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  • Idea earns sergeant $10,000

    A noncommissioned officer here recently earned $10,000 from the Air Force's Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program. He received the money for writing an inspection and maintenance manual for the Department of Defense and the Air Force concerning metal shipping containers.Tech.

  • AF cancels B-1 defensive upgrade

    Air Force officials recently announced that the service was canceling the B-1B Lancer's Defensive System Upgrade Program because of cost overruns and schedule slips, but remains committed to improving the aircraft's combat capability.The DSUP was intended to replace the B-1's current defensive suite

  • Pilot follows in father's footsteps

    The weather on Jan. 10, 1973, was overcast as Navy Lt. Michael McCormick, an A-6 Intruder pilot, and Lt. j.g. Robert Clark, a bombardier navigator, stepped out to their plane and prepared for a mission over North Vietnam. It would be their last one - forever.It was the last mission Attack Squadron

  • New short-term enlistments coming

    A new military short-term enlistment program will begin Oct. 1 aimed at expanding the opportunities for all Americans to serve the country.Congress authorized the National Call to Service enlistment option as part of the fiscal 2003 National Defense Authorization Act.The program allows the military

  • Air Force moves to institutionalize enterprise architecture

    Leaders of the Air Force's information technology, warfighting integration and operations communities took a major step recently to further the service's transformation efforts by creating the Air Force enterprise architecture council structure.Enterprise architecture is a formal process designed to

  • Savings bond holding period increases

    Department of Treasury officials have announced that the minimum holding period for Series EE and I bonds increases from six to 12 months beginning Feb. 1.This means people who purchase EE or I bonds on or after Feb. 1 must wait one year before they may redeem those bonds.People who purchase bonds

  • Edwards gets F-16s from 'bone yard'

    Two F-16 Fighting Falcons joined the test operations facility here recently to help support flight test programs. The aircraft are the first of nine F-16s making their way to Edwards this year.The aircraft arrived from the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force

  • Leaders announce new core competencies

    The Air Force's senior leaders debuted the service's new approach to describing its core competencies this week.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper made this announcement in two separate messages to all airmen. Roche released his first "The

  • ACC begins F/A-22 operations

    Air Combat Command entered a new era Jan. 14 as America's newest fighter-attack aircraft touched down here.Raptor 00-012, the first F/A-22 to be delivered directly to the command, was flown from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to Nellis by Lt. Col. David Rose, chief of Nellis' F/A-22 integration

  • Dyess aircrews poised for bomb runs over Iraq

    While the United States prepares for a possible war with Iraq, aircrews at this B-1B Lancer base have not changed their training routine.The airmen are not yet part of the huge U.S. military buildup that has taken thousands of troops to bases in the Middle East, but they know they will play a key

  • Air Force risks air dominance without F/A-22

    Without the F/A-22 Raptor, the Air Force could face losing its lead in fighter aviation to other nations, said Maj. Gen. John D. W. Corley, director of Air Force Global Power Programs at the Pentagon."We need this aircraft," Corley said. "It's the only new U.S. aircraft that will be able to put

  • Officials say draft not necessary

    The all-volunteer force took nearly a generation to come to fruition, but has since proved its worth in combat.Thirty years after then-Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird established the all- volunteer force, some politicians are again calling for resumption of a military draft. Defense leaders are

  • Air Force Museum displaying aviation art

    More than 250 original paintings by aviation artists will be featured when the Air Force Museum here offers "A Centennial Celebration of Aviation Art" for a limited engagement during 2003.To commemorate the Centennial of Flight, this art collection epitomizes the aviation history and recalls a

  • Comedian donates $1m for welcome center

    Bob and Dolores Hope have donated $1 million to the Air Force Enlisted Foundation to build a facility here to honor retired Col. Robert W. Gates, a pilot on many of the comedian's United Services Organization jaunts across the globe.The 6,500 square foot welcome center will be built next to the

