NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • U.S., Australia share new communications satellites

    Representatives from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force met at the Australian Embassy here to sign a memorandum of agreement that will provide both nations assured access to the Wideband Global SATCOM system, expanding the WGS constellation to six satellites. The expansion will

  • Head of Propulsion Directorate earns DOD honor

    The director of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate has earned the highest honor given by the Secretary of Defense to career civilian personnel. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England presented the Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award to Dr. William U. Borger

  • Kirkuk airspace returned to Iraqi control

    Untied States Central Command Air Forces officials transferred control of Kirkuk air traffic control assigned airspace to the Baghdad Air Control Center Nov. 15. Under the U.S. CENTAF Airspace Transition Concept, airspace above 29,000 feet was transferred back to Iraq sovereign control. The Baghdad

  • Fairchild helicopter crew rescues fallen hiker

    Members of the 36th Rescue Flight here rescued a stranded 20-year-old hiker Nov. 11 about 20 miles south of Missoula, Mont. Local emergency responders were unable to rescue the man due to the hazardous terrain; therefore the 36th RQF UH-1N Huey flew to the site and lowered an independent-duty

  • UAV detachment stands up at Creech

    A new detachment has been established at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., to manage MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle operational test and evaluation and force development evaluation for Air Combat Command. The Airmen assigned to Det. 4, a unit of the 53rd Test Management Group based

  • Fallen Airmen, Soldiers honored at Aviano

    Aviano Air Base officials held a memorial service Nov. 15 to honor the lives of four Airmen and two Soldiers who were killed when an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter attached to the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment here crashed Nov. 8. Friends and family members gathered to pay their respects

  • AF top JAG: 'Rule of law' critical for success in Iraq

    A fair justice system, which holds people accountable for their actions, is vital in stopping the violence in Iraq, said the Air Force's top judge advocate general recently during a tour of Southwest Asia. Maj. Gen. Jack L. Rives visited the men and women of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing during a

  • Air Force Reserve to operate with fewer reservists

    Air Force Reserve Command will operate with a smaller force in 2008. The fiscal 2008 Defense Appropriations Act signed by President George W. Bush Nov. 13 funds an end-strength of 67,500 reservists. Last year the projected end strength was 74,900. The new legislation also approves 9,999 full-time

  • Applicants sought for attache duty

    Air Force officials are accepting applications until Dec. 7 from senior captains, majors and lieutenant colonels to fill 18 air attache positions reporting June 2009 through August 2011. Officers selected for attache duty will attend training during the period of April 2008 to January 2009. An

  • New initiative offers education, training funds for military spouses

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates joined Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Nov. 14 in supporting a new initiative to help military spouses get the education and other credentials needed to pursue careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations.Secretary Gates praised the new Military Spouse Career

  • Servicemembers deliver medical relief following storm

    A medical team from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, set up a makeshift clinic to provide medical relief to the local population Nov. 13 from a school here following the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Noel to the region. As of Nov. 12, American and British aircrews had delivered more than 241,000

  • Air Force claims armed forces basketball title

    The Air Force team swept away the competition to win the Armed Forces Basketball Tournament that concluded Nov. 13 here. The Air Force captured the gold for the second year in a row by going undefeated in the tournament. The defending champion Air Force team faced off against the Marine team during

  • Officials seek 10 enlisted for AFIT degree program

    Air Force Institute of Technology officials are offering 10 noncommissioned officers the opportunity to pursue an advanced science, engineering or management degree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Ten NCOs from around the Air Force will be selected in February to attend the

  • Not just another day at the office

    Staff Sgt. "Dean" was having a bad day at the office. As an Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller embedded with ground forces, his job was to serve as liaison between the ground commander and aircrews. On the afternoon of Oct. 27, the ten-vehicle convoy he was traveling with in Southern

  • Book offers lessons on fighting terrorism with airpower

    Airpower is a valuable weapon in the fight against terrorism but only if it is applied with discrimination and care, according to a new study of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War published by Air University officials. Widespread criticism of Israel for relying on its air force to attack Hezbollah

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights promotion notification

