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  • New commands in Iraq replacing combined joint task force

    Two new military commands will stand up in Iraq on May 15, replacing the current coalition military organization. Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq will replace Combined Joint Task Force 7.Coalition military spokesman Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, at a Baghdad news conference

  • Large Package Week puts the ‘air’ in airborne

    A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules passed overhead and green parachutes dotted the evening sky above nearby Fort Bragg on May 11. Eight seconds later, the first Soldiers from the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps charged across the ground launching a simulated airfield assault.The Large Package Week

  • Groups arrange foster care for military pets

    Deploying overseas means leaving friends and loved ones behind. For servicemembers with no one to take care of their beloved dog, cat, bird or other pet, it once meant also having to abandon or turn the pet over to a shelter -- never to see it again.Thanks to two nonprofit groups -- the Military

  • Airmen participate in Combined Endeavor 2004

    Airmen from the 735th Communications Squadron and the 1st Combat Communications Squadron arrived here for exercise Combined Endeavor 2004. In roughly a day, a group of 26 communications experts from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, provided access to phones, the Internet and e-mail for more than 200

  • Robins employee sheds 150 pounds

    An employee here replaced her size 28 pants and more than 150 extra pounds with a size 16 and a new lease on life. Irish Frederick, 35, of Byron, Ga., said she is slimmer, fitter and “lookin’ good.”The classroom program assistant at Robins’ Child Development Center said she lost weight by changing

  • Investigation determines cause of T-1A accident

    Air Force officials completed their investigation of an accident where a T-1A Jayhawk ran off the runway Aug. 16 after landing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The accident caused an estimated $2.5 million in structural damage to the aircraft.Accident investigation board officials determined the

  • VA reaches out to newest combat veterans

    The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its efforts to reach veterans of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to ensure they are aware of benefits they have earned.Anthony Principi, VA secretary, is sending a letter to more than 150,000 veterans of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring

  • Female cadets no longer face short haircut

    Female academy appointees no longer have to experience the most “hairifying” part of inprocessing. Rules regarding hair length have been changed allowing women to avoid the traditional extreme haircut, so long as they are able to remain within Air Force standards.Starting July 1, the longstanding

  • NASA selects servicemembers to explore space

    Four servicemembers were among 11 candidates NASA has chosen to be the next generation of space explorers, officials announced May 6.Maj. James Dutton, 35, and Marine Corps Maj. Randolph Bresnik, 36, were chosen to be space shuttle pilots. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Cassidy, 34, and Army Maj. Shane

  • News anchor, base cook swap jobs

    A grill cook here saw what the view was like on the other side of the camera in the newsroom May 7 when she co-anchored the local news’ “Midday Edition” with host Rachel Wheat.Kimbra Lyons, a grill cook at the 360th Training Squadron's dining facility, earned her minute and a half on the air through

  • T-6A belly lands at Lackland

    A training aircraft landed with its gear up at Kelly Field Annex here May 10. The pilot declared an in-flight emergency because of a landing-gear malfunction. The T-6A Texan II is assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing at nearby Randolph Air Force Base.The two-man crew of the aircraft was

  • Special athletes compete at Yokota

    Pouring rain did not stop about 3,000 volunteers, athletes and spectators from participating in the 25th annual Kanto Plains Special Olympics here May 8 and 9.“It was a little soggy and cold, but seeing the smile and joy on the kids faces makes you feel warm inside,” said Master Sgt. Shari Wicks,

  • Air Force reservist pitches for San Diego Padres

    When he is not wearing the blue and gray uniform of the San Diego Padres, relief pitcher Jason Szuminski switches to Air Force blue as a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve. The 6-foot, 4-inch, 220-pound right-hander is the only Air Force reservist in Major League Baseball. He is assigned to

  • 88 Airmen face involuntary retraining

    Many Airmen have volunteered to change career fields or separate under the initial phase of the Air Force's fiscal 2004 noncommissioned officer retraining program. As part of the program's Phase II, Air Force officials have notified 88 Airmen selected as most vulnerable to retrain and asked them to