  • Mounted security forces patrol Little Rock

    Base security got a boost recently with the addition of three horses to form the 314th Security Forces Squadron mounted patrol.The horse patrol covers a designated area of Little Rock Air Force Base every day and focuses on remote areas of the perimeter, wooded areas behind housing and hunting areas

  • Keeping mail flowing while deployed

    On a daily basis, the morale of people deployed to the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing weighs on the minds of the base postal flight, and they want nothing more than to deliver."We're big-time morale boosters," said Airman 1st Class Jonathan Morgan, an information manager by trade. "That's our main

  • Operation Gray Eagle unites military people with retirees

    Veterans and new recruits seldom move in the same circles. But that has changed here.The base has started a trial program, Operation Gray Eagle, which unites veterans living in the Denver area with students in the base's airmen leadership school for a session that seeks to pass experience and

  • Air Force transforms, merges property operations

    The Air Force recently created a new agency to handle all of its real estate transactions.The Air Force Real Property Agency resulted from the merging of two agencies: the Air Force Base Conversion Agency and the Air Force Real Estate division. The move, said the director of the AFRPA, is expected

  • Congress funds more than $2 billion in construction projects

    Congress approved more than $2 billion to fund Air Force construction projects over the next year.The fiscal 2003 National Defense Authorization Act includes $1.3 billion in funding for Air Force military construction, including dormitories, fitness centers, force protection projects and operational

  • Building a boomtown

    Tech. Sgt. John Deyo guides a panel through a machine being used to construct a new transportation building at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Devo is a structural craftsman with the 819th/219th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron. Squadron people are working 12-hours a day, six days a week to build

  • Booklet offers help for identity theft

    A Federal Trade Commission booklet offers guidance for people who have fallen victim to a fast-growing crime: identity theft.Defense Department officials believe that it is possible that some Tricare beneficiaries could be subject to identity thievery because of the Dec. 14 theft of office

  • New Year's flight

    While his wingman flies formation, a Marine AV-8B Harrier takes on fuel from a KC-10 Extender over Afghanistan, Jan. 1. The KC-10 and its crew are currently assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid, Qatar. (Photo by Capt. Don Langley)

  • Prototype saves fuel, money, environment

    It is economical, environmentally friendly, and definitely fuel-efficient. And so far, only the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard is using it.It is the PH1000EL Self-Contained Fuel Transfer Unit, better known as the "fuel buggy." Members of the 149th Maintenance Squadron are using

  • Directorate cleans up with new water-based solution

    Maintainers here recently replaced their chemical-based cleaning solvent with a water-based product that is proving safer for workers. The new solvent will also saves thousands of dollars each year in environmental disposal and compliance costs, said officials.The water-based cleaning fluid,

  • Pets traveling to UK still require quarantine license

    Currently, cats and dogs coming into the United Kingdom from the United States must still be licensed into quarantine, according to British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials.The U.K. government extended the Pet Travel Scheme to the United States as of Dec. 11. This

  • Now showing: Dec. 23 edition of Air Force Television News

    The Dec. 23 edition of Air Force Television News is the first of four special productions of the program to be seen in December, January and February. This first of the four is the annual "Year in Review" edition, and is dedicated to the men and women of the Air Force and the job they do both on

  • Tricare computers, files stolen

    Officials from the Tricare Management Activity announced Dec. 23 that computer equipment and files were stolen Dec. 14 from its Tricare Central Region health contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp. in Phoenix.TriWest contracts with the military health system to provide health services to

  • This is a test

    The first Air Force C-5 Galaxy featuring new avionics upgrades takes off from here on its maiden flight Dec. 21. The upgrades include flight displays, a navigation system, and installation of the Terrain Awareness and Warning System and the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System. The

  • Air Force's top chief sends holiday message

    The following is a holiday message from Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray:"To the Air Force men and women protecting our nation at home and abroad: My wife, Sherry, and I want to wish each of you the joy and peace of the season."The demands of the past year have been great, and