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on fielding a new web-based, virtual enlisted promotion release system. As one of America's leaders in technological development, innovation and process improvement, it is important the Air Force uses innovation in every aspect of operations to benefit all

  • Honor Guard drill team performs for special-needs students

    Though the usual cheering and applause was muted, the excitement was palpable as the Air Force Honor Guard drill team performed for a special audience Nov. 8 in Las Vegas. The drill team, in Las Vegas to perform for the Air Force's 60th Anniversary Air Force Week at Nellis Air Force Base, put on a

  • Shingles vaccine available to beneficiaries age 60, older

    Following a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation issued Oct. 19 Tricare now covers Zostavax, the vaccine designed to prevent shingles for beneficiaries age 60 and older. Shingles is a painful viral disease that affects more than one million Americans every year. More than half

  • New Tricare beneficiary Web site available

    Tricare Prime and Prime Remote beneficiaries in the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska, can enroll online with the new beneficiary Web enrollment, known as BWE. "The new online system may be one of Tricare's most convenient tools to date," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, the deputy director of

  • Kunsan Airmen show Thanksgiving spirit with South Koreans

    Kunsan Air Base members hosted approximately 60 disabled South Koreans for a traditional Thanksgiving meal here Nov. 10. More than 20 volunteers from the Kunsan AB Company Grade Officers Council, Team 5/6 and other volunteers from across the 8th Fighter Wing hosted the South Koreans for a day of

  • Tricare to make access to dental care easier overseas

    Presently, host nation dentists often require military families to make full payment up front, and then wait for reimbursement from United Concordia, the administrator of the Tricare Dental Program. Now, Tricare has modified their dental contract in an effort to eliminate the problem by seeking out

  • Airmen, 'Great Patriots' celebrate Veterans Day

    It isn't very often that Mark Pavlovich Polushenko, an 83-year-old retired infantry lieutenant colonel with the former Soviet Union Army, has occasion to put on his military service dress uniform. The opportunity came again Nov. 12 during a special Veterans Day event here. Colonel Polushenko was

  • Airmen show their edge during Keen Sword

    Over the next two weeks, 300-plus Airmen will be participating in the largest bilateral field training exercise in Japan, designed to practice defending Japan against foreign aggression. The goal of Exercise Keen Sword is to improve interoperability between the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and

  • Medical mission becomes primary focus following Noel

    Military members deployed to the Dominican Republic to assist the island nation recover from Tropical Storm Noel are gearing up for a new, more focused mission. A team of 13 servicemembers from Joint Task Force-Bravo's Medical Element, based at Soto Cano Air base, Honduras, arrived Nov. 8 to provide

  • Aviation pioneers attend Heritage to Horizons ceremony

    Five members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots who served during World War II attended the Heritage to Horizons proclamation ceremony for Air Force Week Nevada during a city council meeting Nov. 7 at the Las Vegas City Hall. The ceremony was part of a weeklong Air Force's 60th Anniversary

  • 'Today's Air Force' features mentoring Afghan airmen

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the mentorship of the new Afghanistan air corps with the help of Air Force English, academy and mission mentors. Also featured is the California fires and the role the C-17 Globemaster III played in the by hauling people, supplies, and equipment

  • Football: Falcons outfight Irish, 41-24

    U.S. Air Force Academy all-purpose dynamo Chad Hall rushed for 142 yards while quarterback Shaun Carney threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third as the Falcons manhandled the Fighting Irish, 41-24, before a sellout crowd of 80,795 and a national television audience Nov. 10 at Notre Dame Stadium

  • Postured to help: 3rd Air Force ready

    Third Air Force officials have developed a new, quick-response humanitarian assistance capability to support the European theater, and Nov. 5, they launched a 36-hour Humanitarian Relief Operation 9-1-1 exercise to test it. The exercise scenario challenged the ability of Airmen at Ramstein to

  • Overseas Tricare dental program rule changes

    As of Dec. 3, Tricare Dental Program enrollees who live overseas must be command sponsored in order to receive the overseas TDP cost-share benefits. If a TDP enrollee is not command sponsored, he or she will be responsible for the same cost-shares as beneficiaries living in the United States. Before