  • Edwards fire training goes high-tech

    Firefighters here took part in a training exercise May 3 that was designed to keep them on their toes.The unit underwent interior fire-suppression training in a high-tech simulator that creates a realistic environment without causing any monetary damage, said Tom Keightley, 95th Air Base Wing’s fire

  • Official: AF nurses provide key support in OEF, OIF

    Air Force nurses have provided tremendous support in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, treating more than 200,000 patients throughout Southwest Asia, Maj. Gen. Barbara C. Brannon told the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on defense April 28.General Brannon, the Air Force’s

  • International Airman of maintenance

    Tech. Sgt. Robert Damron wears nothing on his blue flightsuit to indicate his nation or rank. He motions to a group to follow him up the stairs to the hatch of the E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, a modified Boeing 707 most notable for the big radar disc mounted on the

  • Security forces provide protection on, off Bagram

    Besides their more traditional role of providing installation security, security forces Airmen here have taken on two other important combat-related responsibilities supporting the war on terrorism.Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron are providing security for convoys

  • Gunter park named for Air Force hero

    The monument tells the story of an Airman who earned two Silver Stars, a Defense Superior Service Medal, a Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 18 Air Medals.A park here now bears his name.Retired Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Fisk, who was a pararescue Airman, was honored April 28 when a

  • SECAF approves medal for tornado relief efforts

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche has approved awarding the Humanitarian Service medal to Airmen who directly participated in tornado relief for the civilian community surrounding Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., in November 2002.To qualify for the award, a person must have been assigned

  • Airmen shadow local workers

    Although shadows under a desert sun may be rare, whenever a local contractor works on an air base in Iraq one or two are always found.At nearby Camp Sather those shadows are Airmen from the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's force protection escort element who accompany all foreign

  • May issue of Airman available

    Read about how Airmen at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and other locations protect America’s interior; take a look at the new Air Force basic training; and learn about Airmen who maintain lesser-known bases throughout South Korea. These features and more highlight the May issue of Airman magazine,

  • U.S. participates in multinational air combat exercise

    U.S. Air Force and Navy units are here participating in Maple Flag 37, an international air-combat exercise held May 3 to 14 by the Canadian air force.About 20 aircraft and 600 people from the United States are practicing combined air operations with air forces from Canada, Germany, France, New

  • Mechanics save Condor from extinction

    Three mechanics from the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here saved a Condor from extinction or at least the scrap heap.The Condor is a de-icing vehicle for C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft passing through here. A combination of glitches had grounded the Condor

  • Presence policy helps define expeditionary force

    The secretary of the Air Force recently signed a policy clearly defining the structure and role of the air and space expeditionary force within the joint warfare environment. The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Presence Policy, among other things, defines AEF, outlines its command structure and

  • Air Force begins Raptor operational tests

    Operational testing on the F/A-22 Raptor began April 29 when the first two-ship sortie was flown and tested by members of the F/A-22 Combined Test Force here.After the operational testing is complete, a report will provide senior leaders with the information needed to approve the Raptor for

  • Air Force scientists battle aviator fatigue

    Air Force scientists here are using their research to help battle fatigue in aviators. “Fatigue from sustained operations can place pilots at severe risk from (decreased alertness) unless effective fatigue-management strategies are (used)” said Dr. John Caldwell, a scientist with the Air Force

  • Air Force cadets thrive at West Point’s Sandhurst competition

    Eleven cadets conquered nine field events and maneuvered through about five miles of New York terrain to capture fourth place out of 45 teams at West Point’s annual Sandhurst competition April 24.“They did awesome!” said Brig. Gen. Johnny A. Weida, academy commandant of cadets. “This is exactly

  • Officials announce OTS selections

    Air Force officials here announced April 29 that 187 enlisted Airmen have been chosen to attend Officer Training School, and trade in their stripes for gold bars.Air Force Recruiting Service officials conducted OTS Selection Board 0404, which met here March 29 to April 2. The board considered 324

  • Academy trains with new incident response system

    Emergency responders here were introduced to the new national incident management system that was signed into federal law March 1.The new program outlines the National Response Plan all federal, state and local emergency responders must adhere to by end of 2004 when responding to an incident

