HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Civil engineers improving Uzbek base

    From digging to designing, Airmen with the 416th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron’s civil engineer flight have been busy making improvements here.CE Airmen here are involved in a majority of the construction projects that support the Air Force mission, said Maj. Frederick Cade, the flight’s

  • Civil engineers keep Bagram's airfield in shape

    Before the runway gets potholes large enough to swallow an airplane, the members of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Element ensure the pilots have a smooth ride when they land.The CE element, a Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force made up of nearly 20 people from four different CE units

  • Civil engineers keep Sather Air Base utilities operational

    When the power is on and the toilets are flowing, no one bothers the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Flight Airmen here. But they don’t mind anonymity; when no one complains, they know their customers are happy. Airmen in the flight can be compared to a city public works

  • Civil engineers make critical runway repairs, keep missions moving

    Maintaining an airfield is never an easy task, especially when it’s one of the busiest in the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility. Responsible for making critical runway repairs, the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s heavy equipment operator team ensures that the 386th

  • Civil engineers meet with industry to develop partnerships

    The newly established Air Force Civil Engineer Center hosted its first industry day Jan. 15 in San Antonio.Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, the Air Force civil engineer, and Joe Sciabica, Air Force Civil Engineer Center director, addressed more than 350 industry professionals about the future of Air Force

  • Civil engineers plan Afghanistan's future foundation

    Nangarhar Province is seeing a rush of construction projects due in large part to the vision and planning of an Air Force civil engineer team here. As part of the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team, civil engineers work with fellow PRT members, including civil affairs teams, to address the

  • Civil engineers plan for the future

    Expansion plans here have civil engineers drawing up blueprints for construction projects for next year, the next five years, even the next decade. “We’re planning for the future so that 50 years from now people will be glad we designed everything right the first time,” said Lt. Col. Marvin Smith,

  • Civil engineers prepare to ‘close the gaps’ at Bagram

    Bagram’s 9,800-foot runway will undergo major repairs beginning at the end of March to maintain operations in and out of the busiest airfield in Afghanistan. Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron said they plan to spend 16 weeks replacing 28 shattered slabs of concrete using a

  • Civil engineers provide hurricane relief at Keesler

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency here is assisting in hurricane recovery efforts at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.The agency’s civil engineer maintenance, inspection and repair team sent three trailer-sized generators to help provide emergency power to the base. Each generator is capable

  • Civil engineers putting shivers aside

    Despite record-setting cold temperatures here, people assigned to the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron are keeping the base running as usual.From Jan. 24 to 26, the base received 21 inches of snow. By Jan. 29, temperatures dipped to a new winter low of minus 37 with a wind chill that hit 60 below

  • Civil engineers recall, reflect 17 years after Khobar Towers bombing

    On the night of June 25, 1996, near Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia, terrorists positioned a tanker truck filled with explosives less than 100 feet away from a building in the Khobar Towers complex that housed deployed Airmen. Shortly before 10 p.m. local time, the bomb detonated, killing 19 Airmen

  • Civil engineers receive honors

    Three civilian professional associations joined the Air Force in honoring civil engineers Jan 13.Each year, the Society of American Military Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, partner with the Air

  • Civil engineers recognized at annual gala

    The Air Force's focus on engineering and environmental projects in 2011 will be highlighted during the 50th Annual Civil Engineer Awards dinner at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Officers' Club Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Military member award category winners will be able to wear the Air Force recognition

  • Civil engineers repair runway in Afghanistan

    Tech. Sgt. John Foster sits in a truck on an active runway at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, and simply covers his ears as a C-130 Hercules races by just yards away and takes off into the blue.Foster is not lost. As the cargo plane heads over Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountain range, Foster climbs

  • Civil engineers restore electricity to village

    For the past three months, inhabitants of Bakir village, Iraq, were without power, but members of the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, contractors and local Iraqi electricians worked together to install new high-voltage cable to restore electricity."This has been a joint effort between

  • Civil engineers rid Kunsan of austere living conditions

    Civil engineers here completed a construction project to update living accommodations typically used by servicemembers in support of air expeditionary force assignments.Thirty Southeast Asia huts, commonly referred to as SEA huts because of their popularity during the Vietnam War, were finished in

  • Civil engineers start construction project on Wake Island

    Three 611th Civil Engineering Squadron members arrived here recently from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to begin building the second of three Sprung Instant Structure buildings. After their arrival on the atoll in the Pacific Ocean about 3,000 miles southwest of Anchorage known as Wake Island,

