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  • Iraqi air force acquires advanced radar system

    Iraqi air force officials advanced their air defense monitoring capabilities after a ceremony marked the transfer of a digital air surveillance radar from American control to Iraqi control Oct. 26 here. "Today, another historical day added to our brothers and the Iraqi air force," said Iraqi air

  • Like body armor, flu vaccine aims to protect troops

    Like protective equipment issued to troops downrange, the H1N1 flu vaccine is a measure the Defense Department is taking to safeguard U.S. military forces, a defense official said here Nov. 3. "We use other treatment modalities to protect people in the same way we use body armor to protect against

  • Airmen provide Iraqis building skills

    Airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here work with local Iraqis daily teaching them various trade skills as they team together to improve the infrastructure at Kirkuk Air Base. "I was given the opportunity to teach the local nationals what we could with the jobs that we're

  • Servicemembers earn national security awards

    The Air Force chief of staff and two Airmen were among the honorees at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs awards dinner here Nov. 2. The event honored the 2009 JINSA Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Distinguished Service Award and Grateful Nation Award winners. Created to recognize leaders

  • Mental health pros meet to consider treatments for veterans

    Improving mental health care for servicemembers and veterans requires a coordinated effort beyond health care providers and the military community, the Pentagon's top mental health expert said here. Opening the second Warrior Resilience Conference Nov. 3, Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree K. Sutton,

  • Reconstruction team delivers school supplies to Afghan soldiers

    Airmen and Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team delivered school supplies to an Afghanistan National Army compound here Oct. 27. The delivery of supplies is part of an ongoing project to help educate the young soldiers, many of whom have nothing more than an elementary school level

  • Defense officials receive first H1N1 vaccine shipments

    Defense Department officials have started receiving H1N1 vaccines and will begin distributing doses in the coming weeks. The Health and Human Services Department is distributing the vaccines, manufactured by four producers, to the department. Because rates of production vary among the manufacturers,

  • VA secretary to outline plans to end veteran homelessness

    Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki is expected to unveil a five-year plan to end homelessness among veterans as he, other VA officials and community outreach specialists come together for the Homeless Veteran Summit here beginning Nov. 3. Secretary Shinseki's team has made homelessness a

  • Joint Base Andrews Firefighters provide blaze-battling training

    If it wasn't for the base fire training facility at Joint Base Andrews, Md., the Washington D.C. Fire Department would have fewer 'recruits turned firefighters' to fight its blazes in the city. "Our facility is currently under construction and the Andrews Fire Department and base commander have

  • Little Rock officials lead joint force training effort at exercise

    Members of the 19th Airlift Wing from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., took the lead at the Joint Forcible Entry Exercise 10-01 held here Oct. 25 through 29. The purpose of the JFEX is to re-establish forcible entry capability through airpower by combining Army and Air Force training needs, said

  • Air Force engineers help keep Afghan roads safe for travel

    "Roads bring people. People bring business and business improves life for everyone." These words, spoken in 2006 by Canadian Brig. Gen. Daniel Pepin, then the deputy general for reconstruction projects in Afghanistan, have proven prophetic, as, three years later, the ability to move vehicles and

  • Air Force mission requires diverse talent

    The Airman in charge of leading the Air Force's diversity efforts said the work is a "strategic imperative" for the service and our nation. "The Air Force's global engagement strategy requires a different approach -- a different mindset," said Col. Shawna O'Brien, chief of the Air Force's new

  • Air Force officials seek UAS volunteers, announces policy change

    Air Force officials here are seeking combat systems officers for unmanned aircraft systems pilot duty, and interested commissioned Airmen have until Nov. 20 to volunteer for the training. CSOs within the grade of lieutenant through major are eligible, and applicants must also have between two to 13

  • DOD officials: Military will have enough H1N1 vaccine

    As shipments of some 3.7 million doses of H1N1 vaccine ordered by the Defense Department continue to arrive from the manufacturer, more than enough will be available for all military personnel and their beneficiaries, military medical experts said here Oct. 30. Navy Cmdr. Danny Shiau, in the

  • Air Guard readies for C-27J fleet

    For the first time, Air National Guard aircrews will be the sole operators of a new aircraft straight off the assembly line. The C-27J Spartan, the latest propeller-driven airlifter, is an "extremely rugged" aircraft, designed for austere environments, said Air Force officials. It is about half the