  • Air Force leaders send holiday message

    The following is a holiday message from Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, and Dr. James. G. Roche, secretary of the Air Force:"In this season of thanksgiving and reverent celebration, we send our warmest wishes to our entire Air Force team of active, Guard, Reserve, civilian and retired

  • Elmendorf, Yokota teams secure pummeled base

    Despite the devastation of Typhoon Pongsona, which pummeled the island of Guam Dec. 8, force protection remained a priority here as base officials called for help.Answering that call were teams of security forces members from Yokota Air Base, Japan, and Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska."We heard

  • Watch for signs of holiday blues

    Television portrays the holidays as a time filled with love and sharing. But the holidays aren't picture-perfect for everyone.People all over the world seem to go through holiday depression, now known as the holiday blues, said Capt. Pamela Novy, commander of the 5th Medical Group's behavioral

  • Centennial of Flight kicks off year of festivities

    A yearlong recognition of aviation began here Dec. 17 with the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission's national kickoff.Among those in attendance were a retired member of the Tuskegee Airmen and a former Air Force pilot who flew with the Flying Tigers during World War II.Wilbur and Orville Wright

  • New system speeds up overseas check cashing

    Many of the Air Force's overseas cashier cages will soon use a new paperless check cashing system.The Military Paper Check Conversion system, developed by the U.S. Treasury, instantly converts paper checks presented to the cashier into an electronic image to be processed by the financial

  • New TRICARE mail order pharmacy to open March 1

    More than 400,000 military pharmacy mail order customers will be switched March 1 to a new TRICARE mail order pharmacy program, according to Army Col. William D. Davies of the TRICARE Management Activity.Services will continue under the National Mail Order Pharmacy contract until Feb. 28, he said.

  • Forces rotate for Operation Northern Watch

    More than 1,000 airmen are replacing Operation Northern Watch veterans as the Air and Space Expeditionary Force system performs its regular three-month rotation from late November through the first part of December.Based at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, the new airmen join Turkish and British coalition

  • Air Force, FAA share data network

    A new $4.5 million data acquisition and transmission network implemented by the Air Force Flight Test Center here and the Federal Aviation Administration is up and running. The new network will improve test efficiency and accelerate the ability to get information to the warfighter.The East Data

  • F-16s restored after years in storage

    Pilots here will be flying training, photo-chase and test-support missions, and instructing pilots using brand new old F-16s Fighting Falcons -- four of them resurrected and regenerated from more than a decade of storage.The aircraft were originally part of a deal U.S. officials brokered with the

  • Group rescues man at sea

    A medical emergency at sea turned into a dramatic humanitarian mission for the 920th Rescue Group here Dec. 8. The emergency also provided the unit its first chance to use a new satellite-based tracking and communications system during a rescue.Crews from Air Force Reserve Command's 920th RQG was

  • Now showing: Dec. 9 edition of Air Force Television News

    The potential problem of recruiting members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve because of lengthy mobilization and operations tempo is featured in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Both Assistant Defense Secretary Thomas Hall and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz

  • Assignment system upgrades in progress

    The nearly 30,000 officers and enlisted members who access the online Assignment Management System each day are experiencing technology's classic "good news, bad news" story.An upgrade will improve access speed and allow AMS to support the total force development concept, but until it is complete,

  • Alaskan squadron delivers Christmas

    The 517th Airlift Squadron here made its annual pilgrimage to a remote Alaskan village Dec. 3 with Christmas gifts and cheer.The 517th AS "Firebirds" have been making the trip to Arctic Village for more than 30 years.The tradition began in 1967 when the porcupine caribou herd - the villagers'

  • Students take giant steps using new technology

    Airman David Golas is a lot more confident working with the KC-10 Extender aircraft because he has observed, close up, the systems that make the aircraft work.With the education he received here at the 373rd Training Squadron's Detachment 1, he can trace electronic circuits, track fuel flow and

  • Next generation Web portal testing begins

    The next generation of the Air Force Portal will debut at Langley Air Force Base, Va., on Dec 6.Air Force people assigned to Air Combat Command headquarters and several other units at Langley will participate in the first command- and base-level test of the redesigned portal.Air Force Materiel