  • Officials name manpower, organization winners

    Officials have named the winners of the 2003 Air Force Manpower and Organization awards. They are:-- Headquarters-Level Field Grade Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. Timothy Clary from the Air Force manpower requirements determination squadron here.-- Headquarters-Level Company Grade Officer of the

  • AF Climate Survey results reveal progress in most areas

    The 2003 Air Force Climate Survey results have been analyzed, and final reports have been released to unit-level leaders for action. The survey ran Oct. 1 to Nov. 23.“As the leaders of the world’s greatest air and space force, we share a commitment to continually seek improvement. The survey

  • Airman prepares others for worst-case scenario

    Senior Airman Aaron Sanders spends his days teaching students information he hopes they never need to use. But he said he wants them to learn the material well, just in case.As a survival specialist deployed to the Combined Air Operations Center here, Airman Sanders travels to bases throughout the

  • Congress begins reviewing spending proposals

    Congress has considered several legislative proposals since Sept. 11, 2001, designed to help reservists and their families cope with activations, high operational and personnel tempo, family separations and shifts in annual income.One of the most recent is Senate Bill 2068, the Guard and Reserve

  • Team brings medical aid to Sri Lanka

    A decades-long war has claimed tens of thousands of Sri Lankan lives, and land mines continue to maim an untold number of civilians caught up in the aftermath of the war. A team of 20 military medical specialists began a weeklong humanitarian surgical training mission here known as blast,

  • Airmen earn FAA certification through CCAF

    Two aircraft maintainers are the first to earn Federal Aviation Administration certification under a Community College of the Air Force program launched in 2002.Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Gunson of the California Air National Guard and Tech. Sgt. Mark Faught from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, earned the

  • Brothers by blood, siblings by stealth

    Capts. Brian and Brad Cochran took different roads to reach their dreams of flight, but those paths led to the same destination. The captains are the first brothers to qualify as B-2 Spirit pilots.“As kids we always imagined we’d be pilots,” said Brian of the 393rd Bomb Squadron here. “I don’t

  • Chief rescues woman from burning car

    An Air Force Reserve chief master sergeant assigned to Air Education and Training Command's security forces directorate here received the Airman’s Medal on April 27 for saving a woman’s life.Chief Master Sgt. Joseph P. Salvaggio, also a lieutenant with the San Antonio Police Department, saved the

  • Pope C-130s supply beans, bullets to war on terror

    They like to think of themselves as the "18-wheeler trucks" that supply the front lines in the war on terrorism. C-130 Hercules aircraft crews from the 2nd and 41st Airlift Squadrons at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., deliver food, ammunition and servicemembers throughout Southwest Asia. Unlike larger

  • 'M' for mobility: Air Force introduces new AFSC

    The Air Force will introduce new Air Force specialty codes for mobility pilots and navigators May 1.The new codes will replace the airlift "A" and tanker "T" with the new "M," said Col. John Clatanoff, chief of Air Mobility Command’s operations and training division. All airlift and tanker pilots

  • Medevac squadron proves it’s 'always ready'

    The 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron lived up to its motto, “always ready,” April 19 as a routine C-130 Hercules channel mission to Pristina, Kosovo, turned into a life-saving assignment. An hour before takeoff, Maj. Chuck Wheeler, 86th AES training flight commander, learned there would be a

  • Combat controllers play key role in war on terror

    The largest class of future combat controllers is training at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., to provide critical skills required in the war on terrorism. The current class of 32 students will help bolster the cadre of 360 combat controllers -- special-operations forces who deploy quickly into

  • Space, missile competition set to launch

    The 30th Space Wing here will hold Guardian Challenge 2004, the largest test of space and missile warfighting skills outside of real-world operations, May 2 to 7.Nearly 200 competitors from around Air Force Space Command will test their mettle here in the Air Force’s only space and missile

