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  • Mechanic-centric focus to improve aircraft availability

    By using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century tools, a maintenance team here established a synchronized, integrated end-to-end maintenance process that does not impact mission requirements, increasing aircraft availability. The high velocity maintenance, or HVM, would require all of those

  • Airmen help establish Iraqi air force

    Camp Taji Airmen are helping rebuild the Iraqi air force.The camp, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, is home to the 370th Expeditionary Training Squadron made up of officer and enlisted Airmen from various career fields who are training Iraqis in several technical training

  • Legislators visit Tinker AFB, learn about Air Force's mission

    A cross-section of state legislators from Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma visited Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., in November as part of the National Council of State Government Officials conference. The group received a briefing of the organizations on base and their roles in supporting national

  • Alaska Guard conducts Operation Santa Claus

    Alaska National Guard members are bringing Christmas early to children in remote Alaskan villages, some whom might otherwise not get to see Santa Claus or receive a holiday gift. The Guardsmen from the 144th Airlift Squadron are slated to fly a C-130 Hercules from Kulis Air National Guard Base to

  • Airmen provide optometry care to deploying African troops

    Air Force optometry speicialists provided eye care to two battalions of African military members prior to the battalions leaving on a peace keeping mission in Somalia. The team, which saw 1,597 Burundi, Africa, military troops Nov. 6 to 15 at Gakumbu military base, Africa, consisted of team chief,

  • Spangdahlem bodybuilder makes professional debut

    A Spangdahlem Air Base Airman made his professional bodybuilding debut at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation World Championship Nov. 10 in New York City."I went as a representative of the U.S. Air Force, but I also went along with the German team assisting their amateur athletes competing in

  • Airmen help Kyrgyz build homes, hope for the future

    Even the rain couldn't dampen the spirits of 20 local Kyrgyz families who received keys to their new homes Nov. 23 from Habitat for Humanity, and built with the help of Airmen here. Many of them, or their family members, had spent the last six months helping construct the four residential structures

  • First CMSAF earns Lifetime Achievement Award

    The first chief master sergeant of the Air Force announced he had learned the secret to winning awards to those in attendance at the Senior NCO Academy auditorium Nov. 20 here."The secret is simple  -- just live long enough," said retired Chief Paul Wesley Airey. "If you live long enough, (the

  • 'Today's Air Force' features F-15 operations

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the F-15 grounding and the diligent research to return it to flying status. Also featured, the Air Force Thunderbirds and the arduous schedule they have been performing for more than fifty years.  Finally, see how the service molds future

  • Academy cadet awarded Rhodes Scholarship

    A senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy recently was awarded one of 32 Rhodes Scholarships for 2008.Cadet 1st Class Hila Levy, from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, is a biology major with Cadet Squadron 9. First in her class, she is an accomplished linguist, minoring in Arabic, French and Spanish while fluent

  • Colorful F-16 represents 90 years of history

    An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the Texas Air National Guard's 111th Fighter Squadron is flying with a special paint job in honor of the squadron's 90th anniversary. All the colors and markings have specific meanings, reflecting the unit's nine-decade history. The rudder is painted like a JN-4 Jenny,

  • General honored for decades of service

    The current longest-serving person in the Air Force was inducted into the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall's Wall of Achievers during an enlisted academy graduation ceremony in downtown Montgomery recently. Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Deppe joins more than 140 individuals on the Wall of Achievers. Names

  • AMC commander discusses modernization, recapitalization issues

    Modernization of its aging fleet is one of the top priorities for Air Force leaders but it is complicated by program delays and budget limits, the commander of Air Mobility Command told members of the Logistics Officer Association in a speech here recently. The rising costs of modernizing the C-5

  • 'Dashboard' puts Guard, Reserve Airmen in driver's seat

    An enhancement to the virtual Personnel Center-Guard and Reserve, or vPC-GR, is scheduled to launch in December and will put Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen in the driver's seat of their personnel transactions. The new vPC-GR "dashboard" will streamline the way Airmen manage their vPC-GR

  • Entire F-15 fleet returning to flight

    Gen. John D.W. Corley, commander, Air Combat Command, sent a message Nov. 21 to F-15 pilots, weapons systems officers and maintenance professionals outlining the actions the Air Force has taken following the Nov. 2 F-15C Eagle mishap that resulted in the loss of the aircraft. The message reads:

  • Traditional holiday meal to replace field rations for many

    When troops stationed in the Middle East sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey won't come in a brown field rations pouch. Thanks to the efforts of the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Dubai and Djibouti will enjoy a traditional holiday meal.