  • Security forces Airmen, Soldiers mentor Afghan prison guards

    Air Force security forces members along with Army Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team met with prison officials as part of an on-going mentoring project at a nearby prison here Oct. 28. The prison, located close to the PRT compound, has become an important project for the team due

  • Air Force Global Strike Command leaders release command's mission, vision

    Air Force Global Strike Command officials gathered to zero-in on the organization's course, as well as review and discuss guidance from national leaders regarding the creation, stand-up and objectives for the command Oct. 15 through 17 near the National Military Park in Vicksburg, Miss.Facilitating

  • Football: Reenergized Falcons offense smashes CSU 34-16

    The Falcons' offense got back on track Halloween night, gaining 382 yards in a convincing 34-16 win over the Colorado State University Rams. The Falcons have out-rushed their opponents in all eight previous games this season, and made that nine straight games, grinding out 271 yards while allowing

  • Air Force civilian receives Spirit of Hope Award

    Air Force leaders presented a civilian employee with a Spirit of Hope Award Oct. 27 for enhancing the quality of life of injured service members and their families. The award is named in honor of Bob Hope, the first honorary veteran of the U.S. Army for his 50-plus years of entertaining troops, both

  • Minot bomb wing commander relieved of duty

    The commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., was relieved of command Oct. 30 due to loss of confidence in his ability to command. Col. Joel S. Westa was removed by Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter, commander of 8th Air Force. Colonel Westa assumed command in November 2007. Colonel

  • Colorado, Jordan lead the way as Guard builds worldwide partners

    The roar of jets and flash of live fire in the desert east of this thriving capital city are the loudest and brightest signs of a flourishing National Guard State Partnership Program. "I have been very favorably impressed with how the military-to-military relationships between Colorado and Jordan

  • Ellsworth officials launch digital airport surveillance radar

    Ellsworth Air Force Base officials recently completed the installation of a digital airport surveillance radar system to be used with the Dakota Air Traffic Control Facility here. This modern, digital radar replaces traditional airport-surveillance radar used by air traffic controllers, eliminates

  • Transit Center, Kyrgyz medical teams work together, share ideas

    A Kyrgyz medical team visited here Oct. 27 to learn the Air Force mission and share ideas with Airmen assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group. The team consisted of local doctors, dentists and pharmacists and was led by Col. Iskender Abykeeev, head of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense's

  • U.S. seeks to counter enemy's 'weapon of choice'

    Defense Department officials here said Oct. 29 that they expect U.S. forces in Afghanistan to continue to be targeted by improvised explosive devices -- which have claimed more lives there than any other weapon -- while it seeks ways to counter the threat. As President Barack Obama and his advisers

  • Department takes steps to reduce casualties

    Defense Department officials here have taken steps to stem mounting casualties in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here Oct. 29. October has become the deadliest month for American servicemembers in Afghanistan, with 56 killed, and Mr. Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M.

  • 'Total Fitness' seeks unit, troop effectiveness

    Being fit to fight in today's military means more than simply being physically fit, and through the concept of "total fitness," Defense Department officials hope to build on what many say already is the most resilient force in U.S. military history. Total fitness strikes a balance between strong

  • 4 remotely piloted vehicle squadrons stand up at Holloman

    Air Force officials here stood up three remotely piloted vehicle squadrons and a maintenance squadron under the 49th Fighter Wing during an assumption-of-command ceremony Oct. 23 at Holloman Air Force Base. Members of the four squadrons -- the 29th Attack Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Squadron, 16th

  • NASA officials give go for Space Shuttle Atlantis launch

    NASA's space shuttle Atlantis is targeted to begin an 11-day flight to the International Space Station with a Nov. 16 launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  Liftoff is scheduled for 2:28 p.m. EST. The Atlantis launch date was announced Oct. 29 at the conclusion of a flight readiness

  • New perspective improves VA programs

    A new perspective has enabled leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the level and accessibility of care provided to servicemembers, the department's assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs said here Oct. 27. "I bring with me to VA a really different, new

  • Exercise seeks battlefield information effectiveness

    U.S. warfighters and allies operating in Afghanistan and Iraq depend on various sensor platforms that can provide information about the enemy's whereabouts night or day, a senior U.S. military officer said Oct. 29 here. That's why the annual joint Empire Challenge demonstration, which explores how

  • Air Force military family of the year visits Washington

    Working together as a team is the advice the Air Force military family of the year has for coping with frequent deployments. "Know your resources, such as key spouses," said Master Sgt. Wayne Ojala, the superintendent of the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "And take