  • Base motorcycle clubs will promote rider safety

    The formation of motorcycle clubs on Air Force bases worldwide may increase mentoring, an important element for promoting safe riding, said the Air Force’s senior safety official.Air Force leaders are alarmed at the rate that the Air Force is losing its Airmen, not only in four-wheeled vehicle

  • Mother reunites with son 24 years after birth

    On a late night, Maj. Betsy Majma returned from a temporary duty trip and was really tired, but her husband urged her to go to the airport with him early the next morning to pick up someone. She was overjoyed she did.The 81st Surgical Operations Squadron nurse anesthetist was reunited that following

  • Organ donation gives woman life, hope

    The gift of life through organ donations took on a new meaning five years ago for a senior noncommissioned officer here.Master Sgt. Jan Cutrona, a 56th Fighter Wing information manager, was prepared for the worst after her sister’s heart was attacked by a virus in February 1999.Sergeant Cutrona’s

  • JEFX 04 Spiral 2 showcases future of air battle management

    Responding quickly to lessons learned in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 04 showcased the future of air battle management command and control. The experiment, the Air Force’s primary venue for innovative command and control technology and

  • Colonel reflects on attempted rescue mission

    It was Thanksgiving weekend in 1979 when then-Capt. Michael Sumida received an unusual call on a day off summoning him to the squadron from the comfort of his home.Captain Sumida was a C-130 Hercules navigator with the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan. He said he had not

  • Organizations adopt Wings Across America, WASP museum

    The Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings organizations adopted Wings Across America and the National Women’s Airforce Service Pilots World War II Museum as their joint national projects for 2004. The announcement came as more than 1,800 delegates from every Air Force ROTC detachment in America

  • NASA selects Air Force pilot for astronaut training

    An Air Force pilot was recently selected by NASA to be an astronaut candidate for the space shuttle program.Maj. James P. Dutton of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the only Airman among 11 military and civilians to be accepted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration this year."Two

  • Sheppard sergeant becomes 250,000th CCAF grad

    An aircraft maintenance instructor from the 362nd Training Squadron here will leave a footnote in the history books of the world's largest community college when he graduates April 23.When Staff Sgt. Kalaeone Needham gets his associate degree, he will be the Community College of the Air Force's

  • Know limitations, stay alert for safe motorcycle ride

    Bennie Brashear hopped on the motorcycle he had just finished repairing and took it for a spin to make sure everything was working right.The training manager for the 382nd Training Squadron here has been riding since he was 15 years old and drove a 30-mile paper route. As he was test-driving the

  • Immigrant brings music to military service

    From the capital of Peru to Wichita, Kan., the only zampoña player here is sharing his gift of music with the Air Force.Airman Fredy Pasco works on the commander’s support staff of the 22nd Maintenance Operations Squadron, but spends his off-duty time filling the air with the sound of an Inca

  • Traffic-safety courses target vehicle fatalities

    Air Force safety officials are unveiling four new traffic-safety programs in the coming months to battle the steady increase of traffic fatalities in the last four years.“While no age, gender or rank group is immune to vehicle crashes, statistically speaking, our most at-risk population is young

  • Airmen respond to motorcycle accident

    A busload of Airmen from here were on their way to an observance honoring prisoners of war and servicemembers missing in action. They had no idea they would be the first people on the scene at a motorcycle crash April 9.The bus was en route to nearby North Little Rock but stopped along the highway

  • Colonel reflects on 40 years of service

    When Dave Thurston joined the Air Force as an airman basic in 1964, there had been no moon landing, the SR-71 Blackbird was about to fly for the first time, the Vietnam War was just beginning, and postage stamps cost a nickel. Now a colonel, he is deployed as the director of public affairs for

  • Enlisted aviators put 'chevrons' in the sky

    Between 1912 and 1942, nearly 3,000 enlisted men of the Signal Corps, Air Service and the Army Air Forces became enlisted pilots. In fact, enlisted men piloted many of the aircraft flown in the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942.Although the Flight Officer Act in 1942 ended the enlisted pilot

  • Air Force selects 52 for test-pilot training

    Air Force officials selected 52 officers to join the service's test-pilot program. The selection board met here in November."Test pilot school is a great opportunity for officers to broaden their perspective," said Col. Kathleen Grabowski, chief of assignments programs and procedures at the Air