  • Audit agency keeps war machine well tuned

    Even the greatest machines need a tune up from time to time and the warfighting efforts of the Air Force are no exception. The task of improving the Air Force's overall operations efficiency and proper use of assets in deployed areas is performed by the Air Force Audit Agency. The agency deploys

  • Secretary, chairman give thanks for troops, families

    The two top Defense Department leaders expressed gratitude today for the efforts of servicemembers and their families and called on the nation to remember those serving this Thanksgiving. "Let us give thanks for them and for the difficult job they do. Let us also remember their families, whom we

  • Bright Star brings together coalition forces

    Sixty Charleston Airmen recently participated in the oldest training exercise in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility aboard three C-17 Globemaster IIIs. Bright Star 07, hosted by Egypt in cooperation with USCENTCOM and U.S. Army Central Command, was held in Cairo from Nov. 3 to 19

  • AMC aircrews reach million sorties milestone

    Air Mobility Command passed a major milestone Nov. 19, when an AMC aircraft flew the command's one millionth sortie since September 11, 2001. The landmark flight was a C-17 mission flown to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. The crew was from the 62nd Airlift Wing's 10th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB,

  • 'Miracle baby' home for holidays

    Capt. Chris Schlagheck and wife Heidi endured a nearly year-long grueling, medical battle with their first-born son Austin that recently culminated with the three of them being home for the holiday season. The joy experienced Oct.23, 2006, when the Captain Schlagheck learned Heidi was pregnant was

  • Chaplain assistant chiefs evaluate pre-deployment training

    Enlisted leaders in the Air Force's chaplain assistant career field made a special visit to the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center in early November to talk with chaplains and chaplain assistant students in the Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course and to observe the course. The visit brought

  • Fairford Airmen prepare for shuttle launch

    When the Space Shuttle Atlantis, mission number STS-122, launches on Dec. 6, a world will stand watching. While it takes a massive crew to get the shuttle off the ground, there will be hundreds more waiting after the blast off. They are ground crew members of the Space Shuttle Transatlantic abort

  • Ramstein receives first upgraded C-130

    Bigger, faster, stronger. That is what the Air Force has in mind with its new J model C-130 Hercules aircraft, unveiled at Ramstein Nov. 9, and meant to replace the C-130E. With an extended cargo bay and added features, the C-130J is set to attack and execute any mission set in front of it,

  • Wilford Hall Medical Center: 50 years of medical excellence

    Hospital officials and guests commemorated Wilford Hall Medical Center for 50 years as the Air Force's medical flagship in a ceremony here Nov. 16 that marked medical excellence from 1957-2007.Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, commander of the 59th Medical Wing, led the ceremony to celebrate the

  • 3rd Medical Group ready for Soldiers' return

    The 3rd Medical Group here is ready to provide treatment to the more than 3,700 Soldiers from Fort Richardson's 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, who have returned or are preparing to return from deployment. "The men and women of the 3rd Medical Group have been making the

  • Airmen practice runway repair, RAAF airmen observe

    Approximately 110 personnel, most from the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, attended the Det. 1, 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer Silver Flag exercise here last week. After a week of mostly classroom training in their respective

  • Servicemembers celebrate Thanksgiving in a new way

    Approximately 70 people from Joint Task Force Bravo made a five-and-half-mile hike up Comayagua Mountain Nov. 17 to bring a Thanksgiving-sized feast of more than 600 pounds of food to villagers in La Sampedrana, Honduras. The hike was the third in a series of five planned by Chaplain (Capt.) Chad

  • Air Force presents top civic award to Indianapolis Colts

    The Indianapolis Colts earned the National Football League's Lombardi Trophy as the Super Bowl XLI champions last February in Miami. Now the team can add a prestigious Air Force award to its ever-expanding trophy case. Gen. William R. Looney III, commander of Air Education and Training Command,

  • NCO earns Spirit of Hope Award

    The late Bob Hope recognized devotion to duty, loyalty and courage for decades by visiting service members on the front lines -- typically arriving with an entourage of popular pin-ups, actors, musicians and comedians. The USO inspired and Wiegand Foundation sponsored Spirit of Hope Award is