  • Civil engineers train for chemical attacks

    Civil engineers here replaced their shovels, hammers and power tools with gas masks, gloves and chemical warfare ensemble gear during ability to survive and operate training here May 18.“This training is very important,” said Capt. Jeremy Milliman, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron’s readiness flight

  • Civil engineers use 'Dominator' for rescue

    Noah's Ark came here disguised as a big blue vacuum truck during Hurricane Katrina.While preparing for the Aug. 29 storm, the 81st Civil Engineer Squadron here loaded the tank of the "Dominator" with water to ballast the vehicle so it would not be swept away by the anticipated flood waters. The

  • Civil engineers’ work noticed every day

    Every day, airmen of the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are seen doing a multitude of tasks, from digging trenches for electrical wiring to setting up restroom facilities.The unit’s accomplishments can be noticed when one makes a 2 a.m. trip to the restroom and comes face to face with a

  • Civil support teams provide WMD expertise to communities

    Guardsmen with the 61st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team here like to think of themselves as firefighters."We're ready to go, but we don't go until the bell goes off," said Lt. Col. Keith Bauder, commander of the unit since it activated five years ago.The "bell" sounds in the event of

  • Civilian Airman wins key energy award

    The Air Force's Energy Action Month is drawing to a close, but Laughlin continues to lead the way in energy efficiency and water conservation with the recent announcement that a Laughlin civilian won the 2013 Department of Energy Individual Federal Energy and Water Management Award.

  • Civilian career brief now online

    Air Force civilians now have the ability to view their own career information online from any Internet-connected computer, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here.The virtual Civilian Career Brief offers information that might help in career planning like current position data, pay

  • Civilian career development webcasts continue May 26, June 21

    Webcasts designed to help civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers will be held May 26 for GS-12 and GS-13 civilians, and June 21 for GS-7 through GS-11 civilians. Hosted by officials of the Air Force Personnel Center civilian force integration directorate, webcast topics will include how to

  • Civilian career development webcasts slated Sept. 27, 29 and 30

    Webcasts developed to help GS-7 through GS-11 civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers continue through the next five weeks, beginning with a Sept. 27 webcast at 8 a.m. Sessions have been earmarked for eligible civilians based on command. "This is our largest civilian Airman population," said

  • Civilian career tips are focus of upcoming webcasts

    Civilian Airmen will learn how to plan for their next job, how education affects their careers and more during webcasts in May and June tailored for specific grade-groups.Hosted by representatives of the Air Force Personnel Center civilian force integration directorate, the webcasts support the Air

  • Civilian Development nomination window opens Jan. 11

    The development and leadership programs offered through CD are mapped to the Department of the Air Force’s institutional competencies, which are key to ensuring all Airmen and Guardians can operate successfully in a constantly changing environment.

  • Civilian development 'roadmap' launched

    Air Force officials here recently approved four initiatives that make up part of the civilian institutional development "roadmap." The initiatives are key to helping civilians excel professionally while working to achieve the Air Force mission of fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. Air

  • Civilian developmental education application deadline May 1

    Air Force civilians interested in civilian developmental education opportunities during academic year 2012 have until May 1 to submit completed application packages to the Air Force Personnel Center force development branch.Civilians must be nominated for CDE by their local leaders and endorsed by

  • Civilian developmental education applications due beginning in March

    Air Force civilians interested in developmental education should work on their nomination packages now, Air Force Personnel Center officials advised.The official call for nominations will be in March, but some people may need more time to gather information and coordinate their package, said Joan

  • Civilian Developmental Education offers opportunities to learn, grow

    The application cycle for the Academic Year 2020 Civilian Development Education opportunities opens March 1.“The Air Force is making a dedicated effort to develop the entire workforce and all of our future leaders,” said Patricia Young, Air Force Materiel Command executive director. “We are making

  • Civilian director accepted to Harvard

    Most people cannot wait to get out of school. Brian Lally cannot wait to start.Of course, it helps if the school is Harvard University. It also helps if all expenses are paid.Mr. Lally, executive director for the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency here, was recently selected to attend Harvard

  • Civilian employees should start education applications early

    Hundreds of professional development opportunities are available annually for civilian employees. Many of those slots go unfilled, in part because eligible candidates wait until the last minute to prepare and staff their application packages.For example, annually, 280 Civilian Acculturation and