  • Rescue team integral to contingency operations

    Imagine riding along outside the safety of a base and suddenly a rocket-propelled grenade blows a hole in the ground next to a Humvee in your convoy. The blast causes the vehicle to crash and flip upside down. One of your drivers is stuck under the wreckage; you have no equipment to help get him

  • Despite ‘tough' period, U.S. won't waver in Iraq, Bush says

    The United States will continue in its commitment to an independent, free and secure Iraq, and the United States "must not waver" despite "a tough, tough period," President Bush said at a news conference April 13.The president stood before reporters in the East Room of the White House to make his

  • Effort in Iraq ‘going to take time’

    People worldwide have to realize the coalition effort in Iraq is a long-term project, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here April 13.Gen. Richard B. Myers is here for meetings with Bahraini leaders. During the flight over, he said the problems in Iraq can be solved, but it will take

  • Readiness system saves time, money

    Robins is the test site for a new Web-based readiness system estimated to save the Air Force $79 million over the next five years. The system, called the deployment readiness service, will improve tracking and reduce the time and effort to keep people ready for deployments. It gives people access to

  • Air Force wrestling team wins national title

    The Air Force wrestling team won its second consecutive national team title, took home two Greco-Roman division medals and added an unexpected name to the 2004 Olympic trials roster during the U.S. National Wrestling Championships here April 9 and 10.Greco-Roman wrestlers Steve Woods took the silver

  • Enlisted Heritage Hall honors fallen Airman

    A fallen hero was honored recently when the Enlisted Heritage Hall on Gunter Annex dedicated the Tech. Sgt. John Chapman exhibit.Members of Sergeant Chapman's family and colleagues from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron were among more than 200 people attending the dedication ceremony. A combat

  • Officials announce 2004 Hennessy Trophy winners

    Air Force Services Agency officials announced the winners of the 2004 Hennessy Trophy Awards.Scott Air Force Base, Ill., is the winner in the single-facility category, and Keesler AFB, Miss., is the winner in the multiple-facility category.The Air Force Reserve Command award winner is the 911th

  • Hospital develops pregnancy wellness program

    A new program at Wilford Hall Medical Center here teaches expectant mothers about the effects of stress on the mind and body during and after pregnancy. The pregnancy wellness program is a joint project between specialists in the clinical-health psychology and the obstetrics and gynecology

  • Now showing: April 12 edition of AFTV News

    This edition of Air Force Television News focuses on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Tech. Sgt. Rusty Barfield went to the Pacific island to report on Andersen’s growing importance for the Air Force mission.Sergeant Barfield examines the role of Andersen since the Korean War, the deployment of B-52

  • Leaders approve combat device for expeditionary ribbon

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper have approved the addition of a gold border to the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon to signify satisfactory participation in combat operations. "This gold border, signifying participation in combat

  • Simulator prepares Airmen for combat

    Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to infiltrate enemy territory in the cover of darkness. Sentries will be posted at various checkpoints throughout your path to offer additional assistance. Armed with night-vision goggles, weapons and wits, your mission will be trying and perilous.

  • Air Force recognized for ethics program

    The Air Force was recognized April 7 at the Pentagon for outstanding achievement in developing and managing its ethics program.Marilyn L. Glynn, acting director and general council of the Office of Government Ethics, presented the 2004 Outstanding Ethics Program Award to Secretary of the Air Force

  • New special-duty assignment process under way

    Enlisted assignments division officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here unveiled a new assignment process to account for many special-duty jobs now being coded as maximum tour assignments in the continental United States.The new process, starting in mid-April, is called the CONUS Mandatory

  • Airmen train in Italy

    Twenty-six Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, participated in Exercise Leaning Tower here from March 29 to April 3. They trained on formation low-level flights, evasive maneuvers and airdrops using night-vision goggles. “This whole exercise was made possible