  • KC-10 maintainers work around the clock to keep aircraft fuel flowing

    Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron generate KC-10 Extenders to refuel aircraft providing combat support in Afghanistan. "Everything that we do on this ramp directly supports the troops in Afghanistan," said Staff Sgt. Charles Powers, a crew chief from the 380th

  • Airmen sought for unique, joint program

    Air Force officials are seeking Airmen for a three- to five-year period for a Defense Department program aimed at creating greater continuity, focus and persistent engagement across the battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Afghanistan Pakistan Hands program was established by Adm. Mike

  • Airmen aid Stop Hunger Now

    About 200 volunteers from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and the surrounding communities gathered Oct. 24 at the MERCI Mission Center in Goldsboro, N.C., to help stop hunger for the people of Afghanistan and to keep them warm throughout the winter. The volunteers prepared more than 115,000 rice- and

  • Air Force officials announce candidate bases for joint strike fighter

    Air Force officials here announced the list of candidate locations Oct. 29 for basing the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. The list of candidate bases was approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force and identifies the first group of bases to be considered for joint strike

  • DOD officials order enough H1N1 vaccine for National Guard

    Department of Defense officials here have acquired enough doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine to immunize all 460,000 members of the National Guard, officials announced Oct. 29 here. "The DOD supply will go out to the Guard based on their order through the ... U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency," said Army

  • Reserve Command general delivers latest C-17

    The commander of the Air Force Reserve Command flew and delivered here Oct. 28 the newest C-17 Globemaster III to come off the production line at Boeing's Long Beach, Calif., plant. Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr. accompanied by an all-Reserve crew from the 317th Airlift Squadron from Charleston Air

  • President signs Defense Authorization Act

    President Barack Obama signed the fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act during a ceremony at the White House Oct. 28. President Obama hailed the act, which contains $680.2 billion in military budget authority, as transformational legislation that targets wasteful defense spending. The

  • Misawa officials save energy with a flip of the switch

     Last year, Misawa officials spent approximately $85,000 on the energy bill for airfield lights. With a simple flip of a switch, energy planners hope to cut that bill by two-thirds. In early October, representatives in the 35th Operations Support Squadron airfield management office coordinated with

  • Cope India dubbed a success

    U.S. and Indian air force officials are pleased with the positive results of all of the joint-training operations executed here during Cope India, Oct. 19 to 23. Cope India is a United States and India airlift exercise that provides training for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

  • Contingency response Airmen build partnership capability in Egypt

    Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing bolstered Egypt's ability to mobilize its troops by training 20 Egyptian airborne soldiers on airlift and cargo loading procedures during Exercise Bright Star in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 9 to 21. During the eight-day training course, the Airmen taught

  • Teamwork vital to promoting Air Force awareness

    The Air Force is all about teamwork. It's in recruiting brochures and Air Force commercials. No matter how big or small the mission, teamwork is a way of life. For Tech. Sgt. Rick Jones, NCO in charge of the Air Force NASCAR program, teamwork is vital in promoting Air Force awareness to millions of

  • Top spouse explains vital role of Key Spouse Program

    Suzie Schwartz, the wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, brought her unique perspective to the Maxwell AFB Key Spouse Forum, sharing personal stories, words of encouragement and helpful resources. The Key Spouse Program is an emphasis area for the Year of Air Force Family, which

  • AEDC engineers play critical role in NASA Ares I-X first flight

    Workers at the Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center here contributed to the successful unmanned flight test of the NASA Ares 1-X flight vehicle, which was launched for the first time Oct. 28. The Ares will replace the shuttle and is slated for completion in 2017. AEDC testing to date

  • 45th Space Wing Airmen support successful Ares I-X launch

    Airmen, Air Force civilians and contractors from the 45th Space Wing provided Eastern Range support for NASA's successful launch of the Ares I-X. The test rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center at 11:30 a.m. (EDT) Oct. 28. Personnel from throughout the 45th Space

  • Kirkuk ceremony marks transfer of navigational aids to Iraqi air force

    A ceremony held at Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq Oct. 26 demonstrated the emerging independence of the Iraqi Air Force. The ceremony marked the official turnover of a suite of navigational aids provided by the Electronic Systems Center, headquartered here, through a first-of-its-kind foreign military