  • Civilian employees to receive equal base salary increases

    Defense Department employees paid under the National Security Personnel System will receive the same base salary increases this year as their General Schedule counterparts, a Defense Department official said Sept. 29. The move comes as senior Defense Department, Office of Personnel Management and

  • Civilian ensures Fourth of July celebration goes off with bang

    For Bob Howett, the Fourth of July is his time to shine, and he has the scar to prove it. During his final Air Force assignment here 25 years ago, the former jet mechanic discovered his love of fireworks. It is that love of explosives that has kept him pleasing crowds worldwide.Mr. Howett started

  • Civilian guards tapped to control base gates

    People entering the gates at 11 Air Force bases are being greeted by some new faces. About 400 contracted civilian guards began providing entry controller services at selected active-duty bases May 18. The bases gaining civilian guards are Andrews Air Force Base, Md.; Bolling AFB, D.C.; Hill AFB,

  • Civilian health benefits program open season starting soon

    Air Force civilian employees will have the opportunity to review and update their health care plan during the Federal Employees Health Benefits program open season Nov. 11 to Dec. 9.Program changes could affect more than 7,000 employees since 11 health plan carriers are dropping out of the FEHB and

  • Civilian health-care ‘open season’ offers 18 new plans

    Office of Personnel Management officials announced new health-care options that may provide better financial opportunities for employees.Eighteen new high-deductible health plans will be offered by the federal employees’ health benefits program for 2005. The new health plans, when used with a health

  • Civilian health-care premiums increasing

    Air Force civilian health-care plan premiums are expected to increase an average of more than 10 percent in January. That means employees with 'self-only' coverage will pay about $5 more per pay period and those with 'family coverage' will pay $11.95 more.Employees will have the opportunity to

  • Civilian job announcements changed to help managers, applicants

    Air Force Personnel Center officials recently changed how civilian job announcements are listed to improve the civilian hiring process. "AFPC is improving our civilian hiring process and reducing the time it takes to fill civilian position vacancies. Changing the way we list our civilian job

  • Civilian job process going ‘PRO’

    A new base-level central-approval authority for filling civilian positions is currently being tested at seven bases across the Air Force.The Personnel Resource Official, or PRO, will be the point of contact in an organization or at a base that lets a manager trying to fill a position know whether he

  • Civilian leaders learn strength of U.S. airpower in Europe

    Civilian business and community leaders got firsthand and sometimes hands-on exposure Sept. 23 to U.S. Air Forces in Europe's multiple missions of supporting warfighters, building partnerships and strengthening its historic NATO ties. U.S. Air Forces, Europe, or USAFE, is as critical to U.S.

  • Civilian leaders see USAFE capabilities

    Civilian leaders participating in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference got a firsthand, and sometimes hands-on, look here June 8 at how U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen support the war on terrorism.About 50 business, academic and local government leaders nationwide sat in the cockpits of F-15

  • Civilian leaders shown U.S. space capabilities

    A trip inside the Cheyenne Mountain operations center highlighted an intensive look by civic leaders from throughout the United States into how the U.S. military is using the sky and space to protect the homeland against terrorism.The civilians, all alumni of the Defense Department's joint civilian

  • Civilian makes sculptures from recyclables

    Turning discarded aluminum soda cans, fabric, cardboard, plastic, glass, newspaper and wood into environmental art is a labor of love for Helen Walker.“Environmental art sculptures are very effective because they tell a story,” said the quality assurance evaluator for the 89th Civil Engineer

  • Civilian pay raises become more performance-based

    Department of Defense officials will use half of a January 2008 government-wide pay increase to adjust base salaries for eligible National Security Personnel System employees. Remaining funds will be distributed by pay pools based on an assessment of individual employee performance in meeting

  • Civilian pay raises to take effect

    The upcoming pay period for Defense Department civilian General Schedule employees will reflect a 2.1 percent across-the-board pay raise. It also includes a range of locality pays that bring the overall pay hikes between 2.83 and 5.62 percent, an Office of Personnel Management spokesman said. The

  • Civilian personnel system allows employees control over advancement

    The National Security Personnel System, which will go on line soon, will provide a more performance- and market-based system of hiring, pay and evaluation. With NSPS, Department of Defense civilians can influence the amount of money they will receive by their performance, their value to the

  • Civilian personnel system integrates under one umbrella

    A symbolic ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Air Force Personnel Center here to mark the Directorate of Civilian Force Integration's initial operating capability. Maj. Gen. Tony Przybyslawski, AFPC commander, praised the civilian Airmen for what they have accomplished and reminded them of