  • The Raven puts more eyes in the sky

    The little cousin of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper is making a big splash here as the RQ-11B Raven program takes flight. The Raven is a small unmanned aerial vehicle used to conduct visual reconnaissance up to ten kilometers away, said Staff Sgt. Daniel Garcia of the Force Protection Aerial

  • Travis firefighters become four-time world champions

    Under the lights of the original Las Vegas strip, firefighters from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., won a fourth consecutive Scott World Firefighter Combat Challenge here. In a time of 4 minutes, 37.89 seconds, the Travis team earned the right to keep their trophy another year. "It was amazing to win

  • Airmen in Afghanistan honor veterans with silent vigil

    Airmen here honored veterans past and present with a 10-hour silent vigil Nov. 11. Following a formal wreath-laying ceremony, teams of two airmen -- a total of 80 in all -- stood at "parade rest" near the flagpole of Camp Cunningham here as a constant reminder of the significance of Veterans Day.

  • DOD continues efforts to enroll marrow donors

    Every 15 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with a medical condition that requires treatment with bone marrow or a blood stem cell transplant. Every day more than 6,000 men, women and children around the world search the National Donor Program Registry for a life-saving donor.

  • Air Force officials identify victims in helicopter crash

    Four Airmen were killed and three were injured when a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter attached to the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, crashed at approximately noon Nov. 8, 22 miles southwest of Aviano, Italy. Staff Sgt. Robert D. Rogers, Staff Sgt. Mark A. Spence and Senior Airman

  • Marine Corps celebrates birthday Nov. 10

    The Air Force salutes the Marine Corps on its 232nd birthday Nov. 10. Originally founded on Nov. 10, 1775, the Marine Corps was composed mainly of infantrymen serving aboard Navy ships. They were primarily responsible for the security of the ship, offensive and defensive boarding parties. They also

  • Secretary and chief of staff send Veterans Day message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley send this Veterans Day message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force: On Veteran's Day, our nation honors the great Americans who have stood ready to give life itself on behalf of freedom in

  • Cyber Airmen fight in America's newest battlefront

    A key component in the world's most lethal air and space force is the ability to protect sensitive communication and computer systems from the bad guys. A group of highly trained Airmen here take that fight head on every day in the far-reaching realm of cyberspace. Senior Airman Jonathan Odum,

  • Secretary Wynne speaks at symposium in Las Vegas

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke about the past accomplishments and future plans of the Air Force to a crowd of more than 300 people during the 2007 Air and Space Leaders symposium at the Wynn Hotel and resort Nov. 8 in Las Vegas. Secretary Michael W. Wynne was the keystone speaker of the

  • Airmen show respect to fallen servicemembers through community service

    To show their support of fallen servicemembers from wars past and present, a small group of Airmen volunteers worked to ensure their brethrens' headstones were in proper formation for Veterans Day. The Airmen, assigned to the Air Force News Agency, straightened and reset the gravesite markers at the

  • Vietnam wall speaks to both present and past

    At a time when wounds and memories of a long and bitterly protested war were still open and raw, when veterans were treated as villains instead of heroes, an Army veteran by the name of Jan Scruggs conceived the idea of building a memorial to honor those who served in Vietnam. Facing more opposition

  • Six servicemembers die after helicopter crash

    Six U.S. servicemembers have died of injuries sustained when a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter attached to 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment crashed at approximately noon Nov. 8, 22 miles southwest of Aviano. Five died in the crash and one died later that evening.Eleven U.S. Airmen and

  • Formal training scheduling to centralize

    Scheduling of all Air Force-directed formal training historically accomplished by major command personnel and manpower directorates is being centralized at the Air Force Personnel Center here to streamline services and make maximum use of Air Force resources. Formal training includes all Air

  • AF announces virtual selections to chief master sergeant

    For the first time, 416 senior master sergeants will soon learn of their promotion to chief master sergeant online as the Air Force moves to virtual promotions notification. The complete select list will be available Nov. 14 at 8 a.m. CST on the Air Force Personnel Center public Web site. Virtual

