training

Civil engineers deploy to help Washoe Nation

"We will help each other to protect and preserve the land, water and air for our generations to come” is a Washoe American-Indian tribal creed. Through the Civil-Military Innovative Readiness Training program several Air Force Reserve Command civil engineer units are keeping this Washoe creed alive

Nearly 50 Air Force, Army teams compete in adventure race

While the morning sun swiftly ascended the West Texas sky, 360 Airmen, Soldiers, civilians and spouses psyched themselves up for a grueling, intense endeavor as the start of the second annual Laughlin Air Force Base Adventure Race drew near May 13. The race would take 49 teams from two branches of

Report on major's death released

The Air Force today released a report of investigation into the Feb. 15 death of Maj. Bryan Adrian, citing the cause of death as a pre-existing heart condition known as Long QT Syndrome. Major Adrian was temporarily assigned to the 342nd Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, during

Airmen learn to deal with enemy misinformation

“Loose lips sink ships.” The phrase spearheaded a campaign to keep military members from revealing sensitive information during World War II. In fact, it was so effective the phrase still means something to many Americans 65 years later. Keeping operational secrets from the enemy is still vital

Pushing freight: ATOC moves cargo in, out of Ali quickly

In a combat environment, speed and accuracy are key -- even more so when it comes to an aircraft.  And though most cargo aircraft are relatively agile when in the air, they are not while groundbound.One team’s mission here is to make sure those aircraft stay on the ground for as short a time as

B-1B strikes Taliban stronghold

A B-1B Lancer struck a Taliban-associated compound May 17 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of coalition ground forces conducting operations to detain individuals suspected of terrorist activities. The bomber responded to an immediate air support request with a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack

Mannequins help improve casualty care

As an independent duty medical technician with Air Force Special Operations Command, Tech. Sgt. Jared Schultz has done casualty evacuations in Iraq and Afghanistan with troops who have lost legs, as well as those who have been shot in just about any body part you can name. He says nothing came close

Chief McKinley looking forward to new job

Command Chief Master Sgt. Rod McKinley admits he is a bit nervous about becoming the 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force. But it is not because the job will be too tough or that becoming the Air Force’s top enlisted leader intimidates him, he said. It is the fact he will be the next chief in

National Capital Region first responders train for Pentagon disaster

First responders from around the nation's capital gathered at the Pentagon May 17 to practice their disaster response capabilities during the Gallant Fox 06 exercise. This year, as part of Gallant Fox, volunteers from the American Red Cross donned battle dress uniforms and played the part of victims

Forensic experts identify keys to crimes

For forensic science consultants at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations' 33rd Field Investigations Squadron, criminal investigations in the Air Force begin at the crime scene.The work of Air Force forensic science consultants is similar to that of criminal investigators in the television

C-17 airdrop training mission

C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 535th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, participate in an airdrop training mission May 16, 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

Airmen call in 'air strikes' on Louisiana communities

Fighter jets and bombers fly overhead making multiple passes to intercept and destroy enemy targets called in by Air Force joint terminal air controllers. One pass is to destroy a building with enemy snipers. Another pass is to track a man riding a motorcycle suspected of carrying a bomb in his

Airmen can now update their duty history online

Airmen will be responsible for reviewing their duty history and requesting changes, additions or deletions online through the virtual Military Personnel Flight beginning May 30. Airmen can enter the vMPF by logging onto the Air Force Personnel Center's secure Web site where they can access their

Rehabilitation specialists team up to support warfighters

Brooke Army Medical Center hosted a military amputee advance skills training workshop here for Veterans Affairs’ prosthetists and therapists. Nearly 100 VA rehabilitation team members from 15 medical centers attended the workshop May 10 through 12 to learn the patient care methods used at Department

Detainee Training Operations

AF official praises Keesler recovery, emphasizes challenges ahead

Having visited just days after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the base, the Air Force’s point man for installations returned here May 11 to assess Keesler’s overall progress toward full restoration. Lt. Gen. Donald Wetekam, Air Force deputy chief of staff for logistics, installations and mission support,

PJs train to keep U.S. waters safe

The Air Force Reserve Command's 304th Rescue Squadron here hosted a Homeland Defense-sponsored underwater hazardous devices search course at the Portland Air National Guard base May 8 to 12 to help pararescuemen and local public safety divers keep Oregon and Washington’s ports safe from

Air Force flexibility on display in Iraq and Afghanistan

Air Force fighters no longer just swoop down from the sky to drop their deadly weapons in support of ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighters equipped with special sensor pods, developed for more precise bombing, also are warning commanders and troops fighting on the ground about enemy

Center-contractor partnership benefits warfighter

In an ongoing effort to generate cost-effective support for the warfighter, Ogden Air Logistics Center officials signed a partnering agreement with BAE Systems on May 11.The agreement, established to make maximum use of the center's industrial and technical foundation while incorporating BAE

Task Force members visit African orphanages

Since 2003, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa servicemembers have visited local orphanages with the hopes of learning new cultures, establishing friendships and building better futures. Currently, about 200 CJTF-HOA servicemembers visit three different orphanages each week volunteering an

Military working dog trains hard

ICC: Coming soon to a base near you

When a crisis happens on base, wing leaders and representatives from various support agencies often will huddle in the wing command post. Operating from this nerve center, they direct emergency services, assess situations and come up with solutions during crises. But the days of the traditional

'Your life is our business'

In the shadows behind every aircrew stands a life support team. These Airmen typically don’t seek the limelight. Instead, they want all “their” aircrews to come home safely. The role of life support is significant for many reasons, said Staff Sgt. Jessica McCormick, a KC-135 Stratotanker life

C-17 pilot receives Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy

The skies over West Texas March 10, 2005 could have come right off a picture postcard:  blue, cloudless and so clear you could see horizon to horizon. It was, as one Air Force pilot put it, a perfect day for flying. Capt. Andreas Ix and his C-17 Globemaster III aircrew were participating in a

Army, Air Force open communications

The Army talking to the Air Force from the ground to the air is not a common occurrence here. "We're in the purple (joint) business," said Army Lt. Col. Michael Shillinger, 551st Signal Battalion commander, as Staff Sgt. Robert Pangburn completed radio communications with pilots in an Air Force

Chief Murray reflects on 29-year career

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray led his last Worldwide Command Chief’s Conference here April 21-26, meeting with command chiefs from around the Air Force to exchange information and discuss challenges facing today’s Airmen.During the 12th annual conference, the chief took

Program gives technology access to disabled GIs

A Defense Department program helps wounded servicemembers and other people with disabilities have equal access to the information environment and opportunities throughout the federal government, a senior DOD official said May 8. Dinah F.B. Cohen, director of the Computer and Electronic Accommodation