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights personal websites, blogging

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Airmen's public Web responsibilities to the Air Force, each other and the American public. To conduct day-to-day missions, Air Force people use new technology, which has carried over into the personal lives of Airmen. Today's Airmen are able to send messages

  • AF building bridges on energy, environment

    The Air Force's top energy and environmental steward wrapped up a week-long mission to Europe, building an energy awareness consortium among key air force and commercial aviation leaders Nov. 16. "Our goal was to connect with our counterparts in the French and British air forces, to build a

  • Air Force takes two DOD 2007 Maintenance Awards

    The Department of Defense announced the winners of the 2007 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Nov. 19. The Air Force won two of the eight awards, which recognizes excellence in both field- and depot-level maintenance units. The field-level maintenance awards honor military maintenance

  • CCAF officials launch new Web-based tool

    Community College of the Air Force officials have launched a new Web-based tool that provides students education and national certification information related to Air Force occupational specialties. The Credentialing and Education Research Tool, or CERT, is an online research tool that links CCAF

  • Military legal minds gather for multi-national conference

    Military legal advisors from Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and the United States participated in the Military Legal Committee of the Americas (Comite Juridico Miltar De Las Americas) conference here Nov. 12 to 16. The Air Forces Southern-hosted conference, comprising 21 legal advisors from 14

  • Warriors with mild to moderate injuries stay near the fight

    Warriors wounded in war with mild to moderate injuries are being sent to the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group where they can be treated, recover and returned to duty. There are seven nurses on staff, which includes three intensive care unit nurses, who deal with a lot of different injuries or

  • Air Guard officials break ground for new readiness center

    Officials broke ground on a $52 million Air National Guard Readiness Center expansion here Nov. 19. When completed, the four-story complex will unite the existing ANGRC here with its Air Guard offices in Arlington, Va. Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Air National Guard director, said the expansion on

  • Airmen, Afghan police set example

    The Afghan National Police have been working to better their country with the help of some Airmen here. Special Agents from the Office of Special Investigations Expeditionary Det. 2405 and the ANP regularly partner together on a broad range of missions related to humanitarian assistance and

  • Over land or sea: B-2 Spirit participates in Koa Lightning

    B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron simulated attacking naval vessels in their home port while over Hawaii Nov. 15 on a Koa Lightning exercise mission.These sorties, which are well over 20 hours in duration, tout the Air Force's unique capability to send long range

  • Logistics innovations impact warfighters

    The commander of Air Mobility Command thanked members of his organization in attendance Nov. 14 here at the national conference of the Logistics Officer Association, noting their initiatives are resulting in needed fuel and equipment being delivered to warfighters faster and more efficiently. "In

  • New 400-hour phase inspection equates to lives saved

    F-15E Strike Eagle maintainers here recently became the first in the Air Force to implement a new inspection process that promises greater airpower capability throughout Afghanistan. Shortly after becoming the first deployed F-15E unit in the Air Force to return to full operational capability

  • Football: Bowl-bound Falcons dominate regular season finale

    Air Force put an exclamation point on its 2007 regular season renaissance by humbling San Diego State, 55-23, before 34,227 boisterous fans Nov. 17 at the Academy's Falcon Stadium. The bluesuiters erupted for 670 yards in total offense, third most in the program's history, including 569 rushing. For

  • Americans text 'Thanks' to troops

    For those seeking a quick way to show appreciation for troops' serving far from home this holiday season, look no further than "Giving Thanks," a new initiative from the Defense Department's America Supports You program. America Supports You connects citizens and corporations with military personnel

  • Hockey: UConn scores 3-2 win over Air Force

    Michael Coppola's short-handed breakaway goal 40 seconds into the overtime period gave UConn a 3-2 win over Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Nov. 17 at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena. A season-high attendance of 2,136 saw the Falcons fall to 6-4 overall and 4-4 in the AHA. Meanwhile,

  • Water polo: Air Force captures overtime victory at WWPA Championship

    A score from sophomore Alex Churnside with 1:04 remaining in the second overtime period gave the Air Force water polo team a 10-9 victory over Santa Clara Nov. 18 in the third-place game of the Western Water Polo Association Championship, hosted by the Falcons. Air Force, which entered the contest