  • 'Letter to Airmen' highlights leadership

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force focuses on how Air Force people and the exchange of ideas are integral to the goals he laid out earlier this year. "Whether deploying in combat or executing day-to-day missions, Airmen must understand how each decision they make or task

  • Technical sergeant in business of saving a life ... twice

    Being able to save a life is amazing, but having the opportunity to save the life of the same person twice, is remarkable. Tech. Sgt. Mari Navarro, NCO in charge of military personnel field activities for the manpower, personnel and services directorate at Air Force Space Command here, already saved

  • Chief McKinley updates Airmen on Air Force priorities

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley recently reaffirmed the Air Force's three top priorities as winning the war on terrorism, developing and caring for Airmen and their families, and recapitalization and modernization. The Air Force's top enlisted Airman then spelled out where the

  • Reaper drops first precision-guided bomb, protects forces

    The MQ-9A Reaper demonstrated it's unique precision strike capability as a hunter-killer attack platform by dropping its first precision-guided bomb Nov. 7. "The beauty of the MQ-9 Reaper is that we're able to synchronize and integrate unmanned aerial attack platforms over the skies of Afghanistan,

  • Crew chief meets childhood hero at Hill

    "Okay buddy, how do you read me?" That simple phrase may not mean a lot to the average person, but for Airman 1st Class Jeremy Meyers, hearing it from his hero was unforgettable. "It's such a small world. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would be stationed with one of my heroes," Airman Meyers

  • Aerial port rebalancing accelerates cargo movement and reduces cost

    Aerial port rebalancing efforts are underway to speed the delivery of cargo destined for warfighters deployed in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The proposed actions also will significantly reduce the overall cost of operations to the American taxpayer. Beginning Jan. 1,

  • Whiteman home to Cold War reminder

    Whiteman is the only missile base that has a intercontinental ballistic missile launch control facility (known as Oscar-01) located on base. From 1963 to 1995, Whiteman was home to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, which operated the Minuteman II ICBM weapon system. The wing consisted of the 508th,

  • Dover hosts AFSO 21 leadership course

    Dover Air Force Base officials hosted an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century senior leader's course Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The two-day course, designed to give senior Air Force leadership the tools to meet AFSO 21 objectives, trained 32 officers and four civilians. The attendees learned

  • Service-disabled veterans key to meeting military missions

    Three Air Force winners were among 19 organizations and individuals honored at the first Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Awards Ceremony Nov. 5 at the Pentagon. The group of entrepreneurs and department acquisition officials earned praise from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England

  • Warfighters gather to train for close-air-support operations

    More than 200 warfighters from around the world gathered to combat a simulated enemy force comprised of insurgent groups, roadside bombs and hidden snipers Nov. 6 through 9 at the Avon Park Military Training Complex in central Florida. Atlantic Strike VI, a semi-annual training event sponsored by

  • 3rd Air Force commander, 24 Airmen visit Normandy

    Airmen from 3rd Air Force here relived history by retracing the footsteps of American Soldiers in Normandy who orchestrated one of the most epic battles in U.S. history -- the D-Day invasion. Lt. Gen. Robert D. Bishop Jr., the 3rd Air Force commander, and 24 Airmen from 3rd Air Force walked the

  • Subterranean bunker converted to historical display

    On the surface, Oscar One appears innocent. Underground, well, that's another story. The nondescript single-story building seems like any other on Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Mo. Just 50 yards away from "O-1," families stroll through Ike Skelton Park, picnicking, flying kites and feeding

  • 2nd 'Portraits in Courage' features warrior Airmen

    Over trouble spots or on the ground, today's Airmen demonstrate their mettle in the face of danger -- that's the underlying message of the 2nd edition of the chief of staff's Portraits in Courage Gen. T. Michael Moseley said that the 13 Airmen chosen for this edition represent a small sampling of

  • GI Mail offers safer way to stay in touch

    Global Internet Mail is a personal e-mail program available to all servicemembers that can be used from any computer with Internet access, including government systems. While official government e-mail accounts are the most secure form of e-mail communication, messages sent between GI Mail accounts