  • Civilian personnel system offers workers opportunities, officials say

    In its second year of implementation, the Defense Department's new civilian personnel system is meeting its goal of shifting the department to a performance-based pay system while giving employees the power to boost their own careers, two officials with the program said here Jan. 7. The National

  • Civilian pilot killed in midair collision with T-37

    A civilian pilot was killed after a midair collision of his crop-duster with an Air Force T-37 Tweet in southwestern Oklahoma near the town of Frederick on Jan. 18.The two military pilots ejected safely. Base officials identified them as Capt. Christopher Otis, an instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt.

  • Civilian processes become ‘lean’

    Air Force civilian personnel leaders want to eliminate procedural bottlenecks and waste by applying a concept called “lean.”Lean is a way of streamlining processes and making them more efficient by removing waste, reducing cycle time and improving customer satisfaction, according to David W.

  • Civilian receives $10,000 for canopy repair 'IDEA'

    A civilian's suggestion to let the base egress shop repair F-16 Fighting Falcon canopies here instead of sending them off base earned him $10,000 and will save the Air Force more than $1 million. Robert Watts, an ordnance inspector with the 412th Maintenance Squadron, received a check June 11 for

  • Civilian records can now reflect AF unit awards

    The Defense Civilian Personnel Data System can now reflect Air Force unit awards, according to Air Force Manpower and Personnel. Prior to March 30, civilian employees who received unit awards such as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award and Air Force Chief

  • Civilian retiree identification card to be replaced

    Retired Air Force civilians who use the Air Force Form 354, Civilian Identification Card, to access USAF installations have until early 2014 - when the AF354 will be rescinded - to get a Department of Defense Civilian Retiree ID Card or other access credentials, Air Force Personnel Center officials

  • Civilian sector the biggest space customer

    The head of Air Force Space Command said people might be surprised to learn that corporate America is the biggest user of Air Force space products. Gen. Lance W. Lord said the main reason for this is the reliability of space-based assets and because the technologies -- which are giving coalition

  • Civilian tuition assistance increases to $1M, expands eligibility

    The Air Force has received an additional $400,000, for a total of $1 million, for its 2017 civilian tuition assistance program, and all permanent, full-time appropriated fund employees, including those in wage-grade positions, are now eligible to participate.

  • Civilian’s conviction highlights fight against sexual assault

    While the recent sexual assault conviction of a civilian employee here reinforces the base’s intolerance of such crimes, base leaders said they hope it also serves as a deterrent to future offenses.Dee Dial, 78th Air Base Wing’s chief of labor law and federal litigation, said the offender was

  • Civilian-personnel system ‘not cutting it’

    The civilian-personnel system in the Defense Department "is not cutting it," said Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on June 3.Rumsfeld, who spoke at the National Press Club, said that the department is handcuffed by its reliance on an antiquated personnel system. He called today's

  • Civilians add stability during emergencies

    Airmen here are fighting the base during this week's local operational readiness exercise Beverly High 08-04 and a special group of civilians is right alongside them contributing to the mission. These civilians, categorized as "emergency essential," stay with military forces even if a non-combatant

  • Civilians authorized exercise time

    Air Force appropriated-fund civilian employees are now authorized to take up to three hours off each week to exercise according to a policy change memorandum issued June 23.It is all about encouraging employees to adopt lifestyles that support healthy working environments, said Maj. Gen. John M.

  • Civilians begin leadership training program at Air University

    Twenty-five Air Force civilians began the first Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training Program at Air University's Officer Training School Oct. 27 here.The program leads the 25-member group through a two-week course adapted from the OTS curriculum indoctrinated with Air Force leadership and

  • Civilians can consider military treatment facility if injured

    If an Air Force civilian employee is injured on the job, time can be vitally important in getting that injury treated. One of the best solutions for both an employee and the Air Force is to use an emergency room at a base military treatment facility. Yet few employees take advantage of this

  • Civilians can now apply for new professional development program

    Air Force civilian employees can now apply for a new professional development opportunity with applications due to Air Force Personnel Center officials by Sept. 4. The Civilian Acculturation Leadership Training program provides a unique in-residence experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,

  • Civilians earn their 'stripes'

    The noncommissioned officers academy here is one of two Air Force test sites allowing civilians to learn the ropes of leadership by working side-by-side with enlisted airmen.Robins and Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., are part of a yearlong trial phase that could change the way professional military