  • Airman shares Afghanistan experience

    Staff Sgt. Matt never expected to live in a mud hut in the middle of Afghanistan, but that is exactly what he did for nearly 140 daysMatt is a terminal attack controller with the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. When he deployed to Afghanistan in support of

  • Contact center expands hours

    Airmen stationed overseas can now get real-time help with personnel issues without having to wake up at 3 a.m. thanks to the expanded hours of the contact center at the Air Force Personnel Center here.Beginning Dec. 2, the new hours, 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. CST, will give people overseas a chance to talk

  • U.K. pet quarantine no longer required

    Starting Dec. 11, military members bringing dogs and cats to the United Kingdom will no longer have to place their animals in a six-month quarantine period upon entering the country if they meet certain criteria.The Pet Travel Scheme, or PETS, is a new system created to help those who are moving to

  • Crews prove mettle as mother gives birth at home

    As the Anaheim Angels and San Francisco Giants battled during the third game of the World Series recently, an Eglin couple brought their own little angel into the world -- in the hallway of their on-base home.While Staff Sgt. Jim and Crystal Taylor were watching the game, Riley Dale, 8 pounds, 6

  • Airmen put a new roof over their heads

    Twenty-five "Project Orphanage" volunteers replaced a dilapidated ceramic tile roof with sheet metal recently on a covered outside play area for children at the Adana Orphanage here.The roof gives the 150 children at the orphanage a place to play during Turkey's upcoming rainy season and shade

  • Medics demonstrate new decon system

    Staff Sgt. Denise Brown (from left), Senior Airman Jennifer Miranda and Senior Airman Kari England, members of the 325th Medical Group here, wash down a manikin to demonstrate the new in-place patient decontamination capability. The system is designed to rapidly decontaminate victims in the

  • Public Health keeps airmen out of 'Danger Zone'

    Each week, Tech. Sgt. Marlon Muthuveeran puts the food service operation at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing dining facility through a rigorous series of tests. He evaluates down to the minutest detail, everything from food storage temperatures to the concentration of the cleaning solution used to

  • Delta IV roars to successful first launch

    America's newest space launch vehicle got off to a rip-roaring start Nov. 20 with a lift-off that lit up the skies over Central Florida and beyond.The Delta IV blasted off at the top of the launch window at 5:39 p.m. EST. Approximately 37 minutes later, the satellite separated from the rocket and

  • That new car smell

    The 48th Fighter Wing here received the first two of 10 new F-15E Strike Eagles bought under contract from the Boeing Co. They are the first new F-15s the wing has received since 1996. The E-model has two Pratt and Whitney F100-P&W-229 engines, each generating 29,000 pounds of thrust. The

  • Air Force program provides care for mildly ill children

    The Air Force has begun a six-month test of a new program to provide child care for mildly ill children who are unable to remain in regular, on-base facilities.The Mildly Ill Childcare Program is designed to reduce parents' overall costs for child care and the time they must be away from their jobs

  • Dirty bird gets a bath

    Staff Sgt. Rick Casto guides a B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., into the wash rack at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The wash racks here recently received new foam sprayers that cut the washing time of a B-52 in half. Casto is a crew chief

  • Iraqi forces fire on aircraft

    Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery Nov. 17 and 18 at coalition airplanes enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq.Both attacks came from positions northeast of Mosul, defense officials said. In both instances, coalition aircraft responded by dropping precision-guided munitions on Iraqi

  • Contact center adds new online service

    People can now get real-time help with personnel issues online, from anywhere in the world, thanks to new Web features offered by the Air Force Contact Center here.The online features let users view a database of frequently asked questions, chat live online with a customer service representative or

  • Air Force's top chief discusses issues

    The most important thing any airman can do is "recognize that what you do is valuable to our nation's very existence and what we stand for," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray during his visit here Nov. 8."When I speak to young airmen, I let them know that their service is