  • Pilot missing from the Vietnam War is identified

    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced Nov. 6 that the remains of a serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Maj. John L. Carroll, Air Force, of Decatur, Ga. He will be

  • Mobile readiness team supports Army in Iraq

    Members of the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Mobile Readiness Team are deployed here "in-lieu-of" Army forces and support the American Soldiers by recovering government assets that have been damaged, misplaced or unaccounted for in Iraq. The team recently deployed to Camp

  • AFRL wins workforce development award

    The Air Force Research Laboratory's director of personnel is excited about winning a highly coveted award, not just for her own organization, but because of what it says about the entire lab. "This is an AFRL award, an enterprise-wide effort, that says AFRL cares about its people," said Personnel

  • Space Command striving for improved field communications

    Airmen of Air Force Space Command's Space Innovation and Development Center were on hand in Warren's AFB Quebec flight area recently, but they weren't looking to the area's Peacekeeper past; they were demonstrating the future. "We're here to continue demonstrations of the combat airborne network,"

  • Airman takes next step toward her American dream

    One Airman's version of the American dream includes some children and a bakery of her own. It is a dream Airman 1st Class Olga Bilobol now has as a brand-new American citizen following a Nov. 6 naturalization ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base. "It means so much to me that I have a hard time

  • Upgraded A-10s prove worth in Iraq

    A new version of the A-10 Thunderbolt II has been flying over Iraq providing close-air support for the ground troops from Al Asad Air Base for nearly two months. As part of the Precision Engagement Upgrade Program, the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Wing has been converting it's A-10s from A to

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights Veterans Day

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Veterans Day and recognizing American veterans -- past and present. This year on Nov. 11, the nation pauses on Veterans Day to remember those who have given so much in the defense of American freedoms and ideals. Americans can reflect on the foresight,

  • Squadron demos LITENING pod visual feed

    The 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron worked with Airmen from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., for a demonstration in October. The event showcased how airborne video through the LITENING targeting pod from a B-52 Stratofortress can be uploaded to a communications network. During the demonstration,

  • Boxing: Air Force earns 6-4 decision over Army

    The Air Force boxing team earned a hard-hitting 6-4 victory over Army in the annual dual meet between the two programs, Nov. 2, in the Academy's upper boxing room. The Falcons, who opened the night with a pair of victories in front of the packed house, took the final three matches to secure the team

  • Mission continues during grounding of F-15s

    Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, U.S. Central Command's Combined Forces Air Component commander is maintaining assigned F-15E Strike Eagles on ground alert and will accomplish all assigned missions with a variety of fighter, attack and bomber aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles, under his command and

  • Basketball: Air Force coasts to 89-52 win over Regis

    Led by senior team co-captains Alecia Steele and Pamela Findlay, who combined for 37 points, Air Force coasted to a 89-52 victory over Regis University in women's basketball exhibition action Nov. 3 at the Academy's Clune Arena. Steele led Air Force with 23 points and 17 rebounds. The forward

  • Live-fly exercise trains Airmen for combat mission

    More than 100 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern Airmen will train the way they fight as they participate in Mesa Fury 2007, a large force exercise Nov. 5 to Nov. 9. Mesa Fury 2007, a joint forces exercise, is designed to allow Airmen and participating Department of Defense combat units an

  • Football: Falcons ride record-breaker Hall over Army

    The way Air Force's Chad Hall gains ground would normally make an infantry soldier proud. Instead, the Falcon z-back broke the spirit of some future ground troops when he ran wild for 275 yards, leading the bluesuiters to a convincing 30-10 win over inter-service rival Army, before a season-high,

  • U.S. Southern Command delivers supplies to victims of Noel

    A C-130 Hercules, under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, delivered 27 crates of potable water to San Isidro Air Base in the Dominican Republic for distribution to victims impacted by Tropical Storm Noel Nov. 3. The C-130 relief sortie, supported by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard,