  • Civilians eligible for spending accounts

    Most Air Force civilian employees are now eligible to contribute to a flexible spending account which allows money to be set aside tax-free for certain health-care and eligible family member-care expenses.Flexible spending accounts are a new benefit that allows federal employees to set aside

  • Civilians gain leadership, warfighter support skills through program

    The Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program has been molding leaders for more than 30 years. In keeping with that tradition, the ELDP class of 2017 gained valuable knowledge of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and cyber missions and capabilities while visiting

  • Civilians get career fields, counselors

    Every Air Force civilian is now assigned to a specific career field, giving him or her a clear point of contact for career counseling. This marks the first tangible effect of civilian career field management, said Air Force Personnel Center officials here.Career field management is the civilian

  • Civilians given 60-day access to records after separating

    Air Force Civilian Service employees are now able to access their electronic Official Personnel Folder for up to 60 days following their date of separation.This new capability allows employees to log into the AFPC Secure website from a personal computer using a user ID and password and download a

  • Civilians graduate with lessons in military culture

    The first class of the Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training program graduated recently here giving the 25 attendees a better understanding of what the active-duty Air Force does. The course, designed to acquaint civilian employees with military culture, included lessons on Air Force core

  • Civilians must create eOPF account to access records

    Air Force Personnel Center officials are reminding Air Force civilian employees that they need to create their Office of Personnel Management electronic Official Personnel Folder account in order to access their personnel records.

  • Civilians must schedule use or lose leave before Dec. 1

    The 2012 civilian employee leave year ends Jan. 12, 2013, and Air Force Personnel Center officials remind civilians that those who have more than the maximum carryover hours of annual leave on that date risk losing their leave.The maximum carryover ceiling is 240 hours for stateside employees, 360

  • Civilians take the oath

    Just as service members around the country have raised their right hands and taken the oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” so have the civilians who work alongside them.

  • Civilians will see increase in pay

    While a civil service pay bill awaits congressional action, Air Force civilian employees should see an average 2-percent increase in their January paychecks.Air Force Personnel Center officials here said a 2-percent increase for general schedule employees will go into effect automatically and that

  • Civilians will see pay increase soon

    Air Force civilian employees soon will see extra money in their paychecks. An executive order was signed by the president March 3 authorizing a pay adjustment retroactive to Jan. 11.Air Force Personnel Center officials here will begin loading new pay tables into the system beginning March 11. But

  • CJCS Army Gen. Dempsey: Political activity erodes public trust in military

    Using the uniform for partisan politics erodes the trust the American people have in their military, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said today.During a discussion with reporters aboard a C-17 returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed a question about a

  • CJCS calls on China to help curb North Korean aggression

    The top U.S. military officer cited growing security challenges created by North Korean aggression and called on China to join other regional nations to help counter it."The regime in the north continues to isolate itself and to act in a manner detrimental to ... security," Adm. Mike Mullen, the

  • CJCS enlisted advisor shares joint vision with Airmen

    Once a person dons the uniform of their branch of service it can be easy to let their identity as an Airman, Soldier, Sailor or Marine cloud the fact that they are a member of a larger U.S. military. Marine Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

  • CJCS presents Bronze Stars to Nellis pararescuemen

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Bronze Stars with valor to three Nellis pararescuemen during a ceremony here April 13.Staff Sgt. Asher Woodhouse, Tech. Sgt. Ryan Manjuck and Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Hedglin of the 58th Rescue Squadron were individually awarded the

  • CJCS salutes servicemembers' success at awards dinner

    U.S. troops engaged in the global war on terrorism are doing "an exceptionally hard job exceptionally well," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs' annual awards dinner held here Dec. 8. "I believe our future is tied, as it always must

  • CJCS' top enlisted advisor speaks to DOD initiatives

    On the cusp of one of Minot Air Force Base's most demanding inspections this year, Airmen here welcomed the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia.

  • CJCS: Air Force has 'led the way' in energy security

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff lauded the Air Force for its commitment to energy security during the Pentagon Energy Security Event here Oct. 13."The Air Force is pushing forward, focusing on three goals of reducing demand, increasing supply through renewable and alternative sources, and

  • CJCS: Happy Birthday, U.S. Air Force

    Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sends his wishes to the men and women of the U.S. Air Force:Sixty-two years ago, President Truman signed the National Security Act that created a separate service dedicated to protecting America's skies, ready to fly, fight and win