  • Top chief discusses Air Force issues

    Force shaping, housing plans, the proposed uniform and fitness proved hot topics for the Air Force's top enlisted leader as he talked with Airmen during a visit here.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray said the retention rate for first-term Airmen is the highest the Air Force has

  • Air Force announces Thrift Savings Plan open season

    Civilian and military employees can sign up for, or change, their Thrift Savings Plan contribution amounts during the open season April 15 to June 30."TSP is a long-term retirement savings plan which everyone should consider," said Senior Master Sgt. Felipe Ortiz, superintendent of the Air Force

  • Airman receives 48 months confinement

    A 33rd Maintenance Squadron Airman here pleaded guilty and was convicted recently of illegal drug use and distribution involving Ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana. Airman Basic Brian M. Baird also pleaded guilty to four additional charges: disobeying his commander’s orders, using Ecstasy and

  • ‘The Simpsons’ deploy to Southwest Asia

    At first glance, these two Airmen share only a name: Simpson. One is a senior officer, the other is junior enlisted; one is a reservist, the other active duty; one works in an office, the other on a flightline.But a closer look reveals Col. Bill Simpson and Airman 1st Class Doug Simpson share more

  • Air Force taps 160 officers for pilot, navigator training

    Nearly 200 officers were recently selected as a primary or alternate to attend specialized undergraduate pilot and navigator training.The Specialized Undergraduate Flying Training Selection Board met at the Air Force Personnel Center here March 2 to 5. The board considered active-duty Air Force

  • Communications Airmen help Iraqis connect

    Airmen worked for two days rebuilding and improving the communications infrastructure at Baghdad International Airport.A team of 447th Air Expeditionary Group cable maintenance shop and telephone systems Airmen started a job April 3. “Basically we were asked to come out here and establish high-speed

  • USAFE members hone search, rescue skills

    A CH-47 Chinook helicopter is shot down and four survivors are stranded in a hostile location awaiting rescue. The scenario was part of a joint combat search and rescue exercise held here March 20 to April 2.Led by the 56th Rescue Squadron at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, the exercise

  • Moody pilots killed in crash

    Two pilots died when an Air Force T-6 Texan II crashed April 3 at the airport in Savannah, Ga. The aircraft was assigned to the 479th Flying Training Group here.The reservists were identified as Capt. Judson Brinson of Thomasville, Ga., and Capt. Lee Moore of Valdosta, Ga. At the time of the

  • Electronic recorder adds realism to bugle playing

    The Tinker Air Force Base Honor Guard recently received three ceremonial bugles which play a high-quality recording of “Taps,” helping to show the nation’s deepest gratitude at the funerals of those who have served their country.The Department of Defense worked with a private company to create the

  • Airmen save life using defibrillator

    Four Airmen saved an Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center employee’s life after he recently suffered a heart attack at the Tinker Annex gym.Mario Martinez, a quality-assurance specialist at the center, went into cardiac arrest while playing racquetball with Tech. Sgt. Douglas Keller, a radar

  • Academy aircraft operations suspended

    Following a review by an Air Force air logistics center team, Brig. Gen. John Weida, academy commandant, ordered flying operations of 45 aircraft assigned here be suspended because of safety concerns.Affected aircraft include: TG-10B\C\D unpowered gliders and TG-14 motorgliders of the 94th Flying

  • Airman dies during training

    An Airman collapsed while participating in aerospace physiology training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and was pronounced dead by Bay Medical Center officials near the base April 1.Tech. Sgt. David Gressett is an AC-130H Spectre gunner assigned to the 16th Special Operations Squadron here. He

  • Air Force Reserve begins fitness testing

    Air Force reservists across the country are under the new Air Force fitness-testing standards as of April 1.Previously, fitness was measured by height-based weight restrictions, and reservists were tested on aerobic health through a 3-mile walk. The new standards include a waist measurement,

  • Idaho Guard helps train B-52 crews

    There’s a “war” going on. Every day deployed Airmen from the 266th Range Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, are shooting, eluding and attempting to destroy B-52 Stratofortresses flying here.However, no one gets hurt and no aircraft actually go down because the battle is done using

  • Compass Call crew details mission, OIF success stories

    At the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, dozens of Iraqi soldiers waited patiently near the al Faw Peninsula for instructions being transmitted from higher headquarters to blow up key oil fields there.The message never came.In its place, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force’s EC-130H “Compass Call”

  • Awareness can prevent sexual assaults

    In line with April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Air Force leaders encourage all Airmen to be knowledgeable about sexual assault risks, consequences and prevention. “Sexual assault in an organization that depends on each individual in life and death situations is simply intolerable,” said Gen.