  • New history section debuts on Air Force Link

    Air Force Link, the official Web site of the U.S. Air Force, launched a new history and heritage section Nov. 8 to coincide with Veterans Day and the upcoming 100th anniversary of powered flight.The new section documents the achievements of airpower, starting from the early days of wooden-wing

  • C-5 fleet safer with anti-collision upgrade

    Maintenance people installed a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS, on final operational C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft Oct. 31, according to program officials here.The system, part of an overall upgrade program designed to keep the transport giant flying until 2040, will reduce the

  • Keen eye leads to safety of 1,200 F-16s

    An astute observation by a noncommissioned officer here has resulted in widespread changes to maintenance requirements affecting more than 1,200 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.While performing inspections on an F-16, Tech. Sgt. Jason Anderson, a 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron nondestructive

  • T-38C fleet undergoes propulsion upgrades

    Air Education and Training Command's first T-38C Talon with modified ejectors, engines and inlets will be delivered to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., the week of Nov. 4th by pilots from the 415th Flight Test Flight here.Following on the heels of the recent avionics upgrade program, these new upgrades,

  • New Information Management Tool software now available

    A new software tool designed to improve the efficiency of the Air Force information system is now available across the service.The new Information Management Tool viewer software from PureEdge Solutions Inc. is a replacement to the long-used FormFlow form filler software and is available from local

  • Alaskan civil engineers build super structure

    A team from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron here deployed recently to the Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Station to construct a 2,500 square foot Super K-Span storage facility.Indian Mountain is one of 18 remote Alaskan radar sites and is located several hundred miles west and slightly north of

  • NASA develops new tool to improve accident investigations

    Scientists and engineers investigating accidents are working much more effectively and efficiently, thanks to a new software tool developed by NASA called the InvestigationOrganizer.Developed at NASA Ames Research Center here, InvestigationOrganizer is a Web-based tool that provides information

  • November issue of Airman available online

    Airmen fighting terrorism, a family of 11 living in base housing, and airmen supporting space shuttle launches highlight the November issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online.In this month's issue:A strong Japan means a stable Pacific region for the United States, and the Air

  • New dormitory standard means bigger rooms

    Air Force officials have developed a new dormitory standard designed to enhance the standard of living for residents of Air Force dormitories worldwide.Construction on the four-plus-one style of dormitory could begin as early as this year. This style has four airmen sharing a common living area,

  • Weather flight keeps 'em flying

    There may be rain today and heat tomorrow, or snow today and dusty winds tomorrow. These are some of the conditions the nine-member Air Force weather flight must contend with at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.Everyone needs to know what the weather is going to do, from the A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots

  • Dog helps keep flightline safe

    The 314th Operations Support Squadron has a new tool to keep the flightline here safe, and he works for mere kibble.Since Oct. 1, military working dog Colin, a 2-year-old border collie, has patrolled the perimeter fence to deter deer, birds and other wildlife from crossing into the runway

  • Academy mascot vying for national title

    He doesn't have the pageantry of the Indian on the horse with the flaming spear, the "homeyness" of that dog from Tennessee, or the in-your-face attitude of that "other" bird in South Florida.He lacks the tradition of the guy in the leprechaun suit, the ability to pull a wagon like that Oklahoma

  • Crew chief finds couple in C-130 engine

    Tech. Sgt. J.D. Nix is as country as a split-rail fence along a dirt road. So when the C-130 Hercules crew chief deployed here from Yokota Air Base, Japan, went toe-to-toe with a pair of birds, his animal instinct prevailed.Two bright green parakeets decided the engine intake on Nix's No. 3 engine

  • The 'ol plane and chain

    Aeronautical Systems Center Command Chief Master Sgt. Fest Miles (right) and his command staff teammates strain to pull a 60,000-pound fighter jet the farthest in 45 seconds during the U.S. Air Force Museum's 4th Annual Aircraft Pull. Approximately 600 base and community members took part in the

  • Port squadron moves OEF cargo, passengers

    Mission "No.1" for the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing is keeping supply lines moving within the Operation Enduring Freedom corridor. When viewing the action on the flightline at a forward-deployed location, it seems everything just happens according to some master plan.That is where the men and women