  • Reserve refuelers train with Egyptian fliers

    March reservists are conducting two weeks of air-refueling missions here with fighter pilots from the Egyptian air force. "I think this is a great opportunity for the entire U.S. Air Force," said Lt. Col. Al Oliver, the mission director and a tanker refueling scheduler with 4th Air Force at

  • Partnership offers Airmen better business support

    Building on the service's efforts to educate Airmen on consumer-related issues, the Air Force began an official partnership with the Council of Better Business Bureaus recently. The partnership encourages Airmen and their families to use the bureau's free programs, services and materials while

  • Injured servicemembers get away from hospital to fish

    A bad day fishing is a whole lot better than a good day at work, said one Soldier here. For 38 injured servicemembers from the Warrior Transition Unit from the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, a day of free fishing meant a day away from treatment to have some fun on this south

  • JTF-Bravo deploys to support Tropical Storm Noel relief

    A team of 19 Airmen and Soldiers and two helicopters from Joint Task Force Bravo departed here Nov. 5 heading for the Dominican Republic to assist with recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Noel. The 19 servicemembers and two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were loaded on a C-5 Galaxy from the

  • AETC wins inaugural marathon major command trophy

    Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, is the Air Force's first recipient of the USAF Marathon MAJCOM Challenge Commander's Trophy. The announcement was made Nov. 2 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., by Gen. Bruce Carlson,

  • DLA-Warner Robins shop humming along following transition

    At a glance, you can't differentiate between Defense Logistics Agency employees and Air Force civilians in the F-15 Eagle wing shop here. Yet work continues to run smoothly following the mid-October activation of DLA-Warner Robins here in which DLA gained 240 employees from the Air Force. The new

  • Combat rescue officers ready for field

    Nineteen men began their Sunday morning Oct. 21 with a three-mile run and 1,500-meter swim here. The intensive physical training test set the stage for six days of grueling workouts and evaluations -- so demanding, in fact, that by Friday only eight men were left. Those eight men are now combat

  • Air Force officials to hold enhanced use lease industry forum

    At an industry forum to be held Nov. 8 in Dallas, Air Force officials will meet with representatives from private industry to publicize and solicit feedback on the service's enhanced use lease program. The Air Force Enhanced Use Lease Program Industry Forum will address the service's program that

  • 'Perspective' comments on promotion release system

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman comments on the new way to release promotion results which will resolve several issues with the current notification process. "The new process has been extensively tested, and we'll begin using this promotion release avenue

  • Thunderbirds receive first upgraded F-16

    Hill Air Force Base officials rolled out the first of 11 configured F-16 Fighting Falcons for the Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.During a ceremonial hand over Oct. 24, attended by incoming 2008-2009 Thunderbirds commander and lead pilot Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, and a full house of

  • Firefighters bring 'burning' passion to training mission

    Fighting fires is a dangerous job, especially when working with insufficient equipment and inadequate training. But a pair of Air Force firefighters deployed to Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, are hoping to change that. Master Sgts. Timothy Rickard, deployed from Anderson Air Force Base,

  • Airmen visit Tok Mok orphanage

    Candy and chocolates are quickly eaten, toys and games eventually lose pieces or break, and clothes and shoes are outgrown over time. But the one gift all of these material things bring that lasts a lot longer, perhaps even a lifetime, is the knowledge that somebody genuinely cared enough to help

  • Hockey: Falcons score five in the third for 6-2 win

    The Academy Falcons scored five third-period goals for a 6-2 win over the Mercyhurst College Lakers in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Cadet Ice Arena. The two teams split the series as the Lakers won on Friday, 5-3. With the win, the Academy improved to 4-2-0 overall

  • 'Today's Air Force' features deployed Airmen

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights an Airman whose split-second decision saved lives and earned him a medal. Also featured is an air traffic control tower simulator that can be programmed to create emergencies and air traffic scenarios. The 30-minute, weekly news show can be seen

  • Scholarships for Military Children program begins

    DeCA's 2008 Scholarships for Military Children program kicked off Nov. 1. Applications, available at commissaries worldwide and online through a link at www.commissaries.com and directly at www.militaryscholar.org, must be turned in to a commissary by close of business on Feb. 20, 2008. Applicants