  • Basketball: Surge lifts Air Force to 65-56 win over Denver

    A late rally propelled Air Force (1-2) to a 65-56 win over Denver University (0-2) in women's basketball action Nov. 16 at Clune Arena. Trailing by two, the Falcons closed out the final six minutes of the game with a 24-13 run to earn its first win of the season.The win snapped a seven-game losing

  • Vance helps celebrate Oklahoma's centennial

    Four T-38C Talon planes from Vance kicked off the Oklahoma Centennial parade in Guthrie, Okla., marking 100 years of statehood. The planes from the 25th Flying Training Squadron symbolized the land rush that settled the Oklahoma territory in 1889. It was part of a full day of festivities in Guthrie

  • New IO course expands technology knowledge

    Recent studies indicate more than one billion people worldwide digest information through the Internet alone. The Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center brought together 12 flag officers from across the defense department and governmental agencies Nov. 6 through 9 to learn how to

  • Gen. Hobbins honored with Order of the Sword

    With all the pomp and circumstance the U.S. Air Forces in Europe enlisted corps could muster, some 800 guests witnessed the induction of Gen. William T. Hobbins, USAFE commander, into the Order of the Sword here tonight. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor enlisted Airmen can bestow on an

  • Air Force sharpshooters help commanders see the future

    When servicemembers go outside the wire here, they occasionally have an extra set of eyes watching over them. Concealed, the members of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's Close Precision Engagement Team observe, provide intelligence and, if necessary, neutralize threats. The CPET

  • 8th FW commander, ROKAF fly in training mission

    Airmen of the 8th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Korea Air Force's 38th Fighter Group flew in a combined training mission Nov. 14. The mission led by Col. CQ Brown 8th Fighter Wing commander, was designed to enable the different units to work together and share their experiences. This was also the

  • Nov. 18 airpower summary: F-15Es support operations

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an enemy mortar site was struck with a guided bomb

  • 'Today's Air Force' features homeland defense

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the combat alert cell and the Airmen responsible for watching and intercepting any perceived threat; and the Distinguished Flying Cross medal -- a surprised presentation from a father to his son. The 30-minute, weekly news show can be seen every

  • Soccer: Air Force 1, UNLV 0, in men's soccer

    Senior Andy Nigro scored the only goal in the final game of his career Nov. 18 to lead the Air Force men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over University of Nevada at Las Vegas at the Academy's Cadet Soccer Stadium in the season finale for both teams. Nigro, along with five other seniors, were honored

  • Hockey: AFA holds on for 3-2 win over UCONN

    Air Force took a 3-1 lead into the third period and then held off UConn for a 3-2 win Nov. 16 in an Atlantic Hockey Association game at the Cadet Ice Arena. Air Force improved to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the AHA. UConn fell to 2-6 overall and 2-5 in the league. With the win, head coach Frank Serratore

  • Officials release CSAR-X proposal request amendment

    Air Force officials released Amendment 5 to the Request for Proposals Nov. 15 for CSAR-X, the combat search and rescue replacement vehicle. Officials have conducted face-to-face meetings with all CSAR-X offerors after the release of Draft RFP Amendment 5. These face-to-face meetings with CSAR-X

  • EagleCash lands at Ali Base

    An Air Force EagleCash Card program team has been flying throughout the area of responsibility for the past six months implementing a time- and money-saving technology in southern Iraq. The three-person team, which included a member of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and two members from U.S.

  • 'In-lieu-of' Airmen keep Army rolling along

    A team of Air Force professionals is keeping the Army rolling and the mission moving every day over the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. Deployed on a year-long "in-lieu-of" tasking to a forward operating base near the city of Qalat, Afghanistan, four Airmen keep more than 30 vehicles mission-ready

  • Luke maintenance group takes home DOD award

    Airmen from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., took home their trophy Nov. 15 after being named one of the Defense Department's top maintenance units at a ceremony in Orlando, Fla. "This is an amazing achievement for the men and women of Luke (AFB)," said Col. Algene Fryer, the 56th Maintainance Group

  • SECAF honors international affairs office with award

    The secretary of the Air Force presented members of the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs office with the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award November 15. "Air Force International Affairs has been recognized over the years as one of the premiere organizations