  • U.S., Chilean airmen visit school children

    U.S. and Chilean air force airmen visited an elementary school during Exercise Salitre Oct. 27 in Alto Hospicia, Chile.Airmen from the two nations took time from the multinational exercise focused on interoperability between Chile, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and France to visit the

  • Airmen support Army's airlift needs

    American Airmen on C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft are contributing directly to support joint and coalition forces on the front lines of both operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. "The Air Force airdrops are providing needed support to Soldiers in the field; getting people

  • Shinseki cites collaboration in mental health care

    Psychological war wounds are nothing new to servicemembers, but the support of the nation to care for their injuries, until recent years, was somewhat uncharted territory. The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are committed to advancing that care because it's the right thing to do as a

  • Oct. 22 airpower summary: Predators provide overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons flew armed reconnaissance in the

  • Oct. 21 airpower summary: B-1Bs provide armed overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 21 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew armed overwatch in the Konduz

  • Tanker aircrews support exercise in Chile

    Airmen aboard two Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers are flying daily refueling sorties above Chile to support a multinational force of fighters during Exercise Salitre II. The Airmen from the 161st Air Refueling Wing in Phoenix are participating in the Chilean-led exercise that runs

  • Oct. 20 airpower summary: F-16s fly close-air support

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew armed overwatch in the

  • Oct. 23 airpower summary: F-16s escort convoy in Afghanistan

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft flew armed overwatch in

  • Oct. 19 airpower summary: Tankers support fighter missions

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flew armed overwatch in the Asmar

  • Airmen patrol outside to protect inside

    For some Airmen, its keep your friends close and your enemies as far away from your base as possible. Every day, the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's force protection patrols travel outside of Joint Base Balad to provide a security presence that aims to deter anyone who would do harm

  • MacDill tankers keep mission airborne at Red Flag

    Members of the 91st Air Refueling Squadron from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., are doing their part to ensure participants in Exercise Red Flag 10-1 stay in the air Oct. 19 through 30 here. Aircrews in KC-135 Stratotankers will fly multiple sorties per day and push more than 1.4 million pounds of

  • Medal of Honor recipients visit Airmen, wounded warriors in Germany

    Two Medal of Honor recipients visited wounded warriors and Airmen here Oct. 23 as part of an Armed Forces Entertainment tour. Retired Army Col. Robert Howard and Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell, who both received the nation's highest military decoration for actions during the Vietnam conflict, were

  • Whiteman Air Force Base gains 2 units

    Air Force leaders continue to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise, adding two new Air Force Materiel Command units to the Whiteman community with a ceremony Oct. 25 at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The 498th Munitions Maintenance Group relocates from Kirtland AFB to Whiteman AFB, along with its new subordinate

  • Mountain Roundup acts as final stage for German air force training

    The German air force is here training with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines through the end of October during the annual Mountain Roundup exercise. "Mountain Roundup is an annual exercise that we have here hosting the German air force mission employment phase of their fighter weapons school, or

  • Students learn to survive in 'Tropics'

    More than 500 miles away from Fairchild Air Force Base and just miles from the Pacific coast lies a tropical rainforest in the Olympic National Forest. The moisture in the air permeates your clothes and gear, and as you trek through the rain and mud it's almost as if it seeps through the skin to the

  • The weapons of warfare adapt with the age of Airmen

    Airmen are using off-the-shelf commercial gaming equipment on the battlefield, and according to one Airman operating at a base still littered with Soviet-era landmines, they're a great fit. When Senior Airman James Dobrynski, a St. Louis native, straps on his individual body armor, fire-resistant

  • Balad Airman creates wounded warrior program

    An Airman here helped develop the Balad Wounded Warrior Program, a program created to ease the transition of wounded servicemembers through the medical evacuation process.Senior Airman Raymond Jones, a plans and programming projects manager with the 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron,

  • 'Mini Herc' set to join Air Force fleet

    Air Force plans to include the C-27J Spartan, the latest propeller-driven airlifter planned for the Air Force inventory, are steadily progressing. In April, through Resource Management Decision 802, Defense Secretary Robert Gates moved the C-27J program and its related direct support mission from

  • Air Force future bright with adaptable, connected Airmen

    The U.S. Air Forces Central command chief has a good perspective on the lives of the Airmen serving in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom after more than 21 months on the job. A younger generation of Airmen is adapting to an ever-changing operating environment, gaining