  • Air Force conducts network-defense exercise

    Air Force officials finished a two-week computer network-defense exercise March 26, which validated and strengthened the Air Force’s ability to defend its network against a wide range of attacks.About 200 people at network operations security centers and associated network control centers Air

  • Crime-scene investigators train at Nellis

    Two vehicles were destroyed during a staged explosion here March 29 helping crime-scene investigators hone their skills. FBI officials detonated more than 550 pounds of explosives to provide a more realistic environment for a large-vehicle bomb post-blast investigation class. The five-day class,

  • Airmen recruit Iraqi military

    Two Air Force recruiters are using their training and skills to recruit a distinct group of people into an organization far different from the U.S. Air Force.Capt. Pete Ellum and Master Sgt. Greg Elmore are in Iraq recruiting that country’s new military. They are recruiting for the armed forces,

  • Academy cadet named Truman Scholar

    A cadet is a Truman Scholar and has won a $26,000 scholarship. The Harry S. Truman Foundation officially announced its winners across the United States on March 30.Cadet 2nd Class Andrew Sellers, a computer science major, earned the merit-based scholarship to attend a graduate or professional

  • Airman teaches English to Afghan pilots

    Sometimes a language barrier can be more than an inconvenience. It can be dangerous. Consider, for example, the dialogue between an Afghan aircraft pilot and a German air-traffic controller at the local airfield during an in-flight emergency.Maj. Susan Washington said she is well aware of the

  • Flying ‘bug’ bites WASP early, pilot recounts service

    It was not Charles Lindbergh, but “a fella before him” whose name escapes her now. She remembers he came through Charleston, W.Va., when she was very young, and she said he inspired her to learn to fly.“I was about 7 or 8 years old when this famous flier came to town. Everyone turned out to see

  • Minot B-52 aircrews refine, polish skills in Guam

    Capt. Jeremiah Baldwin, a B-52 Stratofortress pilot, said he could not wait to get out of the cockpit. He was tired, exhausted and just wanted to lie down and sleep after flying a 20-hour mission. “It’s one of the longest flights I’ve ever flown. It was great training, but it’s not something I

  • 86th CRG pulls Soldiers out of Africa

    Twenty-seven Airmen and one Soldier traveled down to Africa on March 23 to remove special forces Soldiers from the countries of Mali and Mauritania.The Airmen were from the 86th Contingency Response Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and the Soldier was from the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces

  • Family continues training tradition

    It is like father, like son in the Gutierrez family when it comes to conducting military training.Staff Sgt. Victor Gutierrez is serving as an instructor in the same course his father, Ernesto, taught during his military years.Now, both trainers are serving in the 81st Training Group here. Sergeant

  • ROTC instructor duty now includes NCOs

    Air Force ROTC officials have just expanded instructor duty opportunities to include enlisted Airmen from diverse career fields.The secretary of the Air Force has approved a test program designed to incorporate enlisted perspectives into the curriculum. The addition of enlisted instructional staff,

  • A-10 pilot wows Smithsonian crowd

    The Iraqi republican guard may have had luck on their side that miserable Baghdad day, but they did not know who was flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II they had just hit with a rocket.It was April 7, 2003, and an elite unit of Iraqis had U.S. forces pinned down along the Tigris River, firing

  • Airmen assist convoy attack

    During an Iraqi insurgent attack on an American convoy north of here March 24, time seemed to stand still, said Tech. Sgt. George B. Stewart.“It seemed like forever,” said the Airman from the 447th Air Expeditionary Security Force Squadron. Squadron Airmen credit Sergeant Stewart, their