  • Alaskan wing deploys to Singapore

    A 3rd Wing contingent here deployed to the Republic of Singapore Oct. 23 to take on that nation's air force in an annual air-to-air combat exercise.About 100 people, mostly from the 12th Fighter Squadron, and six F-15 Eagles are participating in exercise Commando Sling 2003.The exercise allows

  • Sensor system keeping airmen safe

    As the horizon disappears and the sky fades to black, residents here wrap up the day's activities and crawl into bed like bears heading into hibernation for the winter. No worries, no fears of terrorists or enemies invading their resting place -- just soft pillows, warm blankets and sweet

  • 'Team Target' keeps Air Force on mark

    The 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron here, known as "Team Target," is a key player in ensuring that air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons systems can meet the needs of the military in an ever-changing threat environment.With technology changing at a blinding pace, systems often become obsolete before

  • Defender Challenge competition under way

    Ten security forces teams from U.S. Air Force major commands worldwide, the Department of Energy and the Royal Air Force Regiment gathered here to participate in the 20th annual Defender Challenge competition Oct. 21 to 24."This is a competition of our all-stars," said Brig. Gen. James Shamess,

  • 'myPay' provides online pay resources

    A program designed to help Air Force people manage their pay more easily went online Oct. 15.Formerly named the Employee/Member Self-Service program, myPay offers improved online services for active-duty, Guard and Reserve airmen, civilian employees, retirees and beneficiaries, said Bruce S. Lemkin,

  • Transportation troop is caught 'knapping'

    People on deployment find many ways to pass the time. Some chip away at calendars marking the days left until they return home. For Staff Sgt. Barry Hester, a special purpose vehicle mechanic with the 384th Expeditionary Logistics Squadron, it is chipping away at stones.Hester, from the 56th

  • Maintaining in Sardinia

    Staff Sgt. Ryan Alfke, a 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, changes out oil screen filters during post-flight inspections on an F-16 Fighting Falcon. The 31st Fighter Wing deployed here from Aviano Air Base, Italy, in mid-September while the Aviano fightline is repaired and a new

  • Students get geological lesson at Alaskan base

    Students attending schools in the Anchorage area are getting a lesson in Alaskan geology, courtesy of a base civil engineer employee here.About 100 children, parents and teachers from Chinook Elementary School in Anchorage visited Knik Arm Beach recently, also known as Fossil Beach, near Six-Mile

  • Partnership will guide military, civilian space activities

    The nation's leading space agencies added a new member to their alliance recently by signing a memorandum of agreement with the director of defense research and engineering, a Department of Defense agency focusing on technology.The agreement formally establishes cooperative relationships for space

  • New AMC policy allows passengers to fly with more pets

    Passengers traveling on permanent change-of-station orders between the United States and overseas bases on Patriot Express flights now have the opportunity to move more than two pets per family.Air Mobility Command officials have instituted a new policy allowing passengers the opportunity to move

  • First lady touts 'Troops to Teachers' program

    The birthplace of aviation became a launching pad for new career possibilities Oct. 16 as first lady Laura Bush spoke here about the Defense Department's Troops to Teachers program.Bush recognized educators and the potential roles departing military members can play in education during a rally

  • CV-22 wraps up electronic warfare testing

    The Air Force's CV-22 tilt-rotor completed electronic warfare testing in the Benefield Anechoic Facility here recently.The purpose of the electronic warfare tests was to test the suite of integrated radio frequency countermeasures, or SIRFC system, which is the radar warning receiver and electronic

  • Hanging around

    Capt. Damian Schlussel describes to his students each action he takes while rappelling from a 90-foot water tower here. Schlussel, from the 31st Fighter Wing security forces here, leads the wing's anti-terrorist force protection program. He routinely trains new members of the team on key tactics