  • American servicemembers in Afghanistan break ground for new high school

    Members of the Air Force-led Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team along with senior Afghan government officials and community leaders, celebrated the ground-breaking of a new high school for girls during a ceremony here Oct. 22. The school will be the first of its kind in the town of Shajoy, which

  • Football: Falcons lose to Utes 23-16 in OT

    Seven yards was the margin of victory for Utah as the Utes' defense held off Air Force on a fourth down in overtime to seal a 23-16 win. Utah entered the game ranked 19th and 20th by the nation's two college football polls and 18th in the Associated Press poll. It is the second nationally ranked

  • Chief of staff honors fallen Airmen in moving ceremony

    It was May 17, 1962, and NASA Astronaut Scott Carpenter was preparing for the Mercury program's second-ever orbital mission. Half way around the world, 13 Airmen were also preparing, getting situated to provide an emergency recovery site in Africa, only one of several such units positioned around

  • NASA app now available

    A NASA app for the iPhone and iPod touch is available free of charge at the App Store from Apple. The NASA application will deliver a wealth of information, videos, images and news updates about NASA missions. "Making NASA more accessible to the public is a high priority for the agency," said Gale

  • Collaboration drove earthquake relief, commander says

    A rapid response and cooperation led to a successful humanitarian relief effort in the aftermath of last month's devastating earthquakes in Indonesia, a Navy commander said. Navy Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander of the Amphibious Force 7th Fleet based in Okinawa, Japan, described the operation,

  • Orientation day gives spouses inside look at Nellis operations

    Military spouses here got an inside look at  base operations during a spouses orientation day, Oct. 16. The event, hosted by the 66th Rescue Squadron, showcased the unit's mission and allowed the spouses to experience what their Air Force husbands and wives do on daily basis.  "These orientation

  • Top enlisted Airman visits Ellsworth Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Ellsworth Air Force Base Oct. 21 and 22 to tour the installation and speak with Ellsworth members about education, deployments, fitness and family support. "We are a nation at war," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy said during an

  • Battlefield Airmen considered a weapon system

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

  • Air Force awards $14M to 2010 Young Investigators Research Program

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research announced it will award more than $14 million in grants to 38 scientists and engineers who submitted winning research proposals through the Air Force's Young Investigator Research Program. The YIP is open to scientists and engineers at research

  • Airmen spend day with Chilean children

    Members of the Air Forces Southern Cooperation Team-One began their nation building trip to Santiago, Chile, by taking children to an interactive museum for children here Oct. 13.Members of 12th Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago in

  • Servicemembers hammer out, nail down construction in Iraq

    Military contracting officials deployed to Baghdad work to rebuild the economy in Iraq by hiring local contractors to build and remodel facilities throughout the International Zone. Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors have been hands-on with several structure projects, including the construction of an

  • KC-10s provide rapid aerial refueling

    Think of this number: 1.2 million. That's the number of pounds of fuel the KC-10s from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing deliver daily to aircraft that provide air support to warfighters in Afghanistan. This means that when coalition forces need air support, aircraft such as A-10 Thunderbolt IIs,

  • Photo essay: B-1s at Ellsworth AFB

    A B-1B Lancer and aircrew here prepare for a training mission Oct. 15, 2009. The flight crew consists of the pilot, co-pilot, defensive systems operator and offensive systems operator. View the slideshow.

  • Reconstruction team opens new girls' school in Afghanistan

    A crowd of Afghans and U.S. servicemembers celebrated the building of the new Bibi Khala Girls' School Oct. 19 in Qalat city, located in Afghanistan's Zabul province. Bibi Khala is the largest girls' school in Qalat, with approximately 1,500 students. The new building consists of eight classrooms

  • Globemaster conducts first mission for Cope India

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew conducted the first ever combined airdrop mission with Indian air force personnel here as part of exercise Cope India. The 535th Airlift Squadron from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, conducted a high-altitude low-opening mission with four U.S. Air Force Airmen and Soldiers

  • AFPC now accepting nominations for deputy commander positions

    Interested and eligible officers in the grade of O-5 may now submit applications to be considered for deputy commander positions in mission support groups in 2010. Applications are due via e-mail to the base support officer assignments section at the Air Force Personnel Center here by Nov. 20.