  • Wingmen save fellow Airman's life at Kunsan

    When Pacific Air Forces officials sent out guidance for all the Pacific bases to have a Wingman Day, no one could have thought that during the day three wingmen would come to the aid of another Airman saving his life. At approximately 8:40 a.m. Nov. 13, as Kunsan Air Base members were gathering in

  • Honorary commanders program in full swing at Kunsan

    More then 60 honorary commanders held a friendship day for about 400 Wolf Pack Airmen to increase relationships between the base and local community Nov. 12. "The honorary commanders program is a win-win situation for Kunsan's good neighbors and Wolf Pack Airmen," said Col. CQ Brown, 8th Fighter

  • Officials announce new selective reenlistment bonus list

    Following a selective reenlistment bonus review, Pentagon officials have released the latest SRB list, effective Dec. 15, containing 43 Air Force specialties. "Our SRB analysis process proved invaluable, and we were able to modify the list to apply bonuses to our most critical needs," said Senior

  • Close-air-support exercise tests Atlantic Strike participants

    The cool evening was still as three camouflaged insurgents watched an Army patrol approach their village. Unbeknownst to the saboteurs, an Air Force targeting pod was closely watching their position and relaying information to the ground commander. Suddenly, a deafening explosion drowned out all

  • AFOSI commander: 'Can do' attitude makes agents stand out

    Constantly on the hunt, Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents listen carefully and watch for clues, gathering information that will help them zero in on the insurgents they seek. They're after the improvised explosive device directors, makers and planters, and cell leaders who are

  • 'Gifts from the Homefront' routes support to 'Any Servicemember'

    When issuing suggested holiday mailing deadlines for military care packages, the Unites States Postal Service made sure to highlight that "all packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations." Since DOD suspended mail addressed

  • U.S. military showcased at Dubai Air Show

    More than 325 American servicemembers participated in the 10th Dubai Air Show Nov. 11 through 15 here. Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers provided logistics, force protection and maintenance support to the various U.S. aircraft on display and performing aerial demonstrations. The Dubai Air Show is

  • Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008 underway

    After many months of planning and preparation, the first quarter event for Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008 kicked off Nov. 5 and will run through Nov 16. As the lead agency for JEFX, the Air Force Global Cyberspace Integration Center, or AF GCIC, will conduct the experiment with

  • Officials begin to clear F-15Es to full-mission status

    Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft are now undergoing a safety inspection that will return them to flying status according to an order issued Nov. 11 by Gen. John Corley, the commander of Air Combat Command. Each of the 224 E-model aircraft require the completion of a 13-hour time-compliance

  • Pilots focus on air superiority, operations during Keen Sword

    Honing their skills against enemy air threats over the skies of Japan, Misawa fighter pilots participate in a two-week long training exercise here. Exercise Keen Sword, which began Nov. 6, is a  joint and bilateral exercise simulating the defense of Japan using more than 60 military units from 24

  • 44-year-old C-130 flies final combat mission, ends service

    After 44 years of service and more than 29,500 flying hours, a C-130 Hercules flew its final combat mission Nov. 13 from Southwest Asia and will next be heading to the boneyard. Aircraft 63-7865 from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and currently assigned to the 386th Air

  • Laser paint removal lessens production time, health hazards

    Six months ago, the process to remove paint from an aircraft part took four or five hours. Today, the use of lasers is accomplishing the job in 20 minutes. The 566th Aircraft Maintenance Group's Disassembly and Cleaning Unit can "nitpick" an aircraft part of its paint in that reduced amount of time

  • AFRICOM helps partners confront stability challenges

    The U.S. military's unified command responsible for operations across Africa will help nations there confront poverty, disease, terrorism and other challenges that affect regional security and stability, U.S. officials said here Nov. 14.However, U.S. Africa Command-sponsored initiatives will

  • Basketball: Air Force tops Western State, 73-49

    Andrew Henke scored 15 points and Keith Maren added a career-high 14 points Nov. 14 to lead the U.S. Air Force Academy men's basketball team to a 73-49 victory over Western State College at Clune Arena here. The Falcons improved to 3-0 for the second consecutive season and won its 37th consecutive

  • Personnel center to deployers: Don't leave without guide

    Most Air Force members being deployed to a foreign country have little knowledge of the culture they'll work in for the next four to 12 months. They don't know a Hijab from an Abaya or a Dishdasha from a Gutra. How many times a day can you say hello to someone in Kyrgystan? Why can't you eat with

  • 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