  • Guard, Reserve forces cope with active-duty extension

    For Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard troops, the jab "weekend warrior" lost relevance long ago.As many as 14,000 such troops, more than 60 percent of them in the security forces career field, have been on active duty for more than a year now as a result of the war on terrorism. Recently,

  • New TV ads available online

    The latest Air Force television commercials are now available online.The four-spot series, which continues the "Cross Into the Blue" theme, depicts teen-agers with particular skills or interests applying them in an Air Force specialty. The commercials tell viewers, "We've been waiting for you."In

  • Loss turns fireman into renter's insurance advocate

    An off-duty firefighter driving on base here waved casually as a Robins fire truck passed by. Within minutes, he learned that the truck was headed for his house.Airman 1st Class Michael P. Lecik would soon learn that he and his wife, Tiffany, had lost all but their kitchen table in a fire that

  • Latest issue of Citizen Airman magazine now available

    A little more than a year into the nation's war on terrorism, Air Force leaders are in the midst of a transition from a "crisis-response" mode, with heavy reliance on mobilized Guard and Reserve members, to a new steady state, which relies mainly on volunteer reservists and guardsmen to help meet

  • New system makes tracking supplies easier

    In Afghanistan and other austere locations, U.S. troops are now able to better track their orders of vital supplies. That is because of recent efforts by U.S. Transportation Command officials to improve the "in-transit visibility" of people and cargo moving through the Defense Transportation

  • Maintenance group focusing on core competencies

    Wings around the Air Force are creating maintenance groups as part of a move toward the new combat wing organization structure.The changes are in accordance with a recent directive by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper that maintenance groups be stood up and have attained initial

  • New site compiles military-specific consumer complaints

    Officials from the Department of Defense and Federal Trade Commission have teamed up to provide DOD military and civilian employees an outlet for consumer complaints."Military personnel, DOD civilians and their families face unique challenges every day trying to deal with consumer-protection

  • $10.4 million upgrade increases test capability

    With a $10.4 million test facility upgrade here, Air Force officials hope to make Arnold Engineering Development Center a "one-stop" shopping center for aerodynamic and propulsion test customers by providing Mach 8 capability.The Mach 8 milestone, which equates to objects traveling about 6,000 mph,

  • Air Force, NASCAR teams compete in 'reverse pit stop'

    Elite teams of highly skilled professionals from NASCAR and the Air Force faced off on the flightline here Sept. 19 in a unique competition dubbed the "reverse pit stop." The purpose of the three-hour event was to demonstrate the many similarities and contrasts between the two organizations and to

  • Falcons upset California 23-21, advance to 3-0

    Three touchdowns and 124 rushing yards by quarterback Chance Harridge led Air Force to a 23-21 upset over No. 23 California.The Falcons advance to 3-0 on the season, and have the nation's top-ranked rushing offense in Division I for the fourth consecutive week."What you saw today was a very great,

  • Program helps prevent, deal with domestic violence

    The Department of Defense considers all forms of family violence as unacceptable and provides extensive resources that focus on prevention, intervention and treatment.The Air Force's Family Advocacy Program, charged with the prevention and treatment of family maltreatment, has the shared goal of

  • Fifth Air Force Marathon a success

    More than 3,200 runners from 48 states and eight foreign countries ran in the fifth Air Force Marathon here Sept. 21.Wheelchair competitors began the 26.2-mile race at 7 a.m., followed by individual runners at 7:05 a.m., and relay teams at 7:30 a.m.Patrick Doak of Alpharetta, Ga., was the first male

  • Chief scientist advises senior leaders

    Dr. Alexander H. Levis describes his job as the Air Force's chief scientist as "the best in the world." He even has the scientific data to back it up.As chief scientist, Levis advises the Air Force secretary and chief of staff on scientific and technological issues, and works in coordination with

  • Basic training opens chemical warfare facility

    Times are changing, and Air Force basic military training is evolving with them.The Air Force unveiled its latest addition to BMT on Sept. 16 at Lackland's Warrior Week encampment site: a nuclear, biological, chemical and conventional warfare training facility."The addition of this new facility