  • Iraq-based platelets travel to Afghanistan

    The Air Force Theater Hospital platelet apheresis lab here began dispatching blood platelets to Afghanistan Oct. 14, 2009. The AFTH functions as the sole platelet provider in Iraq. Now, it is the first in-theater medical facility to send platelets collected in one operational area to another, said

  • Airmen integrate into Chilean CAOC for SALITRE

    Air Forces Southern Airmen are integrating themselves into a Chilean combined air operations center for SALITRE, a Chilean air force-led coalition exercise Oct. 17 to Nov. 2 in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile. The effort can be challenging, considering France, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and the United

  • 15 units, 3 countries converge on Nellis for Red Flag

    Nearly 1,300 servicemembers, more than 80 aircraft and 15 units from three countries converged on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the start of Red Flag 10-1 Oct. 19. American, Norwegian and Dutch airmen and soldiers comprise the allied team in the exercise. "The exercise is a great opportunity for

  • McChord C-17 lands at newly upgraded airstrip in Wyoming

    A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., approached the 5,500-foot-long stretch of paved runway, landed, then rolled to a stop. That's not much space on which to land a heavily loaded, half-million pound cargo plane, but officials here say it's the perfect runway for C-17 pilots to

  • Weapons, tactics conference puts warfighters' needs in focus

    Nearly 1,200 Air Force warfighters are meeting here in late October to decide on what's needed to succeed in future battles and missions. This year's Air Guard and Reserve Weapons and Tactics Conference is the biggest ever, said Col. Jon Mott, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command

  • Team exchanges ideas with Chilean air force

    Members of 12th Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, in late October with Chilean air force members on topics such as crisis management, media relations and air operations center processes and procedures. The exchange was a

  • International Officer School honors distinguished alumni

    Air Force officials here honored eight former international Air University students as they were added to the Air University Honor Roll Oct. 8 here. Each honoree is designated by a bronze plate engraved with the inductee's name, rank, country, position and AU schools attended, and the plates line

  • 21 Air Force food service professionals win culinary honors

    Twenty-one Air Force food service professionals were honored at the 2009 Hennessy Travelers Association Educational Foundation Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence Oct. 4 to 10. The forum at Culinary Institute of America Greystone Campus in Napa Valley, Calif., recognized a total of 25 members

  • Officials change promotion policy regarding senior NCO academy

    Completion of the resident Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy or a sister service equivalent will be required for promotion to senior master sergeant effective Jan. 1, an Air Force personnel official said recently.This policy change supersedes the current policy which requires Air

  • AFSOUTH Airmen participate in Exercise SALITRE II

    More than 190 Air Forces Southern Airmen are representing the United States during Exercise SALITRE II, a Chilean air force-led coalition exercise which began Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2, in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile. SALITRE is a coalition air exercise, including search and rescue, aerial

  • Combat metals flight fabricates essential aircraft parts

    When maintainers here need new parts for their C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, they can't just head down to the local parts store and pick one up. That's where the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron's Combat Metals Flight comes in. The unit fabricates aircraft parts from

  • Aeromedical staging facility staff to reach major milestone in warrior care

    Members of the 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here will soon be reaching a new milestone since opening its doors and receiving its first patient six years ago. Unit members provide critical care to wounded warriors, and are scheduled to complete its 100,000th patient movement sometime

  • Cooperation Team-One exchanges ideas with Chilean air force members

    Members of 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, with members of the Fuerza Aerea Chile, or FACh, on topics such as crisis management, media relations and Air Operations Center processes and

  • New PT rules will not take away from unit fitness

    Everyone in the Air Force is required to maintain fitness. In fact, in January 2010 the new physical fitness testing criteria will take effect, requiring Airmen to meet minimum requirements in each category or fail the test. Now, Air Force officials are restructuring the requirement for commanders

  • General Bowlds discusses innovative comm ideas, calls for more

    Rapid technology evolution, asymmetric threats, constrained defense budgets and a host of other dynamics pose vexing communication challenges, Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds told more than 1,200 conference attendees at a luncheon here Oct. 19. But "ideas for meeting those challenges abound," the Air Force

  • German fliers achieve 55,555 flight hours at Holloman

    With the landing of a specially painted Tornado aircraft, airmen at the German air force Flying Training Center here completed 55,555 Tornado flight hours Oct. 13, and a reception commemorating the accomplishment followed. German air force members shared the momentous occasion with Airmen from the

  • Oct.16 airpower summary: C-130s sustain operations in Southwest Asia

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft

  • Oct.18 airpower summary: F-15s destroy enemy position

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Iraq, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and B-1B Lancer aircraft provided overwatch