  • Fallen OSI agents honored

    A memorial service was held here Nov. 4 to honor the lives of three Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom. Airmen and Soldiers gathered to pay their respects and celebrate the lives of Master Sgt. Thomas A. Crowell, 36, of Neosho,

  • Pachyderm PCS: Elephant finds new home courtesy of Air Force

    As the sun crested over the foothills of San Andreas, Calif., and the compound's gate opened, she knew she was home. Maggie, the Alaska Zoo's only elephant, arrived at the Performing Animal Welfare Society's ARK 2000 Wildlife Sanctuary Nov. 2, exiting her crate some 15 hours after leaving

  • New legislation affects Tricare supplements

    Many Tricare beneficiaries are getting letters from their employer stating they will no longer offer Tricare supplements as an employer-sponsored medical option effective January 1, 2008. Tricare beneficiaries should look closely at their health care options. A provision of the John Warner National

  • Air Force suspends some F-15 operations

    The Air Force suspended non-mission critical F-15 flight operations on Nov. 3 following the crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C aircraft Nov. 2. The cause of that accident is still under investigation, however, preliminary findings indicate that a possible structural failure of the aircraft

  • AF leaders meet at CORONA Fall

    Air Force senior leaders have just concluded the two-day CORONA Fall conference at the United States Air Force Academy. The goal of this CORONA summit was to ensure planning for tomorrow is not compromised by concentrating on today's fight. "Our current mission focus is waging and winning the long

  • Operation Maggie Migration: a mammoth mission

    Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and Travis AFB, Calif., took part in the transport of an unusual traveler Nov. 1 -- possibly their largest airlift passenger ever. Maggie the elephant arrived at Travis for a quick stop before being transported to her final destination at the Performing Animal

  • Airmen, Soldiers help establish military academy

    Nearly, 2,000 young hopefuls descended upon the Afghan National Military Academy recently, all vying for the chance to be accepted into the academy and possibly study in the United States and Great Britain. A group of U.S. Airmen and Soldiers are currently working at the academy helping process the

  • Officials announce virtual enlisted promotion release

    Beginning with the November 2007 chief master sergeant promotion announcement, Airmen will be able to access the results of their promotion consideration on their own from anywhere in the world. Through the new virtual enlisted promotion release system, promotion lists will be posted on the Air

  • '13-Fold' ceremony, other burial scripts approved

    To ensure burial services at the 125 national cemeteries operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs reflect the wishes of veterans and their families, VA officials have clarified the department's policy about recitations made while the U.S. flag is folded at the gravesite of a veteran. "Honoring

  • Air Force falls to Brock University, 66-63, in exhibition men's basketball

    Rohan Steed's three-pointer with one-tenth of a second remaining lifted the Brock University (Canada) men's basketball team to a 66-63 victory over Air Force in an exhibition game at the academy's Clune Arena Oct. 31. Steed took a pass from Brad Rootes in the left corner after Rootes drove the lane

  • Honor guard transitions to new funeral guidelines

    Beginning Nov. 1, honor guard teams across the Air Force will support retiree funeral missions with seven members for standard funerals nationwide. While funerals at Arlington National Cemetery will continue to receive military honors supported by Air Force Honor Guard Airmen, funerals for retirees

  • Officials select civilians for strategic leader program

    Air Force officials have selected 84 civilians for the Civilian Strategic Leader Program, formerly known as the GS-15 Leadership Development Program. "The CSLP is designed to help institutionalize the total force development," said Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, chief of manpower and personnel for the Air

  • Air Force's top financial manager visits Keesler for schoolhouse opening

    John G. Vonglis, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management and comptroller, visited Keesler Oct. 29 for the unveiling of the new financial management officer schoolhouse here. The event marked the official opening of the newly-renovated schoolhouse facility and

  • Air Force energy group wins presidential award

    Every year, the president recognizes outstanding teams of federal employees for their support, leadership and efforts in promoting and improving federal energy management. This year, the Air Force Senior Focus Group on Energy, a top-level leadership organization focused on energy programs for the